The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-29 00:00:00

The supply of Sheep was unusually small; hcnce the Mutton trade ruled active, and the quotations improved 2d per 811, the primest Old Downs selling rea,lily at 5s 2d per slb. The general quality of the Sheep was good. There were very few Calves on offer, vet the Veal trade was by no means ac tive, though 'prices were well supported. The Pork trade was again steady, at full rates of currency. The number of Pigs on sale was small. Per Sibs. to sink the offal. Inferior Beasts .... 210 3 4 iecond quality ditto. 3 6 3 8 prime large Oxen.. 310 4 0 Prime Scots ...... 4 2 4 6 Large coarse Calves 4 0 4 6 Prime small ditto .. 4 8 5 0 Suckling Calves ..18 0 30 0 Inferior Sheep .. . 3 6 4 0 s. d. to s. (1. 6 Second quality ditto 4 2 4 Coarse-woolledditto 4 8 410 Soutbdown Wethers 5 0 5 2 Ditto out of the wool Large Hogs ...... 310 4 6 Small Porkers ... • 4 $ 5 0 Quarter old Pigs ..16 0 20 0 Lambs •. . • • SUPPLY AT MARKET. Beasts. I sheep. I Calves. Pigs. 2,467 16,610 70 I 2110 NEVIGATE AND LEADENNALL. Since this day se'nnight the arrivals of country-slaughtered Meat up to these markets have been tolerabl y good, but by no means extensive. The supplies of meat killed in the Metropolis have been somewhat limited, yet. the general demand has ruled inactive, above quotations. About six tons of Beef have been received from Ifamburgh in good condition, which has sold at from 3s to 3s 2d per Sibs. In addition to this, about twenty carcases of Beef, and 120 ditto of Mutton, imported for Smithfield, have been dis posed of. At per stone, by the Carcase. a. d. to a. d. - a. d. to a. d. 1o af, inferior. ."--- middling ."--- prime large .. 3 2 3 4 prime .... 4 4 4 6 --- prime small .. 3 6 3 8 Pork, 1arge........ 310 410 Ve a l... - small ........ 4 3 b 4 Lamb. Is Od to Os Od. ARRIVALS DURING TILE PAST WEEK. • Beasts Sheep Cafes Pigs. 40 300 300 50 400 400 30 120 101 IS 90 1041 20 80 100 20 90 50 30 100 811 100 40 200 100 150 tland ....... rorkshire ••• Lt scotashire • • • Aorfolk •• • 5 uff01k....... Ca lrilbridgeshire Essex . ... Sur rey utronshire •• • Wiltshire ••** • Other parts •• • ------------- 60 lio ....-........ 50 100 100 200 Total •••• • • • • ...... 325 1,560 340 1,650 Previous week's arrival. .. 602 2,060 350 2,320 1 31Eference since our last .. • . 277 600 10 670 BOROUGH HOP MARKET. Since our last report the show of Hops here has been nevertheless the demand—with the exception of the 'tst new bags being in better request—has ruled inactive. BOROUGH AND SPITALPIELDS. The arrivals of Potatoes at the water-side during the past meek have been limited, but at the various steam-boat wharfs and railway stations they have been considerably on the in 11,ase, and in good condition. On the whole, the trade has lilted inactive, at 70s to 120 s per ton, for York Reds ; 70s to -,tOs for Regent's; 80s to 90s for Scotch Reds; and Jersey 'pities 80s to 85s per ton. The imports from France have a mounted to 120, and from Germany 70 tons. WOOL. During the week the imports of Wool into London have !Mounted to 661 bales from Algoa Bay s 71 do. from St. Pe !ersburgh, 25 do. from Konigsberg, 275 do. from Smyrna, 68 Z. from th e Cape, and 150 do. from Bombay. English Zools continue in fair request at full prices; but Foreign and uslonial, owing to the approaching public sales, command eery little attention. TALLOW. 6 Th Y. is market is very firm, and, since our last, prices for 1, 111 C. Tallow have advanced fully 6d per cwt. There is but little to be had at the quotation of this morning; it is :fleraily believed that there are many contracts to settle for l i t this year, and the holders are sanguine in their expects -43118 for hi her rices There are no sellers for forward der g • 1 „. I, ‘ very. Town 1 allow is by no means abundant ; the price -I Z3 6d to 435, net cash. MARLBRO'-STREET.-(THISDAY.) , barged Pemberton and George Dickenson , yo un g men, were ;Ones, with robbing their employer , Mr. Geor g e William of No. 101, Oxford-street, furrier, under the following ; It elnstances. The prosecntor had the prisoners, and other jug , l men, in his service as porters. On Sat urda y morn the 5 /. in gold and silver were missed from a desk in the at °P, to which the prisoners and the other porters had access pi a an early hour in the morning to set the th et in order. On the discovery of the robbery 14 e . prisoners were taxed with being concerned i tt :t. They denied it, but in the course of the day the pri ta 1r Dickenson made a confession to the prosecutor of his , ) ,J'ng seen Pemberton take something from out of the desk, I : that Pemberton had afterwards admitted to him that he t o taken 30s. The prosecutor accompanied Dickenson 4 1 ' 4 B lodgings, No. 16, Welbeck-mews, Welbeck-street, aharylebone and found in the possession of his wife, a boa of it ".! Value of 305., which answered the description of one • °,:en from his stock since July last. VII% MALTBY asked the prisoner Pemberton what he had P' in answer to the charge against him ? P emberton said he knew nothing about the prosecutor's Or the boa. ar k hekenson—Yes you do. You made a present to my wife a ft, and she has worn it ever since. I told you during the 4 1 that the 5/. was missing, that I felt certain you had ' N el l it, and you then said you had only taken 30s. L et 'un prosecutor said he was certain between 5/. and 61. had n taken from the desk. 14pr. MALTBY said there was not sufficient evidence to de it: Pemberton but as the stolen boa was found in the pus tn of Dickinson, and he did not account for it, but bt' l Y asserted that it had been given to him by Pemberton, Pembertonwas accordingly discharged. FREE-TRADE. 8, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. in address you with all the freedom of a brother di 4t . '",° same cause, " the cause of free-trade." Imme d;" upon the receipt of your valuable Seven o'clock v„,'"ort of Saturday's Sun, on Sunday last, at nine C Oek, announcing that the prospect of a free-trade t c'vernment being formed by Lord John Russell was at :end, the free-traders here of the middle and working i tt B4 ,,.s, were moving ere Monday' s Sun had shown cau e, and the pens of a few were moving a l so in the same se ,' and they rose as, When mankind falls asleep, A miracle is sent as an alarm To wake the world, and prove him o'er again. By recent argument, but not more strong. Say, which imports more plenitude of power, Or nature's law to fix, or to repeal ?" 4 by middle day on Monday_a requisition was out ; 4 ; ill less than twenty-four hours it received the signa ones of one hundred and nine freemen, electors, and " u es inhabitants, addressed to W. James, Esq., our of thy and humane Mayor, " to call a public meeting t he inhabitants on as early ,a day as possible, for the t Pose of addressing her Most Gracious Majesty the ofil e en, praying her to callto her councils such men only, will immediately, totally, and unconditionally re pi t ie those imposts upon corn, which a Noble Lord, ce high i n her Majesty's confidence, has publicly and 0 4 9 Y stated to be ' the blight of commerce, the bane agriculture, the source of bitter division: amon g dawns, the cause of penury, fever, mortality, and crime, J 4 , e ng the people,' (and thereby secur e to her Ma q :'s suffering but faithful people, a full supp l y of the kl e i essaries of life.—Dated, Dec. 22, 1845."—(Here t, 4 le ar a list of 109 signatures, twelve of whom are - councillors. Iv : In compliance with the above requisition, I hereby ci a meeting of the inhabitants of Hereford and its for the purpose therein specified, to be holden at the Town-hall, at the hour of twelve of the clock at ~ ll 9n, on Wednesday, the 31 st o f December instant. . 'De c .o 23, 1845. WILLIAM JA MES, Mayor. ' p A memorial left here on Christmas -da y , si g ned b y a 4 : " 1 ,Y number, addressed to the Council of the League, t eging of them, as they value the c ause of free-trade, 'aend down a Villiers, a Cobden, a Brig ht, a Paulton, t-PMoore a Fox, or a Gibson, to pourtray the evil effects a law we all feel, but lack the power to describe in ,' i l i t il .acient force, but can and will thro w t he wei g ht of our Ighbo ur h oo d's testimony, that even in happy, agri- L 4 ll tural Herefordshire, low wages, and scanty food and ' ° thing is severely felt, as the memorial of near l y five h undred of the sons and daughters of industry, now in ;° , 84 ? of signature among the very poor, will fully prove. 'a an address to the Council of the League, to lend e tn, in their helpless condition, aid, that an impres tal may be made upon the employers in this district, bat if low prices mean low wages, they can feelingly trove with their little ones, that high prices now for t heir here does not give them and theirs hig h wa g es, as little ones' unsatisfied appetites can prove. The memorial will be presented to the delegat es when the y ttive, and will be an evidence, with the facts la id before :e meeting on the 3 1 st instant , t hat Herefordshire is ° f industry a nd will continue 'to suffer, until the ha nds Industry are untied by repeal, and the removal of, or t c lnilisation of tea, sugar, an other utie ar made ; ;lt the corn-laws must go firs d d t, and then s, the e [unholy alliance of colonial and agricultural protection bonds are t t i ti la PPed ban apeal to the middle and working classes, tough the hustings ; and, then, let the watchword be s. " - t ,," Measures, not men," for " party is the madness of many, for the gain of the few." poor, la conclusion, call upon :you, in the name of the of whose cause I am the humble but sincere advo ate, to send us down one of your able reporters , to ca rry back to the metropolis, and there publish to the world, the state of the working classes in a district 2Zoete nature has been most bountiful, but where " the ,re of the labourers who have reaped down your fields Hich is of you kept back by fraud, crieth ; and the cr ies of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth ; ' and thereby add their i'ne labourers') testimony to the mass of information col anted without commissioners. ao doing, dear Sir, you will add another leaf to the ! l aurels a frody won fur the columns of The Sun, which 18 the c hi e f L ondon paper read here by all parties, be cause of its give. tz, later news than others, and for its I,l).dependent course public questions.—l am, dear * in, your sincere brother in the good cause, RICHARD NASH, , 12, B r i dge -street, H ere f or d , I;,T. 28, 1845. W 4- . S. No attorney has lent us his :id yet, although e)tave nearly fifty. . s _yUr papers are, the one a protectionist (the (7,2urn_ab and the other (the Times), a low-duty, sliding-off in ,' 7e Years, but suspending for six months the present duties, u that we have no organ here in Hereford. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. 'llt—We are happy to inform you that Mr. Harvey, „„b t c °, , ith' his company, were reported " lost," during the late ga l es f rom G uernsey t o E xe t e r, arrived safe in ‘ue latter city late last night, after a tempestuous pas rig?. As the report of their loss has appeared in some W .ue morning p a p e rs of to-day, by inserting this you „11l case many an aching heart, and oblige your obe ulent servants, TURNOUR AND HOLLINGSWORTH. Bow - street, Dec. 29th, 1845. The clergy of the Diocese of Llandaff, and other trienThers of the Church of England resident therein, have e ntered into a su b scr i pt i on f or th e l au d a bl e p u rpo s e of re storing the ancient cathedral of that dioceis. —Cambrian. Lord an d L a d y J ohn Russe ll are prolonging their rat Minto Castle, th e sea t o f th e E ar l an d C o untess of Illto, itoxburgahire. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1845. AM ERICAN NEWS• ARRIVAL OF THE CAMBRIA THE OREGON QUESTION AND BUSINESS IN CONGRESS. The steam-ship Cambria, Captain Judkins, arrived at Liverpool from New York on Sunday, having made the passage in eleven days and a half from Boston. She brings New York papers to the 15th inclusive, and has ninety passengers. On the 17th she passed the Acadia between Halifax and Boston. The intelligence brought by this mail is of considerable importance, though we regret to say not of a very pacific character. The prin cipal topics are thus given in one of the New York journals:—" Ist. The papers contain the whole diplo matic correspondence between the American and British Ministers upon the Oregon question. 2d. Intelligence from Washington that the negotiations which had been suspended have been re-opened by Mr. Pakenham, upon new propositions of compromise. 3d. In the event of any difficulty taking place vs ith England upon this question, the probable action of Congress upon the subject, and the proposition by Colonel Benton of organising 200,000 militia, in order to meet the important crisis, including also a suitable increase of the steam navy, fortifications, and naval armaments. 4th. The re-opening of negotiations between Mexico and the United States, and the proposition for the pur chase of California, with the probable expectation of a magnificent plan for uniting both republics, so as to give peace to both, and to present an important front to all European Governments. These things.affect our foreign relations. In domestic affairs, the prospect that a re venue tariff will be established by Congress, together with a specie currency system fur the Government, as the best general plan to preveh t inflations, give protec tion to all the interests of the country, and enable it to meet and prevent all commercial explosions hereafter." Besides, we are enabled to give the reports of the state of the American army and navy, with the Treasury report on the state of the finances. An opinion prevailed in certain quarters that the Oregon question will be made to assume such a shape in Congress as not to be justly offensive to Great Britain. War, they say, is declared not to be the necessary consequence of the inflammable course of Mr. Polk, although none deny but that a continuation of such can but irritate the public mind, and so force on a belligerent attitude. The extreme democrats are for the immediate establishment of a territorial government over the territory, without giving the notice required by the contention of 1818; the next in the order of zeal are for extending the protection of the American Government to its citizens there, and simultaneously giving th• notice required; while the more moderate, and the more numer ous friends of the Administration, together with the great body of the Whigs, will probably go for no further legislative action at this time than shall be sufficient to carry out the recommendations of the message in relation to this subject. The President's message has been referred to its appropriate committee in the Senate and House, so much of it as relates to the Oregon matter to the Com mittee on foreign relations, and that part relating to the tariff to the Committee on Ways and Means. There is good reason to suppose that the Democrats wish to wink this subject out of sight in the excitement created by the hazardous state of foreign relations, but they will have some difficulty in so doing. When the subject was re ferred, Mr. Andrew Stuart, of Pennsylvania (Whig), moved that the reference be accompanied with instruc tions to report the tariff of 1842, without amendment, which was, however, subsequently withdrawn. This shows that the Whigs mean to have a fight on the sub ject, whenever and in whatever stage of it they find an opportunity. The admission of Texas into the Union as a state will be accomplished at an early day. Mr. Douglass, of Illinois, by general consent, reported back from the Committees on territories the copy of the constitution of Texas, referred to them, accompanied by a joint resolution for the admission of Texas into the Union, declaring the state of Texas to be one of the states of the Union. Made the special order of the day for 16th December, and ordered to be printed. An effort :o refer to the Committee of the whole on the state of .he Union faih.d. Two memorials hare been presented to Congress from the inhabitants of the Oregon territory. The first was presented by Mr. C. J. Ingersoll, in the House of Repre sentatives. It enumerates in very glowing style the ad vantages which Oregon holds out, and expatiates in flowing language upon the future greatness of the Pacific shores, derived from . the fertility of soil, salubrity of climate, the abundance of productions, and the com merce of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They ask for the protection of Congress by extending over the terri- ;ory the laws of the United States, taking exclusive pos- session of it, and sending an adequate military force for its security. They also ask for donations of land to settlers, a monthly overland mail, navy yards and marine depots, and the establishment of commercial regulations. This memorial is signed by S. Leets, jun., president, and by two persons who make their marks as vice-presidents. It has been intimated that it las written in Wall-street, New York. The other memorial was presented by Mr. Benton, in the Senate. It is much more modest in its tone and re quests, and purports to come from the citizens of the United States residing in the Oregon territory. They solicit equal protection from the United States to that enjoyed by British residents. They state their exposed condition, and their liability to Indian aggression ; and that to avert impending evils the British and American population have united to establish a provisional and temporary government. The union of interests, thus far, they state to have been productive of good results, but the government is crippled in its powers by the paramount duties of each class to its respective nation. Dr. Elijah White, who carried the above memorial from Oregon to Washington, asks for a seat in Congress to represent that distant territory. It is said that upon the success of this agent in securing the assistance asked for depends the decision of the question, whether or not the people adopt an independent republic on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is reported that the President is desirous of secur ng the return of Mr. Calhoun to the Cabinet. Mr. Benton, as chairman - of the Committee on Military Af fairs, intends reporting a Bill for the immediate organi- sation and equipment of 200,000 volunteers. General Cass has already called for information, from his place in the Senate, as to the military condition of the country, and its present capability to defend itself in case of an attack.' Col. Benton, as the proper exponent of the land forces in that b,)dy, will throw the whole subject before the country, and recommend an appropriation of 10,000,000 dollars to organise and equip this force. The Washington National Intelligencer states, that ne gotiations for an adjustment of the Oregon question are to be opened at London, under the auspices of Mr. APLane, or a special Ilinister, if any serious difficulties should occur with the British Cabinet; and further, that the o►ertures for a reconsideration of the whole issue on a new footing, will originate from the American Ad- ministration, — under the immediate instructions of Pre sident Polk. It adds, that members of the Cabinet have individually expressed themselves in decided terms of corroboration with this statement, and that the Secre- tary of the Treasury declared to a senator, that although war was a possible contingency of the Message, he did not consider it a probable one, for the steps now under consideration, and which would be adopted by the Ad. ministration, would, in his judgment, prevent the occur rence of such a catastrophe. Room has been left for the re-opening of negotiations under the " compromise," or any new proposition, on the ground that Mr. Paken• ham's instructions did not embrace the boundary line which was offered. The papers bring the messages of the governors of various states. We find that the finances of the states are, severally in an improved condition, and there is every prospect of the interests on debts being paid. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO OREGON. The correspondence on the Oregon question extends to an enormous length, for which at pre►ent we cannot find space. In the meantime the following comprehen sive summary will be found sufficient for understanding the points at issue and the ground taken by both par ties : The first is a letter from Mr. Fox, the British Minister, to Mr. Webster, United States Secretary of State, dated Wash ington, Nov. 15, 1842, covering a copy of part of a letter from Lord Aberdeen to Mr. Fox, requesting that the United States Minister at London might be furnished with instructions to :eat with such person as might be appointed by England on the I „ . , rth-western boundary. Assuring Mr. Webster that England s ready to enter into a fair and equitable com promise of fii.o 4.!..fricultY• • Mr. Webster repht:: to Mr. Fox. Nov. 25, 1842, informing him that such instrucf7Qo would be given to the United States Minister at London. Mr. Pakenham writes to Mr. Up:,Ntr, United States Seem tary of State, dated Washington, Feb. 24, 1844, intimating the anxious desire of the British Government to come to a speedy settlement, and proposing a conference, Mr. Upshur to Mr. Pakenham, Feb. 26, 1844, names 11 o'clock A.M. next day for said conference. Mr. Pakenham writes to Mr. Calhoun, July 22, 1844, am. nouncing that the death of Mr. Upshur (on Feb. 28), &c., had prevented prompt attention to the Oregon boundary, and that now as Congress had adjourned, it would be a pro per time to proceed with it. Mr. Calhoun to Mr. Pakenham, August 22, 1844, appoint ing one o'clock, P.M. next day for conference, concurring with the English sentiment in desiring a speedy settlement of the question. Mr. P. to Mr. C., August, 22, 1844, agreeing to the hour. The conference wan accordingly held on the 23d of Auguat, 1844, and the pleuipotentmnes proceeded to examine the state of the question. Mr. Calhoun desired a propos a from Mr. Pakenham, who said be would be able to make a definite one at the next conference, and desired Mr. Cal houn to be also ready with his proposal. Adjourned to the 26th of August, when it again assembled. Mr. Pakenham made a proposal to Mr. Calhoun, which Mr. Calhoun de clined. They then agreed that a more full understanding of their respective views was necessary to facilitate future proceedings, It was agreed that written statements of the views of both parties should be given before proceeding fur ther. It was also agreed that the American plenipotentiary should make his statement at the next conference, and, when ready, give the necessary notice. Attached to this protocol is the offer of Mr. Pakenham to take the 49th parallel of latitude to the Columbian River, and the river to the sea ; and also to make free to the United States any port or ports which they might desire on the main land or on Vancouver's Island south of 49 deg. Sept. 2, 1844, the third conference was held at the office of the L nited States Secretary of State. The American negotiator gave his views of the claims of the United States to the portion of the territory drained by the Columbia as his grounds for declining the British Minister's proposal. Sept. 12, 1844, the fourth conference was held at the same place, and the British Minister gave his views. Sept. 20, fifth conference, Mr. Calhoun delivered a re joinder. Sept. 24, sixth conference. The British Minister stated that he had read with due at tention the rejoinder of the U.S. plenipotentiary ; that he did not feel authorised to enter into any discussion relative to the territory north of lat. 49 deg. which was understood by the British Government to form the basis of negotiation on the part of the United States as the line of the Columbia formed that of England. That his former proposal was offered by Great Britain as an honourable compromise, and that it was made with the proviso that in no case in any further negotiations should it compromise or weaken the claims of Great Britain unless accepted by the United States. September 3d, 1844—Mr. Calhoun to Mr Pakenham— declines Mr. P.'s proposal ; as it would limit American pos sessions to narrower bounds than what it had a clear right to. Mr. Calhoun then enters into an argument on American claims to the territory drained by the Columbia, arising from right, and those derived from France and Spain. The former he grounds as against Great Britain, on priority of discovery, exploration, and settlement. The prior discovery is claimed for Captain Grey, a citizen of the United States, May 11, 1792, who gave the river its name. This discovery is opposed by those of Meares and Vancouver. The former sailed along the coast through which the Columbia flows, in 1788, in order to ascertain whether the river laid down in Spanish charts as " St. Roc " really existed, and he declares "we can now safely assert that there is no such river." Mr. Calhoun then proceeds to consider the discoveries of the Columbia's branches by Lewis and Clark, and asserts America's clear right by the discovery of the mouth and head waters of the Columbia river. He next describes the question of settlement by American citizens in 1809, 1810, and 1811. The taking possession by the British during the war, and restoration after peace. Ile then proceeds, " We have added to our claims those of France and Spain by the treaty of Louisiana arid the treaty of Florida. The cession of Louisiana gave us undisputed title to the summit of the Rocky Mountains and by conti nuity to the Pacific, founded on the treaty of 1763." He then dwells on the argument of continuity, instancing the contest between Great Britain and France, which was erminated by the treaty of 1763. He then examines the treaty of 1763. He then takes up the restoration of Astoria, and he con cludes by stating that the same cause which peopled the valley of the Mississippi will yet cause emigration across the Rocky Mountains, and that the whole region drained by the Columbia is destined to be peopled by us. Mr. Calhoun closes his able paper by stating that he refrains "from pre senting the claims which the United States may have to other portions of the territory" than those drained by the Columbia River, and by renewing assurances of high consi deration, &c. Sept. 12, 1844, Mr. Pakenham writes to Mr. Calhoun in reply to the above, that he has no evidence that Louisiana extended west to the Pacific, but that the Rocky Moun tains was the western boundary, for which opinion he quotes Mr. Jefferson. Even if the boundary did extend westward of the Rocky Mountains, that France transferred to Spain in 1762, and Spain to England, by treaty between Great Britain and Spain in 1796, which abrogated the claims of Spain. Ile denies that the claim of continuity can affect the claim of right. He acknowledges that Spain, in 1819, transferred her rights north of 42 deg., but that it did not invalidate her former concessions in 1790. In regard to the discoveries of Heceta and Gray they con flict, and if lleceta's claim be good it favours Great Britain, owing to the treaty of 1790. The United States had no claims when they became a nation. Those of France were worth nothing. He urges the commercial intercourse of Great Britain with the north west coast, the voyages of Cook and Mears, the survey of the coast by Vancouver, which makes Great Britain's claims to discovery and exploration very strong. He sets the accuracy and authenticity of Cook and Vancouver's survey against the discovery of the mouth of the Columbia by Captain Gray. Of the exploration of Lewis and Clarke he says that M'Kenzie, a British subject, crossed the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific in 1793, and discovered the upper waters of Frazer's River, near lat. 49 deg., and puts this against Lewis and Clarke's. He meets the authority of Lord Castlereagh by the dis patch of Lord Castlereagh himself to the British Minister at Washington, when giving up Astoria, claiming the whole territory. Great Britain and the United States are in joint occu pancy ; one cannot divest the other but by an equitable divi sion of what is jointly occupied. In claiming the Columbia as the boundary, Great Britain is not influenced by ambition of possessing large territory, but by considerations of utility if not of necessity, which cannot be lost sight of. Mr. Pakenham concludes by requesting a proposal from the United States and statement of further claims alluded to by Mr. Calhoun. Sept. 20, 1844, Mr. Calhoun rejoins to this rebutting the British claims on the discoveries of Cook,•Mears, and others, on the Nootlia Sound convention, and on 11PRIenzie's explo ration. The Frazer's River is an inferior stream and cannot affect the discovery of the Columbia. Jan 15, 1845, Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun states that he has sent the discussions already bad to his Government, but that, in the meantime, he is authorised to offer arbitra tion, leaving the choice of arbiters for after consideration. Jan. 21, 1845, Mr. Calhoun says he has laid the offer of Mr. P. before the President, and he cannot accede to the proposal. lie hopes the question may be settled by nego tiation. Arbitration might rather retard than expedite the settlement. July 12, 1845. Mr. Buchanan having been appointed Secretary of State, and seeming to overlook the later pro ceedings, and replies to Mr. P.'s letter of September 12, 1844, rests the American title on that of Spain, contend ing that, at the date of Spain's transfer of her rights to America, she had a good title to the whole of Oregon against Great Britain. The Nootka Sound treaty conferred no right on Great Britain but to trade with the Indians, was transcient in its nature, and did not touch the sovereignty of Spain over the territory. That it was annulled by the war between Great Britain and Spain in 1796, and has never since been renewed, and consequently that Great Britain is destitute of any claim to the Oregon territory. Having defended these views at length, and enforced the American title to the whole of Oregon, he says the joint occupancy treaty excepts the American title from being impaired. In this view of the subject the President, considering the action of his predecessors, and embarrassed by their offer, to show also to the world that he is actuated by a spirit of mo deration, has authorised him (Mr. Secretary Buchanan) to offer the 49th parallel to the sea as a boundary, with any port in Vancouver's Island south of that latitude. July, 29, 1845, Mr. Pakenham replies to Mr. Buchanan; combats strongly Mr. B.'s position, particularly the claim of the United States to the Valley of the Columbia to be older than the treaty of 1819. He examines the Spanish title--the American offer to divide the territory—•the United States can found no claim on discovery, or exploration or settlement, prior to the treaty of Florida, without admitting the principles of the Nootka Sound convention, and the pa rallel claims of Great Britain, He contends that the Nootka Sound convention continues in force, and even if that con vention had never existed, the claims of Great Britain are as good as those of the United States. He then goes into a history of the discoveries, from which it might appear that American citizens discovered the Co lumbia River, while British navigators discovered Frazer's River and Vancouver's Island. He repeats the British claims to the territory, and declines the offer made by Mr. Buchanan. August 30,1545, is the date of the last dispatch. It is from Mr. Buchanan is reply to Mr. P. He quotes the declaration of Messrs. Huskisson and Addisonton that "Great Britain claims no exclusive sovereignty over any part of that (Ore gon) territory." Mr. B. makes a very long argument in re ply to Mr. P., maintaining the rights of the United States to the whole of the territory, and concludes by withdrawing his offer. REPORT OF TIIE SECRETARY OF WAR. This document occupies five columns of the Union, but the Following synopsis ti om that paper tells the whole of a long story : It exhibits, in the first instance, the organisation, strength, and constitution of the regular army. The rank and file-- embracing every arm of the service—does not exceed 6,500 men. At this time there is stationed but a single regiment on the whole northern frontier, from Maine to Lake Superior —an extent of 2,000 miles ; and, on the whole line from the Falls of St. Anthony to New Orleans (1,500 miles) only one regiment of dragoons and two of infantry. The artillery regiments—reduced by detachments of four com panies from each—now garrison the fortification of the sea board, from Newport to New Orleans. The remaining and larger proportion of the army is now stationed in Texas. The report gives an interesting account of the political reasons which have induced the Government to give them this destinaticn. The Secretary does not think it prudent to remove the troops from this position until our relations with Mexico have assumed a more decidedly amicable character. In the event of there being any necessity to increase the army, he proposes to build upon the basis of the regiments by adding to the rank and file of each company, instead of creating new regiments. This necess i ty may be y found in the course of Mexico, or in th e conduct of the Cumanches, or of the Indians that are found in Oregon, or that may interrupt the increasing current of the emigration to the Rocky Mountains. By the proposed arrangement of filling up the infantry companies to 68 men, an d the dra goons to 60, the privates are increased, with out a corre sponding augmentation of the officers. The report suggests that, besides this increase of th e num ber of privates in the two existing regiments of dragoons, another regiment of dragoons or of mounted riflemen may be necessary, in the event of extending our posts to the Rocky Mountains. It states that, though the concentration of so large a pro portion of the army on the frontier of Texas may have, in some measure, enlarged the expenditures (certainly in the article of transportation), yet it has in some degree been compensated by the improvement which has taken place in the discipline of the troops. It renews the recommendation for establishing a Corps of sappers, miners, and pontoniers, to assist, among other things, in constructing bridges, in con sequence of the military occupation of Texas. One hundred men will be sufficient for the purpose. gives a rapid but interesting account of C o l . KeTahrieley's report expedition, during the last summer, to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, the impressions it produced amj'ir wav 66gon, nu - the lodians, the numb er of emi g rants w hom it met on the and children, with 7,0 tp the number Or 2325 00 head of cattle, 400 horses and ri nf i e , , - , men, women, and 460 waggons. This report of Colonel Kearney accom panieg the coaimunication of the commanding general, and -e g r eater leisure. It also refers to the adventures wlll furnish, no doubt, an interesting store of extracts, at season P. the dragoons, under the Captaincom aPhanteFP:fnrlY ha =them line of th impression with n o l f an a , n i another t r et United gtates ► I.)etwP • en Lake Superior and the Lake of the tPt theY met with on their e their military array, was a numerous band of t ie 41E-breeds he of the Red liver pf the North, who had come from the re route, Woods.a n and upon mohg whomiin Indians whom ma a e pion of the lludson Bay Company into our lines to hunt buffalo. £hey had even solicited pervaLS9loll to reside in the United States. The Secretary refers to the considerations whirls had prompted General Gaines to dispatch the volunteers of Louisiana to the camp of General Taylor. Ample jusice is done to their gallantry, and Congress is invited to make ap propriations for their compensation. General Taylor had also accented the services of four Texan companies of mounted men for three months. The estimates for the ensuing year do not greatly vary from those of former years. The item for arming the fortifi cations is increased 100,000 dollars. The attention of Con gress is directed to the state of the fortifications—to the armories of Springfield and Harper's Ferry—to the establish ment of a national foundry for cannon—to the preservation of the gunpowder belonging to the Government—to the con dition of the mineral lands in the north-west, which the Secretary proposes to transfer from the management of the ordnance department to some other (the President's Message suggests to the Land-office). It calls the attention of Congress to the 48 forts in process of construction, and to the propriety of erecting new forts at other points. Among these, as suggested by the reii.orts of the engineers, are fortifications of the narrows at Staten Island and Sandy Hook, and the condition of the long-sus pended fortress at the Pea Patch ; an additional work at Solles' Point, for the protection of Baltimore; and projected fortifications on the Florida reef. The Secretary speaks with great consideration of the school at West Point, and proposes some improvements. He calls special attention to the report of the chief of the corps of topographical engineers, to the improvement of the harbours on the lakes, which are so well calculated to furnish accom modations to steamers, that, in a state of war, may be turned to the most effective purposes, and to furnish facilities to a commerce that is now estimated at 100,000,000 of dollars annually. The Secretary speaks with enthusiasm of expeditions under Captain Fremont, and his valuable services. He refers to the reports of the pension-office, which has now returned on its books 28,921 pensioners-2,371 added during the last year, and 1,438 known to have died. He devotes a consi derable space to the Indian agency and the Indians—the Pottawatomies, the Choctaws, and particularly the Chero kees. He lays before the President some highly interesting communications from our Indian sub-agent in the territory of Oregon. He dedicates the conclusion of his comprehensize and very interesting report to a subject which is of so profound an im portance in a free government—viz., the organisation of the militia. He suggests various alterations, and, amongst the rest, submits the question whether it might not be advisable to reduce the period of service from 18 years of age to 21, upon the ground that although citizens of 18 years of age are not too young to bear arms, they were not gener.illy in a situation to equip themselves with arms, as the law re quires. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. The communication of the Secretary of the Navy opens, without any preface, with the following sentence During the past year the usual squadrons of the navy of the United States have been . maintained." In the Mediterranean Com modore Smith had command of the Cumberland and the Plymouth. The Plymouth was ordered to the Brazil squa dron, and the Cumberland returned home, and their places will be taken at the opening of the present season by a part of the present African squadron. The African squadron was organised under the command of Commodore Perry, who was relieved by Commodore Skinner; the Preble and the Truatan contracted disease on board, and were sent home; the Southampton, with stores, was sent out to remain, and was fllowed by the Marion and the Dolphin. The Boxer is destined for the same station ; and in January the Cumber land, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore Read, will relieve the Jamestown and Yorktown, which will proceed to the Mediterranean. The disposition of the remainder of the naval force is thus stated : On the Brazil station, Commodore Rousseau, the first officer west of the Alleghanies ever selected to command a squadron, relieves Commodore Turner. The Raritan will repair to the home squadron; the Boston is ordered to return to the United States. The Columbia, the Saratoga, the Plymouth, and the Bainbridge,will, for the present, constitute the Brazil squadron. Commodore Parker, after a very successful cruise, returned from the Asiatic station in September, bringing home the Brandywine, the St. Louis, and the Perry. At the Bay of Islands, Captain M'Keever, in the St. Louis, had the happi ness to render valuable service to the inhabitants of an infant British settlement. In May, Commodore Biddle sailed for the East Indies in command of the Columbus ship- of-the-line, and the Vin cennes, bearing the Minister to China, and the ratified treaty between the United States and the Chinese Emperor. The health of Mr. A. H. Everett, the minister, having induced his return, the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty was d co e m n b u t t l i e t a t a e d e h t e o w t t h h e a t c a h n a r a g b e l e oaindCogmalniatondtonraevaßliedffidlcee,rweleilownlNcitlal satisfactorily all affairs entrusted to him. The Constitution is on her return from China, after having visited different ports and islands in the Indian seas. The Pacific squadron, under Commodore Sloat, has con sisted of the Savannah, the Levant, the Warren, and the Shark. The three first will return in 1846, and will be re lieved by the Congress, the Portsmouth, and the Cyane. The home squadron has been under the command of Com modore Conner, who has distinguished himself by sound judgment in the performance of kis duty. His force, which consisted of the Potomac, the Falmouth, the Vandal* the Lawrence, and the Somers, was weakened by the return of the Vandalia, which visited Hayti, and was driven home by the yellow fever, contr ac t e d a t P ort au Pr i nce, where she had - been ordered on duty. The squadron was increased by . the Princeton and Porpoise, the St. Mary's, and the Sara toga, under Commodore Stockton, and soon after by the John Adams, and the steam ship Mississippi. The Secretary visited all the naval establishments but those at Pensacola and Memphis, and they are generally in excellent order. He recommends that the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, at which are now more than 100 sailors, be never enlarged, but that new pensioners should be placed " in some salubrious spot near the ocean, where the aged seaman can watch ships as they come and go, and have old familiar objects in sight." There is a dash of romance in this suggestion which is rather unexpected. lie condemns as a fruitless expenditure the employment of professors and instructors on board - ship—and suggests that midshipmen, in the intervals of sea duty, may be collected together on shore and be suitably instructed. The instructors being provided, the idea was carried out by organising a school at Fort Seven, at Annapolis, under the direction of Commander Buchanan. He recommends that'the plates of all the charts engraved by order of Congress be deposited in the National Observa tory building. The grant of a large sum for the establishment of a well furnished and efficient navy yard at Pensacola is recom mended, and he disapproves of the grant for the Memphis Depot, as too large fur a mere work of preparation. He thinks Congress should confine the use of the money first to the construction of a rope -walk ; and, next, to simple ar rangements for building and equipping steam-ships. He justly adds, that " the United States should produce all the hemp used in the navy, and that to introduce at the west the manufacture of American hemp for the navy, will prove a national benefit." The subject of lake defences is reserved for a special com munication. The care of the reservations and plantations of live oak, he thinks, should be transferred to the Land Department, which alone has the proper means of ascertaining titles. The present contract system requires modification. The balance of appropriations with rigid economy, be be lieves, will be sufficient for the fiscal year. The estimates for next year contemplate no increase in the force employed during the present year. No estimates are presented for the increase of the navy : the department awaits, in that matter the instruction of Congress; but he remarks, that in comparison with other nations, our own is poorly supplied with sea going steamers. The navy is praised f or i ts excellency and ef fi c i ency, and its able and skilful officers. He thinks the capable only should be promoted, an d his position is illustrate d b y the following remarks : "Age alone now claims precedence, though that claim is unauthorised by the constitution, and unsustained by the law. Seniority demands promotion as its right, and the highest rank and pay are awarded to the longest life. Yet the chances are that the eldest are not the most meritorious. Excellence seeks the opportunity of displaying itself, and is selected for the most perilous and wasting service ; while mediocrity fails to be employed, and obtains length of days in safe and affluent retirement. Promotion by seniority is a premium upon inactivity. " Many of the best among the older officers received high promotion while comparatively in early life. The younger officers of to-day are equally full of talent and ambition ; but the present system refuses to then, the opportunity of com mand while life is in its vigour, and reserves it for the de cline of their powers. In consequence, the average age of captains is constantly increasing, and is already nearly sixty. The average number of annual promotions is about two. The average age of commanders, from whom captains are and should be taken, is not much less than fifty. From their great numbers, the little sea service to which they are called is favourable to longevity. Continue the present usage twenty years longer, and while hope will be crushed in the young men in the service, the class of commanders will itself be composed of none but aged men, and there will not be a captain under threescore years and ten. " This custom discourages the most worthy, and lead the incapable and the indolent to cling with tenacity to their commissions. " Those that are capable—and our service abounds in those, and those only s h ou ld be promoted." Ile argues aga i ns t the probable objection that selection will degenerate into favouritism, and asserts that wherever the principle of discrimination has been carried out, it has been attended with success. The number of midshipmen in the navy has become so reduced that new appointments begin to be made, and he suggests that it would be desirable if a system of free com petition could be devised. A remedy in the mode of paying pursers, and against the progressive amount of salary given according to service, is desirable. A change is needed to protect the treasury and to secure the prompt payment of balances. An increase of six acting boatswains, and as many acting gunners in the navy, is represented as being needful. The apprentice system will soon be revived, in a simple form, in the hope of better results than heretofore. The report closes with some general remarks upon the evils which exist in the navy, and the causes from whence they have sprung. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF 'rim TREASURY. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury (R. J. Walker) states the receipts for the year ending June 30, 1845, 29,769,133 dollars, to which the balance in the Treasury of 7,857,379 dollars may be added, making the total means 37,626,513 dollars. The ex p endi ture during the same period were 29,968,20 6 dollars , and, there fore , left a balance in the Treasury of 7,658,30 6 dollars , July 1 , 1845. The t o t a l means estimated to accrue up to June 30, 1846, is 34,478,306 dollars, including the balance left over from the former year. The expenditures are estimated as follows : The actual expenditures for the first quarter Dollars. ending 30th of September, 1845, amounted 8,463,092 41 The estimated expenditure for the public service during the other three quarters, from Ist October, 1845, to the 30th June, 1846, are as follows, viz. : Civil list, foreign intercourse, and miscella- neous purposes .................................. 6,739,211 06 Army proper .................................... 2,594,735 06 Fortifications, ordance, arming militia, Sm... 2,346,778 82 Indian department .................................... 1,649,791 94 Pensions „ ........... . ... 1,356,556 02 856,976 48 Innetderemestoionnpoufhitilcled residue d a u n e d o l'r t e h a e su l r o y an no o t f e lsi Treasury notes which are yet outstanding and 29,300 00 payable when presented ........................ 687,764 18 Naval establishment ....................... 4,902,845 93 29,627,051 9Q Which, deducted front the total means befqrt!, July, 1846, an estimated balance of ... ...... 4,851,254 32 leaves in the Treasury, on the Ist balance is subject to be decreased by such add'- make. e e expended during the fiscal year ending. th`! be June,. 184 ' 6 and to be altered by the sums which may be presented for ' payment of tio l3B U t a au i tte s td p i: l i ) s ropriations as Congress shall 2,, the old funded and unfunded de and Am Treasury notes. The estimated receipts, means, and expenditures for the , in spite of whatever consequencss may arise to the state from fiscal year commencing Ist July, 1846, a d ending the 30th its firm determination either to perish or assure its political June, 1847, are as follows: E existence. " The Ministers of England and France announced a mis sion of peace, and are giving rise to a bloody and desolating war, with the independence of the Republic constantly in their mouths. They are blockading our ports for not hum bling ourselves before their nod. They may give their own colouring to these acts in Europe, but here it is well known that the legal president has with him the whole nation ; that he is only its mouthpiece; and that the obstructions offered to his measures are therefore attacks upon it. They profess great solicitude for the interests of humanity and commerce, whilst they are notoriously sacrificing both now, and prepar ing for them a future still more fearful. " An apprehension is affected lest the Argentine Govern ment, which acts only in virtue of a natural alliance, and in accordance with the lew of nations, should have some vi ews upon the independe nce o f the Orientali state, and this in spite of its known determination to abstain front any inter ference in its internal administration—and yet, while affecting this, the English and French Cabinets, their diplomatic envoys, their naval commanders, without any cause, or right, or dire t interest, think themselves entitled to interfere in everything—to exact, to blockade, to attack the independence of both republics, and the admirals go so far as to say they will take the rebels under their protection, and defend them by all the Uliians in their power. " This, Honourable Gentlemen, proves that they wish to exercise a despotic dominion over these countries, Nvhich it is our duty to resist at ev my hazard, w h a t ever be the mask under which it is hidden. The Governmcut is resolved to do so, and doubts not that, supported by your patriotic decision, it will succeed in so glorious an object. (Signed) " MANUEL ORIBE." RECEIPT'S, From customs for the four quarte ... Dolls. 22,500,000 00 From sales of public lands ... 2,400,000 00 From miscellaneoUs and incidental sources 100,000 Total revenue ••• ••• Add estimated balance to be in the Treasury on the Ist July, 1846 ... 25,000,000 00 4,851,254 32 29,851,254 32 Total means for the services of the fiscal year ending. the 30th June, 1847 ... EXPENDITURES. The expenditures during the same period, as estimated by the several departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Post master-General, viz.:— The balance of former appropriations which will be re quired to be expended in this year .. Dolls. 1,441,457 10 Permanent and indefinite appropriations '2,997,915, 72 Specific appropriations asked for this year 21,079,440 43 Total estimated expenditures ... ... 25.518,813 25 This sum is composed of the following particulars : For civil list, foreign intercourse and mis cellaneous For army proper 3,364,458 92 For fortifications, ordnance, arming militia, &c. 4.331,809 93 For pensions For Indian department For naval establishmei.t 6,339,390 88 For interest on public debt ... 835,844 72 Dols. 25,518,813 25 Which, deducted from the total of means before stated, gives an estimated balance on the Ist of July, 1847, of 4,332,441 07 By this it will be observed that the contemplated expendi ture for the year ending June 30, 1846, is neariy the same as the actual outlay of the year preceding, and that the estimates for the year ending June 30, 1847, are on ly 25,500,000 o f dollars, being nearly 5,000,000 less than the expenditures of 1844 and 1845. The expenses of the army, navy, fortifica tions, &c., estimated for 1845.6, are about 10,000,000 of dol lars ; those for 1846-7 are put at 14.000,000 of dollars. The war of 1512 to 1815 between the United States and England left the United States in debt one hundred and eighty millions of dollars. She went into it in good credit, borrowing money at par, while at the termination United Slates Securities sold at 30 a4O per cent. discount. The war lasted three 3 ears. The great contrast between the contemplated expenditure for the ensuing years, and the actual outlay which war re quires, show conclusively, that whatever sentiments the Pre sident may entertain towards England, he does not even ask the means of supporting those he has put forth. He does not mean to go to war if he can help it, but he is playing a game which will soon put the whole matter out of his control if it be continued. The contemplated outlay is by no means commensurate with what our policy requires. The Secretary's recommendations in regard to the tariff embrace the quintessence of Polk's views in the Message. or, what is more likely, the Message takes its hue from and amplifies the propositions of the Secretary, which are sub stantially as follows: 1. Ne more money to be raised than what is wanted by Government. 2. No duty to be laid upon any article above the lowest rate which will yield the largest amount of revenue. 3. Discrimination made below that, down to perfect free trade. 4. Maximum duties on luxuries. 5. All minimum and specific duties to be abolished, sub stituting ad valorem duties—care being taken to guard against frauds. - 6. Duties to be laid equally, not discriminating in favour of any class. Horizontalism is repudiated, because, peradventure, some of the horizontal duties might possibly operate as protective and not as revenue imposts—protection being the monster which ;, to be killed at all events in this tariff war. Mr. Walker says the revenue from the highly protected articles is becoming gradually less, because domestic manu factures are driving the foreign articles from the market, and thinks the result will be, in time, a necessity for direct taxa tion, unless th e d u ti es are reduced so low as to permit impor tation again. Among other modes of " equalising" the tariff, and " re lieving the people from its oppressive burdens," the Secre tary proposes to repeal the fishing bounties, and the duty on salt. The recommendations of the Secretary of the Treasury for the establishment of a sub-treasury system have already been noticed in the President's Message, with which they coincide. VERY LATE FROM CALIFORNIA. Our private advices from Monterey (Upper California), to the middle of October last, came to hand yesterday. The intelligence is important. A British fleet destined for Oregon was passing up the west coast, of which our corres pondent at Monterey says : " The pioneer of thi s 'fleet, the British ship of war America, touched here some time ago, and the movements of her commander, Captain Gordon, aroused our suspicions at the time. He refused to give any news, saying ' men of war do not carry news.' lie also refused to carry a circular letter to the United States Indian Agent at Oregon City, remark ing that he was not sure of going to Columbia River. I have ascertained that Lord Aberdeen, the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs, had a brother on board the America, and one of Sir Robert Peel's sons was also an officer or a passenger. We were all glad that these distinguished visitors bad every facility extended to them for collecting facts in this vicinity. The.y can give their illustrious relatives an interesting account of California. At San Francisco they found every well-built house owned by ' a Yankee.' D—n it,' said one of the officers, ' is there nothing but Yankees here ?"rhey had the satisfaction of hearing direct from several over the mountain travellers of the many hundred waggons on the road for Oregon and California, as well as of the excellent facilities fur travelling between the States and this coast. WEST RIDING ELECTION. The requisition calling upon Lord Morpeth to come forward as a candidate for the representation of the West Riding of Yorkshire, was presented to his Lordship at Castle Howard, on Friday evening, by a deputation con sisting of Messrs. F. H. Fawkes, Charles Wood, M.P., Hamer Stansfield, and Edward Baines, jun., when he consented to be put in nomination. The feeling in favour of his Lordship throughout the riding is most decided, and far beyond what even his warmest admirers could have anticipated. As a proof of this we need only mention the fact that within twenty four hours the requisition to his Lordship received the signatures of no less than 8,500 West Riding electors. This marked display of feeling has thrown the utmost dismay into the Conservative ranks, and even the bitterest opponents of his Lordship hesitate not to pre dict his success, and to discourage, as altogether futile, any attempts at opposition by the Monopolist party to his return. The only rumour of opposition that h9s yet been current is that the Hon. Edwin Lascelles, brother to Lord Harewood, will be brought out by the Tories. We believe, however, that by the Tories no steps what ever have been taken to contest the riding, and we be lieve also that few of them are so short-sighted and in judicious as to venture upon a struggle which must result in inevitable mortification and defeat. The fol lowing is the address which has been issued by Lord Morpetb, and from that it will be seen that the contest, if any, must be a battle, not of party politics, but of free trade against monopoly:— "TO THE ELECTORS OF THE WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. "Gentlemen,—l am deeply penetrated by the gratifying import of the invitation which has just been conveyed to me. More than one reason might have induced me not to resume a parliamentary life at present, but if the electors of the West Riding shall determine to persevere in the prompt and generous movement they have made in my favour, I cannot hesitate, in such a crisis of public affairs as the present, to put myself at their disposal. I appreciate the kindness of the suggestion for dispensing with a winter canvass, and I should feel it invidious to visit some of the polling districts and omit others. I will, therefore, present myself on the day of nomination at Wakefield, and there submit the issue to the decision of this great constituency. The inhabitants of the West Riding are already acquainted with the principles by which my public conduct, in and out of office has been guided. I still adhere to them in all essential Roints, but if I am sent to the House of Commons at the present juncture, I should deem it the main object of my mission to insist upon an immediate and final repeal of the corn-laws. "I have the honour to be, gentlemen, "Castle Howard, Dec. 26. " MORPETH." NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 27.—The Baretto Junior, transport, Lieut. Griffiths, agent, bound to Bermuda with 200 convicts, arrived at Spithead on Monday. She had proceeded on her voyage, and was off Ushant, when one of her soldiers guard on board was taken ill with small-pox, and in consequence it was thought necessary to put back. The Baretto remains at Spithead. The Eudymion, 44, Capt. Lambert, has left Portsmouth Sound, fully and well manned and stored, and with many supernumerary officers and men, for the West Indies, there to be under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir F. Austen. " The Governor had the militia called out to resist an ex pected invasion fi Gm the United States squadron, and the soldiers, ready to run at the first shot, were gratified with the frolic. Foreigners of all :nations are respected. Americans are pouring into the country from Oregon and the States. The British merchant schooner Star of the West, with a cargo valued at 30,000/. sterling, was lost near the entrance to the harbour of Monterey, on the 27th July. The goods saved and sold fetched only 3,000 dolls. at auction. The tax of 30 dolls. on whale ships has been taken off by the authori ties of California. The Vanguard, 80, Capt. Willes, has left Plymouth Sound for Cork, there to be stationed for the present, as the flag. ship of Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot. The Lizard, iron steamer, Lieut.-Commander Tylden, re ceived her orders to proceed to Falmouth, on her way to South America, on Tuesday, and sailed ; but in consequence of a strong westerly gale springing up, she was recalled, and remained at Spithead'until Thursday morning, when she sailed fur Falmouth. "The crops in Southern California have unexpectedly turned out a failure, owing to extreme drought, in the latter part of the season : barely grass enough to save the lives of the cattle • provisions scarce and high. The crops pro mised an abundant harvest early in the season, but a total cessation of rain for nearly two months ruined everything. The climate baffled the skill of the settlers on the Sacra mento, and a change in the time of sowing and planting is to be resorted to, but it is doubtful whether that will save the most valuable roots and grains. Of small vegetables, two crops are gathered in a season. The winter is always mild and spring-like." The Bittern, 16, Commander Hope, is hourly expected at Spithead, from the eastward, to be paid, and complete her stores, preparatory to sailing for the coast of Africa. The Daring, 12, Commander Henry J. Matson, will have her defects made good, and be ready for sea on the 30th inst. ; she will proceed to the coast of Africa. The Rodney, 92, Capt. Collier, C. 8., at Spithead, is having her mizen-mast raked three inches more. The Ilarpy steam-vessel, Lieut. H. B. Proctor, is ordered to be made ready for sea with all possible dispatch, and it is said her destination is South America. The Birkenhead, iron steam-frigate, 1,400 tons burden, and 560-horse-power, building for some years by Mr. Laird, of Birkenhead, is expected to be launched on the 30th inst. The Alban steamer, from Plymouth, arrived this morning with supernumeraries. The good service pension of 300 L per annum, which reverted to the Admiralty on the death of Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, Bert., is conferred on Sir William Hotham, G.C.8., Admiral of the White. PROMOTIONS. Commander=—lienry Bagot (1838), of the Excellent, and Thomas liaillie (1841), of the Modesto, to the rank of Captain. Mate—T. lirandreth (1844), of the Excellent, for passing the best examination at the Naval College last week, to the rank of Lieutenant. Assistant-Surgeon--James John L. Donnet (1840), of Greenwich Hospital, to the rank of Surgeon. APPOINTMENTS. - Commander—Wm. Maclean, to Cruiser, vice Fanshawe, promoted. Lieutenants—W. F. Warren, to Endymion ;R. L. Curtis, additional, to Hibernia; T. A. Aldridge, to Sampson; T. 13. Christopher, to Alarm; T. S. Hall, to be Mail Agent; J. B. Kooystra, to Bittern; Charles T. Leckie, to Inconstent ; W. D. Lyster, to Agincourt; Edward Lacy,to Collingwood ; Armine Woodhouse and Arthus Tower, to Ringdove ; M. F. O'Reilly, additional, to Penelope; Francis S. Tremlett, addi tional of the Agincourt, to Nimrod; Edward F. T. Roberts, of Albion, additional, to Vindictive; W. L. N. Lockyer, to Rodney. Masters—James 'William Armstrong, from the Seamen's Registry-office, to the Admiralty Store Department, Somer set-house, vice Hoskins, to Greenwich Hospital; John Davis, to the Seamen's Registry-offices, vice Armstrong; J. G. Mugl,rd, to Samson; W. H. Langtrey, to Ringdove ; Ri chard S. Godden, to Scourge, vice Forster, commission re turned. Paymaster and Purser—Walter D. Bateman, to Ringdove ; E. A. Smith, to Bittern. Surgeons—John Davidson,ll.D , to Sappho ; James Booth, to Samson; Thomas H. Lowry, M.D., to Ringdove ; J. L. Clarke, M.D., in charge to Joseph Somes, convict-ship ; John Wilson, in charge, to Emma, convi c t- s hip. Chaplain—Rev.: J. Moore, M A., to Trafalgar. Assistant-Surgeons—N. L. Dolling, to Viper; C. A. An derson, to Greenwich Hospital ; John E. Hamilton, to Ring dove • Charles Ede, additional, to Caledonia. Mates—W. H. Phipps, of St. Vincent, to Rattler; F. W. Bishop, of St. Vincent, to Retribution. Clei-k—T. W. W. Spear, of Excellent, in charge, to Wild fire steamer; W. H. Richards, to Carysfort. Naval Instructor—James Stephen, to Vernon. Midshipmen—H. H. Sainsbury, to Vanguard; H. H. Cor neck, to Carysfort. Master's Assistant—J. 0. Jonas, to Victory. Naval Cadet—J. S. Twysden, to Scourge. Boatswain—W. Campbell (late of Formidable), to be Master Rigger of Sheerness Dock-yard, in the room of Mr. John Young, superannuated. COAST GUARD.—Lieutenant J. G. S. M. Moore, from Az mouth, to Lyme,Cobb Station, vice T. E. James, previously removed ; Charles F. Collett, from Courtmasberry, to Port mack Station, vice Mr. John Hungerford, chief officer, pre viously removed. LITERATURE. ELINOR WYLLYS. A Novel. Edited by J. F. Cooper. 3 Vets. This work possesses a twofold claim to our atten tion. It bears on its title-page the name of a well known author, while the preface informs us that it is in reality the first work of " a 'prentice hand," pub lished under his auspices. The story is interesting enough itself, and is written in an easy unaffected style ; but it is chiefly valuable as a picture of American life—a delineation of the national charac ter. After the confused and contradictory accounts of English travellers, respecting the manners and customs of our trans-Atlantic brethren, an American novel by one of themselves will be both instructive and interesting. The authoress of "Elinor Wyllys" has given no partial or prejudiced account, she is evidently not blind to the faults of her countrymen ; perhaps her work was written no less for their benefit than for our information. The family of the heroine, assembled at Wyllys-roof, exhibits a picture of calm domestic enjoyment, scarcely differing from an English fire-side group, and contrasting strongly with some of their " aristocratic" neighbours, whose vain ambitions, would-be-exclusive language, and manners are described with great animation and vigour. The latter part of the story is chiefly occupied by the details of a law-suit of rather extraordinary cha racter; it is described with a fidelity and minuteness which render it extremely interesting, and the speeches of the counsel are well worthy of their supposed authors. These volumes will be found highly interest ing to the English, as tending to throw a light on do mestic life in America, while to the Americans them selves they will be far more beneficial i" t tai the " English novels, all about lords awl ' are apparently so gratifying t's;: .. neir aristocr es, which atic taste The Count.•- on S•'• • - of March gave birth to a son and heir —urday, at the family residence in Portland-place. Her Ladyship and infant son are going on:favourably. Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence has left town on a visit to the Marquis of Anglssea, at Beaudesert. Lord Fitzroy Somerset is expected to join the circle assembled at the Duke and Duchess of Richmond's, at Goodwood-park, to-day. We regret extremely to have to state that the Hon. Colonel Westenra, M.P., has been for some days seriously ill at his seat, Sharavogue, King's County.—Cork Examiner. LYMINGTON.—We are authorised to state that it Is the intention of the Hon. Colonel Keppel to become a candi date for this borough at the next election.—Hampshire Inde pendent. The young wheat plants are looking very promis ing, and there has seldom been a better prospect at Christmas for the ensuing harvest than this year, LATEST COMMERCIAL NEWS. NEW YORK, DEC. 15 —The . Cotton market is firmer, and a shade higher rates are obtained. Flour.—Western Canal flour is in demand for export at 6 dols. 25 c., but holders refuse to sell any more at this price. 4,000 barrels mixed brands sold for shipment at 6 dols. 31i c., and several lots for home use at 6 dols. 37i c. Nothing of importance was done in Southern flour ; prices may be quoted at 6 dols. 25 c. to 6 dols. 371 1 c. for common brands, and 7 dols. 121- c. to 7 dols. 25 c. for Richmond City Mills. Corn is id - demand for export; 8,000 bushels Southern sold at 82 c. weight, and 3,000 bushels Northern at 80 c. weight. Rye ranges from 81 c. to 81 c., with a fair demand. Northern oats are plenty, and dull at 49 cents. Exchange on England, 108 to 1083. Great fluctuations have taken place in all United States stocks; the usual schemes of Bears have been worked, and the Oregon question made the matter of danger. CANADA. The Canadian papers contains but little news. The Saint Lawrence was closed entirely at last advices, and business appeared suspended. The departure of Lord Metcalfe is universally regretted. The Quebec Gazette of the sth says, that for the previous eight days the weather had been more severe in that city than it was in the frightful climate of Moscow in 1812. The thermometer was down to ten degrees below zero, and the snow lies in heaps more than fifteen feet deep, and then falling so thick that it was impossible to see at a distance of a few feet. " The broad St. Lawrence is not only covered with floating ice, but it is heaped one piece above another, rendering it almost impossible even for the hardy canoemen of Point Levy to cross." RIVER PLATE. MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT ORIBE TO THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS OF THE ORIENTAL REPUBLIC. This message being very long, we can only give a few extracts from it. The occasion of its delivery was the re-assembling of the Legal Chambers for the first time since their dispersion in 1838, which was caused in the way thus stated:— " Turn your eyes, Honourable Gentlemen, back to the fatal occurrences of 1838, in which the French agents and forces in the River Plate combined their efforts with the crimes and insubordination of the rebels in arms against the legal Government since 1836, and you will begin to appre ciate the noble acts of the Government of the Argentine Con federation in favour of the sacred rights of this republic. Ob serve how a system of European intervention in our affairs, and attacks upon our rights, began thus early to display it self. There was no pretence of defended the prerogatives of French subjects —no complaint of their having been attacked. No! all that was thought of was, under the most frivolous pretexts, to violate the dearest immunities of the natives of the American continent. " Yes, Gentlemen, the Government will never be tired of proclaiming it. To the scandalous interventicn of the French agents, Baradere and Roger, assisted by Admiral Le Blanc, were owing the violent overthrow of the constitutional Government—the usurpation of it by the rebels—the dilapi dation of the public revenue—the war—and all the other evils which ensued, and which it will take years to efface. "Compelled, by this infamous intervention, to resign my constitutional authority before its legal term had expired-- a resignation which you, under the same compulsion, ad mitted with sorrow, I emigrated, with the Ministers, and some of the deputies and principal employes, to the capital of Buenos Ayres, leaving a written protest, which was pre sented to the General Assembly, against the violence by which I was expelled from a post conferred upon me by the free voice of the nation, and this protest was repeated at greater length after my arrival at Buenos Ayres. " Then was it that midst these misfortunes were dispensed to me, by General Roses, the Governor of Buenos Ayres, and by all classes of the Argentine Federals, an extent of hospi tality, kindness, protection, and assistance, that knew no bounds. Though surrounded with difficulties, engaged in an oppressive war, cramped for resources, that illustrious man found time to stretch out his hand towards his unfortunate guests, and after gigantic efforts had nearly succeeded in ac complishing his promise of an effectual support, when he was impeded by this unjustifiable European intervention, which has alwaya been consistent in favouring the °-- rebellion, and opposing the progress and --- nation." ...,use of prosperity of the We pass over a 4reat deal of intermediate matter, and come to the following rents - flu on the present state of affairs in the Oriental I?.r:pii4iic " The cic,i'oP -1 1 1 ,10.14 i as was natural, refused decidedly to 11:t iiiO4tioil of the English and French Ministers, and rescilved to sustain, at all r ; ::,cs, the independence of the na tion akainat any rA:eign power. The blockade of the poit of 1111 " ° ' Laken place in consequence, and will, no doubt, ,Je followed by that of the other ports of the Re v ublic ; but, Honourable Senators and Representatives, the uovernment repeats to you that it is resolved to defend the riget and inde pendence of the country to the last extreme, not. to yield one atom of what belongs to its dignity, to taro itself BERLIOZ IN VIENNA. (From a Correspondent of the Post ) The arrival of this distinguished musician and critic excited much curiosity among the artists and amateurs of Vienna, and various were the opinions as to the pro bability of his success in satisfying the (Fife rent tastes of the great musical republic of the imperial city, the legitimists and the innovators disputing, inch by inch, the rights and privileges of art domain ; the one contending for established forms, after the models of known masters—the other party repudiating, very wisely, any attempt to curb the fancy, r limit the boundary of the imagination in instrumental music. It is ever fresh in the memory of the present genera. tion that Beethoven's sinfonia Eroica, was hissed at its first performance in Vienna, and although criticisms, stringent and unjust, have freely been circulated throughout Germany, on the extravagance and innova tions of Berlioz's wild fancies, calculated to prejudice the public mind, before the music was li , ard, I am harry to say that posterity will be seared the record of an ill-con sidered and hasty judgment of the Viennese on the merits of Berlioz's compositions, which have thrice been reformed, applauded, and several of them encored. Goethe has somewhere spoken of the power of genius to disturb, and by such a test it may safely be affirmed that Berlioz has certainly claim to be con id( red a mart of some genius, since the power of his muse has dis turbed the musical society of Vienna to a fearful de gree. The imagination has no positive limits, anti " vvho sees not," says an eminent critic, " that thi s divine a r t, so vague i n i ts e l ement, has the power to move nature to imitate," and yet there are peo ple who persist in designating inventions in art as unnatural ; new combinations as crude ; novel rhythm in melody as inadmissible, and whatever differs from, those forms with which the ear is become familiar in the works of other masters are, to these self-satis fied propounders of the merits of composers, ag gressions unpardonable. History furnishes mankind with so many instances of the persecution of original thinkers—from Galileo to Ikethoven—in science and art, that it behoves us, in atonement for the sins of past gene rations, to be charitable, and cautiously investi gate the merits of new styles in art, before we pass judgment upon them. The opinion I expressed in a former communication on the superior musical Intel liaence of this city is confirmed by further experience, and I have reason to believe that Berlioz has never wit nessed a public more readily detect the best features of his music at a first performance, or feel more keenly the beautiful effects of his instrumentation. At each repetition of the performances I frequently remarked that several artists who the night previous were declaring against • the descriptive music of Berlioz, were most punctual in their attendance, and secured the best seats. This fact speaks volumes, and proves, at least, that if there is nothing to admire, there is some thing to learn by listening to his compositions ; for artists are too poor in Vienna to pay thrice to gratify mere idle curiosity. Intolerant persons are always to be found, and the world seems distracted between realists and idealists. As an art, music is compara tively modern, and the daily discoveries and improve ments of instruments lead to further novelties in eons bication ; as a science, restricted to dianontic progres sions, the resources of counterpoint have been nearly exbauated by the Church writers of the last three cen turies, and very little or no variety can now be pro duced to charm the hearers of our time without chro matic harmony, frequent modulation, contrast in lights and shades, and a skilful employment of the elements of a modern orchestra; so that to a profound knowledge of ancient counterpoint, a modern classical writer must add a thorough acquaintance with an art unknown to our great musical scholars of Fugal celebrity. The addition of modern instrumentation to the grand work of science naturally induces young composers, of vivid imagina tion, to strike out something new, and Berlioz has ven tured beyond all his contemporaries in what is accu rately denominated " picture or descriptive music," The subjects, as well as their illustration, are frequently his own; although I have yet to become acquainted with his Romeo and Juliet, I have hitherto preferred those pieces which are purely descriptive of scenes of his own suggestion. The overture to Lear did not equal my ex pectation; nor have some half-dozen overtures to Macs beth, which German composers have published, been considered a worthy appanage to that grand and fearful tragedy. Beethoven's Pastorale, Mendelssohn's over ture are perfect pictures, lovely, simple ; and intelligible. Berlioz has attempted still further to push this interest ing branch of modern art,-and his attempt deserves en couragement. In the midst of the excitement which his music has produced in Vienna, the most accredited jour nals have put forth several ably-written articles, from the pen of practical and known musicians, which have had a tendency to convert legitimists into a more liberal way of viewing the licenses in art; and as the intelligent portion of this musical city have more or less klio w . ledge of music, the small fry of the press, that speculate opinions at random, exercise no influence whatever over the public mind, so that with the leading press and pro fessors in his favour, Berlioz has gained in Vienna a most signal triumph. The extravagant combinations of Beethoven's later works are not upheld as models of purity in harmony and counterpoint for students to imi tate, nor were the more fantastic passages of harmonies and languishing portamento , of Page l : l ow s style of play ing examples for young violinists servilely to copy; yet it would be a pity to hear a musician, in these days, assert that he derived no benefit from listening to the one or the other, and still further would it be unjust to deny that both these composers have revealed to us new charms in art, which only require to be understood to be duly appreciated. In proportion to the sensibility and knowledge of the hearer does music affect and gratify, and without pretending to enjoy advantages denied to thousands in this city, I freely confess that I have been moved and gratified by some compositions of Berlioz, and such was the magic spell of his muse over my feeling', that I could not resist visiting his third and last conoert, though confined for some days previous to my room, from a severe cold. There are three of his pieces which. have never escaped an encore, and any one of these three is enough to impress a musician with respect and admiration for the learning and genius of its camposer. The most popular is the overture to the Carnival of Rome; the next is the March of the Pilgrims ; and the third a ball-scene which occurs in his de . .;eriptive sym phony of the life of an artist. Here you have fancy and depth of imagination, novelty in tistrumentation, fresh and powerful final cadenzas, of unhackneyed harmony, touching melodies, and. endless forms of accompaniment. To enter into a more minute description of these com positions, without the aid of notation, would be of little interest, and as Berlioz intends to produce his works next season in London, the English dikttanti will have an opportunity of affirming the favourable verdict which has been pronounced by the most enlightened and the most severe musical ordeal in Europe —the musical tri bunal of Vienna. - MUSICIANS IN VIENNA.—The city that has been the favourite residence of a Gluck, Haydon, Mozart, and Beethoven, is yet the resort of men of genius, and here, within these few days, have I seen assembled a rare amount of musical celebrities, comprising Berlioz, Feli bien David, Czerny, Sechter, Gyrowytz, Mulique, Alvars, Thalberg, Ernest, Dreyschock, Mayseder, and several others whose fame is less known in England, but who hold a very honourable rank in the profession at Vienna. Of the quantity, quality, and cheapness of music to be heard in Vienna, I have only to give you an extract of last Sunday's diary :—Eleven, A.M., High Mass—Haydn: half-past twelve, P.M., first act of a grand concert, with Alvar's new symphony ; half -past one, heard F. David's Desert ; four, P.M., Vespers in St. Stephen's ; five, Quartets —Haydn, Onslow, and Beethoven ; at seven, Mozart's Figaro ; at ten, miscellaneous music by Strauss. No dancing permitted during Advent. The cost of this day's splendid bill of fare was the price of a ticket to David's Desert—two shillings. The perform ance of this last work was so much better in London, that I regretted having lost the second act of a splendid concert to hear an interior performance of music with which I was already so well acquainted. Although David's music does not satisfy the exigencies of very fas tidious critics, yet it finds admirers in every city. The originality of the theme, the poetical sentiment of the national melodies, and the novel effect of the "sunrise," are fully appreciated. I hear that the second perform ance was crowded, and more successful than the first. A third repetition is also announced. Berlioz has announced a fourth concert, to consist of his musical illustrations of Romeo and Giulietta. A grand entertainment is to be given to Berlioz by the artists of Vienna, at which he will be presented with a gold baton. Of this very in teresting festival you shall have a notice in a few days hence. I would not omit, on any account, to bear wit ness to such a gratifying testimonial of noble sentiments as is promised on this occasion. Let me hope that the English profession will, for once, give a hearty welcome to the recipient of honours from their musical brethren in Vienna, and if he fail to please the million by the ex travagances of his muse, let it not be said in after years that Englishmen alone were too obtuse to comprehend, and too illiberal to encourage the daring efforts of an. artist that has had the courage to venture out of the beaten tract of his predecessors. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. LAMBOURNE COURSING MEETING. DEC. 23 and 24. The Cup for 16 dogs was divided between Mr. Cottrell's Smolensk°, and Mr. Bowles's Bank of Elegance. The Plough Stakes, for 16 dogs, were divided between Mr. Skurry's Wrinkle, and Mr. Burnett's Batson. The Craven All-aged Stakes, were divided between Mr. Bowles's Birthday Queen, and Mr. Lawrence's The Libel. The Ashdown Park Dog Puppy Stakes, were divided between Mr. Pyke's Pewsey, lily', Mr. Ferris's Traveller. The Craven Bit c h Pun- Mr. Bowles's Bronze Star. Stakes, were divided be tween Mr. Pyke's Panl.3ine The Lambou r r , All•age° Stakes, were divi ded , between Mr. Lt% wr s '.lce's Lothario, and Mr. Jenner s Fop. ind Tlls HERTFORD ELECTION.—The writ for the election of a knight of the shire for this county arrived on Thursday night, and was proclaimed publicly at the Town hall, and on the Old-Cross, on Friday morning. The nomi nation is fixed for Thursday, the Sth of January.—Hertford Mercury. NAVAL UNIFORM.—An addition to the naval uni. form is intended to be made in the introduction of a frock coat, made double-breasted, with stand-up collar, to be worn with straps on the shoulders, similar to those worn by the ' m ilitary.—Devonport Telegraph. FROST AND OTIIRRS.—The latest letter received from Van Diemen's Land, at Pontypool, states that Geach, the expatriated solicitor, was in July last, keeping a school in a small cottage at Hobart Town. Frost was actively em ployed as a clerk in the same town, and Jones had left off driving a stage coach, and was then engaged at his trade of watchmaker.-211onmouthshire Merlin. MERTHYR.—WAGES.—It is now definitively ar ranged that the colliers and miners of Cyfarthfa are to have an advance in their wages of 10 per cent. The operatives of Dawlais, Penydawan, and Plymouth, will be advanced at the ' same rate.—Monmouth Merlin.