The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-26 00:00:00

holy arm, , and 5111 ark, qui- Dod: lent ages lutf „_ WRD UPON THE FREE IM NATION OF CORN, AND UPON THE IIet I STMENT OF THE CURRENCY TO 1, A MEASURE. ° nt eo n tc t of opinions as to the consequences that Or tsu ow a repeal of the corn-laws, there is an excuse 114 og to add another to the many opinions : l itt 4 3 ; i 4 r l vanced upon that subject, since from their advanced it appears to be very much a matter of con 'it;' though some express an exact prediction of to follow from the free admission of the first Il lt itt Y of life. Ji ttt () Pinion now ventured upon that momentous kiii o i s simply this—that, probably, no injustice or %l e r would arise by the contemplated measure to the Ilit.l)roducer, if our currency be adjusted so as to y,„ t he altered condition of the various classes of which may reasonably be expected to L' 14 't, Possible, if not probable, that with a repeal of : I tt' ly ill- laws, and with our present system of currency, N I %Id be a decline in prices of the great staple :6. 4 . , i tit's of this country of about 15 per cent. i t d ecline of prices would so materially affect every I ll ti,: f. inoney, as to enrich relatively more or less some i i : 4 t th e ex p ense o f ot h ers , w h o wou ld, t o a corre , i r l i : extent, be losers. This injustice can, h0w °.1(154 Conveniently, but at the•same time equitably, Ith4t by a method of an adjustment of our currency, S t , a compliance with the popular desire of free trade 0 m ay be unattended with the evil apprehended. ' i tg method proposed would be to establish a p a p er Ny ell . l t upon a basis as suggested by an article which Nt) tl' in the columns of The Sun of the 4th Sep k To lit3 t, under the title of " A Word upon a Measure et l „, tle ''' Such a currency expanded in accordance to let qestion s there offered, would, it is thought, pre- Vtwill • t ° °l ivulsion that many fear arise out of an expe k) „ 11 "°, to all appearance, about to be tried. 6 11 i 4 R II the balance of trade or foreign exchanges h Nt l m u l adverse, our home currency would not be ‘ 76 4 ;: e 11 . 10 precious ' metals, as a medium of foreign ti ' l l4 t iC s might be exported, but there would be no di )6.‘ti h 4ll of the bank-note money, or the home medium le e % 4ll ge ; prices of the necessaries of life and other ; 411 , tq would, with trifling fluctuations, continue to 10) 41 .Ni an average of years, as they were during re te ; ( 4 upon which the tithe commutation was based. °t tli, "lie for the payment of the national creditor, and 4 ) ,:tii t pa yment of the public expenses of the State, would I N igere oppressively felt in its being collected than 4 4,1 )ti tes were as above stated, for payments would be :: 14 ,t 1 ) 1 , 1 b ank -notes, or if payments should be made in B at °r would be in accordance, or at the rate of, the t o tit o „ c ' t bank-note value of such coin. I, ‘ til l , 't Present system of currency would be inadequate q t lite rsi Nets ; and it is delusive 'in principle, since ki tot ite I)r oraise to perform a physical impossibility—that rr litli n • 'lig the wh o le of th e ir paper issu e s into g o ld a t , • r ate of 3/ 17s 10id. per ounce ; besides which, th, 'Yet e • • • ' of currency is ever liable to be disturbed by lit C o 'c'tit 1:13 Netion s and expansions of bank paper to keep b, tisk ,',Nkti o „ e t Price of gold at par • such contractions and ex io-44: 4 ffect prices, and are ' ruinously mischievous to 1 1' 1 4 b e si tious classes. In short, this system of currency h ,... 41 t1 1 ' 4 Very ricketty affi t ir. With abundant harvest s Cil i t , Neatry at peace, it may be upheld; but it could o. 4 Ppii y al l Probabili ty , en d ure t h e s h oc k o f war . If, un ere ~,,•" 4 war should arise between us and France, 1 c 4 ioo . °11 ,,,_ 1(1 , and not without reason, be a fear of in. ' , -411 18 h , we should become alarmed : a run for the pre ltll4 petals would ensue ; a general smash of banks t!, b r : ll °W ; and the consequences would, at such a T o , most fearful ka lt ,: eill rn to the subject of the repeal of the corn-laws. e l , ms b e ,_ " 0 "nest—let us be guided by the social rule of ,teiletltoothers as you would be done by." T,et our Lme toy 0 system be adapted to the circumstances of the . k; b u i lt ur Wants, and to cur state of civilisation ; let it vtive soil- the solid foundation and products of our :Pe ti;:'` t i- Under these condition, there would be a 1.. 014 d the angry feeling now unhappily prevailing 'cl rn: llb side ; and th at our agr i cultural, commerc i al, kliitm eu facturing interests, would each advance in be0. 4 . 3 11 A d Perfect harmony. We, 1845. J. IL REASONINGS ON DEEP SEA fly form er MR. DEMPSTER. fi 'Ay form er c•maionications on the subj-ct of deep sea : h ing, suggesting the numerous advantages that might gained to the public were those fisheries conducted !Pon the same principle as is carried on by the English rd Dutch, I t r ust h a v e b een sufficiently explanatory g "hvinte, that the very primitive way the fisheries of 0 °nand are at present managed cause a wide vacuum ,P' 24 for improvement ; an improvement that might be th as ymade if once the two primary requisites are ma ‘rie • namely—the MoNEY and the WILL. ~,,(18 for the WAY, that must be quite clear to all who r ff a u s i rs the slightest degree of knowledge in nautical fe s, or to any one else who will give the quest•on a th w minutes' consideration, and 11. ay be thus stated—lf A Zic•oglish an d D u t c h ca n afford to come, with large B: , '"ag vessels, a distance of 600 miles to the coast of ti ' o tland, to prosecute the fisheries, and find it a lucra h2 trade, at th e same ti me sever al thousand individuals ktici l thereby employed, anti the inhabitants in Holland to England can get fish from our coast in the very best eb,! ' " aeiti lan, both cured and fresh, whilst the inhabitants of country, who are within a few miles of myriads of h p description of fish, natural to our northern lati- VT; often find occasion to com;ltin both of scarcity, p i !" Price, unsoundmss of fish, &c., it is clear that the pres ent :system of fishing in Scotland must be anomalous. fiti When the Dutch and English do well after coming k e h a distance, we ought to do better with the advan • 7 of the fi s hi ng groun d so c l o se at had. the here must be a WAY; but what is necessary to fill up ki ", blank—is MONEY to procure efficient vessels, &c., 1 the WILL to work and use them advantageously. psi n a ,to aware many persons are of opinion that the t ors fiPal and greatest difficulty to be overcome is the t'isluring proper experienced men for such undertakings, h al t ) '. 'e fishermen may be averse to reform their ancient % p u s, and will say, "If there were decked vessels pro will for u s t o fi s h i n th e d ee p sea , w hat would we do iiourlve littlethe effect upon ne boats as at present constructed are only adapted ts in P r osecuting the herring fishing, at a time when they th tit e insho re to spawn, and are invariably foul. With . ti t , e ,d vessels we may catch and cure herrings, as the N'u .do, in deep wate”, during the months of June and 4al' when th e y are th en i n their prime, plump, rich, and m'Y condition. h t . ," Present class of fishing boats in Scotland are not 14expensive when new. Joint-stock companies, de -14:" to improve the fisheries, might find it an advan co ind e m n ify th e fi s h ermen f o r their boats, in pro 104,, 11 to their value. The fishermen might then be leoco'red to embark their capital in tee enterprise, and bo ti a3 e sharehold e r s o f su c h companies. The boats th„ 3 not be altogether valueless to the companies, as h might be disposed of in various ways for other the - 1; t- west and north-west of Scotland, the Dencale ite„4 Sea, and f rom C a p e W r ath, through the Great Is t 'aittle Minch, the ex t ens ive shoal of herrings that thAt tally visit our shores, has never been known to miss let i 4ract on their passage southward. With decked litel o s ,there to capture the herrings before they entered INd e a s (which they do to spawn) . herrings of the very tti4 scription might be taken in immense . quantities. ' 4 14 . r lown that those herrings are far superior to such is caught on the east coast. The Dutch fishing Itit he s never double Cape Wrath to the westward, in :Itt„,quence of the intricate navigation towards it, and li'' fro m H o ll an d . Th e west coast deep sea herring k ik ie g bein g comp l ete d b y d ec k e d vesse l s belonging to N at ei lintry, could then proceed through•the Caledonian 'th ol i to the eas t coas t, an d p ursue th e deep sea white h.°l4. k , m i , - 1 1 g the latter part of spring, summer, and au- IN ) tne cod fish invariably keep out in deep water. the le 0 4 r; bealth ones swimmincs near the surface. They C beipal Y ly caught on board of smacks with short Li c i ln es. Throughout the winter, when the weather i and frosty, the cod migrates from the deep into „ r ll , l ld arms of the sea. They then swim low, and I ltth e i htnd lines are used on board of smacks for catch ikth 'b. ~t ie trawl net, which is used to fish for soles and other no t i L Ilion of flat fish, is worked much upon the same „Is e P t lP as an oyster dredge; excepting that the trawl ` th e 1 3 constructed so as to be trailed over the surface `top,,tround, and not to enter it, as the oyster dredge ,l'p e Pleted to do. k a lli t • `° ll B to the time the early herrings were expected . . * est.coast, a number of the vessels could receive N ki their net s , a n d proceed through the Caledonian r, t4 whilst some would remain on the east-coast, en it in the white fishing, &c. ; so that, with decked l 6 to carry on the fisheries, they might be profitably e ; ccl all the year through ; and now that railways tag d tn tersect the country at every important point, e'lbt need be entertained as to finding a market Nt, ~,; Wherever they can b e i m ported in a fresh whole- N' t klition, there will always be purchasers. ill'sheries of Scotland are one of her greatest natu rictions, from which the nation might derive con k4itko benefit as an article of trade. Yet, how unac t,4l strange, those treasures of the deep (which, 45 .1 .6! 1 3 are valued according to their sterling worth), ti;,7 l ,li 4 Pal and most valuable of all, viz., the deep sea 10 4 1 41 (1 the deep sea cod, are only properly fished 4 4, eke inhabitants of other nations, whilst at home 6. ntre's bountiful gift. ih d . t ile * and improve the fisheries of Scotland must h t l 'idl i „° 11 t of atriotic compaies or associations. No qairee enterprise will ever n effect the change that is le t ; . If joint-stock companies or associations do h x tliti o " It, the fisheries of Scotland may remai for N a o, s they have already been, neglected ; a n pre -1141j4 and uncertain branch of trade to those who en lib them, which chiefly arises from the want of effi • It • e atels 'an as to enable the fishermen to prosecute N No „ . . .... ... Lo_ h a e g_in all weathers. . - 4 beginning towards improvement, some in ksl o ce s to toe fishermen, by the way of indemnifying 1 r their boats, might perhaps not be found out of e t a s ' if they are allowed to keep them in their own tkt tt i 3 n, some will continue to abide by their old, an- Ml i i , Primitive, o bt use cus toms the longest days of civ ilised customs at are almost obsolete in every l 'ilised country but this and Ireland. THE SLAVE TRADE. LIVIIRPOOL, DEC. 20.—The following protest of the Brazilian Government against an Act of the British Par liament, which passed into law on the Bth of August, 1845, whereby Brazilian vessels engaged in the slave trade become amenable to the High Court of Admiralty of Great Britain, and to any and every Court of Vice- Admiralty within the British dominions, has been re ceived by a late arrival at this port: — "Foreign-office, Rio de Janeiro, Oct. 22, 1845. "His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, my august Sovereign, heard with the most profound regret that her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain had, on the Bth day of August last, approved and sanctioned an Act of Par liament which conferred upon the High Court of Admi ralty, and upon any and every Court of Vice-Admiralty within the dominions of her Britannic Majesty, the right to take cognisance of and adjudicate any vessel under the Brazilian flag, which, in violation of the convention of the 23d of November, 1826, may he engaged in the slave trade and be detained and captured by any person in the service of her said Majesty. As soon as the Act was presented to Parliament by the British Government, the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor of Brasil at the Court of St. James, protested against it, conformably to his duty, by a note, of which the en closed is a copy, and which, under date of the 25th day of July last, he addressed to Lord Aberdeen, her Bri tannic Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Fo reign Affairs. " Ilis Majesty the Emperor, to whom the protest made by his Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni potentiary at the Court of St. James was submitted, has commanded the undersigned, Minister and Secretary of State for Foreige Affairs, to approve and confirm the said protest, and to enter into a detailed exposition of the facts, and of the right of the Imperial Government to declare itself with all the energy arising from a con sciousness of justice against an Act which so directly in vades the sovereign rights and independence of Brazil, as well as those of every nation. Such is the command with which the undersigned immediately proceeds to comply. "By the treaty of the 22d of January, 1815, the Government of the united kingdom of Portugal, Bra zil, and Algarve became engaged to abolish the slave trade to the northward of the Equator, and to adopt, in concert with Great Britain, such measures as might effectually tend to the due performance of the preced ing engagement, reserving, to be determined by a se parate treaty, the period when the slave trade should wholly cease and be prohibited throughout the Portu guese dominions. " In the faithful and effectual fulfilment of the obli gations contracted by the treaty of the 22d of Jannary, 1815, the additional convention of the 28th of July, 1817, was concluded. " By this convention, amongst other stipulations, the right of visit, and the establishment of mixed commis sions to adjudicate the prizes made by the cruisers of the high contracting Powers, were mutually agreed to, and on the same day the Plenipotentiaries of the two Go vernments signed the instructions for the vessels of war destined to prevent the slave trade, and the regula tions for the mixed commissions. " On the 11th of September of the same year of 1817, a separate article was signed in London, and afterwards duly ratified by the Portuguese Government, by which it was mutually agreed, that, as soon as the total abolition of the slave trade should take place, the two high con tracting Powers would adapt to the new state of things the stipulations of the additional convention of the 28th of July of the said year ; and it was further mutually agreed, that, in default of such alterations, the aforesaid additional convention should be in force for and until the expiration of fifteen years from the date at which the total abolition of the slave trade should take place on the part of Portugal. "By art. 1 of the convention concluded between Bra zil and Great Britain on the 23d of November, 1826, and ratified on the 13th of March, 1827, it was agreed, that, from and after the expiration of three years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications, it should be no longer lawful, under any pretext or in any manner whatsoever, for Brazilian subjects to be concerned in the carrying on of the slave trade, and that the carrying on of such trade after that period by any subject of his Impe rial Majesty should be considered as piracy. " By art. 2 of said convention the high contracting Powers agreed to adopt and renew, as effectually as if the same were inserted word for word in the con vention, the several articles and provisions of the trea ties concluded between his Britannic Majesty and the King of Portugal on this subject on the 22d of January, 1815, and on the 28th of July, 1817, and the several explanatory articles which had been added thereunto. " One of the conventions thus adopted and renewed by art. 2 of the convention of 1826 having been that of the 28th of July, 1817, which established the right of visit and the mixed commissions, and one of the explana tory articles likewise adopted and renewed by the afere - said convention of 1826 having been the separate article of the 1 Ith of September, 1817, by which the right of search and the mixed commissions were to cease after the expiration of 15 years from the date of the abolition of the slave trade, it is evident that the right of visit and search exercised in time of peace by the British cruisers against Brazilian vessels, and the mixed com missions established for the adjudication of prizes made by British cruizers or by Brazilian cruizers, expired on the 13th of March, 1845, the period at which were com • pleted the 15 years subsequent to the total abolition of the slave trade, conformably to art. 1 of the convention of the 23d of November, 1826, which was ratified on the 13th of March, 1827. " The expiration of this period and of the measures stipulated in the additional convention of the 28th of July, 1817, were what the Government of his Majesty the Emperor of Brazil notified to her Britannic Ma jesty's Government, through the medium of the British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at this Court, in a note under date of the 12th of March last ; in which note was further signified, that, inasmuch as six months had been agreed to be given to such Bra zilian vessels as had left the coast of Africa before the 13th of March to return to the ports of the empire, the Imperial Government would consent that the mixed com missions should continue in force six months longer for the topecial purpose of adjudicating such cases as were pending, and such other seizures or detentions as may hare occurred prior to the 13th of March. " The Imperial Government was not to blame if, prior to the expiration of the fifteen years before-named, it was not possible for the Imperial Government and the Government of Great Britain to come to a just and rea sonable agreement with the view to adapt to the new state of circumstances arising from the total abolition of the slave trade the measures contained in the additional convention of the 28th of July, 1817. " It is an incontrovertible truth, that in the year 1835, and from 1840 to 1842, the Imperial Government invari ably evinced the most ardent desire to give every due at tention to the various negotiations proposed by the Go vernment of Great Britain. If none of these negotiations could be effectually concluded or ratified, the reason was, that the Imperial Government had only the alternative of rejecting the propositions made, or of subscribing to the complete ruin of the legal trade of the subjects of Brazil, which, on the contrary, it was the express duty of the Imperial Government to foster and protect. The choice could not be doubtful to a Government conscious of its duties. " In fact, all the pioposals made within the period re ferred to by the British Government contained, inde pendently of other glaring defects, that of establishing various cases, each of which would of itself be deemed primd facie evidence to condemn any vessel suspected of being engaged in the slave trade. " Some of these cases—for instance, the fact of two boilers, though of the usual size, being on board any vessel—could not without violating the most ordinary rules of right be tortured into the remotest evidence that the vessel was intended for the slave trade ; still, accord ing to the terms of these proposals, each of these cases would be sufficient to authorise the condemnation of such vessel and her cargo to the prejudice and total destruc tion of the legal trade of Brazilian subjects. " This was declared and made evident to the Govern ment of her Britannic Majesty in the notes of the Im perial Government of the Bth of February and 20th of August, 1841, and 7th of October, 1842. " Amidst these exaggerated pretensions the Imperial Government did not omit to propose to that of Great Britain such measures as, in its judgment, were deemed likely to conciliate the suppression of the slave trade with the interests of the lawful commerce of Brazilian .zubjects, having, in the year 1841, offered a counter pro ject which contained all the clauses adequate to the two fold purpose which the Imperial Government anxiously and sincerely sought to obtain. " Unfortunately, the discussion of this counter pro ject could not proceed, because her Britannic Majesty's Minister was not furnished with full powers, as was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the notes of the 26th of August 1841, and 17th of October, 1842 . " Notwithstanding, however, that the Imperial Go vernment could not, from the motives of justice already assigned, acquiesce in the proposals of her Britannic Majesty's Government, several Brazilian vessels were captured by British cruizers, and judged and condemned by British Commissioners, as suspected of being engaged in the slave trade in violation of the instructions and regulations annexed to the convention of the 28th of July, 1817, though in accordance with the basis of the rejected proposals ; and notwithstanding the repeated remonstrances made by the Imperial Government against these violations of the existent treaties and con ventions by means of these proceedings, to none of these remonstrances has full and complete justice yet been done. " It is thus quite evident that the Act notified to her Britannic Majesty's Government under date of the 12th of March last was, without diminishing the earnest desire of the Imperial Government for the suppression of the slave-trade, nothing more than a faithful compliance with the treaties and conventions existent between the Im perial Government and that of her Britannic Majesty. " The especial stipulations between the Imperial Go vernment and that of Great Britain which authorised in time of peace the right of visit, and the mixed commis sions having ceased, the re-establishment of these mea sures, or the substitution of others, could only be effected by a new agreement and understanding between the two Governments. " It is a principle of the law of nations that the Go vernment of one country cannot exercise any act of jurisdiction over the property and individuals in the ter ritory of another. " The visit and search on the high seas in times of peace, as well as the adjudications, are more or less acts of a jurisdiction. That right is, moreover, belligerent. " Notwithstanding the evidence of these principles, the Government of her Britannic Majesty, by virtue of an Act sanctioned by her Majesty on the Bth of August last, did not hesitate to put into execution the threat previously made through the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of her Britannic Majesty at this Court in a note dated the 23d of July last, by which Act Brazilian vessels engaged in the slave trade are ren dered amenable to the British Courts of Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty. THE SITN, LONDO'N, FRIDAY MORNING, . DECEMBER 26, 1845 " In this Act, it is impossible not to recognise that unjustifiable abuse of force which threatens the rights of all free and independent nations. It is similar to that of which Portugal became the victim in 1839, and which likewise passed into law, despite the opposition of the Duke of Wellington, one of the most eminent statesmen in England, •who, in the House of Lords, on the 11th of August, 1839, strenuously remonstrated against the right ' of visit and search in time of peace. " If this violence is now sought to be palliated by the great interest which exists for the suppression of the slave trade, it is unquestionable that the end sought to be obtained cannot justify the iniquity of the means em ployed ; and no surprise ought to be created, if, under the pretext of protecting other interests, the counsels of reason and universal public rights, upon which the secu rity and peace of nations depend, be substituted in the tribunals of the most powerful nations by force and violence. " To justify the legislative enactment by which the English Courts are empowered to take cognizance of Brazilian vessels engaged in the slave trade and captured, th British Government. cites art. 1 of the convention which was concluded on the 23d of November, 1826, between Brazil and Great Britain, by which convention the slave-trade on the coast of Africa was abolished. "But this article is very far from authorising the right which the British Government claims and usurps. " By this article the Imperial Government is bound -Ist, to forbid Brazilian subjects to be engaged in, and entirely to abolish, the slave-trade within three years of the exchange of the ratifications—that is, from and after the 13th of March, 1830; 2dly, to consider and treat the trade on the part of Brazilian subjects as piracy. " With respect to the first obligation, there neither is nor can be any doubt : and as regards the second, it is clear that the intervention of the British Government with reference to the trade carried on by Brazilian sub jects is limited to the right of demanding from the Im perial Government an exact and punctual observance of the treaty and nothing more. " The letter of art. 1 of the convention comprehends only Brazilian subjects, and the illicit trade which may be carried on by them. "It will not be denied that the crimes committed within the territories of any nation can only be punished by the authorities of that nation ; nor will it be con tested that the vessels of every nation form part of her territory, for this reason, amongst others, that the crimes committed on board of them are only punishable by the laws of the country to which the vessel may belong. " It would be absurd to recognise the right of the British Government to punish Brazilian subjects, either in person or in property, for crimes committed within the territory of the empire, without very express, clear, and positive delegation of the power from the Sovereign of Brazil to the Sovereign of Great Britain; and where, in the treaty, is this clear and positive delegation to be found ? " To assume, under the pretence of interpretation, the delegation of a sovereign power which is not ex pressly granted would be an infringement of the first principle of the art of interpretation, which is, that it is not allowable to interpret that which needs no interpre tation. " When an Act is worded in clear and precise terms, when its meaning is manifest and does not lead to an absurdity, there can be no reason for objecting to that meaning which the Act naturally presents. To have recourse to conjecture for the purpose of extending or contracting the meaning of an Act is tantamount to an evasion of it. " And, moreover, to assume in this case the delegation of sovereign power on the part of the Imperial Govern ment to that of Great Britain without a like delegation from the latter to Brazil, would, if indeed any obscurity existed in the article, be opposed to another rule of in terpretation, which is, that everything which tends to destroy the equality of a contract is odious; and in such case it would be necessary to interpret the words in their most_restrictive sense, in order to avert the onerous con sequences which might arise from the strict and literal meaning, or the odium which might be contained in the contract. " The spirit of the second part of the convention of the 23d of November, 1826, is not more favourable to the pretensions of the British Government to adjudicate in the Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty Courts of Great Britain Brazilian vessels suspected of being engaged in the slave trade. " The traffic is, by the said article, considered as piracy only by a fiction of law, and it is well known, and universally admitted, that fictions of law are only effectual for the purposes for which they are created. " In truth, the traffic is more hazardous than is rob- bery on the high seas, less difficulty exists in discovering and convicting those who are engaged in it than in cases of piracy, and, moreover, the traffic does not threaten the maritime trade of the world as piracy does ; hence the penalty of being engaged in it cannot be as severe as that which all nations award to piracy without being deemed tyrannical. " This truth even England has herself acknowledged in the various treaties which she has been enabled to conclude with other nations for the suppression of the traffic ; for in almost all of these it has been stipulated _ _ that the penalty of detection should not be the same as in cases of piracy, according to the law of nations. " So certain is it that the piracy mentioned in art. 1 of the convention of 1826 is not the piracy acknowledged by the law of nations, that the two high contracting Powers judged the stipulations contained in art. 2,3, and 4, indispensable. " If England had considered herself authorised by art. 1 to capture and adjudicate in her Courts Brazilian subjects and vessels engaged in the traffic, she would not have sought to obtain by art. 2,3, and 4, special authority to visit, search, and capture the said vessels, to have them adjudicated upon by mixed commissions, and various other measures in the like sense. .‘ How the traffic can now be deemed piracy according to the law of nations cannot be conceived, when so late as the year 1807 Lord Eldon, one of the first judicial authorities of England, in opposing in Parliament the abolition of slavery, contended, that the slave trade had been sanctioned by Parliaments in which sat the wisest lawyers, the most learned divines, and the most excel lent statesmen ;' when Lord Hawkesbury, afterwards Earl of Liverpool, moved that the words inconsistent with the principles of justice and humanity' should be struck out of the preamble of the Bill (Slave -trade Aboli tion Bill) ; when the Earl of Westmoreland declared, that though he should ' see the Presbyterian and the prelate, the Methodist and the field preacher, the Jacobin and the murderer, write in favour of the measure of abolition, he would raise his voice against it in Parlia ment.' " Nor can it be conceived how the traffic can now be considered piracy according to the law-of nations, when, not many years since, even England did not consider herself degraded by trading in Africun slaves, and when a short time only has elapsed since other civilized nations proscribed the trade. " At this very period Indian slaves are possessed by Great Britain. "Russia, France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, Brazil, and other Powers, have not yet abolished slavery. "It thus obvious that acts which are still practised by so many nations, and which some few years since were practised by all the world, cannot with justice, be deemed piracy, except with nations who have expressly agreed so to consider them in their treaties. "If the African slave-trade is not piracy according to the law of nations—if by the convention of 1826 Brazil did not arm England with the right to adjudicate as piracy, and punish the persons, and confiscate the pro perty of Brazilian subjects suspected of being engaged in the slave-trade, it is evident that England cannot exercise that right by means of her tribunals without offending the sovereignty and independence of Brazil. " Nor has Great Britain hitherto con,idered herself armed with this right against the subjects of Brazil, who may have been engaged in the slave-trade ; but, on the contrary, she has expressly acknowledged the in competency of her courts to try such ca-es. " In the correspondence which took place between the Imperial Government and the British Legation on the 31st of October, 1843, and other dates, in consequence of Manoel Jo:ti Madena, a Brazilian subject, who having been taken on board the schooner Tartaruga, said to have been engaged in illicit trade, was detained on board the said schooner and sent to the Cape of Good Hope, the Minister of her Britannic Majesty at this court de clared, in a note dated the 12th of November of the same year, that this individual, as well as others found on board the Tartaruga, had been sent to the Cape of Good Hope, because their evidence might be necessary upon the trial of the vessel in the Vice-Admiralty Court, to prove acts of piracy ; and, in fact, as soon as the vessel was adjudicated Madena and the other prisoners re turned to this country, as is proved by the official cor respondence above-named. That this is the only interpretation which can be given to the treaty of the 23d of November,lB26, is fur ther proved by comparing the aforesaid art. 4 with the treaties which England has concluded with other na tions. Iconsultt uh o l ie h the 24th of May, 8 on t treatieshe with Bo liviawi th the Argentineß ep sth of Septe m b er, 1840, a ddi t i ona l art i c l es the easy 2 ton is under the same date and acts of instruments annexed ; with Chili on the 19th January, 1839, additional articles under the same date and acts of instruments annexed ; with Hayti on the 23d of December, 1839 ; with Mexico on the 24th of February, 1841, additional articles under the same date ; with Texas on the 16th of November, 1841, acts of instruments and declaration, signed at Washington on the 16th of February, 1844 ; with Uru guay on the 13th of June, 1839, additional articles under the same date and acts of instruments annexed ; and with Venezuela on the 15th of March, 1839. It is manifestly evident in every one of these treaties that both the high contracting Powers engage to con cert and establish, by means of conventions, the details of the measures necessary for enforcing immediately and reciprocally, in accordance with the legislative enact- Powers, the law of Applicable to the traffic, p m i e ra n c t; , o w t ,i t l h ic e h r N e v s i p il e h c e on in tr a a d e e tin a in as far as regards the vessels and subjects of each country. " If the fact of the traffic being considered piracy were sufficient to enable the nations by whose vessels the captures Isere made, to try the vessels and persons by their own tribunals, it would be needless either that the traffic should be declared piracy in the afore. named treaties, or that the two contracting Powers be bound to enact special laws for the punishment of such of their subjects or citizens as may be engaged in the traffic. " If the mere declaration that the slave trade is piracy did not deprive Brazilian subjects and their pro perty of the right of being tried by the authoritie s of their own country, so likewise their vessels were not liable to be visited, searched, and captured by British cruisers. " It has already been shown that the law of nations does not recognise, in time of peace, the right of visit and search on the high seas. The British tribunals have at various times recognised this principle, as occurred in case of the French vessel Louis, captured in the year 1820, on the coast of Africa for being engaged in the slave trade. Upon this occasion the capture was declared null and void, because the right of visit and search on the high seas does not exist in time of peace. " Lord Stowell alleged, that, even admitting that the trade had been actually prohibited by the municipal laws of France (which was doubtful), the right of visi tation and search (being an exclusively belligerent right) could :not, co:isistently with the law of nations, be exercised in time of peace to enforce the prohibition by the British courts upon the property of French subjects. " In pronout cing the judgment of the High Court of Admiralty, in the same case, his Lordship held, more over, the slave trade, though unjust and condemned by the statute law of England, was not piracy, nor was it a crime by the universal law of nations.' " In fact, if such a right be vested in any one nation, it ought equally to belong to every nation, and would lead to incalculable evil, perhaps to universal war. " That this right over the vessels of other nations does not belong to England is not only recognised, but is ad mitted in the treaties concluded by that country ; for in all these such is expressly stipulated, as it likewise wa• in the treaties concluded between Portugal and Great Britain in 1815 and 1817, which treaties having been continued by the convention of the 234 of November, 1826, between England and Brazil, expired on the 13th of March of the present year. " From what has been stated and demonstrated, it is evident that the Act which passed the British Parlia ment, and was sanctioned by her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, on the Bth of August last, under the pre text of carrying into effect the dispositions of art. 1 of the convention concluded between the Crowns of Brazil and Great Britain on the 23d of November, 1826, cannot be based either upon the letter or the spirit of the said article, is opposed to the most clear and positive prin ciples of the law of nations, and, finally, is an infringe ment of the sovereignty and independence of Brazil, as well as those of other nations. " Therefore, the undersigned, Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the name and by the com mand of his Majesty the Emperor, his august Sovereign, protests, against the afore-recited Act as offensive and unjust, and as infringing upon the sovereign rights and independence of the Brazilian nation ; not recognising any of its consequences, except as the result of force and violence ; claiming at once for all and every detriment, loss, and damage, which may result therefrom to the legal trade of the subjects of Brazil, to whom the laws promise, and his Majesty the Emperor owes, constan and efficient protection. " Nevertheless, the Imperial Government, preferring to all other considerations the noble sentiments of jus tice and philanthropy, by which in all its acts it is animated and guided, will continue to employ all its efforts, in accordance with the laws of the country, for the suppression of the slave-trade ; and the Imperial Government earnestly desires that the Government of her Britannic Majesty may accede to an agreement which, whilst it respects the interest of the legal trade ' of Brazilian subjects, may obtain the desired end of causing that commerce to cease, the existence of which is deplored and condemned by all enlightened and Chris tian Governments. " The undersigned, by the command of his Majesty the Emperor, his august Sovereign, transmits this pro test to Hamilton Hamilton, Esq., Her Britannic Ma jesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten tiary, that the same, may be submitted to the Govern ment of her Britannic Majesty ; and he avails himself himself of this opportunity to reiterate to Mr. Hamil ton the expression of his perfect esteem and high con sideration. " ANTONIO PAULINO LIMP() DE A BREN.' MYSTERIOUS DEATH of an AGED FEMALE in WESTMINSTER. - "Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster, held an inqeest, of several hours' duration, at the Crown and Sceptre Tavern, Chapter-street, Vin cent-square, Westminster, on view of the body of Sarah Dozen, aged 63 years, wife of an accountant, living at 31, Douglas-street, in the above neighbourhood, who met her death, as it was rumoured, by the ill-treatment of her husband. The body exhibited two wounds in the left arm, evidently inflicted by a sharp instrument, but not of recent date, besides which, there were several bruises in various parts of the body. The first witness called was Mary Spivey, who deposed that she was a lodger in the same house as deceased, who lived with her husband, and occupied the first floor back. Witness saw her daily, and she always seemed to enjoy good health. Her hus band was a very drunken character, and would often come home late at night and then quarrel with her. De ceased was certainly violent in her temper. About two o'clock on Tuesday morning last, Dozell came home to his wife and began quarrelling with her, but witness did not think he was tipsy on that occasion. Between seven and eight the same morning witness again heard a row between them, and a noise, as if the table had fallen over, which was accom panied by the smashing of a quantity of crockery ware. Shortly after the man went out, and deceased came down stairs, partially dressed, after him. Deceased was then so exhausted that she was obliged to be carried up by one of the lodgers. At ten o'clock witness was called by a person on the first floor, and went into the de ceased's room and found her in a fit. All the breakfast things were lying about the floor broken, and the table turned upside down. Witness washed her face with some vinegar. By the CORONER—Deceased was not long in a fit, and upon coming to, requested that a doctor should be sent for, which was accordingly done, and witness admi nistered some brandy and water, as had been ordered by the medical gentleman. Her son was also called in. In answer to questions, deceased replied that she had not been struck, but complained of her neck, saying that she had injured it by turning her head suddenly on one side. She also frequently ejaculated, " Oh, lam very bad, I shall die." Soon after she had taken the brandy and water she expired. Mr. George Pierce, surgeon, of' 5, Regent. street, Westminster, stated that he was called to deceased by her landlord shortly before eleven on the morning in question. Witness found deceased in a very exhausted state, lying upon the ground on a sort of bed covered with rags. She did not complain of pain anywhere, but merely said she had injured her neck a little. Witness examined the part, and found she had the perfect use of it ; the extremities were cold, and she appeared to be suffering chiefly from exhaustion, evidently the result of great excitement. There were not the slightest symp toms of paralysis or apoplexy of any kind. Witness then lea her, having ordered some weak brandy and water. In a few minutes after he was recalled by the son, say ing that deceased was dead. On going to the room, he saw deceased stretched out upon the floor, and made an external examination of the body. Theie were direct marks of violence about the arms, which he (witness) thought must have been inflicted some days ago. There were also several bruises and discolorations in' various parts of the body. There were no appearances of de ceased having taken anything of a deleterious character. Other corroborative evidence of the above was adduced, showing that deceased's death had been accelerated by violence. After a short consultation, the jury confessing their doubts and ignorance of the cause of deceased's death, returned the singular and extraordinary verdict of " Death from natural causes. THE MILITIA: The following circular has been addressed by Sir James Graham to the Lords Lieutenant of the several counties in Great Britain, in reference to the appoint ment of adjutants and the filling up of the other va cancies that exist at present among the commissioned officers of the various regiments of militia:— " Whitehall, December, 1845. "My Lord,—l have the honour to inform your Lord ship that her Majesty has been graciously pleased to signify her commands that the permanent staff of the several regiments, battalions, or corps of the militia of Great Britain, should be completed to the number pre scribed by the Act of the sth and 6th William IV., cap. 37. " A communication has already been addressed by the Secretary at War to the colonels of regiments of militia, respecting the sergeant-majors and sergeants, with a view of supplying any vacancies that may at present exist, as well as for discharging such of the sergeants as have been found by the recent inspectors to be totally unfit for the performance of any duty whatever, and also conveying to them a suggestion for a prospective dis charge of those who, although they have been reported unfit for duty when the militia shall be in an enrolled state, are nevertheless competent to the performance of local duties connected with the billet, enrolment, and training of that force. It being of considerable import ance that the full establishment of officers in the several regiments of militia should be completed to the extent prescribed by law, I beg leave to call your Lordship's attention to this subject, and to suggest that in the event of there being any vacancies (that of paymaster ex cepted) in the regiment of militia in your county, such vacancies should be filled up before the spring of the ensuing year. " I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's very obedient servant, J. G. GRAHAM. " Her Majesty's Lieutenant of the county of NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES.—The total num ber of sailors in the United States' navy is 6,100, of whom about 960 are native•born Americans, the rest being prin cipally English, with a few Swedes and Hanseatic& Their pay is fifteen dollars a month, and two dollars per month additional, if they don't draw any grog ration. This is fully equal to three pounds ten shillings per month. Without this high rate of wages it would be next to impossible for the Secretary of the Navy to man the ships. The navy of the United States is very respectable. Taking their navy list, it appears that they have of all classes of ships, old, rotten, or 3', ten line-of on the stocks, on their rivers and lakes , in China and the bPaatotiltiec, ships, grand ps, t3st,oetha.le frigates g s a e t v e g en seventy-six, s the ix, first-class, ! e l l s, two of the second class, twenty-three sloops of war, eight brigs, eight schooners, eight steamers, together with four store-ships and brigs ; but it may be safely reckoned that between forty and fifty of this list are really superior, formidable vessels, and immediately available for any service or emergency. Five ships of the line, alongside of which they say, our Victory looks like a frigate, might be ready for sea in a month, and about six first-class frigates, rated as forty-fours, but really more resembling our razee Warspite, which may be.con sidered one of the best ships of her class. The Americans have only one razee, the Independence, fifty-four, a descrip tion of ship that hitherto has not been seen in any of our navy yards, but which we. shall soon have to exhibit in a few razees now constructing out of some old first-rates that have not seen much service. NORFOLK RAILWAY.—FATAL ACCIDENT. --- We regret to learn that an accident occurred on this line on Tuesday, which occasioned the death of the engineer, and will probably prove fatal to the fireman. It appears that the train which left Norwich for London at half-past eleven, got off the line near Thetford, owing, as is supposed, to the great speed at which it was travelling, and the engineer and fireman were thrown under the engine. The former was killed on the spot, and the latter had both his thighs and an arm broken, and now lies at Thetford in a dreadful state of suffering. Two or three of the carriages were overturned, but the passengers were not seriously injured. WEST YORKSHIRE ELECTION. LEEDS, TUESDAY EVENING.—The free-traders are setting to work in good earnest to bring Lord Mon peth forward as a candidate for the representation of this riding. The Conservates are not known to be at all stirring. The following is a copy of a large placard that has just been posted in this town, and I believe similar ones have been, or will be to morrow, distri buted through the various polling districts into which the riding is divided WEST BIDING ELECTION. "A vacancy having' occurred in the represen'ation of the riding, owing to the elevation of the Hon. John Stuart Wortley to the peerage, a requisition is in course of signature to the Right Hon. Lord Morpeth, inviting that nobleman to offer himself as a candidate for the riding. Requisition-sheets will lie for the signature of West Riding electors at the Leeds Mercury office, Leeds Times office, and at the Reform Registration-office, 187, Wellington•street, till Friday noon, 26th inst., at twelve o'clock. " HASLER STANSFIELD. Chairman of the Leeds Polling District. "Leeds, Dec. 23, 1845." CHRISTMAS-DAY IN THE WORK HOUSES. The following report will be found to detail succinctly the treatment of the poor, both old and youog, in these establishments on this anniversary. The entire number of poor in each workhouse is specified and compared with the corresponding period last year, and a careful summary of decrease and increase will be found at the end of the report. It is a gratifying fact, that there is a very great de crease of pauperism id the metropolis and its suburbs, as compared with the corresponding period last year. Sr. MARYLEBONE WORKHOUSE.—Number in the workhouse this day, 1,950 (last Christmas-day 2,158), viz., adult males, 487; adult females, 930; boys, 220; girls, 148; infants, 165. Christmas-day fare to adults, 6oz. of roast beef free from bone, 11b. of potatoes, Ilb. of plum pudding, one pint of strong porter, loz. of tea, a quarter of a pound of sugar, with tobacco, snuff, &c., in the evening. The children to be fed in a similar man ner, but without limitation as to quantity, and in the evening to be regaled with oranges, apples, sweetmeats, &c. The inmates of the Marylebone almshouses, pre sented by the board of directors under the will of the late Count Woronzowi will receive similar fare. De crease of in door poor; as compared with last year, 208; number of out-door poor, 4,286 (last year 5,205); de crease of out-door poor, 919; total decrease as compared with last year, 1,127; total number receiving weekly relief, 6,236. ST. MA R TIN'S-IN-THE-FlELDS.—lnmates, 711(last year 706), viz., adult males, 173 ; adult females, 357 ; boys, 89 ; girls, 92. Christman-day fare-12 ounces of roast beef, lb. potatoes, 4 lb. plum-pudding, and a pint of porter to adults ; half a pint to the children. A similar allowance on New Year's-day. Out-door poor, 733, viz., 100 males, 270 females, 363 children ; increase on in-door poor, as compared with last year, 5. ST. JAMES'S, WESTMINSTER.—Inmates, 560 (last year, 578), viz., men, 184 ; women, 341 ; boys, 9 ; girls, 20 ; infants, 6 ; boys at Mr. Aubm's establish ment, Norwood, 40. Out-door permanent poor, 250. This parish has also a juvenile establishment at Brent ford, in which there are 101 children. Diet for Christ mas-day, 8 ounces of roast beef, 13 ounces of bread, 12 ounces of plum-pudding, 16 ounces of potatoes, a pint of porter, and a pint bf table ale, for adults ; hildren fed in proportion. De" , crease of in- door poor this year, as compared with last, 18. ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.—Average number of inmates, 320 (last year the same number), viz., 100 men, 215 women, and 5 children. The infant establishment at Edmonton receives children from two to seven years of age, averaging in number . 60. Children from the ag e of seven to sixteen, 55 in.,number, farmed at Mr. Drouet's, Grove-house, Brixton. There are but few able-bodied in-door poor, whilst the number of permanent out-door poor is 420, of which number half are females. Christ mas fare, 6 ounces roast ribs of beef, cooked and free from bone ; 11b. of baked potatoes, 11b. of plum-padding, 1 pint of London porter, and bread as required. ST. PANCRAS WORKHOUSE.—Inmates, 1,352 (last year .397). Men, 362 ; women, 652 ; . boys, - . 167 ; girls, 17 . The board of guardians have prohibited those denomi nated " refractory," from having any extra allowance. To the other inmates the fare is 6 ounces of roast beef without bone, 11b. of plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter, with 1 ounce of tobacco each to the men, and 1 ounce of tea and 4 ounces of loaf sugar to the females ; children, 4 ounces roast beef, ilh. plum-pudding, and 2d. to each child. Out-door poor, 2,738 (last year, 3,000), De crease of in-door poor; 45 ; of out-door poor, 262. Total decrease, 307. ST. MATTHEW, BETHNAL GREEN.-Inmates 604 (cor responding week last year, 630), men, 183; women, 259; boys, 91; girls, 71. Christmas Day fare. Every in mate supplied with bread and butter and tea morning and evening; and roast beef, plum-pudding, and porter for dinner. Decrease, as compared with the correspond ing period last year, 26. ST. LUKE, CLIELSEA.-(Reply to Application for In formation.) On a former occasion, those thankless " saveall," the bone-grubbing gentlemen of Somerset House, thought proper to disallow the item for the little annual festivity of thetpoor, not one farthing of which, however, have they yet; even attempted to enforce the repayment of. Notwithstanding the disallowance, the guardians have again provided the same extra fare as last year to the inmates of the workhouse, who number 366, viz., adultmales, 129; adult females, 207; children, 33. To the two former classes, each person half a pound of roast beef of superior quality, half a pound of potatoes, three-quarters of a pound of plum-pudding, and one pint of beer. The children, at the master's discretion, farmed out at Drouet's infant establishment at Tooting 127 children for whom sixp e n ce p er h ea d i s allowed fo ; extra fare, which is served out ad libitum. Total num ber of in-door poor 495. Last year 518, decrease 23. Number of out-door poor 1,304. Last year 1,359, de crease 55. Total decrease 78. Out of the 368 in the workhouse, 24 are under seven years of age, 25 from seven to twenty years, 50 from twenty to forty years, 47 from forty to sixty years, 160 from sixty to eighty years, 25 from eighty to ninety years, 1 ninety-two years, 1 one hundred years, 16 imbecile, 16 paralytic, and 3 dumb. ST. LUKE, MIDDLESEX.-Inmates of workhouse 580 (last Christmas 610) viz.-adults 480, children 100, be sides which there are 140 young children farmed out at establishments at Winchmore-hill and Southgate. Christ mas day fare-Substantial !dnner of roast beef ilb., pots tos, alb., plum pudding llb., and one pint of strong ale each person, after which, oranges, apples, and other extras will be distributed, the authorities (so says the master of the workhouse) being desirous that the poor shall have a merry old English Christmas day. Decrease, as com pared with last year, 30. ST. JAMES'S, CLERKENwELL.-Inmates of workhouse 452 (last year no return). Men 147, women 255, boys 24, girls 26. Farmed out at Mr. Aubin's, Norwood, 87 children, 43 boys and 44 girls. Fare Boz. of roast beef without bone, and baked potatoes ad libitum, 4oz. of bread, 16oz. of plum pudding, one pint of porter, with pipes, tobacco, and snuff. To children 60r.. of roast beef, with baked potatoes, 4oz. of bread, Boz. of pudding, and half a pint of porter, with apples, oranges, nuts, &c. In the evening all have tea and sugar, and four days holi day allowed. CITY OF LONDON UNION.-Workhouse for males at Peckham, females at Stepney, and children farmed out at Aubin's Asylum, Norwood; inmates, 1,070 (last year 1,1 7 7) , v iz Men, 348; females, 450; chi:dren, 282. Ceristmas fare, roast beef, plum pudding, and one pint of beer each. Decrease of in-door poor as compared with last year, 107; out-door, 2,425, last year, 2,472; total decrease, 84. EAST LONDON UNION (Aldersgate Workhouse, for males only).-Inmates, 200; adult male children, under 16, at Mr. Aubin's establishment, Norwood. Fare ordered by guardians, 7 oz. roast beef, 11b. baked pots toes, llb. of plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter; holi days are allowed once a fortnight, or in any other emer gency; decrease, 9. Bishopsgate Workhouse (for females only).-Inmates, 345; (last year, 370). Christmas fare, roast beef 6 oz., with vegetables, 111, plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter each. Inmates above 60 years of age are allowed a liberty-day once a fortnight; below 60 years once in three months, dependent on good behaviour; total decrease, 34. WEST LONDON lINzoN.-Inmates, 460 (last year 480); about 130 children at the establishment at Ed monton. Christmas fsre, 7 or.. roast beef, 12 oz. of plum pudding, 12 oz. of potatoes, and 1 pint of porter each ; decrease, 20. STRAND UNION, comprising the parishes of St. Clement Danes, St. Mary-le-Strand, St. Paul, Covent garden, St. Ann's, Soho, liberty of the Rolls and pre cincts of the Savoy-Inmates of workhouses, 484 (last year, 582); viz., males, 16 2 ; females, 322 ; children year, out at Tooting Christmas fare, 6 oz. boiled leg of pork, peas pudding, potatoes, 1 pint of porter, 14 oz. of plum-pudding, men, and 12 oz. women. Decrease, 98. BRENTFORD UNION-Inmates, 383 (last year, 428) ; viz., 145 men; 123 women; and 115 children. Christ mas- day fare, 8 oz. roast beef, llb of potatoes, llb. of plum-pudding, 1 pint of ale, and tea to each. Leave of absence on Boxing day allowed. Number of out door poor, 1,434. Decrease of in-door poor, 45. KENSINGTON WORKHOUSE (LATE UNION). - Gross number (including poor belonging to the parish of Pad dington, 76 remaining since the dissolution of the union until their workhouSe is built), 258 ; viz., males, 92 ; females, 124; boys, 13 ; girls, 29. Christmas-day fare not specified, but consists of roast beef, plum pudding, and porter. The 'girls and boys in the workhouse, under 4 years of age ; the remainder of children at Mr. Drouet's, Grove-hcuse, Brixton. POPLAR tiNioN.-Inmates, 437 (last year 492), viz., men, 129; women, 162; children, 136. Fare, roast beef, potatoes, plum pudding, and porter; amount not speci fied. Number of out-door poor 600 (last year 690), showing a decrease of 55 with respect to in-door poor, and 90 as regards out-door poor. Total decrease 145. HACKNEY UNION.-Inmates 401 (last year 424), viz., men, 105; women, 187; children, 109. Christmas-day fare, alb. of roast beef, with mustard and horse-radish, potatoes, 1 pint of ale, llb. of plum pudding, with bread and butter at breakfast and tea Decrease 23. GREENWICH UNION.-Inmates 949 (last year no re turn) ; men, 297 ; women, 406 ; boys, 143 ; girls, 123. Fare to each person above twelve years of age-80z. roast ribs of beef, 11b. of plum-pudding, 1 pint of Bar clay's London porter.; children fed proportionately. Any of the inmates who express a desire to leave the house for a few days, are permitted to do so without re striction. Nearly 100 have availed themselves of the privilege, most of whom spend their Christmas with their friends. WANDSWORTH AND CLAPHAM UNION.-Inmates 304 (last year 322) ; merit 135 ; women, 122 ; children, 47 ; children at Mr. Aubin's establishment, Norwood, 68. Christmas fare to adults, of roast beef, lib. of po tatoes, 11b. of plum-pudding, 1 pint of Barclay's porter, with snuff and tob4pco for the aged. Out-door poor 1,770, of all ages. Decrease of in-door poor, 18. ST, OLlver, Util.N.-Inmates, 309 (last year 376)- viz., men, 86; women, 144; boys, 45; girls, 34. Christ mas-day fare, 7 ounces of baked beet; 12 ounces of baked potatoes, plum-pudding unlimited, and 1 pint of porter each. Decrease, 68. WHITECHAPEL UNION.-Inmates, 867 (last Christmas 877); fare, baked beef and potatoes, boiled plum pudding and porter; liberty to go out is granted to those who have applied for it. Out-door poor, 1,734 (last year, 2,085); decrease of in-door poor, 10; of out-door poor, 351. Total decrease, as compared with last Christmas, 361. EDMONTON UNION.-Inmates, 396 (last year, 410), men, 220; women, 170. Christmas-day fare by order of the guardians, 5 ounces of cooked beef, 1 pound of potatoes, 1 pound of plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter each. There are also about 200 children at Enfield. Decrease, 14. STEPNEY UNION (Mile-end Workhouse.)-Inmates, 209; adult males, most infirm (last year, 216). Christ mas-day fare, z pound of roast beef, 1 pound of baked potatoes, 14 ounces of plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter each. Inmates allowed out on the Christmas morning. Decrease, as compared with last year, 13. ST. GILES'S, CAMBERWELL.-Inmates, 244 (last year, 259), yiz.:-Men above 60 years of age, 52; under 60, 32; total men, 84. Females above 60, 73 ; un d er 6 0, 69; total females, 132. Children under 15 years, 28. The remainder of the children, 70, farmed at Mr. Aubin's Asylum, Norwood. The fare is roast beef, plum pudding, and one pint of porter each. The out door poor 6d. additional. Increase, as compared with last year, 15. ST. MARY, LAMBETH.-Inmates, 918 (last year 839). Adult males, 364; females, 554. There are also 374 children (not farmed) in the Lambeth House of Indus try at Norwood. Fare to adults, 6 ounces of baked beef, free from bone, Ilb. baked potatoes, Ilb. boiled plum pudding, and 1 pint of porter each. Children in pro portion. Present number of out-door poor, 3,250; last Christmas, 3,776. Increase of in-door poor, 79; de crease of out-door poor, 526. Total decrease, as com pared with last year, 446. ST. GEORGE, MIDDLESEX.-In the workhouse, 658 (last year, 666); viz , men, 212; women, 390; boys, 35; girls, 21. Besides these, there are 237 at Tooting. Christmas-day fare, roast beef, plum-pudding, potatoes, porter, tea, sugar, &c., ad libitum. Decrease of in-door poor, 8. Out-door poor, 1,126; last year, 1,166; de crease, 43 in out-door poor. Total decrease, 51. ST. GILES'S-IN-THE-FIELDS, AND ST. GEORGE'S, BLOOMSBURY.-Inmates of workhouses, 636 (last year, 650); adult males, 225; females, 360; children, 41. Old English fare of roast beef, plum-pudding, and porter, quantity not specified. Decrease, 24. ST. GEORGE'S, HANOVER-SQUARE.-Answer to ap plication-" Have the goodness to refer to my report of last year, no alteration whatever will be made." Re port of last year states-inmates, 826. Fare, roast beef and plum pudding ad libitum, with vegetables and one pint of porter each ; children at parochial establish ment, Chelsea. In addition to Christmas fare, each adult 2d., and each child Id. ; permission to take three days' holiday-same treatment on New Year's Day. ST. MART MAGDALEN, BERMONDSEY.-InnlateS, 598 (last year, 537) ; men, 187 ; women, 226 ; boys, 113 ; girls, 72. Christmas fare, six ounces of good pork, one pound of plum pudding, one pound of potatoes, and one pint of porter each adult. Children in proportion. Number of out-door poor receiving relief (including children) 1,100. Increase of in-door poor, as compared with last year, 61. HENDON UNION.-No return of numbers made. In mates of the Union to be regaled with roast beef, plum pudding, vegetables, and ale. ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR, SOUTHWARK.-Inmates of workhouse, 426 (last year, 419), 141 men, 214 women, 33 boys, and 28 girls. At the Lewisham establishment, 91 boys, 46 girls, and 10 women; total, 147. Fare, roast beef, plum pudding, and porter. Increase, as com pared with last year, 7. ST. SAVIOUR'S UNION. - Inmates, 530 (last year, 394); 120 men, 268 women, and 32 children under six teen years; about 170 children farmed out at Norwood. Fare, 6:oz. roast beef, Boz. potatoes,l2 oz. plum pudding, and one pint of porter each person. Increase, 56. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, NORWOOD (Aubin's). - In mates, about 1,100 children belonging to various metro politan parishes and unions, of both sexes. Christmas day fare, roast beef, plum pudding, and vegetables, quantity not limited. In the evening, coffee, bread-and butter, &c. The children attend divine service in the morning and afternoon, performed by the Rev. T. Boodle, chaplain to the establishment. The numbers are the same as last year. ENFIELD CHILDREN'S ESTATE (belonging to the Ed monton Union).-Inmates 213 (last year 200),119 boys, 77 girls, 4 men, 13 women, children. Fare-breakfast, 50z., bread and butter, and milk and water ; dinner, six ounces of baked beef, 11b., plum pudding and vege• tables ; slipper same as breakfast. The male children instructed in useful trades, such as shoemaking, tailor ing, gardening, &c. ; and the girls fitted for domestic service. Thirty children have been appointed, or left for service since last Christmas.-Increase, 13. GROVE HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT, BRIXTON (Drouet's). -Inmates, 400 children (last year 300), belonging to the parishes of St. Mary, Islington, St Luke, Middlesex, Kensington, Paddington, Fulham, Hammersmith, and St. Olave's. Fare, by direction of the various boards of guardians, half a pound of roast beef, half a pound of plum pudding, half a pint of porter, with vegetables, &a! In the evening, at Mr. Drouet's expense, regaled with oranges, other fruit and sweetmeats. Two days' holiday allowed. Increase this year over last, 100. INFANT POOR ESTABLISHMENT, TOOTING (Drouet's). -Number of children, 720 (last year about the same), belonging to the parishes of St. George's-in-the-East; the Strand Union, St. Luke, Chelsea ; St. Mary, .Newing ton ; and the Richmond Union. Fare, a substantial dinner of roast beef, potatoes, plum pudding and porter. In the evening tea and cakes, &c. ST. MARGARET AND ST. JOHN, WESTMINSTER, AND ST. MARY, NEwriecTce.-The masters of the work houses:of theseparishes have thought proper to withhold information. By the foregoing statement, it will be perceived that nearly 40,000 of our poorer fellow -creatures will not be wanting that which is denominated their Christmas dinner. Another important fact is the decrease of pauperism in the metropolis as compared with the cor responding period last year. Whilst on the one hand there will be found twenty parishes and unions exhi biting a decrease, amounting in the gross to 3,016 per sons, as comparad with last Christmas, there are but seven parishes showing any increase, and which in the gross amounts to but 237 persons, leaving a total de crease of pauperism in twenty-seven parishes and unions, as compared with last year of 2,779 persons. By the Calcutta papers it appears that the London mail of September Bth reached that city in forty days, though conveyed from Bombay by the usual slow conveyance. It is confidently anticipated there that when the new arrange ments take effect the transit of the mail will never occupy more than thirty-five days, and often much less. In rail road matters no great progress has been made since the date of the regular mail. Surveys were going on in the different presidencies with activity, and an impression had got abroad that the engineering difficulties were too great to afford much likelihood that the speculations would answer in a pecuniary point of view. This was mere surmise, however, as no re ports had been made. A newspaper in the Armenian language, the first of the kind, is said to have been com menced in Calcutta. The reply of the Bombay Govern ment to the native shopkeepers who petitioned against the new municipal taxes have been published. The secretary denies that it is any new impost, or that it was ever the intention of the Government to include it in the abolition of other taxes on trades in the interior of the country, and • that no hope can be held out of relinquishing an assessment which is little burdensome to the payers, and applied in a manner greatly beneficial to the community. One of the • last acts of Sir H. Hardinge, in conjunction with the Supreme Council, previously to his departure for the north-west pro vinces, was the establishment of a central college at Kish nagur, and four English schools at other places. Besides this, it is stated in aedition that no fewer than 59 scholar ships were at the same time given to the schools and col leges already in existence. The expenses thus caused would exceed, it is said, 40,000r5. (4,0001.) annually ; and it is re marked upon as a source of no small gratification to the friends of education generally in India, that as Sir H. Hardinge's arrival in Calcutta was rendered memorable by a revival of the encouragement of education in the highest quarter, so the last day of his residence in the capital was distin guished by a measure which provides this large extension of its benefits. LEOMINSTER POLICE •COURT, DEC. 23.—Before the Mayor T. Brayen, Esq., and a full bench of Magistrates. The Rev. Josiah Bartlett, a clergyman of the Church of England, was charged by his wife, Louisa Bartlett, with striking her in the face on the morning of Saturday last, and in consequence of which, and other unkind treatment, she declared herself in fear of bodily injury. The reverend gen tleman was bound over to keep the peace in his own surety of 100/., and to pay the expenses. immediately on the pay ment of the costs, the Rev. J. Bartlett preferred a charge against Mr. Pozer (brother-in-law of Mrs. Bartlett) and Messrs. Boult (brothers of Mrs. Bartlett), and declared him self in fear of bodily injury. There weresome extraordinary letters produced, written by Mr. Bartlett to Mrs. Pozer, sister of Mrs. Bartlett, too revolting and indelicate to be published. The magistrates dismissed the case, and ordered the reverend gentleman to pay costs. The greatest excite ment prevailed outside the court, and the Rev. Mr. Bartlett remained in court until nearly eleven at night, fearing to leave, and ultimately was escorted to his cab amidst the shouts and yells of the multitude. TUNNEL THROUGH THE CALTON-HILL, &c.—The last brick in the arching of this gigantic tunnel on the North British Railway was laid on Friday. This completes the most serious part in Messrs. Lorimer and Somervaile's con tract, which extends, we believe, to Musselburgh ; and, as preparations are now making for laving the permanent rails, we may expect that the tunnel will be ready for use in a very short time. The tunnel is 400 yards long, 26 feet high, and 26 feet in width. With the exception of about 40 yards at the east end, the tunnel is entirely through rock. Several miles of the North British Railway are now entirely finished. and, where matters are not exactly in that forward state, we understand all the heavy cuttings have been overcome; so that there is no doubt of this section of the line being com pleted at the specified time, May, 1846. The point at which tbe work is furthest behind is in the neighbourhood of Piers hill Barrack , , where, in consequence of the encroachments of the line on the riding-school and hospital, the Government have made it imperative on the railway c-mpany to erect new buildings for these purposes, together with a separation wall about 700 feet long and 35 feet high. From the extent of these sections, some time must elapse before their corn 'Action; and until this is accomplished, the railway com pany are obliged to suspend all operations connected with the removal of the old buildings, through the centre of which the line is to pass. The sum already expended in the construc tion of this section of the railway, will not, it is said, amount to leis than 50,0001. The operations at the other points along the line from this to Berwick are in an equally advanced state. For several months back a great number of miles have been finished especially towards the Berwick terminus, where the buildings connected with the station are in course of erection.—Caledonian Mercury. SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN THE REGENT'S PARK. — On Wednesday afternoon, between two and three, a serious accident occurred in the Regent's Park, to Captain Greenlaw, of Gloucester-place, Portman-square, who was thrown with great violence from Isis horse as he was riding into the Re gent's Park, followed by his groom. The captain fell heavily on his head, by which he sustained severe injuries that ren dered him for some minutes insensible. A NEW PLANET. Dec. I4.—At 6 hours 23 min. mean time, right ascen sion in arc, 64 deg. 4 min. 5.3 sec. 2-lOths. At 12 hours 43 min. mean time, right ascension in arc, 64 deg. 1 min. 10 sec. 3-10ths. We then determined the following places with the wire -micrometer, each place being the mean of five ob servations. At 13 hours 34 min. 55 sec. and 6-10ths mean time, right ascension in time, 4 hours 16 min. 2 sec. 44-100ths; declination north, 12 deg. 39 min. 54 sec. 2-10ths. At 13 hours 42 min. 36 sec. and 5-10ths, right ascension in time, 4 hours 16 min. 2 sec. 8-100ths; declination north, 12 deg. 39 min. 53 sec. 1-10th. At 14 hours 33 min. 27 sec. and 1-10th, right ascension in time, 4 hours 16 min. 0 sec. 20-100ths; declination north, 12 deg. 39 min. 52 sec. 1-10th. Or, taking the mean,—At 13 hours 56 min. 59 sec. 7-10ths mean time; right ascension in arc, 64 deg. 0 min. 23 sec. 6-10ths; declination north, 12 deg. 39 min. 52 sec. 1-10th. The motion is retrograde, and its daily amount, as determined from the observations, 8 hours apart, is—in right ascension, 14 min. 21 sec. 2-10ths of arc; in decli nation it is quite insignificant. Mr. Hencke's place of December 8 agrees very nearly with this. The star is probably a new planet near its opposition. Vesta is pretty near it, and is also in opposition. On account of the difficulty of following it, I have thought it best to send you the news directly, and I beg you to make it known in England, that a sufficient num ber of observations may soon be collected. Excuse the shortness of this letter, which is written in great haste. Yours, &c., Berlin, Dec 15. ENCKE. THE SUPPOSED NEW PLANET OR COMET. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—ln consequence of a letter which I received from Professor Schumacher, on Friday afternoon, at about nine o'clock in the evening of that day I directed my five feet equatorial to the place of a supposed new star, seen in the constellation Taurus, on the Bth instant, by Mr. Hencke, of lliessen, in Prussia. Nearly in the centre of the field of the telescope I in stantly saw a star of perhaps the 10th magnitude lying in the line, joining two stars of the 9th or 10th magnitude, and reckoning from the lower or northern one, not quite half-way between them. Finding the differences of right ascension and declination between these two latter stars accorded very well with those given by Mr. Henske, I inferred that they were his guide stars, avid that the star between them was his pre sumed new star; nor had I any doubt that it was iden tical with that which Mr. Petersen (Professor Schui macher's assistant) actually did see, although it "was co very faint he could assert nothing.' I did not, how ever, think it right to send you any notice of my ob servation, not having had any authority from Profes sor Schumacher to publish any part of his letter which had drawn my attention to the subject ; but a com munication from Mr. Hinde to you on the matter, which appeared in this morning's Times, and which announces that he has not seen any star answering the description of the supposed new one, induces me to send you this, as I cannot account for his having overlooked it ; know ing, as I do, that he is an excellent astronomer, that his eyes are young, whilst mine are old, and that his tele scope transmits more than twice as much light as the one which I used does, but which exhibited to me the star I wanted the instant I looked into it ; so that I never took the trouble to appeal to any of my larger telescopes, although, in expectation that they might be wanted, they were planted ready for the purpose. For the more certain identification, therefore, by► others of the guide stars between which the star I saw lies, I will state (by reference to a diagram coarsely made at the time, and which, fortunately, has not been destroyed), that parallel with these guide stars were two other stars of the 10th or 11th magnitude, firming, with the two guide stars, a long quadrangle, inclined to the parallel of declination, at an angle of 50 or 60 degrees, in the direction north preceding, or south following—the side of the quadrangle formed by the two guide stars extending at each extremity a little be yond its opposite, formed by the two stars of the 10th or I lth magnitude; again, there is a bright star hang ing down to the north, which makes nearly an equila teral triangle with the guide stars. Nevertheless, there may have been some other star between the two guide stars on the Bth inst., as well as that which I most assuredly saw between them on the 19th, and as the existence or non-existence of a planet or comet in the neighbourhood is probably dependent on the stir seen by me on the 19th being identical with the one seen by Mr. Hencke on the 8:h, the matter ought not to be left in doubt. I have therefore thought it right to transmit to you data whereby any one with a little care may, without difficulty, direct his telescope to the spot where Mr. Hencke saw his star; and, by examining those stars in its vicinity, may have a fair chance of picking up the supposed planet or comet, if that which I have seen and described the position of be not Mr. Hencke's star. The stars in the head of the constellation Taurus resemble the letter "V," and which, when they are on the meridian (as they now are at about ten o'clock at night), is inclined to the bori zon at an angle of about 30 degrees. The lower side of the V is bounded by the magnificent star Aldebaran to the left, and by Gamma Tauri to the right ; whilst the upper side is formed of Epsilon Tauri on the left, and Gamma Tauri on the right. Between Aldebaran and Gamma is a group of stirs composed of the two Thetas, and others, whilst the three Deltas and others are simi larly situated in the upper side, each group being nearly in the centre of its respective side—circumstances to be borne in mind, lest one side be taken for the other, as I have frequently seen done when a night glass has been the telescope in use. Direct, then, a night glass to the group of stars in the lower side of the V, so that Aldebaran and Gamma Tauri be seen on the lower part of the field on the left, and fix upon a point which shall make with them an equila teral triangle, the apex of which shall point upwards, and that is the spot where Mr. Hencke saw his star. It i. moreover rendered remarkable by being just above the base of a small isosceles triangle of stars, the apex of which is turned downwards ; and commencing this apex star, reckoning from right to left, we have A or the apex star of the seventh magnitude, B of the fifth magnitude, and C of the sixth. Hence, by reference to this triangle A B C the plAce which the supposed planet or comet occupied on the Bth may be found, al though the field of the night glass employed be suffi ciently large to admit their being in it during any exa mination extended beyond the place assigned by Mr. Hencke to his star. But if a telescope be used whose field of view does not include some degrees, then, as the stars Aldebaran and Gamma Tauri, by those who know where to look for them, are nearly as easily seen with the naked eye as is the planet Jupiter, all that is necessary will be for the observer to fix on a point in the heavens which being below them shall make an equilateral triangle with them, and that will be the place of Mr. Hencke's star. If he then directs his telescope to this place, he will see the triangle A B C, if not in his telescope, certainly in its finder, that is if the latter be good fir anything, and may, by its means, move his telescope so that he may certainly view in it the guide stars to Mr. Hencke's star without difficulty ; indeed, the stars B and C are visible to the naked eye, if the observer know where to look for theni. _ The diameter of the field of an ordinary night-glass is about six degrees ; Aldebaran a n d G amma T aur i are nearly four dgrees asunder ; Aldebaran is of the first magnitude, Gamma Tauri of the third. The apex star A of the triangle A B C is distant from B and C nearly one degree ; and B is distant from C nearly one degree and a-half. To find this planet (if it be onel a large telescope is not indispensable: it will be well, however, to have four silver wires in its eye-piece, crossing each other so as to divide the circumference of the field into eight equal arcs, care being taken to insert such wires as from their thickness shall be easily perceptible without artifi cial illumination when the telescope is directed to the heavens. By bringing then any star to the centre of the field where the wires decussate, there will be no diffi- culty in laying down an extemporaneous map of all - the s cchange pass of pl piece unnoticed. of stars visible in the field of the telescope, and, this being amountreferre d o a rcei willa In such manner was it that, with an ordinary night gla.is held in the hand out of his library window, Olbers discovered Pallas and Vesta, the former resembling a star of the ith magnitude, the latter one of the 6th. 11'hilst with an achromatic of about 2 inches arrt ore and about 30 inches focus, with which when at Gottin: gen in 1832 I could see no traee of Jupiter's belts, and which would not show his first and second satelites with- out diffi tilty, Harding discovered the planet Juno, al though, as he told me, it had the appearance of a star only of the 9th magnitude. Hoping, that, that. this letter may, by ea-awing the at tention of observers to the point at issue, lead to the correction of my o!tservation, if it be erroneous, and coable others to find the supposed 'Anna or comet, if either the one or the other exist, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Monday, Dee. 22. J. SOUTH. CURLING M ATC IEI AT EGLINTON CASTLE.--A challenge was given to Lord Eglinton, by a partyof ' 4 crack curlers" from Dundonald, consisting of four, namely, Messrs. Gibson, Collennan, Dykes, Hillhouse, G u thrie, C)rossburn, Aiton, and Fullarton, whose known celebrity justly entitled them to anticipate a glorious victory over his Lordship. O n Saturday, the 13th current, the parties met on the Asphalt Rink, at Eglinton' Castle, when, after a keenly contested game, his Lordship claimed the victory by a majority of one shot.—Edinburgh Advertiser. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—l have this day received from Professor Encke, of Berlin, a letter, of which I subjoin a translation. There appears to be no reasonable doubt that the object to which it relates is a new planet. As it is highly im portant that observations should be made with the least possible delay, I request that you will have the good ness immediately to publish this in your paper. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, G. B. AIRY. Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Dec. 22. TRANSLATION. On the 13th of December, Mr. Irencke, of Driessen, gave notice that he had found a star of the 9th magni tude in a place where, before, there was none. He gave its position by reference to the star map of the Berlin Academy, 4.th hour (which particular map was very carefully drawn by Professor Knorre), from which its place appears to have been— December s.—At 8 hours ; right ascension in arc, 65 deg. 25 min. ; declination north, 12 deg. 41 min. Yesterday, Dec. 14, we sought for it with our refractor, and found, by comparison with the star map of the Berlin Academy (which alone, on account of the fulness of its details, could have enabled us to discover it) a star of the 9th magnitude, not marked in the map, whose place was—