The Sun. — London, England, 1844-02-10 00:00:00

the Sire [le ieir the auk has lion I at has - ash the iced the lace lay, !itch on 23 234; 324 While BRJ ib 16 43 , 2i ei Fisb , irbot.g• doe" ;01 0* 6 3 64 S 23i se iLI ll° 99 6, Is7° us t d , ied• e ller* or do, rolot wort r 80.; 53 t `' lig.; k ' t hi "9 ' 11 16 ~, ''e. be - id , 4 ' . Ole ic V. 40;4 t°so ,eriO V 0 ; i g 1 , S a ge ai ' she" ! Si Y.) tiLlt. ~,iip. .urta" 00 0 i ) t w a t 4.6,- for iAia' of °° •e, fa )s tet. 21); init il ,rl ,ll * :1104 crin • Atli , AO troi B ,ter- No* LKW IN TELLIo-ENCE. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAY.) (Sitting in Banco after Term.) It Will CHENILLE V. CHAPMAN. be recollected that this action was tried some time back, It en the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, with 3001. damages. Was an' action for a libel which appeared in the Sunday lwblither • n ewspaper , aper, of which the defendant is the registered and the libellous matter complained of was to the effect; that the plaintiff had entered a horse to run certain race at Epsom , which horse he had subse geentlY withdrawn , in order ' , as asserted in the defendant's IPer, o l d ' (the obtain a mean and unfair advantage over othei persons, P l aintiff) having laid heavy bets with divers persons on the ev ent of the race, and by thus withdrawing his horse, secured to tireself lar ge w i nnings on these bets. At the time of trial a justi- Catien Wall put on the pleas by the defendant, but this was sus s ne g a tieed by . the jury. Subsequently a rule fora new trial granted upon two grounds :—the first being that e Plai ntiff; by his own evidence, presented himself to the Court under legal disability to claim redress for any in. I ll !! done to his character, horse-racing transactions having no e utl to 'protection, which the Court now held to be wholly un tenable; and, on th e second ground question w al alloys/ell by the Court to be put to Lord George Fitzroy, a wit. n els • w t great importance, and who, as a membe of the Jockey s•lub d ' e antibed the way in which they proceeded torso ttle disputes ,neeer they unfortunately occurred. The question then was,whe nitiler -- Opinion of this witness should or should not be taken, as to the e °41 2 1 ! of the rules enunciated by the Jockey Club, thus trans. H an "Is to a witness the privileges which attached solely and . pecu. reilt a ßut looking at the whole of the proceedings as Th e -- ,Z this witness, the Court held that such was not the case. I libel *cited that the plaintiff, having entered a horse know. en d Unfairly, did so, and knowingly and unfairly withdrew wits for th e purpose of improperly gaining money. The plaintiff and P rey ed. by the evidence, to be a member of the Jockey Club, ine tit h e l e of the rules ; of . that Club was, • that any horsehu o wes endowed with the privilege of withdrawing Th e -- any time he likes, before the actual start for the race. th at Witness said that the Jockey Club, in deciding any differences y ett, 'Wight from time to time unhappily arise, were always go. Wh e ed - in their decisions by the rules of equity and justice; and clidt t k eds on cross-examination, whether the rules of the Club -- Y i eld to a subscriber the sole right of withdrawing his Olle_ _ for and that too without assigning - any reason whatever tire s° d oing, his answer was distinctly in the atfirma. opinion When the Learned Judge asked him whether, in his ° t ,that w ou ld b e accor di ng to j ust i ce an d eq uity, with the view irt: seerl a, inn* whether the Jockey Club would sanction a proceed herein a subicriber acted in this way from a fraudulent mo . the wi t ed that any person, sub scrieber Witness had most properly answer *sold be e : non -subscriber to the Jockey Club, acting in this way m kt --- in o do that which was most dishonourable and improper, the e ye= * M undoubtedly incur merited reprobation and disgrace in and cow ?! every honest and high.minded nun. Thus guarded frok oh : ln ed, the Court held that the question was wholly free *taw r eel inn, and in fact necessary, in order properly to under do. •iie teno r of the evidence. Th e j u d gm e n t of the Court, as eve kb, ,"Y Lord Denman, therefore, was, that upon both grounds Must lse dtscharged. LORD GEORGE RENTINCE V. CONNOP. 141 ,this ca . se there had been a demurrer to several pleas, and action Wa y proceeded to give the 'judgment of the p oints d i, cuss ed ° wall One of assumpsit, and there had been several points dis. Itne 'on various occasions, -te nth as to the validity of one of the pleas, held il " e Court would not waste time in referring to now, because it The ° Pinion that the declaration was altogether Insufficient. t he effect set forth an agreement made between the parties Stak e m ef feet that in the running for the Grand Duke Michael be " nun of fifty pounds for each colt or filly, should Celts s ubscrib ed . y o the owners, or trainers, of such dive rs fill ies; that both the plaintiff and the defendant, with the s oth er , Persons, had become subscribers to these stakes ; that ta _Plaru t i ft . named four colts and one filly ; that the defendant r elines • No colts and one filly; that thereupon the plaintiff, at the Dr oit ,„ t the defendant, and in consideration of the premises named, Up e ,: k ed and agreed with defendant to perform all things alike and of th e " es aMe terms ; that the race was duly run ; and that the horse Wag Ch r Plai 'llifr Icon it, whereby the defendant became liable to t erided: C o si nns of fifty pounds each. It had been slightly con that:), the part of the defendant, that the race being l for ‘listi net , - Pounds, was not a legal one; but it was strong l y th e 'Y Urged that no action could properly be maintained against uefend a t hat t n , as, by the 16th of Charles the Second, it was enacted ittou ' . ._._ action could be maintained to recover a stake of a greater , actio nt than 0u e hundred pounds, yet that, if paid down, the tran 'ens ~"uld be a legal one,—the object of the statute icing to pre. ,itzeeelptatrke:tos,”orns venturing for more than a hundred pounds. Mo ney paid down, and in the present case, to his ' .as for one hundred and fifty. The plaintiff, in support -verfilent that his action might be maintained, had referred etwo friliion cases, neith er of which, however, i n h is L or d Denman , , s) :d d e urn' tarsi as s d to the present case ; because, in each of then; di d 4 tgue not ex cee d one hundred pounds -, but it v.a there was no contract for credit, the statute '''nrelsbt a of P P I Y the Court was clearlyto ofa ca th se e opofinexion thatcothhe tr act for t he statut e p Pe unds but applied to all cases of more than.on e :h e u " ndred sary tn ' not paid down immediately ; and, where s neces al th e ' "force the claim, the case was within the word ' s a , as well be th ',W r it of the act, the objet of which was well undersood to c oilrt a w ‘ 'if r estraining the practice of gambling . Therefore, t he the al clearly of opinion that judgment must be entered up for def endant, CRI MINAL COURT.--( T HIS DAY.) (13of o OLD COURT. , t , 'e Mr. Justice Carssweft and Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.) S EAT I.I% TE4C L ON CAPT. PcTaiii.—At the sitting of the Court this —n g Peter Petrie , R.N., aged 54, the captain o f the bar q ue b een '' , a Merchant vessel, was brought up for judgment, he having ina n. w g (lid guilt o and wounding Josiah Lawton, a sea. ur. J ent to f cutting disable hint. fun u stiee COLERIDGEC, in passing sentence, said, that after a b ad b ed e car eful investigation of the charge against the prisoner, he , sh ier en fo und guilty. The jury, however, hail accompanied their dati o with a strong recommendation to mercy, which recornmen. 4 , the Court , i n passing sentence, would of course take into its consi derati on. , ta z e The Court, how e ve r , cou ld no t forget the circum s Under which the assault of which the prliciner had been .Ufid ,ider guilty w as committed. When the court into its can th a tlen the fact s o f the case — cons idering that the prisoner was t i l e t ca Ntain or a ve sse l, an d that the crew had not the power of re anylmCany Cruelty , it was necessary to hold this case up as an ex -r.e. The sentence ' of the Court therefore was, that he he impri. it. the House of Correction for calendar months, and that during that time he be kept to hard labour. oucE INTELLIGENCE. UNION HALL.-(THIS DAY.) Ann Smith, A woman advanced in years, was charged before Mr. torrisonam with 'stealing a purse containing 1:1 sovereigns, anti ttiree half.crowns, the property of Mr. Kilburne. 'A S ergeant of the P divi s i on, stated that the prisoner was given l4t 4 e ostody last night, by Mr. Kilburne, who charged her wtih pis ' Fib init him of a purse . containing the aboue sum. His account ;m th at while he was conversing with the prisoner she contrived ake the pu rse and money out of his pocket. The Sergeant 'ad t"la. that th e complainant expressed his determination to attend A corning and follow up the charge against the prisoner, but he not Present now, Z,. Mr. COTTINGIiaM made some strong re marks on the frequent eutristance of prosecutors not attending to substantiate their 4 is a t Tis after g i ving persons into custody. The present was an d m ! c e of this sort, anti, as the complainant failed in his atten p, he sh ould, therefore, discharge the prisoner. prara4 Yutton and Caroline Maltone were also put to the bar, i lie w e l o th in t rivathnt a gentleman named Pearce of several shares ~, T he pri soners were given into custody this morning tit eight o he ek _.i s a the Circu s, b y Mr. Pearce, but when the case was called a ab•sent, alr, c o eeim said, that as the robbery was committed tee Jso but if re t he'lnan 'll ' 4 " keep the prisoners in custody a e iin p l t did not attend he should discharge (them. - LITEATURE. T HE SECRE T PASSION. 3 Vols. Tile 1, Colburn, London, 1844. th e b est portions of this romance are decidedly , Wally 'emus and imaginative—those more es 'Which refer to the gradual development of t . h_e "et Passion" —whence the story derives its title ' t c;f ihe celebrated Countess of Pembroke, the most austejvealy distinguished character of her day. The and f ' works this incident with considerable force feeling, and excites a deep interest for his tisus heroine in the breast of the reader. The ,T e n ci . + r , s very of the times, too, are depicted wit h . 3 a kth i `aole accuracy ; but we must protest against t h e siv,„ °l. :s umour, which—as honest Dogberry would 'mod al so is most tolerable and not to be endured ;" 'mss against the frequent quaintness and obsolete .44re of his language, which wears the aspect of sheer Nast et t a i ti°ll . A novelist, even though treating of 118 e jnes, should always, like Sir Walter Scott, tt at lc vernacular of his day, and not adopt e tran b , 6f. the past. In the opening chapter of th ctuacilee before us, the style seems stud i ous ly 114, is and old-fashioned; and the author ex • Nstiiih a spe c i a l fancy f or t h e use o f wor ds 4 kad Aw ar e not, and never were, English. Thus, in phrase the term "content," he adopts the odd, affected this co ntentation," and so enamoured is he of I Nltit: w coi nage, which never issued from a Saxon otte that he repeats it not less than three times " in miorge There is an o th er s p ec i me n of his style, tam sl itfhteat bl em i sh is, that it has the most &s -had equaitttance possible with grammar :—" They t t 8 0 familiar with the strangeness of his fashionz si e l Y had Aequired a sort of a ff ectionateness to it. they „ A e nid not have noticed these defects, but that t i —c nr in almost every other page, and form the ' e eoatt ra n e k to a story which might otherwise have nv, 'aourite with the novel-reading commu litia 4 1 7 8 inneli as it is by no means destitute of fancy, Plac es is full ofpass ionate sensibility. pass rli. . ' LITY IN THE METROPOLIS.—The /4ORTA 1 oratbs during the week ending those of the p tio„G' sh OWing an increase of 75 over 1 e chiefly among total am o numberdrteo -4 ti " t i s 'ek. The excess has taken.FPeab.f.u3:..e, the aye i.lilsb eausod by diseases of presentOm, b 391 %i,ng L'3o, while the by returns give oo illflammaetion lyB 1 •etie ru.'lnher carried o . ff both 8 of sid 'O6, and from consumption 162, all-pox 1 . , wheorablY above kV average ; bY sm .1 ts. , violent dem i : 11 bad not theen vaccinated ,• r „,, a 18, 4 of whielv. were suicides it7iel• Prom the meteork that the ther loettlGreewich Obseryator it appears n Fe b . 1, and dogical observations 474.g(itiessi,t.ion Jan. 29, the de a m nu mit " t j ed by fe r: . eter during the weeklolyestcouetivtealkyen27a.: I , '' L. ~7re Ileceived in town from C—asti;:e47 vp.....a1t EARL or CantaLt•-,s being resp eaceteinoguntht s e Howard rep which represent the .‘4,!..ii!)11114: illnems of the Earl of Ch Aisle, ivreearious. The kkolahrtii.ng t evening %,,""Lt et the Noble Earl to be exceCuing", . of an 'u'lltorna which have manifested t'lle,finlresare,. apprehensions as clia!acter, so as to excite pail. 7 .1,,p. the Noble i„,__ Lordships ultialate recovery. If i., tl Y` ar t:. b u t the t,l'v,_ll:ol, Was somewhat improved on Thursdu v ''''. ,4,,,,t flegree Itti,,ae was so Might as not to remove in the , --,',,44.0jgd at;Zarseentertained by the members of his family r-- The a t 1410,4, itvoxjb:u.rgobiti: b,ll:oEth.erEtlloieEt,arllatmealoe,mabenar for the co' i l l n e tf_ ,ithil_cii,°"n Itassell, has transmitted to the of 101., l ik aid -111-14 W League Association at Hawick the st tm palreantesntralerunoet theo 1 of the National League Fund of 100,00Cli- Vii oksuruetions have been received by the Ot k i?e of 4 4 14 '2,, to cover with mourning the Chapel Boyak, ,8t: L i ,Z, fld the New Chapel, Buckingham Palace, an 'a to Np tor Divine service by Sunday next. . con— Vi, ts 1111aM hompson, one of the Nottingham , 15,11., who scaped from custody on New Year's-dad! hag _ .1 lie egel.etakel and lodged in poi. Three othep are dill ''"' 1 RAILWAY RETURNS. We extract from the Raziway Magazine the sums re- Geived on the principal Railways of Great Britain for the week ending on the day of the month prefixed to each. The return includes the money received fur passengers, parcels, carriages, horses, mails, and mar. chandize : Week Total. Name of Railway. ended s.. d. Feb. 3 Birmingham and Derby Junction 1,246 6 10 2 Birmingham and Gloucester 3 Brandling Junction 2 Chester and Birkenhead 312 14 4 4 Dundee and Arbroath ... 231 18 111 3 Edinburgh and Glasg0w... 4 Eastern Counties . 3 Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr....... 1,134 2 6 3 Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock...... 648 4 2 3 Grand Junction, and Chester & Crewe 6,8138 10 6 3 Great North of England 4 Great Western ...... 11,801 2 8 2 Liverpool and Manchester . 3,965 7 8 2 London and Birmingham 14,585 13 7 8 London and Blackwall 536 19 3 3 London and Brighton 6 London and Croydon l9O 10 81 8 London and Greenwich 568 12 1 4 London and South Western 4,654 17 111 1 Manchester, Bolton, and Bury 7OO 10 2 • Manchester and Birmingham 3 Manchester & Leeds & Hull& Selby 5,405 10 8 5 Midland Counties 3 Newcastle and Carlisle 4 Newcastle and North Shields.... 289 12 8 Northern and Eastern 3 North Midland North Union.... Jan. 30 Paris and Orleans 3,125 6 6 Feb. 5 Paris and Rouen ... 2,566 0 0. 3 Preston and Wyre 207 6 0 3 Sheffield and Manchester 477' 13 8 8 South Eastern.. 2,281 11 6 4 Taff Vale.. 8 Ulster 550 18 6 3 York and North Midland 1,371 0 5 COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (FROM ODR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) MARINE RESIDENCE FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE PRINCESS ROYAL. Her Majesty has not yet settled on a summer residence for the Royal infants ; the treaty for the purchase of Norris Castle is off; and surveyors were down on Tuesday to Eagle Hurst, to inspect and report on its capabilities and value ; there are nearly 300 acres of land; the house stands on a great deal of ground, but it is on one floor ; the situation and views are good ; there is also a lofty tower attached, called " Lutrel's Folly ;" it is in the New Forest, near the entrance of Southampton River, and directly opposite Cowes; the amount demanded for it is the principal objection—the dif ference is, however, only about 8,0001. Should it be pur chased her Majesty intends lying in her yacht off Cowes, the nursery establishment only being at Eagle Hurst. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—That dashing style of treatment which made last year's opera so delightful to the public and so prosperous to the management, will character ise the present season. Mr. Lumley exhibits even an increase of vigour in his present programme, instead of finding in past success a moral Capua. The arrangements for his ballet present an unprecedented accumulation of strength. Four such artistes as Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerito, Mary Taglioni, and Fanny Elssler, never before appeared in any theatre dur ing a single season ; and, in addition to these, we have Stephan, Planquet, and Scheffre,with Frasi,whosebeauty bestows a four fold charm upon her art. Perrot is wielding his sceptre as here tofore, and is busily at work upon a new ballet, to be en titled La Esmeralda, which will follow Herold's master piece, the Zampa, upon the opening night. This is to re store us " the" Carlotta, anxious to expatiate the guilt of a more easterly sojourn by her re-appearance on more aris tocratic boards. We may also announce a grand heroic ballet, called Jeanne d' Are, for Fanny Elssler's first appear ance. In opera, our old favourites and friends, the glorious Lablache, those admirable artists Fornasari and Mario, the divine Grisi, and that nightingale Persiani, come back to us ; while the Signora Favanti, whom report describes as a star of the first magnitude, and that excellent tenor, Corelli, make their first appearance before an English audience. Costa's opera, Don Carlos, which is composed expressly for the company, will be produced ; and Ricci's Corrado el' Almatura, with the Fantasma of Persiani, will be added to the old repertoire. Such unprecedented attractions ought to secure a splendid subscription, and will, we doubt not, when coupled with the intended visit of the King of the French to these shores, produce a season whose brilliancy will efface that of all its predecessors. We cannot close this notice without a word for our own compatriote, Favanti, who comes to us crowned with unfaded laurels, won in the land of song. We hail the advent of this native syren with feel ings of mingled pride and pleasure, and feel convinced she will receive the same warm welcome which has attended her progress through foreign lands. THE LATE FATAL OCCURRENCE AT BARCLAY AND CO.'S BREWERY.—Mr. Carter, Coroner for the Clink Liberty, and a jury of the inhabitants, met at the Anchor Inn, Bank side, Southwark, yesterday afternoon, to investigate the cir cumstances attending the death of Henry Roberts, aged 39, and John Steadman, aged 22. Thomas Harris, a labourer in No. 16 store, deposed that, on Wednesday last, the deceased, Mr. Roberts, wbo was foreman, gave instructions to Stead man and witness to get a ladder into the vat No. 71, in order to descend and clear away the hops and sediment at the bot tom. While the ladder was being procured, Mr. Roberts was supposed to have tried the safety of the vat by the usual test—namely, by lowering a candle, as witness saw him with a candle attached to a line. Mr. Roberts directed the de ceased (Steadman) to go down. The poor fellow descended about three yards, when he returned. On reaching within three feet of the top of the ladder, witness tried to reach him, suppoiing he was affected by the gas, but before he could get hold of him Steadman fell over backwards. Witness was about to descend to the rescue of his fel low-workman, when Mr. Roberts placed him on one side, saying, " Let me go myself, Tom." He accord ingly went down and raised Steadman with his right arm, and with his left hand appeared to be loosening the handkerohief round his neck, when he sud • denly fell backwards with his arms extended, and Steadman fell upon his legs. Witness raised an alarm, and several men came, and one, named Peter Hicks, was lowered with a rope round his body. Before, however, had been let down two feet, he showed signs of exhaustion, and was taken up again. As it was not thought prudent for any one to make another attempt to descend, drags were procured, and the body of Steadman was got up in a quarter of an hour after the alarm was given. He appeared to be quite dead. After the lapse of another quarter of an hour, Roberts was got out, also dead. Mr. Callaway, the surgeon, was sent for, and resuscitation was attempted, but in vain. Witness had no doubt they were suffocated by the carbonic acid gas that was generated in the vat. William George Mountain, another labourer, stated that he was the person who generally opened the vats preparatory to cleaning them. The vat No. 71, in which the two lives were lost, was opened about ten o'clock in the morning of the day on which the accident occurred, and had only been open about three hours. The vat had contained East India ale, and it was unsafe to go into such a vat until it had been open some two or three days, but in a mild beer vat a man would take no harm directly it was emptied. • After the accident a candle was tried, and it would not burn within six feet of the bottom. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." LETTERS TO INDIA AND HONG-KONG.--The fol lowing important notice was issued yesterday at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand :—" General Post-office, Feb. 1844.—0 n and from the 15th inst., the postage on let ters posted in the United Kingdom and addressed to India, marked to be forwarded aid Southampton, may be paid in advance or not at the option of the sender. This regulation applies only to letters from places within the territories of the Hon. East India Company conveyed by packet, via South ampton, the postage on all other letters addressed to India, via France, as well as on all letters addressed to countries beyond India (the colony of, Hong-Kong excepted), by whatever route they may be forwarded, must be paid in ad vance as at present, or the letters cannot be forwarded.—By command, W. L. MABERLY, Secretary." THE WILL OF AN ECCENTRIC AND WEALTHY BEG -0&11.—In the garish church of Rotherhithe a tablet has been erected to the memory of James Smith, who is designated Esq. The career of this man has been a very extraordinary one, and it shows how wealth is amassed by strict economy. He was a beggar of no usual description, and though advanced in years, was one of the most active of his class. His continued round of employment was through two hundred and ten parishes, and his industry was well rewarded. He left an immense deal of property, the chief part for charitable purposes. None of the two hundred and ten parishes have been forgotten, where he was kindly treated. To al most all he has left funds, but has carefully excluded from his will all parochial authorities, in whose district he fancied he had been neglected. To the parish of Rotherhithe, which was always a fa. vourite resting place of his, he has left property whieh produces 401. a year, and the interest of the money is thus disposed of:— Upon each Sunday, after the sermon in the church, 120 loaves, of the value of 6d. each, are distributed among the poor old people of the parish, who thus profit by a beggar's wealth and gratitude; for no doubt many of the recipients of his bounty have often given their mite to the real and eccentric mendicant. THE ITALIAN OFERA.—The programme of the engagements for the forthcoming season'has just been issued by Mr. Lumley. It contains the names of Grisi, Favanti, and Per. siani, Mario, Fornasari, Lablache; and in the ballet department, Carlotta Grisi, Adelaide Frad, Fanny Ellsler, Cerito, and Taglioni. The Opera will open in the first week in March, with Fornasari and Persiani, in Herold's opera of Zampa. A brilliant season is expected. DEATH FROM DESTITUTION.—Yesterday., Mr. Baker, the Coroner, held an inquest at the Black Horse, Kingsland road, on the body of Johann Kuhulein, aged 40. John Smith, gate-keeper at the Shoreditch workhouse, stated, that at eight o'clock on Tuesday night last the deceased was found sitting on the step of a door, in Hoxton, by police constable Dean, No. 205. De ceased was then in an insensible state, and the policeman had him taken to the workhouse. Witness had him placed in one of the wards, and sent for the parish surgeon. On the following day he recovered a little, but not sufficiently to be able to speak. In the night he grew worse, and at six o'clock the next morning died. Witness found in his pockets a pawnbroker's duplicate for a pair of shoes and a pistol, pledged at Dover, on January 15, 1844, in the name of Henry Curling, of Limekiln-street. There was also a book partly written and partly printed, and which contained a description of Johann Kuhulein. The description agreed with deceased's appearance, and it was supposed from some writing in the book that he (deceased) had been a miller, and had travelled on business through Dresden, Hamburgh; and many other places on the Continent. Deceased was very poorly dressed in an old blue coat, canvas trousers, and old cotton socks. From a passport in his possession, and some entries in the book. witness thought the last place he was at was Rotterdam. Mr. James Clark, the parish surgeon, said that deceased was scarcely able to breathe when he saw him. He died next morning, and witness had no doubt that his death was caused by the want of food. Upon an examination of the body nothing whatever was found in the intestines. Ver. diet, " Natural death, accelerated by want and destitution." LONDON FEVER HOSPlTAL.—Yesterday afternoon the annual meeting of the Governors and supporters of this charity was held at the Freemasons Tavern, the Earl of Devon in the chair. Dr. Southwood lead the report, which proved the exist. ence in the metropolis of an awful amount of fever. The admis sions into the hospital were 1,462 during the year ; being an excess of 418 over the preceding year. In March fever was at its height, and the admissions were 179. In the East-end there was little fever compared with the central, southern, and northern districts, where, in some instances, there was not a house exempt from it, which was attributable to the undrained, filthy, and closely built condition of these localities. A large proportion of the patients Consisted of agricultural labourers and provincial mechanics who cams to London in search of employment, and whose illness was occasioned by want of food and clothing, and being obliged to sleep in the open fields. Relapses frequently occurred twice .ne nurses and thrice. The ;Tess mortality wa s about 15 i per Cent. Twenty- nine and some facers of the hospital w e r e aitkekPd With fever, of whom T . six died. The number restored to health during the year was 1,224. The receipt s were 2,5561. 3s. 7d., AO the disbnrsetnepts 2,980/. 14s. lOd. , lea vin g a debt of 400/. After the adoption of the report, it was resolved to petition the Government, the Corpo ration of London, and other public bodies, in aid of the hospital. The Earl of Devon was re-elected president, and the other officers for the year were appointed. After which thanks were voted to the Noble Chairman. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the Proprietors of the above Company was held at the Euston-square Terminus, Mr. George Carr Glyn, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, presiding. The Secretary having read the minutes of the last half-yearly meeting, on the 11th of August, at Queen's Hotel, Birmingham, the Chairman attached the seal of the Company-to the Report of Shares, and the business of the day was proceeded with. The following Report was next read and adopted unanimously:— The Statements of Account which are now before the meeting, afford conclusive evidence of a progressive improve ment in the net returns of the Company. Compared with the corresponding half-year of 1842, the Revenue Account shows an increase in the ordinary traffic of 11,398/, and a decrease of 6,221/, in the working charges. Taking the principal heads of receipt and expenditure of the two statements in detail, the following are the differ ences between the December, 1842, and 1843 Accounts : In General Traffic the receipt is more by .. £11,398 Rents ditto ditto 1,039 In 'Working Charges the expense is less by Interest on Loans ditto , 8,488 [nterests on Calls in arrear, and Bankers' lalances, the receipt is less by £2,255 Parish Rates the expense is more by 1,832 Passenger duty ditto ... 288 Depreciation of Stock ditto 1,655 27,146 6,030 Making an increase of net Profit in favour of De cember, 1843, of £21,116 With reference to the increasing charge for parish rates, which have been successively raised from 15,3141. in 1840, to 18,351/. in 1843, the Directors',have the assurance of their legal advisers that the present excessive rating of the Rail way is at variance with the law. Reluctant to enter on a course of litigation with the various parishes on the line, the Directors submitted to the injustice so long as the charge was stationary; but the evil has assumed so general and oppressive a character, that they shall most readily support and co-operate in any measures which may be calculated to substitute a fair and uniform system of rating for the present arbitrary and vexatious proceedings of parochial authorities. As respects the increased charge for depreciation of stock, the Directors, in the full conviction of the importance of pro viding for the deterioration of the. Works of the Railway, by a timely reserve from the Company's profits, and satisfied of the advantage of the system by their experience of the ne cessity for such a fund, in the case of their carrying stock, have appropriated 3,000/. per annum to a " Depreciation Fund for Works," and arranged that one-third shall be charged on the profits of the June half, and two-thirds on the December half of each year. Reverting to the progressive decrease in those charges which immediately appertain to the working of the Railway, and to its beneficial effect on. the Company's profits, the Directors have to invite attention to the Abstract appended to the Accounts, from which it appears that,' whilst the traffic of the year 1843 only exceeds by 27,8981. the average traffic of the three preceding years, the charges referred to are 36,8051. below the same average, making a difference, in favour of 1843, of 64,703/. The Directors have to report, that the net profits for the year 1843, being ... £502,484 0 5 and the Dividend declared at the last half yearly meeting here remains a disposable balance of from which they recommend that a dividend be declared at the same rate as the last, leaving 17,0061. 18s. sd. to the credit of the current half-year. The Directors have the pleasure to state, that the progress made towards the construction of the Warwick and Leaming ton, and Northampton and Peterborough Branch Railways is in all respects satisfactory, and that in both cases the con tracts for works of the road, rails, and other materials, for the permanent way, have been taken by competent parties, on terms which secure the Company from any excess in their contemplated expenditure. The liquidation of the claims of landowners on the Northampton and Peterborough line is rapidly advancing to completion, at prices which are in ac cord with the Parliamentary estimate. Amongst the many notices which have been given of intended applications to Parliament, in the present ses sion, for powers to make new lines, that which is of greatest importance to this Company is the line from Chester to Holyhead. Founded as this measure is on the .declared intention of Government to construct a new harbour the port of Holyhead, and to make it not only the great iedium of intercourse with Ireland, but a harbour of refuge and general trade, it becomes an object for this Company to secure, as early as possible, that connexion with the manage ment of the affairs which the interest of the London and Birmingham Railway, in the traffic, appears to demand. The Directors having in consequence given their careful conside ration to the subject, have no hesitation in applying to the Proprietors for those powers which, in their unanimous opinion, the occasion calls for. In thus laying their views before the Proprietors, the Directors feel satisfied that there is much in the present posi tion of the Company favourable to the further developement of that prosperity which has hitherto distinguished the Lon don and Birmingham Railway; and they declare their con viction, as stated at a former meeting, in August, 1841— " That this !object can in no way be more effectually pro moted than by a due and. considerate regard to the accoln modation of the public." Acting on these views, they have given to all passengers going and returning by the railway on the same day, the benefit of a. reduction of one-third in their fares; and they allow passengers to compound for two months' fares at half price. _ _ They have also modified their rates to first-class passengers riding in the Company's coaches, but travelling with their own carriages on the train, by charging only second class fares ; and as respects the comfort of the working classes, the Directors provided coverings in the early part of the winter, and protectiipn from the weather for their third-class carriages. The following Directors go out of office at the present meeting, and are re-eligible :—Mr. Cropper, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Rathbone, Air. Tooke, and Mr. Young. - The dividend will be payable on the 15th instant, to the Proprietors whose shares were registered on the books of the Company when closed, provided all calls on such shares are paid. The proportion of the dividend, which arises from the profit on Sunday travelling, is at the rate of 4s. 9d. per 100/. of ca pital stock 3 and 10d. per new 32/. share. The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Shareholders on this, their first meeting in their new room, to have a dividend og five per cent. on each share from the clear profits.—(Cheers.) Formerly they used to allow ten per cent., but that arose from premiums upon the sale of shares, which the Company considered it prudent to appropriate to the purpose. The Proprietors had the accounts in their own hands, and would see that a part of the advantages which they derived during the laet half-year were not only from an increase in the sources of revenue, but also from the diminished expenditure. The consolidation of the London establishment led also to reductions in the expenses, and would enable them to let the buildings at Camden-town which had been origi nally intended for a terminus, The arrangments of the station at Wolverton had likewise been such as to be most advantageous to the Company. He had always looked with extreme satisfaction to the expenditure which had taken place at this station, because at that spot a population had been collected from all parts of England, and there were, consequently, no ties or asso ciations to bind them to the spot. They were a most orderly and well-conducted people, which was evidenced by the fact that there was always a good attendance at the church which had been built by the Company at that place. There had also been schools founded, in which the children received a sound, moral, and religious education. Benefit societies and lending libraries were also founded, and had been well supported.— (Cheers.) He invited the attention of the Proprietors to the condition of the population at that station, when ever they went so far, and he was sure that they would agree with him that the money had been well expended. —(Hear, hear.) Even abstractedly from the benefit re sulting to the Company's servants from this expendi ture it was attended with a further beneficial result Ito the Company itself, by insuring greater safety to the public, and consequently increased the number of persons willing to travel by the railway.—(Hear, hear.) He would now direct the attention of the Shareholders to the number of railway lines which it was proposed to construct during this session of Parliament, which he trusted would not be equally memorable with another from the reckless and chimerical projects which hadbeen brought forward in consequence of the state of the money market at that period. He need not remind them of the serious loss, and, in many cases, the total ruin of many families, which was the consequence of those mad speculations. He was happy to be able to state that the London and Birmingham Railway Com pany did not in any way apply to Parliament, but they were individually connected with two projects or un dertakings now before the House of Commons, the first of which was the projected line from Lancaster to Car lisle, on which two years ago they entered into an agreement, at the request of the other connecting Rail way Companies, that they would contribute a portion of the capital required for completing the undertaking, the traffic on the proposed line to merge into the line from Rugby to London. That pledge they were now called on to fulfil, and the Directors asked the Proprie tors that they should be allowed to subscribe to the undertaking to the amount of 100,000/. ; and he thought the traffic that would be brought into the line at Bir mingham by this undertaking, would afford a very fair though not a very large dividend. The second under taking was one of infinitely greater importance. He at luded to the proposed line of railway between Chester and Holyhead, at which latter port the Company intend constructing a harbour of refuge, not only for Channel vessels, but also for the purposes of general trade ; and in furtherance of this object the Government proposed a certain sum, but had not as yet stated the amount. However much or little the Government might advance for the completion of this project, they should soon de clare their intentions ; otherwise private individua:s would be found to invest their capital in the speculation. The Chairman next alluded at some length to the sub ject of local taxation, to which the line was subjected in several other parishes through which it passed, and said the meeting would perceive that the parish rates had been raised from 15,314/., in 1840, to 18,351/., in 1843. The Direction had upon this subject the assurance of their legal advisers, that the present excessive rating of the railway was at variance with the law ; but that, being reluctant to enter upon a course of litigation with the various parishes on the line, the Directors submitted to the charge so long as it was stationary ; but the evil had assumed so general and oppressive a character, that they should most cordially support andco-operate in any measures which might substitute a fair and uniform sys tem of rating for the present arbitrary and vexatious proceedings of parochial authorities. All the Company wanted was to be placed upon the same footing as-other establishments, and he trusted that measures would be adopted by Parliament to effect this object, as the Com pany wished, above all things, to avoid any litigation. A Pitoenivron wished to know what amount of money would be required to defray the expenses of the proposed new line, as he understood that a sum of 2,100,000/. would be required for the purpose ; and it was currently reported, in many parts of Lancashire, that the Govern ment had refused to have anything to do with the un dertliking- The CHAIRMAN denied that there was the slightest foundation for any qich Tumour, Mr. CAPEL begged to ask, when the branch line- be tween Northampton and Peterborough, would be likely to be open for transit. Tfik SUN, LOItZDONt SA,TIIRDA'Y EVENING PEBRAIA.IIYI4, 044. The CHAIRMAN said, that the line between Warwick and Leamington would be open in the spring of 1845 ; and that alluded to by the Hon. Proprietor in the autumn of the same year. A motion was proposed and carried unanimously, declaring a dividend of five per cent. on the loot shares, and of 17s. in the pound upon the 321. shares for the half-year. The next resolution proposed was, one granting power to the Directors to appropriate such a portion of the available capital of the Company for the completion of the Chester and Holyhead line of railway, not exceeding one million sterling, and to take such steps as might be required _for the interests of the body of the Share holders. The fourth resolution empowered the Directors, in nearly similar words, to expend a sum of 100,000/. in finishing the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway. _. The following gentlemen having fulfilled the term of their office as Directors of the Company, were re-elected : —Mr. Cropper, Mr. Carr Gly n , M r . Th eo d or e William Rathbone, MrYoung, and Mr. Tooke. Mr. Ramsden proposed, Mr. Holecombe seconded, and Mr. Baxendale supported a motion, declaratory of the high opinion entertained by the Shareholders and Directors of the eminent services rendered by Mr. Creed, as Secretary of the London and Birmingham Railway, to the Company, and appointing a Committee to afford to him some testimonial from the Company that would indicate their high sense and appreciation of those services, after which, A vote of thanks was was passed to the Chairman for his courteous demeanour on the present and all former occasions, when he came in contact with the Share holders. After which the meeting separated. SALISBURY TOWN COUNCIL. SALISBURY, FRIDAY.—A well-attended meeting took place at the Rose and Crown Inn, last evening, which was literally crammed to excess, to consider the most efficient and proper means to secure the return of John Lambert, Esq., as Town Councillor for the Ward of St. Thomas, vacated by the lamented and sudden death of T. N. Chubb, Esq., one of the freemen of this city. The address of Mr. Lambert was then read, and re- ceived with evident marks of approbation, when some _ gentleman present rose and proposed a gentleman named Fulford, a linendraper of the High-street, who is the opponent of Mr. Lambert, on the Con servative interest, as a fit and proper person for their support; whereupon a third party proposed that a deputation should be dispatched to Mr. Fulford to request that he would be pleased tohonourthe meet- ing - with his presence, and to state his political senti ments, and his opinion of the manner in which their municipal elections had been and ought to be con ducted; and finally, if returned, whether he would vote that the business of the city may be conducted with open doors, or in the dark, as at present. This proposi tion, however, was overruled, on the ground that it would be a waste of time, it being evident that Mr. Fulford would go the whole hog for the Tories, although Mr. F. had issued no address. Several gentlemen then addressed the meeting as to the im portance they should attach to the present occasion— the best methods to be employed—so that " not a stone may be left unturned " to serve _ le cause of gr. Lambert, and concluded with im- pressive appeals for them to be ready at their post of duty. Shortly afterwards Mr. Lambert's arrival was announced, and received with very great applause. Mr. LAMBERT then rose, and said he was sorry he could not address them at any length, as he had another engagement to attend to; however, by their kind permission while there, he would do himself the honour of saying a few words on a subject - which they were pretty well aware of, he alluded to the va cancy which had occurred in their municipal corpora tion.—(Cheers.) Now he was quite satisfied that if they properly exerted themselves, and their friends proved true, then the result of the election would be what they desired, and what their adversaries antici pated.—(Hear, hear.) At the same time, were they not thus to exert themselves, then they might depend that success would attend the wily efforts of their op- ponents. By the very numerous and respectable as semblage then present, it was quite evident that they were now in such a position as to be enabled to pro perly test what their real strength was, and which it would be very satisfactory for them to ar rive at.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) That is, they would by this test know who their real friends were, and who in heart were their opponents ; and they would further know whether in the Ward of SL Thomas they were in a majority or minority. He would therefore exhort them to diligence and perse• verance, and he would also exhort diem to encourage a conciliatory spirit and unanimity one with another, and they may rely that truth and justice must be the stars for them to sail by. And they may also rely that if they suffered themselves to be diverted from those paths, just in proportion would their cause suffer- by it.—(Cheers.) An petty ani mosity should be entirely done away with, and it was to their interest, equally as much as it was their duty, to make as many friends as they possibly could. And they must bear in mind that a faithful discharge of their political duty was as much a part of the Christian code, as that of loving their enemies. And if they were not prepared to love their political enemies, then they were not fit to carry on their cause ; and this was the test by which they must alone hope to carry the day.—(Hear, hear.) And if they could not love their political enemies, then he would tell them that they could not expect to suc ceed ; but if so, then there was something in their enemies' hearts which would at length yield to kind reasoning ; and this they must do by continuing to bring before them truth, which must prevail! Truth was of a very slow progress, and so was Christianity, which had now been in the w or ld 1,800 y e ars : and the triumph of their cause may also be very slow, but at the same time it was certain.—(Cheers.) He had now much stronger hopes of success in the forth coming contest than •he had on the last occasion ; and he would only tell them this, that if they did not carry their point this time it would not be the fault of their enemies but of themselves.—(Mr. Lambert here directed the attention of the meeting to an anonymous letter, which he said he received subse quently to the late municipal election contest for St. Martin's Ward, when Mr. Kelsey, the Tory candi date, defeated him by only sixteen votes, and when a majority of at least forty votes was expected.) Mr. Lambert also said he had abundant proof in his pos session that this criticism on the late election was in the hand-writing of a gentleman of independent for tune and of undoubted respectability, who had always hitherto acted with the Conservative party, and who voted against him on that last occasion. The follow ing is a copy of this anonymous epistle : " Salisbury, Jan. 10, 1844. " GLonicoua. TRIUMPH. " Such was the heading of a handbill announcing the close of the poll at the election of a town-councillor for the Ward of St. Martin , the result of which was m uch as it was expected it would be, except that the majority for Mr. E. E. P. Kelsey was about sixteen less than even his own party thought it would be—indeed, some of that party imagined that Mr. Lambert would not p•? 11 twenty votes. However, no one expected that Mr. Lambert would succeed on that occasion ; but it was a good beginning, and promises a better result in future. " It is to be hoped the electors will not hereafter be dictated to by half a dozen ultra-Tories, who have the last few years carried everything their own way in Sa lisbury, disbursed the borough funds just as they pleased, and distributed the city charities, and most of the subordinate offices, amongst their own party. " The election busy-bodies were going about last week, saying, ' You must not vote for a Catholic,' (Roman Catholic, no doubt, they meant); ' you, must support the Church,' and such twaddle ; as if the Pro testant Church would be at alt endangered by a Roman Catholic becoming a town-councillor. Some few of the electors were led away by such an argument, but many were too sensible to be misled : they know are knolvall that by li law oma n eligible Catholics, for Dissenters ,seats n th e to Quakers,wn-unc eoil as well as in Par liament ; and it is but just that all sects and classes should be represented in offices of town and state. " In Salisbury, I am happy to say, there is a great deal of talent and ability amongst the Liberal party, and it is a pity they have not come forward during the last four years for the different offices. They should recollect the maxim of Nothing venture, nothing have.' They should consider what has been gained by their party in t h e kingdom during the last fifteen or twenty years:' Now the Conservative party denied the existence of such correspondence, and said that if such did'exist the author was not a Conservative gentleman (as he had stated in his printed address). But the evidence which he (Mr. L) could submit, to substantiate his assertion, would convince the most sceptical party, and he was perfectly willing to refer it to the most ultra-Tory. He could offer evidence to show that the stamp on the paper of this anonymous letter cor responded with another sheet of paper on which the author wrote him a letter in his own name previously; that precisely the same abreviations were employed in these two letters, and on close comparison had found that the author wrote on both occasions with the same " black lines," though the first letter he had received from him was nine months ago. Still he owed this gentleman no and his letter was a proof that they had conducted them selves in a proper manner. — ( Cri es of " Hear, hear.") And if there was one amo n g the m thatof the had not cause acted which properly, h e espoused , e was altogether a shou l d be dis regar d e d as such.o nwort —(Cheers.) And the same remark he may apply to the anonymous writer, or any other of his party. All he could say was, that had any of his (Mr. Lambert's) party written and published such a letter, he ought to be viewed by them in a very suspicious manner. As he had told them on a former occasion, so he would now repeat, that he was prepared to fight their battles perseverance, they Some person had made a remark by saying, " Get a majority a g g o a t i a n m an aj d or a i g ty ai . t ( t e il h b eer by s.) din t of in your munici pal affairs, and then you ,, may leave y o ur other matters to the boys ! There was great truth in this, for he had heard that certain underlings, good men at heart, had been heard to cgticcss that, in their hearts they —but were compelled to were on their side—(Cheers) vote against their consciences, in order to secure their ownliving. Now he would enumerate about six of those men, who, if they thus had a majority, would be on their side—(Hear, hear)—and these six men would reduce the majority of 47 to that of 35. — (Cheers.) Then he would observe, that it was not only these men, but there were sextons, bell-ringers, and others, to whom the-same remarks were applica ble, so that it was for them to carry out their system, and finally they would obtain a majority for Members to serve in Parliament. Ile wished to impress on them, that they wanted nothing but honest men on their side; they wanted, as it had been before said, at the election, no sneaking, shirking, or- snivelling fellows among them, for such characters he detested. —(Hear, hear.) And if they had none of that character among them, then they would soon be enabled to discover who were their real friends. They would have no battledore and shuttlecock men, who could be tossed first to one side and then to the other, backwards and forwards con tinually—(Laughter)—for if they were not honest and firm to their cause, let them go on the opposite side, and God speed them. So if there was any man in the opposite ranks that was not firm to their cause, let him come to their side, and they would receive him. And if they established -themselves on a good basis, on the principles of truth and justice, they must at length prevail.—(Cheers.) With regard to the forthcoming contest, he would repeat that he had strong hopes of success—(Reiterated cheering) —if they properly exerted themselves, and which they appeared most determined to do. He would now thank them for their very kind attention, and re gretted that he could not remain longer with them. In conclusion, he most sincerely trusted that success might attend their honest endeavours.—(Cheers.) Mr. Lambert then retired, amidst great cheering, after which his health was responded to with deafen ing applause. - EDWARD VANDENIIOFF next addressed the meeting at some length, in the course of which he alluded to the qualifications of Mr. Lambert as being very eminent for the office to which he aspired, whe ther they viewed him as a man of property, of great attainments, moral rectitude, goodness of heart, and charitable in all his views, constructions, and actions. The speaker then eloquently pointed out the great good that could and had been effected by the instru• mentality of non-electors, and sat down amid great applause. Several other gentlemen followed at great length, till a late hour had arrived, when the meeting broke up in a peaceable and orderly manner. LIGHT GOLD. TO THE _EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—Observing that a paragraph has being going the round of the papers, to the effect that but a trifling quantity of light gold is finding its way into the Bank of England, allow me, through the medium of your columns, to account for its slow progress towards its proper destination—the Mint. As is stated, it is but too true that amongst tradesmen and shopkeepers no objection is made to any gold, how ever light, which is offered to them in the way of busi ness, for their means of disposing of it is simply thus : All the light sovereigns are laid aside, in many instances, and with a slight sprinkling of heavy ones amongst them—say one in ten—kept until the first commercial traveller, who has an account to receive, calls ; these sovereigns are then offered to him in payment of his account—perhaps sometimes overdue—and he has the option of either taking them at their full value of 20s. each, or leaving the account unsettled, his customer coolly telling` him that he has taken these at their full value himself, and therefore must pass them at the same. What is now the position of the traveller ? Sooner than leave his account unsettled or offend his customer, by insisting on an allowance on the gold, he consents to take it, and in a few days finds himself burdened with such a quantity, that it becomes both dangerous and troublesome to carry it longer with him. And how, Mr. Editor, is he to rid himself of it ? The private banks will not, in any instance that I am aware of, take it at less than six pence the whole and four pence the half sovereign allowance ; and the branches of the Bank of England are, " like angels' visits," so " few and far be tween," that a traveller is not unfrequently, for weeks together, without visiting any town in which one is situated ; he is thus compelled to sacrifice TWO AND A HALF PER CENT. to get his light gold changed ; but what guarantee has he that this very gold is not the next, hour again put into circulation, and again paid to himself or another traveller, to be once more exchanged at the Bank at the ruinous premium above named, and again and again put into circulation. That this system is carried on to an enormous extent, • I can with confidence appeal to all my brother-travellers, 'and that nothing is more common than country private banks paying over their counters light gold, any person who will take the trouble of weighing what they may receive at the majority of them, will be fully convinced. To remedy this evil, then, something should be done, and done at once. In my opinion the Bank of England should establish agents in all the principal towns in the United Kingdom, or even in every county town, whose duty it should be to take in all light gold, and in any quantity it may be offered—allowing a fixed price by weight for it. That they should be obliged to cut or deface all gold so taken by them, in the presence of the parties so changing it ; and this will guard against any system of fraud being carried on. But, until some means be adopted more stringent than those now established, I can fearlessly assert that all hope of calling in the light gold is futile, and that trade and manufactures are now saddled with an additional import in the shape of this nefarious.traffic in light gold. _ _ . Trusting you will the length of this letter, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. Knutsford, Feb. 8, 1844 SPAIN. MADRID, FEB. 2.—Several more arrests took place here last night, and many of the leading men of the Liberal party have sought safety from the persecution to which they are exposed, by temporarily absenting themselves from their homes. It was reported yesterday . that Ar guelles, the two Calatravas, and other prominent men among the old Progresistas, had been arrested ; but hitherto they have not been meddled with, although their names, with those of many other Liberals, were seen on a list in the - hands of a police agent, and a strict sur veillance is exercised over their movements. There are upwards of 400 police agents now employed in this sort of pursuit. General Concha left Madrid yesterday, and went, as is given out, to pay a visit to a friend at Aran juez. There is a report, which it would be almost ab surd to think of, but for the daily absurdities we see realised here, which is, that the ruling Powers contem plate shipping off the Progresista deputies whom they have arrested, and sending them, without the formality of a trial, to th e M ar i ana Islands, the furthest confines of Asia. The corpse of the Infanta Carlota was removed to day from the Calle della Luna, where it has been lying in state, and was carried, with a funeral cortige suitable to her rank, to be deposited in that part of the Pan theon at the Escurial, appropriated to the relatives of the Roynl family. The Commission nominated by the Crown to draw up a report respecting the formation of a Council of State, has concluded its labours, and it is expected a decree will be speedily issued on the subject. The tobacco revenue is about to be put up for public competition. The houses of Messrs. O'Shea and Co., and Senor Carriquiri, have offered to advance 500,000/. to the Government on the yearly revenue, and to take the stock of tobacco, &c. on hand at 300,0001, with prompt payment. The troops destined for Alicante have left, and the Luchana Regiment has been brought in from the envi rons of Madrid. SAN SEBASTIAN, FEB. 3.—An extraordinary courier arrived here last night from Madrid, with dispatches for Brigadier Baruachea, who commands the province of Guipnscoa. He brought the tidings of the death of the Infanta Carlota, wife of Don Francisco de Paula, and a communication announcing that the Nationals of San Sebastian were to be disarmed within a short period. The period was certainly a short one, as this morning at day-break, and before the gates of the city were opened, another courier arrived with the order that the dis arming should take place on the receipt of the dispatches by the General. The first act of the General on reading his dispatches was to order that the guns of the citadel should be loaded, and pointed to the town ; and his next, that the troops should assemble in their barracks, and remain under arms, and with muskets loaded, and bayonets fixed, the whole of the day. The artillery were also ordered to man the ramparts, and to stand by their guns with lighted matches ; that all, in fact, should be ready to commence hostilities at a moment's notice. In addition to the preparations made in the citadel, barracks, and ramparts, for hostilising the town, a bat talion was ordered to march from Hernani here, and the General awaited its arrival before entering upon operations. The order for disarming was communicated at one o'clock, P.M.; it is now five o'clock. The surrender of arms and accoutrements is going on, and up to this mo ment the public tranquillity has not been for an instant disturbed, nor do I suppose it will be. METROPOLITAN DRAPERS' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the members of the assistant drapers, in the districts of Bishopsgate and Shoreditch, was held last night at the White Hart Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, and was fully and respectably attended, both by the as sistants and the employers. Tho chair was taken at 9 o'clock by Mr. Hopkins, and the business of the evening, which was to discuss the question and pass resolutions for carrying the system for closing the shops at earlier hours than now in use, was immediately commenced. The Chairman having briefly addressed the meeting, Mr. Lylwell having also spoken in advocacy of the principle to be carried out, the first resolution, to the effect that the meeting was decidedly of opinion that the present protracted system of business was attended by the worst results to the young men engaged therein, morally, intellectually, and physically, was opposed to the best interests of employers, and perfoctly unneces sary to public convenience, was moved by Mr. Hall, and seconded by Mr. Mills, and carried unanimously. The second resolution, to the effect that the meeting, encouraged by the good effects which had arisen from early closing where the practice had boen adopted, hoped to obtain the assistance, and relied upon the co operation of a considerate public, was proposed by Mr.. Peggs, and seconded by Mr. Buckingham , and c a rried as the former. Mr. NEEDHAM, of Shoreditch, proposed the third resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Foskey and car ried by acclamation, to the effect that the meeting de termined to do its utmost to promOte the closiag of shops in the districts and neighbourhood at eight o'clock during the summer months, from October to March inclusive, and at seven o'clock from April till September. The fourth resolution, " That those already carried should be circulated as extensively as possible by hand bills, &c." was then put and carried unanimously. The meeting, having passed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, broke up. ADVERTISEMENT.I SUPPLEMENTS GRATIS WITH THE " DISPATCH." Every Week during the GREAT NATIONAL TRIAL AT DUBLIN, A succession of SUPPLEMENTS GRATIS WILL BE PUBLISHED WITH THE DISPATCH. Cols. The First on SUNDAY, February 4, con- } 16 taining Mr. Shell's Speech, a g em o f ora t ory ... The Second (of the full size of the WEEKLY DISPATCH) on SUNDAY, February 11, con taining the Speeches of Mr. Whiteside, Mr. O'Connell, and other Leading Counsel who 48 may address the Court in the course of the Week, for which the services of several Short hand Writers of Eminence have been engaged. The dimensions of the succeeding Supplements will be re gulated by the importance of the matter; but the last Sup plement will be also of the full size Of the DISPATCH, and form the early portion of the trial, and embrace the proceed ings from the commencement to that stage at which the first begins, so that every subscriber to the WEEKLY DIS PATCH will be in possession of a complete and faithful re cord of this great national trial—a trial which must become a matter of history, and ever be regarded as an event of un usual importance. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH of MR. O'CONNELL will precede the account of the Trial, which will be written by a Gentleman intimately acquainted with the " great Agitator," and consequently one who has treasured up many reminiscences that will render the Biography a paper of general and absorbing interest. The SUPPLEMENTS, formini , a great number of columns, will be printed uniformly with the DISPATCH, and contain a quantity of information equal to at least an Octavo Volume of 1,000 pages. Orders received by every Bookseller and News Agent in the United Kingdom, and at the DISPATCH Office, 139, Fleet-street. MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE. CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY EVENING.—This fashionable spa, " the queen of watering-places," has been thrown into a state of great excitement, in consequence of a singular oc currence having taken place at " the Grange" this evening, to the family of the respected incumbent of the parish, the Rev. Francis Close. The Rev. Gentleman received this evening, at five o'clock, a hamper, by the Birmingham coach, addressed to "the Grange," - which is the Parsonage-house. The hamper was packed in the most careful manner. When the Rev. Gen tleman returned home he proceeded to open the hamper, in which he discovered a small box, securely fastened. With some difficulty this box was opened, when he was both asto nished and alarmed to find that it contained a very handsome child's coffin. The parish authorities were instantly sent for, and on the coffin being opened, it was found to contain the dead body of a remarkably fine male infant, apparently about a fortnight old. By the advice of the parish authorities the Vicar lost no time in making Mr. Russell, the superintendent of the police, acquainted with the circumstance. Information of this ex traordinary affair was sent to the magistrates of Cheltenham, and the Coroner was also made acquainted with the intelli gence, in order that an inquest might be held on the body. The Rev. Incumbent is a married man with a large family, and it is not long ago that a base attempt was made to affiliate a child upon him, which turned out on the most rigid inquiry to be utterly groundless. It is conjectured that the same parties, who have since left Cheltenham, have a hand in this affair. The circumstance has created great excitement, and the Vicar's " present" has formed the leading subject of conver sation among all classes of society. The inquest was expected to be held on Friday. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTEL LIGENCE. Woomicu, Fite. 9.—Several workmen have been selected from the Woolwich Dockyard to proceed to the Island of Ascension, for the purpose of establishing a small steam factory, for the repairs of the machinery of the steam-vessels of the Royal Navy employed upon the African station. It is expected these men will leave about the lath instant, and proceed from Chatham in the Tortoise store ship, Master. Commander James Wood, going out to Ascen sion to be stationed there as a receiving ship. The Prometheus steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander W. J. E. M. Pasco, left Greenhithe on Monday for Portsmouth and Plymouth, and will be paid wages in advance at the latter port. The Ariel steam-vessel, Master. Commander L. :Smithitt, arrived at Woolwich from Dover on Wednesday, and her crew will take back the Charon steam-vessel to Dover to-morrow (Saturday). The Adventure transport ship arrived at Woolwich from Sheer. ness on Wednesday, to load for Pembroke. The Aid will sail early next week for Portsmouth and Plymouth. The Rattler steam-vessel, with screw propeller, was tried down the river to-day with a new screw formed of three distinct pieces in the diameter instead of two, the number previously used. The new screw is a beautiful piece of workmanship, and is thickly sheathed with brass. Royal Artillery.--By private letters from Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, the troops stationed there are represented to be in excellent health. On the 28th of October last the Lieute. nant.Governor inspected Major England's demi-battery at Gra ham's Town. The men appeared on the parade ground in field battery order, with one light 6-pounder gun, a 12-pounder how itzer, and a rocket carriage with 12 pounder and &pounder rockets, and went through their evolutions in a highly creditable manner, and the Lieutenant-Governor expressed himself pleased with the soldier-like appearance of the men, and the admirable condition of the horses. His Honour passed a high eulogium on Major Eng land, the Commanding Officer, and alluded to Captain Buchannan, the second in command, as an officer to whom the service was un. der obligations for the zeal and ability with which he performed his duties. The Governor also noticed the excellent manner in which the noncommissioned officers and gunners and drivers performed their exercises, which would have been deserving of praise had they taken place at Woolwich. The 91st Regiment—This gallant corps, stationed at Graham's. town, Cape of Good Hope, under the command of Lieutenant. Colonel Lindsay, was reviewed by the Lieutenant-Governor on the 30th of October, and went through their exercises to the entire satisfaction of Colonel Hare, K.H., the Lieutenant-Governor of the Eastern District. The gallant Colonel afterwards proceeded to Fort England, and inspected the messes and barracks, with all of which, and the excellent appearance of the men during the day, he expressed himself highly satisfied. In the evening the Lieutenant- Governor dined with the officers, and many pleasant toasts re minded them all of their native land. PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 7.—The Dordrecht, Dutch store-ship, Cap tain the Hon. de Haare Bomme, from Surinam, sailed on Monday for the Texel. The Russian sloop Irtish went out of port yesterday morning, and brought up at Spithead, and, after saluting the Admiral and Go vernor, made sail for Kamschatka. The Alban steamer arrived at this port on the sth inst. from Cork, with the depot of the 45th Foot, which landed at Gosport. By letters received from the Cape, dated December 5, it is stated that her Majesty's ship Winchester, 50, Captain Eden, Bag of Rear-Admiral 'the Hon. Jocelyn Percy, C. 8., was ordered to sail from Simon's-bay on the Ist of January, for the Coast and St. Helena. She had just returned from a cruise, when the above fresh sailing orders reached her. _ . The Java transport arrived from the West Indies on the 4th inst., with Colonel Macdonald, 18 officers, and 530 men, of the 92d Highlanders, and sailed for Leith on the 6th to land them. It is in contemplation by the Government to convert Fort Moncton Barracks, near Gospoi t, into a military prison. PINMOUTII. FEB. 6.—The Penelope, 22, steam-frigate, Captain W. Jones, after putting into harbour to have the damages which she received during her late experimental cruise repaired, has re. ceived orders to sail for a three months' cruise off the coast of Africa, and then return home. DEATH OF MAJOR-GENERAL WALKER, C.B.—ln telligence of the demise of the above gallant and distinguished offs cer, commanding, with local rank of Major-General, the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, at Madras, was received by the Overland Mail. General Walker had been forty-five years in the service. He had served at Bhurtpore, and compaigns of Lord Lake, and siege of Kaloonga, under Major-General Gillespie, who was killed. He was appointed Colonel of the 21st Fusiliers. THAMES AND MEDWAY CANAL COMPANY—Yes terday a special meeting of the Proprietors of this Company was held at the George and Vulture Tavern, Cornhill, John Moxon, Esq., in the chair, far the purpose of considering a proposal which has been made for taking a lease of the canal, with a view to she immediate construction of a railway from Gravesend to &cheater, and for carrying the determination of such special meeting into effect. A report was read, from which it appeared that the object of the Thames and Medway Canal Company is to connect Graves. end with Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, and Brompton, by laying down a single line of rails on the Company's property, which they are enabled to do under their powers of incorporation, and by which the navigation of the canal will not be affected. Proposals have been received from an eminent contractor, to guarantee the completion of the railway stations, and works, and to provide the carriages, engines, stock, and every requisite for conducting the traffic, for the sum of 65,0001., the contractor taking the loan notes for the whole of that amount, and to open the line at six months, from the execution of the contract. The traffic has re cently been calculated with great care, and the gross estimated amount expected on the railway is 24,0001., from which deduct working expenses, 8,0001., there would be a nett Income of 16,0001. ; from which take interest on 65,0001. additional capital, 3,2501., so that an estimated sum of 12,7501. annual sur plus would be devisible amongst the present share and loan note holders of the Canal Company. After a long discussion between Mr. Hichens, Mr. NN ilson, Mr. Mocatta, Mr. A. Mulkey, and other gentlemen, as to the manner of apportioning the surplus amongst the present holders of shares and bonds, the report was adopted, and a resolution was also passed for raising the money for the proposed railway, without opposition. Mr. Hayman moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Hichens for the manner in which he had pleaded the cause of the Shareholders in the Committee as to their portion of the surplus expected, and a vote of thanks was also passed to the chair. man for maturing a project so likely to be beneficial to the old Pro prietors. The meeting then separated. PRESTON GUILD ROBBERY.--APPREHENSION OF ANOTHER OF THE PARTIES CONCERHED. — Ever since this auda. cious robbery was committed, a careful look-out has been kept for the companion of Eliza Bailey, who has been fortunate enough to escape for the time the punishment which she has met with ; and a young man, named Joel Hobson, answering the description of the supposed offender, was arrested a few days ago at Bristol, and, after being seen by Mr. Marquis, the gentleman who was robbed at Preston, has been brought to Birkenhead, and underwent an examination on Wednesday, before J. H. Harden, Esq. Hobson was fully identified as the man who was in company with Eliza Bailey, at Birkenhead, the day after the robbery, when the two bank-notes were so unluckily dropped by one of them, and which led to the conviction and transportation of the female. The case wag remanded to obtain further evidence from Preston and else. where. We believe he was apprehended on this charge in conse quence of his answering a description which had been given of him in the Hue and Cry Gazette.—Liverpool Mercury. FRENCH PLAYS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—These attractive performances have been visited during the week by the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Earl and Countess of Chester" field, the Earl and Countess of Errol, Lady Meux, Lady Mary Stanley, the Countess of Tankerville, the Marquis of Normanby, the Marquis of Douro, the Baron Dedel, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Sir Augustus and Lady Forster, the Countessof Charlemont, Lady Hope Vere, Lady Curteis, the Baron and Baroness de Rothschild, Count Kielmansegge, Viscount Maidstone, Lord Auckland, Lady W. Paulet, the Earl of Clarendon, Sir George and Miss Talbot, &c. Birkenhead d ia ß ti a OLS o f a o re r t n h eprpurchase o e f Lo t . h d e . . C a h n e d sr r r m tt i ri o. d R h ailway Company thegaatnlclinoethwert)ipv;ritti7; p w r i o rli po : ed yi e t : f pL m m a t n ni g i h t a a ni br it at London to the Irish Sea, and which, if these negotiations should result favourably, will have a terminus at Birkenhead, in addition to its chief terminus at Holyhead, _"'l S UPPLEMEN - TARV' - TRIATY WITH CHINA. Y' r ABSTRACT OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY TREATY BETWEEN TIL MAJESTIES, THE QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN A, IRULAND, AND TUE EMPEROR OF CHINA. Preamble.—The preamble provides that the articles of the Supplementary Treaty " shall be as binding and of the same efficacy as though they had been inserted in the original treaty of perpetual peace and friendship." Art. I.—Provides for the new tariff being in force at the five ports of Canton, Fuchowfoo, Amoy, Ningpo, and Shanghai. Art. ll.—Provides for the general regulations of trade being in force at the aforesaid five ports. Art. lll.—Provides that all penalties or confiscations made under the third clause of the said General Regu lations of Trade, shall belong to the Government of China. Art. IV.—Provides that British merchants shall be allowed only to trade at the five ports named in Art. I.; that the British merchant ships shall not repair to any other ports or places in China ; and if they do so, in contravention of this article, the Chinese authorities shall be at liberty to seize and confiscate both vessel and cargo ; and that all Chinese subjects discovered clan destinely trading with British merchants at any other ports or places in China shall be punished as the law may direct. Art. V.—Provides for the 4th clause of the General Regulations of Trade being applicable to both parties. Art. Vl.—Provides that English merchants and others residing at, or resorting to, the five ports, shall not go into the surrounding country, beyond certain distances (to be fixed by the local authorities and Consuls), and " on no pretence for purposes of traffic ;" and that if any person, whatever his rank, station, or calling, dis obey this article, and " wander away into the country," he " shall be seized and handed over to the British Con sul for suitable punishment." Art. Vll.—Provides for British subjects and their families residing, agreeably to the treaty of perpetual peace and friendship, at the different ports named in Art. 1., and for their being allowed to buy or rent ground and houses at fair and equitable rates, such as prevail " amongst the people, without exaction on either side." The ground and houses, so to be sold or rented, to be set apart by the local authorities in communication with the Consuls. Art. Vlll.—Provides for all foreign countries, whose subjects or citizens have hitherto traded at Canton, being admitted to the five ports named in Art. I. on the same terms as England. _ . . Art. IX. —Pro';ides for all Chinese criminals and offenders against the law, who may flee to Hong-Kong, or to British ships of war, or to British merchantmen for refuge, being " delivered up on proof or admission of their guilt ;" and for any sailor, soldier, or other per son—whatever his caste or country—who is a subject of the Crown of England, and who may from any cause, or on any pretence, desert, flee, or escape into the Chinese territory, being seized and confined by the Chinese au thorities, and forthwith sent to the nearest Consular, or other British Government officer. Art. X.—Provides for a British ship of war being stationed at each of the five ports, to insure good order and discipline amongst the crews of merchant shipping, and to support the " necessary authority of the Consul over British subjects." The crews of such ships of war to be " carefully restrained by the officer commanding," and the rules regarding not straying into the country to be applicable to them, in the same manner as to the crews of merchant ships. The ships of war to be in no degree liable to port charges or any of the General Re gulations laid down for trade. Art. Xl.—Provides for the British forces being with draw from Chusan (Tinghae), and Koolongsoo being re stored to the Chinese Government, agreeably to the treaty of perpetal peace and friendship, the moment all the moneys stipulated for in that treaty shall be paid; and " the British Plenipotentiary distinctly and voluntarily agrees that all dwelling-houses, store-houses, barracks, and other buildings, that the British troops or people may have occupied, or intermediately built, or repaired, shall be handed over, on the evacuation of the ports, ex actly as they stand. Art Xll.—Provides for the British Plenipotentiary instructing the different Consuls (in addition to the pro clamation the Plenipotentiary has already issued) to strictly watch over and carefully scrutinise the conduct of all persons, being British subjects—trading under their superintendence;"—and in the event of any smug gling transactions coming to their knowledge, they are to apprise the Chinese authorities, " who will proceed to seize and confiscate all goods, whatever their value or nature—that may have been so smuggled;" and will, likewise, "be at liberty to prohibit the vessel, from which the smuggled goods were landed, from trading further, and to send her away, as soon as her accounts are adjusted and paid." All Chinese subjects, whether Custom-house officers or others, who may be discovered to be concerned in smuggling, are by this article to be ' punished as the Chinese• authorities shall think fit. Art. Xlll.—Provides for all persons, whether natives of China or otherwise, conveying goods to Hong-Kong for sale on obtaining a pass or port-clearance from one of the five ports named in Article 1., and paying the duties agreeably to the tariff on such goods. It also provides for natives of China repairing to Hong-Kong to purchase goods, and for their obtaining a pass from the custom-house of one of the five ports, should they re quire a Chinese vessel to carry away their purchases. These passes to be restored at the expiration of each trip. Art. XlV.—Provides for an officer of the British Go vernment examining the registers and passes of all Chi nese vessels visiting Hong-Kong to buy or sell goods ; and for any vessel which may not have a register or pass being " considered an unauthorised or smug gling vessel," and not being allowed to trade. By this arrangement, it is to be hoped that piracy and illegal " traffic will be effectually prevented." Art. XV.—Provides tbr debts, incurred by Chinese dealers or merchants at Hong-Kong, being recovered through the English court of justice. Should the debtor flee from Hong-Kong to the Chinese territory, and be known, or found to have property, real or personal, the fourth clause of the General Regulations will be appli cable to the case on application being made by the Con sul. In like manner, should a British merchant incur debts at any of the five ports, and flee to Hong-Kong, the British authorities will, on receiving an application from the Chinese officers, " institute an investigation into the claims, and when established oblige the de faulter or debtor to settle them, to the utmost of his means." Art. XVl.—Provides for a monthly return of pitsses ranted to Chinese vessels to visit Hong-Kong, being furnished to the British officer referred to in Article XIV. by the Hoppo of Canton, and for a similar return being made by the said officer. Art. XVII., also termed "Additional Article."—Pro vides for all cutters, schooners, lorchas, and such small vessels, that ply between Canton and Hong-Kong, or between Canton and Macao, passing as they have hitherto done, free of all port-charges, "if they only carry passengers, letters,, or baggage ;" but if they carry any dutyable articles, however small the quantity, they are to pay tonnage dues at the rate of one macs per ton register. This article further provides for the smallest of such vessels being considered to be 75 tons burthen, and the largest 150 tons burthen ; beyond which last size they are to be classed as foreign ships, and to be charged tonnage dues according to Article sth of the General Regulations. The following three rules were further laid down in this Article, which is only applicable to the port of Canton, for the guidance of these small vessels. " 1. Every British schooner, cutter, lorcha, &c., shall have a sailing letter or register, in Chinese and English, under the seal and signature of the Chief Superintend ent of Trade, describing her appearance, burden, &c. &c. " 2. Every schooner, cutter, lorcha, and such vessel, shall report herself as large vessels are required to do at the Bocca Tigris ; and when she carries cargo, she shall also report herself at Whampoa, and on reaching Canton deliver up her sailing letter or register to the British Consul, who will obtain permission from the Hoppo for her to dischargeher cargo, which she is not to do without such permission, under the forfeiture of the penalities laid down in the 3d clause of the General Regulations. "3. When the inward cargo is discharged, and an outward. one (if intended) taken on board, and the duties on both arranged and paid, the Consul will restore the register or sailing-letter, and allow the vessel to depart." THE CONCLUSION.—Provides for the provisions of the Supplementary Treaty being immediately carried into effect ; that on receii:ing the gracious assent of the Em peror in the vermilion pencil, the Imperial Commis sioner will deliver the very copy of the treaty contain ing it into the hands of his Excellency Hwang, judge of Canton, who is to proceed to such place as the British Plenipotentiary may appoint, and deliver it to the Ple nipotentiary to have and to hold. " Afterwards the sign manual of the Sovereign of England having been re ceived at Hong-Kong, likewise graciously assenting to and confirming the treaty," the British Plenipotentiary will dispatch that copy of the treaty containing the Royal sign manual, by a specially appointed officer to Canton. to deliver it into the hands of his said Excellency Hwang, " who will forward it to the Imperial Commis sioner as a rule and guide to both nations for ever, and as a solemn confirmation of our peace and friendship." A most important Supplementary Treaty. (L. S. Signed and sealed, &c. &c. of H. B. M.'s (Signed) HENRY POTTINGER. Plenipotentiary.) (L. S. (Signed) KEYING (in Tartar). of the Imperial Commissioner.) (A true abstract) RICHARD WOOSNAM. EXTRAORDINARY FIRE THIS MORNING. This morning (Saturday), at half-past five o'clock, a destructive fire occurred near to Lord's Cricket-ground, St. John's Wood-road, under circumstances of a most extraordinary character. The following are the particulars :—A farming labourer, in the employ of Mr. Henry Fellows, of Neasdea farm, Levesdon, was coming to town with a load of hay and straw. By some unexplained accident the team dre:wte waggon so closely upon one of the gas-lamps in St. ch ats Wood-road, that the post was broken, and tered to pieces. The flame of the burner instantly and oidthhaethe . lema imuni : communi cated Inform's and the tion of the circumstance was instan tly y e c as on i t i e gri nc i ti n of the brigade; • Wl - 0 foreman of the King street se_ commenced burning contents il) o o s f t the ihoedus vehicle toy. ; fr. powerful engine of the depot, but, promptly ordered out t he po b e f o re the fire could be got under, 72 trusses of straw and on e of hay, the v ehicle itself, was consumed. The proyertY Is not i nsur ed . EAvDS IN BUTTER. —ln the Liverpool market three tricks are played by persons selling butter. In some in. stances salt butts; is moulded into the form of pounds of fresh but... ter, typd cased over with fresh, so as to deceive the taster, - who,. however, soon discovers the cheat when the butter is cut at home., In other instances, salt butter Is moulded into the shape of fresh and not cased at all ; but a pound of fresh is conspicuously placed to be tasted ; but that pound is not sold ; and in other instances salt butter, washed, is moulded and sold as tresh. Pur6hasers, in ell these cases, are supplied with salt butter oaly.—Liverpoei Mercury. "11 111 Fri : Pft)% :ET AND 41,1 1,1 A.S