The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

ICATIONAL MERCANTILE ASSUR ANCE SOCIETY. The Directors, members, and friends of the la;a lianal Mercantile Assurance Society, dined together y s Yesterd evening at the London Tavern, Bishops irlte-street, Robert Wileoxon, Esq., presiding. The objects of this Society, which is largely and liberally supported by eminent mercantile men, and The great body of mercantile travellers, are too well kn °wn to require description—it is a life assurance 4 ee, which is rapidly extending its business and co nnexion. The respected Chairman was supported by 111 r. Redrnayne and Mr. Baker ; the Vice-Presi tnta were M r . St o k es an d M r . APCulloch. Am ong Pell gentlem en p resen t were M r. G . M oore, 111 r. ik att, Mr. Baker, jun., Mr. Baden, Mr. Newbon, ~4 r. Evans, Mr. B an k ar t, M r . M orse , M r . W a l s h , " I r• Stockdale, &c., &c. An excellent dinner was provided by Messrs. Bathe and Breach, whose ar• r angements for the comfort of the guests were unex ceptionable ; the wines were also of first-rate quality. On the removal of the cloth, Non Nobis was admi -111)11' Sung by th e p ro f ess i ona l gen tl emen engage d f or m_ - 4e occasion. The CHA IRMAN gave as th e fi rs t t oas t, th e " H ea l t h ' 3 ' her Majesty the Queen," which was drank with all the honours. ' A ir--" God Save the Queen." ti tl The ~. CHAI RMAN g ave a s th e secon d t oas t, th e ealth of his Royal Highness Prince Albert." Air...." Here's a health to the Prince and the Queen." Th e .1 Health of the Queen Dowager," in giving Which the Chairman passed a high eulogium on the ; ° ''h'itable di s p os iti on o f h er M a j es t y , was t h en d ran k , "' 4 el - ijunction with th e res t o f th e R o y a l F am il y . oast was received with the utmost cordiality. ILI e CHA IRMAN th en sa id h e h a d a t oas t t o p ropose ''''eh was of the greatest importance to this country ; si t was th a t o f th e " A rm y an d N av y" o f E ng l an d . the must a ll a ll ow th a t th ese t wo serv i ces were o f `"e most essential importance to the nation in every t Poi nt of v i ew ; to them, in a great degree, they mi g ht ra ce the rise of this great empire, and to them might ascribed th e p eace an d qu i etness t h ey t h en en ' i '•YV --Drank with loud cheers, ~'. 'le CHAIRMAN said it was n ow hi s pl eas i ng d u t y In Propose a toa s t i n w hi c h th ey were a ll, more or 'IN much interested, a n d man y o f th em ver y d eep l y 4° "(liear, hear.) It was the toast of a body through the i nstrumentality of which he had the pleasure of b i ns him se lf surroun d e d b y t hi s l arge an d respect• e aseembly.—(Cheers.) The toast he had to give !' "Prosperity to the National Mercantile and "fe Assurance Society."—(Loud cheers.) Upon an Z e t B ion of' this kind, and more particularly under 14 ci rcumstances in which they had rece n tly b een h; co d , it was but natural they should expect from Ipg' Something like «n account of the rise and 11 res s o f the Society.—(Hear, hear.) He believed I,e Were all pretty well aware that the Mercantile I , s 4 Yelle rs ' Lif e Assurance Office was originally til t e in , 5d by comparatively a very fe w influential cora -1 'la' gentlemen, from motives most disinterested wa rds their fellow-travellers. After some time that sh s o ciet Y was amalgamated into anoth er S oc i e t y o f 4,2 1 : equal standi ng —th e N a ti ona l E n d owment I k - 1 1 Y—unde r the title of the National Mercantile t,: a s urance Society. Since that time the Society had t ti - ", hluth to encounter ; many troubles and many )41 , 44 awaited it ; but the vessel was built, I' it h a d surmounted every obstacle.—(Hear.) th a , W as, then, a most pleasing part of his duty ill ,' evening to be able to present to them, not a f' i , D/Ir eelted institution—(Hear, hear)—not with a I , s thent or portion of this great undertaking, but : 41 th the whole and entire National Mercantile Life tip ' tr ance Society.— (Cheers.) It was usual, on the ... P th, se nt occasion, to give something like a statement, t , h -ti a gh not in detail, of the present prospects and wht - t r it ien of the Society. Immediately after the e hient of the differences between the gentlemen bi ° bad retired from the Board and the present oei l'ee t° l l, the latter had considered it their duty, in k e i t : to satisfy, not only themselves, but the Pro oftel,`°ll also, to have a full valuation made of the whole ti ) C ei ' affairs. This they immediately gave instructions Ile, i -5e done, and the task had been accomplished by t e r i a cthary, and tested by the actuary of the Uni duty., l 'lre Assurance Office. It was his pleasing t-ete'd;° ll 4l l them that the account more than antici out oi t heir best expectations.—(Hear, hear.) With deli g h; n g into anything like detail or figures, he was at th e ` e cl to be able to tell the present company that e end of the year 1845 they would be able to kk ßel are a most liberal bonus to policy-holders and L l reholders.—(Loud cheers.) Thus the Directors 1 .14 1 been able to treat liberally all those who had left :chi and also to take ample care of those who re ch4ihed.—(Clieers.) He was g o i n g t o say t wo or L h t ee words on the subj ec t o f lif e assurance i tself, r ,.‘t there were many gentlemen present muck snore : 1)1t hle tha n h e was o f dil at i ng on this topic ; he i1 1 .° . 41(1 7 therefore, merely state that he did consider tiulB, institution to b e a most excellent one. He was "e satisfied it had been the means of doing a vast *l e l4l of good, an d many a poor family and desolate a lth W had had reason to rejoice in the existence of an institution as thi s ; b u t f or i t, m i sery, 4411 14 , and all the evils that were their consequence N . hav e ensued ; and he would urge all—for atl ie th , e th had som e a bilit y —t o d o t h e i r b est to support k ril . thare was n o t one o f th em b ut was able to do N eth ing; he would sa y t o a ll o f t h em, " d o what sp it - e arl," and th en h e was sat i s fi ed, i f they were an tk recl to meet another year, that they should be t e ,; : t ° Pres en t t o t h em t hi s S oc i ety in a far more (4: 4i ng condition than it had e ver y e t a tt a i ne d to. — th e ` 4 , he ar. ) He gave, as the toast, " Prosperity to 1,11, -,lZ ational M ercant il e Lif e A ssurance Society. " 4 to ast was d ran k w ith en th us i asm. i/ ) , r .' G. M OORE propose d th e next toast. He said hatii e nee taught them that they could not have any Nti,n! ea tion without some all o y, a n d a t present t h e Re t , eation h e f e l t at b e i ng entruste d w i th the toast !It , 4 bated b y t h e i na bi l i ty he felt to do justice to it. (it i .4 " The Commercial Travellers of the United 4, 11,; ° m."--(Loud cheers.) He knew not why he ct l ,„ t en selected to give this toast, unless it was be ;. ne had been for a great many years of his life c on nec ted with them.—(Hear, hear.) He had been c (e,i c ,ted with them nearly twenty years, and he and bear testimony to their character for industry Ali n reverence being unequalled. Often, through ~`tliin , „° n ri a of a winter's midnight, when others were L 'Pliy -6 their repose, they were travelling on the rail -4 glte ) ° l' in the steam-boat, advancing their employer's c l eat or their own. By this body of gentlemen t he a 1 that day been honoured with a place in toaieoard of Directors of the Society. He 4 , t hi 3 a ssure them he felt highly fl a tt ere d b y 14 ho nour thus conferred upon him ; he was sure 'he ' n e) . might have found many gentlemen tio.sp'ould have done more justice to them.—(" No, , Il latle I le had been told in a very forcible manner "Ile jj e body of the Society wished to have, at least, 'iyie ; h,'ractor who had risen from the ranks ; and it cisqs Proudest gratification that he had been asso 4aeir With them for many years.—(Hear, hear.) He lc 4 1 (.4 thorn he would endeavour to do all th e j ust i ce ' l 4l e rn his humble abilities would permit ; and as he to t : little influence in the mercantile world, and had Iv, ialitikhowledge of the market towns of England, it ~Ilfl4 , be his great anxiety to exert his ability and ' 4 1 4 `, 11 e to their advantage.—(Cheers.) As the k hi e l-Ill ari had told them, there had been ':,t . k S',ceders from the office, in consequence :kill , nl , i sunderstanding. He had some returns ,'P it ,'''njoh he was warranted in expecting that by i l Ac,,'°rith they would be able to make up to the ,qtp t - d t he incom e it had been deprived of. He also A lle k , , t ,b 5 3 , should go on on a principle that would : 11 14„'„''in an increase of business every month. In s','i e, n hY he would endeavour to set something like ice tinilde.—(Hear, hear.) He concluded by giving ':iii ' "ealth of the Commercial Travellers of the 4 t(i 1. " • trl N , st Kingdom," which was drank with the warmest A/r, ration s of feeling. nil 4 A loksz a c k now l e dged the toast. lie said he . 1 , , 14 tc 1t , i 11( It affect any particular modesty, as on this ) ,.'tis ‘,`' Ll be thought it ought to be thrown aside. I "'or t - ent WAS one of very great importance, much Z : l ii ;Atl) perhaps, than his friend Mr. Moore l a ve n'n'agined. It was a very comprehee t,4,'te ) 11 , 1 % if what he said should be reported rh,'fivii.,ll' fi nd its way to the heart of every man in the 4 ' 1 ,44 :" 8 to the heart of every commercial gentle. f ,'es ,t,.ln Scotland and Ireland. Every one who read 4 t ( 1, 1 ` - D: el l in Which the toast was proposed, would , \ `'lr.T i teful to Mr. Moore for proposing it. He ;' ir lat t ' l 'se) would show, in the course of a few ''s4,l B, that the body of commercial travellers pos tkdit 111°re importance than many persons gave them t 'e 1 1 ,, °l.' Travellers in the ordinary acceptation of L `c‘se,'"i r d, a'ere looked" upon as men journeying from .4 hing: ° ,.,„ 4 ', 1 % .1 3, merely in pursuit of business, and a t' ' T eet ; 't-e views beyond it. Now they had a nobler ape'.'"eY all felt that they owed a duty to their i''eree,ild families, and a great proof of this was it t eet li b le `nera to day in the great number of re !_tred gentlemen there assembled, who had ----__ their lives in this office, and he ---- _ __ hoped they would exercise their ability to in duce others to insure their lives there also.—(Hear, hear.) To show that the commercial travellers of the United Kingdom were not so unimportant as many people imagined, he would just lay before them a few statistical facts, and statistics spoke stronger than anything else. He believed it was estimated that there were twenty thousand gentlemen regularly on the road. These twenty thousand men might be taken to spend at least twenty thousand pounds per day, and that amounted to a sum of no less than 6,000,0001. annually !—(Hear, hear.) Where would they find twenty thousand men in any other situation of life spending so much money as these twenty thousand commercial travellers ? He had shown them that they occupied a position in the State which was worth some particular notice, and he should have to show them that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government of the country was much indebted to the commercial travellers of the United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He was happy to say that he belonged to that body, and had done so for the last twenty years; and though he was now a principal, yet he had been a representa tive, and had risen from the ranks—(Hear, hear)—in the same way as his friend Mr. Moore had done. If they looked at this sum of 6,000,0001., and assumed, for the sake of argument, that each of these 20,000 gentleman spent 1001. a yee.r on his own personal comfort, that would give '2,000,000/. a year more, or 8,000,0001. altogether. Now, let him ask how much of this eight millions a year went to the Exchequer?—(blear hoar, and laughter.) He was afraid to contemplate the amount, inasmuch as many of their temperance friends would be inclined to think them an intemperate body.—(Great laughter.) But they must bear in mind that a very large proportion of that amount was raised from their tea and coffee. —(Laughter.) He would not tell them what was spent in taxation in the shape of railway travelling ; but he would go further into this matter, because the further they went into it the more interest they would feel in it. Twenty thousand men was not a very small number; they could either do a great deal of good or a great deal of evil; but he believed that the twenty thousand commercial men did more good than any other twenty thousand they could mention.—(Hear, hear.) What would they say to a little calculation he had made? Twenty thousand men travelling through the country, and each person returning only 501. per day in the shape of sales, allowing 300 days in the year instead of 365, that 501 per day would amount to no less a sum than three hundred millions sterling !—(Hear, hear.) Where would they find twenty thousand men in any other position of life—in the manufacturing, or any other class of individuals—who returned so much money as the commercial traveller ?—(Hear, hear.) Then let them go a step or two into details, to show that there was something beyond even making this return. There was a question that kept them all alive, and brought them all here to-day—the question of the profits of business. Look at the profit derived from this return of business. He would take that profit at ten per cent. per annum, which was not too high ; upon 300,000,0001. that ten per cent. profit would be 30,000,0001., a sum which, they would agree with him, was a very large one to be realised by the commercial travellers of the United Kingdom. He was glad that the toast had been pro posed in such a comprehensive manner—one that levelled all distinctions, placed the principal and the representative on the same floor together, and placed the gentlemen of Manchester, ...deeds, Glasgow and every town that could be mentioned, on the same footing.--(Cheers.) The large profit they were the means of making was not always ill-disposjd of. Let not the gentlemen around him fancy that they laboured for persons who did no good with it. He only requested them to walk through thisgreat city— let them pass through its streets and alleys, and what did they see? They saw at every turn almshouses, hospitals, schools. Who created them ? Not the aristocracy, but the merchant princes of London. They dispensed their princely wealth with a lordly and princely hand. Reasoning on the amount of good done, he felt proud to belong to such a class. He could go further. Men who had attained high honours had sprung from it. Sir Matthew Wood, who entertained royalty, arose from its ranks; of that gentleman he was not speaking as a politician. If they looked around them, at the present time, they would see others who had attained similar distinction. If they went to the Senate, they would find there a distin- _ . guished man, the loader of a section and a party ; whether they agreed with that gentleman's politics or not was not the matter under consideration—but Mr. Cobden was once a commercial traveller—(Loud cheers) —and if he were present on this occa. sion, he was sure he would glory in acknow ledging that he had been one.—(Loud cheers.- Seeing the power and influence commercial men pos sess, he was sure they would agree with him that if properly exercised and well united, they had power enough to give Governments weight or make Ministers tremble.—(Cheers.) He then referred to the division that had taken place in the Direction, but was happy to find that the Society would suffer no loss by the secession of the gentlemen who had retired, and con cluded by thanking them warmly for the manner in which the toast had been received. Mr. STOLES said a toast had been placed in his hands, which he should give with a great deal of pleasure. Nothing could be more gratifying than to have to propose a toast with which his sentiments and feelings cordially agreed. He had to give the health of a gentleman, with regard to whom he was sure the opinions of all of them were in unison with his own. lie gave the " Health of their respected Chairman."—(Loud cheering.) They owed him a deep debt of gratitude—deeper than they could re pay in words ; and he therefore hoped that they would all actively assist him in carrying out the beneficial objects of this Society. It was to his firm and manly conduct that they were indebted for the meeting of that day. Ever since he had entered the Direction, his conduct had been open and straightforward ; whatever diffi culties he had met in their cause, from that path he had never flagged nor swerved. His character in private life was without reproach, as a man of busi ness be was unexceptionable, but as a Director he might say they had never had such a one.—(Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks for the compliment. Mr. WAr.su then gave the healths of G. Redmayne, and E. Baker, Esqs., the old Directors. Mr. REDMATNE returned thanks. Mr..STOCKDALE gave the new Directors that day elected, Mr. P. Dolt, Dr. Cursham, and Mr. G. Moore. Mr. MOOSE, on behalf of himself and colleagues, spoke to the toast. Mr. CUFFLEY gave the auditors. He stated, to show what individual exertion can do, that Mr. Walsh, Mr. Starr, and Mr. Stockdale, had each brought 30,000/. into the office, and he himself had been the means of introducing 110,000/. Mr. WALSH having returned thanks, The CHAIRMAN gave , the " Secretaries, and th e legal and medical officers. ' The toast was acknowledged by Mr. EvANs. The CHAIRMAN gave " The local agents, and Mr. Chadwick, of Manchester."—(Cheers.) Mr. CHADWICK replied. He read a letter from David Waddington, Chairman of the Directors of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, expressing his disappointment at not being able to attend the dinner. The Vice-Presidents and the Stewards were then severally proposed and drank. Mr. STOKES proposed the health of Mr. Newbon. Mr. NEwnoN replied. He said there were materials within the commercial body itself to accomplish all their most sanguine expectations. The man that con quered empires, and trod nations beneath his feet, once called them " a nation of shopkeepers." Did they think he did so in derision ? No; he knew and felt that they were a great commercial nation, and hence the sentence escaped his lips. He concluded an able speech by complimenting them on the moderation they had displayed on an occasion when they had met to commemorate a victory. The Chairman then left the chair, and the proceed ings terminated. They were marked throughout by the greatest unanimity and good feeling. The vocalists engaged for the evening were Miss Wieland, Misses O'Brien, Mr. P. N. Crouch, Mr. Hill, Mr. Tranklee, and Mr. Lloyd. We must state also that Mr.; Toole officiated as toastmaster with his accustomed ability. SUICIDE OF A LADY AT BROMPTON.-.- - Yesterday Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest at the Fulham bridge Tavern, on the body of Mrs. Mary Bingley, about 50 years of age, the widow of a solicitor, residing at No. 2, Queen's -buildings, Brompton, who committed suicide by cutting her throat on Friday morning. In the course of the evidence it appeared that the husband of the deceased lady died in August, 1843. For some time after his death she had been much disturbed in mind, and imagined that she was going to be sent to prison, and that she would come to be hung, and on that account became in quite a desponding state. Within the last six months, however, she had been much better, and appeared to be perfectly sane until the present occur rence. Her husband died owing considerable debts, and the property was in Chancery, but only for the purpose of the affairs being settled, and not on any disputed point, as, after settling all claims, there will be a hand some property fur the family, which consists of five children, the eldest of which (a girl) is 17 years of age. Verdiet—" Temporary Insanity." Felix Gatayes, pupil of the celebrated Listz, has recently arrived in London, for the second time, after having obtained the most brilliant success in Italy and Germany. M. Gatayes is a pianiste of extraordinary talent ; but, beyond that, he is a composer of great originality, vigour, and expression. Among the unpub lished productions of the young artiste are an opera and a ballet, which it is his intention to submit to the judg ment of a London audience.—Courier de Europe. PREFERMENT. — The Rev. Dr. Jones, 8.D., of Deptford, domestic chaplain to the late Lord Saye and Sele, has been appointed chaplain to the Right Hon. the present Lord Saye and Sele. The Rev. J. B. Smith, 1).D., Head Master of Horncastle Grammar School, has been appointed by the Duke of Newcastle one of his Grace's domestic chaplains. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE PORTSMOUTH, DEc. 22.—The Britannia, 120, was • brought from her moorings alongside the jetty on Thurs day, to be completed as an advance ship. The Emerald, tender, sailed yesterday, with super numeraries for the ships fitting out to the westward. The Lily, 16, Commander C. J. F. Newton, was docked on Friday, to have her :copper examined and cleaned, prior to hoisting the pendant. The Falmouth arrived on Friday from the eastern yards, with stares. The Princess Royal, 90, (after the Albion) has had her workmen taken off her, in pursuance of Admiralty order. The Albatross, 16, Commander Yorke, and the Ferrett, 6, Commander Oake, left St. Helena prior to the 20th of September, for a cruise in the Bights of Benin. The Albatross captured, on the 10th of August, a large Spanish slaver, named Bolladore, which has been the terror of the coast. The Salamander, steam-sloop, Commander A. S. Harnond, was at Otaheite on the 24th of July. The Cormorant, steam-sloop, Commander G. T. Gor don, was at Valparaiso on the Ist of September. The Espoir, 10, Commander Hadaway, left Ascension on the 10th of October, for Congo River, having left Commander Morrel at that island, as Commandant, vice Finlaison, invalided. The Sealark, 10, Commander Gooch, was lying at Ascension on the 15th of October. The ado, 18, Commander the Hon. 11. Koppel, is ordered home from the China station to be paid off. In Harbour—The Victorious hulk, bearing the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Rowley ; the Vic tory, the Excellent, Nautilus, Siren, Sparrow ketch, and Dwarf and Fearless steamers ; and Britannia, 120, along side the jetty. In Dock—The St. Vincent, Prince Regent, Ven geance, Victoria and Albert, Athol, and Lily. In the Basin—The Neptune, Magicienne, and Locust steam-sloop. At Spithead—None. DEC. 23.—The Royal mail steamer Avon came into this harbour on Saturday, and was docked this day to repair defects. The Siren, 16, Commander Smith (b), will be paid off to-morrow. The Pique, 36, Captain the Hun. M. Stopford ; the Eurydice, 26, Captain Elliott ; and Rose, 18, Captain Sturt, were lying at Barbadoes on the 25th ult. The Scylla, 16, Commander Sharpe, and Imaum re ceiving-ship, 72, Commodore Sharpe, were at Jamaica on the 23d ult. The Inconstant, 36, Captain Fremantle, left Port Royal for Vera Cruz prior to the 23d of November. The Styx steam-sloop, Captain Vidal, was at Fay:Li on the 14th inst. DE VONPORT.—The Portsmouth tender, Lieutenant Peter Cracroft, sailed on her return to Portsmouth on Wednesday. The Albion, 90, Captain Lockyer, was towed from the Sound into the harbour on Friday, to refit and repair defects. The Acorn, 16, Commander J. G. Bingham, hoisted the pendant on Wednesday. The Watervvitch, 8, Commander T. Francis Birch, was undocked on Wednesday, having had her copper cleaned, &c. The Mutine, 12, Commander Crawford, was docked on Wednesday, and has since had nine inches added to her false keel ; she was undocked on Friday. The Firebrand, steam-frigate, Captain Hope, came into harbour from the Sound on Friday to refit. The Persian, 16, Commander Coryton, hoisted the pendant on Friday. In Harbour—The Caledonia, San Josef, Albion, Superb, Acorn, Persian Daring, Mutine, Flying Fish, Osprey, Espiegle, Pantaloon, Waterwith, Cruiser, Sa vage, Snipe cutter, and Firebrand and Confiance steamers. The following warrant officers have been appointed to the ships fittiag out at this port ; Gunners—W. Meldrum, to the Superb; John Reeves, to the Ranger ; Richard Hooper, to the Racehorse ; Thomas CI ossman, to the Persian ; Richard Williams, to the Action ; Henry Norris, to the Acorn. Boatswains—William Youlton, to the Ranger ; Alfred Marshall, to the Racehorse : John Biddeford, to the Persian ; John Wood, to the Actmon ; Samuel Hill, to the Acorn. Carpenters—William Elms, to the Royal Oak ; Wm. Polyblank, to the Ranger ; William Goodman, to the Racehorse ; Thomas Penfound, to the Persian ; John James Knight, to the Actmon ; William Tucker, to the Acorn. Captain Gray, Lieutenants Bunce, Farmer, and Nepean, with three sergeants, three corporals, two drummers, and 138 privates, Royal Marines, entered on board the Superb, 80, Captain Corry, on Saturday. PnomoTtoNs.—Lieutenants—W. Robinson, 1837, late of the Arrow ;G. Sprig - g, 1839, late of the Brisk ;J. Lunn, 1829, late of the Locust ; J. T. Caldwell, 1834, late of the Agincourt (First Lieutenant), and acting Commander of the Wolf, to the rank of Commander ; Richard Jones (a, 1800), to be retired Commander on the list of 1830. ➢Mates—H. Kerr, 1841, of the Carysfort, and A. 0. Hansard, 1836, of the Geyser, to the rank of Lieutenant. APPOINTMENTS.—Captain—G. Mansell, 1840, who commanded the Wasp, 16, at the capture of St. Jean d'Acre, to the Actaeon. Commanders—G. J. Hay, 1828, to the Racehorse ; T. S. Thompson, 1832, to the COMU3 ; IL Coryton, 1841, to the Persian ; J. E. Bingham, 1841, to the Acorn; C. J. F. Newton, 1831, late of the Coast Guard, to the Lily ; Sir F. IVNicholson, 1841, to the Fan tome ; James Anderson (b, 1841), to the Ranger ; G. S. Hand, 1841, to the Espoir, v i ce M orre ll, t o the Tor toise, on the coast of Africa ; W. R. Stephens (acting), to the Superb ; and G. E. Davies, to the Wolf, on the China station, vice Hayes, invalided. Lieutenants—C. Bullet), 1840 ; J. W. Fairholme, 1842, of the Excellent ; and A. G. West, 1844, pro moted from the Firebrand to the Superb ; E. B. Rice, 1844, to the Rattler; IL Edwards, to the Osprey ; R. B. Carter, to the Daring ; W. A. Munton (for rank), to the Royal William ; 'l'. C. Meheux, to the Tartarus ; M. Bourchier, to the Acuson ; H. Probyn, to tho Lily ; 11. le Vesconte, to the Superb ; J. W. Walton and J. Irving, to the Excellent ; R. Robertson, 1840, and H. 1). Blanekley, 1844, to the Rattler; E. P. Pup?, 1844, to the Fantome; A. R. Henry, 1842, to the Ranger; T. N. Moore, 1828, to the Comm; ; H. Eden, 1837, to the Eagle ; W. Tottenham, to the Racehorse ; F. Martin, to the Persian ; G. Cleveland, to the A ctmon ; L. B. Mackinnon, to the Superb ; and P. A. Ilalkett, to the Acorn. Masters—W. H. T. Green, 1844, to the Rattler ; J. F. Wilkins, to the Lily ; J. F. Forster, to the Actaeon; J. G. Nops, 1841, to the Racehorse; T. Goss, 1642, to the Acorn; A. L. Halloran, to the Ranger; and J. Bowler, to the Persian. Surgeons—D. Davidson, M.D., to the Royal William, for rank; J. Coulter, M.D., to the Superb; H. Liddle, to the Comus ; P. Fisher, to the Firebrand ; and A. R. Bradford, to the Acton. Paymasters and Pursers —H. Chirnmo, to the Lily; G. Thorn, to the Superb ; J. R. Tate, to the Rattler ; J. Forster, to the Racehorse; J. S. Pope, to the Actaeon; W. Weaver, to the Cruiser, vice Lance; E. Ward, to the Acorn; and R. Ridley (acting), to the Ranger. Chaplain—Rev. W. G. Tucker, from the Albion to the Ceylon, for service at Malta, vice Ritson, to Pem broke Dockyard. Second Masters—W. P. Braund to the Superb ; J. W. Lowe, to the Actaeon ; and A. L. Halloran (acting), to the Ranger. Master's Assistant—C. B. M'Dermott, to the Lily. Assistant Surgeon—R. C. Russell, to the Royal Hos pital, Stonehouse. Midshipman —J. W. Bridges, to the Actaeon. Sir John Cuninghame Fairlie, Sir Maxwell Wal lace, and Captain King, have been this week on a visit to Mr. Wallace, the Member for Greenock, on a wood cock shooting excursion. The first eay they saw between forty and fifty woodcocks, the second day not quite twenty, owing to the thaw which took place on the evening of the first day. The birds sat reli arkably close, and were unusually heavy and in fine condition, bat being in the strongest parts of the covers, eight couple only were killed. We understand IMr. Wallace adheres to his rule, since he went into Parliament, of taking no share in field sports, in which walk he had all his lifetime before been so distinguished.—Glasgow Saturday Post. The mortal remains of Lady Anne Culling Smith were on Monday last removed from Hampton Court Palace to Egham Church, there to be deposited in the family vault. This mournful ceremony was attended by her afflicted husband, Mr. Culling Smith, as chief mourner, and also by the Duke of Beaufort, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Worcester, and Lord Robert Grosvenor. The Earl of Mornington, Lord Cowley, and the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Wellesley, were unavoidably prevented from attending the funeral of their sister. Sir Culling Eardley Smith was also unavoidably prevented from attending. Lady Jemima Eliot gave a splendid ball on Wed nesday last at the residence of the Secretary for Ireland, the Right Hon. Lord Eliot, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, when above six hundred distinguished persons honoured her Ladyship by their presence. Among the company were present the Earl of Clancarty, the Countess of Glengall, the Countess of Donoughmore and Miss Le vinge, Sir Edward and Lady Elizabeth Borough, the Earl of Pomfret, Lord Tullamore, the Attorney-General for Ireland, Mrs. and the Misses Smith, Viscountess Mascarene, Sir Philip and Lady Crampton, Lady and Miss King, Sir John, Lady, and Miss Burg oyne, Sir George Mor t i s , L or d Cosmo Russell, Mr . A'Court, Colonel and the Hon. Mrs. White, Sir Compton and Lady Domvile and the Misses Domvile, the Solicitor- General for I re l an d , L ady Emily Pennefather, Captain and Lady Emily Seymour, Colonel and Miss Gordon, Sir Henry Marsh, Colonel and Miss Jones, Lieut.- Colonel Frith, Colonel Mitchell and the officers of the 6th Regiment, the officers of the Bth Hussars, the officers of the Royal Artillery, the officers of the 3!d, 73d, 67th, 46th, and 66th Regiments, stationed in Dublin, &c. It is said that the King of the Freneh occupies himself so little about what the newspapers say in France, that he hardly ever reads them ; and it is sin gular enough that the junior members of the Royal Family only read the papers which are inimical to the reigning dynasty and the existing order of things --such as the National and the &forme, considering it wiser to learn the sentiments of their enemies than read the adu lations of their friends.— Court Journal. FIRE AT CIIELSEA.—Last night, about half-past six o'clock, the neighbourhood of Elizabeth-terrace, Chelsea, was considerably excited by the discovery of a fire making the most frightful progress in a newly built house. Some carpenters and bricklayers had been em ployed therein during the day, and when the ',once forced an entrance they discovered the timbers on fire. Messengers soon went for engines, and after their arrival the alarm soon subsided, but considerable damage was done to the interior of the building...l, PORTUGAL. LISBON, TUESDAY, DEc. 17. The Cortes were closed on Saturday last by the Queen in person, the usual ceremonies being observed upon the occasion. Her Majesty delivered from the throne the following brief address : " Illustrious Peers of the realm, and Deputies of the Portuguese nation—lt is with unfeigned pleasure that I this day behold myself surrounded by the re presentatives of the nation. "I congratulate you, conjointly with myself, on the fruitful result of your parliamentary labours. " The measures resorted to by the legislative body, for the purpose of establishing upon a solid basis the public tranquillity, which has been unfortunately in terrupted in various parts of the kingdom, have pro duced the desired effect, and those which have since been approved of, present the well-founded hope that the Throne and constitutional institutions will not be offended anew. "The plans which have been adopted by you for the improvement of the public revenue finances will most powerfully tend to the attainment of that so generally desired object, viz., the complete organiza tion of this important point. " Public confidence, so generally manifested, to gether with the progressive augmentation of the general credit, furnish an undeniable testimony to the importance and utility of those measures. " The affairs which have been submitted to your deliberation have been of the most. weighty nature, and it behove me to say that the views taken of the same, and resolutions adopted by you, have proved you to be worthy of the nation's confidence as well as of m 7 most especial benevolence. " the session is closed." In politics there is nothing new, or of a nature worthy communicating. ['he weather for the last few days had been most tempestuous, blowing a hurricane, with heavy flood ing rains. On Saturday, at two P.M. a brig, the Li beral, from Rio Janeiro, in making for the South Channel entrance, was seen suddenly to strand, with a high and heavy sea running over her. Before sunset several objects from the wreck, among which were the mail-bags, were picked up in side the bar. The captain, four passengers, and four of the crew were lost. The register frigate Ruguesa de Braganza, which is anchored of Belem, sent boats to the assistance of the unfortunate vessel, but in vain. A tremendous sea and the gale blowing right in prevented them making the least way. Nothing could be done. It was their fate to perish. A Spanish vessel is also on shore, and a good deal of anxiety is beginning to be felt for the Oporto steamer, which must have been at sea now some days. ROYAL ARTILLERY SAVINGS BANKS. A general order, dated December 16, 1844, has just been issued for the information of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Royal Artillery, on Home and Foreign stations, relative to the savings' banks to be established in the corps in the course of next year. 1. The following regulations and instructions for establishing regimental savings' banks in the Ord nance corps, approved by the Master-General and Board's order, dated 31st of July, 1844, S 524, are promulgated to the Royal Regiment of Artillery :- 2. The Master-General and Board have decided that the regulations are not to come int o o p era ti on until the Ist of April, 1845, in order that there may be sufficient time for transmitting them to the most distant stations, and for the officers and men becom ing duly acquainted with them before they are acted upon. 3. In order to ensure the regulations being cor rectly carried into effect, three copies will be issued for each troop, company, and adjutant's detachment, viz., one copy for the guidance of the officer com manding the troop or company, and one copy in the possession of the pay non-commissioned officer, for the information of the men of the company. A copy will also be issued for each field officer in command at home and abroad. With the regulations will be issued the blank ledgers, with other documents, which are to be forwarded to their destinations. 4. The institution of savings' banks in the army being intended for the permanent advantage of sol diers, the Master-General and Board desire that all officers in command of troops and companies will afford every facility and encouragement to the non commissioned officers and men unler their orders to become depositors; but they, at the same time, re quest that officers will use such means as they may deem necessary to prevent the capricious deposit of small sums for short periods only, which would occa sion much trouble without being of any benefit to the men. 5. With respect to men detached from head-quar ters, they will be at liberty to make arrangnments for the transmission of any moneys they may wish to de posit in the troop or company's savings' banks; in making of which arrangements the officers or non commissioned officers in charge of the detachment, and also the officers commanding the troops or com panies to which the men belong, are, in accordance with 4 of this order, especially directed to assist them with the best advice and information they may be enabled to affbrd; but it must be distinctly under stood that, in the event of accident, any loss incurred in this way must be borne by the party making the deposit. 6. In carrying into effect the savings' banks regu lations some difficulty may be felt at first, from the dispersed nature of the Artillery service ; but it is hoped experience will suggest plans for overcoming any that may arise; and the Master-General and Board trust that officers will exercise the strictest supervision over the accounts of every individual. (Signed) 11. D. ROSS, Deputy Adjutant-General. MORE CARRIAGE ROBBERIES.—L3st night infor mation of the following extensive robberies from gentle men's carriages whilst en route was received at the head office of the Metropolitan Police, Great Scotland-yard: — Stolen on the evening of Friday last, from the hind part of the carriage of J. Savage, Esq., of No. 2, Clarges street, between the New-cross Railway Station and Clarges-street, a dressing case, lined with crimson velvet, containing the following very valuable articles of jewel lery : —A Maltese cross with a large diamond in the centre, surmounted with smaller ones; two diamond half hoop rings, with seven stones in each; an emerald ditto, with five stones; a ruby ring, with large stone; a sapphire ditto, set with small brilliants; an amethyst ring, sur rounded with brilliants; a yellow chain and ring, a turquoise ditto, with hair at the back and small diamond; a turquoise ring of fire stones, a pair of gold filagree diamond earrings, a pair of diamond earrings, set transparent, and strung with pearls; a pair of pearl earrings, a pair of diamond ditto, set solid; two sets of pearl gold earrings, one pair with diamond tops; a Trinchinopoli chain screw snap, with ruby in centre ; two plain bracelets, a gold ditto, with heart ; a pair of pink topaz earrings, a gold heart and cross, a small mourning ring, with white hair, set with brilliants ; a silver butterfly brooch, and a Bombay work-box, ivory inlaid, with silver and ebony, and with purple and velvet, containing a gold thimble and scissors. From the car riage of H. D. Prinsep, Esq., of 37, Hyde Park-gardens, supposed between the Bricklayers' Arms Railway sta tion and Hyde Park-gardens, a new portmanteau, with " H. T. Prinsep" engraved on a brass plate, containing several silk dresses, numerous habit shirts, and collars of Valencia lace, a handsome worked pocket handkerchief, a Court white plume of feathers, a headdress, velvet, with gold and silver fringe band, with falls of gold and silver tissue at the sides, which descend to the shoulders; a Benares turban, all of gold and silver tissue ; several velvet vests, embroidered with gold lace, other vests, silk, plaid, and jean ; as also a tortoiseshell head comb, with a tortoiseshell top. - A MONUMENT TO Prcrox.—We do not think we shall either deservedly render ourselves obnoxious to a charge of egotism, or exhibit the Welshman as evincing a love of praise less unequivocally than praise -worthi ness, if, in our desire to dissociate ourselves from what we deem discreditable, we take the opportunity which now presents itself of mentioning a fact, in reference to Picton's monument, personal to ourselves. We neither covet nor claim any praise, but we should be ashamed of ourselves bad we shrunk from the performance of an obvious public duty, deterred by any servile apprehen sion of offending parties whose conduct had proved sufficiently that they required a plain-spoken monitor to remind them of neglect. The fact, then, which we desire to state, because we would not ride th roug h Coventry with Carmarthen, or any other Corporation that had committed itself to a meanness, and continued in the slough and depths of that meanness, is simply this :—The individval who has conducted this paper at Carmarthen, for some years, has, in his editorial capa city, through the columns of the Welshman, over and over again, publicly and earnestly called upon Carmar then, and the countrymen of the lion-hearted Picton, to come forward and vindicate its claim to common decency at least. We have repeatedly urged upon their attention the harm they were doing to their own reputation, and the injury they were inflicting on the character of their Cambriam countrymen, by the pettifogging parsimony described in the foregoing article. We have more than once represented, in the pages of this paper, the stigma attaching to the town of Carmarthen and its environs, by what every stranger considers a mean and sordid neglect, significant of a littleness and an ignoble nature in those who do not see it in that light. Whoever else, therefore, is to blame, we at least are blameless. Some thing, however, it seems, is now at length going to be done. May we remind our readers that, for the mea sure now in progress, they are mainly indebted to the public press ? But for the Times, through its able re presentative, Picton's monument would have remained a disgrace to Wales. And we will here repeat, withont reference to this comparatively unimportant matter, what we have on several former occasions said—namely, that South Wales owes a deep debt of gratitude to the Times, for a full and proper discharge of the duties devolving on the public press.— Welshman. THE QUEEN AND THE BISHOF OF EXETER.—We hear it stated, upon authority which we believe to be good, that a communication has taken place between Sir Robert Peel and the Bishop of Exeter, respecting his recent charge to - the clergy of his diocese, and that an intimation has been conveyed to the Right Rev. Pre late, that if he persist in the Rubrical innovations—or restorations ?—there prescribed, the Queen, as the head of the Church, must interfere.—Weekly Chronicle. COURT CIRCULAR. _ - WINDSOR, MoNDAT.--The Queen and Prince Albert went out for their early morning walk. On the return of her Majesty and his Royal Highness, the Prince left the Castle to shoot in the royal preserves, attended by Mr. Anson and Sir Edward Bowater. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen and Prince Albert this morning. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal went out for a carriage airing this morning. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice were taken a walk to-day. The Earl of Aberdeen and Sir Henry Wheatley arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen. The Countess of Gainsborough is expected to arrive this evening at the Castle. Her Royal highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, and the Countess Wratislaw, joined the royal circle at dinner. Her Majesty's private band was in attendance at the Castle after dinner, and performed during the evening. The — Queen honoured Mr. Thorburn with a sitting to-day for her portrait. The Queen and Prince Albert inspected, on Satur day, an engraved portrait of the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, engraved by Robinson, from an original miniature painted by Sir William Ross, R A., for her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians, which was sub mitted by Mr. David Thomas White. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were pleased to express their approbation. A deputation of the promoters of the Redcar and Wear Valley Railway had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. Hart Davis, Deputy Chairman of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Ex chequer yesterday, at his official residence in Down ing-street. The Hon. Sidney Herbert transacted business yes terday at the Foreign-office. A deputation to present memorials from Mon mouthshire and Breconshire had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the Board of Trade. The deputation presented memorials from Monmouth county, from Monmouth town, from Abergavenny, from Usk, from Brecon, and from Crickhowell. The Earl of Aberdeen left town yesterday after noon for Windsor Castle. Lord Granville Somerset had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Dispatches from the Governors of the West India Colonies were received yesterday at the Colonial office. A deputation from the Rotherham, Bawtry, and Gainsborough Junction Railway, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday. LITERATURE. THE LAWYERS 1N LOVE. 3 Vola. Cochrane, London, 1844. The title of this work suggests the idea of fun and drollery, and there is much of this to be found in it, though it will certainly not quite answer the reader's expectations. The tale is in the form of an auto biography, and professes to consist of passages from the life of a Chancery barrister, which were written many years since, and the manuscript of which was found in an old musty, worm-eaten closet in the author's chambers. Some of the characters, especially that of Aunt Circumspect, are drawn with spirit and discrimination, and the closing incidents of the story are full of broad humour, and would form the materials of an excellent farce. It is impossible to read the account of the marriage of Aunt Circumspect with her own brother's clerk, with whom she had eloped, under the mistaken notion that he was a nobleman of fortune, without indulging in a hearty laugh, such as that which we enjoy when reading of the matrimonial mishaps of the leading personages in Congreve's Old Bachelor. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TAT FERSALL'S—YESTERDAY. The Derby betting touched upon nearly all the standard favourites, and, in a few instances, with some effect on the prices ; thus 1,000 to 35 was laid agst Anti-Repealer, and 800 to 20 agst Young Eclipse—a fall of several points on the previous quotations. The Rebecca colt and the one out of Calypso's dam were backed at 1,000 to 30 each, the former with a de cided call ; 1,000 to 25 each was taken about Pan tasa, Fitzallen, and Weatherbit, and 500 to 10 about Cabin Boy, their backers willing to go on ; 50 to 1 was laid to about 2001. agst Ironmaster, " all in," the only terms upon which any business was or could have been transacted. Against the principal favourites the only bets were 600 to 50 agst Alarm, 500 to 25 agst the Cobweb colt, 1,100 to 50 and 500 to 25 two or three times agst Pam, the takers, particularly the Pam division, " fond." Of the general prices, and of several engagements on the Chester Cup, we subjoin the usual averages:— CHESTER CIIP—(NAME OR NOT.) 1000 to 20 agst Ratan—taken 1000 to 20 agst Corranna—taken 1000 to 20 agst Extempore—taken 1000 to 20 agst Celeste—taken 2000 to 40 agst A-la mode—taken 2000 to 40 agst Wiseacre—taken 2000 to 40 agst Semiseria—taken 500 to 10 agst Mid Lothian—taken 300 to 5 agst Peggy—taken Offers to take 35 to 1 about Winesour. DERBY'. 11 to 1 apt Mr. Greville's Alarm 16 to 1 apt Lord Stradbroks's Idas—take 17 to 1 18 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Kedger—t. 20 to 1 18 to 1 apt Col. Peel's Cobweb colt—take 20 to 1 20 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Pam—taken 1000 to 35 apt Mr. Jaques's Anti-Repealer—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Rebecca colt 30 to 1 apt Mr. St. Paul's c out of Calypso's dam—t. 33 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Old England—taken 33 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Laird o'Cockpen —taken and afterwards offered. 35 to 1 agst Mr. S. Stanley's Minikin colt—t. 40 t o 1 40 to 1 agst Mr. Colemaa a Young Eclipse—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Pantasa—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Weatherbit—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. llesseltine's Fitzallen—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Lintott's Cabin-boy—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. A. W. Hill's Ironmaster—t. (all in) 50 to I agst Col. Cradock's Jinglepot 250 to 200 on Idas agst the Cobweb colt—taken 1000 to 10 and 2000 to 15 laid agst Idas winning this and the 2000 Guineas, and Lancashire Witch the Oaks. OAKS. 10 to 1 each, in one bet, laid agst the Lancashire Witch and Refraction. 12 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Refraction—taken 15 to 1 apt Lord G. Bentinck's Rose of Cashmere—t. 1000 to 30 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Miss Ells—taken 400 to 100 agst Kent's lot. RATES OF POSTAGE FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY. The following notice appeared to-day at the General Post-office, St. Martin's• le-Grand : "nY COMMAND OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. "Notice to the Public, and Instructions to all Post masters, Sub-Postmasters, and Letter Receivers. " General Post-effice, Dec., 1844. " The following regulations and alterations in the rates of postage having been authorised by warrant of the Lords' Commissioners of her Majesty's Trea sury, dated the 28th ult., will commence and take effect on and from the Ist of January next. Letters addressed to commissioned officers of the Army, Navy, or Ordnance, while employed on actual service in any of her Majesty's colonies, or on any foreign station, who shall have removed to the United Kingdom in the execution of their public duty, shall not be liable to any additional postage on their re-direction from such colony or foreign station to this country. "British newspapers, duly stamped, addressed to commissioned or non-commissioned officers of the Army or Navy, or to any soldiers, sailors, or marines, while actually employed on her Majesty's service in any foreign country, or on any foreign station, may be forwarded by packet free of postage, provided they are made up and dispatched under the existing regu lations as regards the transmission of newspapers to foreign countries. " The privilege at present enjoyed by soldiers and sailors in her Majesty's service, and by soldiers in the service of the East India Company, of receiving and sending letters, not exceeding half-an-ounce, at a re duced rate of postage, is extended to seamen in the service of the East India Company while actually employed in such service." THE POACHING ArFRAY AT CROOME.—WOR. CESTER, SUNDAY NIGHT.—The unfortunate gamekeeper, who was brought to the Worcester Infirmary on Friday night with a fractured skull and other injuries inflicted on him by a gang of some twenty poachers early on that morning, in the game preserves of Earl Coventry, in the parish of Croome, still lies at the hospital in a very pre carious condition. His name is Thomas Staite. The two other men who were seriously injured by the poachers are brothers, named Compton, residing at the village of Kempsey, between Worcester and Croeme. They are in a fair way of recovery. We have just heard that one of the poachers, named Turvey, has been captured by the police. A reward of 50/. has been offered by the Earl of Coventry's steward for the apprehension and conviction of the parties concerned in this outrage, and in the printed notices issued to this effect it is intimated that an application will be made to the Secre tary of State for a free pardon for any accomplice who may be the means of bringing his confederates to justice. VISIT OF TILE BLUE-COAT BOYS TO THE ADE LAIDE GALLERY.—Yesterday the boys of Christ's Hos pital, nine hundred in number, visited the Adelaide Gallery, in the Lowther Arcade, and appeared highly delighted with the amusements and various curious spe cimens of mechanism exhibited there. HEALTH OF GENERAL NOTT.—We are happy in being able to state that the General is now somewhat better, though still far from out of danger. For several days he was lying insensible, but a favourable change has taken place. He is now able to sit up for few hours daily.— Welshman. THE CHARITABLE BEQUESTS BILL. Deeply, seriously do we mourn over the triumph which the Government have gained over the Church of God. For a time they have succeeded in binding three Prelates of that Church to the chariot wheels of the State. This is a cause of mournful regret to every Catholic in the kingdom. We certainly were of opinion that the three digni fied Prelates whose names are now before the world as the sanctioners of this insidious measure, the fruit of Protestant and anti-Catholic legislation, would not have accepted the power of administering that mea sure, until it had been weeded of all its most dan gerous clauses. It has been said that Dr. Murray, in reply to a deputation that waited on him from the Regular Order of the Clergy, admitted that there were certain modifications required, and which he himself judged necessary to the right work ing of the Act. Our surprise is, that Dr. Murray, who must be supposed, even without this declara tion, to be intimately conversant with the open and palpable as well as the hidden dangers to the Catholic Church, should accept office under an Act which no man, save perhaps an O'Malley, has had the hardi hood to approve (fin its present shape. We are poor judges of what becomes the dignity of a bishop, but our opinion is, that, laying all other considerations aside, it would be more politic for one of the most re vered dignitaries of the Church of the unbroken erarchy to have positively and decidedly refused office from the Government until the Bequests Act— so intimately affecting the independence of his Church —had been freed from clauses to which he, as well as the great body of the clergy and laity, conscien tiously objected. Now, Dr. Murray, Dr. Crolly, and Dr. Denvir have taken office under the Act as it is, with all its imperfections on its head, relying on the honesty of Sir Robert Peel, and confiding in the good faith of an anti-Irish and anti-Catholic Govern ment ! Did these exalted Prelates refuse office until the Act had been purged of its insults and its snares, the Government would strike in a moment, for "a Catholic Bishop at any price" is the policy of a Ca binet whose greatest "difficulty" is Catholic Ireland. To our mind, this acceptanee of office, for the admi nistration of a confessedly dangerous and imperfect law, is more precipitate than becomes the grave deli beration of members of the most august body in the community. We have repeatedly shown that the regular orders of the clergy, to whom the Catholic Church in Ireland is so everlastingly indebted, are struck off, at one blow, from even the sanction and acknowledgment of this nefarious law—that they are placed beyond the pale of its provisions —that the insult sand base in dignities of the so-called Catholic Relief Act are sanc tioned and perpetrated by one accursed clause, which, as it were, outlaws the purest, the best, the most learned men in the Church of God. Against this injustice, this foul wrong, this undeserved stigma, the secular clergy and the majority of the hierarchy have spoken out in the voice of indignation. Why not ? Is not the insult to one order an insult to another? Is not a danger to one a danger to another? When the one branch of the great tree is lopped off by the spoiler, is there safety for the other ? If the Church of God yield one step to the force or the fraud of her hereditary oppressors, is not her power of further resistance weakened, her prestige broken ? It is this fear, no less than the gratitude which the whole Church feels towards an order illustrious for its services as eminent for its virtues, that now binds our Church to one bond of fraternity and union, and raises a mighty voice of indignant remonstrance throughout the land. We might, were we so inclined, point out the in dignity offered to the Catholic prelates whose vene rated names we, as Catholics, regret to see paraded in the columns of a Government Gazette—the in sulting difference between " The Most Rev. John George, Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland"—and " The Most Rev. Archbishop, William Crolly." But it is not about such trifles that we seek to arrest the attention of our readers; it is of the principle of the act we complain--it is for the iniquitous provisions we have fear—it is for what we regard as the fatal entrapping of three of our Prelates in the meshes of a Protestant and hostile Government, that we mourn. Oh, the history of our struggles and triumphs is glorious in its lesson of firmness and fortitude ! When the altars of God were defiled, even in the name of that Great Being; when the bishop was hunted down by the bloodhound of an accursed law ; when the priest fled to the cave and the mountain, to offer up the holy sacrifice, of the mass in dark ness, or under the arching canopy of Heaven ; when transportation and death were words familiar to the ear of the minister of religion —even then there was less fear for the independence of that Church, whose first struggles were in the bloody arena, and whose foundations were bathed in the life-tide of its martyrs, than there is now, when, amidst the approval and re verence of the world, it is threatened by the vile contamination of a Protestant Stat e . v May that threatened danger be soon averted by the determined union of the clergy and the laity.—Cork Examiner. THZ FROST AT HAMMIRGH.—We learn from private sources that on the 17th inst., the London mails of the 6th, 10th, and 13th insts., had not reached Hamburgh, in consequence of which, in addition to the entire ob struction of the navigation on the river Elbe by the ice, business in general was exceedingly dull. On the 16th the intensity of the frost was much dimi nished, and on the following day—viz., the 17th, the ther mometer of Raumur exhibited one degree of warmth. Rain had fallen on that day from morning to evening, but there were indications of a very early renewal of frost. The execution of Tschech, at Spandau, for his attempted assassination of the King of Prussia, was known at Hamburgh, and had created no sensation whatever. The Turkish Government had nominated a consul at Hamburgh, in the person of a Portuguese gentleman, who already represents the Go vernment of his own country in the capacity of consul genei al, and he had aot felt himself at liberty to accept the appointment without referring first for permission of the authorities at Lisbon. This is the first appointment of the kind which the Turkish Government have made it. the north of Europe, and it is an indication of a desire to extend the commercial relations of the empire, which cannot fail to be interesting to the mercantile public. SERIOUS FIRE AT THE MANSION OF THE EARL OF HARRINGTON, WHITEHALL-GARDENS. - Considerable consternation was caused yesterday morning (Monday), in the household of the Right Hon. the Earl of Harring ton, in Whitehall-gardens, next door to the town resi dence of Sir Robert Peel, by the discovery of a fire, which, it appears quite evident, had been smouldering for a considerable time, and had broken out in the dress ing-room of his Lordship on the second floor, imme diately over the ball-room. About a quarter after six o'clock the attention of one of the inmates was arrested by a crackling noise, attended by a strong smell of fire. Upon proceeding up stairs and making strict examina tion in the several lower rooms, it was at length dis covered that the fire had originated underneath the hearth of the dressing-roem, , passed along by the joists of the flooring, which at that time were all on fire, whence it proceeded to an elaborately finished recess, most richly ornamented with cornices of gold, of a very beautiful design, and fur nished with a very handsome reclining couch, magnifi cently adorned. These at the time of the discovery were burning rapidly, threatening the destruction of the whole mansion. An immediate attempt to extin guish the flames was made by the servants, but, finding they were unable do so, a messenger was dispatched to the Chandos-street station of the fire brigade, thence to Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the western station, and to the West of England establishment, engines from which speedily arrived. A plug in the gardens was drawn, but the supply of water was very scanty, and buckets filled from the cisterns supplied around the edifice were used with much effect in staying the progress of the flames. By a continuous line of buckets, the supply of water was well maintained, which was judiciously distributed by the firemen ; but the fire was burning in so large a body under the flooring, that it was found necessary by Mr. Fogo to cut away the floor, quite into the ball-room, a considerable portion of the ceiling of which is destroyed. This ball-room is a beau tiful specimen of modern architectural finish. It is elegantly fitted up, and has a deep medallion pattern cornice around the summit of the side walls. In the end next to the dressing-room, where the fire broke out, a hole is cut about two feet square, which it required considerable labour and upwards of an hour to accom plish. This aperture passing through the ceiling of the ball- room, which, by the smoke, the fire, and the water 1 is damaged, the whole will have to be painted and re gilt. In the dressing-room much damage is done. The recess is nearly burned out, the couch is destroyed, a great number of classical figures, beautifully overlaid with gold, are broken, and a variety of articles of vertu are spoiled, as is much of the furniture and elaborate appointments, both by fire, water, and removal, so much so, that it will cost his Lordship a considerable sum to renovate the mansion and supply the loss occasioned by the disaster. DREADFUL ACClDENT.—Yesterday afternoon, be tween two and three o'clock, a man, having the appear ance of a bricklayer, after ascending a ladder in front of the house, No. 26, Chapel street, Pentonville, for the purpose of doing some repairs upon the roof, and walk ing a lew yards upon the parapet, either suddenly fell, or precipitated himself to the ground. The house is a three storey one. The unfortunate man fell upon his face, and, though not literally killed upon the spot, no hope can be entertained of his recovery. lie was taken up covered with blood, several of his limbs being frac tured, and was conveyed by the police, on a stretcher, to the North London hospital, Gray's Inn-lane. The name of the man could out be ascertained by our infor mant, but he lived in lioward's-green, City-road. A woman who keeps a fruit stall opposite the house from which he fell, and who says she had her eyes fixed upon him at the moment, expresses her firm belief that he threw himself off, but this must be considered doubtful. Why is the Polka like bitter beer ? Because there aro so many hops in it. It has been determined on to erect barracks in Portsea for 1,000 men of the line, and orders have been received here to that effect. The barracks are to be erected on the Ordnance Ground, between the Lion and Unicorn Gate .--Hampshire Independent SLAVERY and the FREE CII URCIL A correspondence , between Dr. Chalmers and seve ral other parties, relative to the question of slavery in• the United States (as connected with the Scottish Free Church), has been recently introduced into se veral of the Edinburgh newspapers. The interchange of letters was founded originally on one sent by Dr.- Chalmers to Dr. Thomas Smyth, of Charleston, Caro lina, in which the latter Rev. Dootor was thanked most warmly for the contributions made by himself and his friends to the cause of the Free Church in Scotland. But Dr. Chalmers went further in his epistle. lle used to Dr. T. Smyth certain language, and gave vent to particular sentiments, which, as we do not mean to print the correspondence separately, we may here quote : " I do not need to assure you how little I sympa thise with those who, because slavery happens to pre vail in the Southern States of America, would un-, christianise that whole region, and who even carry their extravagance so far as to affirm that, so long as it subsists, no fellowship or interchange of good offices should take place with its churches or its ministers. As a friend to the universal virtue and liberty of man kind, I rejoice in the prospect of those days when slavery shall be banished from the face of the earth ; but most assuredly the wholesale style of excommuni-. cation contended for by some is not the way to hasten forward this blissful consummation." Here is a different view of things, indeed, from that taken by Dr. Andrew Thomson, a leader of the Scottish Church, who may be named at any time with Dr. Chalmers without a shadow of disparap ment to the latter. Many will remember the indig nant manner in which the former deceased champion of religion and liberty denounced the half-and-half views which Dr. Chalmers now advocates. Can we be unmindful of the noble spirit which Dr. A. Thom son evinced in 1830, when, by the irresistible force of his eloquence, and the backing power of a good cause, he turned nearly the entire people of Scotland, if not, indeed, the majority of the British nation, from their hasty assent to proposed partial mea. sures of slave-emancipation—rousing them to the demand for a full and immediate abolition of that most unnatural species of bondage where man holds property in man ? We turn with pleasure to 'the very words on that occasion of the illustrious And revered speaker. "If the planter had property in the slave," said Dr. Thomson, " he must be able to plead that it is a right of property given to him by God. If man has property in man, the white must have property in the black, and why may not the black also have a right of property in the white ? His (Dr. T.'s) argument was, that slavery was essentially opposed to the first principles of our nature, and at variance with the spirit of our holy religion. It would not do for the slave-holders to tell him that they did not make men slaves. Had they not taken them as slaves they might have been free, for it was just as bad to keep a man in slavery as it was to make him a slave." But without dwelling on the events of that memo rable struggle, we shall allow an American to talk to Dr. Chalmers on this point—an American eminent as an anti-slavery advocate among his brethren of the United States—Mr. Tappan, of New York. Writing to Mr. Joseph Sturge on the letter of Dr. Chalmers, Mr. Tappan says— " I cannot convey to you an adequate idea of the immense mischief such a letter will do in this coun try. The tendency is to pull down what we have been attempting for ten years to build up. It is taking sides with religious professors who hold slaves, whose consciences have been reached by anti-slavery dis cussions. It is administering an opiate to northern pro-slavery ministers, who have been placed in an awkward position by anti-slavery arguments and en treaties. Such a letter as this, proceeding from the pen of one whose writings are exerting a great in fluence in this country, will do more injury than all the good that can be done by his publications in past years. "Why will your ministers of the gospel launch such missiles against the sacred cause of abolition ? Why do they so dishearten us when we are toiling day and night, at such sacrifices, to change public senti ment, win over the consciences of our countrymen, and bring about the overthrow of the cruel system of s:avery ? I have not words to express the grief and astonishment I feel at such strange conduct. In addition to the general character of the letter, let me point your attention to some expressions in it that are in themselves very reprehensible, and unworthy of the character of Dr. Chalmers as a man and a theolo gian. 'Because slavery happens to prevail in the Southern States of America.' Happens 1 Is this proper language for a Doctor of Divinity to use in speaking of a moral offence ? or does Dr. Chalmers think slaveholding consistent with morality and reli gion ? From the expression quoted, it would seem that he does, and that he scarcely thinks it even an offence against humanity and common justice. Slavery prevails in our Southern States, be it known to Dr. Chalmers, because 250,000 slaveholders will that it shall prevail. They hold their fellow-men in bondage, keep them in ignorance, stop their ears at the cry of oppression, and at the remonstrance of the friends of the slave, because, having the power, they will not relinquish it. Happens, indeed!' " Some of the distinguished adherents of the Free Church have already attempted to remedy the error committed, but, if we may judge from the letter of the Rev. Henry Grey, they can but clear themselves, not their brethren and colleagues. All that Dr. Chalmers has done, on being appealed to for an ex planation of his sentiments, has been to defer it on the plea of his sessional occupations as a teacher of Di vinity. He proposes, however, to make the matter " a study" as soon afterwards as possible. He and his brethren of the Free Church n ould indeed require to do so, as dangerous inferences and impressions have followed the publication of this correspondence. —Scotsman. " SURPLICE AND GOWN."—A rector in the diocese of Exeter has settled this question in rather a comical way. A few days ago he preached, without either Env puke or gown, in his great coat. The Very Rev. the Dean of Jersey arrived in that island on Wednesday, and was on the following day inaugurated into his new office before the Ecclesiaatical Court. THE REBELLION OF 1745.—1 t is in contemplation to celebrate the centenary of the Rebellion of Forty-five, next August, in the West Highlands.—Carlisle Journal. The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledges the receipt of one sovereign enclosed to him in a note signed " China Crape," which money will be placed to the public credit. _ _ It is said that Messrs. Rogers and Co. find the acceptors of the bills of exchange which were stolen from them come forward very handsomely, most of them having paid their acceptances upon the guarantee of the house tolieep them _ _ The Marquis of Downshire has been sworn into office as High Steward of Reading, in the room of the late Viscount Sidmouth. CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE INSPECTOR.—At the Somerset Winter Assizes, just over, a charge of rape preferred against four men, named Lacey, Poole, England, and Wicks, by Ann Holbrook, fell to the ground in consequence, it was understood, of an alit ged mock trial of the case having taken place at a public house in Taunton. In this farce, Frost, an inspector of the Bath police, was stated to have acted the part of " Judge ;' and Mr. Baron Alders,n remarked strongly on the supposed proceeding, attributing the acquittal of the prisoners to the effect produced by it on the minds of the jury. These circumstances having reached the knowledge of the Bate magistrates, Monday was fixed on for their investigation. The affair was sifted to the bottom. and turned out to have been mere " moonshine." A. mock trial of some sort did certainly take place ; it wa., however, found to be entirely disconnected with tl e bu siness of the assize, and arose from the circumstance of one Butt, a witness in the Lansdown-riot case having gone into the bed-room of Ann Holbrook, Matilda Flower, and some others, and there washed himself. In the evening, some of the "ladies" jocularly proposed to try him under the provisions of "the Strong Beer Act," for having taken the liberty of entering their chamber. This they did, and inflicted on him a fine of a quart of beer, which he, however, not recognising the jurisdiction of the " Court," nor the " Act " under which it was constituted, refused to disburse. Frost was present during a part of these proceedings, but took no part in them beyond advising Butt to pay the money. This little incident having reached the ears of the counsel for the defence, they made an ingenious use of it ; for, by puzzling the young women with questions, they so bothered them that an impression was left on the mind of the judge and jury, that a mock trial of the case had actually been got up, in which Frost acted the principal part, and Holbrook and Co. that of witnesses. The ma gistrates having consulted Frost, was fully exonerated from the charge made against him. He was also in formed that a copy of the depositions would be for worded to Mr. Baron Alderson.—Somerset County Gazette. NOVEL PLAN OF EVADING TIIE NEW BANKING, LAW.—It appears that in some of the iron districts is novel plan has been adopted to evade the New Law of Banking. At certain periods the proprietors of iron works require advances to pay wages, or for some pur pose of the kind, and they ad3ress themselves in the first instance to the neighbouring bankers. In some cases the bankers have already issued all the paper that the new law allows, and at the same time are anxious to afford the desired accommodation. To do this they give a credit to some party—probably a tradesman—in the vicinity, and inform their applicants that, although they (the bankers) cannot assist them, this party can accommodate them with small cheques. Of course there is nothing in the law that can hinder a person keeping a drawing ac count with a barker from drawing cheques for any small amount he pleases, and as the signature is perfectly well known in the district, such cheques perform all the func tions of a local issue. In some districts the bankers have been known to supply the drawing party with c he q u e s ready printed for the purpose required.— Hampshire Advertiser. CHELTENHAM.-Our %inter season may now ba considered as having assumed its determinate character, and it is most gratifying for us to be able to report that it has every appearance of being the best, certainly the fullest, that Cheltenham has over known,-•-Ckekenhaue Looker-on, s- THE Si' LONDuN, TUESDAY EVEN I.' DECEMBER 24, 844.