The Sun. — London, England, 1836-12-19 00:00:00

I honour as a tithe composition. The principle of the ob jection of the Lords to the appropriation clause of the Tithe Bill is, that it would be inconsistent to devote any any part of the moneys belonging to one Church to edu cate the children of another ; for as the two religions differ, the education which each profess to be based upon the reli gion of each, must differ also. But what though the faith o 7 these two Churches differ, is not their hope the same? And, above all, is not their charity the same ?—(Hear.) And has not the apostle they both honour alike declared, " now of these three charity is the greatest ?" Why, then, may they not both meet upon this high neutral ground, and expend upon a law of charity that will be com mon to all that consecrated fund which is now being scat tered, and likely to be destroyed amidst the discord and strife it occasions ? The interests of all parties in England require the introduction of a poor law into Ireland. The three :great political sections—Whig, Conservative, and Radical, are almost unanimous up on thi s p o i n t. A s , there fore, the Irish landlords in either House cannot possibly re sist this double combination *of interests and principles pointing the same way, their obvious policy is to adopt the proposition which bids most fairly to lighten the threatened burden. Now this I think mine does—even going upon the hypothesis that Parliament should refuse to cover the tithes out of the imperial exchequer ; for; supposing the donceur offered those landlords, for mixing up the tithe with their rents, to•be, as it is likely to be at the next Parliamentary auction, a third per cent., it will leave upon them only 370,0001., the tithe composition being 5.55,000/. Nov, if they were let off for that, and saved a poor-rate by it, should they-not count themselves very fortunate ?—the poor; rate of England for the last year, notwithstanding the reduc tions effected by the Amendment Bill, being 4,720,0001.! It will not be quite 6d. per acre of the reclaimed lands of the country; so that by letting the present tithe composition stand as the real- poor-rate, and consenting to pay this single 6d. an acre to the parsons, they will escape every other levy, and will be doing, after all, nothing more than what in justice and in honour they would be bound to do independent of such consideration at all—namely, support ing their own clergy without taxing their neighbours ! If we make the tithe composition our poor-rate, we save all the trouble, and expense, and delay of a fresh valuation. There is the fund already forMally constituted, and all we have to do is to bring our machinery to bear upon it, to set it in action. I would have no objection, howeVer, to re open that composition in any case where a majority of the payers required it, and consented to cover the expense of it. Utterly ignorant as the people of' this country are of the machinery of a poor law, and the working of it, it would be clearly prudent to place in the h a nd s of a na tional commission, named by Government, a very extensive superintendence, and a very peremptory control. I repeat, with confidence, "let tithes be abolished as a provision for priest or parson, but let them be preserved inviolate as a sa cred provision for the poor of the flocks of both." Let the minister's money, also, in the towns and cities where it is collected, be devoted to the same purpose ; and where it does not exist let it be introduced—so that as there shall be a poor's tenth in all the rural districts, there should be also a poor's money in all the towns. But let there be a new applotment of that money, so as to make it equal to all, and everywhere light. But, Sir, to come to the third, and by far the most important point of our discussion, is it not righteous to secure to the poor, by the appropriation of the tithes, the first claim upon the land which their own sweat fertilizes ? I assert the right of the poor, without any capricious and absurd distinction of impotent and able bodied—a distinct and positive right to such a claim. I assert it as a right founded in the very nature of society, and an indispensable condition of the contract that keeps it together. The right of the poor to a subsistence out of the land is not a mere moral or religious obligation ; nor is it a mere natural right, inasmuch as in a state of nature there could be none of the necessities that create it. But it is a pure political right of the very highest order, and in the very strictest sense, as being one of the primary elements in the constitution of.the bed; politic, and the condition that alone can sanction the inequality amongst men in the social state. I deny utterly any tendency upon the part of a rightful provision for the poor to make them idle. I maintain there are far greater inconveniences in rejecting the poor man's right. I maintain there are infinitely more tempta tions to idleness in refusing him relief. A right is an in finitely safer thing to deal with than a license. A right is reciprocal and reactive. Give the poor man a right to re lief when in distress, and you establish a right for yourself to test his distress, in the first place, with a rigour that would leave no loop hole for idleness, hypocrisy, or fraud ; and then to get in return for the relief you give, whatever labour he is capable of, or to compel that relief from third persons who would fain evade their natural duty to administer it. But, on the other hand, how impalpable and unimaginable is your "license. • The hungry man may ask for bread, but he may ask in vain, for he of whom he asks is equally licensed to refuse as the other is to ask. But I will be asked—would - not a legal provision for our poor ." inflict a serious moral injury on Ireland, by de stroying the active charity that now exists ?" Charity! There is no question here of charity, but there is question of rights. I am not here to preach a charity sermon, nor to listen to one. Does the right of property of the rich man in his wide domains depend on charity ? Then, why should the right of subsistence of the poor man to a morsel of bread depend on charity ? We have iron -handed, in exorable law for the one, and we are to have for the other no law at all! Oh, the cruel injustice! Oh, the rank hypocrisy that would fain cover it over with the fair mask of, charity ! Does the " community of goods" of the early Christians evince any desire to keep some in a state of lowly abjection, that others may be able to look - down with. a pa tronising pity upon them ? . Or does it not rather, with a fresh and generous enthusiasm, aim at placing all upon the sante fraternal level ? I would not ask him to go thus far ; but, surely, I might expect him, consistently with his own favourite principle, properly understood, to go with me half way to that 'happy juste milieu which a well-digested poor law offers. In strictness of argument. this charity has no : bearing whatever on the question of Poor-laws.----(Hear.) That is a question of pure civil polity—a question which points at mere human ends by mere human means—and to attempt to dispose of it upon principles of a higher origin and a higher aim is to study geometry with a telescope,— ( Hear.) But, affecting the interests of charity itself, I am fully persuaded that those who talk of it thus are utterly in error. Charity, like the dews of heaven, should fall un seen. It is thus only that charity, like the "quality of mercy," is " doubly blessed—blessing him that giveth and him that receiveth.' But how different from this is the charity that sustains our public mendicancy—a charity that "sounds a trumpet before it, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets"—a charity which, instead of being doubly blessed, is too often doubly cursed—given with a curse and taken with a curse!—(Cheers.) How various are the _ ways in which public alms-giving is abused. These are fully as often received by hypocrites as given by hypocrites. They are extorted by the impu dent from the timid. They are cozened by knaves from fool s . They are won by the importunate from the indo lent and indifferent, and are as often prompted by a loath ing disgust or a contemptuous pity as by a pure benevos lence. Then how pernicious is the effect upon the chari table feeling's themselves of this public mendicancy per petually hawking about its squalor and its sores.—(Hear.) There is one man now listening to me, for whose opinions I, in common with every gentleman here, base all that de ference to which they are well entitled, anti whose hesita tion upon the great principle of the Poor Law I for one am prepared most sincerely to respect. But I would c o n jure niy. Hon. and Learned Friend (if, in spite of this honest col lision of opinions, he will allow me to call him so,) not to suffer his mind to be swayed too much by those e.r parte fragments of evidence to which he bas lately so often al luded.—(Hear.) He has referred more than once to the case of Holland ; but ought he not to make a large allow ance for the_ embarrassments into which that country has be en , plunged' by the violent dismemberment of her em pire ? He has referred to the United States ; but, what comparison is there between that country and this as to th e ratio of population, of rents, and of wages, the three chief elements which it would be the business of a wise Poor-law to regulate ?—( Hear, hear.) None whatever. Give me but the tithes, which would be taking nothing from , any one that lie can call his own, and I un dertake to show how practicable it is, by a judi cious management of that fund alone, to enable our poor, to support themselves. Let us not, then, be fright ened any longer from grappling with this great subject by its apparent. difficulties. This Association was established for the purpose of asserting justice for Ireland. Ought not that to mean justice for every class of Irishmen ? Gen tlemen, you have h ear d much of the deep distress that_per vades ;be whole of the lower classes of your countrymen— You have beard of it, but how fewsof you have seen it ? But We h a ve seen, and see it every day, and come into close con tact with it. I allude to my reverend brothers, many of Ultom stand now around me, coming here for the first time to sanction by. their presence the proposition I have made. The actual state of society in this country is like a neglected or diseased tree—its roots, which arc the working popula tion, baying no deep hold of the soil, can convey but little of its genial juices to the trunk and branches, which are the middle classes ; and what they do convey is chiefly ab- Sorb e d by the foliage and the blosso ms — the light and gau d y lordlings that flutter above them all.—(Hear.) I conjure every man listening to me, that pants for his country's Christian peace and repose—and o h ! " h ow good and plea -- sant a thing it is for brethren tq live in amity together"—l c onjure every man that is eager to introduce into the pale - .° l4 the protection of the law those outcast and abandoned NM- that are coldly and cruelly shut out from it now—l c onjure you all, each and every one, to joal your loudest l'oices, and swell the pealing amen chorus in giving this mo tion such an inspiriting reception in this room, as will augur Well for its success in the Imperial Parliament, Sir, I move tie resolutions be adopted. The Rev. Gentleman sat down amidst loud cheers. Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD rose, amid loud cheers, to second the resolutions, when, at the suggestion of Mr. O'Connell, the debate was adjourned to three o'clock to-day. SECOND DAY.-ADJOURNED DEBATE. The Association met this evening at three o'clock, pur suant to adjournment. Long before the Chair was taken the great room was crowded to excess. On the motion of Mr. M. COSTELLO, EDWARD WOL STENHOLME, Esq., took the Chair. Mr. O'CONNELL here alluded to the letter of Mr. Gal loway, of' London, which he had mentioned yesterday, and he read from it the names of Aldermen Harrier and White, and also of 53 Common Councillors, who requested to be proposed as . Members of the Association ; amongst the latter wera the names of Mr. Under Sheriff Wire and Chas. Pearson, Esq. Amongst those gentlemen not Members of the Common Council was John Anderson, Esq., editor of the Morning Advertiser ; on the mention of whose name Mr. O'Connell said that he was sincerely happy to see the editor of that journal, by whose talent one of the most in fluential and patriotic journals in 'London was ably con ducted, enrolling himself amongst them.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. O'Connell then proposed the admission by acclama tion of the 104 gentlemen named by the letter of Mr. Gal loway, and remarked that amongst the many gratifying and glorious circumstances attendant upon the formation of the Association, the list he had just read was one of the most cheering.—(Cheers.) Mr. COSTELLO seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. A number of other members were admitted, and sub scriptions paid, when Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD, at half-past three o'clock, having been called on to resume the adjourned debate on poor laws, came forward and said—" Mr. Chairman, I rise with extreme satisfaction to second the propositions so ably brought forward yesterday evening by the ltev. Gentleman who proposed them. Sir, I rejoice to find that any Chris tian Minister should have been found to act in so charita ble and truly Christian-like manner. At the same time I must acknowledge that I feel considerable regret, when 1 find that no minister of my own Church could be found to act in my place on this occasion. —(Hear, hear.) These resolutions divide themselves into two points, and the first question is, the taking away of the tithes from those who have them at present in their possession ; and the second is, the general provision of a support for the poor. Now, with.regard to the first point, I accede to such an appro priation as being 'one of the most easy and satisfactory de scription of compromise.—(Hear, hear.) I before brought forward a series of resolutions in this Association, pm posing a tithe assessment, including a relief for the poor. I, therefore, say that it is my opinion, that though tithe should be totally abolished, that I accept the pro position made by the Reverend Gentleman as a com promise that would be more easy to make, and that it is one vow that cannot be liable to any fair objection. It is not necessary at present to go into any of the details that would be consequent on any appropriation of tithes, to the benefit of the poor.—( Hear.) I should say that there ought to be districts or parishes with central bodies to con *rout them in the making of the assessment. The paupers of Ireland were stated at 2,300,000: he did not admit that amount, for it could be shown from their own re port that this was not the case.---(Hear.) But admit ting this, one-fifth were able-bodied men—and it would be bad policy of the state to provide for the sick and not prevent the causes of siekness.—(Hear.) Then as to the means by which relief was to be afforded: There was no other way to afford it but by making the landed proprietors liable. Then a system of poor laws should be aceom- ponied by other measures, such as those for the reclaiming of waste lands, and an improvement in the law of landlord and tenant—these should be concomitant with a poor law, and would render it more applicable and beneficial.— (Hear.) He would now come to an important conside ration—the introduction of poor laws into England. It had been stated by his Hon. Friend, that the people were better clothed and fed before this period. Now, Hume stated that before then the people of England were 'remarkable for the contrary. Mr. CraWford here read several quotations, stating the state of crime, cleanliness, and power of England, during and previous to the reign of Elizabeth, which he contended showed .that at that period the people were in a wretched state. He also read from Mr. Sadler's table of the comparative accounts of the poor rates and revenue at various . periods. In 1601, the poor-rates amounted to one-third of the rev e nue ; a nd i n _ _ _ 1825, only to one-tenth of the revenue ; and in 1680, the paupers amounted to one-fourth of the population ; and in 1825, to only one-twelfth of it. Thus it was that, though it was said that England was destroyed by poor laws, yet by every tabular return that could be obtained that she exceeded, despite poor laws, in power and prosperity all surrounding nations.—(Hear.) But the people of England would not lie down and die as the people of Ireland did : no, they would not.—(Hear.) Where had there been such a report of pauprism as that made respecting Ireland ? And when it was shown that pauperism had increased here, where there were no poor laws, should not the experiment be tried?—(Hear.) But poor laws should be accom panied by the extension of education, which would give to the people such feelings as would tend to prevent their havina• recourse to the aid of the poor rate. He would be . satisfied with an instalment as the means of insuring the full assertion of the right to a provision for the poor. Mr. O'CoNNELL then rose, and said, I consider the ques tion as put upon the resolutions without the formality of reading them over again ; and the more readily do I do this, because it is my purpose to move that they be re ferred to a committee to revise and report upon them to a future meeting.--(Hear.) This is the course which I intended to take, and therefore not one word of objection to the form of the resolutions, to the principles which they put 'forward, or to their details as contrasted with the speeches of the mover and seconder,-shall fall from my lips. —(Hear.) The real qdestion is this—there exists an enormo us quantity of poverty in Ireland, ,to 'an extent most frightful and appalling, and to an, extent hitherto unknown in any civilized country.---(Hear.) Out of eight millions, it is reported, and I think upon abundant evidence of the fact, 2,300,000 individuals are supported by casual charity for the entire, or at least for a considerable portion of the year.—(Hear.) Nay, more, this distress, appalling as it, is but a portion of the distress that is before us.—(llear.) The crop has miserably failed in many dis tricts--in the western districts to an appalling and terrific extent, and we are upon the verge of having an increase of pauperism extending even to an enormous aggravation of the existing evil.—(Hear, hear.) The question then, is, how are the poor to be relieved ?—that is the only question. I am not to be carried away or put down by declamation. It is easy to take it for granted that a legal provision is valuable to the poor, and then declare that charity and humanity are in favour of that provision ; but once con vince me that a legal provision is good, and I will be come its unremitting and restless advocate, as is my habit.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) At the first blush— when the assertion is first made, that Poor Laws are good, the statement appears clear and true. It has more than once led me astray (if I may use the expression). It has led me to consider that poor-laws are useful and necessary, but its the situation in which chance and accident, and not any talent or merit of my own, have placed me in Ireland, I felt it my duty not to consider it in a benevolent aspect, till I had considered its details—looked into its application —and traced its practical results.—( Hear, bear.) It may be said, that I have got myself into bad company in my opposition to poor-laws ; but I am bound to do my duty to my country, notwithstanding this circumstanes. The Rev. Gentleman who has brought forward this motion, has also got hiniself into bad company. Blackwood's Magazine is upon his side--the Quarterly Review is.with him—that acme of literary rascality the Times is at his side—the " blood &lien Standard." All the high Tory prints are with him —Old Granny, of the Morning Herald is with him— George Howell and Oliver Williams are with him—and men of that class, at one time affecting great liberality ; but when the "No Popery " flag floats over the Lord Lieutenant at the theatre, he polls against the popular party at the election, which he did in my case. Why did he do this ?—because I was against poor-law ? yet, notwith standing this dislike to me upon that heat!, he voted for West and Hamilton, who are decided enemies of Poor laws.—( Hear, hear.) I take my stand upon this principle, that whenever I think the people wrong, I tell them. so— (Cheers)—and mark again what is my conduct at this mo• mcnt with the English Radicals, or rather with a section of them, when I saw them acting in a way that made them practical Tories. Did I not take my stand against such English Radicals, as I now do against the poor of this I country, because I think them wrong.—( Hear.) My friends, the Hon. Member for Dundalk, and the excellent clergyman, the mover of the question, do think me in the wrong ; at the same time I will do my friends the justice to say, that there does not exist a more honest, upright, or independent man, or a better landlord, than the former, or a .more exemplary clergyman than the latter.—( Loud cheers.) But while I thus express myself of both those excellent individuals, I must at the same time declare that I think them both wrong, aye, egregiously wrong.—( Cries of " Hear, hear !" and " No, no !") All motives—aye, and I will add another, the strongest of all—the wish to relieve the poor th emse l ves — a ll urge me on in favour of Poor laws, if it were not that my judgment opposes my political interest. Now, I will ask you, if I wanted a means of rousing the minds of the people, by what topic might I inflame them more than by means of this question of Poor laws, if I began by making declaration against the idleness of the rich, and contrasted their luxuries with the wants of the suffering poor ? Oh ! I was sorry to hear my Rev. Friend introduce such topics, pregnant as they are with a meaning so very different from what was contemplated by my Rev. Friend.—(Hear, hear.) I oppose poor laws be- •'• cause I think the provision contemplated by them for the poor only calculated to keep them in the bad state in which they are ; aye, and to increase those evils in which they are placed. I have examined this question deliberately. I have examined it in the abstract, and I have pursued it through all its details before I have laid down at night, and in my bed it has been the subject of my anxious con , sideration. I may say it has been my midnight thought and my morning dream.—(Hear, hear.) I have listened to every person who could instruct me upcin the subject, and I must say they have not been aLle to afford me more information.—(Cries of " Hear, bear.") If a poor law be a relief; we are bound to seek for it. But if it be merely a name and a delusion, really mischievous, and a re ward for vice, an encouragement to waste and improvidence, it would be a violation of the best emotions of the human heart to seek a measure which would give to the demora lized pauper, in place of his rich inheritance of industry, - the paltry mess of pottage which would be afforded. him in a workhouse. The cause is not to be settled by declama tion. My Rev. Friend has totally left out in his speech one consideration, The distress of Ireland he has alluded to, but not to the cause—we have not one word from him about causes. My Hon. Friend, the Member for Dundalk, follows a different course. Now, we arc State physicians, assembled to consider the cure of our national evils ; and would not that physician be worse than an apothecary's boy or a loblolly sailor, who would think of mitigating the disease without inquiring into the cause ? My opinion is, that the misery of this country is created by a poli tical cause. I don't mince it. By the injustice of British rule we have suffered for six centuries under the grossest mismanagement, and the result is, that we have two mil lions of paupers. Your poor law would be only a quack remedy that, in my opinion, would be productive of a mo mentary—a species of intoxicating and temporary—relief; but when the effect wore away, leaves the patient in a state of collapse, inanity, and weakness worse than before.— (Cheers.) You want manufactures, you want employment, you want wages instead of alms for the people. My Hon. Friend alluded to corn laws—does he not recollect that Ireland does not import a grain of corn, and that she ex ports a good deal—that she disposes of ten times more than she can consume ?—(Hear.) Why the corn laws are the only things which are of service to this country. But they are a great injustice to England, and although I have represented three agricultural counties—that of Waterford, Kerry, and Clare—l always opposed the corn laws, on account of their gross injustice to Eng land. I never could agree to a measure which took the bread out of the mouth of the honest artisan to add to the luxury of the landlords of the country.—(Cheers.) God has made our country fair and beautiful, but man has made among us 2,300,000 paupers.--( Hear, hear.) We are state physicians, and are to determine how these evils may be remedied.—(Hear, hear.) To my Hon. Friend, I would say, Sir; I call upon you, then, as a State phy sician—and no man understands the system of the disease of Ireland better than he does—to apply the proper re medy to those afflictions.—(Hear.) Sir, those who would administer to Ireland a system of poor laws, as a cure for her evils, puts me in mind of those quacks—(for poor laws are a quack medicine for Ireland)—who administer Morison's pills when the patient has been made hoarse by taking a boxful of them. He orders them another, and hopes that they may not be unpleasant initheir operation. Mr. O'Connell continued to ask did he stand alone ? Dr. Doyle might be quoted against him.—( Hear.) Let them listen to his sentence out, he allowed it at one time, he totally abandoned it at another.—( No.) Did Mr. Costello say no ; he (Mr. O'Connell) would prove it: He had read a pamphlet in that room, and the fact was one of his own knowledge. He read the deliberate assertion of Dr. Doyle, that the Poor-laws were to be based on the absence of the asser tion of the right to provision. Dr. Whately was with him also, and he had also the opinion in his favour of Dr. Murray, and there was that evidence in this opinion which had stamped him amongst the clearest-minded of men ; he had signed the document against the assumption of the , right to provision, and God forbid he (Mr. O'Connell) should have the wickedness to stand there, and say a word which could deteriorate the solemn duty of the rich to assist and sustain the poor ; and it was, in his opinion, the operation of Poor-laws tended to weaken that duty.—( Hear.) Mr. O'CONNELL here proceeded to review the injuries inflicted on England by the Poor-laws, and to state to the effect that her vast recuperative resources had alone sus tained and enabled her to bear up against their pressure. All he wanted for Ireland was fair play—political fair play —and that the country should be put into such a situation as would enable her to develope her own resources.— (Hear.) He concluded by moving that the resolutions be referred to the Committee, and that they be also requested to report their opinions on the causes of Irish destitution, and the best mode of applying a remedy for the distress of the poor.—(Cheers.) Mr. LAWLESS then rose to move an adjournment of the debate until Saturday. Mr. O'CONNELL would move the adjournment until , 1 Wednesday. This having been agreed to, Mr. O'CONNELL announced the amount of justice -rent for the last week to be 3331. Os. 3d. Tl►e announcement was received with loud cheers. Sir FRANCIS MACDONNELL was then called to the Chair, and thanks being voted to Mr. Wolstenholme, the meeting adjourned. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, DK°. 17.—This being the last day of Tenn, a con gregation was holden for granting Degrees, when the follow ing were conferred : DOCTOR OF DIVINITY—Rev. Josh. Cooke, Magdalen Hall. BACHELOR or DIVINITY—Rev. Frederick Charles Plumtre. Master of University College. MASTER or Aars—Rev. Thomas Turner, Exeter Hall. BACHELOR OF CIVIL LAW--Mr. Higgs, St: John's College. BACHELOR or ARTS—Robert Keate, Esq., Christ Church, The next congregation for granting DegreeN, &c., will be Jan. 14, 1837, being i,he first day of Hilary, or Lent Term. (From the Cambridge Chronicle of Friday. ) There will be Congregations' on the following days of the ensuing Lent Term Saturday, Jan. 21 (A. B. commencement), at 10. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 11. Wednesday, Feb. B,f at 11 (Ash Wednesday). Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 11. Friday, March 10 (A. M. Inceptors), at 10. - Friday, March 17 (end of Term), at 10. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS. To-nAr —Statistical Society, British Architects, Marylebone Literary—at 8, p.m. TUESDAY—Lirinaaan Society, 8, p.m. ; Lambeth Literary So ciety, p. 8_; Belgrav e Lit erary . WEDNESDAY—Society , of Arts, p. 7, p.m. ; Southwark Lite rary Society, 8 p.m. THURSDAY—RoyaI Society, p. 8; Society of Antiquaries, 8; Royal Society of Literature, 4; Islington Literary Society, 8, p.m. CORONER'S INQUEST.--SUICIDE.—On Saturday evening; an inquest was held at the Portman Arms tavern„ Great Portland-street, Portland-place, on the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Hoskin, aged 39, a married lady, who committed suicide by drowning herself in a water cistern. Louisa Hoskin, one of' the deceased's daughters, who was much affeCted whilst giving her deposition, stated that her late lathented mother had been in very bad health since the death of her last infant, six months back, and was subject to fits of great despondency, which increased upon her of late, notwithstanding the soothing attention of witness's.fa ther and the whole of the family. On Wednesday morn ing last, at the breakfast table, the deceased was unusually low and dejected. Shortly afterwards the family were thrown into a state of most painful anxiety and alarm in consequence of the deceased being !pissed. At length her unfortunate parent was discovered in the water cistern. Several witnesses (friends of the deceased) spoke to her low nervous state for some months before the commission of the rash act. She was the mother, of a large family, and an excellent woman. Verdict, Temporary derangement." The following singular handbill has been issued by a Dorchester labourer, and it is hoped that it will prove successful :—" A bill for a wife. Matrimony.—Charles Warren, Mamba, Dorset. My family is a follows :—The eldest boy is thirteen years old, and a girl eight years old. My .house is my own, and I have no rent to pay. "have an acre of potatoes, half blues and. half whites, this year. My wife has been dead this twelvemonths ago last Shroten fair. The children live by themselves in the daytime, but lam always at home with them_at night. I do think it would be better if there was a woman to look after. Ahem, both for the children and myself. I have got eight shillings a week for my work, and the; boy two shillings a week, and have constant employ. I, want a good steady woman, be tween thirty and forty years old, for a wife. Ido not want a second family. I want a woman to -look after the pigs while I am out at work." In consequence of the present condition of the crops, Mr. M'Leod, of Cadbol, has kindly postponed his collection of rents due on his estate at Martinmas, to the month of February next, which consideration is truly seasonable, and worthy of example.--Edinburgh Weekly Journal. A most singular superstition exists in the depart ment of .the Indre, in France, that after death-the soul of the defunct flits about the apartment in which .it took its departure from the body like a butterfly, seeking an aper ture to escape to Heaven ; and, therefore, when any one is considered to be in the last agonies, every vessel containing water, milk, or any other liquid, is removed carefully away for fear the passing spirit should fall into it, and thus be pre vented from reaching its eternal place of rest.--Galignani. The Messager de Grind says—" A turnip, weigh in has lately been much talked of as a p ro di gy ; h u t there is at present to be seen at the public-house called the Cerf, at Melle, near Mont, one weighing 251b5., four ells in circumference, and about two ells and a third in dia meter," THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, [)ECEMBER 19. 1836. FO.i.tEIGN INTELLIGENCE. FRANCE. ritc. 16.--The Ministry of the. 22d of Feb., accused by the Doetrinaire press of having been niggardly in inen, and delayed the expedition to Constantine:, replies this morning in the Journal de Paris by the most formal contradiction. That Journal says—" That the Ministry of the 22d of . February had resolved on the expedition to Constantino from the month of September. That the number of men which it placed at the disposal of the Mar shal was much superior to that mentioned in the Ministerial Journals. Lastly, that that Ministry was fully determined not to refuse the Marshal any thing necessary to ensure the success of the expedition, without diminishing at other points the.force requisite to give a grand ensemble to the military operations in ,Africa." DEC. 17.—The Semaphore of Marseilles is the first journal that ventures to mention the amount of our loss of men in the affair of Constantine. " Our losses," it says, " amount to 2,000 men, among whom may be in cluded those who perished from fatigue, disease, and cold, and those killed by the enemy." The application of Mademoiselle Grisi to the Tribunal was not what it appeared to be. She wished for a refusal of her suit, and she has obtained it. Her marriage with the young Gerard de Mercy, which took place five or six months ago in the county of Middlesex, in England has been declared valid, though it was not provided by the usual public notices in France. M. de Gerande, King's Advocate, explained that Mademoiselle Grisi being alarmed at the apparent singularity of her marriage asked for the opinion of the Court. The Court has given it to the satisfaction of all parties, but it was not gratis, for M. de Mercy, her husband, and his mother, are condemned each to pay a fine of 500 francs, according to the French civil code, which the young couple consulted too late.— Journal du Commerce, Dec. 17. PARIS, DEC. 17.—The Semaphore, received to-day, ex plains in a different manner the disorder occasioned in one of the corps by the pusillanimity and cowardice of General de Rigny. It says :—" What contributed to render the rout of the army more complete was the want of succour from the cavalry. General de Rigny, who commanded the cavalry, being deceived by the appearance, mistook at a dis tance the tall and closely planted stems of the thistles of Africa, surmounted with long white flowers for band of Be douins invested in their beurnuas and ordered a charge to be made on this harmless camp ; the cavalry being once engaged among these tall plants could not arrive in time to relieve our troops, and attack the enemy. General de Rigny has been deprived of his command. It is, however, affirmed that his command has been restored to him in an order of the day, in which the Marshal assigns his reasons. The Duke de Nemours and the Governor are now in the capital of the Colony." This version of the Semaphore, if correct, would he so far of advantage to General de Rigny, as it would clear that officer in a certain degree of an infamous stain, and would only leave him subject to the reproach of an incapacity for which it is difficult to find a name.---Messager, Dec. 17. OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE EXPEDITION TO CONSTANTINA. The llfoniteur of this morning contains the following offi cial Report from Marshal Clause', addressed to the Minis ter of War, dated Bona, Dec. Ist " I had the honour of informing you, before the departure of the expedition, how much difficulty I had in collecting at Bona the troops and stores which contrary winds and storms had dispersed in all directions. While the troops embarked, suffering from being kept so long on board, abundant rains were falling at Bona, and the different corps as they ar rived, not being able to recover themselves from the effects of their voyage, I was obliged to leave in the hospitals 2,000 out of the 7,000 infantry I had succeeded in atsembling. The weather having become fine on November 12, I left Bona on the 13th, and set out on my march against Con stantina with 7,000 men of all arms. The army had scarcely settled at its first bivouac when the rain fell again with the greatest violence, and the small rivulet, upon the borders of which we were encamped, having soon become a torrent, I could not get the troops over till mid-day on the 14th. At this hour, the sun having re-appeared ; we were encamped at Moulhelfa, and on the 15th, after having passed, not without great difficulty for the bag gage, the Col d e M ouar d, we arr i ve d at G ue l ma; and I made the army encamp on the left bank of the Seyhouse. There are at Guelma numerous ruins of old Roman build ings, and particularly of the ancient citadel, which were in a sufficiently good condition to establish there a military post, perfectly safe from the attacks of the Arabs. I took advantage of this to leave, under a sufficient guard, about 200 men, who were already fatigued. by the march, and un able to go on to Constantina. The weather continued to be favourable, and we resumed our route on the 17th at day break. We halted at an early hour at Medjaz Amar, where we again met with great difficulty in crossing the Seyhouse. The shores being very steep, the engineers passed the night in establishing rails and clearing the ford, which was encumbered by enormous stones. " On the 17th I effected the passage, which occupied a great deal of time, and about four in the afternoon we reached the famous summit over which the Col de Raz el Akba is passed, and which 'is called by the Arabs the " Cut-Throat Pass." Ruins still remaining on , the tops of all the smaller hills, attest that the Romans erected, at the distance of half a league from each other, numerous towers and forts, in order to secure the mastery of this military point. Some of these ruins lead to a conclusion that many of the grandees of Rome constructed spacious and beautiful palaces in this picturesque country. This pass has always been considered so difficult, that the Arabs were convinced that I should never get the materiel of the army over it. I had the mountain and the gorges reconnoitred by several officers, and was myself six hours on horseback, ascertaining personally the numerous difficul ties we had to encounter. While the army passed the night at the foot of the mountain at Akbet al Achari, the engineers, assisted by numerous working parties, undertook to trace out a road by which, at six o'clock in the evening of the 18th, we succeeded in passing the Col, without losing any part of the materiel of our army. On this *day (the 18th) the troops encamped in the territories of the tribe of Ouled Zenati, a league beyond the Col of Razel Abka. Thus far while the weather was favourable we marched through a friendly and pacific people. The Arabs cultivated their fields, and the numerous Hocks and herds were some times even on the road by which we were passing. We were then only two days' march from Canstantina. On the. 19th we encamped at Raz Oned Zenati, and here com menced the most cruel, unexpected, and unparalleled hard ships. We were in the most elevated regions, and during the night rain, snow, and hail fell so constantly, and in such abundance, that we were exposed to all the rigours of a winter at St. Petersburgh, while the ground resembled in the eyes of old officers the mire of Warsaw. We were within sight of Constantine, and yet began to despair of reaching, its walls. We, however, continued our march on the 20th ; and the army, with the exception of the baggage and "the rear guard, reached the Monument of Constantine, where it was forced to halt. The cold be came excessive ; many of the men had their feet frozen, and many perished in the night ; for sinch we left Raz el Akba there was no more fuel to be obtained. In fine, the bagiago --the horses to which were doubled and trebled----:jotned us, and we crossed, on the 21st, the Bon Mt . lzroug, one of the tributary streams of the Oued Rammel, which, increasd by the torrents, had overflowed its banks. The infantry were up to their wastes in water, and many of them would have perished but for the cavalry, who saved them at the risk of their own lives. Several of the draught horses were drowned at this difficult passage. The army, however, suc ceeded in reaching the opposite side of the river, and in a few hours afterwards, we were in position under the walls of Constantina. The baggage of the administration, how ever, was left about two leagues in the rear, fast bound in the mud, but making every effort to join us. Constantina is admirably situated, and at all points, except one, is wonderfully defended by nature. A ravine, s i x ty yards wide, and of an immense depth, at the bottom of which runs the Owed Rammel, presents, as a scarp and countersearn, a perpendicular rock, equally unassailable by bombardment:or undermining. The plateau of Monsora has communication with the town by a very narrow bridge, terminating at a double gateway, of great strength, and well defended by musketry from the surrounding houses and gardens. Under the circumstances in which we are placed I had no leisure to invest the place regularly. I, with the troops of General Trezel, was in occupation of the Plateau of Mansoura. I had directed the brigade of the v anguar d t o take possession of th e hill oc k s ofKoudiat Ati, and the Marabouts and burying grounds opposite the gate of Er Rahbah, and to blockade it without loss of time. It was easy at a glance to perceive that the town was to b e attacked on this point, but it was also utterly impossible to convey the field artillery to the spot, as it was already buried up to the naves of the wheels on the platform of Mansoura. Colonel Tournemine was unable to effect the transport of two eight-pounders to the other position. It was at that moment hostilities commenced ; they were an nounced to us by the firing of two twenty-four-pounders, di rected against our artillery, and by the red flag of the Arabs, which was mounted on the principal battery of the place. The Bey Achmet had not ventured to shut himself up in Constantina, and had confided the defence of that town to his Lieutenant, Ben Haissa. As he placed no dependence upon the inhabitants, he had introduced into the town a garrison of between 1,200 and 1,500 Turks and Kabyles, who were resolutely determined to defead the place. After. crossing the Oued Rammel the vanguard brigade I.:j avanc ed upon the hei g ht s , w hi c h though defen`h"a icy the Kabyles, who issued i n considerable fe7-ce trona the pla c e, were suc cessively carried by our troops. The latter established their position under the guns of the Arabs,„ whilst I disposed my artillerp the #ro of wklcll 4irce4ed against the gate of EI-Cantara during the whole of the 22d. Throughout that day the vanguard brigade also fought most gallantly against the com bi ne d f orce o f t h e Arabs and the Turkish inantry, the latter having made a sortie from the gate which we were unable to blockade, as we had no longer 3,000 men under arms. I sent some additional horse to ex tricate the lashings of the guns from the mire in which they were imbedded, but the task was impracticable. I then ac ceded to the suggestion of the military intendant, who pro posed to me to send mules to accomplish the desired object, but the plan could not be carried into effect, for, just as the convoy was on the point of startim, , , - under the escort of a half battalion, we were apprised that a portion ofthe 62d regiment, which had accomplished and protected the lashings of the guns, seeing the impossibility of extricating them, had plundered the provisions in spite of the efforts of their Colonel, staved the casks of wine and brandy, and thus de prived us of a portion of our resources. " The weather was still horrible ; the snow fell in thick flakes, and the cold was excessive. It became necessary for me to take the place by storm, and, in the event of ill success, to march back with the army without further delay. The first gate battered by the artillery was carried, and, if our engineers could only succeed in blowing up the second, there was still a hope that we should be able to penetrate into the town. " I now made the necessary preparations for quartering the sappers and the companies, that were to follow them. The cngineers, who had remained behind, with part of the waggons, having arrived at eight o'clock in the evening, I ordered Colonel Lemercier to prepare to reconnoitre the state of the gate of El Cantara, in order to blow up every part of it that might remain standing, and to force a passage for five picked companies of the 59th and 63d Regimnts, which I placed under the orders of my Aide-de-Camp, Co lonel de Rance. These instructions were but slowly exe cuted by the engineers, who were exhausted with fatigue, having passed thirty-six hours in the mire without fire or rest. The gate was reconnoitred only a short time before daybreak, and the engineers required the following day to make the necessary preparations for the operation. " On the 23d, while the artillery continued to batter the town, the vanguard brigade was vigorously attacked, but the enemy was defeated on every point, our cavalry cutting down a great portion of the BO Turkish infantry. The Chef d'Escadron, Torigny, directed this charge in the most brilliant manner, and throughout the whole of the cam paign gave constant evidence of his courage and determined ' coolness. On our side we were also attacked, and by Ge neral Trezel's orders the Arabs were vigorously driven back by the 59th regiment of the line, which covered our head quarters. " In the hope of diverting the attention of the garrison, and terrifying the inhabitants, I ordered two simultaneous attacks for that night—the first, against the gate of El Cantara, was to be under the direction of Colonel Lemercier—the second, on the side of Koudiat-Ati, was to be attempted by the troops of the vanguard. On the approach of night General Trezel himself posted the 59th and 63d regiments, which were to second the engineers. Colonel Lemercier ordered his men and his makriel to advance, under the orders of Commandant Morin, and Captains Ilack a ott and Ruy. The garrison immediately commenced, and kept up a brisk fire. An injudicious order for the advance of the free company of the Bougie, which was at the head of the column, threw into disorder the sappers, who had just commenced their la bours. Our losses were considerable, and the men who carried the ladders were killed or wounded, Captain Ruy, of the engineers, had his leg and wrist shattered, and Ge neral Trezel, who exposed himself to the hottest of the fire to encourage and rally his troops, was felled to the ground by a ball which struck him in the neck. Colonel Lemer cier insisted upon the necessity of abandoning the attack and withdrawing the troops, and immediately gave orders to that effect. 'The attack on Koudiat-Ati was equally unfortunate, and led to the loss of several brave officers, among whom was Captain Grand, of the Engineers, an officer of the highest promise, and Commandant Richepanse. Lieute nant-Colonel Duvivier on this occasion gave fresh proofs of his bravery and skill. Lieutenant Bertrand, of the Artil lery, who was wounded, also displayed the greatest courage and energy. " The attempts which it was incumbent on us to make previously to our retreat having failed, I judged it advis able to profit by the remainder of the night to assemble the army and to make every preparation to march. I accord ingly sent Colonel De Rance to the vanguard brigade, to give immediate orders for breaking up its encampment, and for its recrossing the Oued liammel before d a yb rea k, i n order that it might t a k e th e position which I occupied. This movement having been promptly and successfully exe cuted, I pointed out the order in which the different corps were to station themselves, and the army having commenced its march with all the baggage and artillery we encamped at Soma. "On the first day the retreat was extremely difficult, as the entire garrison and a number of mounted Arabs at tacked us, arid particularly our rear-guard, with the most determined, perseverance. But the 63d regiment, and the battalion of the 2d infantry, under the Commandant Changernier, supported by the mounted African chasseurs, repulsed every attack, occasioned much loss to the enemy, and kept them in check. At a moment of so much diffi culty, Commandant Changernier covered himself, with glory and attracted the ad m i ra ti on an d es t eem of the whole army. Although almost surrounded by Arabs, charged with great vigour, and losing a great many of his men, lie in spired such confidence into his battalion, formed into a square, that at a moment when he was most warmly at tacked, he made his men shout Vive le Roi ! ' with such animation that the Arabs were astounded, and marle.a sod den turn to the half-face within twenty yards of two of the fronts of the square, both of which fired upon them ; three of the fronts were soon strewed with men and horses killed. Captain Moliere, my orderly officer, who of this critical mi nute had taken an order from me to the Commandant Changernier, was in the midst of these brave men, and took part in their brilliant resistance. Throughout this day and those which followed, the battalion of the 2d Light Infantry served in the rear-guard with the same distinction, and was gallantly imitated, particularly at the passage of the Seyhouse and at Medjaz-el-Amar, by the Lieutenant- Colonel Duvivier, Commandant of the African batallion, and the Free Company of Bugia. " On the 25th we were encamped at Oued Talaga, still repelling successfully the reiterated attacks of the Arabs. " On the 26th the army halted for the night at Sidi Tam tam, and we began to perceive that the number of our ene mies had decreased considerably. At the moment when we were breaking up this bivouac, the Arabs and Kabyles, as usual, fell upon the rear-guard, with the hope of forcing it to abandon some of its baggage or wounded men ; but the African chasseurs made a brilliant charge, in which CP - e i a i e de la Tour Dupin, my Aide-de-Camp, and I,eutenants Dree and Baichis, my . orderly officers, took 'a distinguished part. Captain Morrice, of the chassei: cs , who commanded one of the squadrons, anti who hs . l l l in previous instances made himself remarked, eft Lalf of the blade of his sabre in the body of an Arab • On the 27th 'we had to pass the difficult defile which leads to the 'pass of Raz-el-Akba, and I ordered Colonel de Itanf!:e to open the march at the head of two squadrons. The cavalry executed this difficult task with the utmost courage and ability, crowning the crests of the hills, and repulsing or keeping at a distance the cavalry of the Arabs. We at length passed the gorge of Raz-el-Akba, and at that point the Arabs ceased to follow us, and disappeared al together. The Kabyles, having endeavoured to close this passage on us, were charged at the summit of the gorge by the Spahis, and many of the former were soon put hors ck combat. They were afterwards dislodged by the infantry from the woods in which they had taken up a position to the right and left of the path traced by us, and were com pelled to make a precipitate retreat. On this occasion Captain Macmahon, Aide-de-Camp to his Royal Highness, and Lieutenants Baichis and Bertrand, my orderly offi cers, behaved most nobly. The latter had his horse killed under him. We encamped at the foot of the hill on the right bank off' the Seyhouse. " On the 28th we completely succeeded in driving off the Kabyles, some bands of whom occupied the summits of the defile leading to Guelma, where we arrived early. At Guelma I left the sick, who will recover more rapidly there than at Bona, and with the Military Intendant and the artil lery I took all the necessary steps for rendering this place a very important military post. It affords me much satisfaction to have to make known to you the courage, patience, and oc casionally the resignation, of our young soldiers. In the midst of so many sufferings, fatigues, and dangers, they gave utterance to no complaint, and exhibited no symptom of discouragement. The 63d and 59th Regiments of the line, the 17th light infantry, the battalion of Africa, the free company of Bugia, the battalion of the 2d light in fantry, and the artillery, constantly. and ably directed by Colonel Tournemine, rivalled each other in zeal and bra very. When a part of the 62d pillaged the stores which remained behind, Colonel Levesque did everything in his power to put an end to the disorder. Colonel Bayer, Aide-de-Camp of his Royal Highness, whom the Prince placed under my orders, rendered me great service, and in several difficult and perilous circumstances I entrusted him with important orders : he had a horse killed under t n i m. Lieut.-Colonel Chabanne, a l rea dy k nown in te 3d regi ment of Chasseurs, distinguished himself 'in repeatedly di recting the movements of that °':rps, as well as th ose o f so me columns of i n f antr y M. Baudens, Surgeon -Major, attached to th e 1 2/iike deN e mours, lent his zeal o u s assis tance (m . 4 . 1410 field of battle, and under the enemy's fire, to tieneral Trezel and the wounded of the 63d Regiments. The Dukes of Morternarte and de Caraman, and M. de Sainte-Aldegonde, whom a noble feeling of interest for the country incited to take part in the campaign along with our troops, frequently offered ine their services on occa sions of the greatest danger. All the officers attached to my staff did more than their duty. Captains Maliere, Clausel, and Leblanc, Lieutenant Rewbell and Sub-Lieu tenant Guyon, merit honourable mention. General Tre; el speaks in high terms of Staff-Captain Levaux-Coupe and Lieutenant Morney. The chief of the staff, Colonel Du verger, who, as commandant of Bona, had rendered ser vices to which I have on several occasions directed atten tion, did all that in so difficult a campaign it was possible to do in directing the important service committed to his charge. Several times I entrusted him with orders for the rear and the advanced guards, especially during our first march in retreat, when he gave proof at once of experience and 'ability. He was well seconded by Commandant Perrin, Captain Zaragossa, and Lieutenants Minion and Letellier. Staff-Captain Saint Hippolite, whom I had de spatched in advance, to obtain topographical information, executed his orders with great distinction, and, employed duringthe entire campaign on several important missions, acquitted himself in a manner to entitle him to be strongly recommended to you. The service of the commissiriat de partment was ably conducted by the Intendant M. Melcion d'Arch and the sub-Intendant Evain, who have reason to be satisfied with Paymaster Thiebault., In a word, consi dering the situation in which the army was placed, the most determined courage and energy was necessary on the part of all the officers ; all understood and all performed their duty, exhibiting on many occasions instances of the greatest personal bravery at the head of the troops. " I have not yet been able to collect the reports fur• nished by the commanders of corps ; but as soon as they shall have reached my hands, I shall make them the sub ject of a second despatch, which I shall have the honour of addressing you by the next courier, directing your attention to those who, among so great a number, merit bein g parti culrely designated. I shall at th e same t i me make known to you the number of killed and wounded. Tr, conclude, the various corps of the expedition directed their march upon Constantina without having any act of hostility to re press. During fifteen days they sufferet), under fevers at Bona, which detained 1,800 men in the hospitals ; and near and around Constantina they were overwhelmed by rain, snow, hail, and mud. The loss was inconsiderable from the fire of the place and the enemy when they followed us upon Ray-el-Akba ; whilst the Kabyles, who presented them selves in ord er t o o p pose our return , h a d more than four hundred kill e d.. Th e var i ous corps b roug h t back all t h e i r their artillery an d ammun i t i on - waggons which Were not broken up. All th e so ldi ers, w h et h er enfeebled, s i c k, or wounded, were assisted or transported along ; and, in short, a garrison has been established at Guelrna, where e very _ thing necessary for another expedition may be collected to gether previous to its being carried into execution. I h ave given orders to the Commandant de Ranee to communicate to you all the details which the limits of this report do not permit me to enter on ;,and I particularly direct my Aide de-camp to describe to his Majesty the manner in which the Duke of Nemours partook of the fatigues and dangers of the army, and, the lively and enlightened solicitude he expressed for our soldiers, under the painful and difficult circumstances in which we found ourselves. " I have the honour to be, Monsieur le Ministre, your very humble and obedient servant, " Marshal CLAUSEL, " Governor-Gen. of the possessions in the North of Africa," FRENCH FUNDS-PARIS, Dcc, 16. Five per Cents., 107 f. 40c. 35c. 25c. 30c. Four per Cents., 90f. 20c. Three per Cents., 78£ 85c. 708. 8 0e- Bank Actions, 2,340 f. ltente de Naples, 97f. 20c 10c. se. 15c. Roman Five per Cents., 10014, Spanish Actives, 20% 20 20ie q%. Spanish Differes, 8 M. Spanish Passives. 5% y 4%. Belgian Loan, rive per Cents., 101 1 ,,. Portuguese an, Three per Cents, 29 28%. EXCITANGE ON LONDON,. One month, paper, 25c. 374 c. • money , 251,37% c . Three Months, paper, 9.5 f. 12)ec.; money, -.f. -.l'w/es Authetitioue. FRENCH •FL , NDS.-PARIS, DEC. 17. Five per Cents., 107 t. 50c. 60c. 70c. 60c. 55c. Four per Cents,, 99f. Pc. Dime per Cents. 78f. 85c. 70f. 78f. 90e. Bank A airing, 2,340 f. 2,235 f. Rente de Naples, 97f. 2. c. Roman Five per Cents., loon lot iooyl. Spanish Actives, 20N. Spanish Differes, 8%%. Spanish Passives; 5%. Belgian Loan, Five. per Cents, 1011,1 . Portuguese Loan. Five per Cents., 43. Portuguese Three per Cents. 28 29 28% 4. 'EXCIFIANCE ON LONDON. One month. paper, 25f. 37%e. • money, 251. Mic. Three mon.ths, p a p er , 25f. 12%C. ; money, -f. -c. -Coors. Anthentiaue. BOURSE, Q4./ARTErt ToFotiti.—A good deal of business was done in the French Fhree per Cents., particularly in time bargains. A trifling improvement of 10 centimes took place in that stock, and the Five per Cents, rose 15 centimes. The Portuguese Five per Cents., which had not been quoted for many days, were done at 43. The Three per Cents. opened at 28, rose to 29, and were afterwards done at 281. It was reported that the divided on those funds would not be paid. The rumour that Espartero had entered Bilboa on the 141 i, had little or no influence on the Spanish Actives. LAST PRICES.—Five per Cents., 107 f. 70e. ; Three per:Cents., 791. 10c. ; Five per Cents. Spanish, —; Three per Cents.. Spanish, —; Cartes, —; Coupons, —; Gueb bards, ; Differes, ; New Loan, —; Actives, 20:1 ; Pas sives, 5a ; Ducats, —; Romans, 100 Z-; Pedros, —.; Belgians, 10li ; Dutch, ; Haytians, —l. —c. ; Mi_ guels, —; Brabant Bank, —; Belgian Bank, 33i ; Con tinuation, _e. ; New Differes, 8,1 ; Five per Cent. Perpe tnelles,—; Royal Loan, —; Three per Cent. Portuguese, 281- Bank Actions, 2,355 f. ; Austrian, —; R en t e d e Naples,; 97f. 50e..; Portuguese Five per Cents., 43. HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, DEC. 10. SECOND CHAMBER OF THE STATES.GENIZRAL. The Central Section made its Repot on the budget for 1837. This Report is of great length, and goes into details, which appear in a more complete form in the debates which will commence on the 14th of this month. It appears from this Report that the Government, in compliance with the wishes of a great number of the mem bers, has consented to insert in the budget for 1837 the following articles : " According to ihe first article, the law of the 24th of April, 1836, so low , ' as the division o f th e d e b t l an d t h e emission of the bonds shall not have taken place, the sum of 5,600,000 florins (2d division, sub-division A, of chap. IX.) shall be provided for the Treasury by the finances of the transmarine possessions. This will be the second ar ticle of the law, and what now stands as the second, will be the third." AMSTERDAM, DEC. 10. We understand that arrangements have been made be tween the Qovemments of France and the Netherlands for the free and 'uninterrupted direct correspondence between France arga Holland, so that the letters from Paris will ar rive 'and be delivered here in forty-two hours. We bear from Tilburg, that the police has lately had the good fortune to arrest a person who had been guilty of writing incendiary and threatening letters ; he was arrested in the very act of taking up some money, which, in conse quence of one of his letters, was deposited in the ground. We learn from Grave, that the accounts inserted in several journals representing the town Of Grave as having so se verely suffered by the late hurricane that it -seemed as if a bombardment had taken place, was much exaggerated, the damage being confined to the b!owing off a quantity of tiles and throwing down some chimnies. The great arsenal and the church suffered the most. HAMBURG BORSEN HALLE, Dr.c. 13. Bills Money. Austrian Metalliques, 5 per cent. Ditto ditto 4 per cent. Ditto ditto 3 percent. -- Ditto Bank Shares 1319 1348 Anglo-Russian Loan l(k.)% lip 94 raper Inscription, $ per cent - - Russian 5 per cents. Metal. -744 17734, Russian Inscription, Hope and Co., 34 and 4th __ Series 9434 ',4 1 4 Ditto, Certificates . 94Ni 94% Portuguese Regency Bonds, 5 per cent — 1 htto, 3 per cent ..734 t 9 Dutch 2yi per Cents. . Ditto 5 per Cents —. Polish Bonds, 3 per cents New Tickets 152!4 152% Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per cents 71% Norwegian Loan of 1834, 4 per cents. Spanish, in piastres, 3 per Cents — Cortes Loan, 5 per Cent 15!.,i 18% Greek 4 per cents. 1533, guaranteed by France 92 91 Fl EXCANES LNDON. amittiao, Dec. H 11.-13 G 5% ON wo ; t mo O nths, 13 4. STOCKHOLM, DEC. 6.--TV7O months, 11 40. CMRIsTIANIA, DEC. 3.—Three months, 411 8. BERLIN. DEC. 10.—Three months, 6. 21%. Sr. PETEKSBITRCH, Dtc. 2 . —Three months, 10 25433. —Hamburg Pavers, Dec. 11, DUTCH FUN DS—.AmsTcaossf, DEC. 13. Money. Thus. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent 534 53% Ditto, ditto 5 per cent. Amor t syndic, 4g per cent. 9 43 94X, Ditto, ditto, 3X I Per cent. r•• ' 4 77 6 , 4 Commercial Company, 4 1 ,4 per cent... ..... , 1 . 7EN 187? D itto (12 kind 1 833) 5 per ce n t . .. 87 87S1 Excitant; on London, One month... ..... 12 0 Two moutv g , lIELCaAN 1 U NDS - -BnussEts, DEC. 17 Actual Debt, 234 per 'Lent. BotliSchild's Loan. 5 per Cent. IOOV, Loan of Thirty ',.lillions 94'4 Loan of Cit':, 1832, 4 per Cent lOl Society of Commerc e , 4 S4 per C en t. 142 Bank 0' . ., Belgium, 5 per Cent 132 DUTCH FUNDS.—AMSTERDAM, Dac. 16. Actual Debt, 2y e per Cent. Do do. 5 per Cent. Amort Syndic 414 per Cent., Do. do. 3% per Cent. Commercial Company, 43fi per Cent 179% New ditto:. —Brussels Papers, Dec. ls. ~ AUSTRIAN FUNDS.--VIBNNA, Dec. 9, Five per Cents. Metalliques ............. . ............ ... lON Four per Cents. Three per Cents. Bank, Shares 137'2 —4llgemeine Zeitung, Dec. 14. A MERICA. —CANADA. (From the Montreal Papers to Nov. 26.) The meeting of the stockholders of the Montreal Bank took place on Monday last, and the statement of the affairs of that Institution is as follows : The continuance of the Bank, and the mode in which its business should be conducted after the Ist June next, pro vided its Charter was not previously renewed, were of course the prime questions that engaged the attention of the meeting. The decision conic to on these point 4 was