The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-21 00:00:00

THE ARMY. COURT OF SEWERS. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND RELI- A Court of Sewers for the City and Liberty of GIOUS LIBERTY IN THE ARMY. Westminster, and part of Middlesex, was yesterday (From tbe Wellman.) held in the Court-house, Soho- square. th_ An ina ccurate paragrap h h av i ng appeare d i n some of The chair was taken at twelve o'clock by Thomas newspapers w ith referenc e t o th e su bj ec t o f th e f o l- Leverton Donaldson, Esq. th %_ l n g correspondence, we have been favoured by R Roy. John Smith with copies of the orieinal do- On the minutes of last Court. day being read, 'Mr. LESLIE objected that they were incorrect, in tag, which we h ave much pleasure ' in'puhlish a*, as very important in themselves, and, more- asmuch as a statement inculpating him, and which Over, striki ng ly ill ustrat i ve o f t h e c h arac t er o f one o f was read by the Chairman to the Court, thereby e greatest men of this or any other age. The cor- making it a public document, had been omitted. A respondence having been on a public topic, and of a motion was founded on it and carried ; and when, as strictly official nature, there can be no breach of pro- the person charged, he requested the chief officer of pety in our p l ac i ng i t on recor d i n our co l umns , part i- th e C our t, M r . H er t z l e tt, f or a co py o f the document clearly as it redoubeds so highly to the honour of the in question, the answer returned was that the Chair t.ues Prove so satisfactory to the I ritrious Duke, and must Iman had it in his possession. He (Mr. Leslie) took n ow ds of religious freedom. We judge it expeient, his stand upon the ground, therefore, that the record n ever to omit the name of the sick seldier, as well as was not a correct one. th title 'of th e h os pit a l at w hi c h M r . S m ith was re f use d Pee rmission t o v i s i t hi m : The CHAlRMAN — Certainly correct, as far as it "9, Earbstreet, Westminster, Oct. 17, 1844. goes. It may not be full enough, perhaps, but THE MOST NOBLE HIS G RACE THE DUKE OF WELLING- assuredly correct. TON, Y.G., P.C. Mr. Lublin did not think it correct. Surely when an t `,` Ify Lord D u k e ,—l thi n k it p ro p er m o s t respectfully officer of the Court, a person paid by him (Mr. Leslie) ° lay before your Grace the following circumstances:— as a Commissioner, in common with other Commis "l am a Wesleyan Methodist minister, and in the sioners, chose to write a long letter, inculpating him, ( „ c oarse of my pa s t ora l d ut i es ( at th e wr it ten reques t o f an d w h en t h a t sta t emen t was rea d by the Chairman, s ergeant --, a member of the Wesleyan Society, and a he (Mr. Leslie) was confident that every Hon. Patient in the hospital of the ,in I went Member of that Court would grant that the person ° ll Pride the 11th, and on Wedne.sday, the 15th inst., I for , the purpose of visiting him, and on both occasions charged had a full right to a copy of the document. He had wished that document entered upon the ab n ave been refused admission. On the latter I was minutes, but the Chairman, by taking it into his own r uPtly told that, though I was a Wesleyan minister, Y our seek admis,iou on Sundays as other visitors. possession, had interfered in the chief clerk's duties, , our Grace will readily perceive that this would neither and rendered nugatory the proceedings of the Court. .eonvenient to any minister whose employments on the Now he would ask if the Chairman would enter the 4 :*,?4l's-day o cc u py a ll hi s t i me , nor wou ld suet' a visit be matter, by giving up the statement referred to? '4l that might he required by a sick or 'lying man. 'The CHAIRMAN--I will not, unless by request of beg permission t o rem i n d your Gr a ce that an op- t h e C o urt. Vatunity of visiting a'member o f hi s flo c k i s regularly M r. L ES LIE—It i s a ques ti on f or yourse lf a l one . a t a lied to any mini s t e r o f th e R om i s h Ch urc h, an d l am You have extracte d a pu b l i c d ocument. o loss to conceive on what ground it should be denied The CHAIRMAN-1 have not; for it never was ministers of other religious communities. " I am unwilling to believe that the interdict of which put in. Ic omplain as to myself can have been sanctioeed by any Mr. FULLER-1 cannot understand, in that case, order from the authorities of the army, and I trust I have what constitutes a public document. ° „„nlY to b r i ng t h e matter un d er t h e not i ce o f your G race , as Mr. MuLusts—What is the object of reading the 'eamanderiii.chiet; to obtain for myself and f o r other minutes, exceptieg for the purpose of confirming the C hristi an ministers, and for all such soldiers as may not accuracy of the Court's proceedings ? And how can e k !liembers of the Church of England, those privileges those minutes be accurate, if the statement on which tl,"_ lc h , while they are freely conceded to the members of the resolution is founded is l e ft ou t? )6 7 Church of Rome, ought not to be denied to the mem- Mr. LBSLIB said he would conclude with a motion, vo ? of any Frotestant Church.—l am, my Lord Duke, " That the m i nutes now read are not a true record of " "r Graces most obedient servant, the proceedings of last Court, inasmuch as letters " JOHN SMITH." from Mr. Hawkins, the assistant-surveyor, dated the 19th of November, was read by the Chairman, and a motion founded and carried upon the subject-matter; that the minutes be altered by the insertion of such letter, or by placing it among the public documents of the Court, and a reference to that fact made in the minutes." Mr. MtTLLINS seconded, and the motion was put from the Chair, but lost by a majority of two, six Commissioners having voted against, and four for it. The salary of the chief clerk was, on the motion of Mr. Wurre, increased from 4001. to 500/. per annum, the Commissioners each expressing their admiration of the business-talents and general courtesy exhibited by Mr. Hertzlett in the arduous duties of his office. Mr. LESLIE then brought forward his motion " To print and circulate to every Commissioner the details of the contractors' charges, as allowed by the surveyors and Court, during the respective contracts, commencing at Michaelmas, 1841, in such a form as to show clearly and intelligibly the expense of every particular work done." The Hon. Commissioner said he had examined the statements, and gone through many of the contractors' accounts, and had found what he believed to be great errors therein, but without a printed form it would be impossible to convey in an intelligible manner the proof of those errors to the Court. The ordinary course of business, they were aware, was to have a standing contract for all works. Now, these works were, as he thought, so improperly taken by measure and value, that it was next to lm possible to arrive at the cost price of any single work. The items were spread over a series of quarters, sometimes, indeed, all contained in one, but frequently extending to two or three. Now, as the remedy for disease depended upon a thorough knowledge of its causes, so it behoved them to look well into these accounts—to have a thorough knowledge of them before parting with large sums of that money which was entrusted to their care. These works were ordered at a given estimate, but when they were completed it was gene rally found that the actual cost greatly exceeded the sum which the Court had before ordered ; and if they would refresh their memories by a retrospection, they would find that, in some instances, they had in this way paid 100 per cent. more than they ought to have done. In the neigh bouring Commission, if one wanted the cost of any particular work, a book was produced in which the information desired was exhibited in a few lines; but in that office they had to run over a vast number of bills, and trace the work in different stages at various periods of time. He maintained that contractors had been in the habit of charging more than they were entitled to do ; and he was of opinion that Mr. Ben net and Mr. Bird ought to refund large sums of money to that Court. He would instance mainholes, which were almost invariably over the sewer. Yet they were charged for digging, aye, and for carting away the rubbish. Concrete was put in at four shillings and sixpence the cube yard, yet in many one shilling and sixpence was charged extra for cart ing away superfluous rubbish, although that, he con tended, was included in the two shillings charged for digging. But all this could not be properly exhi bited unless they had the bills printed, as he desired they should be. One further instance, however, he would add, namely, the work in Bow-street, where the estimate voted by the Court was 1,4001., hut where the actual cost exceeded 2,060/. He would ask them, should they devolve the duties which the Crown had entrusted them with, to other parties who were not responsible ? Surely not. They ought, then, as he had before that day suggested, have their plans and sections properly drawn out, and then they would get parties to tender willingly for the work. He hoped they would allow him for once to carry his resolution, convinced as he was that it would lead to a considerable saving of the public money. , A discussion ensued, and it was finally determined that several works, estimated at 2001. and upwards, should be extracted and laid before the Commissioners in a form prescribed by the mover of the resolution. The other business was then disposed of, and the Court adjourned. kr. S m i t h rece i ve d t h e f o ll ow i ng commun i cat i on, i n te i l lY, from Adjutant-General Sir John Macdonald : " Horse Guards, Oct. 30. I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief to rulowledg e the receipt of your letter of the 17th inst., which you complain that on two recent occasions you had been refused admission to the Hospital of ---, t i'llither you had g one , i n th e course of your p as t ora l g ut ies, for the purpose of visiting, at his own request, geant --, a member of the Wesleyan Society, and "t the time a p itient in the said hospital. amcommanded to assure you that the Duke of e dington anxiously desires that soldiers should have th e benefit of the spiritual assistance of clergymen of th e ir own p ersuas i on , w h enever th e y may requ i re i t, an d efat,t.n, e eommanding officers of regiments are fully apprised ft „e perfect liberality of his Grace's v i ews on th a t - "Pt. d." As rega r d s , however, the visits of clergymen to sol i le ts in h os pi ta l, t h e esta bli s h e d ru l e i s, t h at every sold i er !I at liberty to choose his own por, with this simple L t ltid erstanding that he shall notify ast his wish, through the 4 4 e g i llar chan ne l, t o hi s comman di ng officer, who will give mediate directions for the admission of the clergy 4 whom the soldier may have chosen as his spiritual advi ser. aud Sergeant conformed to this rule (which it drPaared he did not), you would have met with no imp& menu in your visits. ex ' i The indiscriminate admission of strangers (not Oren t a l ee Pting the clergy) into barracks and military hospi is, without due authority, and without making them per ves and their business previously kno wn , wou ld b e t i : duetive of cons t an t, an d f requent l y ser i ous , inconve tetlee ; but n o diffi cu lty o f a d m i ss io n can ever accrue 're the individual who presents himself for admission i e ritions his name and the object to those who have the th m e diate charge of the sick,* and are r e sp ons ibl e f or aloe enf orcement of the regulations under which adnais into the hospital is given. * 4 " The Duke of Wellington has commanded me to - 4 t c tr into the above explanation for your future guidance, Sect t t 4 prevent your being, upon these occasions, sub. aay disappointment. th e I ain to add that, in the case of the Foot Guards, w ttleth e al officer in charge of the hospital will be ew er ti e i r ed to admit the clergy, as the commanding officer top as regiment cannot be forthc om i ng t o b e a pplied to theh4d6g °llion, from his not living in barracks.—l have our to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, "JOHN MACDONALD, A. G. i th, e . John Smith, 9, Earl -street, Westminster." t h 4 u t , - ,:' i nd anxiety of his Grace to make his veiws on ire ti l, - sltion distinctly understood, as evidenced by the desir e -st kitiality with which Sir John Macdonald, at his app re ters into explanation and direction, will be duly eiated by every reader. • This Mr. Smith did. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. LOND ON '. D EC . 20., NOON.-Wind easterly , fresh b reeze / ad fine clear weather. A DEAL, DEC. 19.—Wind E. to E.N.E., f res h b reeze .— Nestor, M`Meikam, Calcutta ; Ann Falcon, ( k)uness, Mauritius ; Golden Fleece, Hubback, Bahia ; kinerva, Ogden, Nassau. Sld. Hebe, Valparaiso, Hor v'r,°o(l, Algoa Bay; Cecilia, Ichaboe; Sam Slick, Gambia; C atherine Greene, St. Kitt's ; Cremona, Charleston, a ad the outward bound. Ii t 'ORTSMOUTII, DEC. 19.—Wind S.E. to E.—Arrd. 44 „ Q rcules, Lightfoot, Quebec. Off, Amwell, H a lt o n, Afobart Town ; Robert Heddle, Cape Coast Castle. OFF TORBAY, DEC. 18.—City of Poonah, Hight, j*Mrs.a left the Cape of Good Hope, Oct. 26, St. He (-)4' Sth ult. lb - L .!' THE NEEDLES, DEC. 18.—Eliza Bell, Bell, lna to Bremen. t0 41 1 , 1-I LL, DEc. 18.—The Maria Amelia, from London "Araburgh, has put into the Roads through stress of e mber. 4 13 krinAm DEC. 18.—A butt of brandy marked '6: 1) ./'.--No. 727, has been picked up off the Bolt. tur -P E of GOOD HOPE, OCT. 25.—Acrd. the Pre :or steamer, Southampton. qn tT RAMPTON, DEC. 19.—Sid. Royal Tar steamer, .aralt ar. 11, 4 1'14 ROUTII, DEC. 19.—Wind E.N.E.—Arrd. Princess Ichaboe. Li 4 ,t e ENsroN, PREVIOUS TO OCT. 26.—Arrd. John, of t",, °11 , Ichaboe, leaky. Ltiv,tra, DEC. 18.—A for , ign vessel is supposed to Ir k ; been wrecked upon the Carne Rock, some wainscot hap' and the stern of a boat, marked " Davis, Barth," 6 - come on shore. Itrith lt i ol LHAvEN, DEC. 16.—A barque dismasted, and 4 ,L,'eqvs stove, and abandoned, was boarded 10th ult., fr o „:, lon. 36, by the Hiram, arrived here. A schooner, r A b yaterford to t England, is off this in a disabled state. 4 1 1 7' 4 )101mi, DEc. 19.—A , black head-board,. marked tN i 4 4 q,” was picked up on the beach, sth inst., when a 51 11 , 4 1‘,.rnany burnt deals were washed ashore at the h - ti me. th, Q , eaton LYREAD, DEC. 17.—Arrd. Daniel Webster, Curllx, 17.—Arrd. Sir J. L. Goldsmid, Jobson, I Sld. Ergent, Buenos Ayres. 4 1 ;; Y titeooE, Dzc. 19.—Wind E.S.E., moderate.— tif 4 * Joshu a Wuddington, Bottomby, Valparaiso ; Meg tip 7eldon, Bleasden, Calcutta ; Inovoice, Rawlin, Icha qu; Sid. Jargar, Calcutta ; Matthew Pearce, La S /11cnaIra• • Argyle, New Orleans ; Carlton and Speed, 4 0 h . 1 ( d E :' ° Ric, DEC. 17.—The Borneo, of Beverley, water -3p and a b an d one d, was p asse d on th e 7th ult., lat. p ( ) 0 . 69, by the Sir L L. Goldsmid. 4,i i ' tl4o lJTll, DEC. 18.—Off, China, Livesay, and New 1, 411 d, Calcutta. "it ItclIAE, DEC. 16.—The Severn, Seville to Dublin, Th%was assisted in here, 13th inst.. must discharge. etit: v alentine, from Seville to Dublin, ashore at the of the harbour, is discharging. HARROW ScitooL.—The Rev. C. T. Vaughan, Rector of St. Martin's, Leicester, was elected on Wed nesday to the office of Head Master of Harrow School. This gentleman was a distinguished and favourite scholar of the late Dr. Arnold. He obtained, whilst re sident at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1836, 11137, 1839, and 1840, the Craven University Scholarship, Scholarship of Trinity College, and two Porson Greek prizes ; also the University prizes for the best Greek ode, the best Greek and Latin epigrams, and the first member's prize for a Latin prose essay ; also the Col lege prizes tor Latin and English declamations ; also the classical medal ; and finally a Fellowship of his own College. From the universal testimony borne to this gentleman, it is confidently to be expected that the old and distinguished institution, over which he is called to preside, will flourish under his auspices. A contract has just been confirmed, between C. G. Parker, Esq., clerk of the peace, Chelmsford, and Mr. Hartley, the managing director of the Irish Steam packet Companies, to convey Irish paupers to Dublin and Cork for 255. 6d. each, the same contract as with the county of Middlesex ' being a saving of 4s. 6d. each upon the old contract. Heretofore all have been con veyed to Cork, thereby entailing an injustice upon those who lived in or near to Dublin, and in a thousand of in stanaes many had to travel upwards of 100 miles, there being no conveyance. Instead of being fed upon bread and cheese solely, the rations are hereafter to be on a more liberal scale.—Chtlin,%ford Chronicle. Thursday an inquest was held at the Elephant all Castle, near the Wel worth-road, before Mr. W. Carter, on the body of Thomas Mayne, about 30 years of age, who died at the Baltic Coffee•house, 4, Walvrorth road. Mrs. Shrives said that the deceased came to lodge at her house on Sunday night last. He complained of having had a fall from the kerb-stone. Deceased went to bed, and appeared the next day (Monday) apparently better but on 'Tuesday got worse, and by deceased's wish, Mr. Gatley, a surgeon opposite, was called in, who bled him. Deceased afterwards wished a nurse, which witness pro cured, who remained with him till his death. No papers were found on him, but a bunch of keys. The jury re turned a verdict of Natural Death. A WOMAN KILLED YY A POLICEMAN.—On Wed nesday afternoon the following fatal occurrence took place at the lodgings of James Clark, police-constable, No. 55 of the C division. It appears that Clark having returned home after attending as a witness at Marl borough-street Police-court, had a violent altercation with his wife res pecting some family disagreements, ; ' during which the wifes mother interfered, takine part with her daughter, when Clark took her by the shoulders and gave her a violent push, from the effects of which she reeled backwards and fell headlong down the stairs from the first floor landing, and sustained such injury that she shortly after expired. In the course of the even ing Clark surrendered himself at the station-house of the C division in Vine-street, Piccadilly. He was imme diately taken into custody. SEASONABLE LIBEBALITY.—The Duke of Norfolk has given 100/. to be distributed in coals, bread, and money amongst the deserving inhabitants of St. Mar tin's-in-the-Fields, and on Thursday morning the names of those desirous of participating were taken down, that inquiries might be made into their cases. In this parish two distributions of one cwt. of coals and potatoes and greed have been made this winter. CAUTION TO JURORS.—At an inquest held on Thursday before Mr. Payne, the City Coroner, no fewer than ten of the parties who had been summoned to serve on the jury were absent, and after waiting for same time, he said that it was too bad that gentleman who did attend should be kept waiting, together with the witnesses, became of others who refused to attend to the .ummons, and he should fine the whole of them in the penalty of 20s. Several of the jury present appeared to con= in this opinion. EAST INDIA SHIPPING. 41 4 1„ t A ri vals—China, Livesay, from Bengal, off Falm ou th, I\Z„ - rt``4 July 16, M aur i t i us S ept . 14 , St. H e l ena Oct. 24 ; Zoaland, Gray, from Bengal, off Falmo ut h, sa il e d 't, j 15 ; City of Poonah, Hight, from_ Madras, off St. a•Y, sail e d Sept. 1, Cuddaloro Sept. 4, Cape Oct. 26, Ati, lle lena Nov. 5 ; Ann Falcon, Bowness, from Mauri -4; "4 th e D owns, sai l e d S ept. 20, St. Helena O c t. 25 ; mm `ell, liirkus, from Van Diemen , s Land, off Ports r!, li ed f rom H o b art T ow n June 12, Bahia Oct. 8; M'Mockup, from Bengal, in the Downs, sailed Ce l . t . 15 , St. Helena Oct. 21 ; Jessie, Malcolm, from 4 1 ,"''',, 11 , off Plymouth, sailed Aug.. 10, Cape Sept. 30 ; V 1i .!, 11 4 Mulholland, Brown, from Mauritius, off the 14 .6 „ s ut, sailed Sept. 20; Devon, Mallory, from Bengal, in : a "owns sailed July 16, St. Helena Oct. 15. 14 - ,',; r tivals' in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope—Janet, k a - i ft Oct. 18, from Leith, and sailed 22d to a market; 4 4 Luther, 19th, from Liverp k4lool, and sailed 22d t o h eu lta; Rosebud, 19th, from Port Natal ; J o h n , f rom (Jn t ,_ i us; Louisa from Port Natal; Arab, 20th, f r o m lyjilip, - and sailed 23d to London; Anna Robert son , F r " r °, 21st, from Madras, and sailed 26th to London; La7ll,,rsor, steamer, 25th, from Southampton ; T u d or , jj"rotti Portsmouth. Calllartures from Table Bay—Maidstone, Sept. 25, to 1ia t e ,, 11 : 44 ; William Ward, Oct. 18, to Ichaboe ; G. 11. titi,7 l4 'n, 19th, to Knysna; Prince of Wales, to Mau leb-0,3; pagoda, to Simon's Bay; Frederick Huth, to Lop - f re ; Bidston, 20th, to Liverpool ; Repulse, to A at " °ll ; Roitelet, to Marseilles; Vectis, to Bassorah; A L qicir, 23d, to Manilla ; Panope, 24th, to Ichaboe; tollit Robertson and Vigilant, 26th, to London; Bland, , 3 / 4 0 no n . Load at Adelaide—Taglioni, Black, June 18, from .4 1 ;,,"n, and was loading for London, to sail Sept. 6 ; e s tlis was loading for London. 13 4 r rivals at St. Helena—George Home, from the South l e h„ k ; igilant, from the C; Princess Victoria, from 'c'e, and all sa il e d Nov. s pe to London. log UNGRATEFUL ` THlEF.—Thursday information at t ., tl'ett that M r .L ovett, o f 2 , N ewm an-place, Newman (t;o4' was robbed on Monday evening, of a silver watch, t eals , *r ; 4 name, Walker, London, No. 120), three gold p ueSe (one with motto, " Forget-me-not"), and a silk es containing 71. 10s. in gold. The thief is described itto 3r b` s e u ng. man whom Mr. Lovett first saw six weeks "IPlo g g in g In a public-house, and received into his % yeti . Y Out of compassion, but who absconded on Monday at' 4 trobbing him of the property above-men- rtr rri Cy' TUB SUN, LON' T.) ON ) SATURDAY MORNING,-DECrMBEIt 21, 13444 committed. It was useless, therefore, to look for re lief by any relaxation of their regulations, for they were,not more strict than necessary to prevent fraud, and nothing less than total repeal would be effective. On the occasion of their former meeting some opposi tion had been offered to the resolutions by the sta tioners, who then objected to the repeal of the duty. He did not know whether they confined to be opposed I to such a measure, but there were several causes, perhaps, to which much opposition might be attri buted. The stationer derived some advantage from the discount which he obtained from the manufacturer, 1 who was obliged to give discount on the amount of duty as well as on the material, though he had to pay the Government in ready money. Some stationers also took advantage, which the present state of the law afforded, of making bergains by buying from those fraudulent makers who had not paid the duty; and the prices at which the goods were thus bought were used as the means of screwing down the honest maker to the same scale.—(Hear.) But the stationers themselves suffered from the effects of the regulations for obtaining the drawback, and were also becoming aware of the injurious tendency I of the duty on t h e consumption of paper; therefore I it was to be hoped they would no longer offer opposi tion to the endeavours to obtain a repeal of the tax. The repeal of the duty would certainly lead to the employment of an additional number of hands; he confidently believed double the present number would be employed, and that consideration alone rendered the question a most important one in the present con dition of the country.—(Cheers.) Sir Wieeiem MAGNAY said he was glad to find, not only by the presence of so large a body of paper ma nufacturers, but by letters from different parts of the country, that they all concurred in the object they were assembled to promote. The stationers also, he understood, are not so much opposed to the repeal of the tax as they were, the only real difficulty with them being the uncertainty in the trade which the awghiitlasttionitforlasttheed repeal of the duty occasioned purchase, and were , as the stocks d odidf lossnot likeon stocks they held. With respect to the new mode of making paper which had been adverted to by their Chairman, he could not conceive why it should be exempted from duty; for if so, other paper made by a different process than usual might also be exempted; and as it was, all the commoner descrip tions might be manufactured on the same plan that was now practised in making mill-boards and roofing paper. With respect to the damages done to pack ages at the Custom-house, to which the Chairman had alluded, lie could bear ample testimony, having himself suffered severely from it. He had frequently sent out numbers of packages to the colonies, and as frequently he was informed by the parties to whom they were sent that one, two, or more of these pack ages on each shipment were damaged and obliged to be sold as waste. This was a serious loss, and for a time he could not account for alleged damages, as he had himself seen all the packages carefully secured. He afterwards found that the damaged parcels were those that had been opened at the Custom-house and then repacked. This had been the case under the former regulations, but now thet every package was opened, the damage would become ruinously exten sive, and all the foreign trade would be of necessity confined to the foreign manufacturer who was not subjected to the annoyance. Sir William mentioned also instances of the frauds of foreign paper manu facturers, who stamp the names of English makers on their goods, and send them to England, where they are reshipped for the colonies. In one instance he had caused a number of packages from Holland to be examined, on every one of which he found his own name stamped. If the restrictions on the paper trade were removed, he believed that at least double the number of people would be employed in the making of paper, and the manufactures con nected with it. It would be the means more espe cially of giving employment to women, of whose dis tresses they had lately heard so much, and for whom it was extremely difficult, ;co find suitable work. In proof of this he produced a French ornamental paper box, of which an immense quantity are now imported into this country. Those boxes were allowed to be imported as manufactured articles at the ad valorem duty of ten per cent., though made altogether of paper, for which the English maker has to pay the full duty. It was the practice of the merchant to enter them at a very low price, knowing that they would fetch little at a Custom-house sale, and the duty consequently does not amount to the fraction of a farthing ; whilst the duty on English paper would be three halfpence per pound. The number of women employed in France in making those boxes was not less than twenty thousand, and but for the duty charged on the paper, they might be made in England cheaper and better. Another instance of the encouragement given by the paper duty to foreign manufacturers was afforded by the glazed coloured paper in which pieces of linen are usually done up. The parties have the paper cut into slips, with the names engraved on each, and in that state they came to this country from France as manufactured articles, at ten per cent ad valorem, the value being set at the very lowest rate, for the paper would be of no use to any but the per sons whose names are engraved thereon. In this manner the English paper maker is driven from the market in that kind of ornamental paper, for which there is now a great demand. Embossed gold paper, cut into slips, comes from France in the same man ner, at an ad valorem duty as a manufactured article, to the encouragement of the foreign manu facturer, and to the injury of our labouring popula tion, thousands of whom are thus deprived of em ployment. The system of making up goods in orna mental coverings to invite purchasers had been in creasing for some time, and would probably be much more extended, and if the labels and ornamental paper for the purpose could be obtained from France without duty the English maker would be quite unable to compete under such disadvantage. It had only been within the last three months that it had been decided that these ornamental papers might be imported at an ad valorem duty, and the result would be that all these things would henceforth come from France. The repeal was the only remedy. Mr. GAUSSEN rose to move a series of resolutions, to the effect that great depression at present exists among the paper,makers, which is attributable to the Excise laws ; that the manufacture of paper ought to be encouraged ; that the duties are at present ex tremely unequal, being as much as 80 per cent. on some branches of the manufacture, whilst on the other descriptions it is but 20 per cent.; that the Excise regulations are insufficient to prevent fraud; that some articles of British manufacture are superseded by foreign articles not chargeable with the duty ; that the tax is greatly prejudicial to the publication of books ; that the duty is the last Excise duty that presses on any considerable body of men ; and that a memorial be presented to the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, and a petition be presented to Parliament, embodying the resolutions, and praying for the repeal of the duty on paper. In moving these resolutions Mr. Gaussen dwelt at some length on the injurious tendency which the duty had had on the consump tion of paper, and argued, from the great increase of cotton manufacture, consequent on the reduction of duty on the raw material, that a similar increase would have taken place in the manufacture of paper had the Excise duty been taken off. The revenue derived from the present duty was 620,0001., there having been an increase of 60 per cent. in the manu facture of paper since the reduction of duty in 1836 ; but the increase ought to have been much greater, and were the Excise restrictions taken away the paper manufacture would make most rapid progress, and afford the means of employment to a large portion of the population. The resolutions were unanimously agreed to. Mr. NORRIS urged upon the meeting the absolute necessity, if they took any steps at all, of acting vigorously, and bringing the question to a speedy issue. No one could doubt that the 5 per cent. duty, which had been imposed, had, from the very first, been paid out of the pocket of the manufacturer.—(Hear, hear.) He thought that if, by any means, they could indem nify parties who had a large stock on hand against loss, they would obviate any great difficulty and secure more combined efforts. Mr. CROMPTON, of Manchester, who attended as one of the deputation from a meeting held yesterday in that town, spoke most despondingly of the present state of the trade. He said that in the meeting which he represented there were assembled the manufacturers of one-fourth the whole amount of paper made in England, and they were of opinion that nothing but ruin awaited them unless the tax was repealed. Mr. PBWTRESS inquired whether there had been any intimation received from the Government of their intention to repeal the duty, or whether any commu• nication had taken place on the subject ? Mr. DicxENsoli said there had been no communi cation made yet, as it was deemed requisite to have the support of a general meeting before application was made. Now that they were backed by the reso lutions of this meeting they should go to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer with greater confidence, and endeavour to make out their case in the same manner as the soapmakers and glassmakers had done. A PAPERMAKER from the country, who principally manufactures the lower class of papers, said he had severely felt the effects of the introduction of the French boxes. lie had formerly received extensive orders for an article called " button board," used in making boxes, but latterly the orders had been dis continued by his customers, and he was at a loss to account for it. The mystery was now solved ; for he had no doubt that it was the importation of those French boxes that had caused the discontinuance of the manufacture for which the article was employed. After some discussion, in the course of which it was stated that the London paper makers intended to act in concert with those in the country, and would be glad to have their co-operation, a committee was appointed for drawing up the memorial and petition, and for waiting on the members of the Government to Irepresent the case of the paper makers, and to urge their claims fora total repeal of the duty. • IRELAND. THE COMMISSIONERS UNDER THE BE- QUESTS BILL. DUBLIN, DEC. 18.--A supplement to the Dublin Ga zette, published this evening, contains the " astounding" fact of three Roman Catholic Bishops, who, to their ever lasting credit, stood firm against the assaults of their traducers and intimidators, both lay and clerical, accept ing the Queen's Commission to carry into operation the almost solitary beneficial Act of Irish legislation which has emanated from the Government of Sir Robert Peel. This is, undoubtedly, a " heavy blow" at the assumed despotism of the lion of the fold of Judah, and a " great discouragement" to his lay auxiliary, Mr. Daniel O'Con nell, who will be thus relieved from the further turmoil of that impotent parochial agitation, by means of which he has contrived to divert the attention of his dupes from V. consumptive state of the repeal question with the glaring " deficiencies" week after week of the repeal exchequer. Here is the official announcement of the " blow" which has prostrated all the hopes of the " protesters." The name of I)r. Denvir, Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, has, it will be seen, been substituted for that of the Right Rev. I)r. Kennedy, who, by a little less pliancy, would have appeared to more advantage, had he preserved his consistency by retaining his seat at the board, according to his original intention : " Dublin Castle, December 18, 1844.—The Queen in Council has been pleased by warrant, under the sign manual, bearing date at her Majesty's Court of St. James's, the 14th day of December, 1344, to appoint the following persons to be Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland, agreeably to the provisio • • n of the Act 7th and Bth of her Majesty, cap. 97, viz.:— " The Mot Rev. John George, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland. " The Most Rev. Richard, Lord Archbishop of Dublin. " The Most Rev. Archbishop William Crolly. " The Most R's. Archbishop Daniel Murray. The Right Hon. John Rely, Earl of Donoughmore, K.S.P. " The Right Rev. Bishop Cornelius Denvir. " The Very Rev. Henry Pakenhatn, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin. " The Right Hon. Sir Patrick Bellew, Bart. " The Right Hon. Anthony Richard Blake. " The Rev. Pooley Shouldham Henry, D.D." The Eveneng Mail contains the following remarks in reference to this document : " Thanks to the firmness of Lord Heytesbury, the measure has thus been carried into effect without the slightest concession to clamour, or any yielding to a sup posed expediency. We are happy to observe also, that the Roman Catholic prelates and laymen on the Com mission have risen with the emergency above the weak ness of a pusillanimous surrender to the pressure from without, or with the perverseness of embarrassing the Government from within. Doctor Murray, in particu lar, has displayed a moral courage which entitles him to the respect of the wise and good of all persuasions, and to the confidence especially of the laity of his own. It was no easy task to resist the talons of the lion of the fold of Judah, and the fangs of the serpent of the tribe of Dan ; it was no holiday work to withstand the shock of the demagogue's tongue, and despise the threats of an ignorant and fanatical multitude. But Doctor Murray, upon whom the chief as sault was brought to bear, has triumphed over the arts and the violence of his opponents, and the va cillation of his own temper ; and has thus, we believe, brought to a most important crisis the temporal concerns of the Roman Catholic Church as it exists in Ireland. The position which he has at last assumed determines, we think, the growing controversy between what may be called the democratic spirit creeping into his Church, and the theocracy which she has invariably asserted for herself ; and so far it is well for the peace of the world that the anarchy resulting from mob dictation should be seasonably cut short. Having done justice to Dr. Murray, we ought not, and we will not, withhold the tribute of our respect from Drs. Crolly and Denvir. Though more in the shade, they sustained, by their counsel and con currence, the energies of their more exposed colleague, and doubtless to their co-operation much of his firm ness, as well as the success of the measure, is to be ascribed." VICEREGAL COURT. The first levee for the season is officially announced to take place on the 29th of January, and the first drawing room on the evening following. MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS The following are the results of " A Table of Mortality in the Metropolis, showing the Number of Deaths from all Causes registered in lie Week ending Saturday, the 14th of December, 1844." The Table is issued from the Office of the Registrar-General:— Weekly CAUSES; OF DEATH. Total. Average of live Years Epidemic,Endemic,and Contagious Diseases 220 178 Diseases of variable or uncertain seat lOB 111 Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses 153 157 Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of Respiration 444 285 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 42 21 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c 5 Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &e. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ll 6 Diseases of the Skin, be Old Age, or Natural Decay .. By Violence, Privation, or Intemperance 36 26 Causes specified 1196 942 Deaths from all Causes ...... l2Ol 946 I:MATHS FROM THE PRLNCIPAL DISEASES DICLUDBD tninrut THE ABOVE HEADS. Teta,. Weekly Average of File Years. Consumption 145 147 Scarlatina 47 34 Pneumonia . Dropsy ..... .. ........ ..... Hooping Cough 26 33 Typhus Small Pox 5l 15 Disease of the Heart Measles ............ ............. 33 28 Apoplexy Diseases of the Brain .... 14 9 Diarrhea.. - ... 10 12 Sudden Deaths 2O 15 DISTRICTS. West 176 138 North 209 171 Central East 268 207 South 339 242 Total ... ........,..1401 946 EXTRAORDINARY LAND SLIP. A most extraordinary land slip happened a week from Thursday last, the 15th, near Lebanon, New Hampshire. About three miles to the eastward of the village is a high conical hill, rising perpendicu larly on its southern side, but on the north sloping gradually from the summit to the rich table land be low. This hill forms part of the property of Benja min Wurtle, Esq., and the land around it is divided into three farms, each of which runs in a rectangular shape into the hill, meeting together in a point at its apex. The following is the relation of a person on the spot at the time : " With one of the tenants, Robert Gourley, I had occasion to transact some business on Thursday last, and having called on him at his farm-house about two o'clock of the day, I was detained till late in the evening. About half-past ten lo'clock, as we were in the act of reading over some papers, preparatory to their being signed by us, we were startled by a sudden explosion. Our first impression was, that a piece of artillery had been discharged in the rear of the farm buildings, but after reflecting on the extreme impro bability of such an event, we referred the detonation to an earthquake, or some subterranean convulsion. For the next few minutes we sat in a state of con siderable alarm, which was augmented on hearing unusual sounds from the barns and stables, as if the cattle were struggling to get loose. Just as we started from our seat, by a sort of instinctive resolve, to ascertain the cause of this singular occurrence, we suddenly felt the house in motion. " At first there was a violent jerk, then a movement on ward, not unlike the first starting of a ponderous railway train. Gradually the motion increased, until we found ourselves moving along at a rapidly accele rating rate. It was a clear starry night, and I could see the boughs of trees in the distance passing the windows, just as we perceive the transit of simi lar objects from the window of a travelling ve hicle. This continued for two or three mi nutes, and then there was a sudden stop, producing another violent jerk, which threw my friend and me to the opposite side of the room. We ran imme diately to the door, and our astonishment may be more easily, conceived than described on discovering ourselves in an entirely new locality. I saw at once that a land slip had taken place ; but although I had read of similar occurrences in the districts around the Alps, I was not prepared for so remark able an instance as had just taken place. " We found ourselves at least a quarter of a mile from the original spot. The farm-house and out buildings were all entire. A range of poplars, which grew near the barn, still occupied the same relative position to that building. The only change observable was that a stream which flowed a little below the farm-houses had entirely disappeared. " The most singular result of this movement is that the farm offices of my friend, Mr. Gourley are no longer upon his own farm. They have been pro jected upon the lands of a totally different proprietor, and it is supposed that unless he manage to rent, in addition to his old farm, the portion of land on which his stealing is now located, a good deal of nice liti gation will be the consequence of this sudden and un expected freak of nature."—Boston (U. S.) Chronicle of Nov. 30. SUlClDE.—Thursday afternoon, shortly after four o'clock, Mr. Wood, jun., son of the proprietor of Wood's Hotel, Lincoln's Inn-fields ' entered the shop of Mr. Rusk, bootmalcer, of High Holborn, and requested per mission to go the water-closet, and, being a customer, it was immediately granted. Haying remained for a con siderable time, Mr: Rusk became surprised, and upon going up stairs, to his horror discovered the unfortunate young man quite dead, having cut his throat with a razor which was lying on the ground. No cause for the rash act has been assigned. THE PRINCE CONSORT'S PRIZE Ox.—This splendid animal, which arrived at Windsor from the Smithfield Club Cattle Show, on Monday last, was immediately taken to the royal dairy in the Home-park, where it will be domiciled during the winter, MR.WILSON'S ENTERTAINMENTS Concerts, we have always thought, labour under a disadvantage from which most other kinds of enter tainments are exempt—namely, the continual inter ruption of the interest of the audience by the cessa tion of the performances, and the appearing and dis appearing of the performer, with all the noise, chat tering, and moving about, which invariably follow. In ordinary concerts of vocal music, this defect is irremediable. The performer cannot sing right on, song after song, till the performances are done; first, because he is not equal to the exertion ; secondly, the attention of the audience would be thereby kept too much on the stretch • and, thirdly, th e agreea bl e succession of the humorous and the sentimental, which so greatly enlivens a concert, would cease to harmonise. And as nothing could me more absurd than the performer, in the interval between his songs, standing twirling his thumbs and looking at the audience, and the audience twirling their thumbs and looking at him—off he must go ! Mr. Wilson was among the first to devise a remedy for this —certainly the first who did so systematically —by giving, as it were, popular musical lectures with vocal illustrations. By a well-chosen series of amusing anecdotes and critical remarks, with which he introduces each song, he at once keeps up the interest of his :audience from first to last, and adds novelty and variety to the other attractions of a con cert. Never was popularity better merited than that which Mr. Wilson has thus attained. As was to be expected, he has had may followers ; but, we are happy to say, he has had no rival. Too often hare we seen the person who had the talent to strike out for himself a new path to wealth and distinction, outstripped by some more fortunate but less deserving competitor; and we repeat, that we are happy that, in the present instance, Mr. Wilson's talents have bid defiance to competition, and have secured the fruits to him that planted. Ably and pleasingly does Mr. Wilson go through his performance; anecdotes well chosen and well-told--delightful songs as delightfully sung : indeed, with him, the gems and their setting are alike admirable. There is no vocalist whose manner we think equal to Mr. Wilson's. It is varied and full of animation, and alike in the humorous and the pathetic, never fails to carry the audience along with him; indeed,in the dry and somewhat caustic humour peculiar to the Scotch, and with which many of oar songs abound, Mr. Wil son is unrivalled. Yet his manneris never forward—he never o'ersteps the modesty of nature ; everything is chaste and polished, yet nothing is missed ; it is nature in its most pleasing delineation. In his style of singing, Mr. Wilson is simple, tasteful, and very effective, without seeming to aim at being so; and the more critically his style in singing any piece is examined, the more fully will his discrimination be conceded. His style, too, is quite free of what is commonly called " stage effect," but which may be often more fitly denominated clap-trap; and he never indulges in a flourish at the end of a song, as many a one does, merely to announce to the audience that he is now ready to be miffed ! From the first note of the song to the last, all is in good taste ; and as he faith fully and beautifully expresses the transitions of feeling—the lights and shadows of the piece —his singing never wearies by sameness; yet so de licately is this sometimes done, that we rather feel the transition, than appreciate it by ear—the music seems still the same, yet ever changing. His voioe is rich, and singularly sweet and pleasing, and seems not even yet to have reached its full development— some new perfection (if we may use the term) be coming every year perceptible ; and so smooth and steady is it, that during his late concerts we failed to detect a single roughness. Mr. Wilson has lately been giving concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the - reception he has met with in both cities has been most flattering. On Friday and Saturday last week, he gave two concerts in Edinburgh—au evening one in the Music-hall, and a morning one in the Hopetoun-rooms. On the latter occasion he gave a selection of German songs, which were quite new to us. They have very rarely been performed in this country, and then only at some of the classical concerts in London. The " Journey," by Mendelssohn, is a magnifi cent composition; but the piece we liked best was " Fair Annie"—a perfect gem —as sweet a little song as we ever listened to—resembling much, as Mr. Wilson observed, some of the sweet and simple lays of our own land, and also not a little, we thought, some of those of the Emerald Isle. We have only space left to mention the " Curse of Dunvegan "—a singular and striking piece of music, which Mr. Wilson has lately added to his list of Scottish songs. He first sang it in the Music-hall, and had to repeat it, by desire, in the Hopetoun-rooms.—Scottish Dramatic Mirror. Mr. Wilson is at present giving his entertainments in the Athenaeum, in Manchester, with great success; and, after visiting Liverpool and the principal towns in Lancashire, he will resume his evenings at the Music-hall, Store-street, in the course of a few weeks. " Happy Land" is the constant accompanyist of Mr. Wilson. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. ASIIDOWN PARK COURSING MEETING. THURSDAY. First Ties for the Craven Puppy Stakes—Crape beat Elastic ; Frighten-'em beat Bill Scott ; Vesper beat Prudence; Eisler beat England's Que en . Second Ties—Elsler beat Frighten-'em; Crape beat Vesper. Second Ties for the Gold Cup—The Winner beat Perseverance; Feathers beat Brilliant. First Ties for the Dog Puppy Stakes—Franti c b eat Westover; Westend beat Breadalbane. First Ties of Bitch Puppy Stakes—Magpie beat Entre-nous; Blessington beat Wit's-end. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Sir R. Sutton's hds., Mon., Cariby ; Tues., Ayston ; Thurs., Colsterworth ; Fri., Seaton Windmill ; Sat., Market 0 verton— 1 1. Earl Fitzwilliam's hds., Man., Sawtry Gorse ; Tues., Barnwell Wold ; Fri., North Wood-10. Mr. Hellier's hds., Mon., Kenwick Toll-bar ; Tues., Thornton Village ; Fri., Giraby ; Sat., Welton Wood-11. Her Majesty's stag-hds., Mon., Thorpe Greene ; Fri., Stoke Common-11. Mr. Drax's hds., Mon., Pointington ; Fri., llolnest Keal. Lord Elcho's hds., Mon., Marchmont ; Tees., Ayton ; Fri., Beauley. Findon hds., Mon., Ham ; Tues., Applesham ; Thurs., Wappingthorne ; Sat., the Holmbush-11. Essex Union hds., Tues., Kennel ; Sat., Purleigh Wash. East Essex, Mon., Helion's Bumpstead ; Thurs., Marks Hall ; Sat., High Wood. Quorn hds., Mon., Shearsby Inn ; Tues., Steward's Hay; Thurs., Itolleston Hall ; Fri., Six Hills-10i. Pytchley hds., Mon., Buttock's B oo th ; Tues., Walcot Village ' • Fri., Fox Hall ; Sat. Brock Hall-104.-104. Badsworthhds., Tues., Doncaster Bar; Thurs., Mickleton Hall ; Sat., Ackworth Moor Top--1(A. Mr. Fuljambe's hds., Mon., Rossington-bridge ; Tues., North Carlton ; Thurs., Blyth e L aw Hill ; Fri., Gringley-on-the-Hill. Earl of Harewood's hds., Mon., Sickling Hall ; Tees., Bramham Moor Cross-roads; Fri., Wighill Village, 10i. Rufford hds., Mon., Kennels ; Thu rs ., O ss i ngton ; S at., Langwith Lodge. Lord. Henry Bentinck's hds., Mon., Langford Lodge ; Tues., Gate Burton ; Thurs., Sadbrook ; Fri., Bran. ston Wood ; Sat., Bardney-1 1. Mr. Farquharson's hds., Mon., Clifton Wood. B. V. 11., Tues., Milborne Port ; Fri., Bishop's Caundle. Mr. A. Smith's hds., Mon., Clatford Oakcuts ; Tues., Wilcot and Whorwell Wood ; Thurs., Woyhill ; Fri., Everleigh ; Sat., Faccombe. Sherwood harrs., Tues., 2d milestone, Nottingham Road; Fri., Dalestorth. Thanet harm., Mon., Sarre Mill ' • Wed., Vincent—loi. East Kent hds., Mon., Sandling Park ; Tues., Stouting Common ; ri., Black Mill-10i. Hurworth lids., Tues., Sweaton-bridge ; Thurs., Moon Bank ; Sat., Neesham-10f. Raby hds., Tues., Middleton Tyes; Sat., Wakerfield, 101. Duke of Cleveland's stag-hds., Tues., Caldwell —l2. Sir W. W. Wynn's hds., Mon., Bryn-y-pys ; Tues., Plas Teg ' • Thurs., Farndon ; Sat., Iscoyd-10i. Atherstone hds., Mon., Canwel Gate; Tues., Cricket's Inn ; Thurs., Nailstone Village ; F r i., C amp Hill ; Sat., Three ots —lo 4 a. Mr. Candler's hds., Tues., Woodcote Green ; Fri., Bredon Hill. Mr. Archer's hds., Mon., Vroudon; Thurs., - Dolsdown Inn-10i. Cheshire hds., Mon., Tabley; Tues., Aston Hall; Thurs., Church Minshull; Sat., Devonport Hall-104. Crawley and Horsham hds., Mon.; Crawley Gate; Thurs., Ockley Court; Sat., Turner's Hill Village-101. Herefordshire hds., Tues., Myne Park; Fri., Chilston Turnpike-10i. Ross harrs., Mon., Weston Lodge. Ludlow hds., Tues., Bonldon Village ; Fri., Onibury Village. Mr. Morgan's hds., Tees., New Bridge Hill-10 Shropshire hds., Tues., High Hatton ; Thurs., Chipnal Wood ; Sat., Twemlows-101. Albrighton hds., Mon., Wass a il Top ; Thurs., Onslow ; Sat., Gatacre-10i. United Pack, Thurs., Little Stretton-9. Wheatland hds., Tues., Sidbury; Sat., Homer Hill —10. Montgomeryshire hds., Tues., Guilsfield; Fri., Halfway Inn, Berriew. Brighton, harrs., Mon., Patcham ; Fri., Dyke. Brookside harrs., Mon., Newmarket Hill ; Thurs., Tels combo Tye. Essex and Suffolk hds., Tues., Thorington Hall ; Fri., Gifford's Hall. Tiverton lids., Mon., Cruwy's Morchard ; Thurs., But terleigh ; Sat., Seven Crosses-101. Warwickshire hds., Mon., Wellesbourne; Tues., Alitford bridge ; Thurs., Shuckburgh Park; Fri., Print Hill, 101. Holderness hds., Mon., Brandsburton Moor ; Tues., Londesborough Gate, York-road ; Thurs. Winestead ; Fri., Welton Grange • Sat, Rise Mile. Lord Yarborough's hds., Mon., Swinhop House ; Thurs., Saxby Mill ; Sat., S‘Vallow Cross-roads-11. Sir T. Sykes's hds., Mon., Settrington Beacon ; Thurs., the Windmill, Stocton Forest ; Sat., Scampston bridge-710i. Mr. Mure's hds., Mon., Euston Park ; Thurs., Depden green-1 oi. Mr. M. Ingram's hds., Mon., Catton ; Thurs., Poston ; Sat., Henhurst-1 ok. Thanet harrs., Mon., barra Mill, Cavendish-bridge. Donnington hds., Mon., Belton Grange ; Th urs ., Ca • vendish-bridge Sat.,Cli4ou Village, _DUTY ON PAPER. MEETING OF MANUFACTURERS. An important meeting of paper-manufacturers was held at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, on Thursday, for the purpose of taking steps to preetire the total abolition of the duty on paper in the ap • proaching session of Parliament. Similar meetings were recently held at Manchester and Edinburgh, and a deputation from the Manchester meeting, con sisting of Mr. Crompton, Mr. Potter, and another gentleman, attended at the present meeting to offer their co-operation. Sir William Magnay, Mr. Dickenson, Mr. Gaussen, Mr. Pewtress, Mr. Law rence, and a number of other gentlemen interested in the subject of the meeting, were present. J. Dicxxesore, Esq., having been called to the cha'r, said he had great satisfaction in explaining to so numerous and respectable a meeting the injurious effects of the Excise-laws on the manufacture of paper, and in calling on them to use their most stre nuous exertions to obtain a repeal of the duty that pressed so heavily on their manufacture. In 1836 the paper manufacturers obtained a partial reduction of the tax, and they obtained an equilisation of the Excise duties on different kinds of paper; from which measures, however, the manufacturers had not de rived the expected advantages, and he trusted they would be enabled to obtain redress for the intolerable grievances which now oppressed the trade, by the total removal of the duty ; for he felt convinced that by no other means could the remedy they sought be procured. The reduction of duty before granted by the Government had, indeed, been of service, and the public had derived great benefit from the consequent reduction of the price of paper. The reduction of price had, of course, greatly increased the consumption ; and thus it might have been expected to have benefited the paper manufacturer; but the increase of consump tion had not been adequate to the expected demand, and reduction of price had exceeded the proportion due to the diminished duty ; consequently, the manu facturer had suffered, though the public had reaped considerable advantage. The duty at present pressed very heavily on some branches of the paper manu facturer, to the amount s in some cases, of 150 per cent. ; and on the larger portion of the produce of the mills, it amounted to 80 per cent. The depres sion in the price of paper had been occasioned partly by the reduction of the duty, and partly by the eva sion of the payment of any duty by fraudulent makers. The Excise had, for the purpose of pre venting frauds, adopted many stringent regulations, which were greatly annoying, and tended to injure the trade in many ways ; but, nevertheless, the frauds continued. In one instance that had come within his knowledge, it was the practice of a manufacturer, whose name he would not mention, to pay the Excise duty on half the paper he manufactured, and to re tain the duty on the other half. He (Mr. Dickenson) had paid much attention to the subject of collecting duties and preventing fraudulent practices ; but he felt convinced that it was impossible for any law or regulation, however stringent, to prevent fraud in the paper maker, if so disposed, and it was a known fact that frauds to a great extent were still continued. The Excise regulations greatly impeded trading ope tions, and the interference with the manufacture was carried as far as it could be endured ; but notwith standing their vigilance, the Excise could not prevent fraud. The uncertainty of the law also afforded an other strong ground for the repeal of the tax altogether ; for in some cases articles that came in direct compe tition with the paper maker were at one time declared to be chargeable with duty, and at another time to be exempt. Mr. Dickenson then alluded at some length to the process of manufacturing sheeting and roofing paper, for which a patent had been obtained in 1833. In that manufacture the fibrous material, after being torn to pieces by passing it between spiked rollers, was mixed with pitch and tar, and then rolled out into sheets. The patentees got an officer of Excise to examine their mode of manufacture, and he was of opinion that it did not come within the meaning of the Act imposing a duty on paper. The paper makers complained of this, and in passing the Act of 1836 it was intended that such manufacture should be ren dered liable to the duty. According to the strict letter of the law that species of manufacture was pre viously chargeable ; but, when it was found that it was about to be especially included in the Act of 1836, the parties got Mr. buncombe and others to wait on Mr. Spring Rice, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in consequence of their representa tions a clause was introduced in the Bill to exempt that manufacture from the payment of duty. The parties afterwards undertook to manufacture mill boards and scale boards, as well as roofing and sheathing by their patent process, but after a lapse of two years the Excise again claimed the payment of duty on such articles. The parties pleaded their ex emption, and as another Act for regulating the duties on paper was about to be passed, the matter was not pressed. In the subsequent Act of Parliament a clause was specially introduced for rendering such manufacture liable to duty. The words were very ex plicit; they expressly stated that mill-boards, with whatever material made, or by whatever process manu factured, should be chargeable with the same duty as paper-14s. per cwt. Notwithstanding this Act, the parties set to work in defiance of it, and though the case had been represented to the Board of Excise again and again, they refused to interfere. He (Mr. Dickenson) went to Mr. Wood on the subject, and he obtained a promise that the matter should be examined and reported. The Surveyor-General of Excise did, in fact, report that the process was altogether dif ferent from that of making paper, the material being in one case mixed, when dry, with pitch and tar, and in the other case the material was reduced to a pulp with water. It was, 'indeed, well worth making an alteration in the mode of manufacture, if by that means an article serving the same purpose as many kinds of paper would be brought into the market duty free. He had no doubt, from the first, that the article was chargeable with duty, and he adduced these variations in the opinion of the Excise officers, and on the interpretation of the Act of Parliament, to show the great grievances to which paper manu facturers were subject, from the uncertainty of the law as well as from the duty itself. It was impossible for the fair trader to compete with those who manu factured a similar article without paying any duty, and they who had long carried on a useful trade had a right to demand at least fair play and no favour.— (Cheers.) In asking for a repeal of the duty on paper, they would have the satisfaction of thinking that such a measure would be greatly beneficial to many other trades besides their own. Millwrights, smiths, mould-makers, printers, booksellers, bookbinders, pub lishers, and a great many other trades, would derive advantage from the repeal of the tax; and paper would become an article of much more general use for several purposes to which other substances were now applied. The tax on paper, among other impor tant prejudicial effects, produced great injury on the publicati on o f books. The late Mr. Rees, of the firm of Messrs. Longman and Co., stated in evidence, be fore a Committee of the House of Commons, that on an average not more that one book out of three suc ceeded and paid its expenses ; it therefore became necessary for the publishers to remunerate themselves by the profits of the one successful book for their losses on the others. The authority of Mr. M`Culloch confirmed this opinion, with the addition that not more than one pamphlet out of twenty pays its ex penses. • According to the present Excise regulations, the privilege that was granted to the dealer in cotton, and to other dealers in taxed articles, was refused to the publisher; for whilst they were permitted to keep their goods in bond without paying duty until a sale was effected, the publisher was compelled to pay duty on all the sheets that were printed, though the greater portion, perhaps, became afterwards useless. If the tax operated thus injuriously on publication, it must also operate prejudicially on education ; and in these times, when education was considered the right of the poor, and that it was the duty of the rich to provide the means, it was more than ever essential that so great an hindrance to the spread of know ledge should be removed. The dfficulties and delays which attended obtaining the drawback of the duty on paper exported, constituted another source of injury to the English paper maker, and gave the foreign manufacturer great and unfair advantages. Formerly the difficulties of obtaining the drawback of duty were only annoyances,,without seriously affecting the fo reign trade • but, since the recent Custom-house frauds, the Government, smarting under the effects of the losses they had sustained, had made new and more stringent regulations on the shipment of good s , and now all packages of paper and books were taken out of their cases, looked over, and then bundled without care into the cases again and shipped. The mischief did not end there, for it had been long the custom to pack books and paper going to the West Indies, or on long sea voyages, in tin cases, and in the resoldering of these cases and examining the pack ages,fc t a e r n e teastts damaged. e nl s , s , rte i h n n e cr r he e Tf s o o hpr l eea d sp e eoe r u i r n ry g e x t a h t e i owholes regulations the bo o k s an d paper were frequently soiled, and o i p l o o n r e e s d f o o u r d s u o b o s ew bwdq y iu e de r tneht ex not c e applyp o r b f z rn t rneg foreigncondition,to our u rin t a h ck a oe n l be supplied with foreign paper more readily, and in maker received colonies ir a ee p s : e r itvh o e f adn English greater English facilities t e a t than the hostiletrad thesecould Custom-house have a the menu feaffeeteutr. e onr. regulations, and if these obstacles worse were conti nued the foreign paper trade must be ruined. Mr. Dickenson said he had endeavoured to point out some of the most prominent disadvantages attend ing the duty on paper, and some of the benefits that would be derived from its repeal; but no one could conceive the whole extent of the good that would re sult from the total emancipation of paper from the exc i se . He felt assured that nothing less than a total repeal would do. The Board of Excise had endea voured to make their arrangements so as to be as little vexatious as possible to the fair trader, but nothing short of very strict supervision could detect fraud, and &with all the precautions now taken many frauds were FASITIONABLE LOUNGt§ Spring has its admirers, summer its adorers, au tumn its lovers; but winter, cold and gloomy as it is, possesses a charm for the votaries of fashion which more than compensates for the chilling aspect it wear. Is it not in winter that modes appear in all the gloss of novelty ? Is it not during the gaieties of a Pa risian winter the English beauty selects those objects with which she intends to distinguish herself the en suing spring in her own cold clime ? Is it not in winter that new stuffs appear, new shapes are brought out, and furs are worn ? The present month has already made known the charms of the corsage and coiffure a la Bedouin the beauty and utility of l'etrffe ltfacaoe—that last novelty for ladies' dresses. The jour de l'an approaches, and what a host of novelties will follow in its train—what a variety of etrennes will it be necessary to purchase ; but now it is not as it was in former times. A few years past it was necessary to visit a hundred magazines to supply a hundred wants ; but now let any one enter the beautiful salons of Messrs. Barry and Son ' at the E2;vptian Hall, Piccadilly—he need go no further. Whatever bijouterie is wanting to ornament the most tasteful boudoir—whatever the most fastidious lady may require to furnish her writing-table—whatever may serve to decorate her dressing-room or toilet table—is here to be found in profuse variety. Nothing really can surpass the style and finish of the papeterie de luxe of every description, prepared by this house. But the perfection of art is displayed in the cards engraved with crests, in their proper heraldic colours, which is their own invention, and which is patronised by the highest nobility. In the same way, their dies for marking linen, which are used by tho Lor 1 Chamberlain to mark the royal property, are useful and very elegant inventions. The numerous articles adapted to this season of the year, for Christmas pre sents, are of exquisite workmanship and design. Dressing-cases, albums, souvenirs, ladies' companions, envelopes ' sachets—these, and a hundred bijoux besides, are to be had at this magazine. The Messrs. Lebenheim, Mullar, and Co., of Berlin, have recently taken out letters patent for a new de scription of tapestry, which may be seen at their warehouse, 148, Regent -street. This novelty will doubtless attract the attention of all persons of taste and fortune, for in brilliancy of colouring and ele gance of design they have been pronounced superior to even the far-famed Gobelins. They are composed of the finest Berlin wool, and the effect produced by the correctness of the drawing and the delicacy of the shading, equals the finest paintings. This must be seen to be appreciated. At the Exposition a Paris his Majesty Louis Philippe not only deigned to com pliment the representative of the firm of Lebenheim and Co. on the surpassing beauty of their patent wool mosaic tapestry, but the following day an order was given for two of the royal salons to be fitted np with this beautiful invention, as also one for his Royal Highness the Due de Nemours. Copies of " A Ma donna," after Raphael ; " The Last Supper" of Leonardo da Vinci ; and " The Battle of Waterloo," by Stenben, are amongst the specimens which may be seen of this unrivalled production of the loom. Our gracious Sovereign and her Consort have both ex pressed their admiration of the Lebenheim carpets ; and truly they deserve prominent places amongst the many curiosities of this vast metropolis. To dress like a finished gentleman one was obliged heretofore to have a coat from one, pantaloons from another, a waistcoat from a third. Now, our splendid ateleir furnishes the complete costume of a man of the first fashion. From the salons of the Messrs. Nicoll, of Regent-street, the Court tailors, whose elegant premises are situated near the Quadrant, one may depart " a perfect gentleman from top to toe." Costumes for the ball-room, for the Court, for the promenade, and for the chase, are here to be had in the highest artistic excellence. By the way, we understand that since the Continent has taken it into its head to emulate us in the noble exercise of hunt ing and racing, the orders for scarlet coats, driving capes, and other sporting garments, sent to this house, have been astonishingly great. That which at the present moment commands the highest admiration in the way of dress is the new style of riding over-coat, or walking great coat, such as is worn by his Royal Highness Prince Albert. It is impervious to wet, and for its cut and appearance surpasses anything of the sort previously made. The style of this costume reflects much credit on the taste of these artists, by whom it was introduced. What a handsome coat is to a gentleman, a pretty bonnet and cap are to a lady, namely, the most remarkable part of their respective toilets. Who can withstand a pretty face peeping from under a bonnet fresh from the maison of Mdlls. Herbault, nieces, Rue Menard, Paris ? How ex quisitely do they mingle lace and plumes, flowers and nceuds! There is nothing formal, nothing bourgeoise in their chapeaux. Then their caps ! how fascinating, how bewitching are those little plain bonnets which are at present worn by every woman of fashion in Paris. How simple they appear—a mere flat piece of lace, surrounded by an equally plain trimming of Mechlin, or Brussels, interspersed with ribbon these are the materials ; but let any one unacquainted with the secret employed by the dames Herbault in the facon of their caps, attempt to imitate them ! At some future period we shall devote an article to furs, and to the hou ses a t which they_ may be o bt a i ned in all their surpassing beauty. For the present we must say, au reroir—Post. A— .PPREHENSION of a NOTORIOUS RECEIVER OF STOLEN GOODS AT NOT TINGHAM. RECOVERY OF AN IMMENSE QUANTITY OF STOLEN PROPERTY. A man named John Green, a baker, residing in Millstone-lane, at the corner of Kent-street, in this town, has long been known to the police as a noto rious receiver of stolen property; although this was well-known to them, they have never had an oppor tunity of bringing him to justice until the present week, in consequence of the man's wary habits. On Tuesday last, information was communicated to Su perintendent Fisher, that some shawls which had been stolen out of Haughton-street, had been taken to Green's house; thinking he could rely upon the correctness of the information, he procured a search warrant immediately, and taking with him Su perintendent Trueman, Inspector Raynor, and Mr. Barwick, the watchhouse-keeper, he went to Green's house. Having ascertained that Green was at home, they informed him of their errand, when he told them he was quite willing for them to search his premises. Taking both Green and his wife upstairs with them, they examined the bed-rooms; in drawers they found the whole of the plate stolen from the Ram Inn, Long-row, on the sth of Sep tember last, and a great quantity of plate of other descriptions, together with prints, clothing, and arti cles of almost every description, in chests, boxes, and drawers. Although the man has pretended to be poor, and passed through the Insolvent Court a few weeks since, a purse, containing a 51. note, and 5/. 12s. in silver, was found under the pillow of his bed, and ninety-two sovereigns were discovered be tween the bed and the mattress, wrapped in brown paper. A great quantity of the prints and coarse clothing was found underneath a stair case, being covered over with dirty linen. As soon as these discoveries were made both Green and his wife changed their tone, the latter bnoming almost frantic. The whole of this property was immediately taken into possession by the police, and was conveyed to the police-office, along with Green, as a prisoner. At five o'clock the prisoner was placed before the Mayor, when Mrs. Wilson, of the Ram Inn, identified her property. The prisoner was remanded for further examination until next Tuesday, to give time for some more of the stolen property to be identified. This is really a very creditable seizure on the part of the police, who, in matters of this description, show themselves to be inferior to none in the country. No doubt much of the property in the appended list, which does not in clude the articles that have been identified, has not been stolen in this neighbourhood.—(Here follows a list of articles amounting at least to 2 00.)—Notting. ham Review. Tus Mame.—ln accordance with the recommen dation and through the exertions of Mr. Churchill, Surveyor to the General Post-office, the Postmaster. General has given instructions for the establishment of a day mail between London and Shrewsbury, by means of which, in addition to the existing arrangements, letters and newspapers from London, Birmingham, Wolver hampton, Shiffnal, and Wellington, will be received at Shrewsbury at seven o'clock in the evening, and will be dispatched from thence at seven o'clock in the morning for all towns in the line, except London.— Wolverhampton Chronicle. SUPPOSED SUICIDE IN A PUBLIC D1N12461-1100711. —Mr. Payne held an inquest on Thursday at St. Bar tholomew's Hospital, on the body of Walter Steele. aged forty, a paper ornament maker. Joseph Cooper. eating-house-keeper, of No. 26, Newgate-street. Amid that on Wednesday afternoon the deoessed. whom he had never seea before, entered *a shop and called for some roast beef for his dinner. Deceased sat down in one of the boxes , awl appeared as if nothing wa s th e ma tte r w ith him, but as soon as he had taken one mouthful of meat he was seized with a great desire to vomit. Witness led him out to the street, and by that time deceased was so weak as to require support. He took him to a chemist's in Newgate-street, where a cordial was administered, bet without success, and from thence be was taken to the above hospital. He never spoke after the first moment of the attack. Some friends of the deceased said that he left home in the morning in a good state of health. having recovered from the effects of a dose of arsenic taken three weeks ago. Mr. Philip Hurlock, resident medical officer of the hospital, said that the deceased was dead upon his admission. A post mortem examina tion was made that day, but there was some difficulty irk arriving at the precise cause of death. Considerable inflammation of the stomach was found, such as would be produced by some corrosive poison, arsenic or ozalie j acid for instance. Those appearances might, howevtle, have arisen from natural causes. Verdict—" Died fro ze inflammation of the stomach, but how caused there is no evidence to shQw."