The Sun. — London, England, 1844-04-05 00:00:00

~~. 1 ir ira' ig in $, less 0 , ants r woo ad un' takes xpec ti ,, throuP with k, al l " Letter. y.str eitt on." of s 5 Olr sent 0 0 ich OiS a .1 ) 1t e L pl it ge t , ' the , 'bide b y vio ,treg rP bes_ to d i e 7 c te pre op D. )nS r Y V° ha r CHINA. We have intelligence from Hong-Kong to the 3d of January. The sickness so long prevalent on the island had not entirely disappeared; indeed, it has broken out afresh on the south side of the island amongst the garrison there stationed. Nevertheless, many of the mercantile establishments were arranging for their removal thither from Macao. Her Majesty'S ship Castor arrived on the 27th December, having on board Major-Generald'Aguilar, ,who succceeds Lord Saltoun in command of the British forces in China. A commencement had been made of a trade with Formosa ; three junks having arrived at Victoria from the northern end of the. island with cargoes of camphor amounting to about 1,000 piculs; The crew represent the place whence they some as an extensive and flourishing town, named Hap-matam, containing 20,000 inhabitants, and amply supplied with sugar and rice from the surrounding district. The Plenipotentiary, in a notification published Dec. 12, intimates that all the ground formerly occu pied by the Companies Dutch and Greek factories in Canton, has been secured on a lease of 25 years, for the use of the British authorities, but that so much as they would not require would be portioned out into . building lots, under a regular plan hereafter to be laid down, and, would lie available to any parties agreeing to pay.the, proportionate .rent- of the same and to build according to an authorised plan. Pur suant to the-above-mentioned: notification, a meeting of,British merchants was held at the British Consul's office, Howqua's Hong, on the 22d December, and several lots were taken. The market at Canton is generally dull, except as regards green, tea, which was kept up to a full price, in the face of large imports, to the extent of two or three_millions of pounds. Some adventurous American travellers having forced their way into the interior of China as far, as the city of Chang Chow, in the province of Fokien, and pub lished an account of their journey at Macao, the British Plenipotentiary thought it necessary to address tha Viceroy and Lieutenant-Governor of Canton on the subject, in order to assure them that the parties in question mere American, and not British subjects, the same time suggesting that the . local Chinese authorities should in future arrest and confine any latch parties as might be found transgressing the - bounds laid down by the late treaties. The man slarins in this case appear to have supposed the tra . _Yellers to be British subjects, and feared to oppose (hero more seriously than with a remonstrance against the ir progress 'as a breach of the treaty; this circum stance is at least a proof of the great- respect in the'British name is held even in the interior of •> atulasiKeinote from the scene.of the late ward The supplementary treaty bearing -the Imperial signature, was broughtin the. Plenipotentiary by some, mandarins of rank in the latter end, of December, and together with* pther dispatches, avas forthwith dis 40Stched.lionie under charge of Captain Brooke, of the sth RegiMept, . who will of course have reached London before this, paper. pnrt of ,Shanghae was opened on the 14th „November by the officiating . Consul, Captain Balfour. •Subsequent accounts to the Ist December represent •. .themarket as having been supplied by native dealers •revious to. the opening of the port, and consequently tittle trade was doing. In the port of Shanghae is included the town. of Woosung, at the mouth of the river of that name. A custom-house and jetty were • • - .,comminced. Some difficulty was found in procuring • Pirate . dwellinii-houses, but warehouse-room was abundantly obtainable. The English at first were , noti iwthe least restricted , in their excursions in the , vicinity of the port, until unluckily two - Chinese boys :Were accidentally wounded in the face by small shot, °ls e so severely as to cause the loss of sight. This 06currenee led the' Chinese authorities to apply to the Council .at !slice _to have the limits defined within 'whicl, foreigners were in future to confine themselves. gaud cold weather had' set in at the end of November, and the thermometer fallen to 40. An Araerican vessel, named the 0. C. Raymond, eat ciflrnmanded . l6 , Captain Denison, in the course of last AUy toolCalsout 40,000 dollars on freight at Chusan, for Macao, and disappeared from the China seas, but wai lately heard of at Valparaiso, where it was said the Captain had disposed of the sycee silver and made Oyer, his schooner to the first mate, with the intention •of • Proceeding to the United States. the Hong Merchants have applied to the Imperial Commissioner to have a fund raised for the payment their debts by, the imposition of an 'additional duty orfclur mace per picul of tea and.one Mace per picul . Rotton ,at Canton. To this petition the Commis : • Sinner repl'i'ed that the KWang Chow Foo would be Irequired.to report on the proposition. This proposed l atttation of the tariff would be a manifest infraction O te treatY, and has excited a suspicion amongst to British mercantile community in China that this is but the. first of many encroachments that may be ?nuieted tO be,atteinnted unless decisively resisted in the olttae.-• , The Chinese Superintendent of Customs t Amoy is said to haie determined to levy a double ,;• duty o n camP h o • r, but w this has arisenfroraany y are not informed whether superior s , or otherwise: orders received from his (From the 'Canton Press of Jan. 6.) IN, heartily wish a happy new year to our readers.- t L _P year in China is ushered in under more auspi circumstances than the last, when only a few ee . • wlsa before ' its commencement the houses and rt i P"t,,Y of :British • and' foreign merchants had ctestroyed 'by the violence of a hostile mob, ,• Canton was, to a certain degree, abandoned _ N e ei its foreign residents. At the beginning of this a sne :l l ,e British flag floats quietly before the resi • • (-1 14, M. *Consul, temporarily established at doubt -be Hong,' and its former owner would no •%; the ueiuthewhat unpleasantly astonished, could he • h ou i , e guard of, British marines posted before the -• mu e.where for many years he was busied in accu ; • t i l'lousaritl's upon thousands, and in opposing, •• hia secret influence would do, the British ;; I: teSY, or,rither in upholding a system which se-.. ..,4 d to tim the advantages of the Cohong mono !• . -1.- andl'reStrieted as much as laws could do it, ssi s r . sss,sl_ , friendly intercourse between Chinese .dreirierci. A new era has during the past year . v c ,7l ll n`; many of the restrictions isolating the Chinese • . 41,7 the: family of nations have been abolished, and ‘ ?lew system must -gradually subvert many more. 1113 . poTts 'already British Consuls, fully recog •• -: 1 7": 1 'by' the thihese - Government, reside, and we, wsPe that' another ' will soon be appointed to the epita urvZilikeen. The most friendly intercourse tween the Chinese officers 'and those of the western. stations has frequently taken plaee during the year . ;put closed, and the Mandarins seem insensibly _to . • „tittie 'dropped' their - pretensions to superiority over the • • , t bfinankind. Our prospects of trade and inter „. s eoUrse with China are of the brightest, •and we sin ." !kitty - hope' and' trust that they may not be dimmed ••‘ ,"..Y any unfortunate and ntiforseen accident. e learn that of the ground rented at Canton by ,the British authorities, 13 lots to build on have been t out to British i'nerchants. - - TROOPS AT HONG-TONG. i t lr " l . C. Campbell, C. 8., her Majesty's 98th Regi s - • Commandant. Lieut. Y° th rne her Majesty's 98th Regiment, 1 station Staff Officer Royal Artillery.-Lieutenant P. S. Parson, 1 coMpan• :; n t o ,iia. Y . ,lta t tn p e a r n s y. and Miners.—Lieut. T. B. Collin -"'luras Sappers and Miners.—Lieut. T. B. Collin 's.", det , F coin • ' 4 . e ll oth r . l4S l *WI; 55th Reginlel4:7-CaPt• H. M'Caskill, . - • ; 70.1 1 t- 2dajesty' s ,9Bth Regiment.—Col. C. Campbell, : Cal. 3. e c ° R; l :' mint Madras NatiVe Infantry.—Lieut. st flPhel, C. 8., 6 corn. CanvasD m. FIELD FORCE OF CUUSAN. MajOr-G ell eral Sir J. H. Schoedde, K.C.8., Corn . mending Field F orce. Captain A. (1I T x -ear her Majesty's 55th Regiment, - Brigadie r Major. Y' Captain D. Bar:afield, 56th Bengal Native Infantry, Military Magistrate. Lieutenant C. J. Elphinstone, 12th Madras Native " Infantry, Sub-Assistant Commissary-General. L IL Green, D eputv-Assistant Commissary-General. Lieutenant J. Hitchens, Madras Sappers and • Mi ners, Executive Engineer and Barrack-master. Surgeon A. Sh an k s, her. Majesty's 55th Regiment, Staff Surgeon. Madras d Artillery, commanded by Capt. Back, head quarters,.G con. Her 4 co Majesty's 18th Regiment, Major Grattan, r. Her Majesty's 55th 'Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel C. • Warren, C. 8.,, 5 corn. Regiment Madras Native Infantry, Lieut.-Col. t. C. 8., 10 companies. Madras Sappers and Ali Lieut. J. Hitchins, head-quarters, G. corn. Gun Lascars, Capt. J. Back, head-quarters, D corn. GARRISON OF IC.C.LAiNGSW. Lieut.-Colonel J. Cowper, C. 8., Commanding the Garrison. Lieut. J. W. Graves, her Majesty's 18th Royal In fantry, Station Staff Officer. - W. T. Power, Acting Deputy-Assistant Commis oar General. Lieut. C. T. Collingwood, Madras A r till ery, As -1/4... . • instant Engineer. . 5 11 Madras. Artillery, Lieut. Collingw oo d , D et. D c`Ompa. Tier Majesty's 18th Royal Infantry Regimcnt, Lieu..-Colonel Cowper, 5 comps. 41st Royal Madras Native Infantry, Left Wing, Captai n Ball, 4 comps. Madras Sappers and, Miners, Lieut. Collingwood, Det. F comp. Madras Gun Lasear, Lieut. Collingwood, Det. D - comp. R,~.. ",: LIST OF HER MAJESTY'S NAVAL FORCES IN CHINA. Agincourt, 72, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.B. Cambrian, 36, Captain H. Ducie Chads, C.B. Castor, 36, Captain Charles Graham. Dido, 18, Captain Hon. H. Keppel. Pelican, 16, Commander P. Justice. Minden, hospital ship, Captain Michael Quin. Samarang, surveying vessel, Captain Sir E. Belcher, K.C.B. Plover, surveying vessel, Captain Richard Collin son, C.B. Serpent, 16, Commander W. Nevill. Childers, 16, Commander G. G. Wellesley. Wolf, 18, Commander Arthur Vyner. Wolverine .16, Acting Commander H. G. Morris. Young Hebe, surveying schooner. Driver, steam-vessel, Commander C. 0. Hayes. Vixen, steam-vessel. Proserpine, steam-vessel, Commander Hough. Medusa, steam-vessel, Commander Hewitt. Sapphire, troop-ship, Master Commanding J. R. Pittock. GREECE. We learn from our Athens letter of the 21st ult., that King Otho had finally accepted the Constitution' on the 16th, and was expected to take the (lath to ob serve it on the 24th. _ _ On the -lith,the day after our last account, his Majesty had submitted to the National Assembly his objections to several articles of the Constitution. The follbwing is the King's note : " I have examined with care the project of Consti tution, given me some days back by a deputation from the 'Assembly. I hasten to submit to the Pre sident my observations, in order that they may he communicated to the National Assembly. In order to obviate Article 20 from being falsely interpreted, as a limitation of the right of the Crown, I would pro pose-to modify it thus " ' The executive power belongs to the King, who exercises it by ..responsible Ministers, appointed by him. " I also propose to modify Article 21, so that the relation of the different powers be expressed without derogating from the independence of the tribunals. "Instead of saying Justice emanates from the King, andis administered by judges of his appoint ment,' I would say The judicial. power emanates from - the King. It•is• administered by the tribunals; sentences are executed in the name of the King.' " Art. 23 declares that no ,Act- is' valid, unless countersigned by a. Minister, .but declares, that in case of a total change of Ministry, and of no Minis ter consenting to sign the ordonnance appointing new Ministers, the signature of the new Prime Minister suffices. I would propose, that there should be no need of the King's ordonnance, dismissing old Minis ters and appointing new; being countersigned. "'ln Article 25, the words which perionally en gage the :Greeks,' to be omitted, as limiting the King's treaty-making power. "In Article • 27, _relative to. the King's power to appoint and revoke public servants, the word dis miss' to be added, and to be worded, The King ap points to' alt offices, except in cases otherwise pro vided by the law. ... • "In Article 32, the Royal right of amnesty to be added. " Article 35 to be -modified scr as • that the civil list may be fixed for at least ten . yeari. "An addition. to .be made to the Royal oath, swear ing to .protect the deininant religion, to maintain the Constitution, national independence, and integrity of the territory. I "felpect the religious sentiment which suggested to the Assembly the wish that the heir to: the throne Should be 'of the Greek persua sion. I accept, all that I can do, this clause for my descendants." Slight alterations in Articles 47, 49, and 60. "In Article 67, I propose to increase the salary of the. Deputies to 1,200, drachmas the session, or 300 drachmas a month, if they sit for part of the session. I also advise a diminution of the number of Deputies. " I also propose to fir the number of Senators at 21, in lieu of 27, as a *Minimum. The eldest, to the number of one-half the House, to receive 6,000 drachmas a-year." Also additions proposed to the category of Senators. The King concluded by thanking the Assembly for its devotion to the Queen and he desired some modi fication in the paragraiil; which contained the words, "in case of minority, or absence of heirs." He also called attention to " the great difficulty, if not impossibility, of executing . to the letter the decree relative to public empaiyes. By the rejection of so many Greeks not included in its category, the judi cial service would be at once paralysed, so would the consular," and would; besides other evils,' entail expense. After discussing these royal recommendations, the Assembly rejected the amendments proposed relative to the Senate, as well as the last observation relative to public employ, but accepted most of the others. They presented their decision to the King by a de putationi of which Canaris was the chief. The King replied : . " Mr. President,- ; --I received the sketch of the con stitution which the .Assembly laid before me. I transmitted to that - body the observations which I thought proper to Make-on that sketch. Having this day learned its final votes, relative to these observa tions, I hesitate not .an instant in receiving them, after having alfilled my duty in disclosing whatever I had sincerely deeined would' lead to the welfare of the nation. " I conclude with praying that God may bless the Constitution of the State.. ' • (Signed) " Athens, 4' (16) March, /844." The, preceding message being read in the Assembly, a most lively enthusiasm succeeded the discontent which was observable on the face of every Greek during the previous three days. General Grivas and General Griziotis left the Assembly and proceeded to the King's Palace, followed by more than 4,000 citi zens. On their arrival there, Grivas and Griziotis were foremost in crying " Long live the Constitu tion," while the people echoed them. The King and the Queen being in. the balcony responded to those acclamations most affectingly, after which they with drew amidst an universal joy. The electOrallavn - consistmg of fifty-fire articles, is now being discussed. Universal suffrage was adopted the day !before yesterday. It is hoped that on Sun day next the King. will swear to the Constitution. Tranquillity prevails throughout Greece. It appears from provincial letters that the appointment of Sena tors for life has produced little impression. " OTHO. DUTCH MAIL. THE HAGUE, APRIL 3.--The Staats Courant of this date contains the following ' " PROCLAMATION. " We, William 11., by the grace of God, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, &c., &c. "'Looking up gratefully to God, we address these words to you, beloved fellow-countrymen and sub jects, to express to you our most heartfelt gratitude for your united co-operation in effecting the volun tary loan. The rich and the less opulent have the greatest claim to it, but those also, and how many are they, who though totally exempt, yet animated by the noblest feeling, have offered their savings on the altar of their country. " Fellow-countrymen,---The motto of our fathers, " Concord is power," is !again realised among us. Attachment to the old Dutch fidelity in fulfilling, at whatever price, every engagement. We may hope that a blessing, will rest on this fidelity. Let every one who has contributed to the prospect before us, enjoy the pleasure of consciousness of having done his duty. " Netherlands—Let us pray to God, to pre serve and increase the good spirit by which the nation has now again proved itself to be animated, that remote posterity may enjoy the fruits, and that the people of the Netherlands may continue to be a patriotic, unanimous, and. religious nation. " Herewith, beloved fellow-countrymen and sub jects, we recommend you all to God's holy keeping. "This proclamation shall be immediately published and posted up in the usual places, and printed in the Staats Courant. " Given at the Hague, 2d April, 1844. (Signed) " WILLIAM. " By his Majesty's command, " The Director of the King's Cabinet, "A. G. M. VAN RA.PPARD." " The Minister of 'Finance, conformably to Art. 19. of the Law of tile' 6th of March, 1844, in- forms the public in general; that the inscriptidn of the loan and voluntary contribution (30 florins of the latter being reckoned for 100 florins in the loan) amount to 127,000p0 florins, and that therefore the extraordinary tax on property will not take place. " The result has .been obtained by an addition to the King's original share, after the inscription amounted to about 126,000,000. " The Hague, April 2 f 1844. (Signed) —The Staats Courant, April 3. THE HAGUE, APRIL 2.—The Law of the 6th of March has raised Holland from a crisis, the fatal con sequence of which might have been incalculable. This law has consolidated our credit abroad, has restored confidence at_home, and removed obstacles which pre vented the Government from proceeding with calm ness and firmness in the course of improvement and economy. Accordingly the Arnheim Courant pro poposes to open a subscription, in order to strike a medal in honour—of whom do 2-1 u suppose ?—of two of the Members of the States-General, who voted against the law ! Can we wonder, after this, if the public treat certain Governments with eontemPt ? Journal de la Faye, April 3. f).7.:3 " VAN HALL." ~ ~~ ~ TOE SUN,' LONDON, FRIDAY ,- EATENI NG, APRIL 5, ,-1844. THE REVENUE FOR THE YEAR AND QUARTER E No. L—An Abstract of the Net Produce of the Revenue of Great Britain in the Years and Quarters ended sth of Apr br Decrease on each head thereof. DING APRIL 5, 1, 1843, arid sth of April, 1841, sh 4. 1844. wing the Increase YEAR QUARTERS ENDED YEAR QUARTERS ENDED Year ended April 5. Quarter ended April 5. -., ended „,....-----..-.----------, ended . r July 5, I Oct. 10, 1 Jan. 5, April 5, April 5, July 5, Oct. 0, Jan. 5, April 5, April 5, Increase. Decrease. Increase. Decrease. ' ` 1 , 1842 1842 1 1E34 3 1843 1813 , 184.3 1843 - ' 1844 - ' 1844 - 1844 .. . • Customs :- -...,-.-...... . --• Consolidated Duties -. 3,120,603 4,647,472 3,274,000 3,193,596 - • 3,304,473 4,276,151 9,674,424 3,529,551 - - - . - _ - - Sugar Duty to Coma- . - ... . dated Fund 1,301,983 - •- 262,546 - 1,252,723 - - 420,796 - Ditto to Supplies - 1,296,505 940,089 '763,405 - - 1,253,357 1,092,544 654,100 - - - .- _ Total Customs 4,422,191 5,943,977 4,214,089 4,219,537 18,799,794 4,557,201 5,529,568 4,766,968 4,604,447 19,459,129 Customs ....... 658,335 384,910 - Excise 2,B' /0,11 0 3,726,03.5 3,022,008 1,767,373 11,405,516 3,030,113 3,966,550 3,030,771 1,852,689 11,880,123 Excise ' 474607 85,316 - Stamps 1,698,379 1,621,480 1,561,751 1,593,129 6,484,729 1,659,010 1,650,304 1,523,653 1,039,011 6 . 472,040 Stamps - Taxes 2,059,•99 177,437 1,886,163 142,603 4,265,537 1,981,831 194,108 1,868,,57 144,685 4,192,473 Taxes 73,064 1,987 - Property Tax 313,844 257,212 1.885,232 2,456,268 861,709 2,047,904 454,415 1,992,859 5,356,887 Property Tax 2,900,599 107,627 - Post Office . . 154,000 168,000 1 41,008 144,000 607,000 145,000 160,001 143,000 174,000 622,000 Post Office . 15,000 20,000 - Crown Lands 30,000 12,560 40,000 35 000 117,500 82,500 :0,000 • 30, 0 0 65,000 147,500 Crown Lands 30,000 30,000 - Miscellaneous 213,757 20,924 21,537 541,556 797,774 1 1,063,524 17,744 11,917 41,292 1,134,477 Miscellaneous. 336,703 500.264 Total Ordinary Revenue 11,467,666 11,994,197 11,143,763 10,3211,52-2 44,954,148 12,333,93 13,586,172 11,829,581 10,513,983 49,262,629 Total ... 4,415,244 85,763 685,725 100, - 264 Imprest Moneys, &c 267,530 111,070 107,097 - 16.907 50 4 ,604 67,100 34,005 50,136 54,244 205,865 Imp. Moneys 296,739 37,337 - Repayments ofAdvan ces 102,552 180,211 235,247 124,048 642,053 138,207 230,932 332,060 226,281 927,483 Rep, of Adv... 285,425 102,226 ...... - Total Income 11,837,748 12,285,478 11,486,107 10,469,477 146,078,810 13,539,290 13,851,409 1 12,211,777 10,794,511 50,396,977 Total... 4,700,669 382,502 825,298 500,264 Amount applied to Con- 6,980,776 9,047,560 6,860,0:4 9,760,269 32,64E3,659 , 6,442,506 10,123,636 7,859,893 7,625,972 92,462,1 07 ~,,, c Deduct De- ~,,, „, r Deduct solidated Fund 3B2 ,'"` 1 crease `'"`',--- 1 Decrease. Ditto, as Advances Increase on „„„, n , f Increase on , Ditto, as Ways & Means of the Year 4,626,350 - 3,064,291 4,626,053 567,830 12,884,524 6,905,273- 3,187,773 - 4,060,383 2,918,539 17,071,968 4,318,167 i the Year. '"'','-''" I. the Quarter TotaL 11,837,749 12,295,478 11,486,107 10,469,477 146,078,810 113,539,260 1 13,851,409 112,211,777 1 10,794,511 50,396,977 . . I No. IL—lncome and Charge of the Consolidated Fund, in the Quarters ended the sth April, 1843, and the sth April, 1844. • ' ' Quarters ended April 5..1 • • Quarters ended April 5. INCOME. 1843 1814 CHARGE. 18.' -- 7 ------- h4 . Customs.—Consolidated Duties 3,193,586 9,529,551 Permanent Debt - 3,534,666 3,532,232 Sugar applicable to the Terminable Annuities Consolidated Fund 262,546 420,796 Interest on Exchequer Bills issued to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund • 34,259 9,392 Sinking Fund - • 360,826 Total Customs 3,453,132 3,950.3 4 7 The Civil List • 97,422 97,597 Excise Stamps 1,593,126 1,639,011 For Advances, and to pay off Exchequer Bills issued for Advances Taxes Prope ty Tax Post Office Crown Lands 35,000 05,000 Mi scel l aneous 90,150 41,892 9,825,965 10,155,203 Produce of Silver from China lmprest and other Monies 16,907 54,244 The Amount of Exchequer Bills issued to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund for the Quarter ended Jan. 5, 1843, Repayment of Advances... ........... ------- paid off out of Sinking Fund 9,725,965 10,155,308 , The Amount issued in the Quarter ended April 5, 1814, in part of the sums granted by Parliament out of the Censoli dated Fund for Supply Services , 2,918,539 To Cash brought to this Account to ,The Surplus of the Consolidated Fund, Quarter ended April 5, 1844 be applied to pay off Deficiency Bills 100,000 . The probable amount of Exchequer Bills required to meet the charge on the Consolidated Fund, Quarter ended I I 9,825,965 10,155,306 April 5, 1814 THE QUARTER'S REVENUE. and Strasbourgh and Bale, 21 discount. London and Westminster Bank Shares were 41- to 31 premium. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. 'HERALD.—We believe that many years have passed since a newspaper has had to congratulats its readers upon such a financial return as that which it is our gratification to present in this day's Heratd. The return was made up yesterday, one day before the regular day ; but against this we must set off the leap year, so that the periods to be compared are equal, each consisting of 365 days ; and what is the result of the comparison ? An increase upon the last year of no less than four millions three hundred and, eighteen thousand one hundred and sixty-seven pounds sterling. This increase pervades nearly all the sources ofrevenue ; absolutely all the important ones—viz.: — Customs Excise Property Post-office Crown Lands 30,000 Miscellaneous The heads of decrease are : Stamps Taxes It is right to remark that under the head of pro perty-tax, four quarters are counted in the hat year against three quarters in the year preceding ; and we must, therefore, in order to approximate to a perfectly just comparison, deduct the property tax of this year's quarter, corresponding to the omitted quarter of last year—namely, of the July quarter. This we find to amount to 861,7091. After this deduction, however, the year's increase will be found to amount to nearly three millions and one half sterling. We cannot, by , any use of language, improve upon this fact ; and here we present it to our readers, accom panied by our sincere congratulations. CHRONICLE.—The quarterly revenue tables, which are usually made up on the sth of April, were completed yesterday, on account of this day being a close holiday. They will be' found in another column, and it gives us pleasure to learn from them that the productive energies of the community are not impaired. The increase in the quarter is—Cus toms, 384,9101; Excise, 85,316/. ; Stamps, 45,885/. ; Taxes, 1,987/. ; Property-tax, 107,627/. ; Post office, 30,0001.; Crown Lands, 30,000/. ; making a total increase in the ordinary revenue for the quarter of 685,7251. There is a decrease under the head Miscellaneous of 500,2641., which, though balanced against them in the account, scarcely affects the sources of revenue derived from the industry of the people. The total increase in the quarter, both of ordinary and extraordinary revenue, is 825,2981., from which, deduct ing the decrease, there is a sum of 325,0341. more than in the corresponding quarter of 1843, to be ap plied to the services of the State. In the year there is a decrease in the amount of stamps of 12,699/., and in the amount of taxes of 73,0641., but on all the other branches of the ordinary revenue there is a con siderable increase. The total increase, deducting the decrease of the revenue for the year, is 4,318,1671., which is, however, less than the amount of the Pro perty-tax, 5,356,887/, by 1,038,720/. This turns out, therefore, a much more productive tax than Sir Robert Peel anticipated ; and the sum it yields shows that the whole of the incomes of 1501. and upwards, the limit of the tax, amount to something more than 200,000,0001. a year. What a prodigious mass of wealth ! On the whole, these tables are satisfactory as an index to the still increasing trade, consumption, and wealth of the community. ADVERTISER.—The usual abstract of the yearly and quarterly revenue, issued last evening, appears, like everything emanating from the present Government, far more gratifying to a casual view than to a close examination. There is, on the year's income, a total increase of 4,318,1671., of which 325,0341. appears on the quarter just closed. This total increase has been chiefly effected in the follow ing items : . The Foreiga.Ex.changes did not vary - to any extent this afternoon, either as regards an advance or decline. A pamphlet has been sent us headed " Reasons against Legislative interference with the present system of Circulation, submitted to Sir R. Peel, by the Commit tee of Private Country Bankers." As this is a topic of the deepest importance we may give an analysis of the reasons stated. They were thus given in the shape of resolutions passed at a meeting of the Committee held very recently : " First, That under the present state of the law, the private country bankers enjoy no privilege, which in practice is inconsistent with the maintenance of a sound and wholesome state of public credit. " Second, That the agricultural, commercial, and ma nufacturing classes of all descriptions throughout the kingdom are mainly interested in the continuance of the privileges which the law now confers on private country bankers, and will be immediately and seriously embar rassed by any legislative measure which shall interfere with or limit the exercise of these privileges. " Third, That the present state of the law, as it regards private country bankers, has not been made the subject of public complaint or petition, nor has it been allege on authority against them that they have abused their pri vileges, or been in any degree accessory to the recent depression or the sudden alternations in the state of trade. _ " Fourth, That the anticipation of an alteration in the law relating to private country bankers, combined with the want of all information as to the nature and extent of such alteration, if contemplated, is calculated to inter fere with the ordinary operations of business, and to shake confidence and credit. _ "Fifth, That this meeting being earnestly desirous to avert the excitement which has hitherto always accom panied the agitation of questions connected with credit, and impressed with the due sense of the magnitude of the consequences involved in the discussion, consider it to be their duty to take such steps as may tend to re move all uncertainty regarding the intentions of her Majesty's Government." COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Amsterdam CF. 12 6 Gibraltar — Ditto, at 5ight......... 12 4 Leghorn 3O 65 Rotterdam 2U. 12 6i Genoa 25 95 Antwerp 26 0 Milan — liamburgh M.B. 14 0 Venice 47 Altona l4 0 Naples 39 Paris, 3 days' sight... 25 75 Palermo, per ox ll7 Ditto, 3 months 25 95 Lisbon s3} Marseilles Bourdeatix 25 0 Rio Janeiro 23 Frankfort on Maine.. 1221 Bahia 23 Petersburgh, 3 Us... 364 Buenos Ayres — Berlin 7 NewYork,2ldys sight Vienna, effee. 11. 3 M 9 67 Trieste, ditto Madrid 361 F Philadelphia PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. Foreign Gold, bars X 3 17 9 Cadiz Bilbao rortugal Gold Coin 3 17 5 New Doubloons..... 0 0 0 Barcelona 36 New Dollars 0 4 _9/1 would have great pleasure in acting in accordance wit the recommendation made to them.—(Hear.) The conversation then dropped. The election of three trustees, eight new commit tee-men, and three auditors, were then proceeded with, when the following gentlemen were declared by the Governor to be duly elected:—Messrs. Williams, Binning, and Franklin, for trustees; Messrs. Elt, Avery, New, Hickman, Clench, Higgins, Berry, and Lawrence, for Committee-men ; and Messrs. Butter field, Southall, and Perkin, for auditors. The GOVERNOR having declared that the business of the Court was concluded, Seville — Mr. BINGLEY begged toy move the thanks of the meeting to the Governor, Trustees, and Committee, and said that the accounts which had been read that day were a sufficient proof of the zeal and ability which they had displayed in advancing the interests of the Society of which they were the executive.— Agreed to. The GOVERNOR, in expressing his acknowledg ments, said that it must be as gratifying to his col leagues as it was to himself, to find that their efforts to advance the cause of the noble Institution with which they were identified were thus appreciated by their fellow-tradesmen. He trusted that every suc ceeding Committee would be equally fortunate in re ceiving the thanks of the trade ; and sure he was that no greater stimulus could be given to anybody of men to do their duty than the approbation of their fellow tradesmen.—(Hear, hear.) Upon the motion of Mr. EVANS, the thanks of the meeting were given to the auditors; after which, Mr. VOUSLEY, jun., proposed the thanks of the Court to Dr. Sheridan, the Editor of the Morning Advertiser, and to Mr. Smalley, the Secretary. They all knew the talent and ability with which Dr. Sheridan conducted the Morning Advertiser. — (Hear.) His merits were so well appreciated by the gentlemen present, that he was sure it required no eulogium from him to induce them to accord their thanks to that gentleman.—(Hear.) With respect to Mr. Smalley, who owing to the unexpected de mise of the late Mr. Blake—and here he could not but express a hope that they would not leave that place until they had manifested their feelings with respect to their late lamented Secretary—had but recently been appointed to his present honourable situation, he would only observe, that for many years Mr. Smalley had held a responsible position in con nexion, with the Incorporated Society of Licensed Victuallers—(Hear, hear)—this, together with the manner in which he had carried out the duties of his office since he had been appointed to it, and par particularly for his conduct that day, which had given such general satisfaction, was, he thought, a sufficient ground for calling upon them to give that gentleman their best thanks.—(Hear, hear.) Dr. SHERIDAN, in expressing his acknowledgments for this continued mark of their kindness and confi dence, said that his greatest pride should be so to con duct the Morning Advertiser as to afford satisfaction to its patrons and supporters, and to advance the in terests of the noble charity with which it was inti mately associated.—(liea.r, hear.) Mr. SMALLEY felt more than he could well express at this unexpected manifestation of their kind feelings towards him. He could assure them that he was quite conscious of the loss which the Society had met with in the unexpected death of his friend Mr. Blake ; but this he would say, that however incapable he might be of rivalling the business attributes of his de ceased friend, he would at the same time give way to no one in a desire to advance the interests and pro mote the welfare of an Institution, the value and im portance of which he was well rcquainted with. Mr. BINGLEY then begged, in accordance with the suggestion thrown out by his friend Mr. Vousley, to move the following resolution : " That this Court cannot separate without express ing deep regret at the sudden decease of its late lamented. Secretary, J. F. Blake, Esq., nor without recording the sense entertained of the faithful and most valuable services rendered by s him during so many years, by which the Corporation and all con nected with it have realised important benefits." Mr. VOUSLEY seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Upon the motion of Mr. DICKSON, a vote of thanks was also given to D. Wire, Esq., the solicitor to the Society, for his uniform attention to the welfare of Silver in Bars 0 4 lli INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF LICENSED VICTUALLERS. Yesterday a Special General Court of the members of this Society was held at the Licensed Victuallers' School, Kennington-lane, at eleven o'clock, for the purpose of considering the propriety of altering the by-laws relating to the qualification of candidates for the Committee, in accordance with the following re solution of the Governor and Committee, namely : " That no member shall be qualified to serve on the Committee of Management of the Incorporated So ciety of Licensed Victuallers while on the Commit tee of either the Licensed Victualler? Asylum or the Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society.' There was a very numerous attendance of the trade on the occasion. The GOVERNOR (Mr. Keasley) presided. He took the chair shortly after eleven o'clock. Mr. TeruN said, that having been informed by their respected solicitor, Mr. Wire, that the motion which he had intended to submit to their considera tion, relative to the qualification of the gentlemen to serve on the Committee of Management, would, in fact, be an illegal proposition, and could not, there fore, be put to the court, he begged to withdraw it. —(Hear, hear.) He only regretted that, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, so many gentle men had been called from their homes at so early an hour. Increase on Increase on the Year. the Quarter. Customs £658,335 Excise. Property-tax 2,900,599 Post-office At first sight it would appear that this increase in the Customs and Excise has arisen from an increased consumption of articles subject to those duties ; but the real fact is, that this increase has arisen from the more vigilant management of the Custom-house, since the recent exposure of the enormous frauds of which it had previously connived at the perpetration, as well as from the more stringent enforcement of the Excise laws generally. The supposition of any material improvement in the condition of the people is a sheer fallacy. So much for one portion of this vaunted increase ; and with respect to another, that presenting the largest item—the income-tax—the in dustrial classes, the chief sufferers from this iniquit ous impost, can find but little cause of congratulation in recognising the vast amount which is wrung from their hard-wrought earnings to fill the general coffers which misrule has exhausted, and which the authors of that misrule would leave in a state of bankruptcy rather than forego a single item of their own super fluities, or in any way reduce their extravagance and profligacy. The total amount of the income-tax for the year is upwards of five millions three hundred thousand pounds, an excess of nearly one million and a half over the Premier's calculation. What are the reductions to be made in consequence of this excess ? Or are we to have, as Sir Robert Peel recently in timated, this most unjust impost continued beyond the three years which was at first fixed as the period of its duration ? These are questions to which the country ought emphatically to require a distinct and specific answer from those intrusted with its govern ment. Mr. WIRE said that his attention having been drawn to the subject alluded to by Mr. Taplin, he (Mr. Wire) felt it to be bis duty to wait upon the overnor, and inform him that the proposed regula tion appeared to be a contravention of the charter, inasmuch as it narrowed the choice of the consti tuency, and imposed a disqualification on members not contemplated by the-charter. The Governor had, upon hearing this opinion, kindly desired him (Mr. 1V ire) further to consider the subject, and to be pre pared to advise the Special Court how to act. He (Mr. Wire) had since then read over the charter and the by-laws, and was fully prepared to advise the Court not to receive or pass the resolution. Messrs. Homer, Larby, Vousley, jun., Bryon, and other gentlem en concur red in the view tak en o f the subject by Mr. Wire. Indeed such appeared to be the prevailing feeling of the Court. Mr. TAPLIN begged to be allowed to withdraw his motion, and it w as w ithdrawn accordingly. The GOVERNO R then dissolved the Special Court, announcing at the same time that a Quarterly General Court would beheld at one o'clock, for the election of trustees, committee-men, and auditors, in lieu of those going out by rotation, and on other business. Ac cordingly, shortly after one o'clock, The Governor again took the chair. The SECRETARY then read the usual periodical accounts, which afforded considerable satisfaction, showing, as they did, the increased profits of the 7lforning Advertiser, with a diminished expenditure, arising from the careful revision and improved ar rangements adopted by the management. They also showed that there were now 267 claimants receiving weekly allowances from the funds of the Society. Mr. LARRY would take that opportunity of sug gesting to the Committee of Management the pro priety of adopting a plan by which an accumulating fund would be created, the formation of which would, in his judgment, materially add to the advantages derivable from being connected with the Incorporated Society. Mr. OLIVER said the principle• had already been acted :on in reference to the subscriptions of new members, and he trusted it would yet be more ex tensively carried'out. Mr. Bingley and other gentlemen expressed their opinions in accordance with those put forth by Mr. Larby, when" The GOVERNOR said he was sure the very admirAble suggestions thus thrown out would not be lost sight of by the Committee. Mr. LARDY then congratulated the Society on the very gratifying state of their affairs, and moved that the accounts be signed by the Governor, in the name of the Court, This being done, the accounts were passed. Mr. PERRY then drew the attention of the Court to the subject of the admission of children into the school, with the view of recommending that, for the future, the Governor, Trustees, and Committee should not admit children into that Institntion on account of the Permanent Fund, unless the parents of the children had been subscribers to the school.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. LARRY most heartily concurred in the recom mendation in question, on the ground that the admis sion of children whose parents were not subscribers to the school prejudiced the election of other children, whose claim to the benefits of the Institution was more legitimate. Mr. Vousley, sen., - Mr. Homer, and other gentle -men, perfectly concurred in this view of the case, and Mr. WICKER (the Governor elect) said he was sure that, after the feeling that had been so unanimously evinced _by _the gentlemen present, the Committee `'• ‘f • the Corporation. Mr. WIRE, in expressing his thanks, said he had only one wish, and that was to see their glorious In stitution flourish, and to see the children educated in it go forth to the world, and, by their conduct, prove themselves worthy of the care and kindness conferred upon them.—(Applause.) The GOVERNOR. adjourned the Court till the first Thursday in July. THE SUICIDE IN FLEET-STREET. Last evening the inquiry connected with this mys terious case, and adjourned from Monday last, was resumed before W. Payne, Esq., City Coroner, at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street. The inquiry related to the death of Mary Griffin (servant to Mr. Scratch ley, surgeon, of 168, Fleet-street), who, it was alleged, had destroyed herself by swallowing tincture of opium on the morning of 'Sunday last. The evidence on the former day tended to impress a belief that de ceased had been seduced by her master's brother, the Rev. Charles James Scratchley, 8.A., now or late curate of St. George's Chapel, Queen-square, Blooms bury ; and the evidence of the latter was given in a somewhat contradictory manner, which kept the matter in doubt, and hence the adjournment, for the purpose of a post mortem examination, and to procure the attendance of relatives and of additional evidence. At the inquiry last evening, Mr. Moxen, of the Chancery bar, attended to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Rev. Gentleman. Among the additional evidence adduced was that of Mr. Lewis Day, sur geon, who had made the post mortem examination, who was of opinion death had ensued partly from the poison and partly from the antimony administered as an emetic. Deceased was not pregnant, and, in his opinion, had never borne a'child, although she was not a virgin. Rebecca Griffin (sister of deceased), a person of lady-like manners and appearance, living at Canter bury, underwent a long examination, from which t it appeared that her sister's real - name was Charlotte, and age 34. About twelve years since she bore a child at steeple Ashton, by a man to whom she was about being married. Subsequently, in about the year 1835, she formed an intimacy with Mr. Charles Scratchley, then about nineteen years of age. They went together to Paris, and lived in England as man and wife, and the relatives of the latter thought they were really married, and witness, under such impress' sion, visited them at Pentonyille ; but in about 189 Mr. Scratchley, being then designed for the Church, went to college for that purpose, Dr. Scratchley, the father, having written to say that the connexion must be dissolved before his son could enter into holy orders. Some slight allowance was made to her, but her mind was much distressed. .Mr. Scratchley be haved kindly to her while she was living with him, and the object of recommending her to his brother was to give her a character for another situation. Witness did not believe she was capable of commit ting robbery, but had latterly thought her mind im paired, and. was consulted by Mr. Charles Scratchley as to the propriety of her being taken care of. It further appeared that Mr. George Scratchley was ignorant of the previous connection when de ceased came into his service, and also that deceased had become of intemperate habits, and was acctisr tomed to converse and drink spirits with abandoned females, although her conduct was proper while liv ing with Mr. Scratchley. She was, however, very desponding, and generally so whenever the Reverend Gentleman came to stay at his brother's. , The inquiry having lasted some hours, CORONER summed up, condemning the con tradictory evidence of the Rev. C. J. Scratchley, but which was done, no doubt, to get out of a difficulty. She appeared affected in mind on the night of Sa turday, and certainly had not been kindly treated by a man who bad lived with her us her husband, whic'h she must have felt ; for the separation of five years could not have extinguished her feeling towards him. No doubt she had destroyed herself, and it Would be for the jury to say whether the conduct of Mr. Scratchley had induced her to_ do so, and whe ther she was in a state of temporary in sanity. The jury, after nearly an hour's deliberation, re turned the following verdict :—" We find the de ceased, Charlotte Griffin, committed suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity, induced by the cruel and heartless conduct of Mr. Charles James Scratchley ; and we are compelled to express our strong disapprobation of the flippant and unfeeling manner in which Mr. Charles James Scratchley's evidence was given on the night of Monday last." MONEY NIARKET and CITY NEWS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. CITY, THURSDAY EVENING. CHRONICLE.—Parties, whose opinion is entitled to weight, say, that the objection of " preference," started against the plan of exacting security from issuing banks to protect the bill-holders, does not affect the justice of the principle, for they contend it is right that the Legislature should secure this pre ference. Looking upon bankers' notes in the same light as money, they contend that the Crown should take care that no paper should circulate whose per fect safety is not secured. Depositors, they say, need not lodge their money with bankers unless they chobse, deposit being a purely voluntary act; but this is not the case with respect to holding country issues, which " pass as money, from hand to hand." It is to be kept in remembrance, nevertheless, that bankers' notes are not a legal tender, and that no person is obliged to receive them in payment of debts. But it is true that they possess a general cur rency, which renders it very odious for any indi vidual to refuse the notes of banks in good credit. They are looked upon, in fact, as if they were legal tenders; and it is, perhaps, fair and expedient, that if the Crown allows others to exercise the prerogative of "coining," that legislative means should be taken to secure the safe operation of the trust. SUN.—The:English Funds leave off very firm, Consols having been as high as 991 -4-, though last quoted 991 1. The New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. rose to 103 to f. The disposition to sell Spanish Stock continued this afternoon, parties being anxious to take their profits in case of a re-action. The Five per Cents. were 261 to -1-; and the Three per Cents., 361 Mexican, Deferred, were 16k; Russian, 117 to i; and Portuguese, Con verted, 46i. The additional transactions in Railway Shares have been these:—Bristol and Gloucester were 19; Great Western, 35; Ditto New, 20; Ditto Fifths, 6i; Man chester and Leeds, 42; Ditto Half, 18; Norwich and Brandon, 54.; Newcastle and Darlington, 20:1; Paris and Orleans, 16; Ditto and Rouen , 16a to and South Eastern, ex , New, 2i premium, Eastern Counties, ilk; IRISH MARRIAGE QUESTION. LORD CAMPBELL'S PROTEST. HOUSE OF LORDS, March 29. THE QUEEN V. MILLIS.-WRIT OF. ERROR. The Order of the Day being read for the further consideration of this cause, the House proceeded to take the.same into consideration : and it being moved to reverse the judgment complained of, the same was objected to; and the question was put whether the judgment complained of should be reversed. Lord Cottenbam and Lord Campbell were appointed to tell the number of the votes ; and upon report thereof to the House it appeared that the votes were equal, riz., two for reversing, and two for affirming. 'Where ; upon, according to the ancientrule in the law, semper presumitur pro 22egante, it Was determined in the negative : therefore, the judgment of the Court below was affirmed, and the record remitted. Dissentient, 1, Because it appears b y the special verdict that George Millis, before his second marriage, (the regu larity of which is not questioned), had been married to Esther Graham by a Presbyterian,rainister, who they believed had authority lawfully to.marry them, and that having intended to enter, and believing that they had entered, into present marriage, without con templating any further ceremony to complete their marriage, they cohabited together as husband and wife, and, there being no statute to affect the va lidity of such a marriage in Ireland, it is valid by the common law of England, which is admitted to be the law of Ireland upon this subject. ' 2. Because the only objection made to the validity of this marriage is, that it was not solemnised by a priest episcopally ordained ; and by the common law of England it was not necessary to the validity of a marriage that it should be solemnised by a priest, although to be regular there are canons, requiring that it should be solemnised by a priest in the face of the church. 3. Because it is admitted that before the Reforma tion the validity of marriages was a matter of eccle-. siastical cognizance in England, as well as in the rest of Europe, and that by the canon law regulating marriage all over the continent of Europe prior to the Council of Trent, the presence of a priest was not necessary to a valid marriage, and this law must necessarily have prevailed in England, all ecclesias tics, members of the Western Church, being governed by the same laws, and the appeal from their decisions being to Rome as the Court of last resort. 4. Because, the presumption being in favour of the validity of this marriage, the onus lies upon those who question it to prove its invalidity, and there is no instance in the annals of the law of England in which parties having intended to enter into present matrimony, and believed they had done so, and had dived together as man and wife, their marriage has been held invalid on the ground that it was not so lemnised by a priest in orders, and the necessity for the presence of a priest in orders to prevent the mar riage from being invalid is not laid down by any institutional writer treating of this branch of the law of England. 5. Because the relation constituted between George Hillis and Esther Graham by their marriage and co habitation as husband and wife is materially different from that subsisting between a man and a woman who have merely contracted to marry per verba presenti tempore, meaning that they shall be irrevocably en gaged to each other, but that a marriage ceremony shall be performed between them before they live to gether as husband and wife ; and the marriage be tween George Millis and Esther Graham cannot pro perly be considered as a mere "pre-contract," which, according to all the statutes and decisions upon the subject, was an executory engagement. 6. Because it is admitted that, where a man and woman entered into marriage, and lived together as husband and wife, without the intervention of a priest, the Church in England always considered the relation between them verurn matrimonium, insomuch as they could not be proceeded against .for fornication, that they could only be compelled to celebrate the existing marriage in the, face of the Church, and that, if either- of them before such celebration, cohabited with another, this cohalsitation was censured as adultery ; and because the commerce between .the parties so married without the intervention of a priest being acknowledged by the Church to be that of husband and Wife, the issue could not be considered illegit imate; and, applying this decisive test to try the validity of the marriage, it must have been considered valid. 7. Because, of the only two cases leading to a con trary conclusion, which occurred in the reign of Edward 1., we have no satisfactory , statement, and they cannot be at all relied upon; . for they would show that a marriage solemnised by the priest, of the parish, -or by a bishop in a private dwelling, was a nullity ; this being entirely contrary to the doctrine now contended for on behalf of the defendant, which allows, that for all purposes such a marriage before Lord Hardwicke's Act in the year 1753 would have been as valid as if celebrated in the face of the Church. 8. Because the other authorities relied upon may be reconciled to the doctrine that by the common law of England, if parties were so minded, they might have entered into a valid marriage without the inter vention of a priest, and, at any rate, are. greatly out weighed by the authorities on the other side. 9. Because, although marriage according to the doctrine prevailing when the common law took its origin was a sacrament, some sacraments might be ad ministered without the intervention of a priest, and it is expressly laid down by canonists of undoubted authority that the sacrament of marriage might be administered by the parties to each other reciprocally. 10. Because the prevalence of the notion of the ne cessity for the intervention of a priest may well be accounted for from the canons of the Church in favour of regular marriages, and from the laudable custom of parties generally wishing to join in a religious ceremony when they enter into such a solemn en gagement. 11. Because the position that a marriage to be valid must have been solemnised per presbyterum sanctis ordinibus constitutum, is disproved by the admission, that since the Reformation a valid marriage might be celebrated by a deacon, and because the explanation of this circumstance, that the law was changed at the Reformation, is quite unsatisfactory, as the Church had no power to alter the law of marriage, and never attempted by any canon to alter it, and no power to solemnise marriage is conferred upon a deacon by the Act of Uniformity, or any other legislative enact , ment. 12. Because the class of clergymen who are al leged to be necessary and'sufficient for the solemnisa tion of marriage not being confined to clergymen ordained by bishops of the Church of England, but including all'who, according to the opinion of theolo gians, are to be considered apostolically ordained, and amongst others Roman Catholic priests before they have renounced the errors of the Church of Rome, and been admitted into the Church of England, no certain rule is laid down for the guidance of the public with respect to those who are duly qualified to solemnise marriage between English subjects in coun tries where the English statutes reapeCting marriages do not prevail. - 13. Because it is admitted on behalf of the defen dant, that a marriage solemnised by a person be lieved by the parties to "' be a priest in episcop a l orders was valid, although in truth he was not in orders, while it is contended that the marriage solemnised by .a Presbyterian minister whom the par ties believed to be sufficiently authorised to solemnise it; is a nullity. 14. Because the marriages of Qualiers and Jews, excepted from the operation of Lord Hardwicke's Act, have ever been considered to be, and are, valid, an d their' validity is wholly i ncons i stent w i th the position, that there can be no, valid marriage without the intervention of a priest in orders. is. I3ecause this position is again disproved by the doctrine which judges of the highest authority have often laid down and which is not disputed, that in countries where the attendance of such a priest can not be obtained, a valid and regular marriage may be entered into by the consent of parties before wit- tresses. 1 . 6. Because the Legislature, in. passing Acts of Parliament respecting marriages in Ireland and India, the'prior validity of whiCh depended 'upon the same principles as the validity of the marriage in question, has DECLARED them to 'be valid, thereby admitting their prior validity. 17. Because it had been considered .by all legal writers of authority in England for a century that by the common law of England the consent of the parties without the intervention of a priest 'was sufficient- to 'constitute a valid though not a regular marriage; and this doctrine being authoritatively promulgated by Lord Stowell in the case of Dalr i ymple v. Dal rymple," had been adopted by every judge in Eng land who subsequently, had occasion to lay down the law upon the subject, including Lord Ellenborough, Lord Tenterden, Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, Sir J. Nichol!, Sir H. Jenner, and Lord Eldon. 18. Because there have been many convictions for bigamy in Ireland where the, first marriage was solemnised by a Presbyterian minister, although both parties were not ,Dissenters, and the persona so con victed have been sentenced to transportation, an:'_ some of them are now undergoing the punishment awarded to them. . 19. Because the Noble and Learned Lords by whos opinion this judgment is affirmed, admit that they are obliged " to overrule authorities to which the greater respect is due;" all the • recent authorities are lin:- fortnly in favour•of the validity of the marriage is dispute ;—upon all questions it is'desirable ' that when the law has once been consideied se ttl e d by judicial decision it should not be again disturbed; and this is particularly th e case w ith respect to thelaw of mar riage, for the sake of honourable women and innocent children. : . CAMPBELL. DREADFUL FIRE IN OXFORD STREET • SIX LIVES LOST. Last night, shortly before twelve .o'clock, a fire, attended with great destruction of property, and loss of life, broke out in the extensive range of premises belonging' to Mr. Williams, situate at 287, Oxford-street, the corner - of Gilbert street, and known as the Crown and Cushion Wine-vaults. The premises were four floors high, and had a consider.. able depth and frontage. The fire broke out in the count ing-house adjoining the bar; in which was deposited la vast quantity of spirts.. Police-constable 98 C, who was on duty near the spot, W. his attention directed to the house by hearing a loud cry of " Fire." Upon gaining the front of the building, he perceived that the counting-house was one complete burning mass. The officer, seeing it would be useless to try to ex tinguish the fire without the help of engines, imme diately sprung his rattle, which brought other assist ance to the spot, and then startedoff to the various engine-stations with intelligence of the calamity. At that time three children' were sleeping in the upper part of the buildiag. There were also two female and three male servants in the place, as well as Mrs. Williams and her sister. Such was the fury of the flames that in less than three minutes they had extended to the bar amongst the spirits, which once on fire spread with the most surprising rapidity to the upper apartments. The excitement which followed was most painful. At the second floor front a young female; named Fritchby, male her appearance ; and with such fury did the flames, travel, that before sufficient time had elapsed to pro cure a ladder, she was compelled to. throw herself to the ground to escape suffocation. Fortunately the only injury she received was . a few burns about the knees. By this time the St. Marylebone parochial engine arrived, and was drawn in front of the blazing premises, and an abundant supply of water was flow ing from the water-works belonging to the Grand. Junction Water-works, from which the engine was set to work. No sooner had the firemen got this engine into operation, than one 'of the immense vats of spirits burst, and the liquor becoming ignited, it rushed forth through the windows with terrific vio lence, burning Mr. Bridge, the engineer, about the, face very badly. The 4ing-street brigade engine was the second to reach the spot, followed by others from 'Wells-street, Baker-street, the County station. in Regent-street, the Chandos-street, Crown street, and Holborn stations.. The West of Engler .:t fire-engine, with Mr. Connorton, next reached tl' scene. As the different engines arrived, they were taken to the best positions, and were all set tz. - . work—those of the London Fire Establishment undre the direction of Mr. Fogo, the foreman of the di,. trict.. By the time, however, they were got into full play, thee flames had reached nearly every room in the immense building, and they were rushing througit the various windows, and also the roof, extendin4 half way across the street, causing the most fearful apprehension to be entertained for the safety of the contiguous buildings ; in fact, it was greatly fearel that the whole of Grosvenor-market would have fallezt a victim to the fury of the devouring element. Three fire escapes, belonging to the Royal Society for tl e protection of Life from Fire, were remarkably quick in arriving at the scene of conflagration, and it is re ported that they were instrumental in saving the 1 ie lof one or more persons._ At the time the reporter let; Mrs. Williams was still missing, and it . was greatly feared she had perished in the flames. Such we hore is not the case. The fire Continued to blaze fiercel until a quarter past one o'clock this morning, when it became evident to_ the firemen that they had got the complete mastery over it, and no further destruction property occurred. In the course of anotherhalf holce it was entirely extinguished, not, however, until alma it every part of the building and its valuable contents were destroyed. The total damage must amount to s very serious sum. Mr. Williams is insured in the Licensed Victuallers' Fire-office, but we understand nothing near the amount of his loss. A great nunil)er of other buildings are damaged, more especially the following :—Mr. Truebick, potatoe-merchant, ad joining, 1, Gilbert-street, and Mr. Godfried, tobacco. nist, opposite. Both premises are extensively damaged by fire, and the stock by removal, &c. The pro. mises of Mr. Mash, 2 and 3, Oxford-street, and oit Mr. Cook, baker, 286, in the same street, are Bios wise much scorched by the heat of the fire. me origin of the fire could not. be precisely ascertaimPa• The police were of the greatest service to the- &eras* in keeping back the many thousands of _persons vrlmb. had been drawn together to witness the progress 4 the conflagration. THREE G'CLOCK.—The firemen, in searching - tb ruins, have just discovered the lifeless body of • youth, apparently about 12 or 14 years Of atie. The unfortunate individual, who has thus premature" been hurried into eternity is supposed to be potboy. Mrs. Williams. and another person are stilltaissisiaj and there are strong grounds to fear that They heft likewise fallen a prey to the fury of eae devour's. element. HALF-PAST THREE.-It iS now distinctly asN tained that six persons have perished in the flate% About ten minutes after three, the firemen, on . prone cu ting their search amongst th e rubbish, caina m cow tact with another body, making the fourth *ley 443 found. From the dreadfully mutilated, st`ste of SO remains it was hardly possible to recogniF.e any trace, of humanity, but the probability is, that it is the l of one of the s e rvan t s o f th e esta bli s h ment who 5)43 in an upper floor, in front of the preMises facing Ox. ford-street. The utmost danger is apprehended fro* the fearful state of the walls, and from the auperin• cumbent masses of brickwork, &c., which overhang the interior of the building, the task of exploring the ruins is rendered highly dangerous. Every credit is due to the officers connected with the brigade andthe police who are most diligent in their joint endeawurs to explore every part of the ruins. The house is in a most desolate state, and the anxiety of the populace to view the scene of devastation increases as the dawn of morning advances. LATEST PARTICULARS THIS DAY.. The fire is reported to have originated from the following circumstance. One of the servants wail pumping some gin from the cellar, in doinp' which it was supposed the spirit ig n it e d, and. 'soon corn• municated to the building. At the time of the dis• astrous calamity, Mr. Williams was stv.ray from hems, it is said, at Exeter-hall,. where -an tratorm was beint performed. He parted with s l / 4 , Triend-he was w ith some time' after, when on his, way home he heard of the destruction of his valuable property, with th e 1066 of his wife and family. It . is almost unnecessary to state, that he is now in the most distracted state at mind, at the house of a friend in the nei g hbourhood,' The following are the names of the sufferers, sash given to our reporter by Mr. Coole :—Mrs. Elite Williams, Elias, Williams (between four and five wars of age, William Williams, an infant in arms, arah Woolgsen, and Charlotte Fish, female servants, and the Airman, known by the Christian name of Jacob. The walls of the house still reMain standing and a large concourse of persons is collected in Ox• ford-street. • • i RESERVATION OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL PROS F IRE. —Yesterday (Thursday) a considerable number ut workmen were employed within the boundary wall of Greet.. wick Hospital, laving . down iron piping, for the purpose d more speedily extinguishing fire, should it at any time breSil out in that national edifice, without the aid of fire engin al. The principle is similar to that which has been for some ti urged upon the Government, and tried in the streets of ' ile metropolis. The water is conveyed in •pipes of bore, laid from the capacious reservoir in the domain ofirsc Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, immediately above rbe observatory. Thence it passes along the declivity, sumiliaa the Naval School, crosses the Woolwich-road, and catc-ris the Hospital at the western gate. The piping is co he laid throughout the whole of th e ex t er i or , rind it is calculated upon hydrostatic' principles that the pressure cif water will be sufficient, without the aid of machinery, V force its way through lengths of leathern hose sufficient Ar reach the highest part of the building. It has been. proved by recent experiments made in town, that, though. water conveyed through 5,300 yards of iron piping, consisting is 4,220 yaras of 20zinch main, 550 yards of 15-inch main, a,4 500 yards of 9-inch main, the force was sufficient to - drivc ii through _two lengths of 40-feet hose to a height of 60 fe Hwing a delivery of 100 gallons per minute. At G reenw ; ospital it is intended to erect standcocks, so as to comma every portion of thit extensive pile, and from the diameter a s the piping and the height cif the fall, there can. be no qu. 'ion but that the plan, when tried upOn a large scale, s , ix prove. eminently - successful. •The men are working 1( .rfs hours, in order to complete the work' as soon as possible. FIRE AT KINGSTON.—On Wednesdny night l ast, between 10 and 11 o'clock, a fire btoke out in- the extei jr„:eia malthouses of Mr. Robinson, but csecuPied l oy Mr. 31 : acLaat Wells, maltster, situated a t T ownsen d/ Kingston, Surrri The fire was first discove re d by some.' persons atcßients'lr passing. The policeman on auty vent instantly,. for t borough engines, an d, a ' plentifi.P supply, of water beLlig obtained from the river, as welt•as from a well on the I.:e' anises, these and other eng.inefa ,continued. to play on the flames until nearly three o'clock, when the fire was ex; sop guished, and no fiirther danger was to be apprehended. ' building has been very seriously damaged, and it - will cos large sum of money to put, it-again in thorough repair. _-- E-