The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-28 00:00:00

THE FUNDS--(CLOSING PRICES) BRITISH FUNDS. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced New 34 per Cent India Bonds, 1,0001.. Ditto under 1,0001. Consols .................... 1004 Indian Stock 2864 Exchequer Bills, 1,0001., 1id.... 62 pm. Ditto 5001. Ditto Small FOREIGN FUNDS. Columbian Bonds 6 aer Cent l4 Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840. Ditto 3 per Cent. 3B; Dutch, 4 per Cent ...- 64* Ditto, 5 per Cent SHARES. Birmingham and Gloucester, 100 paid Bristol and Exeter, 70 paid 664 Bristol and Gloucester, 30 paid .. 43 Caledonian, 5 paid Chester and Holyhead, 5 paid s Churnet Valley, 2 paid Direct Northern, 2i paid Direct Norwich, 1 paid ••• 1 Dublin and Belfast Junction, 2i paid... ... 44 Dublin and Galway, 2i paid Eastern Counties, 25 paid... Great Southern and Western (Ireland), 5 paid 10} Great 'Western, 75 paid 149 Ditto Half Shares, 50 paid 9O Hull and Selh7, 50 paid .., 68i London and Birmingham (Stock) .. .. 228 London and Blackwall, 161 7i London and Brighton, 50 paid London and South Western, 411 paid 7si London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 9d. paid .. 171 London and York, 2i paid 44 Manchester and Leeds, 70 paid Ditto Quarter Shares, 2 paid ... ll4 Ditto Sixteenths, 11 paid Manchester and Birmingham, 40 paid 53 Midland, 100 paid Newcastle and Berwick, li paid Northern and Eastern, 45 paid 5B Norwich and Brandon, 8 paid 134 South Eastern and Dover, 33/ paid 404 West Cornwall li paid Yarmouth and Norwich, 20 paid 271 _ York and North Midland, 50 paid Ditto Scarboro' Branch, 10 paid Ditto, Selby Scrip, 20 paid Ditto Extension... Orleans and Vierzon, 2 paid l2l Orleans and Bordeaux, 2 paid 7 i Paris and Lyons, 2 paid Paris and Rouen, 20 paid Paris and Strasbourg, 2 paid ... 994 31i SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT. GLOBE.—In the United States, as in England, there is more uncertainty than usual, as to what the new year will bring forth. Great changes seem to be impending in the commercial policy of both coun tries, but their indications are yet extremeiy vague. This is especially apparent in America. Every paper in the Union presents us with a different opinion, not only of what the President elect means to do, but of his ability to do it. His position is, in some respects, not unlike that of Sir Robert Peel in 1841. It is pretty clear that a few months will put him and his party in power. He is about to take office upon the understanding that his policy will differ materially from that of his prede cessor. Yet what is to follow, no man ventures to predict, with even the appearance of confidence, and no two men predict alike. Polk and Peel are alike inscrutable. No art could reach the designs of Sir Robert—no cunning in a strategy, no bitterness of taunt, availed to obtain a glance at the prescription, till the physician was regu larly installed, and the fee paid. He could not be either driven or wheeled into depriving his mea sures of what power they might derive from their novelty when brought forward for application. Mr. Polk has taken a similar course ; and there is a real resemblance in the two cases which seems to justify the imitation, if it be one. When the elevation of a man to responsible office is already determined, any particular declaration of bis policy is often un necessary ; it always operates as, a tie, and, under ordinary circumstances, can purchase nothing. Even in the present positions of these two statesmen there is enough to continue the resemblance. A dis cussion of the expediency of continuing the income tax, with its inevitable pendant, a discussion of our tariff, is looked forward to as certain in the approach ing session. And everybody expects that a modifica tion of the United States tariff will be one of the first measures of their new Government. There is now no room to doubt, that if either tariff be touched, it must be for the purpose of making a further application of the principles of free trade. So far, all is as clear as political anticipations well can be. We see the chart, and our probable course upon it, but (in both cases) the man at the helm persists in keeping his mouth shut ! Shrewd politicians, desirous of trimming their sails to the coming breeze, congregate around Mr. Polk, but can gather no indication of the quarter it is to blow from. He meets and wards off their well-meant thrusts at his internal man with a cool, unvarying, and impenetrable " politeness" in the ex ternal; and they retire to spread, not reports of what Mr. Polk says and intends, but rumours that he is turning out a much cleverer fellow than anybody ex • pected. In the heat of the recent contest he was called a " Repudiator." Now few seem inclined to say more on this point than that he is not disposed to ha zard the existence of the Union in a desperate attempt by the federal Government to coerce the delinquent. States. Even the slavery question is admitted to stand upon very similar ground. A secession from the Union, of the States implicated in slavery, would undoubtedly ensue, were the question now raised and pushed to extremities. The particular evil would not be lessened, but another, of incalculable import ance to America, would be created—the substitution, as to two great sections of the Union, of division and weakness for union and strength, would be unavoid able. On the tariff, but one course seems open. Yet, there are grave obstacles to that. Mr. Cal houn's opinions cannot fail to have considerable weight, and it is well known that liberal prin ciples of commercial intercourse between nations never had a stauncher or more consistent advocate : but even in the United States there is an anti-free-trade party, and that of no contempti ble strength. In this country, public opinion already shows a tendency to favour the retention of the income-tax, provided it can be made the basis of corresponding relief from taxation in other and still more oppressive forms. The Customs' duty on raw cotton, the Excise on paper, and the Assessed Tax on windows, are already put prominently forward for reduction or repeal ; and as the time for action draws near, we may expect that other taxes will find their especial foes— and that "provincial Chancellors of the Exchequer" will again incumber the facile Premier with their aid, and draw down the mild thunders of the Treasury Bench. All this, however, while the oracle is silent, will only thicken the fog in the political world. England and America, then, are now in the hand) of men who have at least the ability to keep their own counsel; and to both it does a double service: it makes what power they possess more effective, and leads people to think them much wiser than they are. It is not impossible that the coincidence marks the commencement of a new era of statesmanship—in which taciturnity and mediocrity is to do the work of eloquence and wit. Were there a fair prospect of the work being better done, we should have nothing to object to the change. But this, as yet, is sadly wanting. THE VANGUARD STEAMER AFLOAT. (From' the Cork Southern Reporter of Tuesday.)S We are happy in being able to announce to our readers that the Vanguard steamer has at length been got off. At about four o'clock this morning she was got off the rock amid a hearty cheer, from all whom curiosity or duty had drawn to the spot, which was oft and heartily repeated. A detail of the operation to get off the Vanguard may be interesting. On Monday, the Victory steamer left the Quay at three o'clock, and proceeded down the river, for the purpose of taking a warp from the Vanguard, and to assist in towing her off. The Eagle also left the Quay at five o'clock, with a large number of empty casks, but, as the sequel will show, the Vanguard needed not the assistance of them. Captain White, who, from the commencement showed an activity and diligence in managing the vessel which entitle him to the highest commendation, made a minute examination of the hull of the Vanguard, and having discovered the apertures through which the water gained ingress, succeeded in stopping them, by which means, joined to the assistance afforded by the pumps of the vessel, which, by the bye, were effectively worked by her own engines, she was very soon got off. Another impediment had also to be removed, which was the rocks, that not only sur rounded the vessel, but had actually broken through her bottom ; this was, however, easily effected by means of chisels, hammers, and pickaxes. A tank was then constructed in the vessel, and every other preparation having been completed, four o'clock this morning, owing to the flood tide, was the time ap pointed to make the attempt to bring her away. The Victory having sent out a hawser, it was made fast to . the Vanguard, when, as the rope was drawn to a strain, the vessel floated off without the least difficulty. This is important to observe, that the Vanguard had her own engines at work at the time, and by their means solely was she backed off the rock. The vessel being got out into deep water she floated right well for some time, say about an hour, when the leak be gan to spring again, but not to a great extent. She was towed by the 'Victory towards Spike Island, but when opposite the Buoy it was found necessary to cut her loose, as she would not steer well, by reason of her being attached to the other vessel. This being done, she then made the rest of her way unassisted, and ran in upon the mud bank at Spike, where she now is, waiting for the ensuing tide to bring her up to Passage, where it is said she will be re paired. Of this, however, we cannot speak with cer tainty. The Vanguard is not much injured, in fact, the hull is nearly as sound as when she was turned off the stocks, and her engines also are in complete working condition, which was shown to a nicety in her passage this morning across the Bay to Spike Island. There are some remains of the cargo still on board the vessel, but they are not worth noticing. The surprise is general that a vessel which had suffered so much, and into which the water of every tide had found an extensive entrance, should yet have come off in so comparatively uninjured a condition. When the Vanguard was being backed off this morning, the hawser which had attached her to the Victory was snapped asunder, though nine inches thick, so suddenly did the former vessel glide out into the water from her position on the rock. We understand the Victory was anchored at the time, which was the cause of the occurrence. There was also an accident happened to one of the seamen of the Victory ; when they were taking in the slack of the hawser, it struck the poor fellow in the head, and cut him most severely. That was the only accident which was reported, and is certainly rather singular, considering the number of men em ployed on the occasion, and the unseasonable hour at which they laboured. We cannot close this state ment without offering one or two lines upon the parties who were more immediately interested in the fate of the Vanguard, and who had exerted them selves to get her off. We have already alluded to Captain White's activity and efforts, but we must add, in justice to him, that both were indefatigable. Ever since the vessel had met with the ac cident, Captain White was on the spot, and no matter how inclement the weather, or how arduous the labour,'his duties knew no relaxation. Mr. Taylor, one of the Dublin agents, was also down, and he spared no pains on his own part to get the Vanguard to rights. Captain Hirst also deserves the greatest credit for his exertions ; nothing that could be done did he neglect, while the men under his command showed themselves ready and willing to lend every assistance. We had almost forgotten to mention that Captain M'Kinnon exerted himself very laudably in endeavouring to get the Vanguard off. The exact amount of the damage sustained by the Vanguard has not yet transpired. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ATMO SPHERIC RAILWAY. (From the Leeds Mercury.) M. Hallette, an experienced engineer and maker of steam-engines, at Arras, near Calais, in France, has patented an invention, which he regards as an important improvement on the atmospheric railway of Messrs. Clegg and Samuda, and likely so far to perfect that principle of railway construction as to give it an unquestionable and great superiority over the present methods of constructing and working railways. The subject is of sufficient interest, in these days of railway enterprise, to justify us in en tering somewhat into particulars. THE LATE MURDEROUS ATTACK BY A BAND OF POACHERS ON THE EARL OF COVENTRY'S KEEPERS, AT CROOME.—Yesterday, Superintendent Harris, of the Pershore station, accompanied by Superintendent Pet ford, apprehe n d e d three men in Pershore, suspected of having been concerned in the fatal affray. They are severally named Francis Dingley, Samuel Turvey, and William Brimfield. They were conveyed to Upton, and this day taken for examination before Mr. Stone, but, in consequence of the witnesses being at Worcester, in attendance at the inquest on the body of poor Staite, no evidence was adduced, and they were all remanded till to-morrow. We understand that Turvey and the three other prisoners have already been convicted of poaching, and that strong suspicion exists that all participated in the late deplorable outrage. Government has offered a reward of SOL, in addition to that offered by the trus tee of the Earl of Coventry, for the apprehension and conviction of the murderer of poor Staite, besides a free pardon to any person not being the actual individual who injured the keepers. The Inquest on Staite was commenced yesterday, and after the examination of several witnesses, was adjourned to the 7th of January. —From the Woree.ster Herald of this day. SCILLY.—On Thursday, the 19th instant, the schooner Amy, Johnson, of Ipswich, from Liverpool, with a cargo of salt, in entering, the harbour of New Grimsby, struck on a sunken rock, and before she could be got into the harbour, was obliged to run ashore on the rocks where she filled with water, and the salt in a few tides was entirely dissolved. The vessel, which has since been got off and brought in, has received consider able damage, particulars of which are not yet precisely known. We have now nearly a hundred sail of vessels, in the different harbour; the masters of which, particu: larly those from foreign parts, loudly complain of our want of a regular post communication with the mainland, being anxious to advise their owners, consignees, and friends, of their arrival thus far on their passage home. —West Briton. The means contrived by Clegg and Samuda for attaching the carriages to the piston, was to make a groove along the tube, covered with a leathern flap, which being weighted and covered with wax, allows a cable or bar, connecting the piston with the car riages, to traverse—opening with ease to admit the passage of the cable, and closing after it, so as almost, but nut entirely, to prevent the admission of air. The apparatus is extremely ingenious, but complicated ; it requires the application of a heated iron in advance of the piston, to melt the wax, and a roller following the piston to re-seal it; and it allows of a leakage which the patentees calculate es Equal to fifteen per cent. of the power em ployed to exhaust the air, but which Mr. Robert Stephenson believes to amount to 36 per cent., and even at the higher velocities to 74 per cent. Several of the most eminent engineers, both English and French, have examined the operation of the at mospheric railway, and have reported most favour ably amongst them may be named Messrs. Brunel!, Cubitt, and Gibbons, and also Messrs. Teisserenc and Mallet. The improvement made by M. Hallette is in pro viding a means of opening and closing the longitudinal groove, so as to prevent the loss of power by leakage. He has endeavoured to imitate nature, by providing a pair of flexible lips to the groove, which allow of the passage of the piston bar or cable without admitting the air. It is possible, as every one may find on trial, to pass a quill or pencil between the lips from one side of the mouth to the other, without admitting the least air into the mouth or out of it. M. Hallette has made artificial lips, by disposing along the parallel EFFECTS OF PUSEYISM.—As a proof of the state to which Mr. Blunt has brought matters at Helston, on Sunday morning last the three galleries of the church contained but one adult person besides the organist, although capable of containing two hundred and fifty ; and yet the Bishop says that such men as the curate of Helston are not the least successful of the labourers in Christ's vineyard ! West Briton. orb t r io f i get o ed uf e l s at o e f t l h ly e longitudinal that . the al conca o v v e e oftw two little oenecyclilyindnde cylinders, is opposite to the concave of the other; and, fillimx each cylinder with a kind of hollow gut or tube, of leather or other material impermeable to air, which tubes, being filled with compressed air, and lying in close contact with each other, form a kind of elastic lips, that open like the lips of man, and allow a bar or cable to pass along them without admitting any air into the large tube. Such is the method; and we have seen a letter from M. Hallette to a French gentleman in this town, who acts as his representative, stating that, after ex periments made publicly on a short railway at Arras, he has proved that the artificial lips placed along the groove of the tube hermetically close it, and effec tually prevent the admission of air into the exhausted portion of the tube as the piston passes. His in vention also affords the means of bringing the piston we s i and train to a stand much more quickly than any other system, and of course it is better adapted than any other to the descent of considerable inclinations. M. A rago and other distinguished men of science in France have declared their approbation of M. Hallette's invention ; and a Commission, composed of Messrs. Charles Dupin, Arago, Seguier, Morin, and 4 Piobert, has been appointed to report upon it to the 2i Academie des Sciences. ~.1 If the plan should succeed, it will so cheapen the atmospheric principle of railway as to remove all 2i doubt of its superiority to the use of locomotive .), 5.. l5 paid 10} engines. M. Hallette expects that a stationary 149 engine every five and a quarter miles will suf -90 fice to exhaust the tube, instead of (as by Clegg 228 k and Samuda's plan) an engine every two and a 7i third miles. If the invention should realise the 52 expectations formed of it, all the advantages of paid 7si the present atmospheric railway will be realised in a d. paid l7i higher degree. Railways might be carried over ele -12 vations of more than 400 yards; and of course the 1i necessity for tunnels, embankments, and cuttings 4 1 would be nearly done away, and the expense of the I paid 53 construction of railways would be exceedingly dimi -114 nished. Much lighter rails might be used, as the 7i enormous locomotives (which chiefly require the rails 58 134 to be so strong and heavy) would be done away ; aid 4O/ and much lighter carriages would also suffice, be -24 cause collisions would be impossible. The risk of accidents would be reduced to the smallest possible Lid )aid amount. The trains would pass without noise, and with very little vibration. The expense of work ing the trains would be exceedingly diminished ; there would be no need for the large workshops and the great numbers of first-rate mechanics on rail ways. Should the invention succeed, it will furnish a means of cheap and rapid traction on canals and rivers, and may be applied to many other purposes of great utility. We understand that patents have been taken out for M. Hallette's invention in England,'Scotland, and Ireland. If any of our readers should wish further information on the subject, we have no doubt that M. Chevalier, of this town, who acts for M. Hallette would immediately supply it. LORD ELLENBORO UGH. (From the Morning Herald.) Tr. fmr re , . A:1;z ni , p^tr! ,l o. brought out to prejudice the defence of the late Go vernor-General of India, and upon the equally dis graceful use made of that pamphlet by the Times, we said that it was neither our duty nor our wish to in culpate the Court of Directors. We have to-day the gratifying opportunity to acquit these gentlemen of all suspicion of any connexion with the author of that pamphlet, or with his usher and auxiliary in the Times. One and all the Directors disclaim a knowledge of the author of the pamphlet or of the Times' writer. The suspicion on the subject that in the minds of some thoughtless persons for a moment attached to the Honourable Court, has upon their indignant dis- I claimer, devolved upon Lord Auckland, we believe I unjustly. Lord Auckland, whatever his other quali fications for the high office that he lately held, is a man of honour ; and no man of honour could involve himself in this dirty affair, were there not other insur mountable barriers between Lord Auckland and the Times. There is no reason, indeed, to suppose that the pamphleteer and his usher (if they are not the same person) rank in station, as he or they certainly do not rank in ability or honesty, above the common class of mean and spiteful persons who constitute the order of writers of " letters to the Times," and " own correspondents" of the Times. It is as easy to mag nify a dismissed and discontented footman into an Indian Director or an ex-Governor-General, as to multiply a raw chaplain into " three naval officers" of experience. As in the case of the Indian Directors, so in the case of Lord Auckland, we are unwilling to identify the vindication of Lord Ellenborough with the condemnation of another. The conduct of the Noble Earl has substantive merits of its own quite sufficient to support his claim to the honours which his Sovereign has conferred upon him, and to the gratitude which his country will render in full mea sure when the whole truth shall be known, without borrowing aid from the errors of his predecessor in office. Of those errors we should not say one word on the present occasion were not a reference to their effect rendered necessary by the impudent falsehood asserted by the Times, that the Earl of Ellenborough found a triumphant campaign prepared for him upon his arrival in India. A few words, indeed, will suffice to confirm the expectation of victory ! and triumph 11 which we have already given in the glow ing language of General Napier. A few words will prove that if Lord Auckland was preparing for his successor a triumphant campaign, he was preparing it by an arrangement for an ignominious and a final re treat. On the 3d of December, 1841, Lord Auck land, anticipating the fall of Cabul, addressed a dis patch to Sir Jasper Nioolls, stating that, as after Cabul had fallen, there would be no inducement "to retain the remainder of the country, it would become the duty of the military and political officers so to shape their measures as would best promote the end of retiring with the least possible discredit." What a preparation for a triumphant campaign ! The fall of Cabul followed; and on the 10th of February, 1842, Lord Auckland directed General Pollock to confine himself to measures for withdrawing with safety from Jellalabad (the walls of which, accord ing to the Times, were "impregnable") the garrison in that place, to Peishwar, not very obscurely tender-, ing Jellalabad to the Sikh's Durbar as the price of their co-operation, or, at least, neutrality. Again, on the 15th of the same month, Lord Auckland ordered General Pollock to direct all his efforts and measures to the withdrawal of Sir Robert Sale's force from Jellalabad with the least possible delay ; and, on the 24th, Lord Auckland distinctly suggested the neces sity of ransoming, by the payment of money, the prisoners in the hands of Akbar Khan—a degrading proposition, which it is now audaciously asserted was first conceived by Lord Auckland's successor. Lord Auckland, indeed, recommended economy in the bar gain, but still he proposed to ransom them with gold, not, as the old Roman said, " with steel :" that was left for Lord Ellenborough. The fate of the armies insulated in western Aff ghanistan was manifestly regarded as desperate by Lord Auckland, for not a single dispatch was in the awful crisis addressed to Ghuznee, to Kelat-i-Ghilzie, or Candahar—not one measure adopted for the relief of the thousands of gallant men dispersed in these in sulated and remote positions—they were abandoned. Compared with this the oblivion of the treaty of Lahore, of which Lord Auckland then gave proof, was a slight testimony to his Lordship's utter despair. This was the state of preparation for a triumphant campaign, in which Lord Auckland left the British arms in India. Our readers will not be displeased with another extract from General Napier's work, depicting the state in which Lord Ellenborough found his new Government, military as well as civil : " Lord Ellenborough arrived too late to prevent, but in time to remedy, the most dangerous evils menacing India from his predecessor's impolicy, which he denounced in a vigorous proclamation, designed as a warning to future Governors. The beacon burned bright, but the flame spread too wide, and scorched many, whose cries have never ceased, though few men, not personally interested, regard them. Previous to his coming the ship was rocking in the shallows ; but when his strong hand was felt she ceased to strike the sands, and, answering to the helm, was steered into deep water. Nevertheless, the very men whose political iniquity had then brought India to the verge of ruin, are now, with incredible effrontery, imputing all their own crimes and absurdities to him, and most especially in what relates to Sinde ; wherefore it is fitting to state exactly his share of the subsequent transactions in that country, and leave judgment to the common sense of mankind. " He found the public mind confused with terror by the Cabul catastrophe, the surrender of Ghuznee, the blockade of Kandahar, and the seeming inability of General Pollock to relieve Jellalabad. Colonel England was soon afterwards defeated by an inferior force at Hykultzie, and fell back to Quettah, leaving General Nott, as it was supposed, to certain destruction. He found the finances embarrassed, the civil and poli tical services infested with men greedy of gain, gorged with insolence, disdaining work, and inti ma t e ly con nected with the infamous press of India, which they supplied with official secrets, receiving in return shameful and shameless support; for, thus combining, they thought to control the Governor-General, and turn the resources of the State to their sordid profit." We will now give from the pamphlet of his Lord ship's accuser an account of Lord Ellenborough's proceedings upon his arrival : The earliest impressions and earliest declarations of Lord Ellenborough were such as became a British Governor-General. Soon after his arrival at Calcutta he addressed the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Jasper Nicolls, in language well suited to the circumstances which surrounded him. Whatever course,' it is observed, we may hereafter take, must rest solely upon military considerations, and have in the first instance regard to the safety of the detached bodies of our troops in Jellalabad, at Ghuznee, at Khelat-i- Ghilzie, and Candahar ; and, finally, to the re-esta blishment of our military reputation, by the infliction of some signal and decisive blow upon the Affghans, which may make it appear to them, to our subjects, and to our allies, that we have the power of inflicting punishment upon those who commit atrocities and violate their faith, and that we withdraw ultimately from Affghanistan, not from any deficiency of means to maintain our position, but because we are satisfied that the king we have set up has riot, as we were er roneously led to imagine, the support of the nation over which he has been placed.' In a subsequent part of the same letter his Lordship adds, We should con sider that the object of striking a decisive blow at the Affghans—a blow which might establish our military character beyond the Indus, and leave a deep impres sion of our power, and of the vigour with which it would be applied to punish an atrocious enemy, would be one for which risk might be justifiably incurred, all due and possible precaution being taken to insure de cisive success.' " " We believe," adds the Times, " there is no Eng lishman who would not fully approve these sentiments of the new Governor-General; although we must confess that we should have liked them better .had they been accompanied with less general theory and more of sound practical direction." A State manifesto is, however,'not "an order of the day," and " practical directions" would be as much out of place in the one as mere theory would be in the other ; and if we are to regard the address to the com mander-in-chief as au instruction, it is just such an instruction as a wise man always issues to a subordi nate in whom he has the proper confidence : I tell you what you are to do as your end ; it is for you to arrange and direct the means. But waiving any pro test against the military criticism of the Times, the question is, did the Earl of Ellenborough accomplish all that he proposed to accomplish, and what it be came a British Governor to propose ? Did he accom plish this real miracle of recovery and restoration honourably, effectually, and without any unnecessary expenditure of blood, of money, or of time ? We know that he effected it all in one —no, it were in justice to call it one—in several simultaneous cam paigns ; all closed within the compass of a few months, and all closed with uniformly brilliant success. This, we repeat, is the only question—was the Governor's success complete and prompt, and obtained with. out any treachery to ally or enemy—without an unnecessary exposure of his soldiers—or a pro digal outlay of money ? If this question he an swered, as it must be answered, in the affirma tive, we are not concerned to inquire how his Lord ship achieved such glorious results. " The infamous press of India," as General Napier most truly calls it, followed by an almost equally infamous part of the press of London, dogged all the Governor- General's measures, found a fault, of course, in every measure which their imagined fulness of knowledge and self-supposed profoundness of saga city could not comprehend, in all its motives and its purposes, and where they could not, with all the help of ignorance and self-conceit, find a fault, they invented one; but their blundering misappothensions and falsehoods make up the whole of the articles of impeachment against Lord Ellen horougb - 1i r ' (Sc " the infamuu6 pi t-sb" of 1842 are treated as Ind . :, • putable history by the infamous press of 1844. If a general in one place was, from want of carriages, disabled from advancing—the Earl of Ellen borough vacillated. If the heat of an Indian summer incapacited the army of another general for active operations, again the Earl of Ellenborough " vacil lated." If a derangement of one branch of a com • bined movement, which must he combined in order to ensure success, caused a general pause, it was all the vacillation of the Governor-General. Our readers would be incompetent to comprehend a detail of all the difficulties and chances of a complicated csm paign, if we were capable of offering such a detail ; but this we certainly are not; but we can point to a few of the incidents that are carefully suppressed by those who ascribe every delay and every variation in the military movements of 1842 to Lord Ellen borough's vacillation. Hear General Pollock on the 20th of April, after being some time delayed by the want of carriages : " I have maturely considered the question of our advance by the road to Cabul, and I confess that I see too many difficulties to warrant our risking such a course. The forces I have the honour to command, if well supplied, is ready to march anywhere, and if I could have advanced by the route of Candahar, our success would be certain." Experience of the difficulties and risk of a rigid plan of operations led the Governor-General on the Ist of June to address the following letter to General Pollock : " AIR. MADDOCK TO MAJOR-GENERAL POLLOCK. " Allahabad, June 1, 1842. " I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, and to express the extreme regret of the Governor-General that your army should be so deficient in carriage as you represent, and thus unable to move. " 2. The retirement of your army immediately after the victory gained by Sir Robert Sale, the forcing of the Khyber Pass, and the relief of Jellala bad, would have had the appearance of a military ope ration successfully accomplished, and even trium phantly achieved. " 3. Its retirement, after six months of inaction, before a following army of Affghans, will have an appearance of a different and less advantageous cha racter. " 4. It would be desirable, undoubtedly, that be. fore quitting Affghanistan, you should have an oppor tunity of striking a blow at the enemy; and since circumstances seem to compel you to remain there till October, the Governor-General earnestly hopes that you may be enabled to draw the enemy into a position in which you may strike such a blow effec tually. You have already full powers to do every thing you may deem necessary for the comfort of your troops, and for their efficiency. • " 8. It will be for your consideration whether your large army, one-half of which would beat, in open field, everything that could be brought against it in Affghanistan, should remain entirely inactive during the period which must now apparently elapse before it can finally retire. Although you may not have, or soon be able to procure, the means of moving your whole army, you may possibly be able to move a part of it rapidly against some portion of the enemy's force incautiously exposed, and of giving it a severe blow." In the same way the Governor-General writes to General Nott : " If you should be enabled by a coup-de-main to get possession of Ghuznee and Cabul, you will act as you see fit, and leave decisive proofs of the power of the British army, without impeaching its humanity. You will bring away from the tomb of Mahmood of Ghuz nee his club, which hangs over it ; arid you will bring away the gates of his tomb, which are the gates of the Temple of Somnauth. These will be the just trophies of your successful march." But we Will not suffer ourselves to be misled, or mislead our readers into an investigation for which we are both incompetent; though as our inquiries would be honest and modest, not quite so incompetent as the " infamous Ness" by which Lord Ellenborough has been assailed. We have already laid before the readers of the Herald the opinion of General Napier as to the military policy of Lord Ellenborough. We will now refer them to a still higher authority—the highest military authority in the world, or probably that ever was in the world—the Duke of Wellington. On the first night of the session of 1843 the Duke of Wellington offered the following spontaneous testi mony to the services of Lord Ellenborough in India:— " I have seen something of Governors• General, and I know a little of military affairs, and I say I stand here prepared, and shall be ready any day to justify, every order or movement one way or other which the Governor-General gave, from the moment he took upon him the administration of the Government of India up to the present moment. My Lords, lam ready to do that, and let the Noble Lord come and make any charges he please against my Noble Friend the Governor-General—let him make them when he pleases, and I shall be ready to reply to them. My Lords, I say that the Governor-General, as soon as he took the Government, did as much as he was able to do according to the state of preparation which he found there at the moment. He could do no more than he did. Every order he gave, whether to halt or to march, was an order absolutely necessary for the safety of the troops at the moment, and that not occasioned by any act or omission • of his, but by acts done, or omitted to be done, previously to his ar rival. My Lords, I am at least obliged to say thus much in defence of an absent servant of the Crown, who I firmly believe has done his duty to the public." With this testimonial in his hand, the Earl of El lenborough can well afford to smile at his anony mous pamphleteer accusers and at the military critics of the Times. DEATH FROM THE INCLEMENCY OF THE WEATHER. A sad instance of the vicissitudes to which the poor are exposed, and of their many trials, happened last week. A man named John Matthews, belonging to the parish of Brinkworth, and who had been com mitted to the New Prison here, for two months, for having left his wife and children chargeable to the parish, was discharged on Wednesday, the 11th inst., his term of imprisonment having expired. The weather was then, as our readers no doubt recollect, bitterly cold, and he was most miserably clad, h av i n g e xc h ange d his warm woollen prison dress for his own clothes— mere rags ; the upper garments cons i s ti ng o f an o ld waistcoat and a thin slop. He was also suffering from a diseased heart, a complaint of long standing. On leaving the prison he had a loaf of bread and four pence given him for his sustenance on the road home —a distance of nearly twenty miles. Ile had pro ceeded only about three miles when he was driven by the cold into a public-house —the Bell at St. Edith's Marsh—where, in order to have the benefit of the ire, he purchased a little beer and ate part of his loaf. Soon after leaving this house he found himself unable to proceed, and took shelter in a skilling near the road, in which there happened to be some straw ; here, according to his own account, he remained from the Wednesday evening till the Monday morn ing, during a most intense frost, and having nothing to eat excepting the remaining portion of the loaf which was given him on leaving the prison ! On the Monday morning he left his shelter and crawled to the Shoulder of Mutton public-house at Bromham, where he was taken care of by the landlord, who is overseer of the parish, and who, on the Wednesday afternoon, conveyed him in a comfortable covered cart to the union-house at Malmesbury, where he was im mediately taken in, placed in the sick ward, and where every attention was paid him. On reaching Malmesbury he appeared in pretty good spirits, but was unable to walk, his feet being so badly frost bitten that Mr. Jeston, the medical attendant, de clared he must lose them. On Saturday night he expired. An inquest was held on Tuesday, when a verdict was returned of " Died from the inclemency of the weather."— Wilts Independent. NEW MERCEIANT SEAMEN'S ACT. —On Wednesday next the New Merchant Seamen's Act will come into force. There are sixty-five sections and several sche dules in the Statute. During the present month sea men in the merchant service have obtained tickets of registration from the office: near the Tower. From the Ist proximo no seaman can be taken to sea without the requisite ticket, under a penalty of 101. The Act is "to amend and consolidate the laws relating to merchant sea men, and for keeping a register of seamen." By the preamble it is declared that the prosperity, strength, and safety of the United Kingdom and her Majesty's domi nions depend greatly on a large, constant, and ready supply of seamen, and that it is expedient to promote the increase of the number of seamen, and to afford them encouragement and protection ; and it is fur ther declared to be expedient to keep a register of seamen. Agreements are to be made in writing between master and seamen, stating the situations, wages, and length of service of the men. Parish boys may be sent to sea, with their consent, or boys soliciting alms. No seaman is to be discharged abroad, nor to be abandoned or left behind, without the sanction of the consul of the place, as great mischief has been caused by such proceedings, the poor men having been reduced to great distress, and have, according to the language of the Act, been tempted to become pirates. By the 64th section it is provided that if any person being a Malay, Lascar, or native of the territories under the government of the East India Company, or if any Asiatic or African seaman, having been brought to the United Kingdom on board any ship, shall be found to be in the United Kingdom in distress for want of food, clothing, or other necessaries, the Commissioners of the Admiralty may supply such assistance to every person or seaman, and to maintain him until he shall be sent on board some ship to be taken back to the place from whence he was shipped. The assistance rendered is to become a debt, and may be recovered from the owner or master of the ship on board whereof such person or seaman was brought to the United Kingdom from Asia ! or Africa. PROGRESS OF THE IMPROVE MENTS AT BIRKENHEAD. T On Saturday last we took a raieble through the town and township of Birkenhead, in order to ascer tain, by personal inspection, whether the public works commenced with so much spirit a couple of months since were proceeding with equal vigour. On landing at the Woodside slip, we found that the first thing that engages the attention is a long double row of solid piles, one row driven into the bed of the river, and the other into the pier, forming a stage for the laying of the blocks of stone for the addition to the pier. The work is proceeding very expeditiously; it is now nearly half finished, and when completed will add greatly to the comfort and satiety of pas sengers, by furnishing a shelter from the wind and waves in all kinds of weather, and from whatever point the wind may blow. To the north of the landing slip there are similar evidences of activity. A great number of workmen are employed in excavating the 16-acre basin and beaching ground, in cutting the foundation of the walls, and in excavating the new cut into Wallasey Pool, so that vessels may have a temporary pas sage up and down until the low-water basin is completed. To facilitate these operations, an enor mous embankment of clay and rubble-stone has been thrown up. This keeps out the tide, and enables the men to proceed with their work uninterruptedly, The wharf walls on the west side of the 16-acre basin are also building. Further north, and at the termination of the embankment above alluded to, a still larger, though only temporary work is in pro gress. This is the construction of an enormous cof fer-dam, which will inclose a space of about 75 acres, within which the main body of the works will be erected. This coffer-dam will run from the termi nation of the embankment down to low-water mark in about an easterly direction, and in a northerly line up to Wallasey Pool. The huge piles are driven into the soft bed of the river by a steam engine ; the opposite piles are connected by an iron rod ; on the piles are nailed strong planks, and within the space thus formed, which is several yards in breadth, clay from the adjoining land is thrown. This clay, saturated every day by the inrushing waters, as it is deposited, settles down into a solid mass, which will, when sufficiently lofty, be impervious to the waters of the Mersey, and enable the men to carry. on their operations undisturbed by the flow of the river. Commencing at the south-west corner, two lines of the coffer-dam, one running towards the river and the other towards the pool, have already been carried to a very great length, and the work is conducted with all possible vigour and expedition. Altogether, we believe, there are about 2,000 men employed on the docks ; but it will be seen, from what we have stated, that a large portion of the work now going on is only temporary, and intended to enable the contractor to finish the docks in the least possible space of time. Mr. Tamer, son-in-law of Mr. Tomkinson, the contractor, superintends the works. Admission here is, of course, denied to those who are not on business; but even though this were not the case, we would not advise any one who has not the habits and costume of a " navigator" to plunge into this strange, but slip pery, sloppy, and comfortless-looking place. It is, no doubt, very interesting to watch the progress of such vast works, and observe the means by which they are accomplished; but it is not very pleasant to walk on sodden clay, or in the slimy bed of the river, where nothing but a pair of navigator's boot will keep out the water. To the west of this scene of activity there is another of a ome what different character. Along th e fielyis lying between Corpration- road and Wallasey I' ol and forming the sire of the range r f warehouses pro posed to be built by the Birkenhead Dock Warehous ing Company, about 200 men are employed in Jigging and preparing clay, wherewith tv make the bricks for the contemplated warehouses. Cky is found here in great abundance, and close to the surface. Jr. some places the men have already cut to the de th of about seven feet, and still meet with solid clay. Huge b;iis ef it, already excavated, lie scattered about, for an immense distance up tie road. In other parts sf the township, also, great preparationc for brick-making are going on, and in some places large kilns are burning. In passing along Bridge-street, the visitor will see on his right hand, nearly opposite the end of Lord street, what he will no doubt regard as a rather singular structure. It is a large building, constructed altogether of iron, and the men are now engaged in fixing up the iron roof. The length of the building is about 180 feet, and its breadth about forty feet. In the west front there are two rows of windows, thirty six in number, and part of th e l ower row are filled in with iron strips, so as to form an imitation of Venetian blinds. This structure, we believe, is building by Messrs. Fox, Henderson, and Co., of Birmingham, for the Messrs. Sandbach, of this town, and is intended as a sugar refinery and rum manufactory. Passing a little farther on, in the direction of the Pool, the ears are saluted with the clang of a hundred hammers. This noise proceeds from the iron ship building and boiler-making establishment of Mr. John Laird—a most interesting place to visit even on ordinary occasions, but at the present time particularly so, as there is now in course of erection in the y ar d a first-class iron steam-frigate, the frame-work of which is fast approaching completion. The length of this vessel is 210 feet, its breadth 37 feet 6 inches, and its depth 23 feet. Viewed externally, its size is very great, but on mounting the scaffolding that surrounds it, and looking from its bow down into it (there being nothing to intercept the view from stem to stern), its magnitude seems surprisingly great. The view, too, from this point is most interesting. In the midst of this huge iron valley (forsuch it seems) a num ber of fires are blazing up, the blast being communicated to them by an air tube carried through the vessel, and worked by a steam-engine in the yard; whilst ever and anon white hot rivets are snatched from the fire by the Cyclopean workmen, and inserted in the rivet toles of the plates, and then there is a ceaseless clang of a hundred hammers, beating them in, making altogether a din which, reverberated from the sides of the iron vessel, is for a time nearly deafening. What would our forefathers have thought at such an enormous mass of iron floating on the seas ? and how would they have marvelled had they been told that such a vessel was lighter] than one constructed of wood ? The frigate, above her water line, is built flush, which, of course, adds to the elegance of her appearance, and it does not deteriorate from her strength, although it adds considerably to the amount of the labour. Her engines, which will be the com mon beam engines, will be of 550-horse power. They are being constructed by Mr. George For rester and Co., of this town. She is intended to carry two enormous guns, 220 pounders, one forward and one aft. In the interior of this establishment other processes are going on, such as the preparation of plates for the frigate by sinking and counter-sinking, &c., which is done with astonishing facility by the means of power ful machinery—the construction of boilers, and of iron boats for the shallow rivers of India, similar -to those which were built by Mr. Laird a short time ago. An iron steamer for the South-Eastern Rail way Company intended to ply, in connexion with that line, between Folkstone and B ou l ogne , i s a l so a b out to be built here. Her model shows that she will be an extremely swift and beautiful boat. Her length will be 150 feet, her breadth 22 feet, and her depth 11 feet. Her engines will be of 140-horse power. Turning off from this establishment, where every facility and information was cheerfully afforded to us by the manager, we passed through several newly laid-out streets, well designed as to direction, of ample width, macadamised in the centre, and. having good footways, and saw at nearly every step workmen occupied in the finishing or erection of houses—all, apparently, quite as neatly and substantially built as those of Liverpool—and, getting into Conway street, entered the new park at the road leading from the corner of Park-street East. This is a work which, as much as any other undertaken by the commissioners of Birkenhead, indicates a wise forethought and attention to the health and recreation of the inhabitants, and it is one whieh will increase in utility and be more highly appreciated as building extends and population in creases. In the park, notwithstanding the frost, a large number of men still find abundance of occupation, chiefly in the formation of the ground, so as to give to it a diversified and picturesque appearance, in the making of carriage and cr oss roa d s , an d in the lay ing of drains. The site was originally a gently rising flat, having scarcely a single undulation of any bold ness in its whole extent; and the visitor who, remem bering this fact, plunges across the park, so as to include in his course the two lakes, will have good reason to admire the skill which has been displayed in the laying out of the ground. When standing in the bed or on the frozen water of the site of the great lake, the earth works in its neighbourhood appear to be of vast dimensions, and even when rambling among what appear to be chains of hills, the height of some of them appears to be very considerable The object sought has been obtained—that of making a considerable undulation of surface, so as, when planted, to make a pleasant landscape --to afford pic turesque views, and provide that charming variety of open and secluded walks which will entice even the most indolent to exert themselves, and the most listless to admire the combination of artificial skill and natural beauty. We could see, even in the depth'of winter, and having within view nothing but heaps of bare earth, spots that will be most lovely and attractive when grass has grown, when flowers, and plants, and trees are springing up, and a glorious summer sun is shining above. Returning from the second or smaller lake to the central road, which leads in a slightly curving line up to Mount Claughton, you come to another range of hills, which line the road for a considerable distance up, on the left-hand side. Some of these are of considerable elevation ; others sink so as to give glimpses of those in the vicinity of the larger lake. About half-way up this fine broad road, it is crossed by paths winding to the right and WI. To Lille right there cvend&l cha:apaign view, and to the left a view of the whole of the artificial hillS, which now assume an amphitheatrical form, and which, when planted, will no doubt look extremely beautiful. At the head of this road, and seated on the height of the rising ground, is Claughton Hall—a mansion now in course of erection by Mr. William Jackson. It is large, built of fine white free-stone, and is alto gether a beautiful structure. Even at this distance from the town of Birken head, there is a good deal of building going on, the houses erected consisting chiefly of large and handsome ones in rows or of detached villas. In Grosvenor-road, two blocks of fifteen neat, stone fronted, and substantial dwellings, are just on the eve of completion. In the front, they have a good-sized garden-plot, and they command an extensive and varied prospect, in the foreground of which is the new park. The aspect of the latter from this point is not, as might be anticipated, as yet very prepossessing; but when the black mounds are planted, and the work of the gardener has been finished, it will be wonder fully improved. Skirting the township along the road, you come to a point where there are ways leading to Clif ton-park, Holt-hill, and Oxton- hill ; but we kept to the left, and entered Grange-lane. Here two good-sized hotels and a considerable number of dwelling-houses and shops have been erected. One of the hotels has as its landlord Mr. Smith, who for many years kept a house just above the Woodside Ferry. An old-fashioned farm-house just below, which was a short time ago isolated and rural looking, now looks completely out of place, and presents a curious contrast to the new and modern-built erection in its vicinity. On . approaching the town, the evidences of pro gression multiply amazingly; and it is not a little startling to see on every hand houses which, but a brief time ago, were supposed to be country residences, with their garden plots and green-houses, now form • ing a portion of a long and unbroken line of street, and perhaps having in proximity to them a handsome shop, with plate-glass windows and so brilliantly lighted that the plants in the adjoining green-house may at least have artificial light, if they have been in some measure deprived of that of the sun. In the principal streets of Birkenhead the shops are extremely good ; many of them would now be con sidered very handsome here , and the occupiers seem determined, in fitting up and Mocking them, not to be surpassed even on this side of the Mersey. The new market is fast approaching completion. With the exception of the cornice, the outer walls are complete; the interior, which is fitted up with iron, will shortly be finished, and men are now engaged in laying the iron roof. Notwithstand ing the doubt recently expressed, the walls seemed to us abundantly strong. The total cost of con structing this handsome building will be from 17,000/. to 20,0001., and the Commissioners have already let a sufficient quantity of stalls to produce a rental of 1,600/. a year. EXTRAORDINARY CASE, IF TRUE.—On Wednes day night, about ten, Mr. Barry, a gentleman residing at 67, Lower Gardiner-street, discovered an interesting looking young woman on the steps of his hall-door, nearly naked, and almost dead with cold. lle, in the most humane manner, procured her clothes, and had her taken to Saekville-place station-house., where every at tention was paid to her, and, after setee time, the recu• vered, and told the following story:--t- , 'he said her name aas Anne Reilly, mid that. she catee from a called Thornville, near Dundalk, in the county of Louth, and that she was on her way to gee her brother, who is a cabinet-maker at Kin stow n ; that about four o'clock in the evening she arrived by one of the Swords' ears, e as set down near a bridge, adjoining the city, and met a respeetahle-looking young woman, from on she in quired could sle. rei.omriestl her ton decent - lodging. The young woman, in reply, said she could, and brone-ht her to a house where there were three young girls, and a middle-aged wetnam, - 4% iih A dark mark on her face. About six o'cloek silo partook of tea. She then became quite stupid, as she alleges, from the effect of some drug, and went to bed, where she immediately fell asleep. About nine o'clock, when she awoke, she found herself standing in a lane, with her back against a wall, almost naked. She afterwards made her way to the steps of Mr. Barry's hall-door, where she was found by that gen tleman. When she went into the house, she had in her possession a thirty-shilling note, a sovereign, and three half-crowns, beside a blue cloth cloak, large cape, a white straw bonnet, a blue cashmere new frock, two petticoats, a pair of black cloth boots, a pair of shoes (single tie), .a pair of gray worsted stockings, a pair of white ditto, a pair of stays, a yard of white muslin, tied round the bonnet ; all of which were taken from her. She gave a very minute description of the parties alluded to, but could not tell the locality of the house. The police were in search of the parties all day on Thursday ; but up to a late hour they were not successful in discovering any of them.—Freeman. Between eight and nine o'clock on Monday night, a stack of wood, of very large dimensions, containing several thousand faggots, situate by the road-side near Sawbridgeworth, in Herts, was discovered to be on fire ; and after a short time it was completely destroyed. The stack was the property of Mr. Barnard, maltster, and there is little doubt it was wilfully set on fire. The conflagration was distinctly observed here.—Chelmsford Chronicle. EXTRAORDINARY SHIPWRECK.—The Esk trader, Captain Stokes, left Newcastle on Saturday aft e r n o on , shortly before high-water, on her voyage to London, with a valuable general cargo. She was towed by two powerful steamers from the usual berth at Newcastle- quay down the river, and on rounding the Whitehill point, near Shields, she grounded, in consequence of taking the point too closely, on a rocky bank, which ex tends some distance into the river. She heeled round and was tevved off, as was supposed, with little damage. The steamers towed her slowly down the river and across the bar, without any leak being discovered. She being supposed all light, went to sea. The wind blowing from the east, it was desirable to give her what is called "a good offing," and she was towed out about seven miles. The steamers then left her, and in about an hour afterwards it was discovered that she was making water rapidly. The pumps were entirely useless against the rapid progress of water, and the long-boat was launched, into whick the crew had just time to get when the Esk went down. The crew were unable to save anything, and had they not. been prompt in launch ing and getting into the boat, all hands would have suffered. It was broad daylight, and several other ves sels we: e near, into one of which the crew was taken. It is supposed the vessel was strained by getting on the bank. and the heaving of the sea caused her to spring a bulk-head." It is somewhat remarkable that a vessel belonging to the same company, also called the Esk, likewise foundered at sea, when all hands perished, in her voyage from Newcastle to London, some years ago, and the vessel which foundered on Saturday was built to supply her place.—Doncaster CHANNEL ISLAND SPERITS.......The Commissioners of the Customs linve rec,Ared a letter from Mr. Trive!yan, one of the Seeretarit s t the Lords of thy' Treasury, signifying that, having laid before their Lordships the BoAl d's report on a memorial praying that the duty on certain Channe 1 Island spirits may be paid according to the quantity ascertained after vatting, instead of toat ascertained at the time of importation, he (Mr. Trevelyan) was commanded to comninnicate to the Board their Lordship's concurrence in the course recommended by them, and to desire that they would cause information to that effect to be given to the parties interested. And the Commissioners, adverting to the course recommended by them, alluded to by their Lordships— viz., that duty should be charged upon all deficiencies of Guernsey and Jersey spirits ascertained to have arisen between the period of importation and that of the re gauge, prior to their reduction in strength, under the Excise regulations, for home use, but 'hat no duty shall be charged on any deficiency arising from such process, orders have been issued that the memorialist, and others by whom applications have been addressed to their Lordships, be apprised accordingly, and copies of this order have been furnished to the revenue officers at the several docks and other stations, for their information and future government. A PUBLIC THANKSGIVING DAY IN AMERICA. — A Boston paper makes the following estimate of the good things consumed by the people of Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day, viz.:—" 5,000 ducks, 130,000 chick ens, 20,000 geese, 35,000 turkeys, 50,0001b5. of beef, pork, and other meats, 25,000 bushels of potatoes, 28,000 bush els of turnips, 8,000 beets, 10,000 bushels of onions, 20,0001b5. of cheese, '25,000 gallons of apple sauce, 2,000 gallons of cranberry sauce, 737,499 pumpkin pies, 100,000 apple pies, mince pies 25,000, other pies, 75,000, and eggs 1,000,000. In the preparation of the above there would be used, at a rough estimate, 80 hhds. of mo lasses, 100 boxes of Havannah sugar, 100,0001bs of all spice, ginger, cloves, nutmegs, and other spices, 900 bar rels of flour, 90,0001b5. of butter and lard, and 600 hhds. of milk." A New York paper says—" If the 'tarnal Yan kees gormandise at this rate, it is worthy of considera tion whether New York ought not, in self-defence, to hold her Thanksgiving earlier. As the case now stands, we are a fortnight later than Massachusetts, Connec ticut, &c., and have to take our chance out of what they have left." HORRIBLE OCCURRENCE.—On Saturday week the wife of a person named David Monteath, one of the cot tars on the farm of Ingleston, in the parish of Irongray, went to the farm mansion, nearly a qtaarter of a mile distant, without the proper precaution of shutting the door, leaving within a child from three to four years of age, and an infant, two months old, in the cradle. During her absence a brood sow, the property of one of the adjoining cotters, entered the dwelling, when the child left with the infant ran out from a sense of danger, as we presume. Its cries soon attracted the notice of the person to whom the sow belonged, who immediately made towards the scene ; but, shocking to mention, upon reaching the door of the cottage she found the sow shaking and tearing the little innocent. No time was lost in rescuing the infant from the savage beast, but before this could be done its cheeks, neck, and arms were sadly lacerated. A medical gentleman was pro cured as soon as possible, and upon first inspection he thought the little one would not lone, survive. We under stand, however, that it is still living - , though in a very precarious state. Even should the accident not prove fatal, the disfigurement that must follow the severe in juries it has received will prove very distressitig. Such an occurrence should serve as a cautitm to mothers not to leave their little ones unprotected. The poor child is still alive, but suffers very much.—Dumfries Courier. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New , Price Current of Dec. 28.) !'3* • •• ;-,, . , ' we itavt‘ few tr a n sact io us to report, and our remarks are necessarily brief. On Wednesday, however, busi ng will be resumed ; at pr es e n t f ew auct i ons are declared• The arrivals have increased from all parts since this do week. In the early part of the new year, a m aterial increase in the demand for Produce for home consuel; tion it is expected w ill t a k e pl ace , stoc k s i n seco nd hex" being small, and less than at this period in 1843. SUGAR.-The West India Sugar market has bees closed all the week ; but business will be resumed ?! Wednesday, when 100 hhds of Barbadoes will be self' witted to public competition. REFINED Sugar is wanted by the hone trade, and ill supply at market being small, prices have an upwn tendency ; several purcha ses ma d e b y the town au country trade upon the foll ow i ng t erms : -B ro wn Lump s at 72s to 72s 6d, standa r d l umps 73 s t o 733 6 Tittlers low to mid 72s to 73s 6d, good 741 t° 755, fine 76s to 83s, Hamburgh loaves 733 to 81s, double ditto 82s to 90s, an d wet lumps 701 to 7 1g per cwt. Refined is cheap in proportion to raw Suga r there is a difference in the value of fine yellow W es India and standard lumps of only 5s per cwt. MAURITIUS.-By private contract some parcels have been disposed of at firm rates ; the quantity at market at present is small, but ere long it will be increased, I , " vessels having arrived with 21.749 bags and 420 est The stock exceeds that of' last year by 9,371 bags ".A quote good and fine yellow 59 s to 66 5 , m id an d g ood ra.„. l " 55s to 58s, low 53s to:s4s, goo d an d fi ne b row n 49s 525, and inferior 44s to 48s per cwt. EAST INDIA.-Bengal is wanted, and the rates Pai d by private contract are rath er a b ove t h ose o f the lase auctions for white and yellow ; b rown h as sus t a ined "' ,e former currency. We quote the white 683 to 695 ' good middling and good 63s 6d to 65s 6d, middling 615 to 688, common 58s to 60s ; brown, low to middling 416 .. ' to 455, good and fine 46s to 49 5 , l ow yellow 50s to 5 ." middling 54s to 575, good m iddli ng an d go od 58s to 635, and fine 64s to 70s p er cw t. S ever al Wee k have arrived since this d a y wee k, an d the stet shows an increase over that of l ast year of 5 9,641 bags. Holders of Forei g n f ree -l a b our Sugar en the tain a favourable opinion towa r d s it, an d s upPlY L • market sparingly. There are seve ra l purc h ase rs of Mg t; milts rather under former rates, but holders refusing s sell thereat, check business ; g oo d y e ll ow i s worth 19 0 to 19s ed per cwt. Java cannot be purchased but at t e . rates. There are, however, not man y b uyers at prase" The stock is a small one. lest FOREIGN.-Holders of all descriptions still nice l „ firmness, and supply the m ar k e t s p aring l y . In 11 0 "; nab there has been little business transacted, but me., chants will not sell exceptin g a t ver y f u ll rates ; if theA would take rather lower pri c e s , it wou ld b e th e est° re several parcels of yellow findi ng p urc h asers . There Il not many orders for Brazil a t p resent , b ut prev ious ra tes are fully supported ; there are b u y ers o f w hit e a nd bre" - , rather under former quotations. being eng COFFEE.-For the mid desc r ipti ons o f West several inquiries have exi s t e d, an d t h e supply u a -'s small, former rates are fully supported. Holders of gl f India show firmness, and the market has been sPar ie „ g e s supplied with all descriptions. P rev i ous rates are fulli s 34 ported for Ceylon, and a fair business has been trawl°, by private contract in go o d or di nary at 5 2s to yes 6 0 r - , cwt. In Plantation kinds the operations are upon more extended scale at former terms. There are Cr ie chasers of Mocha rather under former rates. t er stuck is 1,017 bales more th an it was l ast season. Other stuck is 1,017 bales more than it was last season. d kinds of East Indi a are not o ff ere d upon l ower terms,'" there is nothing pressing for sale. Rum, BRANDY, AND HOLLAND& -An increased d esire ; hss been sh own t o p urc h ase L eewar d I s l an d Bit( holders are firm, and at ..nt 3d to 2s 3d per gallon pr ;i s a good b us i ness h as b een transacted. In Calcutta operations ar e u p on a more exten d e d sea l s a t 2s 2d • 2s proot with certificate. In Demerara sales to fair ext e n t h ave b een ma d e at 3* to 3s 3d f or strong Ind&seri ptiotts. The mar k et f or J ama i ca i s, h owe vert l P, A very dull state. Fer Lee w•-trn Island Rum prices are at to GA. and for Jamaica 9d to Is per gall abevethoee of tu . r c i time. The 'Mandy trark , t, has a firm app. arance. t w e. there has been a good deal doing in all descriptilo Prices rule as follows, viz., Cognac, best brands of ' 39, vintage of 1838, hhds 58 2d, puns ss; ditto 16 0 , hhds 44 lid, tams 4s 9d ; ditto •1840, 11 , 0 d, 4s 11d. puns 4s 9d; ditto 1841, hhds 40 ~ d ; uns 4s 8d ; ditto 1842, hhds 44 7d, puns 45 ,a lO ditto, 1843, hhds 4s sd, puns 4* 3d, common 2s g!, 1 , 4 ,, 2s I Id, and middling to good middling 3s to 3s 10d; D' u fs deaux common 2s 6d to 2s 8d per gallon. GeeLl or wanted for shipping at i s 9d to I s 1 0 d , an d fine u" duty is werth 2s 4d to 3s 6d per g all o n. The Isar s ar e lo r is still very fi rm f or E ng li s h C orn S p i r i ts a t 105 2u P gallon, cash ; the supply is 'till small. TEA.-The trade are still t urn i ng their attent in lLT,, wards black and green T ea . There has been s " the good de man d f or C ongou o f all descriptions, and rted advanced rates previously established are fully suF,P ° O , OO 4 - common has been fetching 104 d t o 11d, e" common llid to is per lb. In the sorts worth froto Is to is 2d a f avoura bl e b us i ness h as b een d on e. roucou-' t 6dt ° has met w ith rea d y purc h asers, an d pr i ces are fire? at in I Od, and su p er i or at 1 1 d to ls 2 d per l b . Twaa kaY is 00- price, and i n exce ll en t request ; common h a s been bay . ing is 3d to Is aid. In Hyson several puroh as e e illng at been made at firm rates-common has beensll d supe -2s 6d to 2s 7d, m iddli ng to goo d 2s td to s s , fully sea rior as 2d to 4s 6d per lb. Oth er ki n d s o f .es tain the former value, and are wanted. red w iLli lilcE.-The market is still scantily supplied to Bengal: it is much wanted and buyers are c ompelled. pay stiff rates, low white fetching lie to Its 3d, mid dlingl lie 6d to l ie 9d, and good to fine 12a to 12s the sorts most in request are those from Its to Ile 6 ° per cwt ; none has again been offered at audio* and the stock is still diminishing ; yellow Madil l° has been taken readily at 8s 3d to 8s 6d 1: 4 ,., r cwt, at which holders are firm, an d the sePlux has become small. The better kinds of white Java a re not much wanted, and lOs 6d to 12s is the value ; b e yellow and inferior white kinds are in demand at 61 lOs per cwt. Of cleaned Rice s evera l parcels have ._.„ disposed of at firm rates, P a t na a t 14 6 to 18s, and Ca ra line 23s to 27s per cwt. and 'Sercas.-Holders of black Pepper show firmness' there is a less quantity offering for sale, but a fa' 2 id mand has existed ; Sumatra is 2fd to 21d, Fe nseg es to lid, and Malabar 2id to 3-4-el per lb. Cassia Lig ri a at 56s to 60s for low mid and mid, 618 to 62s for gr - mv mid, 638 to 66s for good and fine, and 52s to 559 for , p - if to fine ord. 'or Pimesto prices are going up , th s e . s t °P firtn being very small. Nutmegs are in fair deusse"' - rates. Mace is still dull of sate. utss FRUIT. -The market is i n a qu i e t s t a t e for Ce rrit o . but there is no desire on the part of merchants t ° t e en sales, the stock not being a large one. Raisins have taken sparingly at the former currency. East Ind° INDIGO. - The low rates that prevail for Bea- r ed are still att rac ti ng a t tent i on; t hi s i s not to b e wona loo s at they b e i ng f rom 6d to is per lb under those of 00 , season, and thi s i n th e f ace of an increased consufflP ti and an a b un d ant supp l y o f money. In Bengal Be,/o consumption e d to purchases have been made, but holders are comPa ,° ssle submit to a reduction on the rates of last qu arterly.' - ,, of 3d t o 4d per lb. Other descriptions of East In dia small parcels are selling rather under the rates of the October sale. fu/li SA LTPETRE.-Rough is wanted, a n d prices are, - by supported, b ut t h e mar k et i s scantily supplie d ; sales private contract have been made at 24s to 26s 6d, line at 27s to 274 6d per cwt. de' OiLs-This has been a quiet week for collar:02de!) scription s o f F is h Oil s, b ut in prices little vsrl-311 has taken place ; pale Seat is 331 10s to 34/, and Cod to 31/10s p er tun. Sperm, fine British 871 to 89 1 per rit. ot Linseed at 23s 611 to 24s per cat. The market is 00 for Rape, a ri d th e demand is on the increase ; sale to the spot ma d e at 34s to 348 ed for pale, and at 3 3 3 6d 343 per c a t f or b rown. P a l m h as been taken with tte, i t tion, fine is wo r th on ly 25 s per cwt. C ocoa N u t is u of sale at 24s to 27s for low to fine. Olive Oil is are° offered at any further decline in prices, but there not many purchasers. we e TALLOW. .Purchases to a fair e xeen t have made in Russian Tallow on the spot, and prices i l oo firm ; merc h ants are not i nclined to press sales,. sepals, obtainieg 40 5 3d t o 40 s 6d per cwt f or fi ne P. Y. C an et but for forward delivery few purchasers are to be °l e , with. Tow n T a ll ow h as d ec li ne d i n value i n COns r quence of the l a r ge su pply ; b ut at 40s 6 d to 415 P e d cwt nett ca s h th ere h as b een a very good cle°3-be Other kind s o f T a ll ow are una l tere d i n value, but " supply good. COAL 72AREET. 1 ,1/ 0 4 Prices per ton at the close of the market :—Bil t u — ", West Hartley, 29s ; Carr's Hartley, 27s ; H°O r t . :ll, Main, 31s 6d ; Morrison's Hartley, 24s 6d ; Old re, ir ; s s, 25s ; Ord's R e dh eug h , 25s ; S outh Pontop, 25s ; ; Wylam. 25s ; Wylam, 25s ; W. E., Stewart's, 318 W. E., Tees, 30s.—Ships arrived, 2. BIRTHS. On Thursd a y morning, the 26th inst., at her residen r & e i Iloxton, of a daughter still-born, the wife of Mr. S'tel t l " . W. Burgess, Secretary to the Lansdown Statistical Sie,c it lof On the 21st inst., at Clifden-park, Hampshire, t ae le"." R. F. Chapman, Esq., of a son and heir. the On the 23d inst., at Ince Blundell Hall, Lancashire, lady of T. W. Blundell, of a son and heir. On the 24th inst., Mr. William Rid. - go, o f cross-I tr`ei" Islington, of a daughter. On the 25th inst., at Lincoln, the lady of F. Sutton , Es 44 (late Captain 11th Hussars), of twins, a son and daughter. o f On the 26th inst., at Brighton, Mrs. C. P. Bartl e t t Westbourne-t errace, H y d e Park - gardens, of a sent ..„ „. N olt• of O a n so t n h , e st 2 i 6 il t - h bo in rn st . ., in. Harley-street, Mrs. Henry 13- '" On the 27th i ns t ., i n t h e Strand, Mrs. Charles Farloir, of le daughter. 111.1RRIED. On the 19th inst. in the Cathedral Church, Salisbury' J. Phillimore, Esq., D.C.L., to Charlotte Anne, ro i l daughter of the late John Denison, Esq., Ossington, N° 11 7 0 . 0 , On the 26th inst., at St. George's Church, Hanover—glu te Mr. William Hurry, jun., of Ranalagh-street, Pimlico, Diana Jane Taylor, of George-stre e t, Portman-squares DIED. On the 4th inst., Mary Ann, the wife of Mr. Thomas Sh al l' ? of Tibberton-square, Islington. On the 14th inst., at Rose-hill, near Oxford, the only sor l of Major and Mrs. Mahon, of Strokestown House, - R° l. common, aged 13. On the 19th inst., Mr. Henry M. Wood, second son of the late Mr. Th omas Wood, of Portugal-street, Lincoln's 111/1 — fields. On the 20th inst., Mr. Thomas Townes, of Manchester-' street, Gray's Inn. road. On the 21st inst., Mr. J. Jeffery, of College-green, Bristol.. On the 22d inst., Mr. Henry Coleman, late of Holloway. , On the 23d inst., at Camberwell, Emma Iliscox, wife 0 1 John Tanner, Esq., aged 84. On the 23d inst., in Windsor-terrace, Clifton, Mary, da , !ge d. ter of the late Captain Young, R.N., aged 65. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG. ° No. 112, 'Strand, Printer. at The Sax Office, No. 1 1 :i Strand, in tbo Precinct of the Savoy, in the Couutr Middlesex. Saturday, Deeember 28,1844. RDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1844.