The Sun. — London, England, 1844-09-02 00:00:00

ebtrb Etittion THE FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES.) Bank Stock BRITISH FUNDS. I 4 199 Indian Stock.. 3 per Cent. Red 99% Ditto Bonds 3 per Cent. Cons. 3 % per Cent. Red lOl% Ditt o N ew A nnu i t i es ... New 3% per Cent. lOO% Ex. Bills, 1,0001. I%d ... 73 pm. New 5 per Cent — Ditto 5001 . Long Annuities to expire Ditto Small.." A Jan 1860 12% Bank Stock forcct. ... Oct. 1859..... ...... Jan. 18430......... and some others—penalties threefold greater in duration, end tenfold more severe in all their circumstances, than those imposed upon Mr. O'Connell and his fellow-prisoners—were almost excessive. The Lancashire conspirators comtem plated no great or enduring evil as a means or as an end, but the utmost extravagance of charity would fail to acquit the repeal con spirators of resorting to criminal means for the attainment of a criminal end. What are the means, of employing which they have been dis tinctly convicted, not upon doubtful evidence, but upon evidence supplied by themselves ? These means were by speeches and writings exciting hatred between different classes of the people, exciting hatred also against the laws and the Government, superseding the authority of the Government by the establishment of rival courts of justice, endea vnuring to destroy the power of the Govern ment, by debauching the military from their duty, collecting vast multitudes of the most ignorant and excitable of the population, frequently in military array, for the purpose of alarming the Govern ment and the well-affected, and encouraging the disloyal by an illusion of their irresistable strength. These were the means contemplated—not con templated only, but put into extensive action, and not put into this extensive action upon a single occasion, as happened at Manchester, but constantly and frequently, and for a succession of years. And to what end were these means directed ? To extort a repeal of the union by intimidation, the Re pealers themselves say; or, perhaps, scarcely less than high treason ; but common sense discovers another, and, if possible, a much more criminal end—the wresting of Ireland from the British Crown. These are facts so obvious and familiar, that it would be but twaddle to recur to them, if it was not for their im portant bearing upon the particular character of the prosecution, which, unlike former legal attempts to achieve the peace of Ireland, really embraced the moral merits and the equity, if we may so speak, of the great question in issue. . FOREIGN FUNDS. Austrian, 5 per Cent ... ..... !Portuguese, 5 per Cent BO% Belgian, 5 per Cent — !Ditto, New Ditto — Brazilian Bonds B4M Prussian, 5 per Cent — Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent... I Russian, 5 per Cent..„ — Chllian t 6 per Cent — ; Ditto, Metallic ..... ..... . ..... Colombian, 8 per Cent Ditto, 1 8 24 ........ ...... .......... Ditto, 9 per Cent 33% Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent — Ditto, Deferred.....„ ........ ... Danish, 3 per Cent Greek, 18.5, 5 per Cent...... Exchange —f. —c. Mexican, 5 per Cent ..... 35U French, 3 per Cent —f. Ditto, 6 per Cent., 1837........ Dutch, 2% per Cent 6l Peruvian, 1825, 6 per Cent... .: . Ditto, 5 per Cent lOO% SHARES. Bristol and Gloucester, 30 paid Great Western (75 paid) Ditto Filths 12 paid London and ilackwall (161. 13s. 4d.) 6% London and Brighton (50 paid) London and Croydon (Trunk) ... ... 18% Lynn and Ely, 1 1 A paid Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) Manchester and Birmingham Newcastle and Darlingron Junction, 21 paid 46 South Eastern and Dover (33 25 4d paid) Ditto New Shares, 4 paid Thamei and Medway, Zl9 53 8d p a id p Yarmouth and Norwich (18 paid) York and Scarborough Branch (2) paid) Paris and Orleans (20 paid) -,7 Paris and Rouen. 20 paid Rouen and Havre, 10 paid lB SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF THIS DAT. GLOBE.—War and police are necessary evils ; but there are aggravations of war and police, which the first free country in the world ought to be the first to abandon. Two of the worst of these aggra vations, post-office espionage, and privateering, have most unexpectedly found apologists at this period of the nineteenth century—the one in a French Prince of the Blood -the other in two Committees of the British Parliament. We need not say that our refe rence is to the privateering Naval Essay of his Royal Highness the Prince de Joinville, and to the Reports of the Secret Committees of Lords and Commons, on the Secret Opening of Letters at the Post-office. We hold that the English and French public have each their duty to perform in this matter. They have each to disclaim and repudiate the doctrines thus ad vanced in the highest quarters. We should be puz zled to which to award the bad eminence of superior barbarism. If England had not recognised in her Home-office the morals of Vidocq, while France adopted as her banner the black flag of Paul Jones (so far as the avowals of high official authorities can commit either nation), the one would have sunk her self, by her apathy or connivance, to an immeasur able depth below the moral rank held by the other. Perphaps it was previdentially ordered that France and England should disgrace themselves, at the same moment, in the same style ; lest either should feel itself to have lost . that - comparative level in self-esteem, the loss of which would have driven it to war with the other pour avoir de la con.cideration. Our attention is recalled to these subjects by articles in the Westminster Review and Spectator. The former adduces more evidence than we had yet seen of the unworthy participation in the worst vices of the police of foreign countries, into which our rulers have been led by permitting them selves to be made the instruments of the vengeance of foreign Governments—without a motive—and with an aggravation--the aggravation of secrecy and per fidy. Perfidy is impossible on the part of those Go vernments to their malcontent subjects ; because these malcontents know them too well to repose any confi dence in their treatment. But in England every one is free in everything but breach of the laws, and every one thinks himself safe. It is, therefore, we re peat, perfidious in this Government to break the confidence reposed in its freedom ; and having first, by that freedom, encouraged foreigners who resort to our shore to commit themselves, in words and in writing, by di-closures they never would have ven tured elsewhere—it is most perfidious to spy secretly into those disclosures for the purpose of transmitting them to the Governments whose vengeance the exiles have fled from—to whose vengeance their connexions are still exposed. We do not mean to say that our Government should take part with the exiles of other States—or even that it should not arrest machinations commenced in this country to dis turb them. England does not profess herself a rsfugium peccatorum for all manner of plotters —an Archimedean standing room, from which they may move the world with revolutionary enginery. But is there no medium between this connivance with foreign enterprises making our shores their starting-point —is there no medium between leaving conspirators and their Governments ig norant that such things are detected (and therefore putting each on their guard—the one to desist, and the other to be vigilant)—is there no medium be tween this permission of plots and armaments against friendly neighbours, and the secret comm un i ca ti on t o foreign Powers of the secrets of other men—without warning those men of a danger they could not have feared in a free country ? This is even something worse than the old fame of Venice, and her lion's mouth. It is inveigling men to criminate themselves, and others, in the confidence of correspondence. It is leaving them, unwarned, to proceed from wild words to overt acts, and handing them over, as they leave our shores—or their friends and connexions on their own—to the secular arm of their irritated Go vernments, whom we have taken into our secret con fidence. STANDARD.—The Morning Chronicle has to day a long article upon the Writ of Error—an article full of misrepresentation and malice, but probably containing no passage more false or malicious than the following :—" The recognition of this Irish-judge made-law of conspiracy, by the court of ultimate ap peal, would be the establishment of a principle with which none of the usual modes of political activity in England could exist. Political societies would be come ipso facto conspiracies. Public meetings would be almost as unsafe as associations, and even parish ves tries would have to bridle their ton4ues. These results, it would be more proper to say, would happen, if the Irish conspiracy law could be not only sanc tioned but enforced in England. But everybody knows that it could not be enforced, and that no Mi nister would dare to make the attempt. The oppor tunity for doing so has been open here as well as at the other side of the Channel. The Anti-Corn-law League is quite as much of a conspiracy as the Re peal Association. In one sense it is a more formidable body, inasmuch as, if permitted to exist, it will cer tainly effect its object, which the Irish League is not likely to do. Moreover, the jury which convicted Mr. O'Connell would most certainly have convicted Mr. Cobden, if he could only be brought before them. But, for all this, nobody has seriously thought of in dicting Mr. Cobden, nor is it likely that any one will, even if the decision of the House of Lords should be such as to encourage the design." The answer to this statement lies in a single word ; it is not for the use of any of the usual modes of political activity in England, but for the abuse of nearly all these modes that Mr. O'Connell and his accomplices have been prosecuted and con victed, upon the principle of law, " abusus non tollit usum," it is obvious that the modes of political ac tivity, if innocently and legally resorted to, are wholly unaffected by the decision in the case of these parties. Whether the Anti-Corn-law League have or have not transgressed the legal limits of political activity may be a question ; but it would appear that the law ad visers of the Crown think differently, for it is un true that a British Government would not in like cir cumstances act as the Government of Ireland has acted. Witness the prosecution of Henry Hunt and others, twenty-four years ago; and the more recent prosecutions of Mr. Feargus O'Connor by the Whig- Radical Ministers. But whatever may be the posi tion of the Leaguers in this respect, it is quite indis lutable th a t th e li m it s o f l ega l po li t i ca l act i v it y were argely transgressed by Mr. 0 Connell and his con victed associates. We may admit that the law allows men to organise political societies to hold multi tudinous assemblies of the people, and to express their political opinions freely and boldly, but it cannot be pretended th at these privileges are ot qualified, as the exercise of a ll the privileges of freemen are qualified, by the condition that eo they shall not be exercised to m m the injury of th e community, or so as to endanger the established order oflaw and government. Now it will hardly be denied by the Morning Chronicle itself, that the practices of Mr. O'Connell, sad the other Repealers, in the last year, and for many preceding years, grossly v i olated this con dition—the injury occasioned by the unrestrained repeal agitation is proved more strikingly by nothing than by the happy change in the social state of Ire land, which followed its suppression almost with the rapidity of a charm. The danger of the agitation to the established law of order and government was the daily theme of complaint with all the Whig- Radical j ournals and statesmen during the session of 1843. Here, then, we have distinctly marked the differentia between " modes of political activity" generally, and " th e p o liti ca l conspiracy prosecuted at the State Trials in Dublin. " Modes of political activity" may be harmless or otherwise; but when they become mischievous and dangerous they be come criminal conspiracies. It is, however, to be conceded, that in a free country " modes of political activity" that are undesignedly in jurious are to be regarded with tenderness, and we cannot help thinking that the Lancashire conspirators of 1819 had hard measure, as, notwithstanding the dangerous tendency of their proceedings, it is diffi cult to believe that they designed any permanent evil. It was certainly right to suppress their con but the penalties inflicted upon Mr. Hunt, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENINEC SEPTEMBER 2. 1844. Mr. COTTINGHAM said that he should commit the prisoner on the three first charges, and that he should be brought up again on Wednesday, and that probably when publicity was given of the examination in the newspapers, other parties who had been robbed would attend. The prisoner requested the return of a prayer-book found in his possession when he was taken into custody. The application for its restoration was opposed by the publican, who stated that since the prisoner was taken into custody he had ascertained that several rob beries had been committed in Dublin by a man an swering the prisoner's description, and that he had reason for believing that the prayer-book would be found to have been part of the produce of one of them. The prisoner, who seemed very depressed in spirits, was then conveyed back to the county gaol. CROYDON. SINGULAR CASE.—Mr. Richard Lacey, a gentleman of fortune, residing at Chelsham, and George Standen, his groom, attended before Messrs. Reid, Adams, Lucas, Sutherland, and Barclay, the presiding magis trates, the latter to answer a charge of having un lawfully shot at and wounded a setter dog, the pro perty of Mr. W. Russell, a farmer at Chelsham, and the former with aiding and abetting his servant to commit the act, for which offence, by an Act of Par liament passel in the 7th and Bth years of the reign of George IV., they had incurred a penalty of 405., besides the value of the dog. Mr. Richards, solicitor, of Croydon, attended to support the complaint. It appeared, from the testimony of several wit nesses, that on Tuesday, the 20th of August, about eight o'clock in the evening, the complainant's setter dog strayed into Mr. Lacey's premises, and he was heard to give instructions to the other defendant to get the gun and shoot him, and directly afterwards the report of a gun was heard, and the animal was seen to run limping w seriously oaunsdl yinjured, it s eventually appeared that he had been very o much so as to render him utterly useless for the present shooting season. a Mr. Russell, in answer to questions from the Bench, said the dog was a very excellent one, and at this period was worth at least 101. Mr. ADAMS inquired whether the animal was at all mischievous, or whether there was any reason for the defendant's attempt to destroy him ? Mr. Russell said he was a remarkably quiet, inoffensive dog, and he could not conceive what motive there could be, except that of mischief; to, destroy him. The defendant, Standen, in answer to the charge, admitted that he shot the dog, and said the reason he did so was because he thought he was a dog who had frequently come howling about the premises at night. Mr. Lacey said the family had been very much an noyed by the dog's noise, and he certainly gave di rections that means should be taken to get rid of him, but he denied, positively, that he told Standen to shoot him. Mr. ADAMS said he supposed he only told him to keep the dog quiet, and he had certainly taken effec • tual means to endeavour to do so.----(A laugh.) The Magistrates, after a short deliberation, ex pressed an opinion that the charge had been made out, and they adjudged Mr. Lacey to pay a fine of 403., with 31., the value of the dog, and 12s. costs. The other defendant, who appeared only to have acted under the orders of his master, they fined 20s. Mr. Lacey said he should not pay the fine. The Bench replied that if he did not, he would be committed for fourteen days. Mr. Lacey said very well, he would go to prison. . In a short time, however, he appeared to think better of it, and he requested the Magistrates to allow the matter to stand over for a few days to give him an opportunity of producing evidence to show that the dog was not so much injured as was represented, and the Bench granted his application, upon the un derstanding that if he failed in doing what he sug gested, the original decision would be enforced. The same defendants were then charged upon another information with having unlawfully killed a terrier dog, the property of Mr. John Brown. It appeared in this case that the dog in question was missed from Mr. Brown's premises on the morn ing of Wednesday week, and the same day it was seen in Mr. Lacey's, caught by the leg in a large rat trap, and shortly afterwards the animal was shot by the defendant Standen, and then buried in the dung hill. A search -warrant was obtained, which was executed by a constable named Tappen ; and on his questioning the defendants, they at first denied all knowledge of the dog, but when he found it in the dung, Mr. Lacey said to Standen, " Never mind, George, don't be afraid, they cannot hurt us." Mr. Lacey, in answer to the complaint, with great earnestness declared upon his word that he knew nothing about the dog being shot, and said he was ready to take his oath of it, if the Bench would allow him. He wished the Magistrates to question his servant, and he said he would clear him. The Magistrates said they had no right to ques tion a defendant, but Standen was at liberty to make any statement he pleased. Standen then, evidently much to the astonishment of Mr. Lacey, said the truth was that his master knew all about it, for that when he told him the dog was in the trap he gave him the gun and told him to shoot it. The Magistrates said they had no doubt that this statement was correct, and they expressed their sur prise that a person in the station of Mr. Lacey should have pledged his word, and have offered to swear to the truth of that which he knew to be false. Mr. Lacy still asserted that he knew nothing about the dog being shot. Mr. ADAMS said he did not believe him, and he thought his conduct had been very disgraceful. The other Magistrates said that they quite con curred in what had been stated by Mr. Adams, and they only regretted that the evidence was not suffi cient to warrant them in convicting him, without the statement of his co-defendant upon which they could not act, and they should certainly in that case have inflicted the full penalty. The information against Mr. Lacey was then dis missed, and the other defendant was fined in the mitigate'. penalty of 20s. CHARGE or ARSON.—A man named John Nay was examined on Saturday, before J. W. Suther land, Esq., and other Justices sitting in Petty Session, upon a charge of having wilfully and ma liciously set fire to and destroyed a stack of hay, at the parish of Sutton, the property of Francis Gosling, Esq., the banker. It appeared that the fire took place about four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and be fore it was got under, upwards of ten loads of hay were entirely consumed. The evidence against the prisoner was that, just before the fire broke out, he was seen by a little boy, named Chapman, sitting upon a gate close to the stack, and on his looking round a minute or two afterwards the prisoner was gone, and he then heard a " whiz," and at the same moment the stack burst into flames. The prisoner was met by a young woman, coming in a direction from the stack, and it appeared that he gave an alarm, and assisted to extinguish the fire. On his being questioned by Mr. Gosling's gardener, he said that he was the first at the fire, and on the gardener telling him that could not be for that the gate was locked, and that he had been obliged to get over it, and fell down in doing so, and that at this time there was no one near the stack, the prisoner re plied, " There you have done me I'll allow—you have beat me there." After a very careful inquiry the Magistrate said there was a very strong case of suspicion, but they did not think the evidence suffi cient to warrent them in committing the prisoner to take his trial. He would therefore be discharged, but they should require him to enter into his own re cognizance to appear on a future occasion to answer any complaint that might be preferred against him. THE INDIA MAILS. ALEXANDRIA, AUGUST 19.—The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Oriental arrived here this morning from Malta and England, with 76 passengers for India, who proceed this evening on their way to Cairo and Suez. Telegraphic intelligence has been received that an English steamer from Bombay arrived at Suez on the 17th instant, in 27 days, with 80 passengers. Should the steamer have arrived at Suez on the morning of the 17th, there is a chance of the mails reaching Alexan• dria in the course of the night or to-morrow morning, in which case the French steamer, which is to leave for Marseilles early to-morrow, will probably defer her de parture until the afternoon, to enable the Indian corres pondence to be forwarJed by this opportunity ; but should the mails not be heard of at all to-morrow, the French steamer must leave before sunset, and the Indian news will reach Europe only by the English steamer, that is, about three days later. AUGUST 20, SEVEN A.M.—lntelligence has been re ceived this morning from Cairo, that it was not the Bombay steamer, but the Bentinek, from Calcutta, that arrived at Suez on the 17th inst. with 86 passengers. It was an error committed by the telegraph in announcing that the Bombay steamer had arrived. The Oriental will consequently be detained four or five days longer before leaving for England. Lord Ellenborough was to leave Calcutta on the 28th of July by the Nemesis, and could not be expected to reach Suez before the end of this month, as the monsoons have been very severe. The Semiramis, from Bombay, had not reached Aden on the 10th, when the Bentinck left, consequently the Bombay mails cannot reach Suez before the 21st or 22d. Captain Kellock, of the Bentinck, has brought rather important news from Aden, where it appears that a strong army of 35,000 Arabs is collecting for the purpose of attacking the place. The mails of the Bentinck have not yet reached Alexandria; the above news has been received by express. The French steamer Caire sails immediately. PORTUGAL. We have received letters from Lisbon to th e 27th ult. Senhor Don Luis Gonzalez Bravo, on being presented to the Queen of Portugal, on the 22d ult., in his capacity of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of her Catholic Majesty at the Court of Lisbon, delivered a speech characteristic enough of the man. There are references in this fulsome address to a desire, on the part of the Spanish sovereign (the modest General Nar vaez), for more extensive relations with Portugal, and to reciprocity of interest between the two countries, which " Providence," through the interpreter of its works and will (Gonzalez Bravo), it is declared, " created sisters." A report Has current, that the Envoy Extraordinary was the bearer of a communication to the Portuguese Ministry, from his own Government, offering to place an army of 40,000 men at the disposal of the Portuguese sovereign, and stating the readiness of the Spanish Government to send the troops into Portugal. It ap pears that the Secretary of the Spanish Legation was dispatched in all haste to Madrid, on the 24th ultimo, two days after the audience of the Spanish Ambassador with her Majesty. The similarity of the characters of Narvaez and Cabral, and the identity of their political views and objects, might prepare people for any event which might give occupation to men of restless minds, reckless of consequences—bold and indiscreet—who have risen to power, in turbulent times, by means of bayonets, and know no other way of maintaining their power ex cept by military force. The dismissals and resignations of persons holding judicial offices continue. The Crown Procurador, or Attorney-General, the first law officer of the Crown, has resigned his office, on the grounds of the illegality of the decree of the Ist of August. The law officer next to him in rank has followed his example. The whole of the Judges of the Relacao of Oporto, it is said, with one exception, have protested against the late measure as a violation of the Constitution. The Marquez de Niza hus also protested against the late decree. The money diffi culties continued on the increase, the civil emplo, 6 s and pensioners of the Government being now nearly three months in arrears, with few exceptions. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN SIIERBORNE.—About eight o'clock on Wednesday night the extensive coach factory of Mr. Hill, on Green-hill, was discovered to be in flames. In less than an hour the factory, with all its contents, was entirely consumed. The dwelling-house was next consumed, and a house on the opposite side, tenanted by Mr. Bustard, a Wesleyan minister, was very much damaged, as were also several tenements in the rear of the factory, belonging to poor families. A por tion of the furniture was removed to the houses opposite. —Sherborne Journal. An inhabitant of St. Denis, who was evidently insane, lately committed suicide in a strange manner. He had for some time employed himself in endeavouring to imitate au egg in pasteboard. He took this egg, fillod it with gunpowder, placed it in his mouth, and then with a match which he had got from his wife, as if to light a cigar, touched the powder, and with the explo sion blew his brains out. NDAY TRAVELLING. Mr. C. Phillips, churchwarden of Margaret Rooth ing, attended at Dunmow to prosecute an information against Messrs. Price and North, the proprietors of the Circus, for tr ave lli ng th roug h t h at par i s h w i th their waggons and p ro p er ti es , on S un d ay, t h e 18th instant. Mr. James Price being present, his case was taken first. The Rev. William Shepherd, the rector, deposed, that on the morning in question, while he was performing Divine service in Leaden Roothing Church, his attention was attracted by a loud rumbling noise, which continued for several minutes, of vehicles passing along, and Enoticed, through the window, a waggon, appearing to be loaded with planks ; on his way home he found, at the King William public-house, five different vehicles, three having on them " Price and North, Riding masters, London ;" one " Thomas Barthrop, of Lon don; and one the name of a brickmaker, from North ampton ; he took the names down and went into the house, begging to be introduced to either Mr. Price or Mr. North. Not finding any person to answer to those names, he asked for the party who had charge of the vehicles, and on his remonstrating with them, one of them attempted to vindicate Sunday travelling, by violent and blasphemous (though not abusive) argument. The horses were feeding, and one ve hicle, apparently the carriage for the individuals, had a great drum behind ; witness afterwards saw two of the vehicles passing through Margaret Roothing, in the evening, loaded with planks. Ryan, police-con stable 88, corroborated Mr. Shepherd's testimony, and said he saw the vehicles, and desired the persons to go away before the after • noon service would commence. They did not, because, as they afterwards said, they did not, wish to go into Chelmsford during the Sunday. The conveyances had two horses abreast; one carried a large drum, musical instruments, and several men ; saw them again at four o'clock, and they went on. By consent of the bench, Mr. Price only attended to answer the charge, as Mr. North was then (two o'clock) present in the pavilion at the commencement of the amusement. Mr. Price pleaded that he could not deny the charge of travelling on the Sunday ; they always endeavoured to avoid it, but in this instance were unable to do so; he had hoped that by putting up at a lone way side inn they should disturb no one ; at the same time he objected to the information, their vehicles being described as waggons, which he respect. fully contended they were not. They paid duty, he said, for the band carriage to the same amount as for a gentleman's carriage. He was not aware of any Act of Parliament b e i ng i n f orce t o p reven t th e i r travel ling on Sund ays , an d h a d never h ear d o f suc h a prose cution before. —Th e b enc h were o f op i n i on t h at t h e vehicles carrying the planks were fully within the meaning of the Act laid in the information as waggons, and they must convi c t. Th e R ev . M r. Sh ep h er d said that this was the first time he had brought a I matter of this kind before the bench, because be had always succ ee d e d i n his object by' persuasion, and remonstrance, and had been enabled thus to uphold the majesty of the l aw . Th a t , he begged to submit, was his only aim, and therefore the most lenient fi ne the justices thought proper to impose he hoped would suffice ; at the same time, in order to show the accused he had no vindictive feeling, he should make no ch arge f or his attendance and expenses incurred i n coming there, and he should withdraw the information against the other defendant, Mr. North.—Mr. Price, on finding that the magistrates were about to decide on a con viction, again urged that their travelling vehicles could not be described as waggons, when the bench ordered the room t o b e c l eare d. On Mr. P. being re-called, the chairman informed him that they had, after mature consideration, determined upon the con viction, and 203. fine, including costs.—Chelmsford Chronicle. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (SATURDAY.) BOW-STREET. The Hon William Ross Touchet was to-day finally brought up and committed to Newgate to await his trial. Mr. Smith is going on as favourably as can be expected. __ MARLBOROUGH-STREET. Two men, named Frederick Ferrett and Robert M'Culloch, were charged with being drunk, and a gentleman residing in Marylebone-street was charged with having indecently assaulted the defendant Fer rett. Ferrett was first placed at the bar. l'olice-constable Drane said, that about half-past one o'clock that morning he saw all the three defend ants in the Haymarket. M'Culloch called to him, and said, that a gentleman had attempted to take inde cent liberties with his friend Ferrett, and Ferrett thereupon made the same accusation. Witnes3 seeing that Ferrett was quite drunk, and that M'Culloch was nearly drunk, refused to take the charge, but told them all to go the station-house and make the charge there. They did so, and the charge was taken against the two first defendants for being drunk, and against the other defendant for the indecent assault. The acting inspector who took the charge proved that Ferrett was drunk, and he was therefore fined five shillings. Robert M'Culloch was next charged with being in liquor. Mr. MALTBY required an explanation of this term, which was, that the defendant was not so drunk as Ferrett. Mr. MALTBY could not entertain the charge in that shape, and therefore dismissed it. _ _ The third defendant was then placed at the bar, charged with indecently assaulting Ferrett. After a very long investigation it appeared that there was no foundation whatever for this charge. Mr. Woolf, who appeared for the defendant, offered to bring proof that the defendant was a person of the highest respectability, but Mr. Maltby said there was no occasion for any such evidence. It was altogether an extremely improbable case, supported by most un satisfactory evidence. Both the defendants making the charge had been drinking, and one of them was quite drunk. M'Culloch knew nothing more than what he had learned from Ferrett as to the assault, and the state in which Ferrett was at the time rendered it impossible to depend on the accuracy of his story ; he should therefore order the defendant to be dismissed immediately. Mr. Woolf said it was the intention of the defend ant, against whom this most unfounded charge had been brought, to prosecute the authors of it. No man's character or honour was safe if such conduct was overlooked. Ferrett and M'Culloch were then ordered to enter into their own sureties to meet any charge brought against them. LAMBETH-STREET. Saul Fitchell, a German Jew, charged with rob bing his employer, Mr. Adolphus Lipman, outfitter, of Pearson-street, Ratcliff-high way, of nine watches, was brought up for re-examination. The police-officer stated he had been unable to dis cover any further facts towards the inculpation of the prisoner. Mr. Lipman, a young man of the same persuasion, and the most benevolent of his order, now solicited the magistrate on his aggressor's behalf. He said that though he had been very ungrateful to him, yet his poverty had not allowed him to withstand tempta tion, and he himself freely forgave him, hoping that a Divine Providence would recompense him and turn the prisoner's heart. He was in a foreign land, and his inability to procure work from this act would more than'punish him. " The poor man," continued Mr. Lipman, " came in poverty and rags to my house for a refuge, and the temptation was too great for him." He said further things in extenuation of his gu but the Magistrate said he regretted he could not at tend to the benevolent dictates of the complainant, but must commit him for trial. lIMON-HALL. Owen Bryan and John Caffery, the former beaten very much about the head and face, and the latter with his clothes covered with mud, were brought be fore Mr. Cottingham charged with two other men, not in custody, with a very daring attack on two gentlemen named Joseph Clarkson and Benjamin Palmer, and robbing the latter of a sovereign and some silver, on Kennington-common. From the joint statements of the complainants it appeared that they resided at Camberwell, and that, as they were returning home that morning about one o'clock, when they arrived near the vitriol works on Kennington-common, they saw the two prisoners and two other men (not in custody) standing together near the stile which leads in the direction of Camber well. The moment the complainants arrived at the stile they were attacked by the four men ; Mr. Clark son received a blow which knocked him into the ditch, upon seeing which Mr. Palmer ran to his assistance, and struck his assailant (Caffery), and he reeled into the same ditch into which he had previously thrown Mr. Clarkson, who, having recovered himself, in return attacked the three other assailants, and he and his friend Mr. Palmer fought them until nearly the whole of their clothes were torn off their backs, during which one of the ruffians called out, " That - (meaning Mr. Palmer) has money in his pocket," and at the same moment a snatch was made at his pocket, and a sovereign and some silver stolen. During the conflict two of the assailants ran away, and policeman, 94 L, hearing shouts for help, hastened to the spot and secured the two prisoners, one of whom (Caffery) lay sprawling in a deep and muddy ditch adjacent to the place where the affray commenced, and it was with some difficulty he was extricated from the situation in which he was placed. The complainants produced their hats and waistcoats, which were torn to pieces, to show the violence with which they were attacked ; and they added that the two prisoners were engaged in the attack upon them, which they had no doubt was done for the purpose of robbing them. _ _ _ Policeman, 94 L, stated that, hearing cries for help, he hastened to the spot, and found they proceeded from Caffery, who was lying in the ditch nearly smothered in mud. The complainants were close to the spot, as also Bryan, the other prisoner, and the former related the manner in which they had been at tacked. Having extricated Caffery from the ditch, the policeman then took him and the other prisoner to thestation-house, where the complainants gave an ac count similar to that which they had given before the magistrate. The policeman added that the other two men escaped before he had time to get to the place where the outrage was committed. Bryan, although cautioned by the Magistrate as to the statement he made in answer to the charge, said that he had been out with his fellow-prisoner and another man, and that as they were passing the common they were met by the two complainants and another gentleman ; that one of the gentlemen shoved up against him (Bryan), and, on asking what he did it for, the answer was a blow, which he returned, and this led to a scuffle, in which the parties on both sides joined, and during which they (the prisoners) were beaten very much, as their appearance now testified. He added that neither he nor his com panions had any intention of robbing the com plainants, and that he earned his bread by hard labour, that of a porter in Newgate M ar k e t. Caffery gave a similar account of the transaction, and, exhibiting his clothes to view, said that for taking the part of Bryan when he was struck, he was knocked into the ditch and nearly smothered in mud. Mr. COTTINGITAM, said that as the charge was not ripe for committal on that day, inasmuch as the other two men engaged in the outrage were not in custody, he should remand the prisoners until Wednesday. Peter 111' Walter, a fashionably-dressed young Irish man, was brought up on remand from Wednesday last, charged with robbing public-houses and taverns in this district, and also at the west end of the town. The Court was thronged with parties who had been plundered, as well as by a numerous auditory anxious to hear the examination. The following additional evidence was adduced : Mr. Thomas Dobson stated that he lodged at Perry's Coffee-house, Seymour-street, Euston-square, and that on last Tuesday week the prisoner came to that house with a carpet bag in hit; hand, and stated that he had just arrived by the train from Manchester. He engaged a bed, and witness left home early next morning, and when he returned at night he found his room had been entered in his absence, that his trunk had been forced open, and plundered of five sovereigns, a silver watch, with a gold chain, a chesterfield coat, and two silk handkerchiefs. Upon inquiry, it was found the prisoner had decamped the same morning, soon after the departure of witness from the house. The witness here identified the coat worn by the pri soner as his property, and he was compelled to " doff' it, which he was very unwilling to do, while at the bar. The head-waiter at the Gloucester Coffee-house, in Piccadilly, stated that a well-dressed yuong man hired a bed there, and when all the inmates had retired to rest, he went into the rooms of several gentlemen who were sleeping there, and succeeded in robbing them of their purses, containing the sum of 141., a gold watch, and other articles, with which he got clear off. The witness added, that the prisoner resembled the thief, but he would not undertake to swear positively to his person _ _ _ - Cotterell stated, that information had appeared in the Hue and Cry of six different robberies of public houses at Manchester by a man, answering the de scription of the prisoner, with a carpet bag. GRAVESEND. On Friday, on the county M ag i s t ra t es , M essrs . Oakes, Tickner, and Spencer, presiding at the Town hall, High-street, for the purpose of disposing of persons under arrest, th e f o ll ow i ng c h arge was en t ere d upon against a Mr. Willi am S m i t h, a gent l eman , but who, in reality, is th e sc i on o f a no bl e f am ily, and holds a lieutenantcy in one of the regiments stationed at Chatham, and wh o , on th e presen t occas ion, assumed a fictitious name, for conductingi himself in a most mischievous and wanton manner. The prisoner not being in custody of the police to meet the charge, Mr. OAKES informed his brother Magistrates that he had been waited upon early th a t morning by the friends of th e unfortunate young gentleman, in the hope that he might be liberated, as he had to mount guard at an early hour on that day, and if he was not in attendance , th e consequences m i g ht prove most serious to him. H e , th ere f ore, consu lt e d w ith the police as to the offence the prisoner had committed, and finding that it was one of those foolish boyish freaks, he all owe d hi m to b e set at l arge , so that he might go on d u t y . Th ey, t h ere f ore , wou ld adjudi cate upon the case in the absence of the accused. Mr. TicKNEß—But where is the bail-book ? Was there no security given for a man's liberation from the custody of the police ? Mr. OAKES (very low)—No, no ; the police are sa tisfied. Nowlet us hear the evidence. John Newing, police-constable 10, stated, that be tween twelve and one he saw four young gentlemen walking up Harmer-street in rather a noisy and lively style, and presently he noticed the accused kick his heel against one of the Star steam-packet boards, placed against the rails in the crescent at the top of the street, and broke it in pieces. He then in quired of him for what reason he had so wilfullyda maged the board. N o sa ti s f ac t o ry reply was given and he then felt bound to take him into custody, there having been numerous complaints respecting the breakage of the several steam companies' boards. Mr. OAKES—WeII, we fine the accused ss. for the offence, and if the officer will go down to the Falcon Tavern and present my com pliments to Mr.. Frei,* stating the amount of th e fi ne , it will be d. The officer acted according to his directions, and in a few minutes returned with the silver. THE Pooß MAN'S Law.—A poor donkey-driver was charged with driving his ass without a badge empowering him to do so. Mr. OAKES observed that if the laws were made they must be attended to, and the least they could fine the prisoner was the amount of expenses he had incurred, viz., 7s. 6d., V 1 hich the poor fellow reluctantly paid out of his hard-got earnings, and was then allowed to depart. HAMBURGH MAIL. THE HAGUE, AUG. 28.—The Portafoglio Maltese of the 14th instant announces that the Netherlands frigate the Rhine and the Jason, under the command of his Royal Highness Prince Henry, arrived at Malta on the 13th, from Tunis. It is said they were to go to the Levant. Bois LE Duc, AUG. 29.—Though the river has continued to rise up to this time, the accounts from other places announce a fall, and we hope the dikes on one side of the city will not be broken through or overflowed. Thanks to the officers of the Polders, who, by constant and persevering efforts, by vast num bers of workmen, great expenses, and personal exer tions, have hitherto prevented the water from doing any damage. The water is 77 i nc h es a b ove th e wa t er mark in the dikes of the river Dieze. The damage would be incalculable if there should be a breach in these dikes. ROTTERDAM.—The New Rotterdam Courant has the following article : " A respectable commercial house has communi cated the following account, dated Alexandria, the 6th of August : " Since Mehemet Ali is at Cairo, his Highness seems to he more calm, and no longer talks of abdicat ing, or of going to Mecca. Public tranquillity has not been for a moment interrupted. We subjoin the note addressed by the Consuls of the five great Powers, to Artim Bey, the chief ~.Minister of the Viceroy, and his answer to it. " ALEXANDRIA, JULY 27, 1844.—T0 his Excellency Artim Bey, Minister of his Highness Viceroy of Egypt. " His Highness, Mehemet Ali, having suddenly gone to Cairo, and publicly declared that he intended immediately to set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca, we regret having been deprived of the satisfaction of personally paying our compliments to him, and re quest your Excellency to convey to his Highness the expression of our respectful esteem for his person. "We doubt not that his llighness, before he left Alexandria, had taken all necessary measures for the maintenance of public tranquility in this city, where the safety and interest of our countrymen may be endangered by the least irregularity; and we hope that his Highness, before his departure from Cairo, will acquaint us, either directly or through your Excellency, with the measures which he takes for the government of the country during his absence. (Signed) " LAURIN, for Austria. LAVULLETTO, for France. STODDART, Great Britain. WAGNER, Prussia. SAM, Russia." Answer of Artim Bey to the Consuls of the Five Powers at Alexandria : "August 2, 1844. " Said Pacha has arrived from Cairo. The Viceroy having seen the joint note of the Consuls-General, said, ' Return immediately to Alexandria, and tell Artim Bey to make the Consuls-General easy with respect to the tranquillity of the country ; remain yourself at Alexandria, while Ibrahim Pacha shall send to Cairo, where I shall hold a council; th e matters to be discussed there relate to the internal administration of the country, and must be con sidered by me and my servalts. If Igo to 111e,.ca I shall take such measures as circumstances require, and they shall be immediately communicated to the Consuls-General. iNly health does not permit me to receive them, and I request them to remain at Alexandria.' " NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. I.—Yesterday morning the Earl of Haddington left the Admiralty-house, and proceeded to the Royal Naval College, to hold his adjourned levee, when the following officers, whose names were on the list yesterday, were received : Captains—Strong and P. J. Douglas. Commanders—Haynes, W. M. N. Douglas, Roche, C. A. Johnston, and T. H. Mason. Lieutenants—Hon. T. A. Pakenham and W. Welsh. Royal Marines—Colonel—M'Cullum. Major—Moore. Captain—Calamy. On the return of their Lordships from- the Colling wood (after dining on board with Sir G. Seymour) to the dockyard on Friday evening, at about ten o'clock, some blue lights, the invention of Captain Stevens, were lighted opposite the Admiralty-house, which gave great satisfaction to all who witnessed the brilliant illumina tion. Their Lordships expressed themselves much pleased with them. They burned eight minutes. Yes terday morning, whilst the Earl of Haddington held his levee, the Hon. H. T. L. Corry, and the Hon. Sidney Herbert, First Secretary to the Board, proceeded round the dockyard for a general view, after which they em barked in the Fanny, the yacht of the Commander-in- Chief, Sir C. Rowley, and proceeded westward. Sir G. Cockburn took his departure by the half-past ten o'clock train yestereay morning. After the levee the Earl of Haddington went out for a short cruise in the Black Eagle, for the benefit of his health, and dined in the evening with Lord Ashburton, at Anglesea. This even ing, we believe, his Lordship will dine with the Right Hon. J. W. Croker, and return to town in time to attend the Cabinet Council, summoned for one o'clock. There are no orders issued for commissioning any ships at this port. Many are being masted, and otherwise ad vanced in a forward state ; but this, we believe, is merely to keep employed the newly entered riggers. The Collingwood, 80, Captain Smart, will, it is re ported, be detained at Spithead for the inspection of her Majesty. The Penelope, 22, steam-frigate, Commodore Jones, arrived at Ascension on the sth July, from St. Helena, whither she had towed the Tortoise store and guardship for a supply of water. The Tortoise was expected to arrive two days after the Penelope, which was expecting and awaiting the arrival of the Ferret sloop, 6, Com mander J. Oake, when she would proceed to Prince's Island for a further supply of water. The Wasp, 16, Commander S. H. Usher, arrived at Ascension, from Bermuda, on the 2d July. When our letters left she was undergoing refit prior to cruising on the coast. The Growler, 6, steam-sloop, Commander, C. Buckle, which left Rio on the 13th June, arrived at Ascension on the 4th of July, to assiit in the suppression of the slave trade. Oa the same day (4th of July) the Star, 6, Commander It. J. W. Dunlop, arrived at Ascension to underg3 refit prior to assisting in the suppression of the slave trade on the south coast. Her officers and crew had suffered much from fever. The Cornwallis, 72, Captain Richards, flag of Vice- Admiral Sir W. Parker, G.C.8., is daily looked for at Spithead, from the East Indies, to be paid off. The Emerald returned from cruising off the Sussex coast on Friday. The royal yacht, Captain Lord A. Fitzclarence, is in every respect ready for the reception of her Majesty. In Harbour—The Victory, Victoria and Albert, Queen, Excellent, Nautilus, Raven, and steam-vessels Black Eagle, Fearless, Echo, and Comet. In Dock—Vindictive, Prince Regent, Scourge, Athol, and Dwarf steamer. At Spithead—The Collingwood. DEVONPORT, AUG. 30.—The Clio, 16, Commander Fitzjames, has arrived in the Sound from the East In dies to be paid off. She has been upwards of five years in commission, during h hich time she has had three commanders. _ _ Semiramis, an old 44, built about forty years, is ordered to be broken up at this dockyard. The Vanguard, 80, advance-ship, sister to the Colling wood, is masted and ready for commission. The Royal Adelaide, 104, advance-ship, is alongside the jetty for masting, after having her copper examined and cleaned. The San Josef, 110, Captain 11. M. Dickson, flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Pym, K.C.8., was paid wages to six months on Tuesday. The Superb, 80, was masted yesterday, and is ready for commission. The Amethyst, 26.—An extra number of hands have been put upon this vessel to expedite her launching, her • slip being wanted on w hi c h to l ay d own the timbers of the Avenger, first class steam-frigate. The Stromboli, steam sloop, Commander the lion. E. Plunkett, is ordered to the Mediterranean station. Mr. Richard Way, leader of shipwrights, is appointed inspector, vice Cooper, deceased ; and M r . J o h n Walker, shipwright, to be leader, vice Way, p romoted. An order has been received to enter 15 hired ship wrights at this yard, for service at Deptford ; 20s. each man will be allovved for travelling expenses. Since the order has arrived to enter men for " general service" very few have offered. The genuine " Jack " will not enter for general service as long as he can help it. He prefers to choose his own craft and his own cap tain ; and this he will do, unless driven to the alterna tive by sheer necessity. Mr. P. C. Beattie, engineer of this port, is appointed to the Tortoise store-ship at Ascension, to superintend the repair of her Majesty's steam-vessels on the coast of Africa. In Harbour—San Josef, Confiance, and Stromboli. In the Sound---St. Vincent, flag-ship pro tem. SHEERNESS, Aus. 30.—The Vernon, 50, is being brought forward for commission. The Achille, 76, was masted on Wednesday, and the Asia, 84, was taken into the basin for the seine purpose yesterday. The Waterloo, 120, the Monarch, 84, and the London, 92, are also to be masted. The Vulture steam-sloop, is still in the basin. She has been ready for the pendant some time. The Alarm frigate, 26, will be pushed forward for launching this year. The Amazon, razee, 24, is ready for the pendant in the basin. Several officers of long standing, and high on the list in the service, are already named as lik e ly t o suc ceed to the command of the ordinary and superinten dence of the dockyard at this port, vacant by the sud den death of Captain Peter Fisher, but we decline giving their names, from motives that they cannot Out appreciate. The Ocean, 80.—Mr. Joseph Reed, gunner of this ship, died suddenly in an spopleet:e fit on Sunday last. In Harbour—The Ocean, flag ship pro tem., and Aid mine steamer. In the Basin—The Vulture, the Asia, the Crocodile, and the Amazon. In Deck—The Vernon, the Monarch, the Herald, and • the Beagle. PnomonoNs. Commander—T. Gallaway. to be retired Captain. Lieutenants—H. C. Otter, J. B. Marsh, J. Sankey, G. Wodellouse, G. M. Hunter, and P. H. Dyke, to the rank of Commander. Mates—C. Sullivan, W. Mooney, T. Cochrrn, J. C. Bailey, H. de Lisle, T. Miller, and J. B. Rice, to be Lieutenants. APPOINTMENTS. Captain—Richard Arthur (1810), to the Victory, with the charge of the Portsmouth ordinary, vice Henderson, period of service expired. Commander—W. G. B. Estcourt, to the Eclair steam sloop; Edward Barnett, to the Thunder. Lieutenants—P. A. Halkett, to the Eclair; C. Sulli van, additional, to the Formidable; W. Mooney, to the Thunder; H. Ainslie, to the Stromboli; T. B. Christo pher, to the Excellent; F. B. P. Seymour, to be Flag of Rear-Admiral Sir George Seymour. Collingwood ; Wil liam Peel, to the Thalia; S. B. Dolling, to be Agent for Mails; T. Belgrave, to the Eclair, from the Excellent; 11. G. Austen, to the Excellent. Mate—H. West, to the Excellent. Masters—H. D. Burney, to the Eclair; J. Scott (act ing), to the Thunder. Surgeons—J. Ferrier, to the Thunder; A. C. Macle roy, to be Surgeon-Superintendent of the Phoebe con vict ship. Chaplain—Rev. J. W. Dickson, to the Inconstant, from the Madagascar. Paymasters and Pursers—T. R. Hallett, to the Eclair; S. Wadland, to the Excellent; W. H. Dutton, to the Thunder. Assistant-Surgeons—F. M. Rayner, to the Thunder C. M‘Shane (additional acting), to the St. Vincent. Master's Assistant—J. Govan, to the Excellent. Clerks—C. Mills, to the Eclair: T. W. Gottlieb, of Devonport, to be Chief Clerk of Chatham Dockyard, vice Hart, superannuated; W. Thompson, of Woolwich, to the first class at Devonport, vice Gottlieb, promoted; W. Woods, of the third class at Chatham, to the second class at Woolwich, vice Thompson, promoted; Mr. W. Binstead (acting), in the Director of Works department at Chatham, to be Foreman of Joiners at Chatham. Salary 180, 1 . per annum. Midshipmen—F. W. Gough and A. C. Birtwhistle, to the Excellent. Gunner—W. Huish, to the Eclair. Boatswain—J. Warren, to the Eclair. Carpenter—E. Crowther, to the Eclair. COLT'S BATTERY and WARNER'S SHELL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—In writing my forthcoming volume, con taining the " Life and History of President Har rison, I have had occasion to allude to the treaty of Washington, wherein the free navigation of the St. John's river is given to the United States. I endea vour to prove that the English possess the advantage in the treaty, for they would blockade the mouth of the River in time of war, and capture all the vessels of the enemy. I then wrote this sentence :—" Nor could the Americans prevent it by a defence of the mouth of the river, by a submarine battery of tor pedoes—for the entrance of the river is from British waters, and consequently under the absolute control cf the English." Upon writing the above, I appended this note, viz. : —" Having made allusion to a submarine battery of torpedoes, for river defence, I take this occasion to state, that the first idea of employing the same species of defence for harbours, port-channels, and anchor ages, as far as I know, originated with myself, while on a visit in Connecticut, United States." The idea arose as follows, viz. :—I visited in 1832 the Indian graves and mounds in furtherance of my " History of Ancient America ;" and near the ruins of Fort Griswald, at the month of the River Thames (Connecticut), the position was pointed out to me of the t3ritish fleet, while blockading the harbour of New London, and consequently keeping Commodore De catur with his few vessels from leaving the river. Decatur was resolved to break through his naval im prisonment, and as he could not do it by an equal force to oppose the British fleet, he had recourse to the stratagem of torpedoes, which were so arranged as to float down the river by the return tide ; and having large arms attached, would embrace, as it were, any object within its reach, and by its contact and contu sion, would ignite the powder, and blow to atoms the vessel so approached. This stratagem had its effect, and Decatur made his escape, the British men-of war having left the harbour's mouth, to avoid the ter rible agency employed by the American Commodore. When this circumstance was related to me in 1832, I instantly conceived the defence of harbours, port channels, and rivers, and simply by reversing the order of the arrangement, via., the torpedoes to be stationary, and the men of war to float onwards, as the latter must do to enter rivers or harbours. And in addition to gunpowder the more powerful chemicals of modern invention should form the torpedoes ; and having these batteries sunk in the channel of entrance, and by the galvanic wires from any distance, and at any time, ignite the submarine combustibles. Thus, from the hundreds of torpedoes that could be sunk, and in every direction, and invisible to an enemy, n o naval commander would be so insane as to hazard his ship, and the hundred of human lives on board, by even the attempt to cross such a rubicon ; for the ex ploding party at the galvanic wires, however distant, yet within sight of the men of war, would watch the locality of the vessels, and ignite those torpedoes only that would be effective upon the different vessels as they would be opposite certain lines or points of ob servation. An anchorage could be defended in the same man ner ; for instance :—the Prince de Joinville com menced the bombardment of Tangiers with only five and half feet of water beneath the keel of his ship. Now, had submarine torpedoes been sunk in that an chorage, and ignited by the galvanic power, an in stant destruction of the gallant Admiral's ship would have been the consequence ; but, even without tor pedoes being placed there, yet the belief that they were there, the commander would not come within bombarding distance. A safe result to a city would obtain from even that belief by the invading naval commander. After I had written the above, and read it to a friend, he called my attention to the Athenceuna of August 17, wherein allusion is made, and description given, of Colt's Submarine B a tt ery , as ex hibi te d in New York Harbour ; beg to answer that account by the following statement, viz.: In 1837, I visited Hartford, Connecticut, and was introduced to Mr. Samuel Colt and friends. Mr. Colt showed and explained to me his newly-invented ten-chamber rifle, which ha; been so successfully used in Indian warfare, by causing almost instant treaties of peace with the Leminole Aborigines. It was at this time (1837), and as a return courtesy, that I un folded to Mr. Colt my own invention for the defence of harbours, rivers, &c. He seemed much struck with the idea, and especially in regard to the means of ignition, and from any distance. This was in 1837. I made my arrangement in 1832, five years pre viously. Upon my present visit to my native land in 1841, I mentioned it in London, in confidence, to two scientic gentleman. In 1842, Mr. Colt made the experiment in New York harbour, exactly as I un folded the manner to him. He was most successful, and in the presence of naval commissioners and Adjutant General Jones blew a large ship to atoms, and while floating into the harbour. So per fect was the destruction, that the harbour was not clogged, but the fragments of the ship floated into the port with the tide, as, also, the remains of the wooden frame of the torpedo. I do not charge Mr. Colt with any breach of confi dence; my secret was given in courtesy, and I re joice in his prosperity. He might eventually from his own brain have made that discovery which I thus claim, in the most unqualified manner, to be my own. In 1840, I received from a naval officer an account of the destructive qualities of the Paixhan shell-shot —that one was sufficient to sink a frigate. Within a short period, I made a defence against the terrible effects of that projectile, and also a defence against injury to the masts of a ship in ac tion, either from round or chain-shot. This I unfolded to a naval officer, in confidence, for his opinion of the practicability of my defence. His answer was in the affirmative—" That the vessel would be saved." I have, therefore, taken the legal proceedings to secure by letters patent my right to the above defences. Having, therefore, found means to defend a ship against the Paixhan shell-shot, I have no hesitation in declaring my belief that I can defend " the line-of battle ship" against the destructive effects of Captain Warner's " projectile," be it " five," or only one mile off. This counter-challenge is given in the belief that his destructive missile is an horizontal projectile. If the projectile, and the power of its propulsion, are worth 300,0001., the prevention of the effects of the former surely is worth twice as much. As an Englishman, however, I should be happy to know that I could prevent the loss of human life, and should feel honoured (should the occasion call it forth) in being permitted to present gratuitously to my country the secret of my defence.—l have the honour to be, Sir, yours truly, GEORGE JONES. British and Foreign Institute, Aug. 27, 1844. DICTIONAIRE NATIONAL FRANCAIS.—The num bers which have already issued of this critical dicvottary of the French lane,nage are sufficient to found uom them the judgment that, when completed, it will town not only a most valuable work, a, comprising ELI the new and acknowledged words lately introduced into the French tongue, but a repertory of the critical and analytical notes of all the other most esteemed dictionaries. M. Bescherelle, Aine, the author, has evidently bestowed on it great e labour and attention, as well at , talent ; and his M a j esty the King of the French never , howed gr t t t er j ug d. nen than when he took this gr 4 at national lit erary work under his immediate patronage. The publi,thers, Al Simon, Rue des Fosses du Temple a Paris, and Messrs. L. and A. Ber and Co., Of Blenhehn-street, in this city. have every reason to he satisfied with the success of thi. undertaking. AGRICULTURE. PRICES AT HOME AND ABROAD. (From the League) • We observe that Mr. Baker, of Essex, and the other leaders of the protectionist party, are claiming the support of the farmers on a nove l ground, "It is true,' say they, " that we cannot guarantee y 9ll (the tenant-farmers) 565. a quarter for your corn true that the price for Huntingdonshire averaged only 435. 6d. a quarter last week, in spite of the forty editions of Mr. Game Day's pamphlet, whilst Essex, Kent, and Oxfordshire, fared but little better ; all this is true, but what would the prices have sunk to j had there been no corn-law ? Are not the foreigners actually paying the 18s. duty, and still competing { with the English grower?" This is the argument which is now industriously put forth by the farmers friends, and which we call upon the free traders everywhere to prepare themselves to answer. It is true that a certain portion of the foreign corn in bond has b:en entered for consumption at a duty of 18s., and even 19s. per quarter. It is equally true that many thousands of quarters were in one year taken out of bond and thrown into th river. In both cases the object was the same ; to escape the risk of greater loss from keeping the wheat in the bonded warehouse without the prospect of a sale. And it would be just as fair to assert that it is profitable for the foreigner to send his corn here to be cast into the Thames, because such a transaction has occurred, as to allege that wheat can be sent from abroad to pay 18s. a quarter duty, because cer tain individuals liberated their grain from bond at that rate last week. It is a well-known fact that the foreign corn so imported has brought heavy losses upon its owners. It is notorious that it is not pro fitable to bring wheat from abroad to pay 18s. duty. If any man be bold enough to assert the contrary, let him try the experiment. The point to which we would direct the attention of the farmers at the present moment is this: there are two descriptions of prices for foreign corn, the real and the nominal price. The real price is that at which the foreigners supply us when we are al lowed by our law to buy from them for our consume' tion. When corn is lying in bond, with our sliding scale up at a prohibitive point, and no prospect of e market, then the prices are merely nominal. The question frequently asked, under such circumstances , by the unfortunate holder is, " how much had I better consent to lose, to escape the risk of still heavier sacrifices ?" It is undoubtedly of importance to the farmer to ascertain what the real price of foreign wheat would be under a free trade. It is of no consequence to him what the nominal price now is, because corn never enters regularly, and in large quantities, into consumption at the nominal price. We are able, by referring to the Parliamentary returns of the prices of wheat at Dantzic and in England, during I t period of continuous importation for consumption ill this country, to form a fair estimate of the price which foreign corn can be regularly purchased. In the return ordered by the House of Commons , 3d May, 1841, we are furnished with the weekly prices of wheat at Dantzic, and in England, for a series of years, embracing periods of high and low prices. We will first give the prices during fou r cheap years, when the duty, under the oil law, wa s prohibitory :- Price per Imp. qr. English Gazet te at Dantzic. price, same time. 1835, Ist week in Jan. 19s. Od. to 295. Od. 395. 21' 1836, - -17 s. 10d. to 2.: e. I Id. 355. 44 ; 1837, - - 275. 4d. to 40s. Od. 575. 2T 1838, - -20 s. I Id. to 275. 3d. 50s. 9a• During the above period the duty ranged from 28 5 . to 50s. a quarter, and precluded any regular or pro' fitable importation for consumption. Whatever pa' chases were made were speculative, for the purP ese d of storing up with the view to a deficient harvest, en with the risk of loss fur warehousing and other' er penses. It will be seen that, in the first week of Januar!' 1838, the price of wheat at Dantzic ranged from V s ' 11d. to 275. 3d.; but as the English Gazette price for the same time was 50s. 9d., and the duty on foreign corn 355. a quarter, the price at Dantzic was merely nominal, so far as England was concerned. But w e now come to a period of real prices. In the summ er of this same year, 1838, alarm began to be felt for,. the English harvest. The consequence was tha t prices rose here, and the following extract from th e same Parliamentary return will show how instance' neously the Dantzic market felt the effects of An ef fective demand from England :- Price per Impl. qr. English Gam at Dantzic. price, same ti e• 1838, Ist week July, 345. 10d. to 43 e . Id. ... 655. 11d - - Aug. 375. 2d. to 455. I Id. 673. J O' - -- Sept. 495. 6d. to 51s. 4d. 68s. uw - - Oct. 40s. Bd. to 49 5 . 7d. 625. 9 t - - No,. 475. 10d. t o 58 s . Od. 675. 3 - - Dec. 495. 2d. to 635. 3d. ... 735. 2 c l i In the interval between January a nd December o f 1838, the prices of wheat in Dantzic was more the; doubled, in consequence of the demand for actual consumption in England. In the three years, during which this demand continued, the following quanti' ties of wheat were imported from Prussia, of which Dantzic is the principal port :- Wheat imported from Prussia. 1838 1839 1840 800,508 „ The same Parliamentary return from which W e have already quoted, gives the prices per quarter for every week during the whole o f thi s period. 311. ; Baker and the other "f armers ' f r i en d s " ar e fond of asserting that they could, on ce u p on a ti m e, impor t foreign wheat at 255. a quar t er, f orge tti n g to aucr. that it would have been a specu l a ti on for th e bonded warehouse, with a chance of having to throw the purchase, or so muc h o f i t as escape d the rat s i into the river, t o avo id th e payment o f duty. B% we recommend Mr. B a k er an d hi s inon opolis patron, Lord Ashburton, who, to his shame, has con' descended to like fallacies, t o s t u d y th e price° .° foreign wheat during the ab ove th ree years o f contv nuous demand for consumption in England, and thef t 4 will find that, d ur i ng a ll th a t per i o d, th e price ; wheat at Dantzic averaged more th an 40 5 ., and "n. price at which it sold in England al ongs ide the Bna fish grain was upwards qf 60s. With the present abundant harvest in England, an e, a the duty fixed at 20 s . f or p er h a p s a y ea r to c° 331 0 1 the prices of Wheat at Dantzic will become nogo n , again, and may sink probably to 20s. or 2.55. a ( 1 11 ,. 3 , ter. But we hope the farmers, who will be .ell ol their wheat at 405., and paying rent s a t 56 5 ., will n 4 suffer Mr. Baker to divert them from the true sol o by his solemn predictions of what the price migh t without a corn-law. SIR HUDSON Lowz.—The will and codicils of the' late (Sir Hudson Lowe, G overnor o f St. H e lena O i l the Emperor Napoleon was th ere , h ave b een just pro ve in Doctors' Comm o n s , by Ed war d Willi am Deland Lowe, Esq., one of the childr e n of th e deceased:, th e l other executor, Sir Thomas R ea d e , h av ing decil n proving. The will is dated in 1816, and contains ce legacy of public i n t e r es t, i nasmuc h as the whole of 11 2 0 property is left to his wife and children ; but to th e second codicil, which is in the deceased's handwriting, the following remarkable passage occurs trust wife will apply to the King for a pension (which I 1 : - st led to expect) of not less th a n 1,500 Z a year, and that t° her death a pension of half that amount be granted es my children. I also wish her to apply for the exP en c ii of my outfit to St. Helena, abo u t 2,000 L" This codibe is dated from an hotel in Paris in the year 1824. personal property has been swern under 3,000Z_.0000 BITHS. es At Boones-place, Plymo ut h, Ov of the lady of Captain of # Frederick Havelock, of her Majesty's 53d Regimen t ' daughter. On the 24th ult., at Paris, the Marquise de la Beli naY a son. ins" On OiS- On the 26th ult., the wife of Alexander Allan, wick-terrace, Hackney road, of a son. PO' On the 28th ult., at Heath-lane Lodge, Twickenharb N. Ogle, of a daughter. lady o On the 28th ult., at Wing Rectory, Rutland, tbeti'celo- Major H. M. Graves, 16th Regiment of Bengal Na fantry, of a son, still-born. Charles Car" On the 29th ult., at Brighton, the lady of penter, Esq., of a son. of Ted" On the 29th ult., the lady of W. A. Venom', 4' dington House, Middlesex, of a daughter. ED.RI . Bets On the 31st ult., at St. Dl MARartin'-the-Fields, brth. T. F. Stookey, Adam Bittleston, Esq., of the Inner 1, 1 1, 0 05 - Rebecca Ann, eldest daughter of Mr. G. H. Heppe' , street, in the City of London. DIED. On the 27th ult., Edward Jones, Esq., Mosely-street, mingham, aged 66. of On t t l a ie te 2 3 7 i tl o i se u s lt i , v A e l s r t s ;a Sar ed a 9 h o l . Vest, of Berners-street, r elict On the 28th ult., at Gre g enhite, Kent, Lieut,ll3". Samuel Dales, K. 11., aged 84. On the 30th ult., Ann, the wife of Mr. W. C. Crole. At Erith, Kent, James Page, sen., Esq., age JIONTHLY MILITARY OBITUARL Lieutenant-General—Lord Keane, G.C.8., of 43 F. Lieutenant-Colonel—J. A. M. Skerret, local rank-, s - ef f- Majors—Chuden, h.p. 7 Line Batt. Ger. Leg.; %•'• j p V. port, E. I. Comp. Serv. ; J. J. Anderson, K.H., late Knight of Windsor. Captains—Eliot, 4 Drag. Guards ; Evatt, 62 F.; """. Adj. to Glamorgan Mil. h.p. 77 F.; Travers, Recruitingb E. I. Comp. Cork; Logan, late 9 R. Vet. Batt. A • 31`Gie' 12'9' * R. Mar. ;De Schade, h.p. A r t. Ger. Leg. ; ppuhtlf Eng. do. rid; l i cs e e n s t t e ei n na a re n , ts 4-9 8att. 111 , 0 6 ei e lg, r b y . r , ; d l Ag 3 lee F , x ., h. on passae to Englan d h.p. Cart, h p. 84 F.. and Barrack Maste;BP;troN6woen;kcila;spitile,432lllretall.b;erild" J. Crowe, uteri 2 Garr. Batt. ; De Furer, h.p.l-10" Second Lints, Cornet, and Ensigns—Vizar d, 15 wr. ears ; Edwards, 94 F. ; Waite (Adj.), 94 F. ' - Whelan,2 I. Reg. ; Colley, Coy'. Rif. Reg. ; Currie, h.p. 60 F. Paymasters—Daniell, 55 F., on passage fro m China; iliac. beath, Edinburgh detach. Quarterinaster—Gallie, late 9 R. Vet. Batt. Surgeon—Goodrich, 6 F. h.p C .rD in e l p i 7 a As ri s a i t s ' CePoarm.tiGmenut.—J.DGeiPliesCpuien,Lh.Gpen. 'W. Laid London: Printed and Published by MURDO 112, i Strand, Priater, at The Su* Office. N''. 111: Strand, n the Preein , t of the Savoy, in the County Middlesex, Monday, September 2,1544 ' '; li