The Sun. — London, England, 1850-05-04 00:00:00

14111 W WORK BY THE REV, R. CORBOLD. Just ready, in 3 vols., with six Illustrations, FRESTON TOWER; , THE EARLY DAYS OF OR CARDINAL WOLSEY. By the Rey. RICHARD COBBOLD, M.A. IfenrY Cdlburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. TIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND EXTRA NIGHT. The Nobility, Patrons of the Opera, and the Public are respectfully Informed that a Grand Extra Night will take place On THURSDAY next, May 9, When will be presented (for the first time these two years) Bellini's celebrated Opera, I PURITANI. Elvira, Madame Sontag (her first appearance in that character) ; Georgic), Signor Lablache ; Riccardo, Signor Celetti; and Arturo, Signor Bauearde (his first appearance in that character). With various entertainments in the Ballet Department, including the new and original Grand Pas de Trois (camposed by M. null Taglioni, the Music by Signor Pugni). entitled LES GRACES, Euphrosine, Mdlle. Carlotta Grist ; Thalia, Mdlle. Marie Taglionl ; Egle, Mdlle. Amalia Ferraris. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Ticketa to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A Grand Classical, Dramatic, Miscellaneous Concerted MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT will take place on MONDAY MORNING, May 12, selected from the following admired authors : Weber, Spohr, Purcell, M. Leeke, Spontini, Paesiello, Meyerbeer, Cimaresa, Haydn, Beethoven, Rossini, and embracing several highly interesting novelties. On this occasion will appear Madame Sontag, Mtille. Parodi, Mdlie. Giuliani, Miss Catherine Hayed, dile. Ida Iler'rand, and Madame Frezeollni ; Signori Calcorali, Sims Reeves, Baucarde, Coletti, Belletti, Lorenzo, and F. Lablache. Herr Muller and Signor Lablache, supported by all the Instrumental and Choral resources of the Theatre. The whole under the direction of Mr. Balfe. Amongst other novelties, Madame Sontag will bave the honour to sing the " Swiss Airs," by Eckert, and the variations on " Ah vous dirai-Je," by Adolphe Adam, as sung by her with the most enthusi astic success at the Concerts of the Grand Conservatoire of Paris ; in addition to which will be presented a Trio for three Tenors, a Trio for three Basses, and a Trio for three Sopranos. Full particulars will be shortly announced. HEE MAJESTY'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING, Will be pressated (for the first time this season) Yerdi's eelebrated Opera, I DUE FOSCARI. Lacrezia. Mdlle. Parodi ; Jacopo Foscarl, Signor Baucard• ; and ll Doge, Signor Coletti. After the Opera the Orchestra will execute the celebrated Over ture to Guglielmo Tell. To conclude with the highly successful new and original grand Pas de Trois (by MM. Paul Taglioni et Gosselin, the Music by Signor Pteinl), entitled LES GRACES. laphrosyne, Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi ; Thalia, Mdlle. Marie Taglioni ; Iblaia, Mdlle. Ameba Ferraris. Applications tor Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box Office of the Theatre. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. THIS EVENING, Will be produced (for the fourth time), with new scenery, dresses, and decorations, a grand opera, founded on Rossini's celebrated work, " Mose in Egitto," with the alterations and additions by the Composer, entitled Z 0 R A . Annie, Madame Castellan ; Sinaide, Madlle. Tara ; Nicotri, Mdme. d'Oikuiski*; Merismane, Signor Tamburini ; Zora, Mon. Zelger (his 2d appearance at the Royal Italian Opera) ; Babies, Signor Lavia ; Osirl6, Signor Tagliafico; The Oracle. Signor Polonlai ; Aufine, Mgnifir Soldi ; and Amenotl, Signor Tamberlik. The Divertisement in the third act will be supported by Monsieur Alexandre and Madlle. Louise Taglioni. Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa. The Doors will be opened at Halt-past Seven. and the performances - . commence at Eight o'clock precisely. Tickets for the Boxes, Stalls, or the Pit, may be had (for the sight i , r season), at the Box-offlce of the Theatre, which is open from Ten till Fire. FRENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. First appearance of M. Lafont, and continuation of M. Regular and Malile. Nathalie. On MONDAY EVENING, The Performances will commence at Half-past Seven eolock cisely, with MEROVEE ; ou, Brunie et Blonde. After which (with curtailments) the Popular Comedy by Alexandre Dumas, of DEMOISELLES DE ST. CRT. Roger, M. Lafont ; Hercule Dubouloy, M. Regnier ; Madlle. Ch ir 1 otte de M(rian, Madlle. Nathale. The box-office of the Theatre is open daily from Eleven till r lye - . - Boxes and Stalls at Mr. Mitchell's Royal Library, 33, Old Bond• street. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Last nisht of the present season. THIS EVENING, Will be presented, by her Majesty's Servants, THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. Captain Macheath, Mr. Rafter Polly I'eachum, Miss E. Nelson. After which FAMILY JARS. To conclude with THU DEVIL'S RING ; or, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. In Three Acts and Four Elements. THIATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Mr. E. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Bronaptos. EVENIN,, - Will be performed a new drama, called THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Dr. Primrose, Mr. Webster ; Squire Thornhill, Mr. H. Vanden hoff ; Mr. Burchill, Mr. Stuart ; Moses, Mr. Buckstone ; Mrs. Prim rose, Mrs. Keeley ; Olivia, Miss Reynolds ; Lady Niamey, Miss Horton ; Miss Skeggs, Mrs. Fitzwilliarn. To conclude with the Last Edition of IVANHOE, with all the newest improvements. Cedric the Saxon, Mr. J. Bland ; Sir Briant de Bore Gnilbert, Mr. Selby; Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe, Mrs. Keeley; Wamba, Mr. Buck ssone ; Isaac of York, Mr. Keeley; Robin Hood, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Ibibecca, Miss P. Horton. The lu.x-office is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Under the direction of Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Will be performed the celebrated Comeay of PAUL PRY. Harry Stanley, Mr. Boyce; Witherton, Mr. Cullenford ; Colonel Hardy, Mr. Lambert ; Paul Pry, Mr. Wright ; Eliza, Miss 11. Coveesy ; Marian, Miss E. Harding ; Flicebe, Miss Weolgar. TG be followed by a grand historical Spectacle Vaudeville, entitled PLAYING FIRST FIDDLE ; or, Follow my Leader Principal Characters by Messrs. P. Bedford, Lambert, Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, and Miss K. Fitzwilllam. To conclude with MY PRECIOUS BETSY, Characters by Messrs. 13edford, Worrell; Miss Harding, and Mrs. F. Matthews. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE THIS EVENING Will he performed a Lyrical, Comical Pastoral, entitled CYMON and IPHIGENIA, altered from the text of David Garrick. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Barley, F. Matthews, R. Roxby, F. Cooke; Mite St. George, Miss Kenworthy, Miss H. Gilbert, Mrs. Humby, Miss Oliver, Miss Manners, and Miss Martindale. To be followed by THE ISLAND OF JEWELS.- Characters by Matthews and F. Cooke ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St. Goor4e, Miss Dickinson, Miss Kenworthy, Mrs. Macnamara, Miss Martindale, and Miss E. Ilonner. to r.onelude with A PRACTICAL MAN. All applications for Private Boxes must be made to Mr. Aileron lb, New Bond-street. 'the Box-office, adjoining the Theatre, in Wellington-street, is oi,n daily from Ten to Six o'clock, under the superintendence of kr. T. Ti. Bennett PRINCESS'S THEATRE. This Evening there will be no performance. On MONDAY Will be presented the entirely new Opera (composed:expressly for this Theatre, by Signor F. Schira), entitled THE OPII.A.N OF GENEVA. count do Merrill*, Mr. tllen; Carwin, Mr. Weiss; Fontaine, Mr, 11. Corr' ; Picard, Mr. Latter; Levine, Mr. Wynn ; Therese, Mt 's Louisa Pyne. 'l'o be followed by the Grand Masked Ball from Gustavus. After which a New Grand Tale of Enchantment, with splendid ,qenery, Costumes, and Appointments; extensive Machinery, &c., entitled _ _ THE QUEEN OF THE ROSES; or, The Sorcerer of Candahar. Principal characters by Messrs. Ryder, Forman, Honey, Craven ; Miss Louisa Howard, Miss Saunders, and Miss Tillers. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Triumphant success of the new grand Easter Spectacle of Enchant ment.—Reappearance of that extraordinary and talented Artiste, ➢ladile. Gardoni, on the Tight Rope. THIS EVENING The Entertainments will commence at seven o'clock, with F4zball's magnificent Spectacle, entitled TIIE FOUR SONS OF AYMON ; or The Days of Charlemagne. rroduce_l with great splendour, and introducing the whose of the vast resources of this Establishment, including the beautiful Stud, together with the Camels, Zebrab, &c., &c. To be succeeded by the talented Male and Female Artists of the Establibhment. To conclude with the interesting Melodrama of MEC/ MURDOCK ; or, the Fatal Glen. Box-office open From Eleven till Four. Stags Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGX. TIER DAT —Morning 43 min. after 6 Evening 15 min. after 7 To-Aro/mow—Morning 47 min. after 7 j Evening 28 min. after • - THE WEATHER.—SuN OFFICE, MAT 4. THEIMOMETER. 56—highsat since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 4G—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29.96. WIND N.W.—light breeze and cloudy, pith occasional showers. _ TO CORRESPONDENTS. " A Constant Reader," of the Spitfire, must give bis name, as We cannot insert certain communications unless they be authenticated. 4 - 1 t: A . • v ,o, coil - biZi 7. .., 1. 4. -02 n ii , I V A g: ... -.7 _7,;,. , :-::: il; . s . t foiliti,...‘l . .. \ \,_ ~,' ~ ..,: ., ....„‘ .2„ .4:-. i V , ~,,K,„...., - ainillll A4lll'. LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1850. Thursday evening w itnessed another Ministerial defeat, aryl that on a financial question. If Lord JouN RussaLL is not already a ware of the fact that Sir CHA RLES WOOD is the evil genius of his Govern Tnent, wh o w ill e ventually ha will speedily receive mabnryjng about its overthrow , a dditional and unequi vocal proof s th ereo f. The coun try will no longer submit to th e perpetuat i on o f i n justice and oppres- Aton, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not tilling t o relinquish taxes which he cannot ventur ii to defend. So me person more competent to disc h arge the arduous and important duties of the office must be Lund, and that speedily, or the Whigs must be pre pared to resign their positions to more worthy suo c.ssors. The evils of the existing fiscal system have , ?e.mie but too painfully apparent, and the country 'Till no longer rest satisfied unless a large and com prehensive measure of reform be introduced. The voice of public opinion demands a total alteration of ,our taxation and expenditure, and that must be con , ceded, whoever may be the Minister and whatever party may be in power. The present decisive defeat was sustained on the motion of the Noble Lord the Member for 'Middlesex, for leave to bring in a Bill to repeal the annual duty on attorneys' certificates—the discussion on which had been adjourned from the 26th February. We long since directed the public attention to the monstrous injustice of this oppressive tax, which prevented a person, who had incurred heavy expenses in acquiring a knowledge of, and being admitted to THE SUN, his profession, from practising until he paid a further sum amounting to 121. per annum, ilt resident in London,. or 8/. in the count r y . has in deed compelled many persons to relin quish practice altogether, and is the more indefensible, as recent legislation, and the establish ment of the county courts, has tended to the mate rial diminution of the emoluments of attorneys and solicitors. At present gentlemen are compelled to pay a stamp duty of 1201. on signing their original articles. There is then a further charge, on admission, of 25/. ; and then the annual duty of 121. or 81., as the case may be ; and if, after these enormous demands are satisfied, they are so fortunate as to realise incomes amounting to, or exceeding 1501., the collector of the property and income-tax makes his claim, which is in the same proportion as if the party received his profits without trouble or exertion from dividends in the public funds, or well-circumstanced ground rents. It appears to be forgotten that the hard-working pro fessional man, who has probably expended the greater portion of his patrimony in qualifying himself for practice, must set aside a considerable portion of his gains in order to provide for a rainy day, when disease may prevent him from continuing his exertions, or old age may compel him to relinquish practice ; and, if a married man, he must also keep up a policy of insurance for the benefit of his family. These various drawbacks will probably reduce his net income to one-half its original amount. But let us see how much we must contribute to Government out of that reduced sum. Let us, exempligratia, assume that a solicitor resid ing in the metropolis realises a net profit of 2001. per annum by his exertions. He has paid in the first instance, 1451., which may be fairly calculated as being worth 141. 108. per annum during the period he may continue to practice. There is then the annual certificate, 121., and income, Si. 16s. Bd. total, 321. 6s. Bd., which the attorney con tributed as his proportion of the national expendi ture, or 151. 3s. 4cl. per cent. on his income, while the fundholder, with 6,666/. 135. 4d. in Three per Cent. Consols, only pays 51. 16s. Bd., or 21. 18s. 4d. per cent., being less than one-fifth of the amount which ' the professional man must pay. Sir CHARLES WOOD is, however, deaf to all such arguments. "He would not enter into the merits or demerits of the tax ;" he could not deny its palpable unfairness; but he defended himself by saying that others were also unjust, and instanced the case of " horse-dealers,' which might very well be so demonstrated. That however may be, and we admit it is, a sufficient reason', for abolishing the duty on horse-dealers' licences; but it does not justify the continuance of the tax on attor neys' certificates. He could not deny that "it had driven many gentlemen from the exercise of their pro fession," but he thought that objection sufficiently answered by stating " that it had not deterred others from taking their places." His only argument, in fact, was, that the " whole amount realised by the duty in the United Kingdom was 117,0001. per annum, a sum which he was certainly not prepared to give up:' This, then, is the morality, the integrity, of our excel lent Minister of Finance ! ! He wants the money, and as he has got it, he'll keep it, without reference to the propriety of his conduct. The same argument may be used by any of those ill-used gentlemen who oc casionally figure in the dock at the Old Bailey for being oblivious of the distinctions between meum and tuum. Their necessities induce them to plunder and swindle others of amounts which " they are certainly not prepared to give up ;" the only distinction is, that the private gentleman is sentenced to banishment from his native land, while the public character, the Ministerial JONATHAN WILD, is cheered to the echo by his toadies' in St. Stephen's, re ceives a handsome salary from the nation, and is made the medium through which certain in dividuals confess their former sins and make re tribution under the denomination of " conscience money." His arguments are not, however, invariably suc cessful. On Thursday he was left in a minority of 19 (on the question) out of 291 representatives. He has also been again obliged to postpone the Stamp Duties Bill—the labour of fifteen years—sine die. These palpable and disgraceful failures should at least convince his colleagues of what the Right Honourable Gentleman is reluctant to admit—the im perative necessity of a speedy revision of the entire fiscal code, with the view of substituting a sys tem more just and equitable, as well as more politic and expedient, than that now in existence. A case was heard in the Bail Court, before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE, on Thursday, and reported in The Sun of the same evening, to which we would earnestly entreat the public attention. It was an ex parte ap plication for a criminal information against a magis trate of the county of Devon for gross partiality in the discharge of the duties of his important office, and for most improper conduct during the hearing of an information under the game-laws. According to the statements contained in the affidavits on which the case was brought forward, it appeared that on the 2d of January a complaint had been preferred against a person named GEORGE SLERDON, charging him with having, on the 24th October preceding, at a place called Lower Heald, in said county, used a dog and gun in pursuit of game, without having previously obtained a licence for so doing, an offence which, under the Stamp Act, subjected him, if substantiated, to a penalty not exceeding 201. A single witness, a huntsman, appeared in support of the information, who swore that, at the time stated, he had seen the defendant and three other persons drawing a field of turnips with dogs, beating for game, at the place in question, which adjoined a farm called Hersey-hill, the property of a gentleman who was the brother-in law of the presiding justice. The witness was unable to state the description of the dog, whether a greyhound or otherwise, save that it was " a black dog," but, on cross-examination, he admitted " that he saw no shot fired, or any game started." This evidence was suffi ciently vague, and would apparently require but very slight rebutting testimony on the part of the de fendant. He was, however, prepared with no less than three witnesses to show that the charge was totally devoid of foundation, that he was, in fact, at the time returning from the Hersey-hill farm, where he had been to kill hares by permission of the tenant granted under the recent Act, and that he was merely crossing the turnip-field in order to reach another farm, whither he was going, pursuant to previous ap pointment, for the purpose of killing the rats by which it was infested. He was also prepared to show that he had neither dog or gun with him at the time, that he had not, in fact, the most remote intention of seeking for game. The worthy justice, however, re fused to hear his witnesses. He declared that he did not believe that his brother-in-law's tenant had any right to grant the defendant permission to kill hares on the Hersey-hill farm, Ind therefore —mark the sequence—" he was perfectly certain that SMERDON was in pursuit of game at Lower Heald, and should fine him 201., the highest f dtra aise a ois e nutt i o ers le dolt yy.h c e r htN e gh d auear im ie: penalty that c ou ld b e i nflicted. " Qua d ro l u mus stu:emoy—faiodnrteedht evidence heh r a p eeb a l yt r ghtwylos ,u t h r gi a h t magistrate was had the ea wouldnot ehht thh ee scrutinizeeheoa charge gl could wa t ab o sr o isd c ug u s sil a y ud s a a e t i i t s y fie t d o e the trial, and dispense with even the appearance of impartiality, by refusing to hear the witnesses for the defence. Mr. SMERDON was not, however,eistance. H e disposed t o s s w u a b s m o i t f a t o d i s ff u e c r h e o treatment e o a l t a m s s e nt from without tho those r who can b e in carcerated for years at the mere will and pleasure of so me rural despot, in consequence of their inability to give security for keeping t he peace. He would not bow down before the authority of the Devonshire LYCCIWUS, but was resolved that the tables should be turned, and that the magistrate should be called upon to answer before a competent tribunal for hi s very extraordinary conduct. Repeated application were accordingly made for the production in court of the depositions or notes of hearing, but they were peremptorily refused. A new light, however, app e ar e d to have broken in on the worthy justice, and he appeared to have entertained some doubts as to whethe r hi s proceedings were fully justified. He ac cordingly sen t wor d to Mr. SMEEPON'S attorney at k-x ter, " that there was no ne cessit y for his granting copies of tie depositions, as the in former bad declined to proceed further in the cas e ." This withdrawa l, or evasion he, no doubt, otig4ti 4. thought would stop all further juv ° hlr. Samtnort was not, however, so 1 easily satisfied. It seemed to him that the " great unpaid" required a lesson which they should receive, and that the worthy magistrate had fallen into a " trap," from which he should not very easily escape. He consequently applied for liberty to file a criminal information, and a condi tional order was at once granted by the presiding judge. The matter will therefore, we trust, receive the full investigation it so loudly demands. We shall not follow the example of the " worshipful " defendant, by condemning him before he has had an opportu nity of being heard in his own defence. We have, therefore, omitted his name from our report of the proceedings, and we trust that he may be enabled to explain or justify the very extraordinary conduct imputed to him. As yet we have only " one.sided" statements ; but these have been sworn to. If unwarranted by the facts, the parties making them can be punished according to law ; and, as suffi cient prima facie grounds have been laid for a searching inquiry into all the circumstances of the case, it is essential that a matter of such importance should not be cushioned or hushed up, more espe cially at a time when it is proposed to extend very materially the magisterial powers in cases of summary convictions, and to deprive many of the less wealthy classes of the Englishman's privilege of " trial by jury." Whatever may be the issue of the present proceedings, we trust that the Home Secretary will not lose sight of them. It is now essential that the charge should either be fully substantiated or completely rebutted. If the former, the de fendant should be removed from the important position of which he is unworthy; if the latter, his vindication should receive the same publicity as the very serious accusation that has been preferred against him. The French reactionaries of 1850, whether they call themselves "honest and moderate," or Legiti matists, or Orleanists, or Bonapartist', occupy, since the election of the 28th April, precisely the same po sition which in May, 1848, was occupied by BARBS' and his companions who invaded the Assembly, which, in June, 1848, was occupied by the insurgents who fought behind the Barricades. They are rebelling against universal suffrage. This has always been brought forward against BARBES and his companions as the very head and front of their offending. It was insisted on by M. BAROCHE as the crime of all others the most odious, inasmuch as by universal suffrage, and by universal suffrage alone, can the expression of the national will be ascertained, and any opposi tion to that will so ascertained is treason. Yet we now find this very M. B.anocaz himself in rebellion against the principle of universal suffrage, because universal suffrage has chosen M. Emma Sun as Member for Paris. Is universal suffrage then not the expression of the national will ? If it be not, what becomes of the boast of the elected of 6,000,000 by universal suffrage ? What becomes of the claim of the present Assembly to be considered as the organ of the national will, to dispute whose behests are treason ? If it be the expression of the national will, then are M. Baroche, the Minister of the In terior and his colleagues of the Committee—M. Benoist d'Azy, M. Berryer, M. Beugnot, M. de Broglie, M. Buffet, M. de Chasseloup-Laubat, M. Daru, M. Leon Faucher, M. Jules de Lasteyrie, M. Mole, M. de Montalembert, M. de Montebello, M. Piscatory, M. de Seze, General de Saint Priest, M. Thiers, and M. Vatimesnil, who have undertaken to frame a law for the modification of universal suffrage guilty of the very same crime for which BARBES stands condemned ; if it be not, then has BARBES been condemned unjustly, for he certainly had the same right to attempt to modify universal suffrage according to his peculiar ideas that has M. BAROCHI. We shall be curious to see the result of the labours of this Committee, composed as it is ex clusively of Legitimatists and Orleanists, and we venture to assert that any modification of universal suffrage which they may attempt to introduce will eventually turn to their own disadvantage, and to the benefit and consolidation of the Republic. The object of these persons is to juggle with the suffrage so as to disfranchise those whom they desig nate as the canaille of large towns, and for this pur pose they will propose, it is said, to confine the franchise to persons who pay dii ect taxes. This will reduce the constituency of Paris to 80,000, but it will not add one tittle to the chances of success of a reactionary candidate, and, from our own knowledge of Paris and its inhabitants, we feel convinced that had the recent election taken place with such a constituency the relative majority of M. EUGENE Sun over his opponent would have been greater than it was under the present system. Any mere modification, therefore, of universal suffrage would be perfectly useless for reactionary purposes, SO far as the towns are concerned. But how will it act in the country ? It will disfranchise all those ignorant peasants upon whose votes the priest can count as securely as he can upon his own, and by whom, and by whom alone the partisans of the parti-pretre are returned ; and, by throwing the exercise of the franchise ex clusively into the hands of the educated and the propertied among the rural population, will annihilate the parti-pretre as a political party, and will thus secure the return of an Assembly of an infinitely more democratical charac ter than even the Constituent Assembly itself. We look forward, therefore, with calmness to the result of the labours of this Commission, because we are convinced that it cannot propose any modification of universal suffrage which will not be most damaging to the cause of monarchical and clerical reaction. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. We have received the Paris journals of yesterday. In the National Assembly on Thursday, the vote for the expenses of the Roman army of occupation was proposed, and M. E. Aztec() took advantage of the occasion to protest against the attack upon Rome, and the destruction of the Roman Republic, neither of which had been sanctioned by the Constituent Assembly. M. FAVAND, who had formed part of the expedition, as a chef de bataillon, produced a great effect by declaring trom his own personal observations that the great majority of the population of Rome was hostile to the expedition, and hostile to the re storation of the POPE. After a defence of the expe dition by General OUDINOT, the proposed grant was r=ated by 462 to 198. It is said that the Committee on the Electoral Law intend to propose the destruction of universal suffrage, and to restrict the right of voting to those who pay direct taxes. This would reduce the con stituency of Paris to about 80,000. It is considered doubtful whether the reactionary chiefs will be able to carry this measure. The Bill will be presented in a few days, and urgency demanded. The Minister of Marine has just appointed a com mittee of eleven persons, with Admiral CsclLLiz as president, to consider in what manner the fraudulent introduction of salt herrings from Scotland and England can be best prevented. The law of May 6, 1841, was intended to prevent purchases of herrings from foreign countries; as far as those of Holland are concerned, a duty of 40f. the 100 kilogrammes has been levied, but it would appear that the in troduction of this fish from Scotland and England is not sufficiently provided against, and it is for that purpose that the present committee has been named. PARIS BOURSE, MAY 3.—Latest Prices—Five per Cents.,f Three per Cents., 55f. 5c.; B an k o BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE France, 2 3 0. 0 0 c . f ; 0 LONDON STUCK-EICHANGE, Mar 3. Boulogne and Amiens, 61—East Indian, VA—Luxem bourg, 2--Namur and Liege, 6 1 ,i—Northern of France, 1214. SPAIN. Madrid journals of the 27th ult. have arrived. Their contents are unimportant. MADRID BOLSA, APRIL 27.—The Three per Cents. were 30-1. GERMAN Y. On the 23d ult. the Austrian Government published an edict, giving the sole superintendence and control of education to the Benedictines. The measures re cently adopted by Austria for increasing the power and the influence of the clergy are extremely unpo pular, and will eventually lead to an outbreak, which nothing but the presence of her enormous army prevents, and the state of her finances is such that she cannot much longer maintain such an army on foot. The Jesuits, who have been recalled, being about to establish a Mission House at Kotzeldorf, in Bohemia, the inhabitants of that place petitioned the authorities not to permit it. The petitioners say—" Missionaries are very good in foreign lands, but are superfluous in orthodox parishes. Too many priests in a village are unfavourable to domestic peace and happiness. Their presence would tend either to stultify the people in religious matters, or, by exciting heterodox reflections concerning dogmatic subjects, lead to schisms, sad ultimately to apostAcy. LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, Lord PONSONEY is about to leave Vienna. Ragusa, in Dalmatia, has been nearly destroyed by an earthquake. It is confidently asserted that a Congre.g of the League is to asserriNe in Berlin on the 7th inst. A protest is on the point of bei ng en t ere d aga i ns t th e plan of Austria to dub the Congress which that Power is about to bold at . Franktort w ith th e name of a " federal assembly," since, in so doing, Austria makes an arbitrary assumption of her former right of Head of the Germanic Confederation. TURKEY. Accounts from Constantinople, of the 20th ult., announce the arrival in that city of the Princess BBLGOIOBO. The Turkish Government has just ordered the armament of two frigates and a brig to be ready by the Ist of May. The ships of war are to proceed at once to Malta and Gibraltar, and from thence visit Spain, France, and Great ritain. The shock of an earthquake was felt at Constanti nople on the 19th. MALTA Accounts from Malta, of the 22d ult., state that the venerable R UGGIERO SETT IMO , w h os e life had been despaired of, is at present out of danger. ITALY. The King of NAPLES has gone to Gaeta, where a large body of troops have been ordered to concentrate. A note from Lord PALMER STON has produced a great sensation among the Neapolitan Ministers. HER MAJESTY'S HEALTH. The following bulletin of the Queen's health was issued this morning:— " BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MAT 4, 1850, 9 ♦.M. "The Queen has had another good night. 4 , Her Majesty and the infant Prince continue well. " JAMES CLARK, M.D. "CHARLES LOCOCK, M.D. "ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D." The nest bulletin will be issued on Monday. CABINET COUNCIL—(.I'BH DAY.) A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office this afternoon, at two o'clock, the summonsed having been issued yesterday. The Ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Earl Grey, the Earl of Carlisle, Viscount Palmerston, Sir George Grey, Sir John C. Hohhouse, Sir Francis T. Baring, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, and the Right Hon. Fox Maule. Th e L or d Chancellor and the Marquis of Clanricarde were absent through continued in disposition. The Ministers will dine this evening with the Royal Academicians at the National Gal lery, on the occasion of the opening of the Ex hibition. SAILING OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION .-...(THIS DAY.)—The announcement that the expedition fitted out by Government was to leave Greenbithe to-day, for the purpose of searching after Sir John Franklin, attracted a vast con course of spectators, and the shore was lined with a respect able assemblage for some considerable distance. The squadron consists of the Intrepid, the Resolute, the Pioneer, and the Assistance. At the appointed hour the Commander, Captain Austin, gave the order for sailing, and amidst the cheers of the vast concourse assembled, the vessels started on their good cause. The expedition was accompanied by the three steamers, the Dasher, the Advice, and the Jasper. The Jasper only re t urne d f rom t ow i ng Lady Franklin's vessel Prince Albert to Harwich, on her way to Aberdeen yesterday. The heads of the Woolwich Dockyard paid a parting visit to Captain Austin and the officers before sailing. GRAND ENTERTAINMENT AT THE FRENCH EM BASSY.-.His Excellency the French Ambassador and Ma dame Dronyn de Lhuys gave a grand entertainment, last evening, at the residence of the embassy, in Belgrave-square, to the following distinguished party :—His Grace the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl Grey, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Minto, the Earl Granville, the Earl of Mulgrave, Viscount Palmerston, Lord John Russell, Lord Campbell, Lord Eddis bury, Lord Brougham, Lord Howden. the Lord Mayor of London, the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood, and Mr. H. Addington. The party broke up about eleven o'clock. PEMBROKE DOCKYARD, MAT 3.—ln order to pro tect the entrance to Milford-haven, the Lords of the Admi oranittyhe h s a t v a e o k d Roo e k d i f • t o r that expedient p u r p t o h e a e t , a a n fo d r t ee s o h o o r u d l i d n g b l e y e rordersected have been issued far the construction of a proper defence. The two towers at Pembroke, which were commenced last year for the protection of the extensive and important dock yard, are to be finished in the course of the present year; when completed, they will prove an important means of de fence to the garrison. Each tower will be armed with long swivel guns fixed on traversing carriages. The marine de tachment at this dockyard have undergone a strict drill pre paratory to the annual inspection. The Captain-Superin• tendent, Sir Thomas Pasley, has been away from this establishment on leave of absence, during which period Mr. R. Abethell has had charge of the dockyard. The absence of the Gallant Colonel has been caused by an accident which happened to his son, who was unfortunately thrown from his horse, thereby receiving a concussion of the brain. CLUB LAW.—BLACKBALLING A POST-CAPTAIN.— At the ballot for members at the George News and Billiard Club, in High-street, on Wednesday, a gallant naval captain of 1832, resident within the walls of this gar rison, was " blackballed," though not to a sufficient extent to exclude him, albeit a noble lord is reported to have threa tened to resign if the gallant captain aforesaid was ad mitted I Blackballing is a mean process for expressing dis approbation of a candidate's qualification for admission into any public society, however fairly the system may be prac tised, but when the blackballing is unfably practised with the predetermined view of excluding a canaidate, we can only regret that such an occurreuce should have been de tected in a coterie of gentlemen. In the case in point we learn five black balls exclude a member; 36 members were present on the occasion, out of which number only three black balls were put in the box with the name of the officer in question, but when the box was opened four black balls were discovered, so that some member must either by accident or design have put in two instead of one I Such a system will never work well with a new concern, especially if private pique is suffered to coerce public matters.—Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette of this evening. - - - MR. .1.4' LLIS'S BENEFIT AT ASTLEY'S. GRAND EQTJESTRIAN FETE.—A monster entertainment is announced for Monday next, at Astley's, for the benefit of Mr. James Ellis, late lessee of Cremorne-gardens and the Adelaide G a a r l i l e e d ry, t in ra the tio introducing the almo s t inexhaustible S ns t , ran when, in addition to n umerous an d re sources of the amphitheatre, a b r illi an t pageant w ill b e pro duced, illustrative of the memorable r id e o f th e no bl e an d d evo t e d Lady Gordiva through th e anc i ent c i ty o f C oventry , when, for the first and only ti me , th e ce l e b ra t e d M a d am e Warton (late of the Walhalla, Leicest e r-square) will ap vatc pear mounted on one of Mr. Batty's chargers, as she rode at the grand procession, in honour of the event at Coventry, in June, 1848. The Leneficiurc has ever been a most liberal and spirited caterer tdr the amusement of the public, who, it is to be hoped in return, will not, on this occasion, withhold their patronage. A host of members of the profession have volunteered their services., and from the novel and attractive character of the programme, Monday may fairly be pro nounced as the " night of the season." , IMPORTANT TO NAT URALISTS. —Th e P en insular and Oriental Company's steamer, Euxino, carries to Southampton, en route to London, a magnificent specimen of the monarch of the brute creation, which, being for sale, will no doubt give rise to great competition among the rival collectors of the metropolis his tory. This young lion had r eac h e d Malta, after a long an d journey, very expensive land of living objects of natural 'ys via Fezzan and Tripoli, from the interior, and almost untrodden wilds of the very centre of Africa, in the ,vicinity of Lak e T e h a d , w ithin the kingdom of Bornou ; and, though o n l y seven months old, is alrea d y near three feet in height, and of a most grace ful form. As it does not attain its full gr owt h b efore t h e age of six years, the finest animals that it is likely to become one of has ever been seen in Europe, for, according to the account of the native who assisted at its capture, the lions of that countr y , when of full size, measure nine feet from the nose to the tail, which latter is seldom less than five feet in length, ending iu a large tuft, which terminates with a horny prickle. We understand its carniverous propensities are already so great that it s present cons umption is nearly a sheep, or goat, per day, an d t h at t o insure a suffic i ent sea stock, the enterprg party who shipped the same, had to put on board the Euxine a shepherd, w i t h his flock.— (From the Malta Mail, 26th Ap r il, 1850. AFRICAN MUSEUM, HYDE-PARIC CONNER. A museum has just been opened, in the Chinese Gallery, by Mr. Cumming, the African hunter, which must prove highly in teresting, not only to the sportsman and naturalist, but also to all who are in pursuit of novelty. It consists chiefly of trophies of the chase, and the native arms and costumes of of the exhibition will be the language n r . g u C a u g m e the different tribes of the interior of Southern Africa. There is also a fine collection of the antlers of the red deer from the Scottish forest, and a great many other curiosities too Bushman, who accompanie(.l numerous to mention. Not the least attractive feature manym is in a g ur i p n ri li n s g Africa. He is a strange looking suit of lions, elephants, &c. & e ., and who was in at the wonderful escapes while in pur suit of most of the wild beasts killed by him during five specimen of humanity, and years' constantly varied adventures in the wildest parts of the fluency and ease with which he can talk the English when w e consider the short time he has had an opportunity of hearing it spoken. His own lan guage, we believe, is a sort of b roken Dutch. We were also much struck by the appearance of the four stalwart High landers in the picturesque- costume of their country, who were attendants on Mr. Cumming during his wanderings and hunting expeditions in the mountains of Scotland. Four finer specimens of the native Gaul we may safely venture to say could not be found. We will leave it for our readers when they have visited the exhibition to judge for them selves of the energy, daring, and indomitable perseverance possessed by Mr. Cumming to enable him to have over come the dangers and fatigues which he must have under gone in procuring this splendid collection under foreign and inhospitable climes. FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLAIR-ATHOLL —A singu lar and, we are sorry to add, fatal accident occurred on Fri.. day last, on the hill sear Dalnacardoch, where a number of people were collected at a fox hunt. Reynard took refuge in a hole in a rock, where he was fol lowed b y the do g s, bu t they could not find their way out again, and John Campbell, a shepherd, crept in to assist them, when several large stones fell down above him, and crushed him to death. From the difficulty of access to the place it required considerable ex ertions to extricate the body. 'The deceased was a single man, aged about twenty- five.--. Perth Courier. SIGNS OF SUMMER.—The cuckoo has been heard in several parts of the country, and the swallow, " harbinger of summer," may now be seen on the wing in their wonted haunts.-- Carlisle Journal. METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—At a General Court, held yesterday, a report from Mr. F. Foster, engineer to the Commission, containing a plan for the drain age of Richmond, was adopted. Permission was grant e d to the Great Northern Railway o G mpany to lay down a branch sewer from the Fleet sewer at l3attlebridge to their goods' station in Maiden-lane. An immense mass of minor works were ordered, and the Court adjourned. Mr. Commissioner Shepherd, of the Court of Bankruptcy, has sent in his resignation. to the Lord Chan cellor, and it ha* been accepted. 11l health is said to be the MOM 1 .1848 Oct. 14 Susan... 32,' 39 16 Lucretia ... 7,933 Nov. 12 West Lothian ,„„„, ... 32,498 Dec. 12 Royal Exchange ... `i9,268 20 Parton 29,693 30 Eliza Bell 29,238 1849 Jan. 3 Victoria ... ... 18,845 Feb. 6 Perseverance... ... ... 26,705 7 Xarifa , 29,610 7 Dean—lost March 6 Ulysses ... 27,079 18 Eliza Bowen ... ... 27,530 20 Swallow „., „., 15,839 April 7 Lauriston ... 13,414 12 Beraza ... ... ... ... 37,361 1849 £357,352 October None sailed. Nov. 10 Amazon ... 17,698 11 Bell .. ••• ... 12,901 1850 Jan. 8 Ann Dingwall ... 23,502 8 Lauriston 10,842 11 West Lothian ..• ... 9,865 Feb. 19 William Rushton ... 25 Helen ... 19,823 Henry and Margaret „.. „.. 7,260 April 2 Rafael 30,776 X 141,961 ONE CLOSING PRICES OF BRITISH FUNDS O'CLOCK. PRICES. Jana 6tocit 8 per Cent. Reduced Anna ...... 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 96 9 3 / 4 95 3 / 4 New 3 1 4 per Cent. Anne... ... 97 9 7 / 8 96% 96% India Stock 267 265 1 4 265% udia Bonds, 1,0001. 93 p 93 p Consols for Account 95 % 3 /4 95 3 / 4 .- . ./Ecli ()quer Bills. 1 1 ,01. & 2d 1,000/. June 6B 71 p 5001. June Small. June 63 71 p 71 p 71 p 71 p CLOSING PRICES. 86Ih ONE PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. Brazilian bun Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent. Ditto 5 Der Cent. Ditto, Scrip ... .... ... 5% p 5 % p 6lexicati, 5 per Cent. 1846, with Coupons— Ditto, Ex Jan. Coupons .... ..... Ditto, Account 29 29 Peruvian Bonds, 4 per Cent Ditto Deferred Russian Bonds Ditto, 4 1 ,4 par Cent Span tell 5 per Cent. 1840 — Ditto, Account Ditto. 3 per Cent Dividends on the above payable in 'Ando) , Beligan, 4% per Cent. butch 2 1 ,4 per Cent., 12 Guild. .. 55% 3 4 55% 85 1 / 2 Ditto. 4 Der Ce n t. C er tifi ca t e s 85% 17 37% PRICES OF BUSINESS DONE CLOsIN RAILWAY SHARES. PAID' AT ONE O'CLOCK. NLRB • , berdeen Birming, Wolverh'ton, and Dudley, calls duly pd, or with guarantee 15 Caledonian Ditto, New lel., Pref... 10 CID eiter and Holyhead... 50 ...... 7 ..... .. •••••• 7 Clarence t astern Coußties... ..... 20 Do., New Pref.rence, 6 per Cent...... Ditto,Extension, 5 per Cent., No.l 61.135. 4d.... % p East Lincolnshire, guar. 6 per Cent. Groat Northern Dr " 1 - 4 -- 11 3 4 % P 26 1 4 4 10 jg Jo„, %B 6 per Cent... 9% - ...... Do., 5 per Cent. Pref. 12%. lO% .•• Great South. and West. ( Ireland) Great Western 100 Ditto, New 171. .. —ls ... Lancashire & Yorkshire 100 Do. Fifths... Leeds and Bradford Loadon and N Western 100 lOl 101 , 1 4 . .. Ditto, New Quarters 12 Ditto, Fift , ), Lowestoff, guar. 4 per ct 20 Midland ....... ..... ......1 1 0 ... .. 313 4 32 .. ... Do., 501. Shares ..... 30 ... 1 % t / i % ..... Do. Birm., and Derby IN Do. Consolid. Bristol & Birming., 6 per ct.... 1 00 llB% 119.... ..... 119 Norfolk ............ ..... ....100 Do. New 201. Do. Extension ... Korth Britioth _ .... ... 25 „„ , ... North Staffordahire .... 171 1 7 l iii 7 1 4 % * 0 •11:11 7Yi MAY 4, 1850. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER ? 0 THREE. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool, yezterday, were es timated at from 10,000 to 12 .000 bah a one-third of which were taken on speculation. The market w•As not so e etive, but prices were withuut ateeration.—Railway Sh Ares were again lower. 'The alterations shown in the weekly ieturn of the Ea tilt of England liabilities and assets, to the 27th ult., are not of particular moment, but there is an increase in tht , former, and a slight reduction in the latter. The put lit deposits and the bullion have turned upwards again, and the securities and circulation have slightly falle.s off, money being easier within the last fortnight. Compared with the previous week, the results are as follows: — Notes issued ... 29 ,937,875 Increase ... 64,875 Rest •.. ... 3,082.232 Increase ... 1,986 Public Deposits ... .4,693,443 Increase ... 66,125 Other I)epesits 10,907,429 Decrease . . ..„ 38,913 Seven Day and other Bills ... 1,187,973 Increase ... 29,338 Government ,•:•ecurities no alteration. Other Securities ... 9,781.347 Increase 2 137 Notes ... 9,641,600 Increase 104,040 Bullion ... ••• ... 16,646,835 Increase „.. 17,234 Active Circulation ... 20,296 275 Decrease ... 39,165 A slight decline occurred in the rates at which bil's were done yesterday afternoon upon some of the princi pal continental cities, date 90 de) s. Paris, 25 72 77i; Antwerp, 25 75 to 80; Amsterdam, 12 3 to 3.-}; Hainburgh, 13 124 to 13 ; Frankfort, 1211 i; and Trieste, 12 8 to 12 12. As a matter of impartiality we give the following communication relative to Mexican stock, but we leave those interested to judge whether the writer does not draw the most uufavourable conclusions possible. Firstly, as to the indemnity money, we believe no one can be fully aware whether some small portion may not be appropriated to the dividends. Next, we know that Messrs. Manning and Mackintosh have announced by letter that they are ready to pay over 100,000 dollars on account of the tobacco duties. Thirdly, we have the authority of one of the first mercantile houses here for sting that the latest accounts concerning trade are better, and that the glut of goods which has been so de trimental during the winter is clearing off. Lastly, Santa Anna has lust much of his popularity. " Liverpool, May I, 1850. " Sir,—Having seen a notification from Mexico which was posted in the London Stock Exchange, from which it would appear that the Mexican bondholders are led to expect large remittances from thence, I beg to state that I am sorry to entertain a very different opinion, and I give you a few facts. " The next instalment of the indemnity money from the United States is all mortgaged, and nothing can be expected from that. "I have not any intelligence from Mexico inclining me to the supposition that moneys are forthcoming on account cf the tobacco revenue, as stated. " The only reliable sources to which the bondholders have to look for their dividends are the one-sixth of the import duties set apart at the ports of Vera Cruz and Tampico, and these have declined very seriously within the last six months, arising from the glut of manufac tured goods throughout the country. Cleared from Liverpool for Vera Cruz, from Ist Oct., 1848, to 26th April, 1849.- 15 vessels, with value as per note* ... £357,352 Cleared from ditto to ditto, from Ist Oct., 1849 to 26th April, 1850- 9 vessels, with value as per note* .., 141,961 Less than the corresponding period ... £215,391 which will be more than doubled during the year. " This statement is from the Custom-house entries, and open to all for inspection. "The exports to Tampico, though on a more limited scale, exhibit a falling off in a corresponding ratio, while from all foreign ports the same proportionate diminution is manifest. " Oa this subject my last advices from Mexico state— " It is necessary you should bear iu mind that the imports this y ear will be very small, and consequently the receipts at the Custom-houses must be very limited and curtailed.' " The finances of the country are proverbially in the most deplorable condition, and hence the repeated changes of the Finance Minister; and we all know the trade has been disastrous for the past year. "It will be found the wily General Santa Anna, al though reported to have left in the last steamer from Jamaica for Caithagena, has proceeded to Chagres, and will promptly make his appearance on the west coast of Mexico. He is yet destined to rule in that country. " I look upon it as unjust for parties to mislead the public in the endeavour to give a fictitious value to stocks, and I therefore venture to offer you a few facts, which may be placed in juxta-position with the statements al luded to. " A MEXICAN MERCHANT." One or two points in reference to the above letter also immediately present themselves. Could it be expected that Mexico should immediately recover itself after the late crushing war, and is it not rather matter for con gratulation that it has so soon fallen into an easier posi tion? Further, it is undeniable that, favoured by the "go a head" spirit of the Yankee•, the Mexicans are more than ever disposed to exert themselves, and that mining enterprise is already carried on with greater spirit and improved results. Still let every one judge for himself as to investment of money, and receive in good part or with reservation whatever statements are offered on either side. The Funds opened well, but are rather flatter since. Consols have been done at 96 for money; they ore now 94 Bank Stock is 206. Exchequer-bills are 613‘ . ._ to 71s. premium. Foreign Securities are dull. Spanish Five per Cents. 174. Mexican firm at 29. Dutch Two and-a•lial per Cents. 55} I. Shares are quiet. There have been no precious metals exported dirrct from London this week. atbding, Guildford, „nd Reigate ls Slm - iwsbury and Bina-. 13 1 / 1 — uis. Ditto ditto, Clans B. 9 .„.... 2 „ ... .. ..... 6o•-.il Easttrn ...... •,,• '-' 'i - , — - Do., No. 3 ........ ..,... 30 ...... Do., Registered No. 4 10 ~.„, -• „ ...„ South W ales lark, 'Newcastle. an_: Berwick. Do. G.N.E. Pretrt net :i 4 .., . 01 8 1 York ano North Midland 50 ..... 15 Ditto. Preference ...... 10 FOREIGN RAI.LW A Yb. Boulogne and Amiens... 20 ...„. 6% 6% Central of France (Or leans and Vierzoia)... 20 East Indian ...... Ditto ...... ..... .... ..... 20 Gvat Indian Peninsular 5 Do. Do. ... ... 1 ...... Namur and Liege ..... 20 ... .. 6%........ , Orleans and Bordeaux.. 7 ...... ..... ....... 2A, JOINT STOCK BANKS. British North American 50 - London Joint Stock lO ...... Union of L0nd0n,.„..... 10 ...... 12 . ..... MINES. Cobre Copper Santiago de Cuba United Mexican ...--28'4 — 14K, dis 13.4 4 1 , 16 1 , , LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY. LONDON, MAY 4.—Wind at noon W. to W.S.W. light braze and fine. _ BELFAST. MAY 2.—Wind N.E.—Arrd. Argyle, Hit cher, Norfolk, Virginia. WEYMOUTH, MAY 3.—The Mary Ann, of Bridge•- water, from Teignmuuth to London, foundered last night about 14 miles S. W. of the Needles; crew saved. BLYTH, MAY 3.—A ship's skiff, clinker butit, painted "Victoria" on the stern, has been picked up and brought in here. FAYAL, APRIL 26.—The Venilia, Jamaica to Liver pool, put in 10th inst., leaky, less of sails, and about 60 tons of cargo thrown overboard; has partly discharged to caulk. DEAL. MAY 3.—Wind W.N.W. to W.S.W.—Arrd. Prince Regent, Jago, Callao; Malvine, Berghues, 8r,,- zils, for Hamburgh. Arr,:. from the river, Gipsy Queen, South Australia; Duncan. Valparaiso; Leoonis, Havan nah; Ceylon, Boston; Earl of Durham, Hal►tax. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 2.—Wind W. to W.N.W. and W.S.W.—Arrd. her Majesty's steamer Simoom, Clyde; had been in contact with the Shelly Clifton, Chester to Dundalk, which vessel sunk; crew saved. DARTMOUTH, MAY 3.—Wind W.—Sid. Saucy Lass, St.___John'N, Newfoundland. LIVERPOOL, MAY 3.—Wind N.W.—Arrd. Elizabeth, Marr, Mobile; Jupiter. Sld. Hyperion, Monte Video. Off port, John Bull. OFF DOVER.—Harriet, Fowler, Guayama. OFF PORTLAND.—MInerVa p fiavanuah, for Cowes. MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.) c °VENT-GA=OE3N . For the time of )ear, our market was but moderately supplied with Vegetables, the demand for which was steady at last week's prices. Oranges were 2s per 100 dearer. In other Fruit no change took place.—Pine Apples, 10s to 14s; Hot-house Grapes, 18s to 21s per lb; Pears, 20s to 30s; Eating Apples, 5s to 6s per ball sieve; Apples for cooking, 4s to 6s per bushel; Fil berts, 70s to 75s per 100 lbs; Straw berries, 4d to 9d per oz. Foreign Fruit—Black Hamburgh Grapes (forced) 3s 6d to ss; Portugal ditto, 9d to is per lb; Spanish Nuts, 4s to ss; Brazil ditto, 3s to 4s ; Bar celona ditto, 5s to 6s; Spanish Chesnuts, 3s to 6s per peck; Lemons, 5s to 10$; Oranges, 5s to 12s per 100 ; Almonds, 5s to 6s per peck; Spanish Onions, 14s to 20s per box. Vegetables—Cape Brocoli, 3s to 6s per dozen bundles; Turnips, is 6d to 2s Od; Carrots, 4s to ss; Greens, 9d to is 3d per dozen bunches; Onions (old), 3s to 4s 6d per bushel; Horse•radisb, 2s to ss; Celery, 9d to Is per bundle; Leeks, is 6d to 2s; and Parsley, Is to is 6d per dozen bunches; early York Cabbages, 6d to 8d; Red ditto, 2s to 3s per dozen; Brussels Sprouts, 6d to 9 per half-sieve; Endive, is 3u to is 6d per score; Red Beet, 2s to 3s 6d; and Par snips, 3d to 4d per dozen; Mushrooms, 4d to 8d per pottle; Spinach, 6d to Os 9d; and Jerusalem Arti chokes, is to Is 6d per half-sieve; Small Salad, Is 6d to 2s per dozen punnets; Sage, 2s 6d to 3s per dozen bunches; Corn Salad, is to is 6d per halt sieve; Shallots, 3d to 4d per lb; Potatoes, 80s to 120$ per ton; ditto, 3s 6d to 4s 6d per bushel; Sea Kail, is Od to is 6d per punnet; Asparagus, 4s to 6s per 100; Rhubarb, 2s to 5s per dozen bundles; Cornwall White Brocoli, Is to 4s 6d per dozen beads; Turnip Greens, 3d to 4d per bushel; French Beans, is 6d to 2s per 100; Radishes, 2d to 4d per punnet; Cabbage Lettuces, 3d to 6d per score; early fremed Potatoes, is 6d to 2s per lb; Sprouting Brocoli, 6d to 9d per sieve; Mint, 3s to 4s per dozen bunches; Cucumbers, 3s to 4s per brace. Young Turnips, is 9d to 2s, and Young Carrots, is 6d per bunch; Mint, 2s to 3s; Spring Onions, is 6d to 2s per dozen bunches; Cos Lettuces, Is to is 6d per dozen. NE VW GATD AND MEADENH.A.I.X. Turkeys, 3s 6d to 9a Od; Geese, 6s to 830Zbucks, Is 8d to 3s Od; Tame Rabbits, is Od to is 9d; Wild dito 10d to is 2d; Pigeons, 5d to 10d; Rousting Pigs, 4s Od to 8s each; Surrey Fowls, 7s to 10s; ditto Chickens, 5s to 7s; Barn-door Fowls, 3s 6d to 7s per couple; English Eggs, 5s 6d to 6s 6d; French, 4s 9d to 5s 6d; Irish, 4s 6d to 53 3d per hundred; Fresh Butter, 8d to is ld per lo.; Hares, 2s to 3s 01 each, NEWPORT. B,er, from 2s Btl to 3s; Mutton, 25 10d to 3s 6d; Lamb, 4y 8d to kis 8d; Veal, 2s 10d to 3s 4d; and Puru, 3. 2d to 4s Per Blbs. WiTHITECHAPEL. Beef from 25 to 3s ; Mutton, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; Lamb, 4s 6d to 5s 6d; Vcal, 2s 8d to as 4d; Pork, 25 10d to 4s per Sibs, by the carcase. ERELID. The prices of Wheaten Bread in the Metropolis are from 6d to 6id; of household ditto, 4d to sid per 41b loaf. nILLINGSGATE. Turbots, 4s to 12s; Brill, 2s to 65 6d; Cod Fish, is 6d to 83 3d ; Whiting?, 4d to 6d; Lobsters, is to 2s 9d each; Soles, 6d to 2s 3d per pair; Eels, 4d to 1 Id per lb; Haddocks, 4d to 8d each; Oysters, 108 to 42s per bushel ; Flounders, 6d to Is; Smelts, Is Id to Is 6d; and Bloaters, 10d to Is Id per dozen; Mackerel, 3d to 4d esch; Salawn, is to ls 4d per lb; and Salt Fish, 2d to 4d per lb. HIDE DTATLEET. Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, lid to lid; ditto, 641 b to 721 b, lid to 0,1; ditto, 721 b to 801 b, 2d to lid; ditto; 80Ib to 881 b, 2d to *1; ditto, 881 b to 961 b, 3d to 3i(i; ditto, 961 b to 1041 b, 3id to 3id; ditto, 1041 b to 1121 b, aid to 4d. Calf Skins, light 2s 6d to 3s 6d; ditto full Os Od to 6s Od; Horn Hides, 6s 6d to Os; Polled Sheep, 5s 6d to 7s Od ; Kents and Half-breds, 4s 6d to 5s 8d; Downs, 4s Od to 5s Od; Shearlings, 7d to 9d; Lamb Skins, is 6d to 2s 4d each. ELES.Ir DIALICILETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow Hay, 21 8s to 31 83; Clover ditto, 31 Os to 41 8s ; and Straw, 11 Is to 1/ Es per load. Supply tolerably good, and trade very dull. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 21101, to 31 10i, Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 41 4s ; and Straw, 11 2s to 1/ 8s per load. A fair average supply, and a heavy demand. WHITECHAPEL. Meadow Hay, 2/ 8s to 3/ 8s; Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 4/ 8s; and Straw, 1/ is to 1/ Ss per load. Trade dull, at banly late rates. QUEEN'S BEN CH.-(THIS DAY.) (Sittings in Banco, before the Lord Chief Justice CAMP BELL and Justices PATTESON, WIGHTMAN and ERLE.) ELSDON V. BAKER. Lord CAMPBELL celivared judgment at the sitting of the Court this morning in this case. He said this action was brought by the executor of Elsdon against the executor of Baker, on a promissory note for 1,0001. made by Baker, and payable to Elsdon on the expira tion of six mont hsl after notice of payment. The fourth plea, on which the question chiefly turned, alleged that Baker was surety fur one Last, and along with Last made the promissory note, and that Last gave a mortgage to Elsdon to secure that said sum of 1,0001., with a cove nant under seal to repay the 1,000/. The fourth plea alleged that Elsdon accepted the mortgage for 1,0001. in place and stei.d of the promissory note. Now there was no evidence offered on the subject beyond what appeared on the face of the plea, and that raised the question whettler the note was mortgaged on the separate security under seal ; and after looking into the authorities, the Court was clearly of opinion that it was not. On tisat plea the ver (het ought to stand, and therefore there would be no rule to show caue. IN RE THE CORONER OF WORCESTERSHIRE. Mr. ALEXANDER said in this case he had to show cause against a rtne which had been obtained calling on the justices of Worcestershire to show cause why a mandamus should not issue commanding them to pay a sum of money out of the county rate as compensation to Mr. William Samuel Price Hughes, one of the coreners of that county. This question turned on the 7th and Bth Viet., cap. e 2, which was passed in 1844, for amend ing the law respecting the office of county coroner, the second section of which provided for the di vision of counties into districts for the pur pose of the office of the coroner by the magistrates on a petition to the Queen in Council. On the 19th Dec., 1846, an order was made by the Queen in Council, authorising the county of Worcester to be divided into three coroners' districts; and on the sth March, 1847, the magistrates of the county, at the Ea s t er quarter sessions assigned one of those districts to Mr. Hughes, who had previously . been one of the coroner's for the county. On that assignment Mr. Hughes petitioned 12, r Majesty for compensation under the 6th section of the Act, which provides foe compensati on i n suc h cases. The prayer of that petition eas granted, and in July, 1947, the Lords of the Treasury a ssesse d t h e amount compensation due to Mr. Hughes. 'I he magistrates had since refused to pay the compensation so awarded, on the ground that i the true constructi on o f the compensa tion clause n the Act in connexion with the =cum stances under which the office of coroner was exercised previous to the passing of the Act, did not warrant its being paid. That clause provided that the order of the Lords of the Treasury granting the compensation should set forth that the county "had been customarily divided into districts, for the purpose of hearing inquisitions before the coroner for seven years before the passing of the Act." Now these words had been omitted, both in the order of the Queen in Council in this case and in that of the Lords of the Treasury, and he contended that the insertion of those word s was ebtential to giving jurisdiction in the matter under th e compensation cleuae. The magistrates had said the county nut " customarily divided into districts;" and he (Mr. Alexander) therefore submitted that the rule in point of law could not be maintained, on th e ground of the omission of the words in question. The ATTORNEY- GENERAL, on the part of Mr. Hughes, contended that, before the alteration, that gentlemnn had a much larger district to work as coroner than he had now, and that under the proper construction of th e . b e statute ht was entitled to compensbtion for the lose had sustained by the alteration. Lord CAMPBELL said the Court was of opini° o tiCal the mandaum. 6 hou l, igo.-itule made absolute. • EXCHEQUEIt.—(THIS DAY.) (13-fure the LORD CHIEF LIAROA t.ad bALori. RoLIE 411 PLATT.) .it n was brought to try SLLI,II4B DICKINS This tic.. tiff to a a patent for certain improvements in 11‘i reee, r niam of looms for weaving, and was tried before Justice Wightnian at Liverpool, when a verdict wi! . . found for the plaintiff. The case now came before tire Lordships in a rule obtained by Mr. Watson to set 81 4 toe right of the Ide b ill: the verdict, aed to enter the same fur the defeudasi u er for a new trial. It came before the Court on t urni the day, but as their Lordships were unable to decyPhe r notes of Mr. Justice Wightman it was adjourned until to-day. and The arguments, which were extremely tediow , - Court wholly devoid of any p u bli c i nterest, occup i e d the the whole morning, and was not likely until a late hour. Mr. Watson and Mr. Cowli ng appeare d i n support Qf the role, and Mr. M art i n , M r. Atherton and M r . We's.' against it. to conclude COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS (Sittings in Banco before Lord Chief Justice WIL PE ) -13 Justices CREkSWELL, WILLIAMS, and TALFOITBD"/ The business which came before the Court this ul ern„ ink; presented no fpature of intpr, st. BAIL COURT.—(T.HIS DAY') (Before Mr. Justi(e COLERIDGE.) t, Mr. Justice C o l er id ge sat i n Banco this mor p h 001 . and heard sever a l motions, but n one o f th em pro° any feature of interest calling for a report. BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY') (Before Mr. Commissioner GouLnuurr.) IN RE PURCELL. ;nor His Hosourt gave judgment in this case this nAr n. 1 4,71 The d(fendant was a butcher at Mile-end, and arT;; o s on Saturday last t 9 pass his final examination, NA' lo os opposed by Mr. Duncan, on the ground that be hi 4 ",:i f d kept books of account; and the official assignee ref, that the accounts were mere " guess" work. il' His HO NOUR h a d consu l te d with his brother COll3 m -. 0, sioners, a n d t h ey agreed on the principle that ulitit. " guess" accounts ought not to be allowed to Pao , f there was t o b e a d iff erence drawn between a 015"0° mere " guess" work, and where, although no regaT h,oks had bee n k ept , a estimate had been 01314 0 6 i and the accounts were partly vouched. In this csie considered the bankrupt bad rendered an honest sec °°l3 according to the b es t o f hi s a bi lity, and had given UP ,i the property he was possessed of Under these eir cll— t ;,. stances, he thought th e b an k rupt ought to be alloweuA s, b pass; a definit e ru l e wou ld pro b ably be laid down, the: which it would be s h own w h at should const i tu te grounds of distinction. Bankrupt was then allowed to pass. MARLBRO'-STREET.—(THISDOi ROBBERY AT THE R EGISTERED SYRIAN PALLt-°(1 DEPOT, OXFORD - STREET . — J o h n Gal in was c harge d with stealing two registered Syrian pal e t o ts from doorway of Messrs. Swain and Co., in Oxford-stree t. ..o It appears from th e ev id ence of one of the firm r, y the prisoner c omm i tte d t h e felony in broad no° ll.m carrying away th e p a l etots and chair on which t— hae‘i were placed at " one fell swoop." The evidence establishing the prisoner's guilt, he • fully committed for trial. 'FIR LONDON S OCIETY FOR THE CONVERSI O ,, i v or ~/ THE Jaws.—Yesterday morning the 42d annual mee tiri s tr y this society was held at Exeter-hall, when its friends O d t he porters mustered in great force. Lord Ashley occupiedyid 0 chair, and was supported by Sir R. H. Inglis, M.P., of number of gentlemen who are interested in the conversion I A , that ancient people. The Noble Chairman briefly addres;iod the meeting congratulating them on the success whic. h „ 00 attended the operations of the society, and impresetniS oo g, them the necessity for increased and persevering exe rti r especially at the present juncture, when such heresies P o . veiled in the Church as , h e f eare d , would result in the disr.,c tion of that establishm en t. Th e secretary then rea d the elOl nual report. The r e c e ipt s o f t h e year for special and geniot purposes bad attained to 28,283/., being an increase over to year of 9391. ss. 6d Copies of the S cr i ptures h a d been i se o oo to the number of 10,455, and there were at present 10, rr copies of the Old and New Testament in the press. The futher stated, th a t i n t h e H ebrew school the New the the tarneni, was read with av idi ty. It was calculated tha t t he metropolis contained about 25,000 Jews, whi c h showe" 4oo o field that the society had to labour in. The foreign rut t he of the society had been eminently successful; and duri ll e pa past year 20 foreign Jews, resident in the metropolis,top, been converted. The report gave very general satiefec‘ and was unanimously adopted. FATAL STEA M - BOAT A cciDENT.--Yesteru A fOrr AY „ es t noon Mr. William Cart er , coroner f or S urrey, held an 113(1- , 0 0 at the Royal Oak public-house, Union-road, Rotherbitn. w e 'be, the body of Edward Nicholls, aged 21, a waterman' "0, with James Coode, aged 27, was run down on Tuesday im i by the Nymph, Wool w i c h steam-boat, under the fol lo l o . , circumstances :—lt appeared, fro m th e t est i mony of 11° en , rous witnesses, that the deceased and his companion were th e t he gaged on Tuesday aft ernoon i n tow i ng a smack Intrrieflied Prince Albert ou t o f th e S urrey C anal Dock. A man, ri .„ - ger, Brown, who w as on b oar d t h e smack, and saw the oi""}',l c ,h called out t o t h e capta i n to ease and stop the steamer, wlcos was then about 200 yar d s d i stance from the skiff, w hi c h e re shooting out from behind a tier of vessels; but, before , was time to avo id t h e coll i sion, the steamer struck the sitno cutting her to pie ces . B ot h men sank, and were see- of more. Every exertion was made to recover the bodiesd the deceased men, w hi c h were not found until the followtoll morning. The man Nicholls had received a severe t. across the upper p ar t o f t h e face by the paddle-wheel. ° o ' r e. ral watermen st a t e d t h at the accident might have been P OO , vented if the men i n t h e s ki ff had used common precan7 yes i either by backing th e b oat astern, or by hauling theni ee w ho 1 out of the way with the towing. rope. Two gentlemen' , A he I were on board the steam-b oa t, sa id t h at no blame coul d to ! attributed to the captain, who did all he possibly coui: o , avoid the unfortunate accid en t. Th e j ury, after a shiir t The sultation, returned a verdi c t o f " A cc id ental Death." 0, body of the other man, nam e d C oo d e, was foun d on the polite side of the river, and conveye d to Limehouse, to l'w;it an inquest. ALARMING EXPLOSION OF G AS .—L as t ev- e n ig' to oc between seven and eight o ' c l oc k , an explos i on o f gee fec place at Messrs. Nugent and Cameron's, wholesale CO° in tioners, No. 29, G reat B ar d we ll- street, City-road, whie,h, re addition to the de s t ruct i on o f a cons i derable amoun t 01 P it perry, will, it is feared, be attended with loss of lif e * bed seems that throughout the day a strong smell of O no of pervaded the premises, and at the above-named hour, 0 co o the workmen, named J o h n Elli s, proceeded, as was his . 1 ., 0 tom, to turn' n the gas from th e ma i n. Almost i n stal l l o l, report resembling the discharge of a piece of ordnanc e t he lowed, the windows of the factory were forced out , th e benches overturned, and the men hurled violently % lo se ground. As soon as they recove re d f rom t h e s h oc k,. ' t he whose injuries permitted them went below to ascertain to cause of the occurrence. In the front kitchen, where... thl.4 gasometer was placed, a strong b o dy o f gas was discussis blazing. The men, with assis tance , succee d ed i n putting aral out. Ellis was found lying prostrate, his clothes on firs! t he so dreadfully injured that hi s i mme di ate remova l tif .A to hospital was considered nece ssar y. H e i s not expect.nhe survive. The origin of the ca t as t rop h e was a d e f e ct 1" gasometer. The damage is estimated at 2001. .„ 1 1% TUB EXPOSITION OF 1851.—• GREAT MEETIoi d i$ JERSEY.—On Wednesday last a grea t meet i ng was hetioas the Royal Arsenal, St. Hilliers, J ersey , t o adopt res°'"'m a ll in furtherance of the intended exhibition of industriLioa nations, to be held in London, in May, 1851. Th e a idittg tenant- Governor was prevented, by illness, from Pr e- ts een over the meeting, and, in his absence, the chair was : 400 by Sir Thomas Le Breton, the Bailiff of the Island. ' e t beee resolutions, declaratory of the interest taken by self posed in the object of the intended exposition, ly,. er t,: n aelf posed and seconded by the Very Rev. the Dean or ',.% a ate the Seigneur of Rozel, P. R. Lempriere, Esq , Lieut e n " t 51-• General Torzel, Peter Le Suem, Esq., Constable , " pr. Helier, Colonel Le Couteur, the Viscount of Jersey' 0 0, Brohier, John Hammond, sq., and Charles Le cl ue the Esq. Upward s o f 704 was subscribed in the roohl a" conclusion of the meeting. 0 f , MIDDLESEX H OSPITAL.— Th e quarterly co l rt übert the governors of thi s h osp i tal was held yesterday, S i r .. es °' i H. Inglis, Bart., i n t h e chair. After the ordinary busineoe the court had been disposed of, J. Ingram Travers, Es c P w ith , unanimously elected j o i nt treasurer of the hospital „ h ot William Tooke, Esq , and B a il ey Smith, William su e. ,, r - re Eueas Mackintosh, and G eorge L eeke Baker, Escts" fog severally elected honorary g overnors i n v i rtue of t h e ir be to executors to benefactors to th e c h ari t y. W e were haPr jot find that the subscriptions to this old-established bolo) were increasing; but it appears that in consequence „ c ' en tlf improvements and alterations which have been r i e v it ted• completed, and the increased number of patients su n k % eti the weekly board have found it necessary to Wa ttle in'' , urgent appeal in aid of the funds of the hospital, as . 4 4 to „' come falls short of the expenditure. We were grat ed to ' learn that the Marquis of Westminster has undertake the preside at the ensuing festival to advocate the objects ° charity. . v .g L..../ THE LATE MR. THEOBALD , OF STOCIE ,, 0- Probate duty has be en pa id on the extensive pro Per. "oar. this gentleman on two occasions during the presentoloool. Mr. Theobald's perso na l p roperty was proved at t s „' died, This property came i n t o th e possess i on of h i s son, wu:' tete; about three months sin ce . Hi s estate h as b een admio°3 the to by his sister, M rs . Th e ll uson, w h o now becomes heiress to the property of her deceased father. r ROI: ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARYLEBONE `-'" „I tii.' CLui.—The anniversary meeting of the members v.; /o telt celebrated club took place on Thursday at Grillion's ` - ilie Albemarle-street •; the Earl of Darnley in the 0 11 ° 1. ' 00' Noble Earl was suppo r t e d b y L or d Ch ar l es Russe ll, th, o eor ge F. Ponsonby, the Hon. C o l one l Lidd e ll , the H o n. ',`,..0. Milles, Mr. J. B. Alexande r , M r . G. M orr i s Barker, fir. it. L. Bayley, Mr. G. D. Dyke, Mr. R. A. Johnson , 1 . vir. Kynaston, Lieutenant Kynaston, M r . C. Leslie, Mr . 4,.. Pi c Lightfoot, Mr. F. Micklethwait e , M r . J. C . Morrice, h en Nicholson, Captain Northe: , an d M r. J. H arco urt - 1- o ", av ore Prior to the dinner the f o ll ow i ng s i xteen new merah er i% t r , a elected :—The Hon. J. T. F iennes , M r. J . L am bert, ~r , r 0 T. Lindon, Mr. R. K. G or d on . M r. H orace Y ou ng, "'see Twopenny, Captain Thomas C. Taylor, Mr. C. f . „' solid i ,: combs, Mr. C. F. Webster, Mr. Antrobus, Mr. W.,;'le and Mr. C. Sutton, Mr. E. Barchard, Mr. E. S. C. 13- ' Or Captain Northey. The report, which was read h.)" Air` the• d the d • 'Aston, the treasurer and hon. secretary, state 9 ,5. t balance at the banker's, on the 2d instant, was 407 . 1 an ' t mor e ' that the matches last year had cost 5141. 10s., or "i" R - 4 9 wer e than in the p:evious year; that the subscribers in ''' t'" 557, who, at 10s. each, produced the sum of 288/. m o os, . 10 3 : 0 " stock purse," to which was to be added 581. for ell i ', e ters mt.king a total of 346. 10s. The balance to the " cr' h e beol‘ matc h fund" was 731. 1 Is., and the arrears due to the amounted to 451. The resignations were 56. + a f su p l COMMISSARIAT ESTIMATES.—The estima— % l ie% required to meet the expenses which will come in c :gecti v n : payment in the year ending March 31, 1851, is, tb r . 8 4 ', services, 453.89 1., being a decrease as compared with 50 of :;4,119/. The vote required for non-effective ser vic e d estimated at 45,7911., being an increase of 1,919/. as con;r o iat with that of 1819. The net decrease in the Coal ° Department is thus for the present year 32,190/. of the LARGE SALMON.—On Thursday last on e e nr, be: th.,4 o ; 7 wit! domestics of Grant's Hotel, Dunkeld, caught in low Newtyle Quarry, a salmon weighing 351bs. .i_e. The the rod, is considered a weight unprecedented Jle' nft o t; hook caught the fish by the broad belly-fin, arT r .sollo hour's fine sport it had at last to be gaffed ipto WV Inverness Courier. In the art' s ,' N. " Priueiacbis Ited o r ree l It c tiroitightla w t '!alp °11; in foi t i" 4 °f t ad "iih CI ha t n i rably °Mils e \ T er 1 %114 111 17ftyrs .b L 1 : 1441 1er °Jitrib uti , Pictorial a SPc XEINN J3l 10 to'l4l;St 10 t ; I i_tg: 1 2 to 1 14 to 1 it 4l 4 to 1 g' 2 g 0 a to 1 agE 6 t o 1 4 a g e 5 ' to 2 C at 1 3 to to 1 a., agi to 1 ag 1ia, ""U1 ,,,1. eap , to 1 a la to 2 1 1 G to 1 nal Attu tc IT k~ot Ane ab, row: 01 1 I V‘ilid, 4, ePsta n _ZiOrd mion s 7e % Tier Cg t ! . to \ SI kt) 2 tc Eli e eic 11.14 3 b E i R ( V olti 25 togr Sr N Pr -n I b 2retv der _ , t 'ue v It s 4 Il ext. I