The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. The Member for Dorsetshire is a public man of business, a man of weight with his party, and even has pretensions to statesmanship; yet how does he meet a serious charge—a universal belief? By show ing a possible foundation in accident, interest, and malice. Yet the facts were before his face, and under his very feet. A numerous body of labourers had just been rewarded, and at that moment were being feasted in the same house ; a numerous body of gentlemen and clergymen were in the room. Here was a host of competent witnesses. All the circumstances of the scene were as favourable for the impartial development of the truth, as for the favourable reception of Mr, Bankes's singularly in ' sufficient apology. Here is the county Member, a leading man of his party, at an agricultural dinner; excuse the comparison—a cock on his own dunghill. On rising to speak "he was received," as became his station and character, " with loud and protracted cheers." He was addressing " a large and influential portion of the constituency," and had, as he expressed it, the peculiar pleasure of "making one in this room with the large portion of the agriculturists of this county here assembled, mingled as it is this evening with so many belonging to this opu lent and influential town, who are engaged in other pursuits, trades, and occupations." What a noble opportunity of eliciting and declaring to the deluded kingdom the facts of the ease ! Why not out at once with the rates of wages, summer and winter, a description of the cottages, and fare, and other plain realities ? The successful candidates for the labourers' prizes had each received " a neat and pretty testimonial, expensively framed and glazed, to hang up in his cottage !" How complete the scene would have been if " a neat and pretty " landlords' testimonial could have been added to the series ! FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. GLOBE.—It was predicted by Peter Plymley, about 1807, that " we shall live to see the Hampstead Protestant (Mr. Perceval) pronouncing such extrava gant panegyrics upon holy water, and paying such fulsome compliments to the thumbs and toes of departed saints, that parties will change sentiments, and Lord Henry Petty and Sam Whitbread take a spell at No Popery." Part of this prophecy we witness at present some thing like the fulfilment of. The Times last week appeared to have had its cue from the Foreign-office to put forth a feeler on the subject of instituting diplomatic relations with the Court of Rome, with a view to obtaining Papal mediation between the Irish Roman Catholic hierarchy and the Government. Now we have no objection whatever to friendly relations with the Court of Rome, nor to the use of its media tion in conciliating the Irish Roman Catholic priest hood to the civil power. It will be a mistake, how • ever, in our Government to exaggerate to itself the effect thereby attainable. The most advantageous introduction of parties (public or private) to each other, has little effect, unless their feelings and objects shall harmonise afterwards. We appreciate the influ ence of the See of Rome over its conscientious ad herents ; an acknowledged authority is a great matter to have to point to, on one side or other; and we have no doubt that this Government would be as successful as any other in enlisting that authority on the side of its own just requirements. But we must not exaggerate the real extent of any ex clusively spiritual influence. The Pope's - name may be a tower of strength ; but the fate of the tower depends, after all, on the garrison. The Papal authority will be all-powerful with a local clergy, so long as it is exerted in accordance with their own feelings and prospects. But no authority on earth can produce action contrary to class-instincts. The University of Oxford declared the duty of passive obedience, only a year or two before, with the rest of the Church, it commenced resistance to James the Second. The advanced guard of Puseyism pro claims the sin of schism from the Roman Church now—but takes it extremely unkind to have the con sequent duty urged on it of instant reunion. The logic of facts, and actual circumstances, is stronger than that of words. The Times says : " We shall not attempt to explain by what means in the present absurd state of the law any intercourse between the British Government and the Court of Rome may have taken place. But it is notorious that such intercourse has taken place at various times ; and, although the indirect mode in which it must hale been carried on was unbecoming the great interests affected by such negotiations, the interests of peace and conciliation have been no losers by these transac tions. We allude to the consent of Rome to the veto, which was subsequently defeated by the Irish Roman Ca tholic laity ; to the influence of the Pope in calming the excitement of the Canadian insurgents and in proscribing the slave trade ; and more recently to the sanction which is understood to have been given to the important measure just promulgated in Ireland. On these occa sions it has been found that the good order and welfare of the Roman Catholic Church presented no obstacles, but rather a powerful assistance, to a wise and tolerant policy in civil government ; and since the laws of this country have ceased to persecute the Roman Catholics and to deny their civil existence, there is no secure or tenable resting-place between that state of things, which is now passed away, and the recognition of those authori ties, to which the Roman Catholic clergy and laity ascribe a controlling power in the direction of their spiritual concerr s." It must be observed, with reference to the above statement, that if " the interests of peace and concilia tion have been no losers" by such transactions as our Government has hitherto had with the Court of Rome, neither does it, as yet, clearly appear that they have b: en any gainers. The Veto [of Government on the appointment of Irish Roman Catholic Bishops] was not carried—the revolt of French Roman Catholic Canada was not prevented. We do not contend that Papal intervention is of no use in any such cases, or that (in the existing state of political powers) it is likely to he used on any side but on that of order. We only suggest something more as wanting to the conciliation, by such means, of third parties—something addressed more directly to the business and bosoms of those parties themselves. The Morning chronicle examines, as follows, the ex amples of Austria and France, which the Times had cited : Practical men always make the best of their way to the facts of a question. however it may have been originally started, they try to bring truth out of it. The truth is the only thing that can really set it at rest. Few discussions arise out of the love of truth in the first instance. Inferior motives will take the lead, and mix themselves with the whole course of the inquiry. A wise man casts them aside, and searches for fats. It is but a feminine mode of debate to descend from a question of fact to a question of motive, and merely perpetuate a miserable war of personal recriminations. If it were a sufficient answer to any considerable statement that there are interested or malicious reasons for propounding or believing it, there is an end to all human certainty, and all exactness of knowledge, for there are few statements which are not in that predicament. But, after all, why should we not accept informa tion at rival, or even at hostile hands? An external observer can generally add something to the know ledge even of the most experienced men. They who have lived in a system are, of course, assi milated to it. They are reconciled to abuses, they recognise pretensions, they acquiesce in seeming impossibilities, they admit apologies, they yield to partialities, all perhaps grossly at variance with truth and justice ; and from which a stranger to the system, without their more practical experi ence, is happily exempt. Everybody is keenly alive to the virtues of his own craft, and the vices of others ; and so invincible is the bigotry of cast and circum stances, that we cannot be too thankful for the light occasionally communicated by caste to caste, and one sphere to another. Lord Ashley sees the factory system with a more bird's-eye view, and to some ex tent with a truer view, than the millowners; and they, on the other hand, can form a judgment on the agricultural system truer in some important respects than what the Members for Dorsetshire are likely to have fallen into. And if there be something like retaliation, so long as human nature remains what it is, that is inevitable. We can only learn to take it easy, and make the best of it. If Cobden and Co. had begun with agitating for the labourers of Dorset, sending down commis sions, corresponding with the Dorchester unionists, demanding better pay and better houses, sending an army of inspectors to pry and peep everywhere, and stand by on Saturday night, when the labourers were paid their wages, lugging the names of every town and village, and every landowner and farmer before the House of Commons night after night, with no end of black images, dark apprehensions, and solemn appeals, it is not unlikely that Mr. Bankes and his colleague would have made some attempt to transfer the war of agitation to their enemies' country, and given the Lancashire gentlemen just a taste of the evils they were suffering. Nay, truth itself requires these retaliations. If one employer charges on another the ill-condition of his servants, it is quite necessary to inquire, " How do you manage ?" If a parent censures the excessive strictness of another's domestic menage, it is obvious and inevitable to reply, " But 3 our children are ill-bred." The manufacturer is charged with working his servants too young, too much, too carelessly, and so forth. He cannot but inquire, " How do you contrive to give a sufficiency of wages to your servants without these acknowledged evils? You are lavish of your precepts. Show me your example. now do you actually get over the difficulties under which the great bulk of mankind are sentenced to earn their bread ?" Let Mr. Bankes just for a moment quit the charmed circle of his castle, his tenantry, and his agricultural meeting, and put himself in the place of a Manchester manufacturer, and he will learn to make allowances, and to take truth even at the mouth of a rival ; at least, to meet assertions with facts. " The influence of the Courts of the Tuileries and of Vienna over their upper clergy does not depend upon the power of choosing, or forbh!cling to be chosen, obnoxious persons ; it consists in the Court connexion with the prelates, generally of noble and courtly families, in the power of the Governments of France and Austria at Rome itself—in short, in a host of things and of patronage to which an English Government must remain a stranger. We doubt, then, that a formal alliance or concordat with Rome can convey to an English Minister an hundredth part of that su premacy over the Church, its spirit, and its nomina tions, which has been derived apparently from Rome, and which is wielded by the Catholic Monarchs of Aus tria and France. Neither c:oes an English Minister want that minute power which must be wielded by a Prussian Minister, who, as yet, has no assistance, from public opinion in his system of ruling, and who must have a bridle in every mouth, and that bridle tight drawn, ere he can feel that he governs at all." started like lightning, his tail quivering; and now and then lashing the water into foam, he dashed at the middle of the seaward belt, which instantly re doubled in clamour and in diving, while all from above harbour came down in full cry. The shark plunged and then rose, shooting in the violence of action his whole length above the surface, which glittered like a flash of silver in the sloping sun. Down again he went, darting along the line, to the deepest side, under Fort Amsterdam ; but here the crowd and noise, the beating of the water with sculls and bars, was most intense. He came up again, turned towards the upper harbour, floundered, un certain of his purpose, and then started again, with rapidity to the side where we stood. Here he nearly grounded, but he fought off; his speed, however, was exhausted ; he ran a short way upward, and then, in rather a lubberly way, came on shore on our side, at a little distance off, and hardly moved a fin before an axe was lifted, and his tail cut off. This was the signal for a univer sal shout of triumph. He was by no means one of the largest, measuring something less than 11 feet in length, but was a true squalus carcharias, or raging shark, most dreaded by seamen. With all his vora city and fierceness, this shark is a real coward, as I had long before witnessed at Dominica. A drunken man, floating on the water, was about to be devoured by one of great size one morn ing, while our people were washing the decks, when four men sprang overboard, and scared him away, towing the drunken fellow on shore, where they gave him a sound thrashing by way of caution for the future. Boats or punts must be kept on shore during the battle with a shark, because in the violent exer tions used, their oars and bottoms might strike the swimmers or protect the fish. LAW INTELLIGENCE. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, Dec. 30. IN RE ALEXANDER DIRTWIIISTLE BLACRIE. This insolvent, who has been before the Court se veral times, appeared to-day for final judgment. Ile had been connected with Mr. Stead, the patentee of wood pavement, and a question was raised on the character of those relations, himself claiming to have been licensee of Mr. Stead, and the latter gentleman asserting that the insolvent was only his agent, and a debtor to him. The whole matter had been referred to the Exa miner of the Court, who had held numerous meetings, but had not been able to arrive at anything like a conclusion. It was then agreed that the insolvent should give an undertaking to attend before the Examiner after the release. Another opposition was gone into, but being merely an inquiry into accounts, was not, as may easily be conceived, of the remotest interest to the public. The insolvent was then discharged. Ve repeat, we do not undervalue the importance of enlisting spiritual authority on the side of public order. It is good fur this at least, if for nothing more—it deprives disturbers of order of that autho rity ; turns it against them, instead of enabling them to appeal to it in their favour. But no authority, empty-handed, is really powerful with bodies of men, unless exercised in coincidence with their own sub stantial interests and conditions of existence. The Court of Rome has had time to learn this, in its long years of experienced feebleness ; the Court of England will find it out, if it expects from Rome permanent opiates for Ireland. DORSETSHIRE • LABOURERS. (From the Times.) A SHARK HUNT AT CURACOA. The reader will understand the scene which oc curred one evening a short time after I had witnessed a large troop of sable nymphs gamboling in their favaurite element, and playing their national game " bob my neighbour's head." This can be played at only by swimmers, such as they are, who verily surpass the otter in familiarity with the water. The joke appears to consist in making a kind of so merset dive, so that the heels come up in sight, and strike the surface forcibly; and the skill of the game is to time and aim the manoeuvre so dexterously that they hit the head and neck of another swimmer, who may, that moment, have just emerged from a plunge, and is then forcibly, and before breath can be taken, ducked down again. This feat is sure to raise loud shouts of laughter from the other porpoises, who are seen tumbling about, with their tawny soles flickering above water, in all directions. In a land where cloth• ing is very scanty, and the sensations produced by cold water are pleasant, spectators in thousands being close to the scene, it is no wonder, where all are ex pert, that 150 or 200 are excited to plunge in and partake of the sport. After witnessing from the balcony the scene just described, I had gone in to dress, when old Mynheer Van Starkenburg, the fiscal, or chief justice of the island, came in, request ing my company in his boat, to go up the harbour to his country house, called Buitenzorgh, where I had not yet been. I was just going to ask for some ex planation, when a sudden yelllarose, such a confusion of shouts and screams, as made me instantly start up and grasp my sword, intending to rush down and turn out the guard; for there evidently was some terrible disaster in occurrence. Before I reached the ante chamber, forgetful of the worthy fiscal, I met his orderly (garde de chasse), a mulatto, adorned with sword and belt. " Het is een Haayvisch, mynheer," said he, taking off his hat, and speaking Dutch, the official language of Curacoa, the vernacular being Papiemento, a kind of broken Spanish—" Het is een Haayvisch" (it is a shark). " Ja," interrupted Markus, the fiscal's waiting-boy, "een Haayvisch, oudu de vrouvi en" (a shark among the women). " The devil," quoth I; " Mr. Fiscal, what can be done to save these poor girls?" I wondered at the quiet gravity of my good-natured friend, on this, to my mind, dangerous occasion. He smiled, and said, " Oh ! captain, don't be uneasy; but go and see, for it will be a scene you shall never forget!" and with these words he came with me to the head of the bal cony stairs. It was certainly an exciting moment; not a man or woman was to be seen on shore ; all were in the water; all were vociferating and utter- . ing the most discordant noises imaginable. The punts were already run on shore, in order to enable the scullers to partake of the sport; the harbour was everywhere studded with human heads above water, forming a kind of shoal ; and a whole dense line of swimmers barred the entrance from the fort to oppo site my house, chiefly and most numerous :ini the deepest water, which they beat with their hands, and incessantly diving and plunging, presented a tu multuous belt from shore to shore. Some negro boys and girls attempting to enter, were driven back by the others, and it was some time before the real object of excitement could be made out. I had asked repeatedly, " 'Where is he ?" " Wagt een heetge, mynheer" (wait a little), was the re ply ; and I now perceived, as the fiscal pointed to the spot, another belt of human swimmers, who had been roused on the first cry to take the water, and still more violently engaged. Advancing from the upper end of the harbour, they prevented the monster reaching the great ',lagoon, where he would infallibly have escaped, and drove him down within the narrow space between the houses. There were troops of vocifer ous swimmers divided into bands, advancing and pur suing, until my eye caught sight of the great dorsal fin of the fish, which, it was now evident, was in utter dismay, shooting rapidly from space to space, en deavouring to swim low beneath the surface ; but even eight or nine fathoms of depth left him no pas sage. Men and women, in whole masses, darted down in the deep and scared him upward. Once he made a dash to pass under the piles of Mr. Basden's wharf, and got entangled. I could see him struggle to get free, and effect it ; but, furious in his rage, it was visible that he was blown. He now made no further efforts under water, swimming half his back high above the surface ; once or twice he lay motionless, his snout and eyes quite visible, and seemingly deliberating upon a fierce resolve. But 5 00 n he was roused by a troop coming on him; he Mr. Bankes seems resolved that the condition-of the-labourer controversy shall not close for the season without leaving a nest-egg for future discussions. On Saturday week the Blandford Agricultural Society held their annual meeting, and reviewed the agricultural year in some speeches marked, on the whole, by good sense awl good feeling. The speakers appeared to be practical men, with no other object than to improve land, increase produce, and better the landlord, tenant, and labourer. Mr. Bankes was the only exception to the practical tone of the meeting. Either relying on the unassailable strength of his cause, or buoyed up by those peculiar encouragements which are sure to meet a wealthy landlord and in fluential man in his own neighbourhood, he under took to account for the disagreeable circumstance of Dorsetshire having just now rather a bad name in the kingdom at large. That it has a bad name is not disputed. Other counties possess claims to notice, but Dorsetshire ap pears to receive it. Notwithstanding the fires of Suffolk, the occasional riots of Wales, the strikes of Durham, the overwork of Lancashire, and the con centrated miseries of the metropolis, yet destitution and degradation cannot be mentioned without the min'l naturally turning to Dorsetshire. The Dorset shire labourer, Dorsetshire wag e s, Dor se t s hi re cot tages, Dorsetshire parish houses, Dorsetshire bed rooms, Dorsetshire &populations, are becomi ng al mos t household words. We have Cheshire cheese, Devon shire cream, Norfolk turkeys, Essex calves, Wiltshire bacon, and other provincial delicacies. But for large families, existing on Bs., or even 7s. a week for undrained mud floors for a dozen or more of all sexes and ages in one bedi-rw.m, for every other form of squalid brutish degradation, we go to Dorsetshire. The opinion may be absolutely unfounded, but still it is universal. Dorsetshire, justly or unjustly, has fur nished a type of agricultural misery. There is a poetry in the human mind which naturally leans to locality and circumstance. We are slow to conceive and rt.member what we have not invested with familiar place and form. So it is with the greatest facility that the popular intellect has imbibed the idea of that almost dramatic character, a Dorsetshire labourer. To this opinion Mr. Bankes addressed himself at Blandford last Saturday, and proceeded—not to confute it—not to deny any one of the allegations on which it was maintained--not to advance a single fact of a contrary char icter; but to point out how such an opinion might possibly have spread, and that its prevalence did not necessarily involve its truth. " The Dorset labourer his obtained a very pro minent situation in the public eye. Whether we grieve cr rejoice as; it, such is the fact, and it does not become us to shrink from it. The reason for the peculiar notoriety of the Dorset labourer, I believe, may he just 7 y attributed to some public transactions which I will slightly allude to. They are transactions which convey no discredit to this county ; two transactions, in particular, I refer to." The first of.these is the prosecution of some Dursetshire labourers twelve or fourteen years since for illegal combination ; and the other is one of more recent date, which, as far as it goes, we agree with Mr. Bankes in considering very honourable to the county—viz , the prominent part taken by Lord Ashley in th© factory question : "I have conscientiously given my support to the Noble Lord, and, as a humble supporter of him, I am sure we had no idea of making an attack upon any one, or accusing any one of cruelty and harshness. We did consider, on full consideration of this very delicate question, that some interposition might be safely applied, but without the remotest idea of in flicting any injury on any other interest, and without the slightest intention of casting any slur upon any member of a different class. We sustained that question, and. shall sustain it still; but it is from that cause that the Dorsetshire labourer is brought for ward, and his case stated to be one of peculiar hard ship, peculiar neglect, and peculi it abuse, contrary, I'll venture to say, to the facts of the case, and, I be- lieva, contrary to the knowledge of those who thus venture to state them." rint SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEN .NG, DECEMBER 31, 1344. in this manner. He should commit the prisoner for one month to hard labour.—Committed accordingly. G'LERKEN WELL. Caroline Sullivan, of No 1, George's-yard, St. Luke's, was fined 251., or three months' imprisonment, for hawking spirits without a license. _Elizabeth Philips, a comely looking person, aged eighteen, who described herself as a silkwinder, was charged with stealing a watch, the property of a re spectable tradesman living in Clerkenwell, named Fenwick. Mr. Fenwick deposed that on Friday night last, he with his wife went to Sadler's Wells Theatre, and whilst standing at the door waiting for admission the prisoner came up, and two or three times pushed against him. Prisoner (crying, and with great earnestness)- - You are mistaken. Sir. I declare solemnly you are mistaken. I was at home the whole of that night. The proAecutor, however, was positive as to her identity, and went on to say, that when he went into the theatre he misses] his watch. Last night he saw her at the door of the theatre again, and she seemed anxious to avoid him ;he gave h-r into c ustody. Mrs. Fenwick corroborated her husband's testimony. Prisoner—Why, my God ! several peodle will come forward to prove I was at home all Friday evening. At the tims this gentleman and lady speak of I was fetching a pint of beer for my father from the Swan public-house, in li:rate-etre-A. Send for Mr. Flyer, the landlord. Oh, do pray, Sir, do, for I a•n innocent. Police-sergeant Allen said that the girl who was al prehended at the door of the theatre on Saturday evening was searched at the stati'n-house, hut nothing was found on her. She begged of Mr. Fenwick not to press the charge. Prisoner—l did ask him, for I never was locked up before, and I was frightened. There is a witness at the door. A decent-looking man, named Smith, was called in, whom the girl said would swear she was at home the whole of Friday evening. lie was not examined. The girl was remanded until past tw o'clock for the attendalice of Reynolds, the constable of the theatre, but when that officer came he said he never saw her before. The police knew nothing to her prejudice, and said she had lived with her father in th! same place for the last seven years. Mr. GaßuswooD discharged the girl, telling her to be cautious how she visited theatres in future. STATE OF THE COTTON TRADE (From the Liverpool Albion of yesterday.) The annual circulars of the cotton-brokers, showing the import:, &c., during the year commencing on the Ist of January and ending on the 21st of December, will be made up tomorrow. It may be useful, meanwhile, to extract from their circulars the amount of the business transacted in the staple up to the 27th instant, four days only within the close of the cur rent year. IMPORT.—The returns of the import of cotton from the Ist of January to the 27th of December instant, show, as compared with the import in the corre spondent period of 1843, a decrease to the extent of , 74,290 bales, the amount in the respective years being ' 1,477,537 bales this, against 1,551,827 bales last year. In 1843, up to the 22d of December, there was an increase in the import beyond that of the preceding year of 322,024 bales. EXPORT.—The export of cotton has increased by 4,870 bales as compared with the years 1842 and 1843, between which there was but an extremely slight difference. Up to the 27th instant the export amounted to 67,060 bales, against, same date last year, 62,190 bales. TAKEN FOR CONSUMPTION.—The large increase on this head in the years 1842 and 1843 has again been experienced, though, certainly, not by any means to the same extent. Spinners generally, however, have held back until lately. On Saturday week and Mon day last the sales were enormously large, amounting to not less than 15,000 bales each day, showing an extraordinary activity in manufactures at this, which is generally the dullest season of the year. The re turns for 1842 showed an increase of 57,500 bales, those for fifty-one weeks of 1843 an increase of 185,100 bales, and now there is again an in crease, in the period between the Ist of January and the 27th instant, as compared with the correspondent period of last year, of 25,700 bales, the figures being 1,330,400 bales this, against 1,313,700 bales last year. The average weekly consumption, of course, also shows an increase, being, this year, about '26,000 bales, while, last year, it was about 25,147 bales. STOCK.—With a decrease in the import of 74,290 bales, an increase in the exports of 4,870 bales, and an increase in the quantity taken for consumption of 25,700 bales, making a total drain, as we may term it, upon the stock here of 104,860 bales, there was, on the 27th of December instant, the large increase on the head of stock of 101,000 bales as compared with the correspondent period in 1843, the stock being, on the 27th instant, 725,100 bales, against 624,100 bales on the same date last year. This is accounted for by the fact that we com menced the present year with a much larger stock than in the previous year. FORWARDED UNSOLD.—This head shows a de crease, this year, of 42,240 bales, the quantity for warded unsold this year being 24,060 bales, against 76,300 bales last year. TAKEN ON SPECULATION...--AS compared with last year, the operations of speculators show a decrease of 13,600 bales. Up to the 27th instant they had taken 476,600 bales, against, up to the same date, 490,200 bales. PRlCES.—Prices have been low. RIOTS IN MONTREAL-ANOTHER MAN SHOT. (From a Montreal Paper.) We briefly announced in our last number the death of one man (Finnell) from the effects of a pistol-shot received on Friday night. Great excitement pre vailed on Saturday and Sunday, in the immediate neighbourhood of his residence, and the municipal elections on Monday appear to have increased it throughout the city. After recording the circum stances attending the death of Finnell, the Gazette of Tuesday gives the following account of the proceed ings on Monday, which corroborates our own Cor respondent's letter : " The next day (Monday) was the day of the mu nicipal elections, and that event did not tend to allay the excitement. We may as well observe that all the interest of the day centred in the Queen's Ward. In the St. Lawrence Ward Mr. Glennon was returned ; in St. Mary's ' Mr. Garrie ; in Centre, Mr. Footner ; in West, Mr. Lyman—all on the Conservative inte rest, and with little or no opposition ; and in East Ward, Mr. Perrin on the other interest. In Queen's Ward, Mr. Routh was the Conservative candidate, and was opposed by Mr. J. E. Mills. The diturb ance commenced almost as soon as the poll was opened. A body of Irish labourers took possession of the front of the polling place, which was merely a window in a house. They were charged by a num ber of the other party on horseback and on foot, and driven back. Some severe injuries were received on both sides. But two or three shots, some say more, were fired into the streets and from windows of houses in the neighbourhood. By these one man was wounded rather severely, but it is hoped not dangerously, in the neck, and one or two others it is said, but of that we are not so sure, slightly. This was, as nearly as we can make out, about ten o'clock ; and a detachment of artillery having been called out and stationed near the poll, every thing went on pretty quietly, and the polling was rapid, Mr. Mills leading. About one O'clock Mr. Routh's voters mustered strong, and Mr. Mills's seemed exhausted, for, in the course of the next hour the former shot rapidly a-head, and continued to do so until the close of the poll, when we believe his majority was 101. It was towards three o'clock, we believe, that a most shocking affair occurred. We had quitted the polling place at two, after giving our own vote, without any obstacle except the presence of a not at all ill-humoured crowd of persons with the same object. No one could have the least suspicion of the terrible scene about to take place. After some experience of election riots and of the difficul ties of giving a consistent account of them, we must say that we never met with one in which the accounts were so conflicting and at variance in material facts. To write a party account, a mere one-sided invention, would be very easy, but to state the mere truth and nothing more is a very difficult matter. So far as we can learn, an opinion prevailed that a house, occu pied by a person named Brennan, and from which it was said shots had been fired, contained persons pledged, and armed for the purpose, to take " blood for blood" for the death of Finnell. In this excited state of feeling shots were fired from that house, and one near it, on the Constitutional party, and two of these took effect, one wounding a young gentleman very severely in the back. This led to an attack on the houses, which were defended by a numerous body of men, principally, we are informed, canallers, and armed with fire. arms. Several shots were fired, one of which took fatal effect on the person of a young man named Johnson, son of Mr. Johnson, cabinet-maker, Great St. James's-street. He was shot with two balls, which entered each side of the chest, and killed him almost instantaneously. The noise of the conflict brought the military to the spot, and the persons within continuing to fire, several volleys of musketry were fired into the two houses, and the soldiers charging took prisoners all who occupied them. These having taken their post in the cellar had escaped the musket balls. We are told (though for this fact we do not vouch, but we state it as it comes to us from a credible source), that among them are several of the witnesses on the inquest on Finnell and a near relation. _ _ _ _ _ " With this sad affair the day closed. Mr. Johnson has left a widow and three children. Finnell has also left a widow and young family. A grate question arises—what is to be done ? It is impossible that such a state of s ,ciety as now exists in Montreal can continue." A private letter from Montreal says : "Never did I witness such a scene as yesterday presented, and, for the credit of my country, I pray never to see the like again. The municipal election for Queen's Ward was going on, and hundreds of canallers abandoned their works and came into town to carry the election of their candidate, J. E. Mills, by force. They were well armed with fire arms, bludgeons, and stones, and took possession of the polls. The several L.P.S.' associations came down, both horse and foot, and drove them, after a desperate fight, from the ground, and along the neighbouring streets. I heard pistol shots firing in all directions, and the S.'s,' on returning, showed marks of the deadly nature of the struggle. I saw a fine young man, a son of It Griffin, Esq., notary public, most awfully injured by blows on the face and head, and another poor fellow was shot through the neck, and has since died. A youth, of the name of Johnston, was fired at from a house, and killed on the spot ; and when the 93d attacked this building, its inmates had the hardihood to fire upon them. They were all taken prisoners, and although none were killed, some showed most ghastly tokens of the rough handling the enraged troops gave them." ORDER RESTORED AT MOGADORE. Our attention has been called by the gentleman who supplied us with our previous intelligence from Mogadore, to an official communication which has been received from her Majesty's Consul-General at Tangier, an.l published in the Gibraltar Chronicle of the 6th December. The new Governor of Mogadore, El Arby Terms, writes thus, under date of 22d November : " Praise be to God. There is no force or power but in God. We have received your letter, and understood its contents ; and the European merchant, William Grace, your agent, in the port of Sweera (Nlogadore), and its vicinity, has arrived. "He (Mr. Grace) has found that the town is inhabited, and that the market is plentiful and well supplied from all the vicinity, and the government is restored as it was before, and better; and that ships are beginning to come to the happpy and prosperous port. May God prosper it, and increase its welfare ! Amen." Mr. Grace had been able to confirm the above welcome intelligence. The Governor had preceded him by a few days, and restored order. The re establishment of the British flag was hailed with satisfaction by many, who had not been content to remain, without the assurance so given that tran quillity was to be depended upon. Mr. G. writes— " The Sultan is proceeding slowly, but surely, in arresting those of the authorities of the town and provinces, who either had a hand in the plunder, or did net attempt to stop the ravages at the time of the bombardment, and in punishing the tribes who, by that conduct and plunder of their brethren, placed themselves without the pale of Islamism. " The native Jew merchants had not yet returned from Morocco (city), but were daily expetted ; the market was well attended, and most of the Moorish inhabitants had come back." The accounts in our last number were dated Oc tober, fully one month earlier. It is understood to have been the indirect character of the reports hitherto received, the uncertainty as to whether Mogadore was yet re-inhabited, and the difficulty of obtaining favourable opportunities of freight, which prevented an earlier transmission of the aid collected here. A large quantity of rice, and clothing materials for both sexes, have been prepared for sending.—Voice of Jacob. MITIGATION OF THE RUSSO POLISH CONSCRIPTION. IN RE ANN YOWLER. In this case Mr. WOODRUFF& sought to make ab solute a rule to vacate a vesting order taken out by a creditor who had since taken his debt, and discharged the insolvent. Mr. COOKE opposed the rule, and submitted, that as there were other creditors, the vesting order ought not to be discharged until their claims were satisfied. Mr. Commissioner POLLOCK thought that no good could be derived from maintaining a vesting order after the insolvent's release from custody. The fact of the detaining creditor receiving payment of his debt was a consent to the discharge within the mean ing of the Act of Parliament, and, consequently, he could have no right now to complain of the vacation. The rule was made absolute. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. Yesterday, Mr. W. Newton, sen., of the firm of Newton and Son, civil engineers, &c., charged an itinerant musician, named Joseph Rolani, with an noying him by playing near his residence. The complainant stated that, being a person of studious habits, and engaged in a profession of great importance, involving mental calculations of the most intricate nature, it was necessary that he should not be disturbed by the organ-grinders and other music players who infested the streets of London. His servants had been repeatedly directed to drive them away from the door, and the prisoner had on several occasions refused to go. Last week, he (the com plainant) had remonstrated with him personally, but to no purpose, as he had taken up his position again that morning, and continued to grind his instrument in spite of him. In a tit of exasperation, he went out and kicked at the fellow's "music machine;' and he believed he had broken it, which probably he was not justified in doing. For the damage done, how ever, he should not object to compensate the man, as he wished to do him no injury, but merely sought the interference of the magistrates to protect him from those perpetual annoyances in future. He believed there was a gentleman present, residing in the same neighbourhood, who had encouraged these men, and who had attended with the view of getting the question of privilege settled one way or the other. Mr. J. Towgood, barrister (the neighbour alluded to), stepped into the witness-box, end informed the magistrate that there was no foundation for the state ment of the comida,inant, that he had encouraged these men to annoy the gentleman (whom he had never known till that morning) by inducing them to play in the street. On the contrary, during the last month or so the locality had been very rarely fre quented by them; and the prisoner, he believed, only remained there about five minutes every Monday morning. He usually had ld. from one of his ser vants, and was standing on the steps of his (Mr. Towgood's) door when assailed by the complainant. Witness had attended the Court because, finding that a neighbour had ordered the man from his door and assaulted him, he was anxious to know how far such an interference was justifiable. The prisoner—lle did not say words to me, but he bruk me instrument. Ile kick me and he kick the piano. He sent me away last week, and I did not go to his house. He came and rap at the gentleman's door, and he kick me. The instrument was here produced, and proved to be the ordinary self-acting piano carried by the Italian and other street musicians. Mr. HALL said, the words of the Act could not be strained to meet the present case, as they only pro hibited these men from playing in the street, "on account of illness or some other reasonable cause." If the annoyance felt by unmusical or studious per sons was to be held as a "reasonable" cause within the meaning of the Act, he feared that all these poor people would be ruined, and every prison would soon be full of them. The complainant—l am often occupied in drawing up specifications and patterns which, when enrolled, stand as acts of Parliament to be legislated upon. I could refer you, Sir, to all the law lords, who know me well, who could speak to the importance of my engagements, and to the necessity of my being pro tected from nuisances of this kind. If you will only give it as your dictum that the Act does not authorise the playing of music to the annoyance of other per sons I shall be satisfied. I do not wish to punish the man. Mr. HALL—But I cannot go so far as that. lam often annoyed myself, when engaged in study, by these visits opposite my own residence, but I never thought of giving the Inen into custody, nor do I believe the Act would justify me in doing so, un less I was persuaded that the annoyance, by being unreasonably prolonged, was intentional. Mr. Newton said he thought. a different construc tion would be put upon the word in a court of law. He had no feeling of antipathy towards the poor, and he begged the Court to accept a trifle for the poor-box, as a proof to the contrary. (A sovereign was handed over to the chief clerk.) The Prisoner—Me instrument is bruk. The gen tleman bruk it. He kick it. Mr. HALL—WeII, the gentleman said he would compensate you for the damage done to your instru ment. The prisoner thanked the magistrate, and then followed the complainant out of co u rt, no doubt with the view of reminding him of his promise, but we did not hear with what success. QUEEN-SQUARE. Yesterday Elizabeth Wilson, a middle-aged woman, with a sun-burnt countenance, and large staring dark ' eyes, was charged wits having fraudulently obtained 12s. Gd. by pretending to tell fortunes. Elizabeth Jerden, a respectable-looking young woman, servant at the Old Swan, Paradise-row, Chelsea, stated that on Friday morning the prisoner came to the house, and having called for half a pint of beer, asked the bar-maid if she would have her fortune told. The girl at first declined, when prisoner, after waiting for nearly an hour, put a similar question to witness, who said she did'nt mind if it did not come to more than Gd. Prisoner observed that she did not do it for any one under ss. or 10s., and after informing them that she lived in Mark-lane, Gravesend, added in a low tone, that she did a great deal of business about Chelsea, and that she had a young lady and several servants in Cheyne-walk to see. She then said she would write for witness and the bar-maid, and it would be casting their nativity, and she then went away. About four in the afternoon she re turned, and bringing two paper parcels demanded 12s. 6d. She said that one was for witness, and the other for the bar-maid, but they were not to look at them for one hour after she was gone. They paid her the money demanded and she went away. Mr. BOND—What did the parcels contain ? Wit ness (after some heiitation)—Nothing but blank paper. She told me that the odd threepence was for writing paper, as it had taken six sheets to write my destiny, it was so very long. Mr. BOND, as witness was about leaving the box, said, " Have you ever been to school ?" Witness re plied, " Yes, Sir ?" The bar-maid confirmed the other's account. - Mr. BOND observed that it did seem, in these days of intelligence and and education, extraordinary that any person should be weak enough to be defrauded STRANGE SIGNS. RE-OPEICING OF THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER•LB BIILET.—This church, which has been closed for some weeks for alterations and decorations, was re opened for Divine service on Sunday last, and this event has since formed a topic of discussion in the city in consequence of the unexpected character of some of the decorations. The whole of the pews, which were of very fine oak, have been removed, and are replaced by open seats formed of the old materials; and the whole of the interior has been painted and coloured ; the church furniture—the pulpit hangings and cover of the com munion table are new. A new and very large dipping font, in the style of the early Norman period, has been placed just within the door. The walls of the church have also been somewhat profusely covered with Scripture texts in the Old English character. Some of these texts are disposed in the form of crosses ! One of these text-formed crosses of small proportions is placed over the north door exactly op posite the worshipper as he enters the church. Another of larger proportions stands out boldly from the east end of the church above the communion table. The crucial figure being very bold and distinct, but, of course, not the text or the letters of it. A large cross embroidered in gold enriches the velvet pulpit cloth, and two large gold, or silver-gilt candlesticks, with tapers, decorate what must now be called " the altar." The most startling thing of all, and which cannot be seen without a shudder, is what looks like a bold yet artful attempt to enforce the doctrine of tran substantiation on the people. The text wrested by the Roman Catholics, and by Dr. Pusey, in order to sustain the idea that the literal body and blood of our Lord is taken in that Sacrament which was instituted to commemorate our Blessed Lord, is written imme diately over, almost upon, the communion table. Our Lord's own explanation of his words, which would seem to have been gives► to prevent so gross a per version, are nowhere, to be seen. He said, "The words that speak unto you they are spirit and they are life." The text inscribed over the communion table is the well-known declaration, "Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood," &c. Before the re-opening of the church the curate (Rev. W. B. Ileathcote, of New College) addressed a long circular letter to the parishioners, in which he made and argued two requests :—First, a division of the sexes in the church ; and next, that none would place cushions in the seats, so as to make a kind of appropriation by so doing. With these requests the parishioners complied on Sunday last, when the congregation was larger than usual, though there was mach uncomfortable feeling on account of the novelties. No collection was made towards the expenses, the curate being responsible for the entire charge of these somewhat costly alterations and decorations ; it has been suggested that certain members of the Camden Society, who are anxious to bring our churches into external conformity to the plans and designs adopted in our ancient churches for the purposes of Roman Catholic worship, will assist in defraying the expense. An intelligent and observant person, who has travelled much in Catholic countries, has loudly ex pressed his wonder and astonishment at the resem blance to a Roman Catholic Church which St. Peter le-Bailey now wears. The great size of the font (above which is the text enjoining faith and repentance before baptism) leads to the idea that the curate, who is a rigid Ru brician of the Tractarian school, will obey the rubric which enjoins dipping as the mode of baptism in our Church.—(From a Correspondent of the Oxford Chronicle. The Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, though un avoidably absent from Ely Lodge, have, with their usual liberality and kindness, ordered the distribution of a arge quantity of clothing suited to the present season 6ong the poor of the district. Earl Fitzwilliam dispensed hii usual bounty among the workpeople on the Wentworth estate on St. Thomas's day. The number of persons who received his Lordship's bounty amounted to 1,030, and the quan tity of beef distributed amounted to 503 stone, ~ NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MALTA, DEC. 18.—The French steamer from the Levant, due here on the 14th instant, has mot yet made her appearance. The mails will be closed this evening for the continent by the Pericles, which will leave to morrow morning, having waited the prescribed time. The Europeari mail by the French steamer, via Naples, from Marseilles, due yesterday, has also been delayed. The Neapolitan mail of the 12th did not come in, the Mongibello having fouled a vessel from the Levant, and is ordered to perform a long quarantine at Civita Vecchia. The Alecto, with the India mails, duly arrived here on the 15th. She had a very rough passage ; but the re port of her being damaged was untrue. The Oriental put to sea on that night. A court-martial sat on the 9th and 10th inst., on board of her Majesty's ship Formidable, to try James Nichol son, boatswain of the Snake, on charges of quarrelling and fighting. Sir Lucius Curtis presided, with Captains Rich, of the Formidable, and Lord C. Paget, of the Aigle ; Commanders Carpenter,of the Geyser, and Can non, of the Orestes, as members. Mr. Milner, of the Geyser, officiated as Judge• Advocate. This Court was ordered by the Board of Admiralty on application from a Mr. Streathfield, father of a boy who was formerly a midshipman on board. The following are the facts of the case which may be re lied on : Some months ago Mr. Nicholson being unwell, went into the cabin of the surgeon of the ship for some medicine. Finding him labouring under no serious indisposition, the surgeon asked him to " take a glass," which he accepted. Mr. Streath field was present, and made some very imperti ment remarks as to the right that Nicholson had to be in the cabin ; replies were given and a wordy quarrel ensued, Nicholson winding up by saying to Streathfield, "Your father's a soldier, but you're six feet of bad stuff." The next morning Streathfield, smarting under the in sult he had received, and which he had brought on him self, told the prisoner he had insulted him and wanted to fight. Prisoner refusing him, the midshipman struck him several times, whereupon a fight ensued. On this coming to the ears of the officer on duty he was put under arrest, and a court of inquiry was held, which, though it exonerated the prisoner from the blame of com mencing the quarrel, resulted in his being sent out of the ship and in the middy leaving the service. The case having been proved against the prisoner, he was sentenced to be severely reprimanded, and to be put at the bottom of the list for twelve months. Excellent testimonials of character and good conduct were produced, and Capt. Devereux, of the Snake, in giving evidence, said, " I never had a better man under my command, and nothing would give me more pleasure than to have him on board again." Her Majesty's steamer Ilecla returned to port on the 11th inst. She did not bring Lady Hardinge, fur her Ladyship having been on board, suffered so severely that she put back, and defers her departure till another occa sion. The Hecla left us yesterday for Alexandria, having on board Mr. Ilardinge, son of the Governor-General of India, and some other passengers. The Formidable arrived here on the 7th instant from Naples, whither she had been sent with the Hecht steamer, in compliment to his Royal Highness the Duke d'Auinale, on his recent marriage. A most extraordinary circumstance occurred which has created much surprise and disappointment on board. The Duke had sent invitations to the Captain of the For midable and his officers for the wedding ceremony, and seats were reserved. The captain did not give the in vitations, and, consequently, not an officer of the ship wasipresent. Those of the Hecla attended. An official inquiry took place through our Ambassador, and from all I can learn, the only explanation was, that he, the captain, had forgotten them. The French Ambas sador gave a splendid ball, and every officer on board, including even the midshipmen, was invited personally and separately, a thing, perhaps, never before heard of. Nothing could equal the attention paid by the Neapolitans to the British. The nary of the former gave a splendid dinner to the officers of the flag ship, which was prepared by the King's cooks, and a service of gold sent from the palace for the occasion. The English officers returned the compliment. During the stay of the Formidable the 'rondo was opened to them, San Carlo for two nights, and every public place. Carriages also were at their command, and the British uniform was a passport to every kindness and attention that could be shown. Her Majesty's ship the Tyne; from Beyrout, arrived here on the 4th inst, and is now performing quarantine. The French steamer the Rainier left port on the 15th inst. for Toulon ; she did not carry a mail. The Acheron left pert on the same day for the lonian Islands. On the 16th the Snake left the harbour for Tunis, Cagliari, and Genoa, taking mails. The Ariadne yacht returned to port on the evening of the 14th, and having reprted that she had fallen in with a Greek brig, with loss of rudder, the Admiral sent out the Acheron to look for her and tow her in, which she accomplished. The vessel was called Aglaia. The barque Susan has put back from her passage to Alexandria, at a distance of 250 miles from port. She sprang a leak and made so much water that the pumps would not keep her clear. On being hove down she was discovered to have been pierced by a sword fish, a portion of whose spear was taken out by a ship-builder of this place, Her Majesty's steamer Volcano, with dispatches for the Admiral, arrived here yesterday from England and Gibraltar. The Sydenham has returned from Athens and is per forming quarantine. The Medea is ordered home from Corfu. The Geyser will be reported ready for sea on the Ist of January. In Port.—French—Steamers Pericles and Mentor, both under orders for sea. English—The Formidable, the Ceylon, L'Aigle, the Orestes, the Tyne, and the Beacon surveying ship. Steamers—Geyser, Sydenham, Volcano, and Alecto ; Scotia, trading steamer. Oa Foreign Service—Bonetta, surveying ; Gibraltar, Scout and Flamer ; Pincus, Belvidera ; Corfu, Medea ; Smyrna, Warspite ; Constantinople, Devastation. En route to different Ports—Polyphemus, to Gibral tar ; Hecla, to Alexandria ; Virago, to Constantinople ; Snake, to Tunis, Cagliari, and Genoa. The Racehorse, 18, Commander Hay, having been docked and had her copper cleaned, embarked her marines on Tuesday. The Seagull, 6, is ordered to be fitted fur packet service. In Harbour—The Caledonia, San Josef, Albion, Superb, Actaeon, Firebrand, Racehorse, Acorn, Persian, Cruiser, Ranger, Daring, Espieglu, Mutine, Osprey, Fly ing Fish, Waterwitch, Pantaloon, Sylph, Snipe, Con fiance, Adventure transport, and Rochester, Camel, Devou, Tortoise, and llarnoase lighters. In the Sound—The Dordrecht, Dutch store-ship, wind bound. PROMOTIONS. Lieutenant—J. V. Williams (1840), late first of the Nimrod, to the rank of Commander. Mates—J. F. Tottenham, for gallant conduct ; and W. Amphlett, of the Excellent, to the rank of Lieutenant. Second Masters—R. S. Rundle (1837), J. L. Wil kinson (1842), J. E. Petley (1839), to the rank of Masters. Clerks—F. Gransmore (1839) and W. P. O'Brien (1829), to the rank of Paymaster and Purser. ♦PPOINTMENTS, Vice-Admirals Sir Francis W. Austen, K.C.B: (1838), to the chief command on the West Indian and North American station, vice Sir Charles Adam, K.C.8., period of service expired ; Sir Francis will hoist his flag (white at the fore) on board the Vindictive, 50. Sir William Parker, G.C.8., to the chief command in the Mediterranean, vice Sir E. W. C. R. Owen; Sir William will hoist his flag (blue at the fore) on board the Monarch, 84. Commanders—W. F. Austen, to the Vindictive ; J. Simpson (1840), to the Rolla. Lieutenants—H. Eden, 1837, from the Eagle to com mand the Locust ; W. F. Burnett, 1838, to the Eagle, vice Eden ; L. P. Burrell, 1840, to the Amazon ; J. P. Branch and 11. M. Tyldea, to the Lily ; L. B. Mackin non, 1842, to the Superb ; W. J. A. Heath, additional, to the Illustrious ; C. M'Kenzre, 1799, to Greenwich Hospital ; W. Amphlett, to the Actmon ; C. J. Walton, to the Excellent; H. Austen (to be flag to Vice• Admiral Sir F. W. Austen, his father), to the Vindictive ; J. Stephen, 1815, re-appointed to the Raven cutter ; G. Morris, 1823, re-appointed to the Skylark ; E. J. L. Cooper, 1841, to the Flying Fish. Masters—G. Moore, 1844, to the Daring, vice Strudee ; J. Roberts, 1813, additional, to the Royal Sovereign; F. A. Niblett, 1842, to the Fantome ; R. S. Rundle, to the Comus; J. L. Wilkinson, to the Devastation ; and J. E. Petley, to the Styx. Surgeons—J. Vaughan, 1841, to the Fantome; R. D. Mason, to the Actreon ; W. 11. Baynes, to the Persian ; J. Steill, to the Lily ; J. Atchison, to the Ranger ; R. J. B. Chambers, to the Rattler ; H. 11. Hammond, to the Racehorse. Paymasters and Pursers—J. Marten, to the Comus ; J. W. Maddock, to the Persian ; F. Mundy, to the Rattler, vice Tait ; C. J. J. Brown, to the Ranger; G. E. Ricketts, to the Waterwitch. Assistant-Surgeons—C. Tait, 1837, James Harvey, and C. Crandell, to the Superb ; W. M`Dermott, M.D., 1840, to the Actaeon ; J. Acton, to the Persian ; J. Bo land, to the Racehorse ; J. Irwin, to the Lily ; W. P. Cook, to the Ocean ; H. Hayward, to the Locust; J. A. Anderson (acting), to the Persian ; G. G Simpson (acting), to the Fantome ; P. Wolridge (acting), to the Cruizer, vice Tait ; J. Wadi` (b), to Haslar Hospital ; J. D. Cronnin, to the Rattler; C. G. A. M'Culloch, to the Acorn ; J. Forbes (d), to the Comus. Second Masters—R. Walker,. to the Firebrand, rice Thomas, to the Superb ; C. Gri, g . to the Locust. Mates—A. M`Naghten and F. W. Smith, to the Su perb • F. B. Quin, to she Osprey ; C. Cer j at, to the Firebrand. Clerks—C. Lyno (in charge), to the Locust ;S. L. Wright, to the Rattler ; J. ILltallick, to the Firebrand ; H. B. Retallick, to the Amazon ; J. Jones, to the St. Vincent, vice Lyne ; J. Burlace, tQ the Port Admiral's office, Portsmouth. Naval Instructo;—T. Eastman (1816), to the Superb. 'We have been obliged with the opportunity of ex tracting the following gratifying particulars, from letters addressed to London by the eiders of the Wilna congregation. 'I hat congregation had just received dispatches from Amstislow, dated 6th of Kislev (17th Nov.), informing them that on 'Wednesday, the 13th of that month, a courier had arrived from his Excellency the Minister 'Wrioutrnik Did, announcing the speedy approach of that functionary with good tidings for the afflicted Jews of that place. Then followed an other estafette summoning the Jews together, in order to give the Minister a reception. He himself arrived on the 14th, and read to the assembled congregation an imperial decree, the substance of which was as follows :- 1. The decree ordering the levying of one in every ten Israelites, is recalled. 2. The thirty-six men already taken in pursuance thereof, are to be returned to their families. His Excellency said, that he was charged with dis patches to the Governor-General of the Province of Wittepsk, containing other gracious concessions. The elders of \Vilna convey this intelligence to the Anglo-Jewish authorities, in return for the com munications made to them of the proceedings taken by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, on the occasion of the Emperor's visit to this country ; they express the most lively gratitude for the sympathy so The Duke of Beaufort is, we are hap k , exhibited on their behalf, and state that they have gradually recovering from the attack of gout good reasons to believe that this important mitigation which his Grace has been suffering during the k- of the rigour of the Russo-Polish Conscription may week. The Noble Duke still remains at Hampton he considered the fruit of that fraternal sympathy. Court, but we believe the family will leave that placo for Badminton in the e ven t of his Grace's hatth Per' revert Jacob. the subject at an early opportunity. e ROYAL MARINEEk• Second Lieutenant E. A. W,ylde, :o be first, vice J L. Brahma-, to half-pay. COAST GUARD. T. B. Glover, removed from Su Lieut. lir. Coles (1838), command a station ; Mr. vice Brouneker, RN., to Staiths. on to C,altfleet station, ny to say, under east MELANCHOLY OCCURRENC SUICIDE OF A FATHER, AND ATTEMPTED STRUCTION OF AN ONLY Cllll.D.—Shortly before on Saturday last, a great sensation was excited neighbourhood of Lower Whitecross-street, gate, by the prevalence of a rumour that a ven&r, named Noah Flood, carrying on busini No. 50 in that street, a most respectable and th tradesman, had poisoned himself, after haTiL tempted to destroy the life of his daughter, a chili more than eight years of age, a circumstance as the sequel will prove, was discovered after investigation to be too true. It appears that on Tuesday last the unfortunate, followed to the grave the remains of his wife. the Saturday morning after her funeral he WI , served to be unusually dejected, and begged of male of the name of Scott, who lodges, husband, at a neighbouring cornchandler's, to after his shop and his daughter while he went several offices for his weekly supply of nowsP 3 ) and periodicals. Subsequently to this period Friday last, he exhibited the same deep melaty and upon one occasion he said to his child, ". rine, shall you and I follow your dear mother, with her into the grave ?" Upon another (vow said to Mrs. Scott, " You have been very kind and so has your husband, since the death poor wife; if - I first, see that I am properly and fullow me to the grave ; if either of F before me, I will do the same for you." On 'd night, just before closing his shop, deceased apPe s , : , to be very melancholy, and quite in a despoiTt state. He was heard to say, " I wonder how 11- 0 to get on to-morrow ; who can I leave to take cbati, of my business at home while I go to supplY customers ?" About eleven o'clock that mg" - closed his shop, and in the morning of the e° . suing day (Saturday last) a Mrs. Smith, to he was in the habit of supplying a newspaper dill thinking he was very late, went to the shop , °°d was surprised at finding the shutters clos el:i. Wondering what could be the matter, she w ent 1 1 P f stairs, and after having informed the neighbour s° the fact, she went to the door of the sleeping: room, to which she was attracted by the pite ° ,,, 13. 0 cries of a child calling upon her father in , 1 ", most imploring manner to " awake." Upon trl , ing the door of the room it was found to be , toned on the inside. Assistance was immediat e , ; 7 1 procured, and upon entering the room the poor fell', was discovered upon the bed, apparently in a dr„ e r e state, from the effect of some narcotic poison, a bc''' nc i which had contained laudanum lying beside him, 11 ,.'" e his daughter unable to move from the effects Q' similar dose, her extremities being partially in is 4 1 ; ralysed state. Medical assistance was sent foN stomach pump was had recourse to without d elt T. and some portion of the stupifying liquor was ejeeri Other remedial measures were tried, but the PsP e : re appearing to be sinking fast, immediate steps " e 'c t , taken for his removal to the hospital of . 1 v Bartholomew, where he was received about Pa, o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday. Notwiths* ing the utmost exertions of Mr. Reid, the boasts.; surgeon on duty, and the utmost attention on t'in part of W. Lawrence, Esq., and other eminent 1 1 0 connected with the establishment, it proved that t deadly draught had done its work, and deceased, el : pired within an hour and a half of his admis" °-. Remedial measures were resorted to for the•recorelo of the child, through which she so far recovered s 2 _; be able to give an account of the tragical occurre l l which she does with the most artless simplicity , with a degree of intelligence far beyond her yeah'r Upon the table in the room was found a l e ' be folded, of which the following is a copy : " My wish is to be buried with my poor wife ; Mrs. Scott, of 51, Whitecross-street, and Mrs. Xi. ll ,D;; mill, living at a cornchandler's, just by St. Gil t ', church, at the top of Holborn—that these two P e. sons bury me, and they shall have all my goods. (Signed) " N. FLOOD . " Mrs. Scott, 51, Whitecross-street." SIGHT AND HEARING TESTIMONIALS, 39, A -1 1( 0 - MARLS-STREET, PICCADILLY.—Major-GeneralS b. v.ara Elphinstone begs to say that the Spectarl e , s ,he has low had some time in use. have fully redeetne o .4if assurance of the Messrs. S. and B. Solomon, as t o excellence, excellence, and having found so much comfort and : pr vantage from their use, far preferable to every . „° t ;,, kind of glasses, 13, Norfolk-street, Park lane.- - h S O , the Hon. George Cavendish, to Messrs. S. and 13 . lomons, 39, Albemarle- street, Piccadilly, opposi te , ;be York Hotel.—Gentlemen, I approve very much to ',A . Spectacles I purchased from you. I have made us e glasses for many years, and never met with any to en able me to see equal to yours and with r less int one' nience to my eyes. I am, yours obediently, G. Cs feP ; dish, Leixlip Castle, Ireland.—General Browne Clay feels desirous to express the comfort and advantage f; has derived, at his advanced age of 70 years, and air two years' trial, from the use of Messrs. S. and B. S o r 9' mons' Newly Invented Spectacles. Their valuable 111 ; venttons fully merit the patronage they have . recei ve d ' Address, Adlington Hall, Lancashire.—lmproved Ache' matic Telescopes, Opera Glasses, Microscopes, &e., Sce4 of the same kind of Lenses, to surpass any ever yet vented.—The Niesses. S. and B. Solomena' Invisible Operative Voice Conductor Sound Magnifiers, for deaf persons, give immediate relief to old standing extra). cases of deafness.—Caution.—Messrs. S. and B.: S° l°- mons, Opticians and Aurists, are not in any way on" nected with a person of the same name in their tretr ° diate neighbourhood, nor in any pa* of the country. t a prevent mistakes be cautious, and observe —Only tope had at 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, oppo 6l t. York Hotel. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—A BAD LEG, AND C" , r , ll , EXTRAORDINARY, BY HOLLOWAY'S PILLS AND ,°" l . - 0, BENT !—Mrs. Jackson, a monthly nurse, residing at st Stanhope -street, Clare-market, had a bad leg, of 111 ;., desperate and alarming nature. Independent of e /e ' l s other bad symptom attending the limb, it swelled Oa t alarmingly, and was likewise accompanied with g i. ,, e11 , 0 inflammation, which made her care one of e% t1 ',, — .1, danger. She was taken to King's College nosP"';. , where they could do nothing with it. The leg, how's i n , like " thousands of others" which are given up 45 curable at the hospitals, was soundly healed in *W I ' t. fortnight, by the use of Holloway's Pills and Ointafenj, Sold at Professor Holloway's Establishment 244, Sto llu a where advice may nd be had gratis), and by almost :a respectable vendors of medicine throughout the ciYil is world. DISTURBANCE BETWEEN SOLDIERS OF THIS 44111 h AND SAILORS.—One of those disreputable quarrels, for a considerable time have not disgraced the service ' here, took place in Pembroke-street on Wednesd a y i evening. It appeared that some dispute had occu rreu between some of the soldiery arid sailors, which ended to a general melee. The men issued from the barracks' armed with bludgeons and missiles of all descripti o n s' nor had their opponents been less active in prepar in g . . either for assault or defence. The picquet ordered out, the police were dispatched to the se e '" of the disturbance, and with considerable d i". culty dispersed the mob, the soldiers expressing a determination to have satisfaction the following day. About noon on Thursday, the soldiers caste out of the barracks with the full determination to wr eti , / ,; vengeance on the sailors, and the " row" immedi ately picque t was For a time it was terrific, but it w ''' thought that the sailors had the best of it. The was again ca ll e d ou t, an d th e p o li ce au thorities e xerte d themselves to restore something like peace. Fortunatel the fighting parties were separated, and the soldiers, W it the exception of a few who managed to escape, ware marched off to the barracks. There have been broken heads and bruises, but we have heard of no injuri es likely to prove fatal. Notwithstanding the mes,urell adopted to prevent a recurrence of the disturban ce ' there was a repetition of it on Friday afternoon. T h. fighting between the men was very serious, but, as be fore, the picquet and police put a stop to it.—Deconp or' Independ en t. RISE IN THE PRICE or TIMIIBR.—We are informed that the advance in the price of American tim ber, within the last twelve months, has been ;nearly 50 Pe r cent. This extraordinary rise is attributed to the steady' demand and the diminished stocks, caused by the great amount of shipping employed in the guano trade. agow Courier. BIRTHS. At Woolwich, on Christmas-day, the lady of Captain chell, Royal Artillery, of a daughter. On the 26th of December, at the Rectory, Donington - o n- Baine, Lincolnshire, the lady of the Rev. Alexander Patorh MA., of a son. On December 27, the lady of the Rev. Thomas Archer Houblon, of a daughter. On December 27, at Buckland Court, near Reigate, th. lady of the Rev. Henry S. Eyre, of twin sons. On December 28, at l'ortobello, the lady of Captain S& van, Scots Greys, of a daughter. On December 23, at Hilgay Rectory, Norfolk, the wife of the Rev. William J. Parkes, of a son. On December 29, at East Mailing, Kent, the wife of Henri Smith, Esq., of a daughter. On December 30, at Gloucester House, Kew, Mrs. Nell - of a son. MARRIED. On December 28, Mr. J. L. Smith, to Sophia, younge 4t daughter of Henry Banner, Esq.. of Cripplegate. On December 28, at All Saint?, Norwood, Surrey, James Livermore, Esq., of Norwood, to Eliza, eldest surviTisf (laughter of Thomas Pascall, Esq., of Rose Cottage, Norwooa• DIED. Ott the Ist of November, John Poddor, Esq., of the MiddlO Temple, aged 83. On December 23, at Clifton, Elizabeth, wife of the Ref. W. T. Clarke. On December 24, at Glasgow, Agnes, the wife of C. fl• Noble, Esq., of Oporto. On December 24, at Dalaton, Hannah, relict of Charlet! Hutchins, Esq. On December 25, at Wadhurat Vicarage, Sussex, the Rev. Frederic Gardiner, A.M., Rector of Llanvetherine, county of Monmouth. On December 26, at Hampstead, Howell Davies, Esq., lit . of Noble- treet, City, aged 84. On December 27, Mrs. Smithers, of Doughty-street, Meek' lenburgh-squarc, aged 81. On December 27, at Bath, Richard llippisley Tnckfield, Esq., of Shobroke-park, Devon. On December 28, Anne, the wife of Mr. Christopher Row lands, of Regent-street. - _ London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, c't No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Bun Office, No. 112. of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county bliddleaex, Tuesisy, December 31, 1844. ~;~ BD 3 1. 1 ‘ m Ore e d in tb' C riPP le. ne s ; sines A' thrirgng icing child no :e wh ich ' Psti eDt ' n ate 511/1) ITP °9 vim ob' 1 Of A fe• wtith lief o - It git to t ",:, wspar e e ,, od uP l anc holp 44 Nigh t" r; an d be c a d o ID" 3 of Iy burie.. you die ppe` — spo nding low I' m ce charg e ROY n b l night _ .n. 4,14