The Sun. — London, England, 1845-01-10 00:00:00

"UTCH AND FLANDERS MAIL. (RECEIVED THIS DAT.) ROTTERDAM, JAN. 3.—From the Ist of January t ° the 31st of December, 1844, there arrived in the Reuse and Goree 1,843 ships, and sailed 2,051, be !ides the herring busses, and the ressels that came ;from Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Schiedam, and by the t l a land waters, or along the Wadden, from Ham "4l'o, Bremen, &c. The arrivals at Dordrecht were 360 , the departures 400. The arrivals at Schiedam here 225. HAGUE, JAN. 6.—According to the accounts the stat e of the river yesterday, no great change h ad taken Place. The ice, which was stated in our l ece ding report t o h e s till fi rm, i n some places was rainishecl by the tha w , an d th e wa t er was every vihere falling. O n t h e w h o l e, the state of things was considered to be favourable. Tux HAGUE, JAN. 7.—The accounts of the rivers continue to be favourable. Accordi ng to the latest statements of the Minister of l'ina nce, the state of the Conversion is as follows : Debt to be cor.verted 400,251,200 1, t . k14 of .... 43,065,200 •ultto ........................................... 20,000,000 Ditto 63,065,200 264,500 . -- e "Vepaid off. 63.329,700 rted 230,203,900 Total 293,533,600 1 14 414 d 4 he -,Lo be converted e rurnent has at its r"ott at le ast 145.000,000 pay off as aboNe 63,329,700 r l us at the disposal of the Government 81,670,300 g b3llVe rliOn id therefore effected within X 0; I ° , l t unit y uy a resolution of the '2d instant, an oppor -20 n 1 %. 1 again offered for the exchange of a sum of of this month per cent. into 4 per cent. before the 28th ij en aide w ee it is evident that the conversion may he co-A -lt:law-4 aa wholly completed, and that the result has su e , er ed the expectations that were formed of the b esB of this great measure. 11:488ELs, JAN. 7.—The average price of wheat Week was 16f. 62c., and that of rye 10f. 30c. li ; 411 e Minister of the Interior has presented to the an elaborate report on the population o f th e nßdor n di 1 842 it wits the 31st December, 1843 ....... 4,172,706 4,213,863 41,15 7 "'their l h . Royal Hi g hn ess es the Duke a n d Duchess o f 2e Coburg are expected at Brussels on the 10th, DUTCH FUNDS.—A-tsrERDA3t, JAN. 7. Mon 7. Bills. Actual Debt, 2 1 ,4 per Cent 6 3 34 65 1 , i i . Ditto, 3 per Cent. Ditto, 4 per Cent. Ditto. 5 per Cent. Amort Syndic, 4 1 4, per Cent 99J 100 Ditto, 3 1 /. 2 per Cent. Commercial Company, 414 perCt 147 2 148 East Indi a L oan, 4 per Cent 9844 991/t Exchange on London, one month Two months l2 20 At sight l2 25 On Hamburg Two months 35 50 On Paris .....h_ Two 4 •Ntell Papers, Jan. 8 months 56 75 . AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VumvA, DEc. 31. 5 per Cent. Metalliques 4 per Cent. Ditto 3 per Cent. Ditto 7 8 14 Bank Shares 1650 Esterhazy-'s Loan 5 7 1,4 RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand Gloggnitz ..., Milan ll9 "dgetneine Zeitung, J an . 2. BELGIAN FUNDS.—BRUSSELB, JAN. 7. Actual Debt. 2i per Cent Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent — Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent 98% Ditto Three per Cent Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto 7B Ditto, ditto 1840 Ditto, ditto 1844 Ditto of the City, 1843 102% Ditto, 1832 `'' Bank of Belgi um 602 50 Braseels Papers, Jan. 8. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.--.BERLDr, JAN. 4. Bills. Money. St. Schmid Sch., 314 per Cent Plus. English B on d s , 1830, 4 per C t — 99% — 99!i onLndon,3 months 5. ersal Pr 4ian Gazette , &MBURGH BORSENHALLE, JAN. 4. Bills. Money. 1144` 413 5 per Cents Shkres.__ 1660 _ 1141 i iltZl(?'ltuasian Loan 14,4t5 Per Cent., Hamb. Certificate 105 1 / i 1 1 0 0 5 515 2 bitto, iff,'"rivi Inscription 4th _.es 991, bitto jr,-1; a tcl Co., 3d and series 99 New '4 per (..ertlficate 91? 9114 Ditto s C ett., Hope and Co 904 90 span. tieglitz 22 21-14 bitto h n' \ el t 5 per Cent 36 .A,b410.-1,- p e r Cent buteh A4l'ENeee Loan, 5 B l/ 58 2 1A per Cent. 63 , 4 63. 4 Poli sh vetual Debt, 214 per Cent -8, 1 .4. 8, A, i Angl o t ,"e* 4 per Cent. Loan 1844 - • 87q 86;48 NM' --'l4l-4811 Loa 3 * Ce ' ilt _ I'llal tttnk SI:all:es per Exchange on London. I:seterabar Three months 37 15-16 ....44 nre /bt , p, 6 10 kblirg toria'eril'i':lire°°3ll:l! 4. 4)1()DI, -` -ALITy in the METROPOLIS. T heie , k kn ow .„,.........__ `'.l si -111 Z itre the results of " A Table of Mortalit3 iiii c etro 1 . 4th r tlaste r P:e ta, showing the Number of Deaths from it of Jan %Pilfered is issued from in T the Week endin Saturda he y, O th( thee it a ' r 1 45." he Tab lehey egistrarGeneral : Weekly t_.. eAtIiES OF DEATH. Total. Average 01 ,pida„,,.;,. Five Years .0,..,1 trulftnic 184 Bee of y i , ri , and Contagious Diseases 260 oe „ a ble or uncertain seat 163 106 ' 44 4/iyi e I'..ttie rain Nerves, and Senses 196 159 h. el th e T ' I) -ePiretio -u ngii, and other Organs of lritt st, _ n ............ .... ise "r the II 24 ON of t , eart and 8100d -vessels 45 b.vrg.,,_ "e Stomach Liver, and other P1444-'4 of bloat' ' ' 71 -hild,!r' of the tr • 1 " 11 .. b, nth, h -‘,ldneys, & e ltsat, tths,ases Bones,,Uterus, &c. l3 10 ()1 7: 4 t' of thild _oints, and Muscles lO 6 li R e ,e tin, Ate 1 cY Vio' " N atural Dec -- - • De pt l end ' p • . aY i ) rivation, or Intemperance antis frotelfi.. 1413 954 b k 41.43 fr om led.es ...... ..... - ....... 1417 963 1.14131 Tint PRINCIPAL DLSEARES INCLUDED UNDER 2114 411°VE ItEADS, Weekly Average Total. of Ilya Years. C/r417 m1 t . pQcar,..,P lon ..... - ....... - ..... 137 147 Dlit„,„„'"1-4. ........ ...„ ......... 37 36 ro—`t°4ia ..... ..- ........... 140 80 licl Y •• ••.. . .......... .... 33 33 1 - ‘3lg e &Cl;u g h ...... ...... .. .. 30 33 bSk41,11!••• •.. ....... .. ........... 39 30 i 4 ; . f . ox ..... .. ................ 61 20 11 44 °of the Heart ......... 40 22 IoApome! ... .................... 57 24 4,se.pcY .......... ... .... ... 35 19 /Jia, r ir of the 8 rain .......... l6 10 B c k i ''',4•• ....... 4 13 en veaths .. - ........ "". 15 ..... .. ..... ... 33 brarßicra. Deaths Weekly Births Nt. in Ave r a ge o f in the Week. Five Years. the Week. 4,114... .......... .. ......... .. 246 142 216 e ttltrro ......... .... ........... 266 176 271 klt. - , • ............ .. ...... 265 IS6 234 Sou th ' .. ... ................. 270 209 337 .................... 370 250 404 Tot a l ---- 963 1462 .... ......... ..... 1417 1,1144.1. t •'•.u.,,,,..n.„............................ 6 to nd • Pt "ritti HOSIER Y AND LACE TRADES. 7 h .. , . ition of h in Zi g 44 , eki t e frinne-work knitter!i engagedsuch fttiti())l pearl otgs, gloves, drawers, and . shirts, for i tic, i e i 0 th e y the Y 0 Whole extent of this once extensive . 0 counties of Nottingham and Derby, is ticeivabi tiZed proeY ic e s of learn that a newly dis -3'4%4 cf 1 48 in making stockings, by three separate ti tin et fr _ labour, by three separate hands, from three 4. ratin,ro. , is fast superseding the other methods _ rarelltatire. The agitation of the question i l 1 : 1 41 t ;nu already been in some instances detri- N e 0 tile interests of the workmen ;as some of the t t ,i ra a nd iLetio , Masters ,affecting r be alarmed at the re to Tc_ik public gec''°ommedi the journey -I,l'N ha "'l' a correct actount of the frame-rent 4ttsad th eret o vo eclined to take the frame -rent, but have, li) titn, reduced the wages in such a ratio, that h t lbl a th t "e 3 the hands have had deducted nearly t.tlt. ,theea_imount of the former charge for frame k.tititioet, , urawer branch, so important to this distric , ►q"'ltied, Ins much depressed. The silk branches . are i.zt he silk glove branch, any of the hosiers ,i'lci l i the fratne-rent by them dozens produced 4 ,14e ,id 4i.g, tantatnount to an abolishment of f rent," ti;1,,,..g_ llothing else than an abatement of wages. I,llgr,th.ant have arisen from the inventiem of making ,i illier!_a_gf gs, having again aroused speculation, upon liti4ltiti ,ting s ubject all is in motion, hut very small t "°f acoll ek„: 1 014 04 ~ (Ted laces have yet been produced, krtt th..,4ey are extended, there is every reason to )4, 4 74 r i,Z the patentees will strenuously urge their il g , 5 0, - The warp lace trade is gradually bal k kittO 1 4 all ita branches. There is, however, no N t , I Lan ,lii ii , krictig, the state of the other description s of the Ner Ettio , la DlMlLlfnetUre causing a sort of run upon Lo ti ta lt „s:•l 2 as the great body of workmen can work at geti,i;',3l4ftitures, which are considered but as various iti t.lsk,ti_`l sarue trade.—.Nottinghatrt Review. kot!ttit,. IstrimsThe Manchester papers agree pt.tpli4,7t_ that for some days past there has been a i; had it'irr,t!ecoand for yarn.' This looks as if Sir R. tr, (4 14,. g.clY hizun the QtitTn's sne.,,,h. -Ptmr/t iirit'g, ' O l the, - „k. +1 6„, .'• l• ~. • ' tr„..._ aliterbu Ao. s t)ri ~,t ..riet) litre O. r.:llw4y * ke _ i ry to Ashford have Iteen stayed, in con wuktotbLopmition of some of the landed Pro- net yet reoeived eoropenestion. TIE SCN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEN: t NG, JANUARY 10 1845 Directors of the Dover Railway Company, in the place of Mr. Baxendale, resigned. A general meeting of the shareholders of the Royal Copper Mines of Cobre Association took place yester day, at the Company's offices in Austin-friars, but was held with closed doors, the Directors not wishing the proceedings to be made public. The Wesleyan says there are 426 Wesleyan circuits in Great Britain, and 1,129 itinerant and supernumerary preachers, averaging 2t03 t o eac h ci rcu it. Th ere are 14, , 413 local preachers, averaging 81i to each circuit. The number of sermons delivered weekly by itinerant and supernumerary preachers,is 3,951, or 205,452 in the year. The number of sermons by local preachers weekly is 11,641, or 605,332 in the year. The number of miles annually travelled >ay itinerant preachers (exclusive of special journeys and conference), 319,692 ; number of miles annually travelled by local preachers, 2,947,448 ; total, 3,261,140 miles, or a distance equal to 130 times the circumference of the globe. THE LATE MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT WATERLOO-BRIDGE. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Carter and a highly respect able jury assembled at the Hero of Waterloo, Waterloo road, on the body of Emma Meyer, alias Emily Ashburner, aged 21, whose body was discovered on Monday morning in the mud at Waterloo-bridge. The bridge-keeper hav ing described the wanner in which the body was found, Julia Meyer, a single woman, of No. 5, Seymour - court, court, Church-way, New-road, St. Pancres, deposed that the deceased was her sister, who was an unfortu nate female, and she used to go by the name of Eraily Ashburner. Witness saw her alive and well on Satur day night. She was then in good health and spirits. Previous to coming to Buckle's-buildings the deceased lived at No. 40, Barclay-street, Clarendon-square. Mrs. Anderson, the beadle's wife, described the na ture of the wound which she had discovered over the right hip of the deceased. Sarah Ann Page, of 6, Buckle's-buildings, deposed that the deceased came on the night of Thursday to lodge at her house. At eleven o'clock on Sunday night deceased took her supper, after which witness and deceased crossed over Waterloo-bridge. They went to Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square. At a quarter past three o'clock on Monday morning witness left the de ceased in Bear -street, Leicester-square. She was then with two females and a man, one of the females wit ness knew by the name of Eliza Simms, the other female was called " Bella." Witness has not seen Simms since then, although every inquiry has been made respecting her. At the time the two females and the man met the deceased they all appeared to be upo❑ good terms. She thought the deceased would have fol lowed her home, for she gave her a halfpenny to enable her to come over the bridge. She had no money while at her house. The address found was written by wit ness. It was a card of address. Deceased did not co habit with any person. Witness could form no opinion how the deceased came into the mud. She never saw either a knife, or a pair of scissors in the deceased's possession. The inquest was then adjourned till Monday. EXCISE DUTY ON PAPER. (From the Liverpool Mercury of this day.) We return to this subject for the purpose of stating some circumstances connected with it, a knowledge of which may enable the public to judge how desirable it is that a repeal of the duty should be strenuously called for, with a view to the general advantage of the country—a ground of action far nobler than the promotion of clique interests--as well as to afford fair play, and a release from intoleralsle annoyances, to parties who are directly interested in an important manufacture. Taking the latter object first, it must be admitted that men of integrity, engaged in the paper trade, ought, if possible, to he relieved from two competi• tive influences ; one arising from violations of the law, and the other directly sanctioned by it. Dishonest manufacturers are continually carrying on extensive frauds in the evasion of the duty ; and as the duty (which is lid. per lb. on all kinds of paper) is equi valent to twenty per cent. n some articles, while it amounts to eighty per cent. on others, it follows that those who defraud the Exchequer that is, those who rob all their fellow-subjects (for every deficiency in the revenue must be made up by increased taxati o n), can cont i nua ll y under sell their rivals, a mere fra c ti on o f th e p l un d er serv ing to secure them a preference in the market, while they pocket the rest as the reward of their knavery. To describe all the tricks by - which they succeed in cheating the public, would take a large portion of our columns, but one of their contrivances may tie men tioned as a sample of others. Paper being taxed by weight, a certain bulk is wrapped up in stout covers, weighed, charged by the Excise officer in attendance, and duly stamped. At a convenient opportunity twice the weight of paper, which has paid no duty, is compressed into precisely the form and bulk of the bundle be:ore named ; this is done by the enormous power of the Bramah or hydraulic press ; and the duty-charged cover is transferred from the former to the latter lot of paper, so that one-half the duty is completely evaded, the cover fitting with the utmost nicety, and all the genuine marks serving to dis guise the fraud. Detections have occurred, and 'wavy penalties have ensued, but it is believed that so extensively still are iniquities of this sort car ried on, that the honest manufacturer can scarcely keep his footing in the trade purchasers looking, of course, to a ny fr ac ti ona l difference in their fa vour which any party can offer them. At the pre sent moment some who are punctilious in their trans actions with the Excise, are fearful they shall be driven out of the market by their less scrupulous com petitors. Previous to the duty being taken off printed calicoes great fraud was practised on the revenue, and the more honest printers were regularly undersold in the market; but when the duty was abolished, the dishonest printers either failed or were driven from the trade, and the calico printing was restored to a legitimate state, and this will be the case with the manufacturing of paper when the duty is abolished. Another serious rivalry, and one sanctioned by our present tariff, presents itself as " a heavy blow and great discouragement" to the trade. Paper is allowed to be imported into this country from France, in bond, and to be exported to our colo nies, duty free. This is an instance of free trade to which, if the duty on paper were repealed, no objec tion could be made ; but the French and English manufacturers are not placed on an equality : the former has no trouble with the Excise, while the latter, to obtain the drawback of duties already paid, has to go through forms, to suffer delays, and to over come obstacles, the whole amounting to a serious detriment to his operations; and in the examination and re-packing of paper for exportation by the Go vernment officers, to ascertain the accuracy o f th e claim for drawback, injuries to a very large amount are continually suffered. Sir William Magnay, in deed, states that if these various disadvantages be con tinued (as they must if the duty be retained), the foreign paper trade will pass away from English hands altogether. If the return of the duty, in case of ex port, causes so much disadvantage, the regulations attending the mere levying of the duty in the first instance is in no wise more free from objection, for when a paper-maker receives an order, the cheif process for executing which can be completed in about three hours, he is not then at liberty to send off his goods, but must give twenty-four hours' notice to the officer to charge the paper with duty, after which it must again remain twenty-four hours' in stock for the inspection of the supervisor, thus occu pying sixteen times as long as the whole process of manufacture. Really, John Bull, or rather his rough riders, might have been contriving, in all times past,l how his trade could be harassed, hindered, and ruined, while all around him, there have been glaring proofs that, with his skill, his industry, and his capital, " trade unshackled" vrould i be actually trade unlimited, and prosperity unprecedented. But if John Bull be thus bound hand and foot, the French and American paper-makers must be grateful indeed to our law-makers. It appears, according to the Atlas , that in Paris twenty thousa a d p ersons are employedin making ornamented paper boxes for fancy articles, to be sold in England at a duty of only ten per cent. ad valorem ; while the tax in England, on use likely sala r t o e sell valuedt to much a t an advantage the principal article u se d f or such b oxes, is equal to 100 per cent. ! N or i s t hi s all, for the boxes not being at Custom house so om extremely low w rate, that the duty is rather nominal than real. Neither is this all, for the paper-makers of Holland, finding they may import their articles into this country bonded, and re-ship them to our colonies, without any of the obstructions t o w hi c h the English are subject, actually forge the names of our own manufacturers on their paper, and thus partake of the advantage of English reputation, without the disadvantage arising from vexatious revenue restrictions. The Americans, too, are highly favoured by our absurd policy in this case, for, according to the testimony of an intelligent gen tleman, largely connected with both the cotton and the paper trades, it appears that, adding the English duty on paper to the price of the worst materials from which paper is manufactured in this country, the cost becomes such that the Americans can now use raw cotton at once, and produce a cheaper article than we can. Now ought not something to be pleaded in behalf of our countrymen, in relation to this important question ? It the grea t and broad interests of the people were to be considered (and it is the people, who must pay all the revenue of the country in. some shape or other) it would occur to every mind that the first object, as ex nihilo nil fit, would be to liberate the springs and sinews of industry, so that production of value might be facile and abundant, instead of being harassed, and checked, and hin dered, and then, out of property realised, would come the ready means of supporting the State. If 20,000 persons are employed in Paris, in making ornamental boxes, why not in London, where sempatresses fit for the work are actually starving ? Sir William Mag nay Is of opinion that the repeal of the duty would cause double the present number of persons to be employed in the paper trade, and in businesses con nected with it, as enumerated by Mr. Dickinson, at a late meeting in London, including millwrights, smiths, mould makers, type founders, printers, booksellers, bookbinders, publishers, and others. As a means of civilisation, too, the Press would diffuse still more readily the blessings of intelligence, with a better chance of profit to authors, for it appears that at pre sent not more than one book out of three, and one pamphlet out of twenty, pays its own ex penses, and there are cases in which the ingredient of duty is a large and discouragin g item. What then is a revenue of 620,0001. from such a source, compared with the demoralising effect of the excise laws, and more particularly so upon such an article as paper, where the amount is so excessive and the production so rapid that it has baffled all the ingenuity of man to prevent fraud, and thus leaving the honest trader's property at the mercy of the fraudulent, as well as the increased employment and prosperity of countless thousands of persons, who would, in full work, con sume other excisable articles to a greater amount, and thus increase the revenue ? The following societies ought to join the paper makers in their efforts, and petition Parliament to take off the duty on paper :—The Bible Society--The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge —The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts—The Bible and Homily Society —The Tract Society—The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge —The University Bible Printers of Edinburgh —The University Bible Printers of Glasgow—The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, and all other societies interested in the spread ef the Gospel, and the diffusion of information for the people. THE WELLINGTON STATUE AT THE ROYAL Ex.- CHANGE.--Yvsterday morning masons were engaged in cutting the inscription on the pedestal of the statue of the Duke of Wellington, in front of the Royal Exchange. It simply bears the name of the illustrious Duke on each side, and at the back will be " Erected June 18, 1844." The paring in front of the Exchange has been completed in a very ornamental manner. The design is a l arge star, set in a circle, and the whole in a square. The different compartments are marked out distinctly by different coloured stone. The statue of the Duke stands in a circle similarly formed. o po s r e te , dLubdygattke e ROYAL SEA-BATHING . INFlRMAR Y.—y es t er d ay a quarterly general court of the subscribers t o t h e a b ove charity was held at the London C ?fieeuhpu Ludgate hill, Rev. 1)r. Russell in the chair, 8 R M •e r v . . I r V a tn u 1 . , C t u h r e li ng, secretary,Mr. Leslie and a 1 others. The ha g commenced ld minutes of the former meeting having beenone through. It and a confirmed, ppeard the e t h u a s t u a t l he quarter lybathing . business se aso n W in April and closed in November, during which period 686 persons had received the benefits of sea-bathing, the numbers at the close of the season being 350. The numb r of patients for 1843, had been 619, an d th e total, from the commencement of the i nstitution in 1796, in which year there were but 16, 17,718, so t h at t h e i n• stitution has progressed most steadily. COURT C'IRCULAIt. WINDSOR THURSDAY.- Th e D u k e S o t oma y o r, Spanish Minister, and the Duchess Sotomayor, arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen. The Prince Albert, accompanied by the Marquis of Exeter, and attended by Mr. G. E. Anson, General Wemyss, and Colonel Bouverie, left the Castle in the forenoon in an open carriage and four for the meet, to hunt with his Royal Highness's harriers. The meet was at Mr. Trumper's farm at Ritebings. Her Majesty and Prince Albert took equestrian exercise in the riding school this evening, attended by Major-General Wemyss and Colonel Bouverie. The Earl of Aberdeen, Lord and Lady Cottenham, and the Right lion. W. E. Gladstone, arrived at the Castle to-day, on a visit to her Majesty. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and Lady Fanny Howard joined the royal circle at dinner. The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attendance during dinner. Her Majesty's private band afterwards attended. His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Wei mar visited their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at Cambridge House, yes. terday. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon, at the Foreign-office. It was att en d e d by Sir IL Peel, the Duke of Wellington, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wharncliffe, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl of Haddington, Earl of Ripon, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and Lord Granville Somerset. Lord Wharncliffe arrived in town on Wednesday evening, from Witley Court, the residence of her Majesty the Queen Dowager. Sir J. Graham arrived from Netherby yesterday morning, to attend the Council. Mr. Gladstone arrived in town yesterday from Hawarden Castle, Flintshire. The Council sat three hours. Mr. Gladstone left town, after the Council, for Windsor Castle. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Mr. C. J. Palmer, and Mr. C. S. Gilman, attended yesterday at the Railway Department, Board of Trade, and presented a memorial from the Mayor, Sheriff, and 6,678 inhabitants of the city of Norwich, in favour of the London and Norwich direct line. Also a memorial from 142 agriculturists in Nor folk, owners and tenants of about 40,000 acres of land, in favour of the same. Also a memorial from the Magistrates and prin cipal Bankers, Merchants, and traders of Yarmouth, in favour of the same line. The Mayor of Yarmouth presented the resolution of a public meeting in favour of the London and Norwich Direct Railway. M. Fortique, the Venezuelan Minister, left town yesterday evening for the Continent. His Excel lency will not return before the middle of the season. Baron Peyronnet had an interview with Lord Stanley yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Sir James Graham, Mr. Gladstone, and other Ca binet Ministers, visited Sir Robert Peel yesterday. The Earl of Liverpool had an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet. Rear-Admiral Bowles, M.P. for Launceston, and a deputation from the Launceston and South Devon Railway Company, had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. The Postmaster-General had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. Dispatches from the Governors of Ceylon, the Mauritius, the Cape of Good Hope, and Malta, were received yesterday at the Colonial-office. MILITARY FLOGGING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. have just been favoured with the sight of a circular letter which has been kindly sent to (I suppose) all the overseers in every parish throughout the king dom, by some humane society, exposing the horrors of British military flogging ; indeed it is most dreadful. Is it possible that any Christian government can tolerate such a horrible mode of corporal punishment ? Death, I should think, in most instances, would be preferred by the poor sufferer. Is it to be borne in a land of Bible societies, missionary societies, and tract societies ? Is Sir Robert Peel any longer to boast of being the patron of everything that is good and religious, for the benefit of the poorer classes, and still permit such a horrid mode of military torture, that would actually disgrace the most savage nation ? Forbid it, gracious Heaven L Is there not one bishop among the spiritual Lords of Par liament who will humanely attempt to abolish such bloody work among professing Christians ? Where are my Lords Congleton and Teynham ? Surely it is a subject deserving their best and raost untiring attention. It really makes the heart sick to read of punishment so severe as to require the presence of a surgeon to prevent, if possible, the poor sufferer expiring during its horrid infliction ; no wonder that officers have been known to faint away after witnessing such a disgraceful mangling of human flesh: Let every man in England, and more especially Christians, do justice to human nature, bad as it is, and lose not another hour in doing all in their power to wipe such a "damned spot" from England's statute book. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, ROBERT TOSSWILL. The Lodge, Upper Brixham, Jan. 8. HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Brighton harrs., Mon., Pataham ; Wed,, Race-course ; Fri., Dyke. Brookside harrs., Mon., Newmarket Hill; Thurs., Tels combe Tye-10i. Findon hds., Mon., the Kennel ; Tues., Dial Post; Thurs., Applesham. Glyndborne harrs., Mon., Alfriaton Race-course ; Fri., Capt. Chandler's hds., Mon., Spetchley; Wed., West wood Park; Fri., Goose Hill-104. Herefordshire hds., T ues ., B ac h o Hill; Fri., Aconbury Turnpike. Shropshire hds., Mon., Twemlows ; Wed., Fox (Al brighton) ; Fri., Cloverley-14 Essex and Suffolk hds., Tues., St. Osyth Flag ; Fri.. Raydon. Warwickshire hds., Mon., Grandborough ; Tues., Mit ford Bridge; Thurs., Bilton Grange ; Fri., Kineton Kennels; Sat., Red Hill. Mr. Drax's hds., Tues., Holnest Kennel ; Sat. Stone Farm in Yeovil. , Essex Union lids., Tues., Kites Hill ; Sat., Boxted, Green Man—lo f. East Essex hds., Mon., Bulmer; Thurs., Rivenhall; Sat., White Hart. Montgomeryshire lids., Tues., Guilsfield ; Fri., (regynog. Wheatland hds., Tues., Billingsley; Fri., Willey Park. Mr. Roe's lids., Wed., Kingstone Village ; Sat., Whit moor Cross. Sherwood harrs., Tues., Mansfield Race-course ; Fri., Bolsover. Surrey harrs., Mon., Catterhaul ; Fri., Warlingham—loi. Whitecross harrs., Tues., Bedbrook ; Sat., Buckland Field. Mr. M. Ingram's lids., Mon., Sudbury Coppice; Thurs., Snelston; Sat., Blithfield-10f. Donington hds., Men., Cavendish Bridge; Wed., White Horse Bridge; Sat., Cotes Toll-bar-104. Atherstone lids., Mon., Stapleton Village; Wed., Bone hill House; Thurs., Bosworth; Fri., Camp Hill; Sat., Newnham-104. Somerset Subscription hds., Tues., Buncombe Hill; Fri„ Williton. Tiverton hds., Tues., White Post, Molland; Wed., Marsh Bridge ; Thurs., Mountsey Common ; Fri., Hawk ridge-10f. Cambrideshire hds., Mon., Two Pot House ; Wed., Shearhatch Wood; Fri., Edworth Spinney-10f. Albrighton hds., Mon., Sutton ; Thurs., Dudmaston ; Sat., Hilton-10f. Sir W. W. Wynne 's hds., Tues., Queen's Head-10f ; Wed., Porkiagton, 11; Fri., King's Mills; Sat., Stock lack-101. United Pack, Tues., Mainstone Wood; Sat., Ridgway Toll-bar. Ludlow Hs., Tues., Milson Wood; Fri., Pipe Aston-10. Monmouthshire hds., Mon., Llanover; Wed., Llandewy Wood; Fri., Graig Finger Post-10f. Ross harrs., Mon., Wormalow Tump; Wed., Treadow; Fri., Kilreag. EXPORTATION OF PAPER FOR THB DRAWBACK.— The Lords of the Treasury having had under attentive consideration the representations which have been made by the several exporters of paper, of the inconvenience sustained by them from an enforcement of the order which requires an examination, by the Customs' officers, of all paper previously to being shipped for exportation, their Lordships are of opinion that it will be advisable to modify the order under which the examination of that article for export was placed upon its present footing, and have given directions, on condition that all parties intending to export paper in future, give notice to the Excise officers, who will attend to take account of the packing, in the same manner as in the case of the article plate-glass for shipment—viz., that such packages shall be exported without further examination, under certifi cate of the Excise, unless the Customs' officers, on their being offered for shipment, shall have good reason to suspect, from information or otherwise, that there is any fraud in the transaction. The shipping searchers are also directed, by this order of the Treasury, to attend with particularity to the size, description of, and marks on the packages ; so that, if any package be offered for exportation without such certificate from the Excise of its having been examined and packed in the presence and under the supervision of their officers, they are in each such instance to adhere to the existing regulation of examining the contents of each case fully, previous to shipment. FATAL CASUALTT.—On Monday, between twelve and one o'clock, a lad about fifteen years of age, em ployed on board the Admiral steam-ship as deck steward, named Alexander Martin, lost his life at the Broomielaw. Ile was sitting on a short plank, swung on the outside of the vessel, it appears, cleaning the cabin windows, when one of the lines gave way, and he was precipitated into the river. A life-buoy was at hand, and every means were used to save him, but after falling into the water he never rose to the surface, and before he was got out life was extinct. The deceased, we are informed, as upwards of a quarter of an hour immersed, and it is supposed that, after falling in, be was prevented from coming to the surface in consequence of having sunk under the side of the vessel.—Glasgow Courier. ~~J+ SUMMARY OF NEWS ANO ;Pub Cptnton. Who runs may read" PONta;;M:a. On Monday the King of the French, accompanied by Lieutenant General the Baron de Berthois and two orderly officers, visited Neuilly and Saint Cloud, but re turned to the Tuileries to dinner. In the evening their Majesties received the Charg6 d'Affaires of Naples, and the Count de Saint Maurice. The usual ceremony of drawing the King and Queen took place at the Palace of the Tuileries en Twelfth Nigtit. The Royal Family then went to take coffee in the newly-decorated apartment of the Duke de Nemours. The following is the last bulletin of M. Villemain's health, dated Tuesday :—" M. Villemain is a little better than on preceding days. Be was up yesterday the greater part °T. the day. Ile took some nourishment, and convk reed without any marked fatigue with one of his friends," A grand ball was given at the Austrian Embassy on Monday evening. The company was very numerous, and the dresses of the ladies were remarkable for their splendour. The mazurka was danced by several of the young nobility in a style which excited general admira tion. An elegant supper was served at one o'clock. The Presse states that the Ministry will almost im mediately present to the Chambers a Bill to make a pro vision for the daughters of M. Villemain, and observes that " it would be shameful of the country to permit indigence to be the inheritance of those who, in serving it forget entirely their own interests." The French Academy has elected Count Mol6 as its Director, for the quarter which has just commenced. A report was current in the Salle des Conferences of the Chamber of Deputies, that Count de Montalivet, the Intendent of the Civil list, had given in his resig nation. It does not appsar that it has been accepted. The English theatrical company were to perform, by conarnand, at the Tuileries on Thursday next. In consequence of the brilliant success of Shakspeare's tragedy of Macbeth, on Monday night, it was to be re peated o n T ues d ay, at t h e I ta li an Theatre. Owing to the immense success of these representations, an at tempt has been made to obtain an authorisation to pro long them for a few nights, but without effect ; and the public will learn, with regret, that they are to close definitively with the number of performances already announced. The receipts of the Customs at the port of Havre, for the last year, amounted to 26,898,120 f., being an in crease of 1,309,098 f. upon those of 1843. Upon foreign sugars alone the produce was 2,203,394 f., being an in crease of 421,617!. There was a decrease in the naviga tion duties of 142,-94f. The ('hare of Bayonne states from Catalonia that, on the 30th ult., fourteen persons were arrested at Figueras, on a charge of having taken part in the plot, at the head of which was General Amettler. Accounts from Madrid of the 2d inst. state that a large number of general officers had been promoted, among others Mazzardo and Breton, for the purpose of qualify ing them to sit in the Chamber of Peers and support their patron, Narvaez. The following appears in a German journal_— " During the celebration of the late anniversary at lice. nigsberg, a young lawyer, when under the intiuence of wine, spoke disrespectfully of the King of Prussia, for which one of his Majesty's officers called him out. At three exchanges of shots the lawyer fired in the air, every time retracting his expressions ; but his adversary, unmoved by the noble conduct of his opponent, fired a fourth time, and mortally wounded him. When down, the lawyer dragged himsflt to the foot of the officer, and said, Sir, I congratulate you ; you have won your captaincy.' This dying stroke of wit, however, brought severe vengeance o❑ the assassin ; for the King, on being made acquainted with the whole of the circumstances, so far from promoting his officor, broke him, and dismissed him with disgrace from the service." 3a LW £ZVD POLICIA. -- - The special sittings at Nisi Prius of the Court of Ex chcqurr at the Guildhall, for the purpose of trying the case of Newall v. Webster, an issue directed by the Court of Chancery, to be tried with the view of ascertaining the validity of the plaintiff's patent for improvements in the manufacture of wire rope, commenced yesterday. The case lasted the whole day, aid was adjourned over. The Lord Chief Baron presided. Mr- Hemp, the officer to the Sheriffs of the county of Middlesex, read the usual proclamation of outlawry against a number of persons in the Sheriffs' Court. In th e Bankruptcy Court, slr. H. J. Wallack, the late less " of Covent-garden Theatre, obtained his final order without opposition. Peter Watkins, the druggist, who occasioned the death of William Watts, a cabman, by selling him tartaric acid instead of tasteless salts, wits tried at the Central Criminal Court for manslaughter, and acquitted on the ground that the mistake was the result of accident. In the New Court, John Lucas Grierson, a well dressed lad, 17 years of age, was indicted for stealiiig a coat, waistcoat, a pair of trowsers, and other articles, value five guineas, the property of .Mr. J. Charles, of Fleet•street. The prisoner who was described as a , labourer in the ca l en d ar, but is said to be a " Professor of Phrenology," appeared at the bar with his hair cut closely, after the fashion of the House of Correction. He pleaded guilty to the charge. The Common-Ser geant thought this was not the first time he had been before him. His Lordship adjudged him to another and more laborious study in the Compter for the next nine calendar months. At the Middlesex sessions Michael Hughes, aged 16, William Davis, 19. George Gilson, 16, Henry Lucas, 16, Henry Hawdon, 16, Frederick Dowling, 16, William Meredith, 16, John Branch, 18, Edward Cassidy, 16, ' John Wilson, 16, William Hadaway, 16, and Robert Watson, were indicted for making a great riot and dis turbance in the workhouse of the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, and assaulting and beating Daniel Sutton, the master thereof. The affray took place on the eve ning of Christmas-day, after the defendants had been regaled with roast beef and plum pudding, and originated in the refusal of the defendants to go to bed at the usual hour. During the affray the defendants had broken 97 panes of glass. The judge having summed up, the jury found all the prisoners Guilty. His Lordship, in passing sen tence, animadverted in the strongest terms upon the con duct of tho defendants, and cautioned them as to their future conduct. The sentence upon Watson aid Davis was three months' imprisonment and hard labour ; upon Hughes, Branch, and Wilson, two months ; and upon all the others 24 hours' imprisonment. The Clerkenwell Police-court was crowded by parties who had been summoned by the officer of Clerkenwell, for the non-payment of poor-rates. Many of them pleaded non-liability, whilst the majority urged poverty, as an excuse for nonpayment, and they were allowed time to pay. Great complaints are made of the cold and damp state of the new Lambtth Police-court. The fittings up, too, are of the most paltry description, and Shelswell, the office-keeper, complained to the magistrate that he had not coals enough to light the office fires on the following morning. At Southwark. William Compton, a marine-store dealer, residing at Star-corner, Bermondsey, was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged with violating the per son of Jane Matthews, a girl thirteen years of age. The girl lived in the service of a Mrs. Baker, of Bermondsey, who was a friend of the prisoners, and when the prosecu trix informed her mistress of what had occurred, Mrs. Baker advised her to say nothing aboutit. The Magis trate severely reprimanded Mrs. Baker, and remanded the prisoner until Wednesday on the capital charge. Elizabeth White and Jane Robinson, two girls, of the relative ages of 14 and 13, were placed in the duck before Mr. Clive, at Wandsworth, fur final examination upon several charges of felony. From the evidence adduced in this and the former examination, it appeared that the prisoners, who were exceedingly diminutive for their ages, were sent out by their parents professedly to sell onions, but, in reality, to steal whatever they could lay their hands on. The prisoners did not attempt any defence. Their mothers were in attendance, but their sole anxiety seemed to be to secure the money found upon their children. The prisoners were committed for trial at the Surrey sessions. COIIIIRT— ' , Aar:lo2g AN WU. Prince Alexander Lieven and suite left the Clarendon Hotel yesterday for Paris via Boulogne. The Duke and Duchess of A rgyll and Lady Emma Campbell will leave Inverary Castle the first week in the ensuing month for tha Noble Duke's seat in Dumbarton shire, where their Graces purpose making a brief so journ, previous to their coming to town for the season. The Marquis of Lansdowne has arrived in town from Bowood, where the Marchioness and Lady Louisa Fitz tnaurice still remain. The Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford have left the Milton Hotel, Dublin, for Curraghmore, county Watertl Td. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster con tinue to receive a succession of visitors at Eaton Hall. The Earl and Countess Delawarr and Lady Mary West have passed through town en route from Windsor Castle to Buckhurst Park, Sussex. The contemplated visit of the family to Gopsall, the seat of Earl Howe, is unavoidably postponed for the present, the Noble Earl and Countess having been invited to meet her Majesty at the Duke of Buckingham's next week. The Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury arrived on Tuesday at Mivart's Hotel, from their seat Alton Towers, Staffordshire. The Earl ttnd Countess of Clanwilliam and family, who have been staying on a visit to the Dowager Countess of Pembroke at Wilton near Salisbury, have re turned to Ityde, Isle of Wight, for the winter. The Earl and Countess of Chesterfield are expected in town for the season at the commencement of the week after next. The Countess of Lovelace left St. James's-square on Wednesday for Oakharn Park. Viscount and Viscountess Ponsonby are passing th© recess in town. Viscount and Viscountess Jocelyn arrived in town from Ireland on Wednesday evening, and yesterday left Curzon-street for Broadlands, the seat of Lord Pal merston. The Hon. Mr. F. West, uncle to Earl Delawarr, the Lord Chamberlain, has arrived at his house in Upper Grosvenor-street, from his seat in Wales. The Bishop of Salisbury has arrived at the Palace at Salisbury. 71Z180AMLALISZOrlit , It is rumoured that a very large addition to the navy estimates will be proposed in the coming session. The rumour receives come confirmation from the Govern- rii,lit journals. Thursday, the 24th of the pree.nt mouth, is the clay fixed fur the launch of the Terrible from the dockyard at Deptford. Sir John Kirkland has been elected Chairman of the DISPUTES IN THE CHURCEi. BISHOP PIIILLPOTTS AT:HIS DEVOTIOSNS , ENETEN, JAN. B.—l had thought, and so stab KI in my communication in the earlier part of the v reek, that the controversy was dying away—that the eh Tgy, following the example of the bishop who had tth drawn the order for the surplice, would have :ab stained from its use; that they would have aseel u the pulpit in the old-fashioned garb, and that t v ith: this concession the storm would have subsid {- Peace, however, has deserted the temple. The V, r is renewed. The Tractarian clergy persevere with t Le surplice, and the bishop evidently encourages thrmt therein. _ _ On Sunday afternoon last the bishop attended Divine service at St. John's Chapel, Toray prayers were read by one of the b i shop ' s sons (Henry), who has a capital living in the neigh— bourhood. The son bowed lower and more fre— quently than clergymen usually bow—such bowing . was scarcely ever seen in a Protestant church before. The bishop, who rarely :i..ttends the after noon service, occupied his chair wit:;jn the rails. He affects to believe that that part of ti: is holier than any other. After the e church prayer s.% were read, the clergyman mounted the pulpit in his ::`s plice ! the bishop looking notes of admiration rigte , s t and left, what would be called in London, "sarcy" by that portion of the laity who are most at home out side the fabric. There he sat, as happy as power and supremacy coald make a man. His eye glistening with delight, and his frame swelling with authority— every inch a priest. The sermon was preached from the following text, St. James, 3d chap., verses 1, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 ; and lam told by one who had the misfortune to be present, that it was the most Jesuitical and offensive sermon that could be delivered to a Protestant congregation. Apostolical, unbroken succession was vehemently enforced, passive obedi ence was peremptorily exacted, and the unlimited right of bishops and clergy to regulate all Church matters was boldly claimed. Bishop Phillpotts was present. The bowings were lower than ever ; the surplice was worn, as if the order had never been withdrawn; worn, too, in a town where the church men, in a highly influential and numerous meeting, had protested against it ; and the doctrines most ob jectionable to Protestants were all most strenuously enforced ; and all, be it remembered, in the presence and manifestly with the acquiescence of the bishop : for his son took part in the performance of divine wor ship, and everybody knows that the young gentleman is kept as tightly in hand as the most rigid discipli narian could desire. When he had to introduce the effertory in his own parish, he apologised to seve ral of his parishioners, " because the old gentleman would have it so." It is to be hoped that when this meets the eye of the old gentleman that he wont be lieve it ; nevertheless, it is an absolute fact. As a consequiince of this brazen-faced mode of repentance, as display ed by the respectable bishop at Torquay, you will not be surprised to learn that the anti-sur plice war rages there with greater violence than ever. A pamphlet has just been issued by "A Pres byter of the Church," which shows that Bishop Phillpotts, whilst he has been whipping up both clergy and laity so sharply for neglect of the law, hath been equally unmindful of law on his own side. He is bound not to ordain except on some holiday or Sunday, whereas on Saturday, the 19th tpf December, 1835, he did, at Exeter, ordain his own son, and others, contrary to the rubric and the 31st canon. The office for making deacons pre scribes that the archdeacon or his deputy shall, as examining chaplain, present the candidates for ordina tion to the bishop. But it is melancholy to state that the present chaplain is not an archdeacon ; but much better than that, certainly, for he happens to be (young 'W oollco mb e ) a clever and captivating young divine, who is now courting the bishop's daughter, a fact that has been published, and notoriously known to the whole diocese. I should not, however, repeat these facts for publication in London, where there are so many speculative attorneys ready to pounce upon any one, did I not know that the bishop is pro tected by the statute, which says that "no person shall be molested for any offence against these acts, unless he be indicted thereof at the next assizes." But let him look out if he do not appear in alb and cope at the next confirmation he holds, "and also hys pastoral staffe in hys hande, or elles borne or holden by hys chapPyne." You will thus see that Bishop Phillpotts will find both rubric and canons a two-edged sword, and that he may, in dealing out his trenchant blows, wound himself as well as those below him.—From a Corres. pondent of the Chronicle. LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAMER AT BLACKWALL. Yesterday, wets launched from the building-yard of Messrs. Miller, Ravenhill, and Co., engineers, at Black wall, one of the most symmetrical specimens of an iron steam-vessel that was ever sent into the Thames. Her size is not large, but for speed, combined with the quali ties of a good sea-boat, her peculiar form, in our opinion, designed, as it mast be, from results of scientific investi gation, is most eligible for the station on which she is destined to ply—namely, between Dover and Boulogne, or Folkestone and Boulogne. Under the load water line she is remarkably clean, and as she rises to the gun whale she is beautifully modelled—her bow flaring off in a manner most pleasing to the eve, to counteract the effects of wind and sea. She has a very handsome stern, square, but tastefully moulded at the corners. Her figure-head, a graceful nymph, representing Ondine, which is the name of the vessel, is beautifully carved by the Admiralty artists, Messrs. Hellyer and Son. Her paddle boxes are proportionally small. She entered the water about half-past two, in a man ner most gratifying to a large number of spectators, in the yard of Messrs. Miller, Bavenhill, and Co., among whom were Mr. B. Bass, solicitor, and Captain Bushell, of Dover, some officers belonging to the Spanish navy, and a party of ladies. A number of persons also as sembled at Blackwell Pier, and many excellent judges among them expressed their admiration of the beautiful vessel, as she was hauled into the East India Docks to receive her engines. Miss Bushell named the Ondine, as she rapidly glided off the plane, dashing a bottle of Burgundy against her bows. The following are her principal dimensions, &c.:— Feet. In. Length between the perpendiculars 145 0 Ditto over all, from tiffr a ail to bowsprit l6l 0 Breadth between paddle-boxes Depth, midships Draft of water, about Burden, in tons, 0. M., 282 72-94. The workmanship of the builders has been performed in admirable style, and the ornamental parts are in the best possible taste. She will be fitted with two new en gines, of improved construction, of about 75-horse power each. The saloon and fore-cabin will be highly orna mented, and so arranged as to afford the best possible accommodation for the numerous passengers which will be sure to avail themselves of the advantages which she offers. There can be no doubt that her speed will be such as to distance all competitors far away. But on this point we shall soon have the result of experiment to rely upon, and we predict that that result will indi cate a striking advance in the science of stem-navi gation. A HORRIBLE SCENE.-The prison of Versailles contains at this moment two men, named Delton and Grasset, both condemned to death, and whose appeals to the Court of Cessation have been rejected, but who are waiting the result of petitions to the King for an ame lioration of their sentences. They had been kept in separate cells until the severe cold came on, when they were removed into one room, with a stove in it. They were heavily ironed, both by the feet and hands, and a sentinel was constantly stationed in the passage, close to the door. The day before yesterday a violent quarrel arose between them, and Grasset, on receiving some gross apostrophe from Delton, rushed upon him head foremost, and being unable to use his hands from their being fettered, seized him with his teeth in the abdo minal region, and tore him in the most horrible manner. Delton, rendered furious by the pain, contrived to use his nails upon the face of Grasset, and disfigured him terribly. The noise of their struggle and savage cries brought in the sentinel and keepers, but it was not without violence that these two beings, both on the verge of an ignominious death, could be separated.— Gal:gnat:is Messenger. A SEVERE SENTENCE.—A young soldier of a re giment of Carbineers, named Isidore Carron, was sen tenced to death on Tuesday, by the Council of War of Paris, for spitting in the face of his sergeant ! The con demned was the grandson of Colonel Carron, who was executed, in 1822, for conspiracy again the Government of the Restoration. FIRE AT TAE FORTUNE OF WAR TAVERN, WOOL wlcH.—Yesterday, about one o'clock in the day, an alarm of fire was raised at the Fortune of War Tavern, Green's-end, Woolwich, kept by Mr. Evans, a highly respectable licensed victualler, which seemed to assume a most serious aspect at the first outbreak. iblr. f In spector Clifford, of the Woolwich R sub-division onab o es, police, was promptly upon the spot with somecst sappers and constables, as as well as two fire-engines from the Royal miners' barracks, which, with a plentiful water, were soon got into playsubdue gt e t hirebest in tofire, in i t which they e y praiseworthyfortunately soon manner h supplysoldiers o to put it out. It appears the origin from aea oftndhelefire with a which arose, as supposed, from a spark falling Mr. Evans had been down previously to the cellar, in which some straw was kept, but not discovered till some time afterwards, when a dense volume of smoke com pletely filled the bar of the house, and thu s cause d the alarm to be raised and the prompt att en d ance of the police and the sappers and miners to the spot. " ... BUTCHERS' CHARITABLE INSTITUTION. Last night, the sixteenth annual meeting of the donors and subscribers to this Institution was held at the Free masons' Tavern, Great Queen - street, Mr. "William Giblett, President, in the chair. The report stated, that the charity was in a flourishing condition, and that five additional pensioners had been elected in October last, making in the whole 110 deserving persons who have participated in the bounty of this Institution, and who, by the philanthropy of the donors and subsclibers, have been rescued from a state of distress. Durinfr the part year the committee have izivested in the public funds the sum of 600 L, which has increased the stook of the charity to the sum of 8,911/. 6s. 7d. Three per Cent. Console. The officers of the Society having been duly eleeted, and the usual votes of thanks given, the meeting separated. THE GREAT BRITAIN STEAM SHIP. On Wednesday the Great Britain made a trial trip down the Channel, having about 140 visitors on board. It was intended that she should have started from King road as early as eight o'clock, A.m., but owing to the fog in the Channel, the pilot did not deem it prudent to start her until the fog dispersed, which was not until twenty five minntes after twelve o'clock. The consequence was that the trial trip was necessarily much shortened in its distance. No ladies were on board, but among the gen tlemen were—Mr. George Rennie, Mr. I. K. Brunel, Mr. Samuda, patentee of the atmospheric railway ; Mr. T. B. Smith, patentee of the Archimedean screw-prc peller ; Mr. B. Woodcroft, patentee of a screw-pro peller ; Captain Hosken, R.N. ; Captain Cooksley, R.N. ; Captain Ward, R.N. ; Captain Wallcott, R.N. ; Mr. Pattison, naval architect ; Mr. R. Bruce, &c. The Great Britain now presents a very different appearance to that which she did when she left the docks, her six masts, which are called the foremast, mainmast, and 3d, 4th, sth, and 6th masts, having been stepped, and tem porary shrouds attached ; the yards of the mainmast ar e also across. The vast size of the ship will perhaps be better exemplified to the nautical reader by stating that were she riggod with three masts, her foremast would be upwards of 60 feet from her bows, and her mizen up wards of 100 feet from her taffrail, while each of her masts would still be as far asunder as they are on board of an 80-gun ship. At 25 minutes past twelve precisely she started, and came roand from her moorings in the Kingroad in beautiful style. The engines were then put in motion at teu revolutions a minute, when she made 6} knots. During the voyage to the Holms and on her return the log was frequently thrown, and her speed taken, which was as follows ;- 10 revolutions=6i knots. Rate of the screw Apparent rate of ship Slip At 19 minutes past one o'clock the log was again thrown, 13 and nearly 14 revolutions, 9 knots. When off the Holms 14 revolutions produced 91 knots ; 15 revolutions full gave 9f knots ; 15:1 revolutions 9i knots. When the ship was below the Holms she was brought round twice, and came round the 32 points in a little less than 7 minutes ; and half round, or 16 points, in 3 minutes 55 seconds. On her return up channel, with her head to the wind, the speed of the engine was increased to 16 2 3d revolutions, which gave 10k knots ; and sub sequently to 18 revolutions, which gave 114 knots. The engines worked beautifully, none of the bearings heating; but, of course, they were at no time put to full speed ; and the Great Britain made the pasage from the Helms Kingroad (19 miles) in exactly 1 hour and 9 minutes, being head to wind. FUNDS-(CLOSING PRICES) BRITISH FUNDS. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced 3 per Cent. Consols New 3 1 4 per Cent .. 104 1 4 Long Annuities to expire Jan 1860 12 Ditto 30 years, Oct. 10,1859 ... 12 Ditto 30 years, Jan. 5, 1860 ... 11 13-16 India Bonds, 1,0004. Ditto under 1,000/. . South Sea Stock 116% Consols ... Exchequer Bills, 1,0001., 1 1 / 2 d.... 63 pm. Ditto 500/. Ditto Small FOREIGN FUNDS. Chili= Bonds 6 per Cent. Dutch, 2% per Cent Ditto, 5 per Cent 99lu SHARES. Chaster and Holyhead, 5 paid 5... 53/i Churnet Valley, 2 paid 4 Pirect Northern, 2 1 / paid 2 l // Eastern Counties, 25 paid ... Ditto Perpetual, 5 per Cent, 2a paid, No. 1. 1 Great Southern and Western (Ireland), .5 paid Ditto Extension, 214 paid 4% Great North of England, 100 paid — Ditto, New Shares, 5 paid 26 Ditto, 2 paid Great Western, 75 paid ... 167 Ditto Fifths, 20 paid 3 B l, London and Birmingham (Stock) ... .. — . . Ditto Quarter Shires, 2 paid London and Brighton, 50 paid 5l London and Greenwich, 12% paid London an. South Western, 411 paid 7 65 Ditto N ,:w London and Croydon, 131. 15s. 9.1. raid ...... Midland, 100 paid North British, 71/2 paid Northern and Eastern, 45 paid 59 Richmond and West End Junction, 1 paid 2, South Eastern and Dover, 33h paid 4IP Ditto New Shares, 4 paid l5 Trent Valley, 2 paid 9 A York and North Midland, 50 paid Ditto Scarboro' Branch, 10 paid 3211 FRENCH RAILWAYS. Boulogne and Amiens, 2 paid 4% Tint CLIFF AT BLACK Root, BRIGIITON.—Dur ing the last three or four winters the rapid falling away of the cliff at the eastern extremity of Brighton parish has excited considerable anxiety. The narrow space be tween the sea and the south side of the road loading to Rottingdean is constantly diminishing. This is especially the case immediately opposite the Black Rock Gas works, where, last winter, the road had become so un safe that if prompt measures had not been adopted, it must have been closed against the public. On that oc casion a piece of land was obtained from the gas com pany, and a new road was constructed. A year has not passed since that work was completed; the sea, however, continues to advance; and if the work of destruction be permitted to go on at the same rate as during the last few weeks, the operations of last winter will have soon to be repeated. We forewarn those who have property invested in the Rottingdean-road, that if some effort be not speedily put forth to stay the further progress of the sea, the safety of the public will require that the road be again set back, or that it be stopped up altogether. On the 12th of November last there was an extensive slip along the whole face of the cliff, commencing at the western boundary of Rot tingdean parish, and reaching to within a few yards of the Black Rock Coast-guard Station. Since then several other slips have occurred on the same site ; and unless the base of the cliff be protected by groynes or a dwarf wall, they will become still more frequent. The rapid inroads of the sea at this particular spot are occasioned partly by the materials of which the cliff is composed, but chiefly by the sea having embayed itself. At one part the distance from the road to the edge of the cliff is only about twelve feet. A series of groynes, in continua tion of those erected some years ago by the commissioners of Brighton, would form a certain and comparatively in expensive defence. The inhabitants of Brighton are interested in preserving a road, without which their own Marine parade would lose many of its attractions. Let us hope that something may be done, and without delay, to keep this line of road unbroken and to remove all cause of apprehension of danger floe' the minds of those who travel on it.—Brighten Gazette. SUICIDE AT THE RESIDENCE OF SIR HENRY POTTINGER.—Last night, at eight o'clock, an inquisition was taken before Mr. Higgs, deputy coroner for West minster, and a jury, at toe Lowndes Arms, Chesham place, Pimlico, on view of the body of Benjamin Paine, aged 40, b ut l er, i n t h e serv i ce o f General Sir Henry Pottinger, who committed suicide by cutting his throat at the residence of his master, No. 80, Eaton-place, Ea ton-.qu are. To elueirlate the mystery that seemed to haog over the tate of deof,vs.-d, the inquiry was adjourned for the attendance of Henry Pottinger, and to ascer tain as tar as practicabl e th e cause of his committing the suicidal act. - -.: LITERATURE. THE REFORMERS BEFORE THE REFOR- MATION. Whyte and Go., Edinburgh, )845. The object of this historical work is to make the great religious movement which took place in Europe a century before the Reformation wrought by Luther, better known and more rightly appreciated. It em braces a period of between seventy and eighty years —that is to say, from the commencement of the great st.chism of the West in the year 1378, to the end of the war of the Hus:ites, towards the middle of the following century. A considerable portion of the volume is—as might be expected from its subject— devoted to a biographical account of John Huss, the I . :mous Reformer, of whom the biographer writes in a spirit of animated panegyric, though •we are not aware that his praises are, in any one instance, un daly ezaggerated. The work is a translation from the French of M. Emilie de Bonnechose, and is per vaded throughout by a fervent religious spirit. PENNY MAGAZINE. C. Knight, London. 1845, The fourth volume of the New Series of this pepu lar Journal had just made its appearance, and is em -1 )ellished with a lavish variety of illustrative wood o uts, some of which are finished off in a very superior st Tie. Among the numerous original contributions volume, we find an interestiag one on the a,ub i:lei of the Glaciers of the Alps. IRP-H RAILWAYS. The .colluwi ng I r i s h ra i lway projects have been laid before th. ' Board o f T ra d e, i n compliance with the standing der—but how many will be sanctioned w e are unable ) BALLYMENA, WITH A B RANCH TO ° 1 s t BELFAST AR.' ) "Y : —An - id:mt . of capital, 385,0001., is ( A 7A7,,7r:(;00a Amount tlasorf d er E G shares - 5 . 0 j.. eac h ; deposit, 21. lOs. p er s h are . posits, 19,250/. .1"otiO length of line, 35 miles. CARLOW AM) WEXFORD.— Capital, 300,0001., in 6,000 shares of 501. each; deposit, 2/. 10s. Amount of deposits, 15,0001. Length of line, 40 miles. CORK AND BANDON.—Capital, 200,0001., in 4,000 shares of 50/. each ; deposit, 21. 105. Amount of de posits, 10,000/. Length of line, 20 miles. CORK AND LIMERICK (Vignolles' line).—Capitsl, ),000,000/., in 20,000 shares ; deposit, '2l. 10s. jtnount of deposits, 50,0001. Length of line, with Li ms. -rick branch to Holy Cross, 94 miles. D,,,,JN AND BELFAST 3 UNCTlON.—Capital, 950,0001., in 10,000 s‘ liares of 501. each ; deposit, 21. 10s. Amount of deposits, ,'7,500/. Total length of line from Drogheda to ro ,ltadown, including the branch fr o m to li - ells, 79 miles. Drogheda, via g'ival: DUBLIN AND DROGB: EDA (Howth Extension).— No additional capital hal.g. been, as Yet, subscribed for this line. Its length is 3 i ;kiles 54f chains. DUNDALK AND EsNisKILLE.:..--Qapital, 750,0001., in 15,000 shares of 501. each; deposit, 21. 10s. Amount of deposits, 37,5001. Total jength of line, including branch to Monaghan, 77 miles. GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTER):: EXTENSION FROM CASHEL TOLIMERICK AND CORK. 1,200,0001., in 24,000 shares of 501.; deposit, 21. IC.s. Amount of deposits, 60,0001. Total length of line, .951. This, when completeted, will be the longest line of railway undertaken by any single company in Great Biltain. The total length from Dublin to Limerick and Ccali, including the Carlow branch, being 218 miles. GREAT NORTH WESTERN, from Dublin to Cage n• -- Capital, 750,000/, in 15,000 shares of 501. each ; sle posit, 21. 10s. Amount of deposits, 37,500/. Total length of line, 68 miles. GREAT WESTERN, from Dublin to Mullingar and Athlone, with a branch to Longford.—Capital, 750,0001., in 15,000. shares of 501. each ; deposit,2/.los. Amount of deposits. 37,5001. Total length of line, 68 miles. This is the company that propose to run a considerable portion of their line along the :Royal Canal North Bank., KILKENNY JUNCTION.—CapitaI, 200,000/., in 8,000 shares of 251. each • deposit, 1/. 10s. Amount of de posits, 12,000/. iotal length of line, 261 miles. LIMERICK AND ENNls.—Capital, 21)0,0C,0L, in 4,000 shares of 50/. each; deposit, 2/.155. Amount of deposits, 11,0001. Total iongth of line, '2l miles. LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN. 500,0001., in 10,000 shares of 450/. each ; deposit, 2/. 10s. Amount of deposits, 25,0001. Total length of line, 57 miles. NEWRY, ARMAGH, AND ENNIS:KILLEN. —C. 90,0001., in 18,000 shares of 50/. each ; deposi,t, 21. 10s. Amount of deposits, 45,0001. Total length of line, 70 miles. WATERFORD AND KlLKaNNT.—Capital, 250,0011/., in 12,500 shares of 20/. each ; deposit, 1/. Amouilt of deposits, 12,5001. Total length of line, 32 On this line the wooden rail is to be used as a substi-• tute for iron. The wood is to be prepared by Payne's. process, and the engines and carriage, , are to be fitted. with Prosser's guide wheels: The IL:tendon is ex ceedingly simple and ingenious. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK.—Capitai, 750,0001., in 1,500 shares of 501. each ; deposit, 2/. 10s. Amount of deposits, 37,5001. Total length of line, 70 miles. ULSTER EXTENSION.—From Portadow•n to Ar inagli. We have not the survey of this line before us, and do not know its exact length. It was oriwinally intended to run the Ulster line from Belfast to Ar - in agh , and capital was taken for that purpose, so tha t it will not be requisite to issue any new shares. A thirteenth call for the sum of 2/. 10s. has just beets made. This will make the amount paid up of 32/. ont share of 50/. ARMAG ~ COLERAINE, OR PORTRUSII.—CapitaI, 600,0001., in 24,000 shares of 251. each ; deposit, 11. 7s. 6d. per share. Total length, 63 miles. The pro spectus of this line has only been recently issued—a partial survey has been made, and the engineer's re port is very favourable. The country through which the line passes is exceedingly rich and populous. The project appears very feasible, and we understand there Is evt , ry prospect of its being successfully prosecuted. The notices of the preceding lines were all regu larly served before the last day of November, but the following are yet to come in proper shape before the Board of Trade. Next session must be their due season for inquir = y . ATHLONE TO GALWAY.—This line was spoken of as an extension of the Great Western from Dublin, via Mullingar, to Athlone. A survey was made, but no company has yet been formed to carry it out. CORK, COVE, AND YOUGHAL.—Preliminary steps have beet , ' taken towards the formation of a company to undertake the construction of this line. A partial surrey has been made, and the traffic taken, and the results have proved of a highly satisfactory and en couraging nature. From all we have been able to ascertain, we have reason to believe that this under taking will afford a most remunerative investment. DUBLIN AND ARMAGIL—This project was mooted by " Pierce and David Mahony-, solicitors," but no prospectus has appeared, nor, as far as we can ascer tain, has any company been formed, or even a pro visional committee named, to bring the affair respect ably before the public. It is a revival of a project which, in 1837, was set aside when it was attempted to be put forward in competition with the Dublin and Drogheda line. KELLS TO LONGFORD.—CapitaI, 700,0001., in 14,000 shares of 501. each ; deposit, 2/. 10s. This line is de signed to extend the Kells branch of the Belfast Junction into the interior to Longford. The pro spectus was published, but we are not aware that anything more has been done. We believe the project will be warmly taken up on a future occasion. KINGSTOWN, WEXFORD, AND WATERFORD.--An announcement appeared relative to this line, which, it is understood, originated with the English Great Western Company. Be this as it may, a survey of the line has been made, but no prospectus has yet been issued. It is said that the necessary plans and sections have been lodged, and that an application will be made next session for an Act. This line in• eludes Carlow also. LONDONDERRY AND COLERAINE.—This line has been before the public by means of a notice, but no prospectus has been published. PORTARLINOTON AND TULLABIORE.—The notice of an intention to apply to Parliament for a Bill for this line was published since the 30th November, and the notice states that the promoters intend seeking f or th e suspension of the standing orders in their fav our , so as to obtain their Act next session. An arrangement has been effected between the Great Southern and Western and Irish Great Western Companies by which the line to Galway will run from Portarling ton via Tullamore.—Dublin Monitor. SINGULAR SURGICAL CASE.--A healthv•looking young man, in great pain and distress, applied to Mr. Smith, surgeon, of Michinharapton, having, as he stated, swallowed a portion of the bone of a mutton chop, which still remained in his throat. Mr. Smith, on in troducing an instrument, fonnd very great resistance about half way down the oesophagus or gullet; however, by applying very considerable force,lbe succeeded in passing the instrument, together with the obstructing substance, into the stomach. The operation, which of necessity was attended with some degree of violence, was followed with immediate and violent vomiting, when a piece of gristle, with a large pin through it, was ejected, and which, no doubt, had transfixed this portion of food so firmly in his gullet.— Cheltenham Examiner. RU➢IOURED MEETING OF THE BISHOPS.—We un• derstand that a statement in the Evening Post, that there is to be a meeting of the Catholic Bishops on the 22d, is without foundation. It is certain, at least, that in quarters where the fact should be knows, if it were true, no intimation ofit has been received.—Dublia APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlPB.—Mohun Lal, the celebrated Orientalist, at present in Dublin, will shortly lead to the hymeneal altar a beautiful young lady, a native of the Irish metropolis, and her entire family intend to accompany the happy couple to Persia! Slohun gave 10,0001. towards the ransom of the Lady Sale and Lady JSPNaughten.—Liinerich Reporter. Sir John Pechell, Bart., we are happy to learn, is gradually getting better. The respected Baronet takes carriage airings when the weather permits, and receives visits in the afternoon and the evenings, though still unable to leave his sofa bed. OW? brla for 741 ices, 58 9 Iwo. I for 1 AV 541 iy ere 19 5 Nell AO rleo• bice, lie!, ,aril Oa Isla Is t ° 35 91 d 54 a it 37, ,you a~" t if )6' !e)