The Sun. — London, England, 1844-08-24 00:00:00

gr` gentleman residing in Lambeth. Mr. Traill, after se verely commenting on the defendant's conduct, inflicted the full penalty of 5/. John Carpenter, ostler at the Boileau Arms, Barnes, Was brought up on a warrant, before Mr. Clive, atWands worth, charged with a most outrageous assault upon Mr. John Swaim!, the landlord of that inn. He was com mitted for a month in default of paying a fine of 40s. CIOTIET-FALSIXX 0 bi'11.233613. The Court is still in mourning for the late Reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and it is not expected to expire until a twervemonth from the date of his High ness's demise. Viscount Castlereagh is spending the grouse shooting Season with Sir Benjamin Hall, on his moors in Aber deenshire. The Noble Lord and the Hon. Barone t bagged above six hundred brace of grouse, besides hares, dunng the first four days. ~ Lady Brougham has arrived at the Clarendon Hotel, •Learnington Spa, for the benefit of her health. It is ex pected t h at Lord Brougham will also arrive at Leaming ton within the course of a few days. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster are ex pected to remain at Muor Park until the end of the month, and then return to Eaton Hall for the winter. Lordship is in improved health, and almost daily .!'i.ows the num erous cr i c k e t ma t c h es w hi c h t a ke place by Ms Lordship's permission in the park. The Duchess of Cleveland has left town for Raby Castle. Her Grace is, we regret to learn, suffering from slight indisposition. The Earl and Countess of Warwick are making a tour in Scotland, and will shortly join Lord Brooke at his shooting quarters in the Highlands. The Earl and Countess of Hillsborough are at present upon a visit to Viscount and Viscountess Combermere, at Combermere Abbey. Viscount Lewisham, eldest son of the Earl of Dart- Mouth, whose coming of age was celebrated last week at Castle Bromwich, has left England on a continental tour, and will remain abroad, it is said, until next spring. Mr. Emerson Tennent, M.P., and family left London aa Thursday the 22d, for Athens and Egypt. The Earl of Stradbroke has been paying a visit to his 4 ixtensive estates in Waterford since the close of the ses sion of Parliament. His Lordship will entertain a select Party iu the ensuing month with the sport of partridge shooting, at Henham Hall, Suffolk. Lord and Lady Seymour and family intend to paws the autumn and winter on the continent. They proceed to Paris at the end of the next month. His Grace the Duke (;iiGliinitoiOn Friday honoured 1 4 1 . B. Barnett, picture-dealer, of 84, Quadrant, with a Ynnt, to inspect his extensive collection of pictures by the old masters. On Thursdaybtiscmi,LeNrnotts. night, about eleven o'clock, considerable alarm was created in London-street, Ratcliff, in conse quence of a fire, by which an old lady, 72 years of age, was burnt to death, taking place in the prenaises belong. upcortuer, of i n ag f to Mr. William Argent, wholesale hearth-rug ma- No. 16, in that street. att ract n v eral days past thousands of persons have been rasp ` - ` 4 to the river frontage of the Tower to inspect a brill'nBter" gun, which was taken during one of the Some Wi t victories in India in 1841. diabolical fellow put a quantity of arsenic into the baker's well, at Castleton, Isle of Man, a few days LP. A. reward of 1001. h as b ee n off e red by the Lieu neat-Governor for the discovery of the person who committed the infernal act. ...Yesterday, at a wardmote h o ld en i n t h e war d o f Al lersgate, after a severe contest between Mr. Sherwood re Mr. Smith (t wo very respec t a bl e i n h a bit an t s ) f o r offic e of common councilman, the former was de clared to be the successful candidate. In the past week, the arrivals in the port of Liver tool of guano are estimated to be of the value of at least 45 ,000/. His Grace th e D u k e o f W e lli ng t on yes t er d a y h onoure d „r 'F. Barnett, picture dealer, of the Quadrant, with a visit to inspe c t hi s extens i ve co ll ect i on o f p i c t ures by th e old masters. ~Glierrier, Due d e Ch r i s t o ph e , the new black general of 'l ll 3 l i, is perf ec tly un i que i n hi s a pp earance ; h e is one 1 , 2,, the p oor planters of the country, dresses in coarse usnaburg jacket and pants, with an old straw hat, and neither stockings or shoes ; buckles his spurs to his :naked 1 heel s , carry i ng, w h en mounte d, a l arge blunder buss, large large e noug h f or a two - poun d b a ll, an d a b e lt f u ll St tistols. His chiefs are habited mostly after the same yle., throwi ng as id e w i t h di s d a i n t h e usua l m ilit ar y d ress and badges. Re The rector of Kilrush is vacant by the death of the ileory Vhitty, after a few days' illness of fever, contracted in the discharge of his ministerial duties. Miss Cassen, of Limerick, whose abduction we lately reported, has been r e s t o red to her friends. She was trl ic„ed by a constable to a hotel at Gort, where she her le" had taken occasion to reveal the facts to the inn -IPer. The abductor has absconded. It n „ n consequ ence , of the continued indisposition of the 3n ,"""lu t ts of Sligo, Lieutenant of Mayo, the Earl of Alta please ults been appointed Vice-Lieutenant, until it shall Providence to restore his noble (parent to his former health. RAILWAY RETURNS. We extract from the Railway Record the sums Ireeei ve a th e ~,l," the principal Railways of Great Britain for 'each lv . - - 7- m e nding on the day of the month prefixed to passenEe;"e return includes the money received for eh A.- s , Parcels, carriages, horses, mails, and mer -...„anutse: Week Aug.nded Name of Railway. Total. d £. s. . ' 17 Arbroath and Forfar 179 1 8 16 Birmingham and Gloucester 3,107 15 7 17 Brandling Junction 1,242 3 4 17 Bristol and Gloucester 16 Chester and Birkenhead 613 8 9 15 Dublin and Drogheda. 743 14 6 20 Dublin and Kingstown 1,325 0 11 18 Dundee and Arbroath 375 9 1 17 Durham and Sunderland 586 1 2 17 Edinburgh and Glasgow 2,739 8 9 18 Eastern Counties and North Eastern 4,378 15 3 17 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr 1,689 4 10 17 Glasgow and Greenock 1,127 15 0 17 Grand Junction 10,223 11 1 17 Great North of England 1,978 15 0 18 Great Western 16 Liverpool and Manchester 17 London and Birmingham 1 8 London and Blackwall 1,263 10 1 „ 17 London and Brighton - In London and Croydon -,. London and Greenwich 907 19 0 'n London and South Western ....... 15 Manchester, Bolton and Bury 922 4 8 17 Man c hester and Birmingham 3, 531 15 3 17 Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Assoc. 8,705 4 0 1 7 Midland Counties 17 Newcastle and Darlington 914 4 0 1 7 Newcastle and Carlisle 2,157 7 5 18 Newcastle and North Shields 427 3 4 16 North Union and Bolton and Preston 1,835 13 11 1 9 Paris, Corbeil, and Orleans 19 Pa r i s and Rouen 6,235 0 0 1 7 Preston and Wyre 653 7 6 1 7 Sheffield and Manchester Bl4 5 10 ."2 South Eastern 17 Taff Vale 18 Ulster 532 4 7 18 Yarmouth and Norwich ... ........... ... 366 17 6 17 York and North Midland NAVAL STEAM HAMMER, &c. those of Russia and the United States, have introduced it, and in those countries it is making the most rapid progress. At present Mr. Nasmytl,'s steam hammer is in use at the Low Moor Iron Company's works, Bradford ; at the works of Messrs. Rushton and Eccersby, and Messrs. B. Hick End Co., Bolton ; Messrs. Haw kes, Crawshay, and Co., Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Messrs. Penn and Co., Greenwich ; as well as in twenty other establishments in Europe and America, and doubtless ere long it will be exerting its energetic and docile power in every im portant establishment in the world. er of ok iti There has lately been introduced into the naval ser. "lee as invention of first-rate importance in this era o ' te am machinery, brought under the notice of the Go v erntnent by Captain Burgman, R.E., director of works ;t Devonport Dockyard, who became acquainted with its on an official tour last year to the machine-manu teturing di s tri c ts. It is that of an immense steam h ammer, which has been fitted in a building prepared x it in Devonport dockyard, and commenced its opera day or two since in the presence of the Port 'lra!, Sir David, and Lady Milne ; the Admiral s uperintendent, Sir S. Pym, and several ladies ; Captain uronan, RE., the store-keeper, store-receiver, the nuister shipwright, and many other officers of the dock- Pl ll , who did not hesitate to unite in one opinion of its advant age in every respect for which it is adapted , and iv ,.. 40 were highly delighted with the novelty of the mov g parts of its machinery. O f late years, suc h has b e e n the vast increase in the %it and magnitude of steam machinery, that the .440 st po wer f u l forge hammers, some of eight t ons „_ We ight, and put into motion by engines of 50-horse p o wer and upwards, were found inadequate to the exe eu, t ien, with due solidity, of the enormous cran ks, pad dle -wheel shafts, &c., required for engines of such in creased size. The very limits of the capabilities of the !Mist enormous forge hammers had been reached, and but for th e introduction of the above entire novel system rhammering wch we are about to escribe, w must e paused in t hi he magnificent course of extension of ' i ne steam machinery, by reason of our insufficient nlk'lLus of forging the vast masses of wrought iron neces intr for their construction. the year 1839 the subject of steam hammers drew the attenton of Mr. James Nasmyth, engineer, of Man chester —th e inadequacy of the then - existing appara tus 4 : ,l • k en) pace wl `.th the extensive machinery daily pro tectert induced the consideration, when that gentleman fl, t he most simple 5 0t1 direct application of the elastic —ce of steam produced a forge hammer of such vast I'Mver and docility, that by means of the same apparatus 4e paddle-shaft f or engines of 1,000 - horse power , or a eo nl teon nail, may be forged with a degree of rapidity, r r e, and p er f ect i on , as to leave the efforts o f all other le hammers f a r in the distance. The arrangement of the apparatus by which such im portant results are obtained, simply consists in placing an inverted cylinder, whose piston-rod comes out through the bott om , an d i s at once at t ac h e d to a large block of cast iron, which slides between two upright guides. T his block is the hammer, and its rising and falling motion is " 4 , s. ?flee obtained by the alternate admission and escape nigh -pressure steam under the piston, the admission said escape of the steam being caused by the up and ewn motion of the hammer. Thus, by a simple cylin der, piston-rod, and block of iron, we have the most Powerful steam forge hammer; and as the force of the blow can be varied at will, by regulating the quantity of tteram admitted under the piston, the blows may be al tered in an instant from the most tremendous " smash" the gentlest "tap." Hence we have obtained a com pletecommand over power in tie form of percussion lii r tr !, and a new era in the working of wrought iron n dneed which will in due time produce the most ' line. Portant results in extending the application of this i C e stimable . material. eprinciple of Mr. Nasmyth's patent direct action steam .‘xatumer is confined by no limitation. A forge hammer Of 20 tons weight, with a clear fall of 10 feet, is Its attainable , and as easy to manage as the smallest he h as a constructed, which vary in size and power from o ne "I:, striking 220 blows per minute, to those of five tons. x'ew inventions have made more rapid progress in the ini? 2 ,e period th an this, the merits of which are so self evidentrogreia as to be at once appreciated by practical men. Governments, among whom we may mention THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 24, 1844. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FRlDAY.—Prince Albert walked this morning in the grounds adjacent to the Castle. His Royal Highness rode out on horseback in the after noon, attended by Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. The Royal Family were taken their accustomed airings in the pleasure-grounds and slopes of the Castle in the forenoon, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal on ponies. Their Royal High nesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice were taken a carriage drive in the afternoon, ac companied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal was also taken an airing. Sir Robert Peel arrived at the Castle at three o'clock this afternoon, and had an audience of Prince Albert. The Right Hon. Baronet afterwards took his departure, returning to town by the five o'clock train of the Great Western Railway. her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will dine at the Castle this evening. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the llereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, arrived at Kew on Thursday evening, from Alton Towers. M. Dedel returned to town yesterday afternoon from Nuneham Park, where his Excellency had been invited by the Archbishop of York to meet the Prince of Prussia. Sir Robert Peel left town yesterday afternoon for Windsor Castle, to have an audience of his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Right Hon. Baronet returned to his residence in Whitehall-gardens last evening. M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, transacted business yesterday at the Foreign-office. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll and Lady Emma Campbell, in Connaught-place West, from Brighton ; Major-General Wynyard, at Kensington Palace ; Lord and Lady Claud llamilton, at Argyll House ; Barton, Esq , and family, at the York Hotel, Albemarle-street ; the Dowager Countess of Essex and Miss Johnstone, in Belgrave-square, from a visit to the Archbishop of York, at Nuneham ; the Marquis of Worcester, at Beaufort House, Arlington-street, from Troy House, Monmouth shire ; Capt. and Mrs. Haselfoot and Miss Hill, at Nel son's Hotel, Portland-place, from Harrogate, en route to Colchester, Essex ; J. Burgess, Esq., and Mrs. Burgess, at ditto, from the Isle of Wight ; H. M. Morgan, Esq., at ditto, from Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge. DEPARTURES. _ The Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas and suite, from the Duke of Hamilton's, Portman-square, for the north ; Hunloke, Esq., on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Albemarle, at Quiddenham Hall, Norfolk ; the Countess of Dunmore and Miss Talbot, for Lord Shrewsbury's, Alton Towers ; Cox, Esq., from Gros venor-place, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Rich mond, at ordon Castle, N.B. ;W. 11. Gregory, Esq., M.P., from Dover-street, for the German Spas ; Ran dall, Esq., and Mrs. Randall, from the Clarendon Hotel, Bond-street, for the Continent ; Captain Blacklin (Ist Royals), for Gibraltar ; Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Ormsby Gore, on a visit to Sir J. T. Tyrell, Batt, M.l'., at Boreham House, Essex ; Capel Lechmere, Esq., and Mrs. Jones, from Nelson's Hotel, Portland-place, for Cheltenham ; Edward Kinnersly, Esq., and family, from ditto, for Hulmwalfield, Congleton. CHANGES. The Michas of Sutherland and Lady Caroline Love son Gower, at Trentham Hall, from a visit to the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, at Alton .Towers ; Major and Mrs. Kennedy, from Cheltenham, for the Continent ; the Rev. Viscount Sidmouth, at Up Ottery, Devon, from Sidmouth ; Lieutenant-General Sir E. Blakeney, at Dublin, from a visit to the Earl of Bandon, at Castle Bernard, and an official tour of the south-west district ; the Marquis and Marchioness of Lorn, on a visit to the Duchess of Sutherland, at Trentham Hall, from Brighton ; the Marquis and Marchioness of Ormonde, at Kilkenny Castle, from a tour; Lord Ebrington, for the German Spas, from Brussels; Lady IL Forde, at Hollymount, from Harrogate ; Colonel Rotton, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, at Gordon Castle; the Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford, from Cowes, on a cruise in the Wave, cutter yacht. BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER RAILWAY. BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY EVENING.—A numerous and important meeting of the proprietors of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway was held at Dee's Royal Hotel to-day, for the purpose of transacting the usual half yearly business of the Company. There was consider able interest excited in consequence of a large number of shares having been thrown upon the market, owing to some unfavourable rumours which had been circulated respecting the mode in which the recent transactions of the Company had been managed. Indeed, it was expected that there would be some strong debates, but such, how ever, was not the case, and the meeting was carried on and terminated to the satisfaction of tho shareholders present. Samuel Bonley, Esq., of Gloucester, was called to the chair, when, Mr. SANDERS, the secretary, read the minutes of the last meeting, after which he read the report of the directors for the last half-year, from which it appeared, that the receipts for the past half-year, ending the 30th June, have been 53,2031. 4s. ld., and the total expendi ture, including interest, &c., has been 39,2611. 125., which, with the balance from last half-year, of 1111. 16s. 10d., now leaves at disposal 14,0531. Bs. I Id. ; from which the directors recommend the payment of a divi dend of 255. per share (less income-tax), amounting to 13,7591. 12s. 10d., carrying forward the remaining sum of 2931. 16s. Id. to the current half-year's account. This amount of dividend is more than double what was paid in the corresponding six months of 1843. The receipts from the passenger traffic show an increase of 5,5901.25. Id. over the corresponding half-year, although no ad vantage had been obtained prior to the 30th of June from the completion of the Bristol line, which was not opened till the Bth of July. The increase of the goods has been much greater than that of the passenger traffic. The CHAIRMAN then said that he was quite prepared to enter into a full explanation of the whole of the trans actions and accounts of the Company, in addition to the information supplied in the report. It appeared that some persons, having been disappointed in the dividend, had sold out rather extensively, although he could not see any grounds for such alarm. The account which he held in his hand of the amount of the traffic was cer tainly very satisfactory. Mr. J. STURGE said he was glad to observe that there was an evident disposition on the part of railway pro prietors to accommodate second and third-class passen gers, and he hoped that that feeling would become gene ral. He had heard that on some lines it was the practice to compel second-class passengers, when changing to an other line, to go in first-class carriages. CHARLES SnAw, Esq., said, the Birmingham and Gloucester Company had three third-class trains run ning daily, at the rate of 17 miles an hour, and so far they must be considered as having acted with liberality towards the public. The following resolution, declaratory of the divi dend, was then agreed to, after which the meeting separated : " That a dividend of 11. ss. per 1001. share, in 6s. 3d. per quarter, dated Ist January, 1844 ; 4s. 2d. per quar ter share, dated Ist March ; 3s. Oid. per quarter share, dated Ist April ; 2s. Old. per quarter share, dated May 1 ; Is. Old. per quarter share, dated Ist June (less in come-tax), amounting to 13,7591. 12s. 10d. be now de clared, and that it be payable on the 7th Sept. next." (From Last Night's Gazette.) Railway Department, Board of Trade, Whitehall, Aug. 20, 1844. Whereas, by a minute of the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, relative to the constitution and mode of proceedings of the Railway Department, dated Aug. 6, 1844, and presented to Parliament by her Majesty's command, my Lords direct, that whenever the department has formed an intention of examining into any railway scheme or schemes, with a view to making a minute or report thereon for presentation to Parliament, notice shall be given of that intention in the Gazette, for the information of those whom it may concern; in which notice shall be stated, as near as may be, the points into which inquiry is to be made in connection with the pro posed line of railway. In conformity with the said direc tion, the Board, constituted by that minute for the trans action of railway business, hereby give notice, that it is their intention to examine into the following schemes, with a view to the presentation to Parliament of minutes or reports thereon, in the event of their becoming the subjects of application to Parliament: — I. The schemes proposed for connecting London and York by a new line or lines of railway communication to the eastward of the lines at present existing. 11. The schemes proposed for establishing east and west lines of railway communication between Lincoln shire and the West Riding of Yorkshire. 111. The schemes proposed for completing the railway communication between Scotland and England. IV. The schemes proposed for extending railway communications to Newbury, and to the districts of Wiltshire, Somersetshire, and Dorsetshire, which lie in termediate between the London and South-Western Railway, and the Great Western and Bristol and Exeter Railways. V. The schemes proposed for completing the line of southern coast communication between Chichester and Portsmouth. VL The schemes proposed for extending railway communications from London to Gravesend, Chatham, and North Kent. VII. The schemes proposed for extending , railway communications from Oxford to Rugby , and. to Eves ham, Worcester, and other districts intermediate between the Great Western and London and Birmingham Rail ways. VIII. The schemes proposed for establishing new and more direct railway communication between Manchester and Leeds, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford, and other places in the districts adjoining to the Manchester and lauds Railway, and intermediate between that.line and the Manchester and Sheffield, and Leeds and Bradford Railways. The principal points into which inquiry will be made, in connection with the above schemas, are as follow : Ist. The ability and bona fide intention of the pro moters to prosecute their application to Parliament next session for Bills to authorise the several under- takings. 2d. The advantages to be obtained, in a national point of view, in completing or extending important lines of railway communication. 3d. The amount of local advantage afforded to the towns and districts more immediately affgeted. 4th. The engineering circumstances of the line, so far as may be necessary to form a general judgment of the character of the undertaking. sth. The estimates of cost of construction, and of traffic and working expenses, so far as may be necessary to judge of the probability of the line being completed and efficiently worked in the event of its being sanctioned by Parliament, and with a view to drawing a compari son between the merits of competing lines of railway. The inquiry, in conformity with the recommendation of the Fifth Report of the Select Committee on Railways, will not embrace questions of private property or into • rest, which will be reserved altogether for the conside ration of the Legislature. (Signed) DALLIOUSIE. C. W. PASLEY. G. R. PORTER. D. O'BRIEN. S. LAING. CITY OF LONDON GENERAL PENSION SOCIETY. — Amongst the recent donations announced by the secre tary, Henry F. Richardson, Esq., are—The Duke of Northumberland, 20/.;lLuke J. Hansard, Esq., 501. ; Mrs. Thwaytes, 501. ; Trustees Cholmondeley Charities, 501.; Lord Bristol, 251. ; Sir T. Baring, Bart., 20/. ; Thomas Baring, Esq., 201. ; Hon. W. B. Baring, 151. STATE OF TRADE.—LIVERPOOL. —For the last few weeks there has been a downward tendency in this mar ket for all the important articles of consumption, and although the rate of discount has continued at a very low standard, and money exceedingly plentiful, yet merchants hare had to endure the annoyance of submit ting to lower prices on each succeeding operation. Cot ton, the most important article in our trade, has caused heavy losses in some quarters. Prices are now about twenty-five per cent. lower than they were on the Ist of March last, when we had a stock of 620,000 bales, of which fully one-third had been taken by speculators in the first two months of the year. This stock has gra dually gone on augmenting, and the difference in its value on the prices of the Ist of March, and its present worth in the market, may fairly be estimated at about one million sterling, no mean sum to be divided among the unfortunate holders, of whom a great proportion were mere adventurers. We might make similar com parisons to the above, with respect to sugar, coffee, rum, tobacco, some descriptions of oils, and other articles ; and if the result was seen at one glance, the totallosses occasioned by the depreciation in value on produce, since the Ist of March, would be very much augmented. Not withstanding' the rapid fall in prices, there is no dis position to speculate.—Liverpool Mercury. JUDGES' CHAMBERS.--Yesterday it was understood at the Judges' Chambers that Mr. Justice Maule, the only Judge in town during the vacation, had made about 300 orders for the discharge of persons who were con fined for debts not exceeding 201., and that daily appli cations are made ex parte for the liberation of debtors incarcerated in the prisons of England and Wales. It should be known that debtors detained on Courts of Re quests' warrants need not to wait until the Court out of which the judgment was obtained should be opened, but they can apply by affidavit to a Judge of one of the supe rior courts at chambers. A case was brought before Mr. Justice )Mule on Thursday of a person who had been in Wilton gaol, Somersetshire, for fifteen months, on a debt of 2/. 6s. 71d., the law costs on which amounted to 51. He was discharged under the new Act. By some strange omission in the new Act the remands of insolvents for debts under 201. have been rendered inoperative, and other insolvents, whose cases were adjourned on ac count of gross misconduct, have got out of prison under the new Act. Two cases of peculiar hardship have oc curred. An insolvent was remanded for six months for a flagrant case of vexatiously defending an action for a debt of 19/, and on his application to be discharged it was urged that it would be a monstrous perversion of justice to let suck a person escape. The Learned Judge, however, made the order, leaving the party to any re medy he might possess. In the other case an insolvent refused to give up possession of some premises to the landlord ; he, however, obtained his discharge under the new Act, retaining possession of the property from the owner. DINNER TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH-DAY OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT.—WINDSOR, FRIDAY.—A public dinner, to which upwards of fifty of the most influential inhabitants of Old and New Windsor sat down, was given at the Hope Inn, Frogmore, yesterday evening ; splendid buck having been presented for the occasion by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, whose birth-day the large party had assembled to celebrate. The chair was filled by John Clode, jnn., Esq. The first toast ;was " The Queen," which was drank with all the honours, a royal salute being fired at the same time from a battery erected in the gardens. The chairman, in proposing the health of the Duchess of Kent, paid her Royal Highness a well-deserved compliment for the exercise of unbounded charity in the neighbourhood of Windsor, since her Royal Highness had come to reside amongst them ; thus following in the footsteps of her revered relative, the late Princess Augusta. The toast was drank with the greatest enthusiasm. The health of " Prince Albert," " The Queen Dowager," " The Prince of Wales, and the junior branches of the Royal Family," " The Duke of Cambrige, the High Steward of the borough, and the remaining branches of the Royal Family," " Sir George Couper, Comptroller of the Duchess of Kent's Household," and several other toasts having been drank, the company retired shortly after nine o'clock. Sir George Couper arrived from Frog more House shortly before dinner was served, to inspect the arrangements which had been made in the house and grounds of the Hope Inn, to celebrate the auspicious event. A MODERATE APPETITE.—A few days ago Thomas Ford, a spare looking man, in the garb of a keelman, went into an eating-house in the Broad Chare, in this town, and at his own request was supplied with three penny worth of cooked meat. After the lapse of an hour the landlord's daughter looked in upon him, and she al most imagined the poor man was troubled with a stomach complaint, as he appeared still to be labouring hard at his original supply. Another hour nearly expired, when Mr. Ford, having settled all demands, took his depar ture, but without exhibiting any improvement in his physical condition. Immediately afterwards it was dis covered that a leg of lamb had disappeared, and a few remains in the room, probably too large to swallow, left no doubt that it was irrecoverably lost to its owner. A short time afterwards Mr. Ford was discovered in a neighbouring public-house washing down his dinner with a pot of beer. Mr. Ford is at present confined for four teen days, not because the lamb did not agree with him, but because the magistrates thought he had eaten too much; but we have no doubt at the conclusion of that time, he will be quite willing to convince any one of the extent of his power who may doubt the truth of this story.—Neweastle Advertiser. Captain Bernal, M.P., is authorised, we see by the Gazette of last night, to change his name on his to ma h rr at of iage with Miss Osborne, which has taken place, t ®sborne. Henceforth the gallant Member will, we pre sume, be known as Captain Osborne. A Sheriff's officer (says a Scotch paper), on going last week to execute a writ at some dye-works at Govan, Glasgow, was thrown into a vat, and died in conse quence.—[Query, dyed in consequence ?] REASONABLE CAUSES.—Lord Frankfort has no music in his soul. Treasons, stratagems, and spoils en gage his thoughts to the entire exclusion of all sympathy with Italian organs. The march in Norma raises his lordly bile, and " Gently o'er my senses stealing" throws him into a paroxysm of fury. At the Marylebone police-office, on Saturday last, one of the vagrant min strels was charged with giving Lord Frankfort " ex cess of music," with the charitable intention of sur feiting an appetite that has already sickened and died. The crime was established ; the boy—one Morangi— continued his " eternal demnition grind," as Mr. Man tilini calls it, and refused to "move on" at any price. The Magistrate, Mr. Rawlinson, declared the boy's con duct " very scandalous," and, searching the Police Act for an adequate punishment, found that he might fine him forty shillings if he refused to go away for any " reasonable cause." But there was the rub. What was reasonable? A Magistrate could not be supposed to judge of such things ; we have every day evidence of their embarrassment when appeals are made to the un derstanding. It is specified in the Act, by way of exam ple, that sickness in a house is a reasonable ground for chasseeing itinerant musicians—but all the rest is left to conjecture ; and magisterial conjecture is the most absurd thing under Heaven that our Legislators could trust to ; judge-made law is bad enough, but magiste rially-constructed punishment is a farce. Mr. Rawlin son declared that the boy's conduct was " scandalous"— ergo, it was " reasonable" to expect him to desist, or be punished for perseverance. But that would have been too rational for the usages of the bench ; so the magis trate " discharged" the youth, and he may now repeat his " very scandalous" behaviour with impunity, to the intense annoyance of the music-hating Lord.—Atlus. PILCHARD FISHERY.—PERRAN PORTIL—The Cob ler's sean, at this place, shot on Monday last, and in closed a fine shoal of pilchards ; but being unfortunately short of hands, they were unable to draw the whole on shore, and only fifty hogsheads were secured, which were very fine fish.— West Briton. IMPORTANT TO SOLICITORS.--In the Crown Court at Wells, on Saturday week, the Hon. P. P. Bouverie, foreman of the Grand Jury, complained that that body had been detained both that day and the day before for want of bills. Mr. Justice Patteson replied that he know such to be the case, and had been given to understand that it arose from the neglect of attornies sending in their instructions. If he attended this circuit again, he would make an order that if the bills were not prepared within a certain time (when the delay originated with the attor nies), he would not allow them their expenses.—Somer set County Gazette. LUCIFER MATCHES.—The Courrier de Lyon states that on Thursday last, a man, living at Franconville, re turned to his home at night so much intoxicated that he could not find his way to his bed, and laid himself on the top of a table, where he probably would have slept through the night, had he not, in turning from one side to the other, crushed a bundle of chemical matches which he had in his pocket, and set them alight. His clothes caught fire, and although immediately awakened and sobered by the flames, he was so much burnt before as sistance arrived that he expired next day. ISLE OF WIGHT WAGGERY.—" Is this the way to Hyde ?" said a traveller who was as ignorant of horse manship as he was of the place he was inquiring for. The unsophisticated native to whom the query was ad dressed, after carefully surveying the equestrian artist, naively replied, " Na, na thee turns Out thee teas too much."--Isle of Wight Advertiser. COURT OF SEWERS. • An adjourned meeting of the Court of Sewers for the city and liberty of Westminster and part of Mid dlesex, Wll3 held yesterday, at the S,wers-office, Greek-street, Soho-square. T. L. Donaldson took the Chair at twelve o'clock. Some general business having been disposed of, The CHAIRINIAN said that the next matter before them was " to consider if any, and what, steps should be im mediately taken to restore the dilapidated parts of the main line of the Ranelagh sewer in Gloucester-road, Paddington." He had ordered that the business should be put into that day's paper in order that it might be kept before the Court, with the view of taking some im mediate steps therein. They had an application to con tinue the line for another thousand feet at an estimated cost of 3,0001., and he (the Chairman) was most anxious that the works should be commenced forthwith. The public were greatly inconvenienced by the present con dition of the sewer ; and that Court had not for the last four months done anything to get it rectified. He would take the liberty of throwing out a suggestion, and he hoped that some mem ber of the Court would frame a resolution upon it—that it might tend to strengthen the evidence of the officers of that Court, as tc, the causes of the failure of the works, if one or two professional men were empowered to report upon the subject. He merely threw out the suggestion; it was for the Court to act, or not, uron it. A Commisslorain understood that it had been deter mined upon, some time before, to try the question as to the contractor's liberty to make good the failure, in] a court of law. Mr. WILLOUGHBY explained that the contractor had made a proposition to finish the works, but the Court had not seen fit to accede to it. Mr. ALLANSON coincided with the remark made by the Chairman, that the present delay of the works occasioned great public inconvenience. Colonel J. C. GANT thought that the Court would have serious difficulties to contend with if they carried this matter into a court of law. Those difficulties would be greatly increased if they went on with the restoration of the sewer in a different form from that in which it was first made. He questioned, indeed, how far the con tractor might be considered liable, seeing that his money was paid by that Court for the work, on an assurance from their own officers that it was completed in a trades manlike manner. It had stood for two years, and he certainly thought that before proceeding further in the matter their , solicitor ought to have the opinion of two eminent surveyors, besides that of the regular officers of that Court with regard to the work. He again ex pressed a doubt, that, if they completed the line accord ing to the new form of sewer, it would be held as a tacit admission that the old form sanctioned by the Court, was a bad one, and that the contractor therefore was not to blame because it ha..l failed. Mr. WILLOUGHBY denied that the old form of sewer was faulty, but the contractor had not done his work in a proper manner. A resolution was, after some further discussion, agreed to, that professional opinion should be taken on the sub. ject. It was also decided that the additional length of 1,000 feet should be added to the line. The Court then sanctioned the orders of the 25th and 23d July, for ninety-feet of sewer in Norfolk-street, Strand, at an estimated cost of 1181. us. Bd. and twenty feet of Ranelagh main sewer at Kilburn - bridge, to be arched over, at a cost of 13/. 6s. 6d. A letter was read from Mr. Pennethorne, surveyor to the Woods and Forests, stating that the Commis sioners agreed to the proposition made by him to the Court of Sewers, (namely, the contributing of 5751. to wards the line of sewerage in the proposed new street from St. Giles's to Long-acre, the estimated cost of the whole being 2,100/. 18s. 6d.), provided the line was carried on to Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury, and the whole finished by Lady-day. The line was then con sidered in reference to the necessities of the Holborn and Finsbury Commission, and it was stated by the sur veyor, that the additional depth required would be five feet, two inches ; and the estimated cost for digging 518/. lls. Bd. The estimated cost for rebuilding the ' Charlotte-street sewer, was 410/., which expense would in a very short time require to be borne by the district, as the present drainage was in bad condition. Mr. ALLANSON thought that before they came to any conclusion on this point, they ought to have some direct correspondence with the Holborn and Finsbury Coin mission. Colonel GANT went at considerable length into the amicable relations which ought to exist between neigh bouring Commissions, and was persuaded that a broad and liberal mode of arranging matters like the present would conduce most to the public advantage, and to the good feeling which ought to be maintained between tie Sewers' Courts of the metropolis. Mr. WILLOUGHBY did not think it consistent with their duties to their district to involve that district in expenses incurred for the benefit of another. It seemed only a principle of justice, that those who reaped the advantages should bear the expense ; and he apprehended that it would be an illegal application of 928 L, to expend it for the benefit of any parties, other than those from whom the same was derived. _ Mr. DONALDSON thought that it - would be enough for that district to bear the expense of the sewerage in Charlotte-street, which their surveyors' report esti mated at 4101. At the suggestion of the Chairman, the Court con fined itself to the question of the diggings, and, Mr. WILLOUGHBY proposed a resolution—" That this Court does not feel justified in deepening the sewers of the division for the purposes of the Holborn and Fins bury division, and beyond the requirements of this division. except at the expense of that division." Mr. ll.AwitEs thought that the expenses ought to be calculated together, and not in portions. He was of opinion that they ought not to discuss the subject until they had received the further report of their surveyors. The resolution was ultimately carried. The CHAIRMAN then put the question as to whether the Court would sanction the rebuilding of the Char- lotte-street sewer at a cost of 4101. Their had the sur veyors' report that in a short time they would be obliged to begin this work, and he (the Chairman) was of opinion that the present was a most fitting time. — .Agreed to. Mr. HAWRES then moved a resolution—" That the surveyors report what additional expenses may be caused by gullies and sewers, on account of the increased depth of main sewer necessary to accommodate the Holborn and Finsbury district." He had stated, before the other votes were taken, that he required information upon this subject before he went further, and he hoped it would not be withheld from him. The CHAIRMAN said he had no wish to withhold any information from the Court, but he hoped that the lion. Commissioner would allow the votes already taken to preclude the resolution he had now proposed. Mr. HAWRES objected to the course required by the Chairman. Colonel GANT thought that the calculations' sought for by the Hon. Commissioner would be found inter minable. Were they in the progress of these works to go with every little item to the Holborn and Finsbury Commission, and say, " Pay this, it is incurred to suit your purposes?" Ile thought the Court could not enter tain the resolution for a moment. After some remarks from Mr. Willoughby and Mr. llawkes, the resolution was put and carried. The CHAIRMAN then said, that in order to test the last resolution, he should put another, namely—" That the resolutions of this Court, with the exception of the last, be forwarded to the Holborn and Finsbury Com mission." Mr. HAwims—Who signs that ? The CHAIRMAN -Mr. Willoughby's name and my own is attached to it. Mr. llAwxts—lt is a most extraordinary mode of doing business, and I am quite ashamed of it. Mr. WILLOUGUDY-Mr. Hawkes stated that it was for the information merely that he put the resolution. The object, therefore, can be attained, although it is not forwarded to the Holborn and Finsbury division. The last resolution was then put, and it was also carried. The question was then put, whether the Court would sanction the 1,540 feet of sewer in the new line already alluded to. —Agreed to. Several reports were afterwards read, and some minor business transacted, and the Court adjourned. The General Steam Navigation Company's steam. ship Caledonia, with her Majesty's mail from Hamburgh, ffowr forty wind e ls y s e e r n s g i e n r c 3 e , e b ft e i t o h r a c t c it a y v . i g S h e e b r v o e u s g s e h l t , arrived on Wedne s d ay, h av i ng exper i ence d a cont i nue d who, ga a ba d lo d eu re ot ssed the following handsome testimonial to Captain the seaman-like expring Phillips, commander of that v esse l : " Caledonia s t ea mer, Aug. 20.—Sir,—W e, the undersigned passen gers by the Caledonia steamer, under your command, to you the deep sense of conduct displayed during the extreme responsibility throw n u p on you b y t h e situa tion of the ship , in th e severe gales th a t we encoun tered on our pas sa g e fro m Hamburgh to London. We beg that you w ill do us t he favour to accept the accom panying token , as a sli ght offering of our esteem and egarnantiottu part arftor without good wishes.—We remain, Sir, yours faithfully, C. God defroy, Baron Bergh, \v. P. Kaye (Queen's foreign mes senger),EdwardJennings (lieutenant RN.), and eighteen other passengers. SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE. —One of those singular freaks which death plays with all cases and individuals has occurred in a case which has lately come before the magistrate at Bow-street. Our police reports have at various times contained particulars of a performer at Sadler's Wells Theatre, named Charles Lambe Dowden, having been brought . up at Bo w - street, charged w i t h presenting several cheques, for various amounts, to licensed victuallers, to whom he owed accounts, stating that they had been drawn by his uncle, Mr. Haggai., of Pimlico, who would take them up when due, which were afterwards found out to be forgeries. He succeeded, in three different cases, in obtaining sums, varying in amount, up t o nine pounds, from th ree d i fferent license d victuallers, but a fourth party, knowing Mr. Haggar was a very old man, and bed-ridden, determined to inquire into it, an d having done so found i t was a forgery. Mr. T d found h e could not go on w ith t h e case without wyfor le 's disproof of th e having the unc _ cheques being in his writing, and determined to go in a cab, with a clerk, to take his deposition at his own residence. On Monday last, just as the journey was about to be taken, intelli gence was received that death had closed the eyes of the aged uncle, who, with upwards of ninety winters o'er his head, had yielded to death's imperative ca ll. Th e land lord of the ho use, Mr. Spratt, with whom the old gentle man lodged, will, however, prove that the handwriting of the cheques is not that of Mr. ITaggar, RAILWAYS IN PRUSSIA.—The Prussian Govern ment, in order to avo . a as far as possible accidents upon the railroads, has founded a school at Berlin for teaching the art of directing and managing locomotives; and an ordonnance has been issued that, from and after the Ist of January, 1846, no person shall be employed as drivers of locomotives on the railways of the kingdom but those who have been taught in this school, and obtained a cer tificate of their capacity, MONUMENT TO THE SCOTTISH POLITICAL MARTYRS. (From the Caledonian Mercury of Thursday.) A site for a monument to Thomas Muir, Thomas B niningch. P. Palmer, William Skirving, J ose ph G erra ld, an d Burying ground, Maurice Margarot, who in 1793-94 su ff ere d banish mentdiffienoltn n a been n rg o e b "sedition,"tonfinedintbe O ld havi ng , Calton after ry ground, yesterday was appointed for formally laying the foundation of the obelisk, to be erected as a tri bute to their memory and sympathy for their fate. Joseph Hume, Esq., the Member for Montrose, and the originator of the movement for erecting monu ments to the political sufferers of their period, both in London and in Edinburgh, having agreed to be pre sent at the ceremony, every exertion was made by sub scribers and others professing liberal opinions to render the occasion as imposing as possible. The Complete Suffrage Association, to the number of about four hundred, assembled in the Meadow-walk at three o'clock in the afternoon, for the most part dressed in black clothes, and marched in procession down the High-street, through Parliament-square, passing the courts of justice, to the Waterloo Hotel, where they were met by Mr. Hume, several members of town council, and many respectable citizens. Among those, present on the ground, we observed, beside the Hon. Member for Montrose, a son of one of the martyrs, Mr. Skirving, who, we understand, is a manufacturer in Kirkaldy, and Mr. William Moffat, who acted as agent for Mr. Muir at his trial, and in both of whom the proceedings of yesterday seemed to awake the most lively interest. When the company had all assembled, Mr. HUME addressed them as follows :—Gentle men, I am happy at meeting with you here to-day, ready to perform an act of justice, and of respect to the memory of those who were the pioneers of the cause in which we are all engaged.—(Cheers.) I have been long anxious to see this day, having from a very early period of my life formed opinions highly condemnatory of those proceedings which took place towards the close of last century.—(Cheers.) I am one of those who, in 1792, 1793, while attend ing the University of this city, was witness to the proceedings which then took place, and though I have had occasion to be in different parts of the world, I never failed to recollect the enormities of that time. It has been a happy—a very happy— reflection to me, that I have been instrumental in making amends, in some degree at least, for the sacrifices those men made. You are all aware how disgraceful to Scotland those proceedings were—how the judges demeaned themselves by becoming instru ments in the hands of, I will not say the Ministers of the day, but of the man who, but a few years before, professed the same principles which afterwards he persecuted.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Many may not perhaps be aware that the thing for which these unfortunate individuals were tried was for advocating the same cause, and contending for the same object which, in 1782, Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Richmond supported.—(Hear.) When in 1784 Mr. Pitt suc ceeded to office, he immediately became a persecutor of those very doctrines by the profession of which he obtained office, and, like many others who desert from their party, he showed an increased zeal in persecuting individuals who continued to maintain those prin ciples. The French Revolution alarmed those who held the reins of Government, and they wielded their power on the principles of despotism. I have said des -potism, for I consider that wherever the people are not fully represented, despotism is almost sure to exist. Whatever privileges the Crown may have, and the aristocracy, I am ready and willing to concede all that is due, but still the people have their right and title to share in the Government. Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Richmond at one time introduced a Bill into Parliament, to obtain universal suffrage and annual parliaments, and they laboured gloriously to procure those benefits to the country, but soon after wards they deserted those principles and became zealous persecutors of what they had formerly pro fessed. Those men whom we are now met to com memorate saw that those who then possessed office had no right to appropriate the country funds—to fatten at the public expense—raised the alarm and brought upon themselves the persecution which we so deeply deplore.—(Cheers.) It is to the disgrace of Scotland, that it was through the labour and per severance of Mr. Dundas that those persons were con demned. Their condemnation was contrary to all law— a mockery of justice, and sufficient in itself to dis grace any country.—(Hear, hear.) I am one of those who deeply regret and sympathise with the manner in which the people were then treated, and the insults which they received, and I cannot but think that we, who profess to be advocates of reform, have been very backward in not having, many years ago, raised a monument to men who have done so much for our common cause. We see in our streets monuments erected to the memory of the persecutors of those men—to those who had no right, on the part of the people, to receive that respect. You are per fectly aware that great and repeated attempts have been made to calumniate those men as having been desirous to promote disturbances in the country— as having been men whose sole object was to create dissension and commotion. Nothing can be more false or inconsistent with their life and character. They were men of respectable station in life—in nowise desirous to excite any disturbance or popular commotion whatever, and therefore we ought to use every means in our power to confute those calumnies which have been raised against them.—(Hear, hear.) I look upon them as individuals sacrificed to the great cause of reform, and it becomes us as supporters of reform to erect a monument to those who have led the way in the path of justice and right, in order that in after times those who advocate the same cause may be encouraged, and that those in power may learn to beware of trampling upon the rights and privileges of the people.—(Cheers.) I trust this monument will prove a precursor of that which we all so ardently desire, for I am confident, as we are claiming what is right and just, that sooner or later— it may be in my day and may not—the people of this land will have a fair and full representation in the Commons House of Parliament.—(Loud cheers.) Without that it is impossible that this country can go on and maintain that position in the world which its wealth, influence, and character entitle it to hold, and which we all desire to zee it maintain. Many of you are better acquainted with the history of the times I have alluded to than I am. I have myself been an attentive observer in the cause of reform, and I would just recommend to every Reformer to read the history of those times of per secution. I find a very concise and correct history of these men has been published by Mr. Tait, which I would recommend to all who wish to be informed of what they suffered in the cause of reform. If there is anything about which I am more anxious than another, it is to relieve the characters of these men from the charges made against them of being desirous to excite dissension and commotion among the people, and with that view I shall read one single paragraph from the speech of M Muir himself t thejury, which shows the real motives by which he and his compatriots were actuated.—(Mr. Hume here read extracts from Mr. Muir's speech to the jury, and to the Court after receiving sentence, in the lat ter of which he said—" I have engaged in a good, a just, and a glorious cause—a cause which, sooner or later, must and will prevail, and by timely reform, save this country from destruction.") And (conti nued the Hon. Gentleman) so say I—(Hear, hear) —for it is only time that is required to secure the reform which we so much require. I entirely con cur in the sentiments of Mr. Muir which I have read. I am sure when it is known to any one that a person has been sacrificed for the principles which he holds, the fate of that person will stir him up to sym pathise with his misfortune. And in such a spirit will he regard those five men who were treated as felons, compelled to work as such, and who, though every effort was made in the House of Com mons, received no redress, but were shipped off to a fo reign land to associate with criminals, and to be sub jected to the most ignominious punishment. After spending eighteen months in banishment, an Ameri can vessel succeeded in rescuing Mr. Muir from ba nishment, but unfortunately, in consequence of hav ing touched at Nootka Sound, he was exposed to great peril and hardships. Mr. Hume here related some of the particulars connected with Mr. Muir's arrival at Cadiz, when it was supposed he was killed in the action with the English frigate in the harbour at the time, and also as to his death at Paris, eighteen months thereafter. He (Mr. Hume) had been anxious to obtain possession of any papers which Mr. Muir had left, and had sent a person to the Conti nent with that view, but unfortunately none had been found. Such was the fate of one of the victims of Mr. Pitt's apostacy.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. Palmer was punished on account of an article, written not by himself, but by another man, and like Mr. Muir he was subjected to similar atrocious procedure. The others were all arrested in December 1793. Let any man read the trials, and he will rise from t he perusal with feelings of the most intense shame that they should ever have taken place.--(Hear, hear.) I may state that I appear here in consequence of a public meeting held in London in Febru ar y last, in the Crown and Anchor Tavern, and which was one of the largest I ever saw in that place. At that meeting it was resolved to join together the two funds raised in London and in Edinburgh, for the purpose of erecting monuments to the martyrs in these two cities, and in the terms of the other resolutions then agreed to, I shall, with your permission, proceed to deposit such documents as have been prepared, and which, though of no value in themselves, yet4orm part of the ceremony observed on such occasions. Allow me to hope, that we shall live to see that re form with which these men identified themselves triumphant. It is not the names or the individuals that we advocate and admire, but- it is-tbtse prin ciples for which they suffered—and" IC is for the maintenance of those principles—it is in the cause of liberty, that I am anxious to lay the foundation of this monument.—(Cheers.) Mr. HumE then deposited in a cavity prepared for the occasion, a glass jar, containing copies of the newspapers of the day—Oliver and Boyd's Almanack —Tait's 21fagazine, containing a report of the trial of the martyrs—a list of the Scotch subscribers to the monument, and a few coins of the present reign. The covering stone having been deposited, Mr. HumE said—Gentlemen, as there is no clergyman present, you will perhaps allow me to officiate, and in doing so, I shall read the following remarkable prayer of Mr. Gerald, which he offered up by permission of the sheriff at the last meeting of the British Con vention in Edinburgh.—(Here Mr. Hume read the prayer, the company uncovering.) Mr. HUME expressed his great satisfaction at having, after the lapse of fifty years, the pleasure of seeing a monument about to be raised, which he hoped, together with the one to be erected in London, would prove a beacon to warn the statesmen of the day against persecution, and encourage men to sup port the cause of liberty. Three hearty cheers were then given, and the com pany left the ground. MEETING ON THE CALTON-HILL. As comparatively few could be accommodated within the burying-ground, it was resolved that a meeting should be got up on the Calton-hill, to hear addresses on the subject of the martyrs, and to enforce the principles for which they suffered. At least 3,000 persons were congregated on the hill ; a platform was erected at the eastern wall of the Observatory, for the Chairman and those who were along with him. Councillor STOTT having been called to the chair, said that, as Scotchmen, they must regard this occa sion with mingled feelings of solemnity and of joy. Could they look back on the sufferings of the honoured men who had stood forward for the defence of the rights of the people, and to whose memory they were that day met to do honour, without feelings bordering on sorrow ? And when they reflected on the manly way in which they had conducted themselves under their heavy trials, and, more especially, on the pro gress of the principles and opinions for which they had been called to suffer, the meeting had rea son to rejoice. In meeting to honour the memory of these men, they only acknowledged the debt of grati tude under which Scotland lay to them—(Cheers)—a debt they never could repay. They might erect a monument to their memory—monuments were the order of the day—but he was sure that if these men were now present, and could give them advice, that advice would be to take up the work for which they suffered—(Cheers)—and thus raise the noblest monu ment to their memory, and pay the highest tribute of admiration to the principles for which they struggled. —(Cheers.) Let them all then devote themselves more decided to the promotion of the great cause of liberty, and never rest satisfied till they had made the representation of the people in Parliament full, fair, and free.—(Cheers.) Rev. P. BREWSTER, of Paisley, on rising to address the meeting, was received with loud cheers. He said he had come to this meeting to show his regard for the incorruptible patriots who had laid the foundations of liberty of opinion and free discussion. He con trasted the present time, when men had full liberty to give expression to their sentiments in all political questions, with the despotism and terror which per vaded men's minds at the end of last century, when the people were cowards and afraid to utter the senti ments of their hearts against the tyrants and oppressors of their country. If ever a lesson had been taught the people of this country by these trials it was this —that slavery was the curse of God upon cowardice. The Government which depended on an aristocracy never could stand. The history of this country abundantly proved that the nobility always looked to their personal interests in preference to those of the nation. They had deserted their coun try on all occasions of difficulty and danger—the Go vernment which did not rely on the affection and confidence of the people, and which had not its source in the popular control, could not be safe or permanent. Mr. Brewster concluded by inculcating the sentiment of the chairman, that they should complete the work begun by the early friends of reform, who had been punished for their boldness. That work had yet to be completed, and no monument to the merits of the martyrs of 1794 would deserve the name which did not include the realisation of those just and equitable principles of popular government for which Muir and his associates had endured the scorn and obloquy of a prejudiced age ; and this was only to be done by each section of reformers waiving their little differences, and uniting for the great common objects which they had in view. The Chairman intimated that several of the rela tions of William Skirving, one of the martyrs, were present on the platform. After a few admonitory observations by Mr. Dunlop, of Brockloch, the meeting separated. TIIE DINNER. The Edinburgh Committee of Management, and the subscribers to the monument, entertained Mr. Ilume to dinner in Gibb's Royal Hotel, Prince's street. Sir James Gibson Craig, Bart., of Riccarton, occupied the chair, supported on the right by the Honourable Guest, Bailie Gray, Councillor Mac farlan, Mr. Philip Leith, Mr. Duncan M'Laren, &c. ; on the left, by the Right Hon. the Lord Provost, J. M. Bell, Esq., Advocate, Mr. Andrew Millar, Mr. Veitch, of Woodside, &c. Mr. Tait, publisher, dis charged the duties of croupier. The cloth having been removed, and the customary loyal toasts given from the chair, Sir J. G. CRAIG, the Chairman, said, I had many reasons for wishing to decline the honour of presid ing at this meeting ; but although with great re • luctance, I have been induced to undertake it at the request of many persons for whom I have a very high respect, who have assured me that you will kindly forgive the very imperfect manner in which, I cannot doubt, I shall conduct myself.—(Hear, hear.) One inducement to undertake the duty has been my desire to place before you the grounds on which many persons subscribed to the monument ; for great pains have been taken to hold us up as th e friends of annual parliaments and universal suf frage, and that the monument is to be consecrated to these principles. Now, I think it due to the me mory of Lord Holland and to the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford, and many other subscribers, to say, that we never entertained them—we have always disclaimed them — having been convinced that the Constitution could not survive many months after their adoption.—(Hear.) No one who was not personally engaged in the occur rences which gave rise to the trials of Muir and the other martyrs, can form the most distant conception of the state of the country at that fearful crisis. The French Revolution had convulsed the civilised world, and had excited the most lively interest throughout Great Britain. On the one hand, the most enthusiastic hopes were entertained that it would be productive of the greatest blessings, and secure the greatest pos sible liberty to mankind; and notwithstanding the horrors which accompanied that revolution, these hopes have been in a great degree realised—and on the other hand, there was the utmost alarm, that it would be productive of the most dreadful consequences—that it would overthrow the Constitution, and produce every misery to which man can be subject. The whole kingdom was distracted into parties, who acted with the most determined opposition to each other. Society , was, in a great degree, dissolved—the dearest friend ships severed—the nearest relations separated—the most bitter hostility prevailed, and every one acted as if those who entertained opposite opinions were his deadliest enemies. —(Hear.) All that then passed has now become almost matter of history, and I, recollecting and calmly reviewing the occurrences of that eventful period, have in a great degree ceased to wonder at many of the acts then done, which at the time we most severely condemned, believing that the alarms which prevailed had deprived the actors of them of the power of sober judgment, and that they were committed under the conviction that they were struggling for their lives, their liberties, and all that was dear to them. Thus, that they were led to act on what was termed by their advocates a " wholesome vigour beyond the law."—(Hear, hear.) Under the unhappy_ M circums t an ces I have men tioned, the trials of Muir and the other martyrs took place, and sentences pronounced I upon them. The injustice of all these sentences is, believe, univer sally acknowledged. But I particularly allude to the case of Muir ; and I would put into the hands of any man, be his principles what they may, the report of this trial, and defy him to point out any crime he had committed which could justify the punishment in flicted on him.—(Hear, hear.) One crime he com mitted against himself. He conducted his own de fence instead of availing himself of the splendid ta lents of Henry Erskine, who, at the solicitation of some friends of Muir, cheerfully agreed to be his counsel. Had he trusted to Mr. Erskine, the sentence which was passed on him never could have been pro nounced. I know, that one at least of the jury, vin dicated the verdict, not on the charge made against him, but on the speech he made in his defence. For offences, for which, if they had been committed in England only a few weeks or months' im prisonment could have been inflicted, the martyrs, who had been guilty of no outrage or violence, who were men in most respectable stations in life, one an advocate, one a _clergyman, and one a favourite pupil of Dr. Par r , and a friend of the celebrated Sir Wil liam Jones, and who were all of irreproachable p r i.. vate character, were sent to the hulks, doomed to confinement with the greatest miscreants—to pains and tortures worse than death, and were transported to Botany Bay. All but one perished miserably in foreign lands.—(Hear, hear.) The sentence against Skirving was pronounced within a few days of the Court of Justiciary sentencing two men found guilty of defrauding the revenue by forging stamps—a most fraudulent felony—and yet these men were only condemned to banish themselves from Scot land, and in a short time received a free pardon. The sentence pronounced on Muir so astonished the jury, that they met immediately after leaving the court, and unanimously resolved to state to the judges their opinion, that it was greatly beyond the crime of which they had found him guilty ; but some hot headed zealot having sent a letter to Mr. Gilbert Innes, the chancellor of the jury, threatening him with assassination for having concurred in the verdict, it was impossible for the jury to proceed further. Of this I was informed at the time by a near relation, who was one of the jury, and a man of the most per feet truthfulness and character.—(Hear, hear.) The extreme severity of the sentences made the deepest im pression on the public mind-Anduced a scrutiny into the forms, proceedings, and powers of the Court of Justiciary, and established a deep-rooted con viction of the necessity of genuine reform ; and this has been attended with the happiest effects.— (Cheers.) At the time of these trials every jury was packed. The sheriff returned what persons he thought proper as jurymen. The presiding judge selected at his pleasure those who were to try the case. No peremptory challenge of jurymen was permitted. The Court of Justiciary had the power to sentence every person, convicted of sedition, to any punish ment short of death. The Legislature has now done away these vices of the system, under which the martyrs were tried. Juries cannot cannot now be packed. The presiding judge cannot select the jurymen who are to try the case. Peremptory challenge of jurymen is permitted. The Court of Justiciary cannot inflict a heavier punishment for s elition than six months' imprisonment. And the Legislature has determined that reform, to the strenuous advocacy of which the martyrs fell victims, is the law of the land.—(Cheers.) It is thus esta blished, that no such trials as those in which our friends suffered, can take place. Acts of similar character, but greatly more offensive than those they committed, are every day committed with impunity. The liberty and rights of the subject are now secured on a basis in finitely stronger than before, and every thing that has since taken place, proves the general conviction that the sentences pronounced against them were unjust, and the punishment inflicted most cruel and indefensible.—(Great cheering.) We have now determined to erect a monument in this city, which shall proclaim to the world our conviction of these truths—that we entertain profound respect for the memories of the martyrs—and gratitude for the benefits their patriotic zeal and sufferings have secured to the country; and particularly shall proclaim our anxious desire to impress upon all judges and jury men, that if they regard their oaths or their cha racter, if they wish the law to be respected, and the people to be satisfied with it, they will never allow themselves to be swayed by fanciful theories of ex pediency, or of a supposed necessity of acting on a " wholesome vigour beyond the law," but that in the exercise of the sacred duties committed to them, they will be guided by the law, and by nothing but the law.—(Great cheering.) The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Memory of Charles James Fox." Every one who knew the services that illustrious statesman had given to the liberties of the people—all he did was for their interest. He (Sir J. Craig) did not, however, propose his health on account of his general exertions, but because of his kind and strenuous exertions in support of those martyrs which they were met to commemorate. The CHAIRMAN said—l have now to propose to you the health of our guest, Mr. Hume.—(Great cheering.) All men know the public service he has rendered to the country during a long parliamentary career—that he, while others wasted the valuable time of the House of Commons with declamatory harangues, spoken to no purpose, exerted himself most laboriously, and at a time when no man would have undertaken it—in the system of finance. No man who knows anything of the state of the country in those days can be ignorant of the great and important services which he rendered, and which far exceeded those of any other Member of the House of Commons. —(Cheers.) I cannot doubt but he has been the saviour of millions to this country, and that had his exertions been countenanced as they ought, it would have greatly increased the number of those millions. I do not on the present occasion confine his services to what he did in that respect; it is particularly on account of his having been the instigator of th e monuments which are in the course of being erected here and in London.--(Cheers.) And in acknow ledgment of which, I think, one cannot do better than now pass a resolution similar to what we passed at the first meeting for the erection of the monument— " Thanks to the originator of the movement for erecting monuments to the martyrs in the cause of parliamentary reform."—(Loud cheers.) Mr. HUME, on rising to return thanks, was re ceived with loud cheers. He said—l can assure you that I feel strongly the compliment you have now paid me, but I feel it the more in as far as it marks a union with that opinion which I have all along en tertained. When I see so many men with whom I have had little or no intercourse concurring in an opinion which I singly and at first entertained and ventured to express, I cannot but feel myself flat tered at having that opinion, isolated and uncon nected with party as it originally was, reciprocated by those present, and that the efforts which I so early made should at this time of day meet with your com plete approbation.—(Cheers.) Your Chairman has stated well the case of these unfortunate men, and stated facts which bring together certain links which ap peared to have been lost. It is with peculiar pleasure that I have the honour of your invitation on this occasion. It will be recollected that, more than twenty years ago, I was favoured with the opi nion of a large majority of the inhabitants of this city in favour of the efforts I had made in the public cause.—(Cheers.) It is with great satisfaction that I look back to the period that intervened since that time, and challenge any one to say where I for a moment in my life did anything which showed a retrograde movement.—(Cheers.) The zeal with which I was influenced may have perhaps overborne prudence on some occasions, but never in all my attempts have I had any other object in view save the general prosperity of the country.—(Great cheering.) No doubt there are some who blame my opinions as exceeding the bounds of prudence, but those persons were not acquainted with the extent of the evil which daily came before me.—(Cheers.) No man who has not had the opportunities which I have had, and who has availed himself thereof, can form an esti mate of the misery and wretchedness which is pro duced by misgovernment. It is upon these principles I have stood ; aloof and independent of party, yet in strict accordance with principle—putting down all selfish motives—setting aside all party spirit—and looking alone to those great principles which lead to the happiness of the whole people.—(Cheers.) Your Chairman has alluded to the matter' of finance. The great evil of government is finance. Pounds, shil lings, and pence, is the :paramount evil of those in office—it is the whole source of misgovernment and. abuse. It is the object of obtaining by taxes the pro perty of the people that has rendered the man, other wise estimable, the basest of citizens.—(Hear, hear.) It is by minute attention to the motives of individuals, that we are induced to form this opinion, harsh though it may be to the persons themselves. It is the result of experience, and I have no hesitation in saying, that could I place those whose character I have often impugned in a situation where they would not be so influenced, I can have no doubt their opinions would have been in accordance with my own. But it is pounds, shillings, and pence, which induces them to obtain the power of taxing the people,;and which constitutes the evil and great mis chief existing at the present day. If that is the fundamental error of the present day, you need not wonder though the reformers of earlier times resolved to strike at the root of the evil. These are the prin. ciples which induced me to attack the stronghold of Toryism—the stronghold of corruption—and to en deavour to turn off the streams from the pockets of those who were solely taken up about what they could obtain, regardless of the evils which they entailed. I concur with Lord Brougham, that we are driven to a course of action by conscientious motives which we cannot control, and happy is th to e man who in his exer tions looks strai g htf orward that which lead s t o the maintenanceone great ofthe the people. If I haveis rights objec of t— a merit, it of having, whether under Whi g or Tory ruler, taken that course which I thought t likely to result in those beneficial o b 4ec a which I always advocated and desired. This may be all very selfish, and so it is. I have no hesitation in saying, that in acting thus I pleased myself.—(Great laughter.) All calumny has been fruitless in attempting to divert me from my aim, though I have been frequently set up as the target which all parties assailed. Notwithstanding, I did all in my power to stop those rills which flowed into the pockets of the sinecurists ; and as I meddled with a nest of hornets, I could not but expect they would assail me about the ears; and I may add, that, whether in the civil service, or the Church, or both, I always found ample field for reform.-- (Cheers.) But my opponents did not hate me as Joseph Hume, but as a reformer.—(Hear.) I shall say nothing more of finance except mention the fact, that seven millions of the public money is to this day detained by the heads of several departments to pay themselves, handing over the balance to Govern ment instead of detailing the various_ payments by which that balance is made out. The Hon. Gentle man, after some further remarks, concluded by giving, " Peace with France, America, and all the World." Mr. MONTGOMERY BELL gave " The present Judges of our Supreme Courts.' The CROUPIER proposed the health of the Chair• man, which was briefly acknowledged by Sir June* Gibson Craig. Among the other toasts which followed, were the 0 Health of Earl Grey," by Mr. Muir—" The Lord, 0 2 lb o4' : 1 0 1 . 11. IL/ 4 Oar be# P.J, r 1 ;I le; etc!) it;')