The Sun. — London, England, 1844-01-01 00:00:00

ham-. loyal ng Lw nsiorn. •ed to. adopt , con- Tho LW up bilge a pil- rat of ,s ar- axtra lata ireur— nanc& ier, in t. M. the Count, of the taken n gar assing Paris rdinal as in soil of em of ing, is ontant Saint which ail and ipidity year is d rain, 'et the ) e, nor in that to the ech : of dis else a y of its ' high )on the in the )uld be holders plc, bat 'tea, in nal and d, front. anhual inpriri states- ay per-. my—he amend mopes& vhich it nt pos up his neither Des not he pre- is rer. -" The t, which e Con.- Mme ae umed opinion ing the lin, lea 'stem of , in the Every nfirmecl that of ation of ►your of .hensive lore are Ipon the !col usive lovern- muter*: aal pur lat sub -01 con! - , and if with the t that it ority of s object can be tence of h press, omplete makes; with its now be society. lligence uld not ect, the ents, to correct , and to aw, the Aar for le ages• power hority ; ngthell sionally he tone n ; and noes by would h stress claims Is . Mr. nsented 'in the in the presses. 11 grant vied ort intt xe pre hem to ,w does :ountry debtor ors, the etweeo ' what tory on u, per ,uch as . Tha to the les— [ending adicted p, .the of A l ' witted I, with Y seats d Ipoun ambled along ie pri wit of using 3d who be in' lined l e into er wa s 'ection ilitary t, W r h e gative on s' 9 front 'wove" . iontio art o f 'atta r estera t that Cetto o Mr. 711110 - ry, a t ['own ward' ship of the.Honourable Henry Ashley, Colonel Bolden), and Colonel Clayton, was attended by Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Lord Rossmore, the Countess of Nor bury, Lady Georgians. Toler, the Hon. 0. T. Toler, :Colonel Thornton, Colonel Bold en -, C a pt a i n B u lk e l ey and party, Major lidney, Major Wade, &c. The Earl of Beverley has returned to the . old Palace at Richmond, from a visit to Alton Towei a, where hi; Lordship . went to meet his Royal Highness the Due de Bordeaux. The Earl and Countess of Kinnoull are still at Rome, where they are expected to remain until the end of January, and then leave that city, their way to Paris. Viscount and Viscountess Combermere have been entertaining, at Combermere Abbey, the Marquis and :Marchioness of Chohnondeley, Lord and Lady.De Ros, Lord Edwin flill, Lord and L a dy D e l amere , L a d y R o ll e , the E ar l and Countess of .Hilsborou , A, and. Viscount and Viscountess Hill. Les Comks de Bonneval, le Comte de Bethuen Sully, le Comte Charles de Bethuen, le Comte Unice de Lam bertye, le Cemte L. C: de Mellet, &c., took their de parture on F r id ay f rom the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn street, for the French capital, via Folkestone. IYLXSCEIMANEOUS. 'We regret to perceive, by accounts from Essex, Not tingham, and Rent, that the incendiary fires still con tinue. The Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday contains the details of ten of these terrible calamities. Sir Charles Burrell's large piece of water in Essex, the extent of which is about 90 acres, was drawn off and shed, a we e k b ac k , when the take was—carp, 2,917, -weighing 49 cwt. 2 qrs. ; pike, 406, weighing 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 23Ib s. ; eels, 6 cwt. 1 qr. ; besides 178 per c h an d " tench, not weighed, , with ou t count i ng ee l s , t h e t a k e. of which was much smaller than usual. On Christmas day, white violets and primroses, in full bloom. were gathered near the town of Ashburton, an occiurrence not known for many years before. A provincial paper states, that in consequence of the spread of teetotal principles the excise payments of the common brewers have fallen off full one-fourth, and . the value of all property in breweries has declined one- third. i The Xing of Bavaria has commissioned Dr. Pauli to proceed to Ireland, for the purpose of personally inspect ing the atmoaheric rail-road, and report his obs erva ti ons reg ar d ing rega- Ar the n ame to the Bavarian Governm en t. 13 aily has just completed a model for a statue in marbl e of Sir Charles Metcalfe, late Governor of Jamaica, -1" ro be erected opposite the Senate House,• in Spanish wn, in that island. The height is nine feet, and the costume a military one. Vl,-;,,•••••••• 61 °l ‘'T‘ir AND COMMERCIAL NEWS The C o (Prom The Sun of Saturday Evening.) ton Market at Liverpool yesterday continued brisk, and prices were nearly id. p er lb. higher for mid., and id. for the better sorts of Am erican. The sales con -3,000 of nAilwlllaeyricans. 3 sisted of about 10,000 bales, of which speculators took —There was again an active demand 64 Shares ; Birmingham and Gloucester were ; Eastern Counties, 114 ; Great Western, 994 ; Brighton, 424 ; Manchester and Leeds, 99 ; Paris and it° " n i 32 1 i ; Rouen and Havre, 111 ; South . Eastern, 35 ; Paris and Lyons, 3+ ; Paris and Orleans, 334. frolmt appears by the advices received from Liverpool this Morning that the information of the arrival of the Acadia Halifax and Boston (United States), was not founded on fact. It seems that a transient vessel en tering the M ersey had fired signal guns like those of the steamer; and hence th e mistake. It i s necessary to explain this' hence in order th a t th ose w h o may be expecting letters should not imagine that their corre spondents have been forgetful of their duty. T her far a siness p urposes are concerned, the last day of 1843, merchant; speculators, and others, appear to have made up their minds to take holiday, for all places of public resort are all but abandoned. This day's record of brief.City affairs" must therefore be o f necess i t y very " 96kThe market for Consols for the Account opened at , and it has closed a fraction lower. There were not any purchases on behalf of the Commissioners to "ay. The price of B an k S tock has advanced to 185. Exchequer Bills are at 625. premium. The Reduced Three per Cents. at 974 4, and India Bonds at 795. premium. The transactions in the Foreign funds have been rather considerable this morning, and though many sales of Mexican Stock have been made the price has advaneed.from 32 to 324 ; at present the rate is 32 to 32*.: Good remittances are expected on account o f the dividends by the next packet. Spanish Bonds are in iernand for Account. The Three per Cents. have ad vanced to 32, and the Five per Cents. to 21i. Dutch, Po rtuguese, and the other Stock s , w h e th er E uropean or Transatlantic, command about the same value as yester day. Great North of England, Great Western, London and Brighton, Blackwell, Greenwich, South Western, Croyd on, Manchester and Leeds, Northern and Eastern, Paris and Orleans, Paris and Rouen, and South Eastern and Dover Railway Shares, are in advance of yesterday's rates. Othe r Sh ares remain very nearly at the same prices. The London and Westminster Bank Shares are I rrn, at 21 p rem i um • and the United Mexican Minin ,Shares are at 3 i per ; hare. g mar MANC HESTER S TOCK EXCHANGE, DEC. 29.—The ket is vices. brisk, w i th a fair business doing at full p Manchester and Leeds, and South Eastern, are in good demand. Eastern Counties Scrip, 134 ; London and Brighton. 42t ; Manch es t er an d L ee d s , 98 to 98 4 ; D itto quarter; 7 4 to 4 ; She ffi eld and Manchester, 544 ; Trent an d Mersey Canal. 51 5. CLOSING PRICES BRITISH FUNDS. 13 ag Stock ............ 189 India Stock pie ;.ii t (. i • cut. Red. 3 , !-'I tent. C ons , . . Ditto Old Annuities ... N 1 14 Cent. Red ...• 1021 Ditto New Annuities... t v - ' 3 i Per Ce nt _ Ex. Bills, 1,000/. lid. 64 inn E ,, ,,,, 5 p er c er , - .. - *** — Ditto 500/...... 62 on, 1 , ,ig Annuities to expire — Ditto Small ...... 64 xe• Jam ' 1860 .' ...... . 12 11-16. Bank Sto c k f or A cct . 1 841 4 4a. JC.t. 1 859 — India Stock fo r .... . 1860 ... 4 aFOREIGN FUNDS. he rpan, 5 per cent.... Po . rtnguese,_ 5 per cent. 41 " . 6 Per cent. — Ditto, New Ditto — Ur • • p t asthan Bonds... ...... Prussian, 5 per cent — - - , ft ‘ os Ayres 6 per cent. Russian, 5 per cent — 1201 1111 11 u!,. 6 per cent. — Ditto, sletaic . .... bi tt ul uTan. 6 per cent... • Spanish, 5 per cent 2l/ halia„ a ti 24 .. . Ditto, 3 per cent 3ll -74iBonds, 6 . p .. e . ; ........ 11* Ditto, Deferred.... sh, 3 per 5ent....,.. Frenc, 5 per cent. —f —.c. '-'reek, 182.5 5 Per Exchange ...... .... —f — e- Aletl eal!, 5 Percen ce t. n .... — 32# French, 3 per cent. —f —c. Ditto n' 6 Per cent PeB37 Dutch, 21 per cent. 56 uvian,l2s`ret. !Ditto, 5 per cent.... 991 SHARES. Birmingham and Derby (100 paid) ...... 57 Ditto New Thirds (25 p aid ),.... ..... ... 18 __ Ditto Eighths (lt lOs ........ .. 3# Birmingham and Glouceste r Railway (100 Pd) I.,_arsistteDoritiltto New Shares (171 paid) aendouEnxtieetse(r 23 (7 p 0 ai l d )a ) id) ... ..... . ... .. 641 11 Ditto Scrip (81 6s Bdpaid) E dinburgh New Registered ( paid) 12/ and Glasgo w (50 paid) 5B Great Ditto Registered (121 paid) ... ..... . 141 North of England Railway (100 pd) 65 Great Wester n (65 paid) Ditto Di t t o iHalffth Sharessi2 pa i ( d s ) o paid) ... 99 70 Hull and Selby (50 paid) 191 60 . I L: oonnn ti d d dito o otn n no a z Loan N ri g o h t e t os n (1 ( 0 50 pa p i i ) d) ::: .... ............. .. . 4 1 11 aanndd B u l i ac rm k i w n al gh l a ( m l6 ( l l l i ts p 4 a d , ) paid) .. 61 Ditto New Quarter Shares ( 2 paid) • 28 London and Greenwich Railway (12 ( 15s 4dpd) 5/ London and South Western (41/ 6s 10d pd) 741 London and Croydon Railway (Trunk) ... 1 5 Ditto Scrip ( 5 paid)•• • 9# Manchester and Leeds (70 paid) ... .. looi Ditto New Shares (30 paid) ) ...Ditto Quarter Sharon ( 2 paid) 4l 71 .i!oarnehester and Birmingham (40 Pa l ` : ) 4O a thern and Eastern (45 paid) Ditto Quarter Shares (121 pai d) Noah Midland (100 paid) ..... ... __Paris and Orlean s (20 paid) .. ............ Paris and Rouen (20 paid) ... . ... South Easter n and Dover (50 paid)... 35 Ditto Scrip an d paid) ................. .. .. . : Yarmouth and Norwich (13 paid) 1 ' York and North Midland (50 WT. ... Ditto New Shares (20 p aid )...........Pa...... ......--120 • - If ---.........•.... COWES, ISLE OF IGHT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) tXTREME MILDNESS OF THE SEASON. —The fields are covere d with daisies, the banks with primroses and vio lets, the gardens bloom with flowers —mignonette, sweet wall-flowers, stocks , pansies, mallows, nasturtiums, Clarke, tropceoluna eanariensi, sweet and yellow alysson, al'kea pulehella; geraniums, and roses, are as as com mon a • , sin the spring. The birds are singing and build anisg. A hedge -sparrow's nest was this day taken with i t ; lr ee eggs in it. The thermometer stands at 55, and the aeotaeter at 30. 33. .11,1 e Marquis and Marchioness of Sligo and family are S till at Cowes, as is Sir Wm. Montagu and family, Sir Edward Paget and family, and many others. (The letter of our Correspondent enclosed specimens ° I . the above flowers, fresh and fragrant from the garden; shoul d a cha nge to real wintry weather suddenl the de scr i ption of Shakspeare will appl y y with literal correct ness:— The se asons alter P ; hoary h ea d e d f rost all s in the fresh lap of the crimson rose, And on old tlyems' chin, and icy crown, An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds Is' as in mockery, set."] TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN ltioBrlnT-n-'1',1,10 fitfulfrig accounts of incendiarisrn, in the t,ntion Lrtahpers oSaturday, induce me to call . your at evidence against the, as was prophetically delivered in th e tuttible serv ant : h corn-laws, before the Committee of 'lous e of Lords July 4, 1814, by your obedient ' MATTHEW PHILLIPS. 0,.1).8--The evidence, Which Was printed in the Journals r the 'louse of Lords, foretold such a result. ...._ I ---------- --- _ IJDENT FRAUD. —On Friday Mr. Powell, a re bl)Petable tradesman at Lsnabeth, was applied to by a 'tan for a loa❑ of a truck for two hours to convey some re goo as he represented, to Camberwell ; but suspecting p o tn e his manner that a fraud was contemplated, Mr. 'w . 11 allowed him . to have the vehicle, taking th.► pre lo~► to direct his son to watch his motions. The fel ' had no sooner obtained possession of the property 2 th 5 4 4 he and to Whitechapel, and there sold it for Tu Zi' e . was taken into custody while spending the , r , 3 in a neighbouring public-house. = iti, ti ' "oN CAPTAIN Rous.--We are glad to hear tyl: th e Gallant 'Member for Westminster is going or! o r 1 avourably, and that strong hopea are entertained * ' a rest9ration of the sight of the injured eye. COURT CIRCULAR WINDSOR SUNDAY.—Yesterday His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shooting in the Royal pre serves, attended by Lord Rivers, Captain the Hon. Nelson Hood, Coldnel Bouverie, and Mr. G. Anson. The Royal Family were taken for their accustomed airings yesterday forenoon,,. in the grounds about the Castle, Lady Rivers anA.Lord Bloomfield took their depar turn from the Castle yesterday: This morning the Queen an 1 Prince Albert, the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Royal Suite, and the Household, attended Divine service in ,the private Chapel of the Castle. The lion. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated. The Rev.- Gentleman preached from the 2d chapter of PhilippiAns, and the sth, 6th, and 7th verse,.. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent attended Divine service this tnorning in the parish church. Lady Fanny Howard was in waiting on her Royal Highness. Her Majesty and Prince Albert took their usual early walk this morning. The Duke of Cambridge attended Divine service, yes• terday morning, in Grosvenor Chapel, South Audley street. Baron Knesebeck and Major Stevens were in waiting on his Royal Highness, The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester on Saturday, at Glouccater House. Sir James Graham arrived in town on Saturday after noon, from a visit to Sir Robert and Lady Peel, at their seat, Drayton Manor, Staffordshire. Dispatches were received yesterday from Sir Charles Metcalfe, Governor of Canada, and from the Governors of the other North American Colonies, at the Colo nial-office. Dispatches were also received at the Colo nial-office.yesterday from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and from the Governor of Malta. Sir Henry. Hardinge left town on Friday, fur his seat, South-park, Kent. The Earl of Haddington is staying at Cliefden House, Berkshire, the seat of Sir George Warrender. The Earl of Aberdeen has returned to town from a visit to Sir . R. Peel, at Drayton Manor, Staffordshire. Dispatches were sent off from the Colonial-office, on Saturday evening, for the Governor of Ceylon, and for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Donizetti's Grand Tragic Opera of Lucrezia Borgia was produced at this theatre on Saturday evening, with all that completeness and attention to the business of scene for which the management of the Princess's is celebrated. The story of this opera must be already familiar to every playgoer. It has been frequently represented at the Italian Opera, and adaptations from Victor Hugo's tragedy, from which the libretto of the opera is taken, have been brought out at most of the minor theatres. The following is the cast at the Princess's :—Don Alfonso (Mr. Bur dini), Genarro (Mr. Allen), Maffio Orsini (Mr. H. P. Grattan), and Lucrezia Borgia (Madame Eugenia Garcia). The opening scene, of the night festival in the gardens of the Palace of Barberigo, at Venice, was exceedingly beautiful. The stage was filled with maskers attired in various magnificent costumes-4n the distance was a beautiful moonlight view of Venice, while in the foreground gondolas were seen, passing and repassing. The name of Lucrezia is ut tered by one of the revellers and all are terror-struck at the name of the death-bringing beauty. The ro mance, " Hear me relate my story," was beautifully given by Mrs. Grattan. The sound of music is heard from the palace, and all enter it, except Genarro, who overcome with fatigue, sleeps upon one of the benches in the garden i ; a gondola arrives, and Lucrezia lands from it ; she wears her mask ; turning, she perceives Genarro • she approaches him, and implores the bles sing of fleaven upon the sleeping youth, and, in the beautiful air, " In my breast what strange emotion," gives expression to her feelings of love for Ge narro, and of horror at the detestation, in which, on account of her crimes, she is held by a ll th e wor ld . She leans over him fondly. Her husband, the Duke, who has been watching, appears at the back of the scene, and vows vengeance on Genarre. She again approaches the sleeper, and kisses him on the fore head. He st ar t s up and detains her, and in the im passioned air, " Pray, be content," declares his love for her. She listens to him enraptured. He tells her he came to seek a mother whom he knew not, yet who had watched over him with the most anxious care; whose letters he treasured up and wept over. She is affected to tears by his story, and bids him love that mother ever. The revellers enter and in terrupt them. They beset her. She begs Genarro to save her; but when he finds she is the Borgia, he spurns her from him with horror. The scene of the se cond act is laid at Ferrara; we are in the great square, before the great palace, which bears on its portico the arms and name of Borgia. The Duke and his attens dant enter; and in the cavatina, " Tremble, e'en now the tempest is gathering closely round thee," the Duke declares that the morrow's sun shall be the last thatlhall shine on Genarro. This cavatina was carefully and effectively given by Burdini, who was much and deservedly applauded. The Duke and his attendant retire, and Genarro and his companions enter. He loudly expresses his hatred of Lucrezia, and, with his sword, he erases the letter from the name above the family arms, leaving the word " orgia." They fly, alarmed at what may be the consequences of this bitter jest, and Genarro retires to his house. The scene changes to the Duke's palace. Lucrezia demands vengeance against those who have insulted her. The Duke promises that the culprit shall die, and orders the prisoner to be brought in. To her horror Lucrezia perceives Genarro. Her lofty spirit is huriibled to the dust—she frames ex cuses for him. Genarro was not guilty of this wrong. He boldly avows that the deed was his, and his alone. She prays the Duke to spare him—she kneels to him in vain—the Duke taunts her with her love for him, and gives her choice of whether he shall die by poison or the sword. In this scene we have the duet, " Tremble no more, I pray," which, was finely and expressively given by Madame Garcia and Burdini. She chooses the poison. The Duke announces to Genarro that he is pardoned, and asks him to drain a friendly cup, which the. Duchess her self will present to him; and then follows the ex quisite trio, " Ah, dare not to save him !" which was beautifully. given by Madame Garcia, Allen, and Burdini, and rapturously encored. Ile drinks the poison, and the Duke leaves them. Then comes the finale, " Through veins cold hemlock juice is creep ing," admirably given by. Allen and Madame Garcia. She implores him to swallow the antidote which she presents to him. He refuses, believing that she would fain poison him. She conjures him', in the name of his mother, to ,believe her—he takes the antidote—she shows a secret passage from the palace, and implores him to leave Ferrara without delay. The acting of Garcia throughout the whole of this very trying scene was beyond all praise.. It was evident that she was suffering dreadfully from nervousness, but her very apprehensions imparted a degree of impassioned reality to her acting which carried her triumphantly through, and she has added another laurel to her wreath by her Lucrezia Borgia. In the opening of the third act we have the beautiful air, " The light of love," which was given by Allen in the most exquisitely tasteful manner • nothing could exceed the pathos and tender ness, which he infused into this delightful air—he was encored as a matter of course, and repeated it with, if possible, greater feeling. Then came the ban quet scene with Orsini's spirited ballad, " What though she whom you love may .deceive you." This ballad, which is exactly suited to Mrs. Grattan's voice, was rapturously encored. Lucrezia enters— she has revenged herself for the ball at Venice, by the supper at Ferrara. The revellers are all poisoned, and the doleful chaunt of the priests, who are in attendance to shrive them are heard without. To her horror she peceives Genarro among the guests. She orders all to retire, and is left alone with him. She implores him to take the antidote—he refuses un less there is sufficent to save his friends also. He draws his dagger, and rushes on her, reproaching her with her crimes. " Hold, rash one," she cries, "it is thy own blood that thou would'st shed." Horror strtiolc at finding that he too is a Borgia, the dagger drops from his hand. She implores him, for his mo ther's sake, to drink the antidote. He asks his mother's name. "My remorse, my fright," exclaims the agonized Lucrezia "do they not • tell her name ?" Staggering from the effects of the poison, he falls, and in his dying moments discovers that he is the son of Lucrezia Borgia. The Duke enters with his attendants, and taunts her with her love for Genarro. "He is my son—dead—dead—before my eyes," exclaims the agonized Lucrezia as she throws herself on the life less body of her victim. Madame Garcia, Allen, Mrs. Grattan, and Burdini, were all called for, and received with the loudest applause, bouquets and wreaths being showered on the ladies ; and Walton announced the opera for repetition four times a week, amidst the unanimous applause of one of the most crowded houses of the season. The choruses were admirably given, thanks to the excellent drilling of Mr. W. L. Phillips; and the orchestra, directed by Schirra, and led by Loder, did full justice to the music. The Marriage Certcate followed, in which the Keeleys kept the house in a roar. The evening's amusement concluded with the splendid spectacle of the Megic Mirror, with Mrs. Grattan as the Prince, Paul Bed ford as the Premier, and pretty Miss Floyd as the Princess. SECONDARIES' COURT.—An action was tried in this Court on Friday, before Mr. Potter,, in which the plain tiff, a chandler's-shop keeper named Seeger ' residing in West -street, Mile•etkl, sued Gibb on , the defendant, a pensioner in the East India Company's service, for 101. Bs. 7d., for goods sold and delivered. The defence was that they were supplied to a woman who lived with him as his wife, but was not so. She had borne him children, who, as well 'as herself, went by the name of Gibbon, but he denied his liability for the debt. The Secondary, however, put another construction upon the law, 'and informed the defendant that the judges had held that when a man cohabited with a woman, and al lowed her to assume his name, he became responsible for debts contracted by her for actual necessaries. The jury took the same view of the law, and gave a verdict ft,r the plaintiff. THE THE THREE HUNDREDTH ANNI VERSARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE COPERNICAN SYSTEM. . On Saturday, the 30th December, a meeting was held at the Chambers of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, to commemorate the above event. A great many Poles, as well as distinguished friends of Poland, were present. Among the latter we noticed Lord Dudley Stuart, the Hon. Colonel Leicester Stan lisps, Colonel Watson, the Rev. Dr. Worthington, John Wood Esq., Chairman of the Excise ; Professor Ber nays, of King's College ; W. D. Saul!, Esq., member of the Astronomical Society ; Dr. Gardner, Thomson Hankey, &c. &c. Lord D. STUART, having taken the chair in virtue of his office of Vice-Presidrnt (the President being absent), shortly explained that the objects of the Association were of a literary, political, and charitable nature, and, although circumstances had for some time compelled it to devote nearly the whole of its attention to the latter objects, still .that it was not unmindful of the farmer, and when any opportunity arose of attending to the first, it gladly embraced it. Many of the Poles having ex pressed a desire that the present year, the three hun dredth since the work of Copernicus on the solar system was first printed, should not be suffered to elapse without some public notice of that event, the present meeting of the Association had been called. It would give an opportunity for refining the absurd attempt which had been made of late years to deprive Poland of the honour of counting Copernicus among her sons. It was no wonder the Voles should be anxious to repel such an in justice. Spoliated and oppressed, they had nothing left them but the proud recollections of former glory. Tkese—and s one thing more, hope—alone remained to them. May .that hope, said his Lordship, be one day fulfilled to the utmost of their wishes. Colonel SZTRMO then read a paper which ho had pre pared for the occasion. He gave an online of the state astronomy was in at the age of Copernicus. Entering upon the Copernican system, he extolled its superior merits in application to geography, navigation, and espe cially in its legitimate province, astronomy, where it has paved the way to the vast discoveries in the succeeding three centuries. He dwelt upon the sensation the great work of Copernicus produced in Europe after it appeared in print, and mentioned the singular fact that the first copy of it the astronomer received when on his death bed, and died on the same day. He had bestowed on it thirty-six years, and published it only at the solicitations of his friends. The lecturer refuted the notion of Coper nicus being a German as absurd, it being of recent date, and unsupported by any historical document. Not one word is said by his biographers, ancient and modern, in confirmation of it. Copernicus was born in 1473, at Thorn, which was a town of Regal i, e. Polish Russia. That province formed at his ago en integral part of Poland, and continued for 300 years after him to belong to that kingdoin, until the first partition of it in 1772. Besides, the father of Copernicus was net a native of Thorn, but settled there as a citizen of • Cracow (Civis Cracoviensis). Copernicus acquired the rudiments of Greek and Latin in his native town, and completed his studies at the University of Cracow, at that time celebrated for mathematics. The most eminent of the professors there was Albert Brudzewski ; the astrono mer was his pupil. His life •was considered by the lec turer under manifold aspects. He described him as a student at Padua, where Copernicus was graduated doctor of philosophy and medicine, and in his character as professor of mathematics at Rome ; as a recluse, after his return to Cracow, when maturing his . great astronomical system, mid, subsequently, in the character of a priest and a canon of Warmia ; as the ad ministrator .of the demesnes of the Bishopric, and as an opponent to the Teutonic Order in Prussia, whom . he considered as foes to. Poland and aliens to the Prussian people ; as a nuncio to the Polish Diet at Grandentz, and calculating like Newton, debated money currency, and proposing a plan to the States for reducing it to an uniform standard in the whole kingdom; as a physician administering medicaments to the peasantry, by whom, on that account, he was worshipped like a deity (ut numen quoddam) ; as a civil engineer who constructed hydraulic machines for supplying the town with water, and so forth. The sketch he gave of the astronomer's posthumous fame was not less interesting, and having, i n a tour through Prussia, himself visited all the places where Copernicus resided, he minutely described the house, and the interior of it, where the philosopher was born, and the observatory, where he made his observations. In the portraits he had seen of him he discovered a strong resemblance to Roger Bacon ; and mentioning the representation of Copernicus on the ceiling of the Picture Gallery at Greenwich, with the firmament over his head, and. his solar system in his hand, he said—" Nowhere could a fitter association of Copernicus be made than in that place of England's naval glory, and in the very asylum of the seafaring men who, on their voyages to distant , regions, might be said to hang on the abyss and to tread on the stars." Colonel Szyrmo added a description of the inauguration of the bronze statue of Copernicus (by Thorwaldsen), which took place at Warsaw, in 1830, and at which he was present. Several excellent and interesting speeches were then delivered by Colonel Watson, the Rev. Dr. Worthington, Mr. Wood, and others, who expressed their admiration of the discourse which had been delivered by Colonel Szyrmo, and their full concurrence in his views ; and thanks having been voted to that gentleman, and to Lord Dudley Stuart, for his 'conduct in the chair, the meeting separated. SUN, LONDON, MONDAY POSTSCRIPT POLITICAL. (From Tait's Magazine for January.) In the modern Politician's Calendar, the month of De cember might aptly enough be termed the Guessing Monti. It is then, and up to the meeting of Parliament, that all sorts of rumours and conjectures are set afloat ; that feelers arc thrown out by party organs, and tubs are launched to amuse the whale ; while every new day demolishes the lie of yesterday, and spreads its more novel fahrication. According to one late rumour, the Whigs and Tories arc to coalesce,. order, we presume, that a strong Government may show a bold face to the country and the Anti-Corn-law League, and save as much of the wreck of " Landlords" Protection" as is now possible. Other reports make the Whigs and Radicals fraterniz., but forget to say for what purpose. Cer tainly not to carry a fixed duty on imported corn, and make a fluid stand upon the grand Russell prin ciple of Fine/sly. Everts, quite as extravagant, hint at Sir Robert Pei! being about to become a total repealer ! Ia the midst of these contradictory rumours, whether circulated by the quidnuncs of the Clubs, or by editors at their wit's end for a new idea, and fond of being imagined in the secrets of tins Government or the Opposition, we .may mention a Cresh report that has more of novelty to recommend it, with quite as much probability as any of those which have enlightened or amused the public dur ing the currency of the guessing month. It is whispered in " high circles," that it is understood to be the inten tion of" a great personage," on the first hitch, which cannot be very far distant, to send for Earl Spencer, who lately made so emphatic a declaration for Free Trade, and against_ fixed duties, sliding scales, and all the other apparatus of monopoly. We do not see that the love of retirement, or any consideration of self, could absolve Earl Spencer from obeying the commands of his Sove reign in the contemplated emergency. He will, no doubt, receive ample powers to form a broad-based and really Liberal Administration ; fitted to meet the exigencies of the times, and calculated by ability, integrity, and moral influence, to gain the support and win the confidence of every class of citizens. It is, however, believed that Earl Spencer will on no consideration accept of office. But is this a conjuncture in which a good man, with the power to serve his country, can conscientiously decline the responsibilities of place, on the mere plea of disinclina tion ? Or, if determined aga i ns t pl ace , then the new and anomalous office o f Di rector o f the Cabinet, and umpire of public affairs, held at present by the Duke of Wellington, may be vacant ; and it cannot be more un constitutional when held by a peaceful, sagacious, and Free nude Earl, than by a warlike and Conservative Duke. If ever there was a time when, leaving factious motives and party interests to those that like them and thrive by them, enlightened and unanimous councils and energetic measures were required, it is now ; and from what party administration, whether represented Sir Robert Peer or L or d ohn * Russell, can the nation rationally hope fur what it urgently requires ? These rumours and speculations may seem.idle enough and perhaps they are so ; but not so the pertinent question, That if Sir Robert Peel be not the man who is either to work out the salvation of the commonwealth, or even to lend a helping hand in finishing what the League have all but accomplished without, or in spite of Whig or Tory help or opposition, who, then, is that man ? Where arc we to look for hint ? And if. none such be found in the Whig cr Tory ranks, the next question is—Does the country possess none of Abe desired material ? Is there not intelligence and virtue sufficient in its own bosom to guide its councils and to save itself ? In the heart of the people of America and of France, the rulers of France and America are looked for and found. So, .we presume, it is expected to be in Ireland, should that country ever become an independent kingdom. England alone, though nearly all its science, knowledge, business, talent, and enterprise,, are to be found among its middle classes, must be governed exclusively by its aristocracy; by Whig and Tory alternately, as of hereditary right ! When the Queen shall verify the above rumour (for which we do not vouch), by sending for Earl Spencer to aid her with his advice as to how a new Gove rnmen t may best be framed, we anticipate that " Honest Lord Al thorp" will act upon the simple and true principle of, in every case, recommending the man best adapted for the office,; that he willto illustrate our opinion —point out Mr. Rowland Hill for rostmaster-General, as infi nitely the best choice that could be made; and Mr. M'Oregor, Mr. Cobden, or Mr. Grote, for the Board of Trade. Either Mr. Joseph Hume or .a reformed Sir Robert Peel, might make a very fair Chancellor of the Exchequer. We are . not so sure of Joseph Sturge, a man of peace, succeeding Lords Palmerston and Aber. deen as Foreign Secretary ; but are next to certain, that Lord Dunfermline would be pointed out as Lord-Lieu. tenant of Ireland. We, however, merely enunciate the principle on which the. new Ministry might be formed, and do not pretend to enter into details. Nor do we give currency to these rumours merely to raise a foolish laugh ; but in the sober assurance, that official appoint ments must be made on this principle, before there can be either peace in Ireland, or prosperity in England. In speculating upon changes in the Administration, or of Lord John Russell taking, for a time, the place of Sir Robert Peel, no one appears to 'get farther than the hackneyed idea, that, as a matter of course, the Whigs must come in ; because Sir Robert Peel has lost the confidence of the middle classes, and is distrusted and de serted by the High Tories. No one seems to believe the Premier possessed of that moral courage, of that confi dence in himself, and that strength of purpose which, by arousing the enthusiasm of the country, might make the day of his apparent defeat the birth-hour of his ultimat e _ _ _ triumph. Xi;..l yet so timid is dishonesty, that some. of the Whigs seem in trepidation lest the manoeuvring Sir Robert should once more- forestall them, by all at once giving effect to his " abstract principles." However this may be, Sir Robert will assuredly not stoop to pick up the abortive Whig " fixed duty." That is now repu diated by everybody but Whigs. They need not be alarmed for Sir Robert's manoeuvres here. Whatever becomes of his Tories, the majority of the electoral body will support any Minister who, nailing his colours to the mast, declares for total repeal. Less will satisfy no member of the League. That Association ha not, we would hope, in the opinion of the nation, per formed its work so badly, that it must all be done over again at some future period, in order to get rid of the fermentive dregs of the iniquitous impost, the eight or five shilling duty. If the principle of a tax on the people's food, for the protection, as it is called, of the land owners, be recognised, and retained in any shape, what shall prevent its increase ? We have had half-a-dozen changes of sliding-scales and corn-laws within the last thirty years ' • and what is to give se curity against other changes and increase in the amount of duty ? What shall prevent what is eight shillings this year from be coming sixteen shillings in another, or twenty-four shil lings in a third Besides the effect of free trade can never have scope for development while any vestige of duty or restriction remains. The League have not surely, as we said, done their work in so loose or slovenly a way, that it may be all to do over again in another generation. We are not afraid of this ; but then the next" settlement must be final. " If Sir Robert Peel has mirage to be the Minister that will manfully prt pose the. only ndmissible terms of 'final settlement, there is, we believe, a spirit in the country that will bear him out. But he has not. It is mere folly to look for it. Will Lord John Russell, then, sometime between this and next Easter, looking to the triumphant progres sion of the League 7 -to its geometrical progression— screw his courage to the 'proper pitch; declare, like Earl Spencer; for the total repeal of the corn-laws, and also for the abandonment of the income-tax; and, instead of finality, 'take up-the suffrage where Lord Durham left it in the lurch eight years since? This is surely not much. This is not asking anything either impracticable or visionary; !Ant it is moving onward—and that mere Whigs never will do. Sir Robert Peel has of late been fully more liberal—so far as a flourish of fair words at agricultural meetings goes—than, for example, Mr. La- . bouchere. Both gentlemen tell the farmers in substance, that since landlords cannot hope much longer to squeeze rack-rents out of the people (the agriculturists included), the farmers must contrive to squeeze them out of the soil; • for " rents must be maintained.". _ _ We have no spirits at this time to speak of Ireland. We anticipate a protracted and irritating trial; and, if the Government has the rare good fortune to obtain a verdict, a grand stroke of graciousness and magnani mity, in the pardon of, at least, the principal culprit (if he should ever be even sentenced) ; and then England and Ireland will stand on no better terms than before. THE LATE Loan LYNEuocit.---We understand that intimation was sent to the relatives of the late Lord, that, if it would meet their wishes, or not be inconsistent with the intentions of the deceased, his remains would be deposited in Westminster Abbey. However deserv ing of this honour, and however gratifying such request was to his surviving relatives, it could not be take* ad vantage of, as, we understand, hisliordship bad ex pressed on his death-bed a decided wish to be buried beside the ashes of his long-lamented wife, which lie in Methven church .yard. With a view to this, his Lord ship, some years ago, caused a piece of ground within that place to be inclosed for a family burying ground.— Perthshire Courier.' _ _ _ A few days since an inhabitant of Bampton, sent a man in his employ to get change for a sovereign. The servant proved a rogue, and never returned again, but found his way to this Gown, where he set about spending the cash. Whilst in a public house drinking, he had his pocket picked of some of the stolen money, and detect ing the thief, he gave him into the custody of our active Inspector Samuels, on a charge of robbing him. In the meanwhile his master had traced the delinquent to Tann who soon foundton, and hi m had ou given into custody charged with purloining his master's property. The owner of the sovereign eventually declined to prose cute, and the knave, in gratitude for his escape, refused to appear against the mnn who had abstracted a portion Of the stolen coin from his pocke t. Thus two rascals have escaped from the hands of just ice through mistaken kindness.—Somerset Gazette. __ _ .........—. ..... TilE Inisti POPTJLACE. — The Irish are a very re ligious people, and have all kinds of pretty pious saluta tions always at hand. If they pass people at work in a field the regular form is "God bless your work," and the answer " Save you too. If one praises a person or even a thing, or more especially a child, one must never forget to add " God bless it, fur praise always seems suspicious to an Irishman, and, unless accompanied by an invocation of God's blessing, it appears to him to in dicate a desire either to possess it oneself or to destroy it by calling towards it the attention of fairies and bad spirits, who are always upon the look ont for what is beautiful. An Irish mother would rather hear a stranger say, " What a nasty, screaming, disagreeable brat your child is," than " What a ch arm i ng l i ttle angel you've got there," unless he i nstantly warned off the bad spirits by adding " God bless him." As they never forget to ask a blessing, they are also most diligent in returning thanks. "Thanks to the great God,'" is a phrase often in their mouths, and certainly I believe in their hearts also. They often utter this, thanksgiving even when speaking of a misfortune, as " I've lost my poor dear little child, thanks to the great God."—Hull Advertiser. MORNING, JANUARY 1, 1844. THE FRENCH KING'S SPEECH. (OPINIONS OF THE PARIS PRESS.) The Journal des Debuts, a Conservative paper, has the following remarks : " The Ministry of Oct. 29 has fulfilled in a manner equally complete the second part of its mission. Hav ing re-established the finances of the country, it has a!so re-established its alliances, and has made peace and con cord abroad the bases of industry and prosperity at home. It is with sincere satisfaction that we see more than ever confirmed that alliance which was the first object of the foreign policy of the Government of IS3O. The spontaneous testimony of friendship and respect which the Queen of England came in person to offer to the King of the French has greatly contributed to calm those passions which had unfortunately been awakened, and to re-establish between the two great' constitutional nations of Europe a community of views dictated by a community of principles. It is in vain to cry out against alliances of principles, and preach alliances of• interests. In times like ours interests flow almost always from principles, and are rarely separated. It is in the interest as well as in the principles of France that the moderate and wise ideas of liberty on which her institutions are founded should extend, be consolidated and firmly fixed around her—it is in accordance with her interests as well as with her principles that she should have on her fron tiers constitutional countries like those of Belgium and Spain. We are, therefore, made happy by observing France anti England resume with common accord the work they began in 1830 for insuring the maintenance of peace, and at the same time the regular development of liberal institutions. It is an honour to the Ministry of October 29 to have substituted for the antagonism of the two great and free countries of Europe a commu nity of intentions and exertions, which, without touch ing their mutual independence, tends to the advantage of those nations which the more naturally court their alliance and support. Thus have the two Governments united sincerely and disinterestedly to aid Greece in or ganising her revolution, and in creating for herself free institutions. Thus, likewise, will they act with cordial concurAnce towards substituting in Spain, for the sepa rate interests of France and of England, the interests of Spain herself, and those of the young Queen, for whom the King yesterday declared his solicitude in such affect,. ing terms. It was impossible to witness without emo tion the noble and anxious inquietude testified by a Prince who has been tried and approved by all the vicis situdes of life, all the perils of royalty, for a young female. his own great-niece, entering at an age so tender her grand and redoubtable destiny." The Presse, which is also a Conservative journal, does not bestow unqualified praise upon the speech, for on the main point it differs entirely from the Debats. •This journal, after admitting that peace was never on a surer basis—an admission rather at variance with its avowed distrust of England—and expressing a hope that ad vantage will be taken of this fact to effect reductions in the war department, says : " The passage in which the King speaks of the sin cere friendship which unites him with the Queen of Great Britain, is a delicate allusion to the visit to Eu. We wish to see nothing more in it. France and Eng land are forcedly rivals ; and this rivalry, far from be coming weaker, tends, on the contrary, to an increase by the force of things, and in despite of man. A cordial understanding between the two countries cannot be of long duration. The past is the guarantee of the opinion which we express." The Globe takes a general review of the speech, which is described as alike honourable to the Government and confounding to the Opposition. The Constitutionnel finds nothing to admire in the speech, except the correct way in which it has been put together. It censures especially the intimation that the influence of France will be exercised towards the settlement of affairs in Spain and in Greece, and advises the Government to abstain from anything so imprudent and impolitic, as making itself responsible by intervention for the events which may occur in those countries. Our Contemporary, in observing that this intimation is founded upon the assurance of co-operation and friendship on the part of England, expresses its doubts of the sincerity of this friendship, and asks what proof the English have given of its existence. They have neither done justice in the affair of the Marabout, says the Constitutionnel, nor given way in the question,of the right of search. The Consti tutionnel regards the announcement of an Education Bill as very vague, and fears that the Government, in de claring that it will act up to the letter of the Charter as regards freedom of instruction, intends to make some concession to the Church party. The Courrier Francais, in reply to the speech, addresses the King as follows : " Sire, France is not less sure of peace than order. She dreams neither of disturbance nor of war. What she at present chiefly aims at is the peaceful development of her natural influence in the affairs of the world. The chacun chez soi is excellent, but if there is no permission to look out, or even speak from the window, the chacun chez soi becomes a prison. Our diplomacy does not hold its place in the councils of Europe. A universal peace has left us in a state of isolation, the European concert is only a fiction, and our credit has descended so low in the East that we could neither get our protec tion accepted for the affairs of Servia, nor obtain a just satisfaction for the insult at Jerusalem. France, in taking possession of a constitutional Government, has deceived our preconceived notions. We had considered it in a state of slumber, and we had lulled to sleep its Sovereign. The former has roused up before the other. In the midst of the grave events of Spain, young Isabella 11. no doubt merits all our solicitude, but if the affectionate interest which your Majesty evinces towards a Queen of your blood is Worthy of the head of a family, France is profoundly touched with the fate of a neighbouring nation, which seeks, through sanguinary trials and dark intrigues, its liberty mid a government. Nations also have their consanguinity. Each of them has its own peculiar physiognomy, its private mission; and all at-. tempts to model Spain on France suggested by an exag gerated dynastic feeling would be an error, perhaps a grave fault. May the harmony between England. and France on • this Spanish question be sincere I A per sonal friendship between your Majesty and the Queen of England would be, in two constitutional monarchies, only an insufficient pledge of this sincerity. Our hopes rest on the cordial understanding of the two Govern ments. We hope also that the Ministry has made use of this good intelligence to enter on negotiations relative to the right of search, free for the future from all ap pearance of weakness or folly. At this price confidence would again spring up between the two nations, and 1840 would be effaced." The National has the following : " A word relative to the King's speech. It has been remarked that it has been tolerably correctly written, which does not always occur in documents of this kind. Coldly delivered, it was coldly listened to. A single phrase had the power of exciting a certain movement in the assembly—that referring to the hope of re-establish ins, the equilibrium between the expenses and receipts. Was the murmur a sign of hope or incredulity ? For our parts it appeared to us, that it could very clearly be thus translated : A fine long time we have been told the same thing !' Besides, the speech says nothing of what some persons expected to see. Thus no allusion is made to the Legitimist journeys to London. The Mi nistry desired, it is said, to engage the discussion on this point when deliberating on the address. On second thoughts, it judged it better to wait, confiding perhaps in the cordial understanding which exists between the Queen of England and the French Government, to get the Pretender removed before any discussion took place, if indeed the Legitimists and the Ministry, should make up their minds to attack each other at the risk of hear ing unpleasant truths on both sides. Of the dotation for the Regency not a single word. Must it be inferred that no law is to be presented to the Chamber`on this point ? We cannot say, but what is certain is that the Ministry does not yet know what to determine on, and that it is anxious to previously feel the ground with the Deputies lately come to Paris. M. Guizot, we are assured, is determined on one point— that whatever may be resolved on, he will not make the dotation a Cabinet question. In fact, it would not be prudent to risk the Ministerial existence of a man like him in such a question, and the same prudence which re frains from raising up the glove insolently thrown down by the Legitimists, here again inspires M. Guizot per fectly well. Of all the subjects which attract public at tention, only one is touched on in the speech from the throne, and that is liberty of instruction. The Govern ment says that a Bill relative to secondary instruction will satisfy the wishes of the Charter respecting liberty of inst ruction, by maintaining the authority and influence of the State over public education.' We do not very well know, be it remarked, what those wishes are. The Charter is the law of laws ; it prescribed order, but has. no wishes. But in fine, the wishes, since wishes there - are, are about to be fulfilled, and that by maintaining the authority and action of the State over public education. That is very well, and exactly what we desire ; but it remains to be seen what will be done with this authority, and in what sense this action will be directed—how the State, represented by M. Villemain, will impress on edu cation a unity of doctrine. We esteem the University highly, but if it be not reformed, if a soul be not given to this body so well disposed, no result will be obtained. The speech ought, therefore, to have indicated some line of improvement in this respect. It does not do so, and no doubt MM. Guizot and Villemain hadgood reasons fur not speaking of them, and,therefore, it is not from them that France expects the means of giving a strong and moral direction to the rising generation. We have pointed out a part of what is not found in the speech. As to what it does contain, cur remklers have no need of our assist ance to help their memory. We are at peace with the whole world, and the interior prosperity of the country is unceasingly. increasing. Our sailors pillaged by Eng lish—our workmen at Lyons working fourteen hours a day to earn their bread—our faubourgs containing 100,000 indigents—our farmers worn out by taxes and usury, are.a proof of the latter fact. Every one is aware of these truths, and it was not worth while to bring the King to the Palais-Bourbon between 20,000 bayonets drawn up in line, to make him pronounce such words." The Commerce says : "In its totality the speech is remarkable for an almost total obliteration of the ministerial policy, for which there is substituted a certain affectation, and, with a constancy that never fails, the individuality of the King.- The word I prevails throughout. This remark has been universally made, not only in the public gal leries, but amongst the official auditory seated on the benches of the Chamber. Great curiosity was felt to hear the paragraph relative to the dotation, and the allusion to the journey to London. The dotation has remained quiet under the modest covering of its demi-mystery ; and as to the journey to London, a good deal of predis position would be required to perceive an aggressive in tention in the phrases which terminate the speech, by the often repeated declaration of fidelity and devotedness to the service of France. It was, however, observed that this phrase, as well as an expression introduced into the paragraph relative to Spain and Greece, had an air of resemblance with the words pronounced by the pre tender of the elder branch. He had said at Londoh, the monarchical principles and national liberty;' and the speech took for its motto, the rights of the throne and public liberty.' The two formulae, as may be seen, e , ; ~„` were much the same. In other respects there is no al ' lusion whatever to foreign policy, either with respect to results or even hopes. We are merely informed that Greece has effected a revolution, that Spain is the theatre of grave events, that Sardinia has signed a treaty of commerce with us, and that the Prince de Joinville has married a sister of the Empror of Brazil. Most certainly, no reproach can be made to the Ministry for the novelty or rashness of these affirmations. However, we may remark that, with respect to the treaties of commerce, it has been for gotten to say whether they were to be submitted to the sans tion of the Chamber, and yet this was, we think, a case in which t o pay public homage to the rules of the repres , .ntative Government. England had necessarily to occupy a prominent, position, in a document expressing both the politics of the s y s t em and that of Guizot. The Teech confirms, on this point, all that the pr.,- as had revealed of the harmony which existed between the Governments of London and Paris with respect to the affairs of Spain and Greece, but the conditions of this harmony ought to have been told us. On what bases is it determined ? Is it on a respect for the mutual interest of the two contracting parties, or have we agreed, on this occasion as on many others, to follow in the steps of England ? Do we, in fact, agree with her merely to do - what she pleases ? That is the question, and we consider it a doubtful one." • The Siecle has a very few lines on the speech, and these are chiefly in reprobt.tion of the hint of iWcrven. tion thrown out as to the affairs of Spain. The Quoti dienne and France express disapprobation generally. GREAT FREE TRADE MEETING AT LEICESTER. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27.—This meeting "came off" on Wednesday night last, in the Theatre leoyal, Leicester ; and the attendance was such as in every sense to justify the anticipations and hopes of the friends of free trade in this part of the world. Pit, boxes, and gallery were crowded. Amongst those immediately supporting the Chairman, {Thomas Paget, Esq., of Humberstone), were—Richard Cobden. Esq., M.P.; Colonel Thompson, R. R. Moore, Esq.; Henry Rawson, Esq., (the Secretary of the Anti- Corn. law League), as the deputation from the League ; E. Dawson, Esq., of Whatton House ; Isaac Hodgson, Esq., of Kirby Frith ; Richard Harris, Esq. Mr. PAGET took the chair amid loud applause, and having briefly introduced the business of the meeting, stating, during his address that he was a landed pro prietor, and that there were others at present as deeply interested in land as himself, iiARRis, Esq., (Mayor), proposed the first resolu tion, and Mr. JOIIN BIGGS. proposed the second. Both were carried by acclamation. Mr. W. PARKER (one of the Secretaries to the Work- • ing Men's Anti Corn -law Association), presented complimentary address, from the working men of Lei cester, to Mr. Cobden, with upwards of 4,000 signatures. The CHAIRMAN now introduced Mr. Cobden to the meeting. Mr COBDEN'S appearance in-the front of the platform was the signal for tremendous applause from all irirts of the house. Some disturbances which occurred in the gallery interrupted the first portion of his speech. Upon it partial cessation he remarked : I will tell you what Parliament can do for you—and all that it can do—let you alone—(Hear, hear, and loud applause)—and iqhey should ever interfere between you and your employers, with the view of regulating trade and the price of labour, they will do the greatest harm that can be done to you. —([lear, hear, and one or two marks of dissent.) What you want is freedom of trade.— (" No," was here loudly shouted out from the same quarter where all the dis turbance of the evening proceeded from; it was followed by a tremendous peal of laughter from the 'rest of the meeting.) Why, there is a slave for you (exclaimed Mr. Cobden.)—(!dear, hear.) You go forth to fight the French, and the Russians, and the Americans on the bloOdy main," and you are wont to boast of your prowess there. Ido not say that I am fond or approve of such barbarous contests- far from it ; but 1 will say that if Englishmen are equal to them in this, they are fully equal to them in the frame and the loom and the workshop.-- (Loud cheers.) You have natural advan tages which they have not in any country which I have ever visited; and if you have but the liberty to exchange the products of your industry for the luxuries and comforts of other countries, England would be, and ought to be, better off than any other country on the face of the earth.—(Loud applause.) I have said that Eng lishmen ought to have perfect freedom of trade, and ought not to ask Parliament to fix their wages of labour. Ifyou do allow them to do so, I should not wonder if they were to fix theta much lower than you now get.— (" They can't.") Now you say they can't—l think I beard somebody say this could not be done ? Stop one minute.—(Hear, and laughter.) The majority of the House of Commons are landlords—and what do you think of the sort of wages these landlords give in their own peculiarly protected counties?—(Hear, hear.) I have been among them lately, and have learned some thing of the matter. I have invariably found that the further I go from the tall chimneys of the large manu facturing towns, the lower are the wages.—(Hear, hear, and "No no.") I can prove that this is the case, and here are my facts : I will convince you of the truth of what I say. I have been through Cheshire, Stafford shire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, into Dorsetshire, Devonshire, and Wiltshire ; and I found that the further I got into Dorsetshire the lower were the wages:— (Hear, hear.) In Wiltshire, too, they are getting but 6s. and 7s. per week.—(" That is more than we get here," was exclaimed from the gallery, " a man and wife and five or six children won't get that.") Now the argument I was going to draw from this fact was this : that if the majority of the House of Commons be landlords connected with these purely agricultural districts, and fix the wages of labour for the work men of Lancashire, as- they have done for those of Dorsetshire and Wiltshire, the workmen will be worse' off than they are, now.—(llear, and cheers.) It has been roundly asserted that the Anti-Corn-law League wish to throw the land out of cultivation ; that is.false. Free trade in corn 'is the only way to improve its culti vation ; and this is only improving agriculture by coin petition.—(Hear, hear.) You cannot have' improve ments in draining, and cropping, and ploughing without two horses, without calling more cepital into existence in connexion with agriculture.—(Hear, hear.) Go into the Lothians and into Norfolk, where farming is carried on in the best manner, and there you will find the labourers the best paid ; but go into the other counties of which I have spoken, and there you will find the labourers the worst paid ; and the land in the worst condition.— (Hear, hear.) And now we have agricultural societies meeting every year, and almost every month, and calling out for improvement in farming most strenuously, calling out for the use of guano and other new manures, under-draining, &c. ; and why is this ? Simply because they are afraid that the Anti-Corn-law League will carry out their plans !—(Loud cheers.) They themselves admit that this is the case !—(Cheers.) And if all this comes from their admissions of their fears, what may we not hope for when we have obtained free trade: — (Cheers.) There was Lord Stanley lately at Liverpool speaking of the necessity of draining more—of using thousands of tiles ; but if you go through Lancashire and Cheshire, you will find that millions of tiles are ne cessary, and might be used with the same advantage and profit as we derive, from mining.—([fear, hear.) Yet this is in a district where manufactures arc carrying on to the best advantage.—(Hear.) And why is this ?—the men in the country are the same race of men as those in the towns. Because they have applied to them a species of protection.—((tear.) Mr. Cobden here paused to ask what "protection " was, and what were its fruits, a s shown in the instance just referred to. It is that which every man who has left the nursery ought to be ashamed of.—(Loud cheers.) Yet the men asking for it are stout farmers and wealthy landowners! lam not so stout (he said, and nobody would think of disputing his word!) but I will have none of it.—(Loud cheering.) Protection! It is the same protection as that which the sparrow-hawk affords to the sparrows—it picks their bones while it protects them.— (Renewed cheers.) It is a narcotic drug, which sends them to sleep.. They are told that their landlords will go up to Parliament and protect them, and they, therefore, need not exert them selves. Mr. Cobden concluded with expressing his ear nest hope that the working-classes would not be so blind to their own interests, and act so contrary to the dictates , of common sense, as to oppose the repeal of the corn-laws and the attainment of free trade ; and sat down amidst loud and prolonged cheering. Colonel TuosinsoN was then introduced to the meet ing, and was received with several rounds of hearty ap plause. Ile said—l stand here in a similar situation to your respected chairman. I was born -could I help it?— (Cheers and laughter)—the.son of a landowner; and if icould not help it, I theretore am bound to have a great deal of the landlord's feelings and interests. Now, there are those who say that no man should stand up for his own interest, except those who legislate for their time and on this matter.—(Hear, hear.) After one or two qualifying and satirical remarks upon this doctrine—ono more frequently preached than practised—the Colonel proceeded to see how the matter of protection stood as regarded himself in the character of a landlord. If I get 6001. a year from my land, where I should have got but :cool. but for these laws, what have I to do with that ? " it was not I that did it."—(hear, hear, and laughter.) But somebody must suffer for it ; and am I to suppose that lam all this the richer for this ? that I am a gainer in the end ?—(Hear, hear.) Have I not four children to support and put out in t'ie world; and what possible chance have I got to enable them to support themselves without coming back to me ? Time was when, in the memory of man, a person could make money on his farm, and leave it to his children—some may have that luck now, but I do not feel that that is likely to be the case with me. If I send them to be lawyers, there is nothing to be done in the profession—doctor—or tier gymen—it is all the same thing.—(hear, hear, and laughter.) All professions are one rstecked, and are (bliged tai run one against another fur small profits and incomings, so that they eat one another up. Those who have money must spend it without the hope of increasing it. If my children commit the folly I have done, of in creasing an already overrun population—(Laughter and applause)—what is to become of that third generation is what I take care not to look into.—(Laughter.) Farmers may educate their children in their own profersion, but they cannot m ike more farmers than there are. They must, therefore, either split those farms into smaller por tions, or send their families into rcmo:e quarters of the world, from which very few ever come back.--(Hear, hear.) That this is the state of the ease we know, as we have examined into it. An intelligent son of a Scotch farmer entered into an inquiry as to' the ono farmer's son he I n the farm ; the others h a d s th on e s ca a s i e l daughtershad I:l° k h n a s d o i Is t :- u n o c n i c n o e e f e d a a c i r d l ly t ' i h i l i e i s fe f f . a a r t m h l e n e r r a s gone to the East Indies, the West Indies, Canada, or Australia. The daughters had married in the same way ; one was a farmer's mile, and the others were either not married t 4 all, or had gone abroad with their husbands, as it was their duty to do.- -(Hear and laughter.) Is this a state of the community in which men would de sire to live ? is theke a luau among the lauded elassof SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. On Saturday, a special general meeting of the Pro prietors in this Company was held at the Nine Elms station, Vauxhall, Mr. William Chapman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presiding, to take into considera .. tion the propriety of extending the line to Salisbury, Newbury, and Epsom. There was a numerous attend ance of Proprietors, amongst whom were Mr. Chute, M.P., Mr. Trewart, M.P., and several gentlemen attend. ing as a deputation from Salisbury. Mr. MORPAN, the Secretary, read the Directors' he port, from 'which it appeared that Mr. Locke, the en gineer, had completed the survey of the proposed line to Epsom, and which, by the construction from the parent line of five miles of railway, touching at Ewell, would bring Epsom within fourteen miles of Vauxhall, the cost of the line being estimated at 51,000/. and the traffic at 5,4121. per annum, of which a largo amount would be derived from carrying visitors to -the races. The proposed Salisbury Railway, from the Bishopstoko station, by Romsey, somewhat under 22 miles, might be completed for 2301., having the advan tage of forming a good communication between the ports of Portsmouth and Southampton. The total estimated revenue to be derived from traffic would be 25,0001, of which 14,0001. would accrue from passengers, so that, allowing 40 per cent. for the working expenses, there would be' 7 per cent.' profit on the investment. 'The Directors did not propose the construction by themselves of the proposed railway to Newbury, but proposed to accept a lease of it in perpetuity, at a rental of .3i per cent. The length of the branch would be about 16 miles, and could be ,constructed for 200,0001., the traffic being sufficient, and more so, than to replace at least 7,000/. a-year. The Directors further proposed, on account of the accession of traffic, to increase the public accommodation at the Nine Elms station, either by removing the booking-offices, &c., to a new site next the Wandsworth-road,-or by transferring thither a por tion of the goods trade. The Directors proposed that the requisite capital for these branch lines, the New bury excepted, should be raised amongst the Proprietors, and concluded their Report by suggesting that they be empowered by the Proprietors in the next session to apply for an Act of Parliament, authorising the con version of the share capital of the Company into stock. The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting at considerable length on the topics contained in the Report, represent ing the great 'advantages that would accrue to the parent line by the construction of these tributary rail ways, in 'addition to the traffic which it at present de -riied• from its being one of the great arteries of commu nication by means. of Portsmonth and Southampton, with India and China, from its, connexion with .the shipping at Portsmouth and the' military station at Gosport, and the . general traffic of the south-western parts of England. The New bury branch had the support of Lord Carnarvon, Lord Craven, and Lord Bolton, and the' support of his Grace the Duke of Wellington. A branch to Guildford was also under consideration. A long and animated discussion followed, in which Mr. Chute, Mr. Thwart, Mr. 'rite, Mr. Gilbert, and others took part. Ultimately resolutions embodying the propositions contained in the Directors' report were passed unanimously, and the meeting separated. THE NELSON MONUMENT.—For some days work men have been employed on a new scaffolding around the statue, the architect having found, as every passer-by had found long since, that from some defect, either in the position or structure of the statue, it had a most awkward appearance. The deformity, it is said, is caused bythat part of the base representing a cable, which completely hides the legs, and orders have been given to diminish its proportion. We are not inclined to find fault with Mr. Railton, who has erected a very beautiful pillar, the only Corinthian pillar of such a height in the world ; but we have often wished, on viewing the statue from Whitehall, that it might be speedily dashel to the ground by a hurricane. It is a disgrace to the arts in the present day, and, we fear, cannot be mended. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—The unprecedented at traction of the Bohemian Girl, and the new Pantomime, has filled the theatre nightly ; and, amongst others, we haVe noticed :—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, Duke of Devonshire, Earl of Chesterfiehl,• Earl of Cardigan, Earl of Wilton, Baron and Baroness Brun now, Earl and Countess of Harrington, Marchioness of Conyngliam, Countess of Westmoreland, Count Nessel rode ; Ladies Fitzroy Somerset, Strathaven, Jersey, Dungannon, Graham, Strafford, Mary Berkeley, Towns end: Villiers, Seymour, Mary Ross, Sheffield ; Lords Castlereagh, novo-, Ossulston, W. Beresford, Clifton, H. Russell, Seymour, De Manley ; Baron Ktiescbeck ; General Sir De Lacy Evans, Sir Frederick Trench, Bart. ; Sir Henry Hunloke, Bart.; Sir Henry Webbe, Bart.; Hon. Cecil Forester ; Hon. Mr. Greville ; Hon. Mr. Anson, Hon. Miss Tollemache. METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.-011 Friday, in consequence of orders from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, the occupiers of the several houses facing Great St. Andrew's-street, Seven-dials, removed their goods and furniture, prep a r a t or y t o their belly , taken, down for the improvements in that neighbourhood, for which purpose they will be sold in a few days. When removed, there will be a direct line from Upper St. Martin's-lane, into Broad-street, St. Giles's, •Izich will make a very spacious stre e t. The h ouses which formed Middle-row, 'Holborn, have been demolished for the same object. Several houses in Plumptre-street, nearly opposite to Great St. Andrew's-street, have been pur chased by the Commissioners, and will be pulled down as soon as possible, in order to form the line from Ox ford-street to Holborn. Many houses in this line, dur ing the last few weeks, have been cleared away. - GREECE ATHENS, DEC. 9 .—The great and all-absorbing • subject of discussion and anxiety for the last few days ' has been the election of the Committee for drawing up the Constitution, in concert with the King. This did not terminate until past ten o'clock last night—a very late hour for the National Assembly at Athens, though at St. Stephen's the business of the night would only then be commencing. The moderate party, who are attached to English principles of go vernment, have obtained a most triumphant majority. Upon this occasion, as well as upon the election of Vice-Presidents, Mavrocordato and Colletti agreed to support each other; but on both occasions it turned out that, although the Mavrocordatists, in compliance with the earnest wishes of t'leir chief, voted against their own inclinations to a man, for Colletti, the adhe rents of the latter, about forty in number, broke the agreement, and did not vote for Mavrocordato. Upon the first occasion, Mavrocordato was disposed to think there might have been a mistake ; but, when the same conduct was repeated, it then became evident that it was the bad faith of the Muscomangites, as the party of Colletti is designated, which had placed him next to Mavrocordato in the list of Vice-President;, and above him in the Committee for the Address. This circumstance has excited a strong feeling of in dignation against the treachery of these persons, and a sense of the impropriety of allowing Greece and Europe to be deceived as 'to the real state of parties in this country, induced the adherents of Mavrocordato and Metaxa to withdraw their votes from Colletti upon this last great occasion, when those were to be chosen by whom the fabric of the Constitution is to be constructed, and thereby to demonstrate that he cannot reckon upon the support of more than.forty three certain, and about twenty doubtful votes in the Assembly. Mavrocordato and Metaxa, however, in the spirit •of peace and union, did all in their power to dissuade their friends from withholding their votes, declaring that they would prefer seeing him again in a fictitious majority, rather than risk the disadvan tages of disunion. Many would not act upon this suggestion, and the consequence is that Colletti stands low in the list; and, if more than forty of the friends of Mavrocordato and Metaxa had not, at their earnest solicitation, voted for him, he would have been ex cluded altogether. In the Committee for the Address the French party, as it is called, is represented by Colletti alone, or with the equivocal support of Anastasio Loudos. The proportion is two to five. In the more important Committee on the Constitution the disproportion is still more marked, being only four to seventeen, so that the French party, about which so much has been written and said for the last three years, has dwindled to a miserable minority; and well it may be so, when no better man could be found to supplant Mavrocor dato, in 1841, by means of a million of francs, than Christides, and when he, "the despised of all men," finds a fit successor in Riga Palamides as champion of the party. Neither this personage nor Conduri ottis, the President of the Council of State, are in either Committee, though they made every effort to be elected. Tricoupi, the late Minister in England, owes his election to an accident. General Church might have been placed at the head of the Commission for the Constitution, but, having heard that his name was on the list, he did not rest till he got it withdrawn, ge• neroosly thinking that none but Greeks should take part in the solemn office of constructing the Consti tutional edifice. The latest accounts of the state of Earl Grey's health are rather more favourable: DIRECTIONS TO POLICEMEN.—The Learned Judge, Mr. Baron Rolfe, in one of the cases lately tried before him at Worcester, said; with regard to policemen putting questions to persons accused, that he was sorry the law had got into such a tender state on this point. It was gene rally laid down that policeman were exceedingly wrong in putting any questions to persons in their custody now he thought it was often well for them to do so, fur he had seen cases in which such questions were most essential to the establishment of a person's innocence ; however, as he did not like to differ from his brethren, he always told policemen not to say anything to prisoners. PASSENGER DUTIES ON RAILWAYS.—From a re turn made to the House of Commons in the course of last session it appears that the railroads in England and Wales, 56 in number, have paid in the yoar ending Ja nuary, 5, 1843, no less than 152,6631. 13s. qd., as pas senger duty. The amazing increase of railway traffic within the last ten years may be gathered from the fact, that in the year ending January, 1833, the whole sum paid to Government as passenger duty was 6391. 16s. 10d. The amount paid in the year ending January, 1842, was 148,204/. 13s. 100, In Scotland, in the year ending January last, 20 railroads paid 15,1251. ls. being an increase of 3,468/. Os. Ild. over the preceding year. The gross amount paid by all the railroads in the kingdom during the last year was 167,7881. 14s. 71d. The amount paid in the previous year was 159,861/. 14s. 6d., showing an increase in 1843 of 7,927/. Os. 114. The ten railroads having termini in London paid 82,4471. 4s. 5d.: the three largest amounts being paid by the Lon don and Birmingham, the Great Western, and the South Western, which paid respectively 25,940/, 14s. Id., 23,8041. ss. 2d., and 12,0481 19s. 7d., or more than two fifths of the whole amount. THE LATE ASEBTJETON MURDER.—OH Monday last, Edward Webb, better known' as " Deaf Ned," and Charlotte Williams, a woman who accompanies him in his peregrinations, were fully committed to the county goal for trial at the next assizes, charged with being par ties concerned in the foul and horrid murder committed last summer, near the town of Ashburton.—Somerset Gazette. ASTONISHING INSTINCT OF A CAT.—A family in Swansea, having a favourite cat, but in consequence of its thieving propensities, they were determined to part with: Poor Tom was given to, the care of a captain of a vessel who was about to sail for Cuba. After a voyage of four or five months, the vessel returned to this port, about a month since. In a few days after the arrival of the ship, Tom decamped, and the vessel was about to go to sea without him. About three weeks since a cat was heard by the members of the above family about their premises, mewing most pitifully, and could not be kept away, despite the threatenings of the servants ; when, 10, to the astonishment of its old mistress, her old friend came up to her, rubbing against her with all the affection imaginable. What is most extraordinary, the cat had to cross the river and pass through the most dense part of the town to find its old habitation, after a voyage to Cuba, and an absence of five or six months.—Cambrian. CULTIVATION or FLAX.—An influential meeting was held at Norwich, on Wednesday last, the May,: r in the chair, at which the following resolution was adopted: —" That this meeting being of opinion that much benefit may arise from the cultivation and manufacture of flax in this city and its vicinity, with a view to the remu nerative employment of the poor, and the profitable in vestment of capital, strongly recommend that a general meeting should be convened of all persons who are willing to contribute to the promotion of this very de sirable object." COAL PIT ACCIDENT.--On Tuesday last, as soon as the colliers at Tonge-lane Coal-pits, Middleton, near Manchester, went to their work, an explosion of fire damp took place in one of the pits, and one of the miners, named Roger Gregory, was burned in a shocking and dangerous manner. Several others were slightly hurt, but not dangerously.—Liecrpool Mercury. CORONER'S INQUEST.—An inquest was held on Fri day afternoon by Mr. Higgs, Deputy Coroner for West minster, at the - George ' Gilbert's-passage, Clare-market, on the body of Joseph Corbyn Abbott, aged 69. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased left his home, No. 1, Selwood-place, New-road, and proceeded to the Strand. Whilst proceeding up Drury-lane, on his way home, he was attacked with apoplexy, and fell to the ground. A police-constable coming up, he was conveyed on a stretcher to King's College Hospital, where he was attended to by Mr. Brown, the acting physician, but died the same evening. The deceased's son said he had to complain of what he considered great neglect on the part of the police. His father not returning at the usual hour, and supposing that something might have befallen him, he went to the Bow-street sta tion-house and made inquiries concerning him. The inspector who was on duty answered him sharply, and said he knew nothing about him, although it was from that place the stretcher was brought on which he was conveyed to the hospital. That was between twelve and one in the day atter,his father was taken ill, and it was not until two o'clock on the following morning that he knew where he 'was. Police-constable F 56, the man who brought the stretcher, said, that he gave in his re port of the occurrence to Sergeant Weston, and he could only account for the son not receiving information by the pressure of business. The son said, that on going to the George-street station-house, the inspector there gave him every. assistance. The Coroner and jury were of opinion that there was great neglect on the part of the police, but they could not go into it as it did not concern the deceased's death. A verdict of " Died from an attack of apoplexy" was then returned, the Coroner advising the relatives to write to the Commissioners of Police on the subject. THE LOGIC OF A SMUGGLER.—Wherefore is a poor widow woman like myself to abide by the juggling of princes and their ministers,—who deal with nations and languages as with flocks and herds; creating as it were a line in the air, which they advance or retrograde at will, and which is to make me French or Fleming, according to their whims and fancies ? My old grand father used to boast of having spoken with those who remembered the time when Flanders extended half way into the France of to-day,--the time when Marlbrook came soldiering here, and for all the great victories we hear so much of, left the Grand Monarque in posses. sion of our finest provinces ! Even I,—l, Lottje Van Kerckx, who am speaking to you,—recollect the period when the French eagle was the imperial standard for our 'stamps ; when Brussels, which now calls itself a capital, was but a country town like the rest of us ; and all was France, France, France, from Rouen to Hamburg!' ; paying toll and tax to the same Parisian seat of Govern ment ! And why, pray—because it pleased the crowned , heads of Europe to knock themselves together at Aix la-Chapelle, and decide that this patch of ground should be called Prussia, and t'other patch of ground be called France—is a poor widow woman to pay mulct and fine to this new King of ours, for liberty to drink and retail the French liquors, which in my youth I bought and sold at prime cost ? I had no hand in their rubbishing Congress ! My opinion wasn't asked ? And so, without further ceremony—feeling myself guiltless in the sight of Almighty God for violating a law which is none of his making--I make bold- to catch the gendarmes of the frontier napping, whenever they are fools enough to let me !—?alt's Magazine. *' ~ ,; " ,‘, ;jr~~.~:i:' ~:. .• A. 1 77,7 4 5 - t V•l4l''' • • _~_ ,~- ' fS -~:~. ~=-~- ~.