The Sun. — London, England, 1844-01-11 00:00:00

LONDON JOINT-STOCK BANKING COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of this Company took place - in the" Board-room Of the bank, in Prince's street, yesterday. The chair was taken at twelve o'clock by W. Taylor, Esq. The CHAIRMAN having briefly opened the meeting, The SECRETARY first read the notice which had been sent to the Shareholders, and afterwards the Roport of the Directors. In the latter it was stated, that although the value of money during the last half year had been lower than ordi dary, there was satisfactory evidence of the sound and prosperous condition of this bank. After making • all deductions, there remained a net sum of 16,4701.165. Bd., arising out of the profits of the half year, ending the 31st of Dec., 1843, to be applied as a dividend, which was at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. The dividend would be paid on and after the 17th instant. He then read the statement of ac count, by which it appeared that the current ex penses, comprising building expenses, income-tax, &c. were 10,0801. 9s. ; the amount carried to profit and loss, new account for rebate of interest on bills discounted and not yet due, 4,805/. 12s. 6d.; dividend account towards payment of half a year's dividend, at 6 per cent., 16,470/. 16s. Bd., making a balance of 31,3561. 18s. 2d. It having been moved that the Report be received and printed, for the use of the Shareholders, Mr. Alderman HuGaEs rose to address the meet ing. He complained of the sum usually paid to the customers of the Bank on their current account, as being much too large, and diminishing to a consider able extent the profits of the Shareholders. He thought that this was a fundamental error in their system ; and that but for this impedi ment th e y might be receiving eight or nine per cent. The amount was paid to about 2,500 depositors, and although the sum which each received must be exceedingly small, yet this aggregate told most injuriously on the interests of the Shareholders. He would be glad if the Directors would inform the meeting what amount had been paid to the depositors as interest during the two last half years. The CHAIRMAN had no objection to answer the question. During the half year, ending the 30th of June, 1843, the amount paid to customers was 9,835/. upon their minimum balances ; dividing that ending the 31st of December, the amount was 10,7391. Mr. Alderman HUOLIES thought that this state ment showed the desirableness of an alteration. As regarded the general affairs of the bank be had no complaint to make. A more satisfactory statement than that which they had heard, as respected the re sources and available means of the bank could not possibly have been made—(Hear, hear) — but this did not diminish his objection to the evil of which he complained. They had already taken one retrograde step, by deciding that the system should not be adopted at the West-end branch ; and the reason which led them to form that resolution, ap plied equally in the City. He concluded by proposing the following resolution :—" That, considering the very low value of money, at the present time, it is, in the opinion of this meeting, expedient that the Directors should take into their consideration the propriety of reducing the amount of interest on the current accounts of customers, and that this meeting be adjourned until Wednesday, the 7th day of February next, to revise the Report of the Directors on the subject." Mr. MOORS seconded the resolution. The CHAIRMAN said the subject had been for a long time under the consideration of the Directors ; it would shortly be discussed with a view to coming to some final decision ; and he hoped the Shareholders would continue that confidence which they had hitherto reposed in the Direction until that period. Mr. KNIGHT was opposed to making any alteration. They should let well alone. He did not believe that there were half a dozen private bankers who had made as large a profit as had been made by the London Joint Stock Banking Company during the past year, and he believed that their prosperity resulted in a great measure from the system which it was now sought to alter. He thought it was a question to be left to the dis cretion of the Directors, as it was a plan carried out by them, and forming no part of their deed of settlement. He thought it also inadvisable, after having obtained customers by giving this interest, to withdraw it. He did not think the Shareholders were qualified to de cide whether the time had arrived for a change to be made ; but if it had, it ought to be left en tirely to the discretion of the Directors. Still he believed it unwise that more than 20,0001. should be given to their customers, who incurred no risk, and only 86,000/. to the Shareholders. He should support the resolution. Mr. HODGSON was glad that the question had been brought forward, as it would set at rest a good deal of uncertainty out of doors. It appeared to him un wise-to vary from the course with which they had commenced. Mr. GREGORY spoke in favour of continuing the plan under which the Bank had commenced and flourished. The plan of giving interest had another ad vantage, it made the balances certain ; the bank was a bank of deposit. He thought a change in the plan would be impolitic and unjust. He hoped there would be a great majority in favour of letting the subject alone. Mr. Josieu WlLsorr thought if the Directors would give them their opinion on the question at the next general half-yearly meeting, it would be early enough. He urged the meeting to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the Directors ; though the amount might be excessive, yet they were bound by a kind of understanding with their customers. All that they wished would have been accomplished by this conversation, without passing the re s ol u ti on i n the affirmative. re hoped the motion would be with drawn, rather than extinguished. Mr. ILkauisoN fully agreed with the argument that they were under a pledge to their customers, and it must be recollected that it was from their customers that they obtained their dividend, not from the profit on their capital of 600,0001. If the resolution should be put, he should move, as an amendment, that it was inexpedient to make such a recommendation to the Directors. A SHAREHOLDER said if Mr. Harrison would pro pose that as an amendment he would second it.— (Loud cries of " Withdraw, withdraw.") Mr. CORNET said the discussion of the question at all was injurious. It was analogous to changing the amount of import duties by Government; no man, under such an uncertainty, would engage in a specu lation. He hoped Mr. Hughes would withdraw his resolution. Mr. PEGLER said there were no men so deeply in terested in the question as the Directors themselves ; this was another reason for leaving the matter in thtaix hands. The allowing two per cent. on the minimum balances tended greatly to preserve the respectability of the accounts with the bank. Mr. MORE hoped the worthy Alderman would not withdraw his motion ; he wished to have an expre s-- sion of opinion. It was no part of the fundamental principle of the bank, to pay interest on the current accounts. They were paying too high a sum for procuring business. Mr. Alderman HUGHES replied—lf his motion h ad produced nothing else, it had elicited the information that they paid more than 20,0001. a year to cu s tomers, and that was a point of great importan t e. Very few supposed that the amount was so great. Fie had unlimited confidence in the Directors; and lie Loped that confidence would be exhibited at the enid of the year by the Shareholders. But if they were found ,in all times, and in every state of the money market, to pay two per cent. to all their customers, the sooner they put an end to the system the bette r. Wishing to preserve unanimity at all their meeting s, he should withdraw his motion.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. MORE said he could not withdraw the motio n without the permission of the seconder, and he shoul d press it to a division. Mr. CORISET then begged to move the previows question. This was seconded, but after some further conversation, Mr. Hughes' motion was withdrawn,. and the subject dropped. The following gentlemen were then duly elected tom. act as Directors, there being no other candidates Sir Geo. Carroll, Alderman, John Peter Darthez, jun.,. Esq., John Christopher Lochner, Esq., Sir John , Id‘Taggart, Bart., M.P., and George Scholefield, Esq. Votes of thanks were then passed to the Board of Directors, to Mr. Pollard, the Manager, and to the- Chairman, and the meeting separated. STATA or TAMIL—The commercial intelligence from India and China, received by the last overland mail,. being generally considered unfavourable, had a prejudi cial effect upon the market yesterday, and manufacturers of shirtings were willing to accept prices which they gene rally refused last week. Printin g cloth, though not lower in. price, was less inquired after, and but little business was done in it. Stout domestics, however, whieh haven been for a long time greatly depressed, and of which the , znanufacture has been somewhat diminished, were in better demand, at prices somewhat higher than those or last week. In the yarn market there was not much business done. The accounts from Germany not being-. very favourable, and the demand for the east; having been supplied, there was little inquiry for xeeled yarn, except from the Greek merchants, who are mow considerable purchasers of low numbers of water iwist. The Liverpool cotton market having also be— come a little easier, prices of shipping qualities of yarn were in many cases from id. toad. lower than last week. Yer the home trade, there was no material difference in prices • but the amount of business done was limited.— Manchester Guardian. THE NEW AMERICAN SHIP PRINCE ALBERT.— The splendid new American line-of-packet ship, Prince Albert, which arrived in the St. Katherine's Dock on Thursday last, has, since Sunday, been a source of very great attraction to persons who feel an interest in matters connected with improvements in ship building. The Prince Albert is the companion ship to the Victoria that ',vas launched last year, and, although of the same rate of tonnage (1,000) she is considerably larger ir; every V ope, and in all her appointments superior. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERVASt: GLOBE.—The evidence-taken against-thetwo 'individuals who stand charged , with extensWe for gery and uttering of forged wills, and fraudulent transfer of Bank Stock, will afford proof of the imperfect security afforded to the public by. the Registration Act, and also by the practice of the Bail of England officials. With respect to the latter, the proof required as to the identity of persons who present themselves at the Bank as legal representatives of deceased parties, seems to be very slender, and the facilities thus afforded to fraud are consequently considerable. We abstain from those references to the evidence adduced against Barber and Fletcher,;by which the inefficiency of the precautions . at present em ployed by the Bank of England functionaries is exemplified, lest we should seem to prejudge the accused. When the trial which awaits - them has been had, an opportunity will be afforded for directing attention to the necessity of a revision, with a view to improvement in the transfer•office of the Bank of England. The evidence of Mr. Jordan, the registrar of births and deaths for the district of Pimlico, is strikingly illustrative of defects in the registration law, and fully confirms the incidental remarks of Mr. Chadwick, in his Report upon the Practice of In terment in Towns, recently published. To that part of the Report, Mr. Clarkson, in the course ofhisaddress to the Lord Mayor on introducing a new case with which he charged the prisoners, said, " I cannot help calling your Lordship's at tention to the present operation of the law in re spect to this subject. I hold in my hand a book to which, no doubt, your Lordship has al ready paid partial attention ; I mean the Report of Mr. Chadwick upon the practice of burying in towns, in which there is a passage relating to the registration of deaths, and pointing out the faci lity the present system affords for committing frauds." The Learned Counsel then proceeded to quote the passage; to which, we think, the atten tion of the Legislature should be drawn early in the next session with a view to the amendment of the law :—"lt is admitted that some additional arrangements are yet wanting for the complete attainment of the proper civic and technical pur poses of registration—as depositaries of pre appointed evidence of the fact of death to deter mine questions of private rights ; as depositaries of evidence for purposes of medical science and public health, to show the extent and prevalence of common causes of disease incident to different occupations and different localities; and of the data for tables of insurance, as well as for the re covery of sums assured, when the proof of age is not admitted in the policy. Any one who is unknown to the local registrar may go and register, as a fact, his own death, of which a certified copy of the registry will, according to the 38th clause of the Act, be evidence in a Court of Law. Cases of the registration of false statements have already been detected; some have been made with a view to successions and to the obtainment of property. False registrations have been made amongst the labouring classes as to the place of death, to gain interments in distant parishes at cheaper rates. Fictitious deaths have been registered to defraud burial societies, and the registrar's certificate of such deaths have got in use by vagrants as means of obtaining alms. In Manchester, a woman having obtained and used one certificate of a fictitious death, soon after obtained another similar certificate ; and, in order to deter parties from visiting the house, she got the cause of death registered as malignant fever." (Section 188, p. 100.) With the closing remarks of Mr. Clarkson we fully concur. The Learned Gentleman's extensive knowledge and practice of criminal law—the most extensive of the entire bar—give a value to his opinion, which could not be con ceded, to the same extent, to any other au thority:—" I have not the honour of knowing Mr. Chadwick," continued the Learned Gentle man ; " but it is undoubtedly a subject of great importance ; and it is to be hoped that those who have the power and the ability, will take measures to see whether it is not within the power of human ingenuity more decisively and effectually to guard against such fraudulent transactions." STANDARD.—An able article in the last Number of the Quarterly Review, upon the sys tem of education pursued at the Universities, has directed attention very generally, and we believe very usefully, to that subject. The sub ject is indeed a very extensive one, branch ing off into all the various departments of 'edu cation, religious, moral, literary, and economi cal. The last is,'qlowever, that upon which theßeviewer bestows most consideration, scarcely touching upon direct religious, moral, or literary instruction, except as connected with the question of economy. For this course there is so much justification, that the direct education in re ligion, morals, and literature, given by the Universities—we mean by direct, the education provided by the University rules, and imparted by the public tutors of colleges—is so excellent, and so faithfully and zealously given, as to admit of no change or addition that would not dete riorate rather than improve; whereas the indirect alloy to this excellent system is all due to the influence of money, and comes therefore properly within the scope of the economical consideration. This economical consideration is, however, we think, unduly narrowed by the Quarterly Reviewer, fines it, to the mere question of the loss of money by the parents of the young men who are led into debt and into habits of expense. The loss to the families of these young men is no doubt frequently serious and productive of much injury, but upon the whole the loss of money to their families is a far less injury than ' that caused to the young men themselves, by training them to habits of concealment, debt, arid expense, or than the injury to the public, by making debt and expense fashionable. Youth is the period in which the habits of the man are formed ; and let a young man once get over the fear and shame of debt, which are, we believe, instinctive, and nothing but a vigorous effort of reason will in after life fit him for the self-denial which he must often exercise to 'avoid em barassment, even when possessed of consider able wealth, still more, if his means are moderate ; and self-denial, it must be rememL bered, is again made more difficult by the preceding habit of indulgence, which the facility of debt and expense encourage. Strictly, therefore, as a part of education—as an ele. ment of moral training debt and expense" ought, if possible, to be excluded from the Uni versities. We would not enforce a Spartan discipline, unsuited to the actual state of so ciety, but, surely, between that and 'the extreme license in this matter, hinted - at by the Quarterly Review, as prevailing 'in the. Universities, there is a wide field. In society generally it is not inquired whether a gentle:. man or even a nobleman lives within or be= yond his means (until he happeirs to get into debt), provided that he lives like a geli- Oman, that is, without resorting to sordid practices or mean shifts; and why may not the equalising principle, which good sense has established as a rule in society, prevail in . the Universities where it is so much mord.ne cessary ? The reason is, because, 'in the early period of life good sense, the effect of experience, has little control. All young men are vain' whatever direction their vanity may take ; and the rarest knowledge with youth is the know ledge of the value of money. But' vain then will seek distinction, and as iexpense is one of the most obvious and simple, though also' the rudest and most fallacious means of obtaining distinction, young men, if they have money or can borrow it, will employ money as the means of raising themselves above those 'with whom they are by any circumstances associated. This, too, has the mischievous effect of foxcing debts on others, who, with less vanity avid more slender means, are still not sufficiently :philosophical to' be contented in the lower station—hence the, disease of debt and expense becomes, as it were; infectious, and one or two rich or unscrupulous young men make a whole College extravagant; Either this happens, or a marked' barrier must' separate the rich from the comparatively poor-' which would destroy the fusion of classes in the University, justly treated by the Quarterly viewer as one of the greatest benefi is they confer upon the country. How are the ei -ils of expense and debt in the Universities to be r< riiedied ? is a question no doubt much more easily asked than answered. You cannot prevent fi iolish parents' giving, or greedy usurers lending , or dishonest' tradesmen granting credit ; still, though -an evil cannot be altogether excliuded it may.' be mitigated, and in such a case as the present,. Now, is almost as go od a s acc . m pl e t e cure .' Now, it will, we think, be admitt ed that if by. any arrangeme n t mo d erat i on could be made the rule, expense and debt the rare e 'iception (if osubcthainisednoast thtehecaspeuabllriecadcayn), Now, as to expense, t here reason asmu. 2 a h ou bl w yd l e d sir b e e . are all •eady many checks, as the long code of college rules with re ference to hours, company, the ire lulgence in' expensive amusement, which, rigidly • enforced --and if not rigidly enforced such rubes are ivorse • than useless—would go a great way; and when these failed we do not see W. by expense might not be properly treated as a substantive offence, incurring the penalty of ret novel from the University. If a man will not cur form to the habits of a society, after repeated g traouitions, FRNEMASONE,Y.—The young man, who may not frequent church or chapel, if he be a brother, must obey the summons to attend his duties in Lodge, and he will there hear a sermon from the Chair, which, if he be a Christian, will most likely lead him to his place of wor ship; or, if not, he will equally be taught the duties of his station in life, the worship of his Creator, and the mutual aid we owe to one another, as brethren of one blood and flesh,—" to be pitiful—to be courteous." He may add to those sacred precepts, the improvement of his mental faculties in all the liberal arts and sciences, as a ,duty likewise inculcated from the chair—the necessity of obedience to the laws of the country in which he lives, and how adverse to the glory of God, the goodwill of man, and peace on earth, are the actions of faction, fa naticism, bigotry, and intolerance. These are the prin ciples of Masonry ; these are the conclusions I have de duced from it as an intellectual science. Its text-book is Preston—its history and philosophy the works of Oliver—its periodical of intelligence and literature the Freemasons' Quarterly Review. But it has been . asked, cannot Christianity accomplish all this ? Aye and more I But while Christians are contending about the mode and the form best suited to execute the mission of our elder brother, his followers, as Masons, are trying to ameliorate the hard lot of human nature, and mitigate, by ono universal bond of union, the asperities, political and religious, which at present separate and dissever man .from man in the social sphere.—Rev. Dr. Slade.—Free masons' Quarterly Review for January. '- Loss OF LIFE. Yesterday the keel Castor, ,of • Newcastle, while entering this harbour, struck against another vessel, and instantly sunk. One of Dennett's rockets was immediately fired, and one of the crew got hold of the line, with which he was hauled on to the pier .end, and was saved. We regret, however, to add, that another man, who was washed off the wreck by the violence of the sea, unfortunately perished. The wreck of the vessel drove up the harbour. The sea was very heavy, and the wind strong at S.S.E. Two other vessels • were off, which stood out to sea. The life-boat put off, brit as the latter did not attempt to enter, she returned up the Imboux.-s•TYnc Mercury er Tuesday. TILE SUN, LONDON, THRTRSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1844. we do not see upon what-grounds he can affect to complain of his removal from that society. But it will be said, how are you - to ascertain that a man is expensive in his habits? The answer is, that the external - eviden - Eng generally sufficient; but if it fail, you have the man himself, whom you may examine as to his expenditure. A place of education is, as regards the pupils, properly in quisitorial, and it ought to be vigilantly inquisito rial. The parental authority is communicated to its governors, and we suppose it will not be denied that in a case of doubt a father is en titled and bound to make a strict inquiry into the habits of a son still under his roof. Two or three examples of young men removed from the Universities for " expensiveness," eo nomine, would do much good in render ing expense unpopular. This applies to the pupils who receive too much money from their parents, or have, otherwise, too much money at their own disposal but it ap plies also to those who squander borrowed money; for these last an additional guard might be found, in an Act, not of the Univer sities, but of the Legislature, barring the reco very of any debt _incurred by a young man in statu pupillari, whatever his age, nor could money-lenders or tradesmen justly complain of such an act; to every debt there must be two consenting parties, the creditor and the debtor ; but if you want to get rid of the evil, you must address yourself to him of the two who has most power to obviate the mischief, and who is most likely to be acted upon by considerations of rea son and interest—this, every one sees, is the cre ditor in all cases, more especially in cases where the debtor must be an inexperienced youth. PROM TRH MORNING PAPERS OP THIS DAY. ADVERTISER. The Anti-Corn-law League continue to carry everything before them. They are not only calling forth the loud plaudits of every meeting which the leading gentlemen of the Council address, but they are calling forth immense sums from the " vasty deep " of pockets whose bottom it has hitherto been found all but impossible to reach. There must be something very powerful in the arguments, something more than ordinarily winning in the eloquence„ of men who, in addition to " thunders of applause," can elicit thousands of pounds from a particular meeting. This the League are doing—doing not once in a month or two, but doing almost every day. Messrs. Cobden, Bright, and the other working men of the League, are making a triumphant tour through the country. They may, with great propriety, adopt the motto, " We come, see, and con quer." They not only convince the myriads they address that the corn-laws ought to be repealed, but, which is an infinitely greater fact, they prevail on every meeting to aid by large contri butions of money in procuring the repeal of these laws. Thus to conquer men's reluctance to put their hands into their pockets, is an achievement worthy of being recorded. The latest anti-corn law triumph was that which.took place at Ashton on Monday, and which we recorded in our paper of yesterday. From that inconsiderable town the extraordinary sum of nearly 4,5001. was ob tained. One of the subscribers, who only gave 1001. last year, gives 500/. this year; while seve ral gentlemen who, in 1343, only contributed 1001., contributed 3001. on this occasion. Will the monopolists misunderstand this? What stronger proof, we should like to know, would it be possible to give them of the progress which anti-monopolist principles are mak ing in the country? The legitimate con dition to be deduced from this increase in the amount of contributions by the same persons is, that the convictions of these individuals as to the necessity of corn-law repeal are doubly, trebly, and, in some cases, five times as strong as they were last year. Can any monopolist suppose that a system can be much longer up held which men are so anxious to see abolished ? Impossible. The men who have contributed such princely sums to see the bread monopoly put an end to, will never rest until they have accom plished their object. The question occurs, what, with. all that is passing around him, will Sir Ro bert Peel do ? Supposing it possible that up to this moment he has been an inattentive, or tills taken observer of the signs of the times, surely he can be so no longer. Not only do justice and the interests of the country require immediate and total repeal, but, without such repeal, his Government cannot long survive. If he con tinues to oppose himself to the League, he will perish in the unequal contest. It is not now too late to retrace his steps; but if he persist in his present course for a few months longer, the de struction of his Government is inevitable, and his own character, as a statesman, will be irretriev ably ruined. TIMES.—Two errors on subjects connected with our foreign policy, but widely differing in importance, offer themselves to our notice for correction. The first relates to the affairs of Greece. Two foreign newspapers, both generally well informed, state, that Lord Aberdeen and M. Guizot, in the principles which they have laid down as the elements of the Greek Constitution, have expressly provided that the Sovereign should not only have the nomination to all civil and military offices, but also " should propose laws, and aid in drawing them up." This is not the fact. Both M. Guizot and Lord Aberdeen know too well the proper limits of a constitu tional government, and the becoming prerogatives of a constitutional Monarch ; both also feel too sincere a solicitude for the exclusion of all em- barrassing accidents from their scheme of Greek polity, to dream of suggesting a provision which must either make the people dependent on the Crown, or plaCe the Crown at the mercy of its Ministers. M. Guizot must remember what was the effect of such a principle on the Governments of the. Regency, of Louis XV., and Louis XVI.; and Lord Aberdeen, as an English Minister, is alive to the practical value of a theory, which prevents the Sovereign from doing wrong by devolving the necessity of the respon sibility of action upon his official advisers. M. Guizot and Lord Aberdeen are equally desirous of saving Greece from the mischiefof a Monarch who is his own minister, and the worse mischief of a Ministry which shields its weakness or its wickedness under the sanction of an irre sponsible King. A Sovereign who selected his own Ministers and proposed his own laws would soon be inclined to mimic the language, if not the designs, of Lous XIV., and to look upon the State as a mere function of himself. In Greece, as in other European States which enjoy a settled constitution, the power of proposing laws will rest with the Chambers, whose suf .. (rages are required to enact them. The other error relates to the right of search. The Paris papers seem to imply, upon the sup posed authority of M. Guizot, that England has consented to give up the right ,of search. No such concession has been made by the British Cabinet; and we may confidently assert that no such concession will be made. Most willingly would this country abandon a right the exercise of which is attended with involuntary annoyance and irritating disputes, providing the objects for which it was guaranteed were attainable by any other means. But she has obtained this right at a great and costly sacrifice; she has used it in co-operation with other nations of Christendom, to suppress a nefarious traffic, which as yet she has only been able to moderate, and not to sub due; and until the treaties on which this right is based, and by which it is sanctioned, are can celled 11 or disavowed, she cannot court such an in jury to her own honour and the common inter ests of humanity as would be inflicted by the tame abandonment of a most precious privilege, and the timid compromise of a great duty. RECEPTION OF THE FRENCH . • CONSUL AT CANTON. The Paris Messager, a Government paper, gives the following official account of the interview between the Count de Ratti-Menton, the French Consul- General in China, and the Imperial Commissioner of the Emperor : "M. de Ratti-Menton, who was accompanied by M. Fornier-Duplan, the Captain of the Alcmene, having arrived at Wampoa, addressed a letter, on the 31st August, to the Viceroy, requesting an interview. On the 6th of September the Consul, with his Chan cellor, M. Fornier-Duplan, and eight officers of the corvette, arrived at the country house of the Viceroy, where he was received by the Mandarin Yang- Quang- Tong, Judge of Canton ; Hum-Seu, the delegate of the Imperial Commissioner • the Kwang-Tcheou- Fou, Prefect of Canton; and the Sub-Prefect of Casabranca. At noon the gongs announced the ap proach of the two grand dignitaries. After having taken their seats in the great hall they sent a mandarin, with blue crystal buttons, to inform the Consul that they would receive him with pleasure. There were assembled in the hall his Highness the Imperial Com missioner wearing the yellow sash, in token o r hi s relationship to the Imperial family, his Excellency the Viceroy, the Kwang-Tcheou-Fou, and several mandarins of blue and white buttons. As the Consul and the persons with him entered the hall, his Im perial Highness and the Viceroy rose, and went to meet them. The Count de Ratti-Menton delivered in an enclosure of silk, a letter from M. Guizot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the Viceroy. After' having removed it from its envelope, the Viceroy pre sented the letter to his Highness, and read the transla tion which had been made of it. Nuemrous questions were then addressed by the two dignitaries to the Consul, and to the captain of the Alcmene, respect ing the King of the French, the Royal family, and M. Guizot, and the relations existing between France and the other powers. The French Consul then presented to his Highness the Imperial Commis sioner a letter requesting for France the same ad vantages as had been granted to England. The Imperial Commissioner replied, verbally, that as the Chinese Government had acted so generously to wards England, notwithstanding their ancient and recent differences, the Imperial Government did not think it could be less amicable as regarded France. Matters being thus settled, the authorities uncovered their heads, and invited the French to do the same (in China, it is required by etiquette that the heads should be covered whilst business is being discussed). There were then served at different small tables a variety of sweetmeats, and some of which the Im perial Commissioner presented to the French from time to time. Before the meeting broke up, M. Fornier-Duplan repeated to the Imperial Commissioner a request that had already been made to the Viceroy, for- the liberation of a Chinese Christian, who was arrested two or three years ago, and branded in the face with a red-hot iron, for having been in the service of a missionary who had been taken in the interior of China. The Imperial Commissioner pro mised to write to the Minister of Justice at Pekin, and to recommend this request to him strongly. The reception, which was alike brilliant and cordial, lasted more than an hour. The same journal publishes as follows the corre spondence connected with the above : " Ky-Ing, High Imperial Commissioner, &c., Ky- Kong, Viceroy of the Province of the two Kwangs, &c., to his Excellency M. Guizot, Great Minister of France, charged with the department of Foreign Affairs. " The 13th day of the 7th intercalary moon of the 23d year of the reign of Taou-Kwang, we received in audience the Count de Ratti-Menton, sent to Canton by your Excellency in the quality of Consul of the first class, and he transmitted to us direct the letter in which the illustrious Minister manifests to us such honourable sentiments of affection. Our hearts are filled with joy on the occasion, and we thank him for it. We have long known that the empire of France is one of the first states in Europe. Three centuries ago it carried on commerce with our empire. Between these two empires peace • and friendship have constantly reigned. Never have there been dissensions, discord, or any subject of litiga tion. The merchants of France have always observed in their affairs a spirit of order exempt from all con fusion; their conduct has always been regulated by the laws and justice. 1, the Imperial Commissioner, have lately received from my august Emperor the authority to allow foreigners to trade in the five ports of Canton, Font-Chow, Amoy, Ning-Po, and Chank- Hai, and consequently, and in accord with my col leagues, I have fixed and determined the regulations relative to commerce, as also the tariff. The mode ration of the duties which have been established proves incontestibly that we have been in this respect as open and generous as possible towards the foreigners who visit these distant countries. To the French merchants we grant the same privileges as the English and other nations have obtained from the approbation of our Enuyeror. M. de Ratti-Menton, who has just arrived at Canton in quality of Consul of the first class, furnis'twd with official letters from the illustrious Minister, and who, besides, has already filled several posts in other countries of Europe, where he distinguished himself by his prudence, his affability, and his conciliatory spirit, will easily suc ceed in directing the French merchants, whom he will scrupulously cause to observe all the arrange ments relative'to trade, :and will thus enlarge our re lations of commerce and' friendship. Such is the reply we have the honour to :address to the illustrious Mi nister of France, entreating him, in order to prevent all confusion, to employ the same terms as those which we have used to (express his titles and powers. —Canton, the 17th day of the 7th intercalary moon of the 23d year of the ign of Taou-Kwang." Copy of a letter from de Rattis Menton to his High ness the High Imperial Commissioner, dated Can ton, September 5 , 18;43. ighness,—As spoon as the Government of his Majesty the En rperor of the French was informed of the hail - ry re-establishment of peace, his first thought wa s to appoint a consul. He imagined that this n.'seasur e might contribute to give more extension to tie relations already so ancient which exist between Mina and France, and every thing strengthens the lope that this desire will be realised. Nevertheless,. in the present state of things, . and notwithstanding the - harmony which has prevailed between the two e mpre.9 for more than two centuries, his Majesty the Emper 01 of the French, my august master, desires only for h is subjects a participation in the privileges enjoyed b.:7 - other nations in the Celestial Empire. I have conseq u. sntly the honour to request your Highness to have the goodness to give me a document, sealed with Ch e great seal, similar in all respects to that which the English and the Americans have obtained, as regards. their future relations with these countries ; this doe u merit will be sent by me to the Government of his :Majesty the Emperor of the French, who will see in it a just reciprocity of the sympathy which France has always felt for China." Letter of the High Corn as lission er an d o f th e Vi ceroy of the two Kwangs to `Count de Ratti-Menton. " Ky-Ing, High Imp ea 'ial Commissioner, Member of the Imperial Family, Y r iceroy of the Provinces of the two Kwangs, &c., 3 .—Ky-Kong, President of the War Department, ceroy of the two Provinces of Koang-Tong and K:ouang See, &c., &c., send collectively this official a n swer. The 13th day of the 7th intercalary moon sof the 23d year of Taom- Kwang (September 6, i 843). We, the said Com missioner and his collea3l ie, had the pleasure of an interview with the Hon ourable Consul of the first class, who presented us d irectly with a letter, which we have opened, readt, and perfectly underetood. France is an illustaiouts and powerful State of the Western Ocean, which, for more than three cen turies, has entertained peaceable and friendly re lations with China, • without the slightest dis agreement or effusion of blood. Having come to Canton by the express orders of the Emperor, my mast( , to there determine on a tariff and commer , c!ial regulations applicable to the merchants of all ri; itions, and these regulations having been drawn u p and agreed upon, and the tariff established and cc )rt ipleted in a manner to abolish all illegal duty, and all' exaction, I, the High Impe rial Commissioner, have. respectfully submitted these two documents to the a pprobation of his Majesty, whose answer, received through the medium of the Minister of Finances, con tains his gracious authorisa tion to carry the said tax iff and regulations into exe cution. Henceforth th e merchants of all nations will superabundantly enyeoy the kindness of the Em peror of China, who has icondescended to manifest his kindness for foreigners, and to open to them an inex-s haustible source of pros it -. France, therefore, who has so long maintaine. 3 friendly relations of amity with the Chinese, and w h ose merchants have hitherto conducted themselves pe as :eably, conformable to strict equity exempt from all disorder—France has a particular right to be in sgarded with equal kind ness. No other count ,r y shall certainly be more partially favoured. We, ache said High Imperial Com missioner, and his collee ig me, have, in consequence, on the demand of the honor; ir able Consul of the first class, caused copies to be made of the new tariff, and the new regulations relative to commercial matters; and have formally affixed to a tem the seals of our office. We send them subjoined. officially to the honourable Consul of the first class, inviting him to have them translated into the langi ta; 7 ,e of the Western Ocean, and to publish them in his country, in order that French merchants may lts ow them and conform to them. In consequence of the opening, for the interest of commercial transactions, of the five ports of Canton, Font-chow, Amoy, Ning-pe and Challis Hai, the im perial duties specified in the tariff, as well as the ton nage dues, will be alone demi nded, all otherdutiesbeing henceforth abolished ; the otl ter provisions of the regu lations are the result of the -good feelings of our great Emperor towards foreign 'tra 'ders. His Majesty, de siring to relieve them from: ai 11 impediments whatever, and to open to them a large a ource of profit, his kind• . . ness and great consideration on this occasion may be said to have gone beyond ordinary bounds. To the arrangements relative to smnzgling ; to the fraudu lent injury of the revenue; to the fixing of the rate of exchange ; to the confiscation of merchandises &c., &c., concerning the laws of the country, the agents of the other countries have given their consent, and the Honourable Consul of the first class should likewise oblige the merchants, his countrymen, to obey them implicitly, thereby avoiding every subject of dis pute or discussion. When merchant-vessels shall arrive in one of the ports, they can only place themselves and trade in a certain limited space, which they must not go beyond, nor can they go to any other points of China besides the ports above-named. The different regulations are now in course of fixation, and when the good pleasure of the Emperor shall be known it will be officially announced. The Hon. Consul being come on a mission to Canton, and having brought with him a letter from the Grand Minister of his country, we, the High Imperial Commissioner and his colleague, will treat him with the greatest courtesy and with all the required politeness, and will place him on a footing of perfect equality with the English Consuls.—lmportant official communica • tion made to M. de Ratti•Menton, Consul of France of the first Class, 23d year of Taon-Kwang, 7th in tercalary moon, 17th day (Sept. 10, 1843)." A CHESHIRE JURY. At the Chester assizes, on Friday, held before Mr. Justice Wightman, TVilliam Venables was indicted for killing and slaying his father, John Venables, by kick ing him in the belly and loins, on the 27th of September last. The father of the prisoner kept a beer-shop at Sandback, and the races took place on the 27th of Sept. The prisoner was at his father's house on that day, and, whilst in a state or intoxication, quarrelled with a man named Sutton. He was removed from the room, but re turned, and persisted in fighting Sutton. His father endeavoured to quiet him; and upon seeing, the prisoner said, " You old rogue, are you coming ? " He struck at his father, who fell on the floor, and the prisoner gave the old man a savage kick in the belly. The prisoner's brother immediately seized him, and prevented his doing anything more to his father. The old man was raised from the floor. He appeared to be in a very bad state ; was put to bed, and died on the following clay. Upon a post mortem examination, it was proved that his bowels had been ruptured. The defence was that the rupture was caused by an accidental fall. jury retired to consider their verdict. After an absence of half an hour, they came into Court, and returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recom mendation to mercy. Judge—Upon what ground, gentlemen, do you recommend him to mercy ? Foreman—We recommend him to mercy on the ground that it was done by accident. Judge—lf you recommend him to mercy on the ground that it might have been by accident, your verdict ought to have been " not guilty." It is only in case you think it was done wilfully that you can find him guilty. Fore man—We do not consider that it was wilfully done. Judge—Then you had better retire. and re-consider your verdict. You must consider whether it was done by accident or wilfully. If it was a pure accident, then the prisoner is not guilty. If you entertain any doubt about it, you are bound to give the prisoner the benefit of it. If you think it was done wilfully, he must be convicted. If you think it was not intentionally done— if you think he had not the intention to harm, you must acquit him.—Foreman—We do not think it was inten tionally done. Judge—You must go and consider your verdict. The jury seemed disinclined to leave the court ; but his Lordship directed them to go back to the room, and reconsider their verdict. They then left the Court, and, after an absence of half an hour, returned. It then appeared that they had changed their foreman, who, in answer to the usual question from the Clerk to the Crown, gave a verdict of Not Guilty I CORONER'S IN QUEST. (From the Cambridge Advertiser of Wednesday.) On Monday, at four o'clock, a Coroner's inquest was held at the house of Benjamin Lambert, the Coach and Horses, Newnham, before Mr. C. H. Cooper, Coroner, and a jury, on the body of Mr. Stephen Crisford, formerly the worthy and respected host of the Bull Hotel, who came by his death as detailed in evidence:: — John Darnell, of Nownham, labourer, said he was at work near the Bull Leys, at about ten minutes past eleven o'clock to-day (Monday), when I saw a hat lying on this side of the water against a stump ; had not heard of any one being missed. I walked four or five yards fur ther on, and saw a body in the water. I called a man named Faircloth, who was at work with me and we pulled it out. It was standing upright, the water just coming over his head. His clothes and gloves were all on, and his coat buttoned up, I think. The body felt cold. The face looked black. The coat was dirty in several places, as if he had been trying to get out. It appeared as if he had got in from Bull Leys side. A person might slip in the water, as it is very steep there. His back was towards the bank. The lads generally bathe there. The water is about 4 feet deep in the summer, and not more than 5i feet now ; part of the head, just the crown, was above the water. I had been at work there from about half-past nine. I saw some lads with some horses go close by, but they did not see the body. I am working in the Bull Leys. Any one can go in the field from where the deceased seemed to have got into the water. He Yips an allotment of land close by there, part of the Bull Leys. I could see one foot mark by the bank. It was a firm mark, not as of a person slipping. He was about 21 yards from the bank. His legs were straight. His boots were quite clean. The constable was here difected by the Coroner to examine the pockets of the deceased. There was not anything found in the clothes, except one or two small accounts, which were taken from the breast pocket. Sarah Fling deposed that she lived as servant at No. 2, King's-parade (where deceased had lately resided, with Mrs. Crisford). She last saw the deceased alive at about ten minutes past eight this morning. He had just come from his bed-room. She buttoned his boots. He told her not to let his dogs come after him. He used to go to the Bull in a morning, and this morning she felt rather surprised that he did not take the dogs with him. He had been very poorly last night, and this morn ing she asked him how he was, and he replied, " better." When he lived at the Bull, he used to go out for an hour's walk before breakfast, and return about eight o'clock. This morning she did not notice which way deceased went on leaving the house. He slept at the Bull for a month past. They waited break fast for him this morning a long time. It was not quite ready when he went out. He mostly wore spectacles ; but she did not notice if he had any on this morning. He did not wear a watch. She thought he appeared very strange in his manner yesterday. Charles Speed, labourer, of Newnham, deposed that he saw deceased this morning about half-past nine, going along by Caius Closes, opposite the Bull Leys, the other side of the road ; was surprised at his being rather earlier this morning than usual ; his head was held rather down. After a short consultation the jury returned a verdict that " The deceased was found drowned ; but by what means he became so there was no evidence to show." It was stated that the deceased, who was well known and universally respected, was sixty years of age. He gave up possession of the Bull Inn, Trumpington-street, of which he had been landlord many years, oil Saturday night, to Mr. Edlin, brother to Mr. Edlin, foreman and general manager of the business carried on by Mrs. Greef, King's-parade. THE PRESS IN PRUSSIA.—The Universal Prussian Gazette of the 4th inst. in its official part publishes the following reply to the petition of the Provincial Diet re lative to the freedom of the press :—" It is impossible to realise the wishes of our faithful States, having for their object the establishment of the liberty of the press, inasmuch as such a liberty would be incompatible with the federal legislation, and that, moreover, it would not be fitting to make a special legislation for such of the provinces of the monarchy which do not belong to the Germanic Confederation. Neither can we modify the existing laws respecting the press, as they have been recently settled en fixed principles, and we have suppressed. various enactments, of which the application was attended with inconvenience. The law of censorship has been prepared in such a manner as to conciliate the interest of morals and of the public good, with the publication of opinions in writing. We have anticipated the wish expressed by our States that the office of censor should only be entrusted to enlightened and conscientious men. It is according to this law that censors are ap pointed. We cannot consent to the establishment of an authority appointed to inspect the press in each province of the monarchy, because this would be an arbitrary in terpretation of the law." THE LATE BISHOP OF CLOGHER.—In a recent number, we quoted from the Scotsman an account of the death, and some circumstances connected with the re cent history, of the once celebrated and infamous Bishop of Clogher, who finished his career in Edinburgh, under an assumed name, some weeks ago. On Saturday, we were a good deal surprised to find the subject revived in a Glasgow Contemporary, under circumstances of a most extraordinary nature—the late Hon. and Rev. John Stapleton, so well known in this city, being declared no other than the Bishop of Clogher, who had lived among us for fifteen years under a feigned name. The Hon. and Rev. John Stapleton was a resident in Glasgow before the disgrace of the Bishop of Clogher was con summated, and was all along well known as a member of the noble house of Le Despencer, being uncle to the present Baroness, who inherits the family honours in her own right. Mr. Stapleton died in Eglin ton-street, Laurieston, about the beginning of 1843, when his remains were transmitted to England to be in terred in the family burying place. These facts, of themselves, are sufficient to disprove the statement re ferred to, seeing that the Bishop of Clogher, under the name of Wilson, died only a fews weeks ago ; and we may add, that the appearance of the two men was ex ceedingly dissimilar. Having thought it right thus to do justice to the memory of Mr. Stapleton, we may state that there is no doubt whatever that the Bishop of Clogher, under the name of Th om a s W il son , did, - several years ago, reside in Glasgow, though the circumstance appears to have been known to very few indeed. He lived with an Irish family, near to the west end of Tradeston, and, so far as we have been able to learn, they were perfectly aware of his real identity, and, indeed, seem to have been intrusted with the care of his person by his relatives. His habits were, as de scribed by the Scotsman, exceedingly recluse ; he was seldom seen on the street, received no visitors, and every movement went to show that he was thoroughly im pressed with the propriety, if not the duty, of forgetting his past dignities, and living a life of humble obscurity. The reason of his removal to Edinburgh, about four years ago, yo hape not ascortgA9l—Glasym drgus, POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YES TERD AY.) 17 4 IN'S v 4 10 USF Two commercial gentlemen of the name of Euqns were summoned before the Lord Mayor by Mr. Appleten, an attorney, who resides in Fenchurch-buildings, under the following circumstances : The complainant said that a client of his had instructed him to proceed against the defendants for the amount of a debt, and he accordingly wrote to them, politely re presenting the claim of his client, and requesting a cheque for the money ; not having received any answer, he called upon them a few days subsequently, when they apologised for not having written, and made a statement to him relative to the demand, which statement he soon afterwards communicated to the other party, who as sured him that it was a tissue of falsehoods, and peremp torily called upon him to proceed at law for the recovery of the money. Thus informed and instructed, he again wrote to the defendants, requesting the transmission of a cheque, or their attorney's name and address ; and no satisfaction being offered, he went himself to their office for the purpose of serving each of them with a copy of a writ of summons. Upon arriving at the office he found that one of them was engaged with a gentleman, and he took particular care to deliver the message with which he was charged with as much delicacy as possible to each. Due credit, however, was not given to him for the gentleman-like manner in which he had acted, for he was not only rudely addressed, but pushed out of the office by the two brothers, who, in thus violently getting rid of . him, knocked his hat down stairs. The LORD MAYOR—What language did you use upon going to the defendant? Complainant—l said it ap peared, from what my client represented, that the state ment made by them to me was a tissue of falsehoods. I am not in the habit of serving writs, and I assure your Lordship that I acted on the occasion from motives of delicacy towards them, as well as of duty towards my clients, and I take this course on account of the outrage done to my feelings.. The elder defendant described the transaction, on ac count of which the complainant had written to them, as one which by no means sanctioned any demand upon them, and stated that the particulars were distinctly de tailed to him, and certain parties referred to, who were ready to verify their representations of facts. It is under such a state of things extremely aggravating that the complainant should, after having called at their office and served them with the copies of writs, declare that their statement was a tissue of falsehoods (an assertion which he had made, not from his client, but from himself), and then continue to hang about the office, although the business about which he came was completed. The complainant, upon being told to quit the premises after all this, refused to move, and they had therefore pushed him out, but with less violence than they considered, since the affair had taken place, they would have been justified in using. The Loan MAYOR, after having asked several ques tions of the complainant, said there was no evidence of an assault in the case before him. He considered that the language used by the complainant was such as per sons who had the feelings and characters of gentlemen would find it very difficult to endure, and that there was nothing in the statement made by the defendants to the complainant, relative to the client of the latter, which at all sanctioned the imputation or the suspicion of false hood, as regarded them. There were some individuals who would look upon a foundationless charge of having told a tissue of falsehoods with silent contempt, others who would repel it with indignation, while others would re sent it with vindictive anger. He considered that the defendants had adopted the middle course, and he thought the complainant would act prudently in letting the matter drop. _ _ The complainant seemed to be exceedingly unwilling to take the advice of the Lord Mayor, whom he endea voured to convince that his feelings had received a very formidable wound. He also submitted that as he no doubt should have some future dealings with the defen dants, it would he necessary that he should be secured against ill-treatment. The LORD Mavon.—l think I can take upon myself to state that neither of the defendants will offend you, if you take care not to give them provocation. The summons was then dismissed. CLERKEN WELL. The Rev. John Harrington Evans, minister of the Baptist chapel in John-street, Bedford-row, made the following singular application to the Magistrate He stated that a gentlema❑ named Seers, a watch-case manufacturer, residing in White Lion-street, Clerken well, was in the habit of disturbing his congregation whilst assembled at Divine worship. A few days ago, whilst the people were kneeling in the chapel, Mr. SOers suddenly stood up in front of them, and addressed them in very unbecoming language. his words and manner disturbed some, and alarmed all. Last even ing the same gentleman created a disturbance in the vestry during the sermon, so that applicant could scarcely be heard by his congregation. A policeman took him into custody, but as the noise was made in the vestry, which adjoins the chapel, the police inspector at the station-house, refused to take the charge, and Mr. Seers, was again set at liberty. He trusted his Worship would protect a large and respectable Dissenting assembly from interruption during the hours of public worship. Mr. COMM—What is the cause ? The Rev. Mr. Evans said ho believed the unhappy gentleman laboured under a delusion, for he said that he (Mr. E.) exercised a supernatural influence over the clergy, magistracy, and medical profession of the country for the last eighteen years. Mr. COMBE advised the Rev. Gentleman to give the intruder in charge to a policeman, if he should again interrupt the devotional exercise of his congregation. COURT OF COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS, GUILDHALL. THE FILTHY STATE OF THE STREETS OF THE CITY. In consequence of the representation made by the Lord Mayor in the Chair at the Mansion-house, upon the subject of the condition of the streets, lanes, and alleys of the City, and his Lordship's declared intention to exercise all the authority he possessed as Chief Ma gistrate to compel the scavenging contractor to do his duty, the subject has been, at length, introduced in such a form in this Court as will be likely to lead to the im provement so long sought for without effect, and even without notice, from those who ought to have accom plished it long ago. The Commissioners having assembled on Tuesday, at their Chamber in Guildhall, a great number of complaints were made against the contractor, who attended by de puty to answer them. The result will be seen from the following resolutions, to which the attention of the citizens has been most par ticularly called by the authorities : At a public meeting of the Commissioners of Sewers for the City of London and the liberties therecf, in the Guildhall of the said city, Tuesday, January 9, 1844, John Gore, contractor for rakers' work, having been summoned to answer different complaints for neglect of duty, in not duly cleansing the streets and removing the dust, &c., from the houses of the inhabitants within this city, being called, his foreman attends on his behalf, and lays a letter from the said John Gore, and a sur geon's certificate of bis inability to leave his house, be fore the Court. The various parties complaining attend, and ate heard at length. Ordered—That the clerk do carefully set forth the streets, lanes, and places severally complained of in the summonses, and that a fine be laid on the contractor for one week's neglect of duty therein. Ordered —That the clerk do inform the contractor of the fines so laid, and that if he (the contractor) does not per form the duties required from him, according to his contract, this Court will, at the next meeting, serve him with notice to annul the contract. Ordered —That the inspectors of' pavements be di rected to make a weekly return, in writing, to this Court of any neglect of duty in the contractor, either to sweep the streets or to remove the dust, &c., from the houses of the inhabitants, as required by the terms of his contract. Ordered--That the clerk do transmit a copy of these resolutions to the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor. JOSEPH DAW, Principal Clerk, Sewers'-office. The foreman to the contractor pleaded, in excuse for the almost unpassable state of some of the streets, and the filthy state of all of them, that Mr. Gore in vain attempted to get the scavengers employed by him to work at Christmas, not one of them would consent to shovel a spoonful out of the kennel. In fact, it was quite a weakness to expect t hat they devote a single hour of that holiday period to work of the kind. The Commissioners said that the contractor, of course, paid these men nothing during the time they refused to work, and might have procured persons in abundance to do the business, his neglect of which deserved to lie punished by immediate dismissal from the employment altogether. It is believed that the fines inflicted will amount alto gether to between 200/. and 300/. EARNINGS or CONVICTS.—Among the Parlia mentary papers of last session, several were presented on the subject of treatment of criminal prisoners and their earnings. Two reports from Mr. Capper, the superintendent of the ships and vessels employed for the confinement of offenders under sentence •f transportation, are very satisfactory documents respecting the hulks, and the conduct of the inmates. It ap pears that on the 31st of December, 1842, there were 3,954 convicts on board the hulks in England, and of that number 1,739 had been convicted before, and 71 had been previously transported ; 1,548 were for first offences. There were 1,154 of the 3.954 who could neither read nor write, and 1,044 who could only read. 2,074 of the prisoners had not been instructed in any business. Of the whole number there were only four J ew s. The " living voice" has reached the parties, and many have learned to read, and have partaken of the communion ; their conduct is commended by the chaplains. The expenses for the first six months in 1842 of the eight stations in England were 32,1471. 03. 5d., whilst the total value of the labour per formed was 37,699!. 2s. ; for the second six months the ex penses were 29,888/. ss. Bd., and the earnings, 33,4651. 19s. The cost of the establishment at Bermuda for six months was 12,6841. Bs. 4d., and the labour performed worth 15,1291. 2s. From the Report respecting the Millbank prison it appears, that the Committee do not approve of the " silent system." It is stated, that "it is some satisfaction to know that, in several instances, the privilege of intercourse has been employed as the means of imparting and receiving good, and that some prisoners who entered the establishment in a state of deplorable ignorance have acquired valuable instruction from their com panions in their daily walks." By a late Ant assistance can be rendered to prisoners on their discharge, which provision has been productive of considerable benefit, by enabling the re cipients to return some honest employment. METROPOLIS IMPROVEMENTS.--A meeting WAS held yesterday in the Vestry-room of St. Paul, Covent-garden, to receive the plan and report of Mr. T. D. Paine, architect on behalf o. the parish, for the formation of a new street from the corner of St. Martin's-lane, in continuation of the line from Coventry street to the end of King -street. Resolutions in approval of the plan and report wore passed, when It was determined that prior to proceeding in the ensuing session, a deputation should wait upon the Duke of Bedford, tv request his Assistitm is the OilTitucment 9f On memo, v,ll l [MONEY MARKET and CITY N -1,11031 THE MORNING PATERS or THIS 'AT. TIMES.--At the special meeting of the y Counties Railway shareholders, held to-day at the! in Shoreditch, the resolutions empowering the Dir to carry out the extension lines to Cambridge, 13 and other localities, and ra i se 960,0001. in the shap e perpetual 5 per cent. stock for that purpose, were e td unanimously. Although a protracted ,discussie n ot place on the vario us t o pi cs un d er d e lib era tion, , tually resolved itself into an expression of the ded the various parties to promote the success sin u, ; ;;s perity of the general trunk lines. Cobbold's Ipswich, it appears, is not to be opposed by the C°'. 13 ,; ( 4 and Braithwaite's line to H arw i c h i s to b e lessen ' 5O O flexion with the main trunk ra il wa y. It was also that a line from the station at Stratford to th e o o4 Thames is to be constr uc t e d an d comp l e t e d for Sv t, and then to be leased to its promoters for sev °n 'of) at a minimum rent of 1,500/. per annum. The ''''ol' branch is to be constructed by an independent color and the terms of the lea se are t o b e 10,5001. W o g years, and 8,400/. per annum afterwards in Pert o liff the net profits beyond th e l a tt er rent b e i ng equal sible between the lessors and lessees. 1 F P At the half-yearly meeting of th e L on d o n Join, otis Bank, which also took pl a c e t o -d a y, a dividenu rate of six per cent. per annum was declared, 1000 up which, however, it w as f oun d necess ary to ,1 1,5291. 3s. 4d. from the guarantee fund. It 6010 the profits for the period nam e d amoun t e d to 10 0 0 a sum so little short of the requisite means for clis b or the late rate of dividend, th a t th e Di rec t or s fel t , 4l o o selves justified in again trenching upon their re 6 0 continue such payment, considerin g a t th e s ame tr o oll the interest upon that fund, no w a b ou t 100,0004.01 replaced the amount they had w ithd rawn . In tb B ,4 jf of the business the question of the expedienoY; o lY, continuing or reducing the rate of i n t eres t a llowea minimum balance of current accounts was introdnu'Llt. ultimately referred to the consideration of the who stated that they had already given it the attention, and had not yet forgott en th e subjeel e i or sum paid during the last year a s i n t eres t on n , counts was elicited to be from 19,0001. to 20,00 0 ;ei the great argument in favour of a reduction nt the rate was, the present low value of money,.,7: i ji' accession that the saving w ou ld make both to Li° dend and the guarantee fund. •tte4 It is now officially stated th a t th e amoun t ren9 the Clyde on account of the Mexican dividend is' dollars. SUN.—The market for the English Securities cldor flatly again this afternoon, Consols being 96i to • 11 :00 4 quer Bills remained th e same, but India Bonds 1 0, 1 0 0 to 80s. and 82s. pr em i um . The heavy stock re about the same. There were not half-a-dozen additional bargain s „ii Foreign Mark e t thi s a f ternoon, an d we have r, notice a • slight rally in Sp an i s h B on d s , the x . ,` /- Cents, having been d one at 21f and the Thre'iii Cents. at 30- -1. Venezuela, for Account, were ett i Dutch Five per Cents., 1001; and Portuguese CO I 441. The additional transactions in Railway Sher el Vl been these:—Eastern C ount i es S crip were 41; ,110' burgh and Glasgow, New, 1-3; Great Western , "i 8 4,1 32k; South Western, 32k; Manchester and Leecle s , , e 0 15; Midland Counties, Qu a rt ers , 61 ; Rouen and'lo4 51; and South Eastern Scrip, 11 premium. J3irte_tili and Gloucester were 36, an d N ort h Midl an d, 9 dhOf Australasia Bank Shares w e r e -, an d U n i o n tralia, 1 premium. British North American, efr were 10 discount. MATCHES AGAINST TIIVq" TO THE EDITOR OF THE 5U 0, ,, e ,1 Sin.,—The ki n d ness w i t h w hi c h you ga' 00 sertion, a short time since, to a few obsers:oci of mine, elicited by the death of a pony, had been killed by its inhuman task•lrPi e oli Burke, in a match against a Bedford coact - 4, 4 0i me to hope that y ou may perm i t some rei:So°l on " matches against time" to appear in T"'„ In every match agai ns t t i me, and tiPc'bd issue of which sums of money depend, 000 must always be the probability of the 0, 1 0 being unable to accomplish the tatk ; . a n persons who stake their money on the resu o r come parties to the cruelty which th ey must 0 1 , will be inflicted in the attempt to perforc i os' feat which fornis the subject of the wager. such cruelty will be perpetrated, with utter regard to the sufferings of th e an i ma l s ell to ° in the task, the recent conduct of Burke 4 1 1 clearly shows. • The persons, therefore'," knowing that great cruelty mus t i n a ll pr° o o lity be practised, encourage by th e i r wag- 4 reckless barbarian to undertake such feat* 10 pear to me to share largely in••his richly deserve to be the objects of public nation. I fear, however, that they ep e e belong to a class, which nothi ng s h or t Of a ''' o loo. l lative enactment, inflicti ng a d equate Pen !fill for becoming parties to wanton .cruelty, rptd reach. But there is another and a nilOolib e class, who, without refl ec ti ng , or- being . 6 4 ciently aware of the suffering that is eauS e el these matches against time, unthinkingly courage them by bei ng p resent w h en thel 40/ place, and by probably laying some trifinigiciie on the result. . To such I would hold "P. I d spectacle of the poor pony, a creature, I t il l ) heard, of intellige nce an d d oc ili ty rare ev the horse ; and who, that has had this gen !it o , animal under his observation and care, fl be reminded of his qualities. To such pers Ap t et would show the poor inadequately protecte L!!,;0 1 noble animal, struggling even to death to a G5l, plish a task to which its powers were un ere and I Would ask them, and would as 'fib public, whether it is not high. time thrAt.:lo scenes should cease?—l have-the honour -0 Sir, your most obedient servant, January 4, 1844. G , s n ,l LONDON PEACE SOCIETY--A public meetanai 104 4 i of the objects of this society, was held in the M 15; 1 1 house Chapel, Camberwell, on Tuesday, Jan. 9 ' + _J John S. Elliott, E sq ., o f D enmark -hill, presid ofts opened the m ee ti ng w i t h an effective address in a Woof, principles of the Society. Three resolutions were and seconded, and cordially adopted. The sPeelf Mr. Rigaud, Rev. G. Rogers, Rev. H. Richard, Burnet, Rev. J. Jefferson, and Rev. J. Neller. r A The U NITED S ERVICE MAGAZINE FOR contains two articles relating to matters of co" Joni V , vernment, which are well dese rv i ng o f a tten. jolt. 0 first is " A Voice from Caffre Land," writ ten use spot, which describe s , i n p ower f u l co l ours , - t he - .41 p 1 anarchy and insecurity which prev a il s i n 0 , a r CO the southern coast of Africa. The other art;inlies Wo so we would call attention is one on the subject 14 30 0 very in Sinde," written by Captain Hart, of the i" Native Infantry. The gallant author writes in 6 ', e l and dispassionate spirit, and describes the peculia r ,. ol d dition of the slaves i n Sinde, and the i n r eonve nieli cv Olu if dangers which would result, not only; to the net vernment, but to the slaves and th e i r master s, froT Iv ; sudden emancipation, a measure di recte d i n an ed i t'• e t cently issued by the Governor-G enera l of Inui which Sir Charles Napier, th e l oca l Govern or 0 it province, has seen it necessary to defer promtllV Morning Chronicle. f it* EXCISE PERMITS.--The Board of Customs - }- p if jeilf received a communication from the Commissioners of dird i e drawing their attention to th e pract i ce wh i c h prey '1,4 rof tobacco being delivered from the bonded ware h o uses,l,oo Customs' officers, without their paying sufficient attr the limited time mentioned in the Excise permits, ;yea allowed for th e d e li ver y o f suc h to b acco i nto the y I st , s2 the manufact urers an d d ea l ers, and requesting x'„ftioS, would issue such order s as wou ld cause more 'col vy attention to be paid to those documents in futur bi de r t ° l o law officers of the C us t oms h av i ng submitted, in ailr'oo,er reference from the Boa r d, t h at di rect i ons may bet , 1, the delivering officers of tobacco, at the res cti/eO4ll houses, not to deliver any tobacco, if the pei luits P.,41 1 0 to them which were granted to a ccompany the; s one 1"0 ' t ty out of force, or when there is any disagreetr j e n t betl i j / ; d o sa quantities expressed in the pe rm it s an d t h e !pods in 4 „l4' t ito be removed; but that, in their opinion, the utEcers w O o f o o l be justified in refusing the delivery of tobacco if any pr 04 . 04 time expressed in the permit shall be unerpired: L ti o bs. 01 4 have issued directions to the several offifJers at th e warehouses warehouses to govern themselves accordirvgly. Noter i ., if is , ing the Customs' authorities will not refuse the delive r l ig ill t portion of the time specified in the permit remain, , t d it 'IP course, be requisite that the tobacco should be dalir, er ;ite, the stock of the party within the limited time, othereit t set d be liable to seizure by the Excise. It is considered t " t a he cient time is always allowed in these documents for e te o delivery of the goods, and the Excise regulations with r e to the same will be strictly enforced. —aloe° BIRTHS. Willis 9 On the Bth in s t., a t C am b r i dge-terrace, the lady° f sor Pye , Esq., of a son . 0 On the Bth inst., at Grenville -street, Brunsig' ; c k - . 1. g t , Mrs. E. J. Rouse, f a son. g• ' On the 9th inst., at the Vicarage, the wife of tile 1151 ' Hurie, Curate of Aldworth, Reda, of a daughter. 1 ,' 1 40 1 e 6 On the 10th inst., at Caroline-place, Mecklenburg" Mrs. Henry Manisty, of a son. MARBLED. .1 01# On the 3d inst., a t P aven h am, B edfordshire, the 1141 6ree. Foster, B. A., to Ro sa li n d, d aug h ter of the late Hal Esq., of Titley, Herefordshire. , yog. h er'r On the 9th in s t., a t Northam ton, Charles Gwilie w orl"" Esq., of No re , S urrey , to Sophy, the second daze' late J. Collingwood, Esq., of Corby, Lincolnshire. ahe POn the 9th in s t., a t St. Marylebone, Mr. Willis ° . OP .. ' of Gray's Inn, t o M ary Ann, widow of ran gois N ° Esq., of Thayer-street, Manchester-square. 0 6 Dl6ll. „,clO On the 20th u lt., Rachel, relict of Hananel 1111- Costa, aged 70. of Bury-street, St. Mary Axe. ifniiis V °. On the 30th u lt., a t Ni ce, H enry, el d est sort of Herbert, Esq. " .4 On the 2d inst., a t U pper S eymour -street , Char— Ste Esq., of A rdsheal, Argyll, North Britain. C• l3 ' is On the sth i ns t., M ajor -G enera l F . J . T. Johnston, p the On the Bth i ns t., at Ebury-street, Eaton-square, w wife of Henry Eaton, Esq., solicitor. t le, CA P' On the Bth i ns t., a t th e L ower W ar d , Windsor ne ; at, ° tain Thoma s F ern yh oug h, G overnor o f t h e Alilitary Windsor. South' On the 9th inst., Mr. John Goble, of High -str eet ' . bat h wark, hop.factor, aged 71. Blias On the 9th inst., at Brixton-place, Surrey, Mrs. ~ vi" Pugh, aged 89. r Pa On the 9th inst., at Millbank.street, Westrninate ' ,„, Shuter, Esq , d c" On the Oth inst., at Brighton, Sarah Louise Lloy ' . youngest daughter of Mr. R. Phillips, of Twickenhani•cousea" On the 9th inst., Louisa, daughter of Mr. Thomas of Stonefield.street, Islington. London : Printed and Published by MURDO No. 112, Str an d, a t Th e S um Oi se , No. 112, 0 ..1 4 - the Cent/ of Zoliddiesex t Throday t Japori ORE L At a ?LDERs I nce‘street unary, 10,4 i, , GE( ILLIAIVI M ir relit Boot} ;ir George Cat ham Alille it lifia ni Curl' r 114 P lPart7. l l ; 0 3-Ivet Terrain-- Pe !! ° e Hot, nt , dilate e A rehib,' Go, An Utast Leght t Sou( followinj Although the rutinued solos vel will 3 1441'1 tll.le:fe: It t el rtfe b gne v e la 6 '')11 lei 44:erY: 1:31 C wal la 11)e y. aPPI btu 'l ' t hem t ti al e , „„ are ha 4fr,rai t that, n bee , rY littl e it* dad to i Ktj e rot ati innent, Jun., r hn th 6, er co, frc lee : f ' CI O t* la. °' - P° ll, rt vie • t Bret se tenw" I t _ di ParY fit ei:, Zi ti , t l . !o t that t j 4t cti Fin at e tpro tt con gt r ig P e ttit () bract lo for 4141 tka e,et n 44 clit •1 js 0 ott o' lot aft, th e bee t rr r:: eedi • 4 red foe Priv t the *.•rtltsot,l t} Re Dee of t goer follo w ; ro GE ..J OHN. J OHN Jo o Eort Th - RESOLI %iteu t the sit , -air es ( ti , a . r, tte 1 a ot . _t/t the YL POll- 1 • in PLi thf• r "2O, -" s e t •ted la s i . day riez t kii ; i t House A throu l p , tie V e on th luste -.ar y cki t„ ito l() A N I AL; 41 11/ ki l otted . t life ' IM § (41 NTLam 1 'itattion •i• - te Y. for 1 , ° Plarp oso t tt friend tot i ‘ , Netelyr", h. so fefit. will tr. 4 To t) pith wttl l , i a rc nvio Gt i b m * w4h os to 1 , 44 .at it f t NVe,74 , 2 ! 'is h giet Olt k Si S Itte i t tilt, , ',list downtip c k m . j" .ral lend to en try ties. / taq to thipi Z o nt your shi str,Raty re taken of nod ma now & hall alorays • 44 ur. 7 s rnd 1,41 eft " 1 but ay. Ilutte well Mrs. s 1 4 - ZY Years, I ing any pL" °Y PA: trout IVY by me These rely Ca It y . 'Pen th lu ve erY eal], krinteford, • I'4 k Islr p um. hbe rty "-vgeat',on 13 : : : 04 .111. t : 4 ; 11 :4 4 ti cl oshi t' e h i, ti t : l4l to tt ,_ Yeats I '!" 4 IDY bead 11 / 4 1 4, %c . hell k qg iva 'se 1 , 4 ti •nt4 vice 4 , 1 't r l / 4t ais pa 1 r Thy k ad ltt Z , ati ih" o4 - meet e i ' 4 1 . kt lrte ez n, 1 1 °A)zn bae " n , et th e bt tl 444 1 N . ,. atei ' t 'Ride, To F. of u s ' 4 'r t het?.._. llll 1 144 1711.,111 "NUJ „ rs jIP P ion.. 44 '41 1 tl tth e i b to ,"1041y tb ,i nti Ala tea 1 4.lp z _ ett lease P ttr4terill b 'befi GE fp, 4 _ "" ea? kb, 11 1 41 1 I n itt gEf t e ha p ( Otte p lh 0 tnissiei • NI L! Noted It ftni Sui o et, eet, ketw a htritteteii lb d 24. ‘`Stot t , Gii Le 1: Doer r , Ptc4 lkiilt