The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-10 00:00:00

Home Secretary—(Hear, hear)—and if the Hon. Gen tleman wished to see a stable, uniform, and permanent Vstens, in Ireland, he had nothing to do but to support Use Government now in power.—(Hear, hear.) He really thought that the Hon. Gentleman's objection was not more applicable to the present system of govern ment in Ireland, than it was to the present system of s.overnment .in England, or indeed to any system of go - fernment•which was founded on representation.—(Hear.) lie would not go further into this subject ; but before he concluded he must express his dissent from the opinion of the Hon. Gentleman, that Ireland was not repre sented in that House. He could not at all agree that when Ireland was placed on the same footing as the other portions of the United Kingdom, with regard to f°reign commerce, she was not represented merely be sanse_she.had a Lord-Lieutenant; and nothing, he be • lieved would tend more to create dissatisfaction in. Ire land than to remove the present Government from that country and transfer it to England. Lord JOHN-RUSSELL said he - had occasion, at a former period, to consider whether or not it was advis able to abolish the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; and he thought there were reasons of great force • in favour of the abolition, yet the conclusion at which he arrived was, that it was not at that time expedient to abolish it. He thought that this also was a time in which it was not expedient that the change should take place.—(Hear, bear.) But if - the question were merely a general one, he had no less strong an opinion that government by a Lord-Lieutenant was 'not the best kind of government for - Ireland. The Noble Lord said there were many things done in the Council by the Lord-Lieutenant; but there could be no dOubt that if the office were abolished, other arrange , meats could be made. There wa s a grea t, difference of °Pinion- on that subject :at the time of the union with Scotland; .and Lord Somers gave it as his opinion that.. it ..was. .not . desirable to continue the Council. The Noble Lord stated that Scotland had different in . stitutions and laws from England, while Ireland pos. tiessed the same •institutions and the same laws as Eng land. But neither was that a reason why Scotland should not become united with England. Another diffi culty in the way of the abolition of the office of Lord --aelienant, was the numerous references made to the Castle i of Du blip s oy the local magistracy of Ireland. In cas t s : 11 ( 1 1 these questions were, in the greater number of in Ireland there by the local magistrates themselves. But ere This was not the Castle was a disposition to refer everything to • vlvfhitchhestehe.abolition of the office would tend to diminish. an advantage, but an evil, Home office in Ecni u rtion. came f or di scus sion to the g and, the re would b e a muc h stronger feel tug as to what was the right and just coarse to take on these particular occasions than now. But with all these reasons Against the exist enc e o f th e office, he thought no e rsons.were .so capable ofjudging of the question as the z zeeutive. Gover nmen t it se lf. If it was its opinion that i t was desirable to continue it, he should be sorry to in terfere with it by a vote of that House. He, therefore, Could not support the motion. ,„ Mr. SHAW said -that all his prepossessions were in ' , Mlle of retaining the office of Lord-Lieutenant. He thought the trade of Dublin and its society would be injuriously affected by its removal. At the same time he was aware that public opinion had undergone a con siderable change on this subject; and notwithstanding his personal prejudices in favour of the office, he was not prepared to say that he differed materially from the sentiments he had formerly expressed, and which the Hon. and Gallant Member had done him the honour to quote. He agreed with him that the position of the ord - Lieutenant of Ireland must be an anomalous one, and he believed it would ultimately be the unanimous feeling of all parties in Ireland that it would be for the Permanent .interests, , of that country for either the nominal Government or the real authority to be more "Montros e local contr o l. H e h o p e d th e H on . Member for Montrose would not press his motion to ;a division. Captain LAYARD said that, after a twelve years' re sidence in Ir e l an d, h e was convinced it would be a dis . advantage to Ireland to abolish the office of Lord-Lieu tenant ; and he believed the majority of the people of Ireland were of the same opinion. If the office were a bolished, it would tend to create absenteeism; and would occasion a still greater want of employment than was . l iew felt. ille.contencled _that the case of Scotland was . not at all analogical, because the people of Ireland were 111°111 ' 411 Y gay. and. fond of amusement. He was sur prised that- his -Hon. and Gallant Friend, who was so in Ireland, should support the motion. He (Capi• tt►tn Layard) should certainly vote against the motion..! Mr- M. BELLEW sa id h e wa s willing that this quese tion should be tried upon its merits, and upon its merits slow There was no doubt whatever but there was a a nge-iseeessarY in the present system. The Noble Lord, the Secretary for Ireland, talked in one. breath , about identifying. the interests of England and Ireland, and the next moment appeared anxious to preserve what *'as termed the last vestige of Ireland's independence -Ihe•reasons expressed- by the Right Hon. Gentleman; t,e : First Lord of the Treasury, and by the Right Hon. the uhancellor of the Exchequer for continuing the °JEN) of Loid-:Lientenant of Ireland were widely different front t hose mentioned by the Noble Lord on that evening , Dublin was not without other resources than a viceregal - t :Ourts ' It had a cour t o f l a w, a garrison, and was cons ' l gatons to the sea. If the office were abolished, of coisrse the salary at present enjoyed by the Lord-Lieul te nant would be conferred on the country in some other W ay- The people in the country parts were quite indifs, terent as to the continuance of the office ; indeed, he be lieved the general f ee ling was in favour of its abolit tn• In Louth, which was only thirty miles distant from üblin, the inhabitants did not know or care when the D was in Dublin, and when he was not; -de thought it would be much m s ore conducive to the interests of Ireland if the busines of the two countries R as amalgamated, and if the Members of the Cabinet we re made immediately responsible in that House for the G overnment of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) Sir R. PEEL said he thought the Hon. Member whq had Just sat down would have acte d more wisel y if he had confined his observations to the subj ect matter be fur sllie House, .and not have wandered 25 years I )aels in quest of some passages in -speeches which he (Sir R. Peel) might have delivered. He thought it would not be wise to pass the motion of the Hon. Member foil Montrose, unless they were prepared at once to abolish thei: office of Lord-Li eutenant, f or t h e rec orded vote of • effect 'se against th e tenure o f t h e office would have the Ire land :°', Paralysing th e execu ti v e government of Ire and they should not abolish the office un less....they c ou ld substitute something better i n i ts stea d . ' - (Hear,. hear.) He would be sorry to express a de ., elded opinion in favour of the continuance of that office. ! (Rear, hear.) It was impossible to deny but there were strong ns the same ergureents why Ireland should be governed me manner as England and Wales. It had been , : o 'said that the Government were unwilling to abolish the thine' because it t oo k away so mu ch patronage. Why, was a 'foolish '.argument for be apprehended that , i va tever Church patronage was at-present vested in the x-eentive, would be then conferred on the First Lord of :t Ze Treasury. The members of the Cabinet did not - ask trhat was the amount of patronage, and really Irish pa lintage was not wh a t they were most anxious for. er e was no doubt' but the LOrd-Lientenant's residence in Ireland encouraged' a good, deal of inx-Penditure and he feared its removal would irj rea se absenteeism. ' It was urged that they .. Ight have a fourth Sectetary of State ; but he was ,!ntirei IlltbaduYeeagainst this proposition, and theught it would, s endless confusion, and, perhaps, dissensions. r u t toe Cabinet. Such an ffice had been a great ano altho-41,11 in this country. The present Lord-Lieutenant, "ugh having a hih name and privileges, was yet; ugh to the Secretary of State, but this new Se- Zte arY of St a t e would be,- according - to the proposition , C an ind e p en d en t an d almost irresponsible officer. He ewust be a b sent from - Irelan d s i x months of the year. o :" was li-eland to be governed in his absence, or how e Irish quest i ons to d e di scu ssed in the Cabinet i t t t 4 eut hi s presence dur i ng t h e o th er six months? But tin/vas said p ower m i g ht b e intrusted to other high func tharies something as it now is during the absence of bee Lord -Lieutenant. He apprehended that this would theinea very dangerous investiture of power indeed, and the and authority of the Chancellor might become la t er than was desirable for the fair and equitable ad etzlatration - of Irish affairs. There was a very of a n.,5 argument, indeed, against vesting the powers 11 0 , 14 `e office in the Secretary of State for the he home De Be feared the duties would at n ' a tt,lY too onerous. There was a limit to human ,hi te i s i - „g`n , but he feared - such an accumulation of - a e ,ss would be -beyond the capacity of any man alive. i n fight lion Friend, thepresent Secretary of State— !eni,"t7e praise . he would . not say more l as he was pre lecit.. an that lie was eminently qualified, from knows he ,` a nd experience, to fill it—would, he felt confident, t era - aeoual to such a task. There were numerous math ,a. present referred to the Lord-Lieutenant, which s ue lti such an event, be transferred to the Home-office, W e as grand jury affairs, the control over the Boad of co n ial: and such like things. In his opinion, nothing r e , 4 o - y u i e more ill advised than to take any step for the ear et „ a of the Court from Dublin without duo and me th - i nformation, because he thought it essential that . er e cu e should be a central source from whence the eater s° authority in that country should emanate. Hon. v, DILLON BROWNE differed from the v ,: l allser for Montrose. If the people of that county ti m e Placed in the same position as those of Scotland, a h , had not to pay for a Church establishment from koo teh they dissented, they would give up the point of tl te d by the Hon. Member. But in the present state Sou c ase, the people .of Ireland would exclaim, tak e , - ave taken away our Parliament, you have away our aristocracy, and now you seek to deprive last remnant we possess of our national sti pe tl's because you are called upon to pay a paltry ttss 11 ' to its maintainance. " He certainly was most • b id e- y in favour of supporting a Viceregal Court . in cut'n' because when -Ireland possessed a local Parlia ssand the precincts of the Castle were more pure, it 1 1 r. be the source of much benefit to the people. ili a a , MIME said that although differing entirely from feel : g u tlents which had been adduced against him, yet t utci n ig satisfied w i t h t h e expression of opinion which ,xilleen manifested, he should withdraw his motion. e 11014 - UEMBER then withdrew his motion. CH/EP JUSTICE PENNEFATIIER. 15t...,,„."er a desultory co nversa ti on , in which Lord Eliot. za t s:m- O'Connell, Mr. D. Browne, and Mr. Shaw took a gt i e r . BUTLER, who was very indistinctly . heard in the l a ce rY, rose to move for a copy of an opinion and ad tie g i ven by 111 r. Pennefather the present Chief Jus 4te,of the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland, on the 1, p`.( day of February, 1820, in a case of toll, namely, Itivetne broke 0. Kingsmill," in' which the Corporation of a es :_ nwas interested, the original of which was in the eitseossfiolA of the present Mayor and Corporation of the lkenny. He said that inany years ag o ' e° '`Porat7 4 the Ni s ion of the City of Kilkenny imposed certain i ' 4) .4 upon one occasion the inhabitants offered 8 o h g O p t ' to them. Th e cor p ora tion thereupon Juice, the opsitlion of Mr. Pennefather, the present Chief ia s „ (TheGentleman here read the opinion -"oY PennetaaleZ 94 Lhe gub o f February, 1820, in the case of Pembroke v. Kingsmill. The ac tion was brought to try the right of the corporation of Kilkenny to levy certain tolls, - to which they laid claim under a charter of James I. It appeared that in the mu niments of the corporation there was also a charter of James 11. Mr. Pennefather, who was counsel for the corporation, advised them, in the opinion referred to, to avoid all allusion or reference to the charter of James 11., as if produced it would falsify the pleadings; and he farther advised them to employ a person to search in their muniments, who was ignorant of the existence of this charter of James IL, to take care that he should have no knowledge of its existence, and then to put him into the witness box to prove the . charter of James L, as it might tell against them, if, on cross-examination, that person should admit that he knew anything of the charter of James II.) Now, if he had read this paragraph in an amusing novel which was lately published,called" Ten Thousand a Year;" if be had read this paragraph as the production of Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap—or if he had received it as the production of two solicitors who were lately before that House, and who had at tempted to extort money from certain Noble Lords and Hon. Gentlemen opposite, he would have expressed his surprise at it; but he hardly knew how to express his great astonishment when he found attached to this document the name of an eminent lawyer, who was now Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland. Now, he had stated the grounds upon which he founded his motion, and if this document were in existence he thought her Majesty's Government ought to grant the motion. In making this motion he had not been actuated by any wish to see his name flourishing at the head of a long speech in the newspapers, his only object had been to elicit truth. Lord ELIOT could not think that the House . would comply with this motion. The House would recollect that the document to which reference had been made was the opinion of counsel given in confidence to his clients ; and if they were to grant this motion, it wou'd be establishing a most dangerous precedent. He appre hended that the document was correct as read by the Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward the motion ; and .he,(Lord Eliot) would content himself by merely opposing the motion upon that ground. He understood that the Right-Hon. Member for Dublin, University would more fully explain the circumstances under which this opinion of Mr. Chief Justice Pennefather had been given, and the ground for it. He (Lord Eliot) un derstood the circumstances to be shortly these :—that the corporation of Kilkenny claimed certain tolls in right of a charter granted by James the First. Subse quently to this James the Second issued a second char ter, but which the corporation of Kilkenny repudiated. It was, therefore, under these circumstance that Chief Justice Penefather advised his clients not to pro duce the second , charter, as it would only hare the effect of throwing doubt on the question which the Court had to adjudicate upon. Init to rely entirely on' the charter of James the First. This, then, was the whole case. In conclusion he would say that no man in public life had exhibited more probity, honour, and integrity in his professional capacity that had Mr. Chief J ustioe Pennefather, and he (Lord Eliot) therefore regretted that this motion had been brought forward. Mr. SHAW was persuaded that the Hon. Gentleman who had brought forward this motion was altogether in capable of intending to support an attempt which had been made to overrule and defeat justice in Ireland, in a case now pending in the Court of Queen's Bench there. This matter had occurred twenty years ago. He un derstood that Chief Justice Pennefather had no distinct recollection of having given this opinion in the words stated, but he recollected giving the opinion, and he (Mr. Shaw) contended that he was perfectly justified in doing so. The facts of the case were these. The cor poration of Kilkenny were at that time about to com mence a suit respecting certain tolls, which tolls were derived under a patent of James the First. A subse quent patent was in their possession which had been granted by James the Second, but which patent they had repudiated. It was, therefore, necessary that formal proof should be adduced of the non-ex istence of an anterior patent to that of James the First. Mr. Pennefather, assuming that there was no such anterior patent, stated, he was consulted as the confidential adviser of the corporation of Kilkenny, directed them to give formal proof of the non-existence of an anterior patent, and he directed that the person who gave that formal proof should be a person not ac quainted with the subsequent patent of James the Se cond ; or, if he were so, the fact coming out on cross examination might fetter the ease. He was right in doing so. Did any person say that a counsel ought to advise his client to produce evidence against himself ? The idea was absurd. He (Mr. Shaw) had referred to some of the most eminent men in the profession of the law in Ireland, and they all confirmed him in the opi nion that Mr. Chief Justice Pennefather had acted as , became his position and character. The opinion which he had given was a perfectly justifiable one, and one for which numerous examples could be found. Let them take the case of an action for use and occupation. In such an action a verdict could fairly be obtained upon oral evidence as to the occupation of the house. In many cases there existed a written docu ment, • or • letter, which was unstamped. It was an every day practice to direct that somebody should be produced to prove occupation, who did not know of the existence of the unstamped agreement, be cause if they were to produce it, it would defeat the action, although without it that action would be main tained upon oral evidence without producing the docu ment in question. Now, he did not think that the Hon. Gentleman himself was at all ready to deny—and he (Me Shaw) would affirm—that there was no man in the pro fession, either in this country or in Ireland, who was more eminent for propriety and delicacy of conduct than Chief Justice Pennefather, nor was there a man more distinguished in all the relations of life for his purity and integrity of' character and of conduct. Now he re, collected one instance himself, when he was practising at the Irish bar twenty years ago • he remembered in the Court of Queen's B enc h th at Mr. O'Connell had re ceived a brief, and was objected to on a point of form by the attorney in the cause. Mr. O'Connell said on that occasion that he had such a high opinion of Mr, Edward Pennefather, that he would leave him to decide the point, and by him it was decided. Now he (Mr.; Shaw) heard Mr. O'Connell make that offer himself ;), yet this was the gentleman against whom the charge which was contained in the Hon. Gentleman's motion ; was made. It had been attempted to make it appear to the public that Chief Justice Pennefather had recom mended that a person should be provided to prove that there was no subsequent patent in existence ; whereas; his advice was that a person should be produced formally to prove that there was no anterior patent. It was per- , feotly well known that the patent of James the Second was in existence, but it was a repudiated patent, and thel whole case turned on the proof being given of the none existence of an anterior patent. He looked on thiw motion as an attempt at intimidation ; it was part of a: Qstem of intimidation against the Chief Justice of the . ueen's Bench with reference to the depending State: trials in Dublin. And if the House permitted him he would read a paragraph from a letter which he had re ceived from the Chief Justice himself. The Chief Jus-. lice. said, " This motion is of a character quite in keep ing with that which' has preceded it. I have, during the! course of these trials, received letters of violent abuse, containing very serious threats and menaces both towards myself and my family. Public insult has been offered to me in my judicial capacity; but of none! of these do I make complaint, for they could! have no effect upon me in the conscientious dis charge of my duty ; but I feel that it is an attempt to injure and prejudice the true administration of justice." Now he (Mr. Shaw) would ask the House whether the conduct of Chief Justice Pennefather had warranted the motion which was then before them ? Dr. BOWING said he was one of those who had never taken part in Irish debates ; but he thought that this was a question in which he could take a part, for he was of opinion that when there was an imputation cast on a public officer—that he had recommended the sup- ' pression of truth—it was a question which every Mem ber of that House had a right to inquire into. There had been a suppression of truth.—("No, no," from Mr. Shaw.) The Learned Judge had advised that a certain person should be produced to give evidence of the non existence of a certain document ; and that another cer tain document should be kept from his knowledge. That document, had been repudiated, but not rejected. He thought, under these circumstances, that the Hen. and Learned. Gentleman opposite was not justified in in dulging, as he had done, in vituperation. He, for one Should support his • Hon. Friend below him in the privi lege which he had asserted, of inquiry into this subject. Mr. DARR! said that he had known the Chief Justice during his whole life, but certainly if it were possible to put, this interpretation upon the opinion de livered by him which had been attempted by the Hon. Gentleman opposite, he (Mr. (Darby) would not for a moment attempt,to defend that Learned Judge. But it was impossible for him to believe that such interpretation could be put on it. He had known the Chief Justice dur ing his whole • life, and, be had, known him to be an honourable man,•whose worth had been acknowledged in that - House - by the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork himself. He contended that they were unable to judge this matter without knowing the whole facts of the case, as they were laid before Chief Justice Pennefather. The charter, which he recommended should not be produced, it was well known was in existence, and was known to be in the possession of the corporation. This was a very common occurrence in Ireland, for it was matter of history that almost all James the Second's charters were repudiated by the corporations to whom they were granted. He had not the slightest hesitation in saying . that Mr. Justice Pennefather was perfectly justi fied in what:he did. He was bound in duty to his clients to advise as he did. He (Mr. Darby) confessed that When he first saw this opinion in the newspapers he was astonished: at the construction which at the first view was put upon it,. and -he immediately came to the c onclusion that it hadnever been given by Chief Justice Pennefather. But when he.came •ta calmly consider it, and to read as it ought to be read, he said that it had beenpiit forth merely to prejudice the character of that Learned Judge. He thought it was a monstrous thing that when it man had been fifty years a member of the jegai-protession, at this moment, for what purpose, lie would not inquire, the whole of Ms professional career was to be'raped-- up and an opinion produced that was given a quarter of a century ago which had been printed in a manner that totally misrepresented it. The dishonour would fall not on the acensed party, but on those who had mutilated his opinion so as to mislead the public altogether. , Mr, MAURICE' Q'CONNELL thought that the i n p se o f !line since the opinion was delivered did not diminish its dishonesty. Much stress had been laid on the shape in which the opinion had. been printed ; and the Hon. Member who spoke last had gone so f"'_'-as to, say that it was mutilated, In answer to that charge let them have the document in its original form. It lied been asked why had it not been produced before? But it should be recollected that it had always been in the possession of the old corporation of Kil 7 kenny, and that the new eorgoratio4 (IA Int pan into being until last year. Any application to inspect papers. would haVe been refused by the old corporation.‘• Then it was said that the charter in question was worse than nothing. Why, then ' in the name of God, what harm could there have been in any one seeing it ? Why was there such ingenuity employed in putting it out of the way ? If it was mere waste parchment, what harm could have been done by its production ? But the fact was, that the corporation of Kilkenny at its convenience sometimes acted on one charter and some times on the other. Where the charter of James 11. bound the people the corporators acted upon it, and where the people got an immunity by the former char ter, the latter was brought into play. Thus they had a double-handed blow at them. What could be thought of the character of the man who could deliberately ad vise that a person should search the public records in the Auditor-General's office, in the Birmingham Tower, where the records of Ireland were kept, for the purpose of directly falsifying the public records of the country? Was not that the fact ? Let them imagine a similar case with regard to wills, and that a barrister had ad vised the suppression of a second will in order that a party might inherit under a former one. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman said lie had consulted the Irish bar, and that their opinion was that it was a mere customary matter to give such advice. For his (Mr. O'C.'s) part he had a considerable acquaintance among the Irish bar, and the general feeling amongst them seemed to be one of astonishment and surprise that such a man could 'have given such advice. There was a disposition to pass it over, and to attribute it to one ,of those moments of weakness to which every man was liable. But surprise it certainly did occasion. He was also assured that a legal gentleman was at that time asked to give his opinion on the case, and he abo lutely refused to give such advice as that which was given by Chief Justice Pennefather, on the ground that it would be derogatory to his professional character. Still he would not press his Hon. Friend to go to a division, because in the first place they were sure to be beaten, and, in the next, because the sense of the House seemed to be against it. Mr. ESCOTT said the Hon. Gentleman did not un derstand the question. Nothing was more common than for counsel to object to the admission of evidence that they thought irrelevant. Nothing could be more improper than for a counsel, under pretence of searching for evidence, to come forward with a witness to prove that they had made a search for that which they wished to keep out of sight. But was that the case here? The whole matter turned on the word " anterior." He did not instruct them to keep out of sight any evidence that was anterior to the charter of James the First, but ad vised them not to embarrass their case with anything subsequent to tkat charter. Mr. DILLON BROWNE denied that they were actuated by factious motives ; but advised his Hon. Friend to withdraw his motion. Mr. BLEWITT said the opinion was the most dis graceful and the most disgusting that had ever come within his knowledge. After a few words in explanation from- Mr. M. O'CONNELL and Mr. SHAW, The motion was negatived without a diiision. TURNPIKE ACTS (IRELAND). Lord ELIOT moved for leave to bring in a Bill to continue, until the 31st day of July, 1845, and to the end of the then session of Parliament, expiring Turn pike Acts (Ireland).—Granted. MEDICAL CHARITIES (IRELAND). Mr. TRENCH moved for a return of the sums sup plied by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to the dis pensaries* and other medical charities in Ireland. Lord ELIOT did not see what object could be attained by such a return.—Motion refused. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PETITIONS. Mr. HUME moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on public petitions that they do not record any petition on which the name of the Member present ing it is not written. Mr. THORNELY seconded the motion. Mr. GREENE thought it would be very desirable that some such resolution should be come to. Motion agreed to. SAVINGS' BANKS BILL. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER, the Savings' Banks Bill was read a second time. EDINBURGH AGREEMENT BILL. This Bill passed through Committee. STAMP DUTIES BILL. On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the EX CHEQUER the Stamp Duties Bill was read a second time. The House then adjourned, at Half-past Nine o'Clock. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1844. GRAND DINNER AT MERCERS'-.2 HALL. The Surveyor-Accountant of St. Paul's School, and the Maser Wardens and Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, gave a most.magnifi cent dinner to the company who attended the apposition at the school, and they extended their invitations to many distinguished guests. Amongst the - cotnpany invited, and whom we noticed as present, were —Sir Robert Peel Lord Hawardep; the Lord Chief Baron of the Court ot Exchequer, the Bishops of Durham, Lichfield, and Ripon •, Sir Thomas Fremantle, Sir George Clerk, Sir Charles Clark, Mr. Richard Lambert Jones, the Chairman of the Joint Gresham Committee ' - Mr. Tite, the architect of the New Royal E xc h ange ; Mr. George Palmer, M.P. ; the Examiners and the Masters of the school, and the Court of the Mercers' Company. The chair was taken by Mr. Walney, the Master of the Company. The dinner consisted of every deliCacy of the season. The wines were - of the finest quality, selected from the well-stocked cellars of .the Company. After the usual loyal toasts were drank'amidst accla mations, The MASTER proposed the health of their distin guished guest, Sir Robert Peel, whom he characterised as the greatest man and the kindest gentleman who had ever honoured the Company with his presence. Sir ROBERT* PEEL, who appeared to be in excellent 'health and spirits, acknowledged the toast in a manner that delighted the whole company. He always, he said, felt great pleasure in dining w ith th e citizens of London; but the pleasure he now felt was greatly increased by the interesting occasion on which he was invited, and the distinguished company by which he had been in vited. The Right Hon. Baronet then spoke very highly of the Irish estate of the Company, and declared that they had set a noble example to all landlords; that they had utterly disregarded considerations of pecuniary gain in carrying out the great objects of promoting religion amongst, and in increasing the happiness and comforts of, their tenants. So intnt had they been in accom plishing these- most liberal and useful ends, that with a large nominal rental they never suffered any part of it to bo employed for other purposes than such as made their estates an example to the whole of Ireland. He was most happy to hear of the flourishing condition of the school, which had furnished no less than three gentlemen, now living, who had filled the high and ho nourable office of Attorney-General, viz., Sir Charles Wetherell, Sir Thomas Wilde, and his Noble Friend, the present Chief Baron, Sir Frederick Pollock.(Loud applause.) Here Sir Robert Peel warmly end justly eulogised the character of the Chief Baron, and said that that able and enlightened individual had attained his present distinguished position, not by the smiles of Court favour, nor by aristocratic patronage, but by his own legal skill and knowledge, aided by his great private integrity and worth.—(Cheers.) He wished for the per petuity of the Company, because he was satisfied that they would exercise their powers and wealth for the promotion of religious and sound education amongst the youth of that class to which his Hon. Friend belonged. --(Cheers.) Sir Rebert Peel concluded by saying, that if he might take the applause with which they had done him the honour to receive him as an evidence of their approval of his public conduct, he should feel most grateful, and that it would constitute to him the highest reward for the past, and the most powerful incentive for the future.—(Loud and long•continued cheering. Even after the Right Hon. Baronet had sat down for some time the applause was frequently reiterated.) The next toast was " The Chief Mercer," who re plied with remarkable feeling, and stated, that twenty six years ago he had sat as a schoolboy at a similar banquet; that under the auspices of the Mercers' Cora pany he had proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became a student, and was subsequently ap pointed a fellow.--(Cheers.) He concluded by propos ing " The health of the Master, the Warden, and the Surveyor- Abcountant, Mr. R. Sutton." The Master acknowledged, the toasts ; and having drank the healths of the Recorder, the Examiner, and the Master, the meeting broke up after an evening of the highest enjoyment. THE ELECTION FOR SOUTH LANCASHIRE. On Tuesday the Anti-Corn-law League met at Man chester, and, after some discussion, agreed to the fol lowing address to the electors and other persons in terested Gentlemen—A vacancy has most unexpectedly occurred in the representation of this important division, We feel it incumbent to address you on this deeply momentous occasion, when your voice is to be given either for or against the great commercial and manufac turing interests of this county, and of our country at large. " For several years the attention of the public has been turned to the consideration of the question of free trade, with an extending belief that on its solu tion depend the security and prosperity of our national interests. In this county especially has the principle of monopoly been repudiated, and that of per!ect free dom of industry recognised as the only safe basis of legislation. It is to the electors of the most important division of this county that we now appeal. The monopolists ask your support, to enable them by law to make certain articles of common mid extensive consumption dearer than they would be if not interfered with by the law ; for example, they would maintain a corn-law, so that, when we have deficient harvests in this country, we are shut out from supplying ourselves from abroad, except at mast extravagant prices, under which vast multitudes of the poorest of our population suffer grievous privations ; they would main rtpbthaayoilarntwtsiutmohhpnioepcnopolies also in the articles of sugar and coffee, ohl most . t h priceseltpeople.areess ntr destructive „rcaat however, s ero e ewe d about oeftveeoarfft u,fri rne o os one-third, of fet theirhti rhndec, these aee a ia sr nd aeno a d rnlargemonopolies . are seen, but in their operation upon trade ; in their limiting trade ; in th e i r s h utt i ng some foreig markets against us, and injuring all •, in their direct results in di minishing the demand for labour, and reducing at once the profits of capital and the wages of the workmen. " Lancashire is the great home Qf the manufacturing industry of Great Britain ; it is in this county that its greatest triumphs have been gained ; it is here that the struggles for its emancipation must be manfully carried on. We offer you a principle and a policy the very op posite to that on which monopolies are based. Free trade is recommended to you, not as a system by which particular interests will prosper at the expense of other interests, but as a system by which all industry, and skill, and capital are left free to find their own channels of employment and reward, without the meddling inter vention of laws passed to keep down one clap that an other may rise upon its ruin. F ree trade in all thin g s, t and rad trade, y e i m n p a l r o t y ic m le o z ot: f m fo o o r d e , w w a o g u e ld s, b m e or t e o us more revenue, without increase of taxation; less of poor-rates, without hardship to the poor; more of social harmony, and more of security to all than are even possible under a policy of restriction, which all experience condemns as absurd in principle, and most unjust and mischievous in practice. " But we do not deem it needful, in this brief address, to enter at length into the arguments on behalf of free trade. We are convinced that a very large majority of you agree with us in the opinion we have formed on that question, and that could the voice of each individual elector be taken, uninfluenced by other motives, there would be a decision all but unanimous in its favour. What are these other motives ? Among these, perhaps, the strongest is the adherence to party ties and party leaders. We have long ago abandoned party names and party warfare ; they are, for the most part, a delusion, and serve only to lead the people away from the sub stantial, to pursue, at the best, an imaginary good. Free trade is strictly of no party, and yet of all parties ; it is a benificent and just principle offered to all, promising good to all, without the sacrifice of any, and may be espoused by the intelligent and the honest of every party, without inconsistency, and without the abandon ment of other duties. " This election has come upon us wholly without warn ing ; it does not, however, find us unprepared. The reed has been sown widely, almost universally, in this county; it has_ sprung up, and gives promise of fruit in minds which heretofore have viewed each other with hostile feelings. The past is gone—let us avoid its jealousies— let us forget its errors, except to shun them. A season of terrible distress has visited us since our last exercise of the electoral franchise. We have seen trade pros trated, capitalists ruined, farmers and shopkeepers sink ing, multitudes of honest artisans of every kind beg gared, the hives of industry a scene of threatened tumult and danger, and every man asking of his neighbour— " What is the cause of these calamities ?" and the future is before us less clouded for the moment, but promising greater perils, if our course be marked by no greater wisdom than the past. - - - "Electors! we ask you to think on these things. Go vernment can only be what you make it. It is a being of your own creation. Send honest and enlightened men to Parliament, and you will have a Parliament that will pursue an honest and enlightened policy. Be no longer the sport of party names; they never can save you. Be united, as a great commercial, and industrious, and intelligent community, and your free v o i ces , g i ven at this election, shall go far to determine the duration of that system under which, your country has suffered, and is still suffering, so heavy misfortunes. "In conclusion, we implore you at this election to weigh well the principles of the candidates who offer themselves for your suffrages, and to vote only for the man whose votes in Parliament will be given in favour of the abolition of all monopolies, and for the full adop tion of the great and just principle of free trade with all the world.' • a By order of the Council, ' " GEORGE WILSON, Chairman. "Manchester, 7th May, 1844." WHOLESALE MARRIAOES.—During , the whole of Tuesday, Duke's-place, Aldgate, and its vicinity presented a gay N o animated appearance, in consequence of the nu merous weddings -which had taken place amongst the " 'ancient people." In the Roman. Catholic Church mar riages are prohibited, except under peculiar circumstances, during Lent, so that it is a very common custom in Ireland, especially the humbler classes, for a number of couples to married on the Shrove Tuesday. Amongst the Hebrew community a similar prohibition for twenty-eight days exists, and yesterday- being the day preceding the commence ment of the prohibition, no fewer than twenty-eight mar rieWO'Nvq,N _eaiti have heen solemnised at the three eastern SynagoguesnaMely, 'tn : ikei's-place, Prot. Saint Helen's, #44 loogle•4ll444tmt. • • - - • fiARLY -CLOSING OF TRADES- - MEN'S SHOPS. --- The Lord Maydr yesterday stated at the Mansion house that his attention had been called to a subject, which appeared to him of a very important nature. A highly respectable firm in the borough of Southwark who, to their credit, took an interest in the intellectual and moral , welfare of that numerous class of persons, shopkeepers' assistants, had urged him in a letter, backed by an address from the town of Liverpool, to make an effort for the limitation of business hours in the metro polis and its environs. The following are the letter and address to which his Lordship alluded, and the publication of which would, in his opinion, materially advance the great object of the humane writers':— " TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD MAYOR. " My Lord,—The receipt of the enclosed address from one of our correspondents in Liverpool has again forcibly impressed our minds with the necessity for shortening the hours of labour in the retail, wholesale, and manu facturing establishments of the metropolis and its en virons. " The spirit that is at work at Liverpool and other provincial towns would, we doubt not, spring into lively exercise in the metropolitan city under the influence and sanction of your Lordship. " My Lord, when you reflect upon the immense amount of moral good that may be effected, the de velopment of intellect, the comfort of families, and, above all, the promotion of Christian principles, likely to arise from the adoption or measures so wise and salutary, we feel confident that your Lordship will not hesitate to bring them before the public in that way and manner which may be most accordant with your Lordship's views. " Christianity, philanthropy, interest, all demand that this •subject should be seriously considered; and should your Lordship be pleased to take the lead in a course so noble, we feel assured that a victory would be achieved that would gladden the hearts of thousands who are living 'under your Lordship's judicial influence.—We have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's obe dient servants, " BICKERTON AND SONS. " 51 and 52, Castle-street, Southwark." " COMMITTEE " For promoting the Closing of •the Shops at Seven o'clock in the Evening. His Worship the Lord Mayor in the Chair : " Rev. H. • M'Neile, R ev. Fielding Ould, Rev, Thomas Nolan, Rev. F. Parry, Rev. F. Barker, Rev. D. Raffles, Rev. W. Bevan, Rev. John Kelly, Rev. Dr. Crichton,' guson, John Cripper,R Esq., D r ci Rev. C. M. Birrell, .. Robertsonßeaumont, l R a d e s v t . nDe Esq„ , B. Hod gson, E sq., C . Bushell, Esq., J. Shuttleman, Esq. (Treasurer)Esq', Thomas Blackburn, Esq., John meetingAsmdaitAztEasti,vv. Hodgson, Es of the C omm itt e held in the Town-hall of Liverpool, ADDRESS sn ToTuTeustcla TRADESMEN 26 1844, it wa OF LIVERPOOL. " The Committ ee appointed to carry out the designs of the public meeting, s re :1 held en the 10th instant, consider that they would fail in their dutyif they did not promptly call your attention to the object they have in view with reference to the • hours of business. They disclaim all desire for officious interference. They have no wish to prejudice your.. interests ; but they cannot remain in silence -when humanity and justice demand vigorous ef forts in behalf of 15,0001 persons, retained in your em ployment, and in whose character. and wellbeing your own prosperityis materially involved. "The Committee are persuaded that to many of your selves the inconvenience and injury resulting from late hours, are as great as to your assistants, and that you would hail a longer evening for personal improvement and family comfort with delight. They are in posses sion of information which leads them to believe that in many cases the gains of these houses are small, and in adequate to compensate for the sxpenditure of money, health, and time ; that in a few no real profit accrues from nightly transactions; and, hence, that many among you would soon appreciate the economical argument. They are, also, firmly of opinion, and this opinion they place prominently in the view of, your customers, that all the demands of general convenience may be met in every department of business before seven o'clock in the evening, while provision may be specially made for the unfrequent cases of urgent necessity ; and, therefore, that you would be in every point of view the better, but in none the worse, fur the adoption of their principle, and the release of your assistants at that hour. " The Committee combine ,with, their appeal to you an earnest call npon the comniunity at large. They will endeavour to sustain a system of operations which, in its " effoct upon the public mind, will be productive of advantage . rather than damage to yourselves. Their object is not .to secure immuni ties to one class at the expense of another, but to pro mote the weal of all. They desire to destroy all neces sity for the extension of your business hours beyond the suggested limit, not that your business may be con tracted, but so concentrated within a reasonable time, that your profits may be increased. Not less do they seek that you should have the satisfaction of seeing your assistants enter into the proper enjoyments of their being, having time both for obtaining and doing good. At present they have neither ; and it is no matter of surprise that they should seek, as the only brief grati fication they can command, that which is alike ignoble and prejudicial. " The Committee are gratified in observing in some of the shops a notification (honourable to those who have spontaneously put it forth), that henceforth they will be closed at seven o'clock. They wish you all to co operate in the plan, and prove that you respect the rights of men, of minds, of souls, in those whom you employ. " The Committee consisting, as it does, of not a few ministers of the Gospel, attached to various religious denominations, feel assured that if the opportunity were afforded, measures would be taken to advance the moral and spiritual improvement of your assistants, while through other channels they would obtain the means of intellectual elevation. Is it wise, is it just, is it safe, that they should be as they now are, entirely cut of? We appeal to you as those who are accustomed to esti mate the profit of every transaction, whether it be not more advantageous to you to be surrounded by persons of intelligence andyirtue fitted to discharge aright the social duties under the commanding influences of the Christian religion? "The Committee solicit from you the recognition of their principle—its conscientious adoption—its constant observance. Let all -your assistants be released from business every evening at seven o'clock. Let it be the honourable distinction of the tradesmen of Liverpool that they stand foremost in this beneficent movement. Those who refuse so equitable and expedient a proposal, will then be held in public estimation as the known sup porters of a system which public opinion, public mo rality, and Christian principle have concurred to con deirin.—Signed, by order of the Committee, n THOMAS SANDS, Chairman." The LORD MAYOR observed that there was everything in the important results of such a change.to recommend it to the adoption of every thinking man, and nothing, so-far as he could perceive, to discourage the attempt as impraeticable: lie understood that in Liverpool the ex periment was in progress, and, he was happy to say, with every prospect of success. Why should it not be equally successful here? He could only say, for his own part, that he would most willingly apply his endea vours in any way that could be pointed out to forward a proceeding so benevolent in its objects, and so truly bene ficial in all its consequences. Under the existing custom of keeping the shops open until late hours, the whole time of those who attended was occupied in busi ness, without affording any opportunity for mental culture and reflection, at a period of life when it was of the utmost importance that the mind should be exercised in useful and virtuous pursuits. These young persons who were employed in shops were so wholly occupied in business that when the hour of relaxation came they were too much exhausted to employ it in mental exertions. It was true there were numerous in stitutions and libraries at which, for a trifling expense, knowledge was to be acquired ; but of what use were they to the young young man whose whole time was occu pied in his daily employment ? The most common me chanic was better off in that respect than the poor people whose case the Liverpool Committee was so warmly advocating. The mechanic's work was over at six in the evening. Now, if the shops were closed at seven o'clock, ample time would be afforded for business, and some portion of that invaluable possession, with the whole of which no man ought to be required to part, as it in cluded in the bargain a surrender of intellectual, and moral, and religious advantages, which degraded him as a thinking and responsible being, from the station he ought - to maintain—a portion of that invaluable posses sion would be left for the improvement of his mind, and his general elevation in the scale of existence. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YESTERDAY. THE DERBY. 1000 to 10 agst Dawson's lot—taken 5 to 2 agst Mr. John Day's The Ugly Buck 8 to 1 agst Mr. Crockford's Ratan 18 to 1 agst Mr. Wood's Running Rein 25 to 1 agst Mr. Scott's Bay Momus 30 to 1 apt Sir G. Heatheete's Campanero—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. Osborne's Mount Charles—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's T'Auld Squire—taken 30 to 1 agst Sir G, Heathcote's Akbar 40 to 1 agst Mr. Ongley's King of the Gipsies--taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Ford's Qui Tam—taken 1000 to 7 agst Mr. —'s Nisrock 2000 to 5 agst Mr. Bradshaw's Sir Isaac 1000 to 12 agst Nisrock and Radnor 2000 even between King of the Gipsies and Loadstone 1000 even Mount Charles agst King of the Gipsies 300 even Orlando agst lonian It was impossible to make any mistake as to which of the two favourites had the advantage ; 5 to 2, taken once' to a small sum, having been the outside offer agst the Ugly Buck, while 3 to 1 went begging against Ratan ; one even bet of 500 between them was laid early in the afterrtoon, and 300 on the field against them•joiotly, the field having a decided call at the dose. Several attempts were made to back Col. Peel's two at 10 to 1, but with out success, no biddings whatever having been made against them. Takers of 20 to 1 about Running Rein, and of 30 to 1 about Mount Charles and T'Auld Squire. Sir G. Heathcote's two went back to 30 to 1, and Bay Momus from 23 to 1 taken to a pony, to 25 to 1, layers. The King of the Gipsies retreat is the consequence of Roderick's defeat for the Tankerville Stakes at Shrews bury. 1,000 to 5 was laid agst Sir Isaac, and double the odds afterwards offered agst him. OAKS. 6 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Martingale—taken and afterwards offered. 8 to 1 agst Mr. Gregory's Barricade—taken. 14 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Merope—taken. 25 to 1 agst Mr. Rawlinson's Charming Kate—taken. 100 even betweeit Crenoline and Merope. Sister to Martingale was backed for 100/., Barricade for a " rouleau," Merope freely, and Charming Kate for a pony, at the price returned.. GORHAMBURY RACES. The Cure it is said will not go for the Gorhambury Handicap. NEWMARKET SECOND SPRING MEETING. (CONCLUDED.) THURSDAY.—So feeble a prospect of sport did the list hold out, that at least three-fourths of the company took flight yesterday afternoon, putting Derby or any other betting out of the question, and making the reading of the list an empty ceremony. The select few who re mained were agreeably surprised with two races, one more than they calculated on. They came off as fol lows : Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each ; for two yrs old colts, Bst 71b, and fillies, Bst 41b. T.Y.C. (3 Subs.) Lord Lonsdale's b c by Emilius, out of Rint (Rogers) • 1 Col. Anson's f by Emilius, d by Taurus 2 Lord Exeter's Petrowna 3 6t04 on Petrowna. The Rint colt made all the run ning, and won cleverly by a length. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each; for 3 yrs old, 7st 71b; four, Bst 91b; five, &c. 9st, T.Y.C. Winner to be sold for 2001. (4 Subs.) Lord Orford's cby Clearwell, out of Nininka (Price) 1 Cola Peel's.c by Slane, out of Jason's dam Lord Exeter's Mocha Mr. Rogers's Clara Even on Nininka, who followed the example set her in the first race, made all the running, and won by a length. The following matches were made in the course of Tuesday and Wednesday:— NEWMARKET JULY MEETING, 1844. Tuesday.—Lord E. Russell's Glen Fishie, 3 yrs, Bst 121 b, agst Lord Exeter's Petrowna, ; yrs, 6st 121. T.Y.C. 100 h ft. SECOND OCTOBER MEETING, 1844. Thursday.—Duke of Rutland's Crenoline agst "Lord Exeter's Merope, both 3 yrs old, Bst each. R.N. 200, h ft. HOUGHTON MEETING, 1844. Wednesday.—Duke of Bedford's Minotaur, 4 yrs, Bst 71b, agst Duke of Rutland's Crenoline, 3 yrs, 7st 71b. Ab. M. 100, h ft. INTELLIGENCE EXTRA. • NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE RACES.—WEDNESDAY. Handicap for the Northumbsrland Plate. Alice Hawthorn, 6 yrs, lOst 41b—The Shadow; aged, Bst 121b—Atilla, 5 yrs, Bst 121b—Aristotle, 5 yrs, Bst 121 b Reviewer, aged, Bst 121b—The Squire, 6 yrs, Bst 91b—Pagan, 6 yrs, Bst 81b—Moss Trooper, - 5 yrs, Bst 81b—Knight of the Whistle, 6 yrs, Bst 71b—John-o'-Gaunt, 6 yrs, Bst 71b—Wine sour, 4 yrs, Bst 41b—Riot, 6 yrs, Bst 41b—Galanthus, 5 yrs, Bst 21b—Heslington, 6 yrs, sst—Pompey, 4 yrs, Bst—British Yeoman, 4 yrs, 7st 111b—Trueboy, 4 yrs, 7st 101b—Scalteen, 5 yrs, 7st 101b—Whistle Binkie, 5 yrs, 7st 81b—Queen of the Tyne, 5 yrs, ist 81b—Priscilla Tomboy, 5 yrs, 7st 71b— Aristides, 4 yrs, 7st 71b—Arundo, 4 yrs, 7st 614—The Caster, 4 yrs, ist 6 1 b—General Pollock , 4 yrs , 7 st 61 b —Freedom, 4 yrs, 7st 61b—Parthian, 4 yrs, 7st 51b—Thirsk, 6 yrs, 7st 41b—Arcanus , 5 yrs , 7st 41b—Armytage, 4 yrs, 7st 21b—Smike, 5 yrs, 7st 21b—Mustapha Dluley, 6 yrs, 7st 21b—The Era, 4 Trs, 7st 11b—Mania, 4 yrs, 7st—The Currier, aged, ist—Ermengardis, 6 yrs, 7st—Sir Robert, 5 yrs, Est 131b—Merry Andrew, 4 yrs, Est 131b—The Broken down, aged, Est 131b—Red Rose, 6 yrs, 6st 121b—Arnagill, 6 yrs, Est 121b—The Attorney-General, 4 yrs, 6st 121b—The Prior, 5 yrs, Est 121b—Irony, 5 yrs, Est 101b—Belle Dame, 5 yrs, Est 101b—Lady Skipsay, 4 yrs, Est 101b—Dumpling, 4 yrs, fist 101b--Ameer, 4 yrs, Est 101—What, 4 yrs, 6st 81b —Naworth, aged, 6st 71b--The Conqueror, 5 yrs, 6st 71b— Beeswax, 5 yrs, Est 71b—Shaftoe's Muley Moloch colt, 4 yrs, 6st 61b—Polish, 4 yrs, Est 51b—Glossy, 4 yrs, Est 51b—Tele graph, 4 yrs, 6st 41b—Quebec, 4 yrs, Est 41b—Broadhohn, 4 yrs, Est 41b—The Cure, 3 yrs, Est 41b—Reviewer, 4 yrs, 6st 41b—Hippona, 4 yrs, Est 41b—Crikey Billy, 4 yrs, 6st 21b Jamie Falshaw, 4. yrs, 6st 21b The Bashaw, 4 yrs, Est 21b —Little Benton, 4 yrs, 6st—Emilie, 4 yrs, 6st—Shocking Mamma, 4 yrs, 6st— Poussin, 4 yrs, sst 131b—Dog Billy, 3 yrs, sst 111b—Best-of- Three, 3 yrs, sst 111b—Benbow, 4 yrs, sst 111b—Bay Momus, 3 yrs, sst 101b—Saddlebow, 3 yrs, sst 101b—Granite, 3 yrs, sst 101b—Mickey Free, 3 yrs, sst 61b—Spinster, 3 yrs, sst Beaufront, 3 yrs, 4st 101 b— Advice, 3 yrs, 4st 81b—Deuce Ace, 3 yrs, 4st 41b—Misconception, 3 yrs, 4st 41b—Dr. Sangrad, 4 yrs, sst 101 b. To declare on or before Friday, the 17th inst. Nominations for the Hunters' Stakes—Robinson, Arnagill, William le Gros, The Conqueror, Christopher, Crickey Thirsk, The Era, b g by Napoleon, Blindfold, Heslington, Contract, Hamlet, and Ranger. HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.—An occurrence of a very distressing character took place in Freckleton Marsh, on Mondtify morning last. A young man, named Walton Kirby, a native of Freckleton, about twenty-one years of age, by trade a tailor, set off from that village about ten o'clock on Monday morning, with the intention of proceeding to Preston with his intended bride, Alice Allanson, to make some neces sary purchases previous to their being married. The latter, it appeared, had started before him, but not being aware of this, was loitering on the road with the expectation of meeting her. He was, however, passed by a man who informed him that she was some distance in advance of him. On hearing this he took a short pipe, which he was smoking, from his mouth, and put it 'in .his coat pocket, and 'then started off at a quicker rate. A brisk wind was blowing in the face of the poor fellow as he walked, and it is believed that this caused the fragments of the, tobacco in the pipe to set fire to his coat, which he did not perceive till it was beyond his power to extinguish the flames. A cottager, named Henry Harrison, living on the heights overlooking the Marsh, having his attention attracted by flames proceeding from the side of the road, ran to the spot. On ap proaching it he saw a man prostrate on the ground, but before he reached it the poor fellow had started off in the direction of the toll-gate, then disrant about a quarter of a mile. The flames had spread over his garments so rapidly, that when he arrived at the gate-house, scarcely a fragment of clothing was left upon his person. a belt which he wore only being entire; even his shoes were calcined by the fire. When Harrison arrived at the gate, the poor woman was imploring assistance from the gate keeper, which, however, was inhumanly refused, and Har rison was under the necessity of taking him to his own cot tage, distant upwards of a mile, where he furnished him with his clothes, and afterwards conveyed him to his own friends. We are informed that no hopes are entertained of his reco very. The conduct of the inhuman gatekeeper towards the 'unfortunate man cannot be too strongly reprobated, as doubt less his sufferings might have been much alleviated had timely assistance been rendered.—Preston Chronicle. COPENHAGEN, APRIL 29.—The island of Ilirts holm, in the Cattegat, which is well calculated fora harbour of refuge for merchantmen, if only nature were seconded by art, has lately become a subject of attention. It is wished to convert it into a sea-port, because our ships of the Freatelt draught never anchor there. It is said iluit q 440. mercantile house is in treaty with the Government for the purchase of the island, and the; .ffiobenshavneport is inclined to give credit to the report. S INGULAR D I SAPPOINTIIPNi• , Nntwithstanding the inconveniences attendant upon a location in prisqp, there appears to be $(11110 palliatory circumstances connecte4 w i th it, of which the following is an inst a nce :—A young woman, who has often had occasion to appear before the magistrates, and is pretty familiar with the interior of the New Bailey wa s again placed at the bar of the Borough court, on soup , disorderly charge, on Thursday last. Itappeared th atwe had viouslonly lienbuteen releasecl bein from prison two of three days pre_ seemed re .. so far from g ,to look forward tu,..hep aried of her . sta y t hero:o again as a hap 6 event ; remarking to the officer, when he took her into cus tody, "Well, it, I can't get in to-day now, and it's beef - day at the Bailey." The magistrates' r t the serious disappojntmept, afforded hex a Qr n, .Opp t 4t il unT e ty anticipating several foithContin. 6ee of Ice , 1-clay! A by committin g for thr "ovelreql 4.so44cfmkr Milan, LBINGDON ELECTION. R.ETIREk-XNT 0 MR.--DUFFIELDI MR. TFIESIGEk .. A CANDIDATE ' • , (From. the Oxford Chronicle.) • • The 'xiihabitairts' of this place "frefe° greatly surprised on Sature.tty morningby an address from Mr. Duffield resign ing t)ae representation of the borough, and by an address from. Mr._ Theiger, soliciting the suffrages of the electors., The borough was completely taken by surprise, and the day appears to have been chosen as .affording particular advan tage to the candidate, as there is no post to London on that dav, and the next day being Sunday, when no meetings, or business arrangements could be mace. The principil agent of Mr.linitield was.-engaged-for Mr. Thisiger; and was very early on foot ; retainers were also offered to every professional man in the place, and taken with one exception, in the case of a gentleman who was not sufficiently professional to accept An engagement to promote a cause to which he was not favourable. Mr. Thesiger, therefore, commenced his canvass, surrounded by a body of retainers and followers sufficient to hunt down a constituency of much greater magnitude than that of Abingdon. The electors are about three hundred.in number, and may be classed without any great inaccuracy as follows : One hundred Liberals, not of the most hearty and patriotic species. One hundred Conservatives, with no very settled princi: pies or defined objects, but who think they know on which side their bread is buttered, and moreover are gregarious, and do together what they are bidden. One hundredr.oose fish, and dependents, on whose account the costly machinery of agency is worked ; all things being equal,.a majority of this class would prefer to vote for a Libe ral candidate. The Liberals have for years forborne attempts to gain the seat, partly from respect to Mr. Duffield as a neighbour • but with good reason looked f orwar d to a successfol.contest when ever Mr. Duffield was out of the field. But the late member has so played the cards that he has contrived to nominate his successor. It is observable that Mr. Thesiger, in his address, does not say a single word having any bearing upon either of the great branches of a Member's duty. He does not say a word re specting taxation, nor about any improvements in the laws, or their administration. So secretly has this job been managed, and so prompt have Government officials been, that the election, of which only those in the secret were aware this time last week, will be over before the week ends. Some of our readers will hear of the resignation and the new election at the same time. Mr. Duffield will lose much of the respect hitherto enter tained for him, by being a party to tricky and dishonourable proceedings such as these, which Lord Stanley would cer tainly call " thimble-rigging." Some of the trafficers think to make use of Mr. Thesiger, and already chuckle over the advantages they hope to gain through his influence ; some, like Tony-Fire-the-Faggot, of Cumnor, think to convert their borough leaseholds into free holds for an easy consideration. Of this more anon. Our readers will remember that the Lords of the Treasury have not yet sanctioned the new and partial terms which the Town- Councillors have slipped into their leases ; nor has the borough property yet been converted into private property. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCES ON THE RIVER. On Wednesday evening , between the hours of half-past five and eight o'clock, no less than three accidents, each at tended by fatal consequences, took place on the river. The first accident occurred at Battersea-bridge„ the second at Putney-bridge, and the third and last opposite the old church, Chelsea. It appears that about half-past five o'clock a gentleman, who is apparently not more than 22 or 23 years of age, was rowing up the river in a wager boat, and had nearly cleared the arch on the Middlesex side of the centre of Battersea-bridge, when his scull caught in one of the cross pieces of the wood-work. In the endeavour to extricate it the scull snapped in two, and the boat capsized, throwing the gentleman headforemost into the water. The circum stance was witnessed by George Bulger, one of the carpen ters employed on the bridge, and who was at the time cut ting away a cross-piece from one of the adjoining piers. He immediately jumped into his boat, and rowed towards the place where the gentleman had sunk. On his way thither he saw him rise twice, but on reaching the spot he had alto gether disappeared. Some watermen put off, both from the Chelsea and Battersea shores, with drags, and commenced searching for the body. Bulger collected the deceased's cloth- , ing, which was floating, and took it, with the broken scull, to the Old Swan Tavern, Battersea, and Mr. Luttell, the landlord, took charge of them. In one of the pockets of a tweed wrapper was found a letter addressed to " Charles NAT,ilson, Esq., 6, Doncaster-place, Old Kent-road." A water man went to that address, and about nine o'clock at night two gentlemen came to the Swan, and identified the cloth ing and other prope'rty found as belonging to that gentleman, who, they stated, was a solicitor, a very talented and ami able young man, and the sole support of his father and mother, and four sisters. No pains have been spared in the attempt to recover the body, but all efforts have as yet been unsuccessful. _ _ _ Scarcely had the melancholy circumstance become known to the numerous gentlemen who were rowing up the river, when their feelings were further shocked by hearing that a gentleman had been upset out of his boat and drowned at Putney-bridge. A gentleman, about twenty years of age, named Archer Ryland, who had offices at 36, Carey-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and residing at 24, Grove-lane, Camber well, and we believe the second son of Mr. Ryland, barrister, undertook to row against another gentleman, whose name we have not learned, from Chelse'a-bridge to Putney. Both combatants were seated in very large wager-boats. The match was well contested, and Mr. Ryland's opponent got through Putney-bridge first, some boats' length ahead. Mr. Ryland was following, when his boat struck the abutments of the fifth arch on the Fulham side, and directly went down. Mr. Ryland sunk instantly, and it is supposed that the ex hausted state he was in prevented him making any efforts to save himself. He screamed once, and hi s right hand came above water twice, but after that nothing more was seen of him. The most extraordinary part of thr affair is, that there were' at least twenty boats encircling him, many of them cutters, and yet none of their crews acted promptly. Every one seemed to be panic-stricken. There were at the time several matches ready for starting from the bridge. In less than five minutes after the accident • had happened the drags were used, but without success. A most melancholy circumstance attended the case. Two of his brothers, one about 18, and the other 12 years of age, were in a wherry, accompanying the match, and they witnessed the striking of the boat against the pier of the bridge, and the sinking of their brother. Their dis , tress was beyond description, and they were taken, in an al most lifeless state, into the Eight Bells Tavern, where Mrs. ' Avis, the landlady, paid them every kind attention that could tend to soothe their mental anguish. The elder brother fainted away soon after he was brought in, and some time elapsed before he exhibited symptoms of returning anima tion. The search after the deceased gentleman was con tinued until late at night, and commenced again at sunrise yesterday morning, but up to the time of our writing, the body had not been discovered. The third and last accident that took place on the river occurred off the old church at Chelsea. Four persons, viz., three men and a woman, were passing down the river in a wherry, about 8 o'clock in the evening, and had reached the old church, when one of the men got up to relieve the woman, who was rowing. This action caused the boat to cant on one side, and in an instant the whole four persons were in the water. They cried loudly for assistance, and several water men put off. The woman and two young men were picked up by two watermen, named Southam and Foot, and taken to the Cricketers, but the other man, who was the husband of the woman saved, was drowned. His name is Henry Wench, lie was a scale-beam-maker, and resided in Waterloo-place, Kennington. Dr., Gardener, of Cheyne-walk, was called in to Mrs. Wench, and with much difficulty restored her. Mr. Wench's body has not been found. WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES AND WOOL.—Acco.unts of the quantities of wool imported and exported in the year 1843, also of the quantities and • declared value of British woollen manufactures exported from the United Kingdom in that year, have been punted, on the motion of the Members for London and Leeds, Mr. Mastennan and Mr. W. Aldam, jun. It appears from this paper, that the gross total quanti ties of sheep and lambs' wool imported into the United Kingdom in 1843 amounted to 47,785,0611 b. - and that the • nett total quantity retained for home consumption amounted to 46,443,0321 b., of which 17,736,3881 b. were entered at a duty of id. per lb. ; 7,804,9181 b. at id. duty per lb. ; and 20,901,7261 b. duty free. The total quantities re-exported' from the United Kingdom in the year 1843 were 2,734,5411 b., and the quantities remaining warehoused in bond on the sth of January, 1844, 3,827,5831 b. By far the greatest quantity of the above wool, &c., comes from Germany and New South Wales. The total quantity of British sheep and lambewool and woollen yarn exported from the United Kingdom in 1843 amounted (the former) to 8 ,179,6391 b., and the latter to 7,410,3131 b. The' total quantity of Alpaca and Llama wool imported into this country last year was 1,458,0321 b., and that of mohair, or goats' wool, 575,5231 h. More than two-thirds of our exports of sheep and lambs' wool are taken by Belgium, and the remaining third (on a rough calcula tion) by France. We also find that the gross total declared value of British woollen manufactures exported from Great Britain and Ireland during the year 1843 amounted to 6,790,232/. LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The 49th annual meeting of this Society took place yesterday at Exeter-hall. With the exception of the Sunday School Union, this was by far the most numerously attended meeting of the season. The chair was occupied by Mr. W. Evans, M.P., who, in opening the business, adverted to the large amount of good effected by that Society during the last half century, and congratulated its friends upon the increased prosperity of the finances. The secretary then read the report of the managing directors. As it was the first, so it was the greatest of the missionary societies, its sphere of operations being confined to no particular country or continent, but spreading WI over the habitable globe. The report then gave a minute detail of the Society's domestic and foreign operations. It was stated that the Bible baying' been translated into the Hindostance language, through the liberality of the British and Foreign Bible Society, there were upwards of 400,000 of the natives of India receiving religious instruction. In the West Indies, where slavery had so lately existed, and where it was appre hended that the transition to freedom would have been at tended by fatal results, the effects of Scriptural education were happily demonstrated in the orderly conduct of the negro population, many of whom had become contributons to the fund. During the . past year the juvenile associations in ca London and the provinces bad raised a subscription for the with f 280 a cargo ton s, of purchase ha ofs w e as t ao sail in t missionary he l c s o l u i i r p s , e t h of e n J e o x h t n i l n V o i l l l l tT u missionaries for the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The total receipts of the year amounted to 81,8121.—the expenditure 83,5231., showing an excess' of disbursements over incm. aP 1,711/. ' • but as the expenditure had been redu Ctt l t o the ex tent of 5,1271. compared to that of the preirlOns Yea r , and. there being an increase of subscriptions over those of the ye 1843 to the extent of 4,3201., the committee entettaine t i " doubt but that the deficiency would be made 0 ,-,„,4 t s M. P., the Bev. W. lienneti, the R ev . Dr 0. vrgy r. Morn creased exertion. The meeting was f o c ii. esavi tT E s'oininpdtiheeY'Rev. J. Sherman, and several other gentlemen. The report and various resolutionscl e rgymen at e ? . and the of Society's objects were adopted, andtb..4ruo-Wedlgl terminated. "Ax A5KER."....... t4 ,.as recently visited by female servant wliu had been married, and seeing that A , bettered her appearance of having very much slip presented an prof es s circumstancesion she To in th q i u s ire in d te t r h r e o ; a a tar tu y re th o o f her husband's Milg woman replied, " He_ lady with esker, ma'am." "An 4sice; inquired .the good lady with amazem en t, " an d what in the world is that f" " Oh, ma'am, he stand s iu the street and asks." " Why, you don't mean to ay that you have married a beggar, do. yen?" "Yes' ma'am, b u t it' s a very good business. My h us b an d thinks it very bad work indeed, if li© Mme Nm'more than • Ave shillings da,y,' MA. relgnAtlld'ii 41 Cl• - •- ome O NNERATio N _ ; on, ME NEW . —wv e are requested to state that " Con .ingsby •, or, The New Generation," by B. D'lsraeli, Esq., M.P., in 3 vols. post Bvo., is published this day by Mr. Colburn, of Great street, Marlborough- a nd may now be had at all. the libraries, and of all the booksellers throughout the kingdom. Agents for Scotland, Messrs, Bell and Bradfute, Edinburgh ; for Ireland, Mr. John Cumming, Dublin: _ +HER MAJEST 'S 21.TRE. Were there such a # a n% al Musical Humane, Society, for - ocestore to existence operas fron , • mrkimation, most assuredly Sign saftaisari would "entitled to the society's of sgiredatt7: - De_nizetVst -.risers of Belisario had long Fornasari chose it las A 4 . 4 ms dkiit,;and now '„."\f - 0 4. 4 apiliai-an'ee, defunct. it never fails to draw s --I.'he same good office which lie' kprepifed: fdr. Donizetti's Belisario last season , he perform e d — l ast even ing f or Herold's ampa, which when pro duced for the infelicitous deblit of Signor Felice, at the commencement of the season, was quite a fiasco, but which, with Fornasari, as the hero, bids fair to become one of the most popular operas in the repertoire of the theatre. The cast was very strong, including Fornasari as Zampa, Lablache as Dandolo, Corelli as Alfonso, and Madame Per siani as Camilla. The chef d'reuvre of Herold has never been so efficiently represented as it was last evening. The character of Zampa is exactly suited to Fornasari; that _energetic_power by 'which the acting of this admirable artist is so distinguished, and m which perhaps prevents hi s D on Gi ovann i (in any respects a cognate character to Zampa) from being so perfect as it otherwise would be, tells admirably in---the character of the libertine corsair. His opening scene was very fine, and the drinking song, " Che ronda gergogliante," in the last scene of the first act, was given in a thorough reckless spirit of boisterous, almost ferocious gaiety. The audience were loud in their expres.ions of approbation, and unanimously called for its repetition. His acting was very fine at the close of this scene, when, in bitter mockery, hav ing p'aced his ring on the finger of the statue of Albina, the victim of his perfidy, he' finds the hand of the statue closes on the ring. Ap palled at first by this prodigy, he almost in stantly recovers his presence of mind, becomes aware of the necessity of keeping up the spirits of his followers, who, like himself, have been witnesses of the prodigy, and commences again the joyous drinking song, calling en them to join in chorus. Nothing could be grander than the acting Of TOrnasari in this scene. The instinctive dread of his approaching fate, for a moment obtained the mastery--but it was only for a moment—in stantly it was conquered by the energetic will, and Zampa was himself again. This certainly was one of the finest and most artistica' things we have ever seen even from Fornasari. In the second act he sang _the _beautiful air, " Gentil sembiante," with the most delicious sweetness. There was a great deal of archness about his manner of giving the barcarolle, " Leggiadra donzelea," which he sung excellently; and then, at the conclusion, nothing could excee d the majestic manner i n which he gave the magnificent passage, "0, presterete fede al mio potere:' Drawing himself up to his full height, us. sliming at once the spirit of command in the finest and fullest tones of his superb voice, he calls upon those by whom he is surrounded to have faith in his power, and instantly they become his de voted followers. They have faith in his power, be cause ke has spoken as having faith in himself. In the last act, the duet with Persiani was beautifully given. In this duet the wondrous flexibility of For nasari's voice enabled him to throw a pathos and en expressive tenderness into the music, which no bass voice could possibly have given, except his own. 'Zampa is certainly one of Fornasari's greatest cha racters. The Dandolo of Lablache is one of those rich and unctious bits of humour, of which those only can form an idea who have seen the man. [t was as great in its way as the Zampa of Fornasari. At the conclusion Fornasari was called for, and ap peared leading in Madame Persiani. After the opera the Pas de Quatre, from the " L ac d es F ees, " was exquisitely danced by Cerito, Plunket, Schceffer, and M. St. Leon, and then followed the last act of Norma, in which the exquisite duet, "Deh conte," the gem of the opera, was exquisitely given by Grisi and Favanti. Favanti did not seem so nervous as usual, and, consequently, was enabled to do fuller justice to her marvellous powers of voice. Her intonation was pure, and her fioritone, was in good taste. Altogether we have never heard this beautiful duet more delightfully given than it was last evening. The ballet of Ondine, with Cerito as the heroine, concluded the evening's amusements. The performances were for the benefit of Fornasari, and, as might be expected, the house was crowded in every part. -- - LYCEUM THEATRE. Another successful piece at this cleverly-cond ucte d theatre last night confirms the favourable augury of Mrs. Ilealey's career as manager. The title of the last novelty is The Love Birds, which, though honoured in the bills will the designation of a " ecomic drama," is, in fact, only an interlude of half-an -hour's duration, that serves to fill up a gap in the evening's entertain ments very pleasantly. Miss Fortescue made her ap pearance for the first time, and, with Miss Fairbrother, Miss.E. Chaplin, Mr. It. Younge, and Mr. F. Matthews, sustained the principal parts in this petite drama is a manner that insured its success. Of the plot we will not speak ; it is a trifle, the essence of which consists in situation and lively dialogue. It is got up with mi nute attention to stage effect, and at the fall of the cur tain an attempt was made by many to bring the princi pal performers again on the stage, but the call was not obeyed. The following distinguished persons have visited this theatre during the past week :—The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Duke and Duchess of Montrose, Earl and Countess of Wicklow and family, Countesi of Sligo, Earl of Chesterfield, Lady Seymour and family, Lord William Lennox, Lord Mountcharles, Lord Auckland, Lord Aitesford, Lord Curzon, Lord Alford, Lord Dudley and Ward, Lord Alexander Lennox, Lord F. Beauclerk, Baroness de Sternberg, Lord Hervey Lennox, Lord Chief Baron Sir F. Pollock and inmily, Sir Henry Webb, Sir Wm. de Bathe, Sir Bellingham Graham, Hon. Fitzroy Stanhope, Hon. George Stephen Bvng, Colonel Conyers, Mr. Cullen S m i t h, Mr. Cockburn, Q.C., Hon. C. Cavendish, S. Stanley, Esq, G. Womb well, Esq, Capt. Eden, Mr. Bradshaw, M.P., &c. LITERATURE. THE TWINS, Bentley, London, 1844, The principal tale in this volumc:,, entitled, the " Twins," is of a purely domestic character, and is told with feeling and simplicity, w i t h out the slightest attempt at finery; whether of sentiment or expression. The author is a gentleman named Tupper, well known for his thoughtful book of aphorisms, " Proverbial Philosophy." In the latter part of the volume, we find a spirited descriptive poem, " St. Martha's Mount," which will remind the reader of the graphic touches of nature, and the free and easy .versification of Dyer' s " G rongar Hill, " together with two•short. prose tales, one of which, the "Phrenologist," would form the mater i als of an excellent farce for the Hay- market, or that pleasant little theatre, the Lyceum. MEDITATIONS OF ANTONINUS. Longman, London, 1844. This is a free translation from the Greek of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, whom Gibbon, it may be remembered, has praised so highly in his immortal history of Rome. Attached to these Impe rial " meditations" is the Manual of the slave Epicte tus, whom Mrs. Carter's faithful version has already rendered familiar to the English reader. Both the present translations are by Dr. M'Cormack. DISSENTERS' CHAPELS BILL.—On Tuesday . night a meeting of the opponents of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill, now before the House of Lords, was held in Oxendon-street Chapel, Haymarket, for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to oppose the further progress of that measure in Parliament. Lord Mountcashel presided. The Noble Chairman open e d the proceedings of the evening by entering into a detail of the various proceedings, legal and otherwise, which led to the introduction ofthis Bill—a Bill the professed object of which the Ministers alleged was to put a stop to the serious litigation whic p h ur l p ia o d se t s a . kei place ll i isLo i r n ds reren h f i epaclesotopropertyexplained for e state re o l f ig th io el n i s ng on the subject intbeli t o o us in e c o reas f Lords, the tshpmesautio-oei port of the law lords, the nominfaalc4osopinfipmoesdietnaiiiotnyr_of(tThhee Right;, Rev. Bench of Bishops, mad his own uncompromising hogsti lily to what he characterised as a most infamous nien sur measure h a i c e t h u s, calculatedi n here interrupted blr bClatjhnitawioitarnmr.iaaannmisliqs'eonsidereduthoseat wCtrlistditadni werarektithoofsediAsvahiloPbT lient,fidael.!(cries et Hear,t not he b a e r l . le ) ve i l n vh th en e sfiSleiiieaetiltlvorrensooal.ufpeTntieehliareaheei‘ tBol2o34Zosfucinhfirndeerity a the present day, he perastyurleesfttbhyo rmellogldusecpideredsonopspfoo-r was a Bill of spoliation and. br injustice, the ob ject being to take awavtro rrealligai;oaptsuor.poTseshocie, forte The Noble LQrd purpose of spreading infidelity e n4i3ilueedteitnighiNsvasaddafrteesrsii,ardsmidsadt l dr ou e d sse an d d b r he .Drs. Bennett, Cooks, of Belfast, Morrison, &c., and strong resolutions eondemnatory o f th e measure, and calling on the different denominations of religious Dissenters in the metropolis and throughout the country to join in protesting against it were passed, petitions to Parliament agreed to, and the meeting separated. The Malta Times of the 24th has the following from Tunis :—" We find by the arrival of the Geyser from Tu -nis,that theFrench-Consul had elaied the Maltese mur derer Xuereh, as a Christian, and `that the Bey, being intimidated, had given him up. Ttib Sardo-Tunisian business, is settled—after all his blustering, the Bey has succuttihed at last, and paid for the steamer, as well as all the eipenses of 4 Sardinian armament, k. We un derstand that the money was brought here 'by the Gey ser," A BAD ititmoßY.—A curious scene otcurced at Washington, a Tillage in the county of Loqrham, a few days ago, The Rev. Incumbent, on the m?rning of the 2sth ult., after going , through the formulae of the ser vice, was about I to give his sermon to an attentive, but certainly a very thin congregation, when lo 1 after a diligone search in all his pockets, the manuscript was - What was best to by done under witting circumstances, was the question that suggested itself to the rev. functionary No send th e clerk for the miss ing document waa tkOrst idea t h at obtruded itself. But where was it to -tb"lound, was the ne x t quest i on. priest opens the pulpit dWooitrh,odurtesmseodreinrehfliesertokrbite;:,43.4pus his hat, and bolts out of the church in search of his sermon. His house, which is about 800 yards fl‘om the place .s>f worship, he arrived at, and found the object of his search, which, after O. smart run, he delivered to his znuch-surprised and highlp. amused congreptim—Zitse 4tcrcurv.