The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-16 00:00:00

GREAT AN TI-CORN-LAW MEET- ' looking forward with anxiety to the arrival of the spee c h when he fir s t b roug h t f orward his alterations in the iNG IN THE GUILDHALL . of the President of the United States, which they might tariff. Nobody knows what he intended to do. expect within the next ten days. That was a document We only know that he has run away from Thee-Lord Mayor of the City of London having, in which he knew the Government of this country did not office—that he has left the ship without a compliaiice with a requisition from th e citizens, rtost like to face.—(Hear, hear.) The United States of helmsman.—(Loud cheers.) On the first signs of respectably and numerously sig ne d, ca ll e d a p u bli c meet- America were now somewhat more extensive than they danger his courage failed, and he retired.—(Cheers.) ing for' yesterday in the Guildh a ll, th a t spaciou s building, were a few years ago; in fact, they had extended all Lord Jchn Russell was now called in. —(This was fole for !tome time before th e p rocee di ngs commenced, became over the continent. Such of these States as were lowed by loud and long-continued cheering.) We are , crowded - to excess. A f e w minutes ast one o'clock the Lord P s it ua t e i n l an d or at a di stance from any port all deeply interested in the public career of that states --- - Mayor came upon the platform, and amongst those who wa n t e d t o dispose of their produce to the best man; yet, notwithstanding that, I will say, as an elector - accompanied him we observed Alderman Wood, Richard advantage.—(Hear, hear.) The States had now aof the City of London, that I wish, for the sake -=-` - Cobden, Esq., M.P, whose appearance was greeted majority i n the Congress, and it might be relied upon, of our cause, that Lord John Russell was not her Ma with loud cheering ; Milner Gibson, Esq , M.P.; James that they never would meet this country upon terms of jesty's adviser, but that she should receive the Duke of Pattison, Esq , M.P. for London ; Dr. Bowring, M.P. ; amicable feeling and mutual interest until they had free Richmond in his place,—(Hear, hear.) Let him try to D. ‘`. hittle Harvey, Esq.; W. D. Saul, Esq. ; Ashurst. access to the markets of this country.—(Hear, hear.) He form a Cabinet, with Sir John Tyrrell in the Home lesq. ; -- Xorris, Esq., proprietor of the Railway Times; had heard a great deal said about the protection of the office, and Colonel Sibthorp at the Horse Guards, and Mr. Moffat, M.P. ; R a ik es Currie, M.P. ; _ Hastie, landed interest ; but he could assure that class that it see the issue. Let them try a Protectionist Govern- M.P. ; Wm. Williams, M.P. ; Sheriff Lawrie ;T. M. would be infinitely more secure and satisfactory to them meat, and see what they can do.—(Hear, hear.) Robinson, Esq. ;H. L. Keeling, Esq. ; Ralph Ricardo, to have the corn-laws repealed altogether and all artifi- lam sure such an object—. such a Ministry Esq. ; Charles Perkins, Esq., &c. &c. cial prices for food.—(Cheers.) Until that be done, he would kill us all with laughter. If Lord John Russell At a quarter past one o'clock precisely would ask, how was the farmer to act ? How was he to undertakes the government of the country with 180 or The LORD MAYOR came forward to the front of the take a farm ? What was be to bid for it ?—(Hear.) 200 men only to vote for his measures, and support him platform and said—Gentlemen, I h ave called this meet- In fact, he knew not how to proceed whil e i n hi s position at all events l am sure h e will act in a ing in compliance w ith a requ i s i t i on o f my f e ll ow - c i t i- these corn-laws existed, for all was now con- m uc h more dignified manner than the Minister who rens, most respectably sign e d, i n or d er t o afford you an fusion—(Hear)—and a confusion so great that the has ran eway with a majority of ninety behind opportunity of expressing y ou r sen ti men t s on the ques- present Ministry did not dare to face it—(Hear, hear)— his back.—(Loud cheers.) Suppose he does accept tion of the corn-laws. I have now only to observe but it was for the electors of London to be now serious office, and stand by the people on this question—and that that I trust you will adhere strictly to the subject for and deter m i ne d i n the good cause, the discussion of which you are assembled, and Id o and they might r es t h e w ill d o so l am firmly persuaded—and supposing assure ou that I shall endeavour to secure to ever er assured of success.—(Cheers.) that he is def ea t e d by the protectioni s t s i n P ar li ament, y y p Mr. Wm. HeavEs next came forw ar d. H e sa id h e what f ollows ? A general appeal to the country. In son who wishes to address the meeting a patient and would not detain them many minutes in observing upon that case wh a t w ill you d o i n the City of London ? Why apprattentive hearing—(Hear, hear)—and I trust you w ill the resolution, for be was certain that it woxle meet send four good ones.—(Cheers.) We must have four good oach the discussion of the subject calmly and di s - with the unanimous approbation of the meeting.—(llear, ones and no shams.—(A Voice here called out, "We will assionately.—(Cheers.) hear.) He would just call the attention of the meeting have you for one.") No, continued the Hon. Gentleman, I The Lord Mayor's Secretary having read the regal- to the fact, that the feelings of the country had now do not intend leaving Stockport till Igo in for Bucking • sition, signed by 1,230 of the electors, attained such a height in regard to the corn-laws, haneshire.—(Loud and enthusiastic cheering.) With The LORD MAYOR said he would now read a letter that the Prime Minister himself had been convinced you, electors of the City of London, it must ba four or he had received from Lord John Russell.—(Hear.) of the necessity for their total repeal.—(Loud cheers.) none. It must not be as at present, half and half—two His Lordship then read the letter, in which It was but a few years back that they had met in that voting on one side and two on the other—like parties in the noble writer said t h at the peculiar po- hall, and declared in favour of a Bill—the Reform Bill— an action, firing the half of their guns on their own sition in which he was at present placed would pre- and the Government of the day resolved to carry it; but fi iends.—(Loud cheers.) When the election takes vent him attending the meeting. The Lord Mayor then even that was spoiled, not by those who had originated place, you must do as they do in America, introduced or introduced it, h u t it was spo il e d i n i ts progress through have a ticket for four free traders, and go the whole Mr. Thew; w h o sa id t h ey were met to express an the Legislature by a few interested persons, who intro- ticket —(Cheers.)—Four good men must be got to re. opinion on the exi s ti ng corn -l aws , an d he suggested duced so many qualifications into it that it was rendered present you ; two of these you have already got ; two that the conclusion they should come to was, that the almost useless.—(Hear.) But now that the people were others you must obtain.—(Cheers.) When the time corn -lan s should be repealed.—(Loud cheers.) resolved to have a repeal of the corn-laws, that repeal does come for taking the sense of the country, you will lie would briefly give his reasons for that must be without any qualification whatever.—(Cheers.) have to set the example. Your election takes suggestion. In the first place, as conveyed in the They should have a total and effectual repeal of every place first, and you must make it such as resolution he was about to propose, the principle tax upon food.—,Cheers.) The meeting was aware will be felt in every part of the country. of protection was bad, false in theory, hurtful to that Mr. Cobden was present—(Cheers)—and therefore I know you will do it, for your registry has the class protected, and injurious to the whole commu- he (Mr. IL) would not longer deprive them of the been right well looked after these last two years. With pity ; in the second place, it was a bad law in its ge- pleasure of hearing him.—(Cheers.) He was a citizen i egard to the metropolitan boroughs, lam sure they neral application, but more particularly so in the present of this county, and had been received everywhere with will not return any curry powder candidates, but deter• state of this country ; awl in the third place, it operated the greatest enthusiasm and honour, for he was indeed mined supporters of free trade.—(Loud cheer..) m . iesue.. en a partial and injurious manner at most times, but n ow regard e d as th e great leader of this movement. sex will be sate, as will also every large town in the more decidedly so when famine stared the nation in the Mr, COBDEN then came forward, and was received North. We shall have Edinburgh and Glasgow; and do face, as it now did. Some four years ago a law was with the most deafening and prolonged shouts of ap- not for a moment think that a protection candidate will asse d f or a sliding-scale, but what had been the result? plause. When it had subsided he said,—My Lord go for Bristol or Newcastle. Give us a general election, lied it produced the wonders promised ?—(No, no.) Mayor and brother electors of the City of London, and we will carry a repeal of the corn-laws.—(Loud Had it regulated the supply i n a l eg iti ma t e manner ? although I have been almost living in public meetings cheers.) We will command the unanimous voice of —(No, n o .) Had it not turned out a total failure ? in various parts of this country for the last fortnight, the Members returned from every large and powerful (Cries of "Yes, it has.") At th a t t i me many honest yet it was not until I had come here and witnessed constituency of the country.—(Cheers.) Do the calf men—at least he believed them honest—and he was one this magnificent gathering, that I felt the full representatives of Essex think that they can stand in of them, differed from the sliding-scale, and advocat e d a force of the strength which this great move- array against the power and the wealt h of this great fixed duty. That opinion was thought the best adapted merit now enjoys. —(Loud cheers.) Hitherto we hav e country on such a question as this ? (Hear, hear.) If then to the exigencies of the country. Circu ms t ances been dealing only with the exhumation of the body Lord John Russell stands to the principles declared in had changed since then, and now he was an advocate politic ;it has already received a goodly kick in Lance- his letter, and lam sure he will, the country will be at for a fixed duty no longer, but for absolute free trade. shire, and a blow of no inconsiderable magnitude was his back. He will also have the support of a disin - (Loud cheers.) He could advocate such a view in the also inflicted on it from Edinburgh.—(Loud Cheers.) But terested organisation at his back, who seek to obtain present state of the country. But in advocating the now at length the head is in motion. I have now neither place nor power, but whose only object is to free total repeal of the corn-laws, they should do so, not as brought with me a message to you from the north of industry —to emancipate the commercial, the middle, a party question —not as a measure to benefit one class England. They are at work there for you ; they and the working classes from an injurious monopoly— at the expense of another cla ss _ b et as a measure well have taken a position in this great cause, and they (Hear)—and who, having once accomplished that great calculated to benefit the great body of the come have no doubt that you will sustain them with work,will be fully satisfied with it as their reward.—(Loud munity. They sought not to benefit one class honour and credit to yourselves in this great move- cheers.) The time has gone by for tricksters and chicanery or party. hut to benefit every class of society. ment—(Cheers)—for what would this cause be with- men to deal with us. The country wants honesty and A great difference of opinion prevailed in this country as out your assistance ?—the assistance of the inhabitants straightforwardness —a n honest man to speak plainly to the comparative advantage of an agricultural or of aof the metropolis of the greatest commercial empire in what his opinions are—to print them and put his name manufacturing population. There were those amonget the known world. —(Cheers . ) The importance of to them, so that they might be brought to bear against them who advocated the existen ce only of an agricul- every movement which takes place in this city is him in future times if he attempted to vaccilate. That tural population, and said it was greatly superior to a felt and acknowledged in the most distant parts man we have long looked for, and we have him now. manufacturing population •; but how absurd was it in of the civilised world.—(Hear, hear.) And let me (Cheer w ;. Now, gentlemen, it was said by one of the this age to entertain such a view of society. How could ask then, can laws be suffered to exist which speakers who preceded me, that four years ago the th e y go back to an agricultural state of society ?--(Hear, would have the effect of convulsing the mercantile opera- League would have been satisfied with a compromis e . hear.) It would be as easy for a man to return to the age tions of such a vast mass of people?—(Cheers.) Why Gentlemen, I can only say, that for my own part, I a childho o d, as it would be for this countyy. advanced should we not be so circumstanced as to be at perfect would never have been a party to any compromis e of as it was in civilisation, to re t urn t o an agricultural liberty to exchange the products of our industry for that this question.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) I never state of society. But if they were to return to an agri- food which is offered to us with an open hand in looked to a repeal of the corn-laws as a matter of ex cultural state of society, what was to become of our ma- every country of the globe? Who are they that pediency, or a matter of com av e npromi rigse. I looked to it on nufactures ? Wero they to be destr o y e d ?—(C r i es o f will not permit us to do this ? Oh, we the broad ground th a t you ho ht to tax the food of " No, no.") No, it was perfectly absurd, it was mon- must find them in Buckinghamshire and Essex.— the people —no right to prevent the industrious man from Wells, it was perfectly ridiculous to hold such an argu- (Cheers and laughter.) In Essex they had the great living by the fruits of his industry, and I say in principle meat in the present state of society.—(Great ap- pr.geotion gathering ; and they tell us that that which we are bound to remove the corn-law, and by God's help pla.use.) What was the question which agitated the coup- lis to stem this mighty avalanche—this great movement we will remove it.—(Cheers.) But we seem to be try at this moment ? It was, whether an agricultural 1 —is to come from Chelmsford.—(Laughter.) Now he talking of a compromise still ; for I see by the Morning or a manufacturing state of society was best ; but let , could not better illustrate our position, than by taking a Herald —(Laughter) —I see according to that venerable him remind those thousands who had started this ques- glance at what they have been doing in Essex. Let us authority, that if Sir Robert Peel had brought in this ti on th a t there was a population more to be cared for,' see wh o they have got to join them in their cause , and measure, he intended to have compensated the mono and more to be feared, than either an agricultural or a what are their chances of success.—(Hear, hear.) Essex, l ists. C i s of " Oh, oh," and laughter.) And manufacturing, and that was a starving population.— we are told, is fertile in wheat, and, as a friend near Inc this paper goes on to say that a country which (Applause.) How were they to deal with them ? Would has suggested, very fruitful in calves.—(Great laughter.) compensates slave-owners would never object to gunpowder stop stop them—would curry powder feed them ? Now I believe that all the wheat the Essex people have pensete land•owners.—(Elear, hear.) Why, gentlemen, —(No, no.) When first he heard of the NOble Duke's to sell comes to London. You are the customers to the the difference is this, that we are not slaves, and do not recipe he was amused at it, but upon more serious Essex growers. You buy it and pay for it; and, I believe, intend to be so.—(Cheers.) I will tell you the sort of thought his indignation was moved, because he saw in give a higher price for it than would be obtained in any compensation I would give them, if compensation they it reason to believe that it was the intention of the . other market in the world.—(Cheers.) But then you say ought to have. They should take just that sort of coin- Noble Duke to ' , Keit° the stomachs of the labouring you want more, and must have it. But then Sir John pensation which one of our city policemen would give population, for the purpose of making them content, Tyrrel calls some people together, and they tell if he traced out a lost piece of furniture—perhaps a and as quietly as possible submit to starvation. What you that there is enough for you in Essex, last bit of furniture of some industrious artizan that were the arguments in favour of the corn-law? Why, and that, therefore, you shall not buy any more. That had been stolen, and he had traced to the hands of a first, it was said-that agriculture was the base of society. is exactly a fair epitome of what the great mass of the light-fingered gentleman. (Laughter.) The light- Let them make the base as broad as they possibly could. people of England are told by the landlords of England. fingered gentleman says, "I have been enjoyine this Let them extend it to other countries. It was —Meer, hear.) But you tell them that you will buy piece of furniture for the last thirty years. I have asked what would they do in time of war, if they re- wheat whenever you like, and that you have a right to been making arrangements founded upon its possession. pealed the corn-laws ? Why, l e t t h em rema i n at peace, buy as much more as you can, after having got all that You will not, therefore, take it away from and let them make it fir the interest of other nations to they need in Essex.—(Laughter and cheers.) These me, without making me some compensation;" remain at peace with them. Let them buy their corn gentlemen of Essex are rather bold, considering that upon which the poor artizan steps in, as we will step in, from America when theycould not produce emus:bin their you are their customers.—(Laughter.) Now, it and puts in the plea of those who have been deprived of own country, and then America w ou ld no t go to war with i s the custom in the City for melt of busi- their own property for a long series of years, and says, them. Now, let us look at this for a moment. In the first n ess t o b e courteous, and civil, and polite to "Compensation indeed, away with him to the police place, he could never understand h ow th e p resent system those by whom they are enabled to keep office, and let him have compensation there !"._ of policy was calculated to advance the resources of the their shops open. But the Essex gentlemen are rather (Applause.) There is one part of the resolu eoun try, or add to its prosperity. He thought the interest above their customers. There is wheat ; o be bad in tion to which I am speaking which I look to of the proprietors must increase with the prosperity of leus,ia, in Poland, in Spain, and in America, but if we with great satisfaction, and I wish here to express the country, for if there was an increase in the supply of attempt to seek these markets for a supply, in steps this my gratification te you for having passed a food, it would be necessary for the landl gds to improve law and stops us, unless we pay an enormous duty.— resolution wherein you direct, you request, and instruct their crops. Besides, when there was a great demand for (Hear, hear.) But we have been told there is enough of your four Members to vote for a total and immediate a supply of food from abroad at hand, there was a ten- fond in the country. One gentleman who has addressed repeal of the corn-laws.—(A Voice, "We have not dency to increase the price of corn in those countries, and you (Mr. Wilkinson) said there was no scarcity in the passed that yet.") But, gentlemen, it is coming, and I therefore enable the growers of corn in this country to land.—(hear.) Judging by the capacious spencer of the am sure you will pass it.—(Lund cheers.) It is the compete with the foreign grower. Food was necessary Hon.Gentlernan, there does not appear to be—(Laughter) sort of language which electors should hold out for all classes of the people, and therefore those who judging, I sa y, by th e capacity of his spencer, he ap- to their representatives, and it is an ex would tax it do wrong, while they do not hesitate to pears to be well filled.— (Renewed laughter and cheers.) ample that will be followed throughout the country, try and cheapen their own luxuries.—(Hear, hear.) It No doubt the Hon. Gentleman has enough.—(Laughter.) and there will be meetings everywhere of electors to was the boast of Huski sson th a t h e had expunged : from There seems no scarcity there.—(Loud laughter.) Now, instruct their representatives to vote for what is right the statute-book the word " prohibition.' —(Cheers.) to all who think with this Hon. Gentleman, all who sup- and just in this matter.—(Hear, hear.) This is the true Let it be the boast of the people of the present day that pose that there is enough because they happen to be spirit which actuated our forefathers when they met in they had expunged from the statute-book the word well filled, I will say, what is the opinion of those who this hall seventy years ago, when they had to deal with " protection.' —(Cheers.) Let the Government pass Lave not so good a spencer as that gentleman appears to the power of the great and arrogant dictation laws for the repression and the prevention of crime, and have ? What do they think who happen not to be so of an autocrat Ministry. To show that they did let them too have taxes—as few as possible—(Laughter) well filled respecting this question p ? Let those who not quail before the crown of the Sovereign, —for the maintenance of the State ; but let them have no wish to know whether there is a scarcity or not go to look to that monument (pointing to the monument of taxes which would operate as a premium upon famine.— Bethnal-green, in the neighbourhood of S p i talfields, and Beckford) put up there to record an act of spirited (Cheers.) In the spirit of those observations he begged h ear w h a t they have got to say respecting this momen- citizenship on the part of one of your Lord Mayors when leave to move the first resolution.—(Cheers.) tous question.—(Hear.) They at least will say, we do in the presence of a King. But, gentlemen, our strug- Mr. RICARDo came forward to second the resolution. not at present get plenty of Essex bread.—(Cheers.) If gle is not with our most gracious Sovereign, she does He said that if it had b een necessary to apply talent there is plenty in the land there is no use to go 3,000 miles not wish to have the interest of the people sacrificed, she to the seconding of that resolution, he would not have to America for a supply ; but if there is not plenty, does net desire to reign over merely sordid men, come forward to do so ; but th e propositi on it h a ve then that system which prevents the people from receiv- she desires only to live as the Queen and Sovereign of a c arved was so self-evident, that it carried conviction ing, a supply must be an unrighteous systens.—(Loud free and contented people.—(Applause.) No, your strug with it, and, therefore, it would not be necessary for him cheers.) Every law is bad, and to he condemned, that gle is not with the Queen ; it is with a section not most to say u word in support of it ; and, indeed, the talented interf eres to prevent a supply of food to the people of intelligent —not most disinterested—nor a most useful and eloquent gentleman who had proposed it left him a ny co un t r y —(Cheers) Now, gentlemen, with regard pert of your country.--(Hear and lauter.) Your not a word to say i n additi on , H e b egge d t o second the to the protective societies, of which we have beard so struggle is against a largo section e gg the landed resolutein.—Clicere.) much. They tell us cginfidently that there is a sufficient aristocracy of the country, whose everlasting struggles Mr. Wieutesoer said he wishel to speak on the reso- supply of corn and potatoes in the country. If this is are to keep you, the people of England, within the nar lution before it was puts He was as determined an so I wish to know what is the matter in head- rowest limits they possibly can for the exercise of your enemy to the corn-lass as any of th em , h u t h e could not quarters ?—(Loud cheers.) If there is no deficien c y in skill and the reward of your industry.—(Applause.) agree to the conclusions that m any h a d come t o in the potato crop, what have we got wrong in the Cabinet? They wish rather to live great amongst a little and arguing the question. Ilad it not been for the violent —(Renewed cheers.) During the last session of Tar- impoverished people than to rise with the greatness language used by many of the advocates of free-trade, liament, near to the close of it, judging from appear- arid increased power of thoee who will rise higher the corn-laws might have been repealed.—(Uproar ies had materially arreste d) lv a ie n i ces, Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham were re- still if they will only allow claims to those beneath He repeated that such part M i ng in l the luxurious idea that power and place were them.—(Applause.) Your struggle is with the mono the progress of free-trade.—(lncreased Y uproar. Moreover, it had been said that at present there was a wetehyeaavtthatstthtsostlast a c l a if b e i t n irne . .— b (C k heers.) But now polising landowners.of this country, who are but a hand deficiency of food in the country, lie did not believe were nothing wrong r g en agout theetcirs broken a e n n d u i p i , and if there L ful of men. Confront them with the eoe of this scarcity of ) o • o f u nty ,a d ti o e n y fr a o r n e t ashu t ag cork upo n .l p th e n catara ct that there was.—(Great uproar.) He maintained food, what the matterean be I wan e t p t s c:know ? se ( then© WAS no deficiency of food.—(The speaker No, gentlemen, there are ominous signs in the sudden will Niagar a. shrink into their them native w insignifi m ea i nc lo e r . is,a o un t dl was here stopped by a tremendous burst of hissing rupture of the Cabinet.—( Hear, hear.) I believe it is upon injustice, their power will shrink from under and yelling, which lasted for several minutes. based on some reports received respecting the crops in them, and then they will forget to ask who will com- The speaker, after the exhaustion of the first volley of Ireland, and in many parts of England, reports informing pensate them. But they are not entitled to court shouts, attempted t o go on, b u t after several Sir Robert that the evil is much worse than pensation, because they will only be giving up that attempts desisted.) any intimation the public have yet received, that which they never were entitled to. They passed the The LORD MAYOR came forward and requested the this sadden break up has taken place. Since bread-tax in 1815, but they never had a right to it, and meeting to give a patient hearing to Mr. Wilkinson. I have come into this hall a gentleman has put it was passed under protest from the people of England. Mr. WILKINSON again essayed to speak, but after the a printed statement into my hand respecting the potato Why there are men living now, old enough to delivery of of several senten c es, which were inaudible to crop ; and I may add, no gentleman that I know of is bet how the thousands assembled around the Mansion those even immediately around him, on account of the bett er qualified to give a statement on the question house to sign the petition against this tax, but it was hisses and shouts with which he was assailed, he stood than he is. He says, in the paper in question, that simply against the tax. They prayed in a body the Par. still. Then retiring amidst loud and indignant cries of the number of sacks of potatoes delivered in the port 'lament to give time t o cons id er what its effects might " Turn him ou t ; " " Off, o ff ; " " We have had enough of of London during the three last months of the years be upon he nation. Upwards of 40,000 names were you," he again sat down. of 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, were as follows :—ln the put to that petition in one day. London was moved from The LORD MAYOR then took the sense of the meeting three months ending December, 1842, the number its very centre, to oppose this infamous law. We say, whether th e speaker should proceed, when the negative was 440,700 sacks ; in the three months ending Decene- therefore, down with the idea of compensation—down was carried by an immense show of hands. her 1843, 315,800 ;in the three months, ending 1)e- with the idea of compromise —we go for the total, hie- Mr. Wiegtersoer then retired amidst loud and con- cember 1844, 381,800 sacks ; and in the three last mediate, and unqualified repeal of the corn-laws.— tinned derisive shouts and cheers. months of the present year 1845, 195,400 sacks. NOW, (The Hon. Gentleman resumed his seat amidst thunders The Loan NfAroa having again put it to the vote gentlemen, what was the fluctuation in the price of of applause.) whether the speaker should be heard, the question met th ese pot a t oes in 1842, 43, 44, 45. In the three former The resolution was then put and carried by acclama with its former fate—namely, was negatived, - of these years they ranged from 40s. to 90s. per ton. tion. Mr. Wilkinson having bowed to the wish of' the meet- In the present }'ear the average has been from 10a. to Mr. P. TAYLOR moved the next resolution, which was ing, the original resolution was put, and carried una- 150 s. per ton. I also learn from the same gentleman t o th e following effect :—" That our four representatives saunously.. that of thes e twelve cargoes some were so bad, that they be requested and instructed to support the re- Mr. RonEwrsoN said, however trite might be the re- were cleared out to the lightermen, and given to them to peal of the corn -laws in the Commons mark, he felt himself bound to say that he felt perfectly carry away for the purpose of being converted into ma- House of Parliament." Whether they would all incompetent to do justice to the subject now under dis- nure.—(llear.) There was also an instance of one four do so he could not tell, but if they did not he cussion. This w as p art l y ow i ng to natural inabilit and partly y, car go , w hi c h, at t h e cost of 30/, had to be dug out and trusted they would follow the example of Sir Robert to havi ng Linn on l y that minute called on t h rown away, being of no use w h atever to any one. I Peel, and resign. —(Loud laughter.) Without mean- Ttehpeproposea resolution to uc hi ng t h e corn-laws.—(llear.) have latterly b een i n every part of England, and I re- ing to hold out any threat, he wished to speakercorninu here read a resolution to the effect, " net gret to say that the accounts of the potato crop coincided nicate a little information to them. Mr. Cobden the protective lava, commonly called the corn-laws, had with what I have stated regarding the port of Lond on ._ h a d t o ld th e m that great pains had been taken not afforded protection to any existing interest in the (H ea r.) I beli ev e that by next spring —and it is m with the registration of the Cit of London in the country, that they had engendereden strife amongst diffe- duty to state it—there will not be a sound potato to be last two years, and he was w i tness that there had been rent classes at home. hostilit against usabroad a p pl ied for the purposes of seed.—(Hear.) It is easy for great attention paid to it. He was happy to say that and that the sliding-scale had e ffected none of . th e' o ur dukes and squires, maundering like old women, to there - was not the slightest doubt that when good, but all the evils that had been predicted of it.-- (Hear(Hear , say there is no s carc ity, an d t o attempt to arrest the ever an election took place, four thorough free , and cheers.) Now let them look at the conse- opinion in favour of fr . ee-trade. They can go out traders would be returned for the City of London quenees that were likely to result from persisting in to shoot and hunt during the day, and when they by a very large majority. Some gentleman said no, but these laws. On the sth of January last there were only come in they can regale themselves with venison, the roof would appear by and by. In the spirit of 360,000 quarters of corn in the market, wh il e - on the champag ne , and th e like dainties. With them there is these p remarks he begged leave to move the resolution Baltic there was a superabundant supply ; but fro m this no scar city ; not so with the people.—(Hear, hear.) which he had read to them. they were unable to derive any benefit. He would con- But these men arc ignorant of what is going on in the Dr. BOWRING came forward to second the resolution, dude by moving this resolution.— (Hear, hear.) cottages upon their own estates • • and, being ignorant, and was received with loud cheers. When silence was Mr. CHRISTIE seconded the resolution ; but he deli. ere . unprepared with a remedy for the evil which restored he said—My Lord Mayor and fellow-electors, I vered .his observations in so low a tone that it was in e . Is impending. I am quite certain that before have been delighted at seeing the work of conversion possible to hear hi m , H owever, h e was understood to the fine weather of next spring sets in, that going on even here. Against the first resolution three say that he hail great pleasure in feconding the r.esolu- whole districts will be dependant on charity, leen had the courage to hold up their hands, against the tion, which was put and carried amidst loud cheering. and in consequence will be flocking into the second two, and against the third one. I believe now Mr. CHARLES PEEK/s8 p ropose d t h e next resolution. great cities and towns for relief; and you rn this great that those who oppos e this resolution will not venture Be said that the resolution en t ruste d to hi m t o propose city will be called on to subscribe to save the starving to show themselves at all.—(Hear, and laughter.) You contained matter for the grave an d ser i ous consideration peasantry from famine. And what is the state of things have done your duty nobly and bravely to day, and of the meeting, as well as for a ll p ersons i n t hi s coun try respecting the Executive of the country ?—(Hear, hear.) the object of this resolution is to call upon those who who were in any manner connected with the land. We have no Government Sir R. Peel has taken flight profess to represent you in the House of COMMOnS to SHIPWREC K , I n a lett er from Barra, dated B c h Having read the resolution, he proceeded to say on the first operation of his sliding scale. — (Laughter do their duty. How delightful it is to wit- ult., we have the following :—"A vessel, the clew of which he would ask the people to look at the aud cheers.) Though possessing a majority of ninety in ness the progress of this great questi on . When are all Spaniards, was late stranded near Alasdale. She is Present di ffi cult and embarrassing position of the the House of Commons he h as ran a wa y I s ee my fri en d appea r befor e y ou wh o , i n a spirit the Imbedded in sandy so that the amount of injury suffered has country by reason of the resignation of the present from his own handiwork.......(u -.ear, and laughter.) most disinterested and most selfesacrifici ng , first came not yet been ascertained. The cre w of the unfortunate vessel Ministry—(Hear.) The Ministry had looked about in Thi s does not show much Pluck on his part.—(Ren ewe d forward to organise that admirable work whose effects were all saved by means of a rope cast from her towards the every direction for an excuse or a means of escape, but laught er .) But he has not even told us what h e intend e d we now see visible in every part of the land, how shore. Part of the cargo, which consists of fish, has been arrive from Stornoway."—reverness Coririer• landed, but cannot be sold until the Comptroller of Cuonms e ve r found they could not shrink from the responsibility t o d o O n this occasion he has Put on as much mystery littl ld anticipate that here, the wits tbeY had i neurred.—(Hear.) This country was now t o the fre e traders as he did to the a gricultural ititerest of London, his proposal could be the wit 4 THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDA Y EVENING. DECEM'BEtt 16, 1845. : CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. (Before the Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR, the RECORDER, &c.) Caroline Cummins, 23, spinster, and Mary Cummins, 21, were indicted fur feloniously stealing a silver coffee pot, value 141., the property of Sarah Hunter Taylor Cathcart, in the dwelling -house of Charles Shaw. In another count the property was said to belong to Mr. Shaw. It will be remembered that the prisoners were ar raigned upon an indictment, charging them with being concerned with other persons in a very extensive rob bery from the house of Mr. Shaw, in whose house the prisoner Caroline lived as servant, at the last session of this Court, but upon the Counsel for the prisoner making a suggestion that Mrs. Shaw, the wife of the prosecutor, had sanctioned th e pawning of the property, and that lady being too ill then to attend to contradict the insinuation, the prisoners obtained an acquittal, and the other indictments were then ordered to stand over to the present session, in order that Mrs. Shaw might be enabled to attend. Mr. PARRY having briefly stated the circumstances under which the charge was brought against the pri soners, and alluded to the nature of the defence set up on the former occasion, proceeded to call the witnesses. From their testimony it appeared that the prosecutor, Mr. Charles Shaw, is a solicitor on Fish -street-hill, and his country residence was No. 11, Walworth-terrace, where the prisoner, Caroline Cummins, was employed as servant in his establishment. It seems that a lady named Cathcart had left in Mr. Shaw's care a box, containing a large quantity of silver plate, which was corded and placed under his bed for security. In the month of October it was discovered that the box had been opened and a great deal of the plate abstracted, and the pri- soner, Caroline Cummins, upon being taxed with the robbery, then gave her mistress seventeen duplic.stes, and admitted to her master, who afterwards questioned her, that she had taken the property at the instigation of her sister Mary, and that she had given her the articles to pledge. Mrs. Shaw, upon being cross-examined by Mr. Bar, itseutee, said that in the previous January she had dis covered that the plate was pledged, and the prisoner Caroline then also admitted that she had pledged it ; but on her going upon her knees and entreating her forgive ness, she consented to advance the money to redeem the property, and kept the circumstance from the knowledge of her husband. She said that the prisoner had b en many years in her service, and she acted as she did solely from a feeling of kindness towards her, and she declared that she had not the slightest knowledge of the fact of the subsequent pawning until the prisoner pro duced the duplicates. Mr. Shaw confirmed the testimony of his wife, and added that when he questioned the prisoner Caroline, she said that her sister Mary would come to the house, and that she had compelled her to give her the plate to pledge, and she begged him to have mercy upon her. Christopher Greeves, the shopman of Mr. Turner, a pawnbroker in the Walworth-road, proved that the pri soner Mary Cummins pledged the coffee-pot at his master's shop on the 30th of March, in the name of Mary Back. The coffee-pot wag produced, and identified by Miss Cathcart as being her property. Mr. BALLANTINE having briefly addressed the jury, after a short deliberation they returned a verdict of Guilty against bath prisoners. The RECORDER said the Court would be glad to have some information with regard to the prisoners, in order to guide its judgment as to what sentence ought to be passed upon them. Mrs. Shaw informed the Learned Judge that Mary Cummins hal been in her service several years ago, but she had discharged her, and forbade her to come to the house. She hsd very good reason to believe that she had become acquainted with some very bad characters, and that she had instigated her sister to rob them. The RECORDER then ordered Mary Cummins to he brought up for judgment, and after observing that her case was a very aggravated one, as there was every rea son to suppose that she had brought her sister into her present situation, he said he felt it his duty to pass upon her a sentence of transportation for ten years. There were several other indictments against these prisoners for stealing other articles of plate, but they were not pit:weeded with. The prisoner May Cummin, was then indicted, with a woman named Elizabeth Clayton, for stealing a coat, the property of Mr. Shaw. The article had also been pledged at Mr. Turner's shop, but Mr. Turner, jun., who took the pledge, could not identify the party who made it. A verdict of Not Guilty was accordingly returned. The same prisoners were then arraigned fur stealing a pair of trousers, and upon this indictment a verdict of Guilty was returned against Clayton. They were then charged upon another indictment with stealing a gold ring, the property of Mr. Shaw. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both. `They were called up for judgment, and the Re corder, after remarking that it was evident there had been a complete conspiracy to plunder the property of the prosecutor, said, that as there did appear, however, to be some ground for sup posing that the prisoner, Caroline Cummins, had been made the dupe of older and more designing persons the Court would feel itself justified in passing a com paratively lenient sentence, which was, that she be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for one year. The other prisioner, Cl a yt on , h e sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. Anne Reuehman was then placed at the bar, charged %vitt) feloniously receiving some articles that had been stu:en by the prisoner Caroline Cummins. Mr. PARRY said, that in this case he did not propose to offer any evidence, because, although there was no doubt that the prisoner had received the property in question, the prosecutor considered it very probable she might have done so without having any guilty know ledge. perfect unanimity. How little did he expect that with one voice the people of the metropolis would now be prepared to declare that the time Fad arrived when the corn-laws should be repealed once and for ever. Whom have we convinced ? From the Premier in the highest regions down to Punch himself.—(Laugh ter.) Everybody is now with us. The Premier is with us by deserting his friends, and we have now the secu rity that whether to-day or to-morrow, or the day after, no Ministry can long exist whose aim shall not be the total overthrow of the corn-laws. My friend has spoken of those who will probably be some of the new Ministers, but, I believe, public opinion would not be satisfied until a portfolio was in his own hands. He should be Presi dent of the Board of Trade.—(Applause.) He is the man to hold out the hand of peace and of friend hip to all nations.—(Hear, hear.) He is the man to teach mankind, as he has taught his country, that their interests are the interests of peace and commerce and extended trade, and to give a new tone to the character of the legislation of the land. —(Applause.) Gentlemen, I will not detain you longer. You ask obedience of your servants. You are the electors, and the masters, and have a right to ask it. You, in whose power the interest of the country, and the country itself, is vested, have a right to require, and you will require, that your views and your opinions should be carried into Parliament —namely, that Parliament should represent the voice of the people, and let me tell you that the voice which now echoes through England, and, in fact, throughout the world, shouts for the overthrow of monopoly, and calls out—Free trade ! Free trade for ever !—(Loud applause.) The resolution was then read, and carried unanimously. Mr. PATTISON, M.P., said they had heard the excuse of Lord John Russell for not being there, and that was quite satisfactory. Why their other two representatives were not present was best known to themselves. For himself, he had only to say that his principles were known to them all. Now, what was the case with the late Ministry? Why, they had fair weather all along, and when a spe c k came on t h e h or i zon they deserted their post. All they had now to do was to support his colleague, should he be called on to take the reins of Government. He could only sm— for he was not addict e d t o l ong speeches—that he re quired no instruction, but was ready to do his duty on the question of the corn-laws.—(Hear.) in conclusion, he would request them to give three cheers for their inde pendent and uncompromising representative, Lord John Russell.—(The demand of the speaker was heartily re sponded to.) Mr. WANSEY said he had to propose to them that a voto of thanks should be glyett to the Lord Mayor for his presidency upon this occasion. He had earned that honour from his having merged his private feelings in his public character. J. DuzoN, Esq., chairman of the requisitionists who had gone to the Lord Mayor for the use of the 1 - all, said he felt bound to second that resolution. He had waited on his Lordship, who mentioned to him that he was quite opposed to the repeal of the corn-laws, but, never theleis, that he would not only give the use of the ball, but also would agree to fill the chair on that occasion.-- (Hear and No, and some confusion.) The resolution was then put and carried with a few tokens of dissent. The LORD MAYOR briefly acknowledged the compli ment paid him ; and the meeting, after three hearty cheers for the repeal of the obnoxious restriction on food, separated. NATIONAL PROVIDENT INSTI TUTION. The tenth annual meeting of the members of the Na tional Provident Institution was held yesterday in the large room, at the London Tavern ; Charles Lushington, Esq., in the chair. Long before the commencement of the proceedings the room was crowded to excess, and at length the pressure was so great that the gallery was opened, and that also crowded. This full attendance was owing to the circurn • stance of Mr. Gosbell, one of the Proprietors, haviug given notice of his intention to move that the present Board of Directors should be ousted, and a new Board substituted in their place. This announcement brought up several subscribers from the country, and it was evi dent throughout the proceedings that the large majority of those present were in favour of the present Board of Directors. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedin gs , briefly adverted to th e mot i on o f w hi c h M r . G os b ell had given notice ; and having congratulated the members on the prosperous state of the Institution, he called upon the Secretary, who read the folio% ing A verdict of Not Guilty was accordingly returned. Mr. PARRY then applied for the Court to order the pawnbroker to give up the plate in his possession. He at the same time stated that, during a few months, plate had been pawned with him to the amount of 500/., with out, as it appeared, any observation being made. The RECORDER said that he could only observe, that if the same charitable conclusion bad not been put upon the conduct of the pawnbroker as had been extended to the last prisoner (Reuchman), he might have found him self in a very awkward position. The only atonement he could make, was to give isp the whole of the property. Mr. Turner, jun., said he believed Mary Cummins was the wife of a respectable person, and that the plate was her property. Mr. PARRY said the greater part of Mr. Shaw's plate, that had also been stolen in addition to Miss Cath cart's, bore his initials, and some part of it his crest. it he RECORDER said he hoped Mr. Turner would be more careful in future. He was not at all prepared to say what view the jury might have taken of his conduct if he had been placed in the dock. At present, he must understand that the Court made an order for him to deliver up the whole of the property. The plate was then given up to the prosecutor. William Harding, 23, a very well-dressed young man, de-cribed as a shoemaker, but who is believed to be one of the gang who are in the habit of prowling about the different banking houses for the purpose of com mitting felonies, was indicted for stealing a pocket-book, nine la Bank of England notes, two 5/. notes, two cheques for 1,0002 each, and other securities, altogether of the value of 2,700/, the property of Robert Vaughan Wynne Williams, from his person. The prosecutor said he seas a solicitor, residing in the Temple, and on the 27'h November he had occasion to go to Messrs. Mortimer's bank, where he changed a cheque for 100/., and placed the notes he received in his pocket-book‘, which at the time contained the other ' securities mentioned in the indictment. He put the pocket-hook into the hind-pocket of his body coat, which had a wrapper over it, and proceeded on his way back to the Temple. As he was passing by Bucklers bury, he felt a very slight touch at his coat, and imme diately put his hand to his pocket, and feeling a packet of letters in it, he imagined that his pocket-book was safe, and thought no more of the circumstance ; but when he got to his chambers he found that his pocket-book was gone. It had since been shown to him, with its contents perfectly safe. John Coram, a sergeant of the City police, deposed, that from some information he received about the time the robbery was committed, he went into Gutter-lane, and saw the prisoner walking along with his hands in his pockets, and the moment he observed him he ran off. Witness pursued him, calling " St o p t hi e f," and he saw him take a pocket-book out of his pocket. lie then turned up a court, and he lost sight of him for a minute, but he stopped him directly afterwards, and the pocket.: book was picked up close by him. Mr. BALLANTINE said it would be useless for him to attempt to struggle with this evidence, and he must leave ihe prisoner in the hands of the jury. The, RECORDER having briefly addressed the jury, they at once returned a verdict of Guilty. The Learned JUDGE, in passing sentence, said there was very little doubt that the prisoner was one of a gang of persons who were in the habit of hangin-, about banking-hous es f or t h e purpose of committing plunder of this description, and it was very evident that he was a skilful hand at these matters. The sentence, therefore, was, that he be transported for ten years. -- THE GRAND JUNCTION AND MID. LANDS UNION RAILWAY. A meeting of the Shareholders in this Company, called for the purpose of considering the future steps to be taken by the Directors, was held at the Company's offices, No. 1, Exchange-buildings, yesterday. Mr. Barlow was called to the chair. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN asked the Secretary if it had been advertised in all the papers ? The Secretary having answered in the affirmative, The CHAIRMAN said he was sorry to find that the result was not such as they might have expected from the publicity vk hich had been given to the advertise ments. Perhaps it might have been different if Lord Ingestre, the Chairman of the Company, bad presided ; but as it was, he would endeavour to place the principal facts before them. It was well known to all the share holders present that at the time the present scheme carne before the public there was none which had a greater number of applications for shares, or which stood higher in public estimation. It was no scheme of speculation, but one that promised a real and permanent income; cer tainly if it were to be prosecuted it would be attended with great advantages to the public and to the share holders. As things now stood, the position of the Com pany would be very different, supposing they brought the scheme before Parliament. True, the Committee might bear the expenses without troubling the share holders, and if they received the consent of the Provisional Committee, many of whom resided in the country, they could do so. They, however, legally required the sanc tion of those gentlemen, and therefore they tvoulti ask the shareholders to leave a moiety of their original depo sit, for the double purpose of meeting all claims and securing to those so doing some portion of the original scrip. The Secretary would read the report. The Secretary then read the report, which was in sub stanec as follows: " The proposed railway was intended to commence on the Trent: Valley Railway near Stafford, and proceeding thence in an easterly direction, to pass through or near to Tisall, Haywo o d, Colwich, and Abbots Bromley, to the rapidly in creasing tows of Burton- u p on -T rent, where it would run into 01Birmingh am and Derby RAilway, forming the shortest and best practicable route from Stafford to Derby. Leaving the Birmingham and Derby Railway at 13tirton-upon-Trent, it would proceed along the Valley of the Trent by Repton, Swarkestoue, and Shardlow, to the Midland Counties Rail- afraid of burning his fingers. The mate had the same fear, and hesitated to use the liquid, but he afterwards poured what both called vitriol out of a bottle on the back of the apprentice Scott. Mr. PAYNE then proceeded to call the witnesses to prove the charge. The first witness called was the boy 'William Scott. He said he was an apprentice on board the Nathesis barque. Gordon was the master, and Cummins the mate. The day after crossing the line, he was late in getting up. He was flogged up on deck, and then sent up the foremast with the tar barrel to tar the royal rigging. He had nothing on but a blue flannel shirt. W hen he refused to tar the rigging, the mate, who was akft, struck him. Mr. BALLANTINE here interrupted the evidence, to say that his Learned Friend had so conducted the case as to make the acquittal of Capt. Gordon a matter of justice. He had already proved an assault against the mate. There was but one count in the indictment. The assault proved against the mate satisfied that count ; the captain, therefore, he argued, must be acquitted. It had been settled so long ago us the time of Lerd Ellenborough, in the case of " Stant v. Prickett." More than one assault had been committed in that case. The counsel for the prosecution had. proved tree assault, and was proceeding to prove another, when -Lord Elleriborough stopped him, and said he mi g ht h ave d eta i ne d t h e Court and the jury all day gone, through the different charges in ord er - to se l ect the one on which to rely ; his Lordship said that must be done by counsel previous to coming into Court ; enough in that case had been proved to satisfy the count. On this ground he (Mr. Ballantine) held that enough had been proved to satisfy the single count in the in ion:lent in the pri sent case, anal as that was proved against the mate alone, be held that Captain Gordon should be acquitted. Mr. HUDDLESTONE, Counsel for the mate Cummins, objected against the Counsel for the prosecution tend, ring evidence of any fin ther act in which the mate might have been concerned. The case in the present instance was analogous, he said, to the case of a declaration. There, if there was but one count put in, and a justifi cation proved by the accused for any one of the assaults committed, that justification was held to apply to the single instance of assault proved. The prosecutor was at liberty to put any number of counts he pleased en the indictment, but if he had put one only, he must choose that act on which he will rely end prove that. He said his Learned Friend would argue that the charge in this case was a joint 'charge, but it was joint and several. Mr. PAYNE said the charge was a joint one, and the evidence put. in was not intended to prove the act of as sault, hut only an incident leading to it. Mr. BALL tNTINE, in reply, said an assault was an assault by whatever name it might be called. Mr. HUDDLESTONE, for the mate, said if his Lordship was prepared to admit. the charge was a joint charge, then he must be prepared to follow his principle out, for if the charge were a joint charge, one being acquitted, both must be acquitted. The Learned CO3I3IISSIONER retired to consult with the Learned Recorder. On returning into Court, he in timated that the opinion expressed by the Learned Re corder coincided with his own, and that no further evi dence could be brought against either of the accused. 'The jury was then directed to find Captain Gorden Not Guilty. The testimony of the boy Scott was continued—He said that the mate came up with the intention of flogging him. When he saw this he jumped off the yard-arm, and attempted to lay hold of the backstays, but, missing them, fell into the water. He was a quarter of an hour in the water. Mr. HUDDLESTONE objected to evidence of anything more that might have happened ; enough had been brought forward to satisfy the Court. The objection was allowed, and Mr. Huddlestone proceeded to cross-examine the boy Scott. He said it was his watch that morning. The watch began at 7 bells, that is half an hour before eight o'clock. When he came up he found all the watch on deck. He did not know what time it was then. (The captain here was observed by a juryman making use of means to intimidate the boy in giving his evidence, and was ordered out of Court.) Scott said there were four men and two boys in the watch ;he was one of the boys. All the sails were set except the flying jib and the spanker. At that time he (witness) was d , zing in bed, when the mate came down and gave him two or three blows on the back with a rope's end, He then ran up to the deck. He was ordered up to tar the ropes with nothing on but a blue woollen shirt. He asked the mate to allow him to put on some clothes, a pair of trousers at least ; but the mate refused this. Ile refused to tar the ropes in this condition, and was struck by the mate while on the yard-al in, which he jumped from to catch the stays, bu fell into the water. William Morris was a seaman on board the Nathesis, and rem mbered Scott having been in the water. He saw the mate go dawn below with a ►ope in his hand. On the deck he saw the mate give the boy two or three blows ; the boy then had no trousers on. When aloft he saw the mate in chase of the boy. The boy ran along the yard-arm, where the mate struck him twice or thrice. The boy then jumped off the fore lee yard-arm to catch the back-stays, but he missed them and fell into the water. The boy might have been a quarter of an hour in the water. He could swim a little. The ship was put about, and the boy was picked up. He, witness, was then at the wheel. Harris, another seamen, was called into the witneis box, but proved nothing. The Counsel for the mate then addressed the jury. The Learned COMMISSIONER said that an assault had be-n admitted ; the jury were to consider whether that assault had been justified, and if they should find so they were to acquit the prisoner. The jury, after consulting, found the mate No Guilty. The mate is, however, still in custody. The case will be tried on a new indictment on Thurs. day next. DI RECT LONDON AND EXETER RAILWAY. A very full and influential meeting of the shareholders of this Company was held) esterday at the London Tavern, in consequence of the call of the Chairman of the Com mittee of Management, Sir Bruce Chichester, for the pur pose of hearing a statement of their affairs, and &termin • ing whether the Company should be carried on or not. The proceedings of the meeting, which throughout was an extremely stormy one, were opened by Sir BRUCE CHICHESTER, from whose statement it appeared that previous to his joining the Com mittee of Management the affairs of the Com , pany had been carried on in a very improvi dent spirit ; that out of 61,000 shares that had been allotted only 28,000 had paid up the deposit, that the produce of those deposits was 32,3951., that out of that amount there bad been paid for preliminary ex penses, 4,344/. Ils. 3d.; for engineering and surveying expenses, 14,050/. ; for law expenses, 8,791/. 6s. ; fur advertising, 2,639/. 19s. 4d. ; for printing and. stationery, 584/. ; for travelling expenses, 236/. ; for rent, salary, &c., 5571. 15s. sd. ; for miscel lincous expenses, 186/. 3s. Id. ; to Dr. Blundell, not accounted for, 512/. 10s. ; leasing a balance in hated of only 49.2/. I Is. The announcement of these expenses, and the. statement of the balance in hand, created the greatest dissatisfaction in the meeting. The report of the Committee of Management having been read, a long and stormy discussion ensued, in the course of which several motions and amendments were proposed, and it was admitted that the affairs of the Company had been grossly mismanaged by the preceding Committee. Ultimately, amid great eon• fusion, the following - motion was agreed to:—" Thai Sir Bruce Chichester, Dr. Phillimore, and Mr. Cham. hers, be requested to form a Committee of Manage• ment, with power to add to their number. That the Committee be authorised to issue shares to the extent required by Parliament, with this condition. that if the necessary amount should not be subscribed for, the whole sum to he raised should be returned ; and that whatever steps can be taken without expense beyond the means in hand towards placing the project before Parliament, be so taken, and that the Committee of Management be requested to prepare a statement of the :Accounts of the Company, and that a copy thereof be sent to every share and scrip holder. The report of Mr. 13raithwaite, the engineer, was read, and a vote of thanks was unanimously car ried to Sir Bruce Chichester, not only for his presiding over and calling the meeting that day, but for the manly course he had pursued in endeavouring to uphold the interest of the shareholders. REPORT " Encouraging and satisfactory as all former Annual eports have been, the Directors are much gratified, on his the Tenth Anniversary of the Institution, to have to present to the members a statement of the business of the past year, far surpassing in amount every previous one, and exhibiting as the Directors confidently believe, an extent of prosperity which is unexampled in the his tory of life assurance societies. " During the past year, 911 policies have been issued, making an increase of 189 beyond the former year, and producing an annual income of 16,3351. 13s. 7d., and during the same period, the number of proposals de clined have amounted to 113, the lives not having been deemed eligible for assurance. " This large yearly increase of business of the Insti tution has been effected, notwithstanding the competi tion it has to contend with from many new as well as old established offices, a convincing proof, that the more the benefits of the mutual principle of assurance (on which this Society is based) is known the more it is ap proved, " The total annual ineomo now amounts to the sum of 70,819/. 14s. sd. "The accounts of the Institution, made up to the 20th of November last, have been subjected to the usual audit, from which it will appear that the capital stock of the Society on that day amounted to the sum of 241,4601. 13s. 3d., being by far the largest annual increase which has hitherto been made. " By the deaths of members since the last report, claims amounting to the sum of 21,230/. 24., have become payable to their representatives or nominees, and which have been duly discharged: this amount paid to the representatives of deceased members fully demon strates the benefit of life assurance, most of the members whose deaths are referred to, though in health at the time of effecting the assurance, did not live long enough to contribute more than a small proportion of the sum paid to their respective families who are now deriving the benefit of the provision thus made. The death of six annuitants has caused the sum of 687 i. to fall to the credit of class 3. " The next division of profits will be made in Novem ber, 1847, and the Directors have no doubt that the re sult will prove perfectly satisfactory to the members. " In the early part of the year, in consequence of the large increase that had taken place during the two former years in the number of proposals, and the great accumulation of general business consequent there upon, presented weekly for the consideration of the Directors, it became obvious that it was impos sible longer to get through, in a • satisfactory manner, all matters pressing upon them at one weekly meeting ; and to relieve this pressure, and to afford greater convenience to persons attending to make as• surances, a second weekly board, to be held every Fri day, was adopted. In confirmation of the necessity and expediency o f h o ldi ng an addi onal weekly meeting, the Directors refer to the extraordinary increase of business since its adoption. " In conclusion, the Directors confidently trust that by a perseverance in the course hitherto pursued to in sure the stability of the Institution, and which has led to the successful results herein detailed, the members may have the satisfaction to witness a long continuance of that prosperity which has throughout so signally marked its progress." In answer to-a Proprietor, Mr. CASH, one of the Directors, said that the Direc tors had expected that the price of E xchequer -bills would fall, and that they had accordingly been prepared to take advantage of the fall, by purchasing those securities. He assured the meeting that no more funds than were necessary were left in the hands of the bankers. The report was then agreed to unanimously. Mr. GOSDELL then rose to propose the election of several gentlemen in the room of the present Directors. He had no fault to find with the present Directors, who had done all they could for the prosperity of the Institution, but they had too much power. There were several of the rules of the Institution which required altering, and as the power of altering them was lodged in the Directors _Mono, he, with a view to get those altera tions made, proposed his new list. Mr. LLOYD seconded the nomination solely for the the rules purpose of aff or di ng an op p or t un ity for di scuss i on. Mr. TYLE R , w h o re p resen t e d the great b o d y o f those who wer e d es i rous . o f see i ng t h e r ules a l tered, bore testimony to th e h onour , i ntegr ity, attention, an d effi. t ciency of th e present B oar d o f Dir e ct ors , b ut it was to prevent an y f uture B oar d a b u sing th e i r power, to ohatht the s ubscribers lishedto a se t e la th rg e e m . altered,The Honourable Proprietor in an throughd more Polve r given in the co urse o f a l ong speech, went of the Instit u ti on , po i nt i ng out t h ose w hich h e cons i dered required am en d ment , an d conc l u ded by moving, as an amend ment , t h at t h e meet i ng d o a dj ourn , i n order to give the Di rectors an opportun i t y o f more f u ll y con sidering the su bj ect . A long and somew h at acr imonious di scussion follo we d, i n t h e course of wh i c h i t appeared hart the Directors themselves had already taken steps for the alteration of many of the rules. After this discussion bad lasted nearly four hours, it was suggested that the amendment should be withdrawn, as the Di rectors had already taken the subject of altering the rules into their consideration. After a few words from Mr. G. THOMSON in favour of altering the rules for the purpose of giving the general body more power in the direction of affairs, The CHAIRMAN said that he had consulted those Directors who were present, and that he thought he might say, on the part of the Directors generally, that they would be prepared at the next annnal meeting to propose certain alterations in the rules, and that the proposed alterations should be printed and cir culated among the Proprietors two or three months be fore the meeting. This announcement was received with loud applause. The amendment and the original motion were b ot h withd rawn . T he Directors were re-elected, and a vote cf confidence in the Board of Directors carried by accla mation. Thanks were voted to the Chairman and the officers of the Institution, and the meeting separated. IVEW COURT. (Before Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK.) CRUELTY ON THE HIGH SEAS.—Alexander GOrd'on, captain of the barque Nathesis, and John Cummins, mate of the same vessel, were charged with ha sing cruelly assaulted William Scott, one of the apprec tices on board that vessel, about the 20th of June last, - while the ship was near the line. Mr. PAYNE, the counsel for the prosecution, said the case was one of a serious character, and if proved would exhibit a very cruel mind in those who have ben in dicted on the charge. The charge was made against the master and mate of the Nathesis of assaulting and cruelly treating Scott, the apprentice. One day, after crossing the line, the boy had been rather tardy in getting up out of bed. Cummins, the mate, went below with a rope's end, and flogged hula up on deck. When the boy came on deck he was sent aloft to tar the. royal rigging, with nothing on him exeunt a blue shirt. The mate followed him up, and struck ltlm while aloft, but the boy, to escape the flogging, leaped t‘o lay hole( of the stay 3, which he missed, and fell into t h e w ater. But the main part of the charge was—when the boy was brought upon deck, after falling into the water, the mate pulled the shirt over the boy's head, and tie master himself gave him two dozen of strokes with. a cat made for the purpose. The mate wished to givltim another dozen, but the master refused to allow Win then; but a short time after the boy was brought again von deck, and the mate g ave hi m a d ozen more. Theht 'Y was then taken d o w n i nto t h e ca b in, and was placedof this kn ees on the cabi n fl oor . T he master and the mate then said they would pour vitriol on his back. The m tater re luestA the mete to put it on the box's back, 8,1 t he was RAILWAY SHARE3IAII OO 1 ,1 LIVERPOOL, DEc. 15. p STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Birken . o,l7 l ,o o shire, and Che s hi re , 27 t p. —C am b r i dge and Pnc°Gisfor Chester and Birk en h ea d, N ew Shares, '7 3 / 1 Sew 52 0,/ Dumfries, 10s. dis.--Grand Junction, 233—Di tt° ,A ter Shares, 32 p.—Di tto , 4 0 1. Shares (L. 3 . l •P a i sod' Goole and Doncaster, ls. dis.—Huddersfield Lifeeo way, 4% p.—Liverpool and Leeds Direct, IS d' 5 1 ,0" - pdl Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, 14 GO+, York, 7 8 p.—Manchester, Midland, and Grea'y K Ael° 6d. p.—Midland, 139—Ditto, 40/. Share, 12,a P 7,0 Union (A), 208—North Staffordshire, 48s. 3 . P rp!'"i A i and Manchester, Quarter Shares, No. 3 (senPf„,7bsre",l Eastern and Dover, Consolidated Thirds, nal' —Welsh Midland, 12a. 6d. dis.—West Riding ',, - ron) —Dutchßlumish,l% p.—Paris and Lyons (G b a : dig - nrl a J: 1 " MANCHESTER, IfEc. /5. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Can l coin, 3 1 4—Chester and Birkenhead, 45 —Dudley', i r° .t 1 31 ' A We , , and Shrewsbury, VA—Fleetwood, Preston, an , . - 40. 0 , Junction, 225. c.—Goole, Doncaster Sheffield, &C.. ,sbe , n d Great Grimsby an d Sh e ffi e ld , B—Hudders fi e ld InV on jo s ; o , Junction, 16—Leicester and Bi rm i ng h a m, 185. 3 Birmingham, Thirds, 40% c.—M anc h es ter and P, 1 04 .-Po. Quarters, 10 %—Manchester and Leeds, Fifth4. 1 .,;89 5 ',,,0 cheater and Southampton, 234—North Stafford ot titcre —North Union ( A), 206 -North Western, 575.- ",,;,,gaci„ l and Mansfield, 2 1 4—Oldham District, 87s.—Pre,, 2 `7„.besut Extension, I—Trent Valley Continuation and Doi c.—West Riding Union, 6. , . 1. STOCK EXCHANGE.—TheLEEDS salesDEC ares—Sheffield a nd cheater, Quarter Sh ares , N o. 3 , 534 —Leeds and ittel ) . t A Extensions, 48—Le e d s an d D ews b ury , 20 3 4 C. Shares, 3N p.—Leeds and Thi rs k, 6%—North 1 311 'WoK, Carlisle Branch, 114—Oxford, Worcester, and harnpton, 12 %—Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole , —Cambrid ge an d Lincoln, 3%—Direct Northern , 1 170 0 ,. k verpool. O rms ki r k , and Preston, 334 —West It id i l l; 53 —Chelmsford Q.nd Bury, 10s. dia.—Grand Union , gy p cbs.—Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction' ort" Northumberland and Lancashire Junction, 105. d i r:(l/ Western, 2 1 4 Wakefield an d Bradford, 125 , v u. Wakefield and Harrogate, sa. p. YORK, DEC. 15. ftb STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—York and S °- 1 1 ' land Extension, 24%—Newcastle and B erw ick, 101 ... British, New lisle Branch, 2—Lond on and I r ° r Alatlo v ' Leicester and Bedford, IN—Manchester, Buxton , '- and Midland, 3%-North Staffordshire, 4 3 / 4 . SHEFFIELD, DEC. 15. 4eld STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are--Iluddert< '- Sheffield, 17%—N ort h British, 21 1 1 2 -oXfOrdy W hn. Cheltenham, 2—South Midland, 414. well 00. di . MARY HOWITT'S NEW NovEL.--The ne tr - nw itt,l, entitled " The Citizen of Prague," edited by Mitr. , '" t 3 vols., is published this day by Mr. Colburn, of Gr e 7, o . borough-street, and may now be bad at all the WO or e l Colburn has also just published the following n e _,ll.loCd of fiction : —2. The Qieen of Denmark, an Histoll'' ijale edited by Mrs. Gore, 3 vols.-3. Dunster Castle, a t horr, the Great R e b e lli on, b y J. T. Hewlett, M.A. ati rob' s Peter Priggins," &c., 3 viols.--4. Pomfret; or, f o i, Opinion and Private Judgment, by H. F. Chorl e *,,•ol4 vols.--5. The Attractive Man by Mrs. Trollope , 'dot The Master Passion, by 'l'. C. Grattan, Esq. , a nil e "Highways and Byways," &c., 3 vols.-7. Love , " A secif . , Venice, by Horace Smith, Esq , 3 vols. ; and 13 %,.t,ce, Edition of " The White Slave and . the Russian 1 "'"" the author of "Revelations of Russia," 3 vols. ( " o p40 1 : 4 THE LATE M AJOR -G ENERAL RICHARD ELRLNGTON, C.B.—The will of this distinuished on' i, Jolf preyed on Saturday last, the Gth instant by his fr i , ell' his a : Collier, Esq., of Plymouth, whom he had appointe",,, ), executor. It was made as far back as the year 18 ,, u i es orin,r, this enterprising officer was embarking for India, an d t heror behind him his w if e an d children, to whom h e sot' bequeathed the w h o l e o f hi s property, real and r r °- wheresoever the same mi g h t b e— ti to k e re wife to to ~,t e3 interest therein, anti at her decease the sn lue g od;; divided equally between his two daughters, Loto l ," -- ( 1 therine, absolutely. The personal estate in Etigr:_,e, o .„'" sworn under 18,000/. He died at an advance' " from the 2d of Aug,ust, four days only after his returlie Malta, in the Oriental. He was Colonel, and for sl e oeta commanding the 47th Regiment of Foot : a 31a;o r juaea r ; in her Majesty's army, and Companion of the Illost:', 1 able Military Order of the Bath. This brave on2 c ; le!! most con , picuously distinguished himself Ihrotigu h i fey, and incessant career o f arduous campaigns, in t- 'Ol commencement of which hi s courage nearly cost t ye life. Whilst ens i gn , i n 1793, he was s h o t throng e at 4 body on the on se t b e f ore D un ki r k ; and again, threcitilea! afterwards, in 179 G, at the Island of St. Vincent tibiglif captain) he received a shot' wound through th e - this only stre ng th ene d hi s i ntrepid spirit. He W B5 , le:, engaged, and was i n act i ve service throughout the w :lo` the Burmese war; it m a y i n trut h b e said, few offitee"' fl w seen harder service, or been more actively eng a ,g7o o ,,i commissions were d a t e d—E ns i gn, December 4, 17 "" APV., tenant, April 19, 1794 ; C apta i n, June 1, 1795; Major'' JaJj 25, 1808; Lieutenant-Colonel, June 4, 1812; Colon el ' 22, 1830; Major-General, November 23, 1841. tblit NAVAL COUR TS - MARTIAL. —W e are haPr l nv ,t t.• he the Admiralty are strongly setti ng th e i r faces ag""Stir, prevalent fever for N ava l C ourts - martial upon F or eifr o ileo tions. We learn that one ship in which the disease Pr e has been ordered home.—Dublin Evening Mail. BIRTHS. d On the 9th ult., a t Loudoun H ouse, St. John's-wv°-' grs' Ogle, of a daughter. On the 10th inst., at Dashwood Cottage, Graves lady of J. F. Haffner, Esq., of a son. On the 11th inst., th e lay of John Gurney , Esq ofi— ham, near Norwich, of a son. On the 11th inst., a t If ni d , Sussex, the - wife of the v .c Edward Allfree, R ec t or o f Southease, of a daughter. „ 0 0 1 On the 12th inst., at the Rye, Peckham, Mrs. Savory, of a daughter. of On the 12th inst., Mrs. Madge, of Highbury-grang e ' daughter. On the 12th inst., in Hyde-park-square, the lady of L iel4 Robert Pearson, Esq., of a daughter. Cha riej On the 12th inst., at Wooll ey - green, Hants, 3-1.5' Simeon, of a son. On the 12th inst., a t St oc k well, the wife of J. ' -pt 4'wrier' Esq., of a daughter. On the 12th inst., at Li verpoo l , t h e l ady GreiP of Captain - staff officer, of a daughter, still-born. 13. On the 12th inst., at. Iver, Bucks, the wife of Job e Walker, Esq., surgeon, of a son. , 01 On the 12th i ns t., i n G reen -street, Park-lane, the la" D. R. Jones, Esq., of a son. On the 13th inst., Mrs. Henry Hersee, jun., of Virg ici‘ terrace, Dover-road, of a daughter. MARRIED. On the 11th i ns t., a t S t. Ni cholas Church, Old Shoreham' l: - I n e the Rev. John Y ar k er , S.C.L ., to Charlotte, daughter of th e late Rev. W. Wh ee l er, D D . On the 13th i ns t , at S t. P ancras Church, the Rev. w' „ 0 Johnstone, t o A nna M ar i a , on l y daughter of the late Siim' Davies, Esq , of Ashford, MiOdlesex. DIED. On the 28th of No vem b er , at Rome, Elizabeth, second „.. daughter of the late Sir J. Birch, Bart., of the Hazles, bm" cashire. On the .sth inst., Emma, the second daughter of He n r y Tower, Esq., of Elemore Hall, Durham. On the sth inst., at Cobl en t z, on the Rhine, Caroline vas, youngest daughter of Si r Al exander Ramsay, Bart. On the 1! th inst., Mr. Joseph Withers, otEdgeware-road', On the 11th inst., Mr. J osep h Lauriere, St. James's -goal. On the 12th inst., in Argyle street, Sarah, the wife of Pell tenant-General inst., Sir ohn Machan, On the 12th J Anna Maria, eldest daughter of E• Gallon, Esq., of Brixton. London: Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG,, ° , No. 112, Str all d, Printer, at The Su n Office, O. l i. ` ; ► Strand, in the Precinct of the S avo y, i n th e C o ulltY Middlesex, biesd.ty, December 16, 1845. way, at the point where that railway formed ail the Derby and Nottingham Railway; and thus ;` these and other railways in progress, form a con° f c4 'railway communication between the centra l towns° , Derby, Nottingha m , Li nco l n , L e i c ester, Peterb e lke Boston on the east and Shrewsbury, Chester and I P°. North Wales, and Ireland on the west." ho of ° The remainder of the report was an cc-- Chairman's speech. CO l j To questions asked by several members, MAN replied that about 5,4001. had been into the banker's hand s on b e half of the C0011,115Y other ponies were now waiting the result o f t t lo 1 mittce's determination to pay in or not ; 1 0! guarantee for the moneys already paid i n w° , o i; / ) guinea returned and a portion of scrip s ec°. I le the Committee of Management were secured inthireil same way with general shareholders, and chat o! , no intention of amalgamating with another C°°, The report was then received and adopted. it The meeting then, a ft b r a somewhat dot' e nd versation, determin e d th a t the Grand Junction °,. e p , lands Union should no t b e prosecuted in w session of Parliament. Thanks having been' given to the Chill f meeting broke up. - HAVRE RAILWAY CO--- Id( I s At the last general meeting of the shareh" yitr this Company, it having been shown that th e be r 3 t ril l penses incur re d f or the purchase of the land e jet* for the con truction of the line would necessitate b 4 an extraordinary meeting was held yesterttilh'iee°l4. the Views of the board of directors on the decide what stets it would be advisable to atief t v i , sor Latlitte, the pre s id en t, fill e d t h e chair, aud i t J , ported by Count d'Alt on Sh ee , M. Dailly , °" l. , ss hope, Mr. Reid, M r . E. Bl ount , &c. M s°°- meeting had been formally cons tituted, Of? M. Thibaudeau, th e counsel of the ComP,ll) ter! lacour, he secretary, being in delicate / 104 1 0 0 11. / report, explaiting the causes which rendered a r sec eo emery. As they were enumerated fully h1. ° ,,, 11 f re e w ir of the proceedings of the last general meetl n i''llte eider it unnecessary to repeat them a t preseat',. port concluded by s t a ti ng t h at the board of 1,0010,, proposed to effect a loan of 10,000,000fe greet' I,ooof. each, bearing a yearly interest of fif e fi r the whole to be paid off in 78 years by yearl out. giving 1,2501. t o eac h b on d t h at should emeetocej the above-mentioned 10,000,000 f., the sum of 81 ,,n0r would be required at pr esent , an d the other 2,""e'cor at an after p er i o d, s h ou ld t h e requirements of: ° re d tr pany demand it, which, however, was eonei de ceedingly unlikely. , Oa retl Spy After the reading of the report, soma - ne , ensued relative ,t o the terms of the kWh ° p erc e° shareholders expressing an opinion that five was too high a rate of intertst. t ei re. t t M. THIBAUDEA U re pli e d, t h a t un d e r r esen d ; stances easier terms cou ld no t b e well obta ine t e' r rl companies had nut deemed even more stringer', Lions unfavour a bl e , an d t h e l enet h o f the t° the Havre Comp an y b a d o b ta i ne d enabled l9? l, such a charge much better than other contl .... .Pa ll i o jae2 de r In answer to a question from another saw* o f CHAIRMAN explained that the p resen t holder s in would have the p re f erence i n obtaining a Pirei °l3 O loan; th a t th e proportion would be about one I n 0 that a l e tt er wou ld b e wr i tten to eac h sn =re- h , c a few days dem an di ng w h at port i on h e 511°1 :0 have, and with an intimation that a n answe r he °U. ' sent in by the 31st of December. The question of the loan was then put t° to; and adopted unanimously. Some chang es i n th e statutes were then s m l g ) ;dfr i ‘ after which the m ee ti ng separate d. —Gale . senger of Friday. S e Pt., 1 terb44rve eXeell that la rdsof i tern beast k 4 klesty 3 "• 4d. 4, and othe quart, Shippers, Le u k 434 , oxi L ONTIN); 4 Fc tell this qUantitic -Potind s, , 1 4 3 0 jytie 4415111