The Sun. — London, England, 1845-03-28 00:00:00

At s • 0 is, ntl'„ '''' ers 0 ber of 11 ' 1 p r ' o 10 I I !, of ' tes lll. s . atb 11)t ess t" Fri ne !'i nber ' Ilt cop. : „o . 0 110'1 re I . s t b il e 'boll' 1,/ f tP ar so,, WO° ! 6 t h ul oi ivivg her e. ~v i r bee':hls E v g ) di eul o ted P ° Y e ti spr g io t to o the 'fit de by 00 14 0 Q ll O l eatrlooo .d orb ° e 6 m ate d )f r ,' efa re ( 6 'tie ° 0 1 t o - - t pre of ie ' 1 •0 0 ;1 o oreg ge r r. ,s‘ r OO O or', o neeforeo AMERICA 3 NEWS. The following- extracts from the New York Herald give the prevailing rumours as to the formation of the new Cabinet : WASHINGTON, UAW Hl. xas is trianipha.nt, and Mr. Polk h as a l rea d y determ i ne d on at l east t wo o f hi s Cabinet. Air. Calhoun retires to South Carolina to cultivate cotton it,r 4 l philosophy, having accomplished the work he un aerto,k, that is,—finished the Texas question, and put the Oreg o n in a pro-r train of settlement. The two Cabinet Ministers thus far determined on are— James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of State. Robert J. Walker, of .Aississippi, Secretary of the Treasury. MARCH 3.—The new Cabinet was unofficially given out to-dav, and a prodigious excitement has been pro duced in both the old cliques or factions. The friends of Air. Van Buren and those of Mr. Calhoun are equally s avage. The following is the list: — James Buchanan, Secretary of State. Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury. William L. Marcy, Secretary of War. George Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy. Cave Johnson, Postmaster-General. Mr. Saunders, Attorney-General. These names are admitted generally to be the pro 9ranune, and the discontent among ihe cliques is very Benton, Alien, Tappan, and all ilio,e of that ilk. d enounce it, particu:arly the nomiaetii n of Marcy, he bring a Conservative of 18 40 , amid everything but a friend of Van Buren and S:las Wright in New York. On the other hand the Southern Calhoun men denounce it as an ultra high tariff, and hostile to Mr. Calhoun. The Conservatives of New York and all the Tyler office holders there and elsewhere are delighti4l. It is now said that few remavals will take place, and that neit her the old Van Buren nor Calhoun men can have any influ ence or power. The mo s t amusing state of things is produced, and many laughable demonstrations are already taking place. , i l Predict a hot and bitter war upon Mr. Polk's Adminis tration from large sections of his own party. The Whigs are quietly looking on and preparing for 148, with their two rival candidates, John APLean and General sciitt. Air. Polk has treated Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Van Buren in the like cavalier way. lie did not ask Mr. Calhoun to stay a day in the Cabinet, and i\lr. Van Buten's re quest to put in Flagg or Cambreleug has been put aside w ithout notice. In fact, Mr. Polk means to be Mr. 110 1 k. The inaugural address is now printing at the Globe offi ce. MAJtcrt 4.—The following is the latest information re specting the formation of the Cabinet: — Secretary of State, Senator Buchanan, of Pennsylvania. Secretary of Treasury, Senator Walker, of Mississippi. Secretary of Navy, George Bancroft, of Massachusetts. Secretary of War, Governor Marcy, of New York. Postmaster-General, Cave Johnson, of Tennessee. Navy, Mr. Mason, late Secretary of t he l avy, who is said to have had this offered to him, and to have refused it ; and it is now said that J. W. Jones, ',ate Speaker of the House of Representatives, will be the Teurabent, but it is also said that this post remains un filled, and that it is the only one that is so. President Tyler last night nominated Judge Wilkins, , t he Secretary of War, Associate Judge of the Supreme Court for Pennsylvania. The Senate refused to go into e xecutive session, and left all the appointments for the action of President Polk and the new Senate. President Tyler has also saved Mr. Polk all trouble 1 , 11 making any election as to the mode of admission of' 4 exas into the Union, for on Saturday one of his nephews, Mr. Waggaman, was dispatched by ex- Press as special messenger, bearir , the House.resolutions to the Government of I exas, anetherefore, as it is fully expected, Texas will immediately accede to the terms of t hose resolutions, President Polk has no trouble in the matter. COURT CIKCULAR. WINDsoR, TIIIIBSDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Grand Duchess Stephanie c 1 Baden, and attended by the Countess or Chat lemont , zaroness de Strumfeder, the Earl of Hardaicke, Ad teiral Sir Robert Otway, the Hon. Colonel Grey, and Baron de Schreckenstein, visited this morning St. Georg e ' s Chapel Royal, where the royal party remained half an hour, and after viewing the sacred edifice, Proceeded to the Royal Mews, and inspecttd the tiding -school and stables. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent paid an lady morning visit to her Majesty and Prince Albert, and also took leave of the Grand Duchess Stephanie of Bad e , tier Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden, attended by the Baroness de Struniteder and Baron Schreckenstein, took her departure from the Castle this morning, for the Slough station of the Great Western Railway, on her return to town. After the departure of the Grand Duchess, the Queen and Prince Albert took equestrian exercise in the Great Park, attended by the Hon. Miss Hamilton, Colonel the l l°n. Charles Grey, and Major-Gent ral Sir E. Bowater. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyt telton, were taken a carriage airing this morning. In the afternoon the Royal Family were taken in t he Pleasure grounds. 11The Earl of Aberdeen left the Castle to-day. The royal dinner party at the Castle, in the evening, Included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady 'Anna Maria Dawson, the Countess of Wratislaw, and kr. and Mrs. William Harcourt. The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attend- Mee during dinner ; her Majesty's private band after- Wards attended. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge 411 d the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Meckleuburgh Strelita arrived in town yesterday, from Kew, and v isited the Marchioness of Douglas (nth Princess Mary of Baden), at her residence, in Connaught-place. Its Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has left ' 4 43 seat of Viscount Barrington, Beckett House, Berks, , Nuneham, Oxford. Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Stephanie ,°1 Bad en , attended by the Baroness de Strumfeder and lletron de hchreckenstein, arrived at the Paddington ter tilinus of the Great Western Railway at one o'clock yes terday afternoon, from Windsor Castle. The Duke of Hamilton received the Grand Duchess on her arrival, The accompanied her Royal Highness to P ortm a n -s q uare. ~'he Grand Duchess afterwards visite d her dau g hter the Marchioness of Douglas, at her residence in Connaught- Pla ce. A. deputation from the hand-loom weavers had an i nterview with Sir George Clerk yesterday, at the office of th e B oar d o f Trade. The deputation was accompanied °Y their Secretary, Mr. W. H. Lowe. The Earl of Aberueen arrived in town yesterday, from Windsor Castle. Dispatches from the Governors of New South Wales, '-eylon, and St. Helena, were received yesterday at the Colonial -office. ST. STEPHEN'S, WALBROOK. A Vestry Meeting of the rate-payers, called in pur suance of a notice from Messrs Flight and Hock, the P°Pelar churchwardens, to take into consideration the Q Xtraordieary proceedings of the Con.Fervative church. It 'etrdens, Lurd Mayor Gibbs and Mr. Whitta ker, on Tuesday last (which proceedings were reported i n The ' l4 n), was held this day in the vestry-roim, Waibrook. Croly was called to the chair. The Vestry Clerk, Mr. CROSBY, then read the minutes of the previous meeting, the protest of Dr. Croly to tile k forementioned select vestry meeting on Tuesday, and V 6 O a statement of what took place can that day previous th e adjournment of the select vestry (Lord Mayor Gibbs, Mr. Whittaker, and Mr. Eddison , ) to his Lord s nip's private residence. Mr. FLIGHT then said that he had hoped that the n Onterous body of the parishioners who had elected Mr. Rock and himself to fill the onerous situation of church wardens w ould have fully satisfied Mr. Michael Gibbs that , .%! 3 20 years' domination over the parish must have an end. 'lad he consulted his own character or credit, he cer ttiniy would have immediately retired , end permitted t hem to commence the work of reparation of w hi ch their e nureh and the affairs of the parish stood so much in But meaty years, it appeared, had not satis • wn him ; the sweets of office were too tempting to bo tt once f o rfeited, and from that hour until the present e had prevented their being of the slightest use to the I , l terests of the parish, by not allowing any po rtion of the rates to be employed with the view o' setting things to rights. He (Mr. Flight) had examined the accounts that had been furnished, and he found that in the year 1825 , . when Mr. Gibbs first came into office, the sum of 61, B s. 6d. was expended for relief to casual poor, but in t he next year Mr. Gibbs had increased that sum to 51/. (Rear, hear)—and in the succeeding year, it had been 9rther increased to 671.—(Huar, hear.) So that after his first year of o ffice, he increased the amount to the C asual poor nine-fold, and in the second year twelve-fold. IIr,cuNLIFFE (the banker)—Where are the vouchers? Mr. FLIGHT—The Churchwardens are not bound to give vouchers for relief to casual poor.—(Hear, hear, and (tughter.) Large and serious as this amount was would be still more surprised at some other of the a tenaents in these accounts. In the year 1825 the ?ui" ag gregatei amount of the poor - rate was 610 /. , b u t in the 'Wing y t, ear it had increased to 7801 . , and afte rwards _ 8601., co nseq uently in an interval of four years the r ates had i ncrease d one-third, so that in a parish of sixty houses they were, in fact, charged about 141. a house for tn o r - rete.—(Hear, hear.) The next thing which struck ex ica as extraordinary was the amount charged for law Penses.—(Hear, hear.) He found that in these twenty- Years something like 2,000/. was alleged to have been : 11 7 11 for law charges.—(Hear, hear.) But on con! . htl t ! IC Mr. Crosby, their Vestry Clerk, an tlee t, he found that these alleged payments 'niter not been really made, they were merely „et ) , and not receipted as payments until February es the present year.—(Hear, hear.) He was anxious to eo e_ rtain the effect of the new Poor-law Bill, and to tio r njare the expenses of the first year under its opera xs',,,lth their former heavy payments under the old and to his surprise, he found in the first year theyrates were reduced one-half.—(Hear, hear.) Now, of .q_ would recollect that the complaint against a union 2evetiral parishes was that the poorer parishes would en t ail m heavier expense upon the richer parishes in the • W anion, and they naturally enough expected that w i t a e„ro,o . k . would suffer heavily when i copartnership 4 4 1 1 httechapel, but even with that drawback they Couldsaved nearly one-half a poor rates, and it ear in - tan __ not bo said that this reduction arose from superior " L gentent because the same gentleman who managed 4rl.he,f.oriner case was also chairman ef the poor-law union. the Flight then referred to the letting of the houses in wes ti: t rL a I , t ve and cited some instances where the rental Paid re .„., a 7 low valuation, and that not in every case R ee k _ l ' l, l . If the meeting were satisfied that Slr. eery ha a I himself lied dune their duty, they would be of tt'ulthligahntd) (Mr happy to allow themselves to be re-elected, and he had no doubt t - hat ultimately the cause of justice would triumph. He would re- Peatr then what he had s t a t e d f ormer ly, th a t whatever ' we re wanted over that contributed by the parish- ioners, he should be . Vappy to advance, without seeking any interest for it. On the motion of Mr. CUNLIYFE, R , ck and Mr. Flight were re-elected Church wardens for the ensuing year. th 4 motion of Mr. FLIGHT, Mr. Henry Rock and Mr. Williams were elected over seers for the ensuing year. Mr. CROSBY, the vestry-clerk, then detailed the law proceedings between the parishioners and Mr. Gibbs. They had not been able, in consequence of the impedi menta thrown in their way, to g, t on so rapidly as they would wish, but he had no doubt that in the next tern he could give more satisfactory intelligence. 1)r. CROLY then, in a lengthened and effective speech, adverted to the position of affairs, but the facts of it are all umbodied in the statement by Mr. Flight. After some further discussion the meeting adjourned till the Bth of May. TRADES' DELEGATES CON FERENCE. The delegates assembled at half-pa , t nine yester day, at the Parthenium Club Rooms, and proceeded to discuss the recommendations in the report of the Com mittee on General Purposes. In the Conference yesterday a resolution was agreed to ler the formation of "A Society, to be called the Association of United Trades for the Protection of In dustry." The following recommendations of the Com mittee were also adopted this morning:- 2 A Central Committee to carry out the cbjects of the said Association, and the formation of a fund to de fray the necessary expenses. 3. The leading objects of the Association may be divisible into two departments—the first external, hav ing reference to the influence of the Legislature on the condition of the industrious classes; the second internal, or to efforts made by the trades to improve their own condition. The delegates then proceeded to discuss " the esta blishment of local boards of trade, similar to those which have so long existed in France and Belgium, composed of masters and operatives, to whom all matters affecting the regulation of wages, duration of labour, disputes, &c., shall he referred, and their decisions have the authority of law." A very favourable opinion was expressed by the Committee as to the effect of the adoption of such a system ; but considerable difference of opinion prevailed among the delegates. It was objected to by some as likely to place the operative classes under the tyranny of masters, and to make their condition worse than it is at present. Other delegates considered that nothing but an arrangement of this nature could remove the existing evils, and thought that both masters and men would be nefit by it. A DELEGATE, a working man in the coal-mines of North Cheshire, spoke at considerable length, and in a strain of eloquence that proved him to be a man of great intelli gence, of the very many hardships which his peculiar de scription of labour subjected the working miners to. He described the different g asses existing in the coal mines and their deleterious effects on the human constitution. He gave an instance of the destructive consequences of explosive gasses, by which he said 17 men lost their lives, yet their employers refused to pay the expense of removing the dead bodies. This statement was followed by loud cries of " Shame." These, he said, were his rea sons for agreeing in the opinion that local boards of trade would act as a protection to the working classes. A DELEGATE, who represented the tailors, expressed his apprehensions for the stability of the proposition even if it should be carried out ; and he thought it would be well if each trade could place itself in a position to assist itself in the first instance before it turned its attention to the support of others. A DELEGATE from the linen-weavers of Beverley highly approved of the proposition, and gave instances of the hardships the linen-weavers suffered by the ab senee of it. A DELEGATE from Hull cited cases where shipowners in that town were also magistrates ,• and in consequence the most monstrous decisions had often been made when poor men made appeals to those parties for their wages. But that could never occur if a local board of trade existed in that town. A DELEGATE from the block-printers of Bent said he was rather in favour than against the proposition ; but he asked, if those local boards were of so much benefit in France and in Belgium, how did it happen that so little was known in this country of their co-operation ? Mr. CHRISTOPHER, on the part of the London shoe makers, expressed his surprise at the sentiments he had been listening to, which he said would be calculated to lead people to believe that the working men had ever found sympathy from their employers ; but he would like to know when and where that had ever been experienced. He would ask, what did' the work ing man mean by asking to be placed upon equal terms with their employers in courts of Justice ? Did they think that, if even there were an equal number of masters and men in a court that would be placing them on equal terms? If they did, they never were more mistaken, for when were the masters present that they did not carry the day ?—(Hear.) He feared the project would not be found productive of the good anticipated. Here the debate concluded, and Mr. FLEMING, Chairman of the Committee, then rose, and said that as it was not likely that anything new could be offered in favour of the proposition, he would take a short review of the objections raised to it. This he did at great length, liSad then described the reodus operandi of the proposed boards of trade, which hould consist of six persons—three masters, and three working men, and all questions referred to them for their decision were determined by a majority of votes, and, therefore, an unfair or unjust decision could hardly be made ; and, if any peculiar difficulty arose, the board had the power to. call in an umpire. Mr. WAIN, block printer, corroborated Mr.. Fleming's statement as to fixing the rates of prices for manu facturing articles on the continent for certain periods of the year. He said he had worked five years in Belgium, and found such to be the fact. He knew men to work in that country from sun-rise to sun-set fur 10d.; but there that sum went further than 2s. 6d. in this country. A DELEGATE from the wool- combers of Bradford was in favour of the boards of trade, if for no other purpose than to prevent the workman from approaching his employer in too humiliating a position, or being the victims of their long purses.—(Hear, hear.) But the working men could never be respected by their em ployers so long as they did not respect themselves, or esteem themselves something better than mere machines created to make fortunes for their masters, and then die, worn out, miserable paupers.—(Hear, hear.) After some few other observations, The CHAIRMAN suggested an alteration in the fourth proposition, which he contended would have the effect of keeping the acts of the boards free from the consequences of " constructive conspiracy and decision."—(Hear.) The alteration was in substance that an application should be made to Parliament for an Act to legalise the decision of those local boards. The meeting then adjourned for an hour. At two o'clock the Delegates re-assembled, and re sumed the discussion on the amended form of the fourth proposition. A DELEGATE, from Sheffield, said he was opposed to the local boards, on the ground that the masters would buy off the working men associated with them by a sum of money, in the same way as Members of Parliament bought votes at an election. The DELEGATE from the framework-knitters of Not tingham stated the many grievances of which the trade had to complain, amongst others, that some of them could not earn 6s. a week. He was of opinion that the boards of trade should consist of journeymen and men not in any way connected with manufactures or manu facturers. He then read some statistical statements, to illustrate the impoverished state of the trade in Italy. Another hardship these men had to complain of was, that they were subject to deductions to the amount of 10s. a week by the masters, which left them but ss. or 6s. for their support; and those deductions were made for the whole week, even if the workman worked but one day that week, or was taken ill, &c. On these grounds he called for some measure by which to better their condition, and would support the pro position. The REPRESENTATIVE of the Manchester makers-up said that his trade had had little or nothing to com plain of. The DELEgITO from the calico-printers was in favour a the proposition, as he conceived it was very much wanted to protect the workmen, who were totally at the mercy of the masters, and were liable to be called up at any hour of the night, though they might have been idle for weeks before. The discussion continued until the usual hour for closing, fire o'clock, when the meeting adjourned till to- I morning (this day). T lted It may serve as an useful caution connect. wit foreign railways, to mention a circumstance which has just occurred with regard to one proposed to be formed in the State of Sardinia, the name of which need not be specified. The circular issued states, that subscrip tions are received by the London Joint-stock Bank, in London, by a banking-house at Vienna, and by Messrs. Morro, Alberti, and Co., and Mr. Bartolomeo Parodi ' at Genoa. The latter, by a letter o f the 18th inst., de clares that his name has been used without his know ledge or consent, and that he is is no way concerned in the project in question.—Times. METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS. — There is a com plete clearance of the houses from Holborn to Lily street, Saffron-hill, comprising more than three-fourths of the distance to Clerkenwell, and the road is nearly formed to its proper level, the whole open remnant of the old Fleet ditch having been covered over. No an nouncement, however, has yet been made for the sale of the remainder. The road now complete from White chapel to Spitalfield's Church ha 3 been formed and paved on each side, the gas lamps having been erected, and the whole line to the docks will be ready for traffic in the course of the summer. DIFFICULTIES Or DIFFERENTIAL DUT lES.—The new sugar duties, which were intended to come into operation on Friday, the 14th inst., through some blunder in the wording of the resolutions, were not permitted to take effect until Saturday; upon which day several par cels were taken out of bond in this town. The work of legislation, however, seems to have been somewhat fragile; —Sir Robert Peel and his colleagues being evidently no grocers. So mysterious are the definitions and descrip tions of the different qualities of clayed, muscovado, raw and refined, that nor a Custom-house officer in the town was capable of saying what amount of duty was required to be paid upon the samples pre sented to them ; and, on packets being forwarded to Liverpool, with a request for aid and counsel, the answer returned was that the authorities there were in precisely the same predicament, and had been com pelled to send off to London for instructions. This ap pears to us to be but a commencement of difficulties. The question that has arisen, and which has been set at rest for the moment by directions to take the lowest rate on the particular sorts submitted for decision, is a mere trifle to some that are likely to be mooted.—Preston Chronicle. THE SUN, LON 411. HER MAJESTY'S ' THEATRE. The history of Felicien David is a perfect romance. Born in a French provincia itown, he in very early life exhibited symptoms of musical genius, and be came a chorister. Removing to Paris, he made music his profession, but could barely earn a livelihood by drudging in the lowest ranks of the musical world. Of an enthusiastic temperament, he joined the St. Simon ians, became the intimate friend and associate of Pere Enfantin, and with him undertook a journey to Egypt for the purpose of endeavouring to convert the Ma hommedan nations of Africa to the creed of St. Simeon. While he was in Egypt, a caravan was about to set off for Mecca; David joined it, and per formed the pilgrimage across the desert to the Holy City. While traversing the vast wilderness, his mind became thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the place, and in the desert he composed that sublime symphony and ode which has secured to him his name and his fame. Returning to Paris, David in vain endeavoured to get an orchestra to undertake the per formance of his symphony. It was the work of an unknown man, and, therefore, rejected. At length, one night in last December, M. Leon Pillet, as a last desperate attempt to retrieve the fortunes of the Academie Royal de Musique, consented to produce David's symphony. It was a novelty, and if it at tracted, it would be sure to pay—if it failed, the ex pense of getting it up would not be much. That morning Felicien David took the score of his symphony to the music publisher, who refused him two hundred francs for the copyright. It was produced—it succeeded, and the next morning Felicien David became famous. The musical pub. lisher, who the day before had refused to give 200 1 francs for the copyright, offered 50,000 and was refused. The poor, unknown, friendless musician, became the patronised, the feted, the great man ; and Filicien David has become the honour of his country, the pride of the musical world. On reading the notices given by the French critics of this work, we were inclined to make vast allowances for exaggeration. It was produced at this theatre last night, and, we are bound to con fess that, in this instance at least, the French have been guilty of no hyperbolical exaggerations. It is one of the most sublime compositions that was ever created by human genius. Since the days of Handel there has been nothing like it for sublimity, for crea tive power, for descriptive beauty, for depth of thought. It is the work of a genius, and of a genius of the highest order—of a genius which has been tutored in the school of adversity, and has not been permitted to indulge in vagaries, but be compelled to learn— and learn thoroughly—the rules of art. Not only does David possess a creative genius of the very highest order, but he is also the most accomplished musician of his day. His instrumentation throughout is perfect, and he plays upon the orchestra as though it were one vast instrument, which he had com pletely under his command. But this perfec tion of musical knowledge is a mere minor advantage which he possesses in common with scores of other equally accomplished musicians; but, in point of originality, of genius, of creative power, Felicien David stands alone. If Handel is the Milton, David is the Byron of music, and, like Byron, it is from the East that he has drawn his inspiration. The ode opens with two strophes, which are de claimed with an orchestral accompaniment. This accompaniment at once arrests the attention for its originality and its descriptive power. Never was the idea of vastness and solitude more magnificently con veyed than it is by this opening passage of the ode. Then follows the grand chorus—the song of the De sert, the glorification of Allah !—perhaps the most sublime composition that ever was heard. The idea itself is sublimity. The Desert itself, image of the eternity and of the immensity of its Creator, bursts forth into glorification of the Deity. It is more like an inspired composition of one of the Hebrew pro phets of old, than any efforts of any merely human creature. This is followed by a description of the appearance of a caravan in the distance ; and a mag nificent fugue introduces the chorus of the caravan, a beautifully expressive composition. Then comes the Desert Tempest—the awful simeom's blast—the calm returns—the caravan resumes its march. The chorus of the caravan in its march, which concludes the first part of the symphony, is beautifully expressive. The sound is an echo to the sense throughout. The second parts opens with a hymn to the evening star, which was beautifully given by Moriani, and then follows a magnificent chorus, the Liberty of the Desert. Then comes "La Reverie du Soir," perhaps the most exquisite morceau in the symphony. Calm, smooth, and touching, of an almost voluptuous character, the music of this exquisite air admirably expresses the luxury of night in the warm and sunny climes of the south. It was deliciously sung by Moriani, and rapturously encored. This concluded the second part. The third part opens with a de scription of sunrise—the appearance of the sun in the horizon, his gradual increase of splendour, until at length he bursts forth and awakes the world, was admirably expressed by a crescendo movement of very original character, gradually increasing in intensity. This movement was applauded enthusias tically, and encored. The caravan resumes its march, and gradually disappears in the distance. This was also beautifully expressed, and the symphony closes with a repetition of the song of the Desert, in praise of Allahl We have thus given a slight sketch of this most wonderful composition. It is the work of a genius sublime, magnificent, and tender. It is impossible to hear it without being struck with awe and admiration ; but in order tho roughly to appreciate its beauties—in order properly to understand the vastness of the genius of the mighty master who has produced it, the Desert should be heard, not twice, but a dozen times. It was preceded by a fragment of a symphony in E flat—a Melodie imitative a Grand Orchestre—a song, Les Hirondelles, beautifully given by Moriani, and encored—a Melodie Orientale a Grand Orchestre—a very quaint song, Le Chibouque, sung with great effect by Corelli— fragment from " Les Quatre Saisons," entitled, Soirée du Printemps. All these are composed by Felicien David. They are good, but there is nothing particularly striking about them—nothing but what a merelely talented musician might have produced. But the Desert is original—is a creation; and the earth holds not the man who could have created such a composition, except Felicien David. The house was very well attended, and a more attentive audience we never saw assembled within the walls of her Majesty's Theatre. Every musician of eminence in town was present, and the attendance of the dilettanti was excessively numerous. THE WILL OF SIR THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, BART. Probate of the will of Sir Thomas Fowell :Buxton, late of Northrepps, in the county of Norfolk, Bart., and of the firm of Truman, Hanbury, Buxton, and Co., brewers, Brick-lane, Spitalfields, in the county of Mid dlesex, was granted on the 25th instant to Sir Ed ward North Buxton, Bart., and Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq., the sons, two of the executors, a power being reserved to Dame Hannah Buxton, widow, the re lict, and Andrew Johnston, Esq., the son-in-law, the other executors, to prove hereafter. The personal estate sworn under 250,0001. The will is of great length, and dated 17th of October, 1844; witnessed by John Gurney Hoare, of Lombard-street, and Esther Neave Lincoln, of Northrepps Hall. Sir Thomas died on the 19th Fe bruary last. lie leaves his manuscripts and papers to his son Edward and daughter Priscilla, either to publish or destroy, or to be kept by his survivor, in compliance with the wishes of his deceased sister Sarah Buxton, from whom he has recently derived an addition to his property. Leaves to his son Edward his guns and sporting implements, and the selection of two horses. Bequeaths to his wife the carriages, horses, and the whole of the forniture, and directs 1,0001. to be paid to her within one month, and 3,0001. at the end of twelve months. The establishments to be kept up for six months after his decease. Bequeaths to his daughter Priscilla Johnson a legacy of 2,0001., and a further sum of 5,0001. from his share in the brewery ; and to his daughter, Richenda Buxton, the sum of 9,0001.; leaves one-third of his share in the brewery to his wife for her life ; appoints his son Charles to succeed to one third of his share in the brewery, and leaves certain other portions to his family; the remainder of his share and interest in the brewery he leaves to his son and partner, Edward ; leaves the whole of his plate to his wife for her life, and, at her decease, to be distributed as follows :—the plate presented to him by his late consti tuents at Weymouth, and by his brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and all other relations, he gives to his son Edward; the plate presented to him by the young people at Wey mouth, he gives to his son in-law, Andrew Johnston ; the plate presented to him from the Directors and members of the Alliance Assurance Company, he gives to his sons, Thomas Fowell, and Charles. Other specific articles of plate lie leaves to his dagghters. He gives his college prize books to his son Edward and his children. Devises his freehold and leasehold estates at Bunton and Fellbrigg, in the county of Norfolk, to his son Edward North Buxton. Devises his freehold, copyhold, and leasehold estates in Trimington, Side strand, Southrepps, Girningham, and in all other towns, parishes, or places, in or near the county of Norfolk, to his sons Thomas Fowell Buxton, and Charles Bux ton. Directs the Bellfield estate to be sold, and with the share in the partnership of the brewery and the re sidue of his personal estate, to be held in trust, to pay thereout 3,0001. a year to his wife for her life. Appoints his son, now Sir Edward North Buxton, his residuary legatee. NEW PIER, GRAVESEND.—This work is now finished, and was on Monday morning thrown open to the public. The engineer is Mr. Redman. On Tuesday night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, some alarm was occasioned at Kingstom-bottom by a horse and gig coming down to the Robin Hood gate without any perFon. The horse was secured, and some men immediately proceeded up the road towards London in search of the party or parties who were in the vehicle. About half a mile from the gate two gentlemen were found lying in the road in an insensible state, and very much cut and bruised. They were immediately con veyed to the Robin Hood public-house, and a medical gentleman was called in, who in a short time restored the gentlemen to a state of consciousness. One of them Was recognised as a medical practitioner of Clapham. ILIDAY MORNING,- MARCH 28, 1845. all in their power to :make 'it plenty and chap. Oh is the echo; the Straits of Malacca and Burman set tlements are too weak to make any noise in Parliament that will be listened to or attended to, so we may crush them without fear of consequences (I have nothing at stake there now, !neither for myself nor any of my fa mily, our field ie. Hong-Kong, Shanghai, and Manilla, so I write disinterestedly) The present would appear to be a period the most inviting to the enterprising, for the profitable employment of means and science in the soil of British India for the produce of sugar, from the rivers Berhampootia to the Indus, to the latter of which rivers suitable steamers and flat-bottomed boats have at last been sent and established for the purposes of com merce and for the quick transport of troops, instead of, as heretofore, transporting them by land through the swamps on the banks of the Indus by long and harassing marches, by which fearful losses of life have occurred from such exposure. The 78th Highlanders (if they be now what they were in 1811 when at the capture of Java) are the most unfit men of the United Kingdom for such exposure from being la men, as was found to the grief of all who knew it, for they died by dozens when exposed to the swamps of .lava and its low lands, whilst the 89th, a purely as wild an Irish regiment as the 78th was Highland, suffered comparatively little by deaths. Give honest Donrld his hills, snow capped, and pure air, and he will do all that man can do. No man will feel more severely the losses in the 78th than Sir C. Napier; still the experience, though acquired, is indeed too dearly bought! But still the Indus and its banks are our strong holds on the south western frontier, and the sooner they are so on the north-west frontier the better. The soil and position are both favourable to sugar production, transit will be hereafter be quick and good, and the cli mate not inferior to many other of our tropical posses sions, if prudence be duly exercised in biding away from unhealthy spots at certain periods, as is the practice in other low tropical climates. It appears to me, that he who stimulates the enteprising to embark in East India sugar production, conduces more substantially to the comfort and benefit of both .the labourers and Govern ment of this country, than all the so-called farmers' friends put together ; toe middle and upper classes will get their share of the benefit by lightened taxation arising from more contributors, and slavery abolition will be hastened thereby by free beating slave labour. Would that the rage was as great at present for producing sugar as for railroads, good indeed though the latter be. It appears to me, considering the teeming millions of India, and the suitableness of the soil, together with the prospect of an almost limitless market for absorption, that the prospects of large returns from means invested in East India sugar cultivation, en inferior to no other description of investment. The day Sinde became British, that moment all France's hopes vanished of making the Panjaub a thorn in our side, when the time arrived ; and hence, away went all the French officers, clean off, and away, from the dominions of the Old Lion of Lahore, the Sinde policy, and in fact its justice and humanity, the East India Company either cannot see, or from policy or infatuation will not acknowledge. When we have only the two high roads from the West into India to guard, the Kyber Pass and the Bolan, then peace will reign in India, but never before ; every day's experience shows this more clearly—even though we now hold the key to the Panjaub and into Western India, by Sinde and the Indus. It seems to me that that the Southern United States will enjoy an advantage over all other sugar-producing countries, to some considerable extent at least, for at present many of their cotton-loaded ships, ballast with copper-dross or stones, whereas, in future, sugar can be taken for ballast, which can afford to be carried at a no minal rate of freight ; and although it be a small item, still a saving of about two shillings per cwt. is a profit of itself of ten shillings on the first cost of the sugar. The monopoly which the West Indies have so long and so disadvantageously enjoyed, both to the United King dom and to themselves, has had the effect of causing the planters to disregard the cultivation of cotton, and hence their bad position in comparison with the United States. The East Indies is too far off, and the voyage, therefore, too expensive to enable our shipowners to cary sugar as ballast, at a nominal freight, from India to England. The West Indies, however, are, or may be, made valuable colonies, and the owners of land therein will awake from their slumbers, see their present proper position, and act consistently to themselves and to the mother country. They have at present many advan tages by steam, a civilised population, a cleared country under a regularly settled Government, &c., the happy position of their black population will naturally, .the perhaps slowly, induce Africans and coloured men from all quarters in their vicinity to make our West India colonies a refuge and a home. It seems to me that the system of emigration adopted for supplying of labourers to the West Indies from Africa and from India is bad and vicious; the proportion of females to males is ex tremely so, and especially so from the East Indies. The races never did yet harmonise or amalgamate: and a Hindoo Coolie thinks of nothing when he has no wife or home, but getting back to the East Indies ; whereas, if young men and their wives were brought over from Ilin doston to Demerara or the West Indies they would settle, colonise in villages by themselves, and increase an nually in numbers. Chinamen would do the same, if a point were made that every man must bring his wife with him. He could not, it is true, bring a Chinese wife of pure blood, but he would have no difficulty in obtaining a Malay wife, and right nice women they are, and very thrifty and cleanly, though the Malay men be otherwise. It is not over creditable to Great Britain to draw so large a number of the labourers for the West India colonies from the captured slavers, no doubt, though there be, that the poor captured negroes will be ultimately benefited thereby. The West Indians will but deceive themselves if they believe in the delusion and art thereon, that the consumers of West India produce (for they pay the piper) will long submit to pay the expense of transporting to and from the coast of Africa to the West Indies, and to and from India to the West Indies. Male la bourers, for the sole purpose of tilling by a bad system their West India estates. If they mean to make the most of their present breathing time, they would act wisely by being up and doing, and using every effort while they yet enjoy the power, of inducing young couples of Africans, of Hill-coolies in couples, and of young Chinamen and their Malay wives (each male with a female and children, if they have them), to emigrate and to finally settle with their families in the West Indies. It may, perhaps, be too much to believe that the late British slaveholder has already changed his opinion, that " it is cheaper to buy labourers than to breed iem." But be this as it may, it is now, or ought to be, out of his power " to buy instead of breeding;" and if he be still infatuated enough to dream of acting on that exploded opinion, and as far as in him lies do act thereon, he must prepare himself at an early period to see his estates pass into the hands of others more worthy than he, who will do the needful justice to him self and his country, and this too, to witness this loss of his property by circumstances which will then be out of his power to control. Contracts I see have been entered into by the owners of estates in the Malacca Straits settlements with gangs of Chinamen, whereby the China men are to cultivate those sugar estates, and cure the sugar fit for exporting to Europe (the latter finding im plements and other materials for agriculture and curing), and the suga.is so cured fit for shipping, &c., to be deli vered to the owner of the estate, at the rate of 1 Spanish dollar per picul, or 7s. 3d. per 133 1-31bs., the China men to get his remuneration for his labour and capital employed by his gang out of the price he receives for his sugars. This is a species of farming; and perhaps this has so far frightened the West Indians out of their propriety, as to cause them to force Sir Robert Peel to deal so cruelly with those young, but still the first, of our free-trade settlements and self-supporting settle ments—Singapore, Malacca, province Wellesley, and Penang at least. The Mosquito shore, Natal, and the north half of New Holland, may all be made sugar producing colonies; but the white man is required to direct and superintend his black brother in the operation ftillage and curing. IL W. *HOCKING AFFAIR AT WHIT TINGTON. (From the Derbyshire Courier.) On Thursday morning, about ten, the village of Whit tington, two miles from Chesterfield, was the scene o great excitement, in consequence of the rumour that a Mrs. Green, who resides there, had either been mur dered or had committed suicide. It appears that, shortly before the hour named, she had been seen by several neighbours to enter the gate of her own premises, lead ing one of her grandchildren by one hand , and holding the other hand to her throat. One of the neighbours going to the place, she found Mrs. Green reclining upon a stone in the yard, and bleeding pro fusely from a frightful wound in the throat. She was unable to speak. The alarm was at once given, fled a messenger dispatched to Chesterfied for medical aid. Mr. Boddington arrived in a very short time, but life was extinct before his arrival. Tire wound was exceed ingly largo and deep, extending from " ear to ear." The oesophagus and jugular vein were partially severed, and the carotid artery was laid bare, although not cut. A razor marked with blood was found lying on the hearthstone. It is stated that she was seen to rin out of her house, hold ing her hands to but throat, and to go to .the door of the Cock and Magpie public-house, and then to another neighbouring house, but it appears that she failed to make any person hear her. Her house adjoins that of her son-in-law, Joseph Hawksley, and it is stated that he was the only person about the premises beside the deceased at the time; Mrs. Hawksley having gone out shortly before, and a boy aged six years, named Green, a grandson of the deceased, who was staying with her, having been sent away from her house the same morning. The farm belonged to the deceased Mrs. Green, of whom Hawksley holds it as tenant. Many disputes have arisen between Mrs. Green and her son in-law of late, and it is not long since they appeared be fore the magistrates, on which occasion Mrs. Green ap plied for Hawksley to be bound over to keep the peace. The application was refused by the magistrates, who reprimanded both parties. At the same time, a son of the deceased was fined for wilfully damaging a plough belonging to Hawksley. The origin of the melan choly affair of Thursday last is at present a mystery. Deceased was in good health and spirits at eleven on Wednesday night, previous to which hour Hawksley attempted to force his way into her house, but was pre vented by Sydney Green, her son. Hawksley states, we learn, that on the Thursday morning, he was working in one of the fields, when he heard a scream ; he immediately went towards his house, thinking that soma of his children had set their clothes on fire. As he approached, he saw his mother-in-law run out of her house, holding her hands to her throat. In going to his own door he met her, and immediately sent a boy for assistance. The statement of one of the children is very different to this. An inquest was opened before Mr. Hutchinson, Coroner for Scarsdale, on Thursday afternoon, at the Cock and Magpie, but immediately adjourned to Friday next. The circumstances to which we allude have made very great sensation throughout the district. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 5 to 2 agst Lord Stradbroke's Idas— taken 3 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's hedger—taken CHESTER CUP. 8 to I agst The Irish lot 12 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnson's Obscurity—taken 15 to 1 agst Mr. W. 11. Johnstone's The Era 25 to 1 agst Mr. Bell's Winesour—taken 25 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Strathspey—taken 28 to 1 agst Mr. H. Stebbing's Celeste—taken 33 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Ould Ireland 40 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Pride of Kildare—takes 45 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Patriot—taken 1000 to 15 agst Mr. Irwin's Foig-a-ballagh—taken 4,000 to 80 agst Roe's lot (Cabin Boy, Yonng England, Peter the Hermit, and Gorilambury)—taken. Offers to take 11 to 1 about Semiseria, With the ex ception of that agst Roe's lot, the bets quoted as taken were in small sums. The Derby betting was too insignificant to admit of a quotation. Mr. Scott, to whose accident we adverted a few days since, has had a relapse, and although not in actual danger, is unable to leave his room, or attend to business. CA.TTERICK BRIDGE RACES.—WEDNESDAY. The Bedale Hunt Stakes of 1 soy. each, and 20 added by the members, were won by Mr. Newborn's Clemen tine (owner), beating Ariel, Flora, and Eliza. The Two-years Old Stakes of 20 sovs. each, h ft. One mile. (4 subs.) Mr. Batty's Lord Harry, by Recovery : Sst 41b (Lye) 1 Mr. Hesse'tine's Sich a getting up Stairs, Sat 21b .... 2 Mr. W. Scott's Mr. Mansfield, Bst 51b Mr. J. Scott's Marciana, Sst 21b 4 Won easy. The Filly Stakes, of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft, for three yrs old, Bst 31b each. One mile and a half. (5 Subs.) Lord E;zlinton's Pythia (Nlsirson) 1 Mr. Salvin's Marian Ramsay Lord Glasgow's f, by Bay Middleton, dby St. Patrick 3 Mr. T. Dawson's Sleepy 4 Mr. Jaques's Extravaganza 5 Won by a head. The Shorts Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two yrs old colts, Bst 51b ; and fillies, Bst 21b ; from the Catterick turn in. (10 Subs.) Mr. J.Cookson's Fair Star, by William IV. (Francis) 1 Mr. Salvin's Thalia The following also started :—Lord Zetland's f by the Bard out of Co-heiress's darn ; Mr. T. Dawson named Sister to Skipton ; and Mr. T. Ayre's f by Phceaix. Won by a length. The Revival Handicap of 20 sovs. each, 10 ft. and 5 only if declared, with 50 added ; the second to save his stake. (28 Subs., 16 of whom declared). Two miles. Mr. Hesseltine's Porto Bello, 5 yrs, 7st 21b (Bumby) 1 Mr. Meiklam's Inheritress, 5 yrs, 7st 71b 2 The following also ran :—Mr. J. COokson's Punjaub, 3 yrs, sst ; Mr. G. G. Davy's Fair Rosamond, 4 yrs, Est 101 b ; Mr. Meiklam's Trueboy, 5 yrs, Bst Sib ; Lord Glasgow's fby Retainer, out of Purity, 4 yrs, 7st; and Mr. Cuthbert's Beaufront, 4 yrs, 6st 71b. Won by a neck. The Tallyho Stakes of 10 sovs. each, h ft, with 10 added, for hunters, four yrs, list 21b ; five yrs, list 1 llb ; six yrs and aged, 12st 31b, &c. ; two miles. (6 Subs.) Mr. F. A. Millbank'sVeluti, 6 yrs (Mr. H. Johnstone) 1 Mr. M. W. V. Millbank's Crikey Billy, 5 yrs 2 Captain Allan's Wasp, aged Mr. Salvin's Pigskin, 4 yrs 4 Match for 25 sovs., 9st each; two miles—Capt. Allan's ch f Abd-el-Kader (Hutchinson) beat Mr. J. Cookson's gr f Little Fairy. Match, 50 sovs. ; heats • one mile—Mr. Jackson's br f received forfeit, Mr. Bucklow's pony paid. INTELLIGENCE EXTRA. CROXTON PARK RACES, APRIL 2. Acceptances for the Billesden Coplow Stakes. Sister to Whitefoot, 6 yrs—filly, by Bolero, out of the Queen—Niobe, 4 yrs—Wotton, 4 yrs. Acceptances for the Granby Handicap. William-le-Gros, 6 yrs, 12st 21b—Napier, 5 yrs, 12st —Discord, aged, 1 Ist 101b—What, 5 yrs, 1 I st—nworth, aged, 1 lst—Portobello, 5 yrs, 10st 121b—Veluti, 6 yrs, lOst 121b—Hyrcauian, 5 yrs, 10st 1 Ilb—Lyeurgus, aged, lOst 121b—The Poor Soldier, 5 yrs, lOst 71b—The Bat (late Nonsuit), 6 yrs, lOst 71b—Teetotaller, 6 yrs, lOst 71b—Beaumont, 4 yrs, lOst 71b—Warp, 4 yrs, lOst 61b—filly, by Redshank, dam by Tramp, 4 yrs, lOst 41b—filly, by Bubastes, out of Zelinda, 4 yrs, 9st. Acceptances for the Gold Cup. William-le-Gros, 6 yrs, 1 Ist 121b—Napier, 5 yrs, list 101b—Sorella, 4 yrs, list 91b—Discord, aged, list 41b—Hyreanian, 5 yrs, lOst 1 11b—Naworth, aged, 10st 101b—Portobello, 5 yrs, lOst Eilb—The Poor Sol dier, 5 yrs, lOst 81b—Lord Saltoun, 4 yrs, lOst 31b—The Bat, 4 yrs, lOst 31b. Nominations for the Farmers' Plate. __ Diana, 6 yrs—Perseverance, 6 yrs—Sister to Unfor tunate, 5 yrs—Nimble Harry, 5 yrs—Snowdrop, 5 yrs— Araby Maid, 5 yrs—The Squire, 5 yrs—Kitty Careless, 5 yrs—B m, by Shamrock, dam by Holme—Ch g, by Birdcatcher, 5 yrs—Gay Lass, 5 yrs—Goosegreen, b yrs —Father Mathew, 5 yrs—Little Thought-of, 5 yrs— Ch m, byßirdcatcher, 5 yrs—Emily, 4 yrs—Ch g, by Sir Gilbert, 4 yrs—Singleton, 4 yrs—Jane M`Kay, 4 yrs— Skylark, 4 yrs—Young England, 4 yrs. THE CONSUMPTION AND CULTI VATION OF SUGAR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In overhauling my household expenses I find we use in my family, servants included, at the rate of five pounds of sugar per week for three persons; this is more than I calculated upon before actual investigation; and to satisfy your mind that waste is not allowed, I just mention that my present wife had been for above twenty years in the young ladies seminary at the Moravian es tablishmen, Fairfield, in Manchester, and for a consi derable period of the latter part of that time, she was director of that establishment, which is a public one, and had to account half-yearly to the heads of depart ments of that body for the income and outlay, the balance in favour of which went to the general fund of that missionary body for their support; that young ladies seminary has now existed for fifty years, and at which the daughter's of several of the leading men in that quarter and elsewhere received their education, say Mr. Brotherton's, M.P.; Thomas Ashton's, hyde manufac turer; James Ashton's wife, of Ilorrocks, Jackson, and Co.; Mr. Moffett's (the Cape missionaries) wife, &c. In this village (Allonby) and neighbourhood, I find many of the labouring people use either tea or coffee to, or with, their dinner, besides the same to breakfast and supper when they can afford it. My friend (an out and out free-trader), Thomas Wilson, E-q., banker and hatter, Cockermouth, employ s abjut four hundred hands in his business, and he tells me that either tea or coffee is used three times a day by his workpeople, which are comparatively well off, for he superintends personally his business himself from first in the morning to the last at night ; he is a thorough man of business, kind and considerate to his workmen. The colliers in this county, who work under-ground, and as you aware, I dare say, receive good wages, and are a numerous body, they also use coffee and tea three times a day in a general way ; indeed, I may say in conclusion on this part of the sub ject, that it is a general practice in this county with the labourers, when they can afford it. Now, I take for granted (or for example), that the population of the united Kinerclom will in 1845, or 1846, amount to thirty millions of inhabitants ; at one pound of sugar each 'person per week, and four pounds each annually for pre serving fruit, and at Christmas, we have fifty-six pounds each consumption, which on thirty millions gives 1,680 million pounds, or seven hundred and fifty thousand tons of sugar as the annual consumption of the United Kingdom; this at lid. per lb. duty (14s. per cwt. or 141. per ton( gives a revenue of 10,500,000/., each person thus contributing seven shillings annually to the revenue, and adding, by so doing, to the comfoat and happiness of their fire• sides, as well as largely contributing to in crease the revenue. This seven hundred and fifty thou , sand tons of sugar would load 1,875 ships of four hun dred tons each, which at twenty men per ship, would give employment to 37,500 seamen. The quantity which I have assumed, 11b. per person per week, and 41bs. over, is considerably, it seems to me, below the actual expen diture of persons like myself, in the middle rank of life; true, many of the poor, and many of the Irish popula tion, are at present unable to use sugar, from want of means to purchase that most desirable and most nutri ions aliment. But the fault lies with the ruling powers of the day, at present, as it has always hitherto done, and not with the ruled. The transition of the Africans in the West Indies has no doubt caused a revolutioa in the state of affairs, as regards the labourers at the sugar cultivation in the West; no doubt the number of field labourers have been reduced there since slavery was abolished, and very properly so, by the with drawal from field labour of the females, and, perhaps, by an equal number to the avoca tions of shop-keepers, trades, &c. ; but then the sugar estates have not been made the most of by a resi dent proprietary, superintending personally the cultiva tion of their estates, in the same manner as my friend, Mr. Wilson, in Cockermouth, who would just be as much entitled to compensation from the community at large, for the loss he might annually sustain in his business, if he took it into his head to go and live at Rome, and drive his coach and six daily, and persuade himself he could manage his business in Cockermouth by a limb of the law who resided in London. My Cockermouth friend would, under the above circumstances, just be as much entitled to the same protection or monopoly in the pro duction of sugar, and it seems to me to be proved by all so long as a hope is held out to the West Indians, sugarstheir shall be admittted into the markets of experience that, the United Kingdom for consumption on more favour able terms than foreign sugars, that no sufficient efforts will be made to superintend the cultivation of their estates personally, on the most improved and scientific principle ; nothing but subjecting them to a severe com petition will, it seems to me, effect the object, an object which justice to the other branches of the community in the United Kingdom imperiously and most justly de mand, without delay. The competition between the East and West Indies will, it is devoutly to be hoped tend to arouse the West Indians from their lethergy and delu sive dreams of continued protection, as they call mono poly, to the cupidity of which such unheard of hard ships ar clearly ascribable among the labouring part of our population. Only observe the meanness and the in justice of the present measure as regards sugar, in sub jecting the sugars of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore, to a higher duty than the rest of the British sugar colonies; and, not only this, but within the last week I observe an order in Council, again subjecting sugar, the produce of Arracan and the conquered Burman provinces on the East side of the Bay of Bengal, to the same differential duties as the Malacca Straits settlements, after they had been placed en the same footing as Renal, of which pre sidency they form a part, and are under its Government. This is retrogade ; but the settlements are comparatively new and weak in power, and the ruling powers of the day, instead of fostering their weak children, actually do all they can to crush them—and for what ? Why, to make sugar scarce and dear, which they profess to do THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. BURIAL GROUND PRACTICES. If indiscriminate mutilation and disturbance of previous deposits, and consequent desecration of the last resting places of those who have preceded us, are still to be per mitted ; if the ashes of our deceased emintrymen are entitled to, or obtain too frequently under the present order of things, no respect; if the ties of relationship and affection and the best feelings of the heart are to be outraged by a trading sexton or a brutal gravedigger; if a system has too long been, and continues to this hour, in operation, which most une quivocally tends to brutalise, to anchristianise, the officials who execute the disgusting work, and the crowds of people exposed constantly to such scenes ; if our very beautiful burial-service has been too frequently disgraced by the acts perpetrated previous or subsequent to its performance, it is more than time that such an evil were crushed, and for ever! It degrades religion ; brings its ministers into contempt, tends to lower the standard of morality, and is afoul blot upon our boasted civilisation."—C. A. Walker, Surgeon, in "Inter ment and Disinterment."—Nov. 3, 1842. The condition of the Spa-fields Buring-ground has recently attracted much attention ; and though the par ties who profit by a continuance of that most disgraceful and dangerous receptacle of corruption are industriously engaged in circulating statements to the effect that the facts already before the public arc much exaggerated, the reality is in truth far worse than the representation ; and that it is so the following ADDITIONAL. FACTS, for the correctness of which I hold myself in every respect responsible, will abundantly attest. The practice of burning the coffins and portions of their contents has been carried on in Spa-fields burying ground for upwards of a quarter of a century ; a fire has been continually burning day and night. It has not been possible for a very long period of time to obtain a grave for an adult, without mutilation and disturbance of previous deposits. Stephen Bishop, the WATCHMAN (?) of the ground, has performed the double office of calling the hour of the night and burning coffins, &c., in the BONE-nousE.* This person has executed the above-named compound functions during seventeen or eighteen years. Some years since he was accustomed to eat his food in the Lone-house, durir.g the performance of his nightly tasks. Of late he has become more fastidious, and wears a " hand-leather," to avoid contamination from the con tact of the coffin-wood. Some time ago he told one of his associates that " 'pon his soul he couldn't eat his grub in the bone- house now." The relief-guard (the gravediggers) entered upon their daily work in the grave-yard as Bishop had concluded his nightwork in the bone-house. The man has frequently " let his fire down," and has been chidden by his employer for so doing. lie has replied that " the wood was wet." His master has rejoined, " You ought to save all *fie deal wood you can fur the purpose qf keeping up the fire." The coffins of " still-born" children have been broken up and used for the purpose of lighting the fire in the bone-house; deal, of which they are composed, being more combustible than the elm coffin of the adult. A late " manager" of the ground has entered the bone house at various hours in the morning, anal has observed —" Ah, Steevy" (Stephen Bishop, the so-called watch man of the ground) " has been asleep. He's let his fire out. Why don't you take care of the deal for lighting the fire ?" It has frequently occurred that the poor creatures who have brought children to be buried (" still-born") have left, as a pledge for the eighteenpence fee they lacked, a shawl, an apron, or even duplicates, whilst the following Machiavelian trick has been often practised :—The corpse being taken into the parlour of the " manager," he has removed it from the coffin, and has endeavoured, by the exercise of a little tact, to elicit from the attendant or nurse, as the case might be, whether the child had breathed; if so, he refused to bury the child unless the fee of four shillings was paid—threatening the party, if they demurred, that he " would compel them to bury it in a regular way, by an undertaker." It has been a common practice to remove the grave stones from the "common" into the "best" ground. A double object was thus accomplished—the ground had a more respectable appearance, in consequence of the array of tombstones; freer space was left for the digging-up, levelling, and raking over the " worst " ground, whilst an additional charge was demanded from the relatives of every new-comer. The stone designating the family-grave of -- has been removed about thirty yards from the place it once occupied, and the coffins of three other persons occupy the original grave. The stone marking the grave of -- has been re moved. The family grave of -- was shifted from its posi tion in the " worst" to the " best" ground; the differ ence in the charge for interment in the latter being four shillings extra. The stone has been replaced, for spe cific reasons. The stone marking the family grave of -- has been removed about twenty-two yards from its original site. The stone marking the family grave of -- has been removed twenty yards from its original position. The family grave of has been charged to the surface with the bodies of others not connected in any degree with the original purchaser, and this grave thrice filled and thrice " cleaned out" within the last ten years. The bodies interred in the family grave of —, of street, have been mutilated ; upwards of two feet in length of the coffins and bodies have been chopped off. A highly respectable family, residing in —, pur chased a double family grave in Spa-fields burying ground. This grave was marked by a head and a foot stone. The grave was opened some time since, for the reception of a deceased member of the family. A tier of eight or ten coffins was found projecting in every direction, and filling up half this double grave. The coffins and bodies of adults and children were remorse lessly cut through, and upwards of five hundred weight of coffin-wood taken out of the grave and burnt. The original occupant of this family grave, —, was " doubled up and thrust into the mud, &c., at the bottom of the grave, out of which upwards of forty pailsful of a most sickening compound were baled. His coffin was taken to the bone-house, the fire being alight at the time. The " manager" has frequently been on the watch through the wicket of the large gates of the ground, and, as soon as the mourners have made their appearance with the de ceased, he has shouted to the gravediggers, " Make haste—they're coming ;" earth has been quickly thrown over the floor of the grave, the body deposited, and within half an hour—even before the funeral service was concluded—the coffin has been covered by the water. Water containing, in solution or suspension, portions of human remains, has been almost constantly " bucketed" out of the graves, more especially those situated in the " best" ground. The earth covering the coffins and their contents in the immediate vicinity has been pierced in every direction by the boring-rod, for the double purpose of getting rid for the instant of the fluid ma terial removed from the graves, and for promoting the more rapid decomposition of the bodies. The body of a male relative of an ex-gravedigger of twenty years' practice in Spa-fields burying-ground has been mutilated, and his coffin burnt. The " head man" in this ground, Tom Smith, an hereditary gravedigger, has committed the most fearful and unheard-of atrocities on the bodies of the dead. The long hair of the women has been cut off and sold to the hair-dressers ; " rails" (teeth) have been taken from every corpse affording them of sufficient quality to stimu late his cupidity ; whilst the materials in which the bodies of the dead have been clothed by the hand of af fection have been, in hundreds of instances, torn off by this midnight prowler. On December 23, 1843, I attended at the Clerkenwell Police-court, for the purpose of substantiating the above and other allegations, and should have endeavoured to do so had not the sitting magistrate, Mr. Greenwood, peremptorily declined interfering in the matter of a me morial that found its way into the Clerkenwell Police office, although, I believe, it did not come under his offi cial cognisance. I had the first intimation of the complaint then made from the Times of December 21, 1843. It is probable that the audacity of the manager, Mr. C. Bird, and his attempt to intimidate, under a threat of legal proceed • ings, induced me to give several hours of time, at much inconvenience to myself, on that occasion, although, from a sense of duty, I accepted a challenge I had nei ther desired nor provoked. The memorial, in my pos session, is signed by about a hundred and fifty of the neighbouring inhabitants, and contains, among others, the following allegations:— " The inhabitants of the aforesaid places" (Garden walk, Exmouth-street, Northampton-road, Northampton row, Vineyard-walk, Fletcher's-row, Chapel-row, and parts adjacent) " have been annoyed from the unpleasant and exceedingly unwholesome smell arising from the 'burning in the bone-house of coffins in the Spa-fields burying-t;round ; and from the nauseous fumes which, at such times, impregnate the air, your petitioners firmly believe that human bodies are consumed therein ; and your petitioner James Wilson, humbly maketh com plaint, that he standeth in constant dread of being burnt out, in consequence of the aforesaid bone-house being joined to the back of his house, from the chimney of which bone-house flames occasionally arise to a great height ; and on last Thursday (December '2l, 1843) the bone-house was actually on fire, which caused the adja cent inhabitants to remove their goods in great terror." In March, 1843, or thereabouts, I caused to be pre sented the following petition to the House of Commons. Upwards of 500 signatures were attached thereto. " To the Hon. the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament as sembled. " The humble petition of the undersigned resident in habitants of Exmouth-street, Northampton row, Chapel•row, and adjoining neighbourhoods, " Showeth—That your petitioners are forced to com plain of, and are constantly annoyed by, the disgusting practices employed in the Spa-fields burial-ground. " That many of your petitioners have repeatedly wit nessed the most shameful mutilations of the dead. " That it is a common and almost daily practice to break up and consume the wood of the coffins (not yet decayed) in large quantities in an out-house in this place. That many hundred tons weight of coffin-wood have been thus disposed of. " That your petitioners are frequently sensible of a most disgusting smell, which they have no doubt arises from the surface of this grave-yard, and from the burn ing of the wood of the coffins ; and that your petitioners have every reason to believe that the health of themselves and families has been affected from the above causes. "That, in the judgment of your petitioners, this bury ing-ground does not contain more than eighty-seven thousand one hundred and twenty square feet of sur face. That your petitioners believe that, on a yearly average, two thousand bodies have been pretended to be buried in this ground. That this place has been em ployed as a burying-ground more than half a century. That it appears that not more than 1,500 bodies can be decently and properly interred in an acre of ground ; and that consequently upwards of fifty thou- The following sign -board is placed on the right-hand side of the entranfe, in the grave-yard, near the bone-house. It is supported by a pole wedged in between two ledgers (upright gravestones) :—" Take notice. The watchmen in this ground are provided with lire-arms. Take off your pattem." sand human bodies must have been displaced, mutilated. and mixed with the moist soil of this grave-yard, long before the process of natural decay can have taken plaice. That it is a common practice in this ground to displace the stones marking the graves of deceased persons whose relatives have purchased the ground in perpetuity. That thus a fraud is perpetrated on the living, and gross indecencies inflicted on the dead, whose bodies are fre quently mutilated and displaced to make room for fresh comers. "That your petitioners desire to express their un feigned satisfaction and gratitude that the practices re sulting from the interment of the dead in towns have been the subject of a long, searching, impartial, and patient inquiry of a Committee of your Honourable House ; and that your petitioners venture to express a hope that the labours of your Committee - will cause the immediate introduction of such alterations in the pre sent system of interment as 'your Honourable House, in its wisdom, may deem necessary. " And your petitioners will ever pray, &c." Having passed in review the scenes of the terrible drama that has been constantly and systematically enacted in Spa-fields burying-ground, I reserve to my self the choice of time for a further unmasking of hy pocrisy of a most disgusting description. I will prove that " grave-yard management," even in its minutest de tail, is so perfect in its scheming, so determined in its execution, so terrible and dreadful in its results, that the well-constituted :mind must indignantly recoil from its imaginings, much more from its realities. GEORGE ALFRED WALKER. St. James's-place, St. James's-street, March 22, I Cl 5. BURIAL-GROUND OF ST. SA VIOUR'S, SOUTHWARK. A Vestry :meeting of the parishioners of St. Saviour's, Southwark, was held on Easter Tuesday in the Vestry room, at which the following resolutions were moved by Mr. H. B. Clark:— " Resolved,—That it is the opinion'of this Vestry that the present state of the grave-yard of this parish is such that the burial of the dead ought to be discontinued therein. " That the churchwardens be empowered to call for such information us will enable them to investigate the subject, and to make arrangements, if necessary, with one of the metropolitan cemeteries, or for any eligible plot of ground, subject to the approval of a subsequent Vestry, for the interment of the dead of this parish." In the course of some observations addressed to the meeting in support of these resolutions, he stated that, allowing the shortest time for the decomposition of the dead which he thought possible, twenty years, according to the size of the ground and the number of interments, they must lay five bodies deep all over it ; numbers of which were decomposing close to its surface, and spread ing an effluvia round, the evil effects of which could not be calculated. He considered that it was high time something should be done to put an end to what to him. and he doubted not to them, appeared a most dangerous and most repulsive system of burying the dead. The resolutions were seconded, and carried unani mously by the Vestry, who have appointed a committee, consisting of the churchwardens and three inhabitants, to investigate the subject, with a view to its alteration in accordance with the terms of the resolutions. The grave-yard in question is a narrow strip of ground, about 160 feet by 50, including a footpath, bounded on one side by the thickly-populated Clink, and by London bridge and the Borough-market on the other sides. It has been used as a burying-place for many hundreds of years, and has become a complete Golgotha. This resolution of the Vestry will, therefore, be hailed by the inhabitants at large, as the first step towards the removal of what has long been a nuisance a n d an e y es ore. It is to be hoped that other parishes will imitate their example, and that soon these predisposing causes to disease and death will be banished from amongst us, and a more decent and healthy system of interment substituted in its place. DEFENSIVE ASSOCIATION OF SURGEONS. A meeting of a few members of this body wa s h e ld at the Literary and Scientific Institution, Leicester-square, onWednesday, for the purpose, as the advertisement stated of " taking steps to defend the body from the wrong in flicted by the recent charter, and the further aggression to be inflicted by the proposed Government Bill." Th• meeting was called for seven o'clock, but it was long after that hour before the proceedings commenced. Thomas Wyse, Esq., M.P., having taken the chair, The Secretary read several letters from eminent me dical gentlemen, expressing their approval of the objects of the meeting, which were stated to be in substance the correction of certain evils, viz.:— " The irresponsible management of the surgical colleges. " The varieties of grade recently introduced amongst the members of the College of Surgeons of England. " The Association is impressed with the conviction that at a moment when wealth is so superabundant, and the candidates for the learned professions so numerous, a wise Government should take advantage of such cir cumstances to raise the whole body of medical practi tioners to so high a point of science as would preclude the existence of inferiorly educated grades. Its mem bers have observed, however, with deep regret, that her Majesty's Home Secretary has provided in his recent charter to the College of Surgeons, for the creation of a low class of practitioners unknown before to that Col lege. This forcible and uncalled-for creation of a de graded class of medical men, is not only confirmed by that measure, but that the large body of British surgeons are distinctly stripped of their titles as surgeons,' and that equality of position with them is, for the future, offered to any youth who may spend two years of medi cal studies in any of the 'British universities. " The Defensive Association of Surgeons are con vinced that the new charter, and proposed Government. Bill, thus menacing the interests of British surgeons, will re-act on the prosperity of the colleges to which they belong, and thus doubly urged to action, respectfully and earnestly invite their surgical brethren to unite with them in one great effort to repair the wrongs already inflicted, to ward off those that are now but too clearly menaced, and introduce among all classes of surgeons that good fellowship and contentment so necessary to the happy and successful cultivation of their science." The CHAIRMAN said, in consenting to take the chair at this meeting, he was actuated solely by a desire to forward the general interests, and to promote the condi tion of the honourable profession to which those whom he now addressed belonged ; but not being a member of that profession himself, he could not of course be ex pected to possess an intimate knowledge of the detail of the differences which at present divided that body, but no one could lament them more than he did. That they were matter of regret there could be no doubt, because he felt convinced that, by the union and co-operation of the profession, the benefits they individually derived from experience could be applied with greater effect to the well-being of humanity.—(Hear.) But at the same time it could not be supposed that a learned profession. like that of medicine, should be suffered by its professors to permit an opportunity to pass without bringing its grievances before the public, and stating what they con ceived to be the most fitting remedy for their removal. —(Hear.) However, while he wished to be understood as holding himself disengaged from the differences and divisions of the body, yet he could not refuse lending his humble aid towards the furtherance of this, as well as every other branch of education in this country.— (Hear.) The Legislature, in dealing with a question so important as this, at least a Legislature constituted as that of England was, should afford the highest possible range to its full and free action, consistent with the public tranquillity and safety ; and in order to do this, there were two courses pointed out:—the one, that any man should be allowed to adopt that branch of the profession which he should deem the best suited to his capacity, and most likely to serve his private in terests; while the other was to point out certain limits beyond which it would not be safe to permit him to pass.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member then drew a comparison between the legal an medical profession. and showed how much more important it was to the in terests of humanity to have a greater degree of care be stowed upon the education of the members of the latter than of the former. The lawyer, he conceived, was a man whose abilities and capabilities would soon be discovered and appreciated by the public, without the use of those tests applied in other countries, and even the worst results that would attend an incompetent lawyer's efforts would be a loss of property, results which he did not mean to underrate; but then how much more serious would be the results attending an inefficient, or incompetent, or badly educated medical man?—(Hear, hear.) It was upon these grounds that the Parliament should feel justified in interfering with this profession to the extent of taking care that a guarantee should be given to the public that life and health were not to be trifled with by the incom petence of persons, arising from their not having gone through the necessary ordeal. (Hear, hear.) Indeed he did not think that in point of scientific knowledge, intellectual attainment, or moral culture, the test could not be carried too high.—(Hear. hear.) As a practitioner, the surgeon and the medical man should bring to bear extensive reading and practical knowledge, in which, in amoral point of view, he could not be too particular. as he invariably became acquainted with the most private affairs of a family, and, therefore. lie should be a man of high morals, honour, and prin ciple.—(Hear, hear.) He next alluded to the society of apothecaries, amongst whom, he said, were to be found men of as high attainments as in any other profession, and who would be an honour and an ornament to any ; and, therefore, the proposed Bill ought not to contain any proposition tending to place them in a humiliating . p osition.— ( Bear,Cos hoar.) rELLo proposed the first r eso l u ti on . which was B. this effect : " That the present s t a t e o f ihmicrh.W society is highly favourable to the requirement from all future candidates for the medical profession, of high proofs of scientific attainments." In so doing, he drew attention to the state of the profession in France a few years ago, when a class of medical men, of inferior grade. called " Officers de Sante, or officers of health," existed ; but the Minister of public Instruction having ascertained, through the report of a commission issued for the pur pose, from the profession generally, that the abolition of this grade would not be attended with any danger or disadvantage to the public, he did abolish them, and the results were most beneficial to the public, because me dical men were then obliged to be better educated ; and therefore he woied ask why not pursue the same course in t his ?—(Hear , hear.) He regretted thativhat wascalled countrye Warburton Committee had not been attended with results such as this ; but unfor tunately the opportunity it afforded of doing good had been converted into a plan for the advancement of a few at the expense of the degradation of the body. Mr. Moenis seconded the resolution, which the meet ing, c onsisting of about twenty persons, declared to be adopted unanimously. Mr. lIEALY, in proposing the next resolution, which was in substance that the maintenance of the medical profession in the highest possible position, is of to hi g h concern to the general public as to tin medical corn- 1 '~~~