The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-17 00:00:00

Whin. ifs did not know that he would be ca ll e d on t o do so till he had entered the meeting, and he, therefore, thought he should be best consulting the satisfaction of the Meeting by merely seconding the resolutionswhich was, that the report just read be printed and circulated under the di rection of the Committee, and that Geo. Wm. Alexander be requested to act as auditor, and John Scoble be S e . s and the fidlowing be the Committee for the year ensuing, with power to add to their number."—t Here follow the names ] Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON then came forward amidst loud cheers, and said that, though - net wholly unaccustomed to address public assemblies, he could, with the utmost sin cerity and truth, affirm that he never felt a larger a mount of r e l uc t ance i n presenting himself before a public meeting than on • this occasion. He rose with c onsiderable pain, because he rose to submit to the meeting a proposition which he was bound to say was not brought be fore the meeting with the concurrence of those respected gentle- Men who constituted the Committee of the Society, and whose right it was to arrange the business to which they were to di rect their attention. He would state, as he proceeded, the various considerations which moved hint to discharge what he conceived to be an imperative duty. He need not say he stood before th e assembly with feelings of entire and cordial sym pathy in the great objects they were met to pronote.—(llear, -clear) He would refer to his past life, and would attempt no justification of himself from any imputation that might by nessibility he cast on his zeal in this great undertaking. Ye was sustained by the conviction in undertaking this sub- Pet, that no individual had a stronger desire to see the uni versal and speedy extirpation of slavery. He was also sus tained, by th e conviction and it was an honest and deep one, Tilsit he came there that Morning, and was accompanied by others, i n th e capacity of a promoter of peace, of uni,n, and of that harmonious action by which they could best support the titiestion now befnre them. They deprecated dispute, still t ea c , near.) 1 key more d.istraction , , and, most of all, division . and desertion.— desired that the friends of emancipation uld be one ; and that if they could not see eye to eye on ev er , . s enestion of policy and the means by which they uld work, theyshould , at least find some certain and ~e °lln d pr* • . melp e of action by which they might all stand, Would °r any -°M ulned, and acting together, without any division in their c ouncils d ' in their work.—(Hear, hear.) It again fo r s g an opportunity, which would not occur the year, if they were not to bring before the meeting trim!: that there was at this moment amongst the best regard of the anti-slavery cause divisions of sentiment as ferin e P°lley and consistency of the Committee in inter fisearrp—r°,llgli the medium of Government, and by means of lie conceded s, with the question of slavery.—(Hear, hear.) of i ot s u c e t ,med for those who differed from him perfect honesty I neasu e r e l e S Ile claimed not for themselves any larger ' th ao fh ° '''aeerity, any larger measure even of enlightenment, at e s ,, nut he o ,, s essed those friends who differed from them. hots c . --c e t lyed it most important, standing on. the three certain ~1 1°, tuer year, 'that an attempt should be made to as body j o '? were the feelings and opinions of the constituent 1 lie r oi ,‘, / : ( 2 o ae contributions and voices they were sustained. I Port, take exception to that part of the Committee's re disc "ea declared that there had been a " full and candid plain of this entire subject." He was not there to com tionlthat those who Were willing to discuss this great ques tion not been permitted through the medium of the accre sews • ° ,rgan of the Society, to speak to the country on the s t ate " . __et- 9 1 they were not allowed to put forward their cossiuents and sentiments, except so far as the honourable esuutletor of that organ might please, in the centre of white ditional article tcs• notice some portion o t f o h n speech, p u s i l i t l be views on the other side le o t f , t s_ i been ti l t ed . in the organ of the Soc 3 i h n e th u e e rorm of letters, nbuted through the .. length and breadth of the land. kr. ir not seen in that publication the views entertained b y Mr. Anstey, and Mr. Spooner; no statements em mga calm elucidation of the views of these who differed that the Committee on this question. It was however right thosehfl vi ews s h ou ld be brought before the public tho ug h ro se re gretted he was the individual that first dual to expound them, and that some indivi d. of more ability than himself had not done so. b ut not blame them for the course which they had taken, co nsistent vit a l t o t h e S oc i ety to cons id er w h et h er t h at was policy—whether the Society should be exclu of a m ora l and religious character. • With reference to e7nirlAulinating duties he must remind the meeting that these Go s .""IY be maintained with foree.—(Hear, hear.) The shiNSernment could not carry out any law for the exclusion of to t: g - rc ' w u sugar without force—the thing was abhorr , e , nt to, „ a teehng s of those who constituted that Society.—(` No, by and cheers ) How would such a law be enforced, but spJennieoast blockade and a standing army ?—(Cheers.) What co te . d the law be for? To prevent a certain article from s o‘in i ug into this country because it was produced in another be so tr Y where slavery existed. It was true that there would snide to difficulty in smuggling sugar ; it was too bulky an be t it e t° be smuggled. It was not. the sanctity of the law, s be that made it inviolable. Such . a law fZeoenly for the maintenance of monopoly.—(Cheers.) Ninety- Padiatut o f a hundred of the people of this country would re to ei e the law, and think that it. was no crime against God lii p o de it. But suppose it were possible to smuggle sugar Pr e , s g°l d , and lace, and jewels, how could that smuggling be s _ s _ .anted but by cruisers and coast-guards and revenue cut- t o ' f i t ' ' r e -- (C heers.) Would that Society make itself the agent pan_ tiovernment in carrying such a law into effect sers , cusapprobation.) It was objected that by intro toer C urazilian and Cuba sugar, and the sugar of Porto Rico, y w ould be an aggravation of slavery ; but he held that agg ri e s e s t „th 6 produce of these countries would be a greater h ases 'quon of the evils. It was argued also that if they pur sdgar the produce of slave States, they were directly Wh en - . i gulg Slavery. What, were they encouraging slavery the `"eY sent missionaries throughout the world? when in. 3 disserainated tracts and made sacrifices personal and pis nasd for the a b o li tion ?—(Cheers.) How cou ld t h ey go t o hoe est °v ernment and ask for a discriminating duty to prevent . to to _ People from buying that which they thpught it no crime coo p - -(Cheers.) do , 0 ` 4 ,! -- `; l ..s:stax in one of the galleries called out, " What 4 „ about cotton ?" allow ed `sLfalltstess said that h . e hoped 3 . Ir. Thompson would be ,°,proceed without interruption, the se t ,' ‘ f• iiioairsos resumed.-11 hen lie sought to pur protinc;uto sugar, he might be told that this sugar was the but s 4 of slave labour. He might not have known that ; 110-f:l",even when he was informed of it he might think it Inach Ch eers.) They might tell him that he would by sla ve sing that sugar be aggravating the horrors of the ilie sd t Lade_ end of slavery. Nevertheless, he might be in- Alle y c ; leder We t o ea ; and now he asked them, did nrder s older it their duty to inform a Government officer in th em . t s ° Prevent him •P —(Hear, hear.) He v ould ask 1 3-) I ' a s an Anti-Slavery Society they were epared to , ~t eu rder ,Prevent him from purchasing this sugar, ot eer t o hale ki °vernment officer, and t „. „ L i m order that fi wheer s s id " to be as bad in prin- - t t iPle „ prison. He did not believe they w . ould..— ut if they did, they would e men who carried on the African slave trade.— Ch eer It was right that the negro should be free.— hire s ' It was wrong to take from him his labour without tweet;t but it was as wrong to tell a man who had fabricatedthe best Yiards o f c l ot h , t h at h e s h ou ld not exchange it to Jud a ' vsa tage.---(Loud cheers.) Who made them the hir e ever his conscience ?—(Cheers.) They should leave toe sis t ° kettle that with his God.—(Cheers.) They mtrs_t. the n i'lee his understanding, and then he would be with (i.e nci t t hat if they attempted to force him—hands off .— be d. se,s s eu "rs.) And now for the argument that they woul rillkliZavating the horrors of slavery. There was a certain fo r -Y • of sugar required for the whole of Europe, of which tri n J i l ted only a small portion. This sugar was brougi n it i Co;Cßrazils, from India, from Java, from Cuba, from ti ace :i . , from Sumatra, from Manilla, and from various other ‘,Ve refused to take Brazilian sugar . , but we wen uter e, • 4 ' Nsmatra, and Cochin, and we said to the people te nded u t „Give us your sugar." They replied, " We had in ' s tillie n -1 have taken it elsewhere, but as we can get a 'din - , mere for it in your market, we prefer wh; rh it to England." Now, that would leave the market I nPra s th eY were wont to supply without their accustomed n'ls sf ' brazil was in the habit of sending sugar there, and tr ete o W s er e they doing by withdrawing the . sugar hP 6' 4 e Markets but creating a void which would be filled the a uger from the Brazils.—(Cheers.) If it was against the y w t Hteienc e of the people of this country to use this sugar, ee a s _tlci .° l , 4l ,! abstain from it ; but. if the nation was without a - ` 4 itst e ,•,7 on this subject—if it had no conscience—he tad asi sge right of this Society to go to the Governmen th e for their assistance.—(Cheers.) They were begging h w hole eqd, Question when they said, if so many more . hoe's 'ere; fr i 'diger were produced, so many more slaves would be "er e a ° nl their native land and transported to Brazil. They 1 -at t h saluting that which they could not prove.—(Cheers.) s sught le prov e its----(Loud cheers.) How had they hitherto s a lt al e .; Put an end to wrong-doing ? Why, by the best of ` t fte el--,,aa--by moral means. They had relied solely on h a ' s " and if the Government had volunteered its aid, - gler r ePadiated it. They wanted not the aid of the se- They r m ; they looked to Heaven for aid.—(Great cheering. ) n'er e e „, e ued on the Almighty.—(Renewed cheering.) There t hose `",_°ug those who took an opposite view of this subject until 1 740 said that not a man in England should be taxed 'tsi te st ! was enfranchised.— Cheers and interruption) 'They sham..mitnt Ott ibis question the unenfranchised were against . were knee; that those who enjoyed the franehis "hy , ust them.—(cries ((Yes of "No politics," "Question."' ,) th e Was the question.—(Loud cheers.) They . knew isre,at body of the unenfranchised were against them. They knew that the great body of . the en- . esr Were against them.—(Loud cheers.) . They el% 'oat ti l • • of a large proportion of o p ie rea oyinion iliac th e 4rlll traent was agiinst . them.—(Cheers.) They knew ti -ey wt s were in a minority themselves—(Cheers) —and 1. - s 'e , s uPPorted in Parliament by men who had been uese l L 4 ':r iticons• tent on this question .—(Loud cheering.) tuei r '"•;; when it •ted their interest to procure a law tor ll ttown 4 . r ge4 'Port, took the arguments of the Clarksons and i psi ati Poe eting their own arguments in support of class h s - ' ea t s t sheY came forward with arguments furnished inata b t S the Anti-Slavery Society and in the name of - „" a erts j ‘ PrePPesl up the West India interest. (Loud : 4 Le„ a4,.„,-'4O answer had been given to the question, why, if - "en dXtted sugar, the produce o :free labour States, at a ° we e (" er ential duty as compared with the produce of our tri es, rues, the sugar, if proffered by slave holding coun layered ouled be refused'? That question had not been an nregtic:,--,(Cheers.) This principle of refusing slave labour Proe t ,,,,! uad never been introduced before. Why slave labour lte sn - 7 . vras in the all was upon the platform.—(Cheers) heeks t their round their personss-.(Cheers.) . It was f ette red kk'bears.) It manacled their feet—(Cheers) —it 111 the their cola--(Loud y et shap e .. "' f p sr e i n ( oud ta cheers) -i t was in their pockets mmense cheering)—and ahelave..ugerY,,:nere called upon tne to act upon the . principle that aboli shed produce was to be excluded until slavery should . i -Pi e with They were to be told that this was the prin al th e cis ; .West Inctians in Parliament, with West Indians the msn'enet, among whom was one who had been one of totsici",e,c talented defenders _t f la ry in our own colonies. ° ,,a ths` e37 . f°rget that the:P u re . .tn s v r e hadvoted . against them siantaiortes,tion of the abolition of Togging women in We a nd t 'amid cheers.) Why they had. lied to meet lu te of the again in that hall to appeal - to the religious feel.. Peep oss :',"e eountry to aid them in opposing the pro-slavery ainofnhpthdese men. Let them observe y their argru -11%4t;' wer n e led°ut cog to sugar, and sugar alone. Nothing s as 4P e out , of thee - zi r e e tieers) How was this ? i Humani t ty ter had feet* -- was no hurnanei; capital and labourp?tint the sugar-bowl.—(Laughter.) Laue n h o s taking slavi-liels of thee to t e eleepot. T h iere we b a of ou r cp ee, althoug the three-foerths ' Livati on of. coffee. Brazil were employed In_ 1 leadss'e kn e Would those men be likely to aid them to twheti.i.a_tmthe.e.xtinction of slavery in the Brazils would uaeairnwoettla,fOr tth: eyo p n et t r n of Brazilian sugar with the sugar of c4 r The b • n u i n ia d ne t4 e sl b a y ve rote t • rt)h, in the Bras a o fdoor ever. i sferfe there the s against their asking Government to Wovii re for the overthrow of sla e o eeted to the 44,:`,Pg of the repor . t a _ l a ie called u v po ry n . them to l4j prove befpre s, e to force for t h he d r.eP"ng it They propagation lways repudiated of their the opinions,ia o a f having ow ours nd V_ler were seeking to ! , w tee„, s en c, have recourse to force ; tor what was the Gov ern „ lent roved by .i the physical force at the command of used, binultgstlllbi t c e e d alec it might be inert, it . : t ,T l ;:' be not it e t existed. army di d clouds obscured his. The sun was not blotted effulgence, and a standing Ati „ did not the less exist because they not bayonets, I",t neard not the thunderth saw its ern look back of its cannon.—(Loud cheers.) _ , at their reports for tie last twelve years, ci,4,_oneers e the religious cha •The character of their efiorts. la eyes hav`ue People were upon tb d re e reco urse to the • • Government n he besought them not to _Plidiated eve al o d of They bad always co ercion. N D: e x a m f force, and every appeal to every kind I' a in that hall a proposition was made to send an expedition to the - Niger they had held aloof from , that scheme because the steamers carried arms. They would not co-operate for that reason. The scheme- had-gone to ,the ground, as this would also if they did not adopt the prin ciple which they had then repudiated.—(Cheers.) He was net ' there as the representative of any man but himself, and the course which he should recommend to the Committee was to let the question be an open question—(Cheers)—not to act officially on the subject; to see if they could not reconsider their constitution, so us to reconcile the pacific principles of the third article with the provisions of the fourth. They should recollect that they represented the anti-slavery community of England. They did not represent their own subscribers only; and they ought to act in accordance with the feelings of the community at large.—(Cheers.) Let them reconsider their constitution : ►t was a vital point. He asked no more that day. Every lover of freedom must deprecate anything in the shape of division.—(Hear, hear.) The sum total of his amendment; on the motion before the Chair, was that they lip uld suspend their judg ment, and with that suspend their action, upon this question until they had reconsidered their constitution. Mr. Thompson then read his amendment, which was to the effect that " while that meeting awarded to the Com mittee its most hearty commendation for the activity and 'zeal it had evinced In the cause of universal abdlition during the past year, yet, considering the honest difference of opinion which prevailed among the friends of that cause on the subject of disc►iminating ►iuties on slave and free produce, and on the propriety of a Society, which is restricted by its constitution to the use of those means which are only of a moral, religious, and pacific character, inter fering through the medium of Government in the question, it deems it right to instruct any committee appointed to refrain from acting on that part of the constitution which pledged the Society to promote the adoption of fiscal regulations un. favourable to slave labour until the articles of the Society's constitution were re-considered." He then proceeded to say— Let them individually abstain from the use of every article if it was slave-grown, if they could do so, Let them recom mend that as a duty to others. Let them not go to a Govern ment whose aid they could not get in the - shape of a law without force. Let them not, while maintaining the prin ciples of liberty for one class of men, violate its sacred prin ciples to their own countrymen at home.—(Cheers.) :qr. GEORGE Was. ANSTEY, of Devizes, seconded the amend- • ment. _ . . . A GENTLEMAN, whose name we understood to be Wales, a barrister of Leeds, here rose in the midst of the meeting, to speak ; but his observations were in so low a tone of voice, and the cries of " Come to the platform " were so loud, that we were unable to catch one word Of what he said. In the interim, while the Learned Gentleman was making his way to the platform, The CHAIRMAN said he would venture to suggest to the meeting the extreme difficulty in which they would be in volved if they should take the whole of its proceedings out of the course for which arrangements had bean made.—(A Voice—" Fair play.") Mr. JOSEPII STURGE would, if the gentleman who had possession of the chair, permitted. him, in a few words, en deavour to suggest a mode in which they might fall- in with the resolutions of George Thompson. He ( Mr. Srurge) conceived that the subject before them was of such immense importance, and a right decision upon it of such great con sequence to millions of their fellow-men, that, while lie gave. to his friends who differed from hint the credit of the since rity which he claimed for himself, he implored all present to . look at it with calmness, not under the excitement of oratory, but as a matter of trade. He had understood that the reso lution of George Thompson would have been differently worded. Let them mark that he (Mr. Sturge) was one of those who went the full length of free trade in all legitimate matters of commerce, but he did think, that if it were proper to go into the ques tion now, :he could, without any oratory, show that the stolen produce of the stolen man ought to be treated as stolen produce. But what he would suggest. was, that the amendment now proposed be adopted, with this alteration, that they should not suspend their proceedings until a deci sion by the Committee was come to. His objection was, that the course suggested was prejudging the question, on which George Thompson himself had given an opinion in the affirmative. All he asked was, that those friends who took his view of the question, would make that alteration in the resolution. Before he sat down he might be permitted to make an observation or two: The conduct of the Govern ment had been imputed to the Anti-Slavery Society, as though it were their conduct. Now, they only asserted their own principles as far as they could. They did not inquire who those were that supported their principles, if they did what the Society thought right. 11'ith respect to them selves, they never pretended to be anything but the repre sentatives of the Anti-Slavery Society, and he saw himself so generally in the minority that when he got into the majority he would think himself wrong. All he wanted was to have a fair consieieration of this vital question. Mr. HOWARD HINTON understood Mr. Thompson to say that, on receiving a pledge on the part of the Committee that that they would consult the constituents of the Society on the revision and alteration of the clause which related to fiscal regulations, that he would withdraw his amendment. He as a member of the Committee said there was no difficulty in - the Committee undertaking to consult the constituency on the subject. If they did not act fairly, theY would be respon sible to another meeting of that sort, before which he would never dare to raise his voice, if there should be any interfer ence in the matter. The members of the Committee ;were present, and with their acquiescence in that pledge he trusted Mr. Thompson would be sati§fied, and withdraw his amendment. Mr. G. THOMPSON wished to say a few words in explana tion. He did not wish the Anti-Slavery Committee to go to the public at large to learn their principles ; but he wished them not to impose a tax, directly or indirectly, by going to the Government, in reference to fiscal regulations. So much in explanation of what he had said, and next, with reference to the statement of the members of the Committee of their willingness to undertake the reconsideration of the question, hi begged to say he consented to withdraw his motion. The amendment was then withdrawn, and the original re solution put from the chair and carried. • The -Rev. J. BvfusErr (of Camberwell) proposed the fol; - lowing resolution : " That. this meeting deplore the continued existence of slavery in different parts of the earth, especially by professedly Christian nations, which, as in the case of Brazil and Spanish colonies, is the fruitful cause of the African slave-trade, and all its attendant horrors, and in that of the United States, of an internal_ slave-trade of the most revolting and cruel character. • -" That deeply sympathising with the victims of slavery in their sufferings and wrongs, this meeting assert their right to immediate and entire freedom, and emphatically call on the friends of liberty and justice, throughout the world, to use their best efforts for the extinction of a crime which has so long outraged humanity and religion, and which at this time oppresses and degrades millions of mankind. " That this meeting, nevertheless, sincerely rejoice in the steady progress of the anti-slavery cause in the United States of America, and in France, Holland; and other European na tions, where the friends of humanity are nobly exerting them selves in behalf of the wronged and suffering slave. "That in tendering to their fellow-labourerS their warm congratulationi on the present aspect of their common cause, this meeting would _cherish the hope, that the agency ern--; ployed and the information diffused by them may be con stantly and perseveringly directed to promote the imme-. diate and entire abolition of slavery in those parts of their respective countries, where it unhappily exists, and generally throughout the world." The REV. GENTLEMAN commenced by adverting to the diversity of opinion which prevailed in the meeting on cer tain subjects ; but lie was happy to pe.rceive that the uproarious reception which lie had been met with by a preceding speaker had ended in perfect peace and love-like tranquillity ?—(Laughter.) In meetings assembled for the great objects of Christian philanthropy, humanity, and pa triotism, there might be storms upon storms; but there could be no permanent antipathy.—(Hear, hear.) All the noise which they had heard was only the noise of every one trying to keep his neighbour right.—(Laughter.) It was the noise of downright affection and warm regard. He must say, in justice to the Committee, that before they left their room they agreed to all which had then been done. They must have agitation, however, about everything—(Laughter)—for theirs were the days of agitation, and it had become a habit of their nature.—(Laughter.) Now to what did the resolution direct their attention? It directed their attention.oa. great and important work. If there were any .present who con tended that the Anti-Slavery Society should. not continue to exist when they had no slaves, he would remind them-that though this country had no slaves, slavery had not ceased to exist. The slaves which they had set free in their colonies were but a small minority. There were still two and a half millions of slaves in America, two millions in the Brazils, and 800,000 in Cuba and Porto Rico. Let them think of six mil lions of people still suffering under the lash notwithstanding all their efforts.—(Hear.) What an overwhelming spectacle. Should he now be asked what did they want with an- Anti. Slavery Society ?—(Hear, hear.) Six millions of his fellow men wanted such a Society ; and would they refuse their aid to such numbers groaning under bondage ?—( Hear, hear.) He knew they were told that the Government had entered into treaties with different Powers, with Brazil, with Spain, and with Portugal ; but if they left such matters in the hands of Government., very little would be done. Govern ments cared more about remaining still in their office chairs, than about exerting themselves. In order to rouse them, they must set the community about them, like a nest of hornets.—(Laughter.) Who was to sting our own Govern ment into exertion if not the Anti-Slavery Society?— (Hear, hear.) But America—what were they to say to America ?—(Hear, hear.) There were Christian men in America, who, when they visited this country, laughed at royalty, which.they zalled a pageant, and gloried in the free • dom of an independent republic.. But they.forgot that there were two millions and a. half of 'Milian beings in their own country who were left under the lash: If they liked; let them call, the crown'a bauble, but he would rather see a crown, bauble as they 'considered . it, on the head of a free woman, reigning over' a free people; than see the Declaration of Independence waved over Con gress by the hand of the President of a nation containing slaves.—(LOud cheers.) The independence of the boasted republic was, in such a case, shorn of all its glory, -whilst the halo round the crown commended it as the emblem of a niildcr use of poWer.—(Cheers.) He then adverted to the case of BroWn, who had aided the escape of a female slave, and strongly animadverted upon the conduct of the judge who commended the accused to the mediation of the Saviour as the only means of taking away his crime. In conclusion he callei on the meeting to continue their support on behalf of the Society. The Rev. Mr. KILLOGG, President of Knox College in the United States, seconded the resolution. He denied that slavery was a part of the republicanism of America, and de precated its being treated in that light. He also assured the meeting that the anti-slavery cause was making great pro gress in his own country. Sir GEORGE STEPHEN, in moving the next resolution, said that he, as an opponent of slavery, and a member of that Association, should always oppose the introduction of slave grown produce into this country. The resolution was to the effect that Committees should be formed throughout the country for assisting in the suppression of slavery. Mr. F. BUXTON rose to second the resolution, and said, as they were anxious to hear Mr. O'Connell, lie should not de tain them ; arid with respect to Mr. O'Connell he would ob serve, that however they might differ with him in respect to' political questions, it was but justice to the Hon. and Learned Gentleman to say, that no one was more energetic or more consistent In his hostility to slavery, than he was.—(Hear.) In conclusion, he would only observe, that his father, Sir F. Buxton, although not 'present, owing to the state of his health, was with them in heart and soul.—(Cheers.) Mr. JOSEPH STURGE said that a contribution would now be made in aid of the Society, after which their friend Mr. Da niel O'Connell would address them.—(Applause.) The collection having been made — Mr. O'CONNM.J., rose, and was received with the most deafening shouts of applause, which was manifested for some minutes. The lion. and Learned Gentleman then said —The resolution which had been entrusted to him was to the effect that the meeting, in common with the great mass of their countrymen, had read with feel ings of indignation and horror ,the sentence of death passed upon J. L. Brown, -of South Carolina, by Judge O'Neill. He was a friend to free trade, but not to a free trade in slaves.—(Cheers.) It was said that if the Brazilian and Cuba su o rar were admitted, it would be to this country an advantage of 50 pier Mt. But was that an argument in favour of traffic with slave °wren. There 11.54 been in this country a man named Money Moses, who tim eof Of. rile 9 il 0111133U' ;OS. , cv• ~e f )? s sP tt o cell 2- 01 fact, nt TV E 6 "f r ee, JY ' e at at f t ill Dd st 111! n ;at S r o c, ill r e, ng B Pnt4 • ha' ",,41 •i reco ett e "f etTec r eo e, d bi n t r b a t i are ng inor ci. altar 0 hebi ,for rbarZ e C° o f tbe 0 1 ve 9 f"6 ) ho, rie s 'ens" tvre' 4. _-- SUN, L'ONDON, FRIDAY EVENINd i MAY 17: 1844. would give you 50/. worth of plate for 25/. in money.—(Hear, factures. -A rigid and efficient syatern of retrenchment allow and a laugh.) But was that a gain which honest men inB us to take 'off the taxes upon salt, upon soap, upon and Christians would participate in ?—(Hear, hear.) .He leather, upon iron, and a few. other articles of subsistence, had not language to express his abhorrence of the conduct of our advantages e from position, from coal mines, and from the O'Neill.—(Hear, hear.) What a name for such a miscreant. skill and energy of our people, are so considerable, that, were '—(Cheers and great laughter.) Ho ought to leave the "O" it not for unwise laws and overstrained taxation, Britain, but.—(lmmense laughter.) But the language in which his for ages to come, might continue to be the great workshop sentence was pronounced was worse than the sentence itself.. of the world." So thought the great Lord Chatham-eighty He polluted the book of God. years ago; and so think I now.—(ltenewed cheers.) Beeire " Just heaven ! What must be thy look, concluding what I have to say to yo u upendhis subject, pro . When such a wretch before thee stands, bablv I should tell you that the manufacturing interests of Unblushing!—with thy sacred book, - the United States are now enabled to produce to the extent Turning its leaves with blood stained hands, of 250 millions of dollars per annurn.—( Hear, hear.) At • And wresting from its test sublime one period our exports to that country rose as - high as 50 His law of hate, and blood, and crime." millions of dollars ; at present, although there is a greatly -The lion. and Learned Gentleman, who was most enthusi- increased population in that country, our exports are little astically cheered throughout his speech, concluded by moving ! more than half.—{Hear, • hear.) That,' gentieineri, is the the resolution. I result' of our protective laws.---(liear, hear.) Gentlemen, Rev. John Aunts seconded the resolution, which Wil3 car- I a very able writer has pictured to my mind the beau ideal Hod by acclamation. of the British Constitution. The great Lord Bolingbroke The Rev. JAMES SHERMAN moved the fifth resolution. says that a system of laws, customs, and- usages derived ' Mr. BRIGHT, who was received With immense cheering, de- from the same fixed principles of reason directed te he *fended the views which Mr. G. Thompson had taken of the ' same known object of public good, by wlich a free and !sugar duties, and contended that the people of America were enlightened people agree to be governed, is, in his esti mot all guilty of participation in slavery. 'nation, what we are favoured with. That that may be The CHAIRMAN, in putting the resolution, declared his accomplished under a mixed monarchy, such as we have, opinion that if the differential duties were done away with, with its checks and balances, I. firmly believe; and I the abolition would have the effect of maintaining slavery, trust such a Government will always_ contihne to exist and promoting the slave• trade. in this country for the benefit of all classes of her Ma.: [The meeting had not concluded when we went to press.] jesty's subjects, and the country itself.—(Loud cheers.) But, gentlemen, in all human institutions lapse of time and changes in circumstances may make emendations and alterations and new enactments necessary; and should it be your pleasure that I should he your representative in Par liameat, I should be very happy to lend my best aid in ac complishing those desirable ends.—(Hear, hear.) The poor laws have existed from the reign of Elizabeth; and of late great changes have taken place in them; but in avoiding one difficulty we have fallen' into another.—(Hear, hear.), The present poor-laws are, I am afraid, a great deal too stringent and severe.—( Hear, hear.) While I would protect the poor upon the one hand from oppression and hardship, upon the other, I would endeavour to prevent the public from being imposed upon by idleness and dissipation.—(Hear, hear.) Frorn.what I have just said upon the subject of free trade, it is not necessary, Gentlemen, that I should say more than that I repudiate all protective duties, .and air retaliatory du ties Whatever.—(Great cheers.) But I wish to be clearly understood upon one point, upon which, in my address, I am afraid I have not been sufficiently explicit. I do not object to duties to meet the exigencies of the State, so far as they can be laid with advantage to the wuntry.—(Hear; 'hear.) lam an economist, so far as it is practicable to carry that principle out—so far as it is consistent with : the raising of a revenue essential to maintain the country in the position it holds among the most powerful monarchies in the world; but I never would be a party to placing her in such a situa tion that we should lose caste among the nations of the earth. —(Hear, hear.) I am, however, a strong advocate for main taining peace ; and I would maintain peace upon any terms short of national dishonour.—(Great.cheeree) l ie lmeee new to_, ask you, Gentlemen, as a personal favothe to myself, that throughout 'this contest we shall reason with our .opponents with the utmost good humour—(Hear, hear)—that - we should never mind their. smiles or remarks, or anything else they may say against us, but treat them alway&eas friends and gentlemen.—(Cheers.) It has just been suggested to me that my character is not understood in the world. I am, Gentlemen, a member of the Esteblished Church, and cer tainly no act of mine shall disturb those laws which preserve the Church in its present state.—(Hear, hear.) lam not a Unitarian, thOugh I should not consider it a degradation to be' so, I assure .you; nor era I Catholic.—(Cheers.) Mr. Brown then apologised for the imperfections of his manner of speaking, reminding the electors that they were only just beginning to drill him into a speaker, and concluded by thanking the meeting for the honour conferred upon him. The CHAIRMAN said they seemed all to be satisfied with Mr. Brown, and his declaration against n ai f i r i e s e t i t t ade . he thought would satisfy every Tree trader; but in order to carry out their good intentions, it would be necessary to appoint a Committee to conduct the election. Mr. BLAIN Wished to put a question to Mr. Brown. Would he support i‘ir.B n t!Ne said incohmeee-otan considered d er e rNe"do vote. the income-tax inquisitorial, and would- be glad to see it abolished.—(Applause.) He would continue the property-tax, provided it would remove or cause some of the other taxes to bear lightly upon them. The Government must have money, and he would take it in a way the least objectionable.—(Hear,) Mt. JACOBS inquired whether, if Mr. Brown, as- the friend of civil and religious liborty:, were returned for the.county, he would, on the question coining forward, vote for the emanci pation of the Jews ? Mr, BROWN—I would.—(Applanse.) Mr. JAcOBS said he wished to remark that the 'Jews, in wishing to be emancipated, had only the desire to be' of more use to their fellow countrymen. They were now eligible to various civil offices, and he hoped that whenever they obtained their proper position in the land, the flit principle that would actuate them would be not to oppfess the or phan, and that free trade in all things would civilise the globe. A Committee was then appointed to conduct the election. After a few, words from Colonel \Vim...Lilts, „ Mr. Razanoene rose and said, I have a confidential commu nication to make. I hear that we shall pleaed Sir Robert Peel as well by electing Mr. Brown as by electing Mr. Ent wistle.—(Cheers, and hear, hear.) Three cheers were then given for Mr. Brown, - and the pro ceedings, which were characterised by unanimity and enthu siasm throughout, terminated. THE CALEDONIAN ASYLUM. (THIS DAY.) • The twenty-seventh anniversary of this Asylum was cele brated this day in a very gratifying manner, by the ceremony 'of laying the first stone of an addition to the school, which will enable the charity to extend its benevolent efforts to the girls of Scottish parents as well as to boys. For the last few years the Directors have contemplated, this extension of the charity, but having no funds available for the purpose, they were compelled to postpone it. In the course of last year. however, the munificence of Mr. Matheson, M.P. (Ashburton), who himself subscribed 1,0001. towards the expense of en larging the building, and the subscriptions on the part of friends of the charity, .have enabled the Directors to carry out their intentions. The ceremony of laying . the foundation ' stone of the girls' school, at the Asylum, Copenhagen-fields, was performed by the Earl of Zetland, accompanied by I masonic forms. The Highland Society attended on the !occasion. The President, his Grace the buke of Buccleuch, ; and the Directors and Governors of the charity, were also tpresent. • , SOUTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION. LIVERPOOL, WEnsrEsressr.:--This day a numerous and highly respectable meeting of the Liberal' electors of Liver 'pool was held in the large room, Eastwood's .Hotel. The 'parties present evinced the greatest enthusiasm in the cause. 'Many of the gentlemen who have taken a leading part in the 'advocacy of free trade principles were present. Amongst sthein we noticed : H. Holme s Esq., Thoinas Blackbume, Esq., J. H. Greene, Esq., J. D. Thornely, Esq., J. B. Cooke, Esq., W. Jerome, Esq., , W. 111‘Kee, Esq., S. Thornely, Esq., J. Todd, Esq., IJ. Smith, Esq., T. S. Raffles, 'Esq., - James Riley, Esq:,E. Pitcher, Esq., W. Thornhill, Esq., W. Ronald, Esq., W. 'Blair, Esq., E. Baines, Esq., Thomas Harvey, Esq., R. Sheil, Esq., J, B. Barclay, Esq., James Aikin, Esq., Thomas Robin son, Esq. ' Thomas Jervis, Esq., 'W. Rathbone,. Esq., R. E. Harvey, Esq., Joseph Mason, Esq., C. Rawdon, Esq., C. E. Rawlins, jun., Esq., J. P. Crook, Esq., E. S. Bulley s Esq., J. King, Esq., Colonel Williams, &c. &c. Robert Ellison Harvey, Esq., *as unanimously called upon to preside, amidst loud cheering. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said he believed they were all aware of what had taken place with respect to the forthcoming election. The news papers bad pretty correctly reported everything that had occurred, and he had only to state that Mr. Brown was now in the house, and would have great pleasure in addres sing them by-and-bye if they wished it, but in the meantime 1111.. Rathbone would move a resolution which he (the Chairman) hoped would meet their approbation. There might be gentlemen present who had some slight differences of opinion with Mr. Brown on political questions, but he hoped these would all be merged—the absorbing question of the present day being the free trade question.—(Loud ap plause.) With respect to Mr. Brown's opinion upon that subject there could not be by possibility any mistake. lie went as far as most of them on that subject. In all minor differences of politics they waived a shade or two, and adopted the principles of free trade as their present popular cry. Mr. RATHBONE said the resolution he had to move was as follows :—" That this meeting, highly approves of the choice made of W. Brown, Esq., as the candidate for the southern division of Lancashire, and it pledges itself to secure his triumphant return to the 'House of Commons."—(Applause.) He was sure he need not say much to induce them to give their hearty concurrence to that motion, not merely with their cheers, but with their votes and services on the present occasion. Me conceived this to be one -of the greatest struggles they ever had in this county, for it affected not only the county, but the public generally.--(Applause.) They were going; on very correctly : they said a free trade candi date should be a Liberal, such as Mr. Brown was on all other important points which they ought to see well represented in Lancashire. It was to the disgrace of Lancashire that it had been badly represented by persons who knew no thing either of commerce or manufactures. Lancashire ought to have a commercial and manufactusing man to re present it.—(Applause.) It was high time that they should redeem themselves from that degradation into which . , they had been too long cast—not rolling to this side and to that side, but uniting in one strenuous and firm struggle to main tain their rights—not splitting hairs. The bark is on the rock, and which of the sailors would think of this side or of that side. Let us (said he) pull her off the rock; not talk of this suffrage and the other suffrage, and this twaddlement and the other twaddlement. Letus struggle toput Mr. Brown into his post, and then we will talk of other matters. Mr. THOMAS BLACKBURN seconded the resolution. Mr. RATHBONE wished just to say that the 'suggestion, that Mr. Brown should be put in nomination, came from Manchester. That showed how little jealousy there was on the part of the Manchester gentlemen, and he hoped-they would show how they felt such liberal conduct towards them.—(Applause.) The CHAIRMAN then put the question, and it was carried unanimously. William Brown, Esq., was then ,introduced to the meeting amidst loud cheers and clapping of hands. As soon as this had subsided, The Citainsiase addressing him, said he would read to him the resolution which had just been passed unanimously by the meeting, and at the same time he must congratulate him that there was so numerous and zealous a meeting there that dayy.. late representative, e t a l n ie n n ot ad h d e r lp ess f ed eel t in h g e hmigeehtliynggraastififedolloawts the )r G y o e e e r y e i rr trle ia n e S tw i n distinguished honour you have done me by the wterm i 3 r t e h o p u N e , l ave aghose ftr i i i v ve e en n , dtsishs the Hon. de hadl nc.on n Bootleet c h t e i s la b ; r i: ah e oas o nt f i knowing m- in gen tlemansincerelyg sympathise—a gentleman whose amiable and accomplished manners endeared him to all by whom he was known ; and, indeed, it was' only necessary to have that knowledge to respectlhim.--(Hear, hear.) this melancholy event, gentle men, has placed me in the position in which I now stand, as a candidate before you, for the honour of representing you in Parliament. I should never have dreamt of aspiring to this honour, had it not been pressed upon me by a deputation from Manchester and the surrounding districts, accompanied by many of the gentlemen I now see around me ; and whether I may attribute it to my vanity or my ambition, if you please, or to both, I'could not resist the temptation in their wish to confer such an honoor upon me.—(Great cheering.) I would much wish, gentlemen, certainly that you hada more able advocate of your cause; but since you have launched me upon the troubled sea of politics, you may rest assured, that having put my hands to the, plough, I will not draw back.—(Great cheering.) Gentlemen, 1 stand before you as aft instrument to accomplish what we have all at heart — free ti ade.—(Applause.) What is free trade ? It is "an exchange of equivalents mutually advantageous to both Let us look at an hossile tariff between countries which parties."—(Hear, bear.) But let us look to the reverse. might exchange their commodities with each other with advantage to both parties. Why, it engenders jealous and hostile feelings ; it may lead, and frequently does lead, to a spark creating war.—(Hear, hear.) And what is the consequence, gentlemen? Taxation.—(Hear.) That is the consequence—(Cheers)—taxes, which area just punish ment for our folly.—(Renewed cheering.) 'War begets taxes; taxes beget debt; debt begets restrictions.—(Hear, hear.) These are the blessings arising from these commercial mis understandings which unfortunately exist. between nations. —(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Our opponents contend, gentle men, that the landed interest bear an undue proportion of these taxes. I look upon it, however, in a very different point of view s , If any of you, gentlemen, were going to buy an estate, what is the first thing you would do? You would first endeavour to ascertain the gross rental of that estate; the next thing, would be the poor's-rate, tithes, highway rates, land-tat, and such other charges as may be looked upon in the character of permar.ent mortgages; and any schoolboy would tell you that you buy not the gross, but the nett rental.4-(Hear, hear.) I' cannot conceive in what other, point of view the owner of an estate stands who holds it by inheritance ; and I am greatly' surprised the ltinded interest are-not aware of the incalculable advantages which com merce has conferred upon them.—( Hear, hear.) Look, for instance, at the condition of the southern district of Lan cashire. About the year 1784, when the first bag of cotton was imported, the population dependent upon agriculture was' 52,000, the whole population of Lancashire being about 300,000. .In 1800 it had risen to 600,000, and at, this time it is 1,600,060:--(Hear, hear.) lam sure there is not an vidual *lei hears me, or who will read what I say, but will say' that increase has conferred an inestimable benefit upon the landed proprietors—(Hear)—and it is astonishing that they have 'not foresight to see that by continuing this pros perity they continue the support of their rent rolls.—(Great glieering.) It ,contended also, by our opponents, that we have heen prospetous in consequence of our restrictive mea sures. I,know we have been prosperous, but it has been in spite of thern.—(Cheers.) They lose sight of the fact that Europe and America are now at peace—(Hear)—they lose sight of the fact that both are prospering, and to a certain extent very successful rivals n other markets of the world in- the manufactures which they now make.—(Hear, hear.) We certainly had advantages during the long wars which existed upon the, Continent from the security of person and property which they did not there enjoy, for it enabled us to make great progress in arts and manufactures, and such advantages we might now retain if we could only. liberalise our commer cial policy.—(Great cheers.) Indeed, with a liberal commer cial policy I cannot see that landlords have anything to fear from competition with any other country in the world.— (Hear.) Give us that, and we can clothe the world.—(Much apblause.) We talk of other countries leaguing against us in hostile tariffs ; but let us examine the matter fairly—let us take the United States, with which I am better acquainted than any other country. I have now in my possession some statistics of that country', which inform me that the average duties now laid upon her imports from us are 33i per cent. The duties we lay upon her imports from there are 52i per cent. ; but if we exclude cotton, which the southern district of this county could not do very well without, then other duties againsi her are 330 per cent.—(Hear, hear.) By the late tariff of Sir Robert Peel they are hardly so high-260 per cent. ; and this is "reciprocity," 33i per cent. against 260 per cent.—(Cheers add great applause.) Upon this head 1 will be very brief, but I cannot refrain from laying before you the sentiments of one of the ablest men that this country ever knew, a man whose abilities were acknowledged by those who differed with him in their day, and history will do him justice—a man who was well qualified to wield the destinies of this or any other nation—l mean the great Lord Chatham.—(Great cheers.) Lord Chatham says : " I do not despair of my country, and I nave no objection to state what, in my opinion, would restore the kingdom to its once flourishing condition. Give freedom to commerce, and lighten the pressure of taxation, and you will have no complaining in your streets. 'As commerce is always a change of equivalents, a nation that will not buy cannot sell ; and every restriction upon import is an obstacle to ex. port. On the other hand, the more we admit the produc tions of foreign countries, the more extensive becomes their demand for our commodities. Let the absurd system of our corn-laws be gradually and cautiously abolished, and allow the cheap agricultural produce of the north of Europe, and of the continents of America and Africa, to be freely intro duced, and we shall obtain an unlimited vent for or manu- PARLIAMEN TAR Y From the Votes and Proceedengs q/ the HousEoj c omiewou .) THURDSAY, MAY 16. NAVAL OFFICERS. Motion made, and Question put, .. That it is the recom mendation of this House, that previously to the preparation of the Estimates for the year 1845-46, a Plan of Retirement should be devised, with a view to render the Naval Service efficient, and of rewarding old and meritorious Officers :" The House divided : MINORITY—AYRS, 28. • Aglionby, H. A.—Cockermouth Maher, Nicholas—aipperary Bannerman, A.—Aberdeen Mitcalfe, H.—Tynemouth Barnard, E. G.—Greenwich llorrison, Junes—lnverness • Berkeley, Hon. M. F.—Gloucester Plumridge, Cap:ain—Peiayis:and Berkeley, Hon. H. F.—Bristol Falmouth Busfeild, William—Bradford Rous, Captain—Westminster Chapman, B.—Westmeatt. Scholetield, .10—Birmikigham Collett, John—Athlone Stuart, Lord J.—Ayr Dalmeny, Lord—Stirling Tancred, H. W.—Banbury Denison, W. J.— W est Surrey 1 raubridga, Sir E ' l'.—S•.,..tw ch , Esmonde, Sir T.—Wexford Co. Wakley, Thomas—Finsbury French, F.—Rosscommon • Wawn, J. T.—South Shichls Gore, Robert—New Ross Wemyss, Captain . —Fifeshire Harris, E. A. J.—Christchurch TELLt ftS. Hatton, Capt. Wexiord Co.: N.tpier, Sir Charles— Mar yltterre Hume, Joseph—Montrose, &c. Fechell, Captain—Brighton FINE ARTS. PORTRAIT , OF SIR BENJAMIN BRODIE, We have just been favoured with the sight of an embossed medallion portrait of that eminent surgeon, Sir Benjamin Brodie. The portrait is engraved by Freebairn from the original model for the medal which has been executed by Wyon, and it is by far the best likeness that has yet appeared of Sir . Be njamin. As a work of art, the engraving is not less deserving of commendation, and so admirably are the lights And shades managed, especially about the eye and, the lower part of the forehead, that.it is difficult to believe that the plate has been wrought upon a flat, surface: The countenance indicates great shrewdness .and sagacity, and the expression of the mouth, in particular, is that of decided energyfand determination of purpose. In fact, Mr. Freebairii haS preserved all the characteristics of Sir Benjamin Brodie's counte nance with singular fidelity, and the result is, a portrait as like life as it is possible for engraving to be. As the professional reputation of the original is widely diffuk.ed, more especilly among medical men, we have no doubt that this admirable portrait will become speedily popular with the faculty, first, from its accuracy as a likeness, and secondly, from its su perior excellence as a work of art. CRIMINAL STATISTICS There is deep matter for legislative reflection and inquiry in a Blue Book just issued from the Vote- i office, entitled Tables showing the number of Criminal Offenders (England and Wales) in the year 1843." These tables, which exhibit the numbers " committed for trial or bailed for appearance at the Assizes and Sessions in each county"—also the result of the proceedings, are followed by a most valuable paper or digest, prefaced by this announcement : " The following explanations, and calculations with reference to the Accompanying tables, have been made by Mr. REDGRAVE of the Home-office, who compiled and prepared the tables." This docu ment is ,highly honourable, no doubt, to that gentle man's powers of analysis and arrangement, but it develops a picture of the present aggregate of criminal offenders, and the ratio of its increase, which is the most discouraging that could be submitted to the - British public. The contents of the Tabular Returns will be found, if not to falsify, yet by no means to confirm, the anticipations of those who augured, from the extensive repeal of capital punishment, first, a largely increased proportion ofconvictions to the number of commitments ; secondly a largely decreased amount of those crimes from which the capital penalty has been thus withdrawn. The release of jurors &gm the temptation to falsify their oaths, by verdicts founded, —not on their impressions of the evidence before them, but—on their reluctance to be accessory to the execution of their fellow-creatures ; and the as sumed readiness with which they would (it was thought) convict, where warranted by evidence, in such cases—appear to have had little sensible effect in repressing this class of offences. In spite of Mr RosaucK's eulogy, the other night, of factory labour as the most appropriate and salutary employment fur women, these tables supply statistics from which Mr. REDGRAVE eliminates the conclusion that " the variations on the centessimal proportion of the males to the females have not exceeded 2 per cent. in the last seven years ; that the proportion of females was greatest in 1840, decreasing ,slightly in the two fol lowing years, being last year 22.02 per cent., being a slight increase on the previous year ; and that in the ten most manufacturing counties, the proportion of females was 25.4 per cent. ; in the ten most agricultural counties, 15.4. per cent. only."—(P. 10.) To the same ',earned authority, who found matter for thank fulness and congratulation in the devotion of children and young persons to the same species of occupation, we commend this significant passage :—" The com parative ages in the ten most agricultural, and the ten most manufacturing and mixed counties, afford similar results; namely, the earlier coin. mencement of crime in the manufacturing than in the agricultural counties."—(P. 9.) But Mr. GRAVE shows, especially by reference to the percentage of offences committed between twenty and twenty five years, that the career of crime is shorter in the manufacturing than in the agricultural districts. The returns, however, are full of ano malies well calculated to refute the confidence of less practical men in either House of Par liament, and in either of the two great parties which occupy them, in the dangerous delusions involved in some of their most favourite notions. His Grace the Duke of BUCKINGHAM may be surprised, to learn such news as this of his " model county, namely—" In the Midland (agricultural) Counties NOrthaMpton, Oxford, and Berkshire, a decrease of crime—Bucks an increase." Mr. BANTERS, who ran a memorable tilt, some time since, in honour of the abundant wages and excellent character of the whole Dorsetshire tenantry, must bear to be told that " if the Western counties, Wilts and Somersetshire, show a decrease, Dorsetshire shows an increase of crime. But the general results are too deplorable to be used, merely to point a passing reflection for the di gestion of political Contemporaries. "In the last year" (1843) writes Mr. REDGRAVE, "there was an increase (of commitments) of 14.1 per cent. on the whole class—every one of the most atro cious qffences showing a considerable increase. In the " //fences against property committed with violence," there was a large increase, extend ing to nearly every offence. In 1842, the in crease in this class amounted to 16.6 per cent.; and the past year has added 13.9 per cent. to the former great increase. " Offences against property, com mitted without violence," have decreased during the last year. " Malicious offences against property" show a considerable increase, although they had been already more than doubled in the year 1842. "For geries and offences against the currency," which had likewise greatly multiplied in 1842, show in 1843 a further increase of 5 per cent. _ _ Here follows a painful confirmation of the views which these details are calculated to supply — It has been already shown that the decrease in the past year has fallen chiefly on the minor offences, and that there was an increase in the graver classes of crime. This, with the number of sentences passed gt the winter assize, will account for the increase„ in the face of a general decrease, of the most severe secondary punishments, and of the numbers sentenced to death, which latter exceed those in any year since the exten sive abolition of capital punishments by the Acts of 1 Vic toria. The sentences in each of the three last years are given : Death r MAJORITY--NOES, 71. Ackers, James-Ludlow Herbert, Hon. 8.-South Wilts Adderley, C. 8.-Staffordshire Hodgson,tltd.-lierwick-en !weal Ar chdall, Captain M-Fermanagh Hop e , G. W.-Southampton A r kwright, George-Leominster H ump h er y, J o h n Southwark Bailey, J.-Herefordshire . Hussey, Ambrose- Saliisbury Ba i r d, W.-Falkirk, Ac. Jermyn. Earl-Bury, Suffblk Barrington, Lord-Berkshire Knatchbull, Sir E.-East Kent Bentinck, Lord G.-Lynn Lawson, A.-Knaresborough Botfield, Beriah-Ludlow Lincoln ' Earl of-Northamplor. Brotherton, J . -Kalfor d shire,South Carnegie, Hon. Captain-Stafford Lockhart. William-Lanarkshire Clerk. Sir G.-Stamford Mackenzie. W. F.-Peeblesshire Cockburn, Sir G orge-Ripon AI , Niell, D.-Argyleshire Corry, Hon. H. L.- = Tyrone Co. Marsland, Henry-Stockport Cripps, William-Cirencester Martin, W.-Newport, I. of Wight Denison, E. 8.-West YorkshiVe Master, T. W. C.-Cirencester Dodd, G.-Maidstone Masterman, J.London Douglas, Sir C. E.-Warwick Mordaunt,SirJohn-Warwickhs. Dowdeswell, W.-Tewkesbury Nicholl, Right Hon. Sir John East, James Buller-Winchester Peel, Rt. Hon. Mr R.-Tamwerth Egerton, W. Tatton-Cheshire Peel, Col. Jonathan-Hunt:rig& n Eliot, Lord-East Cornwall Plumptre, John P.-East Kent Escott, 8.-Winchester Polhill, Frederick-Bedford Flower. Sir J.-Thetford Pollington, Lord-Pontefract Forman, T. S.-Bridgewater Pusey, Philip-Berkshire Gaskell, James Milnes-Wenlock Roebuck, J. A.-Bath4 Gladstone, W. E.-Newarx-on Smith, T. B. C:. 1 : Rilvon Trent Sutton, C. M. -Cambridge Gladstone, Captain-Ipswich Thesiger, F.-A bi ng d on Godson, R. -Kidderminst er Thompson, Ald.--Sun d er l a nd Gordon, Hon. W.-Aberdee ns hi re TrelawnY. J. K -Taoists Goulburn, Right Hon. H.-Cam. Trenzii, Sir F. -Scarborough bridge University V erner, William -.Armagh Co. . Greenall, P.-Wigan • Vivian, John Ennis-Truro Greene, 'l'. G.-Lancashi re Williams, William -Coventry Grimsditch, T.-Macclesfi e ld Grogan, E.-Dublin TELLERS. Harcourt, G. G. V -Oxford s hi re Fremantle, S i r T . -Buckingh am Henley, J. W.-Oxfords! ir e Baring, . , H. 8.-Marinorougn ROYALISTS IN FRANCE. The following letter has been addressed `by . Henri de - France, Duc de Bordeaux, t o t h ose L eg i t i m i s t Dep u ties w h o have been re• elected by their constituents, despite the strenuous exertions of M. Guizot and his colleagues : " Goritz, March 19, 1844. " I have been informed, Gentlemen, of your re-election to the Chamber of Deputies, and I hasten to tell yOu how re joiced I feel at this result, and to offer you my congratula tions. It w ould have been a subject of ceaseless and poignant regret to me it' your visit to me during my residence at London should have been the means of depriving France of the services of such worthy defenders of her interests. I am both happy and grateful that the electors .of the towns of Marseilles, Toulouse, Montpellier, Doullens, and Ploermel have done sonoble an act of justice, and have so ably refuted those calumnies which were so industriously circulated re specting my visit to England, and your visii to me at London. All who came to me during my brief sty* in the English capital know full well that not a Syllable; escaped from my lips which was not couched in the - form or - an ardent desire for the welfare and happiness of France. "'The sentiment of generosity which bialnstigated these. honourable men, who do not jet - participate in all our con victions, to rally around us under those circumstances, ought to inspire us with fresh hope, that the dafinay yet come, a happy day of conciliation, when honest and- sincere men of all parties and opinions, abjuring theEe divisions by which they have been so long estranged frotri us, will meet together in good faith on the ground of monarchical principles and na- Vonal liberties, to serve and defend our common 'country. • " I renew to you, Gentlemen, the assurance of my - esteem and my constant and sincere affection. " HENRI. "'lb Messieurs Berryer, BIM de Bourdon, De Larey, De la Rochejacquelin, and De Valmy." THAMES parr CLUI. At a meting of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of this dis tinguished Club, last night, at the British Coffee-house, Cockspur-street, the following yachts were entered for the Grand Challenge Cup :—The Mystery; Exquisite, Gazelle, Enigma, Blue Belle, Gnome. The match will take place on Monday, the 10th of June, from Greenwich to Gravesend and back. ' The Mystery is the favourite. • • . • _ The Commodore announced that Captain Coxedge, of the Albion, had handsomely signified his intention of giving a Cup, value fifty guineas, to he sailed for by yachts of thls club. It was arranged that this match should be sailed on Wed nesday, the 10th of July, tha club expressing their satisfaction at the captain's liberality. THAMES GRAND REGATTA. At the Royal Thame3 Yacht meetinZ,leanight, T. Wife. som, Esq., announced the Thames Regatta for the 20th, 21st, and 2.2. of June. THE MARCH OF INTELLECT.—An inhabitant of the village of Havay, two leagues frOm .pions, in Belgium, was committed to prison a few days ago at the latter place, on a charge of having killed a woman whom he suspected of being a witch. CITY NEWS.—In the markets lead has been heavy, but tin is in great request, and man'.who have asked for it haven't been able to get it. Hides aro sought after, and so is one of the principle dealers, who is said to be hiding from his creditors.—Puck, THE ONLY ONE OF THE KIND.—The French Honour, contain an advertisement of a cross o f th e L eg i on o f Honour, which was picked up on the market-place at Douai. So that at present there is one man; at all events, in France who is not decorated. We advise him,'if he wishes to make a speedy fortune, to exhibit himself.—Punch. GRAND II YDROPATDIC DEMONSTRATION.— This display, which is to prove beyond a doubt what the science is really capable of,' has been put off, we. understand, arrival of the Emperor of Russia, when an experiment Will be tried upon a scale never before attempted.—Punch. * " 1841 1842 1843 Transportation for Life ... 156 191 225 , t above 15 years ip, 15 years, and above 10 709 726 641 ” 10 years, and above 7 1,240 1,402 1,471 19 7 years . .... ...... Imprisonment above 3 years ••• 1 ... ” 3 years, and above 2 f, 2 years, and above 1 465 464 464 2 V 1 yr, and above 6 mnths 2,060 2,594 2,332 11. 6 months and under 13,212 14,799 13,477 Whipped, Fined, and Discharged The capital sentences for elevengreat crimes (mur der, attempts at murder, treason, arson, cutting and maiming, riot, &c. &c.) passed in the three years 1841, 1842, and 1843, were respectively for each year, 80, 57, 97. We are grieved to add this illus tration of the remarks which we have hazarded above as to the hitherto unsatisfactory working of the last Act for abolishing the penalty of death in various cases. But we should observe that so noble an expe -1 riment—that a principle which we believe to be so sound in the abstract—ought not to be condemned, eveir on this sort of constructive evidence, without further and more prolonged inquiry. In 1838, by the Acts of the Ist Victoria, a further and more important amelioration was effected in the Criminal Laws, and the penalty of death removed from several of the•largest classes of offences for which up to that time, executions had not been unfrequent. With reference to these offences, a similar comparison to the foregoing is made, excel ting only such as from their numbers were too unimpo.tant to afford any useful results. Average of 1835-6-7. 1843. Attempts to Murder and Maim 124 254 Burglary Robbery Arson On each of these offences there has been a very consi derable increase, which on the aggregate reaches 109 per cent., the commitments generally increasing only 26'4 per cent, in the same time. The convictions have been slightly affected by the removal of the extreme penalty, the proportion acquitted having decreased from I in 2'26 to 1 in 2'73. AN ORDER FOR Two:—The late Andrew Ducrow, the equestrian, invited his friends, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. C , to visit the mausoleum which he had erected . for the reception of himself and his family at liensal green. His visitors having eicpressed their satisfaction at its external beauties, and the conveniency of its interior arrangements, Ducrow, kindly shaking his friend by the hand, exclaimed, in the fulness of his liberality—" Well, my dear fellow, you see there's plenty of room ; so I shall be happy at any time to give a couple of places to you and Mrs. T. P." This, in its way, an offer of an order for two to the pit, was not immediately accepted. SUMMARY OF NEWS AND Vabitt Opinion. " Who runs may read." rortExcx. On Monday evening the King and Queen of the Drench entertained at dinner the Pope's Nuncio, the Turkish Am bassador, the Baden, Portuguese, And Swedish Ministers, Marshal Soult, Marquises d'Escayrac, de Lauture, and d'Ara mon, Generals Baron de Lascours and Janin. • The ebnamittee, charged with the examination of the Bill relating to the Paris and Lyons Railroad hai determined; by . six xotes to three, to recommend to the Chamber to adopt the line'rUnning by the Yonne, 'the Arniattqon, the Brenne, and the Loze, on the ground that it shortens the distance, between Paris and Dijon, by 32 kilometres. The Council- General of the Ponts-et-Chaus.sees had previously adopted the same line, by a majority of 12 to 4. The 'National states :—" Ile Government is about to con ciliate the priesthood by a new concession, it being intended that the Pantheon is again to be converted to religious pur poses, by celebrating in it, on the next ann i ve r sar y o f the days of July, a funeral service in honour of the victims of that glorious'week." _ _ _ M. Thiers has concluded his " History of the Empire," and was to deliver the manuscript on TueSday to the publisher, who is to pay him 500,000 f. (20,000/.) for the work. The first year since the opening of th e Paris and Rouen railway having_ elapsed without any accident occurring through the fault or neglect of the locomotive branch of the service, the Company, to testily their general satisfaction, re solved to give, at the Batignolles station, a grand feast to all the engineers and their men. From the necessity of not in terrupting the service of the road, this was divided into two parties' lon different days. Theliraldo, of Madrid, states that the Spanish capital 'will soon be lighted with gas by the Company which has erected gas works at BarcelonA. and Valencia. A letter from Leipsic, in the Courrier de la Moselle, relates that at a grand concert and supper, in the evening.Of Sunday, the 21st ult., at the Intel de Boulogne (the casino of Leipsic), at which about 400 persons, were assembled, the inhabitant s of the Rhenish Provinces, who,are still attached to the French, called for the" Marseillaise" in honour of their Gallic guests. Upon this, a number of persons from Berlin who were preSent opposed the call by a violent hissing. A row ensued, and soon beCame general, and as bottles, plates, chairs, and other missiles.fiew in every direction, many serious wounds and contusions were given aid received before the tumult could be allayed. The French Ambassador in Switzerland has addressed to the Vorort a series of questions, relating to the statistics of the periodical press in that country. lie has requested an account of the charges laid upon the Swiss journals. in the shape of stamps, postage, :duties upon advertisements, &c., with the amounts of these impoSts, and the number of the journals and other periodicals published in Switzerland, and their respective circulation. This inquiry is made, no doubt, with a view to a due consideration of the proposition made by M. Chapuys Montlaville, for the abolition of the stamp duty on journals in. France. The Yorort . has transmitted these inquiries to all Cantonal Goveinments, desiring them to return answers. • LAW AND POLICE. Mr. Andrew Van Sandan, solicitor, appeared before Mr. Twyford, at Bow-street, to answer the complaint of Thomas Clarke, a clerk in the service of Messrs. Turner and Hainsman, solicitors in the Court of Review, for assaulting him. The complainant stated that on the 13th instant he had occasion to meet the defendant at the office of the Registrar of the Court of Review, in Chancery-lane, respecting the minutes of a case in . which he was concerned. A discussion arose out of an order of the. Court ; the defendant at first applied the terms " knave and fool" to the complainant, and afterwards struck and kicked him with much violence. The magistrate in flicted a penalty of 51., and ordered the defendant to find bail to keep the peace for six months. At Marylebone, Henry Wellby, proprietor and driver of an omnibus running from Paddington to the Bank, was summoned before Mr. Long, by Charles Hoppey, Esq., soli citor, for unlawfully driving to the danger of passengers. The evidence went to show that on the 18th ult. com plainant and another gentleman named Needham, a special pleader in the Temple, were. on the outside of an omnibus belonging to the London Conveyance Company, and that in Oxford-street the defendant crossed the vehicle upon which they , were riding, thereby causing a collision whi c h th rew both the gentlemen into the road. Mr Hoppey was 'rep , ' severely injured. Defendant was ordered to pay five gtu neas, the expenses attendant upon surgical assistance for Mr. Hoppey, in addition to 255, for damage to wearing apparel, and ss.—a nominal fine for the offence for which he was summoned. At Clerkenwell, Caroline King, who was remanded from Monday last, on a charge of having assaulted and wounded George King, her husband, of No. 5, Little Warner-street, Clerkenwell, was again placed, at the bar for final examina tion, when her husband attended in a weakly condition. The husband said he did not wish to press the charge. The pri soner on being discharged clung to her husband, begged his forgiveness, and they went away arm in arm in tears, and ap parently on affectionate terms. Edward George Barrington, a native of Bristol, was brought before Mr.Ballantine, at the Thames police-court, on a charge of stealing two 101. Bank of England notes, a 5/. note, and 35/. in gold and silver, from the Volunteer public-house, in Mill-place, Limehouse, the property of Mrs. Ann Blakey, a widow, and committed for trial. COUELT-P.ILSECION.A.BLE. Lady John Russell's assembly, on Wednesday evening, in Chesham-place, was attended by the Duchess of Sutherland and the Ladies Leveson Gower, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Earl and Countess of Morley, Mr. Aysford and Lady'Caroline Sanford, Lady Theresa Lister and the Hon. Mrs. George Lister,.the Earl of Minto, Lord Glenelg, the Earl of Auckland and the Hon. Misses Emily and Fanny Eden, the Earl and Countess of Clarendon, Mr. Charles' and Lady Georgiana Romily, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Labouchere. The Lord Chancellor and Lady Lyndhurst received the Duke and Duchesi of Bucclench, Duchess of Beaufort and Lady Angusta'SOmerset, his Excellency the French Ambas sador and Countess de St. Aulaire, Viscount and Viscountess Villiers, Earl of Lonsdale, Lord Forester, Lofd Lovaine, Sir Wm. M. Stanley, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Stanley, Mr. Tomline, Rev. Sydney Smith, and a select party at dinner last even ing, at the Noble and Learned Lord's house, in George-street, Hanover-square. Lady Lyndhurst had a soiree afterwards: The Hon. Colonel Douglas Gordon Pennant, M.P., gave a dinner at Ingestre House, Belgrave-square, on Wednesday evening, to Lord Saltoun and a select party. Sir George Palmer, Bart., and family, the CountesS of Mel ton, Captain Mainwaring, the Count Zuva, &c. left London on Sunday list, by the steamer Antwerpen, Captain Jackson Miss Burdett Coutts, Captain Bristowe, Captain Cotton, Colonel Hall and family, and the Rev. Mr. Porcher, were among the passengers that embarked yesterday at the Bruns • wick Pier, Blackwell, on board the General Steam Naviga tion Company's steam-ship, Wilberforce, for Antwerp. Lord and Lady Northesk have arrived at Brown's Hotel in Dover-street. HAYMARKET THEATRE.—The very laughable co medy, A Cure for the Heartache, was revived last night. Old Rapid, the enriched tailor, was personated by Farren; Young Rapid, the son, had Charles Mathews for his repre sentative ; Mr. Strickland was Vortex, the nabob ; Mr. Web ster appeared in the character of Frank Oatland, Miss Julia Bennett as Jessie, Mrs.. Edwin Yarnold, as Ellen Vortex, and the character of the more antiquated Miss Vortex was ad • mirably sustained by Mrs. W. Clifford. Farren was almost inimitable in some of the scenes, especially that wherein his son receives the challenge from Young Stanley. The con tending feelings of the affectionate father with the sense of what is due to his son as a man, were depicted with genuine feeling, and elicited loud applause. The character of Young Rapid is well suited to Charles Mathews, who continued to keep up the spirit of the scene to its full tone, Vthout exaggeration. The comedy was received with shouts of laughter and applause, and when Mr. Farren came forward to announce its repetition, he was greeted with a warmth that testified how much the efforts he had made were appreciated. FIRE AT CHELSEA.—About seven o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in an unfinished house, No. 4,Mark ham-square, Ohelsea, which, owing to the inflammable nature of the materials in the building, spread with frightful rapi dity. Several workmen were on the premises at the time, and whilst some were endeavouring to check the progress of the flames, others were dispatched for the fire-engines. The local engines arrived first, and after them the Fire Brigade and County engines. There was an ample supply of water, and by half-past nine o'clock the fire was totally extin guished. It was confined to the premises,' but these were completely gutted. The damage done amounts to nearly 300/., the building containing a great quantity of doors, win dow-fraines, sashes,-and other fittings, which had been stored therein prior to being used in other new erections. The fire originated from a spark flying from a stove and igniting some shavings. Messrs. Hunt and Humphrey, the owners of the premises, had insured them in the Guardian-office for 2001. PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND.—Yesterday the annual general meeting of the Shareholders of this Company was held at the establishment in Old Broad-street, Mathias Attwood, Esq., M.P., in the chair. After a few prefatory re marks by the chairman, Mr. Marshall, the secretary, read the report of the Directors, in which the usual allusion to the agricultural and commercial state of Ireland was made, which last rear passed over with greater exemption from mercantile failures in trades connected with Ireland than for many preceding years. The linen manufacture of Ulster was fairly maintained, and as to the cultivation of flax, it had greatly increased in the quantity raised, as well as in the importance of the quality, which being conducted under the Belgian system of management recently introduced, and now becoming so prevalent in the north of Ireland, it was thought it would supersede in a great measure the necessity of im .porting the finer description of flax from the Continent. The only circumstance of importance connected with the Bank of Ireland, was the discontinuance of the branch bank of Money more, in the county of Londonderry - . Allusion was made to the low value of money which had been greater during the past year than at any period since the establishment of this bank, in the year 1825. The Government regulationil„ to as to ly the system of banking generally was not thought at t the n g s d a o m m e time affe no etth n e ow ban b k a s nks of oifssuisesnien in nrealany part Ireland, whileof the will be allowed. Though the accounts showed the income not to be equal to former years, the Directors were, not withstanding, enabled to continue a dividend of eigh per cent. per annum, as hitherto, and would also make an add!. tion of 2,300/. to the rest of last year. The rest, on the 25th of was 97,1211. 9s. 101, from which dedu c t t wo half-early-early43dividends, together 43,290/., would leave a ba lance of 53,921/, 9s. 10d., to which must be added' the nett profits for the past year, 45,5011. 4s. 10d., showing the rest on the 30th of March, 1844, to be 99,422 L 14s. Bd., from w hich it was proposed to pay - idend of four pr cent. report e e l r e e n t e d e w x ,a t , s i a ah t da t oi he thanks se r d a , rate of ors e t . a r p endin g l a v n n i n n g r a t b b e l e T i four i t t h e pp e h irr a l e cc f-year tt unanimously the sF n iecor i s m ili: o sh u lula s Gs l r. votedsyhNhmaA AFFAIRS.—It establishment, tr, hAwe t ih o ßes t sen h c. _ e rt he Chairman e:s•ematainanncdgoatmnhdem principalDirectors,en adjourned.i officersa nd also f e most laconic military dispatch ever issued was etahatthasetntthb y Caesar to the Horse Guards at Rome, containing the three memorable words, " Veni, vidi, vici ;" and, perhaps, until our own day, no like instance of brevity has been found. The dispatch of Sir Charles Napier, after the capture of Sinde, to Lord Ellenborough, b o th for brevity and truth, is, however, far beyond it. The dispatch consisted of one emphatic word— " Peccavi " " I have Sinde" (sinned).—P une h. THE NEST INDIAN MAlL.—Letters and news papers will be in time thi s morn i ng , th e 17th i ns ta n t, for • Aladeira, the West Indies, Bermuda, and Venezuela, to be forwarded by the Dee steamer, via Southampton. For Bri tish North America:and the United States, to-morrow even ing, the 18th instant, to be forwarded by the Caledonia steamer, via Liverpool, Halifax, and Boston. For. Sydney, New South Wales, and Port Philip, on the evening of the 31A instant, to be forwarded by the Garland Grove, via Gravesend. For Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, India, Hong-Kong, and China, on the morning of the Ist of June, via Southampton, by the overland closed mail to India, via Marseilles, on the evening of the 4th of June % if not detained by Government.. MEEtING Or THE IsITNTEN. (From the Tyne Merciery.) On Monday, at twelve o'clock, a meeting of the , pit men recently employed in the collieries or the Tyne, and a few on the north of the Wear was held on the Town Moor, in t: is town. The p!acard announcing the Meeting intimated that the use of the ground had been granted by the Mayor (Sir John Fife, Knight), of the borough. The meeting was numerously attended, there being not less than from seven to eight thousand men and women present. The entire proceedings were of the most peaceful character. Mr. AtiRK DENT, having been called to the chair, said that it was not with him at this meeting as it had been on former occasions—it excited within his breast plea surable emotions in having the honour as acting as chairman. We arc still alive, he said, though it was predicted that we should have been by this time as a nonentily as an association ; but we are now more powerful than when we first came out. The speaker then alluded to certain articles which had ap peared in . the Durham Chronicle, respecting the. pitmea, on which he said, this old hag, this Will o' th' Wisp, that before long they would let him know they would catch hold of him, and punish him for his calumny and falsehood. When we started in this struggle, we said that we were determined to be fed, aye, and to be better fell, better dad, and better educated; we want all time abundance our labour was destined to create for us. At the com mncement of this struggle we had to contend against the avarice of the coalowners and the ignorance of the people. Many of the local press were also opposed to us, but now their views are changed, and they are with us. I must now urge you to keep the Peace, and give every speaker a fair hearing.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. JOHN TULIP, from South Hetton, moved the fol lowing resolution : " Resolved—That in the opinion of this meetirg, we, the Miners of Northumberland and Durham, have been an ill-used cla,s of men, and we hold ourselves juqtitiable in ceasing from labour until we obtain an advance of - wages on equitab'e terms." After reading this he said--.-Now my friendsotaany men have insinuated that our grievances are imaginary. Now, I ask, was not our time come to resist the oppression of the masters ? I am thankful that the. Miners' Association exists in England. We have met together to-day to show that we are an oppressed set of men. We have been in the school of experience, and there learned wisdom. The masters laid on the screw, but at length we reared oise beads, and to-day we are free men, to-day we are no man's servants, and before we return to our employ ment we are determined to have a better agreement. We arc told to discharge from our service Mr. Roberts, as our legal adviser, and all will be well. It would nppea that this gentleman is a mote in their eyes. If they wish us sincerely to accept their advice, let them destroy the cause for him, and do unto others as they would others do unto them. After urging them to keep the peace, and making other remarks, he concluded by moving the resolution. Mr. Thos. PRATT, from Castle Eden, seconded the resolution. He said that it had never been deemed that they were an ill used set of men. He said, they tell us that we have no just ground of comp l a i nt, and that we are a lazy, indolent class of men. He now declared and without a blush, that there was not in the county a more hard-working, industrious set of men than the pitmen of Northumberland. Are we not called from our bed in the night, and required to descend into the bowels of the earth , and there risk our lives, and run numberless bazarda to earn a paltry pittance for our families? But we. defy their threats; we are possessed of a moral power which alone is sufficient to carry us through this strug gle triumphantly. Ile said that in Scotland, the men were receiving 2s. per ton, whilst in Northumberland they were only asking from Is. 3d. to Is. 4d. per ton. Mr. MiTcHELL said that it was an incontrovertible fact that the peaceful demeanour of the men in this con test had gained them the good opinion of num b ers o f the middle classes, and spok at considerable length on the principles of the union, which, in consequence of the late period at which the meeting was held, pr. vents our reporting. He concluded by moving the following reso lution:— Resolved—" That in the opinion of this meeting, we have, by our joint actions and virtuous deeds, merited a great share of public opinion, and in order to maintain our ground, we pledge ourselves to keep the peace." Passed unanimously. Mr. GEORGE CHARLTON, from South Shields, pro posed the third resolution, which was seconded by CHRISTOPHER HASWELL, of Seghill : " Resolved—That in the opinion of this meeting, we, the miners of Northumberland and Durham; feel abun dantly thankful for the help we have realised from our friends, the shopkeepers and others • and we do hereby pledge oursel ve s t o come forward, like honest men, to liquidate all debts that may be contracted during our cessation from labour." At the conclusion of tho meeting a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Sir John Fife, the Mayor ; and also to the Chairman, for his conduct in the chair. PUNCH'S POLICE. GAMBLERS ! CAPTURE EXTRAORDINARY ! Yesterday, the neighbourhood of our (police) office was in an extraordinary state of excitement ; it having lien understood that that very vigilant section of the force, Letter A, had on the previous night succeeded in forctng an entry into a well-known house, known as Crockford's, and capturing some dozen Peers, and at least as many Commoners of distinction, all of them un lawfully assembled for the purpose of beggaring them selves and families, by means of cards anti dice. It ap peared that the , house had long given great offence to many virtuous shopkeepers in the neighbourhood, and I last night was selected as the happy time for the abate ment of the nuisance. There were in all five-and-twenty prisoners ; amongst whom we noticed the Duke of Fourhonors, the Marquis of Cutace, the Earl of Rouge, Viscount Noir, Baron Jacques O'Spade, Sir Harry Finefinger, the Count San terlecoup, Charles Roulette, Esq., and others well known to the " play" world. The prisoners having been kept in the watchhouse all night, did not when brought up show to the best advantage. However, true to the fine instinct of aristocratic blood, they put a bold face on the matter, and looked loftily, contemptuously around them, as they were brought up in pairs, and put to the bar, to answer for the misdemeanour. John Smith,_ policeman, deposed that he had the pre vious night effected an entrance into the house through the drawing-room window. Other policemen burst in at the doors they all rushed to the play-room, where they found the Duke of Fourhonors and the Earl of Rouge playing with dice ; the other prisoners were grouped about the table, playing a game with cards. On seeing the police tht prisoners attempted to escape, but were Seized. Two packs of cards (they were produeed) were found in the Duke of Fourhonor's pocket ' • his Grace swore very singular oaths on being searched. Sir Harry Finefinger attempted to swallow a couple of dice, but was prevented by Sergeant Quick grasping Sir Harry's throat ; whereupon Sir Harry spat them out upon a salver. Samuel Briggs, another policeman, corroborated the foregoing testimony. Indeed, the evidence left no doubt as to the object of all the prisoners at the time of their capture. All the prisoners were fined in the highest sum per mitted by the statute ; and, having paid the penalties, departed homeward in their carriages. By a curious coincidence, several lower gambling houses were entered on the same evening by the police ; and a host of their inmates taken the next /corning be fore Mr. Hardwick, at Marlborough•street, who fined them accordingly. Thus, it is delightful to reflect that the same watchful spirit which is active, to destroy the lower hells, like that of " the Nick, 16k, Castle-street," is no respecter of place or persons, but breaks into Crockford s, and captures Dukes and Lords. The im partiality of justice in this matter warms the heart , of every true-born Briton ! - , --------- -- SERIOUS AccroENT.--Yesterday as Sy ' lvester, son of Louis Sylvester, Esq., of Larkhall-place, Bath, at present on a visit to some friends in Barnsbury-terrace, Islington, was mounting his horse in the Islington road, the animal, a very spirited one, started, throwing his rider to the ground, and before Mr. Sylvester could extricate his foot from the stirrup, he was dragged a distance of from twenty to thirty yards ; he was picked up bleeding profusely from some severe wounds about the head, and conveyed home in a cab in a state of in sensibility, and it was supposed his skull.was fractured from the violence with which in his fall his head came in contact with the ground. MIGHT AND MAIN.—Lord Charles Somerset was telling a long story about his walking in the woods at the Cape one day, when he came suddenly upon a huge s h aggy lion. "Thinking to frighten him,' said the Noble Lord, "I ran at him with all My might." " Whereupon," said an other, interrupting, "he ran away with all his mane." "Just so," said his Lordship. MELANCHOLY DEATIL—In another column we give an account of the proceedings at a meeting held in Dublin on which h. scarcelyoilelh. i ll g thisfe excite encigiteet among y surprise, Monday last, when the " Irish Metropolitan Conservative Society" determined on its own dissolution. Considering th event a e v r e : il i it c s e ma s . of its useful labours must be deeply lamented, though the thoselt arises wo outhrs bravely h fo at ig w h e t side by side with the present Ministers when in opposition, and hailed their accession to office as the triumph of sound principles ; it has its cause in the " apathy" of the Irish Con servatives, and this apathy, according to the chairman of the meeting, has been occasioned by the neglect of their friends by the Government and the favour shown to their enemies. hasperformed, the termination e Disappointed individuals will, no doubt, always be found to make a similar complaint ; but a body, numbering twelve hundred members when Sir Robert Peel acceded to dam cannot universally have been disappointed ; and we repeat, therefore, that the dissolution of the Irish Conservative So ciety can only be looked upon as an expression of disgust at that indiscriminate deference to" gentlemen opposite,' which may gain an occasional cheer in the House- of Commons, though the public will be slow to reconcile it with an bonen and unbending attachment to principle.—Post. EPIDEMIC AMONG THE LONDON CLOCKS. —WA heard from several quarters of the metropolis that the extra ordinary malady which so long afflicted the clock of St. Clement's, has extended to several others of t he church dials of London. An East-end clock, whose name we are ia possession of—a clock that has for some years occupied a high position in the City, in fact, Shoreditch—has, we re gret to say, been seized with the same distressing symptom as those from which St. Clement's clock is still slowly tv . covering. The unhappy dial has lost t h e use of both hands, and gives every i n dication of falling into a state of hopele d erang ement. - Many of the neighbours have for sometime suspected it was " not quite right," and we are sorry to say that their worst fears are now confirmed. It was painful to observe the anxiety with which several persons who appeared most interested in its fate, remained with their eves trued on its time unfortunate i haying i p to, aght have No n . ne t 1 , esap epo however, (isnedo to g bo a ae : in dicationihntoowoldl.oothkeegrotagt. its face, in the hope of even the slightest change, but ell be ho ld, fo fe r one mom 1 : a c in ou . —Punch, , LIVERPOOL NEW GAS AND COKE BILL.—The price of gas in Liverpool, which was reduced to Gs. per 1,00 t) feet on the Ist of April last, is, by this Bill, which received the Royal Assent on Friday last, made the maximum is future