The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-03 00:00:00

..................."'.•.....,.. in the plants'. eon. of wa i, g , the , were c>ken 3 OUSE, 01 ellesley l.• Le va i t i ng tO t.O Bowater al: and has su t h e duties °` ‘olonel Wie e Oon, An d ' Ylerd I Col" er Itq a odi easure.grou nd th e Roy on a. P rcise oe ?fi n° Oaf oh rdaY a fier° ellen. ,eia Kent, A ttenu o re F ro g m nee, ge d bl to Pr °c witle/ route to the er gai/cY hi s pall ibis th e )f Xen s of od the re term• — or nio% terds9 Glor Vrh ra al i- oiret orces tej powag, Dieer'th Spd ss de P 0 Id th e ebeelc• o f aya fte ' - f 13° V e M ike ° 01 41 b $1) or a thee We rec. , obert e the ' 1 PP , St 4Plei h f c $ l2. rd herill e Exe 00.4 Loru l 00P igbt A' r t i l e f oot ore P . ffic e ' „D o so Aior or.- o bsi. - h the ideoc e r cial res a 000 . , , rtiv tar). a e ue o r the pig , e rrie • tv f 0 ill : Veili n g :O f r InliSSi" - 11-' . ,,, for 10 4 ° theatre t ige d cir c s e 3- i/Af" Mr. Gr e srori ,hat g e ' g 0 ' O Satir is 4 it his sPr Or 0. , the c" hs bio , A iv or it w , '''' row _to T , „a be Stre' he bo l ; f )13. 0 o ii i) Lericelve 0 di gory t is a Op ,„s. an aro of ,aisteli a 0 op r'ing, ad o f 0 norte u o se..• "n r oriCY' t ele; 11 _ . vb Mak° Orb it • ce, ell „ a pa, 01 was re g ripiY The glee Le of C. s ea ail the ts to o j, ,ssellti el/ 0 011:# „, aga in „,,,, ~,,, .less in eri ..i:l rle [la , the F ce9 At the r ocie s 4 ;ma was 00 rui reP ° o r ole cote 441 rs c - is ." a 1 , 0 to xi' „ n ew,' i n° to 01 " lope , . sha nigh l as t t 0 f 0 , clock, nt) bocli 10 .Tr. Aer ar o fr it ay that ISI .10 year°. ec oe oi r, nd vvb er n t A )0 0 , yet 11- cf pf # ,t the It liV e. lthotigh:Arto ! A i uch ie" - „ 1 ,0 1 :0 nto th e r v istitli characle 40 ji ld e l ' A f ;gl wou t oo is, W e ;0 . 1 ! , we sbo , co! o s inferie 0 1 : 00 pt eqUfi l gl il hi aracte re, orte 4 .re OPP ,_, gr h rwic 'OO Jon cM/ h liegli• b VI" bo l e body of so o , $ s e led we s : ,o9 tent co-torecoolo late eet, A, stained ASO 0:01 street s • beds, vent t., 0040 lill b ed I° 4o ' for, 1113° ' e 13 0 11 Lacer ol i g-i 4 l - 00il eot ) ithOat Th:7o 4 After i c i 13 all t. A l - t an uni , ,,,. g P he sae'' .- 0 / hi t tili s ell leo 0 be „that ea t ,g fining ; O pef e dr i ; 4 . nera vedn e. A id , s' 1 A le: Or ° ,6 L c li e oil' 0; tizen s of I N o , rthl VII 11/1 0 ion 11 , 15ci s e frefil ing a r .. e tse ove r° ,4 ntly r -- 0 t 0 t 0 IA riP -i for t y s u—e •d e , fell • -no o g to P br' ! p o i ered to ai ',land , Igo'', 5 the sj-fe° [a nds. ..01 0 5 re day tog et on ~ s o t .10 1,,, a A L 010 4. 13eps , no rts ..,,3t . ~ Of P (1 t ° t o tY ' 9 ~..,,, R o e A f ro ipn , '„, p 05 , 1 4 oo srly ri l t „ r o o eid o os, ende d f r o ntt i bii ea toadoY ebrA tiov or, J , he 0 a t S go dwd d rCIA it ' i iild hi ,' or „nein , e r , Lt f artP tea r AO l f ) re- tO , ' if was rie r o f tile P r g r tse t° o s a s 0.0 voi . it . his efo - A 40 , 1 his r ,ietoie v : • Ot 0 A W S O b V I unfl e -, c . thet Ar oP e iiiit , e ee • " 0 0;0 nes hecotlete iris SO e 0 0„ f 0 (1 ZeC l ~aoo , ren tie ecjialo tot, aui for fir e l oi , ✓0 0 "" Or io ioP :-- torrh 1 _ e a. 4 e 0 ' h° *V- ff e 10 IV 01 3 * ehl , Eu t tere, t i l or fitb o /1 0 ;; /se a he e i .' , id e ' e nd 10 ° 1 he fi taP P r ' an to ug h O a ni thr ° 0 1° 0 0 L her _ a l o e hie ~,,i a t ~,,_ fi e , ,,,, ' foo r itig 'so' aoag a Icon, er _ gal I 'cl irlgs e e rim gl e° 6of 0% ijo ,hicll ' l ' til t glut • t; 68 We 0' 0 0. ro pe ~ .., okt 113 s terd', o ri .,, fe d no , if ni 1111 1 P II ' t ill in 5 1 Vt 13 60 r 13'1 1 3ell elg sthe- die,, o pa o f 61 fo e ) 17 0 0 0 •a,- - h e b ,le ro t •ch CO' ,10 I 010 Pi , of 10 .."' ies" , cot ° a i;o• , Aa t, 00 0 th edefell e uved. , can e ,. tiol fed oe; ber ie iii° , p , to o , 0 ,- v' t , sou w o qv 3 , t oe d • 01 ;e n ' 000lle4 • ' to p 01° , 0 0 en od Id,, re ce, ol t, o f [lc' fen' rif e . • to cle cl'' d' i t r o , o ot „ d be ie•P Da st7 e • er ,hei jo i bbat h '- Of W r 11 01 6 ,, to:/ ale" MP,ETING OF TH llRlGl trolc E LONDON AND RA ILW , A ND LONDON AND CROYDON AY PROPRIETORS. Co lneetine, of the Proprietorrof the above Railway fianies .wes, in consequence of advertisemonts ap- D e' ar ing in th e (bo y Pa p e s, ede yesterday' n the London lay. i , e . a for the nurpo cf eotisiderine• the differences i ,':;°l exi.,t between the managing Boards ' of either t,4lA'alaY, .and of determitring what course should 'etee under the circumstances. There ears between 200 and 300 Preprietoti peesen i t .. . W. 14 Ireeetxset, of the London and Croydon Rai T he as called to the chair. notii,l.rum:vele said. that as they were not aware 20 or 200 Shareholders might attend, they had sot Ne, - 1104,, measures to secur e the largest room in the in c I 'ail Mr. Bathe had promised that, if they were t th:,l.ct.i'mtly crowdea, he weeld place the laree room a t hire ' clisieeal. Ile hoped, however, they would not_ ru . 10 1 ; 01 4 ' !hi' inconvenience of removing the tabl'-, Th e n ad teem set for a dinner peTty. but .t v l e , w , e ," ° all aware that this was an unusual meeting. tall e r' " f l're also aware that unusual circumstances te,,,Qi_ sometimes for unusual measures. He did not q isti r : to tell them that the present was not a properly 111 : 1tad meeting, inasmuch as it was net authorised to - , et i °r eonipetent to do 'anything that could have I,ltiee ecton any after proceedings in the circ_ t _ e Di teet ' la which they were placed, they ( 11 ,_ ript,s_°l') did think it but iustice to the prc to 1 4) , t `hr e s of the London and Croydon Company lie n , "hole matter before them, and it did not interest d R 141 414 ) 11 4 1 7! for the proprietors of the London an r, i; k % t an t ' I a a t 1 j l i : P v , 4 0 t ij Pressed also unanimouslyaffect affected, and the more so st a . re eetti. e snareholders, the amalgamation 'Rag % -,„," was considered asettled ina ,joint o of etehte fixed and . tt a py:A° Might be told that the bargain hatl fortyhets-eo;innei e London and Croydon Company, h t ., be algal the s very different. . It might in 4, e e market value of their th sh e are c s ir e e x u h m i .. - the llees of gtrhesater diversity than the and warr'ant ; O!? fact „ataalgarnation would lei at icu ei beat the Company had , rescinded the Led It. m. libh a e ll ial . ganiatit )a . might perhaps '4141 - ‘ , 14t0 1l to believe that p th r e h aps London ha . ve r ka. le aNele t.l °lnpany had made a bad was bargain. bond aka c, (ti , it, ,, it on himself to say 1th2. 111 ,e ree:reuir!'ectors of the Lon ( d ie o l n eg a a n t d ed C t r o oy t d h o e n m ) Paza„Jaeit ts , ~'lng the authority attiti,,' q'th e ~ e o, of the Proprietors cf he s m o - f o 4 „51tIlatf c. r .",.'llose of definitively settling t e bctthiaepoi°4 I,at there was a difference of opinion die,- the da l - w ith the Directors of the other Company, ih differ , net contemplate for a moment that these Calld h 44 111 d r • ser ee -e - , ernish any reason ar m Ca th e ijlaalZarnated. The differences terms 0.. why the•C efl, N aiti ee, 'teeters had no reference to l t . h t e e: fmeP tnt n ie i e lo r e s n s s . t ttiii s t A, bet tls differences referred only 11 itei, still they the ~ 4,, b 4-1;7 m a o •e v r e e tn o e f u o s pinion th Y at those de ta. . 3' :i li p €l"att-tehfert f t in e t f he th m e a C tt e er mm , p a aa nd as eed e ,e o ot ere „ e Ore give way would not 'llly , 'rote their"t the other Company there was 'h i t 'lla esai,. Position, it was felt that 1 6e 4 !llt *- ''e ° Pen—win : m y to appeal to . the sensee to a etheemPrieters the b e d ed em ° : ' the Brighton Company, "Nal - " 41 11 A They Proposed and they 111),'restit 'r.eg it„ They were, th course therefore,under 1 it la ti l Neti t 1 61 calling this meeting themselves. It / 1 411 . 4 &e, for hitil that there tli q kil h,,, the facts involved lay ir ?' a were no diffien nut. t he ''e.aeatl to do was this, to choose which policy t hki tt eete r ,c 4ll Pt ; if they followed that ad c op o t ru ed pau by y ltsoetl:teer‘,e, e of il!be London and Biroinghatnodn Croydon) aties re _, eetors of the London t ami t i l la,e sti v t , to retire from the management :ey eenolie,:"Tave it in their own hand; p ri 'etors i f, i ntheeofth the e r es:el'e p r "q the course of policy marked out bythem, t he'Y oth it O :P t a,tel with the sanction of the rop ldas o k f „"hat a 't be.' e ' e cn , tiler with or without the conjunction wt e or e ;: e da p hv l at a no i n n_ the „!latlette.'°l7. It would now be his 44111414 n '' ' '' Lltreuc e nf'Dolicy on which d th u e ty y t 'llpl, e 4 tlti . ;(tthi'!,,,neeeting- . They ha d d ou nt a A ud th u e I t 3 4,Wite ti ' l "reetors of the Lon te l % le th e ...° 1 11 :. for since their adver c tis o e m m p e a n u t y s h h a al rl d h a battats, Public Prints, the other t heta 11 ta.Tl4 gig b' me ho'Nerer, be 'lltpe -4-avrtise nt, declaring, that the rt e t -, a vio n u ea d -.e 0 Ject wou :IMI 1 5 d IN at , 4 4, t11 k i l l th e a t er " i , n e a t whate dto the m ,course an th d ey it w w o o u u l l d d b a e do f p or t ieklteiclileevefee- ::rewlinistances were laid intended DA led; , w ould effect the entir h e efo o r b e jec t t hem he Pe lee k J tA N not entirely, for it was also te ai kll ll : o l tit eteri sign a requisition calling a pro- ViateAFeepr4e.etil4.eeting of the ose P o r f o a t t es e e tacit, Directors for the purp ? in r s ie tr te u r c a tin e g f and theyT:pr,,,„, utrectors to carry th o e u ß t ri t g h h e t ir ou v c ie o w m t , , Nered unnecessary by d e , oa t , n ett ee their own "1 1 1 . tli tt4 er t c lir tY ' itri Z t ti ngof their Proprietors, Brighton authorise 0 respect us ly o f to;lble 4 at se It'roprietors, the are m un o l a ti V n s i aciNoi ate tiltlalgamation of the two Companies is lOteill'alley to 7 are equally unanimous . 1C 11 14. 1 th l i e ete .es B,:te harmoniously and i( one this with sthe Directors . -et k it", , N 4104 to the ith'''llvis2tileih,;!'l2 a malgamation shouldno P t ro h p e rie fu to u r y s t e t itll izik Ziliguals would, anies, he might venture to say, ,i to li t t li w e es„,447ti'elithteerevid o i r n ld to to be a tl l v t e e e r iv th th e e ar c r o a m ng p em . ent o'sp e N i a Nd h i a le a e t t , e ' l e: . that the '4 4 iste ll y tea; te 4, ,._ f lv ettili i T oe please g t e h u e er Directors, concur in th e ' e i c that 4 -Lear, hear.) He could ld not, therefore, diametrically al o b p o p dy ose o d f I 'i t o r ° their Prie - I , t etZhi rt ile ef th Y the amalgamation should to n la ; ao,Alecesese gentlemen had a fault find et go w e i with ; biti t ' N 4 , te"'Palls, he could not think that they 41robs_INto-ait o,BuPPort their Directors in tte .w etee ttl eie'sed to the Croydon Company, , course au d e , 14 qe erests of its Proprietors. Theßrigh t t o on a ekey•Woh,re snot like the Directors, pledged 41°'1 ' 414 ' ' ' the Companies. e ~ t h t the , lulu, therefore they were as anxious as !Ile ' elltii„oPri,t eatnation of Pic; te' l lte r :'rea in this position. '4i, li t lth, mera s 1 48 and Directors of T th .h e ey C d r i o ff yd r o e n d Iftraoiml ap' ili ete or s'tors on two points. First o . f all, hto t n he c y o i ra n_- et:lllit 1 11 q1 In g the Directors of the Brig . th_kt %robe /1 41,, , %."-th, q , • ire They (the Croy u d t loth'iee,", oe ,i-rlßhton were ten; and, e e s c e to e r ir s? ;d u e r p t i h r 41 4 ° De l l/ tile ;If disputed point, the majority of votes litoklta,l"leelte4 eelee°l° Management of the amalgam ce u iv ti e o d n , AtthailaY. The Proprietors, he conceived, he kke ' i l lh. ,tli th a t, , f{ie; au nts t of . the amalgamatio t n he s tw ou o l p d a b r e_ I N oti n . - tie r , „equitable manner by 4115 '`ars'valeotau!y of numbers, if persisted in, etn w en •o t u . l l cl f kt4lfiLa lee._ arrier in the way of all arrangement. he o ylttahaalte,Nuabble about directional p 11, qt4llt y :LI to make any allusions to it, but it was render 41111444 Wet into Pre pared, on the contrary, ( 3 Nee isms as 80 42 ' the hands of the Brighton Directors, t 4 ,l' m ee tt b „ . P ,ras , 1 ,, °11 as the amalgamation was completed .- AMe' "'at t e ''' 4 d on• There wasanotherveryof . 5 ,.. ~,,,h , , . i t al he e a t% tl', kid 'en he must direct the attention lac t o 4L,-erectoroa which they were at issue with had :th ° N I .; all , 8. They (the Croydon Company) ete'ef eoel:eg,agereents formed by the Brighton e li s .ti tisl eerw-%Tites• They had already known of o h n e- Otitotje,' triew,Character, which had taken place The tilhey,ll%op`Ztlittptie:ryt°euaidan,d, the South-Western. . „th t t ee 4 it toti ~ , There it is, but o ) ,. ou ,% Tri .,,T on o t w y tit'ea to e :ed, that toat you make use had 1' l a L i'l 'i„ 4 1(1 : ell ten.as partners, they )K i ln , this ,qa, hew theirs agreements wit.. lees t, Nis oulc? show them how they had Lother par. perfect tpt'tvithile wep°sition with the other Company 8 !'' ta, l'ek. 41 just h' t her very ti 1 h 1 , are t„, int at another kktlgtorieNto u the arrangement of equal numbersthe impor an heady ''t at ata e rY c ' They made no claim to meet .... 11. 44 tl ai t i'' ' n e qual nu bers after the amaika apical .-,N , Qted b • It meantime they wished T r tVe th , lit in the e l l *4 es the ee rights of the Company.—(ll . ea . r r , lei,loo:3,o3tighton Company said that their hapt - i l, s °oa ''',g9/ , while theirs (the Croydon) was "t ci lhc'eY p e , 4 ` l i ,ey at once concluded . that it was 1N tift,4l., s l'el in an equality of , numbers They !oc!:etatifevettere-tnation was agreed upon. I ,,'4lt e % ik e Y ,, reaiße p ro was that the Directories should e "ti te .'or ee • si'v eis geoi dari let the joint Proprietors c "at , 4 % al,c'aies. ,t,„fuen to manage the affairs of the sla t le rte e "eY must understand that important t i ' q t at b e b P I kt ., th,t t h e rought before Parliament, aad .. e • th. or e tb .... s: -a arrangements should be com 414Niltel in ure "''''''• They could not consent to tle t , % a ~ ,by e es ts of the Croydon Proprietors ettN l° .s t iat ed n Y act of their own,. and thus it was . 'qk ' l ll4 'qo t.„ on an equal number of votes while ii, "at aft c Nf - • The Proprie -4 , ''th • 'wa rd ° amalgamation. 44:_titly heir aff • 8 choose for themselves who should l'i I N to detairs; and nhe would proceed. He thtit4hki!tlthat ttiilithetn. snowg but it was absolutely li I N bike W ou ld e circumstances should be detailed 1)t 'k''' take l sli b e ttyile by the correspondence latltatha Intreaceeieetttuthe Directors on either kel , , e 'te Of 47r .ail progressed, and what was the . t/thgeCloae, rs• They might remember that this tttaiSstY. the Parat proposed by the Brighton Company '4601-laherresY4on. Ida found, - minute of the Nti 'a ' i t hat Mr, Peter bY a 1 t and 'l4 Ittt qvi l': Clarke had soug i lastly 41,, 1.,f0v with him upon the subject, and 1° 4 f ir e, au ' ..tilr le3, Alt' C l and himself met 4t ha k ilit d Pro d ' row ey ' • for the 0 tt. h e ,,, sti ll , t , Pose the amalgamation . ~'; iTty 1" Ises a r,,,"" Passin g of the Portsmouth Bill kV+h,, b ige had ra - L1 V Parliament. The Portsmouth berllapr;', a up their minds was essential th "lap t ? S t, ,2!e e - e - a Y i n u: the Croydon Company. e te nth -ite the . -got"tations with Mr. Clarke. rl() tit Irt t th e 8 ue view of coming to some arrange e :mhrestern Company, he in some eet:lSett".,L,lfter said, "I cannot make anything :1ttc....1... a, wlyestern people ; Ifind them quite un 'ale " t t 44l-- • reeeei,Aell proposed the amalgamation. , ob, q te bi r44 'ea a letter on the 9th October con tti t t i ti 4L rwi trds r_lltable paragraph, to which he eiphs-grt the''' hide.. And here he could not help con e Or t °rean'ethlug like a want of sincerity Oall 41% , thi, tr.teondon and Brighton Company in the illitehlaeetetbie;tY• Ife did not wish to charge them Nle.etem' Corti' he believed the fact to be, that e atm e, a ll Of the Directors was in favour of the hmtheitli, there;:kother portio was opposed to it. This I ttettalletitilihertZe, gav The ppearance of insincerity h„? 1 4 tt e g wi ts abt.'43- paragraph to which he It ,; ( 9t e i,'Y ea se a - --" lam instructed to infor m you e et o td4 11 1 % 44 it is the intention of this Board to k . s th , b e le. _ meat for the Wandsworth branch." Now, i:Ze,eNfe'Tes pe7, erabered that this branch to Wands „, "itle u searly injuri ptio„. to t. ,_ .„ . us to the Croydon Comany, ti,h,lthei' Th is liu urigheon, if araalgimated wis h that tA 'itt Wag Paragraph th .a It as in ~, the appeared to him to 4:4 tcrote ti;_hai...wever, determirnPe 1 6 II t wa,, ‘, law a edrttihnae'' three Dthie. r ki gem l n th ' e;roydea c Ip, e e Bri ghton .onapany should meet y eti opt tikaet• Aft er thi: vial.railoiwosayn, ot,,:oofciConclude wi e a .., n t.. qt I. Z I, It w a lk up, as tthoe th o o pin te io rn au a or Me r. : , as bet t __ . e ta o . !,tils ~t7.t10 avlid all details, :tileeit„...4l::ellisialat:en's;Ll.l:?'tditetuhy:..:eilrititiitcededr hwit"utheas:l'ifto:::llwomtwhiitit'n'hi end to o . , : m C!a g riL Pro general nieeting " tile ‘ riet " B of the ~. „_ ~~~ ~--~ ~,. -~- THE STUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNJNG, DECEMBER 3, 1845. respective Companies. It was then agreed upon gene rally that every 50 7 . share of th e Brighten Company should rank as 501, and every 201. share of the Croyclou Company as 181. 10s., and that the details should be settled by three members from each Board. The first meeting of these gentlemen took place on the 27th October. At that meeting discussions arose on the various matters which were brought before them, and a certain minute was made, which was afterwards cancelled, because it was misunderstood by both parties. A second meeting was held on the 29th October, and a discussion of some three hours' length arose, but nothing resulted from it. It became evident that the Chairman of the Brighton Company would be outvoted, and as it was getting late, Mr. Hill moved an adjournment, which was carried. When the adjournment was carried the meeting of course broke up. Mr. Hill then said that he thought it his duty to state his intention of applying to the Board of Directors to be released from this difficult duty. He was against the amalgamation, and considered, therefore, that he was not the very best person to conduct the negotiation. Now, with every respect for Mr. Hill, he (Mr. Wilkinson) thought the same thing. The conviction had long forced itself on his mind that they could get on better without him. On the Saturday following, to their great surprise, Mr. Hill came back to us and said that his Board had de clined relieving him from the onerous duty he had com menced. Accordingly they again set to work as at first, and Mr. Hill asked what proposition they had to make, and, on their replying in the negative, he proposed that the amalgamation and the question of the Wandsworth branch should be referred to a joint committee, com posed of an equal number of members of each Board of Directors, who should report to the two Boards, and that each Board should continue as usual to regulate all matters connected with the conducting of the railways. He (Mr. Wilkinson) moved an amendment to that pro position, and his motion was seconded by Mr. Roberts. That amendment pr: posed that the interests of the two companies, should be amalgamated from the 31st of January, 1846 ; and that until the Act of Amalgama tion should be passed, the arrangements connected with it should be conducted by a committee of twelve, con sisting of six members front each Board. On this motion the votes of the parties present were taken, and three Croydon Directors voted in favour of it, and two Brighton Directors against it. The solicitors of the two Companies were present, and Mr. Faithful, the solicitor to the Brighton Company, then said that they had nothing further to do !Lan to make a report of their proceedings, as the consideration of all other questions would be left to the joint com mittee. The Brighton gentlemen who were present on that occasion laughed, and remarked that though the Croydon Directors might easily choose their six Direc tors for the ,joint committee, yet the Brighton Directors would find some difficulty in choosing their delegates. On the evening of that day ho (Mr. Wilkinson) received a letter from the Brighton Secretary, inclosing a minute of some resolutions, and asking the Croydon Directors to make an early choice of their six members fur the joint committee. In consideration of that request, the Croydon Board met on the following Wed nesday, and appointed six of their body. They then sent a letter to the Brighton Secretary, saying that they had made their choice of six members to form a part in the joint committee, and requesting to he apprised of the names of the Directors delegated by the Croydon Company. This was on the sth, and the two Companies were to meet on the 6th. On the afternoon of the sth he was sent for suddenly, and was told that the Brighton Board wished to see him. On getting to the board-room he saw Messrs. Baynes and Roberts outside; they went into the board-room together, and were informed that the board had been considering the resolutions that the Committee had come to, and they bad found that they were illegal and could not be carried. He replied that he did not see that those reso lutions were illegal, and one of the members replied rather sharply, that the chairman had asserted from the chair that they were illegal, and that therefore their illegality could not be disputed He (Mr. Wilkinson) had no doubt that them could be found many members of Loth Boards who would not admit the principle of such an assertion. This Ives the second instance of the insincerity of the Brigh ton Board, and he could not help thinking that it was an excuse to get off from the amalgamation. They would not have raised these trifling objections if they had any wish that the measure should be carried. Some discussion took place, during which he observed two gentlemen take up their hats and leave the room, and these gentlemen happened to be both in favour of the amalgamation ; and it appeared to him that this might be in consequence of the vaccilation of the Board, which was sometimes partly in favour of the amalgamation and partly against it. After they had gone he asked the chairman whether some way could not be devised by which their proceedings could be done legally. He felt very much inclined to take up his hat and go away, but he did not do so, as he was very anxious to come to some terms, and that considera tion alone induced him to remain. The Brighton Directors then proposed some terms nearly the same as those offered to them by the Croydon Company. They proposed that until •the 31st of January, 1846, the management of each Company should be by their Directors as usual ; that the joint com mittee should be composed of five members of each Board, and that the chairman should have the casting vote. That such Committee should have the entire ma nagement of the Bill for the amalgamation, and that all other matters, except some which were mentioned then, should be referred to the other Directors. He took these resolutions to Mr. Burchell, the solicitor to the Croydon Company, the Board of the Brighton Company having adjourned for a time to allow him an opportunity of doing so. That gentleman found that the propositions were adverse to the interests of the Croydon Company, and he then went back to the Board and declared that they could not agree to them. He asked the Board what they would have done if they had not met him that afternoon, and remarked that any proceedings then going forward could not be legal, as they had received no authority. They then had some discussion about the agreement made between the Brighton Company and the South-Eastern Company, and he asked to be allowed to see that agreement. After some hesitation the paper was sent for, and when the Chairman had it, he said that he could not see it unless he promised not to make any public use of it. He (Mr. Wilkinson) said that it was necessary for him to make use of it, that he thought it would be beneficial to the Croydon Company, and the Chairman declined to show it under these circumstances. He had determined to put these facts under the consideration of the Croy don Proprietors the following day, but on the following morning he received a letter from the Brighton Board, saying again that the course proposed by the Croydon Company was illegal, and sub mitting to the consideration of the Croydon Company the resolutions which he bad declined accepting on the previous day. He still thought, however, that they might have some wish to come to terms on the question, and, therefore, seat them a letter, saying that they could not agree to the proposition sent, but would be glad to make some other arrangement, if possible. At a meet ing of the Brighton Board; which occurred some time back, the Chairman, in speaking of the amalgamation of the Companies, remarked, that the subject had been discussed by their Board before, and it seemed to them that the project would have a beneficial result if carried into effect. The question was again revived, and they did not know what the Croydon Company had done to promote its attainment, but they had done all that lay in their power ; and he (Mr. Wilkinson) was coming to a resolution which he would show, and to which he wished to remark that he heartily subscribed, viz., " That amalgamation, as a general principle, was beneficial, and that there could be only one opinion with regard to it." After that meeting he saw an advertise ment in the papers, proposing, on the part of the Brighton Board, to rescind all that had been done with a view of bringing about an amalgamation. At another meeting Sir Isaac Goldsmid asked what was the gross revenue of the Croydon Company, in order that they might know what addition they could make to the general funds in case of an amalgamation, and Mr. Peter Clarke was about to answer the ques tion, and, in fact, begged to be allowed to do so. That gentleman afterwards gave it as his opinion that amalgamation would undoubtedly be beneficial to the interest of the Companies, and would reduce the working expenditure so much as to give an increased dividend. He stated that he had gone over the subject with Sir G. Euston, and had come to that conclusion after careful calculation. He also gave it as his opi nion, that if the line to Portsmouth were made, it would materially increase the traffic of the Croydon Railway, and under the impression that that line was to be formed, Sir George Euston had evidently voted at that meeting, and so had many others who had voted at that time. After that meeting some time elapsed without anything being done, and it seemed that both parties were taking a little time to cool, after being somewhat heated in the discussion of the question. He (Mr. Wilkinson) at length thought that an interview with the Brighton Board was desirable, as he had heard that they had entered into an agreement with the South-Eastern Company, which hindered them from giving any support to the Portsmouth line. That agreement had been read at a public meeting, but was now denied to them, and the great mystery was then in their possession, but sealed up. He again proposed to meet the Directors of the Brighton Board, as he did not wish that trifles should interfere with the important object he had in view, and asked for a conference on the 17th. At the meeting, which took place on that date, all the differences be tween the Companies was set forth by him, and he seemed on that occasion to have given some offence to the Brighton Board. He could not, however, connect that in any way with their disinclination to join heartily in the Croydon Company's efforts for the amalgamation of the two Companies, as a question of so great moment as the one then before them could not, he thought, be interfered with, in consequence of any offence taken by parties ; and he therefore was desirous of knowing the reason of the Brighton Company wishing to rescind the arrangements they had already made. He thought he was authorised to ask, on the part of the Croydon Company, for a sight of the agreement, and he did so then, but was refused. At that meeting, however, he elicited the fact that there was something in that agreement that pre cluded them from joining with the Croydon Company, and that, therefore, it would be very difficult to persuade them of the propriety of an amalgamation, as, however convincetl they might he of any benefit, it would be, they were unable to join in it. He asked them to put the matter before the Proprietor:, but they declined, saying that their Proprietors could not interfere between them and their consciences. That interview terminated with out any conclusion being come to on either side. In the course of the conversation, however, they were asked if they could devise any means of overcoming the ctfficulty. He (Mr. W.) proposed to take their proposition into the next room, and see if it could be altered in any way, so es to el k e ither arty. He loft the wo first para graphs unaltered, but on the third he proposed that, in stead of five Directors from each Company to form the joint committee, there should be six, and there were other alterations made which he thought would suit both parties. He sent them that proposition, and re ceived no answer for three days. On the 20th both Boards met, and he sent a letter to the Brighton Board, asking them for an answer to his propositions. Their reply was, that they could not agree to them, but they were, at that time engaged in framing other proposals, which they would shortly submit to the consideration of the Croydon Board. We likewise wrote to them for a copy of the agreement, which we received, w ith a letter from Mr. Buckton, stating that it had beE .n forwarded to him without any intimation having be en given of the same to the Soeth-Western Company, and that it should not be used by them witl tout the consent of the Brighton Company. Now the:re was the agreement (the Chair man here held up the document in question), and they had never broken the 'seal. They had been advised by their solicitor, Mr. Bt trchell, to open that agreement, who contended that they were bound by the position they occupied to make themselves acquainted with its contents, and also to inform the Proprietors of the same. Mr. Burchell had been requested to wait on them (the Directors of the: Brighton Company), but he re turned, stating that he could make nothing of them. However, shortly after, they received a letter from the Brighton Company to the effect that they conceived it to be their duty to protest most strongly against the advice given by Mr. Burchell. We replied to this epistle, stating that we had a right to the unqualified inspection cf the document, and tht.t they would take measures to effect that object if they did not hear from them by the following Monday.. The Chairman then read a reply to this letter ' to a similar effect as the preceding, and requesting to know if their sentiments were in unison with the advice o F their solicitor. In the early part of November they received a letter from Mr Buckton (which the Chairman read), to the effect that they could not concur in the proposition which they (the Croydon Company) had made of calling a meeting of the Proprietors, and denouncing strongly what they desig nated the threats and intimildation put out by them (the Croydon Company), and refining to act any longer with them if the demand were persisted in, and that they were prepared to vindicate the part they had taken. To this we sent the following answer.—(Here the Chair man read the letter, which, deplored the tenor of these communications, and expressed a strong desire to keep on the most amicable terms with the Directors of the Brighton Company.) A Gentleman here requested that the letter which gave rise to these remarks should be read. _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN —lt has not been left out. On the 27th a letter was received from Mr. Bueleton, regretting the course that had been adopted by the Croydon Company, and refusing to continue this correspondence. Now they were at issue with the Company on these two points —first, the right to ins pect the document in question; and, secondly, as to the meeting of those gentlemen in equal numbers. Now, with respect to the first point, he wished to obtain their most .earnest attention. He found in the report of the meeting that had taken place of the Direc tors of the Brighton Company, that the agreement was merely mentioned as leaving been concurred in, and that a resolution was proposed to the effect that the same should be confirmed. However, this resolu tion was met with some opposition, for he found that Mr. Henderson, who pointed out the dangers, as he considered, that were threatened them by the South-Western. Now what was the case? If this line from Epsom to Croydon, which was contemplated, were to come to Dorking, it must of course injure their line. The Brighton line had sent down, a hundred pounds towards the completion of the Dorking line, notwithstanding what had taken place. The object of the agreement was to change the traffic of the Ports mouth line. Now that this feeling was entertained by other members of that Company was evinced by the op position of Mr. Cash, VI ho stated that this connexion with the South-Western would lead to inextricable confusion. An amendment had been proposed to the resolution, to the effect that the adoption of the Guildford, Ports mouth, and Chichester line, which was proposed, would entirely deprive them of the other line. It was alleged against them (the Directors of the Croy don Company) that they were sustaining the Portsmouth interests because they were Croydon Directors. Now that they were in the very position of being about to amalgamate with the line from London to Epsom, they would depart from that line, and cut them selves off from a traffic of 30,0001. Under these cir cumstances he could not conceive how the Brighton Company could entertain for a moment the thought of entering into such an injudicious arrange ment. Besides, if they permitted the South-Western to i come down so far, they would:cut off all traffic from Chi chester for the Brighton line Moreover, they should be prompted to secure their line by a line to South ampton. This line, which was to be carried out with the line ' from Southampton to Petersfield, would have the effect of making the South-Western depend on the western traffic, for which it was originally designed. The Brighton Company, by pursuing their present po licy, would be promoting hostile lines, for it was stated that they were bound by the terms to keep within ten miles west of this line, and could not go further from Horsham.. This being the case, he felt bound to consider that the Directors of the Brighton line did not seem qualified to judge of their own affairs. Having heard that statement laid before them, he con sidered that they were now entitled to go before their Proprietors to make such arrangements as they might deem advisable. They (the Directors) did not ask their permission to see the agreement, for no such power was vested in them, but they should ask the Brighton Pro prietors, and they had little doubt that on this, as on the question respecting the numbers on each side, they would give a favourable answer. A clergyman had bought some shares in the Croydon line in consequence of the resolution that had been agreed to. Now, in all probabi lity, others had bought shares on the same grounds ; therefore he conceived, that even in the event of the Directors of the Brighton line not returning a favourable answer, they should not rescind that resolution. Ho would attend at the meet ing of the Directors of the Brighton line, and even if they came to an adverse resolution, they would not desert the interests of the Croydom Company, nor retire from their posts till the amalgamation had taken place, when they would relinquish their trust. If, on the other hand, the Directors of the Brighton line should accede to their views, they would be ready to give them their strenuous assistance. He would now re commend that the meeting should adjourn, as the most advisable course. Mr. G .kLE could not, for one, acquiesce in the sugges tion of the Chairman, that the amalgamation of the Brighton and Croydon Companies was of little use unless the interests of the Proprietors of the Direct Portsmouth were consulted. He had become a proprietor of Croydon shares on the faith of the resolution of amalgamation that had been come to; he had done more, he had actually changed Brighton shares for Croydon ones. Now he, for one, could not sacrifice the benefits of amalgamation for the interests of the Direct Portsmouth. The CHAIRMAN said that the Hon. Proprietor had entirely mistaken his meaning; he had never said that amalgamation had better not take place between the two lines, if the interest of the Direct Portsmouth was not to be considered. Mr. GALE said he had certainly understood the Chairman to say so. It was not, in his opinion, for the meeting to say whether the policy of the Croydon Directors cr that of the Brighton should be adopted before the amalgamation took place, considering that amalgamation should take place first. He thought that until the agreement of amalgamation had been concluded, each party ought to have a voice as to the details.—(Hear, hear.) He considered that amal gamation with the Brighton line was of far greater importance to the Croydon Proprietors than the toll that would be received by them from the Direct Portsmouth line, which, it must be remembered, was only a line in perspective and not in esse. It was clear to him that something like angry feeling had existed among the Directors of the two Companies. No one could doubt, as he had before stated, that it was for the interest of the Proprietors that an amal• garnation should take place, and if the Directors could not agree as to the manner in which that should take place, it became the duty oF the Proprietors to look to the matter themselves.—(Hear, hear.) He thought the best course to adopt would be to appoint a certain number of Proprietors of each Company to form a committee to meet together and consider what course would be best to be pursued for the interests of all, no gentleman being a Proprietor in the Direct Portsmouth line to be a member of the committee.—(Hear, hear.) He believed, looking at all that had taken place, that the question of the amalgamation of the Brighton and Croydon lines was valued by the public at something like 200,000/.—(Hear, hear.) There could be no doubt that errors had been committed on both sides in the negotiations that had taken place between the Directors, and that it was for the interest of all as soon as possible to get a united Board of Directors.— (Hear, hear.) He thought it was absurd to state that the amalgamation was complete. The CHAIRMAN had never stated that the amalga mation was complete ; all he had said was, that he con sidered it so. He admitted that there was a difference between the two words, and it lay with the Proprietors to say who were right and who were wrong. As he had before said, h . e was willin g , if the, Proprietors decided against his opinion, to make way for others.— (Hear, hear.) Let, however, the . Propriet ors mee t an d decide betw een the two conflicting opinions which were the best calcu lated for their own interests.—(Hear, hear.) He agreed with the worthy Proprietors that the best course would he to appoint a committee of Proprietors from each Company to meet the Directors of both Companies.— ( aear, hear.) Such a resolution c o u ld n ot be adopt e d by the present meeting, but he trusted it would be at the one to be held by the Brighton Company. It was his intention to attend that meeting, and such a proposition should have his hearty support. Mr. WILKINSON considered the amalgamation of the two lines of the greatest value to them both, but as it was clear that that meeting could do nothi ng effi ciently, he should move that it adjourn. Mr. CASH did not see why, if a committee of Proprietors was to be formed; the Proprietors of the Portsmouth Company should not form part of it.— (Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, that the Directors of both the Croydon and Brighton Companies would be able to manage the matter in dispute among themselves. —(Hear, hear.) Ile for one should bo happy to see a union of all the Companies—the South-Western, the Brighton, and the Croydon.—(Hear, hear.) He did not think that was an impossibility, although he was ready to admit there were great difficulties in the way.—(Hear.) Mr. LEVY hoped that the present discussion would be now put an end to, and that an amicable arrangement would be made among all parties.—(Hear, hear.) For that purpose he would now move that the meeting should adjourn for a fortnight. —(1-lear, hear.) After some further discussion the meeting broke up, no motion being put either for is adjournment sine die or for any particular day, it being admitted on all hands that such a motion, at a meeting so called, would be en.• tirely useless, and have no weight. THE DIRECT LONDON AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—The Direct London and Manchester Railway Company have deposited their plans and sections with the Clerks of the Peace, in conformity with the standing orders, and the Shareholders will feel their interests more secure now that the hold assertion, as well as the quiet insinuation and the occasionally argued impossibility of their being ready in time for the next session of Parliament, are all swept away together. Accident might have delayed, or prevented entirely, the accomplishment of their design, but apart from any occur rence which could not be guarded against, because it could not be foreseen, the Shareholders had every reason to be satisfied with the soundness of judgment and honesty of purpose of all those in whose hands they had placed them selves. The preliminary arrangements being made, they will natu rally now be anxious to learn when their shares will, tech nically speaking, be " looking up," and here a few words may not be considered out of place. Doubtless, in the Direct London and Manchester, as in most other railway companies, there are two classes of Share holders ; one, embarking their capital in what they think a desirable investment, prepared to wait a reasonable time, and to combat with reasonable difficulties. This class can in no way be dispirited by passing events, the Company having held on the " even tenor of its way" with fewer obstructions than the majority of speculations of equal magnitude meet with, whilst at no former period ware its prospects of success better than at present. The other class being simply spe culators, who imagine they shall quickly realise a profit, and who take their shares without the wish, and too often without the power, to hold them. The position of the latter is certainly not an enviable one, the most sanguine amongst them can scarcely hope to see the shares at a premium for some time to come; they must - make their account to wait a more favourable moment, one, not very distant, yet not im mediate. The shares being originally allotted to parties who might be supposed to desire them as an investment of their capital, in preference to such as were likely only to speculate in them, it follows that they are not likely to be thrown in any great numbers suddenly on the market, to depress it; the low price, therefore, at which they have been quoted must be ascribed to causes apart from their own intrinsic value, which remains the same. A second grand trunk line is called for by the demand for increased accommodation ; it has, in fact, become essential to the interest and comfort of the community; an immense amount of traffic is ready at any time to be transferred to it, and the chief promoters of the line will be its steady sup porters when made. It will pass through, or near to, twenty towns of importance, many of them being the seat of manu factures, with a population larger than can be found in the same given; distance in any other part of the United Kingdom, all of which considerations are of great weight in ascertaining the ultimate prospects of the Shareholders. Suppose the Company not to obtain their Bill, and in the fruitless attempt to expend 50,0001.; there would still re main 450,000/. of the deposit money to be returned, a sum equal to 4/. 15s. per share. Upon what reasonable showing is it, therefore, that they have been so low as 31. ss. in the list ; the cause must be sought elsewhere than in the posi tion or prospects of the Company. The anticipated large importations of foreign grain will require a large export of bullion ; the withdrawal of so much as may be necessary for that purpose will seriously affect the monetary affairs of the trading part of the community ; only first-rate bills will do in certain quarters, while second and third-rate paper must be discounted at advanced rates in proportion to the risk in the, first place, and, secondly, the difficulty of obtaining it through the usual channels. Moneyed men know this, and are waiting a higher inducement to draw their purse strings than any railroad speculation can offer ; hence the general dullness in share transactions without reference to any lines in particular. The crisis over, with an advancing spring, money will flow into its accustomed channels and scrip be again sought after with increasing avidity ; the more so, because in the meantime the market will have been cleared of many schemes which before only obstructed legitimate business and tended to bring suspicion on plans worthy of encouragement. M. THE IRON AGE. (From the Railway Express.) The golden age—the Age of gold ! Poets have sung, and historians told Of the metal, which cast into mortal mould Singular patterns produces ; But alas ! for that very auriferous time, No more is it subject for story or rhyme ; For by " Rail" up Fame's temple-crowned gradient we climb, And Iron's the theme of the Muses. Parnassus is tunnelled ; and Castaly's fount, Is bridged. Even Helicon's turned to account; All the Muses have shares, and they glide (but not mount) On a prosy detestable level. Their lines are worth nothing at all, for 'tis seen That Chalybeate water's their false Hippocrene, And Robert Montgomery shows us, I ween, That Epics are gone to the Devil. Iron—lron, and nothing beside ! We sit on it—live on it—walk on it—ride • Pen treaties of peace with it—or by our side We wear it for purpose of fighting ; 014 England had " Ironsides" once for a King : Napoleon was crowned with Milan's Iron ring ; And sulphate of Iron's the principal thing In the fluid with which I am writing. 'Tis Iron that binds with its terrible chain ; O'er Iron, in freedom we skim the broad plain ; And if love should afflict with an ache or a pain A remedy Iron discovers. For a wild Iron horse gets a poke in his sides, And with raging hot ribs off to Gretna he glides, And distance uniteth, instead of divides, A couple of runaway lovers. Iron, they say, may be found in the blood ; And Iron, we know, often spills life's red flood, And cold Iron will op off a man in his bud ; Even " into the soul" it enters. Words are iron-ic, and were one to ask Where 'tis not ?—to reply were as difficult task As to find out the man in the strange Iron mask, And who were his mystic tormentors. Iron newspapers to chronicle crimes— Books made of Iron—rare " Tracts for the Times;" Iron to sound out the gay birthday chimes : And, when we're Mortality doffing, Death's Iron hand to an Iron couch sends us, Ferruginous mixtures are made up to mend us, And when cold as Iron—still Iron attends'us In the shape of a safe Iron coffin. Iron, and Iron wherever we go ! 'Tis before us—behind us—above and below; Plutus' tears were of Iron—but rhyme cannot show The varieties or the amount of it; Dr. Irons should hunt for that book underground, Iron clasped (vide Scott), and by Iron, too, bound, That of this iron age, ages hence, may be found. Oa its pages some written account of it. GRAY, THE POET.—THE SALE OF AUTOGRAPHS. —On Monday the sale of autograph poems, &c., of Gray, the poet, was resumed and concluded at Messrs. Evans's-rooms in New Bond-street. The sale realised upwards of 1,5001.; and among the lots sold yesterday, the following are worthy of notice :—Gray's Odes, with numerous manuscript notes by Gray, containing the author's avowal of the sources from whence he borrowed his ideas. In the first ode, "Awake, lEolian lyre, awake !" Gray, in one of his notes, states, " that he alludes to the psalm, Awake, my glory! awake, lute and harp !' &e." In two other stanzas be refers to Pindar, on the " Power of Harmony," and observes, " borrowed from the Pythian of Pindar." On " Night and all her sickly dews," the poet (Gray) re marks, "To compensate the real and imaginary ills of life, the muse was given us, by the same Providence that sends the cheerfull presence of the day to dispell the gloom and terrors of the night." In the second ode, " Ruin seize thee, ruthless king, &c." He acknowledges his obligations to Shakspeare, Spenser, Dryden, and Cowley. He also states that he copied some ideas from " Rafael's Vision of Ezekiel," from an ancient Scaldic ode, and assigns his reason for giving the double cadence in the third stanza. Throughout Gray has marked the musical time. The auctioneer stated that Horsley set this ode to music almost in the style Gray wished, although he never saw Gray, or the book marked by him. The first offer for this was ten guineas, and, after a most spirited competition, was knocked down to Messrs. Payne and Foss for one hundred guineas. Stowe's Survey, with manuscript notes by Gray, s o ld f or 141. 5 5 ., a n d Cla rendon's History of the Rebelli on , a l so i n t ers p e rsed with MS. notes by Gray, fetched 231. 105. A few drawings in a book by Mr. Gray, when a boy, sold for 61. 10s. Hawes' Pastime of Pleasure, black letter, with notes and corrections by Gray, sold for 14/. 55. Fabyan's Chronicle, 2 vols. in one, with MS. notes by Gray, which, according to the cata logue of this library, cost 2s. 6d., fetched yesterday six guineas. A letter of Gray's to Mr. Brown—Haughty Con duct of Lord Sackville to the Members of the Court-Martial, &c., 141. 103. A letter to the Rev. Mr. Brown, on the death of George 11., on the legacies of George 11. to the Duke of Cumberland, and description of Queen Charlotte's present manners, &c., 17/. 10s. Letter to Mr. Brown, on Mr. Pitt's (Lord Chatham) spirit and contempt in his treatment of Bassy's proposals, Sic., seventeen guineas. Aceount of the Death of the Duke of Cumberland, Alarming State of the Metropolis, and two other letters, fifteen guineas. A long autograph translation from Dante, canto 38, with a note by Mason, sold for 181. The other lots sold fetched equally high prices. EMBODIMENT OF THE MILITIA.—We understand from authority which we believe can be relied upon, that it is intended next year to embody one-third of the militia force of Great Britain, another third in 1847, and the remainder in 1848, for permanent exercise and duty. They will be sent in part to Ireland and part will remain to do 'garrison and other duty in England ; and encouragement is to be given both to officers and men to volunteer into the line. To effect this alteration in the law concerning militias, it will be necessary to repeal or alter the existing Act of Parliament relating thereto; and we are further informed that for this and other purposes the Legisla ture will be assembled the third week in January, and that an Act of Parliament will lie brought in immediately. Par liament, as we are told by our correspondent, would be sum moned at an earlier period, except for the occurrence of the county sessions throughout the kingdom, whieh are holden in the early part of January, and at which many of the Mem bers have to officiate either as chairman or magistrate.— Glow:eater Journal. Mr. Baron Parke and family have been placed in mourning by the demise of the learned baron's brother, John Parke, Es q , formerly her Majesty's consul for the Roman States, at Stretton Hall, Staffordshire, the seat of General Monckton. TIIE QUEEN OF DENMARK, EDITED BY MRS. GORE. —The classifiers of literary productions will be rather puz zled what place to assign to one which has just been intro duced to the public by Mrs. Gore. We allude to " The Queen of Denmark," a book, the most important events and cir cumstances of which are strictly historical, and which must have been so designated, but for the links of fiction that neces sarily connect those scenes. It relates the brief ca reer o f th e lovely Caroline Matilda, youngest sisterof our George lll.,con sort of Christian VII. of Denmark, and mother of the' late King Frederick VI., the causes of whose misfortunes, which involved her in the fall of Struensee, the Minister, hurled her from the throne, tore her from her children, and exiled her for life from her adopted country, have never before been de tailed with such a convincing truthfulness, and such an un pretending simplicity, as are infinitely more captivating than the most ostentatious efforts of art. WHISKY.—In consequence of the increased prices of grain, the distillers in the neighbourhood of Elgin, and surrounding districts, have advanced the price of whisky sixpence per gallon.—Aberdeen Herald. A train going west on Saturday evening last, after dark, on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, between Hay don-bridge and Harlwhistle, ran against a cow, which was instantly killed. It appears that the animal jumped out of a truck from a train going east, and had broken its thigh. The engine, the Rapid, was thrown across the rails, and the driver, Gallon, into the hedge, but he escaped unhurt, and no further damage WU done.—Newcastk journal. THE EFFECT' OF OPENING THE BELG lAN PORTS. (From the- Liverpool Times.) On the sth of Septembor the ports of Belgium were thrown open for the admit sion, duty free, of wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, maize, beans, peas, oats, pearl bar ley, potato flour, vermicelli, macaroni, potatoes, and rice. Shortly afterwards the Belgian Chambers gave the Go vernment the power of opening them for every descrip tion of food. The following statement of the quantities of those articles of food :;Imported into Antwerp since the • opening of the ports, accompanied with a list of the places from which supplies have been received, shows how the opening of the ports has worked there, and will give us a very good idea of how a similar measure would have worked in this country, especially if it had been adopted in the same prompt manner in which it was adopted in Belgium and Holland : On the 4th of September, the day before the opening of the ports, the only cargo of grain of any description. which arrived was a cargo of linseed, brought from Odessa by the Norwegian bark Augusta. On the sth, the day on which the ports were opened, the English ship S•sho brought 1,035 bags of rice from London. On the 6th, the English ship Pink brought 100 sacks of rice, 156 quarters of linse ed, and 12 sacks of wheat from London. On the Bth, the English ship Monarch brought 300 quarters of wheat from London. - On the 9th, the Norwegian ship Gothenburg brought 17,390 poods of linseed front Taganrog, in the Black S ea . On the 10th, the English vessel Andrew Wilson arrived from London with a carp of wheat ; the Hoffnung, Oldenburg smack, from .Hamburgh, with ditto ; the Hanoverian koff ImmAnual, from Hamburgh, with ditto ; and the English galliot Wave, from London, with a cargo of coffee and rice. un the 11th, the Hanoverian ship Hannah Catherira arrived from Griesrevald with 2,655 - shales of barley. On the 12th, the Hanoverian kotf Vrienschap arrived from Accumerzeil with a load of wheat; the Danish galliot Ora, from Hamburgh, with ditto; the English galliot Elswick, from London, with ditto; the Hanove rian vessel Diane, with ditto; the Danish galliotErndte, from Hamburgn, with ditto; the Danish vessel Ocean, from Hamburgb, withditto. On the 14th, arrived the English steamer Soho, bring ing, among other articles, 930 sacks of rice; the English vessel Jane, from London, bringing 580 sacks of rice; the Hanoverian ship FourGeshwisters, from Hamburgh, with 33 lasts 59 vass of wheat; the Hanoverian vessel Autona, with 33 lasts of wheat; the Danish vessel Ocean, from Hamburgh, with 20 lasts of wheat and 503 lasts of linseed; the Belgian vessel Minerva, from Rotterdam, with 41 bags of pearl barley. On the 15th, arrived the Antwerpen, from London, with 575 bags of rice and 82 bags of peas ; the English vessel Monarch, from Bull, with 44 sacks of potatoes ; and the Dutch vessel Ernst, from Hamburgh, with 49 lasts of wheat. On the 16th, arrived the Belgian vessel Jeannette, with 520 sacks of rice ; the Frau Gsinet, Hanoverian cessel, from llaniburgh, with 34 lasts of wheat ; the Flora, Danish vessel, from. Eccenforde, with 260 tons of wheat ; the Tito, a Sardinian vessel, from Odessa, with 1,870 tchetwerts of wheat ; the Danish vessel Maria, from London, with 1,000 tans of barley ; the Rescctto, a Sardinian vessel, with 1,600 tchetwerts of wheat. On the 18th, arrived the Minerva, Belgian vessel, from Liverpool, with 250 bags o f rice ; the Catherina, Danish vessel, from Kiel, with 1,5.50 tons of wheat ; the English vessel William, from London, with 620 quarters of wheat ; the English vessel Archibald, from London, with 621 quarters of wheat ; the Austrian vessel, Ligusteo, with 2,990 carishes of wheat ; the Hanoverian vessel, Aurora, from London. with 385 quarters of wheat. On the 18th, arrived the Neapolitan vessel, Immacu late, from Marseilles, with 5,096 hectolitres of wheat ; and the Hambugh vessel, Concordia, from London, with 440 quarters of wheat. On the 20th arrived the ?russian vessel Fortuna, from Odessa, with 2,743 tchetwerts of linseed ; and the Danish vessel Auguste, with 1,967 tons of wheat. On the 22d, arrived the English vessel Traveller from Liverpool, with 1,800 sacks of rice; the English steamer Soho, from London, with 740 sacks of rice, and 220 sacks of potatoes; the English vessel Commodore, from London, with 720 sacks of rice, 610 quarters of barley, and 258 quarters of wheat ; the Austrian vessel Venato, with 2,700 tchetwerts of barley; the Austrian vessel Albula, also from Odessa, with 2,130 tchetwerts of wheat ; and the Filago, Austrian vessel, with a cargo of linseed. On the 23d, arrived the Damon D'Urville, from Mar seilles, with 1,148 charges of wheat; the English vessel Commodore, with 610 quarters of barley. On the 24th, arrived the English vessel Monarch, from Hull, with 72 sacks of potatoes ; the Norwegian vessel Patria, with 1,875 tchetwerts of barley ; the Austrian vessel Carlo, from Odessa, with 1,356 tchet werts of linseed ; the Danish vessel Peter, from Poole, with 726 quarters of wheat ; the Dutch vessel Glasina Theodora, from Marseilles, with 3,100 hectolitres of wheat ; the Danish vessel Ceres, from Hull, with a cargo of wheat , the Sicilian vessel Mogul, from Ber deanky, with 1,567 tchetwerts of wheat ; the Danish vessel Concordia, from London, with 1,000 tons of barley ; the Danish vessel Comet, from Samsoe, with 1,200 tons of barley ; the French vessel Elbe, from Havre, with 200 bags of rice. On the 25th, arrived the Belgian ship Reine, from Hull, with 203 quarters of wheat ; the Danish ship Vreindschap, from London, with 531 quarters of wheat. On the 26th there arrived the English steamer Soho, from London, with 250 bags of rice ; the Danish ves sel Ann, from Holbeck, with 900 tons of barley ; the Hanoverian ship Hoffnang, from London, with 380 quarters of wheat ; the Mecklenburgh ship Wismar, from Archangel, with 1.500 tchetwerts of linseed, and 200 tons of peas ; the Hanoverian ship Stadleer, from Odessa, with 2,092 tchetwerts of linseed ; the Ham burgh ship Anna Maria, from Altona, with 29 lasts of wheat ; the Bremen vessel Bernerda, from London, with 455 quarters of peas ; the Danish ship Frangazu, from Kiel, with 670 tons of wheat ; the Danish vessel Hannah Eisabe, from Hamburgh, with a cargo of wheat; the Prussian vessel Emma, from Griefswald, with 72 lasts of wheat ; and the Danish vessel Christina, from Ecconforde, with 1,040 tons of wheat. On the 27th, the English vessel Branch arrived from London with 2,200 bags of rice ; the Belgian vessel, Anna Marir, with 900 bags of rice ; the Hanoverian vessel Carolina, from Hamburgh, with 1,918 hectolitres of wheat ; the Belgian vessel Transit, from Liverpool, with 1,060 sacks of rice ; the Etty and Maria from Ham burgh, with 35 lasts of wheat ; Bremen vessel Elizabeth, from Altona, with 1,898 hectolitres of wheat; the Danish vessel, Grinsdorff, from London, with 461 hectolitres of wheat ; the Danish vessel Familien, from Leith, with 468 barrels of wheat. And on the 30th, arrived the Hanoverian vessel, Janetta, with a cargo of 42 lasts of barley. Our limits will not allow us to continue this analysis any further at present. We may state, however, that the returns for the month of October, and that part of November which is already elapsed, show exactly the same results as the above. They prove that if the ports had been open early enough large additional supplies might have been obtained from foreign countries ; much food which has left the country might have been detained in it ; and the supplies got from abroad would have been obtained from so many different quarters as to prevent any danger of derangement of the cur rency. The opening of the ports, now that we are on the edge of winter, would be a much less efficacious measure than if it had been adopted two months since ; but if it was done even now it would release little short of 1,000,000 quarters of grain, and if it was announced that the ports would remain open next spring, that an nouncement would produce an effect on prices which would be felt throughout the whole of the winter. The number of vessels bringing corn, grain, potatoes, and other articles of food, which arrived at Antwerp from the let of October to the 17th of November, was 212. A. deputation from Ashton-under-Lyne, consisting of the Mayor of Ashton and three other gentlemen, accom panied by the Hon. Mr. Villiers, waited on Sir R. Peel yes terday, to present a memorial for the opening of the ports from the inhabitants of that district. The Mayor, and one other gentleman of the deputation, were well-known Con servatives residing at Ashton. THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON A GRAVESEND STEAMBOAT.—Mr. H. J. Colebrook. the young man who fired a pistol at his head on board a Gravesend steamboat, is now out of danger, and was on Monday delivered into the cus tody of his friends, as the mayor of Gravesend did not think it advisable that he should be proceeded against for attempt ing self-destruction. ROYAL PRESENTS.—SeveraI packages, containing presents from his Majesty the King of Prussia to her Majesty Queen Victoria and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam bridge, are expected to arrive by an early steamer from Ham burgh, and the Lords of the Treasary have issued the usual order for their delivery on their arrival to the Prussian Mi nister at this Court, for the purpose of being presented to the royalersonages mentioned. Theirlmperial Highnesses the Archdukes Ferdi nand d'Este and Stephen of Austria have arrived at Vienna. Grand preparations are making in the Austrian capital for the reception of the Emperor of Russia, who, according to official accounts,' is expected to reach Vienna towards the 12th of this month, and remain there for one week. The matri monial alliance between the Princess Olga of Russia and the Archduke Stephen of Austria is generally spoken of, but in' high quarters nothing is yet positively known on the sub-' ject. _ _ _ _ - ATROCIOUS CRUELTY.—A case of horrid crulty came before the mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall, Rochester, on Saturday, in which Mary Ann Vigo, a girl aged 13, was charged with forcing Sarah Gould, an infant between three and four years of age, into a quantity of hot tea, by which she was so dreadfully scalded that the skin fell from the soles of her feet, and the effect of which cruelty will be, should the sufferer survive, that the feet will be con tracted and she will become a cripple. THE ROYAL SOUTIIERN YACHT CLUB.—The mem bers of the Royal Southern Yacht Club are about to erect at Cowes a new Club-house at a cost of 6,000 L, the foundation stone will be laid in a ;hod tiros by the Commodore, the Marquis of Conyngham. The venerable Lord Ravensworth's health is gra dually improving. The remains of the late Lady Ravens worth were interred in LamesleyChurch on Monday. TUB FOREIGN Maus.—Vile following notice was issued on Monday at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le- Grand:—The next mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the lonian Islands, Egypt, India, and China, will be made up on the morning of Wednesday, the 3d of December (this morning), to be forwrrded by the Tagus steamer, vzd South ampton; by the overland closed mail to the Mediterranean , India, &c., rid Marseilles, on the evening of the Bth instant. Vigo, Oporto, Corunna, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, on the mornin ,, of the 7th inst., rid Southampton. Nex t mail due, the Madrid' steamer, on the Gth inst. Madeira, the West Indies, Mexico, Honduras, Havannah, Granada, and Vene zuela, on the morning of the 2d instant (yesterday), by the Severn steamer. Next mail due from West Indies, Mexico, &c., the 7th instant; Brit i s h North America, Ber muda, and ie United States, the Acadia steamer, on the evening of the 3d inst. (to -night), rid Liverpool, Halifax, and Boston, due to the 15th instant; Madeira, Brazils, and Buenos Ayres, o n the evening of the 3d inst., by Majesty's gamer titgtill,via fametith...Next:Neket due the 314 t Kist • RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRAZIL FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE-TRADE. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The Jornal do Commercio of Rio de Janeiro, of the 11 th October, announces to the public that M. Galva() and Mr. Hamilton had been appointed plenipotentiaries on the part of Great Britain and Brazil to conclude a convention which might promote the suppression of the slave-trade without injurincr the lawful commerce of the empire. On th e nex t day, the 12th, the following leader appeared in the same paper, the which we are induced to transfer to our columns, from being a very able and fair exposé of the conduct cf the two Governments, and completely exonerates that I i of Brazil f rom th e c h arges b rought against it in a leader of the Times of the 26th July last ; and not only so, but the ability and talent displayed in this exposé is a com plete refutation of the calumnious assertion contained in another article of the Times of the 15th May last, that " the Brazilians were the most contemptible people in the world," and other similar expressions, truly unworthy that paper. On the 20th of July last, when we endeavoured to refute a leading article in the Times of the 15th of May preceding, which sought to impugn the declaration made by the Imperial Government that the convention of 1817 had expired, we stated it as our opinion that the Times, in the article referred to, bad no other object in view than to induce the Brazilian Government, by holding out a threat, to accede to the renewal of stipu lations which should revive the conventions whose ex istence had just terminated. The right which England pretended to arrogate to it self by virtue of the first article of the treaty of 1826 appeared to us so extravagant and extraordinary, we looked upon it as impossible that the statesmen at the head of the affairs of Great Britain should wish to ap pear before the civilised world as sanctioning the putting the threat held out by the Times in force. When Brazil entered into the convention of 1826, now untler consideration, England had already decreed, by an Act of Parliament, that trading in slaves (by British subjects) should be deemed piracy, and, conse quently, the first article of the convention referred to does ti,)c contain a reciprocal or mutual, but a one-sided or partial stipulation. By that article Brazil engaged to declare, likewise, the trading in slaves piracy by her municipal laws ; but England came under no new obli gation, because, as we have already stated, she had previously promulgated such a law. This circumstance is of itself a sufficient proof that it was never intended at that time to declare the slave-trade piracy " by the law of nations." If such had been the intention, the Brazilian negotia tors most certainly would not have agreed to an ar ticle imposing a one-sided obligation, that is, on Brazil alums, inasmuch as the slave-trade not being deemed piracy in England by the law of nations, but merely by the law of the land, it would have been necessary, to have, rendered it piracy by the former, that the obli gation should be the same on both the contracting pa -ties. - it is unnecessary to extend our arguments on this mint; we s hall, therefore, confine ouriives to asserting, for the second time, that if the first afticle of the con vention of 1826 gave England the right, as the Times terms it, exceeding that of a belligerent, the second and third articles of that convention would have been wholly unnecessary which put in force the convention entered into with Portugal in 1817, establishing the right of visit, search, and detention, and creating the mixed Commissions for deciding the cases of vessels so de tained for a definite period. As an irrefragable proof that England does not pos sess the right she arrogates to herself, we need only refer to the very reasoning the Times itself resorts to ; in insisting on such right. Proposition—" The first article of the treaty of 1826 gives her Majesty the right to order all Brazilians found on the high seas, engaged in the slave-trade, to be seized and punished as pirates, and to dispose of the vessels on board which they were taken as bone piratorum." Proof—" This is the interpretation which the states men and legal authorities of England give to the first article of the convention, and nobody can dispute its correctness." Let the English statutes (canons) speak for them selves, and the English jurisconsults supply the reason. Notwithstanding the conclusiveness of this line of argument of the Times, it nevertheless seeks a justifica tion for the violent measure the British Government was about to adopt, by alleging that nothing but an imperious necessity could induce that Government to avail itself of so rigorous a measure; and asserts that such necessity arises from -Ist. The negligence of the Brazilian Government in fulfilling the obligations it incurred. 2d. The eagerness it evinced to avail itself of the first pretence it had for considering the stipulations of 1817 null and void. ' 3d. The having rejected systematically all the propo sitions made by the English Government for the more effectual suppression of the slave-trade. IC there are any grounds for the first imputation, all the blame rests with the "English" Government. The acts of violence to which alone it has had recourse for the suppression of the trade, have irritated the Bra zilian population to such a degree, that the Imperial Government has found its impracticable to adopt those efficacious measures which alone can put a stop to the trade in the interior. The Times and the English legal authorities are well aware that a sincere and efficient co operation on the part of this country would be more conducive to the putting down the trade, than all the virulent means practised by the British cruisers; but the habits of force and coercion which England cannot direst herself of, preclude her from recurring to those means by which only she can obtain such necessary co operation. As to the second allegation, namely, that Brazil eagerly seized the first opportunity which offered to get rid of the stipulations of 1817, we assert that Brazil did no more than she had a right to do. She acted agree able to the stipulations then in force, if, under the colour of those stipulations, so much violence was exer cised, not only against the illicit, but likewise against the lawful. commerce of this country; if it was always im possible to obtain redress on any occasion for the acts of piracy committed by the English cruisers, not only on vessels engaged in lawful foreign commerce, but like wise on coasting craft; if the sentences of the mixed Commissioners, adjudging indemnification for damages and losses sustained, were never carried into execution by the English Government; if, latterly, the British Commissary-Judges have taken no notice of the instruc tions contained in the convention of 1817, but have acted on instructions received from their own Govern ment without their having been communicated to the Brazilian Cabinet, it is, indeed, most extraordinary that the endeavours of the Brazilian authorities to get rid of a system so prejudicial to its commerce should, by any possibility, serve as a pretext for acts of increased violence. The third allegation, that is, of the Brazilian Govern ment having systematically rejected all the overtures made it by the English Government for the more effec tual suppression of the slave-trade, is absolutely false. On the 27th of July, 1835, some additional articles to I the convention adopted by the treaty of 1826 were signed by M. Alves Branco and Mr. Fox, the which were laid before the Chamber of Deputies, because they could not be ratified by the Regency without the appro bation of the legislative body. The first "Majority Ministry " examined those " additional articles," and came to a conclusion, that they could not be ratified as they were then drawn up, since they would tend to the complete annihilation of the lawful commerce of the empire, for they would have established such cases as would have been considered prima facie ground for the condemnation of any Bra zilian vessel whatever. The Imperial Government, in consequence, proposed to Mr. Ouseley a modification of those " additional articles" in such manner that they should put an end to the slave-trade, without, however, oppressing or ruining the lawful trade. Mr. Ouseley declared himself ready to acquiesce in such a modifica tion, but, on the Senator Senhor Lopes Gama having been nominated plenipotentiary on the part of Brazil to treat with Mr. Ouseley in order to arrive at a defini tive settlement, Mr. Ouseley, after a great many ter giversations, confessed that ho was not furnished with the requisite "full powers" to enter into such a nego tiation. On this occasion Senhor Lopes Gama had drawn up the rough draft of a treaty to serve as a basis for such negotiation, which rough draft was commu nicated to Mr. Ouseley—a substantial proof to all the world of the good faith of the Imperial Government. -Things remained in this state till 1842, when Mr. Hamilton presented a new proposition, which he asserted was based on the draft made by Senhor Lopes Gama ; but, in fact, the proposition of Mr. Hamilton diverged, in the most essential points, from that of Senhor Lopes Gama, and these divergencies would have given a death-blow to our licit trade: consequently it was inadmissible. Taking this very succinct but most faithful exposition into due consideration, the civilised world will be able to decide whether it was the Imperial Government which systematically resigned the offers made by that of Eng land for the more efficacious suppression of the slave trade, or if it was not the English Government that systematically sought to sacrifice the lawful commerce of a nation (its friend) to its projects with respect to the slave-trade. We believe we have now replied to all the points in the article of the Times alluded to • deserving of notice. The rest consists of a declaration very common-place, on the inhumanity of the slave-trade, but which comes with a bad grace from those who, for many years, c arried it on with the most atrocious cruelty—from those, who forced such an infamous traffic on their own col o o f nies from those who, not long ago, under pr e tence_ pro moting the prosperity of its Asiatic aFrltu_lturists, com pelled the Chinese to receive, at thepoin agric u lturists, the bayonet, a poison that brutalises and kills them. as the slave-trade The English authorities, s? long was useful to the nation, permitted which , nowwithout agitate referencethei r to those principles of humanity. same zeal which they then displayed to supply supply othiell-lecountries.with slaves, they now exercise in o suppressing the trade in them ; but their motive is evi dently more of a commercial and political character than of a humane one. In fine, we are free to acknowledge that humanity would be greatly benefited if England could carry her point, and that Brazil ought to assist her by the stipula tions of the first article of the convention of 1826, and by all the means in her power endeavour to extinguish the demand for slavesin the interior of the empire, which no doubt feeds the trade. But as England recurs solely to force and violence, thus, under pretext of suppressing a trade the municipal law of Brazil should consider to be piracy, she herself commits an act of piracy (that is, the right which the Times calls "exceeding that of a bel ligerent"). We are led to believe that, so long as those acts of violence shall continue, it does not behove the Brazilian Government to use the least exertion in ren dering assistance. Such exertions, which would expose the Brazilian Government to great unpopularity, and, perhaps, lead to resistance in the interior, can only take place on sti. mutual good understanding ; but as England, instead o harmony, has substituted violence, and relies entir:ly thereon, fancying that placing the Braailian Gov.‘rn ment in disrt-pute would promote the object it feigns to have in view, we are of opinion that the Imperial Govern ment, protesting against the proceedings of the British. Government, ought to consider the treaty of 1826 broken until that Government, being undeceived, shall find that force is insufficient to stop the progress of trade—conse quently, that it is not violent measures only which they ought to have recourse to. TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE. FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 1. • The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Robert. L. Longhead, as Consul at Londonderry for the United States of America. WHITEHALL, DEC. 1, 1845. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Robert George Chip perfield, of the city of Canterbury, Gent., to be a Muter Ex— traordinary in the High Court of Chancery. DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY.. Thomas Moger, poulterer, Ifolborn-hill. Michael Jones, grocer, Theobald's-road. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. _ _ J. Swallow, sharebroker, Manchester. • , S. May and P. 51ottram, drapers, Shrewsbury. BANKRUPTS. William Guy Taylor and Elizabeth Guy, hosiers, Liver pool, to surrender, Dec. 16, and Jan. 6, at twelve, at the Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; Reid, Friday-street, Cheapside, London; Greatly, Liverpool. Lucy Lang and Ann Bayley Smith, lodging-house keepers, Charterhouse-square and Charterhouse-street, Dec. 12, At eleven, and Jan. 8, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Hindmarsh, Son, Jewin-crescent. Jobs Clark, merchant, Minories, Dec. 10, at two, sod Jan. 20, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Martin, Thomas, and Hollams, Mincing-lane. Edward Redwood, jun., china and glass dealer, Windmil street, Lambeth, Dec. 12. at twelve, and Jan. 8, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman street-buildings; Long, King-street, City. John Maylard, grocer, Fetter-lane, London, Dec. 19, at one, and Jan. 16, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's•place, Old Jewry ; Johrmu, Walcot-square, Lambeth. Benjamin Baldwin, warehouseman, Old Jewry, London, Dec. 13, at eleven, and Jan. 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett. official assignee, Sambrook-court, Ba singhall-street ; Mardon and Prichard, Christchurch-cham bers, Newgate-street. John Bromiley, manufacturer, Bolton-le-Moors, Lanca shire, Dec. 13, at eleven, and Jan. 2, at twelve, at the Man chester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ; Sutton, Manchester; Glover, Bolton. Samuel Phillips, hatter, Kingston-upon-Hull, Dec. 15, and Jan. 19, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official assignee, Leeds ; Cape and Stewart, Gray's Inn ; Colbeck and Co., ; Horsfall and Harrison, Leeds. (Dividends, &c., in our next.) HARBOURS OF REFUGE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. SlR,—The promulgation of important truths, through the press to an educated people, ultimately produces more benefit than if submitted to the private considera tion of the most enlightened individuals. Under this impression I now offer through the unbounded circula tion of your paper, the following observations, intending that they shall be considered jointly with the article which appeared in your paper of the 25th instant, on the projected " English Harbours of Refuge," by one of the most distinguished of the talented men of France. —I am, Sir, your obedient servant, London, Nov. 29. DUN DONALD. BRIEF OBSERVATIONS. Had gunpowder and its adaptation to artillery been dis covered and perfected by an individual, and had its won derful power been privately tested, indisputably proved and reported to a Government, or to a council of militarymen, at the period when the battering ram and cross-bo w were chiefimplements in war, it is probable that the civilians would have treated the author as a wild visionary, and that the professional council, true to the esprit de corps, would have spurned the supposed insult to their superior under standing,. Science and the arts, both of peace and war, nevertheless, in despite of all such retarding causes, have advanced, and probably will advance, until effects and consequences accrue which the imagination can scarcely contemplate. It is not, however, my intention to intrude observations of an ordinary nature, but to endeavour to rectify an erroneous opinion which appears to prevail, that consequences disastrous to this country may be anticipated from the introduction of steam-ships into maritime warfare. lam desirous of show ing that the use of steam-ships of war, though at present available by rival nations, need not necessarily diminish the security of our commerce, that still less need it necessarily endanger our national existence, which appears to be appre hended by those who allege the necessity of devoting millions of money to the defence of our coasts. I contend that there is nothing in the expected new system of naval warfare, through the employment of steam-vessels, that can justify such expensive and derogatory precautions, because there are equally new (and yet secret means of con quest, which no devices hitherto used in maritime warfare could resist or evade. That the like prejudice or incredulity which in all proba bility would have scouted the invention of gunpowder, if offered to notice under the circumstances above supposed,. may exist to a considerable extent in the present case, is extremely likely: yet I do not the less advisedly aflirin, that with this all-powerful auxiliary invasion may be ren dered impossible, and our commerce secure, by the speedy and effectual destruction of all assemblages of steam ships, and, if necessary, of all the navies of the whole world, which, for ever after, might be prevented from inconveniently in creasing. Awkir, then. with the sinister forebodings which have ori ginated the recent devices for protruding through the sterns of sluggish ships of war additional guns for defence in flight! Away with the projected plans of " piotective forts and ports" of cowardly refuge ! Let the manly resolution be taken, when occasion shall require, vigorously to attack the enemy, instead of preparing elaborate means of defence. Fictitious ports an the margin of the Channel cannot be better pro tected than those which exist, respecting which I pledge any professional credit I may possess, that whatever hostile force might therein be assembled could be destroyed within the first 24 hours favourable for effective operations, in defiance of forts and batteries, mounted with the most powerful ord nance now in use. In the capacity of an officer all hope seemed to be pre cluded, that in time of peace I could render service to my country; a new light, however, has beamed through the cloud, for in the pursuit of my vocation as an amateur engi neer, it has become apparent that a plan, which I deemed available only in war, may contribute to prevent the naval department from being paralysed by wasteful perversion of its legitimate support. Protective harbours (save as screens from wind and sea) may be likened to nets wherein fishes, seeking to escape, find themselves inextricably entangled ; or to the guardian care of a shepherd, who should pen his flock in a fold to secure it from a marching army. No effective protection could be aff o rded in such ports against a superior naval force equipped for purposes of de struction ; whilst their utility as places of refuge from steam privateers is quite disproportioned to their cost—privateers could neither tow off merchant vessels from our shore, nor regain their own, if appropriate measures shall be adopted to intercept them. Impressions in favour of so expensive, ao despondent, and so inadequate a scheme, can have no better origin than specious reports, emanating from delusive opinions derived from a very limited knowledge of facts. The hasty adoption of such measures, and the voting away the vast sums re quired to carry them into execution, art evils seriously to be deprecated. It is, therefore, greatly to be desired that those in power should pause before proceeding further in such a course. It behoves them to consider in all its bearings, and in all its consequences, the contemplated system of stationary maritime defence, subject, as that system may become, to the overwhelming influence of the secret plan which I placed in their hands, similar to that which I presented in 1812 to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who (as stated last year in my memorial to the House of Lords) referred its conside ration confidentially to Lord Keith, Lord Exmouth, and the two Congreves, professional and scientific men, by whom it was pronounced to be infallible, under the circumstances de tailed in my explanatory statement. Thirty-three years is a long time to retain an important secret, especially as I could have used it with effect in defence of my character when cruelly assailed (as I have shown at length in a representation to the Government), and could have practically employed it on various occasions to my pri vate advantage. I have now, however, determined to solicit its well-merited consideration, in the hope, privately, if pos sible, to prove the comparative inexpedience of an expendi ture of some 12,000,000/. or 20,000,0001. sterling for the con struction of forts and t harbours, instead of applying ample funds at once to remodel and renovate the navy—profes sionally known to be susceptible of immense improvement— including the removal from its swollen bulk of much that is cumbrous and prejudicial. However injudicious it might be thought to divulge my plan, at least until energetically put in execution for an ade quate object; yet, if its disclosure is indispensable to enable a just and general estimate to be formed of the merits of the mongrel terraqueous scheme of defence now in contemplation, as compared with the mighty power and protective übiquity of the floating bulwarks of )3ntain, I am satisfied that the balance would be greatly in favour of publicity. It would demonstrate that there could be no security in those defences, and those asylums, on the construction of which it is proposed to expend so many millions of the public money ; it might, therefore, have the effect of preventing such useless expenditure, and of averting the obviously impending danger of future parsi monious an of national unnaturalessential measures of naval nautical in administration, prnv era e nt, anabandonmentdth of maritime degradation ` — all inseparablefr o disgrace hermaphrodite union between a distinguished service (which immeasurably exalted) and th e might still further be most extravagant,inefficient,and derogatory, that could be devised for the security and protection of an insular, w idely-extended, colonial and commercial State. DUNDONALD. •' too, better encouragement might be allorded to meri torious officers and seamen who have long and faithfully served their country. Thus, the 300 Captains proposed to be super annuated (most of whom were experienced old First Lieutenants, sufficiently unfortunate in their tardy promotion), might be spared the aggravation of a parsimonious national reward for the final painful sacrifice of all the ambitious prospects of their early days. TIIE STRIKE OF Tllll CARMARTHEN WEAVSES.- Meetings of both masters and men have been held during the week; at one of the former, Mr. John Evans, a master weaver, proposed giving the men an advance of a half penny per yard. This was agreed to by the masters, but the men stood out for a penny per yard extra. After some demur and delay, most of the journeymen have returned to their usual avocations at the advance proposed by the masters. Numbers of them have, however, taken their de. parture for Glamorganshire, in hopes to better themselves either in that county or in England.— Welshman. A young woman named Carr, who was lately a domestic servant in Lord Strangford's family, has become possessed of a fortune, estimated at 10,0001. the luck really happening through the novelises hackneyed incident a the death of au uncle in India."—Essex Ifernld. ADVERTISYMENT.I—A Certain Cure for Asthma by Hol loway's Pills.—Read the following case:—James Holmes, a cotton spinner, residing at Ancoats, Manchester, has been asthmatical for these last three years. He was frequently So after every bad that when rising from his bed he could scarcel y speak or draw his breath, and would coug h and s p it for half an hour much together, reduced and t iu hought a n hde shouldfte be r y ch t o h k e e r d Ma h e meant w a oE cure failed he used these wonderful Pills, which have removed every symptom of asthma, and he is now as free from. it as when he %vas a child.—Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, and by al most all respectable medicine venders throughout the civilised world. ._..---~