The Sun. — London, England, 1844-03-29 00:00:00

THE NAPOLEON MUSEUM. ihA. We have again visited this very.extraordinary and f ;',7ed wonderful exhibition, now open at the Egyp ,l7.4 Hall, Piccadilly. When we consider it as the pro "cilltlion of the laborious researches of a single indvi l) indeed our surprise has increased on each occa- X 4l we h ave b een to look over i t, an d we h ave f oun d 0 141 e ,.. _ prop r i etor so ready and so o b l i g i ng i n answer i ng if i yariou s questions as to its formation, that Nye can lly resi s t the impulse we feel to give our readers of the than eof its origin. It appears that more of ntY years ago, immediately after the death the Emperor Napoleon at St. Helena, which o et t e l t ated, we may perhaps say, a sensation through- Europe, the spirited and, indeed, en us tic proprietor (and in using this last term we eo e satisfi e d f rom our own exper i ence th a t nothing of ,sequenc e that requires very extensive historical reh to understand, can be accomplished without entblllsiasm) then decided, in his own mind, that the 11 4Teatest men who had ever existed, taken as a whole , e re our own i mmor t a l b ar d Shakspeare and the Ern prerNapoleon. It seems he had been for some time w viously c o ll ec ti ng a ll he could of the former, which lee understand is very considerable, and in 1 8 2 1 began earnest to see what it was possible to accomplish olati v eto the latter ; though at times he could not oieurtatyat himself, as well as his countrymen, had been taught to consider Napoleon in any other than a favourable position. Notwithstanding, t ,7 l g. determined to read nearly, if not quite all, that ti,iihn appeared to be worth reading, he tells us in 0 7 1 Preface to his large quarto descriptive volumes 1 1 4 the tables of his Museum " the result of les i nvestigations has satisfied him how ground -10,3. end undeserved the accusations were, with : . ? 1 1 the Emperor Napoleon was so generally 1 4 7 4 ,„, 1 ,ed; and he feels satisfied that a similar course ace "'u induce many others to form an opinion in Ito!)rdance with his own, and to abandon the pre tor4tees on the subject which they may have adopted; h ere i s nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.' th e rt hg this every interesting and exciting research author's former opinions gradually changed, and turally felt a deep interest in everything relating th: l aPoleon, which was increased by the perusal of 11 4 amusing and instructive work of the late Mr. tr Y O'Meara, entitled, A Voice from St. Helena.' investig,ation deepened the writer's sympathy was convinced him that the real character of Napoleon oth net so well known in England as that of many o l p'foreigners, who were far less eminent, or worthy of elt ree. In the selection of a subject so interesting, parti ;tl.lY as an historical point, so vast in its extent, and ertile in every kind of illustration, connected with t'leerature and the arts, the collector did not, even at di rß e cnuniencement, conceal from himself the many hi s 'elllties necessarily attendant on the execution of task, and the absolute impossibility of attaining epleteness ; but he trusts that what, under many 4 1 . 0 .4 vantages he has accomplished, will suffice to il l I v, that i n se l e cti ng a special period of history for t: t ration, and devoting constant and systematic at trop to it, collections of various kinds may vented, each receiving additional interest and tr ta t from the other, all of them affording gratification during their formation, d Materially contributing to the better iip qation o f th e su bj ec t, as w ell as the period to j a h they relate. The collection herein described, lodes many MSS., medals, and books that illus -1%7 the French Revolution which preceded Napo titl s entry i n t o th e gre a t field of action ; but that this t oti l not be otherwise will be evident, if it be re bered h ow i nse p era bly hi s history is connected the that of th e R evo l u ti on o f 1789. Not only was I consulat e and the Empire (the natural conse te,,,rilelee of the Revolution) a step onward in the great t o 3 of events which changed the dynasties of Eu *til; but Napoleon himself, in all the astonishing and tr,4 l .,derful features of his character, was the great off- J ' a$ of the Revolution. Everywhere in his ma ke Marches the prolific seeds of change and refor yetZn were sown, so that the event which startled us 14 0 tay, and excited our hopes or our fears for the °, w, will on examination, be found to have close con optn• rh with that important period, when so many old ions, and time-honoured institutions so generally nor7pe the subject of fierce and unsparing conflict me n it appear that we have any example of a t o r. in which the personal character of the 4 13 ,;" re ign is so distinctly and forcibly impressed oi n every act of his government as in that of Na- c ' ca l• Every event, therefore, which assists our tPA,•et l • ation of this great man, is important to our Prehension of his p o licy ; though he was never p.„ 1 1;"-ater, nor did his talents and judgment appear tif (4 ,e, brilliant and wonderful, than during . the period ti,Lile Directory in France, as General-in-Chief of array of Italy, and in Egypt—or as Consul, or ( 0 7.Peror. No other potentate ever reigned in France `,elsewh ere ) with such consummate ability, either ter tett rifler, her legislator, or as the head of, and di ll, of her armies." ps.", e Seem as if we had imbibed some of the pro ihl,'""r of the Napoleon Museum's en thusiasm, and 4 — LLtake some other opportunities of informin g our h 713, of our researches in this matchless collection, 1 / 4 --411 we would most certainly advise them to lose time in examining for themselves. P AYMENT OF MAGISTRATES' CLERKS. t , TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN . te l .: l ‘ ,- -This subject having been brought b efore Go- Ivsmitaent in both Houses of Parliament by Lord 1 3 , 1 : 1 'sley and the Marquis of Lansdowne, and it having to, stated by Mr. Manners Sutton that a Government treasure is now in preparation to provide for the pay too: of magistrates' clerks by a fixed salary out of the at rate, the ground for such change from th e pre .4. 410 4 • J stem being that the "costs" attending a convic -1211 petty sessions, owing, as it is obviously intended th e "' inferred (for this can be the on l y ar g ument from ta ost ° PPressive fees paid to the cler ks ) are fre q uentl y ihtLuisproportionate to the penalty inflicted ; and two eiirr "Qs, amongst others, were cited by Lo rd W o rsle y ite en ' A 'notion, where a fine of one shilling wa s inflicted, 1/ with costs in one case to the amount of ‘pb,,t* 6 d., and in the other to 21. This, at first sight, te'''s Marvellously hard. How enormous are the fees kr, ese magistrates' clerks ! no do ubt the credulous so k -e exclaims ; whereas the fact is, and this fact for po i : reason or other is kept back — an d it is for the pur lete,°l bringing it forward that I v enture to crave the lior t :,"° 11 of this letter in your columns—a very small kito, of these " costs" (as is known to every practical utit of which Lord Worsley appears not to be cog ') t l i l D is composed of fees to the clerks in petty sessions. Oes„, 11 riding (West Yorkshire) their fees are more mo alitc,e than otherwise : the maximum amount they are illiZ s ed to receive on a conviction is ?s.—viz., 2s. for the o ,,7ation and summons, 4s. for preparing and en- V.: 1 1 1 g the record of conviction, and returning and kit h ,' 4 With the clerk of the peace, and Is. for the cora- N t i a ell t‘ All these matters in their preparation require —. `,erable skill and attention ; the rest of the costs, 134 by far the greater bulk of them (and I pray you, for',l ll 4'rk this) are composed of the constable's charges oervice of the summons, for his attendance at the to, ol „ 71 ,g, and of the sums allowed for the witnesses and uo r el'itiCnt for their loss of time. Is it intended to el ea the , county rate, not only with the salaries of the ,14 the to the ; justices, but with these, the heavier items oh e “ Costs' also ? If not, how can the proposed end tre k -4wp ied, and how is the professed objection to the xl4 lll System to be obviated by merel y p a y in g the 4 0t B by a fixed salary ? But I contend that there is el ert t r. l s le slightest occasion for charging t he salar y of the on the country rate ; the magistrates now, before the fine, invariably ascertain the costs incurred, 1 06 ; are as invariably considered as part o f the tine in (s ftkiii -dl g it ; and hence it is on this account that it is ?iat tr s mall or nominal. If they wish, from the trivial the charge, to inflict no penalty they can, and `7vrice often do, dismiss the summons, besides which, Zordits,..well remarked by some Honourable Membe r on 4ta riorsley's motion, the clerks (whose high cha racter kis " e raally admitted) can issue no summons of them -4'4:: as the magistrate hears the complainant's state s, li d. „,,rld he alone can issue the summons. 7, 1 1si o0 " 11 g some practical experience in petty sessions , --41 ei r ;L s, I write for the purpose of setting the facts in ' 11 14,,1`u,.e light, which I think will at once render the :gr o , i - _,ultity of burdening the county rates on the , 411 110 1. 4Q8 stated, with the salaries to clerks to justice* !nore than questionable ; besides there are many duties performed by the clerks, such as examine -4114 f or settlements, removal orders , and overseers' 111% these gener a lly, which are now equitab l y p aid fo r by wsithiPs, or parties requiring them, and surely 'eo k ,,, hr itre not to be made a burden genera ll y on the 1 11 14141 14 es under the "improved syst em. " If an y tr a y es made—and here I request the atte ntion of m y "ea i',, o " ' e ley and Sir James Graham — g ive the magis 're -" Petty sessions thepower, where they think the the 41 :lances of the case require t, to make an order fo r t A l ent of the costs of a conviction before them o u t ‘i irt. —4 .7 rate, as at present they have the power to )I.tr po ses of felony. This will effectually answer every Ate, aigt 7! Proposed, and prevent all necessity for charging ire, of the clerks on the county rates, which 'tffe Qt y e , as I have demonstrated, would not have the A4 1 .. 4. 1 1 14 is con te mplated, and would be obnoxious t o I am, &c., AN ACTING MAGISTRATE. 1,4,2 ‘°YAL MINT.—The workmen at this im ttint est ablishment have been busily engaged this last in striking off a considerable quantity of the new coin .l,:3Tor the Ba n k o f England and the Government, for the 111 ent of th e approaching April dividends, and the guar qoA, Da y , half -Tay, and pensions of the army, navy, and the ;13 t4 Qnlmen iscials of the different departments—Post• office, ttheTtP, Exce, Customs, &c. A notice has been isLued by Itz w. °Yal Mint that the exchange of the old for the new *4 111 QtleY weights will be continued at the Mint (accord "Vix to the ccnditions published in the London Gazette in I tn 3 : 1 '2 843 ) until Saturday next, the 30th instant ; but that rl":" after the said day the exchange will cease, and no latiti;?: eights thereafter will be received at the Mint. The the Bank t sovereigns and half-sovereigns received at Ith, h ank since the Royal Proclamation of her Majesty on 1,4 o ght gold c urrency, which came into operation on the ' Q x& l 2 at roary, has bee n f ar b e l ow w h at was generally , ted, and the panic, which at first existed, has now Aar WALL OF EDINBURGH.--On Friday night Leith,cl the old wall of Edinburgh, which forms one side of it.,...,.7114, fell down, owing, it is supposed, to the action of "' Fti sight on the old and miaow wall dery a tho cts. et the C °l°. I 400 c L security of overn° ell a . , 11 land; •- it on the and 01 n dvance o - t vier° - a fur tb b i er rt WI Chr' m or n ' ht 9 91 t r e eli It 11119 leave I) 7 a r Stock' - 0 681• Pre ie Foreig n i 9 but 1. 1, ale otb•- sligh t 2 l orth pero— ettles° 1 24.41 ,,,f , alteoa ~~~~ -- I t 1* % • 14 1 25 9. Wm r )C l6 PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. MAIL COACHES-POST-OFFICE-POST- AGE-FRANCE. At the close of the month of August last, various returns, under these heads, were moved for by Vis count Ebrington, Sir Charles Douglas, Dr. Bowring, and Mr. Hutt. They were presented, ordered by the House of Commons, on the 24th of August, to be printed, and have just been issued (No. 602) from the Vote- office. They are very curious : No. I. is a Return of Stage Coaches, or other Pub lic Conveyances, that have been used by the Post office authorities, as mails in England and Wales, not baying been so originally, &c. Prom the detached list here given, it appears that the number of these coaches, &c., is 79 ; whereof the earliest, so used (the Stamford and Cottersworth), was taken up in March, 1828. In 1837, also, only one (London and Bir mingham " day " mail) ; in 1838, eleven ; in 1839, thirteen ; in 1840, eleven ; in 1841, twenty-one ; in 1842, sixteen; in 1843, five. Of these seventy-nine coaches and conveyances, sixty-four were accompanied by guards; fifteen were not. I\ 7 o. 11. gives a Return of the number of applica tions made at the General Post-office in London, for letters stated to be missing, as distinguished into two classes ; viz., " Containing inclosures of value ;" and " Not containing inclosures of value." In the first class, the number stated to be missing was 332, the number found 129, in the two months October and November, 1839 ; in the like months of 1841, they were 1,389, and 397 ; and in two months, ending sth July, 1843, they were 1,192, and 340 respec tively. In the second class, the number stated to be missing, 256 ; number found, 95 ;-609 and 195 ; —6OB and 180, in each of the same three periods. Thus the total number of letters stated to be missing, and the number found, were for the same periods severally these : 588 and 224; 2,058 and 592 ; and 1,800 and 520. The number of applications " as to delay of letters ;" in October and November, 1839, 175 ; same months, 1842, 316 ; in two months, ended sth July, 1843, 260. The num ber of letters delivered in the United Kingdom, from 24th of November, 1839, to 21st of May, 1843, was 14,020,423. No. 111. is a Return in columns of the Number of Letters which have been forwarded monthly, through France to the East Indies or other countries, by way . of Egypt, from the earliest period of ourpostal conven tions with France; Amount of Postage paid thereon in England, and Amount paid to the French Govern ment; also similar Retur. s of Letters received from the East, through Egypt; also similar Returns of Newspapers. These accounts are stated so much in detail that an abstract of them is almost impossible. The largest number of letters "received from India" is entered in October, being in the second month of the 1839 scheme of transmission. It was 16,285 ; and the greatest sum paid to France on account of such postage, was in the year 1842, namely, 8,2961. sterling (199,124 francs). The largest number of letters " sent to India," during the same interval, was 7,398, in July, 1840 ; and the highest amount paid to France, on account of such outward postage, during the same term, was in 1840, namely, 4,4571. (or 106,972 francs). The extraordinary fluctuations in the amount of this correspondence, inwards and outwards, it seems difficult to account for. It is noted in this Return that " the amount of postage received in England cannot be ascertained." The amount of newspapers " sent to and received from India shows an equal extent of fluctuation. The greatest number sent was in 1841, viz., 100,064 ; but the largest amount paid to France, on account of newspapers (outward), was, in 1842, viz., 2201., or 5,271 francs. The account of letters out and home via Egypt, to and from India, shows us the highest number from 1826 and 1827 to 1843, in the month of April, 1843, no less than 29,772, on which the amount of postage received was 1,2691. Homewards, the greatest number of letters received by this channel, between 1827 and 1843, both inclusive (for the latter year the amount being brought down to the month of August only) was 23,473. No. IV. (1.) LONDON GENERAL POST. — Number of chargeable letters which have passed through the London General Post-office (inwards and outwards) since the first general reduction of postage on the sth of December, 1839, dividing the time, as far as prac ticable, into • four complete weeks each, and distin guishing, as to each period, the unpaid, paid, and stamped, and total number of letters; also a return of the estimated average, &c., for four weeks of the year, immediately preceding the reduction dis tinguished in like manner. This account is made up to the four weeks ending 28th January, 1843. The total estimated average for the four weeks of 1839—immediately preceding the new plan— is stated at 1,821,386. The . total for the first period of four weeks after the " Stamps" had been issued for use, stands thus :—Four weeks ending May 23, 1840—Unpaid, 410,399 ; Paid, 2,630,895; Stamped, 419,984; Total, 3,461,278. The gross totals were, at the beginning and closing periods taken from each of the following years, these, viz.:— Weeks ending Jan. 4, 1840 2,102,281 Dec. 5 44 Jan. 2, 1841 4,355,237 44 Dec. 4 Jan. 1, 1842 Dec. 31 46 Jan. 28, 1843 Note.—The fourpenny rate came into operation on the sth of December, 1839. The penny rate on the 10th of January, 1840. k 2.) A similar Return as to the London District Post, exclusive of all General Post Letters. (Note-- " The penny rate came into oeration as resp ec t s t hi s post on sth December, 1839 . ') Estimated average for four weeks, 1839, &c. (as above). Total 1,022,386. (3.) A comparative statement of the number of letters, including frank; during the existence of the franking privileges, delivered in the United King dom in one week of each calendar month, from Dec ember 1839 to the present time. The total for the week ending 24th Dec. 1839, is thus stated in country offices, 764,938 ; London, Ire land, Foreign, and Ship, 229,292 ; London District Post, 256,747. Total, England and Wales, 1,252,977; ditto Ireland, 179,931 ; ditto Scotland, 153,065. Grand total, United Kingdom, 1,585,973. The last total given in this return is also the highest, and re markable, as showing the greatest increase for each division of the United Kingdom. (4.) " An Account of Gross and Net Post-offine Revenue, and Cost of Management for the United Kingdom, for each of the years ending sth January, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843," &c., is classed as under. We give the results of the first, second, and last years : In the years 1839, 1840, and 1843, respectively, the statements of gross revenue were severally these : —2,346,278/. ; 2,390,763/. ; 1,578,146/. • and of the cost of management therein, 686,768 i.; 756,999/. ; 977,5041. The postage amounts charged on the Go vernment departments, pending the same years were successively, 45,156/. ; 44,278/. ; and 122,1611. Thus the net revenue, exclusive of these charges on the Go vernment departments, was for 1839, 1,614,3541. ; for 1840, 1,589,4861.; for 1843,478,480/. (5.) Payments by Post-office made during each of the years ending sth January 1839 to 1843 (inclu sive) for conveyance of the Mails by Railway in Great Britain, &c., 1839, 12,3801.; 1840, 52,2301.; 1841, 51,301 ; 1842, 94,818/. ; 1843, 77,5701.—N0te. These " totals" include "payment for work done on preceding years" of the following proportions : viz. the total as above of year 1839, 132/. ; of 1840, 4,3551.; of 1841, 3581.; of 1842, 9,1751.; of 1843, 2,3871. (6.) Return of the Number and Amount of Money orders issued and paid in England and Wales in the several quarters from that ending sth April 1839 to ditto sth January 1843. (7.) Similar Returns for Lorttlon. Quarter ended April 3, 1839.—Money-orders "issued," England and Wales, 28,838—their amount, 49,4961. Ditto, London, 3,B9l—amount, 7,161/. Money-orders "paid," England and Wales, 25,785 — amount, 43,2381. Total number of Money-orders, England and Wales, "issued and paid," 54,623. Total amount 92,734/. Ditto, London, 9,423—amount, 17,4021. Quarter ended January 5, 1843.—Money-orders "issued,' England and Wales, 494,757—their amount, 1,031,9921. Ditto, London, 73,520—amount, 146,0001. Money-orders, " paid," England and Wales, 486,437 —amount, 1,023,2001. Ditto, London, 143,065 — amount, 320,798/. Total number of Money-orders, England and Wales, " issued and paid " (passing through the office), 981,194—amount, 2,055,1931. Ditto, London, 216 , 53 5 —amount, 466,7951. "issued and paid." The two quarters which we have selected for the purposes of our abstract, as above, will sufficiently in dicate the sudden and enormous growth of this " mo ney-order " accommodation ; and the eagerness with which people have availed themselves of it both in the country and the metropolis. A Return as to Registered General Post Let ters, &c., states that the number of letters registered, gratuitously, in London, in June, 1839, was 7,666. Number of ditto which would have been registered in London, in June , 1843, had the plan of gratuitous registration been continued (and letters actuall3 regis tered are not included i n this number), 30,880 . N Im ber of letters actually registered in London ,„, 1843, 8,112. —_ SUICIDE OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN FRANCE.—The Semaphore of Marseilles states that an Englishman a few days ago put up at the Hotel Paradis, in that city, and en joyed himself during his stay very heartily. He had plenty of money, and spent it freely. One day his absence from the table dhote being'observed, a waiter was sent up to Ins room to call him. The door being found locked inside, and no one replying when the man knocked, it was thought ad visable to burst it open. The unfortunate man was found lying on the floor, with a razor near, with which he had cut hi* throat. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY - ' - VVENII4G, MARCY! 29, 1844. HASTINGS ELECTION. THURSDAY EVENING.—This being the day appointed for the nomination, the parties proceeded to the hustings, which were erected in the Priory Courts. Mr. Mcore, attended by B. Smith, Esq., M.P., and H. Elphinstone, Esq., M.P., and his friends ; Mr. Briscoe, attended by his friends, in a gay equipage. There were no banners of any description to be seen, and but very few colours of either party. Never was seen such a revolution in election proceedings in Hastings; yet we find it approved by all classes. The Mayor (Dr. M'Cabe) having arrived, and the usual preliminaries having been gone through, Major JEFFRIES presented himself to propose Musgrave Briscoe, of Coghurst-hall, Esq., as representative for this bo rough. He said Mr. Briscoe was a gentleman well known to them, lived among them, had family connexions living in the town, was a Conservative in politics, at the same time not opposed to the reform of all proved abuses. Mr. F. SMITH. seconded the nomination. Mr. B. SMITH, M.P., said he had heard a great deal from the proposer and seconder of Mr. Briscoe, with respect to cer • taro mansions, but he did not understand distinctly what they meant. He had not one word to say against Mr. Briscoe as a private gentleman—he was honourable, kind, charitable, and humane; but he did not understand that they were come here to elect a gentleman for such qualities to represent them in Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) They required a man who would take a large and extensive view of the capabilities of this great country, and apply his energies to develope them. The broad acres of Mr. Briscoe could avail him but little with all his benevolence in relieving the great distresses which existed in this country, crippled as it was by bad legislation, the result of the government of the landed aristocracy, to the detriment of the labouring classes. The Hon. Gentleman concluded by proposing R. R. R. Moore, Esq. Mr. J. TIIWAITES seconded the nomination. Mr. HARVEY, amid great uproar, proposed Mr. Sliegh, who was seconded by Mr. 11. PENFOLD. Mr. M. BRISCOE said he attended before them, in con sequence of a requisition numerously signed, most unex- . pectedly brought to him, and, wishing to the towns of Hastings and St. Leonard's every prosperity, he had not hesitated to come forward to offer himself as a candidate. His sentiments were well known to them. He was deter mined to support the present Government—(Disapprobation) —which, he believed, would promote the prosperity of the kingdom. He should support the corn-laws, for he felt that protection must be given to the agriculturists. He was not for high prices, further than to protect the farmer, so as to enable him to give to his labourer proper and fair wages. He thought that the labourer should be paid 2s. a day. Free trade was only another name for free competition. His motto was, " Live and let live," for the interests of the landlord, tenant, and labourer. As a member of the Established Church he should support that Establishment, feeling that, if it was put down or dissevered from the State, the liberty of all our institutions would be ridden over by the Roman Ca tholics of this country.—(Disapprobation.) Mr. MOORE was received with great applause. He said he had been accused of being a stranger. He was so. It was • said he was an Irishman, and it was true, and he gloried in it.—(Cheers.) But lie could not understand that either of those facts had anything to do with the question of the prin ciple of free trode. His opinion was men should think for themselves and act for themselves ; and no matter where a man was born, or chanced to live. He was for free trade, that we might obtain from other countries what we wanted most, and they take from us what we could spare. For 29 years we had had a corn-law, and during that time we had brought in a thousand millions pounds' worth of goods, which had been paid for by the labour of this country. During the same period we had purchased fifty millions' worth of foreign corn, and that corn had been paid for in gold. It was not to be wondered at that a dread of a drain of gold should exist, and it would, it must at times exist under the present laws, because the demand was not regular ; and when corn was required, the demand for goods did not arise in an equal degree ; or, from the supply not being anticipated, the goods were not at hand; but if the demand was regular, that would not occur. In the year 1836 the effect was most severely felt. The spring of that year was promising, but after July the prospect changed, and speculation set to work to purchase all the corn in other parts. It came in, and the consequence was, to reduce the bullion in the coffers of the Bank of England below two millions. The Learned Gen tleman next contrasted the state of our exports to that country now as compared with what it was in proportion when their population was only one-fifth of the present. Had it gone on, or borne an equal proportion we ought to have been sending thirty-six million pounds' worth instead of three. He contended that that country was not altogether to be blamed for the debts owing to this coun• try, for it was well known that the people of Sheffield were great creditors, and they had presented a petition to be al lowed to import wheat, which their customers in America had, and were willing to give in payment of their debts. Mr. SLIEGII next addressed, or rather attempted to address the multitude, but was assailed by hisses, uproar, and groans in every part, and at last, finding it impossible to obtain a hearing, he addressed himself to the people on the hustings for some time. On the show of hands being taken, the Mayor declared it to be in favour of Mr. Briscoe ; but our honest conviction is, that Mr. Moore had it three to one: A poll was then demanded on the part of Mr. Moore. Mr Sliegh declined going to the poll, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to tlfe Mayor, at a quarter past four o'clock. The polling commences at eight o'clock to-morrow, and closes at four. CANADA COMPANY. On 'Wednesday the Half-yearly Meeting of the Proprietors of shares in this corporation was held at the Company's House, St. Helen's-place, pursuant to the terms of the charter. The Governor, Mr. Charles Franks, in the chair. The minutes of the last Court were read by the Secretary, Mr. Perry, and confirmed. The first business of the day, the CHAIRMAN said, was the election of a Governor for three years, and of three Directors, and one Auditor. It was resolved unanimously that Mr. Charles Franks should be elected as Governer, and that Sir John Easthope, Mr. A. llumphreys, and Mr. Stokes, should be re-appointed as Directors. Mr. Wilson was again appointed as Auditor. The GOVERNOR then proceeded to state the operations for the past year. The sales of land in the Crown reserves had been 12,838 acres, at an average of 13s. 7d. per acre, and in the Huron tract there had been disposed of 8,705 acres, at an average of 12s. Id. per acre, making a total of 21,543 acres, the produce of which had been 13,8041. currency. This was independently of the town lots that had been purchased. There had been leased of Crown reserves 88,805 acres, pro ducing an annual rental of 2,7697., or equal to 10s. sd. per acre, and the leases granted in the Huron tract, for the year ending on the 31st of December last, were 63,9071 acres. £he leases were granted for twelve years, at a rental by which, if regularly paid, the land would become the pro perty of the occupier, and consequently alienated from the Company, The total quantity of land leased and sold was 194,255 acres. The Governor then read a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Corporation from its com mencement, which was considered satisfactory. The Com pany had 1,378,189 acres of land paid for, but still unsold. The quantity purchased from the Government was 2,484,413 acres ; of this there had been 982,941 acres sold, and 123,313 acres had yet to be paid for, the Company having the option of taking the latter. Since the commencement of the year there had been sold in the Crown reserves 1,500 acres, and in the Huron tract 800 acres. There had been leased in the former 3,800 acres, and in the latter 7,290 acres, an increase over the operations of the same period of 1842 of 3,753 acres. In the receipts there had been an increase this year of 2,842/. The plan of leasing the land had been most bene ficial, and the rents hitherto had been punctually paid. The passing of the Canadian Corn Bill, which had come into operation in October last, had been productive already of the most beneficial effects, and no doubt could be en tertained, that it would continue to be so. Through the exertions of the Company's Commissioners, Mr. Jones and Mr. Widder, the sales of the Company's lands had been greatly increased, while those on the part of the Government had been but few. The Governor read extracts from the correspondence received from the Commissioners, in which the rising prosperity of the settlers was spoken most highly of. Markets for their produce were easily found, and for cash. They believed that emigration this year would be consider ably increased, as many from Scotland, as well as Protestant families from Ireland, were coming to join their relatives who had already settled in Upper Canada. An extensive ship ment of flour was expected to take place from Montreal. The colonists on the Company's lands were improving, as was shown by the remittances made to their poorer relatives in the United Kingdom, which, upon an average, had in the last year been 9/. for each individual who had sent home money to fathers, mothers, &c., through the Company's agency, and which was done gratuitously. The total amount so remitted from Canada to the Company last year was 2,990/. ; and by the last letters 600/. in addition, similarly destined, were advised. This showed that the settlers upon the Com pany's lands were prosperous, and that the position in which the colony was placed was improving. The accounts were ordered to be printed, thanks were re turned to the Directors, and the meeting adjourned. SOUTH-SEA HOUSE. Yesterday a Quarterly General Court of Proprietors of South-Sea Stock was held at the Company's House, in Threadneedle-street ; Charles Franks, Esq., the Sub-Gover nor, in the Chair. The minutes of the last Court were read and confirmed. The CHAIRMAN said that the present was the Half-yearly General Court, and that the only business before it was for him to make the usual declaration of the amount of the Company's bond debt, and which was 4,5001. The CHAIRMAN then said it had been requested that he would at each Court of Proprietors state what was the amount of the guarantee fund—it was now 376,0001. Three per Cent. stock. The Court was aware that a long time ago some of the Proprietors had expressed their regret that the Company did so little with the capital which it possessed, and several objects had, at different times, been suggested, to which that capital might be applied with advantage. He could assure the Court that the Directors did not wish to be idle ; on the contrary, it was their anxious wish to promote the interests of the Proprietors by every means in their power; but it did so happen that the facilities for so doing were not equal to that desire on their parts. The Company was originally established for trading purposes. Its capital was subsequently advanced to Government, and its funds had since been treated and looked upon the same as other Govern ment securities. The majority of the persons holding that Stock were persons who looked only to the amount of their dividends, and there was consequently a very great difficulty on the part of the Directors in undertaking any fresh matter, the holders of Stock not being persons who were willing to run any risk or hazard, and the Directors, therefore, felt that any plan they proposed for the employment of the capital of the Company must be limited to a something which did not involve any risk ; and on considering that the plan must be one of that nature, it had occurred to them, and it had also been frequently suggested by the Proprietors, that the Com pany might act as trustees of either public or private trusts. They had taken that subject into their most serious consi deration ; and although business of that kind could not be conducted under the power of the charter, they still thought that the Proprietors as a body might make some arrange ment by deed by which the business to which he had alluded might be conducted. He was not prepared at present to state the plan on which the business was proposed to be con ducted, but he hoped in a very short time a prospectus of it would be laid before the Proprietors. He could not state the particulars then, but the Proprietors would be furnished with the fullest particulars in a very short time. Mr. MOCATTA said that, if the obstacles that formerly existed to the beneficial employment of their capital were removed, it would be satisfactory to the Proprietors to know that an addition was thereby made to the amount of - their dividend. The CHAIRMAN said the charter was not available to the proprietary. The Directors had now done their duty, in bringing the matter under the notice of the Proprietors,- and he thought it was better that the plan they proposed should ri inquired r forward e d i n whatwayth e go forth to th e p u bli c t h roug h t h e usua l c h anne l s, so t h at a ll holders of the st oc k s h ou ld at once b e ma d e aware t h at t h e plaAn PROPRIETOR would b e brought prospectus would be forwarded to the Proprietors ? The CHAIRMAN—Either through the Post-office or by hand ; but any Proprietor who did not have one forwarded to him, nliett obtain one by application at the office. On the motion of Mr. MocArra, thanks were voted to the Chairman and Directors. The CirmumAN briefly acknowledged the compliment, after which the Court adjourned. BRITISH-AMERIC AN LAND COMPANY. Yesterday the Annual Meeting of the Proprietors of shares in this • Corporation was held at the London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving a Report from the Directors relative to the state of the Company's affairs, and on other business. The Governor (Mr. G. R. Robinson) took the chair. The minutes of the last general Court and of the special Court having been read and confirmed, Mr. A. T. Galt, the Chief Clerk, then read the following Report : "At a special meeting of the Proprietors, held on the 30th of November, 1843, a statement of the operations of the Company at that date was submitted, and the Directors have not at present any further changes of importance to report. "The sales during the last year hare amounted to 34,859 a acres, for 17,0311. 19s. 4d. sterling. This amount is secured on the land sold, and bears six per cent. interest, being an increase over the sales of 1842, of 25,547 acres, and 11,242/. 10s. 4d. sterling. " In their last Report the Directors mentioned their having sent their Chief Clerk, Mr. Galt, to Canada, to co-operate with the Commissioner, Mr. Fraser, during the session of the Canadian Legislature, in guarding, as far as possible, the in terests of the Corporation. ➢lr. Galt has since returned, and reports that from the political difficulties that have arisen between the Governor-General and his late executive coun sel, the session terminated abruptly, without legislating in respect to the municipal institutions of Canada East. The Directors can therefore only express their confident hope that the longer period thus afforded the authorities for con sideration will enable them to arrive at a just decision on this important question, with which the interests of the Company are so intimately connected. " In accordance with the wish expressed at the last annual Court of Proprietors the Directors caused the solicitors of the Company to apply to the Shareholders then in default for payment, and they now submit a statement of the shares re maining unpaid, in order that the present Court may proceed by forfeiture or otherwise, in collection of the same. " To give the Proprietors a general view of the past opera tions and present position of the Company, the Directors have caused to be prepared and appended to this Report a detailed statement to the 31st December, 1843, embodying this information, in order that, for the future, the annual Report may contain the transactions of the current year only. " The four following Directors and one Auditor retire on the Bth April next, viz. :—Thomas Poynder, Esq., William Petrie Craufurd, Esq., Russell Ellice, Esq., Edward Wheler Mills, Esq., Directors; and Robert Carter, Esq., Audit or; who, being eligible, offer themselves fel. re-election." The balance-sheet was then read; giving a general state ment of the accounts of the Company up to the 31st of De cemlier last. Taking the value of the land possessed by the Corporation at 10s. an acre, it was urged by Mr. Clarke that their property was worth at least, when realised, upwards of 32,0001. The details of the balance-sheet were given with the utmost minuteness. The Report was adopted, and on the question that holders of shares upon which the deposits had been in arrear should forfeit their interest in the Company, thirty days' notice having been given them, a vote to that effect was passed, subject in special cases to the future discretion of the Court of Directors. The GOVERNOR, in reply to several questions, stated that additional time would be given to holders in default resident in Canada. It was intended by the Directors to dispatch Mr. Galt, who was intimately acquainted with the affairs of the Corporation and with Canada, as Chief Commissioner, • and the Deputy-Governor, Mr. Cummins, should take the ar rangements of the home department Thus would the well working of the Corporation be secured, and the Directors hoped the prospects of the Company improved. Mr. CLARKE most cordially approved of the measures of the Directors. After some discussion relative to the Company's affairs, a vote of thanks was passed to the Court of Directors for their gratuitous but valuable services. _ . The GOVERNOR, i❑ expressing his acknowledgments, re marked that there was every reason to suppose that Sir Charles Metcalfe was favourable to the operations of the Company. The new Governor had visited the eastern town ships (where the Company possessed, by purchase from the Crown, 653,500 acres of land), and expressed himself in favour of the eligibility of that part of Canada for emigrants to settle. An election having taken place to rill up vacancies in the direction, &c., the Court, on the question, adjourned. ATTEMPT TO INTERRUPT THE MEETING OF MR O'CONNELL'S FRIENDS AT LIVERPOOL. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY MORNING.—A most unfair and improper attempt to disturb the meeting of Mr. O'Connell's friends, to be held in the Amphitheatre this evening, has been made by the ultra-Tories of this town, by circulating exten sively, and posting on the walls a placard signed " A Car penter," stating that it was the intention of that enemy to the Queen, and ally of the Pope, Daniel O'Connell, to be present at the meeting, and calling upon the carpenters to at tend also, and do their duty. This placard was extensively circulated yesterday. In the afternoon a requisition to the Mayor was got up, and placed in the room adjoining the Ex change News-room, calling upon that worthy functionary to put a stop to the meeting, because the excitement created in the minds of the loyal inhabitants would not permit the meeting to take place without interruption and great danger to the public peace. It did not, however, meet with very great success, having received only fifty-seven signatures. It will be presented this morning ; but we can hardly sup pose that our Chief Magistrate will think it necessary to bestow attention on it. The meeting will be held, and we have no doubt will be peaceable and orderly in itself, though it may perhaps require the assistance of the police to keep in order the turbulent Orange faction who may come there to interrupt. The following is a copy of the requisition to the Mayor : " Liverpool, Wednesday, March 27, 1844. " Sir,—We, the undersigned, having noticed that a meet ing has been called, by placard, to take place to-morrow (Thursday) evening at the Amphitheatre, tbr the pu'rpose of sympathising with convicted conspirators,' impugning' the justice of the administration of British laws on the occasion of the recent State Trials in Ireland, and interfering with the judgment still pending, cannot refrain from expressing to your Worship our sense of the indecency of such meeting, and our firm conviction, that such is the excitement which it is creating in the minds of the loyal people of this borough, that it will not be permitted to take place without interrup tion and great danger to the peace of the town. We, there fore, respectfully request, that your Worship will use the functions of your magisterial office to prevent such meeting being held as proposed." DINNER TO MR. O'CONNELL. The dinner list already presents a noble spectacle —not so much for the vast number of names it comprises, as for the many counties and remote districts which those names represent. The counties of Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Waterford, and Tipperary, are each represented. So are the following separate cities and towns :—Lime rick, Waterford, 'l'ralee, Clonmel, Newcastle, Charle ville, Mallow, Mitchelstown, Lismore, Youghal, Kinsale, Fethard (county Tipperary), Bantry, Clonakilty, Ne nagh, Millstreet, Castlelyons, Newmarket, Tipperary, Macroom, Cove, Passage, Midleton, Fermoy, Bandon, Castlemartyr ; besides an immense variety of districts not immediately belonging to town, but yet comprising exclusive populations. A letter has been received, an nouncing that the Corporation of Waterford—the most repeal city in all Ireland—are to attend the dinner in their robes of office. This single circumstance tells well for the- popular feeling, and affords strong evidence of the influence of the " Convicted Conspirator." Mr. O'Connell has prudently declined the intended honour of a public entry, for many reasons ; but his prudent determination can scarcely heal the disappoint ment of the people of the province, who had resolved, from the first intimation received through the public press, to brave every risk and inconvenience in order to hail the man who had dared the vengeance of a Govern ment in their cause—the cause of mercy and of freedom. Never had Cork, since its first foundation, contained so vast a multitude, as it would have contained next Easter Monday, were the original intention carried out. We ;hall not attempt to speculate on the probable numbers that would have hailed the Liberator with a " monster welcome ;" but we leave our readers to form an opinion for themselves, when we first premise the irresistible motive that would have led the people of the Province to Cork, as to a holy city—a Mecca of the West—and next inform them that a vast body of the people were to have marched into Cork Irons the most northern bounds of the extensive county of Tipperary ! These facts are of mighty indication. A word or two as to the progressing preparations. The chrpenters commence their operations, this day, to render the dining place as commodious and com fortable as possible. When all shall be completed, the room will be capable of accommodating about 1,000 persons, not more. It will be floored with timber for the occasion ; ,and every precaution taken to exclude the danger and annoyance of draughts of air, so destructive to all comfort, and so perilous to human life. A long table will run parallel with the length of the room, and will, of course, be placed near the side wall. The chair will be stationed at the centre of this immense table ; and 12 short tables are to be ranged down from the top table. This arrangement has been resolved on to enable all present to hear the speakers, which they could not do were the speakers to speak from one end of the vast room. A light gallery will be erected all round, or rather at each side ; and this will afford accommodation but to 300 ladies. The whole will be splendidly decorated.— Cor k Examiner. The wood-paving in Cheapside, upon Perry's safety principle, was this morning thrown open to the traffic from St. Paul's Churchyard, being a week earlier than was anticipated. This is very creditable to the contractors, and should be regarded as a precedent on all similar occasions in the metropolis, where every interruption to free passage, how ever temporary, is so extremely inconvenient. In Scotland the weather still continues very severe. Such a snow-storm has never been known before at this sea son. The Highland road between Perth and Inverness has been impassable for five or six weeks, and is not open yet, there being in many places snow to the depth of eighteen and twenty feet. FATAL ACCIDENT FROM MACHINERY.--011 Tues day morning last a fatal accident occurred at Kingston-mill, near Hyde, a few miles from Manchester. It appears that just as the steam-engine was starting, one of the workers, Elizabeth Inman, discovered that the strap which turned the machine on which she was employed was off the pulley. She went to it, as is supposed, for the purpose of putting it on, when by some means it caught her clothes, dragged her round the horizontal shaft several times, dashing her at each revolution violently against the ceiling. Being early, all the hands had not arrived, and some seconds elapsed before her situation was discovered. A young man in another part of the room, discovering something on the shaft, ran imme diately and threw it out of gear, but unfortunately too late to save the young woman's life; she was found to be quite dead, and her limbs shockingly mangled. It was some time before she could be got off the shaft, and not until her clothes had been almost entirely cut to pieces. There are many individuals, we learn, whose annual income is beneath 1501, and who for the last year's stoppages under the Income-tax Act are yet out of pocket, though they have made the required application for return of the duty deducted long ago. MYSTERIOUS CASE.—Shortly after twelve o'clock yesterday, a fine young woman, most respectably attired, about twenty years of age, was taken out of the City-road basin ; there is a very severe wound over the forehead, but whether it has arisen from violence, or by coming into con tact with the barges, is at present unknown. The body ap pears to have been in the water about twelve (lays. At a later period of the day her name was ascertained to be Eliza Inks,. LITERATURE. CONFESSIONS OF A IVHITEFOOT. Bentley, London, 1544. These " Confessions," which are dedicated to the Earl of Devon and the other members of the Irish Landlord and Tenant Commission, purport to be • the revelations of a convict who has escaped from his thraldom, and who here relates all the circumstances that induced him to connect himself with one of the Captain Rock con spiracies in Ireland, together with the atrocities - he witnessed during the period of his association with these lawless men. The volume is ushered into the world, under the auspices of a gentleman who de. scribes himself as being a barrister, and who, in his introductory notice, intimates pretty plainly that the " Confessions" may justly be regarded as genuine. It is by no means unlikely that they are founded in fact, and that several of the occurrences related actually took place ; but they are much too highly coloured, the language, too, is exagge rated and stilted throughout, and there is an utter want of that simplicity and unaffected earnestness which is usually the language of truth. Were the" Confessions" of a Whitefoot to be written down just as they were made by him, the style, though coarse and homely, as a matter of course, would be terribly impressive, and the work would, possess a most enchaining interest ; but it is otherwise when all the foppery and finery of language is had recourse to, and exaggeration, both as regards description and incident, - are substi tuted for the simple, forcible, utterances of nature. Who could suppose for an instant that a rude, untaught Irish \Vhitefoot would express himself in this inflated, metaphorical style ? " That distortion which had obliterated the very impress of humanity from his brow, denoted how truly in that moment's agony, memory had fulfilled her task, marshalling her spectre forms, and compelling heart stricken Guilt to scan the future by her lurid light." The volume abounds in similar specimens of tawdry, tinsel eloquence. DUTCH MAIL. AMSTERDAM, MARCH 27.—The Handled)lad, in an article headed, " Make haste while it is yet time !" again strongly recommends the public to take part in the Three per Cent. Loan, and showing the evil consequences that will ensue if the loan shall not be filled up. The Staats Courant ob serves that "it is absolutely impossible further to pro long the time for subscribing, and that after the 28th of March no person will have an opportunity to sub scribe. What then ? Entering your name is not paying. The first may be done in two days, as well as in a week or more. No payment is to be made before the 15th of April, and this only for one eighth part of the sum subscribed. Can any one be so foolish or prejudiced as to bear the share in the property-tax, with all its inconveniences—to pay on the Ist of May, with the loss of 25 per cent. more than he would have to contribute to the loan." It is justly observed, on the part of the Government, in the Staats Courant, " that everything possible has been 'done on its part to save the pe9ple, from the necessity of laying open this affair and paying the tax. Nobody, we suppose, is so foolish as to flatter himself that the property-tax, if necessary, will not be rigorously enforced. A greater public interest depends on it than the mere financial neces sity. The State must be ruined, society would be broken, either if it falls into a state of lawlessness, or if laws passed by the competent authority remains inef fective. We learn with pleasure that many of our fel low citizens, having heard the explanations given in the town-hall by the committee of lawyers which daily meet there, have hastened to subscribe to the loan. May their example be generally imitated." THE HAGUE, MARCH 26.—The Dutch navy con sisted, nn the Ist of January, 1844, of the following ships :—Two of 84 guns, five of 74, two of 60, one of 54, eleven of 44, three of 32, nine of 28, one of 26, two of twenty, eleven of 18, one of 16, ten of 14, one of 12, two of 8, five of 5, and four of 4 guns —in all, seventy-two vessels, with 2,087 guns. Be sides these, there are one ship for exercise, one war steamer, four transports, and seventy-seven gun boats, of various sizes. The corps of officers con sisted of one admiral, two vice -admirals, three rear-admirals, twenty-one captains, thirty-one cap tain-lieutenants, two hundred and seventy-two lieu tenants, and sixty-six midshipmen. COURT CIRCULAR. His Royal Highness Prince Albert left townyesterday morning for Germany. His Royal Highness left Buck ingham Palace at half-past nine o'clock, attended by Mr. George Edward Anson, Captain Francis Seymour, and Colonel Bouverie, and proceeded to the terminus of the South Eastern Railway at London-bridge. The Royal party took their departure by a special train for Dover, his Royal Highness embarking on the " Princess Alice" steam-packet for Ostend. Colonel Bouverie and Cap tain Francis Seymour are expected to attend the Prince to the Continent. The Queen and the Queen of the Belgians walked in the Royal Gardens of Buckingham Palace yesterday. The Royal Family were taken airings yesterday in the Royal Garden. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager 3 esterday at Marl borough House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left town in a carriage and four, at ten o'clock yesterday morning, for her residence, Frogmore Lodge, near Windsor. The Royal Duchess returned to Clarence House, St. James's, in the afternoon. The Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England had an audience with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing. street. M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, and Baron Cetto, Bavarian Minister, transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Mr. Gladstone and other Cabinet Ministers had inter views with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. THE POOR-LAW COMMISSIONERS AND THE PARISH OF ST.SAVIOUR'S SOUTHWARK.—At the sitting of the Board of Guardians last night, it was announced that the charges re cently preferred against Mr. John Richards, the governor of the St. Saviour's Union, had been entirely disproved, much to the satisfaction of a large and influential body of rate payers. It appears that if Mr. Richards erred at all it was at least upon the side of humanity. FATAL ACCIDENT.—Mr. Carter, the coroner, held an inquest at the King and Queen, Rotherhithe, as to the death of Richard Herbert Penderell, aged 29, who was drowned under very melancholy circumstances. It appeared by the evidence that the deceased was a waterman, and was very often attacked with fits. On Thursday last he had just landed a fare, and was returning to King and Queen Stairs, when Inspector Judge, of the Thames police, saw him stand up in the boat and extend his arms, the usual signal he made when he felt the approach of the fits, and almost instantly he fell into the river. Inspector Judge rowed to the spot, and having got the drags searched for the body, which was taken out in about a quarter of an hour. Every means were resorted to to restore life, but medical skill was unavailing. It was stated in the room that the deceased was in expecta tion of considerable property, as a descendant of Richard Penderell, who assisted in the escape of Charles 11., after the battle of Worcester. Penderell's monument is behind the altar in the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields. A verdict of " Accidentally drowned" was returned. TRIED BRANDY.-At the last Gloucestershire Ad journed Sessions, a girl was placed at the bar, charged with stealing a pint of brandy (it was produced in Court) from her master. The girl was acquitted; but the jury, with exemplary partiality, not only tried the gi r l, but the brandy too ; for they conscientiously emptied the bottle. The liquor being drunk, the jury appended to their verdict—" below proof."—Punch. _ __ EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAYS. Yesterday special meetings of the Proprietors of the Northern and Eastern and Eastern Counties Companies, were held at the Shoreditch station. The Proprietors of the Northern and Eastern Com pany met at twelve o'clock, when, in the absence of Mr. W. Marshall, M.P., chairman of the Directors, Mr. Paterson pre sided. The draft of a Bill to empower the Directors to apply to Parliament for leave to make certain deviations in the Newport Extension Line, was submitted to the meeting and agreed to. The Chairman stated that it had likewise been determined on, by the Directors of the joint Companies, to apply to Parliament in the next session to extend the rail way from Ely to Lincoln, through Wisbeach, Lynn, Spald ing, and Boston. At the meeting of the Eastern unties Proprietors, Mr. H. Bosanquet presiding, a Bill was read and agreed to for extending the line by Cambridge and Ely, and from thence to Brandon and Peterborough. The Chairman stated that the Bill now before Parliament, for the amalga mation of the interests of the two Companies, was not likely to meet with opposition. Attention has been called to a case under the re cent statute of 5 and 6 Victoria, c. 116, for the relief of insol vent debtors, to show the impossibility of carrying into effect the intention of the Legislature. In the beginning of last year a debtor presented a petition to the Court of Bank rnptcy, a creditors' assignee was chosen, the assets were realised and paid into the Bank of England, and everything seemed mature for making a dyision of the estate. The so- - -- licitor to the assignees applied to the Commissioner to ap point an audit, and proceed to a dividend; but he decided that he had no power - under the statute to comply with the request, suggesting, however, that a dividend might be made with the written consent of the insolvent. This was ob tained ; but the Commissioner still expressed doubts, and de • dined acting; whereupon the official assignee consented to take upon himself the responsibility of applying for an audit, and dividing the estate upon being furnished with a similar consent from the insolvent. This was again procured, and it was determined to have an audit meeting at the office of the official assignee, and afterwards to proceed to a dividend in the same manner as under an assignment for the benefit of creditors; but here an insurmountable obstacle occurred, for the solicitor's bill having been taxed for the pur pose of ascertaining the actual amount there would be to divide, and the allocatur taken to the Crmmissioner for the purpose of procuring an order to pay the money out of the Bank, the Commissioner declined to make any order, stating that he had had a conference with the rest of the Commis sioners, who thought they had no power to act in the mat ter. The result, therefore, is, that the money remains in the Bank of England, that the insolvent is completely protected from all legal process (his protection having been granted, of course, during the proceedings), and that the creditors are deprived of all benefit whatever, though a fair division of an estate is the principal object of the statute. Such a state of things seems imperatively to demand such an alteration of the law as will give additional authority to the Commis sioners.—Times. THE FINE W E ATHER.—Th . e weather f or some d ays has been remarkably fi ne. This morning, up to ten o'clock, there was much fog all over the metropolis, but after that hour it cleared away, and the day has been one of the most splendid of the season. The barometer stands almost at the highest point, 30.6 degrees, and the thermometer is also high, though the wind is easterly. AN. i tf I 1 4 - rj • - 7 ECCLESIASTICAL CHANGES. DUTY ON What the Rev. Dr. Hook is endeavouring to effect EXPEDIENCY OF MAKING by a division of the extensive parish of Leeds into a TION IN THE WINE DUTY. number of small parishes, for the improvement of the (From the Scotsman.) parochial ministrations of the clergy, has already been j The folly of abridging our own comforts because our neighbours abridge th e i rs , is well exemplified in procured at Oldham by the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Lowe, the incumbent of the parish church, or par o - the absurd restrictions whi c h our fi scal laws impose chial district church, Oldham. By a recent ord er o f on the use of wine. It is well k nown that wherever the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the ancient par o - wine is the common beverage so b r i ety prevails ; dual chapelry of Oldham is forthwith to be di v id e d and not a doubt exists that if the ar ti c l e could b e . into 14 small parishes, or eccle s i as ti ca l di s t r i c t s , th e procured here nearly as cheap as in tho se parts o f boundaries of which have been fi xe d, an d o th er ar - France where no wine is produced, more wou ld b e rangements provided for the ministers o f eac h, accor d- done to promote temperance than if a thousa n d mis ing to the orders of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. sionaries like Father Mathew were kept traversing the These important changes will be carried into effect with- kingdom from January to December. It is equally out loss of time, so that the advantages of this whole- certain that if the obstacles created by our reventu. some and necessary creation of new parishes will be laws did not intervene, wine could be pukchased as almost immediately f e lt ; f o r a c l erg y man w ill b e cheaply in Britain a s in Nor man dy an d Picardy ; shortly resident in each district, and temporary epis- and its use might be even more common here than it copal places of worship will be opened, either in is there, because a much larger proportion of our school-rooms or other buildings, in all the parochial population are able to pay for imported articles. We divisions, as soon as the requisite ar rangemen t s can do not mean that wine should be exempted from duty. be made for that purpose. The present ancient paro- Far from it. But we think that, if the duty were chial chapel or parish church of Oldham will cease to greatly reduced, the article might come into universal be in reality of greater ecclesiastical importance than use among the middle classes, superseding spirits and the rest of the churches in the borough, except in a ale to a large extent, to the great increase of temper few respects, which relate chiefly to the solemnisa- ante, and to the benefit of health and morals; and all tion of marriage, an d o th er m i n o r p o i n t s , more o f a this without any loss to the r evenue . nominal than of a substantial character. This paro- Those who are familiar with chronicles, family me chial partition will lead to the erection of eight moirs, and narratives, written before the union, are additional churches, which, with the six already aware that the " stoup of claret" was common in the in existence in the borough, will render the houses even of the smaller gentry and merchants. number fourteen. Eight additional ministers are to The light palatable French wines, which females may take up their residences, in a short time within the drink in moderate quantities with perfect safety, new parishes, and they w ill u lti ma t e ly d er i ve propor - were then in pretty genera l use among t h e m iddle tions of their incomes from the partition of the eccle- ranks. We learn from an excellent authority that its siastical sees now en j o y e d b y th e R ev . Th omas L owe, 1700 the wine consumed i n B r it a i n was very near l y the present minister o f th e p ar i s h c h urc h, an d o f t h e one imperial gallon for ea c h i n di v id ua l o f t h e popu lation. In Holland where the d u ty i s t r ifli ng , i t i s as other clergymen at pre sen t o ff ic i a ti ng w ithi n th ese limits. Such a measure, envolves no slight sacrifice much at this day. In Denmark, it amounts to three of pecuniary advant age on th e part of the above Rev. gallons per head. In B r it a i n a t present, when Gentleman, more particularly than the other clergy, the number of persons able to indulge in the use as he will be most affected by its ultimate operation. of luxuries is proportionally six times greater than The Rev. Mr. Lowe is, doubtless, actuated by the in 1700, the consumption is only the fourth part of sincere wish to contribute to the s pi r it ua l we lf are o f a gallon!* The wine consumed p rev i ous t o th e un i on the great population-60,000—entrusted to his was chiefly French; and the expense of indulging in. charge, and by this partition of the p ar i s h i n t o such a beverage must not be judged of by th e p r i ce parishes containing from 4,000 t o 5,000 i n h a bi tants paid at this day for B urgun dy an d Ch a t eau M argaux, each, the several duties of the clergy, religious, cha • since, owing to our high import duty, none but wines ritable, and educational, will be, it is to be hoped, of a recherehe quality are brought in. It was the adequately attended to ; and whatever light the sub- ill-judged Methven treaty in 1703, which banished ject is viewed in, whether as a means to pro mo t e th e the produce of the Fr e n c h v i ne y ar d s f rom t h e ta bl es of spread of the principles of the Established Church, or the middle classes, and forced the strong, harsh, as a method of counteracting the effect of the extensive and comparatively deleterious wines of Portugal diffusion of tenets of Dissent, it must be generally ad- into general use. For many years during the war mitted that the residence of eight additional clergy- and afterwards, the duty on French wine was as high a men will produce advantages of such a na t ure as can s 13s. Bd. a gallon. In 1825, it was re d uce d to 7s. 3d. ; and on the expiration of the M e th ven t reaty i n not fail to have a beneficial bearing on the intellectual, 1831, to the present rate of ss. 6d., or 11d. p er b ott l e. moral, and physical condition of the p o p u l a ti on . Measures are in progress to secure th e es t a bli s h men t To judge of the effect of such duties, we m us t b ear of efficient episcopal schools in each of the 14 parishes in mind that there are wines in France, purchased in n the borough.—Manchester Couri er . the wood at ls. 6d. or 2s. a g a ll on , whi c h English men do not disdain to drink when they cross the Channel. The consumption of wine in France, says Mr. Porter, amounts to 19 gallons for each individual, or more than 70 times the consumption of the United Kingdom. But Paris will afford a better standard of compari son. Its consumption in 1834 was 877,000 hecto litres, or 19,300,000 imperial gallons ; and the popu lation being then about 850,000, this is equal to 22i gallons for each individual, man, woman, and child. It thus appears that Paris alone consumes three times as much wine as the British isles with a population of 27,000,000. Some will object that the Parisians live in a wine-producing country, and obtain the article duty free; but both objections rest on mistaken notions. The vine is largely cultivated in the vicinity of Paris, but chiefly to afford grapes for the table. The wine made is small in quantity, and too bad in quality for the dainty palates of the metropolitan citizens. The yin ordinaire of Paris comes chiefly from Burgundy, performing journey of 150 or 200 miles; but much of the wine in. common use is brought from Bordeaux to Has-re by sea, and thence by the Seine to Paris, a voyage of 800 miles. Of the wines extensively consumed in the capital, the champagne is raised nearest to it; but even this comes chiefly from Rheims and. Epernay, distance of 100 miles. In the second place, the arti cle is not untaxed. Wine in cask pays an octroi, or municipal duty at the gates of 21 francs the hecto litre, which is equal to 9id. per gallon, or fully three halfpence the bottle. The duty on wine in bottles is. twice as much, that is 6 sous, or threepence, the litre, which rather exceeds the contents of our quart bottle. This applies to all the champagne, and probably to some of the more choice wines of Burgundy and Bourdeaux. It is evident, then, that in everything but the rate of duty, the situation of London is nearly parallel with that of Paris. Both stand in corn-growing countries : both import their wines ; and, so far as respects the produce of the southern vineyards, those of the Gironde, Charente, Loire Inferiur, &c., it coukt reach London at a less expense of conveyance thank Paris, by probably 10 or 15 per cent. 'Wine at Paris pays lid. per bottle to the municipality; wine at London pays 11d. to the Government. Need we seek any farther for the cause of the smaller and poorer town consuming fifty times as much as the larger and more opulent ? If a duty of 11d. were levied at the bar riers of Paris, it would shut out all the wine retailed at prices from 6d. to Is. 6d. per bottle, that is, most probably nineteen-twentieths of the whole. " There is a great deal of excellent French wine (says Mr. Porter) better adapted to the English taste gene rally than the finest wines of Medoc, which could be‘ sold with a profit to the importer for less than sixper xe per bottle, independent of duty. If the rate of this duty were fixed so low as to admit of the sale by the retailer at one shilling per bottle, it cannot he doubted that the consumption would be very much increased, and a great addition would be made to the innocent enjoyments of the people." A small abatement of the duty would effect no thing, because there is the habit of a century's dura tion to combat. Even a reduction of fifty per cent. would be insufficient. When we consider what the consumption was in Britain 140 years ago, what it is in Holland and Denmark, and still more in Paris, Rouen, and Boulogne, which would really- have no sensible advantage over London or Leith in procur ing the article, if our preposterous tax were removed —we cannot help believing, that if we had a financier bold enough to reduce the duty to something near the Paris standard, say to twopence a bottle, the con sumption would increase tenfold in a few years, while the revenue would ultimately gain by the change. In the the five years from 1789 to 1795, the wine annually imported was fully as great as at preset. Now, the population has doubled in the interval ; a n d from all we have observed and heard, we are °Atisfied that the habit of wine drinking has increased i n a higher ratio than the population. Is it nrJt then evi dent, that one-half or more of the stuff sold as wine,, must be a factitious compound, made within the king-, dom, from herbs and drugs, and which probably few would taste if the ingredients were known to theta? * Porter's Progress of the Nation, vol. iii. p. 62. SIR ROBERT PEEL AND FACTORY LABOUR. (From a Correspondent of the Times.) Perhaps the following reminiscence may not be mal apropos at the present moment. In the year 1820 the " Bill for the Regulation of Factories" passed, and a great boon it was to the operatives • it was called " Peel's Bill," being worked through Parliament by the late Sir R. Peel. The whole, however, was the work of a philanthropic individual, the late Mr. N. Gould, of Man chester, who spent many years and many thousands (it is aid above 20,0004) in accomplishing, to a small extent, an object so dear to him. To facilitate his operations, lie engaged a house in Dover-street. I was one evening assisting him in his laborious occupation , when the pre sent Premier walked in; he burst out with, "Well, Gould, how do you get on?" " Why, Robert lad, we do get on, but we meet with opposition where we did not expect it." " I told you you would find it hard work ; however, I wish you success sincerely." " Ay, Ro bert, there's no doubt of our success, man ! our cause is just, it's righteous, it's holy, it must succeed." " Well, Gould, what cau I do for you, though I fear yens will not carry all your objects ?" " Well, Robot, we must take what we can get ;, but we'll tight hard in so good a cause." " Well, Gould, good night." As Mr. Peel passed me he put his hand on the table, evidently leaving something on it. " Ay, Robert." said Mr. Gould, " thou art a good fellow," giving him at the same time a shake of the hand, and a slap on the shoulder, as he wished him " Good night." Mr. Gould turned round and took up the paper, smiling. ";What is it ?" said I. " Ay, lad, it's a 50/. note—Peel's a good fellow ; but he little thinks what a ••drop, in a bucket this is. Never mind, lad, we'll take it ; it's well mea n t,"— an d h e put i t in his pocket. The sequel is curious about half an hour afterwards the notorious Robert Owen walked in, proffering his services in the most urgent manner upon Mr. Gould to be ern - ployed in any way, either the most laborious or th e most trivial; but on all this Mr. Gould put, a negativ e , telling Owen he had enough to do of his e,wn, be woul d not trouble him, his philantrophy had ether objects, &c., and he was fairly bowed out. THE COST of FACTORY LABOUR TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—There is one consideration which appears to have been quite overlooked in the recent debates on Lord Ashley's amendment, but which, nevertheles has a very close and important bearing on the case. One of the objections most strongly urged against this amendment was the fall in wages which its adop tion must necessarily occasion. But it does not seem to have struck any one, that if the operative get higher wages for twelve hours than for ten, the labour given also costs him more. From the lan guage commonly held on this subject, one would sup pose that the strength he spends in his day's work had its source in some inherent and independent power of life, and was a gift of God, free of all charge, to its possessor. But not in the living body, Sir, more than in the steam-engine, is force generated without consumption of material ; and for the extra two hours' labour a proportionate addition of aliment must be taken. But to the nature of this aliment these two hours are by no means indifferent. It is the last hour or two of toil, when the body is weary and jaded, which, by impairing appetite and diges tion while it parches with thirst, drives the operative to drink. It is not a matter of accident, or choice, hut one of physiological necessity, that under these circumstances he resorts to what in common language is called the stimulus of spirituous liquor. The alchohol consumed is necessary to the repair of the exhausted force; and thus, Sir, it may be clearly shown, setting aside the moral considerations to be drawn from the argument, that the last two hours' labour, by the necessity it brings of support of a more expensive kind, costs the operative nearly the full price he obtains for it. But it surely can never profit him, in the long run, even in the matter of wages, to work day after day beyond his strength. The slight excess of daily in come is sure to be wasted again in the more frequent attael;s of illness that must occur. In the case of women and children, especially, this retribution must be fre qu€•nt and severe. There is no escape from it : no compromise can be made. With a fatal necessity, all infringements of the great conditions of health take ;heir revenge on the — pocket by the expenses of sickness. The blunders we have committed in our internal administration are full of illustrations of this truth. Thus, in the prisons in which a starving allowance used to form a part of the disci pline, it was invariably found that more money was spent in " extras" on the order of the surgeon than would have supplied every prisoner with a sufficient and wholesome diet. So that it is ever found in these, as in other matters, that the right thing is in the end the cheapest ; and I have no doubt, Sir, that a profound and practical conviction of this was in the minds of those operatives who declared to Sir G. Grey that it would be better for them to take less wages than to work the present hours. If you think, Sir, these few reflections may in any way serve the cause of these people, the insertion of them in your valuable journal will deeply gratify one who would be most unhappy were a single word left unsaid that could be spoken in their behalf. A PROVINCIAL PHYSICIAN. THE HAMPSTHWAITE GHOST. Perhaps no similar affair, if we except the Colliugham ghost, has greeted greater consternation in the minds of the credulous and superstitious, nor caused more specu lative opinions among those more sceptical and better informed than to allow these remains of dark and superstitious ages to take possession of their minds, in this age of reason and refinement, than that of the llampsthwaite ghost, as mentioned in the Conrant of the 14th instant. It has been the country gossip for many miles round, and numbers have flocked to the place from different neighbouring towns and villages to witness, if possible, its nocturnal peregrinations and internal antics. Some have been so much alarmed by this invisible visitant from the world of spirits, as they supposed, as to declare they would never again, while clothed in matter, seek the society of such an immaterial being. While others, of stronger nerve, and better judgment, have expressed their opinions that it was not a disembodied spirit, but the work of a biped or quad ruped, yet still without being enabled to detect the of fender ; and the whole matter has been enveloped in the most profound mystery until a few days ago, when we understand the Rev. Mr. Shann, who is the owner of the property, and not willing to be persuaded nor easy to be duped by such a strange affair, procured the assistance of an active and ingenious policeman, from Leeds, who by lodging three nights upon the premises, unravelled the whole mystery. And surely a more ingenious con trivance, or better conducted scheme, could not have been put in operation for this purpose than the one re ferred to. It is supposed to have been the freaks of the servant girl. She had, in some part of the house, concealed from view, a ball suspended by a string, and to that another string was connected similar to the connections of a bell-wire ; this was constructed in such a manner as to allow the ball to come in contact with a thin ceiling, or partition, when pulled by the attached string, which caused the ball to rebound with a greater or less degree of force to suit the caprices of the opera tor, which by her mechanical skill, in working either by light or strong jerks, made the noise appear either in a remote part of the house or near at hand. This was the greatest perplexity to those who went fur the purpose of discovering the affair ; while at one moment it seemed almost lost in the distance, at the next, booming close in the ear. In addition to the the above mechanical contrivance, she had also others, it is said, by scratching and thumping on the floor when opportunities offered. Since the above discoveries, the girl has been dismissed from her situation, and since then this evanescent intruder has discontinued its visits. What can have been the motive of this foolish girl, or whether she has had instigators, we cannot tell, but some of the ultra-suspicious gossips in the neighbourhood, and who love to dwell upon the marvellous, assert that she is possessed of a demoniacal spirit, and that since the com mencement of these fantastic freaks, they hare discovered an alteration in her general appearance, especially by a strange obliquity of vision. We understand that she is a native of Kirkby-Overblow, and has been in Dalby's service three years. Does it not appear strange that this affair should have been so long concealed from the inmates of the house, especially as Miss Dalby, as we are informed, was her sleeping partner ?—Correspondent of the York Courant. MILITARY PUNISIIMENT.—The whole of the Royal Artillery in the Garrison at Woolwich were assembled on the guard mounting parade ground yesterday (Thursday) morning, at eight o'clock, to witness the remaining part of the sentence upon gunner and driver Davis, of the 6th bat talion, who recently received corporal punishment for steal ing a cornopean, value 5/, the property of Lieutenant Colonel Colquhoun. The prisoner was brought out by a file of the guard, and the sentence of the Court-martial held upon him read to the whole of the assembled troops ; and in terms of its conclusion, that the prison er b e di sc h arge d from the regiment with ignominy, the facings and ornaments were stripped off his clothes , and he was d rumme d ou t o f the garrison. An examination took place on Wednesday of two privates of the Royal Marines, one named Bennet, for leaving his arms and his post when on duty at the Old Ma rine Barracks, Woolwich, and not returning until the fol lowing morning; and the other, named Lyons, for having left his post when on duty, at Deptford, and being found asleep in a stable. Both have been set aside to be tried by a general court-martial. _ _ _ - - ••=1•M• ' THE LATE COUNTESS OF UX . BRIDGE.—Instead o terda ,v the mortal remain s of the, Countess are to be removed as was a'. first contemplated, ye s . the funeral taking place, from `York-street at an early }.,our to-morrow morning, and from thence are to be conveyed by railroad to Tamworth, on the Derby and Birmingham line. The mournful cortege pro ceeds from Tamworth direct to Lichfield, about six miles. The Earl of Uxbridge, Marquis of Anglesey, Earl of Sand wich, Viscount Sydney, Lord Alfred Paget, Lord George Paget, Colonel Bagot, ate., leave town to- day, for Stafford shire, to attend the ftmeral. The interment takes place at. Lichfield Cathedral early to-morrow afternoon. THETOOIP•LAW AMENDMENT ACT.—Last evrAtig a special general meeting of the vestrymen of the r arish of St. Luke, Middlesex, was held in the church, at s;_t o'clock, when it was resolved—" That the- Committee already ap pointed be requested to w a t c h the progress of f'xio Bill, and to oppose the clauses which are injurious to the, interests of the parish." Another resolution was also ado , ,,ted—. That the expenses attending the prosecution of this, matter be paid by the pertain, and be charged to the porir-rate.'s ''BERLIN, MARCH 21.—1 t is said that our Ring has decided in favour ofEngland in the differences between France and England respecting the losses sustained by England at Portendic, ~~'~!, -``..~\ ` DCN• to to to to to to t• to to to w- a~ w~ w~ ea •* td'" `;;"3 t to o ; s ' ; ;0 Ed r °4 : 13§ ~~1