The Sun. — London, England, 1844-05-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 22, 1844. vileges, and to the general condition as regards educa tion, learning, and religion, of the Universities of Ox ford and Cambridge, and their colleges, especially with regard to all matters herein brought before your Honourable House, with full power to enable such Com mission efficiently to perform its important services. And your Petitioners, &e. CUSTOM HOUSE FRAUDS. It is a growing fashion, we believe, of late years among our medical practitioners, to discourage the practice of bleeding. This once popular treatment is now, so to speak, abandoned, except in extreme cases of topical inflammation, whether produced by external violence, or inward disorganization, or an habitual tendency of the blood to congestion. But the two Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, with the Hall of Apothecaries, to boot, may settle what canons of doctrine they please, in full " senatus " assembled, with all the revived solemnities of Mr. PETER BORTHWICK'S threatened convocation of another learned profession ; there is, we tell them, one patient in the world, the most important on their books, toe, who wiLL be blooded! This is no other than the portly Joini BULL himself. He will always insist on his customary indulgence of a little phlebotomy, as his more southern friends of Italy or Spain demand, after noontide, the luxury of their habitual siesta. Only, in Mr. BULL'S case, the practitioner must take care that he " breathe a vein," not in the patient's arm, but in the breeches pocket. It has long been imagined, and that burly patient is brought at last to be of the opinion himself, that he is in incessant danger from plethoric repletion in that region. In LITERAT LIRE. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL QUARTERLY RE VIE IV. Nc. VI. Smith and Elder, Lrndon, 1844. The article in this Number which will be most ac- I ceptable, to the generality of readers, is the ono on "Modern German Poetry," chiefly, however, by reason :of the translations which are executed with considerable elegance and spirit, and are well selected in point of subject. The Reviewer, after enumera ting some of the most eminent names that have figured in German literature for the last half century and upwards, proceeds to observe that the majority of them have now passed away from the stage of exist ence, and that the successors of these giants are for the most part a mere race of dwarfs, with few or no pretensins to superior intellect, but making up by tact what they want in talent. The German poets of the present day, he adds, with the exception of some two or three, have but one string to their lyres—it is that of Byronic despair and infidel despondency, and consequently they are, as a matter of course, dull, common-place, and wearisome in the extreme. " Greatly is it to be regretted that that mi serable doubting and despairing spirit which prompted Byron's poetry, should be still the be-all and the end-all of German lyric writers. Nothing is snore wearisome than the languid satiety which this tone of thought and feeling produces. It is a frost which nips all true greatness in the bud, and creates an atmosphere that stifles all the nobler feel ings of our nature." The tone of these remarks is a very healthy one, and nothing can be snore true and just. The " Highlands of /Ethiopia" is a careful digest of Major Harris's late work on this subject. Theßeviewer is very laudatory in his comments—but not too much so, for the volume is full of exciting in cident—and successfully defends the author from the recent attacks made on him in the Westminster Re view. " Galileo"—the " starry Galileo," as Milton calls him—is an account of soma of the chief disco veries of this great astronomer, and the reception they met with at the bigoted Court of Rome. " Hayti, its Past and Present State" is an historical sketch of this fruitful but distracted island from the period of the reign of Christopher down to the present time. The Reviewer is sangnine of its future prospects, provided France will act generously towards the Hay tian Government, and remit a portion of the large pecuniary claim which she professes to have on it, and which at present it is wholly unable to liquidate. The " Laws of the Currency" is an essay penned in a rational, temperate spirit, and contains several serviceable practical sug gestions, more especially as regards the Bank of Eng land system. In the article on the "History of France" occur some critical remarks on the great works of Gibbon, Hume, and Robertson. In general, they are correct, with the exception that the Re viewer speaks in warm terms of praise of the " poet's fire" possessed by Gibbon, and states that "flume's reputation is undiminishel." Now he is wrong in both these remarks. Gibbon possesses eloquence, but certainly not poetry ; in fact, he never approaches nearer to it than stately, rhetorical declamation ; while, as respects Hume, his fame of late years has sustained considerable diminution—though the charms of his style are still as warmly admired as ever—and he is now generally acknowledged to be a partial and somewhat careless historian, who was by no means remarkable for pains-taking research. We quote the Reviewer's critical opinions of Hume, Gibbon, and Robertson : 1825-6, one of his political doctors (then RomNsoN, now RIPoN), announced to the world that this interesting personage was so excessively full of political health (i. e. money), that the only reasonable cause for apprehension about him arose from this redundancy; that it was the pecu .. liarity of his (civil) constitution to " form " fresh capital, as fast as he got rid of that which was in him. All Europe was astounded at this phenomenon of an unimpoverishable capitalist ; and France sent over some of her distinguished savans (the Baron CHARLES Dern; among the number) to contemplate and report upon whatever might be most notable in the physio logy and aspect of a gentleman subject to so capri cious and diffusive a malady. To be sure there was no end of "visiting" physicians then ! From all parts of the Old World and of the New, he was pre scribed for—bled, depleted, ransacked, rummaged, blistered—almost done for. It was very near prov ing one of those cases in which people are " killed with kindness." They would not leave him ;—they would not let him look, even, into his own case, or worry himself with over-scrupulous inquiries into theirs. By the application of a foreign electuary, called indifferently " Loans" and " Mining Ven tures," they soon expelled from him two-thirds, as it was thought, of his whole bulk in superabundant capital. Then, home-reared leeches, in the shape of Joint-Stock and Bubble Company shares, were plentifully applied ; and at last the patient, fearful of sinking under so many and such violent remedies, from Mexico, and Guatemala, and Madrid—Lisbon and Berlin St. Petersburgh and Rio Janeiro Bogota da Fe and Amsterdam —to say no thing of the nausea occasioned by endless nostrums of asphaltum, caoutchouc, corrosive sub limate, and all the modern ingredients of our street pavements, and roadways, and anti-rot me dicated woodwork ; the patient, we say, became fear fully exasperated. Some of his advisers he kicked down stairs ; others he crushed to death, by once s a a e t touching them; d th i e t m n and, it t mischief of this re-action, on his part, would have d t i o ffi D e u r l . t PEEL n y d his friends where the to dose him with their new currenc y dru g , a nd g old pill. These immediately p aral y sed his fac u l t ie s a nd t a occurredis prostrated his strength to a degree which brought on a " crisis," still remembered as " THE" panic. Yet the strength of Jos's( BULL'S constitution (or pockets) has triumphed over all these trials and disasters ; and, with ordinary fair play—a little more vigilance in his superior, and a little snore honesty in his subordinate servants—it might yet do so. But he is, unhappily, still persuaded, in the first place, to endure the con stant exhibition of Dr. PEEL'S Digitalis, or " Gold touch ;" which, given on the pretext of keeping him free from over excitement, and keeping down the buoyancy of his action, is slowly, but certainly, like the narcotic poison of " BELLADONNA," sapping his vital powers, and predisposing them to decay. In the second place he is still practised upon by those who profusely " bleed" him—while he sleeps. These " practitioners," the most clandestine of their order, are they who concoct " Custom-house frauds." The secret of these processes has been, hitherto, but par tially discovered; and no system of watching, so efficient as to ensure the detection of such intruders, and prevent them from further exhausting their victim daring his slumbers, has yet been devised. The first of these mischiefs we have already, on former occasions, minutely described. The second, we are reminded of, by a paragraph in a newspaper of Sunday last which, without probably intending to do so, demonstrates very clearly how little of beneficial result can be looked for from the means now in course of adoption for the prevention of future malpractices of the de scription alluded to. It appears that the Commissioners of Customs suppose themselves to be now wide awake ! They are not going to slumber over frauds, and collusions, and pecnlations, by which, if we may judge from the jump which the Customs duties have taken, within the year since the cry of " thieves" has been hotly kept up at the great house in Thames-street,—the pockets of poor Mr. BULL have been drained of from 1,000,000/. to 2,000,0001. per annum, instead of the 480,0001., or other modest sum, which, a little while since, the Commissioners congratulated the public on being at any rate the " be-all and the end-all " of the nefarious robberies that had then been " blown upon." No. The Commis sioners, " with the approval of the Treasury," have created two new officers with " a new style and title !" (Prodigious invention, and rare guarantee !) These are " Inspectors-General of the waterside and warehousing departments." To the number of landing surveyors who have been se negligent heretofore, are to be added three colleagues (on the principle that JOHN, having confessed to " doing nothing ;" Tom, in answer to his master's inquiry what he was about, reported himself to be " helping Jowl"). The six classes of landing waiters to remain as before. Why ? Because of the culpable dereliction of duty traced to their depart ment, in the so-called investigations already insti tuted. But now comes the flower of what our Sun day Contemporary quaintly calls this "scheme." Sixty new officers, " subordinate to, and under orders of the landing waiters, but superior to the lockers and weighers," are to be chosen by the Commissioners. There may be something very touching and magni ficent in this nicely-balanced gradation of ranks from the oligarchy of the Board itself—(Magnates as they are), through the successive gradations of an aristo cracy of surveyors, receivers for western ports, and in spectors-general to a gentry of landing waiters, a com monalty of " superintendents of locks and ware houses," and working classes of lockers, weighers, and porters. But it is more to our purpose to be told, from what body these " superintendents of locks" —whose loftier state than the " lockers" them selves is thus carefully noted—are to be selected. And we find they are to be taken " from the most expe rienced " of the old hands in this class. This is rather ambiguous. The only "experience" of which the public have had any remarkable evidence is con nected with those who must have knowingly lent their important, though subordinate, aid to the fraudulent entries, weighings, exchanges, and re movals of packages, and to the falsification of books, whereby the revenue has been plundered to an ex tent[still utterly unfathomed ; and certain houses, of more than equivocal reputation and enormous wealth, have realised those sudden and colossal fortunes, which enable them almost to brave and challenge ex posure on the one hand, with as little hesitation as they pay down the pecuniary penalty accruing on such occasional detection on the other. The truth is, the whole " scheme," which we published recently in The Sun, is an absurdly inadequate and puerile contrivance to avert such delinquencies, as the already ascertained frauds, in future. The great evil must be either in the defective organization of the whole ma chinery of this important fiscal department, or in the positive incompetency of the Board at its head for their most responsible duties. The cutting down 183 lockers to 120, and 220 weighers to 180 ; the new appointment of two inspectors-general, and the addition of three landing surveyors, and the creation of sixty superintendents of "locks"—were these last even all of the family of Mr. Cuunn himself—will do no more to guarantee the Customs' revenue from future spoliation, in the absence of a more intelligent, vigorous, and prompt controlling authority, than the addition of twenty-four new Directors to the staff of the Bank of England would operate to put the cur rency, under the present system, on a proper footing. The Premier himself could not have devised a feebler or a more delusive scheme of improved management than these Commissioners have produced ! " Gibbon united the philosophy and general views of one age to the brilliant pictures and impassioned story of another. He warmed with the narratives of the cru saders or the Saracens—he wandered with the Soy thians—he wept with the Greeks—he delineated with a painter's hand, and a poet's fire, the manners of the na tions, the features of the countries, the most striking events of the periods which were passed under review ; but at the same time he preserved inviolate the unity and breadth of his picture,—his lights and shadows maintained their just proportions, and were respectively cast on the proper objects. Philosophy threw a radiance over the mighty maze ; and the mind of the reader, after concluding his prodigious series of details, dwelt with complacency on its most striking periods, skilfully brought out by the consummate skill of the artist, as the recollection of a spectator does on any of the magic scenes in Switzerland, in which, amidst an infinity of beautiful objects, the eye is fascinated by the calm tran quillity of the lake, or the rosy hues of the evening glow on the glacier. We speak of Gibbon as a delineator of events ; none can feel more strongly or deplore more deeply the fatal blindness—the curse of his age—which rendered him so perverted on the subject of religion, and left so wide a chasm in his immortal work, which the profounder thought and wider experience of Guizot has done so much to fill. " Considered as calm and philosophic narratives, the histories of Hume and Robertson will remain as standard models for every future age. The just and profound re flections of the former, the inimitable clearness and im • partiality with which he has summed up the arguments on both sides, on the most momentous questions which have agitated England, as well as the general simplicity and occasional pathos of his story, must for ever com mand the admiration of mankind. In vain we are told that he is often inaccurate, sometimes partial ; in vain are successive attacks published on detached parts of his narrative, by party zeal or antiquarian research ; his reputation is undiminished ; successive editions issuing from the press attest the continued sale of his work ; and it continues its majestic course through tho sea of time, like a mighty three decker, which never even con descends to notice the javelins darted at its sides from the hostile canoes which from time to time seek to im pede its progress. Robertson's merits are of a different, and, upon the whole, of an inferior kind. Gifted with a philosophic spirit, a just and equal mind, an eloquent and impressive expression, he had not the profound sa gacity, the penetrating intellect, which, have rendered the observations of Bacon, Hume, and Johnson as en during as the English language. He had not enjoyed the practical acquaintance with man, which Hume ac quired by mingling in diplomacy ; and without a prac tical acquaintance with man, no writer, whatever his abilities may be, can rightly appreciate the motives, or probable result of human actions." SELECTION FROM THE SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF THE LATE LORD KING. Longman, London, 1844. The late Lord King, though not possessed of any , brilliant or commanding qualities of mind, was, never theless, one of the most useful, and—on all questions connected with finance, statistics, &c.—one of the most influential public men of his day. There were few practical subjects with which he was not ac quainted, and on all which he discussed in Parliament he brought to bear a strong, unclouded judgment, a quick, intuitive perception of the truth, and a variety of pertinent arguments, drawn from the copious store house of a richly cultivated intellect. Hence his speeches were always listened to with respectful at tention, even though they might fail to convince the Tory-ridden House to which they were addressed; and they were read by all the more thinking and liberal portion of the community with that deep interest which their sterling merits were so well cal culated to excite. In politics, his Lordship was a Whig—perhaps we might say, "a Whig and some thing more"—and on all questions of moment he was invariably found voting with the advanced guard of the Liberal party. Of Church reform, in particular, he was, from the first to the last year of his public career, the zealous, consistent, and determined advo cate ; and he was, in consequence, held in great awe by the bench of Bishops, who shrank from his apt and cutting sarcasms, and seldom had the boldness to venture on a direct reply to them. Though he possessed wit and humour in no ordinary degree, yet these quali ties were always under the control of his judgment, and he never allowed them to lead him astray from the main track of his reasoning. Strong, homely well-wearing sense was the chief staple of his mind ; he had no fancy—no earnest, impassioned powers of eloquence such as carry away an audience in spite of themselves, but won his gradual way to public notice by the practical strength of his logic, the luminous ness and simplicity of his diction, and the manly courage and straightforwardness of his views. Had he possessed more active ambition and fiery energy of temperament, he might, with his natural and acquired abilities, have raised himself to a commanding rank among the statesmen of his age—for it was an age which he thorougly understood and which was well able to appreciate him—but he was fond of cul tivating lettered ease in the retirement of the country, and cared little for political celebrity—that brilliant ignis fatuus which leads so many men astray—that fatal rock on which so many characters are ship wrecked. In the volume before us, which is edited by the Earl of Fortescue, we have a selection from some of the most successful of Lord King's Parlia mentary speeches, together with a few unimportant extracts from a meagre private diary which he kept for three weeks, and then suddenly laid aside, and a brief memoir, from which we extract the following passage, relating to the earlier portion of his Lord ship's life : " Lord King was born in 1775, and at the age of six was sent to Eton, where he remained nearly twelve years. Being early impressed with the defects in the system of education then in use at our public schools, he never sought to acquire more of classical learning than was necessary to carry him creditably through his school exercises, but applied himself assi duously to various branches of more practical ,know ledge, particularly mechanics, geometry, and drawing, and among his early amusements at Eton, was the mak ing a detailed survey and map of t h e country imme diately round it He was distinguished among his school-fellows for the cheerfu l ease of his temper and the kindness of his disposition, of vi Inch the writer of this memoir (himself sent to Eton at the age of ten years) received many proofs during the short peri o d i that they were there together n 1793. He still recol lects with grateful pleasure the happy hours whi c h h e spent at that time in the society of his older friend, to whose protection he had been recommended, and in whose room he always found a refuge fro m th e lit t l e annoyances, which in those days, more than at present, younger boys at public schools o ccas i ona ll y encoun tered from their seniors. Then wer e l a id th e founda tions of an intimacy , which was cem en t e d a ft erwar d s by family ties into brotherly affection, and continued with- SUGAR AND COFFEE DUTIES. Lieu, °; I STICAL SOCIETY, May 20. the Chair. , w senartt-Celone' Sykes, F.R.S., V.I ~ I ,, i buti c s t nicct fur the evening was entitled in " A Third -Con i'tots ~'" I ftarcls a knowledge of the Infl . uenc e e a o si f on Ern th p e lo a y t , - lotio„"lmiti Health, by Dr. Guy." On this o d c s llf t ) tt - L 4 the members was confined to the iseasekno e w on n - , e' 4l 4li4"r too well in this country, as pulmonary lx, t adf il i the number of deaths from this dreaded and 'si c* ;in occurring in every year . in England and 'i'llt,riftio. the round numbers 36,000, being rather less than ‘ , lll le- a - ':1 0 1 the mortality for all cases, a all . ag h e o sa e n fi d ft o e n en e 'bneSsi'o-rtueti six of the total deaths occurring Fatty,, t a ra t ' d • Dr. Guy ' classed . hi , s n p d a f t o ie u n n t d s , u th n e d r e e r a s t u h l r t ee of h g e r a e d a s t , tie r, ~ esmen, and artisans, , . he' ‘ 44 t the per tentage proportion of deaths w ho u ld f i a n r g le a s n s 41 1, t krre o 4 : ; h trY than in the artisans, the trt . idesmen .hle to place t ,„." t ; ,, I fi to Place. Dr. Guy inquires, "is it possible dieti,-t'solen and the artisans in the same favour t a r b et le eh cir o - f i i1 41 11 1 ; 4 7" as the gentry?" ' It . would be a great s titheii cti to suppose that it could be t d . o l ne ele a n t te o n n t_ ce. a.f meat ameliorations time is an essen ia Z s idyf ri '''t the reformation or of bad habits—time for the Oat e i of streets, the enlarging of .housefs, hoursthe reo-f N-Loosir"P f , workshops,the shortening o I ..,r, f ,. a r k th illly ' nage and venilation, for the more abundan n t ,4 8 , 7 water, for public baths, for the increase of ope s 4l ti . ,,; ° ' ex-rcise and recreation. Habits of inte d m e p st e r r e an f ce or „.vot.e I,l;',,sutld'enly brow into disease , nor will a mace )4710 be ereatedday. As in the case of temper i.eier i of ventilation, the example must thebeset to b s y pread "', three tasses before the contagion can be expected l owtsr. , ~ t , l, 4 tllli n b 0 long as the richdshlalleebseofcoanstseentnthtloy,enwdhuer.e ohl,, atmosphere of crowde p a Dll • Miti . .."' i t or private the poor may be expected d t t o o remain t_it i. ti t ft ri .t to the foul ' air of their workshops, and CT . 3 o f r ix!u nnti'r to the manifold inconveniences of their mat, jh emdence. It is only, then, after the lapse of years, pet ted ete,Oliditiin of the tradesman and artisan can be ex . Z°rtaii t . .e so in proved as to reduce their present fearful cand 0 3 from consumption to the low level of the more for '4.°ll, fe es Much however, may be donelatt.oonncoef. houses Sonie &1111c1 worksmlt at least may ' be made for the ventilation a Li l t's of labour. OA ~1 1() Ps and for the shortening o tiiittorllet,trao„r,,,sraoofloiisoiyo:es: w el e , u r l y d a year.ve, in T h t l i i s e i s n n i e o t t r oapoi natte ralone,eomniaeney. re s, i • Av 7 .. estimate merely, tereri b g u admitst disca of fe d l e n , t w o e n d st at r h a ns - - il l „,, spirited and n " al' t e paper, and the meeting, which wash ery Bent, 2 , thoef lady on! Am,s seNtrated at a late hour. Th ...,...........— is morning, ..................... f Capt. 4vl-I_,hilthl4.--- b I) -htle4 Pidding, of Sydenh l‘ a l m ay , 1, -am 1:---i'oRs A.ND CRSDITORS—LORD BROU ,h G . li ch . has " % a' .--:11a „ Bill introduced by Lord Brougham, I ,l. t wz onrt_.'itliti;d. second time, _ contains only fourteen w sections. l it l, b obtors a-84 Act arran gements Creditoforrs,f,aciTlihtaetpinrgeamble r, arrZpedient that trust deeds, and other amicable declares e, ‘ "t r f r a y c i j u ll a t t nl ecl e , r l t between debtors and their creditors should +ls and that better means should be provided for in set .t r same in' to effect." After the passing of th L' t tt hi Shall be lawful for any debtor who is unable to 44%0 tra r .'14.91 -4 c e ment with his creditors, o s f uch one d - e t b h t i o rd r not v er and , with the concurrence . I°ll, Petition' value ti etttiaillg Bankruptcy, of his creditors, who shall sign a pe the Chief Judge of the Court of o Pr eteetZ rt il, .al his debts, property, &c., ~_l )° sitl ' "„ iron). imprisjmnent, and he shall ma . e a shall and praying o be Z il iont,' Pay the creditors, to which ono third 'ode of •11- co mmissioner is to examine in private the ro„na tn. contracting the debts, and then to appoint a se tilorr.ea'oeiutitnignn:t which an official assignee may preside, tn ap s d . adopted to be reported to the commis le the i ile to il , nti a ll e first meeting to be called by notice, and at „ -4 ° arra-r„ctrtain number of creditors must agree to accept to _ ,„" t toh tn-„,-„,s,,eutellt proosed, the resolution or agreemen ' 'itleie 0 ;'„„"ng not to be valid unless one-third in number and Y ai l ' ."-t the creditors were present either in person or a rici 4 authorised agent. The resolution is to be confirmed, *Nit i n tatnliorary .protection afforded. The property is o *ere a trustee without ded as fully as if such trustee Amide aa ass - • bankruptcy.any e " -,- • • take a te i f , lue in Examinations may n . s i , Lt us suspected a full disclosure has not bee f,. 4 4 t'rlUdetii to be freed on performance of their duties, an laiLl tin e s o tbe g ranted to the petitioning debtor, which orzave th ame effe c t as a certificate of conformity in Itacr,,PtoY• The Court of Bankruptcy is to make rules 4110:17rk,ie:aC.:regueottivieanthliii6aPnis to carry the Act into operation. This rnehably be considered at the same time as '8 hi ll, but the Bills clash considerably, and CI th e law of debtor mid. creditor very perplexing. A ti le ' starree,,nti measure is expected to be brought forward on g„Ler 1 ' ti 'et. tlkili tion a woe. men are busily employed in making ii,,eiA, , ,fitnai,ined alterations at the Royal Observatory, Green, - purpose of facilitating the scientific labours of te ti : j: lss r l e on stillile) „,In pier ,oval. wi C t . liall pa in ioSfal'ebCruaar3t Al`Caarrivedbe, at, e ~ in at • w el t gale off the Falkland passengersldand and crew all of fewer resources. That by the existing arrangements the public profes sors are made comparatively useless. That the college tutors are not likely to possess equal age and experi ence, nor to be so eminent, each in many branches, as professors who have devoted themselves to one. That the present usage of celibacy, enforced upon college fellows, would be well exchanged for some other mode of limiting the tenure of fellowships. That the innovation _of private tutors testifies to the inade quacy of the established and avowed system of instruc tion. That the additional expense which the private tuition inflicts, is itself a serious evil. That artificial restraints exist, which hinder the ablest and most active minds in these Universities from introducing such im provements, as time and the advance of knowledge would suggest. That their action is paralysed, by the use of the Latin language in the University assemblies, by the inability of those assemblies to originate any public mea sure, and by the want of all corporate organisation of the public professors. That the Institution of Faculties was intended to secure for different studies their due attention, and has had this effect in other universities; but that the power gained by the colleges has overthrown this design. That since the heads of houses are become the chief University authority, their appointment should.neelonger be regarded as the private affair of their particular college. That the necessity imposed on most college fellows to take holy orders, has had the effect of securing that a decided majority of the resident acade micians shall be ecclesiastics. That to the undue pre ponderance of the clergy over the laity in university legislation and in college administration, very many of the evils here recounted may be traced. That the pre dominance of the clergy, and their employment as secu lar teachers, (whatever other advantages may be attri buted to this,) has not led to the successful cultivation of scientific theology : a fact which is manifest in the neglect of the Hebrew languge, of ecclesiastical history, and of all profound Biblical erudition, as well as in the absence of examinations for the theological degrees. That the natural expansion of these universities is checked by the too complete monopoly which the exist ing colleges and halls possess. That by restoring to every Master of Arts his ancient right to open an inde pendent hall as its principal, increased accommodation would be advantageously gained. That in this way able and popular men would find free course for their talents, with more satisfaction to themselves, and benefit to the university at large, than by the present system of pri vate tuition. That the religious tests still existing in these Univer sities belong to a system of policy entirely obsolete at the present day; having been imposed at a time when it was in many ways made penal to be a Dissenter from what was then the only religious system recognised by the secular power: whereas at present, not only are Christians of every name admitted into the national councils, but several different churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, are upheld by public authority in the same British empire. That the large and increasing body of persons who are excluded from the National Universities, by reli gious reasons, are hereby treated as if they were not possessed of full citizenship in the British nation; and are prevented from cultivating many of the sympathies, by which all parts of this great community ought to be knit together. That Masterships of Grammar Schools are, by the foundation deeds or by custom, frequently limited to those who have attained the Degree of Master of Arts in one of the two Universities, Oxford and Cambridge ; and that many able and deserving persons, being ex cluded from graduation in those Universities, are hereby prevented from holding the masterships of such schools and assisting in the education of youth. That the advancement of professional men in Eng land is often retarded, whatever their merit in other re spects, if they have not had the advantage of residence and a Degree at one of the ancient Universities. That the Institution of the London University, how• ever valuable in its own place, cannot supersede the advantages to be gained by opening the ancient univer sities and their colleges to all her Majesty's subjects; nor can it lessen the equitable rights of parties who are at present precluded from admission by the re ligious tests. That the intercourse of the youth of all religious de nominations in the same universities, would exceedingly tend to soften the asperity of religious party; and while on the one hand it increa sed the sincerit y of religious profession within these establishments, it would on the other diffuse a beneficial influence beyond their precincts, in families and communities now cut off from them. That the barriers at present kept up in these two Universities are so opposed to the whole genius of our age, as testified by the usage of similar learned esta blishments both in Great Britain and on the Continent, that it is morally impossible for them to start for any long time; while every year's delay is likely to render their ultimate removal more necessary, yet more em barassing, from the increase of party spirit and mutual embitterment. That the successive Acts in the progress of the Pro testant Reformation, which interfered with the disposal of Academical property,—so far as they rested on any just principle, and were therefore permitted to be per manent,—aimed to adjust the condition of the univer sities to the growth and changes of the times : and to render them fit nurseries, not only for the liberal pro fessions, but also for your Honourable House itself : accordingly, in consequence of the admission of all pro fessed Christians into her Majesty's Councils and into both Houses of Parliament, the same reasons which for merly dictated the opening of Rotnan Catholic endow ments to Protestant Episcopalians, now apply, with equal force, for admitting lay Christians of every name into both the Universities, to compete on equal terms for all honours attached to intellectual eminence. That no sound principle can be found, upon which the subscription to any religious test can be required in connection with giving or receiving literary or scientific instruction. That to require a religious subscription from youths who are about to begin their higher education, is pecu liarly vain and injurious ; inasmuch as it supposes them to have already formed their judgment on arduous questions, concerning which even their sires are by no means agreed. That the daily attendance enforced at the morning or evening service of the Church, has not at all produced the beneficial results which were intended: while in proportion to the greater solemnity of the service, a yet deeper evil of the same kind is in many colleges inflicted by the compulsory attendance at the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. That the maintenance of all that'is high and holy in Truth, depends on the spiritual qualities of its professors; which qualities are likely to be called out in greatest lustre, when they are not superseded by the possession of political ascendancy. That no sufficient check exists, nor without legislative alterations can exist, on the facilities afforded to young men at the universities for running into debt, nor any sure means by which a parent may gain timely know ledge that his son is so involving himself. That many of these defects have been repeatedly sub mitted to both Houses of Parliament, and in consequence partial attempts at revision and improvement have been made by some of tile colleges ; but the alterations have been, and are likely in future to be, so trivial, that no national advantage can be anticipated from them. That the most important defects cannot be remedied by the action of the universities from within ; inasmuch as they are the result of public enactments, which were devised with the express purpose of perpetuating the present character of the universities. That the laws, customs, and internal discipline of the universities and colleges of Oxford and Cambridge were revised by public Commissioners in the reigns of Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and Charles I. : in which visitations the most important and fundamental alterations were made in every part of. the university and college system. Especially those prayers for the dead, on which the college founders generally laid so much stress, have been long since removed from the college formularies, so as virtually to rescind their ex press regulations, and decisive measures having been used to-prevent college founders from laying a religious yoke on the neck of the University. Moreover, in the case of Queen's College, Cambridge, the necessity of ordination for the presidency of a college has in a recent instance been dispensed with; and the fellowships of St. John's College, Cambridge, have been opened by Royal letters patent to all natives of England and Wales. That the subject is so large and various, and has re ceived so little attention from the supreme power since the Revolution of 1688—during which time the greatest social changes have taken plac e i n England, with a vast simultaneous development of political, historical, moral, and material science, in the principal States of Europe; that a full and searching visitatio n of these universities and their colleges appears to your petitioners to be once more urgently needed. Your petitioners therefore pray yonr Honourable House to address her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to appoint a Commission , to in q uire into all matters relating to the statutes, revenues, trusts, pri- THE WEST INDIA. BODY. Yesterday, pursuant to public advertisement, a general meeting of planters, merchants, and others interested in the BritisliWest India colonies, took place at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's, '• to consider the propriety of peti tioning the Legislature against any alteration in the duties on sugar, coffee, laid cocoa, which should not embrace a re duction of the duties on similar produce from the British possessions." Viscount Combermere was-called on to preside. The Earl of Harewood, Viscount St. Vincent, Lord Saltoun, Lord Reay, Sir W. Codrington, Bart., M.P., Sir A. L. Hay, M.P., Sir A. Grant, P. M. Stewart, Esq., M.P., Sir W. W. Balling, Bart., Sir John Rae Reid, Sir R. C. Dallas, Sir Alexander Crichton, Colonel Lindsay, 111 P., Sir R. Houston, Bart., Mr. John Stewart, M.P., Mr. R. Bernal, M.P., Mr. J. In. East, M.l'., :Mr. John Abel Smith, M.P., Mr. J. A. Mackinnon, M.P., Mr. J. Irving, M.P., Mr. Neil Malcom, Mr. Burge, Mr. Hibbert, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Kynaston, Mr. Maxwell Alexander, and a number of other influential West India proprietors were present. The Noble CHAIR3LAN observed that the meeting had been convened in consequence of the determination of her Majesty's Government to make such an alteration of the duties on sugar, &c., as would, unless a strenuous effort were made on the part of the West India proprietary to resist it, involve the whole of them in utter ruin. A variety of representations had been made to her Majesty's Ministers upon the subject, but without success, and the only course now open to them was an appeal to the Legislature. — (Hear.) The resolutions it was intended to propose, were as mild as under all the circumstances they could be expected to be, and exhibited forcibly the injuries which had been in flicted on the West India body of proprietors since the aboli tion of slavery.—(Hear.) All they now sought for was pro tection, and they had a right to demand that, if the duties on the sugar of foreign colonial produce were .to be reduced, the duties on British colonial sugar should be reduced also. The Noble Lord concluded by hoping that the representations which would be made that day would induce her Majesty's Government to take the matter into their earnest and serious consideration.—(Cheers.) The Earl of HAREWOOD proposed.the first resolution. He felt the greatest reliance on her Majesty's Government ;;still he was convinced that if their proposed measure were carried out it would tend much to the injury of the British colonies. (Hear.) He possessed an estate in Jamaica, upon which his grandfather had expended from 11,0001. to 12,0001. in hard cash, and which had generally yielded no return. Indeed, since slavery had been abolished, he had felt it necessary to lay the land in fallow, and give up entirely the cultivation of the estate.—(Hear.) Prior to the abolition of slavery there were 400 slaves on that estate, but now there was not a quarter of that number of labourers. He hoped the Govern ment would see the necessity of altering their opinions. Sir EDWARD HYDE EAST seconded the resolution, and contended that if the project of Ministers were carried, it would not only destroy the West India colonies, but tend greatly to depreciate our commercial and State navy. The resolution was carried unanimously. Lord SALTOUN proposed the second resolution. He was received with applause. He thanked the meeting for the warmth with which they had received him on his return to England. He had had very little to do with the West India colonies in his own person, but he had ample opportunities of knowing the claim which the West India colonists had upon the kind feelings of the mother country, and he could not shut his eyes to the fact that great injury would result to the British colonies if the proposition of the Government were carried out.—(Hear, hear.) It was not only the West India proprietary body that had to be looked to ; they must bear in mind the vast amount of money wholly arising from West India property, upon which widows and fatherless children were dependent.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. CARLNGTON, in seconding the resolution, showed that it was by legislation on the part of the mother country, and through no act of their own, that the British West India islands were reduced to their present position. He repudiated the idea that the colonies themselves had established slavery, and declared that, although his property, by its abolition, had dwindled from thousands to hundreds, he would sooner that it dwindled to nothing than return to that most inhuman and debasing system.—(Cheers.) If the present Government were determined to carry out certain dogmas of political economy, such as cheap sugar, &c., for the mere sake of po pularity here, they had no right to do so at the expense of the British colonists. The motion was carried. Lord REAP moved the third resolution. Mr. MACKINNON, M.P., seconded the motion. The British Government had given the colonists 17 millions by way of compensation, when it was proved, in 1832, that the value if their property was 140 millions ; therefore to say the former sum was compensation was absurd. He contended that the Ministry had no right to earn popularity at home by taking money out of the pockets of the West India colonists. — (Hear, hear.) The duty and freight of sugar of West India produce did not amount to less than 335. per hundred weight, and add to that 275. for the cost of production, it amounted to nearly 60s. Now, we could purchase Manilla sugar for 17s. per cwt. in bond, and adding a duty of 345., made 51s.— thus underselling the West India proprietor by 85. or 9s. per cwt. in the market. If the Government were really desirous of giving the public cheap sugar, why did they not reduce the duty on West India grown sugar to 205., and keep fo reign sugar at 345. ?—(Hear.) Viscount ST. VINCENT moved the fourth resolution. Sir ALEXANDER GRANT, in seconding the proposition, ad verted to the loss the planters had suffered from the term of apprenticeship having been abridged. Abolition of slavery reduced the annual importation from the West India islands and British Guyana from between four and five million hun dred weight of sugar annually, to three million five hundred and twenty thousand six hundred and seventy-six hundred weights ; and, in 1841, when the apprenticeship was abo lished, the importation fell to 2,148,218 cwts. The loss upon this, including the eight out of the twelve. years' apprentice ship, which the colonists had lost, amounted to upwards of fourteen millions sterling.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore de nounced the present attempt still further to take money out of their pockets.—(Hear.) This resolution was adopted. Sir W. Codrington, Sir A. Leith Hay, Sir 'R. Dallas, Mr. J. Stewart, M.P., Sir John Rae Reid, Mr. P. M. Stewart, M.P., Mr. J. Smith, M.P., and other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and the remainder of the resolutions, fifteen in number, were agreed to, as was.also a petition to the:Legis lature founded on them. Thanks having been awarded to the Noble Chairman, the meeting separated. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager visited the Queen yesterday. Her Majesty arrived at Buckingham Palace at two o'clock, attended by the Countess of Sheffield, Lady in Waiting. Her Majesty remained to lunch with the Queen and Prince Albert, and afterwards returned to Marlborough House. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, were taken their usual airings yesterday in the royal gardens of Buckingham Palace. The Queen and Prince Albert walked in the royal gardens yesterday. The royal dinner party at Buckingham Palace yes terday evening included the Bishop of London and Mrs. Blotnfield, the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Northampton, the Marquis of Granby, Viscount Mel bourne, and Lord and Lady Beauvale. The band of the Royal Horse Guards attended at the Palace during dinner. The Viscountess Canning has succeeded the Countess of Mount Edgecumbe as the Lady in Waiting on the Queen • and Lord Byron and C olonel Drummond have succeeded Viscount Hawarden and Sir Frederick Stovin as the Lord and Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday, at Cambridge-house. Mr. as. m A oi d ie e t p t, u i‘ ta i t .p io . n ; i\ consisting of ß rummond , bI.P., Lord Jas. Stuart, s Stuart, M.P., Mr. Alexander Oswald, M.P., Mr. Gibson Craig, M.P., Mr. Buckley, M.P., and Mr. Hastie, M.P., accompanying Mr. John Wilsoe, Mr. John Bannatyne, Mr. Andrew Bannatyne, and Mr. William Dunlop, as a deputation from the Glasgow Bank, had an interview with Sirßobert Peel, at his official residence in Downing street, yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Commission for England had a meeting yesterday afternoon at the office in Whitehall place. The Commissioners present were the Arch bishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Bangor, the Bishop of St. David's, the Bishop of Exeter, the Bishop of Hereford, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Bishop of Norwich, the Bishop of Ripon, the Bishop of Rochester, the Bishop of Salis bury, the Bishop of Worcester, the Lord President of the Council, the Earl of Devon, the Earl of Besborough, the Earl of Ilarrowby, the Right Hon. 11. Hobhouse, and the Dean of Westminster. His Excellency the Ottoman Ambassador transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. Lord Saltoun had an interview with Lord Stanley yes- terday at the Colonial-office. Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes, and Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had in. terviews with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday THE DANISH CLAIMS.—Mr. Christie is to move, on Tuesday the 4th of June, that on the day following the House will resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of an address to her Majesty on the subject of the Danish Claims. PEEL'S NEW MONETARY SCHEME.—The leading London journals have hailed the new monetary project with acclamation—eminent private bankers have given it their concurrence—and the economists regard it as a bold step towards the realization of their principles. At this we are not much surprised. The English, having never enjoyed the advantages of a safe paper currency, are not unwilling that it should be held severely in check ; and the dread they have of panics from over-speculation, and loss from the failure of unsound banks, has blinded them to the greater danger of a constant and steady decline in commercial greatness, from a despotic carrying out of the principles of reel's Bill of 1819. That any of our Scottish journalists should take the same one-sided view, is to us, however, i a matter of some astonish ment. They know that paper issues can be rendered per fectly safe, and a very little reflection should satisfy them that, if there be any truth at all in the alleged influence on prices of contractions and expansions of the currency, a sys tem which provides a fixed amount of money to measure the value of a constantly-increasing quantity of goods, must produce a constant sinking of prices—a reduction of profits— and, consequently, manufacturing and commercial distreds. It is strange, too, that they should not perceive the real effect of Sir Robert Peel's proposal , whic h is neither more nor less than to give Government the virtual control of the whole issues of the country—a power which few Ministries ought to be invested with.—Aberdeen Herald. THE CHARGE OF MURDER AND ROBBERY AT SHADWELL.—Yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, a jury was empannelled before Mr. Baker, the coroner, at the Town of Whitby, Wapping-wall, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of Mr. Luke Williams, landlord of the Chequers public-house, in the same street, who is alleged to have died from injuries inflicted on him by a man named Bragger, under circumstances already described in this journal. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to the late residence of the deceased for the purpose of viewing the body. On their return to the inquest-room a statement of the circumstances, as already described before the police magistrate, was laid before them, and, at the suggestion of the coroner, the inquiry was at once adjourned until Thurs day next, in order to allow time for a post mortem examina tion to be made, out an hour's interruption or abatement up t,) the p - riod of Lord King's lamented death. "From Eton he was sent to Trinity College, Cam bridge, and shortly after succeeded to his title on the death of his father in 1793. After spending the usual time at the University, he made a tour through such parts of the Continent as were then open to British tra vellers, including Switzerland, Germany, and the north of Italy, and returned home as soon as he was of age. On taking his seat in the House of Lords, he joined the small band of Mr. Fox's Friends, of which the chief leaders in that House were Lord Holland and the Duke of Bedford ; the former of whom, in a letter written to Lady King shortly after her husband's death, thus re fers to the friendship which subsisted between them : In addition to the pleasure of his intercourse, and of an early, long, and uninterrupted friendship, I have to look back on repeated obligations, as well as uniform kindness, experienced from him. And if concurrence of sentiment in politics confirms and strengthens affec tion, I believe I can say, that from the period of our en tering public life (and, it I mislake not, we attended for the first time on the same day), we never differed twice in our votes for more than thirty-six years.' By Lord Holland he was probably introduced to the acqaintance of Mr. Fox, who, justly appreciating his character and talents, showed him many marks of friendly regard; and as the neighbourhood of their respective homes at Ock ham and St. Anne's Hill afforded frequent opportuni ties of intercourse, some of the most delightful hours of Lord King's life were spent in the society of Mr. Fox." LIFE : a Romance. Newby, London, 1844. The chief defects of this tale, - Which is 'in the form of an autobiography, are, first, a want of bold, vigor ous, dramatic incident, and secondly, a uniform senti mental tone that at times approaches to the maudlin, and is certainly not in keeping with nature, though it may possibly suit the tastes of circulating li brary readers. One or two of the scenes in the first volume are graphically enough pourtrayed ; we allude more especially to those which occur in the course of the episode, entitled "My Uncle's Tale," where Squire Thornley relates to his nephew, the hero of the narrative before us, some par ticulars connected with his earlier days, when ho was driven from his family possessions by the intrigues of a cunning unprincipled housekeeper and her conge nial confederate, a knavish attorney, by name Smart. The whole of this incident, with the attempt at murder made by the woman on the rightful heir at law, in conjunction with some of the servants whom she has won over to her interests, contrasts strikingly with the tame, and, we may add, lackadai sical, tone that pervades the rest of the work,- and is no where more conspicuous than in the conception and development of the character of Perkins—a deli cate, interesting, studious youth, who wears his shirt collar turned down, a la Byron, and his hair hanging over his shoulders after the most approved fashion of romantic sentimentalists, and dies in the flower of his youth of consumption, in the two hundred and eleventh page of the third volume, while his lady-love, Ellen Fanshawe, dies of a broken heart upon his grave, in the two hundred and thirteenth page of ditto. The language of the tale is generally chaste, and sometimes even eloquent, but, as we have already observed, it is much too effeminate in its tone. THE BOOK OF SYMBOLS. Chapman and Hall, London, 1844. In this volume we have a collection of prose essays on a variety of subjects, written with earnestness and simplicity, but without much depth or originality of thought. The author treats his various themes in a light, attractive manner, and as all his essays have brevity to recommend them, we see no reason why, despite their obvious super ficialness, they should not be received with favour by the reading portion of the community. The first topic which he discusses is "The Love of Know ledge—its Pleasures and Advantages," wherein he writes quite in a con amore spirit, justly remarking : " The love of knowledge is a Pierian spring of tran quillity and happiness that is hardly surpassed by anything on earth ; and he who drinks of it has a taste created in him not to be imagined by the igno rant. The fabled talismanic power of old is not to be compared with it, for it exercises an influence that terminates not but in death; it subjects all things to its sway, brings the passions, the tastes, the pursuits, and occupations of life, and the pleasures of the world, to yield it willing and pleasing homage." In the essay entitled " On an Active Life," the author takes the opportunity of doing justice to the old philoscpher I Epicurus, whose character and principles have been more misunderstood, and consequently more maligned, than those perhaps :of any great thinker who ever existed. Even Horace, who should have known better, talks of him as being a mere From sensualist, whereas he was a philosopher who inculcated quite an opposite system, recommended temperance and moderation in all things, and taught that the happi ness of man consisted in the healthy cultivation of the intellectual faculties, in tranquillity of mind, and ease of body. In his own private habits Epicurus was temperate and frugal to a degree; he preached nothing that he did not practice ; instilled into the minds of his disciples lessons of the soundest wisdom ; and has left a reputation for soundness of thought and blamelessness of conduct which will always be appre ciated by the discerning few, however it may be ma ligned by the ignorant many. HAND-BOOK TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Mitchell, London, 1844. It is enough to say of this work, that it is minute and circumstantial in its local details, and may be re ferred to with advantage by those who may be de sirous of familiarising themselves with the attractive scenery of the Isle of Wight, whose romantic range of rocks at the back of the island forming, what is called the Undercliff, is certainly , unique in its way among the landscape scenery of Great Britain. The PRACTICE in the OFFICES of the MASTERS on the PLEA SIDE of the SUPERIOR COMMON LA TV COURTS at WESTMINSTER, 6ec. By Thomas Dax, Esq., one of the Masters of the Court of Exchequer. Owen Richards, 194, Fleet-street. Very extensive powers are conferred by the statute 1 Vict., c. 30, and confided by the Courts of Common Law to their Taxing Masters, yet the principles by which these officers were guided, and the rules and regulations they observed in the discharge of their important duties were very imperfectly known even to members of the legal profession. Such a work, therefore, as the present, was wanted, and cannot fail to prove of advantage alike to attorney and suitor. The author is Senior Master of the Court of Exchequer, and, as well from his great experience in office, as from his former publications, he was well known to be emi nently qualified to supply the profession and the public with a work of such authority on the subject-matter of the treatise now before us, as should make it a standard work of reference. The anticipations that might thus have been reasonably entertained, we find have been fully realised by the execution of his task. The whole practice, in all its branches, is fully and lucidly explained, and the volume has the rare ad vantage in a law-book of being written in language so plain, and so perspicuous, and so little embarrassed by technical terms, that it may be understood, and read with profit by all classes of the community. JUSTICES' JUSTICE.—On Sunday last a portion of this town was thrown into rather a feverish state of ex citement, in consequence of three men being marched through the streets, like so many felons, and taken to gaol. " What is their offence," was the eager inquiry of the spectators, " surely it is not another Sutton-Boning ton burglary?" " No;" replied a grave-looking person, "not so bad as that, but they say its a highway robbery." These questions and answers induced us to make some inquiries, and we were told the men had been caught " committing the very serious offence of stepping off the foot-path into a field," and oh, horrible! they had actually thrown a stone at Mr. Edge's keeper. We shall not trouble our readers with any observations upon the profanation of the Sabbath, by sending men through the town on that day in custody, and thus creating a public excitement at a time which ought to be held sacred, although it was done by the direction of a magistrate who has for years been accustomed to hear read, at the quarter sessions and assizes the proclama tion " for the suppression of vice, profaneness, and immorality." We shall not stop to inquire into the legality of committing these men to gaol from Sunday until Wednesday, without any information having been laid against them, but proceed to make a few observa tions upon the case, as reported in this day's Mercury. Mr. T. W. Edge is a magistrate of the .co unty, and has the shooting over the lordship of Bdb or ough, which comprises Woodhorough. his keepers apprehend. these men, as they say, for trespassing a nd throwingstone at them when by the side of a w ood ; and by his direc tion they were sent to gaol. On Wednesdayin was heard, and the gameke e p er was completely the case c cOntra.• dieted by the witnesses for the defence, and the de fendants discharged. Thus three men were unjustly imprisoned from Sunday until Wednesday, and dis charged, wi thout any compensation , and labouring under th e stigma of havi n g prising that an been sleenwiiiii the gaol. Can it be sur ld be prevalent, that " there . i s one law for the rich, and another for the p oor ?, Nottingham Mercury. INCENDIARY IRE.—On Sunday aft e r noon , a b out four o'clock, the inhabitants of Stowmarket were alarmed by the cry of " fire," when it was discovered that one beau and two hay stacks, at Abbott's Hall, were on fire. There appears to be no doubt but they were set on fire at the same time, from their appearance when first seen: one hay and one bean stack were consumed. Fortu nately, three loads of hay were sav e d. B u t f o r the quick arrival of the engines, and the great exertions of the in habitants, a large wh ea t s t ac k mus t h ave b een destroy ed ; this, however, sustained little or no damage. It was n o doubt the wor k o f an i ncen di ar y. T wo p e rsons are in custody, who were seen near the spot a short time be fore the fire broke out. The property was insured. MR. NORTON ON INDIGESTION.—Some excellent remarks on diet, the causes and treatment of indigestion, and sound practical rules for the preservation of health, accompany each bottle of Norton's Camomile Pills, and are well worth the perusal of all who suffer from this complaint. In cases of indigestion, we should endeavour to restore tone and strength to the stomach, and thereby enable it to perform its important functions ; whereas it is not uncommon to hear of persons taking what they are pleased to call anti- bilious pills, which are, generally, some violent drastic compound, having a .direct tendency to weaken, and, ultimately, to destroy the digestlve organ.% IMPORTANT TO FOREIGNERS. (From the Boulogne Gazette.) GRIEVE V. I.UDDY. f :rhiS is pc rhill'S one of the most important cases for , re'ren-r5 that cver came before the tribunal of France. jts h 6 ows to pel - fection the hardship of their position, and the ro!-Aoer and plunder that may be committed, and for p% h ch the unforainate foreigner has no redress from the ene4 )'-w. That our readers may perfectly understand the P Oole case we shall give a summary as stated by the coy.selt, r the defendant at the trial. iMr. C. R. E roug h ton di ed i n Boulogne, 1832, be eathing a d he poessed to Mrs. Luddy, and appointed !lessr. Kirkham Powell and Samuel Heyward Budd, ` r ° Englishmen, his executors. The defendant. was then la America; on returning to Europe he called upon the xecutors for their accounts. These they refused him. .fearful from this that everything was not right, he nista- I d u , s te d inquiries, and after, in vain for three years, en s'arouring to get an account from them, he called upon the Tribunal of Boulogne to compel them to give an ee net and distribute, at least, the funds which the y trl obtain e d i n F rance. The executors resisted this on h Plea that the C our t s o f F rance had no jur i sd i ct i on, (-.cause the deceased, the plaintiff and the defendants We re all English. The Court by their decision in 1836 ; : greed to thi s , an d sent the plaintiff for remedy to the ,eglish Courts. Whilst the executors remained in ranee he had no remedy in England. In 1838, qt:lwever, he got a sor t o f account from them b y wh i ch Is?, ac knowledged to h ave rece i ve d upwar d s o f 6 , 0001 . , mthey refused to part with one penny of that so long e a chancery suit existed, which had been com b;nceagainst the deceased and was carried on by a „ 4- u s ofdevivor against Mr. Budd, who alone had proved .will in England. He found, therefore, he was at 'tea mercy, as they might prolong the suit of chancery i„ 31 , s was in th e grave. He agreed then to their terms, Z.l ti g upon one thing, th a t th e y s h ou ld not meddle in c 't the affair of the estate, that they should hand power of all papers, and give him an irrevocable state e all demands a ttorney to trans ac t a ll th e business of the to to receive all moneys due, and settle and com - et-caus ands. Armed with this power he has- With En gland and commenced a correspondence i CO • Grieve, the plaintiff in the action before t !art laat week, and who was Trustee for the parties e Viailltif4 l athe chancery suit. After four years it was di e d oh tween them that the suit should be compr9 • 'cut of a l L ti l 1 3 4 aYment of 2,3751. which was to be paid prieuc i ttiiee al Court, consisting of 1201. a year long sn agt 200 t interest due thereon, the defendant ex (hater —l4'neh 6 00/. of that, and to be enabled imme- Inon y Unii the executors '' either to pay the FOwt° Catch' they- held, or to give security for it. oso and Budd were partners in a bank in Boulogne ; ZiPt:critile7hwina,sseti feroanbi above c fi on r i tn p , romise made, than Budd which shortly after 1:)- ered ; lekrupt. Powell fled to England to escape his tb, . o t rs here, and his conduct there was the occas . ton hatt s c l 'eFore the Tribunal last week. On arriving in . ' 4l wen. to the attorney of Grieve, stated his 1.1 4 , and his sorrow that the affair was not settled with hot executors and offered, if the parties would agree,. ()I ' l3. hand ' them. over the whole of the fund in cert, but also to pay thorn eleven hundred pounds be -11,114,19ei:ng teeenteen hundred pounds more than they agreed to take, the deed for which had the — " 4 ' l 3' prepar, d and should have been then signed. vrttit informing Mr. Luddy of what was passing, the °F Powell was accepted and reduced to writing, 1 ,0 ell still farther binding himself, that if the eleven toirrecl Pounds )vas not paid within a month, that all his a r o tu,,eretal establishment in France was liable for the debt, of he empowered Mr. Joseph Woollett to dispose of N i Atlti held the funds accruing from it, for the benefit th e „ r ‘ Grieve to the extent of 1,1001., although he was luri" bankrupt, and knew that nothing in France be :fin:1;1107. On this agreement, to which Mr. Budd the parties obtained an amicable decree from Chancery forthwith, and after this decree I thaut ° e tal " ,l , the defendant, for the first time, knew the ti t fetil and disgraceful proceedings that had been car uh knew evidentl • to ir•ure him, for both Powell and 4 e that ) they had made away with all the funds 1 ,10 0 / estate, and had nothing wherewith to pay the to th il th e failure of Powell, the defendant had applied *att as signee and had his claim allowed. But no sooner Pli ed f"tridend declaied than the plaintiff Grieve ap tiot ~`°, :the Tribunal for the dividend of 6,000 francs — ' s ° c( B ? ill ing in they. pound—to be paid over to him, u i f s i"nce, Ist, o'f ate agreement with Powell, anO, Ithe the Decree i 6 chancery against Budd to pay le Oa" hundred paupds, not one farthing of which althoughTpis ' lie had received upwards of 6,0001. to tt , `ue defenclant resisted, Ist, declaring the Court in ea,P7Pit t to mei, as all the parties were foreigners, and th ' ili e r lit 3 : o ° E . t hern their former decision • 2d, from the tr „ the wholo proceeding, which ' he proved_ by 2 ,a7z i e l t "..s of the attorney agreeing to take from thanhim t hilt I ,.'„ e 'd he had already received much more an ti ß k re: —t o ; that Powell had no right to make such -411 1 41 , as it was fraudulent ; 4th, that the decree in ( -ery asia l „ as a dead letter, so far as he was concerned:, Qui'd . " 11 a 3 it decree against Samuel Heyward l ,,!°OlV 4 l ‘N a s y money he had aereed to pay , : 4 t41 4 t 10 6,o.4 l. lo he 'a liad t received for the benefit of the farthing of which the defendant had never ,ktla t h - 'o that the decree was not against the defendant,. 011-04` _therefore the Court had no right to consider it ra4ce anoinent ; sth, if the decree had . any force in ti) nr oe ',:t was against Budd, and against him they ought S4ell a re (l ,Y „. the facts of the case, which were ably argued Zthe,f ( l. 4 ,l r i tinet for the plaintiff, o byand cn Mr. Cannier t the urt was . as fol ft4p,' 111"1 w ' l e iieh T w h .e e s j l u la d lr with en all due deference, make trti.eservations next week \ ' l s 4t Mrs Ludd by the death of Mr. Brouthto_n 3 14 -- "tiad to leis property and proved on the ank tilklY " r his executors for one hundred and forty-four t i : ) 11.; 4 1 : 1 "litei hundred and eleven francs, as , being d_ ue 11 'e b opts, upon which she was entitled to di v i de )' ex ec . r , v - 6 000 f. ..„ 34 ,, Air. c Grieve lr , ' a pretended creditor, - " r " that dividend in the hand p s l t a o c f e t d th k a e I t ti k t o ite4;e,)that the French tribuna t g e n nt trt o bun a al e ; n mdera e t n ion the judgments of c a o f m or P e e i rroduces such a .. ju . dgment, but !lot as ren elde L"tnst LuddyLudd and this tiibuna . l not being able to uctv..Qn v and Grieve, still is bound to look tifhrthe interest of Loth parties, and it therefore gives t ji2ati' v ql B 4 i-x n. mouths to obtain the decision of an English ssa-nst Luddy, at the end of which time the co44ltiered a-r ° ain applied to, when the expenses will " NTA UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. PETITION FOR AN ADDRESS TO THE CROWN, TO APPOINT A COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INT() T lIE UNIVERSITIES OF OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. To the Hon. the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned, being Inhabitants of Manchester and its vicinity, Humbly Showeth,—That by various acts of the Crown and of the supreme Legislature, in different reigns, the ancient Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have been recognised as institutions whr,se well-being and wise conduct are of high national importance. That.by reason of the privileges so long bestowed ex clusively upon them, they have been fostered into schools for the rising generation of the English nobility and gentry ; so that no British subject can be unaffected by their good or bad management. That by the testamentary acts of many generous founders, every county in the realm, and all classes of the community, have a contingent pecuniary interest in those Universities, and in the colleges connected with then). That these institutions are in many points not so con ducted as the interests and wants of the nation, and the equitable rights of individuals, demand. That these Universities are not, and have long ceased to be, the central seats of the highest sciences, moral, political, or practical. That instead of leading the know ledge of the day, they linger behind it. That studies which are of eminent necessity to our future legislators and rulers, are either not taught there at all, or are not allowed their proportionate weight. That an artificial preponderance is given to a few select branches, which cannot, without blighting all the rest, be forced on all students indiscriminately. That even in the privileged studies of the Greek and Latin Classics these Universi ties show no superiority over foreign institutions, which embrace more numerous sciences and which are possessed W MS to the , bug.' as not and. an as govr, Dr an d North lay, 16 et has rd ten• tion to ndanco a Stock le, are idcers? in this it India duties !Ivor colonial neeting m ono. jg mere Coulter stock )f aunt onriC 66 th° nd Ac e lover. %g 44- d ih 61 1.1%% to -P to fitifi to •- to „to— ,. to t t o o to to to to 04 to to ..to 05. : n eoo _Bus as ern, — d ' Iley, 71 • h i 11• C • Og g ho tie, o_, otice CO' id entlo6eo 01 a 11 to 'elative 0. ;s.) 1 4 iLY )Itl, e° t5 :l be se c° :3 a kes e ve polic e $bP. , t ickle/ ; ( sat) 5 v 0,01.4) HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Amidst the applause and laughter which Don Panne. 7 e elicited last night from first to last, there was a contribtstA to the enjoyments of the performance who was utterly for gotten. We allude to the author of the libretto—and stiff to him infinite praise is due. Immediately after Bfetats tasio, in whose works passages sulillme as well as beauti=- ful are so abundant—libretto ceased to possess even corn, mon sense ; their anachronisms and absurdities proving in their authors the most magnificent contempt of all branches of ordinary education, and affording the few amateurs familiar with the Italian language the great est amusement. The iguorance of that beautiful tongue, and the absence of all cis comica in Italian singers some years since, rendered the libretto of little importance ; of late, how ever, this language has become a common branch of educa tion—we are, therefore, greatly indebted to that admirable critic and playwright, Romani, who has created a complete revolution in this style of composition, and who writes out his plots and dialogues as fast, and full as ably-, as the com posers do the music—as he did in an incredibly- short space of time with regard to Donizetti's Elisirc d'Amore. The author - of Don Pasquale is a worthy rival of his : he is a young student, and who has here made his debit in literature. No doubt that his spirited dialogues have contributed to inspire the composer, whilst they enable Lablache and Grisi to display the resources of their comic vein, and keep the delighted audience in a continual state of risible excitement. The more pathetic portions of the libretto, introduced for the- - sake of contrast, are not less admirably treated, and the poetry, though unpretending, flows with sweetness'and grace. To those who are not thoroughly conversant with Italian, the following free translation of the first song of the Opera, " Bella siccome un angelo," may not be uninteresting : " Bella siccome un angelo," &c. " Fair is she as angel bright, On a pilgrimage to earth ; Round her path a stream of light Proves her heavenly birth ! Fresh as freshest lily bell, • Opening in its em'rald cell To the morning dew. Then such soul-subduing eyes, Sunny laughter lurking lies, Wordless language, breathless sighs, All is in their hue. Hair that rivals ebon jet— When the raven's wing is wet With a rainbow shower, 'Tis less bright. And for her smile, They who gaze on it awhile, Fed—but too well—its power." Last night Don Pasquale placed the audience in the best disposition possible. Unfortunately in the ballet, after a display of more than her wonted power and grace, Cerito was taken suddenly ill ; the curtain fell at once. Coulon came forward to announce the circumstance to the public—, the peculiarity of his costume, combined with the sudden ness of his manner of expressing his desespoir, raised general laughter. The ballet was then brought at once to a close--- turning the habitual transient chat of the crush-room into a prolonged conversazione, but still of a most lively and agreeable character. We are happy to be able to state that Cerito - rapidly recovered from the swoon produced by her exertions. It is with the utmost alacrity that we seize this opportu nity of reminding the public of the benefit of that unrivalled artist who has the greatest claims on their patronage. Lablache, although he neither has now, nor ever has bad, - his equal, and although he has passed the meridian of life, condescends to the smallest parts in his zeal for the manage ment, and in his anxious desire to please the public. An example that finds but few imitators, either from want of talent, zeal, or good policy. It is needless for us to remind our readers what interest our highly intellectual favourite infuses into every opera in which he thus appears, and what importance he confers, and what fresh triumphs he elicits from parts secondary performers have rejected as beneath them. Lablache has made the happy choice for his benefit of. that beautiful opera Il Afatrimonio Segreto, and we doubt not the public will be eager to prove to him that they remember it. was in the part of Geronimo he made his debit in our capi tal, and to prove that from that day to this his reputation and popularity have constantly increased. The Opera was well attended last night. Amongst the company were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ; the Honourable William Ashley and party occupied the Queen - Dowager's box ; the Duke and Duchess of Leinstsr, Duke and Duchess of Montrose ; the Marquises of Ailesbury, Sa lisbury, Douro, Abercorn, Huntly ; the Marchionesses of Ailesbury, Abercorn, Douro, Westmeath; the Earls of Pem broke, Liverpool, Bruce, Shelburne, Wilton, Glengall, Ken mare, Belfast, and Maldon ; Countesses of Shelburne, Ken mare, Glengall ; Lords Ernest Bruce, Foley, Gardner, Sandy& M‘Donald, Charles Wellesley, Templetoun ; Count Noailles; Ladies Taylour, Ernest Bruce, Deere, Petre, Foulis, Mahon, E. Balfour, Augusta Somerset, Shaw Stewart, Ingilby ; Sirs F. Trench, H. .11eux, Denham Norreyr, T. Hare, IL Bold Hoghton ; Hon. Colonel Upton, Mr. and Mrs. Aesheton Smith, Mr. Wombwell, Colonel Knox, Colonel Wigram, and - Major Baring. - - MILITARY INTELLIGENCE . CHATHAM, MAT 20.—Colonel Sir Thomas Wilshire,, K.C.B. , Commandant of this Garrison , issue d this da y a gar rison order, commanding Colonel Thomas Weare, K.H., to hold the under-mentioned detachments of the provisional battalion in readiness to embark at Gravesend, on board thee- - ships hereafter named, for the Presidency of Madras :—The 4th King's Own, 102 privates, with Lieutenant Bolton and Ensign Collins; 19 privates, with Lieutenant Frost, of the 57th ; and Assistant. Surgeon Webster of the 21st Fn fliers, . making a total of 4 officers and 120 men, who are ordered to embark on board the ship Claudine, on Saturday, the 25th instant. The following embark the beginning of next month :-8 privates of the 63d, and 109 privates of the 94th, under the command of Captain Magee, of the 94th, with Ensign Le Grand, of the 63d Regiment, and Second-Lieute nant Ballinghall, of the 21st Fusiliers; Lieutenant Ahmnty and Lieutenant Grant, both of the 57th. These troops pro ceed to Gravesend on the sth of June, and then embark on board the ship Wellesley; and on the Bth of June the ship Ellenborough, of 1,100 tons, Captain M. C. Close ; will receive • on board at Gravesend 89 privates of the 21st Fusii;Prs, and 7 . privates of the 63d, with Lieutenant Cumming, a 4th King's Own, and Second - Lieutenant Peddie , o f the 21st /7118 i. kers. This ship will also take detachments from the Cavaliv depot at Maidstone. The following detachments arrived the invalid depot at this garrison on Saturday, the 18th instant from Gibraltar, Col f::, and the island of Z a n te :-1 sergeant, 7 privates of the Ist 2 corporals ; 6 pri vates of the 7th Fusiliers ; 4 sergeants, 12 privates, of the 19th ; 3 privates of the 38th ; 3 privates of tt...e 4 5 th ; I ser eant, 1 corporal, and 14 privates, of the 42d ; ;,!3 privates of the 48th ; 7 privates of the 79th ; 1 sergeant, 1 cotim;:al, 28 privates of the 97th ; 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 15 privates, Of the 88th ; Royal Artillery, including :a corporal of the Sap pers, 15 ; and 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, and 13 privates off the Ist battalion of the Rifle Brigade, with Sergeant-Major Jethro Florey, who has been in the service upwards of 3(! years. This non-commissioned officer enlisted in the 95th on the 16th of December, 1813, at Bow, near Stratford, and during those years which he has spent in foreign climates never had a day's sickness, and has the appesrance now of a. , man only 35 years of age. The Royal Artillery, Ist batta lion of Rifles, and the 97th, embarked at Corfu on the 18th of February last, on board the ship Nautilus, 400 tons, Cap tain M‘Leane ; and at Zante the .ship put in and took on board the 19th ; and at Malta she took in the 88th and 42d ; and arrived at Gibraltar on the 2d of April, when she took on board the remainder of the detachments. Dr. Holmes, Staff- Surgeon who left Chatham in December last with troops for Crofu, returned with this ship to Gibraltar, where he now remains ; and Dr. Burrs, Surgeon of the Ist Royals, too k charge of the troops to England. Major J. L. Smith, oF the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant Kerr, of the 19tb, came* , this garrison with the detachments, also twenty-three womett and forty-two children. During the ship's passage of three months and four days, which was most severe, beating them whole time against severe gales of wind, the troops lost by death two soldiers belonging to the 88th, and corporal Patrick Shaughnessy, of the 42d, with one child, and the ship's cook ; also a civilian named Samuel Hempstead, 65 years of age, who has for the last 40 years of his life filled at Gibraltar the office of public hangman, and for which duty he received the daily pay of full sergeant. This executioner was recommended to Government for superannuation allow ance, and was on his passage to be pensioned off. On the ship's arrival off Portsmouth he was taken ill, and on Mow day morning, the 13th instant, he died, when the ship was off Beochy-head, and his body was consigned to the deep. The. old man has left behind him a son, who is a wool-merchant at Gibraltar. upwards of thirty sick men were conveyed-to the Hospital at b ort Pitt in vans from Gravesend, at which glace the ship arrived on Friday, the 17th inst. CONSEQUENCES OF FRIGHTENING CHILDREIC—• A schoolmistress, for some trifling offence, most foolishly put a child into a dark cellar for an hour. The child was greatly terrified, and cried bitterly. Upon return ing to her parents in the evening she burst into tears and begged that she might not be put into the cellar. The parents thought this extremely odd, and assured her that there was no danger of their being guilty of so great an act of cruelty ; but it was difficult to pacify her, and when put to bed she passed a restless night. On the following day she had fever, during which she fre:, quently exclaimed, "Do not put me in the collar ! On the fourth day she was taken to Sir Astley Cooper, in a high state of fever, w ith delirium, fre; q uently muttering, " Pray don't put m e in the cellar. When Sir Astley inquired the reason he found that the parents had learnt the punishment to which she had been subjected. He ordered what was likely to relieve her ; but she died in a week af ter this unfeeling conduct. Another case from the same authority may here be cited. It is the case of a child, ten years of age, who wanted to write her exercise, and to scrape her slate pencil went into the school in the dark to fetch her knife, when one of her schoolfellows burst from behind the door to frighten her ; she was much terrified, and her bead ached. On the following day she became deaf ; and, on the next, so much so as not to hear the loudest talking. Sir Astley saw her three months after this had happened, and she continued in the same deplorable state of . d e afness. A boy fifteen years of age was admitted lamnbireiernilac from fright.teofllunde Whene Lunatic twelve Asylum, having become apprenticed day toalightbusiness ; years of age h andsometrifling e was aricleg onebein missing, he was, along with others, locked up in a dark cellar. The children were much alarmed ; and all were let out, with the exception of this poor boy,. who was detained until past midnight. He became from this time nervous and melancholy, and sankinto a state of insensibility, from which he will never recover. The missing article was found on the following morning, exculpating the boy from the guilt with which he had been charged. Parents should be extremely cautious not to allow their children to be beaten or terrified at all by unfeeling teachers. It has been found out that there is not the slightest occasion for coercion even in the asylums for the insane, and why should people suffer their children to be co wed and beaten merely to gratify the passion of some little minded domine, who knows no more about human nature than ho does about the valleys and mountains in 02 0 moon ?—Glasgow Constitutional. DEATii OF THE LADY ELIZABETH LOWTS!ER.--. We regret to announce the death of the Lady Elizabeth Lowther, relict of the late Sir John L owther, of Swillington, Bart., whose demise we recorded on 'lrednesday, last. Her Ladshi bad been for some time indisposed at Swillin4on i . but s y since the death ofthe v enerable Baronet she sunk rapidly, and was on Saturday so ill that orders were sent to delay the preparations for the funeral of Sir John, which had been fixed for Monday last, at Swillipgton Church, near Leeds, but as her Ladyship ra llied duri ng the day, the orders were coun t erm anded on Saturday evening. Her Ladyship, how ever, grew worse in the course of the night, and expired late in the evening of Sunday last. Orders were, of course , forthwith given to postpone the intended funeral from Men day to a future day, when the remains of both will be in terredwas in in theth the seventy-fourthsame vault a year same hteirmaeg. Here. she Ladyship th e third daughter of John the' ninth Earl of Westmoreland, and sister of the late Countess of Lo ns d a l e , who was the eldest . daughter of the s ame E ar l o f W es t more l a nd by his first wife. The deceased Lady Elizabeth was married to Sir John Lowther in 1790. iglish day's )rted, met s ds of le tho ancecl, 510 A ; 25 4d- 197 197 ::86g WS. ', -- to 7:: , tO I/1 , tO 10 , to '''' . to -' to -' _~ .. ;J • 0 I