The Sun. — London, England, 1845-11-12 00:00:00

LORD MAYOR'S DAY. THE DINNER AT GUILDHALL 1 41 00 :,111ration dinner of th e L or d M ayor too k pl ace a t seven INteciaio With rndaYef evening, at Guildh a ll , w hi c h, as usual, was Ulu- i W the refulgent splendour, the beautiful star of the Order 1 04otsaner Shining conspicuously forth midst the general blame thhish rom half -past three o'clock the arrivals of various dill- I hi k SI. Personages were incessant, and considerable interest 1 iphretelfested as each new comer w a s announced and made his lotmak`" A flourish of t rumpe t s us h ere d i n the new Lord SPas-, 4111 ,. te ladY, who we re greete d wit h a warm rece ption as I " torough the ha Sir James Graham soon after fol t§ester wa s welcomed w ith cheess. The Right Hon. Baronet ,a ck nowledged the compliment as it was repeated. Mo took the chair at seven o'c)ock, and was sup • karat the late Lord Mayor (Alderman Gibbs). Prince Hilal of ( thip 0 h a . el the Right Hon. Sir James Graham sat near his Lord. dthSO% and the Lady Mayoress occupied the seat on his '44 pl . left Amongst the company present we also observed . ihtheellencies the Foreign Ministers, the Marquis of Saha. T a 2 l ateUis of Westminster, the Earl of Lincoln, the Earl of NI; --rd W. Lennox, Viscount Sydney, Viscount Jocelyn, Lord )4 04 1 Shu tt t r , , Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Lord olistk°-'-014 Harris, Lord Chief-Justice Tindal, Chief Baron '14404 Mr, Justice Pattesun, Mr. Baron Alderson, Mr. Baron tort'o_Viee-Chancellor, Wi ram the Attorney-General, the gsie -"reeetal, Admiral Sir g George ' Cockburn, the Right tts "abl e Henry C Esq., M.P., W. B. y ti t Pierrepont, H. T. L Corry, , the Dean of Westminster, Col. 'Wood (Brecon), Nis Ig WOod, M.P. Hon. H. Fitzroy, M.P., Sir R. H. eStd ' r " si r W. Heathcote, ' Bart., Sir F. B. Head, Bart., Sir *ee ts. nt ,, tsb us, Bait, Sir John Burgoyne, Bart., Sir Hesketh `Pat; "l , l 'att., Sir Harry Goring, Bart., the Governor and eik y 'u c ov . ere s , of the Bank of England, the Chairman and ppkrAki. b aitraan of the East India Company, Sir C. S. Hunter, Getman Lucas, Sir J. Key, Bart., Sir Peter Laurie, Alderman Frebrother, Mr. Alderman Kelly, Mr. Al. t* stk a , rill eo, Mr. Mariner, Sir J. Pirle, &c. &c. There was 1 5 : rh t "e ordinary number of ladies present. ,2 e loit Is the general bill of the fare which was provided N e- m.lllot tt lle i b tl et te eos of real turtle, containing 5 pints each ; 200 bottles ° Zile % 6 ; 6 dishes of fish, 30 entrées, 4 boiled turkeys and t i t * f '4O Pullets, 60 dishes of fowls, 46 ditto of capons, 6 r w, v '''aPtain White's Selim ' e true India curries, 50 French y ' l lote e l' i les t Pies, 53 hams ornamented, 43 tongues, 2 quarters un h, 2 barons of beef, 3 rounds of beef, 2 stewed rumps ditto act f . diqo 100, rumps, and ribs of beef ; 6 dishes of asparagus, istashed and other potatoes, 44 ditto of shell fish, 4 ditto sr 4 , ° j e llies, 50 blacmanges, 40 dishes of tarts creamed, aonond pastry, 30 dishes of orange and other tourtes, inil baskets, 60 dishes of mince pies, and 56 salads. itt S:4o7. ° , e "-80 roast turkeys, 6 leverets, 80 pheasants, 24 05e,_ 414 , 1 " of partridges, 15 dishes of wild fowl, 2 pea . fowls. 011 ` l3O Pineap les, from 21b. to 31b. each ; 200 dishes of 0 7 4 1 s ie o l ` o a l l ea, 250 ice creams, 50 ishes of apples, 100 ditto of roaniental Savoy cakes 75 plates of walnuts, 80 ditto e t o trait est a nd Preserves, 50 ditto of preserved ginger, 60 ditto 4, ll tth e '"" and chip, and 46 ditto of brandy cherries. 11 ord li t ,lusion of the dinner, the customary .. loving cup which 0 11 tedb a l . " and Sheriffs drink to their invited guests was an -14.1.111.1 th e renowned toastmaster Toole in a most emphatic 4qr ' eXeited I hoi n general applause. I .ol‘ it been said, i h a 4 tem,, s %Ton rise and proposed as the first toilet . " the health , a k generousQueen, and long life to her,'' which was h:Os "lee times three. Mavoit next proposed " the health of the Queen ;I,ll4net b leb was duly responded to. Z b i:h Y. t°4 t was "the Duke of Wellington and the Army," 4 ., en.; ,„ tie„•kee„ „; B urgoyne returned thanks. 1 1 ,i7 hid ,;.? s ayoli then proposed a toast, which from some over. i h aa of w a ` l u e eell given before, " the health of Prince Albert, the 2 , 4 sts as , 11 _ 1 , and the other branches of the Royal Family." 11 4 ,, e , i te itu a „h4:een duly honouLed next gave— Sir G. Cockburn and the It eatie e t t)t o vast returned thanks for the honour which had its:eith to Profession to which he belonged. He was aware s od „me country was indebted to the exertions of her sea -0101;1? S eed not say that the British navy, whenever its ,h.Aity4°..t,.b.e. required, would ever be found ready to perform L'" t o , 'indicate the honour of the country.—(Cheers.) '''O t ts t : s Mayon then proposed —" Prosperity to the Trade and ''metro s the City of nclon." His Lordship, in giving this 4 "s Paoled it by several observations which we regret to t i 4 441:e.,, each us, as the voice of the speakers generally was, ke. "'Pee, lost in the vastness of the hall in which 14/s"•' fo r L oan 4 •' next gave—" the health of the late Lord kr. ' A, killieltteaStall Glass returned thanks. t l. lst ats,;: M aYO5 then proposed " the health of Her Majesty's ktiteast b hit ,„„ • Ge - og been drunk with the usual honours, I tthi S tied - VW, in returning thanks, was with difficulty heard, th. -rat ° o (l to say—ln the first place, he had to express ltt - I S n't of h' R' ht Hon. Friend at the head of the , es, eat is 1 6 •ts : 4 1(4 4 , - ; .3 absence on the present occasion. No but a tt l a vt ese • Z i lt ko, from which he had partially recovered, would 4 11:eat n ,,., h it Presence ; but for his Right Hon. Friend who tie_.`e to' .".'" for himself, and all his colleagues, he would un. knot toten that it was to there a matter of real pleasure and N00..-tee b lts -g ioe I.,_ ac eePt the invitation of the citizens of London, on IN? Lord dite the present. They felt, as had been truly stated h t ot that //islets in proposing the toast of " Pros . perit f y to the L tt'lll ecter eet City," that the prosperity of the city o t c h tel l % with the welfare of the country at large.—(Hear.) . tie,Z e tion of the government of such a country as this . was l 1 1 14 - " l ties muste arduous task, and from time to time occasional kid : arise, which no human prudence could . ant . ici. eles t i' lleei tt t hl troan wisdom or power could avert. His Right 4 N a es ed th , e ,Lord Mayor) had said that the present Govern. `ne general confidence of the present assembly. He taiVifes - D r eattme that in so large a meeting there must be a at of opinion, but when he looked around those walls, 4 1 641. 41 Within them those whom he regarded as the . re tite'att elm % "` the wealth, intelligence, industry, and enterprise . of °a t:et * its -"sS itY he could not but think that whatever cliffi -I,itilt 4 1 , 5 0 - , ers „ I Slight i have to encounter, they would be sup •tirt,:‘ to 'IV they had one honest purpose in view—that was, at iop -e f t ° h -- " affection to devote their abilities to promote the e otnitry.—( Hear. hear.) For himself, in . the sand :kali* :e - hld, he could state that he had at all tim . es an d 4 ,,ed, 'without reference to party, co-operation an I NT o t' s,; - "," from the city authorities in upholding the peace bi, k , th e of the c ommun it y , an d, in conclusion, he con t ra. "Pot hit f„,r ,°th. d Mayor upon attaining the highest point of honour too„"al"w-citizens could bestow upon him, and begged to tt_ hay' t ittheuk b t Og been drunk with three times three. ribs m ap 4 aYott returned thanks, stating that it was his lb w he t h ° l l l to Perform the functions of his office in a manner Loth eve Would be satisfactory to his fellow-citizens. 44Yelt then proposed " the health of the foreign t le s "t kh „ IS, Charge d'Affaires returned thanks , s, and in con. 9 4 4 .11. ,the health of the Lady Mayoress ta lirs ( l 4 l 4 aTost returned thanks for r and the and tlfte tWards the. Lady Mayoress and the other ladies k it : 4m 4.,it; 1.141 t t h :‘_ . to k a t i t t o s rn er ey er . e—the Lord Chief. Justice Tindal and the General and the bar; the Court of . 11.47 1 ,4 4 Sheriffs of London and Middlesex ; which , n w t e e r a e . 11% feaPonded to, and the company separated she o'clock. IRELAND. I) vrtr 14 1 , 4 111 1.t t I,..`LE POTATO DISEASE.-- ion li lt' 'r,"; °v 9 •—lt has rained, with 4 ; 4 ,-,3hi, since Thursday last, and h DISEASE.—FEVER. l in . termiss 1 ;Z-1 4 : this very unfavourhble state of the weather blight. last night very will, The ko.ttssft4tYexiend the calamity of th e e e l ib.s. Mlle'? t he country, with few exhexPritioans,waereke or rf two IC, eet4tg kind. Those who kl;;„ of ti,titly calculating up9n ha the preservation of two t: NI , Y %A: / Cr op, now despair of s r a a v a i e n e g of a p t e h at ir il d en p e a e r ia hoot ~e are accounts of the ae vincial towns. In vat e.:uu crowded suburbs of omenpr g o reat cruelty in the Otio4"la landlords are acting ilZiet or °l rents; but the far great ' e r r it 41(14 ,1 ! etti disposed to treat their with the landed kia d oea r a n e hPoterntiaonntro; tit n t li k 1,4a.,.0 POOR-LAW UNIONS. , ge f .!tig 4 S aturday the guardians, suit to the pe . ople fr9m thOtlere r!seritiences that may re after considering the ive extensive V, kk„,°' the potato crop, passed a resolu t tion, " implori . ng ktilThi,„`l,ve Government devise means o g f 443 iliv ``‘ tO the people, t atd to provic 1 " li g and s at a moderate price, in order to le food or the en etaine 11111,11er, kliio4ltt and disease.' ointing a committee in 44lirm.°A.--At a meing of the guardians of this uriion, ~vise :Y , a resolution was . passed, 1 3 1) tOtice tires for providing temporary a hospitals, in con- f Vltil:' the e xtensive spread of fever in the suburbs o 042 b,:,, , _ I .t4ofg'edet Argus of yesterday contains the following ktol tt i an : . pain we have to C th a ,..° OF PEVRII —it is with deep rife en Catholic clergy . Flt t° 4 *l l... te w ver i 5 unusually . in the suburbs . and lanes of t „ .. ' 4 lt : 114 during heraued by one of our gli % -vkt.,, week, witnessed several instances of 'ltthkrt„,4e.stitutou—in many cases . two or three sick in N t teeli l gvtit of the wretched cabins, in some instances two Ittb,tlietc:°s bed! The board of guardians' are compelled to ke'lla Pllorary loan of the hospital in North Iler, it:: 4 fever hospital is erected. disease already George's tkikaliollearanee, what may we tid e ?'' t° prevent famine, or even an insufficiency of expect lf ifm measures be to the 4.44.11k114t.Wi11g additional report has been forwarded . 4:44", "' l lant by the 3 'l d commissioners of the potato dis 'illis4ore,,,----INre take occasion to mention to your Excel ,llPit D a - t'aqa regarding the action of peat or turf upon 41 0_4 - 0 4t °es, which we are anxious to make known p lit f ot% a nda fficial recomme 14° 0 3'l a lth , 11 t the present mo . ment we do not fo rward a formal report, or o ~.ktZt h ad directions ' ''''ft - e arly fixed our attention on the preservative 144 N tise:afi and in our first report tli k ittiv a Ilin e which time we have g r a e v c e eiv a :d m l e a a o ccounts of obtained 14 1 , di,ti utility i n many c ases . We had a i ttNi l itv lie t evidence that in wet bog land the isease m vi o - r as th'7.4ll°llder and less extensive than in drier rand 441 4..,kie 1 & t . 13Pon these grounds we proceeded to institute VI lints °°- the action of bog water on diseased otatoes, 4 % 1 4 1)p e . that certainly, when immersed therein, the dis -1/4 kit 11 1 11 t° be; arrested, and 'the substance of the potato k it tle' l lr tiit.e,r to any way to suffer. 4q i %lid -4, 3 having been made in Dublin, and on a small t ptk I als o V , ti t •n o -- the pressure of circumstances forcing s .. to w /v ° every plan likely to prove useful . withou h t loss . q Y si,.s l ° not wish to have this notice considered as e- IV'bil:44l)fti7",,ng that steeping in bog.water will stop the t pro- (10 % shoal e `3 eLi ; but we consider it highly impottv that ti,e_d be tried by persons residing in bog districts, 4 1)11j! t Ity a4titstances render a possible failure in ace certain .k. 11.4 4, 4 . object of no importance. We have accordingly V'o A " , kieejeriil gentlemen to institute trigs on a large tlle,4"111, when we learn the remit s , at once proceed Itcr,'llbefore your Excelleney.--W e remain, your Ex - t and faithful ;,orvants, " ROBERT KANE. 1, JOHN LINDLEY. " LYON PLAYFAIR, 4° Al b o ,„ ItC.,t'llikt.t — " II B° cietY, Xov. 8." 4 -etot --,;_........_______ .4,ttisl:Nyer apitao.L. THE ESTABLISHED CHURCIIES.—The has ‘ 4ii l e ' l bY the .11a r t . ed to be used in time . of t f o a famine e in oftered 1 , , relle, durinr.rlTate and several Bishops t. ge G Ti the present month. loq ove rn -E NEW COLLEGES. el tl t 51 . 1 4 1 ti o,lwillent surveyors have already commenced ope qt ?olit e i gh t 4 :Y where the site of tla . new college, consist etti3ll:44,4ht•sioi:teore:, is at the rear of the school of Eras qt t 11 11,)," that tii I Ne , ", h o. , b e t'VV• Dr. Henry, Presbyterian minister . to b e cell. appointed principal of the New Ulster 0ti7,4)), Ne_stablished in Belfast. Dr. Henry was ap- Cllott. ft6 ;We , t i tt e n, G a z i reat one of the Commissioners of the prerent Government a mem logit wh-?0,41d formed under the Charitable Bequests Act, tli_tat!thi:,,,oeffices, without salary, he retains. The prin- L te? 0, na r colleges are the Rev. Dr. Kirwan, parish N: 4 1 1 4 8 , r e ar d b It • i it'i land;' iii , Galway College • and Professor Kane, chemist and author of the " Industrial Re \l; . for th, Minister Calls re at Cork. th . ,41 ....„.,—____ °Vett' liu.our“ble igan, wil'l next month lead to the hymeneal altar tlf the Earl ei mexix,rough.—;Averpool tio o, 'd J 4$ te o t bs for be illleg./g; Vl t ioe tree o • do 0 ical o o c r ' o' e c oa t ie to be 6 s the the ° off ° ( J§ ch °P ),i or a d g 0 sits'° ° ' O t ° be' t o els c poP t itef e r 11 e 4 lc er tb e it o eePlev 10 1 0 611 t°s • ;ieff frcl f avil Egee • • i VIIE LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 12, 1845. TOWN HALL, WINDSOR. MONDAY. THE LATE ELECTIONEERING RIOL-At the conclusion of the routine business before the sitting magistrates (Thomas Clarke, Esq., mayor, and Robert Blunt, Esq.,), the following conversation took place on the subject of the military dis turbanco, which occurred in the town on Saturday evening, between the bench and an elector of the borough. Elector—May I ask, Mr. Mayor, if any attempts were made, on the part of the police of the town, to take into ens te,dy any of the soldiers who.were guilty of committing the most flagrant assaults on the inhabitants on Saturday even- big? 'The 111 Avon—I believe not; but I wac not there. Elector—Are you not aware whether the police were ordered to act or not? The illnyoit—As I was not present at the time, I really cannot say. Mr. Darvill (a member of the town council, who happened to be present) observed, that if the soldiers had not been there, there would have been no disturbance. Mr. Blunt—lt is certainly a great pity the soldiers were out of barracks. Elector—Do you intent!, Mr. Mayor, as the chief magis trate, to forward any complaint to the Horse Guards on the subject of the conduct of the soldiery ? Mr. Blunt—l don't think, Mr. Mayor, you ought to an swer that question. The MAYOR—If any complaint is made by the inhabitants to the authorities, it- will be attended to Mr. Blunt said the police acted very well in the business. Mr. Darvill repeated if the soldiers had not been there, no disturbance would have occurred. They ought to have been kept in the barracks. Mr. Blunt—We have nothing to do with that. (To the elector)—Were you there ? Elector—No, certainly not. Mr. Blunt—Then you arenot competent to give an opinion. Elector—l can only say, sir, that everybody who had a regard for life and limb was glad to get home safe. Mr. Blunt here remarked that he was present during same part of the disturbance in High-street and Peascod-street, and that he saw a soldier knock down a man near Mr. Adam's, the butcher, near the market. Mr. Blunt further observed that, seeing this occurrence, he went up to the sol dier, and said to him, "My good fellow, what are you doing? You are doing great harm to the colonel's cause, I assure you ; pray go home." Elector—But did you not give him into custody? Mr. Blunt—Oh, no; I was surrounded by the mob. Mr. Blunt then observed that he had been to the barracks to intimate if the military were required they should be in readiness. The MAron, after 01;serving that it had been rumoured Another row was expected to take place last night, and that he had in consez f uence of the report remained in the town till past ten o'cleck, the conversation dropped. REMEDIES FOR THE IMPENDING EVIL-IRISH COAST FISHERIES-PUBLIC WORKS. We copy the following article from the Dublin Evening Mail. The allusion to the Dublin and -Galway Railway is deserving of public attention : As we anticipated, the letter of our correapondent, " A Member of the Legislature,' on the subject of the Coast Fisheries of Ireland, has attracted public attention on both sides of the Channel. We subjoin some sensible observations from "A Connaughtman," pointing to a portion of the subject which especially deserves the consideration of the Government —the construction of sufficient boat harbours. In the ab sence of these, any other species of encouragement would obviously be of very limited application;_ and we trust the matter may be, without delay, attended to in the proper quarter. At the present crisis, however, remedies for the impending evil, to be useful, must be capable of much more prompt and ready employment than any plans for the encouragement of the fisheries could be expected to be—more particularly in localities to which the remarks of the "Connaughtman' are applicable. Boat harbours ought unquestionably to be con structed, and that without delay ; bat this csold, under no imaginable circumstances, be done in time to render available service in the substitution of food for that destroyed by the potato disease. To meet the emerge:icy, other re sources 'must be called into operation, and that, too, with vigour and promptitude. In a private letter which we received this morning from a remote western dis trict, the writer says, " Our potatoes • here are nearly all infected with the disease—some in the incipient stage, others farther gone, and what we are to do with the people in such a district as this, except some extensive public work is un dertaken to give employment, I cannot see. Much lasting injury has been done already here by gratuitous relief in 1822 and 1832, and no one who wishes this country well could desire to see us again receiving charity." We take the liberty of quoting this passage, because it puts, in the smallest possible number of words, the real pinch of the case ; and it also points to the appropriate remedy which a merciful Providence has, in the course of events, brought at this moment to our hand. The wild mania of railway specula tion, mischievous as it may appear to have been in other re spects, will bring its advantages, if properly used anddireated. I'o give gratuitous relief now, in the districts to which our correspondent refers, would be an unnecessary blunder. Large sums of money are now lying useless in the Bank, ready to be employed in those very quarters in the construc tion of a public work, which, while it will afford remunera tive employment to the peasantry, will also lay the founda • tint of a permanent source of wealth, and will not cost the State a single farthing. The work to which we allude is the Irish Great Western Railway, with its branches to Cas- debar, Westport, and Roscommon. Every preparation has been made for the commencement of this undertaking, and a requisition has been forwarded to the Speaker, asking for his warrant, to authorise the lodgement in the Court of Chancery of 81,000!., being ten per cent. on the capital required to be deposited by the standing orders of Parliament. There are other projected lines, of a bond fide character, nearly as far forward as the Great Western; and we trust no unnecessary delay, or vexatious stock-jobbing opposition, may be permitted to stand between the people and the means of subsistence, which they will so beneficially and opportunely supply. The lines for which Acts have been obtained should, of course, be brought into operation by their managers, with all the energy of which they are capable. The panic will pro bably be so far useful, as it will tend to prevent that energy from being dissipated in wild speculations.— " TO THE EDITOR OF THE DUBLIN EIENING MAIL. " Mayo, Nov. 4th, 1845: " Sir,—l have read with attention the letter of the Member of the Legislature' in your paper of the 3d inst., calling the atten tion of the Government to the encouragement of the Irish coast fisheries, as the means of relief for the coast population in the present crisis, and I agree with the writer of that letter that the fisheries of Ireland are capable of giving employment, and of supplying food to an inconceivable extent. Providence has, indeed, been most liberal to us, but, Sir, are we permitted to take advantage of His beneficence? In every part of Great Britain man's skill and energy has been drawn forth by the fostering aid of Government, and thus the liberality of a merciful Providence has been taken advantage of, but not so in Ireland : our harbours are, for the most part, unimproved and unknown to Government, and our fisheries profitless to Great Britain and Ire land, because, under such circumstances, fishermen are unable to reap the noble harvest almost within their reach. "Look at the western coast of Ireland—we know it abounds with fish—can there be a finer fishery in the world than that al Achill Head ? And why does it lie unproductive, almost un known ? The fostering hand of Government is withheld—our harbours are neglected—and not even a pier within its reach, although a kind Providence has supplied a harbour close to it, Keele, which, with a comparatively small outlay, might be made a harbour to accommodate at all times the largest vessels. Pei. mit me, then, Sir, through the medium of your journal, to inform the ' Member of the Legislature,' that it is not boats, canvass, cordage, twine, nets, nor yet salt, that Irish fishermen require to enable them to profit from the liberal provision of Providence; but let the resources of Irish fisheries be tested, as the fisheries of Great Britain have been, by a due care to improve our harbours, and thus the ample resources of our coast fisheries, to give em ployment and to supply food, not only for Irishmen but English. men also, will be proved to the advantage of the nation at large. This is the .means—the only means—required from the Govern ment to set the Irish fishermen to work to find food for themselves and the multitude.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, " A CONNAUGHT MAN." FIRE AT LIVERPOOL. About a quarter after 11 on Saturday forenoon, an alarm was given that a fire had broken out in the cellar of a warehouse belonging to Messrs. Green and Taylor, situated about half way down Gibraltar-row, on the left hand side. The street called by this name leads from that part of Great Howard street, lying contiguous to the New Northern Hospital to the Prince's Dock. A pile of new, substantially-built, and fire-proof warehouses occupies the whole length of the left hand side of the street ; and it is said that on Satur day the merchandise in those warehouses amounted to about one million pounds in value. The opposite side of the row is filled with a number of small houses and narrow courts, inhabited by the lower classes. The warehouse, in the cellar of which the fire was discovered, is called " Murray's" (313), and some idea of the ex tent of danger to the surrounding property which this fire was likely to cause may be gathered from the fact, that the cellar contained about thirty casks of turpentine, two hundred and seventy-five casks of tallow, and two hundred casks of olive oil. Labourers were employed during the morning in removing some of the barrels of turpentine front the cellar, and it was supposed that the fire was caused through some carelessness on their parts in carryinglanterns about the place, and fixing them in certain positions to afford light. A dense mass of smoke from the cellar entrance was the first intimation the inhabitants had of the breaking out of the fire. An alarm was instantly conveyed to the station, and in a very short space of time Mr. Hewitt was on the spot with three engines and two water-carts. He was speedily followed by Mr. Dowling, Lieutenant Maxwell, R.N., Inspector of Salvage, and a large detach ment of the fire-brigade. In this case, singular to say, there was a sufficient quantity of water procurable from the mains, so that the engines were got into play almost im mediately after their arrival. Lieut. Maxwell, Mr. Hewitt, and about ten -of the fire-brigade resolutely entered the cellar, in order to see in what quarter the fire was raging, and to render assistance as might be neces sary in removing some of the combustible materials out of the way. In doing so they had to make their way through the suffocating smoke from the oil and tur pentine, which very nearly cost some of them their lives. They had not been down many minutes before officers 310, 178, 453, and 3SO had to be brought out, laid upon some chairs in the street, and, after restoratives had been administered, sent off to the Northern Hos pital. Lieutenant Maxwell and Mr. Hewitt sustained their positions inside a little longer, but they, too, had eyentally to leave the suffocating atmosphere, to breathe some fresh air, and to swallow a little brandy. They did, however, good service while in the cellar; they directed the hose to the barrels of tallow and turpentine which were in flames, and mainly succeeded in extinguishing the fire in the course of an hour-and-a-half. The casks of oil escaped uninjured, and the damage to the tallow and turpentine. though not accurately ascertained, was not extensive. The property, which was all insured, belonged to different firms. We are glad to say that Lieutenant Maxwell and Mr. Hewitt speedily rallied, and that the officers whose numbers we have given were able to leave the Northern Hospital by two o'clock, though they were all suffering more or less when conveyed there.—Liverpool Albion. Mr.. S. M. Allen was elected Mayor for the borough of Buckingham, on Monday. the 10th inst. Mr. Allen was proposed by George Parrott, Esq., banker, and seconded by Thomas Hearn, Esq., solicitor. - 11 r. Allen is a Whig and a Dissenter. The infant son and heir apparent .of the Earl and Countess of Eldon will take the title of Viscount Eneombe. The Earl and Cottntess bad previously four or five daughters; but no son. The Duke of Wellington, who is expected to pro long his sojourn at Weimer Castle Until the Close of the week; will hold the annual Harbour Sessions at Dover, on Thurs day next, as Lad Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Earl of Warwick, Viscount Villiers, Lord Leigh, Lord Guernsey; Lord EAcott; lion, W. N. Leigh ; C. N. Newdegate; Earl., M.P., have guaranteed liberal sub= scri2tions for live years for the support of Warwick races. DEATH OF JOHN IRVINE, ESQ., M.P.—This highly respected gentleman died ott Monday Morning, at his resi dence in ftichrtiond , terrAte, At thd age of seventy-eight. lie hid been for many years hiettibet for firamber, and always a centistent supporter of the Tory and West Indian interests; but his high character and strict integrity cordolanded the respect and esteem ef men of all parties, Ills death causes a vacancy in the repre sentation flit the cdunty of Antriat. Altad ED ROM ER t A+ TI#E 80 - ESTERN ItAIL*AV iiiMxtis,- - .4aities floating, a lad of seventeen years Of age, guard to Messrs. Preabott and Son; carriers, df Ciedrge-yard, AldernianbtirY; was charged with stealing a Hutch cheese at the Sotitharkitdri Want/5, on iattirday evening last. from the evidence it appeared that Bosch, One of the rail Way officers, had watched the prisoner, and dbeerved hint take a butch cheese from a basket Arid Place it in a daeretit part of the waggon. The ti4,llPon being charged Willi the otenee, adthitted he had taken the 'cheese„ctit a piece off to irate; and Placed it In the Waggon till he gdt the df Butslaelo put on to avoid detection. Mr. James called w itnesscs,,Who gave the pilioner eiteellent dhatiater; and diSpiisocl of the bait by iitipoiin* a Peciiiiiery petigity or it I.; ititEli was paid. Professor Faraday has succeeded in obtaining ~ ex perimentally what ,he ,has, long sou g ht ,for; pairi4 " the direct rriainettii4 to light." 8f hid experiMents, which exhibit magnetisation of light, the illumine ben of the lines of magnetic forces,, and a new magnetic condition ofmatter Will he presented to the Ito l .4OClety briniedlately. ai•rijiiialnis A&IERIC:AN r child. bdin in Cincinnati is still alive, and hal not yet reached Middle aoe and during uiti timg tb4 cityy iiai acquired eo,Ooo in. 1 . 86 ftrsi. Who i)rerit ithit Slat of dt;to; when it was a howling wilderness, now walks a hale and hearty man among 2,000,000 of inhabitants.--American Paper. The trustees of the Fife estates have laid aside a sum of no less than 20,0001. to be used in surface draining under the direction of their frters: , „ The confirmation of the translation of Dr. riagdt, Bishop of Oxford, to the See of Bath and Wells, is appointed to take place on this day', the 12th, instant ; at Bow Church, City. Captain Beadon 3 of the Royal Navy, has re cently patented a rowlock inladd either of bfass dr ircitil of peculiar construction, and applicable to all t , este'lA propelled y bath. it works upon a moving pivot let itito the gunwale, arid the rise and fall of the oar is perfectly simple and easy, by means Of a semi circular swing, on which rests a brass ring that is fixed to the loom of the oar. Leathering is not required, as there can be no chafe, and the usual rattling noise that was made by pulling with the old rowlock is entirely obviated. A portion of the principle has already been adopted in the Navy, and we make no doubt that the improvements we have mentioned will be the cause of its being iLtr -cloud throughout the service.— United Service Gane4ig. Such is the demand at the present time for ship wrights at her Majesty's dock-yards at Portsmouth, that our city is placarded, offering liberal wages and a free passage t 9 lbrty good workmen.—ter Journal. TUESDAY NIGHTS GAZETTE ST. JAMES'S PALACE, OCT. 30, 1845. The Queen was this day pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon John Augustus Frs cis tiropkinson, Esq., one of her Mklesty's Counsel, and 'treasure"' of the Honour , . Able Society of Lincoln's Inn. CROWN-OFFICE, Nov. 11. - - MEMBER RETURNED TO SERVE IN THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT. Boiouort OF NEW WINDSOR.—George Alexander Reid, of Bulatrode Park, in the county of Buckingham, Esq., in the room of John Ramsbottom, Esq., deceased. WAR-OFFICE, Nov. 11. 4th Regiment of Dragoon Guards—Lieut. J. Cunningham, from the 32d Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Townsend, who ex cliang,3, Nov. 11. 7th Light Dragoons—Lieut. T. H. Preston to be Captain, by purchase, vice Sutton, who retires ; Cornet J. Hely to be Lieutenant, by purchase, Tic© Preston, Nov. 11 ; Cornet and Adjutant E. Ireland to have the rank of Lieutenant, N0v.12 ; Cornet W. Ricardo to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Miles, who retires, Nov. 13 ; W. Babington, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase , vice Hely, Nov. 11 ; W. C. Cooke, Gent., to be Cornet. by purchase, vice Ricardo, Nov. 13. Ist Regiment of Foot—F. Evans, Gent.. to be Ensign by purchase, vice Halsev,'who retires, Nov. 11. 3d Foot —Ensign D. Stewart to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Downing, who retires ; Ensign R. G. A. Luard, from the 51st Foot, to he Ensign, vice Stewart, Nov. 11. Bth Foot—W. P. Howell, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur chase, vice Loder, who retires, Nov. 11. 23d Foot—Lieut. F. E. Evans to be Captain, by purchase, vice Willoughby, who retires; Second Lieut. J. Vincent to he First Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Evans; E. Howell, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Vincent, Nov. 11. 32d Foot—Lieut. J. G. Townsend, from the 4th Dragoon Guards, to be Lieutenant, vice Cunningham, who exchanges, Ncv. 11. 34th Foot—Lieut. A. C. Robertson to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Heathcoate, who retires; Ensign D. M. Fyfe to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Robertson ; NV. Scott, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fyfe, Nov. 11. 35th Foot—J. Bickerstaff, Gent., to he Ersign, by pur chase, vice O'Callaghan, appointed to the 5 1 st Foot, .Nov. 11. 39th Foot—Ensign H. E. Reader to be Lieutenant, with out purchase, vice Davenport, deceased, Aug. 9; B. Hume, Gent, to be Ensign, vice Reader, Nov. 11. 51st Foot—Ensign E. O'Callaghan, from the 35th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Luard, appointed to the 3d Foot, Nov. 11. 55th Foot—Brevet Major A. O'Leary to be Major, without purchase, vice Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel N. Maclean, who retires upon full-pay ; Lieutenant H. T. Butler to be Captain, vice O'Leary ; Ensign J. J. Gordon to be Lieutenant, vice Butler, Nov. 11. 57th Foot—Captaid W. F. Harvey, from the 84th Feot, to be Captain, vice McCarthy,'who exchanges, Aug. 13. 65th Foot—Ensign H. R. Holmes to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Langton, who retires ; N. Kendall, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Holmes, Nov. 11. 67th Foot —Lieutenant T. B. Tuite, from the 2d West India Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice M‘Donagh, who exchanges, Nov. 11. 76th Foot—Captain R. Gardiner to be Major without pur chase, vice Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Martin, who re tires upon half pay; Lieutenant J. B. Flanagan to be Captain, vice Gardiner; Ensign R. H. H. Keightley to be Lieutenant; vice Flanagan ; J. C. Clarke, Gent., to be En sign, vice Keightley, Nov. 11. 79th Font—Lieutenant H. Mac Neal to be Captain, by pur chase, vice Smith. who retires ; Ensign H. A. Murray to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Mac Neal ; A. C. Smith, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Murray, Nov. 11. 84th Foot—Captain W. J. MacCarthy, from the 57th Foot, to be Captain, vice Harvey, who exchanges, Aug. 13 ; Ensign G. W. Muriel to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Somerville, deceased, July 29 ; Ensign R. C. Stewart to be Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Muriel, whose promo tion, on the 16th September, has been cancelled, Sept. 16 ; C. Collins, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Stewart, Nov. 11. 98th Foot—Lieut. H. T. Richmond to be Adjutant, vice Grantham, who resigns the Adjutantcy only, June 1. 2d West India Regiment—Lieut. J. M‘Donagh, from the 67th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Tuite, who exchanges, Nov. 11. BREVET.—Captain George M`Gregor, of the Bengal Artil lery, to be Major in the Army in the East Indies, Nov. 11 ; First Lieutenant Henry Edward Lander Thuillier, of the Bengal Artillery (an officer to the Honourable East India Company's depot at Warley), to have the local and tempo rary rank of Lieutenant in the army, while so employed, vice Pogson, Aug. 21. MEatoßANoust—The appointment of C. P. King, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant in the 21st Foot, as stated in the Gazette of Oct. 24, has been cancelled. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Nov. 8. Royal Regiment of Artillery—Second Lieutenant F. Van sittart to be First Lieutenant, vice Lucas, resigned, Oct. 7. Commission by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire. First West Yokshire Yeomanry Cavalry—H. J. Newbold, Gent., to be Cornet, Oct. 28. WHITEHALL, Nov. 4. The Right Hon. Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal, Knt., Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, has appointed Robert Benjamin Wheatly, of Staines, in the county of Mid dlesex, Gent., to be one of the perpetual Commissioners for taking the acknowledgments of deeds to be executed by married women, under the Act passed for the abo lition of fines and recoveries, and for the substitution of more simple modes of assurance, in and for the county of Middl , sex, also in and for the counties of Surrey, Berks, sod Bucks. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, Nov. 7. Whereas John Bates, Patrick Beirne, Patrick Brennan, Owen Barrett, Daniel Camon, Michael Casey, Cormick Connell, Samuel Carson, Robert Campbell (2d), Francis Clancey, Michael Duggan, John Drysdale, Martin Doyle, James Dennan, James Earls, James Eylifard, Daniel Fragean, Martin Frain, Patrick Gallagher, Patrick Harte, William Hunter, David Jones, Patrick Kelly, John Keegan, John Kilchriest, William Latimer, Francis Leahey, Laurence Mahon, John Martin, James. Mahon, John Mahon, Patrick Mahon, Daniel M‘Cay,„ Philip M'Cabe, James APPonnell. " Thomas D. 1114Man away, Hugh M•Donald, Thomas M'Cleary, Patrick M`Gann, Henry l'il'lntyre, John M‘Kenzie, John M‘Murray, Francis APSharry, James Moylett, Thomas O'Brien, Patrick O'Callaghan, Thomas O'Farrell, Hugh O'Neill, Francis Ray, John Rielly, James Ryan, Arthur Rooney, Thoinas Rooney, Thomas Robinson, William Rodgers, Michael Sheeran, Robert Small, Daniel Sullivtn, John M. Sadler, William Shanley, John Thompson, Patrick Thornton, Henry Tighe, Patrick Whyte, being person's hi therto employed in this department, have left the same for the purpose of assisting in the survey of projected railway lines and other works, and have in their possession appoint ments from the Board of Ordnance, enabling them for the pur pose of the Government surveys to enter lands without being deemed trespassers; notice is hereby given, that the above-named persons, having ceased to be employed by this department, such appointments have become cancelled, and any use being made of them, for the purpose of entering lands after this notice, subjects the offender to a penalty of 50/., and all persons to whom any such appointments may be presented are authorised to detain them, and forward the same to R. Byham, Esq., Secretary to the Board of Ord nance, London. By order of the Master-General and Board of Ordnance, R. BYHAM, Secretary. LITERATURE. 'HE MASTER PASSION, i ffc.: By T. C. Grat. tan, 3 vols. . There volumes contain many tales and sketches which have already appeared in different periodicals, but are now collected for the first time. They chiefly consist of travelling reminiscences, anecdotes, and legends, or por traits of original characters whom the author has met with in his wanderings. The style is bold and animated; it interests without fatiguing. This is a necessary quality in a work of fiction. We may read a dull history f4,r the sake of obtaining tnformation, but in a novel we only seek for amusement ; and amuse ment we are sure to find in Mr. Grattan's writings : there is no affectation, no striving after effect, all is free and unstudied, full of vigour and reality. We are told that many of the incidents are true, many of the cha racters; real this may be so or not, it matters little, it is enough that they are naturally described and may rea dily be believed, and in this is their great charm, the impossible may interest, but it is probability that amuses. The principal tale, "The Master Passion," appeared in Cutburn's Magazine some years back. It is a legend of Chamouni, and is full of intereA. The hero is one of those dark and dreadful characters, happily more often found in fiction than in reality, hating and despising the world, shunned and feared by all. This gloomy misan thrope is sof:ened by love for a young peasant girl—this feeling becomes the " master passion ' of his life, the redeeming trait in his dark character ; but we are told, "Love flows like the Solway, and ebbs like its tide ;" the master passion of love being changed to jealousy, renders him even more terrible than before. The con• eluding chapters of this tale are powerfully written, and are full of thrilling interest. Many of the other stories are of a very different character, some light and trifling, only calculated to amuse—others full of reflections on individual dispositions, tending to show that— " The proper study of mankind is man." The first volume is embellished with a portrait of the author. The following extracts will show Mr. Grat tan's opinion of the wisdom of his countrymen, and his excuses for American vanity : The extreme diversity of shades in Irish character is not more remarkable than the wild harmony with which they blend together. Almost every individual is made up of con tradictions, or at least of contrasts. The joy of an Irishman has always a dash of melancholy in it; and there is a rain bow even in his most clouded sky. It is incontestable that Ireland is more fertile than any other country in what is generally called folly; folly in all its Proteus forms, but specially of that humiliating sort I have just alluded to. lam almost inclined to think that it is quite a matter of chance whether any given Irish infant turn out a wise or a foolish man; and in the majority of adults it is hard to say to which category they belong. They, almost without exception, seem to hover through life between the two attractions : and in nine cases out of ten a feather would turn the beam. It is this uncertainty which gives such a racy flavour to Irish humour, and such picturesqueness to Irish conduct. Other nations scarcely know how to esti mate us. Our fools perpetually say the shrewdest things; our wise men constantly do the most foolish. And is it then, really, I have often asked myself, that the quickness of intellect which is admitted to distinguish the mass f my countrymen, is but a chance item in the balance sheet of the national character, and that, due allowances for shades of difference being made, and the proportions between sense and nonsense fairly struck, it is even doubtful which ought to be held predominant? Is the boundary between intellect and idiotism so narrow? Is it a mere accident of cerebral formation that makes one man an orator and another an " innocent?" Of what are "Irish eloquence" and "Irish wit" compounded? And how are we to draw the line be tween them on one hand, and bombast and ribaldry on the other? Does the reputation of our bold-voiced demagogues and spirit-stirring speakers in Parliament hang on the simple thread of a phrenological subdivision ? May Dryden's couplet— " Great wit is sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide," be specially applied to Irishmen ? and must we be content to prove a pendant to the truism of an old Latin writer, that " scholars are the most foolish men in the world?" Is it not unfair, or at best puerile, in English travellers to be surprised or angry winh the Americans for their extreme displays of national vanity? Have they not a right to con sider themselves one of the greatest nations existing? and that point conceled, is it wonderful that they should consider themselves the greatest? Why, then, those expressions of annoyance and disgust at this strongly-developed failing of Transatlantic character? Let it be remembered that the United States of America have made for themselves a distinguished position in the scale of national greatness—they have fought for and gained their liberty from one of the most powerful people of Europe. In a later contest, they maintained gallantly what they at first so gloriously won. They see their population and their power every day increasing with almost incredible progression. Their greatness is all visible, while their remoteness from other countries leaves them without contrasts to show them their inferiority on miner points. They hear fro* one end of the Union to the other but the language of reciprocal praise. The voice of sarcasm or blame comes faintly across the At lantic deeps ; and, when heard in feeble echoes. it sounds like envious whisperings rather than full• toned reproof. A blustering self-sufficiency is the inevitable consequence of all this internal combination ; and a perpetual accession is given to it from outward sources. Every ship-load of emi grants that reaches the American shores brings a fund of practical eulogy to increase the stock of American pride. Each new settler is a living tribute to the worth of the land; and all who come predisposed to admire and flatter, soon be come an integral part of the vanity they feed. The good opi nion they at first formed for the country is not likely to de crease when it is converted into pride of themselves. Thus every additional settler abets the general disease, and few of the few travellers that Europe sends out to make a temporary sojourn, can have ill-bred candour to combat the prevalent weakness of self-satisfied millions ; civilisation alone can cure it. But is America likely ever to become a truly civilised nation, if civilisation be taken to imply expansion of mind and refinement in manners and habits of thought ? It is the constant contact with other countries that alone can rub off the asperities of national prejudice—the great bar to true refinement. Such a remedy America can never have until the days when her overgrown empire shall break into frag ments of territorial separation. Then every rival State will discover faults in its neigh bour which it never saw when their interests and feelings were in common, and jealousy will see defects in the very qualities that self-love considers as perfections. Northers, southerns, monarchies, and republics—despots and oligarchs, will then, by opposing efforts, disperse the very prejudice they had while united upheld ; and every separate branch lopped from the great national tree will lessen the mass of congregated vanity which overshadows the land. But, until then, we must bear with the Americans, and even excuse them, while they say, and write, and believe their country to be NEW RAILWAY SCHEMES. The London Gazette of Monday evening cont - ins notices of applications to Parliament in the ensuing session for Bills authorising the construction of the following Railways : Chester and Birkenhead—to widen and enlarge, and lay down additional lines of rails, and to make four branches. North British—twelve branches and one extension. To authorise Lord Francis Egerton to make a railway from the top-locks of the Bridgewater-canal, to join the Grand Junction, with a branch. Line from Exeter, to join the Southampton and Dorchester at Fordington••tield, with two branches. To amend the Gravesend and Rochester Railway and Canal Act. Line from the London and Brighton at Redstone-hill to Dorking. Line from the Brighton and Chichester, at the Woodgate station, to Bognor. Junction between the London and Brighton and the South- Western lines. Line from the Brighton and Chichester to Littlehampton. Line from the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings, at Southerham corner to Seaford, with one branch. Line from Hailsham and Folkington, or one of them, by a junction with the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings, to East bourne, and Southbourne, or one of them. Blackburn and Preston—to amend the Act and make two branches. Line from the Eastern Union at Bentley, to Clay Wall Farm, Hadleigh. Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle. Junction between the Lancaster and Carlisle, and the Fur ness lines. _ . Junction between the London and Birmingham, and the Bedford and London, and Birmingham lines. Sale of the Aylesbury to the London and Birmingham Railway Compaay. Line from the Lynn and Ely to Boston, with two branches. London, Hounslow, and Western—line from Falconbridge to Staines, with a branch. Windsor, Slough, and Staines Atmospheric. Teuby, Saundersfoot, and South Wales. Thames Haven Dock and Railway—to amend the Act. Launceston and South Devon—to re-introduce Bill. South Devon—to re-introduce Bill, giving extension of powers, and to make a branch to Tavistock. Guildford Junction—to re-introduce Bill, authorising sale of line, &c. South Devon—five branches, abandonment of parts of line, and substitutions in lieu. Junction between the London and Birmingham, and the London and Birmingham and Dunstable branch line. Great North of England and Yorkshire and Glasgow Union Junction. _ _ _ Line from either the East Lancashire or the Leeds and Bradford to Adlingham, with three branches. North Metropolitan Junction—line from between the London and Birmingham at Chalk-farm, to the Eastern Counties, at Stratford-le-Bow. Line from the London and Birmingham, at Weedon to Kid • derminster, with a branch from Middletown to the Barnet green station of the Birmingham and Gloucester. Bradford and Cambridge Extension. Lancashire and Yorkshire North-Eastern, and to amend the Leeds and Bradford, the Leeds and Thirsk, the Church Fenton and Harrogate, and other railway Acts. Boston, Grantham, and Midland Counties Junction. Grand Junction—to amend the Act and make a line from Ha ton to Warrington. Hull, Sheffield, and Midland Direct. Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Shrewsbury to Stafford). Eastern Counties, Barking, and Thames Junction Shropshire Union Railway and Canal (Newton to Crewe). North Gravesend. Louth and Gainsborough Direct. Midland—purchase of Leicester and Swannington, and for mation of branches, &c. Midland—Erewash Valley branches. Nottingham and Erewash Valley. Line from the Eastern Counties at Stepney to the river Crouch, with a branch to Southend. Rochdale, Ilaywood, and Manchester. Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with branch to Great Driffteld. _ _ _ Line from the Hull and Selby to Barnsley, with power to vary a part of the course of the Ouse, and make a navigable cut in lieu. . . _ Liverpool, Preston, and North Union Junction, with •x-- tension to Blackburn, and branches to Southport and Wigan, and other places. South Midland, with a branch. East Dereham and Norwich, with two branches. Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction. Direct Northern, with branches between Stevenage and Clapham, Bedfordshire; Buckden and Hartford; Stilton and Whittlesea, with nine others. Exeter Great Western, with two branches.' Great Kent Atmospheric, with seven branches, and power to purchase or lease the Gravesend and Rochester, and to improve the same. Line from Oxford to the Great Western, at the West Drayton station. Huddersfield and Manchester Railway and Canal (Old ham, &c., branches). The same (Cooper-bridge Branch and Huddersfield Diver sion). Southampton, Manchester, and Oxford Junction. Clitheroe Junction, with two branches, and power to sell or lease to the East Lancashire, and to unite and consolidate with them, and to amend parts of the East Lancashire Railway Act. Line from Ardwick to Saddleworth, with four branches. Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead, with a branch and power to sell or lease and purchase the interests of the proprietors of the Stour Navigation. Direct London and Portsmouth—reintroduction of Bill, and also notice of another Bill for making additional branches. Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction, with branches. London and York—re-introduction of Bill. Line between the Sutton station of the Chester and Bir kenhead to Llangollen, with branch. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. BELFAST AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY. (FRost A CORRESPONDENT.) On Thursday, the 6th inst., the ceremony of raising the first sod of this projected railway, took place on a field in the neighbourhood of Whitehouse, a village three miles from Bel fast, on the road to Carrickfergus. At one o'clock, the field was crowded by a large assemblage of people, and soon afterwards Lord Massereene, who was to officiate on the occasion, arrived, accompanied by a number of the Directors. The portion of the field which was enclosed was gaily ornamented with flags fluttering in the breeze. The band of the 26th Regiment were in attendance, and before the speaking properly commenced "discoursed" to the crowd. A great number of ladies witnessed the proceedings, and among the noblemen and gentlemen present within the en closure, were—Lord Massereene, Hon. G. Handeock, A. Mul holland, Esq., Mayor of Belfast ; 1). R. Ross, Esq., M.P., Peter Kirk, Esq., M.P.. J. M'Neile, Esq., J.P., D.L., G. J. Clarke, Esq., J.P., Steeple, Antrim ; E. Grimshaw, Esq., J.P., Robert Wright, Esq., Fortfield ; S. K. Mulholland, Esq., R. Davison, Esq., A. K. Millar, Esq., A. Davison, Esq., Broughshane ; C. Lanyon, Esq., county surveyor for Antrim, and engineer of the line ; Dr. Stewart, Captain Manly, Carrickfergus ; Dr, M'3lechan, Rev. Dean Chaim, J. Ham son, Esq., R. Thomson, Esq., John Kane, Esq., J. M'Neale, jun., Esq., Jas. Simpson, Esq., of Edinburgh, Ste. Before the initiatory process of raising the first sod was performed, Lord MASSENEENE came forward, and spoke to the follow ing effect ;—Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you all on the auspicious circumstance which has brought us together this day. The present is a period of very great distress, owing to the failure of the crop which forms a large portion of the poor man's food. A work of this kind is, therefore, so much the more needed on that account, as it will be the means of circulating a great amount of money among the labouring classes. They will, therefore, be more enabled to meet the calamity I have referred to. — (Cheers.) We ought to cherish gratitude to Divine Provi dence for allowing us to meet together and commence an un dertaking which will result in so much public benefit; and I trust that the first spade full of earth turned up this day will eventually produce a plentiful harvest to the share holders, whilst the first advantage will accrue to those who need it most, the working classes. When his Lordship ended, cheers arose which made the welkin ring. He then took the spade provided for the occa sion, dug up a portion of the sod-covered soil, and having thrown it into a handsome mahogany barrow, he wheeled it forward a distance of five or six yards along a primitive tem porary wooden railway, popularly called a plank. Arrived at the terminus, the Noble Lord emptied the virgin earth from the car, and returned with it amid the prolonged accla mations of the crowd. The Hon. G. HANDCOCK, Chairman of the Directors, then took up the spade, saying he would follow the good example set by his Lordship, although he doubted whether he could do it in such a workmanlike manner. After he had acted accord ingly, several others of the Directors went in succession through the same form, as did also Mr. Lanyon, the en gineer of the line, and Mr. Dargan, the contractor. At the conclusion the band struck up the national anthem, and three cheers were given by the assembled multitude for the Queen. The meeting then dispersed. The Manchester and Southampton Railway Company have, in addition to their new extension line from Droitwich to Wolverhampton, through the densely populated districts of Stourbridge and Dudley, announced the final adjustment of the negotiations with the Marquis of Aylesbury—through whose large property the line is to run for several miles—by which his Lordship's cordial support has been obtained, in public proof of which, his eldest son, Earl Bruce, has formally added his name to the powerful and influential list of Directors. This adhesion makes perfect the concuring, support along the entire line, of all the great landed proprietors, from Sir John Barker Mill, Bart. (th chairman) at one end of the line, to the Earl of Bathurst, also a director, at the other. The sup port and co-operation of the Salisbury and Yeovil Company is also secured, and what has all along been the great fea ture to our eyes, the purchase of the Andover Canal, has been completed. The deposits are all paid up, and the sur veys finished. The notices which are required by the stand ing, orders of Parliament have been most carefully revised, and await insertion in the Gazette of next Tuesday.—Hamp shire bidepcialant. BRIGHTON, LEWES, AND HASTINGS. Monday a special meeting of the proprietors was held at the London-bridge terminus, for the purpose of confirming a resolution passed on the 30th of June last, relative to the sale of the line to the London and Brighton Company. Mr. ROWLAND HILL, the chairman of the Company, pre sided, and said that the meeting, which was a matter of form, was for the purpose of confirming a resolution passed some time ago, with reference to the Act for extending the line to Ashford, and also for the purpose of confirming a resolution, transferring the rights of the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings line to the Brighton Company. He moved— " That the Keymer branch, and also the Hastings and Ashford line, be made over by the Brighten, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company to the London and Brighton Railway Company, if (and when) Acts shall be obtained for making the same or either of them ; it having been arranged that the Lon(lon and Brighton Railway Company are to re pay to the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Com pany all expenses incurred by them in relation to the said Keymer branch and the 'Hastings and Ashford, whether such Acts shall pass or not, be and are hereby confirmed. And that the corporate seal of the Company be affixed to the transfer, and the London and Brighton Railway Company have all the powers granted to the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company by the Act passed in the last session of Parliament, enabling the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company to make a branch railway from South over, Lewes, to join the London and Brighton Railway at Keymer; and also the powers of another Act, also passed in the last session of Parliament, to enable the said Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company to make a railway from Balverbrittle, in the county of Sussex, to Ashford, in Kent, s;) far as the same relate to such portions of the rail way authorised by the said last-mentioned Act as has not been transferred to the South-Eastern Railway Company, pursuant to the provisions in the said Act contained ; toge ther with all the rights and privileges of the Brighton, Lewes, and Hastings Railway Company, in or over so much and such parts of the said railway and works authorised by the said last-mentioned Act, and the stations and conve niences connected therewith ,as have been transferred W the FRENCH COMMERCE. The usual analysis of French commerce has recently been published by the Customs Department, giving the results of the year 1814. In reading this analysis it is always necessary to bear in mind the signification of the words "general" and " special." With respect to importation "general commerce" includes every article imported, without regard to its origin or destination, while "special commerce" only includes arti cles entered for consumption in the kingdom. With respect to exportation, " general commerce" includes all exported articles without regard to origin; while "special commerce includes solely goods produced at home, and those that have been naturalized by the payment of import duties. The general commerce of France during the year 1844 has amounted to 2,340,000,000 f., exceeding that of 1843 by 161,000,000 f. or 7 per cent., and exceeding the average of the five preceding years by 248,000,000 f., or 12 per cent. The increase is much more on exportation than on importa tion. The foreign produce entered for French consumption amounts to 867,000,000 E, showing an increase of 3 and 11 per cent. on a comparison with 1843 and the five years' average. The French produce exported abroad amounts to 790,000,000 f., presenting on the two comparisons an increase of 15 and 14 per cent. Considering the trade as it is carried on by sea and land, it is found that the commerce by sea amounts to 1,658,000,000 E, and that by land to 682,000,000 f. ; that is to say, the sea commerce is more than two thirds of the whole. Compared with 1843 and the five years' -average, this is an increase of 6 and 10 per cent. for the sea commerce, and 12 and 17 for the land. Of the total amount of goods carried by sea (1,658,000,000 E), as much as 764,000,000 f. has been carried in French bottoms, and 894,000,000 f. by foreigners. This gives an increase of 6 and. 11 per cent. for the French, and 6 and 9 per cent, for the fo reign flags. The countries with which there has been the most trade are the United States, England, Switzerland, Sar dinian States, German Zollverein, Spain, Algeria, and the co lonies of the Antilles and Bourbon. These countries are set down for 72 per cent. of the total amount of imports and ex ports combined. In 1843 the proportion ofthese countries was only 69 per cent. Compared with 1843 trade with the United States has increased 12 per cent., with England 4 per cent., with Belgium 15 per cent., with Spain 26 per cent., and with Algeria 46 per ceut. The goods imported into Franca from England in 1844 show, as compared to 1843, a decrease of 3,000,000 f. to general commerce, and an increase of 5,000,000 f. to special commerce. The United States are set down at 143,000,000 f., of 12 per cent., in the total " ge neral commerce of importation ;" and at 134,000,000 f., or 15 per cent., in the total " special commerce of importation." England figures at 145,000,000 f. for the general, and 91,000,000 f. fur the special commerce. The exportations to the United States amount to 161,000,000 f. for the general, and 102,000,000 f. for the special commerce. This is an in crease as compared with 1843, but does not equal 1839 and 1841. The movement with respect to England is analogous. The value of importations in 1843 amounted to 141,000,000 f. and 87,000,000 E, and in 1844 exceeded 143,000,000 f. and 99,000,000 E, these amounts being still inferior to those of the three first years of the five.—Times. FEARFUL COLLISION ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. WALTHAM CROSS, MONDAY ..iFTENOON.—In addition to the brief account which has appeared of the serious collision which occurred on Sunday morning last near the Waltham cross station of the Eastern Counties line, the following par ticulars were gleaned this day : From several couve.tsations with parties who were eye witnesses of the occurrence, and others who were called to the spot a few minutes after the accident, it appears that shortly before five o'clock, A.M., a train of luggage waggons drew up in front of the Waltham station, having been some time detained on their journey by the failure of one of the wheels of a goods' truck. When the injury was fully examined, it was discovered that some time must elapse necessarily before the damage could be repaired, and there being no means of removing the heavily-laden waggons from the up line of rails, and the mail-train being nearly due, it was considered necessary to send down the line one of the servants of the Company, to telegraph the engine driver by mee ns of a red signal light. To this precaution, however, n • attention appears to have been paid by Young, the driver, inasmuch as the train rushed forward with speed, and ran into the luggage-waggons with fearful violence. The consequences were fearful. The engine Young was driving (a new locomotive of great power), which had only been sent for the purposes of the line two days. was doubled up, and the funnel, fire-box, and woodwork literally torn to pieces, while the pistons and minor machinery connected with the driving wheels were wrenched from their rivets, and the iron axles of the wheels were bent considerably. One of the se. ,nd-class carriages, fortunately an empty one, was hurled t. JITI the line, and it now lies a wreck near a ditch by the side of the line. Another carriage, in which were seated Captain Lawrence, R.N., and Mr. Fisher, a drover, from Norfolk, was broken up, and unfortunately both of these passengers were injured. The engine-driver and stoker were hurled from the engine, but falling into the water and soft mud of the ditch, they escaped uninjured. A truck, filled with sheep and lambs, was also smashed and partially set on fire, and not less than twenty of the animals were killed, and others of them so injured, that it was found necessary soon afterwards to slaughter them. The confusion and alarm which prevailed is described as being fearful, and the vio lence of the shock was so much felt throughout the whole train, that all the passengers were more or less shaken. The rails were torn out of their places by the violence of the shock, and the line was literally strewed with the mangled remains of the sheep and the corn, &c., the contents of the broken luggage-trains. Seale little degree of order being restored, the attendants with lights examined the wreck: fortunately no one was found killed by the collision, but the above-named persons were so much injured that they were unable to proceed to town, so they were conveyed to Mr. Wildbore's, of the New Inn, who most hospitably and humanely attended to them, whilst medical assistance by special train was procured from London. Dr. Jarfreson having seen the patients, declared the arm of one to be dislocated, and the other to be severely injured by the violence of the shock. He, however, in neither ease ap• prehended any seriously alarming consequences. As soon as the confusion had subsided, a dispatch was instantly forwarded to Broxbourne (the depot of the pilot-engine) for assistance, and as it is the practice to keep the locomo tives ready there at all hours for immediate service, but little time was lost, the damaged wheel was repaired, and the mail train set forward on its journey to the Shoreditch terminus, all the passengers, except the two previously named, being able to travel the remaining distance (14i miles). As soon as daylight dawned, a strong body of men set to work by Mr. Kennaird's and other directors' orders, proceeded to clear and repair the rails, but no carriages were allowed to pass along the upelin during the whole of Sunday, the Whole of the trains " up" running oa the down-line from Broxbourne. It must be said that every possible attention was paid by the authorities to the sutrerers. Upon inquiring this afternoon (Monday), it was ascer tained that both the injured parties, though seriously hurt, are in a fair way of recovery. The engine-driver states, by way of justification, that he did not see the signal light ; the guard, however, says he saw it two miles from the station. It is the determination of the Directors to institute a most rigid investigation into the cause of the accident as soon as possible, and if any blame is found to attach to Oath tervants, to punish them accordingly. THE WEATHER AND CROPS IN &dthitth.—Two or three days of dry weather of last tteelc, accompanied by a gale of wind, quickly (tiled the sheaves, and created a great -accession to the hulk of the stackyard. Neaskv tht Whole of that part of the crop which required only to hAve the rain with which the sheaves were soaked to be dried °tit, has been secured, and although some a it httt been stacked in damp enough condition, the tiNtmstahces Were not such as to justify farther delay s And accordinglY A We. audition has been made to that part or the del previously in the stackyard. In the holy entintl'y the crop ma , : 'oe said to be p now finally secured with much ;Gas damage than, was s u' posed; and even i n ft ; secon d a distxirje tat': the greater part of the is now sefe. iolia Edinburgh; by. Falkirk and S ti .;ing, tt2 CAllailder, the fields riiO4 , be said to be cl.gred ncteptiug beao, outAteildffi t t grain in that exteuswe range is 11 . 1okt-tit:dive. The harvest has keen protracted and pensive ; but the,quantit7 Of grain al3eo lutsly lost, or seriously dainagoit, is oii. khd.. /hole, a very small amount. The luxe cakt 3 ...ed oy the high winds shaking the grain lAA of the ears is probably greater than the damage to the quality occasioned by the continued rain. The potato crop is rapidly giving way, and there is now every reason to apprehend that the loss of tpis valuable article of food will tell seriously nn. the grain • markets. Labour is fortunately eiOilY to be had, and wages good. The class likely to suffer most is that large portion of our fellow-creatures who, from being unable are unfit for any settled employment, depend chiefly on the precarious bounty of others. This class of persons at all times live in a state of privation and suffering, but when a failure in the article of food, on which, from its cheapness, they derive their chief support, occurs, their distress is aggravated in a very high degree, and crives them a claim on the wealthy and benevolent classes which few will be disposed to resist. We hope stops will be taken to procure some alteration in the condition of the numerous class here referred to before the setting in of the winter.—Edinburgh Witness, Oct. 29. THE STEAM-SHIP GREAT I3RITAIN.—LIVERPOOL. r.fuNDA; - . '7; 1. oil le , l•thIltil 111 Il ie Money is hourly anticipated, as, assuming that she left New York on the day adver tised, she had yesterday afternoon been out fifteen days. We are authorised to state, however, that bet departure on the 25th ult. was Tory problemeticaL _ " The wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best !" Lord Gifford has given up the mastership of the fox-hounds with which his Lordship hunted some seasons past, and they are now to be a subscription pack.—Sherborne Journal. THE PILCHARD FISHERY.—We have great plea sure in stating that since our last publication large quantities of pilchards have visited our coasts, and that several thousand hogsheads had been taken in the seins On Sunday afternoon, seven seins were shot at Newquay, but in consequence of the boisterous state of the weather, only three of them could bring their nets together; and of these, two only secured fish—viz., " The Rose," 400 hhds., and " The Speculation," about 500 hhds. The quantity of fish that passed Newquay during Sunday after noon and Monday morning exceeded anything of the kind be fore witnessed. At St. Ives, on Monday morning, several shoals of fish were observed passing to the westward, but too deep for the seins to approach them. About one o'clock, how ever, other shoals made their appearance, and between that time and the evening nine seine were shot : of these, we regret to say that four missed the fish, and the other five in closed as follows :—Tremearne and Co. (2), 1,700 hogsheads ; Wearne and Co., 500 hogsheads; Hocking and Co., 700 hogsheads ; Victoria Company, 100 hogsheads ; total, 3,000. Yesterday, at the same place (St. Ives), several shoals of pilchards again presented. themselves, and although many passed in the morning in deep water, about midday Messrs. Wearne and Co. shot one of their seine, sad inclosed about 500 hogsheads, and in the evening one sein belonging to the Messrs. Bolitho, inclosed a very large shoal, but what quan tity is not yet accurately known—report, however, says nearly 1,000 hogsheads. On the same day, a sein was shot at Pendean Cove, and inclosed a large shoal of pilchards, but we are sorry to hear that, from some cause, they escaped. A coin was shot at Sennen yesterday, but the quantity of fish taken we cannot ascertain. Last night (Tuesday) there was a tire on the hills at Mullion, and it is therefore conjec tured that the fishermen there have also fallen in with pil chards.—Penzance Gazette. HEALTH or Towns.--A preliminary meeting was held at the Committe-room of the Town-hall on Thursday, for the purpose of considering the expediency of forming a Company, to be called "The Devonport Water and Sewer age Company," for carrying out, in connexion with Lord Francis Egerton's " Water Supply, Drainage. and Towns' Improvement Company," the chief recommendations of her Majesty's Commissioners of Inquiry on the means of im proving the health of large towns, by securing an improved and more economical supply of water; an efficient street and house drainage; the removal of all refuse, and its appli cation to the increase of agricultural production. A variety of useful information on the subject was afforded the meeting by the town clerk, and eventually a resolution passed autho rising the formation of a provisional committee.—Devonport Independent. CHINESE GINGER.--A novel description of article was introduced last season from Canton, to a small extent, in the shape of ginger, candied or preserved with sugar, both in a dry and moist state, and it having been found to answer the purpose and expectations of the importers very well, and eagerly sought after, the article has recently been brought in much larger quanities, and will no doubt be come a staple article of importation and be of very consi derable importance to persons engaged in the Chinese trade. Having tasted some which has just been imported, we can recommend it strongly as being most excellent, both in its qualities and properties, and a capital stomachic, without possessing the biting qualities of raw ginger, or the excessive richness of that usually brought from the East and West Indies in a preserved state, and it will no doubt, when its excellence becomes sufficiently known, become an article of very general consumption. FALMOUTH HARDOUR.—We adverted a short time ago to the defenceless state of Falmouth Harbour—a port of first-rate importance to our mercantile and ship ing interest. We subsequently stated that we had reason to believe that our remarks had excited attention to the subject in an influential quarter. At all events, buoys are now being laid down in Carrick Roads, as in the late war, to mark the deep channel for frigates and line of-battle ships ; and, we have been informed, from an official source, .that two ships of large burden, pro bably ships of the line, equipped as block ships. will shortly ride at anchor in Falmouth Harbour. On similar au thority we may state that the fortifications at Pandennis Castle are, as we recommended, to be put into a state of ef ficiency, and mounted with guns of much larger calibre than , any hitherto placed there.—Penzance Gazette. MURDER.—The following announcement appeared in the Government Police Gaz ette, of Monday :—" A man Patrick M'lntyre, on the morning of the 9th instant, committ an atrocious and wilful murder upon the body of his wife at Hued .d Yorkshire, and had succeeded in effecting his escape. H . scribed as being a bricklayer, a native of Ireland, inches elati fromhigh, irtyto thirty-flee ',ears of ag e, about hair inclined l to b fievesafenedty fiv and curly, fa ghtl ce fattish w hiskers, and round made, y freckled dar k eyes, smal sandy a round fustian jacket, supposed fustian vest and trou. dressed in sers, and c,loth cap. nus :)rstand that Mr. Escott's recent Parlia mentaryWe u dinner speeches have given great offence and arZ.er ,norters t a . t the last election. It is also to mane of his sup we par g out for an t are looking rumoured that the Consf , r9 other candidate to stand wLth Mr. Last at the forthcoming election- Th e n ame of Mr. Fleanng, of Stoneham Park, has been mentioned 114110Ur..-witanipshire Telegraph. BANKRUPTS. James Challen, brewer, °diem . Southampton, to surrender, Nov. 29, at one, and Dec. 23, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Old Jewry; Lind say and Mason, Gresham-street, City. John Kirkby, fancy manufacturer, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, Nov. 25, and Dec. 16. at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Freeman, official assignee, Leeds ; Sudlow and Co., Chancery lane, London ; Leadbeatter, Huddersfield ; Cariss, Leeds. Thomas Miller, oilman, Mansell-street, Goodman's-fields, Nov. 18, at eleven, and Dec. 20, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Aldertuanbury ; Hen derson, Mansell-street. Samuel Stocker, senior, hydraulic engineer, St. John street, Clerkenwell, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16, at half-past eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Old Jewry Chambers ; Robinson, Ironmonger-lane. Charles Henry White, linendraper, Gravesend, Nov. 28, at half-past eleven, and Dec. 23, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards, official assignee, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry; Brisley, Pancras-lane; Sole and Turner, Alder manbury. George Hastings Watton, tobacconist, New Bond-street, Nov. 18 and Dec. 17, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-street-buildings; Blake, Blackfriars-road. William Ward, farmer, Belton, Rutlanshire, Nov. 28, and Dec. 2s, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Groom, official assignee, Abchurch-lane, Lombard-street; Clarke, Medcalf, and Gray, Lincoln's Inn-fields. Godfrey Abraham, watchmaker, Great Prescott-street, Goodman's-fields, Nov. 19, at half-past one, and Dec. 17, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee; Coleman-street-buildings ; Laurance and Flews, Vocklersbury. William Richard Parsons, baker, St. Anne's, Limehouse, Nov. 18 ; at eleven, and Dec. 16, at twelve, at the Court of littrikrttptcy. johnscin, official assignee, Basinghall- street ; Spiller, Camomile- street. (Dividends, Ike., in our next.) ts L IVLOSION OF JAR/4.11,1MT' AT ST. HELEN'S. — Shortly after five o'clock on the morning of Wednesday last, the • floalipit ltd. 13, belotiging to Messrs. Turner and Evans, Hay dock, near St. Helen's, caught are, and a terrik explosion took place, tearing up the gearing at the mouth of the pit. The night. mea had all jOst arrived at the top of the pit, and a considerable number of the dayman had descended : in fact, one or more of them were suspended by the rope at the time the explosion oc clirted. Had it happened a few minutes later, about forty would hate been in the pit. As aeon as they were enabled they went down to see the extent of the mischief, when they discovered dine dead bodies, amongst whom was that of a boy, who was dreadfully Mutilated. 'ten others were got up alive, some of whorti are shockingly btlrnt, and are not expected to re edier. The real tause of the casualty has not yet been ascertained, bat it is strongly conjectured that a boy, who had only recently becti employed in the pit, had carelesslY gone to some newly It/c -iliated part with an uncovere I light, thus causing the explosion. The following ate the Pilules of those killed: Robert Valentine, aged 20, single: Edward Valentine, 14 ; Richard Urmston, SI, married, three children ; Richard Ilrmston, 11 John Harrison. 21, single; James Greenough, 18, single; Samuel Low, 15 J. ; I'etet Fairhurst, 29, married, one child. The fol. lowing severely butrit:—Joseph Ittitter, 91, single ; W. Harrison 15 ; James Leatherbarrow, 21, married, tw6 Children 1 H. Hill, 15 , Peter Leatherland, 21, single; Henry Winstanley, lit , single Ralph Ellam i 21, single : Richard I.lnsworth, 18, single.—/ leer ! tidalCednia4 PLANTING PoTATOES I NTOVEMpER.—At a meet ing of the Hereford Allotment Society, the u m R. Wood RYle gave the., f o ll ow i ng directions for planting potatoes in Alckinlbef: grperi ,Stiallovr drill, four inches deep , in w hich lay potatoesrrft 6 e4 ciio astinder, and the size of a hen's egg. Cover the with Yer cd manure about three or four inches thick, pile up thq thild over this to thd lieYth feet an d thus leave them until the last week in Marcisi eciiit'ihat time scrape off the mould the depth of four inches, and id iliftja or ipour weeks afterwards the potatoes will appear above grotidd. Ay this plan the frost goes not, injure the plant , which, a s i t g lows, must cofftinually moulding up in the same way as celery, so long as a gfahl of tiould will stick to it; as many as thirty seven large potatoes Will pctrr from one root by this method. Where the soil is light and capable of being "--, the potato in the act of growing, ',access has moveu always attended y h is T A ht stiff iindrained soil. plan. M g he less certain in a Lthtti MAitag DAY b 7 novel feature was iatro &iced this f caf into the procession, by the attendance of the Society of Guardians for the protection of Trade, of which the Lord Mayor is one of the presidents. This is the most ancient society of its kind, having been established in 1776. PRINCE OF WALES'S B IR TII-DAY.—WINDSOR, MON DAY.—Yeiderday being Sunday, the anniversary of the birth of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was celebrated in Windsor to-day. The bells of St. George's Chapel and the parish church have rung merrily ; and at twelve o'clock a royal salute was ro d from the Corporation ord nance in Bachelor ' s -acre. Some of the houses of the royal tradesme n were illuminated this evening. A royal salute trgs fired 51 poop from the Belvidere battery Vir. Water. " aid South Eastern Railway Company, in pursuance of the *visions of the said Act." Mr. CROWLEY, the deputy-chairmail, having seconded the confirmation of the resolution, it was put and unnaintowily agreed to. HULL AND HOLYHEAD DIRECT. A meeting of the committee of management in this under— taking was held on Saturday, at the offices of the Company, 2, Winch( ster-buildings, Winchester -street, Lord Viscount Inoestre, ➢I.P., presiding. His Lordship having briefly introduced the proceedings, the report of Mr. W. H. Smith, the engineer, was laid.before the meeting, and read by Mr. William Tyler, the secretary to the Company. It commenced by stating that it became his (Mr. Smith's) duty to report to the Committee on the practicability of the Hull and Holyhead Direct Railway, from the surveys which had already been made, the state of forwardness of those surveys at the present moment, and generally upon, the probability of remuneration to the shareholders here after. From the rumours which had prevailed as to the practicability of the fine, he felt called upon to spare no pains or detail, and he wished to be able to prove that it would not only, commercially speaking, be highly ad vantageous, but in an engineering point of view, of an extremely satisfactory character. The formation of the line, in tunnels, gradients, or curves, and cost of construction, would be much more favourable than he at first anticipated, and much under his original estimate. There would be no curves so quick, or gradients so severe, as on railways at present in existence; and, strange as it might appear, there would not be so great a total length of tunnelling, or any one so long, as those upon an equal distance either of the London and Birmingham or of the Great Western Railways, while on the projected line there existed the advantage of passing throughout a fine building-stone of the best pos sible quality fl,r tunnelling. There were many reasons, based upon the result of local inquiry and information. which were amply sufficient to warrant the construction of this line. 1. Taking as termini the towns of Chester and Northwich, Nortbwich and Knutsford, Altringham and Manchester, Manchester and Holyhead, Northwich and Sheffield, Sheffield and Macclesfield, they were in themselves of sufficient importance to demand direct lines ; • this line embracing the whole of these important towns amongst its other enumerated advantages. 2. Railways, being proved to be the cheapest of all communication, the great agricultural produce of Ireland would be conveyed by the Holyhead line to Chester, and by the Hull and Holyhead direct to the port of Hull, and other great eastern outlets of the kingdom, bringing in return the produce and manufactures of those districts, the manufactures of Sheffield and Manchester, and the large trade in rock salt from Northwieh to the northern ports of Europe. 3. For the vast mineral wealth of Derby shire and Yorkshire, including some of the oldest mines in the kingdom of iron, coal, and lead, and the finest stone and lime stone, increased facilities of transit would thus be afforded. 4. The great accession of traffic arising from the numerous feeders, consisting of the Sheffield and Great Grimsby and numerous other lines, as likewise the branches already pro posed from Castleton to Buxton, and the potteries on the south, and to Stockport and Manchester on the north. Mr. Smith proceeded to say that he had considered the relative merits of the atmospheric system, against which he thought an undue amount of prejudice existed. He had adopted curves and gradients, and also a line generally applicable with advantage to either. The Hull and Holyhead line would form the shortest from the new American packet station, Galway, Dublin, &c , to Hull, the Baltic, and the northern parts of Europe, and would have for its feeders numerous existing and projected great lines of railway, running north and south, from Sheffield; Chester, Macclesfield, &c. It would likewise facilitate the shipment of manufactures, which are at present conveyed to Chester, and thence, by a circuitous route, to the interior, and ultimately to the port of Hull, at great loss of time and expense, the latter amount ing in itself almost to a prohibition. The surveys would be complete in time for deposit for going before Parliament in the approaching session. TleCuninm . iN remarked that but one opinion could pre vail as to the satisfactory character of the report, the adop tion of which he would move. _ The motion was put and carried nem. dis. Mr. TYLER announced that the notice of the intended ap ication to Parliament, in the ensuing session, would appear in the Gazette of Friday next. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, which his Lordship briefly acknowledged, concluded the business of the meeting. WORKING of the SLIDING-SCALE. (From the Scotsman.) The following letter relates to the mode of striking the averages, and shows some of the evils that attend it. It alludes also to the difference in quality of the wheat sold at Mark-lane, but this topic may perhaps be better illustrated by a reference to our own markets. In Haddington market (the most important in Scotland), on the 31st of .October, we have the following very striking variety of prices— Old Wheat. New Wheat. First quality Second ditto . Third ditto - Thus, between the best old wheat in the market, and the best new, there is a difference of 11r. • between the second qualities the difference is 14s. 8d; and between the third or lowest qualities the difference is no less than 20s. 'What is called the second quality is the mean or average of 'thei whole sales, and may be taken to represent the comparative value of the last and the present crop. Mark, then, what follows : _ _ _ If the quality of the present crop had been equal 'to that of the last, the average at Haddington on the 31st ult. would have been 725. 7d. And as the Haddington average. for the week merely exceeds by one penny that for the. kingdom, the difference on the six weeks' average, regu lating importation, may be assumed as nearly the same, namely, 14s. Bd. Now, the six weeks' average, which was 565. 2d., would thus be raised to 70i. 10d., and foreign wheat should at this moment have been admissible at 3s. in stead of 16s. But prices have not yet reached their limit; and let it be observed, that a further rise of 2s. 2d., whkh will bring down the duty only to 135., would have opened the ports, if the grain had not been of inferior quality. Thus the sliding-scale cheats the consumers, as it cheats the farmers, by promising each a protection which it does not give. It promised the farmer 565., and for the last two years it has given about 465. A year of real scarcity has come, and now it cheats the consumer, by making the ad mission of foreign corn dependent on a fictitious average 14s. above the real average. The difference in price between the best and the worst quality in Haddington-market was no less than 40s. In the corresponding week of 1844 it was only 225. The low price which so large a portion of the present crop brings is owing to deficiency of yield, quite as much as to deficiency of quality. A given quantity of the inferior grain will yield thirty to thirty-five per cent. less flour than the same quan tity of the superior. The result is, that the real rise is much greater than the apparent, and while the Gazette tells us that the price of wheat is 565., we are paying at the rate of 70s. for our bread. • In the Edinburgh market on Wednesday the extremes of price were still greater. Wheat ranged from 345. to 865., and in weight from 52 pounds the bushel to 66. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SCOTSMAN. Sir,—ln the present state of the country, it may interest some of your general readers who have never looked into the existing corn-law, to give a short explanation of the manner in which the corn averages are struck, and the import duty is regulated. Under the former system, when the pressure of scar city began to bear hard upon the country, corn specu lators had a method of " working the averages" by which they irregularly accelerated the rise of the price and the fall of the duty, so as to quicken the period when the im portation became practically free. In proposing the new corn-law of 1842, Sir Robert Peel intimated that this was an unfair practice in itself, and that he had provided special means for repressing it, and working the system if averages fairly. He then enlarged the number of places from which returns of corn sales were re q,uired, until they amount to very nearly three hundred nglish towns. The duty of making returns was also largely devolved on the officers of excise. Returns of all. sales by corn dealers, &c., in these towns were required to, be made, and upon a comparison of the (supposed) total quantity of corn sold in one week, with the prices thereof, an average weekly price is made up for the kingdom. The last six of these weekly prices are then taken, and an average of them is struck, which last average is the price according to which the rate of duty on the sliding-scale is ascertained. In striking the weekly average, the prices of good, bad, and indifferent wheat are all massed together- While all good wheat, therefore, may be fetching 70e., it may happen, when a bad harvest has generally hurt . the quality of the wheat, that inferior wheats (selling just as dear, in reference to their quality) may be re turned at prices so much lower as to produce, on the whole, a low weekly average, and consequently a high duty. It is reported that some good Wheats were sold in Mark-lane" last week at 745., yet the weekly average was only 595: sd, At the same time the average of the last six weeks . was only 565. 2d., which fixes the rate of duty on the sliding scale as high as 16s. Under the sliding-scale, the duty will remain as high as 10s. so long as the average of six weeks sales is under 635. At present there is not yet one week with an average up to 605.; and, from the large bulk of inferior wheat in the country, it would seem difficult enough to say when the duty will fall as low as even 10s. It will not fall lower than 6s. so long as the average of the six weeks is under 695. In the meantime it is stated in the public prints that bonded corn is leaving the country, to be sold at a higher rate in other countries which are threatened with dearth, but in which no duty is imposed on its importation. M. A DnusiKAßD's END.—A woman, named Simms, the wife of a market-gardener, at Kingsholm, near this city (Gloucester), and who was in the habit of attending the vegetable market, was found dead in a chair, on Tuesday morning, under the following circumstances, detailed before Mr. Joseph Lovegrove, coroner, and a jury :—Hannah White —I am the wife of Charles White, and live next door to the Bull Inn. I have known the deceased for the last five or six year:i. She came to my house between seven and eight o'clock on Monday night; I noticed that she was quite in liquor, and could hardly walk across the kitchen. She had a bottle with her about half full of ruin, and she drank out of it several times between that time and about half-past eleven. At this time I left her and went to bed, together with my sister-in•law, and got up this (Tuesday) morning about six o'clock, and found deceased sitting in the chair in the kitchen, just as she now is. [The body was exhibited to the jury in the same position as it was found ; the deceased had the ap pearance of being asleep.] I called up my sister-in-law, and we thought she was dead. I went to my father, andhe fetched Mr. Clark, surgeon, who pronounced her to be quite dead. The deceased was much given to liquor ; she is about fifty years of age. Sophia Jones—l live with the last witness, but for the last three months have been in attendance upon Mr. John Simms, the husband of deceased, at Kingsholm. [Mr- Simms had been severely injured by a bull.] The deceased was unwell from the bile for some time, but it was to be attri buted to the quantity of spirits she usually took. She left home on Monday morning to look after the cart with vege tables, and was in her usual health. She returned about ten o'clock of the came morning quite tipsy, and went to bed; she arose again about four o'clock, and partook of a basin of chocolate. I left about six o'clock, and I saw her as described by the last witness between seven and eight; she was very noisy and abusive. After we left the kitchen she continued very iet ; I afterwars found her i the chair quite dead. When quiet at home, she usu d ally slept on n a chair or on the sofa. The deceased was a drunken woman, and usually carried a bottle of spirits with her. About twelve I had occasion to come down stairs, and she appeared to be in a sound sleep. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that " the deceased died froi the effects of intoxica tion." Gloucestershire Chronicle. SHOCKING SUlClDE.—Another proof of the direful. results which the preaching of such fanatics as Dealtry andil 4 4* Burgess, who recently honoured this town with their pry-. 5 ,_ , sense, is calculated to p roduce u p on the minds o f the creNr: -, k dulous and ignorant , h as, we re g ret to sta te , been afforded fitrtiz,l3 the suicide, at a n earl y hour on Frida y mornin g , of ascot:inn: - ‘ 7l named Netherton, the wife of an ostler residing in Gibbons• L i ne, in this borough. The poor woman, it appeared, at• tended the lectures of the worthies above•named r and fright- 7 (i. ~l li , e ned at their declaration of the near approach be t*xlsy 0f . ,...t 1, ' #ll judgment, she has ever since been in a state of - Mtatal de. -4 ;," "NI ........) rangement, and thus it was, that being left alone for a short ..`i, time on Friday morning, she put a period to her existence bl 0 ' nearly coyeripg tor bead from her body.—riemptis gonad lbs - Leo; ley► beet )ec ; be tO O 16 :6 10 ee $ f 1010 it. it t°