The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-13 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF NEWS A ) Vabitt . fLptniJ)it. illy runs may read." ronExGzr. On Wednesday the King and Queen of the French, the Duches of Kent, and the Prince de L e i n i ngen , t oo k an a i r ing in the forest. Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes de Ne mours and Montpensier preceded them on horseback. In the evening ahere was a dinner of ninety-five covers at the Palace. The different authorities and a great number of officers of all grades of the troops in the garrison at Fontainebleau, were present After dinner the royal party visited the galleries of the Palace, and on Thursday returned to Paris. On the same day the Duchess of Kent left for Switzerland. The followin g appears in the Journal des Chemins de l'er : —" The account published by several journals, stating that the Committ ee on the Northern Railroad Bill had ' pronounced in favour of the working of that line by the State, is incor rect. The majority, it is true, adopted the system of short leases (10 or 12 years), a system objected to by us on general grounds, but the adoption of which we can understand for the Northern line, which by the advanced state of the works is an exception to other lines. The recommendation of the Committee proves its desire that the country should, as soon 113 possible, be put into possession of the advantages which must result from the opening of a line of such importance." The Constitutionnel says :—" The examination of the Paris and Strasburg Railroad project has been terminated. The Co uncil -General of the Ponts-et-Chassees is to present its conclusions to-day in favour of adopting the line, and it is said that the Minister of Public Works will present the Bill to the Chamber of Deputies in the early part of the week. The Government has adopted the direct line, for which a tender was made six weeks back by the Company of which M. Mole is the chief. The most minute investigation has preceded the resolution taken by the Minister of Public "obtain e 'Hine and it app ears to result, from all the information d, that the direct line—by the valley of the Marne, Chateau-Thie rr y, Chalons, Vitry, and Bar—is that which best responds to what the general interest demands." _._ A letter from Tharandt (Saxony) of May 4, states that ats:eunt de Seekeedorff, aged 17, a pupil of the Academy, has e ',', l condemned to three years and a half's imprisonment, for -- "„„,ung in a duel one of his comrades, a young man of his own Z e n ;,,..the two persons who conveyed the challenge to three t;:e:domthe four seconds to two months. They have AlePtealed against the sentence. b y - : Naples of the 15th saysnight of the b a c e ra. abitants of Catania were roused from their beds a new e l u t an atic of earthquake. In the evening of the 10th, ption from th 1 °f the principal crater of Etna was visible at "h aw , desu Viscount de Boubers, who- bad visited the Duke of Bor a the at National has been deprived of his rank as captain e Guard at Miremesnil. The Com merce mentions a report from Madrid, that the pro he ss Y belongin g t o Don Manuel Godoy, Pri nce o f P eace , "Just been restored to him. Those estates have been under Zuestration for thirty-six years. Those of the greatest ue are the palace of Buena Vista, the lake of Valencia, t he Pasturage of Alcudia, and the palace of the Ministers. A treaty has been agreed to between the G overnmen t s o f Texas and the United 'States, for the annexation of Texas to the Republic. Texas is to be admitted as a territory, and to be allowed one delegate in Congress. COURT—PASEMNIS.III4I3. The Duchess of Kent is expected to remain on a visit to her taster the Duchess Julienne Henrietta of Saxe Coburm at her chateau of Elfenan, near Berne, about a month, and then return to Clarence House, St. James's, for the remainder ?f the season. W e b e li eve th e R oya l D uc h ess has not seen ner august sister since her m arr i age with the late Duke of Xen t s in 1818. the Earl of Wilton, who has been among the guests of ;as Earl and C ountess of Eglinton, at Eglinton Castle, during 'tie week, arrived in town yesterday. „,Lord Lorton, bard Tichtleld, and Colonel Wylde and fa "'LT, were among the passengers that arrived from Ostend, sz,!!l Saturday morning, by the General Steam Navigation ‘-'op3pany's steam-ship Sir Edward Banks. lit a : 11 Y Howard de Walden and Lady Charlotte Denison are , !Ying with the Duke of Portland, at Welbeck Abbey, Notts. rdtord Henry Bentinck, after attending the funeral of his vene ed mother, returned to Welbeck the same evening. Lord eorge Bentinck continues at Harcourt House. Castle The Duke of Norfolk has ret urne d t o t own f rom A run d e l l i ne Duke of Devonshire had a select family circle to Roble on Saturday, at the beautiful suburban villa of the , ril Duke, at Chiswick. 'el s e Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne received P a rty and Viscountess Palmerston and a distinguished at dinner, on Saturday, at Lansdowne House. It Y i a some , op en h . y ears now since th e D u k e o f D ev onshire cast lea _ is Salons f or such a brilliant assemblage as gathered l w e rin the ducal residence in Piccadilly on Friday night. At nie:ts at the invitatio 900 person s of distinction of the Noble Duke. crowded the splendid apart aThe Duche ss of Inverness is passing the season at Ken :4ll Palace, where the other inmates of that ancient Goes Royalty now comprise Lord and Lady Frederick ward (ana Hallyburton, Major General and the Misses IVyn -1 and the Right Hon. J. Wilson Croker, Mr. George Bar. e t, a e nd the Misses Stephenson and Disbrowe. atr 2 Earl of Cawdor's grand dinner, in South Audley n,sesec, on Wednesday next, will be given to his Royal High steehht.hke Duke of - Cambridge, the Duke of Wellington, of th e is uoP of York, Sae. ; his Ldrdship being grand director Ancieut Concert for the evening. The a • P 4 MSCELLANEOTTS. at vree nniversary of the Artists' Benevolent Fund was held chair raase ne' Tavern on Saturday, Lord Palmerston in the s„,,_ About 120 Sat down to dinner, and the subscriptions -.wanted to 550 Th e ano i. Highness ais nal 0 ° dinner of the Medical Benevolent Society took Highn ess t l e. '3aturday at the same tavern, at which his Royal Charl es 0. Sutherland )' ' -r. l e Duke of Cambridge presided, supported by Sir t Physician task, -,-, , . ) war. Paris (President of the Royal College of Chambers, Dr. Pope, Dr. Pitman, Dr. 100 goalie'id Messrs. Stone, Pennington, E. White, &c. About 'Amo n mien sat down to an excellent entertainment. fl-o rn r the s ubscriptions announced were twenty guineas rl ation mi nf ß° , 3 ;,„ 4l Highness the Chairman, and a munificent do- Isiah-- -Lou guineas from Dr. Chambers, which was most The 'Ple), sly applauded. kinat r ienus of parochial reform of St. James's parish, West tion fer, celebrated the twelfth anniversary of its emancipa- Piaci r(411 the bondage of the select vestry system, and of the , b ll ‘ g..the control o - f their resources under an elective yes zirosic - s upper on Thursday evening, at the Crown Tavern, Dati-o-etreet, Golden square. The chair was taken by T. S. e hial ' e alb° ' N., supported by two of the most hearty paro on ;formers of the parish—Messrs. Maul and A'Beckett. eiety a o a r tu t r i daY the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the . So • and gentre Society' s le S uPpression of Mendicity was held in the I r m a, lted Lion-square, when several noblemen were E arl ma vof distinction were present. Among them luld Surrey, L a o s rP, L s ord Dudley Stuart, the Earl of Arundel _'eaut Base , e ce i s'aastock, Lord Lovaine, Sir John P. Boi- The i on s was read and ' e ll Gage was in the chair. The report ealthy 'works, which h ado but - eeches were made. of t.,,,. r . ...rad, „„...,. no . sp improving, with -- mg in a h - "unities improving, with every prospect state for several years. Many iron rnenced work, lt aTe been standing for a long time, have cora lrile membe nd others are in course of preparation. "'en summ on of of the Dublin Conservative Society have gotta ° fled to meet on Tuesday evening to dissolve the le n Y. "it bei n ,_ ger, i n coo _ g found impracticable to carry it on any ratant s to tialcquence of the apathy now manifested by Pro ailing awa e Cau se of Conservatism, and the consequent y of t1........ie funds of the Society." I,_ e oy. r, 13 " I? -48,K, --1, ‘ ,O NSERVATORIES AND KITCHEN GAB %la -N ToNP h d at two o'clock, k• rgo " an t . ALAcE.—OnT urs ay, Iteb en : _, ity of property, situated on the Royal Pe sed ofl r "ens, adjoining Kensington Palace, was dis %way to (Orin Y auction, for the purpose of being cleared I t a utn eat ,, the site of the new road, which is to c.om on. ,r_; between Bayswater and High-street, Kensing towe_ kne materials consisted of the Venetian water Wat,, A ; u y. which the Palace was formerly supplied with I vhi s h' se.ight large conservatories and hot-houses, in ati , 11.4 ' n e i e , some valuable vines, showing a prospect of 14 44 ' ant produce 1 thousand feet of glazed houses roof , severe , sashes, hot air and steam apparatus to hot lib° , melon „, ve a n frames, garden hand-lights, Sce., with ''' mil lionkbo of bricks. There was an extent of wall t e ves 0 a t , °no thousand feet, the boundary of several h ali t'd gro und, covered with fruit trees, which will be "ate own and the trees removed. There was a very 1 1(iir t traa attendance of persons connected with the Iv be enti re l e, and an . animated cometition took place. 9tei tow er, which br o i o c n ks . t were sold ts„.o for 2371. and the tr 4 i. 23 i : t eriai L , T he who'e went for about 800/. When the - are ' open i . cleared away, a very extensive area will h T lzt 1 , tor the improvements in that neighbourhood. De 411) ), di, IT mEly AND THE COALOWNERS.--The un tar, w e ~ Pates between the pitmen and their employers ap fro la st , a zret to say, no nearer to a termination than when , r,. r e the fine attention to the subject. If we may judge I ,'Na y, dine assumed by the delegates at their meeting on 1 4 e oi to co le Pitmen are determined to hold out for some e n exte nt M et it may be months, unless concessions to a cer n!, shall be made on the part of the owners.—New -I,44l,wertiser. itt ~. I NCE A, z /et v ien na thi TTERNICH.—The French Ambassador th; on tli 4, e i, Count de Flahaut, celebrated the King's dist gr and o ea" inst., by giving a dinner to the diplomatic, sus ya,.. nis ,_ ,cers of Austrian Court and State, and other stl e Ject 0f ."7 guests, amounting in number to 70. It was this u; ,_ r nlark that Prince Metternich, who for several Ta no ".e Years had been from circumstances absent from HE Da et t h . Y, was present en this occasion. 4 , .. man te { 19, will ' • — Beir a Life in London, of Sunday next, li in ,he w in Contain : — Forewarningo by Pegasus—lndex theyla 'nary infiler—The Derby Prophecy, and important pre -12 ° flnation ‘,. ' l 6 folio . Contents of Bell's Life of last Sunday, weeks sn i c olumns of sporting events. An epitome of sis fly o acellaneous news and a hundred advertisements to e file ad mortised with sporting matters. The insertion of a tt at vseinent in Bell's ' ren n e t of halfs a _ d Life may be equally . beneficial elk)" stamps , nun in some journals. A sixpence, or six Meek by sale to Mr. Clement, junior, 170, Strand, will at 14,1 y sa r' e urea copy of BeWs Life by return of post. The n ed i., ~I.,:elitiell's Life exceeds 20,000 copies. It is pub -1 1-441:1„,Ttar the Saturday, afternoon railways. the .i ght z. iG..—rhis celebrated singer arrived th e I :hilh Loa and will make his first appearance at airection male concert this evening which will be under I, AzioT of Dr. Mendelsohn. ' Ites s . lII IR lisczem ttb os _ . kr/ 0 ,,, 8 n IA RY ATTEMPT TO FIRE THE es'elltalbl temp ELONGIH6 TO THE CROWN. —Another most rl l ,,erid i3O „._t to destroy the valuable plantations of h ae on s ang oaks in the Great Park, atWindsor, was I tuff • mirsday • last but • ttli dic iest ti me t which was fortunately discovered ~N.esie, must to prevent the extensive destruction, which • i !,._ ei n „ -,, _ t . have ensued, from taking place. On the ;`, r e s a sl'ar's'.:ll_ and the heath, close to the clock-case, in the ti' eti ` t Vess. io .^ 4 _a r a but a Short distance from the fishing temple .o3„:4lle!, 11 ater, was discovered by Mr. Turner, her Ma tt_Wing frou_gatnekeeper. to be on fire, the wind at the time v aaess y t s .aa the north-east. Mr. Maslin, surveyor of her °1N•" 4 11t1 3 , 8.. , V oods and Forests, who was near the spot, in eral Zmoned all the assistant keers who aided b 'enit 3 , 7 Persons, succeeded, but twithout'considerable whelp ' nt subd • tno beyond uing the flames, and preventing their ex t,,,re t h e some thirty or forty yards from the vicinity f i'acee 144_ pre was first ignited. Ifad not the discovery tanie s h. a , at so early a period • 'ye,' ''a attai ned as it did, and before the s,,er Plantation • any.great ascendancy, the whole of the ba lms earl y 150 s in this part of the Great Park, extending N, e and Plied, acres, and also a great quantity of the 4.4eerren, us atit's eggs in these portions of the Royal . 1,, et a - lies, that t have been utterly destroyed. We regret to . ti ntli) ,:tt not the least traces of the scoundrels (who are, r t i t a s ot.' of the same gang who fired upwards of 700 4 . 1 ko,, ‘, ,sluee Albert's plantations in the kilei.cit'e'..a fortnight ago) have yet been discovered. kjleitranuTyl.e blossoin now presents a ver beautiful f.t of 0 11l our neighbourhood, and there is mk t t._ oountif every pro al supply of fruit, as we ' , WI f ob _, have now little to "I or rough q ua , —Somerset County Heralc4 UNITED STATES. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY EVENING. ANNEXATION OF TEXAS. The packet-ship New Captain York, Cropper, has reached here to-day from' New York, whence she sailed on the 17th ult. This arrival brings us papers of five days later date than those received this morning by the Samuel Hicks. The news is somewhat important, inasmuch as we are fur nished with some particulars respecting the treaty for the annexation of Texas to the United States. It really appears that the annexation of Texas to the United States is likely soon to be accomplished. The New York Journal of Commerce of the 17th ult. pub lishes a letter from the Hon. Mr. Wilkins, Secretary of state, to his late constituents, announcing that the treaty had been signed, and giving his reasons for acquiescing in the mea sure. He, of course, dues not state the terms of the treaty; but the Washington correspondent of the New York Sun of the 16th, says : "At last we are to have the treaty for the annexation of Texas. The President and high contracting parties signed the treaty yesterday. It is of course impossible to get at the terms of the treaty with anything like accuracy—as every one has been sworn to secrecy that has had anything to do with the drawing up of the treaty. But still some facts will leak out in relation to it. Among others, these are alleged to form certain features in the matter. There is nothing inserted in the treaty about the boundary. The public lands of Texas are to be surrendered to the United States, and the United States is to pay the debts of Texas. These are to be all limited to a sum somewhere about ten millions of dollars. Texas is to be admitted as a territory, to enjoy equal pri vileges with Florida and no more ; to send one representative to the next session of this twenty-eighth Congress, and to every other Congress, until Texas has either been admitted into the Union as a State, or else divided into two or more territories. These are the main features of the treaty as they are talked of in the House of Representatives to-day." The samepaper of the following day adds : " The treaty for the annexation, of Texas will be sent in a day or two. It is said that a report by Mr. Calhoun will ac company it, and that he will ser.d documents that will show conclusively that Great Britain has designs upon Texas, and that that nation has endeavoured and will endeavour to get possession of Texas, or such an influence over her as to be equivalent to possession. " Out of doors and in Congress it is universally stated that . Texas is to come in as a territory, with one delegate to Con gress, to be elected next October. That a Board of Commis sioners is to be formed, who are to examine all claims and evidences of debt against Texas; and to allow only the just claims; that is, if a man received a piece of Texas scrip of the nominal value of five dollars for one dollar, he is to be allowed only one dollar for it. The boundary line is to be left open for future negotiation ; and that Mexico is to be paid several millions—say five or ten millions—as an equivalent for her claim on the territory. These are the current rumours out of doors. I give them for what they are worth. " If the story about Mr. Calhoun be true he will not re main long in the Cabinet, but there will be a regular blow up before long. If, indeed, he stays there, it is not expected that any definite action can be obtained this session in regard to the question of the Oregon boundary. It is believed that Mr. Packenham has positive instructions to do nothing at all in the matter this year if possible; but delay by every possible means in his power. At all events, Blr. Calhoun will not allow the boundary line to be run below 49 north latitude ; and he may insist on retaining the whole of Van couver's Island for the United States. These terms it is not likely that the British Minister will accede to ; and Mr. Cal houn will give no better, unless he can get for us part of California. So, therefore, it is not likely that anything will be done." The negotiations on the Oregon question between the British Minister and the American Government have been suspended for the present, and it is understood that no further action will take place during the present session. It is said to have been the wish of the American Government to offer a treaty to the Senate simultaneously with the annexation treaty, but there was a want of power on the part of the British Minister to treat upon the basis proposed by Mr. Cal houn. which was the parallel of 49 on the northern boundary of the United States, and which Mr. Packenham's instructions did not allow him to acceßt. The Hon. R. King, present United States' Servator, from Alabama, had been nominated by President Tyler, and confirmed by the Senate Minister Plenipotentiary to France, and his Excellency . William Shannon, Minister to Mexico. Later a' dvices had been received from New Orleans. Mr. Bankhead, the new British Minister, arrived at Vera Cruz on the 12th of March, and proceeded immediately to the residence of Santa Anna. An official circular from the Mexi can Foreign Department was published on the 13th of March virtually announcing that the regulations concerning foreigners engaged in retail trade will be adhered to. The terms of the armistice between Mexico and Texas, as agreed upon by the Commissioners of the two republics, were published on the 10th of March. They provide for a total cessation of hostilities until the Ist of May, 1844, or longer if there seems to be a probability of agreeing upon a permanent arrangement. The New York Herald of the 17th ult., says :—" Our local trade is rapidly improving. The business portion of our city exhibits great activity. Country merchants are swarm ing into this market. The recent - heavy importations of foreign goods and the competition that exists among our dry goods merchants, enable merchants from all parts to lay in their stocks of these goods more profitably in this than in any other city in the Union." The same paper adds :—" The cotton markets of this coun try will for a time experience considerable depression from this news, but their recovery will be gradual and permanent. The result of the year's sales will undoubtedly be more pro fitable to the country at large than if speculations were car ried to a great extent." The business done at the New York Stock Board on the 16th was to a fair extent, but at a small decline in price. The rate of exchange on Loudon stood at 1081 to 1081, with a fair business doing. PORTUGAL. SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 11.—The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer, Lady Mary Wood, Captain E. Cooper, arrived this morning at five o'clock from the Peninsula, bringing all the mails. Her dates of departnre are as fol low :—Froni Gibraltar, May 3 ; Cadiz, 4 ; Lisbon, 7 ; off Oporto, 8 ; Vigo, 8. Ships of war lying at Gibraltar—Locust steamer, and Ame rican frigate Plymouth. Lisbon—Her Majesty's ship Al bion ; French brigs of war, Argus and Volage. Vessels passed off—Exchanged signals with the Company's steam ship. Oriental, being to the southward and wes t war d o f C ape. Esptchel, under all canvass, steering to the southward. The Company's steam-ship Pacha arrived at Lisbon with the mails from England early on the 7th. Specie on board-- Twelve packages of specie and bullion, full cargo of fruit, and eleven head of cattle from Vigo. The Great Liverpool arrived at the Motherbank early:yes terday morning, where she is performing quarantine. She will be here on Tuesday. SUICIDE OF A YOUNG FEMALE.-011 Friday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Crown and Anchor, Luke street, Mile-end New-town, on the body of Martha Miles, aged 18, a fringe maker. Arthur Strahan, of 20, Luke-street, trimming-maker, said deceased had worked for him for the last twelve months, and was sometimes very gay, and at others much depressed in spirits, and would cry for hours together. Latterly she used to have severe fits, during which she would scream violently, and exclaim, " Oh, master, hold my eyes, keep him from me," but she named no one. For- the last fortnight she was not.-able to manage her work, and she attributed her fits to fright, caused by having seen a woman thrown out of a cab. Susan Crewe, a fellow work-girl, said she bought a skip ping-rope about three weeks since, and when deceased saw it she said, " Ah, that rope had many a head in it, and it will soon have another." About three o'clock on Thursday, witness saw deceased at work in her room, and she was crying at the time. Soon afterwards she was missed, and witness thinking she was in a fit, went in search of her, and at length found her, hanging by the neck from a rafter in the water-closet, by means of the 'Skipping-rope. She rakei an alarm, and Mr. Byrne, the landlord of the house, came and cut her down, and Mr. Burchett, the parish surgeon, having been called in, pronounced her quite dead. Verdict " Temporary insanity." ABINGDON ELBCTION.—We have received com munications from several correspondents for which we are obliged, announcing the return of Mr. Thesiger on Saturday for this close borough. The return is a matter of no consequence, and about which there could be no doubt, though there may be some doubt about the con sideration. This is one of the rotten boroughs that some how or other escaped destruction in the general sweep made by the Reform Bill. THE CusTom-HousE.—The Commissioners of Cus toms, with the approval of the Treasury, have at length brought out their scheme for the landing-waiters' and searcher 4 department in the port of London. Two offices OA new denomination will be created, with the style and title of Inspectors-General of the Waterside and Warehousing Departments. An addition of three new officers will be made to the number of landing surveyors. The six classes of landing-waiters remain as heretofore. Another rank of officers has been estab lished, subordinate to, and under the orders of the land ing -waiters, but superior to the lockers and weighers. This class consists of sixty persons, to be chosen by the Board of Customs, from the most experienced men among the lockers and weighers, and 'to be called Superintendents of Locks and Warehouses. The num ber of lockers now employed will by this arrangement be reduced from 183 to 120, and the number of weighers from 220 to 180. Messrs. Howe and Kendall, who have been for some time acting as superintendents of the landing department, have been appointed the inspectors general, with salaries of 7001. per annum each. The selection of officers for promotion to the additional land ing surveyorships is not yet decided. This arrangement will, no doubt, prove beneficial to the service, as tar as it goes ; but the frauds which have been perpetrated in the Customs arose principally from the want of a suf ficient controlling power; and the addition of five persons, viz., two inspectors -general, and three landing surveyors, is completely inadequate to effect any material and salu tary alteration in the old and ineffective system.— Observer. REDUCTION IN THE HOURS OF LABOUR.—A re duction in the hours of labour has commenced at one of the principal cotton mills in the town of Preston, that of Mr. Robert Gardner. The mills commenced running only eleven bouts a-day for five days in the week, and nine on the Saturday, the understanding being that if there was a reduction in the amount of work pro duced, the hands would submit to a corresponding reduction of wages. For the short time that has elapsed no correct opinion of the result of the ex periment can be formed, but we are informed that for the first week—that is, up to Saturday evening—the wages of the weavers were only a half penny per head below the average of the last three months, during which they had worked twelve hours, and that of the spinners one shilling per head below the same average. The arrangement has been interrupted during the present week in consequence of a break-down, by which the engine was twice stopped, and the hands have to work twelve hours, till the lost time has been fetched up.— Blackburn Standard. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—MiSS Clara Webster, who is one of the most popoular danseuses of the day, takes her benefit at this theatre to-night, and offers to her pa trons the never-tiring opera of the Bohemian Girl, the grand s,!ena from Lucia di Lam:mirror, by signor Salvi, the finale of La Sonnambula, by Madame Castel lan, who made a great impression in it last Thursday evening, and the Revolt of the Harem, with Afaddle. Lu cile Grahn. The private boxes and dress circle are al ready most fashionably taken. THE SUN, LONDON, - MONDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1844 THE LABOURING CLASSES. A numerous and most respectable meeting was held in Willis's Rooms on Saturday, to take into consideration the propriety of forming a society for the improvement of the condition of the labouring classes. Lord Ashley was called to the chair. Among the noblemen and gentlemen on the platform we ob served Lord Chelsea, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Mr. Slaney, M.P., Mr. Colquhoun, M.P., Mr. Monckton Milnes, M.P., Mr. Fielden, M.P., Mr. Bond Cabbell, Mr. Thomas Car lyle, the Hon. and Rev. H. Osborne, the Rev. H. M•Neile, the Rev. Mr. Burgess, the Rev. Mr. Buller, &c., &c. The Noble CHAIRMAN briefly stated the purposes for which the meeting was assembled. It was to take into consideration the propriety of forming a so ciety for the improvement of the labouring classes. The condition of the labouring classes in many parts of the country was truly distressing. The society , which they were that day met to establish contem plated three great objects ; first, the improvement of the dwellings of the poor ; second, the extension of the field garden, or cottage system ; atid, thirdly, the introduction of the friendly loan societies, which in many parts of Ireland have been found to produce the most beneficial results. They were come to a period in the history of their country when they must attempt to do something for the amelioration of the condition of the labouring classes.—(Cheers.) He was ready to admit, that what they were about to attempt was only an experiment; but, being based on Christian principles, they had no reason to be ashamed of it, or to doubt the result. The Rev. H. IVPISTEILE, of Liverpool, then rose to move the first resolution, which recognised the de sirableness of establishing a society for the improve ment of the condition of the labouring classes. If the poor have their wants it ought always to be remem bered that they have their feelings also.—(Hear, hear.) Attempts were made to poison the minds of the poor, and to inspire their breasts with feelings of hostility towards the upper ranks of life. Naturally they had no unfriendly disposition towards the rich. If they would regard the poor with friendly feelings, and treat them kindly, they would entertain and mani fest a grateful sense of the kindness shown them. If landlords would only cultivate an acquaintance with the poor on their estates, they would do them the greateft service. The poor had understandings, rea son, and conscience, as well as the rich, and they were the heirs of immortality. Contrasted with these attri butes and this high destiny, what availed splendid furniture—luxurious living—horses and hounds— the contests of Senates—the dignity of Cabinets—and the cold-blooded abstract theories of philosophers?— (Applause.) The poor man was spoken of in Scrip. ture as the brother of Jesus, the child of God, and the heir of glory. Mr. COLQUHOUN, M.P., seconded the resolution. He differed from the Noble Chairman on one point. They were not about to make an experiment. The principles on which they were about to proceed had already been tested, and had beenf ound adapted to accomplish the objects they had in view. If the poor man, as had been remarked, was treated with kindness by the rich it would be like throwing a golden bridge of affection over the gulf which has too long separated them, and the result would be a glorious future.—(Cheers.) The resolution was then put and carried unani mously. Here Captain Ackerly rose in the body of the meeting and attempted to create a disturbance, but was speedily put down. Mr. SLANEY, M.P., then rose to propose the second resolution, which referred to the best means of carry ing the views of the society into effect. There was distress in many parts of the country.—(Cries of " In all," from Captain Ackerley.) Not in all ; for there were parts of the country in which, even among the poorer classes, there could not be said to be anything approaching to want. Still there existed the deepest distress in many parts of the country, especially in great and populous towns. Much of the distress had its origin in over-population. Within the last thirty years the population of England had doubled, and the consequence was that many places were over-crowded with human beings. He thought the proposed society was calculated to do great goad. The Rev. Mr. BULLER, of Birmingham, seconded the resolution. He knew cases in Birmingham in which whole families had not more than one penny for each person per day wherewith to procure the ne cessaries of life.—(Hear, hear.) Such a state of things must be highly dangerous, and unless some thing were done to lessen the miseries of the lower orders there would be some outbreak before a long period had elapsed. It was to the dreadful destitution which existed in the rural districts—for there also deep distress existed—that the incendiary fires which had of late been of such fearfully frequent occurrence were to be ascribed. He had lately been in Suffolk, and found that whole families of the poor were living on pigs' meat—that is, a coarse kind of bread made of the bran usually given to the pigs to feed on. In the district of Birmingham in which he laboured there were 10,000 persons, and yet among all that number there were not seven families who were able to keep a servant. He concurred in all that had been said 'regarding the good results which were sure to follow from the cultivation by the rich of an acquaintance with the poor. He was sure that a visit of kindness to the poor would do more good than all the sermons of the clergy, though they were to preach from June to January. It was of no use to preach the Gospel to persons who had not got their .breakfast. He warmly approved of the objects of the society, and would at all times give it his cordial support. The resolution was then put and carried. im n , e ne x a, o t n r ty e et s oa o r l as u d t l o pa n td , ae a dl p ad p pr r se o es v ds d i' s g i n t heoeefgth. The Rev. R. B URGESS, of Chelsea, in moving the t meetingthheei i p o l u a sa n et s soo t f h m e e l s e o c ety Commons bad published its report respect i ng the sanatory ncon dition of the poor, and yet nothin g had been done. It was consequently a matter of fair inference that Par liament did not contemplate doing anything. Hence the necessity of voluntary effort to improve the phy sical and social condition of the poor. IVithout being aided in their labours by some such Society as this, they (the clergy) would preach to the lower classes in vain. He (the Rev. Mr. Burgess) entirely dif fered from an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Slaney), who poor .on Why, in England there preceded him, when he ascribed t he miserie s of the to over-populati were two acres of land to every human soul in the tries in Europe, there was on l y one acre ts. countries in the West .end the country, while in Switzerland, one of the most pros perousevery inhabitant. There were money was as much comfortably ex tremes of splendour and misery. He knew an instance recently in a noble mansion in which expended on one single banquet as woul d maintain 300 poor people for a month. T he g reat equal evil of this country was the want of amore dis tribution of its wealth. It appeared from the returns of the Income-tax that that impost was paid on 200,000,0001. annually, and it might be assumed that, adding the incomes varying from 501. to 1501. per annum, there was at least another 100,000,0001. on which that tax would have had to be paid if it had been imposed on incomes above 50/. ; so that here was an annual income of 300,000,0001., and yet, notwithstanding the magnitude of the sum, the deep est distress extensively prevailed, owing to the unequal distribution of our wealth. The Rev. Gen tleman then proceeded to specify various instances of extreme want and sickness consequent on that destitution, and concluded by expressing his cordial approbation of the society. The Hon. and Rev. IL OSBORNE seconded the re solution in a very able, eloquent, and feeling speech, when the resolution was put and carried. Mr. Monckton Milnes, the Hon. W. Cowper, and Mr. Leonard Homer having shortly addressed the meeting, the following noblemen and gent were appointed vice-presidents of the society :—The Duke of - Manchester, the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Earl of Eldon, Lord Morpeth, Lord Ashley, Lord Sandon, Lord Grimston, Lord Howard, Lord Henry Chol mondeley, Lord Sondes, Lord Kenyon, Lord Cal thorpe, Lord Rayleigh, Lord Leigh, Lord Barring ton, Lord Teignmouth, the Hon. William Ash ley, the Hon. William F. Cowper, Si r Th omas Baring, Bart.; Sir Thomas Blomfield, Bart.; Sir Brook W. Bridges, Bart. ; Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke, Bart. • Sir Digby Macworth, Bart. ; Sir William T. Pole, Bart.; Sir W. Edward Parry, John Hardy, Esq., M.P. ; and R. Brinsley Sheridan, Esq. The following list of subscriptions towards the funds of the society were announced :—The Earl of Eldon, 2001. ; the Earl of Shrewsbury, 25/. ; Lord Ashley, 501. ; Lord Viscount Barrington, 251.; Lord Calthorpe, 50/. ; Lord Teignmouth, 10/. 10s.; Sir Thomas Baring, Bart., 100/. • John Dean Pa u l, E sq ., 100/. ; Alexander Gordon, isq., 100/. ; R. B. Sheri dan, Esq., 1001.; William Gregson, Esq., 501.; Charles Dixon, Esq., 50/. ; Enoch Durant, Esq., 501.; John Labouchere, Esq., 50/. ; Samuel Graves, Esq., 50/. ; the Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., 251.; David Lyon, Esq., 251.; Henry Blanchard, Esq., 20/. ; Sir Brook W. Bridges, Bart., 25/. ; John Bridges, Esq., 10/. ; the Right Hon. Lord Howard, 10/. ; and Messrs. Grisell and Peto, 1001. _ _ _ Lord Ashley having been elected president of the society, and a vote of thanks given him, the meeting separated. FATAL ACCIDENT AT HINDLEL—On Thursday last! some men were engaged in felling a large oak tree by the roadside, near Mr. Walker's factory, Hindley, three miles from Wigan. They had so far progressed in their work as to deem it necessary to attach a chain to the tree, in the opposite direction from the road, to prevent its falling into it. About two o'clock in the afternoon, however, the chain broke, and the tree, which is of an unusually large size, suddenly fell into the road, burying beneath its branches seteral persons who were present. One boy was upon the spot ; another was very seriously injured, and an old man named-John 011erton, had his head dreadfully cut and br u i se d, an d was otherwise se riously hurt - LONDON UNIVERSITY. [Owing to pressure of other matter, and also to the severe strictures contained in the following letter from an old and intelligent correspondent on men who have done much for the middle classes, we have kept it back till now. Some parts of it are not in ac cordance with our opinions, but, on the whole, the good far outbalances the bad, and we let them go together.—We may remark that our able correspon= dent pays a far too high compliment to Oxford• and Cambridge. Canning was a wit and an eloquent orator. Peel, with all his sterling qualities, is neither. They were bath University men. Pitt and'Brougham never entered Oxford or Cambridge. Does our cor respondent wish us to draw the contrast ?—ED: Sun.] TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In your report of the meeting for the distri bution of prizes in the London University, Lord Brougham is represented as saying—" In all, nearly 50,0001., which was now at the disposal of the Coun cil. He had no doubt whatever, at any rate, he would recommend it to the Council, that that great building should be now completed. He now came to the darker side of the picture. Instead of being the first, theirs was undoubtedly the last institution of the kind in reference to science and literature," &c. Although there is much in the above extract that may be disputed, there is the one great fact on which his Lordship's testimony is sufficient authority, that at the end of fifteen years the attempt to establish in London a,college for general education, unshackled by the fetters of religious bigotry, has proved a failure. But if this failure should cause an inquiry into the circumstances that have conduced to this want of success, the attempt will not have been made in vain. I doubt not but that persons who have more ability than I possess, and who have some leisure, which I have not, will bring this subject before the public in the manner that its great importance de mands, but, in the meantime, I beg to offer a few re marks on his Lordship's speech. First, his Lordship recommends that the 50,0001. at their command should be used to complete the building. There is already more room than they want, and his Lordship recommends them to pro vide more. Money will employ masons, although the advantages of the institution will not induce pupils to enter. When his Lordship sulmequently speaks of " their magnificent establishment," he must have been thiliking of the vast lonely, silent structure which is to cast a gloom on one part of London. You, Sir, justly censure the Bishops for their ex cessive zeal for ehurch-bullding, as contrasted with their care for our mental, moral, and so cial culture but this eagerness to raise buildings made with hands has been. the curse of every age, joined •as it has too often been with apathy and inability to elevate men to their due grandeur. We have not to dread the crimes which attended the building of the Egyptian pyramids, the temple of Solomon, nor St. Peter's at Rome, but our generation is likely to be remembered rather for the edifices raised, than for the •nobie institutions to render our fellow citizens what Englishmen ought to be. Secondly, his Lordship speaks of the cheapness of his goods, and wonders they do not sell. He tickets them thus:—" A great sacrifice, 2001. or 300/ worth of Oxford or Cambridge education for 25/." This cannot be of use. No one has complained that the University College is too dear. The Londoners do not want education for their children without paying the full price, but they have doubted the goodness of the article offered to them. His Lordship's contrast is inaccurate.• The education at Oxford or Cambridge does not cost anything like the sum mentioned. Compare the expense of a College edu cation in Dublin. The University there is in a capital city. No religious tests are forced on the students. An education of the highest order is pro vided for the sons of the citizens for 151. a-year. In the third place, the education is said to be of the same class and quality as at Cambridge and Oxford; and again that better t eac h ers were not to be had elsewhere. It would be sad news if this were true—if men of the highest attainments in science and literature could be engaged' on such' terms as those offered the professors by the London Uni versity, and if educational establishments could be raised and conducted as easily as the Council of the London University appear to have imagined, A comparison with Oxford and Cambridge is useless and it is ridiculous. The London citizens cannot wish to devote as much of the time of their sons to classics as is given to those sludies in the old uni versities. And if they did the success would rarely be as great. In Scotland much' time is given to classics and mathematics at school and college, and yet it is not attended with the same results as at Oxford and Cambridge, and Dublin. Mr. Fox Massie tells us " that if they looked to those chairs which include the teaching of classics in the Scotch uni versities they all knew very well that the Heliconian Spring :lid not exist in Scotland, and were they to be refused the service of the distinguished members of the other universities, &c.;" or, as it is expressed by Mr. Christie, " the universities of Scotland were in a great degree dependent upon the universities of Ox tbrd and Cambridge for professors of classical litera ture." Professor Dunbar,. of Edinburgh, accounts for this :—" In England there are rich endowments for the encouragement of literature, and especially a great eclesiastical establishment, with different de grees of preferment to which ambition may lock for ward; while in this country, no such aids and pros pects are afforded. There are not ten situations in Scotland which require an extensive, or even a mode rate, knowledge of Greek literature." The English universities have other advantages which will justify a rich man, who believes the creeds and articles, :21nd admires the spirit and practice of the Established Church, for sending his sons to 'those universities. The fathers of Canning and Peel were but men of the middle order, and few will think their sons would have risen to the rank they occupied, or done the State such such service, had they been educated in suc College. the London Uuniversity I h beg an yo i u n , s s ti i t r u , t t i o on as keep the question before the pub lic until we are informed as to the causes of the • failure of the University College. On the Ist of October, 1828, the University of London was opened. " Mr. Bell, Professor of Phy siology and Surgery, delivered his introductory lec ture to an audience of 800 persons." Why did that great man resign hi s professorship ? The chair of W Natural Philosophy i s now vacant. hat is the professorship worth ? H ow many persona have al ready filled that situation, and what has been the in come of each that he has derived from the College ? In Dublin they give, as I am told, 8001. a year, and hence they boast of such professors of Natural Philo sophy as the Lloyds ; of Mathematics, as McCulloch; of Astronomy, a s B r i nkley and Sir W. Hamilton ; and have given Romney Robinson to Armagh. But it is absurd to speak of the professors as if they were the great props of the University, and the persons most useful to the pupils. Look at the College tutors. I dare not trust myself on such a subject. I should trespass too far on your columns, if I wrote even the feeblest expression of the respect, affection, and grati tude felt by his pupils for such a man as Dr. M`Donnell. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since I was introduc e d t o hi m. The Lon d on Univer sity has since sprung up—oneprofessor after another has vacated his office; but when I go to Dublin, I can have the gratification of seeing my college tutor, now one of the heads of the University, enjoying an ade quate remuneration, and adorning every relation of life. I think a judicious friend of University College would not provoke a comparison with the old uni versities. The old universities, Oxford and Cam bridge, do not meet - the demands of the day, but they have - advantages which are out of - our reach. They are closed against men of liberal politics, attached to the right of private judgment. I would not attempt to justify a person who thinks as I now do, with re gard to Christianity, who would for a moment think of sending his sons to either Cambridge or Oxford---, I only object to his Lordship's "scorn and contempt" for London citizens who may not be Dissenters, pre ferring, if they can afford it, Oxford and Cambridge to London University College, with its poorly paid professors. No small part of the difficulty the Lon don University College has to contend with, is the ignorance of the public, and the consequent apathy on educational matters. The middle order have been so entirely overlooked by the Government in every thing except taxation, that they cannot be expected to see the deficiencies of a Squears or a Pecksniff. They cannot be expected to come forward very promptly with support for an educational establish ment, even if it were really good. But to provide an education for the middle order of England such as their industry and their virtues merit, and such as would qualify them for the power they possess, is not so easy as many persons' imagine. But not to - enter on so extensive a subject, I will. only add a few re marks on the absurdity of claiming support for a University that either cannot or will not pay its pro fessors, and expects men with the powers of a Porson, or a Poisson, to live contentedly in poverty. It is to be hoped that some of your readers will furnish us with accurate information as to the per sons on whom devolves the choice of the professors, to whom the professors are responsible, and what has really been the value of each professorship in the col lege for general education. What is the value of the Professorship of Natural Philosophy ? If a well qua lified person should apply and be appointed, how is he to live? Will he be able early arid late, with a mind free from care and anxiety, to devote himself to his studies, and to making himself acquainted with what has been done elsewhere, except when he is engaged in the then delightful work of instructing his pupils in the college ? Or is it true that he is to be wholly de pendent on his fees in an unsuccessful college, that he must eke out an income with private teaching, or go about as a travelling lecturer in the provincial towns ? Is be to stand day after day before the sons of rich men as an exhibition of what a-man in-England- will.sink down to, if he dare with liberal politics and freedom of inquiry in religion devote great powers, with un wearied industry and indefatigable research, to the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and to acquiring the ability to elevate and instruct with the most sublime knowledge the minds of his countrymen. The citi zens of London may be tempted to repay Lord Brougham some of this scorn and contempt when they see him, the pretended patron of science, wishing them to place their sons under professors for whom he and his council have so miserably provided. The English are neither a poor nor a stingy people. If they want an article, convince them it is good, and they will pay . for it. The fact is - that the education required for the middle order of England is not that of the old univer sities. It is one which can only be planned by men of great minds,*vast attainments, noble hearted, and with abundant leisure._ The country possesses such men, and can afford to employ them as a council for education. But who are the council :of the joint stock failure ? What are their ' qualifications to plan a new arrangement of the objects of study, what leisure can they devote to the conside ration of the affairs of the University, or do they leave the affairs of the greatest importance mainly in the hands of an omniscient official ? Grant that the council provides adequate professors, secures their entire devotion, retains them year after year.—all is not done. The council may still be as the statuary, infelix operis sumnal quia ponere totum nesciet. What due encouragement can they hold out to the pupils, what influence and authority are they enabled to exert ? And is it unreasonable to ask that these in quiries should be made before the scorn and contempt are patiently endured? Never did an order of men better deserve a :good education for their sons than the middle order of England, and never were men so shamefully ne glected. Never did there exist an order of men who conferred greater blessings on the world, or who wielded greater powers. Educate them or not, they will act. The potentates of Asia may bow their heads to the Ruler over sovereigns and the Emperor of countless millions, but a few of our merchants can instantly convert him, into a feeble old dandy. Converse with the officers in our merchant navy, with our master ship-builders, with our engineers and mechanicians, and how are you smitten with dismay and shame at the utter neglect of these most merito rious men ? It - is infamous. Look at our burdens; if we want a pound of tea we must pay for more than two; if a pound of sugar, more than three ' • but it is useless to allude to them. They are well known. We are 's, loyal and patriotic race ; but no people can be named who deserve so much, none who receive so little parental regard from those who ought to govern them. Are matters thus in New England, are they so in Prussia ? Look ; and is it wise to force us to look there for an example of what we want ? Are our rulers already demented, that they neglect the strong bond of gratitude a father feels who sees the nation has provided a suitable education for his sons, leaving the father the pleasing task of paying for it ? Look, however, if we must see how such things should be done ' to revolutionary France. See how the Poly technic School was planned and worked. Compare with anything that has been done for the middle orders in England the Ecole Normale of the year 1795. Among the men employed we find Lagrange and Laplace, for Mathematics; Monge, for Descriptive Geometry ; Hauy, for Natural Philo sophy ; Lacroix and Hachettee, for assistant pro fessors, with others, men of great eminence in dif ferent departments of instruction. Fifty years have elapsed, and what have we done that can bear a com parison ? On descriptive geometry Ido not know a work in English except that abortion of Professor Halls, a poor translation of a part of a French work. What English work on mechanics would Lord Brougham recommend for the instruction of an Eng lish engineer ? Would he insult us by naming the treatise published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge ? The best attempt I have seen, very good, considering how little of the French ma thematics was then known in England, is a work, pub lished by Mr. Marrot, at Boston. The book was highly praised by Rennie, Hutton, Barlow, and Gre gory. The author was, at a later period of life, Pro fessor of Mathematics in the Royal Institution in Li verpool, and subsequently in the Mechanics' Institu tion. He taught, also, in some of the first families in Liverpool, and enjoyed the acquaintance and respect of Woodhouse, and some of our ablest English mathe maticians. He is now upwards of seventy years of age, with a strong body, vigorous mind, and inde- ' pendent spirit, and solaces himself in conversing with Newton and Laplace. He earns his livelihood by selling old books from a stall.. Such objects are useful as scareboys. They must effectually deter boys from any; propensity to pursue the study Of the severe 'sciences " So human for'their use, for knoivledge so divine." The English people are sadly ign - orant and neg- . lectful of science. In vain have Babbage and Herschel lamented the " Decline of Science ip England," The evil cannot be removed by diffusing through the coun try contemptible treatises, hor•by,employing unpaid teachers and professors. lam persuaded the work must be taken up 'nationally. Why will net our groat men duly despise the ,hisses and yells, and barkings of bigotry, and earn' 'for -- themselyes eternal fame by organizing a national system of *education? The Liberal party, it is true, are at present in a state very little fit for any 'great wo r k, they are anti-everything • and anti-one-another. But this greatest and grandest of all works need not be : made a party question. Sir Ro bert Peel and Lord John Russell can agree and act together in providing singing-masters for the mil lion, and in the encouragement of painters, sculptors, and architects;-can they hot unite in raising to, the rank of an , honourable profession those men, of science and literature who are engaged as the ; in structors of the sons of the middle order and of , the industrious classes? It is refreshing and encourag ing to turn back and read the history of the men who formed the Royal Society. A speech of Sir Robert Peel's, delivered at Tamworth, gives us fair reason to hope that he would heartily unite with Lord John Russell in raising the countrymen of Wren, Halley, and Newton above unmerited scorn and contempt, but, what is infinitely more important, to prepare .the English people to use•wisely, justly, and generously the great power and influence they possess. I am, sir, your obedient servant, AN ENGLISH MECHANIC. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—AbOUt two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, a serious accident occurred at Mr. Bimson's, Clarendon Brook Forge, near Wigan. A man named John Bennett, a workman at the Forge, was adjusting a strap connected with one of the grind stones, when unfortunately his arm was caught by it, and he was taken through a hole in the wall along with the strap, and so dreadfully injured that his life is despaired of. The poor fellow had his right arm torn MT, his right leg broken, and his head severely injured. He was conveyed to his residence in Millgate, Wigan, where he now lies. SUICIDE BY HANGING.—EXTRAORDINARY CASE.— Mr. Payne, City coroner, held an inquest on Friday at the Blue Last, Dorset-street, Fleet-street, on view of the body of Posthumous Collar,' aged sixty-three years, who committed suicide on Tuesday last under the fol lowing circumstances Pryor, an engineer in the employ of Messrs. Benbridge and Healy, of Fleet street, said he knew deceased, who was in the ser vice of the same firm ; not having seen him since Tuesday night, about nine o'clock, on Thursday morning, witness, accompanied by two other persons, wont to his lodgings in Dorset-street to see bow he was ; finding his door locked inside, and being unable to obtain any answer, it was burst open, when deceased was discovered in a sitting posture at one corner of the bed. His legs were twined round the bed-post within about two inches of the floor—his arms being clasped tightly round the centre of the post. A pair of braces were fastened round his neck, and attached to the bed-rail above his head. He was quite dead and stiff; indeed, decompo sition had already commenced. The evidence of two of his sons proved, beyond all doubt, that the deceased's mind had been failing for some time past ; and, without any apparent cause, he had long been in the habit of saying to his shopmates that he was a lost man. The sum of 1L 19s. 104 d. was found in his bedroom, and a receipt book .for 23/., invested by him in the St. Clement's Savings' Bank. One of the sons added that his father's mind had been affected ever since the death of his wife, five years ago, and Mr; Day having proved that death was caused by strangulation, the jury expressed themselves satisfied and returned a verdict of " Temprary insanity." GOVERNESSES' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. On Friday the annual meeting ofthe subscribers to this Institu tion was held at the Hanover-square Rooms; Hon. William Ashley in the chair. It was expected that his Royal High ness the Duke of Cambridge would have presided, but he did not attend. The Earl of Mai vers and several other per sons of distinction were on the platform. After some remarks from the Chairman, congratulatory of the state of the Insti tion, the secretary, the Rev. Dr. Laing, read the report, which, after some unimportant details, stated that the entire receipts had been 2,473/. 17s. 4d., and that, deducting the expenditure, a balance of 673/. 3s. 11d. remained with the treasurer. This statement included several particular funds coming within the rules. It further appeared that, from the 17th of March, 1843, to the 25th of March, 1844, the sum of 2,3511. 9s. 9d. had been received from ladies' governesses, who -wished to purchase annuities for themselves , ag reeabl y to the regulations, &c. The report having been received and adopted, several resolutions were proposed andcarried.the Royal 1 Amongst the subscribers are several members 1 3 a Family, and of the nobility and ggentry.T he usual vote of thanks being passed to the Cha irman, the proceedings terminated, PIIRENOTYPIC L E CTURES.—ROYAL ADELAIDE GALLERY. —On Friday, at the Royal Adelaide Gallery, Major Beniowsky, the successful author of the system of " Brain Printing, whichfis now so popular in London, delivered a lecture illustrative of his principles. The' d e monstrations were never more happy, as one of pupils, Mr. James, with .but ~a short course of instruc tion, learnt by heart, and repeated a page of the catalogue of the institution, containing a chronological and his torical series of sixteen different objects of interest con nected with science, arts, and antiqUities agriculture, and commerce. This was don e amongst the busy hum of the visitors in less thin three minutes, whilst Mr. _Bailey, another-pupil ; redu ce d s i r d egrees 'of logarithms and added them up in less than a minute. IRELAND. THE POLICE SPY SYSTEM-EXTRAORUNARY DISCLOSURES. Duisimi, MAY 11.—Revington, the principal witness against the police, who had been spirited away from the investiga tion ordered by the Government at Shinrone, is now in Dub lin Castle, having arrived in town from the King's County on Thursday, under the' surveillance of Mr. Lynar, son of Mr. Lynar, the stipendiary Magistrate. Ogle and Lyndon, two of the police at Shinrone, implicated in this affair, are also at the Castle, where Mr. Martley, Q.C., has resumed the inquiry he had commenced at Shinrone. A female, stated to have been employed by the police, to cause outrages to be committed, for the ulterior purpose of prosecution, is also in attendance at the Castle. It appears that revelations of the' most extraordinary kind have been made by Revington, who has implicated several more policemen in the King's County. It is stated that more than thirty innocent persons in that district, within a few years, have been transported through the agency of policemen or their agents in this most nefa rious business. Several of those prosecutions were for the possession of Ribbon documents, which, it seems, had been surreptitiously conveyed into the pockets of the parties se lected for prosecution. Since the present Government came into office, this vil lanous system has often been exposed; but the authorities did not deem it necessary to take any step to check the ter rible evil. At length the police spy system has been actually forced upon the Government. The following statement appears in the Leinster Express:— " We.stated in our last that Revington, the principal wit ness in the development of the atrocious system pursued by Ogle, and screened by his superiors, had returned to_ Shin rone the day after the investigation. We have since heard that he again absconded, but was again brought back, and is now iu Dublin, for examination at the Castle. Peggy Di vany, the wretched woman at whose instigation the unfor tunate creatures named Brien set fire to a house, for which she was transported at Tullamore assizes, has, notwithstand ing her asseveration in open court, that' the Peelers were gentlemen,' since come forward and acknowledged the part she took in the poor woman's ruin, stating that she was pu t up to it by Ogle, who arranged the plot, and had the deed committed at a time when he should be lying in wait. Di vany also has been sent to Dublin. Comment further than appeared in our last is needless, respecting these awful dis closures. We can only further express our hope, that no thing will be left undone for the conviction and punishment of all who have had any hand in these fiendish transactions ; and that: Government will, in this manner, restore that public confidence in the channels of justice, which the Libe ral journals are endeavouring to bring into disrepute, cer tainly not upon slight or isolated grounds, as several other cases of a similar nature—whether well founded or otherwise we will not now presume to say—appear in Tipperary papers of this week." SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION. LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY EVENING.—About twelve o'clock to-day, William Brown, Esq., of Richmond-hill, of the eminent house of Brown, Shipley, and Co., American merchants, of this town, acceded to the solicitation of a most influential free-trade deputation from Man chester and Liverpool, to be put in nomination as a candidate for the representation of the southern division of the county. Mr. Brown. is in every respect an unex ceptionable representative of the principles and party he advocates. He is considerably advanced in life; pos sessei a most intimate knowledge of commercial legisla tion in all its bearings ; is a gentleman of unobtrusive deportment, and by no means of violent political feel ing ; an extensive landed proprietor, and, in short, one in every way calculated to justify the choice of a great commercial community. On recent occasions, when he departed from the usual privacy of his life, to attend the meetings of the Anti-Monopoly Association, he evinced ability in his mode of treating public subjects, turning the results of his long experience to account, in the elucidation of the topics under notice. He has not, however, any pretensions to oratory. The name of the Conservative candidate is expected to be made known to-night or to-morrow morning. This afternoon, a meeting of influential free-traders was held at Eastwood's Royal Hotel, Dale-street, Mr. R. E. Harvey in the chair, at which committees were ap pointed and various arrangements made. A public meeting of the electors was appointed to be held in Liverpool on Wednesday next, at Eastwood's, at twelve o'clock at noon ; a meeting at Prescot on Tuesday; and a meeting at Ormskirk on Thursday. Great enthusiasm prevailed at the meeting to-day; and it was stated by the chairman that the deputation from Manchester were unanimously of opinion that Mr. Brown was one of the most excellent candidates that could be put forward. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Court on Saturday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. The Marqus de Viluma, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from her Majesty the Queen of Spain, had an audience of her Majesty. His Excellency was introduced by. the Earl of Aberdeen, K. 'F., her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Sir Robert Chester, Master of the Ceremonies. The Queen was attended by Viscount Hawarden, Lord in Waiting, and Sir Frederick Stovin, Groom in Waiting. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, the Ladies and Gen tlemen of the Royal suite and the Household, attended Divine service yesterday afternoon in the Chapel Royal, Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by MC. George Edward Anson, went on Saturday morning to the office_of the Duchy of Cornwall in Somerset House. Her Majesty and' Prince Agiert walked in the royal gardens on Saturday. The Royal Family were taken their accustomed daily airing . on Saturday in the royal gardens of Bucking ham Palace. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager returned to Marl borough House, attended by her suite, at half-past seven o'clock, on Friday evening, from her residence, Bushy House, Bushy Park. - His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge attended Divine service yesterday morning, in Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley-street. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday. The Governor of the Bank of England and the De puty Governor had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday, at his official residence in Downing -street. The Duke of Wellington, h Duke of Rutland, and Sir F. Trench, attended the early service in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday morning. . The Rev. Dr. Wesley read the prayers, and the Rev. T. Mills preached the sermon. The Duchess of Beaufort, the Marquises of Salis bury and Northampton, Lords Devon, Wilton, Howe, Colville, Ingestre, Alford, Palmerston, and De Manley, Ladies Wilton, Palmerston, and C. Sanfofd, attended the daily service in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yester day. Prayers were read by the Rev. J. V. Povah, and the lessons by the Rev. C. Packmaa. The sermon was preached by the Rev. T. Mills. The anthem was " I have set God " (Goldu in). The musical service was Nares, in F, and the Sanctus, Hawes, in F. The agent for Jamaica, accompanied by Mr. M‘Gre gor, and a Deputation on the subject of Sugar had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Sa turday. The Lord Chancellor has left town for Turville Park. Dispatches from the Governor of the Mauritius, and also from South Australia, were received on Saturday, at the Colonial-office. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat on Saturday, and resumed the appeal " William Meddow croft v. Harriet Huguenin." from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Dr. Addams was heard for the re spodent, and Dr. Phillimore was heard in reply. Lord Brougham gave judgment on the part of their Lord ships, affirming the decision of the Court below with costs. The Court then rose. Lady Peel has issued invitations for assemblies on Saturday, the 18th, and on Wednesday, the 22d instant, in Whitehall-gardens. IRISH SOCIETY.—The supporters of the above As sociation, establiShed for promoting the education of the Irish peasantry through the medium of the vernacular language of the country, held their twenty-second annual meeting yester day afternoon, at Hanover-square. George Finch, Esq., presided, and called upon the Rev. Secretary for the report of the Society's operations during the past year. The report furnished a detailed account of the proceedings of the Society in the sister country, and stated that in the King's County district, notwithstanding the hostility of the priests, the pro- gress of the Society, and consequently of Scriptural instruc tion, had much advanced during the past year. In that dis trict alone were no fewer than 8,000 scholars, not one of whom had been found in possession of a repeal card, to attend a repeal meeting, or to be in any way favourable to the move ment. A favourable report was also made of the state of affairs in Donegal, where against threats of violence and punishment the teachers were resolved to proceed. The Society's schools in Drumclair, Cork, Kerry, and other parts of the country, were also in a satisfactory condition. The schools in Ireland numbered altogether 797, containing 17,301 scholars, of whom 1,235 were adults. The total in come of the Society during the past year amounted to 4,1071. 13s. 6d., a sum exceeding the expenditure by 121/. 6s. Ild. On the motion of Viscount Bernard, M.P., the report was adopted, and the meeting, after hearing speeches' from . several reverend gentlemen, and passing reso lutions favourable to the cause in which the Society was en : gaged, separated. A FACT FOR TEE LEAGUERS. —At a recent meet ingsitu situate in the midst of an of the ofcharitytrustees the agriculturalbc,ro ugh d o i f sict, Faversham, there were no less than 154 applications for assistance, and although the funds at the disposal of these gentlemen are very ample, yet such is the constant and pressing demand on them, they had only the means of relieving three very distressing cases. Se much for the benefits of protection to the agricultural part of the. community. —Dover Chronicle. EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE BOILER. —On Wed nesday morning last, great alarm was created in the station yard of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, at Lon don-road, near Carlisle, by the explosion of a boiler of the Adelaide locomotive engine. The engine had just arrived in the station y ar d , with a train of empty coal waggons, from the Canal basin, and having taken in a supply of co k e , the engine -driver was about to start forward, when a terrifi c noise was heard, and the whole train became enveloped in a dense cloud of steam and smoke. On examination, it was found that, owing to some cause not yet precisely' ascertained, the upper part of the' fire-box of the engine had burst, and that with such tremendous force hid the steam rushed forth, that it had lifted the engine bodily from the rails to a distance of eighteen inches, and striking the engine -man between the legs and on the lower part of the body, had thrown him backwards a distance of several yards; he was found at the bottom of the fourth coal Waggon from the tender. The stoker, who was standing on the top of the coke in the tender, was thrown into the first coal waggon. The engine-man was insensible; the lower part of his body was dreadfully scalded, his head much bruised, and he had several contusions about his face. The stoker was severely, though not dangerously, injured. The engine man was on Friday going on favourably, but not out of danger. The stoker is rapidly recovering.—Leeds Times. B.INGWoon.—A fine covey of eleven partridges were discovered e few days since on Potterne Farm, by the keeper at Verwood, Dorset. The birds were strong, and must have been- hatched, full ; a fortnight, as they could fly a short distance; so early a brood is considered of rare occurrence.—Hampshire Independent. THE FACTORIES BILL. (From the Times.) The desperate tenacity with which Ministers stick to their twelve hours of factory labour, is something ,wbich stands quite alone in our times. Really there would lie a degree of heroism about it, but for the utter miserableness of the ob ject. Many occasions have there been in Sir Robert Peel's life when he might have shown himself a groat man. We will not say that he has entirely thrown them away; but he has most unhappily reserved the cream and flower of his strength for an ignoble and inevitably unsuccessful war with labouring women and children. The only accounfof his ob stinacy is to suppose that now, as on some former emergen cies, the Premier is not entirely his own master. We do think better of him than to believe he really does stake the prosperity of the empire, including that very prosperous cir cumstance, his own possession of office, on the• first and the last hour of the factory woman. And, after all, it is conso latory to remember that Sir Robert has not so wholly and inseparably identified himself with the Government bill as the Home Secretary. But with whata singular ill grace does this unwonted tena city now show itself, considering how many things great and sacred have been touched—yes, touched in the strongest sense, handled, abstracted, mangled, and even destroyed. But it is capital, capital invested in factories, and, by an in direct but probable consequence, capital invested in land, which is now in danger. Of all things, wealth in every shape is the most cowardly, suspicious, and touchy. It is the most thin-skinned of all the children of selfilines . s. The miser might as well be flayed alive, fur any comfort he has of his hoard. A hungry mouse stirs behind the wainscot, and he imagines a dozen robbers ransacking his chests. He is shipwrecked, and, leaving his wife and children to the sailors, he instinctively ties his bag of money to his neck, and dies the natural death of a dog. His house is on fire; he runs away from his terrified family, and nothing is heard of him till, when all is over, the firemen find in some hidiug place a few calcined bones, and among them a fused lump of gold and silver. So, after the nation has borne everything, swallowed everything, sacrificed everything, done every thing, laughed at every terror and every scruple, at last it makes a stand—for whet ? pro anis ac focis No. Fer twelve hours' labour a day ! The isle is frighted from its propriety. It is terrified by a vision of bankruptcy. It imagines the whole of its wealth running out; a universal unproductiveness of capital—a great blight on money. Who have caused this panic P The factory women and children. To the disordered senses of the capi talist that feeble cry is a voice of thunder,, that small loss a tremendous defalcation, that hour or two of leisure a univer sal stand still of labour and machinery. So it has always been. Forty years ago the northern manufacturers wrote, subscribed, published, and published again, the same terrors, the same exaggerated statements, the same melancholy pre dictions of universal ruin, as Sir James Graham now intro duces to the House with so much pomp of sympathy from the Manchester millowners. Of course they had some truth on their side, otherwise it is not to be supposed that so many honest men would have published what they did. The particular custom whi c h they considered the palla dium of British prosperity, and in behalf of w hi c h th ey so strenuously deprecated all legislative interference, was that of working their apprentices by relays during the whole of the 24 hours, so that the engine never stopped night or day. In their fervid and inventive fancies a single hour's stop page was utter ruin. Their calculations to prove this point were elaborate, ingenious, and, of course, quite infallible. They made quite as much of the twenty-fourth hour as their degenerate sons, with the assistance of Mr. Senior, have made out of the eleventh hour. However, Parliament ven tured to pass an Act prohibiting the employment of appren tices during any of the nine night hours, thus reducing the daily task to fifteen hours. The manufacturers were not utterly ruined, but rather the contrary, though they remon strated a good deal at first. So thoroughly is it the nature of the capitalist to exaggerate into mountains the most trifling impediments to wealth—to dream of the workhouse and the gaol in the midst of growing heaps and improving dividends. Exquisitely and painfully susceptible of danger, he hears the faintest rustle in the leaves, and is ready to drop with terror—et cords et genibus tremit. The British people are by nature brave, confiding, and hopeful. It gets over difficulties by not seeing them, and is not defeated through being unconscious of defeat. But all this will be changed if it allows itself to borrow its tone from the craven spirit of the capitalist, whether that capi talist derive his wealth from horses or from horse-powers. It may as well go to learn greatness in the parlour of the money-lender, and largeness of mind at the stall of the huckster. Your monied men are great in their place. Let them be attended to on currency and revenue. But beware how you deliver up to the rigorous demands of mercantile con venience all the women and young persons in the most po pulous districts of the empire. We see in these debates a something rusty and leprous diffusing itself through the mind of Parliament. The rust of gold and silver is the worst of all rusts, because it is invisible. Other corrosions stain the hands, or the garment ; the secret canker of gold poisons the soul, and makes it callous to social appeals of the most ap palling and sacred urgency. Certainly it is a day of deterioration and ignominy which is marked by such portents as the sudden recantations we have lately witnessed. Mr. Gaily ,Knight with his " time to get sober," and Mr. Liddell reproaching Ministers for their inconsiderateness in not having earlier let their sup porters know how much they staked on the question, are prodigies. The Act must mean more than the authors aro aware of. It is so unnaturally base. We view them scarcely as conscious agents, but as ordained types of truckling, for the warning of the age. The sacred nature of the cause— the monstrous inequality of the compromise —justify the mind in imparting a little of the preternatural to this .history. Surely these two persons are meant to be remembered— not merely as Ministerial dummies, not merely as Parliamentary men of straw, but as mementos to a selfish and sentimental age of the dangers attending susceptible feelings, showy virtues, and weak resolves. Whenever we hear of gratui tous professions of kindness, ending in as gratuitous a cut direct, we shall be reminded of Mr. Liddell and Mr. Gaily has occurred within our recollection so calculated to destroy the sympathy and confidence of the people, as the whole discussion of this question. How can the people, already scarcely aware of any benefits received, respect a body which seems so loth to help them at any risk, and which is so ready to rescind its decisions in their favour ? It already suspects Parliament to he a mere function of the Governmt nt. The rejection of Lord Ashley's measure would certainly go some way to countenance that impression. Yet how dangerous just now to efface from the popular mind all • trust in Parliament, and refer the people to themselves for legislation and deliverance ! Such, however, is the advice, not of Chartists, not of Whigs, not of Mr. Ferrand or Mr. 11.1untz, but of Ministers themselves. They remand all ameliorations, even those of the most unquestionable and de sirable kind, even the protection of women and minors, to the internal and spontaneous workings of the labour market. "The law cannot help you ; help yourselves. You have heretofore struck for more wages, and got them. Why do you not strike for less time?" Very well. This is not our way of effecting great social improvements ; we would rather have them done by the nation. But if the Government will not do them, and leaves the matter in the hands of the people, we have nothing to do but to 'acquiesce. _ (From the Herald.) No one, 'WO suppose, even of the wannest advocates of the long hour system, will attempt to deny, that the adherence of the Government to that system, however conscientious, has inflicted the most serious injury on the Conservative cause that it has sustained since the last grand mistake in 1829. That injury, too, is wide-spread, and consists of many parts. One of these, and by no means a slight one, is the deterioration of the character of the House of Commons. This is too often the forerunner of some hazardous organic change. In 1828, one-half of the House of Commons reso lutely opposed the Rornish claims. In 1829, on the word of command being given, nearly one hundred members were sud denly converted, and simultaneously discovered that to be just and necessary, which, only twelve months before, they had declared to be unjust and dangerous. From that instant a deep resolve was taken in hundreds of thousands of British bosoms to reform, i. e., to punish, to break up, and utterly to remodel an assembly, the conscience and principle of which were seen to be a mere pretence. And the people, having so resolved, did not long want an opportunity or an instrument. The dissolution of 1831 remitted the question to their decision, and wherever there was any real constituency, in nineteen cases out of twenty, the re sponse was, " Away with the borough system, which pro duced the disgusting exhibition of 1829, and let us have almost any change, almost any system, rather than that." There were two features in the calamity of 1829 which are most painfully recalled to mind by some of the events now passing. One of these is the incongruous mixture of parties will g te: i. than h a Infinitely venture fiot which took place at that period, as now. The Conservatives effected their own destruction by casting themselves into the hands of the Liberals ; and these latter were only too happy to greet with the greatest warmth the conversion of their opponents to their own views, assured that the common sense of the nation would soon adjudge that if the country was to be governed on liberal principles, it ought to be governed by liberal men. The nation did so decide, and it took only a few months to carry that judgment into execution. Another uit pleasant feature is the occurrence every now and then of in dividual conversions, as we saw them in 1827-1828 (the Brownlows, &c.), in which men, after voting consistently and steadily for one view of the question, suddenly became assigning reasons (as they were con vinced of their error, and passed e o e v il e e r d t ) o ,e tte eh op t po e s e it t e he r r an n k le s n ; seemed the most miserable apologies for changing sides, and forced the hearers to suspect, by their very weakness, that hade()in e in ot r h e c a , r li c ty au ,, se v , r v i • ehdicthhoi those ewcaosn conversions i so on s which, convenient uponto t.h e explain, fe es of them, seemed utterly inexplicable. We were grieved to the very heart to behold this dry-rot again infecting the Conservative body, and especially so when the two speeches of the new converts of Friday night, Mr. Liddell and Mr. Gaily Knight, reminded us so forcibly of those droppings be fore the storm of 1629 to which we have already alluded. No such we h e o e lutn reasonings, two speeches making :ola.niki which ocn o hfg f t s tha nuheceyhp public pbemellacak brevity, treokrs ever before fraught with so much loss and damage to the r n o t . i o hr t e aa s 1 t a v y h y ee , better rea were slul e would it have been to have calmly and quietly changed sides, reasoning,'restP'ht'aiigrettrthuaYetotteuttsetetnofdorthaon th as e these. foniaer Oneocca occasion, Ministers e m g i e n n i t s l t er rs en ha c d hie n fl o y t more frankly declared the firmness of their determi nation, inasmuch as he quite believed that if they had so done, many Members who had voted against them would have voted for them ! He himself, as well as others, had imagined, in the former debate, that they were allowed the exercise of their own judgment. He now, however, found that it was " made a point of" by the Government; and be lieving that the Government knew best, and were actuated by the most conscientious motives, he would leave the matter in their hands, and would restore to them his support. The dnft of all this is, that however Mr. Liddell may like a little liberty at times, yet that, whenever the Government chooses to be positive and peremptory, he is prepared to fall into the ranks, and do as he is bid. Upon this principle of " confi dence in Ministers"—even in a question of working a poor factory girl more hours than her constitution will bear—it is evident that Mr. Lidell might vote for making the girls work 20 hours out of the 24, as well as for 12 ; for, in truth, he surrenders his own judgment the moment the Govern ment becomes resolute; and merely leaves it to them to say for what measure be shall vote. But is this the proper and dignified course for an English county Member? Still more intolerable, if that be possible, is the plea of the other convert, Mr. Gaily Knight. The question of a ten hour clause has now been before Parliament for more than a dozen years. It has been often argued in Mr. Knight's hearing. Only last month it was discussed in three or fbnr long debates, spread over a period of ten days. After listen ing to all this discussion, after hearing even the able speeches of Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham--speeches which left nothing to be said on that side of the question, Mr. Gaily Knight, on three several divisions, voted for the ten hour clause ! He is now going to vote agai n st it ; and he very na turally asks himself " What has occurred to justify such a change of opinion ?" And he answers, "Nothing, except time for inquiry, time to get sober I" He adds, that " since the Bill was last under discussion, he had paid great attention to the subject."• That is, he first votes three times on a question, having the liberty of going away without voting if he pleases, and then " he pays great attention to the subject.' Say we not truly, that such exhibitions as these, ifcontinued and followed up, _must, ruin- the House of - Commons,- - -in fact, would ruin the character of any assembly as a reason able and safe tribunal? 1 forre 5 wa s but f the ation , tenni , con• bi' • trna t, .11 tb!, 160, thin l * ,ir po o: 1 ; le d l id a 410 - : w adi ad far 11" at the )1-5 " o re d p „ t o 60- ,ges' 151514 S.) r''' to 1 ~R