The Sun. — London, England, 1845-11-19 00:00:00

-~ r:vy Co 1 , 1 '„" title. :fines . the 1, ,he 0. t. th e es ana the rings her 110.4 nd Pr' licess n a prtman P :IC, to Pay: ouces ter, of iun che t o l6 olhe Cas sebacAu. leas g l4 b the Castle b ° the Que e , ed s sticce i 3 include be;at gar. .0 113 r ds attendedfcti afterw3" yes terdaY a ll- r° biteb „ s"h g i re. Staffer,. sly h the G idc pce - jai r ~_ „, e et• I had a — w ere Thera e ster. d a lso 9 c13, a wince' I ; iii pro T THE GRAND BALL AND CONCERT FOR. THE WARD SCHOOLS. asleacte_redeae- the Committee appointed . to conduct the ball sch_,o,n rt for the benefit of the City . of London Ward 4 _ vote assembled most numerously at Guildhall, the Right r ii. ..t jliej,,ord Mayor in the chair. . 4leeteeiol...aueliisatisfactiongave to be able to state that he had already ea e r u scho ions list of contributions for the benefit of the whi ch wer.os4, wholly independent of the ball and concert, Unction ofebr he graced by the presence of persons of dis th sexes, and would do honour to the . u e n_ce .. as_incg L e el n er d t o in e ns of the excellent Chief Magistrate of tnuitY of e t h a e n i Q b r un i e d . es -a e'( lieers.) The application for the patronage of __ripee Albert, the Queen Dowager,t o h . e e D r u in e ns o_f trios individuals g %Prince George of Cambridge, and other elle, , had been met, not in the ordinary w a s y np in . ' , o f Virie requests for such distinguished sanction and t e ,'` 4,e usually received, but were responded to with the twhosezdiertnaokfinthe evarmeq wishes for the complete success t one of the most brilliant sctacles, and care 4 ' Present g• II 6 had rea son to suppose that the Hall bt't'att.hibe taken that a greater number of tickets . than could pleas'e' nemotlated should not be issued. It was with extreme fsoo:s.oe.r:er the announced the names of the Lord Mayor, an t r , ii 9t ale Sheriff Chaplin, for 50/. ; of Mr. I%!a3eativ'ert, Qity of London, for 1001.; of Mr. Felix lee 01. (Cheers.) Mr. Wood then proceeded to d re t a i d e fi tl ) ie lowini contributions, amongst which there appea g. 31o l echae l e lee ,g,,Tianiee the Osgood Hanbury, 211.; Mr. 10. , • Lord Urale' u t i the Chartered Gas Company-, 101. •• ' . eY St • s i ans 10/. 10e. , usart, lot 109 •Mr David aom , . Sir, th'liP ealoinans., 10'1" . ' 103.; * the City Chamberlain, 5/. ss• ; 4s e . p,‘l jintydeßrfown, 5/. 5s ; Mr. John Wood, the Secretary, Sheriff Wire, 51. ss. • Under-Sheriff Bir_h r. akn A. li e ' • `r* alugzeridge, 5/. ss. ; Mr.' J. Prior, Si ss• i m an h u n t, 51 ' s s, &c. It is unnecessary to observe that thethe teic,e.nient of such contributions highly gratified Theef o tea reot lin Mayon said the great occasion . cf readtehrieng_‘yer etho b enefit to the admirable institution of . .1 , ard bele." the City should not be neglected by the i' ie nr in his private capacitv.—(Cheere.) Th h e lm eo tu rts ht o s chearttdi of the great charity by which the blessings of t he eo *a calculated to raise the social and moral condition nae o_f eoeldimmjeunity would, he plainly saw, by what had be Rite a I.i'eti within the last two or three days, be attended e ac pate ' h egree of success which but few could h antici• thane ~'e expected the co-operation not only of those mer ss oftti bankers who are constantly occupied in the busi `ll tll this great City, but of those who are no longer engaged e lettrttPersuits to which they owed their affluence.. 7.'ime°,,ltr. Chaplin the Sheriff, which appeared . in the cl'ed b' th at Chaplin, eva ' s an instance of the warm feeling etxe ialeoi the eotiCe which the press had already takenof h n efr 'et og th e Committee, and would produce . the intended o 'eading other gentlemen of wealth and inde . pende ,ifberesupilizt.awaye of the existence of such a charity, to the - prid e h . ri ofi t. - -(Cheers.) •It was with no sm . all degree Ne e • e ta forenecl the Committee that he hadre . ceived.co e m s : ti e , ofaithlen.s from several persons of rank and . title. expr lid h i . !Li' intention to be present at the Guild . hall, andi r o C h In effi h. itl l ni(c heer e:y to the admirable suggestions of M . e'die; and said he had satisfaction in stating that the N 1," gentlemen by whom the concert was to . be per talet4,a,,l volunteered' to give the benefit of their . high e teer B , without pecuniary reward ; and that, in e tu tber e ; e l tee whole of the proceedings of the Comm i litee, kr, w r , e nffers of is assistance.—(Chee ett,,f.„"i said that it was gratifying to find tat ) the pro- Nej e L t. ne ball and concert was not only approved of by the do e b ie ' keit that the announcement of it was likely to produce , e hari t ,. benefit, by stirri g up the spirit of liberality . and irl,lf'ttii,,Utioentolgthstechvosedwhno-were igcnhoeraersnt.)ofotfhtehcelaeixineselol anion 'bie et of edua c t a.t e g i t s.— poor there existed no doubt 'rate 'tit t', t t hese who had any ed e ucatio ' n themselves. The pr is e : trat. 4.1 Uayor had in his capacity of sheriff and meg_ e , c ersrh„ ten witnesseethe fatal effects of ignorance, and tli 4 4vie - 1 11ty w ere E .. s g, in L ,_ enneder great obligations ea t r o er h e i l s as Lo se r s d , Lordship hisfor o.'f'. upeatr,, deavour to serve the P le l ttlei ng i . " ard Schools, as one r . if the mo t s i t ee po_lit ( i c c ee eiilit is benevolent means into prac e h m ee e rs au .; ' t ore e h ,7 °f the effort to benefit so noble a charity was the r k rilee 1.1° ,1 11 ; Bit had b to the grief of its friends, . 444111.t1e -m° P i n A p e e " ' r e 1 restorative had become ne 4 (1 e.(;aind that gr' estorati w ye e was about to be adroiruste, e ki l t litee ti t • e d ' ile trusted, give a vigour to the institution dto t r'ke i t isll'i,the natur e of its principles, and calculate etifishin "alth and strength on a level with the most k r It e of the da y. - -(Cheers.) ,„..'PO ~?t•T said it had be . enobserved by some, when the e q uort r e - ,•, ) ,n were work ing - 'kite, 4"`e, Poleshatthat Hall for the service of th t , l e .‘rie e f rom be 'exercise for the British poor, who werekinds tll charity, which ought to begin a eitzdesti:e;',.Z.WTanhtnof education, u as well as from other -er e ' , Plied to f se who readily eb , t o tow, their their co-oper . a . l . ki/pa,l4,43,svintheir sincerity by t.o o n ffe h re a d d i t t h n at ow., objection t o v,'scitize,7r,ed the Polish. Committeeoininwiinthhtehneefiintdinieg-idtuhaelirs th e g' o l4 a d " ele regretted that some gen tlemen t e h n a d t e i a t e w ro a u s t wit o e , Pinner upon the cause, by declaring e. the - e ° ' e ach ward to an port its own school. However power might b *t p as quite certain that in m the '1414.'1 tne incli- letrrii..\,.....atear h oat on did , w n w ot g a e m h e a tn n h d ar in a ha th nd e W wi a th rda klitn,:g here and thpalacesereand he found much difficulty in a oilh;a4ieasigdie'sriZileildine,ariad c li a e nva as ed several gentlemen whose Nefil R•l'ine• That amongst proof of the apathy of V , the anon of „was a an the affluent proprieto e rs r , e e l ! t nxio e , me wealth of the ward; huthetru n s n t d e e d r that the 10111Neei of e zeal so unequivocally exhibited of the City of 1, 0 eoe rse ti,ise Lord Mayor, would be the forerunner of a 1',d0n..._,,,),` Prosperity to the Ward Schools leir, t, kk-fieerA.) eitllt;eron"ktxs Perfectly agreed in the observe' ions of the ~ en Who had addressed the Chairman. The removed eyingi'lthe ecitten,tly received from families which had answers t to ire into the districts of the aristocracy, upon ap- Z p : t t o n t en for their aid,.. was, that they were obliged to e oia . e. s ein e [DI charities. th %he and other gentlemen also . add u r s es o s p e i d ni t a h n e , w at on th e, e eiel theyall separated in the unammo . tote eols i e eh e characterised them in re k'd Sel l t`e'lt night would commence the revival of the gener aticnla. e ugour which :NIA . . .t......................•••• _ __ . ) and Lady Adele ibe t Ntaiti . it e . lt i ,lAGE IN HIGH LIFE tt,,,,,tsort arri....lbbetson (11th Hu le t 7e, Iteee,`.,ds pt Mr. IbleFtso , n'r en r ra e in si g d , e f n r c a e m o E n di C n h h e n s r t g e h r- ; t ht Zeriari to'ocounLeeritarnrke,asTreFsrid v for a tb e eir marriage agreeably to ell th:cf the E stablished Church. Monday was the (1: niost err E stablished for the marriage were completed in iI 6 e ,, Private manner possible, and on remany. Of i n t e,e tti ' l n e lor ehe performance of the sacred ceremony Fella acbnt.f?'ent of the noble parents of Bishop p" ,1, famed, and her uncle, the ttfautlhbraindde "ght i t as to b ee , offi .. efh i e e. re , 4 cia e h the duties A 3 di oees refa. was so engaged at Wells 7 Ir:count Villiers t d at the solemn right, but that the s e 'ieee tt e d as to be reluctantly absent. ton-house, 'the wedding; ot t ,I, Sat have have arrived from U o holm, Warwick fel 4 11 23 int e ,,, r ,daY night, to have ee th in e illness of his youth- A. (nty, tb".." s e e n was prevented by morning was selected, WIZ we e tv 'T net feyer having appeared amongst them. ert.d:esthe tar;_above noticed, Monday t he e , e-p et , l l: Pour of ten o'clock_ n ee r a e s . h not St. George's, r h ;ser.oeu'__toli assemble at the Oh appointed for the 11 1 ;1e ChZ e eb , sinst t rd x by an na ev d ening nd paper, but St. Pan :°,r, and 1•11 Y Rev. Lord Wri e o w the r sley Russell, Canon of_YV n i ies, I‘,,tlh,Nsly t° to to her Majesty, came to town from Cherries ter be to-q e ° l - Perform the nuptial ceremony, and,with Mr. guar ' e ll 48 * Russell, arrived at the church by a e • ell tair t Ibb be M te a _, etsen, and his father, Mr. Henry Ibbetson, Ihheady Adeaurela shortly afterwards, and were soon followed and Mrs. flopson, -I,r, attended by Mr. Ibbetson, J_ tiNe,,,,len 'tilizef lap . se of time,d u t li o " the vestry, ett i _aft er a bite bridal party forthwith re to the privacy tt i tt e Zeel the r 4. c e rv_ tee commenced. O e w nt i y ng spectators of the repaired therepaired communion Cit'a W:llt' LadiVeZoltelame w re as thai i e ve t n w away by her cou t ein n , tzloneeory)ussell (the A ccountal-General of the Court l'ire3., and in T,he fair bride went through theaffecting au. o „, , a ee„, ainteined, until the close of the impressive who It"e`ittira‘"teee'rsaunre rarely to be expected. Her Ladyship, w"". oater e e wen, was elegantly attired in a hig . h dress of a t , t ,! Sae red 3l k, and a satin bonnet to correspond ; 9,ei e am ceremony having concluded, th Gallant 14j ro8peel:_?: _b.ride pased to the vestry, C ''.." allied by / o e retist'e'r. friends, to attest the legality of ° the marriage beta en naere le • ' 4 , ti 'llinsed •previous la sele, . nee of their matrimonial union having ster. lb ere ,_ according to the law of the Church o re f S . cot ' eilaqanaat vas a difference in the usual entry in the T o, ries pa.•aptain having signed his names as follows, al`e! aecorel." ib betson," her Ladyship took the pen,. and W ii 4 1 1)b e t' i ng to the instructions given, 0 Adele Con . .s_ r and rd e k,,,.t.thtsietll. heretofore Villiers." The Very Rev. Lord iti,",,';.lt4sq:p3ell, and the attesting witnesses, Mr. and ' II I brideh 'rs..E. A. Ibbetson, and Mr. Henry Ibbetson, th, .'e e register. N i leful - 441 : 114 j0n 41-14 bridegroom left the church immediately after of their names in the registry, and the . partY I.4;,terter. proceeded to Mr. Henry Ibbetson's man3ion,at Ed bY t w aee ' to partake of a cl6jeuner. All the parties had t!l4 tteti44l,B,..t4tY minutes after ten o'clock. ti tt e h , afteet;dad Captain and Lady Adele Ibbetson departed . 44 Ir-'etlt fin nn for the country, to pass a few weeks in eland,, when the Gallant Captain ' will rejoin his regiment D E -4,, 4 / 11 n ._.., ____,---------,_-_—._ ' , 1t ,,,,' tha t „"' Tut EARL or VERULAM.—It is with tity ~,''' llot4 annollriCe the death of the above highly r 4N:1.4°11114D "'an. The melancholy event took place onMon- J atP it t far o 't i ' 4 half-paet eleven o'clock, at Gorhambury, the a, es le I,l' seat, near St. Albans,.Herts. .The deceased ~,,a alter g • t ile ' a nd $ Vet ton Earl of Verulam, Viscount Grim . - Ittrkereoaron Verelam or Gorhanibury, county Hens, in Fe tr nl.) enb q the United' Kingdom, Viscount Grimston and bk. NEI. (q.n count AI th • the Irish Peerage, Baron to'net 'e t 'f Co'rst Y . ' el ' 111 h eerage' and h e ni \rerci nalantrpbrn, in the Scotc Itellrietta4l4lll, and tiri."4 lin eir ston in Ireland, and was son _of . James Bucknall, first is hti'lia t4nlY daughter and heir t or Mr. Edward Walter. "A N L ' 7 1st '1 ?n the 2 6th of Septmber 1775, and, therefore, `ehaVt, 180,:,eaf. The late Earl married ' on the 11th of wild4..blit'o, *et . ',,,LadY Charlotte Jenkinson, only daughter of ete,,,,erdarl heriverpool and sister of the present lea` t he C . ,; -of Majesti's Household. By his union . cltt! 2 24 ~,,, rirnston, SL P• te r -,! a kratiptess, who survives her husband, his Lordship '4l th iS tOli nt ( 3 ; 91 nine children, of whom the eldest, J. Wal l-I,4TM ,Februery 1 809, succeeds to the title. The (now , Earl of Verulam), born t afirqDmallii"' L ord-Liee' tenant and Custos Rotulorum of °lll, a v e a ' e `-'f course, by his Lordship's elevation to the 4g te , Ail l ~, alley arises for the county in Parliament. kilo ~ to l ea -P the E RIGHT HON. W. DUNDAS.—We °n d i e d at earn odeath of the above Right Hon. Gentleman, 41 o e eon Ne_tlarlY-house, his residerce, at St. Leonard's ileheiaebert•bi3' lase Ile was second son of the Right , 'all os` r, in s e " ( la , Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Ex decat",ittelee iiettand, and the Hon. Elizabeth Dundas, eldest /4 ..401111, 3 brOtight U t *as q v ia 4 rY first Viscount M I ille. The Right Hon. lit e nntil 8' 11:1,;4, wh e a n t td one oe P ° the '• • affairs of u rng e li ‘ sh bar, and in 1800 he 1 1 qg s 4 ...„, was a the Commissioners for the ''' l % et t P Nlitee s 'moulted a Privy Councillor. In 1804 We e art, t ecretary at War in the room of the Right athurst Piet • -' the duties of that f er 'N of ~ elle, i i _ , and discharged th ~,t e etre tton e represented Tam and Dingwall, in the It N ed l ef lc e e s ' i a nd up to the election in 1831 had sat , e .„ ) ii t i i stelVe e rne n t i t a lt , g a li t i i r l, i . , several Parliaments- The It e t siis death,et eheofh fron,4tiiiiii. ' ,. ( ''r ef the and Registercecof Lord in 'l/41neot i n tblie -tee tved a eifinn little short of 4,000/. annually ' 4 f th e em a s n ur se, arising out of the fees as Register of 1) t " *nee pensation for the loss of fees as Keeper eere ~lle n, • nit" the e t `' Lout) 1 li th . I llisc of L ARTLAND.—We have to re -444 tki 4 , , lest , Lord Hartland who died on Tuesday last, ofgistartile ZeSasteocikestown llo'use, county Roscommon, P Nr e, e nrles first I nobleman was third and youngest totihs_ Letiipitee of s:olHartland, by the Hon. Cathermp brZ , 17 2 '1 . , ), who e ta t e e P, a l - 1 1,,, first Viscount Mount Ca.eh_el e l_ loe r ,i,,,,une setoz_l, . holy oyders, was born 6th (..). ti o s, Isei;o`gnas, nth Den to the tithe on the decease of . his 1 .4 4- Nv o I Jane, tht'e. , 183 e• He married 24th Nov., ye elshi e ?il, b y e ire daugh ter Hume, of I,;:,?ratlt.no I ! I n, who died 12th December, 1838, his 411141 that Maj or The The title becomes extinct. We " til e VaOlr 81 ahon, cousin of the deceased Lord I " tilt lauded property. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 19, 1845 LITERATURE. HONOUR AND SHAME. A Novel. 3 vols. This is a very interesting work, and will prove a . great favourite with the general readers of novels. It is not indebted to any historical reminiscences or political in cidents—it is simply a domestic tale, and depends only on its own attractions. It is written in a quiet, unaf fected style, and is in many places full of real feeling. Its chief interest consists in the natural pictures of .pri vate life, and the correct delineation of human passions. The story may be divided into two distinct parts, of very different characters: the first is full of action, the second of feeling - the first unveils the petty intrigues. rivalries, and jealousies, which make and mar domestic life, while the second displays the contest of opposing passions, and shows the energy and feeling that may dwell in the most gentle. In the commencement the character of Isabella Lorraine, the heroine, is conspicu ous for sincerity and earnestness, and forms a bright contrast to the cunning and intriguing dispositions of her friends or rivals. It is in the latter part that the full beauty of her character is displayed. She is full of love and self-devotion—two qualities most calculated to ex• cite interest and sympathy ; she not only suffers, but fi els; her passions are ardent and her sorrows bitter; yet she is resolved to endure, and she does endure, the bitterest trials—she is forsaken by her friends, suspected by him she loves. and called upon to saci ifice all her hopes and joys. The struggle is hard, but she obeys, and sacrifices even love itself for duty— " And leaves a lover's for a father's arms." The tender and devoted character of Isabella will render her a general favourite ; all must sympathise with I , er sufferings, and admire her fortitude. Thomo who love romance, and sorrow, nnd pathos, and who like to see " The coarse of true love ne'rr run smooth," will be deli:,,ltted with the latter portions of these volumes; while those who read only to be amused—pour passu le temps—will find entertainment in the light conversa tions and variety of trifling incidents in which the whole work abounds. Some of the more serious conversations may be of advantage to many; one in particular, on the power of pleasing, and the best means of gaining the af fection of friends and companitms; iN ill be found useful to all whom it interests—and who does it not? On the whole, this novel is one which can scare ly do any harm t.) whosoever reads it ; one which may touch the heart or impr( ye the temper, but which must afford both in terest and amusement. JACK. HORNET; or the March of Intellect. By the Author of " The Adventures of an Irish Gentleman." 3 vols. This is a novel of the humorous &ass, yet it presents a strange compound of exaggeration and good sense. It is certainly a clever work, and the author is evidently one shrewd enough to penetrate beneath the outward mask of society, and read the secret motives which in spire many, apparently, great and good actions. The hero, Jack Hornet, is a Welsh Widical—a regular re former—who arrives in London with the intention of regenerating the country on the most approvt d Chartist and agrarian principles. From the exaggerated descrip tion of this character, we should imagine that the author wished to turn all reformers into ridicule, did not many of his own observations prove that he himself belongs to that numerous and daily increasing class. As it is, his intention is evidently not to ridicule reform itself, but to check the career of those who, styling themselves " friends of the people, regenerators, and reformers," are ever ready to blame the rich, yet the last to assist the poor—who long for equality, not for the sake of raising their inferiors, but in order to abase those above them to their own level. This intention is laudable enough; there is too much talkative philanthropy abroad; there are many who love to speak of the" wrongs of the poor," the " rights- of the people," &c., but we sba:l tind, on inquiry, that most of these, some perhaps uncon sciously, are acting according to the very rules which they are the loudest in blaming. Full many a " village Hampden" would, had he the opportunity, prove an other Charles, and this was the case with our hero, " Jack Hornet." We are told that " He hated the wealthy, not because he was poor, for lie took pride in his poverty; but he felt convinced that their wealth must have been acquired by nefarious means. His heart was excellent, yet he suspected every one who ap proached bins of obduracy and want of feeling. He hated mankind, yet he liked society ; and while he shunned the world, solitude was irksome; while the whole universe made him wretched, his greatest pride and boast was his utter carelessness of its_ opinion. In every re-pect Jack Hornet was an anomaly. He sighed for the happy days of the golden age, when men ate acorns—yet, to a certain extent he was an epicure. He affected great simplicity in his dress —yet he was most difficult to please in the cut of his coat, and abominated tailors, whom he called 'living testimonies of the original sin.' He pretended to scorn the assistance of domestics, who were the type of slavery—yet he expected the most assiduous attendance. Like many persons upon whom fortune has not smiled, he attributed his present posi tion to the injustice and ingratitude of society, and blind to his follies and absurdities, he did pot consider that he him self had been the greatest enemy he ever could have had." This strange individual comes to London, intending to reform the country, his chief ohject being to improve the relative positions of the " two nations" of rich and poor. His constant quarrels and c:nnplaints, his strange ideas, and his still stranger actions, occivion numerous extraordinary adventures. At one time he disguises himself as a beggar, and accosts a nobleman in the street; he is given in charge to a policeman, and he being a beggar and his opponent a lord, he is of course " locked up." Then he declares that he is himself an earl disguised for a freak; his assertion is believed, and the tables are turned. At another time, being wounded in the leg in one of his skirmishes, he is attended by a doctor, who charges a guinea a day, and who declares, that if he moves, he will lose the limb. But nothing can deter his love of inquiry; he is resolved to know the difference between medicine for the rich and the poor. He resumes his beggar's dress, and calls on his phy sician, who happens to be doctor for the dispensary of the poor. He shows the wounded leg, which cost a guinea a day, and which was to be destroyed if he moved, and all the medicine he gets is the following:— " Get about your business, you lazy vagabond; nothing ails you ; a walk of ten miles, or a hornpipe on the tread-mill for a day or two, would soon set you to rights." All this is (we hope) exaggerated, but it is amusing, and if it makes people think betides making them laugh, it will not be read in vain. At length our reformer gets an opportunity for trying his powers of improvement. He is given the management of a little country estate, and there be essays his agricultural science. He lectures the peasants under pretence of teaching them; he tyrannises over them in order to make them " free and happy." The result is, as might be expected, a total failure; and our ultra-Liberal, in his anger and disappointment, becomes a " red• hot Tory." Such is the history of "Jack Hornet;" at least, such is a brief outline of his interesting and ex traordinary adventures He is accompanied by a Welsh friend, a Sir Thomas Green, who has just succeeded to a baronetcy and a fortune. He is a specimen of country simplicity and vanity; he is taken in Charge by some clever knaves, who kindly instruct him in the tortuous paths of London life, till he finds himself minus his fortune, and then, of course, he can dispense with their aid. THE POTATO DISEASE; its Origin, Nature, and Preveition. By G. Phillips, of the Excise, and Member of the London Chemical Soeitig. This little pamphlet is the best treatise on the potato disease which has yet appeared. The author, in order to ascertain the nature of the disease, begins by making a quantitative analysis of a sound and of a diseased tuber. The results of these analyses are given, and the effect produced on the potato by the acting of various re-agents are described. The great differences between the healthy and diseased tuber seems to be that the latter contains 1330142 water and more gum, but less al bumen, less potateine, than the healthy tuber, which also contains sugar, of which none found in the dis eased tuber. The author then gi.vs a minute descrip tion of the appearances presented by the various parts of a potato plant when sribj-cted to microscopical ex amination. With regard to the indications of the ex istence of the disease, Mr. Phillips tells us " The outward appearance of a tuber is no indication of its soundness, for the disease invariably commences in the cuticle of th 3 string or pendulum at the part where it joins the tuber. If a po' lac. be diseased at all (unless by some ext , rnal in jury), it may be known by cutting a transverse section at and perpendicular to the pendulum. The cutting should be made immediately below the bark or outward skin, and if the tuber be diseased, a brown spot will be seen, snore or less extended, according to the severity of the disease, and the length of its duration." Although the starch in diseased tubers is at present still existing, yet Mr. Phillips thinks it probable that after a lengthened attack of the disease, that, too, might disappear, and therefore he recommends that it should be secured as soon as possible after the disease has made its appearance. He ascribes the origin of the disease entirely to the wetness of the season, which gorged the plant with water and prestrated its powers ; and he considers that the disease might have been prevented by trenching the ground to the depth of twelve or four teen inches, so as to have drained off from the plant its superfluous moisture. The following directions for storing the tubers for winter use are well worthy of attention :-- "In storing tubers for winter use, certain conditions should be observed, or the tubers may decay before the disease is outwardly perceptible. " These conditions are— " First. Absence of moisture. "Secondly. Plenty of air—a current passing between the tubers is the most efficacious, as it dries their surfaces. " It is of no moment in what way these conditions are complied with, so long as they are observed and maintained in some form. I would recommend that the tubers be laid in layers, placing between each layer straw and wood, or any other substance by which a current of air may be passed thr. ugh the layers and between the tubers. I would have extended heaps rather than thick ones, and avoid a doze atmosphere. The tubers ought not to be placed in pits, and covered with earth, or shut out from the atmosphere. Pota toes of this season are not to be trusted to pits, or to any of the old modes of storing, for the outward appearance is de ceptive and no criterion of soundness. " Sand, lime, and other substances have been recom mended to be used as a medium in which to store tubers, but I would say, avoid them and trust to the atmosphere. A current of air will always carry off moisture from a damp or wet substance, but sand and lime will not do so; on the contrary they will, although dried bef .re use, soon absorb and retain a portion of moisture natural to them when ex posed to the atmosphere at certain temperatures. But the evil rests not there; they prevent the escape of water from the tubers, and maintain a temperature around them favour able to the spread of the evil they were intended to preent. " Stored potatoes should be frequently examined, because although the putrefactive fermentation may be checked by the means suggested, yet decay silently proceeds in another form if the tuber be diseased." With regard to seed potatoes, he says : "In selecting tubers for seed, great care should be ob served, all the bruised and brown skinned ones should be re jected, and those only taken that are clean and healthy in appearance. If cuttings be used, all that have brown spots in them are to be refused, and if a suspicious or doubtful one presents itself, cut it open and - examine it. The examinl- Ulm will occupy time, but it will afford security and imps r. knowledge that will be useful and important to the possessor of it. "In sel.eting cuttings take none that have the slightest brown speck in them, or that are stained beneath the skin of a brown colour, and if cuttings must be taken from a diseased or suspicious tuber through necessity, cut the brown part away with at least half an inch, if possible, of the white and sound part of the tuber with it. The sooner the seed is selected the better, and where cuttings are made, dip the cut parts immediately the cutting is made into dry plaster of paris, which will unite with the water that issues from the cells, and form a dry coating over the surface of the potato, that will tend much to preserve it from decay." Mr. Phillips does not consider the present as at all a new disease, and does not believe that it has been pro duced by either fungi or insects. The work con cludes with minute directions for laying out potato fields so as to avoid a recurrence of the disease. The work is illustrated by plates, showing the structure of the potato plant, and the appearances produced in it by the disease. NEW SYSTEM OF LOCOMOTION. A system of loComotion on railways, altogether d►ferent from any hitherto invented. has recently been pat forth ; and, whatever may be its merits or demerits when applied on a working scale, it is important as evidence that there is still a wide field for discovery in the application of power to pro pulsion on railways. We witnessed on Saturday the action of a working model of the new plan, in a large room at Messrs. Keene and Nickelle's saw-mills, in the York-roan, near Westminster-bridge; but, before we describe the appa ratus, we will insert the account given by Messrs. Keene and Nickells themselves of the wonders to be achieved by their ingenious mode of applying the power of compressed air to propel carriages on railways "They can now confidently state that, in addition to the general advantages possessed by competing systems, they may subjoin the following as peculiarly characterising their invention : "1. Perfect safety. 2. Great economy, in construction, in simplicity, in motive power, in reparation, in facility of adaptation. 3. Less oscillation. 4. Less vibration. 5. Steeper gradients overcome. 6. No leakage or loss of power beyond the actual amount required for working. 7. Absence of piston, wheels, racks, pinions, and longitudinal valves. 8. Most. perfect control." With the exception of the seventh characteristic feature, the working model affords no test whatever whether the ex traordinary advantages held forth will be realised. It is quite true, however, that without travelling piston and longitudinal valve, as in the Clegg and Samuda Atmos pheric Railway, and without racks and. pinions, as in Pit_ brow's invention, the cal-tinge is propelled by the pressure of air with great velocity, and a tractive power is attained superior to that of the working models on the same scale of either the atmospheric railways. We will endeavour to ex plain how this is done, though without drawings we fear the dexription will not be perfectly intelligible. Between the two rails there is laid down, as in the atmospheric rail ways, a pipe to contain the air which acts as the moving power; but instead of being a circular rigid iron pipe, it is square, and on each side of this square pipe there is a flat flexible tube, through which the propelling cm pressed air passes. Two small wooden wheels fixed upon vertical axles press against these flexible tubes, or air pas sages, so tightly as to arrest the progress of the air along them. The wheels are fixed to the body of the carriage, which is mounted on flanged wheels, as in ordinary railway carriages ; no part of the weight resting on the two wooden wheels, which serve merely as propellers. When the com pressed air is admitted into the elastic tubei, they become instantly inflated, and the air presses against the wooden wheels, and forces them onward. It is really extraordinary to witness the force with which the compressed air acts when applied in this manner, like a wedge, and apparently at great disadvantage. Compressed air, with an acting pressure of forty pounds to the square inch, admitted through a pipe not more than one inch and a half in diameter, propelled a car riage holding four persons with great velocity ; and the tractive power was so great, that a gentleman standing on the ground could not hold it back. The material of which the flexible tubes are made is a peculiar composition, adapted for the purpose, and the external part, which presses against the wooden wheels, is nearly a quarter of an inch thick, and seems well protected against abrasion. The experiment was perfectly successfnl, and the tractive force of the compressed air so applied, is very much greater than would, on a first inspection of the apparatus, be supposed possible. The mode by which a train in motion is to be con trolled was not explained, as the inventors do not wish at present to make known the whole of their plans, but we were assured that the most perfect control may be attained. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETIE OFFICE OF . ORDNANCE, Nov. 14, 1845., .Royal Regiment of Artillery—First Lieutenant. W. B. Gardner to be Second Captain, vice Airey, deceased ' • Second Lieutenant L. G. Paget to be Fi rs t Lieutenant, vice Gardner, Oct. 29. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. R. R. Coxwell, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant, Oct. 25. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. Michaelmas Term.-9th Victoria. 17th November, 1845. This Court will, on Wednesday the 3d, Thursday the 4th, Friday the 'sth, 'Saturday the 6th, Monday the Bth of De cember next, and the three next following days, hold sit tings, and will proceed in disposing of the business in the Special Paper and New Trial Paper, and in giving judgment in cases that may then be pending. By the Court. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Michaelmas Term.-9th Victoria. Monday, Nov. 17, 1845. This Court will, on Monday, the Ist day of December next, hold sittings, and will proceed in disposing of the business then pending in the Special Paper on t'se said Ist day of December r ext, and on the five following days, being the 2d, 3d, 4th, sth, and 6th days of December next. By the Court. Read in open Court, Elywo. BENNETT. WHITEHALL, Ocr. 23. The Right Hon. Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal, Knt., Lord Chief Justice of he. Majesty's Court of Common Pleas , has appointed Edward SwinborneChalk, of Chelmsford, in the county of Essex. Gent., to be one of the Perpetual Com• missioners fer taking the acknowle4gments of deeds to be executed by married women under the Act passed for the abolition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of snore simple modes Gf assurance, in and for the county of Essex. WHITEHALL, Nov. 14. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Alfred Henderson, of the city of Bristol, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. DECLARATION - OF INSOLVENCY. James Pearce, licensed victualler Uxbridge. BANKRUPTS. Thomas Wilkinson. ironmonger, Quadrant, Regent-street, to surrender Nov. 28 and Jan. 3, at twelve. at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assi g nee, Sambrook-court, Ba singball-street ; Dod and Wray, reat Marlborough-street. Johh Scul t horp, colourm:4n. brick-bill-lane, Upper Th ames street, Nov. 25, at half past eleven, and Dec. 31, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall street ; Robinson, Queen-street-place, Southwark-bridge. William Vickers, bill broker, Carter-street, Walworth road, Nov. 26, at two, and Dec. 31, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street buildings ' • Rodgers, King-street, Cheapside. James Crane, malster, Crooked-lane, City, Nov. 28, at half-past two, and Dec. 23, at half-past one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane ; Ran dell, Birchin-lane. William Absalom Darby, builder, Charles-street, West bourne-terrace, Paddington, Dec. 2, at half-past twelve, and Dec. 23, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, offi cial assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; Robinson, Or chard-street, Portman-square. Benjamin Purnell, vinegar dealer, Stepney, Nov. 28; at two, and Dec. 23, at one, at the CoUrt of Bankruptcy. Groom, official rssignee. Al:church-lane ; Henderson, Man sell-street, Goodman's-fields. John Lovegrove, barge builder, Rotherhithe-street, Ro therhithe. Nov. 25, at one, and Dec. 30, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman-street; Freeman and Co., Coleman street. Benjamin Wade, tailor, Strand, Nov. 28, at eleven, and ,Tan. 3, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldermanbury ; Lloyd, 3lilk-street, Cheapside. THE ARMY. CAVALRY. 2d Dragoon Guards, Royal Barracks, Dublin—A party of 1 corporal and 1 private, and 2 troop horses, will arrive at Liverpool, from Maidstone Cavalry Depot, on the 20th of November. there to embark, per steam-vessel, for Dublin, to join head-quarters. 3d Dragoon Guards, Ballincollig—A party of 1 corporal and 1 private, and 2 troop horses, arrived at Bristol, on the 14th of November, from Maidstone Cavalry Depot, there to embark, per steam-vessel, for Cork, en route to Join head quarters. Lieut.-Colonel Arthur is on leave of absence to the 31st of January. Maj , m . Campbell is commanding. Re cruiting : 1 sergeant and 1 private. Ist Royal Dragoons, Dundalk—A troop is held in readi ness to march from Belturbet and join head-quarters at Dundalk, leaving one troop at Belturbet. 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars, Newbridge—Lieut.- Colonel the Eatl of Cardigan has joined head-quarters, having purchased 20 remount chargers for this corps in England. A party of 1 sergeant and 2 privates are now at Liverpool, to embark the troop horses, per steam-vessel, for Dublin, en route to Newbridge. Captain Dickson's troop 13th Light Dragoons has arrived at Clonmel from Cahir, and Captain Hamilton's has returned to Cahir, head-quarters. and who have evinced capabilities and talents elicited by that education worthy of encouragement. Is it not,eeally painful to see the son of a gentleman seventeen years a surveyor of the navy, and who entered the service upon the faith of a solemn compact with the Govern ment, kept down in a subordiate situation, after thirty years' service, upon no fair pretence whatever, but merely to suit the purposes of party political views, and gratify the prejudices of certain interested persons; whilst men of little or no claim to consideration as men of educa tion and professional attainment, have been promoted over his head? verily, the Reform Admiralty of 1831 have much to answer for. This was reforming abuses with a vengeance. It was, however, understood, from a statement made in the Devonport Yard lay a certain leading man at Somerset House, that not one of those gentlemen would be promoted whilst a joint of the surveyor's tail remained in power; but nous verrons We consider such an abuse as this a blot on the escutcheon of the Admiralty, which we scarcely think the present Board will like to see remain. " We need only refer to the report of the Commissioners of Naval Revision, to show in what a wretched low state the education and attainments of the old class of ship wrights, who fancy themselves qualified for the highest de partments of the service, generally rests; and hence, as stated by those same Commissioners, it is imperative to put an end to that want of foresight which may lead to se much danger to the country.' Will any one believe if such men as Creuze, Bonnycastle, Parsons, and others, who have been fairly driven out of the service by disappointment, had been allowed to have taken their fair place in the ship building department of the Government. as guaranteed to them, the Admiralty would have experienced the vexatious expense and failure's they have encountered in the construe lion and armament of its ships and steamers? Should we have had various ships set up in batches, at a ruinous cut to the country, without a good scientific determine ti n c f. the merits of one of their class, and a sound know ledge of what was requisite to ensure perfection in all the others? We had only a short time since no less than six iron steamers built in private yards, from drawings furnished by the surveyor's department of the Admiralty, not one of which has realised the intended design. No sooner were the first of them in the water and tried, then they were found to be complete failures, and they underwent all sorts of changes—one was paid off in despair. Never was suck tinkering—all sorts of people were consulted. We believe the cutting down the masts of the Jackall and Blood hound, and substituting short pole gear with four and aft sails, was recommended by the Queen's .Harbour-Master Mr. Walker, When this state of affairs became public, the surveyor's department threw the blame on the Admiralty, and en Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, the contractors, and pleaded as an excuse that they were only asked for hand seme lady-like drawings, without reference to particular weights : this, however, was evidently an excuse. Certain, however, it is, that no less than six steam-vessels were buil , by the Government, of little or no use to the country, whose Treasury paid the piper, to the tune of at least 50,0001. For this expenditure no one appears responSible, the surveyor' , department •having, like the scuttle-fish, when disturbed, thrown out a cloud of dark inky matter, and run off in the midst of its own confounded confusion. Now, if we had a good Board of Naval Construction and Revision, composed of properly educated and qualified men, such monstrous absur ditties could not occur, and the Treasury would be richer by hundreds of thousands a year."—ltforning Herald Captain Henry Byam Martin, C. 8., seal of Admiial Sim Byam Martin, has been appointed to the command of the noble 50-gun frigate the Grampus, razeed at Woolwich ley Mr. Oliver Lang, the master shipwright. She will have a complement of 500 men, and when ready will proceed to the Pacific to join the squadron under Rear-Admiral Sir George Seymour. Captain Martin was posted in 1828, for his services at Navarino, in which battle he commanded the Musquito sloop. The pendant has been hoisted on board. We were sure that a young and smart officer would have this splendid ship. Mr. Thomas Pidcock, clerk in charge of the Lizard, has been appointed acting paymaster and purser of the Alecto steam-sloop. The Retribution steam-frigate, Captain Lushington, will most probably, when ready, proceed to the Pacific, to join the squadron under the orders of Rear-Admiral Sir G. Seymour. THE RUSSIAN MEN OF WAR AT PLYMOUTIL—The Inger mannland line-of-battle sbip, with the flag of Vice-Ad iniral Lulka, with the 30-gun corvette Prince of Warsaw. have arrived at Plymouth, with the Grand Duke Constan tine. The 80-gun ship remains in the Sound, but the cor vette has gone into Barnpool. - They have suffered much ie the passage from Cronstadt. The corvette is large for the name; she has no poop, but a flush deck. She has been examined by the dockyard officer, and her defects have been found so numerous that they will occup . % a month repairing. It was proposed to take the liner from the Sound into Hamoaze, alongside a hulk, to facilitate her repairs, and hoys were sent out to take out her powder. according to the established rules of the port; but the Russians obstinately refuse to part with their powder, so if they do not alter their decision they will remain where they are. Many of the seamen have been ashore, but their appearance and their habits do not recommend them. The Netley tender has arrived at Devonport from Ports mouth. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE 310111CING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. . TIMES.—It was perfectly natural that the Anti-Corn-law League should take advantage of the present crisis to im press its own views more strongly on the public mind. No ne then will have been surprised to hear of the free-trade meeting convened last week at Birmingham ostensibly to do honour to Mr. Charles Villiers, but in reality to make a de monstration against the existence of a corn-law in the pre sent state of the country. Surprise will perhaps rather bo felt that at a meeting of this kind, collected under these cir cumstances, and by the authority of men who have never been distinguished for their tact and moderation, there should have been so little acrimony and asperity on.the part of the different speakers. The speeches on this occasion were, in the main, temperate and appropriate; but there remained a sad everplus of those stock niaiseries which usance has made the dramatic property of the League, and which have subjected it to ridicule in quarters where it ought to have been influential. Mr. Cobden talked in a strain of puerile exaggeration about the redundance of cheap bread which would result from a repeal of the corn laws, just. as if the experience of this very year had not proved what all 'previous information had suggested—viz., that there is neither in Europe nor in America that abundant supply of food which can, in the most propitious times, over stock the markets of any one country'. The great object ion to the existing corn-law is, that it prevents that equable distribution of food which the aggregate average of the corn harvests throughout the world is calculated to promote. A notion that its repeal would inundate us with a vast influx of foreign wheat is contrary both to all experience of foreign harvests, and, in a greater degree, to common sense. No -me could teach us better than a political economist (and all free traders are, ex vi termini , political economists) how im possible it would be for the people of any nation to con tinue producing oheap wheat for foreign exporta tion. The corn-law contravenes the operation of a natural law, and embarrasses the mechanism of com merce. If it were repealed to-morrow, bread would not, on an average, be 2d. a loaf cheaper, nor the value of any tolerably good land be diminished even at first as much as ten per cent. in value. Mr. Cobden should be cautious in making these grossly coloured misrepresentations. Again, there was, ns usual, some Utopian declamation about the coming time when the navy of the country shall be em ployed,' not in fighting the country's battles, or guarding its coasts and colonies, but in conveying and re-conveying cot ton goods and other manufactures all over the world. Of course, this traditional sentiment was cheered by those pre sent, as any absurdity will always be by a great collection of persons who have met together for the furtherance of one common object and with the desire of preserving the appear ance of unanimity. But it might be suggested to such senti mental gentlemen that the intrusion of nonsense is alwas s of vast disadvantage to the interests of a party ; and there is hardly a man throughout the country, with eyes and brains in his head, who is not aware that the greatness of England and the greatness of English commerce are indebted as much to the prowess of our naval and military services, as to the . ingenuity and industry :of our manufacturers and merchants. Nor would it be difficult to indicate countries, which are com paratively ignorant of our manufacturing skill, but which are perfectly familiar with the quality of our three-deckers, and he calibre of our seamen. The fact is, that as long as human nature remains what it is (and we see no reason for expecting - hat Messrs. Cobden and Bright are destined to change it), i country will be respected in proportion to its power, and its sower will depend upon its military resources. When our navy becomes a great carrying instrument, and our sailors mere factors , bailees, it requires no gift of prophecy to foretell hat from that moment we shall lose all our power, and half stir commerce. But it is curious to observe how far men will suffer themselves to be possessed with one idea to the exclu sion of every other. Only they should recollect that, how ever monideal themselves, they have to address their dec lines to a world, which, in order to be converted, must not he shocked by impracticable promises, nor provoked be specu lative crotchets. One other instance of this one -thoughted style if dealing with important matters; Mr. Cobden says, ." Open the ports, and there will be no necessity for voting oecuniary relief to Ireland." Indeed! Where did Mr. Cobden learn this? Mr. Cobden is a Member of Parlia ment, and ought to know something of Ireland. Where did he learn that the Irish are in the habit of consuming Wheat ? If they are to consume it this year, it will be for the first time; and we suspect that he does not intend that they should get it without paying for it. If they do pay for it, the money must come from England; if they don't pay for it, or if we don't buy it for them. they will go without it, and wheat will be less dear in the English markets. So much for Mr. Cobden's argument about opening the ports. The aroposition mooted, however, was not to vote an indiscrimi nate sum of money to the Irish, but to vote a sum of money ror tin express purpose of giving them employment in some national works—a proposition which may hereafter occupy the attention of the Legislature as being involved in the vexed question of Irish grievances and their remedies ; but which the !gentry of the League may think entirely beneath their notice. This conies again of having but one idea. But there is one thing which, if we may infer from their professions, the Leaguers have already been taught by past experience —viz., to disclaim all party connexions and obligations. It would have been well for them if they had learned this some two or three years ago. They would have gained both influence and popularity by pursuing a course diametrically the re verse of that which they have pursued. And it is question able whether they might not have succeeded better than they have in propagating their opinions. As it is, the latter have thriven better than their authors. Free trade opinions are gaining strength, the League is losing it. Nor is it difficult to understand the reason of this. The League was eminently sectarian ; it was also eminently dictatorial. It dealt in the most virulent invectives, the most shameful inuendoes, and the most despotic imperiousness. It proclaimed all dissen tients enemies to their country ; it denounced the agricul turists as pillagers and plunderers; it attacked the Church and the aristocracy, if not in direct terms, at least by implication. No wonder, therefore, that it was regarded by many as a Jacobin club in disguise, No wonder that many moderate persons, who, for commercial reasons, wished to see an alteration made in the present corn-law, kept aloof from that which seemed a combination of radicalism and destructiveness; no wonder, also, that many persons who were utterly indifferent to the corn-law hied themselves to the League as the best vehicle for their own violent and in flammatory doctrines. Thus a great question affecting the commercial relations of England with the rest of the world, and demanding coolness of intellect with moderation of pur pose, was turned into a subject of party agitation, and ban aied about between two sets of men with all the heat and fury of some trumpery party contest. The League seems to have become partially aware of its past errors. It now has a noble opportunity . for repairing them. A great crisis is coming on, which requires not exaggeration, nor calumny, nor invec tive, nor anything from the. magazines of mercenary elo quence—but the knowle Ige, sagacity, and ability of men deeply versed and deeply interested in the commercial trans actions of the country ; a ct isis, not attributable in its origin to any Parliamentary enactment, though Increased in its in tensity and disposed to a recurrence by a law which it must soon be the care of every statesman to review and modify. , Let the League carry out its professed intention of embody ing the opinions and expressing the wishes of the most in- telligent and the most moderate among the commercial classes, without spleen, acrimony, and irrelevancy—it will then surely succeed in settling this momentous question, and staving off future perils like those which now threaten us ; but, let it return to its original character of an one-sided, monideal,sectarian,clique, and it will do as much to obstruct the success of a good cause as under better auspices it might do to advance it.. CHRONICLE.—In the Chronicle of yesterday we gave an extract from a leading article in Sunday's Observer, of which the purport was to apprise the public that Ministers con ' templated a further change in the corn-laws, without, how ever, abolishing protection or adopting a fixed duty. What ' ever change is to be made is to be made his the principle of the sliding-scale; but the scale itself is to be modified so as to lower duties, while the mode of taking the averages is so to be altered as, by excluding the coarser qualities of wheat from the calculation to regulate the admission of foreign grain by the prices fetched at any time by the finer qualities, and so, in effect, to secure us always lower rates of duties than those which would be fixed according to the present mode of taking the aver sues. As the Observer gives itself out as an organ of the Ministry (of this, as well as of the last), the article in question excited some little sensation in the clubs; and some idle gentlemen went about during the afternoon specu lating on this supposed explanation of the Ministerial policy. We shall do no such thing. The thing is too preposterous to be reasoned about as if there were one iota of truth in it. We are not apt to err by supposing that Sir R. Peel and his col , leagues must of necessity act in a straightforward manner, or on a large view of the necessities and feelings of the country. But they are not idiots after all ; they know that the country is in no humour to be fooled with insignificant changes, or juggled by palpable frauds. If the corn-laws can be upheld, they well know that they must be upheld in their present state ; if abandoned, that it will not be possible to deceive any one as to the extent of the change to be made. Sir Robert knows well enough that he has tinkered the sliding-scale to the utmost extent consistent with its existence; and that the squires would be as impatient at any further reduction of a pivot, which they look upon as too low, or at any more rapid diminution of duties, which they regard as insufficient, as they would be at the proposal of a fixed duty, or perhaps even of free trade. As for the proposed alteration of the mode of taking the averages, no doubt it would meet the present just outcry against regu lating importation by the price of a quantity of inferior wheat, hardly fit for human food. But if you effect your purpose by excluding the inferior qualities from the averages, you in truth lower the existing protection as effectually as if you lowered the pivot. If you get at the average that regulates importation by taking into consideration only the higher-priced qualities, you ensure that average being higher than it would be under the present law at the same rate of prices in our markets. Upon the same quantity of corn sold for which the average now returned is 505., the average taken on the finer qualities alone would, very probably, be 60s. When we consider the habitual amount of difference between the highest and lowest prices of wheat in the same market, we feel confident that this is not over-rating the dif ference likely to result from taking the average in the pro posed manner. Where, therefore, under the present law the maximum duty of U. attaches, under such a system there would be a duty of only lls ; and where under the present law the average would be estimated at 635., and the ditty be 95., under the proposed plan the average would probably be taken at 735., and there would be a shilling duty. This no doubt would, as the Observer says, "prove a most ma terial relaxatis n of the present system." But would it not be too obviously so from the possibility even of country gentlemen's mistaking its tendency ? And if they are likely to consent to such a relaxation, why not let them have the credit of consenting to free tradeopenly and without disguise ? The existence of the corn-laws has surely been one of shams and pretences enough, to spare us the necessity of con structing a fresh fabric of fraud for their tomb - We are per suaded that the Observer has in this case been unwittingly made the exponent, not of a ministerial plan, but of the de vice of some subordinate Tape or Tadpole. It is just such a device as would suggest itself to those whose great aim in life is "keeping their party together;" who have a great dread of public opinion, without any comprehensionwho have a lively faith in the gullibility of all manner of men, and es pecially of country gentlemen and farmers theyd who think that by such pretences as these may escape the pressure from without, while they retain a sufficient semblance of adhering to the principles and interests of their party. Such shifts as these are ever suggested in the last throes of expiring abuses. Sir Robert Peel may have determined or consented to make a stand in behalf of the sliding scale. He may have apprised his colleagues, or been induced by them to admit that, though the corn-laws must be repealed, he cannot as Minister pro pose the repeal; or—what we believe to be much more near the truth—he may have made up his mind to give up the corn-laws, have got the subject started in the Cabinet, and have put off announcing his policy until circumstances shall have made out a stronger case against the sliding scale. Whatever he may have 'done, or may intend to do, the corn-laws will rot last many mouths longer. Public opinion has doomed them. Ail who disapprove of them are determined that the mischief *hall last no longer. The supporters of them have avowedly resounced all hope of maintainidg them. Some, like Mr. Escott and Lord Ashley. have publicly declared such a conviction. The ` Morning H e rald has got to deprecate a "precipitate" repeal. And those who, like the Morning Post, still remain staunch to the cause of monopoly, regard themselves as betrayed, and tacitly admit their inability to dehnd their . cause. The events of the last few weeks have added an overwhelming force to the stream that was before setting against the corn laws. How the result is to be brought about—whose is to be the honour of being the prominent agent in the last scene— whether the repeal of the corn-laws is to be effected by Peel's deserting his party, or by a portion of his party deserting Peel, or by both being scared by some manifestation of public feeling, no one can pretend to see. But that the result will speedily be brought about, we have not the slightest doubt; fir never did so strong and general a public opinion exist, without finding some way or other of achieving its object. POST.—It seems to be now generally supposed that Par liament will meet some three weeks earlier than it generally does, in order to deliberate upon the various important and ietercsting subjects which call for its consideration. We think it a good resolution—in default of some better method communicating with the public—to call the Parliament to gether as soon as that can be conveniently managed. We have no very great confidence either in the wisdom or the virtue cf Parliament, but in anxious times there ought to be some way by which the Government and the public may have some sort dcorrinumication with each other, and by which the talkers of nonsense about what the Government twill and must do may be put down. Unfortunately there is in this coun try no such thing as confidence in the good will and toffee tinnate feeling of the Government towards the people. We do not find any one trusting that the Government will certainly do what is best fur the comfort and happiness of the people. Anxiety cannot be got rid of in that way. Some persons believe that the Government will uphold the corn-laws for the sake of certain rich people who have an interest in them, though it is quite clear, as they assert, that thousands of the people will thereby suffer starvation. Hun dreds of intelhgent, educated people, profess to believe this, end some of them write it and have it printed, and distributed to the public, yet the very men who do this regard the Minis ters not as fiends, but as rather respectable gentlemen, front whom an invitation to dinner would be no insult. Such is the jumble of belief and feeling about great personages who compose the Government. Surely if any man were really and thoroughly impressed with the conviction that they who rule over him and his fellow citizens are capable of such abominable inhumanity, they would take. some strong measures to throw oft' such a yoke. Because they do nothing of the kind, we have the utmost doubt of the sincerity of their professions. Others believe that Ministers chiefly concerto themeelyea about obtaining majo titles in the House of Commons, and so continuing to ba Ministers, and do not much allow their minds to dwell upon the condition of the people at large. Others, again, are of opinion that Ministers think only how they may promote traffic and give opportunities to persons who devote capital to traffic to make profits thereon and to increase their store. All seem to come to the conclusion that they who have the reins of Government in their bands have regard merely to some personal or party object, or the realisation of some poli tical theory, or the warding off some danger which threatens their own position as a Government. No one seems to dream, even for a moment, of Ministers being actuated by an affection of solicitude for the great 'body whom they have been appointed to govern. The political care of the people, then, devolving upon themselves (the Ministers being occupied with inter mediate interests between the peop leand the Government), it is very natural the people should look for the proceedings of Parliament, where they can at least hear something of what is going on. But we fear that the character of Parliament must be much charged before it will be a trustworthy en gine of popular Government. The change of 1832 seems to have been a change, not from bad to good, nor from good to bad, but a change float bad to worse. Under the old system, of the great proprietors nominating a large portion of the Lower House, a trust was reposed in the great proprietors, which they either abused or did not attend to with such care as they ought. They did not take the pains which they ought-to have taken to exercise their powers of nomination in favour of sense and virtue, awl patriotism. In the place of this system we have got another which, failing to produce the occasional good effects of the nomination system, has nothing of a counterbalancing kind in which the great body of the people either can con fide or ought to confide. Granted that the House of Com mons has in it, under the new system, fewer fops of fashion and idle young gentlemen, or of more staid persons, who never thought of exercising an independent judgment in voting. This may be, but what have we in their room? Have we men distinguished for public virtue, or eloquence, or patriotism? Have we men whose conduct as representa tives of the people elevates the British Parliament in the eyes of this country and of the world, and gives to all civi lised nations a bright example of what may be achieved by acting upon the principles of British liberty and justice? Alas: no, We have a crowd of clever loquacious jobbers. When the revolution of 1832 first took place, it was supposed by those who most feared it, that the House of Commons would become ultra. Democratic—that it would represent, not the national interests, but the passions of the mob. That was a wrong calculation, It was not wrong in so far as it was sup posed that the national interests would thenceforth be inade qaately represented ; but the representation actually created has not been of the passions of the mob, but of the selfishness of traffic. The national interests are not merely the interests of men as proprietors of menu, or of stock in trade, or of land, or of mines. These are neglected by men who are con sidering what they may do to make wages cheaper that ma nufactured goods may be sent at a less price into foreign markets, or in perfecting schemes of internal communication, not fur the sake of giving employment to the people and facilitating their improvement, but in order to invest capital at a greater advantage. These are the schemes which en gage the minds of men who ought to be consideriug the national interests—meo who, for the sake of present advan tage, do not scruple to engage the mass of the people in cir cumstances of feverish activity, without the slightest re flection uppn the question, " what is to become of these people when the works in which they are now engaged shall hare been completed ?" LORD Jour' RUSSELL.—The Lord Prevost had the honour of entertaining Lord John Russell to dinner, at his house, on Thursday evening, when a number of noblemtu ani gentlemen were invited to be present.—Scotsman. EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—Since the com mencement of the month the directors have set apart a car rilve in each train for the accomm o d a ti on o f l a di es travell i ng bythemselvev.—Essex Hera'd, The utility of the electric telegraph, which is brought down the London and South-Western Railway into the victualling-yard at Gosport, was fully exemplified on Sunday :—The detention of the President frigate by the ac cident to her capstan; the arrival of the Thalia with freight from South America, and the Admiralty orders for her to be paid off at Portsmouth ' • and the departure of the G e y ser , were all communicated by this telegraph in th e s h or t p er i o d of a few minutes, notwithstanding the messages had to be carried to and fro by a boat—the weather preventing the Semaphore telegraph being used. TUE LORD CUANCELLOR.—We deeply regret to bear that his Lordship still remains much indisposed, though Dr. Locock has returned to town from Turville Park, where be has been staying for two or three days past, for the pur pose of affording his professional assistance. The attack under which the Chancellor suffers is understood to be of a nature from which great weakness and prostration may be expected, even after the disorder itself shall have been over come ; and it is not therefore improbable that the Noble and Learned Lord may be prevented for some considerable time from resuming the exercise of the arduous daties which he has hitherto so ably discharged. If this unfortunate circum stance should occur, it is said that the great seal will be put into commission ; and Sir Edward Sugden, Mr. Baron. Parke, and Mr. Baron Alderson. are spoken of as likely to be entrusted with the performance, ad intenm, of the functions of the Lord Chancellor.—Post. ROYAL ARTILLERY.—WOOLWICII, Nov. 17.-- Major Armstrong's company, for Ireland, and Captain Thorn dike's company, from Scotland, both of the 4th battalion, assembled on the guard mounting parade, at ono o'clock. r.si., to-day, in heavy marching order, fur the commandant's inspection. His Lordship inspected the men and their ap pointments very minutely, and expressed himself highly pleased with their soldierlike appearance. His Lordship was attended by Brigade-Major Cuppage, Major Elgee cOrn• mantling the battalion, and Captain and Adjutant Nedham. Captain Benn's company ( . 3d battalion) will relieve Major Armstong's company from field battery duty to-morrow, and, on the following day ('Wednesday) Major Armstrong's com pany will embark at two o'clock, A.m., at Roff's wharf, for conveyance to London, to proceed by railway from the Ens ton-square terminus to Liverpool, en route to Dublin, to re lieve Captain d'Arley's company (Ist battalion), under orders to return to head-quarters. GAMBLING IN THE ARMY.—The following garrison order has been issued by General Sir Robert Wilson, Gover nor of Gibraltar, in consequence of the loss of near 3,0001. by one officer in the garrison at play :—" Town Major's-office, Gibraltar, October 25. The Governor has had the mortifica tion to find several officers of this garrison, in disobedience of the most express orders of the Sovereign, and to the great prejudice of the service, have been engaged in gaming tran sactions, which have brought ruin in their train upon one of the party. It is a vice of such a pernicious nature—a pest in a garrison, so destructive of discipline, personal welfare, and that good feeling which should pervade brother officers, in stead of making a prey of one another, as to render the seve rest condemnation imperative. The Governor having ordered a court of inquiry to investigate the particulars, has found the allegations so well established that he is under the neces sity of transmitting a statement of the proceedings to his Grace the Commander-in-Chief; but he will also have the satisfaction to report one of the officers concerned as having been so sensible of his fault as spontaneously to have made the most disinterested reparation in his power to mitigate its mischief and exercise a salutary influence. D. Falls, Colonel, Town Major." THE KING OF TIE FRENCH AND THE CORPORA TION or Losnox.—The worthy citizens of London will be delighted to find the flattering reception a portion of their body has received from the King of the French. His Ma jesty having been informed that three of the aldermen were at Paris who were upon the deputation with the address of the Corporation which his Majesty received at Windsor—viz., Sir Willia m Ma g na y , Sir Geor g e Carrol , b.r3l .PUI also Mr. Pilcher, ex-Sh er iff, the Palace of St. Cl ou d, on invitedAlderm theman H u t omap reception Monday a t half-past eight, and present e d th em t o the and ' sev eral members of the R o y a l Family, by Queen eve ning, whom they were rece ived with th e greatest cordiality. The next morning these gentlemen were honoured by an invi tation to dinner at six o'clock, and on their arrival at St. Cloud they were received in the billiard-room by his Ma. jesty, and then passed on to the Queen's apartment, and where a reception awaited them no less flattering than that bestowed by the King. The dinner party consisted of the royal family only, and their suite, which made the compliment more marked. During dinner every courtesy of polished life was shown to the visitors, and afterwards the party were ushered to the theatre. Nine members of the Royal Family occupied the front places, and the four visitors were placed in chairs immediately behind the Royal Family. When the Queen retired to take refreshment, his Majesty again marked by his attention the kindness and cordiality of his feelings, and said that he should never forget the great kindness he had experienced from the Corporation during the mayoralty of Harvey Combe.—Atlas. DEATH OF THE DOWAGER LADY HOLLAND.— We have the painful duty to announce the death of the Dowager Lady Holland, who expired at two o'clock on Mon day morning, at her Ladyship's residence in South-street. The deceased was taken seriously ill on Sunday se'nnight, and since that day has gradually sunk under the attack. Dr. Babington has been in constant attendance on her,Lady ship, but from Wednesday last he gave no hopes of her reco very. Her Ladyship, who was the daughter and heir of Mr. Richard Vassal!, of Jamaica, was in her seventy-sixth year. She married the late Sir Godfrey Webster, Bart., of Battle Abbey, Sussex, but that marriage was dissolved by Act of l Parliament, when, on the 9 th Ju l y , 1797, she married the Lord Holland, by whom she leaves issue—Lord Holland (our Minister at the Court of Tuscany), Lady Lilford, Sze. Colonel and Lady Mary Fox, and several families of rank, are placed in mourning by her death. IBRAHIM P A CILA.—The last adv'ces receiver] from Florence, in date of the 9th instant, state that his Highness will leave Leghorn on the 13th, on board the Nile steam frigate, for Genoa. After visit in , that town Ibrahim Paella w ill proceed to Toulon, the arsena l ' of which he has a great desire to see. He will arrive at Marseilles about the end of the present month, an after a short sojourn at this town, he will proceed to the baths of Vernet, where, iris supposed he will pass the winter months. INFANTRY. 24th Regiment, in Limerick garrison, received a letter of readiness to march to Cork, on the embarkation of the 16th Regiment from that port to Gibraltar. on Friday. 26th (Cameronian) Regiment, Belfast—Two recruiting parties are ordered to embark, per steam-vessel, for Glasgow, en route to Edinburgh and Lanark, there to be stationed. 3fajor Hogarth, C. 13., is commanding in the absence of Lieut. Colonel Mountain, on leave to 31st December. 34th Depot, at Fermoy, is held in readiness to move to Limerick garrison. BOY AL MARlNES—Fourteen privates embarked in her Ma jesty's ship President, at Portsmouth, 6th instant, for a passage to fill up vacancies in ships on the Cape of Good Hope station. Distribution of the battalion serving in Ire lag:-At Cork—Lieut.-Colonel Burton (in command), Brevet-Major Mercer, Captain Logan, Lieut. and Acting-Pay and Quarter-Master Urquhart, Lieut. and Acting-Adjutant Lowder, Surgeon F. N. Slight, Lieutenants Thomas Fraser. Hopkins, Aslett, Shoveller, and Kennedy, two acting staff sergeants, 14 sergeants, 5 drummers, 260 rank and file. At Wexford—Brevet Major Whylock, Lieutenants Cossar and Herrick. 4 sergeants, 2 drummers, 96 rank and file. At Youghal—Lient.-Colonel Balling's', Captain Gillespie, Lieu tenants Bnnce, Jones, and Delacomtie, Assistant-Surgeon Anderson, 4 sergeants, 1 drummer, 103 rank and file. At Dungarvon—Capt. Taylor, Lieut. Priest, 3 sergeants, I drum mer, 49 rank and file. At Duncannon Fort—Capt. Thomas Park, Lieutenants Butcher and JollitTe, 4 sergeants, 1 drummer, 103 rank and file. At Haulbowline—d4. Clarke, 2 sergeants, I drummer, 27 rank and file. At Kilrush— Captain Rea, Lieutenant Brooker, 1 sergeant, 1 drummer, 24 rank and file. At Ballincollig—Captain Wright, Lieut. Connolly, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, 40 rank and file. Forts on the Shannon-5 sergeants, 1 drummer. 59 rank and file. On leave, Lieutenants Wearing and Aslett, and Assistant- Surgeon Hendt‘rson. 25 privates of the Chatham Division are to be selected from volunteers, for service in the artillery companies of the corps. 54th Regiment—The remaining division, under Captain Norman, has embarked at Cork in the General Palmer trans port, for Gibraltar. Lieut.. O'Gorman, Ceylon Rifles, son of Counsellor O'Gor man, assistant barrister, Kilkenny, is to exchange with Lieut. Evatt, 90th Light Infantry. The 90th, during its sojourn at Ceylon, buried 304 men. Brevet. Lieut.-Colonel Vaughan, and Adjutant Davies. 90th, have arrived in England. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. On the " Affairs of the Navy," our able weekly contem porary, the Plymouth Times, of Saturday last, contains an-- other forcible article. Speaking of the late experiments on board the Scourge steam-sloop at Portsmouth, it observes, in corroboration of our own statements:— " This important step in naval warfare certainly origi nated 'with Sir George Cockbttrn, always actively engaged in forwarding the interests of the country in various ways, but more especially in the department of its navy, with the whole routine of which he. is most thoroughly acquainted. His view of the propriety of giving steam ships a mortar arma ment cannot but be considered a wonderful advance in steam warfare. And here 'we may remark upon the great import ance to the Government of having about the n well-educated men to carry into certain operation any comprehensive view which the heads of its naval department may entertain from great personal experience in the navy, of the construction, armament, &c., of its ships." It is a poor satisfaction that the country is indebted to the blunders of the Navy-office for those experiments. But for the failure of the Scourge, a steamer of 1,124 tons burden,.to carry an armament commensurate with her great tonnage, these important results would not have been ascertained, at least for some time. The Scourge• was designed by the surveyor as a powerful steam-frigate; but the Cyclops, Gorgon, and others, proving inefficient, in consequence of the mistakes committed in calculating their displacement, weights, &c., the somewhat more indefinite term of " steam vessel" was given to her—postponing the classification until they ascertained her real draught of water when launched, when they could call her a " frigate" or a " sloop," as their inaccuracies would allow them, Unfortunately, she did not prove an exception to the general rule, and even as a " sloop," she was deemed inefficient, and was thus selected to ascertain the capability of steamers to fire shells from mortars. The Plymouth Times gives the credit of furnish ing all the plans and caleuletions for this experiment, to gether with the working out of the details, to Mr. Watts. the master-builder's assistant, at Portsmouth (a member of the proscribed School of Naval Architecture), " who stands highly distinguished for sound judgment and mathematical and mechanical ability." The vilifiers of the School of Naval Architecture, who say that " it is an insult to common sense to talk of these school men as qualified ship-builders, versed in the routine of the dockyards, as we have daily proofs of their total inefficiency," in almost the same breath, speaks thus of Mr. Watts, in no ticing the exercise of his professional skill on one of the sur veyor's other blunders : " The sliding step of the Vanguard's mainmast was moved forward three inches, without lifting the mast, which Mr. Watts, a most active and talented officer, proposed to execute, for the purpose of saving time and trouble in shifting the mast. To all the uninitiated, aye, and to some of the supposed initiated, this appeared an extremely bold proposal, on account of the very confined space in which the operation was to be performed ; but Mr. Watts's ar rangements and calculations were so complete, that to the surprise and delight of ail those who witnessed it, the mast, top, and cap, rigging, and stays, the whole weighing up wards of thirty tons, were moved by only eight or ten me chanics, with screw and wedges—displaying a beautiful ex pisition of the facility of moving the greatest weight by these modifications of the inclined plane." From so polluted a source even this testimony to the truth is deprived of half its force. The same parties, after having heaped the utmost opprobrium on the members of the School of Naval Architecture, have not hesitated, on occa sions on which such pretensions could not be disputed, to claim credit for a connexion with it, and to seek advice and assistance from its distinguished members. The men who have by extraordinary assiduity and great practical experience in naval architecture attained high positions in the building department of the Government service; and those who have, to a regular course of scientific instruction, superadded a thorough 'practical ac quaintance with the details of ship-building, are alike the objects of the vituperation of the Navy-otice—all are pro scribed and denounced as inefficient men who do not admire the' happy intuitive" principles of the surveyor and his man Friday ; their virulence increasing in proportion to their suc cessive failures. But such a state of things cannot last. The Admiralty must see the advantage of altering the constitu tion of the present Navy-office, and of rendering full and ample justice to the distinguished members of the late School of Naval Architecture. Thus says our contemporary We are firm in our conviction of the absolute necessity which exists, more especially in the present state of the Government ship-building, for resorting to some gcod and well ordered national establishment, by which the great Master minds of the country may be enlisted and brought forward by a proper course of education in the science of naval architecture, as applied to the Government service, and in the meantime, to put into responsible official situa tions, men such as Mr. Watts, Mr. Peak, Mr. Chatfield , and others, who have been educated upon the filth of an absolute contract with former Governments, signed by I the King in Council, pledging the Government to that effect, IREL AND. MEETING OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC - BISHOPS DUBLIN, NOVEMBER 10.—Several of the Roman Catholic bishops have arrived in town, to attend the conference of the prelates which is to commence on Tuesday next. One of the objects of the meeting is to consider the question of academi cal education, and the differences amongst the bishops on that subject. There has been a rumour that the Rev. Dr. Kirwan, recently appointed to the presidency of the college at Gal way, has been suspended from his clerical functions by Archbishop M'Hale, and that he intends to appeal to the prelates at the conference on Tuesday. Dr. Kirwan is now in Dublin. As far as we can learn,,this rumour is destitute of foundation. Dr. Kirwan is a parish priest in the diocese of Galway; and we are informed that the bishop of the dio cese alone can exercise the power of suspension. ArAbishop. M'Hale is the provincial of Connaught ; but the authority of each bishop is paramount in his ()en diocese; and therefor, it is not at all likely that the archbishop has taken any such step in regard to Dr. Kirwan. THE O'CONNELL TRIBUTE —The annual collection of the O'Connell tribute took place this day, at the various Roman Catholic chapels throughout the country. In Dublin and the suburbs the amount reported at four o'clock, was 2,3001. This is larger than the average of years since 1839 for the metropolitan district.. Of course, no re turns have yet been received from the country districts. FEVER IN LIMERICK.—We have already noticed the ap pearance of typhus fever in the crowded suburbs of Drogheda. In Limerick, a requisition having been presented to the Mayor, signed by the Roman Catholic Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, and some of the leading merchants, that functionary has convened a. meeting of the citizens for Tuesday next, "to consider the best mode of providing against the increase of fever amongst the poor." FASHIONABLE THIEVES.— On Friday last two ladies were fined 10s. at Henry-street Police-office, for stealing valuable plants and flowers from the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The Hartland Peerage is exthrt, by the death, without male issue, of the Right Hon. and Rev. Maurice Baron Hartland, at Strokestown, Roscommon. EARTHQUAKE IN SMYRNA. (From the Impartial.) SMYRNA.—On the 15th of October the city of Smyrna was visited at about 5 30 A.M. by a smart shock of an earthquake, which was repeated more violently at 11 20 A.M. A third shock took place a little while after, and some other slight ones in the course of the day. On the 16th some slight motions were feat, and at 10 40 r.m. another severe shock was felt, but this was nothing in comparison to the sad ac counts received from Mitylene, where the earthquake occa sioned great damage, and threw all the population into con sternation. MITYI.ENE, Ocr. 15.—0 n the 6th, at daybreak, two slight shocks of an earthquake were felt in succession; shocks, more or less weak, continued all this day and the following. On the 11th, at one P.M., a strong shock was felt; at two, a second stronger, followed by a third, very violent; these threw all the city into consternation. The inhabitants ran in crowds to the marina, their hands stretched out to heaven in the attitude of prayer, in such a state of fear as is difficult. to describe. It was expected the city would fall to the earth, and, in fact, if the second shock, which vas a short one, had only lasted ten seconds longer, Mitylene would at this hour have been a mass of ruins. We passed the remainder of the day and night of the 11th and 12th in a state of great anxiety —the shocks were repeated every half-hour. During the 12th we felt four slight shocks. On the night of the 12th and 13th five shocks, the last of them so strong as to shake the bed. On the 13th we were free from them until two P M., when we felt two slight shocks. On the night of the 13th and 14th there were five shocks. The 15th was quiet, but in the night we felt continued shocks. It is to be remarked that the rain had not ceased since nine A.M. of the 14th. Fear was at its height. The shops were shut, prayers were offered up in the churches, and in the mosques. The following is what we have been able to ascertain respecting the damage done. In the city; a house divided asunder, and several others, less important, half ruined. The house of the English Consul very much da maged. Two great walls of a coffee-house removed from the rest of the building. In the village of Ploumari eight houses have been overthrown, forty are much damaged, and the church split. At Vibari several houses and a half of the church in ruins. Two men astd a woman perished. Of the 70 or 80 houses which compose the village of Liskoli, only two remain. It is said that in Koli and Parakilla the damage done is considerable. At the moment of writ ing the shocks are again felt. To give you an idea of the force of the principal one of the 11th, I only tell you that in the square of the arsenal - there stood two enormous trees, which are wholly thrown down, and their branches broken and torn from the trunk. The spring of mineral water, which for some weeks had been dry, has again given water in a greater quantity than formerly. The water exhales a foetid smell of sulphur, which is smelt all around. _ _ SMYRNA, Ocr. 24 —Letters from Mitylene of the 22d men tion that the earthquakes have not entirely ceased, but that they are much weaker. On the 18th we had a heavy rain, which lasted a long time. The streets were two feet deep in water. Many damaged houses fell down. A thunderbolt grievously wounded a woman. QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL.-31011- day having been the anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne, the commemoration of the founda tion of the Free Grammar School for the parish of St. Olave and St.. John, Southwark, founded by her Highness, was ce lebrated in the usual manner in the school-room of the edifice which was rebuilt a few years ago in Bermondsey. In the morning the annual sermon' was preached by the Venerable Archdeacon of Surrey, after which the examiners, the Rev. Dr. Russell and the Rev. Dr. Major. accompanied by the Rev. NV. C. Mackenzie, the master of the school, and others of the clergy and visitors, &c., proceeded to the school-room, where the speeches were given, and the Andria of Terence represented by the scholars. The warden, Mr. Alderman Humphrey, M.P., was unfortunately unable to at tend, being, as it was said, at Paris; in his absence the chair was taken by Alderman Farncomb. The principal speakers were Messrs. Haraingliam, Hunt, Davies, Lee, Morgan, Hooppell, Goward, Fauntleroy, Key, Smith, Thomp son, Berridf,e, Plncott, and Jacobs, all of whom ac quitted themselves in a very creditable manner. At the conclusion of the speeches, Daussell addressed a few woids to the pupils, in which he congratulated them and their pa rents on their progress in their studies and their good beha viour, and said if lie and his co-examiner ' Dr. Major, should be alive at the next anniversary, they hoped to find that the examination of that year would be equally satisfactory. The company then dispersed, and the pupils commenced the enjoyment of their holidays. Loss OF Two MEN OFF HARWICH.—On Sunday last a very distressing circumstance occurred off Harwich. In the mornicg of that day the City of Dindon steam-ship, from Scotland, run ashore on the Guntleet Sands. The Fox, a smack employed in assisting vessels in &stress, went out to her aid, but in consequence of the heavy sea, her boat was washed under the paddle-wheels of the steamer and upset. Three men were in her at the time, two of whom, we regret to say, met a watery grave. Their names are William Baldry (master and owner), and Keeble.—lpswich Ex press. -:- ~~-.. FRE CH RAILROADS. It became known on Thursday that a fusion had been effected between the companies proposing to bid for the Stras burg line, represented by Messrs. Ganneron, Hinguerlot, Gentil et F, I, Bechet, and two or three minor ones. The three leading companies are to receive each one-fifth of the capital, and the remaining two-fifths amongst them. Messrs. de Rothschild are to be the bankers. One company alone, known as Anthouard's Company, was not included in the ar rangement ; the required deposit of share lists, &c., was made by that company before midnight on the 14th, ut it was riot deemed certain on the Bourse that that company would persist in its proposition to bid for the line. After long and laborious discussions a fusion was effected between the several competing companies for the Tours and Nantes line, and who were no fewer than eight in number. The fo3owing are the proportions in which the capital of 40 millions is to be subscribed by them ; Francs. Mackenzie's Company ... ... 8 millions. Carette and Minguet 6 „ O'Neill ... ... 5 „ Drouillard (Nantois) ... 5 Raigecourt ... 5 Lefevre Delamarre Basse Loire ... ... ... ... ... 1~ Total ... ... 40 millions. The Sii,cle observes, that " the coalition amongst the nu merous companies which were formed for the construction of the Paris and Strasburg and Tours and Nantes Railroads demonstrates the impossibility of competition when colossal enterprises which require 100,000,000 and 200,000,000 of capital are to he executed. We return by a perilous and lengthened course to the system of a direct concession by the State. Those who dreaded the application of the system of adjudication had foreseen but a part of the evils which it has produced. What have we seen in fact? The formation of a multitude of societies, the object of the greater part of which was to make the others pay by compelling them to enter into a coalition ; the useless appeal made to the public to repeat their subscriptions 10 and 20 times for the same line, so as to cause a commercial crisis by the locking up the ordinary means of circulation ; in fine, manoeuvres of every nature, which have thrown discredit on the morality of the country and on public credit, and all to conclude with having but one company to bid before a Minister to whom the law delegates the power of fixing the definitive terms of the concession." The Presse publishes a long article in defence of the coali tion of the companies formed to bid for the Paris and Stras burg and the Tours and Nantes Railroads. "In order to con struct railroads," says the Presse," there are three systems — that of monopoly, when the Government retains the railroad under its own management; 2, privilege, when the State concedes the road directly; and, 3, competition, when the State adjudicates publicly. Of these three systems the first is undoubtedly the best, and the Government will not fail to regret having inconsiderately abandoned it. It has been asked, where the State would have found the twelve or fifteen hundred millions necessary for the construction of the French railroads? We answer by the emission in suc eession of railroad bonds bearing an interest of three francs sixty-five centimes. We believe the Government would have without difficulty found the requisite capital, particu larly if in place of presenting to the Chambers a real house keerr's account-book, under the title of a budget, the Go vernmennt had placed under the eyes of the nation a budget such as it ought to be, presenting a real account of its receipts and expen di t ure, of its resources and its debts—resources which are every day increasing, and of which no notice is taken : but both the Chambers and the Government were agreed not to increase the number of public services, and to add a new and immense force to all the forces at the disposal of the State. There is one serious objection to the mode of adju dication by public bidding applied to the great railroad lines, an objection without reply, and which alone would be suffi cient to enrol us amongst the adversaries of the system. The objection is this:—The companies who have the least to lose are those who can afford to risk the most. The more a company is strongly constituted, and the batter guarantee it presents, the less chance it will have of obtaining the adju dication. We must therefore applaud, and we trust that what has taken place with respect to the Northern and tq the Strasburg line will take pace for the Paris and Lyons road, even at the cost to the State of a longer lease by some years." The National says, "That which we foretold this morning has come to pass. The companies which had been formed for the purpose of bidding for the railroad between Tours and Nantes combined this morning. The following are said to be the conditions of the contract :—The capital to be 40,000,000 f, divided into 80,000 shares. The company of Mackenzie had for its portion 12.521,7761. ; the company Carette and Min guet, 8,347,826 f. ; the company O'Neill, 6,376,812 f. • the com pany Drouillard, 6,376,812 f. ; the company Raigecourt, 7.376,812 f. Since the first fusion a fresh adhesion has taken place; it is that of M. Jacques Lefevie and Co.; this new party taking for itself a figure of 6,376,812 f „which will be im puted' upon the lot of the two companies Mackenzie and Carette-Minguet. Thus it will be seen that there will be no more competition for the Tours line than for those of the North and Strasburgh. We are very sure that this new coalition has not been accomplished without difficulties. Some persons who transact business seriously, and who do not wish to do it at all prices, resisted to the last moment; but in this in stance, as in everything else, the majority of the weak and the intriguing carried the day. And it ought to be so, for honest men, instead of meeting in the Administration an able support, find but untractable ill-will. " P.S. —lt is said that to-night a company, altogether left out of the coalition for the Strasburgh line, will present itself at the adjudication against the company of companies, Hinguer lot, Ganneron, Gentil-Fol, Rothschild, Bechet, and others. This company will have for its patron M. Anthauard, a Peer of France." Mn. J. ENTMORE COOPER'S NEW WORK, entitled "The Chain Bearer," is this day published by Mr. Bentley, of New Burlington-street, and may now be bad of all book sellers, and at all the libraries; in 3 vols. post Bvo. Mr. Bentley has also just published the following new works :- 1. Memoirs of the Jacobites, by Mrs. Thomson, 2 vols. Bvo., with portraits.-2. A World of Wonders, by Albany Poyntz, 1 vol. Bvo.-3. Honour and Shame, a novel, 3 vols. DEVONPORT INDEPENDENT -OFFICE, MONDAY, HALF-PAST Two r.m.—The Archduke Constantine of Rus sia, son of the Emperor, landed yesterday from a Russian 74, now lying in the Sound. He is a fine young man, appa rently about 19. He visited the Port-Admiral, Sir John West. K.C.8., and afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Pym, K.C.8., in the Dockyard. His Highness was accompanied by the Russian Admiral, and his Excellency Baron Brunnow, the Russian Ambassador, with whom he lunched at Moors head's Royal Hotel this day. The Archduke puts up at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth, and the Ambassador and suite at the Royal Hotel, Devonport. His Highness visits the naval and military departments to-morrow. He was received with all the hono rs due to his rank on leaving the ship and on landing. A NOVEL. WINTER RESIDENCE.—A few days since the servant at Ynyscreigog, a farm belonging to the Rev. Lewis Davies, in the upper part of Cardiganshire , went to the turnip field, and a hare suddenly started as if from under his feet. Upon examination it turned out that puss had se lected a large turnip, and had carefully scooped out its in side, having taken possession of it for her winter residence. —Welshman. A DESPERATE LEAP.—About 12 o'clock last night. a deserter from the 92d Regiment, named David Stra chan, a private, leaped over a window three stories high, in Blackfiiars-wynd, to escape from a sergeant and party who had been sent from the Castle to apprehend him. He was severely bruised about the head, but was able to walk to the Castle with the. assistance of his comrades.—Edin burgh paper. a - ..