The Sun. — London, England, 1845-04-07 00:00:00

ftt irte Vbition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT. GLOBE.—When President Polk made his recent assertion of the "unquestionable" right of the United States to the Oregon Territory, and so broadly intimated their intention to have it by fair means or by foul it is retty evident that he did a veil , foolish thing. That the first . speech of a new President, like the first work of a " prentice hand," must be taken cum grano salis, we are perfectly aware. We offer no ob jection to the natio nal taste which extorts from every Presi. dent, at every opportunity, these fulsome eulogies of his coun try and its institutions ; nor do we forget that our transat lantic brethren, like their aboriginal predecessors, have a constitutional tendency to soar into " palaver" of a random kind; or that the favourite weapon of the red warrior is still burled by the white orator in high-flown prose. But there are limits to the allowance to be made even to American Presidents. ihe British Government has shown itself, throughout the conduct of this affair, extremely slow to take offence. No claim has been put forward on our part which does not admit of ample support by appeal to every authority which can rationally be appealed to on such a subject. The value to the British colonies in North America of the country west of the Rocky Mountains, and north of the Columbia, is quite equal to that attached by the United States to a similar outlet to the Pacific. Our North American trade westward is chiefly in peltries, and China is our principal market. To give up the dis puted territory to the United States, would, there fore, be to give up not only what we have a valid claim to, but what it is of considerable importance we should re tain. Were the elements of the case so altered that the subject of the dispute should be of small value to us, but of great importance to the United States, the point of right might be of little moment. If against us, we should have no interest in pushing the dispute to extremities ; and i f in our favour the conditions of its cession might be readily and amicably settled by negotiation. But it is not so. The labours of several very able men on both sides have been devoted to the investigation of the respective claims of the two countries. The result is a very general admission of the justice of that of Great Britain, to an extent even greater than that to which it is now urged. And again, every year increases the number of settlers in the northern district of the country, who have placed their dependence for security of person and property upon the undisputed recognition of British authority from Canada to the mouth of the Columbia. Since Oc tober, 1818, the dispute :has been avoided by a tem porary compromise, under which the territory is left open to the subjects of both Powers, without preju dice to their respective claims. But this is an arrangement which, however satisfactory while the country remained un settled and uninhabited except by a few wandering natives and the trappers and collectors of peltry, is obviously incon sistent with the establishment of the forms of government which become requisite as soon as the regular settler makes his appearance. Either party is at liberty to terminate the arrangement on giving a year's notice. But in the mean time, of course, the rights of both are in abeyance. The negotiations now going on between Mr. Pakenham and the United States Government have for their object the amicable termination of what all admit cannot long endure. By entering upon them, the American Government has tacitly Admitted that there is something in the case fairly liable to doubt or dispute. It is not usual either for men or for rations to engage in conference upon matters which either party deems indisputable ; but while such a conference conti nues, it is usual with both to preserve a decent abstinence from ,env direct allusion or appeal to popular persuasions or pas sions. In meeting our Plenipotentiary, the American Go vernment addresses itself to our judgment and our sense of justice. Does it find in us so great a lack of these as to necessitate an appeal to our feelings—and is the American estimate of our courage and our power so very low as to justify, even to themselves, the special direction of that appeal to our fears ? If this be Mr. iolk's view of the matter, we can cofidently assure him he is wrong ; and that an adherence to n it will not only fail to facilitate the adjustment of the present difference of opinion between the two countries, but will probably open up one still more difficult to settle. No doubt a large portion of the Ame rican people believe the claim of their Government upon the disputed territory to be a just one. The national imagination is agreeably filled by the idea of extending the Union to the western shores of the Continent; and it needs but the suppression of a few facts, and the sturdy assertion of one or two doubtful doctrines, to make a popular case in favour of the claim. But we can hardly believe that even the American populace can be so besotted as to imagine that we are likely to yield to bullying what we refuse to a fair demand. " The old country," groan though it may under the horrors of despotism and heavy taxes, has yet a fair reputation fur courage—has not commonly been found wanting either in the ability or the will to fight when fair occasion offered. We are yet unacquainted, except through the flowery medium of a President's message, with "the inesti mable blessings" of a purely democratic Government—we do not know a hat it is to have the highest offices of our Go vernment filled by gentlemen caught hastily in the back woods, with much party-patriotism and little prudence, and quite uncontaminated by official experience ; but we like to keep our own—we do not like to be threatened—and we can fight if we are forced to it. STANDARD.—The Dublin Freeman's Journal offers the following notice of some observations that lately appeared in the Standard:—" The Standard pipes on a new key. That rabid bigot finds himself lashed into submission, and strives to restrain the effervescence of its bile by persuading itself that the increased grant to Maynooth is not a • concession,' nor yet a measure of conciliation,' but a measure of compulsion towards the clergy—' a mea sure of Government—a measure (says the Standard) of a sound, and not unjust or harsh poliyc, compelling the religious teachers' to qualify themselves for their functions. But we must reprint the passage here though we have transferred the whole article to another column ;—" The proposed grant to. Maynooth is not a measure of concession or of ' concilia tion,' to use a phrase which abuse and failure have rendered odious and absurd—it is a measure of Government, a mea sure of a sound, and not unjust or harsh, policy, com pelling the religious teachers of a large proportion of the Queen's subjects to qualify themselves for the office they asssume by a far better education than they now receive. As such a compulsory measure the Roman Catholic priests in Ireland treat it, although they cannot honestly con fess the truth, because they cannot charge the proposition with injustice or harshness.' If this sort of coercion satisfies the Standard, we have no reason to complain. it is—yes, it positively is—a measure of coercion, says the Standard. Peel may call it coercion ; the Queen may call it conciliation ; but we know it is neither. Were it either, we would oppose it ; but it is not—it is down right, though neither unjust' nor harsh,' compulsion to force those 20,0001. upon the priests, and we will call it such. Why, then, oppose this proposition ?" The compulsion of which we spoke is not coercion. It is a compulsion by the public opinion of a man's class, which though the very re verse of coercion, is, in the long run, the most powerful of all influences in directing the conduct of men ; we say in the song run, because we think that we have been misun derstood upon this point by some critics less unfriendly than the Dublin Freeman's Journal. We do not anticipate an early manifestation of improvement in the character of the eriests—the education of anindividual is not the work of a day, at less is the education of a class ; but we do anticipate that the Roman Catholic laity knowing that their clergy have tle means of respectable education ; and being, as we trust they will be, better educated themselves, will compel the aspirants to the priesthood to avail themselves of the bounty of the State, and will even add something of their own, should the bouti,; , of the State be insufficient. This we count the first stage towards the reformation of Ireland, and it will occupy some years ; but the second stage is morally certain to succeed. This, it may be said, is drawing hope from a distant future. It is—and who knows anything of political science who does not know that the distant future ought to be a principal consideration with statesmen ? All great operations in moral, as in physical nature, are the effect of a long train of causes, acting through a long period of time ; but if such operations are not undertaken, ex cept with the prospect of immediate results, they will not be undertaken at all. Now to another point. In the seeming support which Lord John Russell gave to Ministers on Thursday, his Lordship, in the exercise of the accus tomed craft of his party, did his utmost to damage the measure which he affected to aid, advancing false and offeesive arguments in its support, and Lord John, we are sorry to say, was countenanced in the same line by some who ought to have known better. TA.TTERSALL'S.-THIS EVENING Six o'CLocx. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 5 to 1 agst Croton Oil 8 to agst Ma Mie 10 to 1 agst Vol-au-vent 10 to I agst Strathspey VQ THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES, 5 to 2 agst Nits 3 to I agst hedger 5 to 1 agst Cobweb colt CHESTER CUP. 9 to 1 agst Obscurity 9 to 1 agst Cataract 10 to 1 agst Semiseria 15 to 1 apt Era 20 to 1 agst Winesour 22 to 1 agst Portrait 30 to 1 agst The Pride of Kildare 30 to 1 agst Pug 30 to 1 agst Ratan 30 to 1 agst Yheomun ac Knuck 33 to 1 agst Queen of the Tyne 50 to 1 agst Fitz-Allan DERBY. 10 to 1 agst Alarm 15 to 1 agst Kedger 17 to 1 agst Clear- the-Way 18 to 1 agst Pam 20 to 1 agst Cobweb colt 20 to 1 agst liewsmonger 25 to 1 agst Weatherbit 30 to 1 agst Mentor 30 to 1 agst Pantasa 35 to 1 agst Laird o' Cockpen 40 to 1 agst Old England 50 to 1 agst Fuzbos IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool sack shortly after Five o'clock. ,Lord KENYON presented petitions from Bath, and sev eral other places, against the grant to the College of Maynooth. The Earl of RADNOR begged to enter upon the Journals of the House his protest against the proceed ings of Saturday , a nd that leave should be given to Noble Lords to sign that protest before the rising of the House. The Bishop of WORCESTER presented petitions from Stourpoint its favour of the observance of the LorA's-day. The Right Rev. Prelate also presented petitions praying for the establishment of uniformity in Divino worship, and an alteration of the Rubric. The Right Rev. Prelate trusted that the pastoral letter of the jvc...hbishop of Canterbury would be productive of the best, effects. • , 0 40... Sari of POWIS presented severa l p etitions from ..ii:sl4,3ltserot p is of the country against t h e union of the g 4:!" ' <fe e irptpt i : ja.pßhEaLnLd Bangor. presented a petition from the pro -1 -'. 'f .oo - * } l rtni - • .441 es and council of Aberdeen , against any .IP' , ' - - ' teof Sc o t c h Banking. He trusted ..; ~ , ,thu ge. . , sys m ti - that tire4TOtifo-Vuke would give sufficient notice to the r•,..' ':-: -.. ie4 ii 2 0 iit mateeially concerned, of the time at which mOt ' ould be brought forward , a nd what the in ,- \ t"qtrf other Majesty's Government were , teTWPake of WELLINGTON could not state th.e time at which the subject would be brought forward, but he would take care that the parties should have full op portunities of considering it. The Bishop of DURHAM presented several petitions praying that Parliament would adopt some plan to pre vent the use or intoxicating liquors. Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions against the grant to the College of Maynooth. The Noble Lord could not agree to the prayer of those petitions. RAILWAYS. _ _ . The NOBLE and LEARNED LORD then moved for the following returns with respect to railways, on which he said it was his intention to found a motion, provided the information which he expected to receive should be given him : First—The number of railway Bills passed in the last ten sessions, distinguishing those passed in each session. Of course to this, observed the Noble Lord, there will be no objection.—(A laugh.) Secondly—The number of railway Bills now pending in Parliament. To this there could be no objection. Thirdly—The number of railway Bills upon which the Board of Trade had reported favourably. To this there could be no objection.—( A laugh.) Fourthly—The amount paid by the subscribers on the shares of the railway Bills that had passed. To this there could be no objection.—(A laugh.) Fifthly and lastly—The amount of the sums divided in shares authorised by Act of Parliament. His reason for calling attention to these circumstances was that he was one of those who regarded with the greatest possible alarm, the present frenzy into which the community, as well those with capital and credit as those inspired with the love of gambling in shares, had fallen. The effect of this was likely to prove exceedingly alarm ing to the credit as well as the resources of this country, and when he looked back to what happened in the years 1825 and 1826, the only period in our history in his opinion which could at all be compared with the present, when the then Government, through the Earl of Liverpool, feeling impressed with some alarm at what was then going forward, deemed it to be their public duty, through the Noble Earl in his place m Parliament, to warn the community and their fellow-subjects against the course in which they were then heedlessly entering upon. The warning which the Noble Earl gave concluded with this notice, which he had no doubt whatever the present Govern ment were equally prepared to give—" That come what might, and happen what would in the result of these speculations, the speculators were to look to their own resources, and not to look to any assistance, or any relief whatever, from the existing Government, and of this they now gave them a fair and timely warning." When the crash came, which happened in March, 1826, the Noble Earl referring to what he had said in the previous year, re minded the speculators of the warning—the fair and timely warning—which be had given them; and the Noble Earl at that time stated that there was no wonder that a pecuniary crisis—that a mercantile convulsion had taken place, when it was known that in consequence of these joint-stock companies in the year before, namely in 1825, there bad been withdrawn no less a sum than seventeen millions sterling from the ordinary sources of speculation, and the ordinary sources of commercial employment of the country. Now, he (Lord Brougham) had lately seen a calculation from one of the most eminent railway brokers at present in this country, whose name he should decline to mention, though it would give great credit to his calculation, but he declined to mention it, because his calculation might be deemed in vidious by the speculators, and thus lay him open to opprobrium. But his statement was, that if after the 240 Railway Bills which were now in Parliament were agreed to, only in the course of three years' time instead of seventeen millions sterling being withdrawn from the ordinary sources of commercial employment, there would be required for the purposes of these railways no less a sum than 130 millions sterling. He need not remind their Lordships that he was opposed to any undue Parliamentary interference with the employment of the capital, or the labour of the country ; but it was quite a different thing in the case of these railways. It was quite a different thing when Government held out encou ragements to this spirit of speculation by granting Acts of Parliament to confer the most extraordinary powers upon speculators, and without which powers none of these speculations would probably be undertaken. When he mentioned to their Lordships some occurrences which had lately taken place in the country, he thought their Lordships would ag ree with him that ,these powers were really extraordinary. In the case of a gen tleman who occupied a very ancient mansion, a railway Company wished :to take five acres of his ground, and when the gentleman asked the Company what they intended to give him for the land, he was told that he would learn after the Company had got their Bill. The gentleman then replied that he should with hold his consent from the railway, but the promoters told him that they did not want his consent, as the railway had been favourably reported upon by the Board of Trade, and it would be the worse for him. In another case, where a gentleman, whose family had held the same estate from the time of Elizabeth, remonstrated with the promoters of a railway going within a certain distance of his house, he was threatened that if he objected to it the railway should pass through his kitchen garden. Under these circumstances he deemed it his duty to bring the matter before the House. He deprecated any thing like discussion, but still he thought from the amount of capital engaged, and the immensity of the interests involved, that it should be brought under the notice of their Lordships. He was not inclined to find fault with the Board of Trade ; their business was not to select schemes—they had only to decide on the respective merits of one railway and another, and as certain which was likely most to conduce to the public convenience. But he did think that this gambling in railway shares ought to have some check. The French, he knew, had taken this matter, and out of a number of railways which had been proposed for their discussion, they selected the small number of only eight or twelve for the jurisdiction of their Legislature. He did not wish to opeose railway schemes, for his object was not:only the commercial con venience of the country, bat he had also a regard for the pecuniary interests. He, therefore, hoped their Lordships would not oppose the returns for which he had moved. The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that with respect to the number of the schemes which had been sub mitted to the Board of Trade, and the number of reports which the Board had made upon them he was quite ready to satisfy his Noble and Learned Friend ; but with regard to the prices of shares and the amount of dividends which had been paid on the several lines, he was not quite so ready to throw light upon the subject. These could doubtless be obtained, and if their Lordships pressed for these, he should feel it his duty to lay them before the House, as perfectly as the circumstances would admit. With respect to the amount of capital likely to be engaged in these schemes, he thought the informant of his Noble Friend had far outrun the amount. There had been schemes submitted to their consideration for the sanction of Parliament to the extent of 7,490 miles, requiring capital to the amount of 140,000,0002 to 150,000,000/. But it was not to be supposed that these should all be carried into effect. He knew that much deception, whether intentional or not was not fot for him to say, was carried on by the Provisional Committees ; and as one rather singular instance, a gentleman with whom he was acquainted bad been requested to act on the Provisional Committee of a Railway. The shares were not quite at a premium, and he thought it better one day to go to the office to ascertain whether the line had been surveyed. He learned that they had surveyed one end of the line, and the other end of the line, but the intermediate part had never been looked at at all. But in the portion which had been 'surveyed, he found, that the line passed within forty yards of a certain place, and upon a little inquiry he learned, that that house was his own. He should remind his Noble Friend, that with regard to compensation the landowner had the option of having their adjudication made either by a jury or by arbitrators, so that if any one thought that a member of the jury for voting the value of his land wits a railway proprietor, he could choose an arbi trator whom he knew had no interest in any such concerns. Lord A.SIIBIJRTON said that he thought it was ne cessary that this gambling in railway shares should be put an end to. His Noble Friend the President of the Board of Trade, who reminded him that the 140,000,0001. or 150,000,0001. should be necessary to make ad those railways, would not be called for in less than three or four years. Yet, notwithstanding, it would occasion such a call for iron as would increase its value fully 3001. per cent., and materially to affect the general commercial requirements for that metal, if not cause a very serious inconvenience to the country at arge. The question was then put that the motion be agreed as, which was carried. INCOME-TAX. The Marquis of N ORMAN BY stated it was his intention, at a future time, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to give the right o f voting to all persons paying the income-tax. He did this, be lieving that now the income-tax would become per petual. He should lay this Bill on the table of the House in the course of the present session, and should be guided by circumstances in taking further steps. (LEFT SITTING.) The HilousOesijatStEo-dßa°AylFattlFvCoAu°.yr o s ili lcl ill ock? N 2. sen S t e e v d e , ral petitions on private Bi lls havin g been pre thMionr.s, iLOnCelKudHinAgßtThopsreesfernotmedthae lia.orlgioewnhuig ac in mb p e l ro e f pe s, favour of the Caledonian Railway:—From the town councils of Greenock, Port Glasgow, Montrose, Peter head, Banff, Elgin, Nairn, Dingwall, and Lanark—from the inhabitants of Port Glasgow, Inverness, Montrose, Brechen, Forfar, Banff, Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, and Forres—from the Citamber of Commerce of Greenock — and from the inhabitants of the following parishes in wil Lanarkshire pass: Bg a and d e D sa u ry t m n IhfrFi Crawford,geptusonsi h tndi ba:rnemi through :t:oint which tw,Cmai Dutir tnlroi gslnlo t ; h ,Cs e Hdrc line :: Car stairs, Craw ford-John, a r idr-s Johnstone,oLhan i An Carmichael,pp Hod dam, Annan,Kirkpatrick Fleming, Middlebip, Wamphray, Kirkpatrick Juxta, and Gretna. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition, signed by upwards of 25,000 of the inhabitants of Edinburgh, in favour of the Caledonian Railway. GREENWICH COLLIERY RAILWAY. Mr. HODGSON HINDE said he had to intreat the attention of the House to a few observations he had to make in reference to this Bill. He would endeavour to explain in as few words as possible the great injury and injustice that would be done to g great many parties if this Bill should be suffered to pass through the House without attentiAn bein called to many circumstances connected with 119 wished TUE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENINU, APRIL 7, 1845. to be understood as now reserving what he had to say upon the subject to the time when the Bill should come before the House, when he would bring a charge against one of the Commissioners of Green wich Hospital, for having interfered in a man ner that he (Mr. H. Hinde) did not think he was warranted in doing. He held in his hand a very volumi nous correspondence on the subject that had passed between the Commissioner's solicitor and Mr. Richards. He did not mean to trouble the House by reading the whole of it; but he would just read one letter that had been written to one of the landowners who was opposing the line, and it would be then for the House to say whether the order for the second reading should be discharged. The Hon. Member then read the letter; it alluded to an engagement which the Company had entered into with Mr. Bicknell, and which Mr. Bicknell alleged had been broken on their part. Under those circumstances, he (Mr. H. Hinde) thought the House ought not to proceed with the Bill until the Company had either performed or been released from their agreement. Mr. CHARLES HOPE explained, but in so low a tone of voice as to be quite inaudible in the gallery. Mr. FOSTER said it had been quite impossible for any Hon. Member in that House to have heard the nor resrondence which had been read by the Hon. Member (Mr. H. Hinde)—(Laughter)—and he thought it should be printed, so that the House might know what it all meant.—(Continued laughter.) The Bill was of a most anomalous character, and gave extraordinary powers to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital. He was op posed to the second reading. On the question that the Bill be read a second time, Mr. 11. HINDE presented petitions, signed by all the landholders on the intended line of railway, against the Bill. Mr. FOSTER presented petitions from the Mayor and corporation of the town of Berwick, against the Bill. Mr. H. HINDE said that if the Honourable Gentle man who had charge of this Bill, or the Noble Lord the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, would give him an assurance that this Bill should be postponed until after the correspondence had been printed, he would abstain from moving that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. This Bill if passed would be a public injustice. Had there been other than public rights concerned he never would have intruded this matter on the House of Com mons, but unless, since the Bill had been presented to the House, any new information had been given he eould not assent to the second reading of this Bill. He could not see why, for the sake of one farthing a lift, which was all for the Greenwich Hospital, they should inflict a grievous injury on the public. The Greenwich Colliery ought not to be placed in any position which was more exclusive than that of any other colliery; and if five collieries out of six united to outpost a sixth, they were all subject to the same rules of competition, and there ought to be no favour shown by the Legislature to interfere with this competition. The question was then put for the second readirg. Mr. HOPE supported the Bill, and presented petitions in its favour. The Hon. Gentlemen read several ex tracts from the evidence of a civil engineer, in favour of the Bill, and said that the landowners were in favour of it. Mr. WARBURTON looked upon this measure as a public one, and he thought that nothing could be more reasonable than to put off the second reading of the Bill for a week, to give the House an opportunity of being acquainted with the documents which had been read. He should support the motion of his Hon Friend before him, that the second reading should be postponed for a week, and that in the mean time the papers just read be printed. Lord LINCOLN would oppose the motion for the postponement, and also the proposition for printing the papers. He thought it highly inexpedient for the House to publish the correspondence which had passed between the opposing agents. He thOught it was perfectly unnecessary to publish the correspondence, as he did not think it would induce the House to take any other course than that which he trusted the House would take on the present occasion— namely, to send the Bill to a Committee of that House. The gentleman who held the office of solicitor to the Commissioners of Green wich Hospital had held the office for upwards of thirty years, and he had never had such a -charge made against him before. He (Lord Lincoln) conceived that the charge could only be properly investigated in the Committee to which the Bill would be referred, and if the Committee should find that the charge had been proved, their duty would be to throw out the Bill. Lord HOWICK said he did not concur with the Hon. and Learned Member behind him, that the reason he had assigned for postponing the second reading of this Bill for a week was sufficient. It appeared to him (Lord Howick) that this was a private Bill, brought in by the Government for local purposes, and that therefore the proper place for discussing its merits was not in that House, but before a Committee, for if it were to be discussed before the House, means of course would be taken to insure its being carried ; but if brought before a Committee it would be fully and fairly discussed, for there alone would a full examination of all the details be gone into. If this be a Govern ment proposition, he could see no good grounds assigned why, for that reason merely, this Bill should be taken out of the regular course to which all such Bills were subjected. Therefore he did think it would be a great waste of public time and of public money to print this correspondence ; for he could not see what that correspondence bad to do with the Bill itself. He looked upon these letters as the result of a mere private squabble between a respectable solicitor and some other party. It did seem to him to be a very strange course, indeed, if the Government were to determine upon throwing out this Bill on the second reading, without at first send ing it before a Committee. He knew something of its merits, and though he was aware that it was a local Bill, and for local purposes, he knew no grounds upon which it could be, or ought to be opposed; but, on the contrary, he knew that it possessed a great many local advantages, and he was also aware that there were a great number of persons, in the vicinity of the town through which it was to pass, who were in favour of it. On the whole, he did hope that the Bill would be sent to a Committee ; but he would oppose the printing of the correspondence. Mr. BELL said a few words, after which the gal:ery was cleared for a division, but none took place. The Bill was then read a second time. The Anderston Police Bill was also read a second time. Mr. GROGAN presented a petition from the noble men and gentlemen of Carlow in favour of the Dublin and Carlow Railway Bill. Mr. GROGAN also presented a petition from noble men and gentlemen in Meath and Westmeath against the Drogheda and Dublin Railway Extension Bill. The Manchester Court of Record Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. On the motion of Mr. COLLETT, the Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Railway Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. Sir JOHN YARDE BULLER presented a petition against the Nottingham Railway, and also against the Cornwall Railway. Mr. HUME presented a petition against the Berwick Railway. Sir THOMAS ESMONDE presented a petition in favour of the Carlow, Wexford, and Dublin Railway. • Mr. H. HINDE gave notice that he would, to morrow, move for copies of the correspondence between the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital and Mr. Dixon relative to the Greenwich Colliery Railway Bill, and also that if the Bill passed the Committee, he would take the sense of the House on bringing up the report. Mr. WAWN wished to know from the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, when it was the intention of the Government to introduce a measure relative to merchant seamen. Sir G. CLERK was understood to say that he would move for leave to bring in a Bill on the subject on Tuesday. CUSTOMS.-REVENUE. Mr. E. BULLER begged leave to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, when (as we understood) there would be an opportunity of bringing forward the several motions of which notice had been given, respecting the Custcms' Amendment Act. Sir R. PEEL (who was also imperfectly heard) was understood to say that he was not at present able to name a day, but he would take an early opportunity of doing so. Mr. PARKER would postpone his notice on the sub ject until the Right Hon. Baronet appointed a day. Mr. HAVES wished to ask the Right lion. Gentle man the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he pro posed to lay before the Ilouss the last report of the Com missioners of Revenue Inquiry ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the report laid by the Commissioners before the Treasury in December last was confidential, and there had not been time to decide whether it should be pub lished for the use of Hon. Members. THE PAPER TRADE. GISBORNE, who was almost inaudible, put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of certain applications, made some time since to the Commissioners of Excise by the paper trade. The question he wished to ask the Right Hon. Gentle man was, whether the Board of Excise had yet come to a decision on this subject, and if so, what that decision was ? _ _ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had had a deputation from the paper-makers a short time ago on this particular subject, and in consequence the Board of Excise had taken the matter into their consideration. It was, however, necessary that the Commissioners should have a report from the different districts in which papt r was manufactured; and as these reports had not yet been received, the Commissioners had not been able to come to a judgment on the subject. As soen as this judgment was come to, he would com muuicate it to the Hon. Gentleman. THE FISHERIES. Lord PALMERSTON—I wish, Sir, to put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman, of which I have given nim notice. It is stated in the newspapers that the French MinistEr, M. Guizot, has announced to the Chambers that he is about to propose a Bill for the purpose of carrying into effect certain modifications which the Baitish Government had consented to in the treaty which was concluded in 1839, between the two Governments, for regulating the fisheries in the narrow seas. I wish to ask the Right Hon. Gentleman what these modifications are ? Sir R. PEEL—I think there must be some mistake with respect to the report to which the Noble Lord reftra. The Noble Lord and the House will probably recollect that a convention was entered into in 1@39 between this country and France with respect to tho fisheries countries, for the purpose of the coasts of the two countries. By the tobe made eleventh article, I think it was, certain regulations were by Commissioners appointed by the two giving effect to that treaty. Those regulations Were made, Rita embodied in an Apt Of rarlia passed ineot, whi c h both branches of the Legis- lature, and received the royal assent in 1843. By the convention powers were expressly reserved to each of the two countries to pass the necessary legislative mea sures for carrying the said regulations into execution. We acted on those powers. We passed a law enabling us by the regular tribunals of the country to inflict pe nalties on those subjects of France who contravened the regulations of the treaty. That law is now in force. France did not pass any such law, but I apprehend that all the French Government new propose to do, is to pass a law enabling them to take measures for giving effect to the convention. There are no modifications whatever. Lord PALMERSTON wished to know if there had been no modifications or alterations of the regulations? Sir R. PEEL—So far there .might, have been some alteration in the regulations ; but these regulations were now contained in the Act, and he (Sir R. Peel) believed there had been no modification whatever of them since. However, it might be that the French government were now about to pass a law upon the subject. Captain PECHELL said he understood that the French government were about to pass a law which would very materially affect the regulations of the excellent Act dray n up by the Noble Lord, for the protection of the deep sea fisheries belonging to this country ; and, in fact, petitions were pouring in every day from the fishers all along the coast of Normandy against the regulations of the English Act, for the French people complained of being restricted to a limit of three miles, within whi▪ ch they could not encroach towards the English coast, and that therefore they were unable to catch the herri▪ ngs beyond that limit. It was true that no alteration had been made in the English Act passed in 1843 ; but the French people complained of it as an evil requiring a remedy, and that remedy he found had been proposed by a very active member of the Chamber of Deputies, and addressed to M. Guizot. In fact, the French Government had been bullied and badgered upon the subject ; and he held in his hand an extract from one of the petitions sent in, which he would read. The Hon. and Gallant Member then a ll parts of th e H ouse . H e sa id the read the extract, in Fren ch , amidst loud and continued m lau ea g n h i t n e g r from oin the petition was, that French fishermen complained of the restrictions of the English Act. What had fallen from the Right Hon. Baronet would, Sowever, allay the apprehensions entertained by our own subjects. Sir R. PEEL thought it would be unwise for bim to enter into the question any further—it wan not for them to canvass the debates on petitions which were presented in the French Chamber. The fisheries between the two countries were regulated by convention. There had been no change in the convention, and no change was in con templation. SCOTCH AND IRISH BANKS. Mr. BOUVERIE put a question to the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel), which was but imperfectly heard in the gallery, but which we understood to be, when the question of the Scotch and Irish banks would be brought under the notice of the House, and what the nature of the measure would be. _ _ _ Sir R. PEEL said that from the press of other more and important business he could not name the particular period at which he would bring the subject under the consideration of the House. Mr. HUME said it would be desirable that the Right Hon. Baronet would mention the nature of the measure. Mr. ELLICE said it was extremely desirable that in a matter of so much importance the Scotch people should be made aware of the objects and nature of the proposed change. Mr. FOX MAULE said, that if no explanation were given by the Government, he would, when the measure was brought forward, consider himself at liberty to give it all the support in his power. MEDICAL BILLS. In reply to a question from Mr. HAWES, Sir JAMES GRAHAM said he did not think it would be possible for him to bring forward the Medical Bills that night, and therefore he should at once propose to take them upon that day week. EXCISE ACTS—COMMITTEE. The House then went into Committee on the Excise Acts.: The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that after the able exposition made by the First Lord of the Treasury in his financial statement of the grounds in which he intended to remit certain taxes—after the detailed explanation he had given of the evil conse quences of these taxes on the commerce of the country, he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) did not think it would have been considered necessary for him to trouble the House again on the same subject. He should have thought that it would have been the general he might say the unanimous feeling of the House, that it would be expedient to remit them, but he found that the Hon. Member for Dorset (Mr. Bankea) had determined to take the sense of the House on the remission of the auction duty. He would have wished that the Honourable Member before placing his notice upon the paper, had read the report furnished by the Commissioners on this subject. He might then have been prepared perhaps to coincide in their recommendation that the very first ditties to which the attention of Parliament should be directed with the view of repealing them, should be the auction duties, because their character, in a com mercial country, was most obnoxious, as all taxes upon the transfer of property must necessarily be. Not only did this general objection exist, but they were also objectionable, as being partial, as they did not affect all species of property—only one particular clas of pro perty were liable to these duties, that which was sold by auction. They were liable to another objection, thus applied to the transfer of property, which above all things ought to be entitled to indulgence. The party selling had no option as to the course he should pursue in selling. He need only refer, what was not an uncommon instance, a case: of recent occurrence which fell under his own particular notice.e Two estates: had been lately sold equally reducible. They were each sold for 100,000/. The proprietor cf one had contracted an amount of debt, and it became necessary for him to submit it to sale by auction ; the consequence was, that when the property was sold 90,0001. was paid by that individual, and out of the residue, 10,000/, be had to pay 3,0001. the amount of duties. The other person, whose property was subject to no in cumbrance, for he was not liable to debt, sold his pro perty by private contract, and thereby avoided the duty. The whole of the property last year which was put u_p for sale by auction was of the value of 45,000,000/., while the amoun t of it which was subjeeted to the auc tion duty was short of a million. The exemptions from the auctioe-duty had been carried to a great extent. rim SPEABLIG.] NAVAL INTELLIGENCE PORTSMOUTH, Arlin. 6 .—The-Eagle, 50, Captain G. Martin, C.B. (with the flag of Rear-Admiral Inglefield, C. 8.), sailed on Sunday for Rio Janeiro. The Resistance, troop-ship, Commander Patey, returned from the Downs on Monday, having landed the 74th Regi ment at Deal. She was towed into harbour the same day to refit. She will embark the 49th Regiment (from Win chester) on Tuesday next, and convey them to Plymouth, where the regiment R ill disembark ; the Resistance will then take on board the 44th re g imen t , and convey them to Cork, ee; s team-frigate, arri ve d on Th urs d ay f rom Sheerness, and thence convey a re g iment t o Gibraltar. The couunrgd the charge of Mr. E as t e, A ss i stant M aster Attendant, and a party of seamen from the Ocean, and came into harbour, to be fitt ed for co mmission. The Styx sailed fro m Malta on the 2 7th ult., and may be ex p e cted daily, having obtained pratique at Malta. She Scourge, will land dispatches and passengers at Portsmouth without delay. The Apollo troop-ship, Commander Radcliffe, will embark two companies of Royal Artillery on Wednesday next at Chatham, for conveyance to Canada. Admiral Sir John Talbot, G.C.8., is to succeed to the command at Plymouth, on its relinquishment by Admiral Sir David Milnes, G.C.8., whose term expires on the 22d instant. The Queen, 110, which was commissioned at Chat ham, on Thursday, is destined for Sir John Talbot's flag, and Viscount Ingestre is to be the Gallant Admiral's Captain. She will be commanded in her experimental cruise by Capt. Sir W. Symonds. In liarbour—The St. Vincent flag-ship, the Victory, the Excellent, the Resistance, the royal yacht, the Nautilus, and the steam-vessels Echo and Comet. In the Basin—The Rodney, 92, fitting for sea; the Trin comalee, preparing for razeeing; and the Scourge steam sloop and Siren brig fitting for the pendant. In Dock—The Hibernia, 120, fitting for sea the Pi ince Regent, razeeing; the Harlequin, refitting for the pendant; the Athol troop- ship, fitting for surveying service; and the Fearless and Centaur steamers, the former refitting, and the latter building. APRIL 6.—The Fearless steam-vessel, Commander Sher ringham, having nearly completed her refit, was undocked yesterday. The Comet steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander Prety man, left yesterday f or Sheerness and Chatham, taking to the former place Mr. Easte and the men who navigated the Scourge to this port, and to the latter place men and war rant- officers appointed to the Queen. - . PROMOTIONA. Commander W. P. Roberts (1812) to be retired Captain. Lieutenant J. Foote (1835), late flag to Rear. Admiral Thomas, to be Commander. --- (second APPOINTMENTS. Lieutenants —G. R. W o l r i ge and W. Moorsom to the Ex cellent ; 0. Cu m b er l and to t h e Queen. Masters --T, Ri c h ar d son , to the Vernon ;J. A. M'Beau G. A. Stabb e (second), t o the Hibernia ; G. Angier ( secon d) , Hospital ; ), to the Terro r ; F. J. Rent (second) , to the Lizard ; to the Van guar d ; J. J. Colman (second), to the Apollo ; R. Sturgess (assistant), to the Hibernia. Surgeon s —T. 11. Keown to the Vesavius ;G. I. Walsh (additional assistant), to the P o ictiers, for service at Melville Kerr (as s ist an t) , to the Speedy ; E. Lawless (acting assist ant),W. M‘Mahon (assistant) , to t h e Fearless ; W. D. to the Vesuvius ; J. T. Caddy (acting assistant), to the Victory, for service at Haslar ; W. C. Torrance (acting as sistant), to the Stromboli; T. Soccombe (acting assistant), to the Lizard ; J. M. G. Steele (additional acting assistant) , to the San Josef, for service at Plymouth Hospital ; S. Bow den (acting assistant), to the Spy. Paymaster and Purser—J. Marsh to the Melampus. Chaplain—G. Bryan, to the Melampus. Mates—ll, A. Clavering, to the Pandora; R. Jenkins , to the Hibernia ; H. D. Selby (acting), to the Excellent. Clerk—R. W. M. J ones , to the Vesuvius. Midshipman—G. T revenan , to the Eagle. Naval Cadets—C. W . B ayn t on , and F. A. Henner, to the Hibernia; A. F. Gregory, to the St. Vincent. COAST GUARD. A pp oi ntments —Commander O. Oates, to be inspector of the Gosport district, vice Ramsay, period of service ex pired;. ' Commande r J. T. Talbot, to be inspect or of the Whitby district, vice Robinson term expired; Lieutenant Elwin, to Command Southampton water station, vice Liddon, removed ; C ommander J. S. W. G ran d y , to the Active cruiser, Port smout h -harbour station, v i ce El w i n ; Lieutenant C. Goldshitb, late of the Shamrock cutter (paid off) to a station. Removals.—Lieutenant W. Hole, from Belfast, to the Weston-super-Mare, vice Glinn, resigned; Lieutenant R. G. J 4 1 17, from St. Andre ws t o North Queen's -ferry station ; Lieutenant J. Allen, R.N from Challabrough to Portsmouth harbour station, vice Grandy; " Li e utenant H. Collins from Blythe-harbour t o Jarroquay station ; Lieutenant W. H. Goslin, from Roundstone, to north Isle of Arran, vice Freyre, removed. DEVONPORT, APRIL 3.—The Paring, Ezpiegle, and Flying iih are in the —urbaar, refitting with all expedition for foreign service. The current report is, that the Daring is for the Coast of Africa; Flying Fish, the West Indies; and Espiegle, for the East Indies. They will be in the Sound in a few days for their final orders.—The Netley, tender, brought sane supernumeraries l'c,rtAnontit on I%.ton day.—The Dublin, 50, Captain J. T. Tucker. arrived from Portsmouth on Monday, and has come into harbour to he paid off.—The Emerald, tender, arrived from Portsmouth on Wednesday, with supernumeraries, and sailed for Jersey on Thursday. In Harbour—The Caledonia, San Josef, Albion, Canopus, Vanguard, Superb, Dublin, ➢lelampus, Grecian, Daring, Espiegle, Flying Fish, Pandora, Petrel, Netley, and Sylph, tenders; the Confiance steam-vessel; the Diligence naval transport; and the Tortoise and the Hamoaze navy lighters. In the Sound—The Vesuvius Dutch steamer. On Saturday the annual general meeting of the members of the Society of Schoolmasters was held in the apartments of the Literary Fund, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury ; the Rev. Dr. Russell in the chair. The report was read by Octavius Blewitt, Esq. The Secre tary stated, that his Majesty the King of the French, who had been for many years a member of the Society, had presented this year an additional donation of 10/. The Association was established in 1798, and during the first thirteen years of its existence, bad given to forty families of distressed schoolmasters the sum of 7,000/, and 5,0001. in other charitable donations. The receipts since the last anniversary amounted to 5241, and the expenses to 3801. The report was adopted. _ ACCIDENTAL DEATH AT THE EAST INDIA Cog- PANY'S MILITARY SEMlNARY.—Gentleman Cadet John Baillie (nephew of a late East India Director), while amusing him self with several other Cadets in drawing a heavy iron roller, slipped, when, sad to say, the roller passed over him, and instantly crushed him to death. The youth was in his IWi year, and was the son of Mr. G. Baillie, late of the Bengal Medical Establishment. THE MURDER IN ST. GILES'S. INQUEST ON THE BODY. . THE CORONER AND THE POLICE. The inquest on the body of Mary Brothers was resumed on Saturday afternoon at three, at the Angel Inn, High street, St. Giles's, before Mr. Wakley, M.P. The Court having been opened, Mr. WAKLEY inquired of Harvey, the beadle, if there were any additional witnesses ? Harvey said there were none summoned in addition to those in attendance on the last occasion. Mr. WAKLEY—Are all the witnesses here ? Harvey said he had summoned them, but he understood from Inspector Black that all the witnesses were at Bow street, and that the prisoner was then under examination. Mr. WAKLEY said he Lad issued a warrant this morning for the production of the prisoner before them at a quarter past ten ; and complained that it had not been complied with. From questions put to the inspector and sergeant, it ap peared that the warrant was in their possession, and that they could not inform him whether the magistrate, Mr. Jardine, had seen it or not, though from Mr. Burnaby, the chief clerk at Bow-street being aware of the tenor of it, and their superintendent sitting by the magistrate, it was not un likely that he had. The prisoner had been taken into cus tody at six o'clock last night, and conveyed to the Court as early as half-past nine this morning, and they had no power to interrupt the usual course adopted in respect to persons taken into custody, who were taken on the morning following their arrest before the sitting ma gistrate. Mr. WAKLEY said that if the magistrate had not seen the warrant, or was not acquainted with its purport, and unaware of what transpired here, he might commit the prisoner for trial without coming before them. Sergeant Logan said it was intended to submit the Coroner's warrant to the magistrate at the close of the examination. Mr. WAKLEY said—Gentlemen, I will tell you what trans pired at the last examination. You remember that the inquest was adjourned, in order that, if any person was taken into custody on the charge of having murdered Mary Brothers, we might sit immediately on the spur of the moment, and go on with the investigation. You will also recol lect that the police in the room received that intimation—they were told that information should be conveyed to the Coro ner's office directly any one was taken into custody on the charge of having slain Mary Brothers. I heard of no person being taken into custody until about 6 or 7 o'clock last night, in the House of Commons. lam not quite sure as to the time, but I think it was about the time I have mentioned. I received information to that effect from the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the floor of the House of Commons. He handed me a note which he had re ceived from Mr. Mayne, the Police Commissioner, stating that a man had been taken into custody, and was at Bow street. Determined not to act by messenger—taking especial care that no misconception, no misconstruction, and no misrepresentation should occur, I went to Bow-street my self to ascertain the accuracy of the statement. When there I saw the inspector now present (Black) and the person who had been taken into custody. I imme diately addressed a letter to Mr. Mayne, stating that I was to hold the adjourned inquest either at half-past nine o'clock this morning or at three this afternoon, and asking him if he would consider himself justified in sending the prisoner here this morning at half-past nine, that I might go on with the investigation. A policeman was dis patched with this letter to Mr. Mayne, and last night at 12 o'clock, I received the following reply : " Eleven o'Clock. "My Dear Sir—l have received your note relating to the party in custody on suspicion of murdering Mary Brothers; and I beg to say, in reply, that I do not conceive I am authorised to direct the police to de part from the ordinary established course, according to which he will be taken before the magistrate at his sitting in the morning.—l am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, "R. MAYNE." Of course, when I received this note, seeing no chance of the prisoner being brought here at half-past nine o'clock this morning, I inferred that by appointing the further in vestigation for three o'clock this afternoon, that the magis trate would have completed, or proceeded so far in the inquiry, that the witnesses, or at least some of them, could be here, that we might be enabled to go on with the investiga tion. I do not think it was an unreasonable inference on my part—( Hear, bear)—there was ample time between ten this morning and three this afternoon. One witness, however, is here—Mr. Fitzgerald, who we did not examine on the last occasion ; and I will write to Mr. Jar dine, stating that the jury is now sitting and desiring that the prisoner may come here as soon as he has done with him.—(Hear, hear.) These things (continued Mr. Wakley) are very perplexing and especially annoying to me ; and I suspect that in the end it will produce a great deal of indignation in the public mind, and I am strongly of opinion that it is impossible that jurymen can per:orm their duty in being obliged to return verdicts of wilful murder against persons whose identity is not proved before thern.—(Cheers.) I entertain that opinion, and juries also entertain it. I cannot conceive how any obstacle can exist in any quarter—juries cannot properly determine on the guilt of persons accused of such serious offences and discharge their duty to society, unless the suspected party is before them. Many county magistrates are of a different opinion. Such a course is most unreasonable, and he could not conceive why it should be entertained. Juries are most ancient institutions, and protect the interests of the people from aggression. The Honourable Gentle man then went on to say, that for the last six years he had been endeavouring to sustain the powers belong ing to the Coroner's Court, and if jurymen themselves would not take the subject up, it must in effect be abandoned. Nothing could be more repugnant than to return a verdict against a man without his being present to hear the evidence on which it was arrived at, and without having the opportunity of uttering one word in explanation or his defence—(Hear, hear)—nor to suggest a single question, or check by his presence every one who may be disposed to give false testimony.— (Hear, hear.) They would not like such treatment them selves and in his opinion it was a violation of the law. The police were hostile to the production of persons before the Coroner's Court, and thought that jurymen could not form proper opinions. —(hear, hear.) The next time votes of money were proposed to the police he would take care that they had especial trouble in getting it.—(Laughter and cheers.) He then read the warrant he had issued for the production of the prisoner before him, and which had been handed by him to the police. He con cluded by stating that, unless some effort was made, the prisoner would be committed without his being brought before them. The jury being unanimously of opinion that the Coroner should write to the Magistrate as he had suggested, a letter was written by the Coroner to that gentleman, the sub stance of which was as follows : " That, at the desire of the fifteen jurymen, he had to re quest that the prisoner, Joseph Connor, should be sent before the Coroner's Court, in order that he might be identified by the witnesses." The Foreman said the Coroner had better add to it, that he had issued a warrant for the production of the prisoner before him, which had been suppressed by the police. Inspector Black—lt has not been suppressed. The chief clerk knew the purport of it. Mr. Wakley did not appear in favour of this course, and the letter was dispatched. Mr. WAKLEY--Wre want the witnesses to identify the man charged with committing the murder. None have yet seen him in the presence of the jury. Several of the witnesses who had been examined at Bow street then repeated the evidence which they had given. Towards the conclusion of the proceedings the fvllowing Ltter was received by the Coroner from Mr. Jardine : " Police -court, Bow street, April 5, 1845. " Sir,—ln reply to your letter, just received, I have to in• form you that Joseph Connor has been this day committed by me to Newgate to take his trial for the murder of Mazy Brothers.--I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " D. JARDINE. "To Thomas Wakley, Esq." Mr. Wakley having in strong terms animadverted on the conduct of the magistrate and the police, and having stated his intention of bringing the subject before Parliament, put it to the jury whether they would then agree to a verdict or adjourn, in order to have the prisoner brought before them. The jury retired to consult, and on re-entering the room, The CORONER asked "were they prepared to say they could come to a verdict of wilful murder' against any indi vidual, without having the individual before them." A juryman --I for one, say we could not. The CoaorrEß—What does the foreman say ? Mr. Rogers—The beet answer I can give to that question is to read to you the opinion which I know the jury and myself entertain upon this subject. It is as follows : "That the deceased was wilfully murdered on Monday, the 31st. cif March, and that have to think wo might have come to a verdict as to the individual who so murdered her, had the police , atibrned proper facilities for a due examination of witnesses against the person suspected." Mr. Oldham, the cutler, wished to ask the Coroner a ques tion. He was bound to appear before the grand jury on Mon day and Tuesday, and possibly he would be detained before them until Wednesday. In that case he could not appear before the Coroner to give evidence, if he was required. Now, be wanted to know how he was to act under such circum stances ? The CORONER—You cannot be in two places at the same time; and, if you are detained before the grand jury on Wed nesday, that will be a sufficient reason for your non-atten dance here. Mr. Oldham thanked the Coroner and retired, after which ;he inquiry was adjourned until Wednesday next. HAMBURGH AND DUTCH MAIL• BERLIN, MARCH 27.—Yesterday letters arrived from St. Peter,..hurgh: they confirm the accounts of the pre paration which the Emperor is making for a tour to in spect the army, and for a visit to Warsaw. Accounts from that city mention several regiments which at pre sent form part of the Poli'h corps of the army, but which are to be sent to reinforce the army employed against the mountaineers, and are to be previously re viewed by the Emperor. With respect to the journey of the Empress to the hot springs at Kreuth, in lia• varia, nothing certain is known at St. Petersburgh it• self. It will all depend on the state of her Majosty's health, and her being sufficiently strong to bear so long a journey. BERLIN, MARCH 29.—The King gave an audience on the 27th to the Baron T.Zenduffe, the Portuguese Am bassador, and received from him the insignia (sent by her Majesty the Queen of Portugal) of the three united royal Portuguese military ord€rs of Christ, St. Jago de &pado, and St. Bento d'Apiz. COPENHAGEN, MARCH 28.—The communication with Sweden across the ice continues to-day, but some per sons have lost their lives. At Elsin , .;re the Sound sod denly opened, and two ships have arrived there, though only ten minutes before two persons crossed the ice from Sweden. BERLIN, MARCH 26.—The Russian Government have lately ordered Kalisch to be more strongly fortified, and a new levy of 100,000 men to be made. As the fortifj ing of Kalisch is of particular importance to Prussia, on account of its vicinity to our frontiers, it is said that our Minister for Foreign Affairs has directed M. von Lebermann, in St. Petersburgh, to ask for some explanation on the subject. BREMEN, MARCH 31.--I am sorry to have a most cPs tre.,sing piece of news to send to you. The river after having attained the height of 181 feet, made a breach in a dike in spite of every elf lit, and pours with dreadful violence over tho adjacent country and suburbs. The sight is awful; near the breach the lims. a and trees are swept away by the furio is torrent which carries everything before it. Unfortunately, it seeing that several lives are lost, the torrent being so halms that the bo its sent out to afford assistance could not reach them. Be , .we.:n thirty and forty houses are sail to have been overihros":n and carried off. The water is now falling ; bat the l.,wer streets in the city are still inundated. Tte Bremen Gazette of the 31st gives a longer aceount, but says that it is not possible to enter into more (Iv: a il s . P.S. At half-past three in t } !...e afternoon, the ac counts are rather more favor cable, no more persons are missing, an,i those who uad taken refuge on trees and the roofs of house§- are all saved. The water continues to fall. MARcU 30.—A number of ships have arriv"_;:i from sea, and those that hare arrived up to this 3 uay at noon, as well as those that lay on the beach, are in the quarantine harbour ; some have already gone up the Elbe. HAMBITRGH, APRIL I.—A very advantageous change in the state of the ice has taken place during the night. Several ships have come up the Elbe from Cuxhaven, and some small vessels have passed Blankeneuse. TWELVE AT NooN.—Eight of the steamers are lying at the Luhe, and the Helen Macgregor is at anchor near Wittingburg. The HAGUE, APRIL 2.--From the accounts received to-day of the state of the rivers, it appears that the waters everywhere continued to rise, and that the dikes had suffered during the late storms. The state of the Rhine dike at Liendea caused some apprehensions, and great exertions were making to strengthen them. From Bois le Due we learn that some dikes had given way, and that on the evening of the 31st of March six breaches were made in the Empels dike, one of which is from 120 to 150 feet in width. The Rhine at Cologne at half-past six in the evening of the 30th of March, was at 31 feet 71 inches; in the following three hours it rose only half an inch. A letter from Cologne of the 30th March says—" The Rhine gives us a melancholy spectacle. The rapid thaw after the long winter brings down an im mense mass of water, for which the bed of the river 13 too narrow, and which consequently overflows the banks to a great distance. All the streets near the Rhine are inundated, from the Custom-house to the bridge, only the upper half of the houses is visible. Boats are plying backwards and forwards to maintain the communication between the overflowed streets and the other parts of the city. Opposite to us on the right bank, Deutz is almost wholly inundated, and forms an island; in the gardens only the tops of the trees are visible, and the Dragoons in garrison there were obliged to leave their barracks some days ago, the water having penetrated to their stables. The whole surrounding country suffers greatly by the inundation, and thou e h seve-ral breaches in the dikes of the neighbourhood have taken place by which new outlets are opened to the water, it still continues to rise, and threatens us with further ravages." It is probably owing to the inundations that the South German papers have net arrived to-day. We have received the Java papers from the 7th to the 14th of December ; those of the 11th have the following account : " News having been received that an English ship was stranded and set on fire on the Karang Oedjong, between Woelangan and Berouw, on the East coast of Borneo, and that the crew, consisting of six Englishmen and some Benealese, had been taken up by the people on the coast, and were et Geono ng -T a b er no d T a ndjong (as mentioned in the Stoats Courant of the 20th March.) ('he schooner, the Egmond, commanded by Lieut. Van Capellen, was sent by Mr. A. L. Widdik, the Commis sar:). for Borneo, &c., to endeavour to bring away ttie shipwrecked crew and take them to Banjermassing. " The ship arrived on the 20th of October at the mouth of the river of Berouw, and after some corre spondence with the Sultans of Taudjong and Grim, ng- Taber, and a personal interview of Lieutenant Capellen with the two Sultans, he succ.e lei in oetaining the re stocation of some of the goods that were saved, and the release of the crew. The native crew of the Premier having found means to go to S " The shipwrecked men, W. Brownrig, J. Watson, J. Matthews, H. Matthews, S. Macdonell, W. Pinkerton, and F. Patina, went on board the Egmond in good health on the 26th of October, and were landed on the Ist of November at Banjermassing, whence they were to be sent to Batavia in the brig Mansoerie. " Though these people have suffared much during their stay with the uncivili.eed prinees of Taudjong aLd Gotmong Tabor, yet it appears to the Commissaryy, that their representations of bad treatment by the Sultan of Goenong-Tabor were rather exaggerated, and that the demand of that prince to have them back must be ascribed to the wish to injure the Sultan of Taudjong, with whom they were in the Jast instance, than to a desire to put them to death, or to sell them for slaves." THE HAGUE, APRIL 3.—The account of the rivers,re ceived to-day, states that the water continued to rise yesterday. Many dikes aro broken through. The accounts from Cologne, of the 31st March, are very distressing. All the dikes are broken through in the low districts in the vicinity. The inhabitants of the villages of Niehl, Merkenich, Ike., are among those who have with the greatest difficulty saved their cattle and effects ; but many have saved only their lives, with the consolation that, as far as is yet known, none have perished. Their misery is beyond description, as they were unable to save the small stock of provisions that remain after the long winter. Many houses, stables, and barns are swept away by the torrent. All the stock of corn, hay, &c., that remain, is spoiled, and the sur rounding places which received the cattle of the unfor tunate people cannot maintain them, being themselves in want of fodder. The winter corn is destroyed, and with respect to tho summer corn there is no prospect of sowing it at present, the land, it is thought, being covered with sand. No South German papers received to-day. THE HAGUE, APRIL 4.—Though the Rhine at Co logne has fallen a little, the rivers in the Netherlands continued to rise yesterday, and the dikes in several places were much injured. NOVEL WATER CONVEYANCE.—About 10 days ago some of the inhabitants of Dunkeld were astonished at t he ap pearance of two small objects on the surface of the water at some distance from each other, borne along with the gentle current. As they approached it turned out to be two men, having each on their backs what appeared to be a knap sack ; they had no guns, nor any other military accoutre ments, but each held in his hand what seemed to be a long pole, and they were supported on the water by what ap peared to be a bundle of clouts. The figures passed by Dunkeld and its rapids in safety. No more was heard of these apparitions at the time, and various conjectures were in circulation ; but at length the mysterious visitors were re ported to be the ingenious and enterprising Mr. Anderson, of Tullymet, and a friend, who, on separate air mattresses, were inspecting the river for the purpose of testing its safety for conveying potatoes and potato-flour to Perth. This day (Wednesday) we had a repetition of the visit of the sance persons on their air rafts, having each under their charge a cargo of some of those materials, carefully covered over with waterproof cloth. They were standing on their cargo ; each had in his hand a long pole, at one end of which was a kind of oar, placed at right angles to the handle, with its flat side to the water. Sometimes they pushed the water at one side and sometimes at the other, thereby directing their singular vessel to the proper part of the river. As Mr. Anderson was passing under the bridge he took off his hat to the inhabi tants, who watched his progress with much interest ; they returned the compliment, and added a hearty cheer. They are now away on their voyage, out of sight, and we wish them safe to land. They have each a knapsack filled with air at their back and at their breast, and appear to have waterproof trousers and boots, so that they will float like a duck, should any untoward event displace them from their novel raft.—Perthshire Courier, March 27. FIRE ON THE RAILWAY.—On Wednesday last a quantity of cotton wool was being conveyed on the Leeds and Manchester Railway, and when the train arrived at Wake. field it was found to be on fire. The wool was spread in the yard, but most of it was consumed or much injured before the fire was extinguished. It is probable the fire was occa sioned by a spark or cinder from the engine.— Wakefield Journal. MANUFACTURE of COUNTERFEIT FRENCH COINS at BIRMINGHAM. A discovery h is recently been made in Birmingham) cd a nia ii.,ae:Lory of counterfeit foreign coins on eu 04 " tensive scale, the principal party engaged in it beinFl foreigner, who is now in custody, having been rensanno by the inagi , itrates. The followirg particulars are from local paper : In consequence of information privately received.r; lice- officer 'randy, accompanied by Richard Bingley * 11 " Sydney Mees, repaired about half-past three o'clock I' ll the afternoon of Good Friday to a court i n Snow - bil l ' where there is some shopping. On Tandy entering 013 1 of these buildings on the ground floor, clo se ly followed by the others, he saw a large, powerful, self-acting pres s, and two or three men in the place. At the monien s Tandy entered, which he did with stealthy tread, he Oi l( a man in a hole up to his middle, in the act of placing fi blank in the lower die, and on the instant another pall; who appeared to have no suspicion of Tandy's errs w , struck off the impression. The man in the hole was instantly s. ized, and ti l handcuffs placed upon him. Tandy then proceed ed to search his person, and in one pocket he found h. - 5-franc counterfeit pieces, and one good one ; and 1 ; another pocket four 4-franc pieces, all of which. wer e good. Tandy then conveyed him to th e Waterloo-str ee , station, leaving the other offi c e rs i n possession. of h premises. On arriving at the station, the prisoner gave the no ° : of Joseph Sine. On his person bein g aga i n se arch POl., mostly in gold, was found upon him, and tl valuable gold watches. In the meantim e Bi ts gley Mees were searching the premises. They found a CU ! ting press, and on one side of the other press sever li f blanks ready for striking. Bingley took p osses sion ° the counterfeit piece, which was struck off on their er tering the shop. The whole of the dies, presseF, Sie " were, of course, taken possession of. It having been ascertained that the trisoner Sine ez, been staying at the Hen and Chickens' Hotel, tr officers proceeded to search the room he occupied 11; that establishment. Mees foutra a oarpet bag, contained a brace of pistol.* and, amongst other cies, a number of foreign letters. The prisoner is ie , Spaniard, forty-nine yeets of age, and of most goll t : g manly address and bf.:aring. He has been backe: and forward to Birmingham for the last ten mein' but he came on leis last visit to that town about ten °IL) ago. On Satnrday he was taken before the magistra' t ' es " and remariied. On his capture, communication immediately made to Mr. Powell, s o li c itor for, tt Mint., and that gentleman came down to Birmitagni o o , Accompanied by George Tandy, he return e d Vs when the lodging occupied by the prisoner in 1,00,1, was searcbod, and docunn its were found of ccsasidern!,, importaeo te the production of which before the rant trates, it is said, will create an extraordinary s ensati°,wo 'l'be principal press fount. in Snowhill is valtiodo some hundreds of pounds, and receipts were foul: 11 ' 4o the prisoner's possession for the dies alowc, which for all the French coins, for 550/. For obvious remsons no other persons found on premises were taken into custody. DEPARTURE OF FOREIGN MAILS- , 10 01 The next mail It.r the Mediterran ea n, Egypt, Ceio India, and ci - ;ina, via Ma , seillet, will be hpatchedt ,o D - Lundell ibis evening, 7th April. 4 ° 11 'f The next mail for Malta, Greece, the lonian -s be d Egypt, India, &c., via Southampton, will be dip from London on the morning of the 20th instant. o Leaving to the brilliant author of "Conings l 4 task of portraying the new generation, the mYsI:;I4 author of " Cecil seems determined to amuse the'" 111 , at the expense of the old. The Court of GeorE e has already been laid open by his caustic pen, r 1 ;01 degree of fearlessness that would make us trem*i e " e 4 'i.e reit InAti-: us laugh—ael " SELF " may be IN- of we are told, as a catalogue raisonnee of the port glis„ o r Sir Thomas Lawrence illustrated by the pen of s tv" mont. REVELATIONS OF SPAIN IN 1 845.—The work just published under the above title it, e ",f ing extraordinary interest. The editor, in 'WS fa rret face, does not claim too much for it, when he shO's adverting to the talents of the author, and the 0 1* - iiof nities which his long residence in the country liq b ere forded for extensive and minute observation) goo is scarcely any subject of interest connected with: iD and its inhabitants that the author has not hang e o plo detail. The country, under all its aspects, and the I e c lis' in all the phases of their contradictory and bizarr vie, racter, pAss before our eyes. Spain fighting an'icird ing, pronouncing and fraternising ; Spain in the' tit and in the Senate-house, torturing bulls and rot"' Ministers ; Spain in its hours of mad folly and CO moments of reflection. USEF' ITS"" .011 7 A -( ;./ UL INVENTION.—PATENT MACHINE F* &e ACCOUNT BOOKS, NUMBERING RAILWAY TICK..- . - • This is the most expeditious mode w e h ave yet "". IP; printing consecutive numbers, and th ere c an 'P e 0 0 ; doubt that its simpl:city will insure its adoption j 0 , 0 14 1 ' of the public offices. The gyeatest credit is due bO Shaw, the inventor, for this improvement, and f t : e riilt, he may reap the reward which his ingenuity The machine, which is a very handsome app: f„ erected on a pedestal, attached to which is a IP v i .s justible to the size of any book. Before this tsuiirpg' operator sits, and, as fast as the leaves can be e t j, od ago... List a guide, the serial numbers are impr , . 0 1 action of a lever instantaneously changing al ta !!" the figures. Provision is made for printing a; * numbers, or all even numbers, the n ec essity (K ' c if will be obvious, when it i s ment i one d that fir e hand pages of a b oo k are completed before th ose c t. t hed left are vnnameneed, and this is effected. i s causing any change in the usual action of the rs", e o We think the Stamp and Post-Offices should look invention. • NEWLY I '---.TACLES, Deafness Mile NVENTED SPEC Telescopes, Opera Glasses, &c., 39, Albemarle - str so lfol v , cadilly. Deafness Acoustic Instruments—lnvisil k r , e Conductors when fixed in the cavity of the ears , !A 4, perceptible, they enable individuals at an advalintP, anti of forty and fifty years' standing, of extremo r o odt tress, instantly to join in general conversatio n, b 4 catch the sound of a distant low speaker at ear, theatre, &c.—lt pours the conversation into thel c ior, such an extent that in most severe cases deafneedvree be observed. Also original Ear Cornets, c:abei German, a, - ,AI Spanish Artificial Ears and ImPr° .r ins Trumpets of every description. I t ninecliP ,e 4 Newly Invented :Spec:ticks are placed before 41.: vision that mist and dullness which appear b i/t oti: r ) eyes 13 rem, vex, every o bj ec t becomes esear allo,"„bt so that the most ages defective sight becomes 13 , r ;iitl t :) brillianr, and is b r o ug ht to it, y o uthful, natu.rs 4 ",et , ginal state. Also Achro m atic Waistcoat TeleW i ff e r 1 1 ; Opera Glasses. Every kind of Telescopes ofierlo o with increasing powers, fir Shooting, Sea purP (l. 4 upon ,tand for astronornital observations, withlotl e o i brated Lenses of the most clear, transparent IN b; the powers are so great and the Lenses so NIA brilliant, that minute objects at an extraordinary , orT are brought completely under the eyes.—Sportill o rists, and sea-side visitors will indeed have a Ve, 0 li rm Cauti.—Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, OptiogrooSi Aurists, are not in any way connected with, fl pc, the same name in their immediate neighl.„qtrboMke. j t in any part o f th e country. To prereat Mi 7.0 03 07 cautious, and observe,—Only to be had, ' street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel- ~,A tO t/f 1 [ADVERTISEMENT.]—THE EARL OF ALD'7 O I% AND HOLLOWAY'S PILLS ! At; aorrouNDsti* st o i , THIS MIRACULOUS MEDICINE, AFT4II, EVERY OTOS' HAD FAILED !—See extract of his L o rd s hip's let , r4 o Villa Messina, Leghorn, the 21st February, 184. - i• .4 0 or fessor Holloway. Sir,—l beg to acquaint you that,, J' 0 0 A 1 have effected a cu re of a disord er in my liver an d r 0 1 "), which all the most eminent of the faculty at hora e l o t over the Continent, had not been able to effect, nay , , ;coos the waters of C ar l s b a d or M amen b a d.—Si gne d, These wonderful pills will cure any disease of tlarei stomach. Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at 01,4 Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand (where advi'l e e had gratis), and by all medicine vendors threughout 020 world. re ., Oa!, NEW PIER AT BLACKFRIARS- BRIDGE; --.^- IP quence of the many fatal steam-boat accidents at ttifi friars-bridge wooden pier, the Corporation have CO determ purpose on ination of erecabtniedngclaoafsteendretwti ihl p is i t e h r de o a f cyo s uit a h fe el co ro n con st n rl t y , V lower w hich will P e pier. . _ BIRTHS. all 9 On the 9th of F e b ru4r y, at th e L uz, near lgedr-a9 „1. :14 , of Lieutenant T. Greenaw a y, o f th e 46th Regiral- 01 L' ' Native Infantry, of a da ug ht er . Tbo On the 27th ult., at Greek-street, Soho, Mrs W • ft ~ld'9treilson of a daughter. On the Ist inst., the wife of Mr. W. H . Wrightn v , road, of a daughter. 0 On the Sd Inst., at B ernar d -street, Russell-squ a re ' the re ' 4 of James Cockell, Esq., of a son, still-born. c se ° On the 3d inst., a t L orn-road, Brixton, Mrs• - b ' Engelbach, of a d aug h ter. 0 1 t, , On the Ist i nst., t h e wife of W. J. Bova', Esq'' o i f f hall lane, Clapham, Surrey, of a son. r 5 • 0 S. ' 0 On the Ist i nst., at Vassal -road, Brixton, Di-r' . • riott, of a son. of J'• On the 2d i ns t ., at the Priory, Homertorl, the led/ - ~„oi wife of Myth, nul l a e. son. On the 2d jAst ,at the Ave nu Streatham, the 0-13 / .. Beckwith To E o f e ' wse, sq., a son. ____...---". .1 —..........••••••-•••+...-,...._ MARRIED. On the 6th ult., at St. James's Church, Clerkenlie '0 _4 tenant Frederick Huse Chitty, of the 40th Madras ~5 ! .,," . fantry, to Eleanor Jane, only eau g hter of the late P . t v John Brazier, Rector of Market Drayton, SaloP• le boD e l On the 2d inst., at the church of All Souls, MarY Hon. Charles Gore, to the Countess of Kerry._ Croud i f On the 27th ult., at Worthenbury Church, W • '.L•ii% o " ( 9 Esq., of Cerney House, Gloucestershire, to Ellen •`' r fto second daughte r o f Si r Ri c h ar d P u l eston , Bart, ° g e, Flintshire. slac e-pit On the 2d i ns t . , H enry C urrey, E sq., o f Old P °- Westminster to Emily Harriet, youngest dang l " Charles Price, Bart., of Spring-grove, Richmond• t S 094 Main IJSE'II. On th Vardona, a i‘ 2 l a B a t , h r a of f January n e ers : a a s g t e , at 36. - bP late On the 30th ult ,'France second dau bter of the 0 ) g On the 2d inst., at ilindon-street, James Death, of Waltham Abbey, aged 24. atrO• Donmall, agec 86. : in 1300 °P d On the 3d inst., at Bryanston-square, W r ill' a r t _ 13 04 Scott, youngest son of Sir Edward Dolman Sit" el Great Barr, Staffordshire. , ~„, fo.-„, On the 10th of February, on his passage n °I " - EN' South \Vales, Ambrose, the brother of S. H a lley , f i, Stamford -street, Blackfriars. ii , A . IP On the 17th of February, at Kingston, Jamaican lcefl i te Scott, chief officer of the Liffey, Royal mail steatn-FTley, On the 21st ult., at Peckham, Mr. Thomas Chal l " . • r c, r 0 of On}Bo-lane, builder. este the 31st ult., at Sonthrop Vicarage, Glotic Frederick, fifth son of the Rey. W. J. Walker. Pimlico, ••-• 40, On the 29th tilt., at Kentish-town, Mrs. Clark. „ J L lNva London: Printed and Published by DIURDO, No. 1 12, Strand, Printer. at The ?flirt Ofilee , c osa Strand. in the Precinct of the Savoy, in Uiddlesex3NoUday, April 7,154 r. 4 NAI P o .114 Pe t kh q IN" to Et 444