The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-16 00:00:00

ERICAN NEWS. IVION D A the New York packet-ship Hottiliguer, Captain Burs- IV, late last night, has put us in possession of pa pers from that city to the 21st ult., her day of sail -111; they do not, however, contain any news of IMportance. The auxiliary screw-steamer, Massa chusetts arrived at Holmes Hole, Nantucket, on the 19 th instant., having put in there owing to the Illness of the Captain. The Britannia's news was hourly expected in New York when the Ilottinguer ' ef t , as she had been telegraphed off Boston the day before. _The following are extracts from the papers C ircuit, FOR SEDUCTION.—At the Monmouth, N. J. ',lreuit, ju s t c l ose d, t h e case o f " Rogers v. Ivins," for of 1,000 of plaintiff's daughter, resulted in a ver dictl,ooo dollars. TILE F LORIDA E l ' EcTioN —Mr Cabell, the Whig can didate, has got his certificate of election, as the law requires that the Governor shall certify within thirty d ays after the election who has a majority of the re turned votes. Mr. Cabell was found to have 69 more returned than Mr. Brockenburgh, who, however, has a ar aall majority o f th e w hole vote cast in the State. I NCENDIARY ATTEMPTS.—Four attempts were made Op Thursday and Friday evenings to set fire tobuild igs of a combustible character, in the vicinity of rown's and Coleman's Hotels, in Washington. BIBLE FOR OLE BULL.—The Home Missionary ,?ciety of Philadelphia presented Ole Bull with a mag -4_llfieent Bible on Saturday last, as a testimony of the 4 Ppreciati on o f hi s ki n dness, in giving a gratuitous con vert to the poor. The St. Louis New Era makes the following strange sl iktestion. We hardly think it will be carried into o 'Tot It would be a fatal advertisement for some M.D.'s : the clergyman who performed the ceremony, and with t l :inttl p ropr i ety i n o bit uar y n otices the name of the at riding physician should be given." FRENCH PLAYS—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. w ' t esFemmesSavantes, that admirable comedy of Moliere, produced here last evening in a style worthy of the 4 t poet of France. We doubt whether even the otteeittre Francais itself could have given a more coin th repr esen tation of Les Femmes Savantes than did e company of Mr. Mitchell last evening ; and be it nobered, the comedy was acted solely by members of l l rlar companies—there were no stars. Chrisale, the k s !e'lt, blunt citizen, who understands not " the dif -0.1L!1 of knowledge," was excellently acted by M. a;_gray ; and his daughter, Henr ietta, who is ~, ii,.„7 ll ted with being a pretty g irl, without as- CI to be an angel, was sustai ned to the life .by 4errioiselle St. Marc. Madame Dumery , as Mb: ; Mademoiselle Martelleur, as Amande ; and ame Croset, as Belise, the old maid aunt, were all i ltn irable as Les Femmes Savantes ; an d Mademoiselle ® ;.chic Albert as Martine, the excellent, but ungram b tleal soubr e tte, was everything that could be desired. aw e . . . as Trissotin, the faux bel esprit, was the very Crandon of learned ignorance and presumptuous bad bh, 44- --he was the hero of a French Dunciad, who V i lges into bathos de pur gaite de cccur ; and 4',..u5, his rival, was sustained with much spirit fi; 4 a. Narcisse. M. JPagenier, that great man small parts, was very qnaint as Julien. His manner t i s hutting up the book, in the face of Philaminte in ,_fourth act, was superb. It is delightful to see this , t 7llent old comedy, which is but an earlier phase . of the Ohm between the ideal and the real which is still tented, on even at the present day, so excellently repre t r „ e o, and with such an efficient corps. We 4 - I ,st that Mr. Mitchell will make this only the C t ,,, of a series of revivals of the legitimate French v47„_a• There are many other comedies of Where wen , he could cast excellently ; for instance, Le t C B axthrope, Tartu e, L'Avare. But Moliere, al °ugh th e greatest, is not the only French legitimate be more is perhaps as great, aid would 31 1)1 ?re p o p u l ar . Mr. Mitchell has already g iven us Le 4 ,nage de Figaro ; could he not also give us that most 1,4 t Y of French prose comedies, Le Barbie r de Seville ? ah,i ` Which would be quite new to the Eng lish public— ,he completion of the trilogy—the moral of the Barber i t_he Marriage, the greatest of Beaumarchais' works, 'lyre Coupable. With his present company he could east po s ,! 1 excellently ; it would be quite new to the English si" 1 „lo, and it could not but succeed. The Chevalier de v s - Georges, with Lafont as the Chevalier, and Rhozevil, 1," 0 looked and acted exceedingly well as Le Baron de h ie concluded the evening's entertainment. The was crowded. COURT CIRCULAR. I „.l l7 lNDsort, MONDAY.—The Queen and Prince Alb ert the Castle. e_heir Royal Highnesses the Pr ince of Wales, Prince titi, rfed, th e Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice , were In an airing this fternoon. , ,pr ince Albert left the Castle at a quarter b efore nine Oe 'ock this morning for the Slough station, en route per iPecial train to Paddington, and from thence to Buck k,.ghattl Palace. Major-Genctral Sir Edward Bowater, hi 'Anson, and Colonel Bowles, were in attendance on b;. Royal Highness. The Prince return ed at a quarter two o'clock to the Castle. st , T he Earl of Liverpool and Sir henry Wheatley are tooted to arrive at the Castle on a visit to her Majesty. 1, 4 , he royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will Code her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and 4 1 ' Lady in Waiting, the Baroness de Speth, and Mr. e° , 7 , l :_ge Edward and the Hon. Mrs. Anson. "e band of the Grenadier Guards will attend during :luer. Her Majesty's private band will afterwards at at the Castle. Prince Albert arrived at Buckingham Palace yester 0Y morning, from Windsor Castle , att ended b y Sir E. o svater, Mr. G. E. Anson, and Colo nel Bowles. His AJai Highness went to the office of the Duchy of Corn th in Somerset House, and afterward s p roceeded to e Paddington terminus of the Great Western Railway, 11 his return to Windsor Castle. 1 , Their Royal Highnesses the Duke o f C ambrid g e and tt ri jiae George returned to town on Sunday night from visit to Colonel Wyndham, at Petworth, Sussex. Earl Grey has arrived at his residence in Belgrave sqUare. The Right Hon. IL Labouchere arrived last evening m his residence in Belgrave-square. te l, he Right Hon. Sir George Grey has a rrived at his sidence in Eaton-place. a The Earl of Auckland had an interview with Lord °l in Russell yesterday, at his residence in Chesham- V. 4 2.e. The Earl of Clarendon an d the Ri g ht Hon. T. alacaolay also visited his Lordship yester da y . taron de B ru nnow, the Russian Minister, had an in terview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday. His Excel -I'ID, also transacted business at the Foreign-office. The E a rl of Aberdeen returned to town y esterda y m orning, l , and had an interview wi th Sir Robert Peel. 4 e Right Hon. Sidney Herbert and th e Earl of Lin " „ e'll had also interviews with the Right Hon. Baronet. The H on . Edward Stewart, Deputy Chairman of the Customs, had an interview with the C hancellor of the oxehequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down 'lt-street. --- THE LATE MINISTRY. p A meeting of some of the members of Sir Robert e el's Government was held yesterday at the Ri g ht Hon. t aronet's residence, in Whitehall-gardens. The Earl of Aberdeen, who had left town for Brighton 1 - 11 Saturday, was sent for to attend t he meetin g . His ..ord s hi p a rrived in town at two o'clock yes terda y , and i mmediately afterwards called on Sir Robert Peel. e°lhe E a rl of Lincoln, Sir James Graham, the Right . S. Herbert, and several oth er members of the da te„,. ?) Cabinet, were present at t he above meetin g . he Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Haddington, Lord harneliffe, and Lord Granville Somer set did not attend t ae meeting. , Earl St. Germans has, it is stated, not yet ent ered u p on the duties of his office as Postmaster-General, though hia Lordship was fully prepared to do so when the Minis -47 resigned. Sir Thomas Fremantle's mansion in Eaton-place is pre- P a ring for the reception of the Right Hon. Baronet, but 110 intimation of his intended return from Dublin Castle ~. 'lts yet been received in town.—Post. THE NEW MINISTRY.—It has been mentioned tl Lord John Russell has had several confidential communica tions with Sir James Graham sinc e his Lordship's return J° ll l the Isle of Wight. It may be that such communica tions have taken place, though we know nothing certain uPen the point; but if they have, they must have related to Mme routine affairs connected with the carrying on of the ad interim Government, for we can assert most positively t hat neither Sir James Graham, nor any o ther member of Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet, has for one moment contemplated either coalition or concert with the projected Whig-Radical Administration.—Herald. Mr. Wallace, the late Member for Greenock, whose Public spirit and praiseworthy services we have so often had eau se to compliment, has just performed another g racious act 4 0 his lat e constituents, which calls forth farther commenda dation. It appears that Mr. Wallace has kept, with scru pulous care, sets of all the public and Parliamentary docu meats which were presented to him as a Member of Parlia 11'ent These books, plans, and reports, amounting in the whole, to about 12400 volumes, he has presented to the G reenock L Library, and along with them he has also g iven u p t he gold medal which, as representative for the town, he was resented with on the accession of Queen Victoria to the rhrone. In addition to this, Mr. W. has also reserved "bother set of the same documents, which he means, we are informed, to present to the Mechanics' L ibrar y of reenock. Gla sgow Post. Statements have been put forward that the decrease ° the stock of bullion in the Bank of England is owing to a demand for foreign corn. These statements are altogether erroneous, as we have the most unexceptionable authority for t'le fact, that not a single sovereign nor an ounce of gold pullion has gone abroad. There is much m ore p robabilit y in the opinion, which is generally current, that the bullion his been absorbed by the Scotch and Irish bankers, who are Preparing to make the railway deposit s. —Times. PRICE or GOLD.—On the 9th instant the price of rid in Hamburgh was 434 per mark , whic h, at the En g lish nt price of 31. 17s. 10Id. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 9i ; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short date being 13 10k, it results that gold is 0.46 per cent. dearer in London than in Hamburgh. On the 13th instant the premium on gold at Paris was 11 per mine, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10id. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 42k, and Ve exchange at Paris on London at short date b ein g 25 it, it results that gold is 0.60 per cent. dearer in London *llan in Paris. It may be mentioned, as a proof of the immense amount of business now being carried on by manufacturers if locomotives, that no firms engaged in the trade will con lact to supply engines in less than three years.—Newcastle ttrotal, iju r, S , t .- ---~, THE SUN LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, 'DECEMBER! . 16, 1845. FREE TRADE. The following circular, which w:is drao7n up at the close of the meeting at Guildhall yesterday, ,was circu lated in the City : " Ask the advocates of the Anti-Corn-law League why they promote a free trade in corn and gi.-ve their votes in Parliament in support of a monopoly in gold, by supporting Peel's monetary measures ? Free trade in corn necessarily involves an immediate removal of all protection in every branch of our national manufactures. " The promoters of the League, who are for the most part cotton manufacturers, think they can afford to abandon the protection they enjoy of 10 to 15 per cent., because they have so extensively substituted machinery for human labour ; but let it be remembered that the manufacturers of silks, of woollen cloths, of iron and other hardwares, of linen, of paper, of ribbons, of cutlery, of glass, or watches, of jewellery, of shoes, of hats, of gloves, and of the various articles of British production on which our industrious artizans depend for their daily support, are still protected from foreign competition by duties varying from 15 to 30 per cent. ; and let it be well pondered how, if free trade in corn be declared and these duties be abandoned (as they mast be), the work men in the above-mentioned trades will find means of support for themselves and families when their wages are reduced one-third or more. " The only way in which the case can be fairly and honestly met, is by repealing the existing money laws at the same time time that the laws which protect corn and other productions of British industry are repealed ; this would put producers on a safe footing. By the money laws, which fix the price of gold at 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounc6b (its natural value as adopted in countries not in directly taxed to an enormous extent as Great Britain is), the whole of the taxes by which the interest of the Na tional Debt is paid (amounting to twenty-seven millions annually) will, as they have done since the fatal mone tary Bill of 1819, come out of the pockets of the pro ducing classes, instead of being carried forward in price to the consumers. " Though the laws which protect native industry were removed, still there would remain taxes by customs and excise, amounting to full thirty millions, levied upon producers. When this mode of taxation was greatly extended, as it was during the Continental war, the great William Pitt saw that, with a gold equivalent cur rency, such taxation could not be carried forward in price to the more wealthy consumers, who were by the Legisluture intended to bear it ; and therefore he adopted the plan of making the currency of the nation convertible into gold at its market price in such currency only. Under this fair, reasonable, and enlightened system of money, the nation flourished beyond example, and the wages of labour were paella and sufficient for 14.4,// .4a...b. .1 WV customs and excise were intended ultimately to reach the more wealthy consumer through the producer, that it was called indirect ;' but by the unseen and most unjust operation of the Act of 1819, this species of im post, which amounts to three-fourths of the total revenue of Great Britain, was, for the most part, rendered direct' upon the industrious classes. " These statements are proved demonstratively in the tracts and pamphlets of the Society for the Emancipa tion of Industry,' a society consisting of gentlemen who, perceiving the enormous wrong inflicted by the action of the currency as it now exists, associated themselves with a view of disabusing the Government, the Legislature, and the producing classes, and of promoting a Parlia mentary inquiry into the truth of what they aver. " Considering that free trade in gold was the remedy, and that free trade in productions of British industry under the existing currency was 'a delusion and a fraud,' which would aggravate beyond endurance the misery of the producing classes, the Committee of the Society for the Emancipation of Industry respectfully addressed the following, among other questions, to the Council of the Anti-Corn-law League : " If ' gold,' the measure of value, be excluded from the law of supply and demand, and its price be fixed, as it now is, does it not inevitably follow that all prices, whether of commodities or of labour, must be regu lated thereby ; and is it not to the fact of gold ' being fixed at the low price of 3/. 17s. 10id. per ounce, the price it bore before taxation was so largely imposed, that the present low and unremunerating prices for commodities and labour in this highly taxed country are to be attributed ? " The Committee of the Society, not having received a satisfactory reply to their first questions, offered to appoint an equal number of gentlemen to meet Messrs. Cobden, Villiers, and Bright, for a fair discussion of the question raised by the Society ; but this was ineffectual. " It is hoped, therefore, that those who regard the wel fare of their fellow-countrlvinen engaged in production of every kind, will cease to give ear to the doctrines of the League, until they have consented simultaneously to pray for a free-trade in gold as well as in corn. In confirmation of these statements, an immediate penned is recommended of a tract entitled The Case of the Industrious Classes Briefly Stated,' published by the So ciety, and sold by Mr. Samuel Clarke, Pall-mall, East." THE AGRICULTURAL PROTEC TION SOCIETY AND THE CORN-LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—l have just read the form of petition which it is proposed by the " Agricultural Protection Society" should be adopted by the different agricultural societies throughout the country, and I cannot refrain from mak ing a few observations on it, self-evident to any one who has impartially studied the question of free trade, as affecting the agricultural interests. First, then, as to the " declarations made by several leading members of her Majesty's Government in the last session of Parliament being calculated to destroy all con fidence in the stability of the present corn-laws.' It cer tainly is not owing to such declarations, or, at all event, , , not solely to them, that the stability of the corn-laws has been shaken, but to the clear insight the country gene rally has obtained of the injurious effect of these laws, owing, in a great measure, I believe, to the judicious means adopted by the League for dis seminating, information on the subject. This sta bility the Agricultural Protection Society never can restore, therefore the sooner the question is set at rest, in the only way it can be, the better both for the farmer and landlord. These gentlemen protectionists seem fully aware that the present uncertainty is the greatest bar to the improvement of the land in England, which improvement is capable, by means of capital and skill, of being carried to a very great exter.t, for I am satisfied that not only the produce, but in many instances the rent also, might be greatly increased, and in this I am borne out by the opinion of man y p rac tical agriculturists, I as well as by my own observation. Secondly, the petition states " that the frequent diminutions of protective duties which have occurred since 1815 have led to the total loss of a vast amount of farming capital." That there has been a great loss of capital in firming no one can deny; but it may be clearly proved that the loss occurred when the laws framed by the landed proprietors, with the view of protecting and encouraging agriculture, were infulloperation and not in consequence of the s li g h t mo difi ca ti o ns which have been made during the last 30 years ; these modifications, which have been forced upon the Legislature, are the best proof of the inefficiency of tht se laws. It is im possible that the framers of the petition can forget the precise years during that period in which the cry of agricultural distress has prevailed. The assertion that " the production of grain by the improvement of the inferior soils of this country has very nearly kept pace with the rapid increase of our population," is a fallacy which the petition asserts, and which the importation from abroad, during the last few years, contradicts. The third paragraph in the petition refers to the prices of grain in foreign ports ; here also is a fallacy. Nor can we possibly calculate what the price will be from what it has been whilst grain has been lying as a drug on the hands of the producers ; that the price nevercan be lower in these ports is certain ; the probability is, that it will be higher, from the great demand there would be to supply our now half-fed population, which is in creasing at the rate of 1,000 per day—to say nothing of a proportionate increase taking place throughout Europe and America, which, by adding to the demend, would increase the price. I am convinced that the market could not be supplied with foreign wheat under 455. per quarter, and no land should be cultivated for wheat which cannot produce from 35 to 40 bushels per acre ; and, taking the rent at from 40s. to 50s. per acre, I am prepared to show, from my own experience, that whet e land is properly farmed, 455. per quarter is a remunerat ing price. I, of course, take it for granted that there is a demand for other agricultural produce, enabling the farmer to supply at a cheap rate the manure, which is the principal expense in raising the wheat crop. But the greatest delusion under which the protec tionists labour is, " that by the abolition of the corn-laws poor land will be thrown out of cultiva tion." I admit that in districts where wheat has been too extensively cultivated, to the comparative ex - elusion of green crops, which indeed has been the case in this neighbourhood, some loss for a time may be experience& and individually I may feel it; but the ultimate result, even in this case, from the abolition of the corn-laws, would only force a change of system, which must in the end be advantageous both to landlord and tenant. The profit on poor land depends on the raising of green crops to rear and fatten sheep and cattle, by which the land is, a s th e f armers say, "put into good hea rt," andrinci rendered capable of producing grain. Meat beiug ppally consumed in the manu facturing districts, causes the farmer to be dependent on their prosperity, and when the consumption diminished to upwards of one-half, or from 160 head of cattle to 70 per week, which was the case in Duedee a short time since, owing to the high price of other provisions, and consequent depression of trade, the man farming poor land must inevitably suffer. I therefore again repeat that there never entered into the mind of man a more egregious error than the notioa that poor land would be thrown out of cultivation by tie repe a l of the corn-laws. The fourth paragraph goes on to state, that capital has been invested in land, tad in the improvement thereof, " in consequence of the reliance upon the con tinuance of protective laws." .k. certain amount of capital has indeed been invested, but merely because there was a prospect of profit to be deri•ed; that in many instances it has not turned out advantigeously is owing either to its not having been expended judiciously, or to the exist ence of those very corn-laws,whieh, by causing fluctua tions of from 395. to 80s. or 85s. per quarter, induce ruinous speculations in grain and impoverish the con sumer. What I maintain is, that capital has not been invested in land anything like to the amount it ought to have been. Why, when m(ney was to be had at 2 and 21 per eche, did capitalists net invest in the improvement of land, which would have ridded them a handsome re turn ? Nothing prevented ;hem. I believe, but the un certainty occasioned by the corn-laws. It is not the case, as stated in the petitlin, " that the doctrines of those who advocate a free importation of foreign corn have no reference to these crcutnstances," or that they " are based entirely on the rinciple that if corn can be imported cheaper than it can be grown in this country, the cultivation of our own soil should be abandoned." Many able statements have been made and written by practical men to refute this assertion. And, lastly, the petition declares that the ruin of the cultivators of the soil would be the inevitable consequence of carrying out this doctrine. Has not the ruin already taken place, according to their own showing, under the present laws, and which the numbers of farmers sold up can testify 1' As to the labourers, the condition of this class speaks for itself, notwithstanding the farce carried on at th© dinners given to them by those who, by their own admission, and it is a fearful one for any man delibe rately and after mature inquiry to make, that c orn cou ld be sold at a much cheaper rate in this country, and thus evidently compelling the poor and industrious workmen, and their own labourers among the number, to:expend a large proportion of their hard-earned gains for the fan cied protection of what is called the " agricultural in terest," besides directly interfering with that wise and beneficent system ordained by the goodness of Provi dence, whereby one country is made to abound in one commodity and another in another—all more or less serviceable to the necessities and comforts of human life. These short-sighted protectionists would render trade and commerce a curse rather than a blessing to mail kind.—Your obedient servant, Rossic Priory, December 13. KINNAIRD. IRELAND. AGRARIAN OU TRAGES IN CLARE AND IeREE-TRADE MEETING AT BLit- "MINGHAM. Psrnassxcis ass The-. l 5 ---A r.nunerons and highly re nite,mg •Ai,a 11.1,1 IWS j.l) 111 1.1.0 convened by Henry Smith, Esq., mayor of the borough, for the purpose set forth in te following requisition, viz. :—" For considering the propriety of memorialising her Majesty's Government for the immediate opening of the ports of the United Kingdom for the free admis sion of all kinds of fereign grain and provisions." The requisition was signed Ly upwards of two thou sand respectable merchants and tradesmen, and in com pliance with their request the Mayor called the meeting for to day. Twelve o'clock was the hour appointed. Shortly after that time the hall was crowded to excess. On the p!atforte we noticed amongst others—G. F. Muntz, Esq., M.P., Richard Spooner, Esq., M.P., H. Smith, Esq., P. H. Muntz, and Wm. Scholefield, Esqrs.; Aldermen Vanwart, Beale, Weston, Bolton, Geach, Room, Thornton ; Councillors Baldwin, Smith, Coral), Sargant, Perry, Webster, Clifford, Malchett, Middle more, Barlow, &c. ; Thomas Redfern, Esq., George Edmonds, Esq., Joseph Sturge, Esq,, Charles Sturge, Esq., R. K. Douglas, Esq., Thomas Eyre Lee, Esq., Ed. Barker, Esq., Lucas Chance, Esq., and many of the most influential men in the town, of all parties. HENRY SMITH, Esq., Mayor, having taken his seat, opened the business by saying he held in his hand a re quisition, signed by a number of names, equal, in point of respectability, in point of station and commercial im portance, to any which he had ever before seen attached to a requisition got up in that town ; and bearing that filet in mind, he could not hesitate one moment to con • vene them together, in order to afford the inhabitants an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the sub ject. He had his own opinions upon the important question involved in the requisition ; but he was not there for the purpose of annunciating them, but for the purpose of collecting the opinions of others. Believing, as he did, that the question was one the most vitally connected with their interests, and the interests of the community at large ; and also believing that they were met to consider and discuss it at a crisis in the affairs of this kingdom the most important that ever was witnessed, and, in his opinion, the most serious that could ever as semble them together, he entreated them to bring all that firmness, that judgment, and good sense, which they were possessed of, and which the importance of the sub ject deserved, to the consideration of the resolution which would be brought forward. He had now only to remind them that this meeting was called to consider the pro priety of memoralising her Majesty's Government to open the ports, and to admit into the country that food which the people stood in need of. But he had also to remind them, that consistently with good order every person who was present had a right to be heard so long as he adhered to the immediate object for which Ole ) were assembled. He asked them, therefore, for a patient and impartial hearing for every gentleman who might think proper to address them, and he should do his duty to secure for every speaker that attention to which he might be entitled.—(Loud applause.) W. SCHOLEFIELD, Esq., then presented himself to the meeting, and was received with great cheering. After which he said, nothing but the conviction of the great im portance of the business for which they were assembled could have induced him to appear before them as the mover of the first resolution. The Committee called upon him for the purpose of submitting it to their consideration, and without any further apology he begged leave to move the following resolution :—" That this meeting cordially sym pathises with those vast multitudes of their fellow-sub jects, who have already made known to her Majesty's Ministers their apprehensions as to an impending scarcity, and their anxious wishes for a repeal of the corn-laws, the existence of which checks the free use and enjoyment of the necessaries of life." They would need no argument to prove to them, that in consequence of the failure of the potato crop, the country was in immi nent peril and in great danger of famine. Mr. Dugdale, cne of the Members of North Warwickshire, bad told them in a recent speech that they had this year an enor mous crop of corn. If that was the case, he (Mr. Schole• field) was very glad of it, but he was afraid that the Hon. Gentleman would get very few to believe that such was really the fact.—(Hear.) He (Mr. S.) hoped they should be able that day to view the question as one merely of fact, and irrespective of any topics cal culated to create angry feelings amongst them.— (Cheers.) There was no necessity for referring to mere party politics. They were met to consider a grave and serious question, and one in which the dearest in terests of all present were involved. It was now a fact that bread was rising in price, that potatoes were rising in price, and that it was to be feared ere long scarcity would exist in the land. Under these cir cumstances he hesitated not to say that the present movement ought to be the most fervent, the most deter mined they bad ever yet made.—(Loud cheers.) That the corn-laws were an evil of the first magnitude was admitted by all who had ever seriously and honestly con sidered the subject, and he believed there never were such a combination of circumstances existing at any period since their enactment so favourable to their re moval as at the present moment. Through the exertions of such men as Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright the fallacy of agricultural protection had been exposed. The agitation they carried on throughout the country had convinced all whose opinions were worth having in the agricultural districts, that what was called protection was in reality no protection to the farmer. That agitation had converted the ablest of the Whig leaders—(Cheers)—and that agi tation had upset the strongest Ministry that had existed for many years in this country. That agitation had proved, beyond the possibility of doubt, the iniquity of the corn-laws, and had aroused public opinion to that point that if they could not now suc ceed in gettinc , a repeal of the corn-lawn from the pre sent House of Commons, they must look forward to an alteration in the constitution of that House, and he trusted that if ever the time should come when it would be found that the present constituency were not equal to the emergencies of the country, such an im provement would be made in it as would render it suit able to the wants of the nation. He trusted that if this time should arrive that if the opinion of the working classes did not come up to the notions of the middle classes upon the point of suffrage, the middle class would descend to the opinion of the working class. (Cheers.) For at all hazards, by all legitimate means, and within the pale of the constitution, they mist have an imme diate and unconditional repeal of the corn-laws. Mr. MELSON seconded the resolution. JOSEPH STURGE, Esq., then proposed an amendment, having reference to the franchise, which was afterwards overruled by the Mayor. Mr. Alderman WESTON next briefly addressed the meeting. Mr. JOHN MASON, a Chartist leader, on the part of the working classes, expressed their earnest desire for the removal of the corn-laws.—(Loud cheers.) The corn-laws had been always opposed by the leaders of the people. GEORGE EDMONDS, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, next presented himself to the :sleeting, and was received with tremendous cheering. When the applause had sub sided, he said—Seven years ago, eight thousand persons met in that hall, and then Mr. Muntz, their Hon. Mem ber, had declared his opinion that the corn-laws ought not to be removed until they altered the money-law s, and yet that gentleman had now been obliged to come forward and vote for a repeal of the corn-laws, because he could not get an alteration of the money-laws. Their excellent friend, Mr. Thomas Attwood, had also been of a similar opinion ; but he (Mr. Edmonds) was now de lighted at being;able to read to the meeting a letter which had been sent from Mr. Thomas Attwood. Mr. E. then read a letter from Mr. Attwood, expressing re gret at his net being able to attend the meeting. From that important document they would perceive that Mr. Attwood was now decidedly in favour of an im mediate repeal of the corn-laws.—(Loud and long continued cheering. In the year 1815, when the aristocracy forced the corn-laws upon the country, they were told what the consequences would be, but they despised all warnings. They surrounded the House of Commons with soldiers and cannon, and in spite of the people they imposed the heavy yoke upon them which they had now borne for thirty years—(Hear) — but which it appeared they were determined no longer to endure.—(Cheers.) The repeal of the corn-laws was a practical question. It was one which the people could now settle if they were only unanimously resolved upon it, but if they now let the golden opportunity slip—if they deferred the question of the corn laws, or attempted to substitute the suffrage, or currency, or any other mea sure in the place of it, they might depend upon it they would have reason to regret their conduct. Mr. MUNTZ, M.P., next addressed the meeting. He said that, as the name of Mr. Attwood had been intro duced, he felt it his duty to state that he had long experience of that gentleman's character, and he could bear his testimony to the fact that if he had any fault, it was the possession of too kindly a heart— (Cheers) —infinitely too kindly for a place with which he (Mr. Muntz) had been well acquainted for the last six years.—(Laughter.) He (Mr. Muntz) was of opinion that the corn-laws ought to be repealed; but he did not look for such results from their abolition as some par ties expected. Indeed, he believed that in twelve months after their abolition every man in England would be convinced that more was required for the prosperity of the country that a repeal of the corn-laws. Whilst he believed that the abolition of the corn-laws was not the only measure which was required in order to secure the happiness of the country, yet he was an advocate for their abolition, as it would have a tendency to effect the ultimate success of just and corre ct p rinci p les of lsgisla tion.—(Loud cheers.) He had stated in his address to the electors of Birmingham in 1839 that he was in favour of the principles of free-trade, and as the basis of those principles a tree-trade in the prime necessary of life, corn, and in gold and silver as well, and he still ad hered to those opinions. —(Hear, hear.) He thought that in order to remove the evils under which we suffered, there ought to be a change in the money laws; but he found from his experience in the House of Com mons that both parties were disinclined to carry that alteration into effect, and he did not feel on that account he could be justified in refusing to exert himself to pro cure a repeal of the corn•laws.—(Cheers.) Agriculture and manufactures were both the same as regarded their commercial nature. Agriculture was undertaken for profit just as manufactures, and they ought to be both placed in the same position, one not having more protec tion than another.—(Cheers.) He felt it, however, tote his duty to caution them, as to his view of the effect which was to be expected from a repeal of the corn laws, in order that when they were repealed the people of Birmingham could not say to him (Mr, Muntz) that be had deceived them as to the result of the abolition of those laws. The country required not only that the corn-laws should be abolished, but that sugar and othi r articles of consumption should also be allowed to enter freely into the country. He could not agree to the cot rectneas of the argument that we ought not to be al lowed to get any slave grown sugar, whilst we used slave-grown cotton, and coffee, and tobacco. Their ex ertions to put an end to the slave-trade had rather increased the horrors of that trade, whilst it had not at all diminished the number of slaves imported. There had been no less than 6,000 vessels, with slaves on board, seized since 1819, and yet the importation of slaves from the coast of Africa had not de o-fcasuti. We Lad given twenty millions of money in order to put an end to slavery, we still kept a large fleet at great expense on the coast of Africa, and we were still called on to pay a high price for our sugar, under the pretence of putting down the slave-trade, although, as he before remarked, we used slave-grown coffee and tobacco without any scruple.—(Hear, hear.) If we were to go on interfering with every other nation and taking care of everybody, we should soon be in a position where our interference would be useless. They had heard a good deal about the reduction which would result from the repeal of the corn-laws, but if such a reduction of necessary expenses followed, then he did not see why the pay of the army and navy, and of the cabinet and the judges should not be reduced also.—(Laughter and cheers.) Now they all knew then there was to be some change in the Ministry. He had some doubt about it.—(Hear, hear.) For he believed that Lord John Russell would not be able to form an Administration.—(Hear, hear.) He was no party man, and he cared not whether Wbig, Tory, or any one else was in power—(A laugh)—and, if he was satisfied he was doing right, he cared not whom he opposed. He had been charged with doing great wrong in advocating the repeal of the corn- laws ; and it was said that great evil would arise from such a measure ; but he had done all in his power to obtain redress for his constituents. He was convinced that all who lived by the operation of labour were robbed of one-half by the corn-laws — (Hear)—and he, therefore, left it to the meeting to say whether he was wrong in supporting, as he had done, the repeal of the corn-laws, knowing as he did, that re peal would not produce immediate benefit—that it would produce very great distress—but that distress would oblige all parties to do something to relieve it.—(Hear.) That might be said to be doing evil that good might come from it ; but it was what every one did every day. Now, as he said, the Ministry was to be changed ; but whatever Ministers might be in, they might promise a great deal, but let not those whom he addressed believe them.—(A laugh) All parties promised wonders, and some had done wonders. The Tories had done wonders. —(Hear, and a laugh.) For instance, they put on 5,000,0001. of taxes, and then said " Look at the revenue." —(Laughter.) There was another means of putting the hand into a man's pocket, and bringing up the revenue— he would not say what it was—but it was abcut equally as justifiable.—(Laughter.) However, the oftener the Ministry was changed the better for the people of this country.—(A laugh.) No change took place without concession. Ministers who now come in had:to bid for their places. His own opinion was that the Whigs were not ~0”....0n In f ‘.,;th the nrinciDles of government, and that they did not understand tae interests or posittens of the people ; and that the Tories were quite on a par with them—(Laughter)—and, therefore, the only way to expect anything from them, was by rubbing them against each other, and so rub off the surface of their skins, and eventually they might get some good from them.—(Laughter.) His Hon Colleague seemed to think with him upon all points but one ; but he could not understand how he, knowing how the landed inte rests were robbing them in their position, was so timor • some, and could not go the whole hog.—(Laughter.) But of this he was convinced, that his Hon. Friend and colleague wished them well ; and, as far as he (Mr. Muntz) was concerned, he must say, that as long as he represented them he must do it honestly, and would do all in his power to ameliorate their condition.—(Loud cheers.) RICHARD SPOONER, Esq., M.P., followed, and com menced his address by saying as his Hon. Friend had read an extract from one of his addresses, he ,(Mr. Spooner) must beg leave to read an extract from a speech which he delivered in that hall when they first placed him in the important trust of representing them in Par liament. The words he used were these, "I have told you before, I do not approve of the present corn-laws. I told you I never had supported them, that I never would support the present corn-laws." These were the words which he used, and his opinions were unchanged. The present corn-laws he never did support, and the present corn-laws he never would support ; but he would tell them at the same what he had told them before, that an immediate and total repeal of them would inflict upon the country generally, and that borough in particular, 1 misery so intense, that he could not conscientiously con sent to their sudden removal. The Hon. Gentleman then repeated the arguments which had been used by Mr. Muntz in favour of an unconditional removal of the corn-laws, and concluded his address (which was listened to with mingled expressions of dissent and approbation) dissenting from the resolution. Mr. Councillor JAMES BALDWIN said the question before them was the repeal of the corn-laws and the im mediate opening of the ports.—(Hear, hear.) It was nis opinion that if they (the people of England) were fairly represented in Parliament, they would not be compelled to meet there that day to demand their just and lawful rights.—(Cheers.) He agreed with the Hon. Member, Mr. Muntz, upon every point which he had al luded to. Mr. Muntz and his colleague seemed, from their speeches that day, to have an inclination to assist them in carrying out the repeal of the corn-laws ; and from that time he (Mr. Baldwin) would forget all poli tical differences which he had had with those gentlemen, for he thought they both had their country's cause at heart. It was his opinion, if the corn-laws were not re pealed very speedily, inevitable destruction threatened the land. A famine of no ordinary character was im pending, and unless the ports were opened and the corn laws repealed, starvation was their lot.—(Hear.) Let the people of England express their determination to a man that the corn.laws must and shall be repealed, and he would be bound that no Government could stand against them, and till then they would not repeal them. It had been said by the opponents of free-trade that the reports respecting the potato crop were greatly exaggerated, and that there were scarcely any injured in many parts of Ireland. Now he would say, do not believe these statements, for they were false. He moved the follow ing resolution : " That this meeting cannot view, without deep con cern, the advanced prices of all articles of food, arising, as they believe, from the operation of the corn-laws, ag gravated by the insufficient corn harvest of the present year, and the partial but too extensive failure of the potato crop ; and are convinced that a deficiency of nutritious food must be accompanied, as on former oc casions, by a decline in trade, and by widely extended difficulty, distress, and disease among the industrious 5 classes of this densely populated borough, and of other parts of the United Kingdom." Mr. LUCAS CHANCE seconded the resolution. Mr. Alderman PHILIPS moved the following resolu- tion : " That as the Houses of Parliament are not at this time assembled, and as there appears to this meeting a most urgent necessity to adopt promptly and fearlessly, those measures which may prevent the ravages of fa• mine in the United empire, and also to afford a supply of seed for the next year, this meeting would respect fully, but firmly urge upon the consideration of her Majesty's Ministers the absolute and imperative neces sity of opening the ports of the United Kingdom for the admission of all kinds of grain and provisions duty free, preparatory to the abolition of all protective duties." The Rev. Mr. Swart then came forward, and was re ceived with great cheering; after which, he said he rose for the purpose of seconding the resolution proposed by Mr. Philips; and, while on his feet, he would make a, few observations. He said—This is a righteous, a hal lowed agitation—now, it is hoped, near an end—an agi tation against monopoly and class-legislation—an agita tion for the rights of the working masses against the un just encroachments of the privileged few—an agitation for peace and commerce against war and oppression. Ho nour be to those men who have carried it on with sivih talent and energy during the last seven years. Their re ward is now near. And the men of Birmingham, whose hearts have ever beat true on the momentous question, are now called to lift up their voice for the last time—to come in at the death of the monster monopoly. That voice, on all great questions, hath often been heard all over the world—let it be heard again. .. . But God Al mighty himself, in the partial failure of the fruits of the earth, speaketh from his throne, to rebuke the wickedness of man, and the nations hear it, and tyrants tremble on their thrones. In this way, out of evil the benignant Parent of the universe, in his wondrous working, will educe good. What man would not do, God, in his providence, will do ; and that which is lacking in one part of the earth the other will supply ; and thus all nations will be united in one golden bond of eternal amity—cultivating the arts of peace, &c. Is it not a fact, that the continental Powers have opened their ports to let in the corn, and the fat Dutchmen, puffing at their pipes, are laughing at the expense of John Bull ; yea, even the Russian autocrat no longer fights against Pro vidence ; nay, the very Turks have been moved at the cry of their oppressed poor ones. To what depth bath our favoured country sunk What shall we say for England ? What evil spirit hath come over us ? Are the Turks Christians, the Christians Turks ? No, the -thing will be done ; the proud must be humbled ; the men of station must serve those whose labour maintains them in their places, or give way to others. God him self is working ; the curse will come on those that withhold the corn ; :but the blessing will descend on the head of him that selleth it—" For the oppres sion," &c. All men know what these laws are, and what a fearful amount of suffering they have caused. Are they not impolitic, unjust, un-Christian ? Sound policy will instantly blot them from the statute-book, l a t ai n an d ne thatietsy, and ne foraccustomed ust ever.thoemy eared t J oi u n s bd t l i ee c es e ds gt h i a e n i m gn s ti and n t h he Chris tianity, h rh b e a s w f u o e t u i t g n e h d r e e w t t h h a n u t r deepest and darkest curses. Not a word can be said for them on the score of policy, justice, or religion. These three witnesses all agree in their condemnation. A memorial to the members of her Nlajesty's Govern ment, in accordance with the resolutions, was then adopted. A Mr. NIXON said Mr. Spooner had not stated in his speech whether he would support the repeal of the corn laws in Parliament if it should be brought before him. He should like Mr. Spooner to answer that question. Mr. SPOONER said he would never support the present corn-laws, nor did he ever support them.—(Groans.) Mr. NIXON—That is not answering the question. I as k you again, will you go for a total repeal of the corn laves?—( Lear, hear.) Mr. SMITH here said that he could not allow Mr. Nixon to proceed, for it was out of the ordinary course of proceeding.—(Great dissatisfaction.) The Chairman having vacated his seat, Mr. MUNTZ said he rose with pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to the Mayor, who, he was sure, had acted wisely and impartially. Mr. SPOONER seconded the resolution. In answer to Mr. Nixon's second inquiry, he begged to say he would not pledge himself to support any measure which was brought before him, if he thought it wrong.—(Cheers mingled with hisses.) The meeting then separated. __- Lord Stanley left town yesterday morning on a v i s to the Marquis of Exet er, at his seat, Burghley House. LIMERICK. The Limerick Chronicle of Saturday contains the fol- Dwing:7_ " On Wednesday evening last, at an early hour, a gang of five men armed, and partly in disguise, entered the cottage of John Higgins, steward to Henry Spaight, Esq., of Corbally, near Quin, county Clare, w h ere , i n his absence by threats they obtained an old musket and sword, his servant boy having contrived to secrete a serviceable gun. They withdrew after beating the ser vant, and the same party, it is supposed, soon after attacked the house of John Hanneen, who was compelled to surrender a case of good pistols. Higgins and Hanneen lost no time in swearing informations of the Whiteboy outrage before Mr. H. Spaight, who with constable Meredith went in pursuit of the marauders, and ap prehended Patrick Brassil and Michael Cody, whom Hanneen identified as being of the party, and they have been committed to Ennis gaol " Thursday evening last, about seven o'clock, a party of five armed persons, three dressed in women's clothes, rushed into the house of Denis Keogh, on the lands of Ballycellen, the property of D. J. Wilson, Esq., Belvoir. When they entered, Keogh ran into a room, and they put out a candle which was burning, and ordered the the dogs not Ceasing; oriAirfiefeilAggfrActiaMikiM dogs between two men who were sitting by the fire, and both of whom miraculously escaped being killed. Im mediately after this, the person who appeared to be the leader, asked the man of his party how he dared to fire without orders. They called for a gun, which Keogh's son said was in a room, when two of them ran in to seize it. Before going away they said they understood there were people there surveying and dividing land, but they warned them from taking any man's land, or any man's house, and that if they did they should mark the consequence; and as for Wilson, let him pull on for a while, but it shall be a short while.' The leader attempted to disguise his voice and talk with au English accent. They afterwards called at the house of a man named :Many, and ordered him not to quit it on any account. " In consequence of the Whiteboy attack on the dwell ing-house of Captain Welsh, at Roonatd, a meeting of the gentry, magistrates, and farmers, was yesterday held at the Petty Sessions-house of Doonass, Sir Hugh Dillon Massy, Bart., in the chair, when a large subscrip tion was entered into for the apprehension and convic tion of the parties concerned in the outrage. The ma gistrates also applied for an extra police force, in order that a regular and constant patrol may be kept up in that district. " Last night an armed party attacked the house of a blacksmith, named Connell, at Aherina, county Clare, beat him in a severe manner, and cautioned him to quit his place of residence. " A threatening notice was sent through the Pallas Post-office to John Switzer, steward to the Rev. A. Champagne, at Miltown, indicating that certain and im mediate death would ensue if he failed in giving up his situation. It will be recollected that this man was beaten by the Rockites recently, and that in consequence a police station has been formed at Miltown. " Thursday last a Rock notice was posted on the gate of Henry Ross, Esq., of Beagh, near Pallaskenry, threatening him with death, if he did not discharge his steward, also threatening the steward (who is a strictly honest man, and careful of his master's business) with immediate death. Mr. Ross is a most benevolent gentle man, and gives employment to a number of labourers, who were in a miserable condition : but this is the re- turn he receives for his liberality. The notice was signed Molly Maguire.' " THE IRISH PRESS AND THE LATE MINISTRY. The Orange organ, the Evening Mail, thus announces the event :—" England is left without a Government—a threatened war with America—our foreign relations in a most ticklish condition—lreland ripe and ready for rebellion—and at a moment when difficulties beset us at home—and all this is the work of the "heaven-born" Minister—that discreetest, wisest, best "of men—Sir Robert Peel. The sensation pro duced here is one of universal joy at having got rid of Sir Robert Peel, and each Protestant congratulates his fellow, as though some glorious victory had been achieved." The Irish Whig organ, the Dublin Evening Post, says—" It owed its dissolution to no Parliamentary confederation—it was prostrated in no disastrous debate. It committed sui cide. It fell by its own hands. Of course we are delighted with the result. Of course we glory in the discomfiture of the public enemy, and we are rejoiced beyond measure that they fell by their own suicidal hands. But suum cuique—Let Wellington have the honour of the deed as well as Peel." The Freeman's Journal, the daily repeal organ, thus closes an article on this subject :—" We have devoted so much space to the details that we have not left ourselves room for the ex pression of the thoughts which crowd upon us as we contem plate the effect of those changes on Ireland. We look upon them not withoiit hope—hope that good will come to the universal people—hope that the people of Ireland will show at the coming elections that they contend for principle, not for men." DEATH FROM HYDROPHOBIA..-011 Wednesday a' poor woman named Mary Garrett, aged 60 years, residing in Kezars-lane, in this town, died from the effects of the above dreadful and fatal malady. About six months since the de ceased was made a present of a young pup by one of her neighbours ; after having it a few days in her possession it refused to eat, whereupon the poor woman brought into it the dam, in hopes by that means it might be induced to partake of food; and while in the act of offering it something to eat, the dam bit one of her fingers. Time rolled on, and no fur ther notice was taken of it, until the Friday night previous to her death, when she complained to several of her neigh bours that she was very much afflicted with a pain in the arm of the finger upon which she had received the bite. However, it was not until the following evening that the first symptom of the horrifying disease made its apppearance. It commenced by a violent shivering, and she continued in a dreadful state of agony until Wednesday morning, about five o'clock, when death put an end to her sufferings.— Waterford Chronicle. EFFECTS OF INTEMPERANCE.—Yesterday, Mr. Wakley, ➢I.P., held an inquest at the Wolfe, on Norwood Green, about a mile from the Southall station of the Great Western Railway, on the body of John Sandford, aged thirty-nine years, whose body was found in the Grand Junc tion Canal, near that house. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was a brick-moulder in the employ of Mr. Tanner, of Norwood. On the evening*of Wednesday last, he left the brick-fields with his fellow workmen at dusk, and accompanied them to the Prince of Wales public-house, where', they remained until half-past nine o'clock at night, having each during that period drunk no less than two gallons of beer. Deceased then left, and was not again seen alive. The next morning the body of the deceased was found in the canal. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was found dead in the water of the Grand Junction Canal, but how he came therein there was no evidence before TMINSTER REFORM SOCIETY.—OR Mon days.he Tm evening,E i at eight o'clock, a numerous meeting of the t i t os l li v o E w committee of the above body was held at Stannard's Hotel, Charles-street, Covent-garden, for the purpose of taking into consideration what steps should be adopted in the present crisis, in consequence of a resolution having been agreed to at a previous meeting of the society, to call a public meeting of the electors of the city of Westminster, for the purpose of petitioning her Majesty to open the ports, &c. Mr. Prout having taken the chair, stated that since they were last as sembled important events had taken place by the resignation of the Peel Administration. A sub-committee was then formed to take steps to convene the meeting ; but in con sequence of the event he had alluded to, it occurred to him that the committee might deem it advisable in the present state of the country to wait a short time, when, seeing what circumstances might arise, they could be able to act more effectively. He and another of the sub-committee had called upon several Noblemen, Members of Parliament' and other gentlmen, advocates of free trade, to solicit their co -operation, but unfortunately they were all out of town, with the exception of Lord Robert Grosvenor, and he was happy to say that in the interview they had with that Nobleman, they found that he entirely coincided with their views as to the urgency of an immediate and total repeal of the corn• laws.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Geesiu said that he was happy to corroborate the statement of their Chairman with respect to the declaration of Lord Robert Grosvenor, as he was one of the deputation. The Noble Lord stated that had a fixed duty of ss. a quarter been allowed a few years ago, which was to graduate each year till the duty was reduced to a shilling, that by this time the trade would be free. The Chairman observed, that while Lord John Russell had pledged himself a total repealer, he could not be bound for the opinions of his coadjutors as a body. Mr. Austin said that when they observed the country without a Government he thought it the most judicious course to defer the meeting for a short time. It was then referred back to the committee, several of the electors recommending that the meeting be held on Monday next. The late Admiral Henry Raper, who died a few months since, has left to his son Henry, the sword which had been presented to him, in the year 1795, by the Court of Portugal, as a reward for the great services be had rendered them, which gift he desires may be always preserved in his family in the nature of an heir-loom. To his son, Charles Chamier Raper, late of the War-office, he had bequeathed all his copyright, in a code of signals published by him in 1828, and had also left to him the patent he obtained for securing the same. To his daughter Jane he has be queathed the policy effected on his own life in the Equitable, in October, 1826, with all his accumulations, and also ap pointed her residuary legatee. Her brother, Charles, was to have shared the residue with his sister, but he died in the lifetime of his father; he was also appointed an executor in conjunction with the surviving and acting executor, Robert Henry Jones, Esq. The will was dated in December, 1833. The personal property was valued at 4,0001. This highly meritorious and discerning officer of her Majesty's navy was an Admiral of the Blue, and died in April last, at the ad vanced age of sevEnty-eight. A WEALTHY THIEF. A man named Robert Taylor was committed for two months, yesterday, by the magistrates at Brentford, charged with stealing cabbages from the grounds of a market-gardener. The prisoner had in his possession at the time eleven half -sovereigns, about eleven pounds in silver, and it was ascertained that he had 1001. in the savings' bank. He had been eonvicted twice previously for petty felonies. .1 . TURNING THE FIRST TURF ON THE BEDFORD AND BIRMINGHAM RAIL WAY. On Saturday afternorni the works of th e B e df or d an d Birmingham were co:dimenced at about the centre of t%ie line, and extensiv e arrangements were made for the ce lebration of ttie event. It had been previously decided that the 0•„. e ,,, 0n -- y should be performed on Wednesday last, tut from some circumstance it was unavoidably tr,stponed, which was unfortunate in one respect, inas much as it prevented the attendance of his Grace the Duke of Bedford, who had acceded to the wish of the Directors, that he would commence the works by re moving the first earth. The spot appointed for the ceremony was that portion of Brogborough-hill situate near the farm of Mr. Turney, in the parish of Ilusborne Crawley, and about four miles from Woburn. On arriving at this place, about two o'clock, we found a large concourse of people from Bedford, Woburn, Ampthill, and the surrounding villages; and a profusion of flags and standards planted along the lands in the direction of the proposed line. A carriage and four with postilions in scarlet livery arrived, and it was then announced that the Duke of Bedford was unable to at tend, having been suddenly summoned to London to at tend the new Council. In order, however, that there might be no delay in the proceedings, the Duchess of Bedford consented to officiate for the Duke, and Lord Alford attended to assist her. Her Grace was conducted to the site of the proposed works, where she was wel comed by the Directors of the Bedford Railway, Mr. Theed Pearse, the secretary, the deputations of the Lon don arid Birmingham, and the Eastern Counties lines, Mr. Scott, the engineer, Messrs. Grissell, Peto, and Jackson, the contractors, and a large party composed principally of the county families and clergy. Her Grace's arrival was announced by a salute of cannon, which was followed by three cheers from the assembly, and a band of music struck up as her Grace was con ducted along the temporary platform. Mr. THOMAS JOHN GREEN, of Bedford, the Chairman of the Directors, then formally announced to her Grace the nature of the works, and went into detail of the great advantages that were likely to accrue to this part of the kingdom by the formation of this line. He invited her Grace to do honour to the proceedings by commencing the works, and handed her the spade. The Duchess curtsied, and, taking the spade, pressed it into the earth. Lord ALFORD then took the spade, and turning to the company, said—l cheerfully and cordially assist in commencing the works of a railway which, I am sure, is calculated to be of immense importance to the town and county of Bedford.—(Cheers.) I think it is a matter of peculiar congratulation to you all that the county of Bedford, which has hitherto had no railway, is now about to have one formed that will open a line of YiIPpOIVEL" me t tromii‘ and some of the most very great advantages will quickly be experienced by this line to all persons resident in and connected with the county. We have hitherto been considered very quiet people in these districts, but I have no doubt when we have a little more communication with other parts, we shall receive considerable benefit from the attrition. There is another feature in the affair which gladdens me, and that is, that a large quantity of work will, by this railway, be provided throughout the winter for the labourersl of this county.—(Hear, hear.) I hope that the exertions of the Directors will be crowned with the success they deserve, and that all their expectations will be more than realised. I shall now commence these works, which those around me will, I am sure, carry out successfully.—(Loud cheers.) His Lord ship then took off his hat and great coat, and began digging the clay most diligently until he had filled the barrow, amidst cheers and en couraging bravos. Having filled the barrow he wheeled it away along the platform, and led the way to a splendid marquee. The cannons were again fired off, flags waved, and the national anthem was played. On arriving at the marquee, his Lordship emptied his barrow, and then deposited it, together with the spade, at one end of the tent. The barrow was made of beauti fully grained oak, grown on the Woburn estate, richly carved and polished. On the front the arms of the Duke of Bedford were carved in a very elaborate style, and beneath them was a silver plate bearing the follow ing inscription : " With this barrow .he works of the Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway were commenced by his Grace the Duke of BEDFORD, who turned the first sod on the 13th day of December, 1845, upon lands in the parish of Ilusborne Crawley, and county of Bedford." The spade, which had a handsome twisted carved oak handle, was made of electrotyped silver, with the arms of the Duke in frosted silver, and some emblematical chasings. It bore a similar inscription to that on the barrow. A splendid collation was prepared in the marquee, and her Grace was conducted to the head of the table, and supported on the left by Lord Alford, and on the right by Mr. Thomas John Green. The parallel table was presided over by Mr. Henry Littledale, one of the board of Directors. About two hundred ladies and gentlemen sat down to the luncheon, which comprised a great pro fusion of delicacies. Amongst the company were Mr. William Astell, M.P., Sir Edward Codrington, Mr. Henry Stuart, Mr. W. B. Higgins, the high sheriff of Bedfordshire; Captain Newland, Captain Boldero, Capt. Moore and party, Captain Leech, the Rev. T. Tylcote and party, the Rev. W. Jenkyn and party, the Rev. W. Hedges, Dr. Mesham, Mr. J. Harris, Messrs. Wm. Routh and J. Henderson, directors of the Eastern Counties ; Isaac Eiger, Theed Pearse and party, &c. Lord ALFORD rose, and, in the name of the Duchess of Bedford, proposed the toast of " Prosperity to the Bedford and London and Birmingham Railway."—(Loud cheers, and three times three.) Mr. T. J. GREEN then proposed the health of her Grace the Duchess of Bedford.—(Loud cheers.) They could not but regret the unavoidable absence of the Duke himself,:but it was a great satisfaction to find him so kindly and ably represented.—(Cheers.) The company would, he was quite sure, join him in thanking her Grace for her condescension upon this occasion.— (Cheers.) He need say no more to induce them to do justice to the toast. They were now in the centre of the county which had had repeated benefits conferred upon it by the noble house of Russell, and they had this day added another proof of their kindness. The company rose and drank the toast, and then gave three rounds of cheers. .....-- The Duchess bowed to the company on receiving these marks of attention. Mr. T. G. GREEN then proposed the health of Lord Alford, who had used such strenuous exertions to pro mote this work, and who had so kindly assisted her Grace in this day's proceedings.—Three times three. Lord A LFORD returned thanks. The well-known talents and energy of the Board of Directors, in con junction with the assistance of the Company of the London and Birmingham Railway (the best conducted railway in the world), were quite sufficient to satisfy all that the work would be carried out to the great advan tage of the county of Bedford. As far as his individual services were concerned, he begged to say that they might always be commanded to promote this important undertaking.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. ISAAC ELGER proposed " The health of the Duke of Bedford," which was responded to with three times three. Mr. H. LITTLEDALE proposed " The health of the Contractors."—(Cheers.) Mr. PETO acknowledged the toast on behalf of the contractors. It had been his good fortune to be present at the opening of many public works, but he could say ith truth that none had commenced so auspiciously as this.—(Loud cheers.) He hoped that long before the time allowed for the completion of the contract—the 31st of July—they should have the pleasure of handing over the works to the Directors fully completed.—(Cheers.) Mr. HENRY STUART, M.P., proposed the health of Mr Thomas John Green, and the Board of Directors. — (Cheers.) Three times three. Mr. T. J. GREEN acknowledged the toast. There had been delays about the works which had rather prejudiced them in the eyes of the public, and created a doubt whether the undertaking would be carried out ; but the Directors themselves never had any doubt, although they had been subject to delays which they could not avoid. Now, however, they had fairly launched their boat upon the waters and had the cordial co-operation of the London and Birmingham Company, no exertion would be wanting to complete the undertaking. Mr. ISAAC ELGER then proposed the health of Henry Stuart, Esq., M.P., who had given his valuable assist ance to the Bill in its progress through Parliament, and had otherwise rendered the directors much service.— (Cheers). Mr. 11. STUART, in returning thanks, said the line itself possessed such merits that no opposition could reasonably be offered to the Bill. Its advantages were so apparent that no impediment could be thrown in the way to prevent the Bill being passed.—(Hear, hear.) He would be very happy to render his services to further the works in any way in his power.—(Cheers.) Mr. T. J. GREEN said he lamented the absence of the Directors of the London and Birmingham Railway, but they had the benefit of the attendance of a deputation from the Eastern Counties Railway, with which this line would be connected. He, therefore, felt great pleasure in proposing the health of Messrs. Wm. Routh and J. Henderson, the Directors of the Eastern Coun ties.—(Cheers.) Mr. W. Rovrn returned thanks. The health of Mr. Pearse having been proposed and responded to, Capt. MoonE proposed the toast of " The Ladies ;" the band played an air, and the Duchess then retired, followed by the remainder of the company. On her Grace entering the carriage, another salute was fired, and the contractors requested her Grace to accept of the barrow and spade, and they were placed in the carriage. Three cheers were then given, and her Grace took her departure, the company soon afterwards dispersing. CITY POLICE AT THE NEW PIER, BLACKFRI kRS. —Yesterday evening , a t twenty minutes past four o'clock, th e steam-boat Waterman No 6, from Woolwich and Greenwich, attempted to land her passengers at the above -named pier, but were obstruct ed and resisted b y several policemen and an inspector. The police lined the front of the barge lying broadside to the river, and when the passengers attempted to e ffect a landing , they were either struck or pushed back by The t h e inspector and his men. inspector pushed one pas senger back, and told him he might be thrust into the river and drowned, if he attempted it again. The police were 'what re peatedly asked under authority they so acted. It was stated at the time the pier was in course of erection that it would be the greatest accommodation on the river, the boats of all companies receiving equal accommodation. Lord Wharncliffe, in answer to inquiries yesterday in Curzon -street, was stated to be rather better. The Dowager Countess Grey, Lady Caroline Bar rington, and the Hon. Captain H. Cavendish Grey, are pass ing the winter at Nice. ,o-_,,.~ HAMBURGH MAIL. BERLIN, DEC. B.—We are authorised to state that there is no foundation for the assertion given in several journals, that among the persons arrested in Poland for political offences there, is an officer. Several arrests have, however, taken place since our communication of the 11th of last month, and the investigation is proceed ing with all possible diligence ; but as, from the nature of the case, the strictest secrecy must be observed, all the accounts of the results given in the journals are merely founded on conjecture. We must also designate as a fable, destitute of all foundation whatever, the statement published in the Weser Gazette, that " the people in the little town of Samter had risen, and iaade an attack on the depot of the laadwehr." In fact, the tranquillity of the Grand Duchy has been nowhere in terrupted, though there is no waut of such reports to alarm the peaceable inhahitents. P.S.—M. Dunker, the Director of Police, was sent to the kingdom of Poland, furnished with special powers by the Russian andfPrussian Governments, to trace there the threads of the conspiracy. The authorities here have in their hands a proclamation by the conspirators, which appeared also in the kingdom of Polland, and the origin of which is traced to Paris. A discontented Russian Prince, residing in that city, is said to be the author of it. The arrests in the kingdom of Poland continues, and very serious notes have been a:ldressed to the French and Belgian Governments, under whose eyes the plot is said to be continued.—Universal Prussian Gazette. lIANOVER, DEC. B.—The illness of our Crown Prince is not so serious as might have been inferred from the ac counts published in some foreign journals. It was only a severe cold which obliged his Royal Highness to keep to his room for a few days. He is now rapidly recover ing, and will soon b e a bl e to go out. MANHEIM, DEC. 3.—The affairs of the German Catholic community have arrived at a new stage. The congregations, both here and at Heidelberg, applied at their very outset for licenses from the Government for the public celebration of Divine worship. In answer to this, a Ministerial rescript has been issued, to the effect that their application cannot be complied with till they form a recognised chief with complete civil rights, or at least till they have applied for and obtained formal toleration as a religious community. The so called German Catholic Church will make, as such, but little progress in this country. The appearance of some persons has injured it here; but it would be a great mis take to suppose that the religious movement which spreads more and more would gradually give way to the old indifference ; on the contrary, the idea of a union of Roman Catholics and Protestants in one Christian Catholic Church is much approved of in many quarters. We believe that a decided crisis in that direction may very probably not be long delayed. WARSAW, Nov. 21.—The Jews in the kingdom of Poland are again subjected to nrinthn r Tt manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors. An ukase of the Senate has now been issued, which almost entirely puts an end to that branch of their trade. They are not to brew beer, to distil brandy or liquors, &c. ; they are not to sell them by retail, nor to live in inns, taverns, or public-houses of any kind, nor to employ Christian servants to do it for them. MURDER OF SIR LAWRENCE JONES, BART. The Impartial of Smyrna, of the 28th ult., contains the following account of the murder of Sir Lawrence Jones, Bart., by a parcel of brigands:— "Oa the 6th, at two o'clock in the afternoon, two English gentlemen, viz., Sir Lawrence Jones, Bart., and Captain Twopenny, left Macri for Smyrna ; they were accompanied by a Greek dragoman of the name of Nicoli, and also three conductors. On the night of the same day they all slept at Karghi, and the next day, at twelve o'clock, they found themselves at the foot of the mountain called Khassils-Bel, where they stopped to breakfast. During this repast one of the conductors ob served to the dragoman that two or three Zhybeeks were at a distance in front, but as he in a short time lost sight of them. the voyageurs were undisturbed and their route was continued. But they had not proceeded more than six minutes on their journey, when they were suddenly assailed by a warm fire of musketry from behind one of the rocks of the mountain. Sir Lawrence Jones fell dead, as well as the Greek Nicoli, by this fatal discharge ; Captain Twopenny was also grievously wounded.' The robbers, without the least fear of being recognised, ap proached and began to take possession of everything which they could lay their hands upon. Captain Two penny miraculously escaped from being dispatched. One of the brigands had already pointed his pistol to the chest of the wounded captain, when a fellow brigand turned the aim of the pistol, and it went off in a different di rection. Having remained for about an hour and a half upon the stage of the field of murder, the robbers de parted. Captain Twopenny, aided by his conductor, with difficulty remounted his horse. It was not until twelve hours' ride of fatigue that the suffering gentleman arrived at Macri, weltering in his blood, which was running from his numerous wounds. He had done every thing in his power to take with him the remains of his departed and unfortunate friend, but could not succeed. He was satisfied with cutting off a lock of his hair, and taking a ring off his finger (which had escaped the ra pacity of the robbers), as a sort of souvenir to his afflicted family. On his arrival at Macri, his first care was to look after the body of his companion, which was brought to Macri on the 9th, as well as that of Nicoll ; both of them were buried iu the Greek chapel, with all the cere monies and rites of that faith. This affecting news has produced the most melancholy sensation amongst the English residents at Smyrna." BIRMINGHAM, Dac. 14.—Last Friday evening the 12th inst., the long promised representation of Sophodes' Antigone was given at our theatre. The house was crowded in every part. The delayed production of this tragedy on our stage was, we understand, attributable to an accident which bad befallen Miss Vandenhoff, occasioning a lameness which prevented her appearing in public for these three months past. We congratulate her on her recovery, though we observed, with regret, that her movements were not alto gether unconstrained, and we missed, in consequence, two or three of those beautiful transcripts from Grecian statuary which lent such classic grace and dignity to her Antigone on the boards of Covent-garden. Vandenhoff, as Creon, looked and moved an impersonation of Olympian Jove. The choruses, generally, were up to the business of the scene, and we doubt not, as the tragedy is announced to run through the week, that every night will render them more easy and perfect. There was some mistake, or failure of intent, in the closing scene which caused the finale to fall flatly on the sense. This will, doubtless, be remedied on repetition. The several beauties of this classical drama require a cultivated taste to appreciate and enjoy them ; we speak from experi ence, and can tell our readers it improves on repetition.— From a Correspondent. ANTICIPATED GENERAL ELECTION.—ANDOVER, DEC. 13.—The sudden and rather unexpected resignation of Sir Robert Peel's Ministry created the greatest excitement throughout this small borough on its becoming generally known. The constituency (about 235) are so nearly balanced that the least prospect of an election puts both parties into immediate activity. On Friday a meeting of some of Ralph Etwall, Esq., M.P's., friends met at the Masons' Arms Inn, to devise preliminary plans to secure his re-election, should a dissolution (as expected) take place. It was also proposed that J. Walter, of Bearwood, the principal proprietor of the Times, should be solicited to be allowed to be put in nomina tion with the above-named present member. The League have also recommended Mr. Walter. _ DAMAGE BY WILFUL NEGLECT TO MACHINERY. —At the Wolverhampton Public-office, on Tuesday last, John Greenfield, an engineer, was charged before Mr. Debella with causing injury and damage to the amount of between 100/. and 200/. to his employer, Mr. J. W. Sparrow, iron master, in consequence of wilfully neglecting his duty. Wil liam Fisher proved the defendant's engagement, and that the damage was 1001. and upwards, perhaps 200/. Henry Squire proved that he directed the defendant, when at work on: Sunday, to screw down the pins of the air-pump lid. He said he had done so, but when he (Squire) set the engine to work, the lid flew up, the machinery was damaged, and all the works and furnaces stopped for some days; it was oc casioned entirely by the wilful negligence of the defendant. Mr. J. W. Sparrow said the damage done amounted to 100/. and upwards, and that it was the result of the defendant's wilful negligence and misconduct. The defendant was com mitted for three months with hard labour.— Wolverhampton. Chronicle. MR. ESCOTT AND HIS TORY CONSTITUENTS.— We understand the majority of the committee who con ducted the election of Mr. Escott, have, during the past week, signed a declaration, expressing their determination to withhold their support from him, in the event of his again becoming a candidate for the representation of Winchester. This manifesto has been duly forwarded to the Hon. Mem ber, but the course he will follow under such novel, and some what disagreeable circumstances, is yet to be seen. The hostile missive will not, we think, take him by surprise, for his recent conduct proved that he expected something of the kind. His coquetting with the Liberals is now explained, and from the present aspect of affairs it seems likely that he will realise the truth of the old adage, which points out the danger of leaning upon two stools. With respect to the conduct of the clique who have treated their quandam pet so cavalierly, we hardly think it the right one. It does not appear that the Conservative electors, generally, have been consulted. The letter of dismissal was signed by no less than twenty electors. " Influential" they may be ; but to assume the power of sending a representative to the right-about, ;without consulting the constituency, seems very like a dictation, to which we think the latter will not quietly submit. The proper course towards both Mr. Escott and his supporters, was to have calle d a public meeting of the latter, to which he should have been invited. Having heard his explanation of his past if he conduct, th e elec tors could have come to a conclusion he was, or was not, a fit man to represent them. It is rumoured that the Conservatives intend to put up Mr. Fleming, of Stoneham Park, at the next election, if his consent, can be obtained. Should such be the case, and should Mr, Escott again offer hi mse lf, as h e a t the late Mayor's dinner pledged himself to do a cur ious state of things will present itself at the approaching dissolution of Parliament. We shall have three Tory candi dates, and one of them relying for his seat on Liberal sup port. We say Liberal support ; for it is now clear that if Mr. Escott is again returned for Winchester, it must be by the aid of those who opposed him at the last election. That such a result was foreseen by Mr. Escott, is clear enough from his speeches. Those who have heard, or read them, cannot fail to have observed that, while a tone of Liberalism pervaded them, there was a cautious abstinence from details— a shrinking from an explicit avowal of opinion on the all absorbing topic of the day—the corn-laws—which an honest and straightforward politician would have given without the mystification and circumlocution in which lir. Escott delights to deal. The state of parties in Winchester is at present curious, and will afford food for remark at a future time. We await Mr. Escott's movements with some curiosity.—Hamp shire Independent. The Earl of Albemarle, who is passing the winter at Quiddenham Hall, in the event of the formation of a new Ministry, would," it is understood, decline his former post of Master of the Flom, on account of his Lordship's impaired vision and advanced age. The forthcoming new grand comic Christmas pantomime at Drury-lane is understood to be founded on the nursery tales of " dulliver's Travels." A few days ago, a cat was shot by Mr. J. Coult bard, gamekeeper to Major-General Wyndham, in Gills Wood, near to the Park-house, of extraordinary di mens i ons . The length of this animal, from the head to the end of the tail, was no less than thirty-six inches ; it measured fifteen inches round the body, ten inches and a half round the head, eight inches round the thigh, seven inches round the leg, and weighed ten pounds and a half,._. Cumberland ,Pacquet. 11 II /7 ~~ PPM $~