The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-30 00:00:00

the state of the question. Mr. Calhoun desired a propose from Mr. Pakenham, who said he would be able to make a definite one at the next conference, and desired Mr. Cal houn to be also ready with his proposal. Adjeurned to the 26th of August, when it again assembled. Mr. Pakenham Made a proposal to Mr. Calhoun, which Mr. Calhoun de clined. They then agreed that a more full understanding of their respective views was necessary to facilitate future Proceedings, It was agreed that written statements of the Dews of both parties should be given before proceeding fur res. It was a l so agree d t h at t h e A mer i can p l en i potent i ary should make his statement at the next conference, and, /then ready, give the necessary notice. Attached to this protocol is the offer of Mr. Pakenham to take the 49th parallel of latitude to the Columbian River, and the river to the sea ; and also to make free to the United 'plates any port or ports which they might desire on the main Hind or on Vancouver's Island south of 49 deg. Sept. 2, 1844, the third conference was held at the office of the L nited States Secretary of State. The American negotiator gave his views of the claims of the United States to the Portion of the territory drained by the Columbia as his grounds rot declining the British Minister's proposal. , Sept. 12, 1844, the fourth conference was held'at the same Nice, and the British Minister gave his views. Sept. , 20, fifth conference, Mr. Calhoun uthvere a a re _ Joinder. 8- --sat. 24, sixth conference. The British Minister stated that be had read with due at tention the rejoinder of the U.S. plenipotentiary ; that he !Lid not feel authorised to enter into any discussion relative In the territory north of lat. 49 deg. which was understood °Y the British Government to form the basis of negotiation !II the part of the United States as the line of the Columbia Mined that of England. That his former proposal was ired by Great Britain as an honourable compromise, and that it was made with the proviso that in no case in any further, negotiations should it compromise or weaken the claims of Great Britain unless accepted by the United States. titpttmber 3d, 1844-Mr. Calhoun to Mr Pakenham wtlines Mr. P.'s proposal ; as it would limit American pos tailona to narrower bounds than what it had a clear right to. I n Calhoun then enters into an argument on American F ro hls to the territory drained by the Columbia, arising m right, and those derived from France and Spain. The f ormer he grounds as against Great Britain, on priority of co Very, exploration, and settlement. The prior discovery is tlaimed fur Captain Grey, a citizen of the United States, May 11, 1792, who gave the river its name. This discovery opposed by those of Meares and Vancouver. The firmerl sailed along the coast through which the Columbia 7,°i's, in 1788, in order to ascertain whether the river laid town in Spanish charts as " St. Roc" really existed, and declares "we can now safely assert that there is no such ''ver." „Mr. Calhoun then proceeds to consider the discoveries of 4 e Columbia's branches by Lewis and Clark, and asserts bead clear right by the discovery of the mouth and ',WI waters of the Columbia river. Ie next describes the question of settlement by American X h uzens in 1809, 1810, and 1811. The taking possession by IBritish during the war, and restoration after peace. Itta then proceeds "We have added to our claims those of abee and Spain by , the treaty of Louisiana and the treaty Florida. The cession of Louisiana gave us undisputed utle to the summit of the Rocky Mountains and by conti -4111„tY to the Pacific, founded on the treaty of 1763 ." A ue then dwells on the argument of continuity, instancing 'ue contest between Great Britain and France, which was illninated by the treaty of 1763 lie then examines the treaty of 1763. r. Ftte then takes up the restoration of Astoria, and he con ,ties by stating that the same cause which peopled the 1 1 4 !?3, , of the Mississippi will yet cause emigration across the t37ty Mountains, and that the whole region drained by the 27ilu t ubia is destined to be peopled by us. Mr. Calhoun l oses his able paper by stating that he refrains " from pre niting the claims which the United States may have to '6,(l)ler portions of the territory" than those drained by the a !ambits River, and by renewing assurances of high cons i- Arc. h S,ept. 12, 1844, Mr. Pakenham writes to Mr. Calhoun in ...P4' to the above, that he has no evidence that Louisiana t ` `tended west to the Pacific, but that the Rocky Moun al4 was the western boundary, for which opinion he otes Mr. Jefferson. Even if the boundary did extend s _eatward of the Rocky Mountains, that France transferred titin 1762, and Spain to England, teaty between Britain and Spain in 1796, which gatedabr the claims t ee denies that the claim of continuity can affect the claim 1 1 4 ght. He acknowledges that Spain, in 1819, transferred f n f rights north of 42 deg., but that it did not invalidate her er concessions in 1790. In regard to the discoveries of lleceta and Gray they con ° and if Heceta's claim be good it favours Great Britain , 'Ling to the treaty of 1790. 1 4 ; United States had no claims when they became a 4 . 4 ti e "on. Those of France were worth nothing. He urges commercial intercourse of Great Britain with the north eat coast, the voyages of Cook and Mears, the survey of the t by Vancouver, which makes Great Britain's claims to very and exploration very strong. He sets the accuracy t ri authenticity of Cook and Vancouver's survey against qe discovery of the mouth of the Columbia by Captain lit t tv. Of the exploration of Lewis and Clarke he says that T;enzie, a British subject, crossed the Rocky Mountains p,.•oe Pacific in 1793, and discovered the upper waters of a .,iter's River, near lat. 49 deg., and puts this against Lewis "", (1 Clarke's i , 4 4.... e meets ' the authority of Lord Castlereagh by the dis Vi„,, of Lord Castlereagh himself to the British Minister at b ,:rington, when giving up Astoria, claiming the whole to ry . `/reat Britain and the United States are in joint occu si;f cY; what i one cas jointly occupied. 4: claiming the Columbia as the boundary , Great Britain 1 41 et influenced by ambition of possessing large territory, t by cons dier . ations of utility if not of necessity, which -41 0 t be lost sight of. 14 1 t tr. Pakenham concludes by requesting a proposal from by i nited States and statement of further claims alluded to Or Calhoun. ,kpi. 20, 1844, Mr. Calhoun rejoins to this rebutting the claims on the discoveries of Cook, Mears, and others, s at oe Nootka Sound convention, and on M'Kenzie's explo- ain. Tha Frazer's River is an inferior stream and cannot erect the discovery of the Columbia. Jan 15, 1845, Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun states that bt has sent the discussions already had to his Government, t t,t that, in the meantime, he is authorised to offer arbitra 1, leaving the choice of arbiters for after consideration. a n. 21 1845, Mr. Calhoun says he has laid the offer Of IAT , r• P. before the President, and he cannot accede to the 11 ° Posall. He hopes the question may be settled by nego atien. Arbitration might rather retard than expedite the settlement. Secret ary 12, 1845. Mr. Buchanan having been appointed of State, and seeming to overlook the later pro -Beci, ,ings, and replies to Mr. P.'s letter of September 12, 1: 11 . rests the American title on that of Spain, contend ing that, at the date of Spain's transfer of her rights to A merica, she had a good title to the whole of Oregon i l l i gainst Great Britain. The Nootka Sound treaty conferred O right on Great Britain but to trade with the Indians, oia transcient in its nature, and did not touch the sovereignty , Spain over the territory. That it was annulled by the war •tWeen Great Britain and Spain in 1796, and has never si nce been renewed, and consequently that Great Britain is destitute of any claim to the Oregon territory. Having d efended these views at length, and enforced the American t itle to the whole of Oregon, he says the joint occupancy tr eaty excepts the American title from being impaired. In this view of the subject the President, considering the action of his predecessors, and embarrassed by their offer , to ,1,(::0W also to the world that he is actuated by a spirit of mo deration -4 has authorised him (Mr. Secretary Buchanan) to o ffer the 49th parallel to the sea as a boundary , with any eurt in Vancouver's Island south of that latitude. July, 29, 1845, Mr. Pakenham replies to Mr. Buchanan ; Ntbits strongly Mr. B.'s position, particularly the claim nf the United States to the Valley of the Columbia to be °icier than the treaty of 1819. He examines the Spanish American offer to divide the territory-the United States can found no slain on discovery, or exploration or s ettlement, prior to the treaty of Florida, without admitting t he principles of the Nootka Sound convention, and the pa rallel claims of Great Britain, He contends that the Nootka Sound convention continues in force, and even if that con- Venticn had never existed, the claims of Great Britain are as good as those of the United States. He then goes into a history of the discoveries, from which .1t Might appear that American citizens discovered the Co lumbia River, while British navigators discove red Frazer's River and Vancouver's Island. He repeats the British claims to the territory, and declines the offer made by Mr. akchanan. ....August 30, 1845, is the date of the last dispatch. It is f rom air. Buchanan is reply to Mr. P. He quotes the declaration Of Messrs. Huskisson and Addisonton that "Great Britain Maims no exclusive sovereignty over any part of that (Ore gon) territory." Mr. B. makes a very long argument in re ply to Mr. P., maintaining the rights of the United States to the whole of the territory, and concludes by withdrawing his offer. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. This document occupies five columns of the Union, but the following synopsis from that paper tells the whole of a long story It exhibits, in the first instance, the organisation, strength, and constitution of the regular army. The rank and file — embracing every arm of the service—does net exceed 6,500 Men. At this time there is stationed but a sing l e regiment on the whale northern frontier, from Maine to Lake Superior --An extent of 2,000 miles; and on the whole line from the Palls of St. Anthony to New Orleans (1,500 miles) only one regiment of dragoons and two of infantry. The artillery regiments—reduced by detachments of four corn- Patties from each—now garrison the fortification of the sea board, from Newport to New Orleans. The remaining and larger proportion of the army is now stationed in Texas. The report gives an interesting account of the political reasons which have induced the Government to give them this destinaticn. The Secretary does not think it prudent to remove the troops from this position until our relations With Mexico have assumed a more decidedly amicable character. In the event of there being any necessity to Increase the army, he proposes to build upon the basis of the regiments by adding to the rank and file of each company, Instead of creating new regiments. This necessity may be found in the course of Mexico, or in the conduct of the Cumanches, or of the Indians that are found in Oregon, or that may interrupt the increasing current of the emigration to the Rocky Mountains. By the proposed arrangement of filling up the infantry companies to 68 men, and the dra goons to 60, the privates are increased, without a corre sponding augmentation of the officers. The report suggests that, besides this increase of the num ber of privates in the two existing regiments of dragoons, another regiment of dragoons or of mounted riflemen may be necessary, in the event of extending our posts to the Rocky llountains. It states that, though the concentration of so large a pro- Portion of the army on the frontier of Texas may have, in some measure, enlarged the expenditures (certainly in the article of transportation), yet it has in some degree been compensated by the improvement which has taken place in the discipline of the troops. It renews the recommendation for establishing a corps of sappers, miners, and pontoniers, to assist, among other things, in constructing bridges, in con sequence of the military occupation of Texas. One hundred Men will be sufficient for the purpose. The report gives a rapid but interesting account of Col. Rearney's expedition, during the last summer, to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, the impressions it produced among the Indians, the number of emigrants whom it met on thei r way to Oregon, to the number of 2,325 men, women, and children, with 7,000 head of cattle, 400 horses and mules, and 460 waggons. This report of Colonel Kearney accorn .. pangs the communication of the commanding general, and will furnish, no doubt, an interesting store of extracts, at a season of greater leisure. It also refers to the adventures of another detachment of the dragoons, under the com mand of Captain Sumner, nearly to the northern line of the Lpited States; between Lake Superior and the Lake of the Woods. Among the Indians whom they met with on their route, and upon whom they made a due impression with their military array, was a numerous baud of the half-breeds of . the Red River of the North, who had come from the re gion of the Hudson Bay Company into our lines to hunt buffalo. l'hey had even solicited permission to reside in the United States, The Secretary refers to the considerations which had prompted General Gaines to dispatch the volunteers of Loui,iana to the camp of General raylor. Ample justice is done to their gallantry, and Congress is invited to make ap propriations for their compensation. General Taylor had also acceited the services of four Texan companies of mounted men for three months. The estimates for the ensuing year do not greatly vary from those of former years. The item for arming the fortifi cations is increased 100,000 dollars. The attention of Con gress is directed to the state of the fortifications—to the armories of Springfield and llarper's Perry—to the establish ment of a national foundry for cannon—to the preservation of the gunpowder belonging to the Government—to the con dition of the mineral lands in the north-west, which the Secretary proposes to transfer from the managetnetit of the ordnance department to some other (the President's Message suggests to the Land-office). It calls the attention of Congress to the 48 forts in process of construction, and to the propriety of erecting new forts at other points. Among these, as stiggested by the reports of the engineers, are fortifications of the narrows at Staten Island and Sandy Hook, and the condition of the long-sus pended fortress at the rea hitch ; an additional work at 7coint, for the protection of Baltimore; and projected fortifications on the Florida reef. _ The Secretary speaks with great consideration of the school at "% Vest Point, and proposes some improvements. He calls special attention to the report of the chief of the corps of topographical engineers, to the improvement of the harbours on the lakes, which are so well calculated to furnish accom modations to steamers, that, in a state of war, may be turned to the most effective purposes, and to furnish facilities to a commerce that is now estimated at 100,000,000 of dollars annually. The Secretary speaks with enthusiasm of expeditions under Captain Fremont, and his valuable services. He refers to the reports of the pension-office, which has now returned on its books 28,921 pensioners-2,371 added during the last year, and 1,438 known to have died. He devotes a consi derable space to the Indian agency and the Indians— the Pottawatomies, the Choctaws, and particularly the Chero kees. He lays before the President some highly interesting communications from our Indian sub-agent in the territory of Oregon. He dedicates the conclusion of his compreheasize and very interesting report to a subject which is of so profound an im portance in a free government—viz., the organisation of the militia. He suggests various alterations, and, amongst the rest, submits the question whether it might not be advisable to reduce the period of service from 18 years of age to 21, upon the ground that although citizens of 18 years of age are not too young to bear arms, they were not generally in a situation tp equip themselves with arms, as the• law re quires. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. The communication of the Secretary of the Navy opens, without any preface, with the following sentence During the past year the usual squadrons of the navy of the United States have been maintained." In the Mediterranean Com modore Smith had command of the Cumberland and the Plymouth. The Plymouth was ordered to the Brazil squa dron, and the Cumberland returned home, and their places will be taken at the opening of the present season by a part of the present African squadron. The African squadron was organised under the command of Commodore Perry, who was relieved by Commodore Skinner; the Preble and the Truxtan contracted disease on board, and were sent home; the Southampton, with stores, was sent out to remain, and was fAlowed by the Marion and the Dolphin. The Boxer is destined for the same station ; and in January the Cumber land, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Read, will relieve the Jamestown and Yorktown, which will proceed to the Mediterranean. _ _ . The disposition of the remainder of the naval force is thus stated : _ _ On the Brazil station, Commodore Rousseau, the first officer west of the Alleghanies ever selected to command a squadron, relieves Commodore Turner. The Raritan will repair to the home squadron; the Boston is ordered to return to the United States. The Columbia, the Saratoga, the Plymouth, and the Bainbridge, will, for the present, constitute the Brazil squadron. Commodore Parker, after a very successful cruise, returned from the Asiatic station in September, bringing home the Brandywine, the St. Louis, and the Perry. At the Bay of Islands, Captain 111‘Keever, in the St. Louis, had the happi ness to render valuable service to the inhabitants of an infant British settlement. In May, Commodore Biddle sailed for the East Indies in command of the Columbus ship- of-the-dine, and the. Vin cennes, bearing the Minister to China, and the ratified treaty between the United States and the Chinese Emperor. The health of Mr. A. H. Everett, the minister, having induced his return, the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty was committed to the charge of Commodore Biddle, who will doubtless show that an able and gallant naval officer conducts satisfactorily all affairs entrusted to him. The Constitution is on her return from China, after having visited different ports and islands in the Indian seas. The Pacific squadron, under Commodore Sloat, has con sisted of the Sayan. ah, the Levant, the Warren, and the Shark. The three first will return in 1846, and will be re lieved by the Congress, the Portsmouth, and the Cyane. The home squadron has been under the command of Com modore Conner, who has distingnished himself by sound judgment in the performance of Lis duty. His force, which consisted of the Potomac, the Falmouth, the Vandalia, the Lawrence, and the Somers, was weakened by the return of the Vandalia, which visited Hayti, and was driven home by the yellow fever, contracted at Port au Prince, where she had been ordered on duty. The squadron was increased by the Princeton and Porpoise, the St. Mary's, and the Sara toga, under Commodore Stockton, and soon after by the John Adams, and the steam ship Mississippi. The Secretary visited all the naval establishments but those at Pensacola and Memphis, and they are generally in excellent order. He recommends that the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, at which are now more than 160 sailors, be never enlarged, but that new pensioners should be placed " in some salubrious spot near the ocean, where the aged seaman can watch ships as they come and go, and have old familiar objects in sight." There is a dash of romance in this suggestion which is rather unexpected. He condemns as a fruit'ess expenditure the employment of professors and instructors on board ship—and suggests that midshipmen, in the intervals of sea duty, may be collected together on shore and be suitably instructed. The instructora being provided, the idea was carried out by organising a school at Fort Severn, at Annapolis, under the direction of Commander Buchanan. He recommends that the plates of all the charts engraved by order of Congress be depobited in the National Observa tory building. The grant of a large sum for the establishment of a well furnished and efficient navy yard at Pensacola is recom mended, and he disapproves of the grant for the Memphis Depot, as too large for a mere work of preparation. He thinks Congress should confine the use of the money first to the construction of a rope-walk ; and, next, to simple ar rangements for building and eq ui pp in g steam-ships. He justly adds, that " the United States should produce all the hemp used in the navy, and that to introduce at the west the manufacture of American hemp for the navy. will prove a national benefit." The subject of lake defences is reserved for a special com munication. The care of the reservations and plantations of live oak, he thinks, should be transferred to the Land Department, which alone has the proper means of ascertaining titles. The present contract system requires modification. The balance of appropriations with rigid economy, be be lieves, will be sufficient for the fiscal year. The estimates for next year contemplate no increase in the force employed during the present year. No estimates are presented for the increase of the navy : the department awaits, in that matter the instruction of Congress; but he remarks, that in comparison with other nations, our own is poorly supplied with sea -going steamers. The navy is praised for its excellency and efficiency, and its able and skilful officers. He thinks the capable only should be promoted, and his position is illustrated by the following remarks : "Age alone now claims precedence, though that claim is unauthorised by the constitution, and unsustained by the law. Seniority demands promotion as its right, and the highest rank and pay are awarded to the longest life. Yet the chances are that the eldest are not the most meritoricus. Excellence seeks the opportunity of displaying itself, and is selected for the most perilous and wasting service; while mediocrity fails to be employed, and obtains length of days in safe and affluent retirement. Promotion by seniority is a premium upon inactivity. " Many of the best among the older officers received high promotion while comparatively in early life. The younger officers of to-day are equally full of talent and ambition ; but the present system refuses to them the opportunity of com mand while life is in its vigour, and reserves it for the de cline of their powers. In consequence, the average age of captains is constantly increasing, and is already nearly sixty. The average number of annual promotions is about two. The average age of commanders, from whom captains are and should be taken, is not much less than fifty. From their great numbers, the little sea-service to which they are called is favourable to longevity. Continue the present usage twenty years longer, and while hope will be crushed in the voung men in the service, the class of commanders will itself be composed of none but aged men, and there will not be a captain under threescore years and ten. " This custom discourages the most worthy, and lead the incapable and the indolent to cling with tenacity to their commissions. " Those that are capable—and our service abounds in those, and those only should be promoted." lie argues against the probable objection that selection will degenerate into favouritism, and asserts that wherever the principle of discrimination has been carried out, it has been attended with success. The number of midshipmen in the navy has become so reduced that new appointments begin to be made, and he suggests that it would be desirable if a system of free com petition could be devised. A remedy in the mode of paying pursers, and against the progressive amount of salary given according to service, is desirable. A change is needed to protect the treasury and to secure the prompt payment of balances. An increase of six acting boatswains, and as many acting gunners in the navy, is represented as being needful. The apprentice system will soon be revived, in a simple form, in the hope of better results than heretofore. The report closes with some general remarks upon the evils which exist in the navy, and the causes from whence they have sprung. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury (R. J. Walker) states the receipts for the year ending June 30, 1845, 29,769,133 dollars, to which the balance in the Treasury of 7,857,379 dollars may be added, making the total means 37,626,513 dollars. The expenditure during the same period were 29,968,206 dollars, and, therefore, left a balance in the Treasury of 7,658,306 dollars, July 1, 1845. The total means estimated to accrue up to June 30, 1846, is 34,478,306 dollars, including the balance left over from the former year. The expenditures are estimated as follows : The actual expenditures fur the first quarter, Dollars. ending 30th of September, 1845, amounted 8,463,092 41 The estimated expenditure for the public service during the other three quarters,. from Ist October, 1845, to the 30th June, 1846, are as follows, viz.:— Civil list, foreign intercourse, and miscella neous purposes Army proper Fortifications, ordance, arming militia, &c 2,346,778 82 Indian department Pensions Interest on public debt and Treasury notes Redemption of the residue of the loan of 1841 Treasury notes which are yet outstanding and payable when presented Naval establishment 856,976 48 29,300 00 29,627,051 90 Which, deducted from the total means before stated, leaves in the Treasury, on the Ist July, 1846, an estimated balance of ...... 4,851,254 32 But this balance is subject to be decreased by such addi tional appropriations as Congress shall make, to be expended during the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1846, and to be altered by the sums which may be presented for payment of the old funded and unfunded debt, and old Treaeary notes. ;ire $ll te• bet THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORN' The estimated receipts, means, and expenditures for the fiscal year commencing Ist July, 1846, and ending the 30th June, 1847, are as follows : RECEIPTS. From customs for the four quarters ... Dolls. 22,500,000 00 From sales of public lands 2,400,000 00 From miscellaneous and incidental sources 100,000 Total revenue 25,000,000 00 Add estimated balance to be in the Treasury on the Ist July, 1846 ... 4,851,254 32 Total means for the services of the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1847 ... 29,851,254 32 EXPENDITURES. The expenditures during the same period, as estimated by the several departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Post master-General, viz. : The balance of former appropriations which will be re quired to be expended in this year .. Dolls. 1,441,457 10 rermanent and indefinite appropriations 2,997,915, 72 Specific appropriations asked for this year 21,079,440 43 Total estimated expenditures ... ... 25,518,813 25 This sum is composed of the following particulars : For civil list, foreign intercourse and mis cellaneous dola. 5,92.5,292 62 For army proper 3,364,458 92 For fortifications, ordnance, arming militia, &c 4,331,809 93 For pensions For Indian department For naval establishment 6,339,390 88 For interest on public debt ... 835,844 72 Dols. 25,518,813 25 Which, deducted from the total of means before stated, gives an estimated balance on the Ist of July, 1847, 0f...... 4,332,441 07 By this it will be observed that the contemplated expendi ture for the year ending June 30, 1846, is nearly the same as the actual outlay oft he year preceding, and that the estimates for the year ending June 30, 1847, are only 25,500,000 of dollars, being nearly 5,000,000 less than the expenditures of 1844 and 1845. The expenses of the army, navy, fortifica tions, &c., estimated for 1845-6, are about 10,000,000 of dol lars ; those for 1846-7 are put at 14,000,00 of dollars. The war of 1812 to 1815 between the United States and England left the United States in debt one hundred and eighty millions of dollars. She went into it in good credit, borrowing money at par, while at the termination United States Securities sold at 30 a4O per cent. discount. The war lasted three 3 ears. _ _ .; The great contrast between the contemplated expenditure for the ensuing years, and the actual outlay which war re quires, show conclusively, that whatever sentiments the Pre sident may entertain towards England, he does not even ask the means of supporting those he has put forth. He doe. not mean to go to war if he can help it, but he is playing a game which will soon put the whole matter out of his control if it be continued. The contemplated outlay is by no means commensurate with what our policy requires. The Secretary's recommendations in regard to the tariff embrace the quintessence of Polk's views in the Message, or, what is more likely, the Message takes its hue from and amt.lifies the propositions of the Secretary, which are sub stantially as follows:- 1. No more money to be raised than what is wanted by Government. 2. No duty to be laid upon any article above the lowest rate which will yield the largest amount of revenue. 3. Discrimination made below that, down to perfect free trade. 4. Maximum duties on luxuries. 5. All minimum and specific duties to be abolished, sub stituting ad valorem duties—care being taken to guard against frauds. 6. Duties to be laid equally, not discriminating in farour of any class. Horizontalism is repudiated, because, peradventure, some of the horizontal duties might possibly operate as protective and not as revenue imposts—protection being the monster which is to be killed at all events in this tariff war. Mr. Walker says the revenue from the highly protected articles is becoming gradually less, because domestic manu factures are driving the foreign articles from the market, and thinks the result will be, in time, a necessity for direct taxa tion, unless the duties are reduced so low as to permit impor tation again. Among other modes of " equalising" the tariff, and " re lieving the people from its oppressive burdens," the Secre tary proposes to repeal the fishing bounties, and the duty on salt. _ _ The recommendations of the Secretary of the Treasury for the establishment of a sub-treasury system have already been noticed in the President's Message, with which they coincide. VERY LATE FROM CALIFORNIA, Our private advices from Monterey (Upper California), to the middle of October last, came to hand yesterday. The intelligence is important. A British fleet destined for Oregon was passing up the west coast, of which our corres pondent at Monterey says : " The pioneer of this fleet, the British ship of war America, touched here some time ago, and the movements of her commander, Captain Gordon, aroused our suspicions at the time. He refused to give any news, saying men of war do not carry news.' He also refused to carry a circular letter to the United States Indian Agent at Oregon City, remark ing that he was not sure of going to Columbia River. I have ascertained that Lord Aberdeen, the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had a brother on board the America, and one of Sir Robert Peel's sons was also an officer or a passenger. We were all glad that these distinguished visitors had every facility extended to them for collecting facts in this vicinity. They can give their illustrious relatives an interesting account of California. At San Francisco they found every well-built house owned by a Yankee.' D—n it,' said one of the officers, is there nothing but Yankees here ?' They had the satisfaction of hearing direct from several over the mountain travellers of the many hundred waggons on the road for Oregon and California, as well as of the excellent facilities for travelling between the States and this coast. " The Governor had the militia called out to resist an ex pected invasion from the United states squadron, and the soldiers, ready to run at the first shot, were gratified with the frolic. Foreigners of all 'nations are respected. Americans are pouring into the country from Oregon and the States. The British merchant schooner Star of the West, with a cargo valued at 30,000/. sterling, was lost near the entrance to the harbour of Monterey, on the 27th July. The goods saved and sold fetched only 8,000 dolls. at auction. The tax of 30 dolls. on whale ships has been taken off by the authori ties of California. "The crops in Southern California have unexpectedly turned out a failure, owing to extreme drought, in the latter part of the season: barely grass enough to save the lives of the cattle • provisions scarce and high. The crops pro mised an cattle; harvest early in the season, but a total cessation of rain for nearly two months ruined everything. The climate baffled the skill of the settlers on the Sacra mento, and a change in the time of sowing and planting is to be resorted to, but it is doubtful whether that will save the most valuable roots and grains. Of small vegetables, two crops are gathered in a season. The winter is always mild and spring-like." LATEST COMMERCIAL NEWS. NEW YORK, DEC. 15.—The Cotton market is firmer, and a shade higher rates are obtained. Flour.—Western Canal flour is in demand for export at 6 dols. 25 c., but holders refuse to sell any more at this price. 4,000 barrels mixed brands sold for shipment at 6 dols. 311 c., and several lots for home use at 6 dols. 37i c. Nothing of importance was done in Southern flour ; prices may be quoted at 6 dols. 25 c. to 6 dols. 3711 c. for common brands, and 7 dols. c. to 7 dols. 25 c. for Richmond City Mills. Corn is in demand for export; 8,000 bushels Southern sold at 82 C. weight, and 3,000 bushels Northern at 80 c. weight. Rye ranges from 81 c. to 82 c., with a fair demand. Northern oats are plenty, and dull at 49 cents. Exchange on England, 108 to 1081. Great fluctuations have taken place in all United States stocks; the usual schemes of Bears have been worked, and the Oregon question made the matter of danger. CANADA. The Canadian papers contains but little news. The Saint Lawrence was closed entirely at last advices, and business appeared suspended. The departure of Lord Metcalfe is universally regretted. The Quebec Casette of the sth says, that for the previous eight days the weather had been more severe in that city than it was in the frightful climate of Moscow in 1812. The thermometer was down to ten degrees below zero, and the snow lies in heaps more than fifteen feet deep, and then falling so thick that it was impossible to see at a distance of a few feet. " The broad St. Lawrence is not only covered with floating ice, but it is heaped one piece above another, rendering it almost impossible even for the hardy canoemen of Point Levy to cross." in spite of whatever consequencss may arise to the state from its firm determination either to perish or assure its political existence. _ ' v "The Ministers of England and France announced a mis sion of peace, and arc giving rise to a bloody and desolating war, with the independence of the Republic constantly in their mouths. They are blockading our ports fur not hum bling ourselves before their nod. They may give their own colouring to these acts in Europe, but here it is well known that the legal president has with him the whole nation ; that he is only its mouthpiece ; and that the obstructions offered to his measures are therefore attacks upon it. They profess great solicitude for the interests of humanity and commerce, whilst they are notoriously sacrificing both now, and prepar ing for them a future still more fearful. " An apprehension is affected lest the Argentine Govern ment, which acts only in virtue of a natural alliance, and in accordance with the lew of nations, should have some views upon the independence of the Oriental state, and this in spite of its known determination to abstain from any inter ference in its internal administration—and yet, while affecting this, the English and French Cabinets, their diplomatic envoys, their naval commanders, without any cause, or right, or dire t interest, think themselves entitled to interfere in everything—to exact, to blockade, to attack the independence of both republics, and the admirals go so far as to say they will take the rebels under their protection, and defend them by all the weans in their power. " This, Honourable Gentlemen, proves that they wish to exercise a despotic dominion over these countries, which it is our duty to resist at every hazard, whatever be the mask under which it is hidden. The Government is resolved to do so, and doubts not that, supported by your patriotic decision, it will succeed in so glorious an object. • (Signed) " MANUEL ORIBE." RIVER PLATE. MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT ORIBE TO THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS OF THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC. This message being ♦ery long, we can only give a few extracts from it. The occasion of its delivery was the re=assembling of the Legal Chambers for the first timo since their dispersion in 11338, which was caused in the nay thus stated:— " Turn your eves, Honourable Gentlemen, back to the fatal occurrences of 1838, in which the French agents and forces in the River Plate combined their efforts with the crimes and insubordination of the rebels in arms against the legal Government since 1836, and you will begin to appre ciate the noble acts of the Government of the Argentine Con federation in favour of the sacred rights of this republic. Ob serve how a system of European intervention in our affairs, and attacks upon our rights, began thus early to display it self. There was no pretence of defended the prerogatives of French subjects—no complaint of their having been attacked. No ! all that was thought of was, under the most frivolous pretexts, to violate the dearest immunities of the natives of the American continent. " Yes, Gentlemen, the Government will never be tired of proclaiming it. To the scandalous intervention of the French agents, Baradere and Roger, assisted by Admiral Le Blanc, were owing the violent overthrow of the constitutional Government—the usurpation of it by the rebels—the dilapi dation of the public revenue—the war —and all the other evils which ensued, and which it will take years to efface. "Compelled, by this infamous intervention, to resign my constitutional authority before its legal termiade w xp a i s red - a resignation which you, under the same compulsion, ad mitted with sorrow, I emigrated, with the Mi n i sters, and : some of the deputies and principal employes, to the capital of ' Buenos Ayres, leaving a written protest, which pre sented to the General Assembly, against the violence by which I was expelled from a post conferred upon me by the free voice of the nation, and this protest was repeated at greater length after my arrival at Buenos Ayree. " Then was it that midst these misfortunes were dispensed to me, by General Roses, the Governor of Buenos Ayres, and i by all classes of the Argentine Federals, an extent of hospi tality, kindness, protection , and assistance, that knew no bounds. Though surrounded with difficulties, engaged in an oppressive war, cramped for resources, that illustrious man found time to stretch out his hand towards his unfortunate guests, and after gigantic efforts had nearly succeeded in ac complishing his promise of an effectual support, when lie was impeded by this unjustifiable European intervention, which has always been consistent in favouring the cause of rebellion, and opposing the progress and prosperity of the nation." We pass over a great deal of intermediate matter, and come to the following remarks on the present state of affairs in the Oriental Republic : " The Government, as was natural, refused decidedly to obey the dictation of the English and French Ministers, an d resolved to sustain, at all risks, the independence of the na tion against any foreign power. The blockade of the port of Bucee has taken place in consequence, and will, no doubt, be followed by that of the other ports of the R public; but, Honourable Senators and Representatives, the Government repeats to you that it is resolved to defend the rights Ew a :._ • pendence of the country to the last exo--- - atom of what belongs to is. ' Thursday ni g ht, THE H ERTFORD ELECTION.—The writ for the election of a knight of the shire for this count y arrived on an d was proclaimed publicly at the Town hall, and on th e Old-Cross, on Friday morning. The nomi nation is fixed for Thursday, the Bth of January.—Hertford Mercury. , NAVAL Ururoast.—An addition to the naval uni form is intended to be made in the introduction of a frock ! coat, made double-breasted, with stand-up collar, to be worn with straps on the sho ulders, similar to t h ose worn by t he military.--D e vonport Telegr a p h. FROST AND OTHRES.—The latest letter received Pontypool, l l r " ost was actively em ployed states that Geach, t, keeping a school , and Jones had left off f it r ni o e m aesx V mp a a saanitlrtaaitetflaegerskneo' I s aiiten L i Ht a to n hro d :b , awsar a at t msTeoiin ojnwu.nl WAGES.—It is now definitively ar ranged a stage coach, and was then engaged at his trade of watchmaker.—lhronmouthshire 21Prlin. p e nidawan, and Plymouth, will be advanced at the ranigtEdEtThiaTih.e—c-olliers and miners of Cyfarthfa are to have n. ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES OF an advance in their wages of 10 per cent. The operatives of Dawlais, same rate. with introductory AND a O : l7l° A n n ut n : e ir E M& v Ler er li ett Wood; 3 vols. small Bvo. with edited from the originals, fac simile autographs, price 31s. 6d. The above work is pub notices, by pub lished this day, by Mr. Colburn, of Great Marlborough -street, GREAT L ET rate. — LETTERS LAIN , and may now be had of all booksellers. Mr. Colburn has also just published, 2. The New Timon, a Romance of London, part L-3. Two Romances by B. Disraeli, Esq., M.P., 1. Contarini Fleming. 2. Alroy, comprised in 3 vols. with portrait of the author.-4. vol. sof The Nelson Letters and Dispatches.-5. The Comic Annual for 1846, a re-publication of Mr. Hood's " Whimsicalities," in 1 vol., with 45 illustra tions by Leech, Sze., 12s. bound.-6. A second edition of Lady Hester StanhoPe's Memoirs, 3 vols.-7. Evenings at Haddon Hall, 1 vol. ' w ith 24 engravings by th e fi rst art i sts, from d es i g ns by George Cattennole, 31s. 6d. bound, and 8. A third edition of "The Crescent and the Cross," by Eliot Warburton, Esq., 2 vols. CHELSEA IMPROVMENTS.—Among the numerous and vast improvements of late, aid at present in course of being carried into effect in the parish of Chelsea, an impor tant one is to be made in the approach from the King's road to the Royal Hospital. A contract has been concluded by a party , with the authorities for the entire and immediate removal of the numerous lofty trees on both sides of the avenue, the whole of which are of the description known generally as the horse chesnut, and are very aged and shat tered, }Caving, it is supposed, been planted in the r eign of Charles, at the time the hospital or college was first founded. Several of them have already b een rased to th e ground, and so soon as their entire demolition shall be completed, it is intended to plant some young shrub, in thei : out the whole space as an ornamental -r room , 7-1":11aY menade, for the use of the 0 ,,v i• - 6arden and pro houses is in cour.- -' ~....eic. A handsome terrace of " ''' " _........A. erection on the east side of the avenue, .. 0 sit e of the exten.siva nurPerY garden formerly on the —...uue- spot, and when the read, bt 'n ble from thehi hwhich h whole is completed an unrestricted view we, not to yield one of the college will be o al a g I 'd t to itself has not hitherto been the case. „ . 0 writ'', au O , ..--- TO' T r.l +4! ly 'lt rift G, DECE M _BE R 30, 1845. WEST RIDING ELECTION. The requisition calling upon Lord Morpeth to come forward as a candidate for the representation of the West Riding of Yorkshire, was presented to his Lordship at Castle Howard, on Friday evening, by a deputation con sisting of Messrs. F. 11. Fawkes, Charles Wood, M.P., Hamer Stansfield, and Edward Baines, jun., when he consented to be put in nomination. The feeling in favour of his Lordship throughout the riding is most decided, and far beyond what even his warmest admirers could have anticipated. As a proof of this we need only mention the fact that within twenty four hours the requisition to his Lordship received the signatures of no less than 8,500 West Riding electors. This marked display of feeling has thrown the utmost dismay into the Conservative ranks, and even the bitterest opponents of his Lordship hesitate not to pre dict his success, and to discourage, as altogether futile, any attempts at opposition by the Monopolist party to his return. The only rumour of opposition that hss yet been current is that the Hon. Edwin Lascelles, brother to Lord Harewood, will be brought out by the Tories. We believe, however, that by the Tories no steps what ever have been taken to contest the riding, and we be lieve also that few of them are so short-sighted and in judicious as to venture upon a struggle which must result in inevitable mortification and defeat. The fol lowing is the address which has been issued by Lord Morpeth, and from that it will be seen that the contest, if any, must be a battle, not of party politics, but of free trade against monopoly:— "TO THE ELECTORS OF THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. "Gentlemen,—l am deeply penetrated by the gratifying import of the invitation which has just been conveyed to me. More than one reason might have induced me not resume a parliamentary life at present, but if the electors of the West Riding shall determine to persevere in the prompt and generous movement they have made in my favour, I cannot hesitate, in such a crisis of public affairs as the present, to put myself at their disposal. I appreciate the kindness of the suggestion for dispensing with a winter canvass, and I should feel it invidious to visit some of the polling districts and omit others. I will, therefore, present myself on the day of nomination at Wakefield, and there submit the issue to the decision of this great constituency. The inhabitants of the West Riding are already acquainted with the principles by which my public conduct, in and out of office has been gelded. I still adhere to them in all essential points, but if I am sent to the House of Commons at the present juncture, I should deem it the main object of my mission to insist upon an immediate and final repeal of the corn-laws. " I have the honour to be, gentlemen, "Castle Howard, Dec. 26. " ➢IORPETH." NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 27.—The Baretto Junior, transport, Lieut. Griffiths, agent, bound to Bermuda with 200 convicts, arrived at Spithead on Monday. She had proceeded on her voyage, and was off Ushant, when one of her soldiers guard on board was taken ill with small-pox, and in consequence it was thought necessary to put back. The Baretto remains at Spithead. The Endymion, 44, Capt. Lambert, has left Portsmouth Sound, fully and well manned and stored, and with many supernumerary officers and men, for the West Indies, there to be under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir F. Austen. The Vanguard, 80, Capt. Willes, has left Plymouth Sound for Cork, there to be stationed for the present, as the flag ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot. The Lizard, iron steamer, Lieut.-Commander Tylden, re ceived her orders to proceed to Falmouth, on her way to South America, on Tuerday, and sailed ; but in consequence of a strong westerly gale springing up, she was recalled, and remained at Spithead until Thursday morning, when she sailed for Falmouth. The Bittern, 16, Commander Hope, is hourly expected at Spithead, from the eastward, to be paid, and complete her stores, preparatory to sailing for the coast of Africa. The Daring, 12, Commander Henry J. Matson, will have her defects made good, and be ready for sea on the 30th inst. ; she will proceed to the coast of Africa. The Rodney, 92, Capt. Collier, C. 8., at Spithead, is having her mizen-mast raked three inches more. The Harpy steam-vessel, Lieut. N. B. Proctor, is ordered to be made ready for sea with all possible dispatch, and it is said her destination ix South America. The Birkenhead, iron steam-frigate, 1,400 tons burden, and 560-horse power, building for some years by Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead, is expected to belaunched on the 30th inst. The Alban steamer, from Plymouth, arrived this morning with supernumeraries. The good service pension of 3001. per annum, which reverted to the Admiralty on the death of Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, Bart., is conferred on Sir William Hotham, G.C.8., Admiral of the White. PROMOTIONS. Commander—Henry Bagot (1838), of the Excellent, and Thomas Baillie (1M1), of the Modeste, to the rank of Captain. Mate—T. Brandreth (1844), of the Excellent, for passing the best examination at the Naval College last week, to the rank of Lieutenant. Assistant-Surgeon—James John L. Donnet (1840), of Greenwich Hospital, to the rank of Surgeon. A PPOLNTMENTS. Commander—Wm. Maclean, to Cruiser, vice Fanshawe, promoted. Lieutenants—W. F. Warren, to Endvmion ; R. L. Curtis, additional, to Hibernia ; T. A. Aldridge; to Sampson ; T. B. Christopher, to Alarm; T. S. Hall, to be Mail Agent; J. B. Kooystra, to Bittern; Charles T. Leckie, to Ineonstent ; W. D. Lyster, to Agincourt ; Edward Lacy,to Collingwood ; Armine Woodhouse and Arthus Tower, to Ringdove; M. F. O'Reilly, additional, to Penelope; Francis S. Tremlett, addi tional of the Agincourt, to Nimrod; Edward F. T. Roberts, of Albion, additional, to Vindictive ; W. L. N. Lockyer, to Rodney. Masters—James William Armstrong, from the Seamen's Registry-office, to the Admiralty Store Department, Somer set-house, vice Hoskins, to Greenwich Hospital; John Davis, to the Seamen's Registry -offices, vice Armstrong; J. G. Mugford, to Samson ; W. H. Langtrey, to Ringdove; Ri chard S. Godden, to Scourge, vice Forster, commission re turned. Paymaster and Purser —Walter D. Bateman, to Ringdove ; E. A. Smith, to Bittern. Surgeons—John Davidson, M.D., to Sappho; James Booth, to Samson ; Thomas H. Lowry, M.D., to Ringdove ; J. L. Clarke, M.D., in charge to Joseph Some, convict-ship; John Wilson, in charge, t o E mma, contrict-ship. Chaplain—Rev. J. M oore, M A., t o T r afalgar. Assistant-Surgeons—N. L Dolling, to Viper; C. A. An derson, to Green w i c h Hosp i ta l ; J o h n E. Hamilton, to Ring dove ; Charles Ede, additional, to Caledonia. Mates—W. 11. Phipps, of St. Vincent, to Rattler; F. W. Bishop, of St. Vincent, to Retribution. Clerk—T. W. W . s ea r, of Excellent, in charge , to Wild fire steamer; W. H . Richards, to Carysfort. Naval Instructor—James Stephen, to Vernon. Midshipmen—lL 11. Sainsbury, to Vanguard; H. H. Cor neck, to Carysfort. Master's Assistant—J. O. Jones, to Victory. Naval Cadet —J. S. Twysden, to Scourge. Boatswain —W. Campbell (late of Formidable), to be Master Rigger of Sheerness Dock-yard, in the room of Mr. John Young, superannuated. COAST GUARD.—Lieutenant J. G. S. M. Moore, from Ax mouth, to Lyme Cobb Station, vice T. E. James, previously removed ; Charles F. Collett, from Conrtmasberry, to Port mack Station, vice Mr. John Hungerford, chief officer, pre viously removed. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert walked out early, previous to his Royal Highness leav ing the Castle on a shooting excursion this morning. Mr. Anson, Sir Edward Bowater, and Mr. R. Ormsby Gore attended the Prince out to shoot. The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal , and the Princess Alice were taken their usual rides and walks in the pleasure-grounds adjacent to the Castle. Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Court honoured her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent with their corn pang to dinner this evening at Frogmore House. The Countess of Desert took leave of her Majesty, previous to her Ladyship's departure for Bristol, en route to Lord D.'s seat in the county of Kilkenny. Her Majesty and her Royald Consort promenaded in the afternoon. The Ear] of Dalhousie has arrived in town from a visit to the Duke of Wellington at Strathfieldsaye, Hants. The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in town yesterday afternoon, from Cambridge. Dispatches from the Governor of the North American provinces were received yesterday at the Colonial Office, Dispatches were also received yesterday at the Colonia l Office from the Governors of Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, and Malta ; and also from the Lord High Corn missioner of the lonian Islands. LITERATURE. .ELINOR WYLLYS. A Novel. Edited by J. F. Cooper. 3 Vols. This work possesses a twofold claim to our atten tion. It bears on its title-page the name of a well known author, while the preface informs us that it is in reality the first work of " a 'prentice hand," pub lished under his auspices. The story is interesting enough itself, and is written in an easy unaffected style ; but it is chiefly valuable as a picture of American life—a delineation of the national charac ter. After the confused and contradictory accounts of English travellers, respecting the manners and customs of our trans-Atlantic brethren, an American novel by one of themselves will be both instructive and interesting. The authoress of "Elinor Wyllys" has given no partial or prejudiced account, she is evidently not blind to the faults of her countrymen ; perhaps her work was written no less for their benefit than for our information. The family of the heroine, assembled at Wyllys-roof, exhibits a picture of calm domestic enjoyment, scarcely differing from an English fire-side group, and contrasting strongly with some of their " aristocratic" neighbours, whose vain ambiticns, would-be-exclusive language, and manners are described with great animation ani vigour. The latter part of the story is chiefly occupied by the details of a law-suit of rather extraordinary cha racter; it is described with a fidelity and minuteness which render it extremely interesting, and the speeches of the counsel are well worthy of their supposed authors. These volumes will be found highly interest ing to the English, as tending to throw a light on do mestic life in America, while to the Americans them selves they will be far more beneficial than the " English novels, all about lords and ladies," which are apparently so gratifying to their aristocratic taste KNIGHT'S WEEKLY VOLUME, for all Readers. No. 74. Lord Brougham's Statesmen of George 111. This, the first volume of the third series of this standard work, which Mr. Knight is rebublishing in his weekly volume, contains Lord Brougham's re marks on the French' revolution, with his precis of the characters of Robespierre, Danton, Camille, Des moulins, St. Just, and Sieyes. Lord Brougham met Sieyes at Brussels in 1817, and he relates some curious anecdotes of the self-sufficiency of the cele brated Abb, who, however, was always regarded by Carnot and by Talleyrand as a man of great merit, and to whom is due the honour of having first sug gested the three great measures which secured to France the blessings of constitutional Government, namely, the joint verification of the powers at the meeting of the States-General, the formation of the National Guards, and the establishment of the new system of provincial division and administration. This volume alsocontains several interesting anecdotes of Fouche, communicated by Earl Stanhope, who was well acquainted with the ex-Minister of Police during his sojourn at Dresden, after the fall of Na poleon, in 1815. At the conclusion of the remarks on the French Revolution, the sketches of English Statesmen continue, and we have a spirited vindica tion of the character of John fourth Duke of Bed ford from the calumnies of Junius, an elegant pane gyric on the life and labours of Earl Camden, and a withering philippic against demagogues in general, and John Wilkes in particular. Mr. Knight is conferring a great benefit on society by thus placing these historical sketches, by Lord Brougham, within the reach of all classes of readers. THE COMIC BLACKSTONE. By Gilbert Abbott A'Beckett. This is a reprint of the admirable series of papers by Mr. A'Beckett, which have from time to time appeared under the above title in Punch, and the perusal of which most of our readers have no doubt heartily enjoyed. They are here collected into a small volume, beautifully printed, and altogether very nicely "got up." The frontispiece, by George Cruikshank, is one of those fanciful pieces of sati rical drollery that none but George Cruikshank could imagine or design. MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LECTURES; Edited from the original M.S. by Douglas Jerrold. Here we have that stream of wisdom which con tinually flowed from Mrs. Caudle's lips, and which bath for nearly twelve months past delighted and instructed the world, collected, as it were, into a reservoir. Who has not enjoyed the cup of caudle provided weekly by Punch? Behold, here is the caudle-howl— an admirable Christmas present. Leech's illus tration of Mr. Caudle's return from the skylark, is very rich. THE MANUAL OF HERALDRY; being a con cise Descritfon of ;he several Terms used, and cot:Min ing a Dictionary of every Designation in the Science. This is a most elegant, and, at the same time, very useful little book. The taste for mcedieval architec ture, and for moedieval decorations in our buildings, public and private, is now reviving, and we would recommend all those employed in the decorative art to procure this little manual, and make- it their rade mecum. It will prevent the commission of many a blunder. It is copiously illustrated with woodcuts (there are upwards of 400 illustrations), and in its pages will be found "all the varied figures invented by the College of Heralds, and bestowed from the day of the conquest till the reign of Elizabeth, upon the nobility and gentry, as marks of merit for services rendered in the cabinet or in the field," and which constituted the chief ornaments of the halls, palaces, and churches of England, up to the close of the six teenth century. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S-YESTERDAY. Business so miserably dull that we shall make no apo. logy for confining our report to a list of the actual trans. actions. CHESTER cur. 1,800 to 20 agst ➢ir. Plummer's Alice Hawthorn—taken 1,000 to 15 agst Lord G. Bentinck's My Mary—taken DERBY. 6to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting—taken to 1001. 15 1 agst Gen. Shubrick's Brocardo—take 16 to 1 35 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Fancy Boy—take 40 to 1 2,000 to 50 agst Sir J. Hawley's Humdrum—taken 1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Wreford's West Countryman—taken 2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Stephenson's Sheraton—taken OAKS. 9to 1 sgst Forth's lot. LAMBOURNE COURSING MEETING. DEC. 23 and 24. The Cup for 16 dogs was divided between Mr. Cottrell's Smolensko, and Mr. Bowles's Bank of Elegance. The Plough Stakes, for 16 dogs, were divided between Mr. Skurry s Wrinkle, and Mr. Burnett's Batson. The Craven All-aged Stakes, were divided between Mr. Bowles's Birthday Queen, and Mr. Lawrence's The Libel. The Ashdown Park Dog Puppy Stakes, were divided between Mr. Pyke's Pewsey, and Mr. Ferris's Traveller. The Craven Bitch Puppy Stakes, were divided be tween Mr. Pyke's Pauline, snd Mr. Bowles's Bronze Star. The Lambourn All-aged Stakes, were divided between Mr. Lawrence's Lothario, and Mr. Jenner's Fop. THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE NORFOLK RAILWAY, NEAR nterlioltb.--On Friday Mr. R. E. Clarke, coroner for the borough of Thetford, held an inquest at that place for the investigation of the circumstances attending the death of Richard Pickering, the engine-driver, and William Hedger, the firemen, who were killed on Wednesday afternoon by the accident which occurred at KilversLone, when the train ran off the road. Several witnesses were examined, but there was no distinct proof as to the cause of the train going off the rails. As the guards with the train were too much injured to attend, the inquest was adjourned mail such time as they shall be well enough to be present. The body of Hedger was shockingly bruised. One of his legs was torn from it, and broken in three places. The poor fellow died in great agony, begging the persons around him to deprive bins of life in order to terminate his sufferings. CAERLEON.—AUDACIOUS FRAUD•—A flagrant im position has been tried upon the benevolent in this neigh bourhood, which there is every reason t o su pp ose has been successful in some instances. An artful dodger has brought round a petition, purporting to be for the admission of the bearer into the Blind Asylum, Bristol. The paper has several forged signatures attached, as well as the names of some charitable gentlemen, who were induced to subscribe in con . sequence of the knave presenting falsen esti recommendatory , letters,l bearing th e for g ed signature of avine who feels deeply hurt that so base a use should be made of 1 his name. A similar swindle was tried about three months 1 , ago, upon other pretences, and there is every reason to be- ', It is by the same parties. The police are on the alert, and it is probable the swindlers may be compelled to spend a portion of their Christmas holidays on the wheel.—Nrm- • riovthshire Merlin. • HAYMARKET THEATRE. Romeo and Juliet was prothiced at this theatre last evening for the purpose of introducing Miss Susan Cushman (sister of the Miss Cushman, who acted the part of Romeo), to an English audience. Had we not, many a time and ofr, been delighted—delighted is not the word—carried away—by the acting of Miss Cusshman in Shaksperian characters, we should havo hailed Miss Susan Cushman as the greatest actress of the day. True, she is as yet unfamed— true she has some of the technicalities of the stage yet to learn—yet, her Juliet, taken as a whole, is more true to Shakspere than any Juliet within our remembrance, There is no conventionality about— she takes the text of her author, and gives us her own interpretation of it; and genius interpreting genius can never be far wrong. Her genius is essen tially tragic. In the earlier scenes there was, per haps, a want of that abandon which tutored actresses throw into the part, and which is, after all, conventional ; hut when the girl becomes the woman, an impassioned, loving, self• sacrificing woman, Miss Susan Cushman was very great. The balcony scene was given with an intensity which we should look for in vain in other actresses. It was evident that she loved—loved earnestly ; her whole soul was in love with Romeo ; and this intensity was kept up throughout. Her acting in the scene in which the nurse tells her of the result of her interview with Romeo was very fine. There was no trickery about it. It was evident that her love for Romeo absorbed every other passion ; and instead of showing herself off as a comic actress (which is too often the case with debiitante Juliets), she made no effort to disguise her impatience. Love was the all-absorbing passion of her soul. The scene in which Friar Laurence gives her poison was magni fseently given. She hung upon him, and seemed greedily to devour his words as though they were the words of life and death. Horror, at the part she was called upon to act, was depicted in her every look, her every action, and when at last her love absorbing and overcoming every other passion "screws her courage to the sticking place," she was magnificent. The soliloquy before taking the draught was very fine, and her look and action, as her imagination conjures up before her the frightful visions of the charnel-house, was thrilling. There was a deal stillness throughout the house, which was crowded, and there was not one of that vast assem blage who did not feel with her and for her. Tak-n as a whole, Miss Susan Cushman's debut is the most deservedly successful which we have witnessed for years. There is an impassioned intensity about her acting which carries the spectator along with her, and almost paralyses criticism. But what shall we say of Miss Cushman's Romeo ? Many a time and oft has Romeo been murdered, hut never, since the youthful days of Charles Kemble, has Romeo been acted on the English stage until last night. It was a bold attempt for a lady, even for Miss Cushman, to attempt the part of Romeo, but faint heart never yet won favour, and the bold attempt succeeded. Would that this gifted lady could in fuse some of her spirit into our actors, who eschew Romeo as an uphill part. It is their own cold blood that makes it an uphill part. They lack " that quick spirit ;" that intensity, that passion, that pathos which is required to bring out all the beauties of the character. These did Miss Cushman infuse into the part. Ay ! and there was no lack of manly bearing and daring courage ; she was the very Romeo that Shakspere drew. So true is it that genius is of no sex, that none would have discovered she was a woman. Her wooing was overpowering. Her passion, when, condemned to banishment, she learns the doom in Friar Laurence's cell, was irresistible —ay, as irresistible as the terrible earnestness of her attacks of the fiery Tybalt and the courtly Paris. The Misses Cushman were called for at the conclu sion of the tragedy, and greeted with rapturous and well-deserved plaudits. The nurse of Mrs. Glover, and the Friar Laurence of Mr. Stuart, were both admirable. We cannot say as much for the Mer cutio of Mr. Holl ; the Mercutio of Shakspere was a finished gentleman. FREE-TRADE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin—l address you with all the freedom- of a brother in the same cause, " the cause of free-trade." Imme diately upon the receipt of your valuable Seven o'clock Edition of Saturday's Sun, on Sunday last, at nine o'clock, announcing that the prospect of a free-trade Government being formed by Lord John Russell was at an end, the free-traders here of the middle and working classes, were moving ere Monday's Sun had shown itself; and the pens of a few were moving also in the same cause, and they rose as, " When mankind falls asleep, A miracle is sent as an alarm To wake the world, and prove him o'er again. By recent argument, but not more strong. Say, which imports more plenitude of power, Or nature's law to fix, or to repeal ?" And by middle day un Monday_a requisition was out ; and in less than twenty-four hours it received the signa tures of one hundred and nine freemen, electors, and other inhabitants, addressed to W. James, Esq., oar worthy and humane Mayor, " to call a public meeting of the inhabitants on as early a day as possible, for the purpose of addressing her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, praying her to call to her councils such men only, who will immediately, totally, and unconditionally re mire those imposts upon corn, which a Noble Lord, once high in her Majesty's confidence, has publicly and justly stated to be 'the blight of commerce, the bane of agriculture, the source of bitter divisions among classes, the cause of penury, fever, mortality, and crime, among the people,' and thereby secure to her Ma jesty's suffering but faithful people, a full supply of the necessaries of life.—Dated, Dec. 22, 1845."—(Here follow a list of 109 signatures, twelve of whom are town-councillors. " In compliance with the above requisition, I hereby call a meeting of the inhabitants of Hereford and its vicinity, for the purpose therein specified, to be holden at the Town-hall, at the hour of twelve of the clock at noon, on Wednesday, the 31st of December instant. " Dec. 23, 1845. WILLIAM JAMES, Mayor.' A memorial left here on Christmas-day, signed by a goodly number, addressed to the Council of the League, begging of them, as they value the cause of free-trade, to send down a Villiers, a Cobden, a Bright, a Paulton, a Moore, a Fox, or a Gibson, to pourtray the evil effects of a law we all feel, but lack the power to describe in sufficient force, but can and will throw the weight of our neighbourhood's testimony, that even in happy, agri cultural Herefordshire, low wages, and scanty food and clothing is severely felt, as the memorial of nearly five hundred of the sons and daughters of industry, now in eourse of signature among the very poor, will fully prove. It is an address to the Council of the League, to lend them, in their helpless condition, aid, that an impres sion may be made upon the employers in this district, that if low prices mean low- wages, they can feelingly prove with their little ones, that high prices now for bread here does not give them and theirs high wages, as their little ones' unsatisfied appetites can prove. The memorial will be presented to the delegates when they arrive, and will be au evidence, with the facts laid before the meeting on the 31st instant, that Herefordshire is suffering, and will continue ,to suffer, until the hands of industry are untied by repeal, and the removal of, or equilisation of tea, sugar, and other duties, are made ; but the corn laws must go first, and then the unholy alliance of colonial and agricultural protection bonds are snapped by an appeal to the middle and working classes, through the hustings ; and, then, let the watchword be —" Measures, not men," for " party is the madness of the many, for the gain of the few." In conclusion, I call upon :you, in the name of the poor, of whose cause I am the humble but sincere advo cate, to send us down one of your able reporters, to carry back to the metropolis, and there publish to the world, the state of the working classes in a district where nature has been most bountiful, but where " the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth ; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth ; ' and thereby add their (the labourers') testimony to the mass of information col lected without commissioners. By so doing, dear Sir, you will add another leaf to the laurels already won for the columns of The Sun, which is the chief London paper read here by all parties, be cause of its giving, later news than others, and for its independent course on public questions.—l am, dear Sir, 3 our sincere brother in the good cause, RICHARD NASH, 12, Bridge street, Hereford, Dec.2B, 18_45. P.S. No attorney has lent us his aid yet, although we have nearly fifty. Our papers are, the one a protectionist (the Journal) and the other (the Titnea),.a low-duty, sliding-off in five years, but suspending for six months the present duties, so that we have no organ here in Hereford. ISLE OF "TIGHT. — A ferocious assault was corn milted on the evening of Saturday last, by some person as yet unhnown, on the person of Mr. Williams, the re spected host of the Sloop Inn, at Wooten -bridge. Whilst passing Fern-hill, on hiS way , home, he received a tre mendous blow on the forehead, from a bludgeon, which levelled him to the earth, and deprived him of his senses, but for how long a period he was unable to ascertain. When sufficiently recovered, he crawled home in a most dreadful exhausted state, having lost a considerable quantity of blood. It is supposed that one of two men who jumped over the he d g e, and administered the blow, mistook him for a gamekeeper (having . a gun in his hand), as no other motive can be assigned for the diabolical act, no attempt at robbery having followed the at' af.k.—littopshire Independent. COPPER MINE IN D ORCIIESTER.—The co pp er mine at Broomfield, about five miles from this town, is pro gre,sing most auspiciously. With a steam-engine of only twelve-horse power, and at the depth of o more than 14 beet . fro the surface of the ground, a ton of ca pital ore v.; raised from a very small shaft, at every six feet depth of working, and this, without pursuing the load of ore horizontally. As it is well known by scientific geologists and practical miners, that every in creased foot of working in depth adds to the propor tionate excellence of the ore, both as to quantity and quality, this enterprise promises to be one of extraor dinary promise. The load is near five feet in width. The present engine in work, it is supposed, will carry the operations down to 40 fathoms below the adit level, when an engine of augmented p, vver will become neces sary. A considerable number of additional miners are about to he engaged, and th e undertaking altogether presents the most decisive evidence of ulterior prosperity. .oeriedChronick. PROFESSOR WILS'9N, AND HIS FELLOW TOWNSMEN OF PA , ISLET. (From a Correspondent.) We rejoice to find that the honours which 611. Tel be heaped on the Old Cock of the North are not A.., as has so often been the case with men of genius, t4,' be of a posthumous kind ;—but while yet alive, ana hale and hearty, he is about to receive a renewed proof` of the esteem and admiration in which he is held, as the foremost man in all the land, in point of genius and literary ability. It is shown, that Professor Wilson is a native of Paisley. Ten years ago the professor was entertained at a public dinner in Paisley, which was attended by all the lovers of literature, and admirers of genius, in the west of Scotland. In the course of the decade which has elapsed, the professor has trod another of the seven stages of life's pilgrimage, and his towne men are again about to honour him. With great appropriateness, they some time ago employed another gifted townsman namely, Mr. James Fillans, one of the most talented, and rising sculptors of the day, to execute a bust of the Professor, which is now com pleted, and is to be placed in one of the niches of the cotiee•room, or principal reading-room of the town, or in the council-room, or town-hall. It is cut out of the finest marble, and is not only a correct and striking likeness, but it is a magnificent work of art, worthy alike of the distinguished man who is the subject of it, and of the rising celebrity of the artist. It has called forth the following beautiful lines by Mr. Andrew Pask, of Glasgow : SONNET ON PROFESSOR WILSON'S BUST, EXECUTED DT FILLANS FOR THE WORTHY PEOPLE OF PAISLEY. How like a lion in quiescent might The noble- soul'd Old Christopher" appears ! The mental glory of internal light Smiles beautiful amid his ripening years. No petty meanness—no flesh-shapen fears O'ercast the expressive firmZless of his face ; His brow, a dome of thought, Drajestic rears ; His eye a thousand fancies seems to ;. - -'We ; His flowing locks curl round a neck of grat:e ? And all the aspect of his form is power— A manliness that age cannot displace ; Fresh and unbending as in youth's gay hour ! The heathens had their gods, and, Scotland, thou May'st trace as proud a form in living Wilson now ! We honour the Professor. He is none of your namby-parry geniuses. No ! He stands out like one of Homer's heroes in high relief amongst his fellow men. His fine lion-looking head—all he says, writes, and does—all denote power. To such a man we naturally pay homage. Two and twenty years ago the writer of this notice entered as an alumnus of the university of Edinburgh, and became a pupil in the Moral Philosophy class, under the Professor. We dare say the Professor never tcok account of it, and does not remember it, but till this day we owe him one guinea, as the balance of the fee we paid on entering, which we supposed at the time to be three guineas in place of four. Why this has never been paid we can hardly say, unless it be that we never felt that the cash payment negus had anything to do with the ground on which our acquaintanceship with the Professor was formed, or the occasional intercourse we have had with him since. Why do we choose to mention this circumstance now ? Simply to let him know his old pupil is not a repu diator, and because it is right it should be known the Professor does not drive hard bargains with poor students, who may happen to be " scant o' cash." .We have alighted on the following eloquent descrip tion of the Professor, which is extracted from Gil fillan's " Literary Portraits," and which pourtrays him with a powerful hand : " John Wilson is a host, he is a continent in himplf. Like 'Leviathan, he lies floatieg many a rood.' Whether we view him as the generous, copious, acute, and ardent critic—as the pathetic and most eloquent lecturer—as the tender poet—as the popular and powerful tale writer—as the fervid politician—as the kindly man—we have before us one of the most remarkable, and, next to Brougham, the cleverest man of the nineteenth century. It is probable, indeed, that the very variety and versati lity of Wilson's powers have done him an injury in the estimation of many. They can hardly believe that an actor, who can play so many parts, is perfect in all. Because he is, confessedly, one of the most eloquent of men, it is doubted if he can be profound ; because he is a poet, he must be a shallow metaphysician—because he is the editor of Blackwood, he must be an inefficient Professor. There are • more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy.' There is such a thing on this round earth, though not, perhaps, within the categories of their limited and false theories, as dif fusion along with depth, as the versatile aad vigorous mind of a man of genius mastering a multitude of topics, while they are blunderingly acquiring one—as a man multiplying himself among mankind, the Proteus of their talents;' and proving that the Voltarian activity of brain has been severed, in one splendid instance at least, from the Voltarian sneer, and the Voltarian shallow ness. Such an instance as that of our illustrious Profes sor, who is ready for every tack—who can, at one time, scorch a poetaster to a cinder, at another cast illumina tion into the ' dark deep holds' of a moral question, by a glance of his genius; at one time dash off the picture of a Highland glen, with the force of a Salvator, at another, lay bare the anatomy of a passion with the pre cision and the power of an Angelo—write, now the sweetest verse, and now the most energetic prose—now let slip, from his spirit, a single star, like the evening cloud,' and now unfurl a Noctes npon the wondering world—now paint Avarice till his audience are dying with laughter, and now Emulation and Sympathy till they are choked with tears—write now, The Elder's Deathbed,' and now the Address to a Wild Deer'—be equally at home in describing the sufferings of an orphan girl, and the undressing of a dead Quaker by a congre gation of ravens, under the brow of Helvellyn." When we attended the Burns's festival at Ayr, in September, 1844, and saw the Professor on the plat form, distinguished amongst every one there by his fine manly form, and old lion-like countenance, among the crowd of thoughts which fillea our mind on that occasion, the idea struck us, what a powerful demagogue he would have made had he chosen to make himself a leader of the people. His noble pre ' sence even would have captivated the mob. But his mind is too refined—too well educated—too high toned to permit of his descending to the vulgar arts — the claptrap and cajolery—by which the favour of the multitude is secured and which designing men resort to for their own selfish ends. Yv As the first who nailed his flag to the mast when Conservatism was reckoned hopeless, and who has all along been the able and unflinching champion of that cause, old Christopher will be respected even by his political foes, though his own party may forget or may refuse to acknowledge the man who fought their battles, and to whom they are in the greatest degree indebted for their ascendancy now in the Government of the country. COLLISION AT SEA AND LOSS OF THE PARSEE STEAMER. (From the Overland Bombay Courier of Dec. 1.) We regret to announce the total loss of the Parsee, steamer, by a collision with the Sir James Carnac, on the night of Saturday, the 28th instant, but fortunately without loss of life. The Carnac was on her way from Bombay to Tankaria Bunder, and the Parsee was re turning the same route, with a cargo of upwards of 500 chests of opium, and a large number of native passengers on board. The collision took place in about 20 degrees north latitude, and 10 or 12 miles from the shore. We are authentically informed that the circumstances were as follows : A few minutes before eleven on Saturday evening the passengers below were aroused by sounds of confusion, and loud cries of " stop her," " stop her," and in a few seconds the collision took place. We cannot say anything regarthng the look out, which will probably form an im portant question at a future time; but it appears that both vessels had lights hung out, and that as soon as they were seen from each other the Carnac put her helm a-port, and the Parsee hers a starboard, both therefore ran in towards the shore, and before the course of either could be altered or the speed slackened a collision be came inevitable. The Carnac ran into the Parsee on the starboard side just abaft the foremast, cutting her side completely through. The foremast of the Parsee was carried away by the bowsprit of the Carnac, and imme diately fell on the deck among the passengers, but pro videntially without hurting any one. It was at once perceived that the fate of the Parsee was sealed, and her passengers and crew immediately took advantage of the contact of the vessels to rush on board the Carnac for safety; but even here danger awaited them, for the two vessels had become so entangled with each other, that great fears were entertained they could not be se parated, and that both would go down together ; more. over, it was conjecture d that the Carnac herself mi g ht have received some ser ious dama g e, or that th e Par see 'e in e bailersmighteither er o th ih w have c been cases theinj injured e d and an expl os i on tame; consequences , 0 s equences might hays, been frightful. During this interval of suspense, the confusion and noise were extreme, and it was only by much firmness and presence of mind that the two captains" could make their commands be obeyed and restore order on board. At length, after an expiry of sight or ten minutes from the time of the collision, the head of the Carnac was cut free and the engines backed astern, leaving the devoted Parsee to her fate. She tilled rapidly, and in about five minutes from the time the other vessel was free from her, went down head foremost. As far as could be ascertained at the time the Carnac had received no serious injury beyond the lose of her bowsprit and cutwater, and a trifling damage to her sheathing; but as a matter ot precaution the captain deemed it advisable to put back, and arrived safely in Bombay at ten o'clock on Sunday morning. It is worthy of remark that immediately upon the collision, when fear was entertained for the bollers of the Parsee, the eneiiieer, a native, with the most praiseworthy sagacity and presence of mind, took the precaution of fastening F thesafety-Valve so us to leave it open before he left the vessel. We much regret to add that the cargo of opium on board the Parsee (valued at seven lacs of rupees) was not insured ; but we do not know to a certainty upon whom this heavy loss will fall. The vessel herself was also uninsured. She was much lighter than the Carlin. Ilad they been of equal size, or had the prow of the lie liter vessel run into the sides of the heavier one, pro. bably both would have been lost. The Countess of March gave birth to a son and heii on Saturday, at the family reside nce in Portland - place . Her Ladyship and ' infant son are going on;favourably. L~