The Sun. — London, England, 1850-01-01 00:00:00

A 31 Z F V. A WO OD rot) " C I.• r I.' ~ ek1:004 ea. In_ ceicuri. The paper cours!. , , 1 , ; sug.!• sted rce,-zit et , ntrillu , i.!:: of Ale.7t. ,or b to our niogriV:ic.ll literature. In ',ix first aricie in thc present instalment of Magl we car. reco2;td•e at a glance the hand of the historian Alison, bAng pendant to his former chapter f our conteinpora s ry annals, enti t l e d t h e " Y ear o f Revolution." Ihe contribution before us, beirge(immemorative of 1849, is headed, on the contrary, the " Year of Reacion." It is, of course, throughout couched in langu3g , expres sive of exultation at the temporary defrat of the popullir movement throughout the continent : and although we sympathise in no re-pect in the sentiments therein articulated, we cannot but be struck by the vigour displayed in tha whole political synopsis. The fol lowing is the reference to the war between the dif ferent races, commenced in 1843 and terminated in 1849 : The Lombard rose against the German, the Bohe mian against the Imperi dist, the llune..l:i an against the Austrian; th e C e l t an d t h e Saxon stood in arms against each other. Naples wus rent in twain ;a ra volutionary state was established in Sicily; the supreme P.:nttti was de throned at Rome; Piedmont joined the innovating party; Lombardy rose up against Austria, Bohemia vas in arms against Vi enna , t h e M agyars rev i ve d against the Germans the fierce hostility of five centuries; Prussia was revolutionised, Baden ravaged, Denmark invaded; the Poles could with difficulty be restrained amidst the general effervescence; the Irish openly made prepara tions for rebellion and separation from Great Britain. England itself was shaken; tho gravity and practical tendency of the Anglo-Saxon character in part yielded to the general contagion. London was threatened with a revolutionary movement; the Chartists in all the ma nufacturing towns were prepared to follow the example; treasonable placards, calling on the people to rise, were to be seen on all sides; and the mighty conqueror who had stru c k d own Napoleon exerted his consummate skill in 13 , 111ing the rebellion of his own countrymen, and won a victory over anarchy not less momentous than that of Waterloo, and not the less memorable that it did not cost a drop of human blood." The last sentence we cannot but regard as magni. ficently hyperbolical. After giving this rapid epitome of the antecedents of reaction, the writer thus enumerates all that had been accomplished towards the restoration of the Monarchical supremacy in the subsequent eighteen months : " Re volution had been crushed without the effusion of blood in Be rhn: law had regained its ascendency; re bellion had quailed before the undaunted aspect of the defenders of order and the throne. Naples had regained the dominion of Sicily; the arms of France had restored the Pope of Rome; the Eternal City had yielded to the assault of the soldiers of Lauis Napoleon. Austria had regained her ascendency in Italy; the perfidious aggres- Bien of Charles Alpert had been signally chastis d by the skill and deterwina•ion of the veteran Radetzky ; Milan was again the seat of Imperial government; the dream of a Venetian republic had passed away, and the Place of St. Mark again beheld the doubled -fit aded eagle of Austria at the summit of its domes. Baden was conquered, Saxony pacific d; the fumes of revolutionary aggression in Schleswig htei been dissipated by the fitna• ness of Denmark, and the ready, although uuexerted, support of Russia. Poland was overawed the Co lossus of the North; and even, the heroic valour of the Magyara, so often in h a ppi er d ays t h e b u l war k o f t h e Cross, had yielded to that loyalty and tenacity of par pose which has so long distinguished the Austrian people, joined and aided by the support which, on this as on many previous occasions, Russia has afforded to the cause of order in Europe. ThOugh last, not least, Great Britain was pacified: the dreams of the socialists, the treason of the Chartists, had recoiled before the energy of a people yet on the whole loyal and united. Ireland, blasted by the triple curse of rebellion, pestilence, and famine, had ceased to be an object of disquietude to England, save from the incessant misery which it exhi bited; and its furious patriots, abandoning in multitudes the land of thei r bi rt h , were carrying into Trau,atlautis regions the principl e so f anarc h y, an d d eat hl ess hatred at civilisation, which had su long laid waste their own country." One word we must perforce add to what we have already said in reference to this contribution. It does strike us as being rather inconsistent with the previous paneygrics pronounced upon the Hungarian revolutionists by Blackwood, to find the same organ, which had so emphatically condemned the conduct pursued by the Viennese Cabinet towards the Magyars, saying now in January, 1850—" \\ in dischgratz i n B o h em i a, R adetzky in Italy, Jeilachich 10 Austria, stood forth as the saviours of the monarchy, and with it, of the cause of European freedom." Two serials are continued in the current number—namely, the seventh part of the " Green Hand " and the third part of. "My Perlin ular Medal." An agreeable criticism, entitled "American Adventure," directs attention collectively to books written by Theodore Johnson, Francis Parkmao, and Lieutenant \Vise—each of thei: works having particular reference to the gold diggings of California. The concluding stanza, and the con cluding stanza alone, of the " Dark Waggon," is Worthy the poetical genius of Delta. Coming as it does after a prolonged narrative of the hurried pro gress of the blinded waggon, surrounded by a troop of armed cav a l ry, f rom one ex t rem it y o f the island to the other—from Dunbarton to Westminster—it has a very grand and solemn effect : " Ye guardian angel:! that fulfil Heaven's high decrees, and work its will— Ye thund, r bolts! launched forth to kill, — Where was it then ye slept— When, foe-be:mocked, in prison square, To death lor e d oome d, w i t h dauntless a ir, From out that van, A shackled man— To Sir William Wallace stept l" the .. laboriou s b ut i l l og i cal contribution relating to _ Bluish A gr i cu l ture and Foreign Competition, " we shall take the earliest opportunity of referring else where. Even Fraser FRASER. ari , th e ultr a -T o ry an d territorial doctristocracy loving Fraser, has f a irly g i ven u p th e ne of protectien, and what is more, has fairly exposed the motives of those who now attempt, Judas like, to exploiter the distresses of the poor and the humanity of the public by wilfully and fraudulently raising the cry of protection to native industry, as though the di s t resses of the poor needless omen and tailors Lad been occasioned by foreign competition, or could be relived by doubting the price of bread, of which these unfor tunate persons ate the great consumers. In the course of a very ably written article on Labour and the Peor,"with which the present number of Fraser opens, we find the following passage on the suhject of the " protection cry," with which the insolvent landlords are endeavouring to gull the public. "God knows," says this writer, " That if I thought protection would restore the con dition of the labouring classes of England, I would strive for it to-morrow. But I have been unable yet to see what the restoring of prof( ction could do fcr tl purpose. Free -trade is of yesterday; the fall in wages is constant. Even at Spitalfields, some at least of the Workmen have teen eanueh to tell you that they have driven t` o French out of the market; and yet the pt o pie are starving whilst they are being drivt_n out. Is it foreign competition that affects the sempstresses ? Is it the French or the Americans who are deluging us with cheap coats, cheap trousers, cheap greatcoats, cheap shirts? Was it a Frenchman that brought down the prices of the stay making? Was it a French butcher that took the workhouse-girls to make cheap embroidi r ers of them? So far as the cry fcr free trade springs from the mere idolatry of cheapness, —so far as it is not connected with an earnest desire to break down com mercial barriers, pat an end to the demoralizing practice (2t. s muggling, an d bi nd the nations of the earth eh ser c,wtyl cl oser into o ne f am i ly, I am ready to condemn it tk a t t h Mr- G. F. Young himself; but who does not see h ib. for protection is, in the mouth of the great the cryrote 9- o f its utterers, but a cry for agricultural from e , t 1 , 143 n, that is to say, for the shutting out of food 'e starvin illions of a country that does not produce e nough form s own subsistence? Who does not see that its advocates are full, in fact, of all the worst elements of selfishness and mammon-worship of the jePstr theysite P a rty, and are only willing not to buy cheap tbat should no longer be able to sell dear? So issue difference between the two parties is only an is un T er lite t as to the better machinery of extortion. It under prit t e i t tte.tion that wages h ave b een ever sinking; the very litibalsotoe that pr c fit s h ave got to be wrung from tionto-m.ofrr_ohwe. who of the workman. R estore protec• portion can reckon what horeceopathic pro artizati's pocket? " ete a `© in p r i ces would go into the The author of . this article does not consider emigre tion as a sufficient remedy for the evil we have to combat, although he admits that it ma be en excel lent accessory to . others. II Y _ e remedy which he recommends Is a sort of organization of labour—a kind of pale Louis Blancism, which, inasmuch as it does not g o to the state of the root of the evil, must necessarily in the long run prove inefficient its a remedy. The inquirers into the labouring poor have hitherto contented themselves with listening to the tales of wo told by the are`ch operetives alone; but e(ll3' underpaid and starving let them go to th e employers of these operit , tves,a o d t. th''Y will find th a t th ose emp l oyers are „heins,lv!e ect•wed cloven by the usurer an d t h e cap i ta li s t, who in their turn are obliged to charge an exorbitantin terest to make up for the losses incurred by the great risks w hich they run —risks priucip illy, it not Wholly, occasioned by a vicious system of legislation, I%bieli designedly and avowedly secrifices in every instance persons to property, and every other s PeFies of property to lauded property, in order to n-ttaitain tlie supremacy of a territorial. albeit, insoli vent aristocracy. Ileve not the clearings of Ile Duke off. Sutherland ni;d other proprietors in the North, and ..yethe 'rid'. landlords, tended to beat down .1 rate of wages everywhere by driving the eei•try into the towns to compete in the labour,o tnerkq ? Do not our laws of inheritance, ict).vriino4eniture, and of entail, keep down wages by t h L e tng up immense masses of capital which, but for "e laws) would be brought into the market for rmpl-vment. cryl by competing against the capital in the liihour nir.rket raise the we t w ? nl. our law of partnership i.t-tire to keep down the r.te of wages, of discouraging p , .-r,q)rii ff• niit s. s•it.g p ions of their capitel in ihasniuch as by so doing it ui re 41, r i to- ‘t hole of their property li•inle fa. -I.e partnership debts ? These are some of the causes of the social evils under which ,Ae labour, and those evils in spite of the pallia tives of emigration, association, and all the other ations which have I een suggested, will be of perpe tual recurrence until the causes shall have been re moved, and those causes can only he removed save by cheapening capital ; first, by assimilating the laws re gulating the inheritance and the sale of landed pro perty to the laws regulating the inheritance and the sale of personal property, so .. ,that a proprietor of an estate shall be enabled to dispose of his property with as little difficulty as the proprietor of a ship; 2d, by eVeticling to the whole of the kingdom the provisions of the Act for the sale of encumbered estates, at present'applicable only to Ireland ; 31, by an extensi in of the principle regulating joint stock comp ivies to all commercial psrtriershii. , t., or by the adoption of the French principle of partnership en eonunantlite; and, above all, by a complete and thorough reform of our whole monetary system. Free trade in land and free trade in money are the effectual remedies for our social evils. On the principle of fair play, Fraser has this n.onth ad mitted a reply to the paper on the negro question which appeared last month, but the writer of the reply is no match for Thomas Carlyle. It is a reply, but no answer. We are glad to find that this Tory periodical is at It ngth compelled to do justice to the far-sighted views of Lord Palmerston in emancipating us from the incubus of the crumbling empire of Austria, now become a province of Russia, and substituting for that dan gerous, and expensive, and useless alliance, an alliance with Prussia, France, and Piedmont. In an article on Baron Bulow's recently published pamphlet on the German question, Fraser thus repudiates the rotten policy and the stubborn obsti nacy of the Earl of Aberdeen and his followers : " The faith and the truthful spirit which cling to the reminiscences of departed worth betoken • noble and a generous feeling. Not so the stubborn obstinacy which stands up for the ' vested interests' of rottenness and decay. We have no friendly feelings towards revolu tions. We beheld the revolutions of 1848 with a feeling of sorrow, not unmixed with shame. The excesses of that memorable spring caused us to blush; their inevitable consequences filled us with grief. But we cannot applaud the prudence, or commend the foresight, of those vi hose caoutchoue polities yield to every pressure and contract to their old dimensions. A revolution with us is afait accompli. As for the Ger mans, there is no doubt that they might have done better. But the present question is,—How can they be prevented from doing worse? Their only choice lies between Prussia, Russia. and Mr. Heinzen. There cannot, to our mind, be any doubt which side they ought to take. Our be sr wishts are with their choice whatever it he, but our anticipations of success go with the Prussian League, and, conditionally, with the Par liament of Erfurt." Want of space compels us to leave unnoticed several excellent articles in this month's Fraser, but we cannot close our remiti ks without directing the attention of our readers to an admirable critical notice of the literary career of Sir E. B. Lytton, which appears under the somewhat whimsical title of " Sir E. B. Lytton and Mrs. Grundy," and to a masterly resume of the arguments on the subject of marriage with a deceased wife's sister, the result of which is the conviction on the mind of the writer of the absolute necessi►y of legalizing such marriages. THE SUN, THE INFANT'S PRAYER, [ln the following graceful and touching verses, transcribed from the Guardian, we detect the hand of the gifted and ingenious author of the "Christian Life." The poem here submitted to our readers is the third of a series entitled " Lyra Spiritualis; Thoughts in Verse on Sacred Themes," and the charming picture pourtrayed in it, while according with many of the effusions contained in the last work of the Rev. Robert Montgomery, amply justifies the commendation pronounced on that work by our selves.] Bend, Angel! from thy throne of bliss, A living type to see, Whose pureness, in a w orld like this, Partakes of heaven and thee, — With lisping grace and lovely awe God's infant kneels in prayer, Looking as it by faith it saw What lips cannot declare : For oh ! that face with worship rife Tells more than tones convey,— Solt pulses of bapti:mal Deep in the bosom play. On earth my Saviour once enwreathtd Around a sinless child His loving arms, and o'er it breathed A blessing, deep as mild, And still that breath of awful love So charms our inward ear, That children seem to God above Angelically near. In vain would plastic Sculpture dream It moulds such beauty now, Or, poet-worth rifl,ct the gleam That sanctifies thy brow, — For earth and heaven around thee twine A double charm, that glows With more than marble can define, Or lyre-born language knows. How blest, to watch thy myriad ways Of fawnlike grace, and glee, And call thee bright as vernal rays, Or sun•tints on the sea!— Or hear the music of thy mind In broken lisps of song, Whoso echo seems the spring-tont d wind O'er leaflets borne along. Elastic as the vital 13,e( x?, Thy tairy m , ,tiorts Wide, With flexure, of infantile ease To each glad step supplied; While gol•'en kicks in glittering play Leke woven sunbeams deuce, And purer than the y.,ung•e)ed May Thy soul's ethereal &rice; And buds and blossoms, too, of thought, Betray 'heir beauteous spell, Telling that Christ within bath wrought Far more than speech can tell. But slumber brings a Matchless grace To thy cherubic form, — For who can watch a sinless face Nor bow befoie the charm? The silent loveliness of sleep Seri nes thy features then, And purity, v.hich makes to weep The sin-worn hearts of men! But Beauty fades: —and I would learn The Church's lore from thee, And in the babe some truths discern That grasp eternity.— Thee at her consecrating Fount Our own true Mother gave Regen'rate life, by which to mount O'er guilt, and death, and grave. Thus, fair-browed Thing! whose budding charms Inwreath maternal heart, Oh, never from thy Saviour's arms By recreant will depart. Baptismal blessings, rich and rare, Around thee throng and dwell, Till life becomes embodied prayer, And truth thy guardian spell. Still on tby forehead, crossed by grace, May dews of mercy rest, And God enrol thee in that race, — The " Abba" of the blest Far down within thy spirit's core May germs of Christ-born love His presence, Whom the heavens adore, By secret token prove. Mere sense is dim, and earthly mind Seems all unfit to know, Hop water, with the Word combined, Can primal grace bestow. Enough for faith, if God decree A Sacrament divine, Whereby an infant soul may be His everlasting shrine. Dec. 19,1849. ' tft THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—This institution closed yesterday afternoon, fur the purpose of cleansing, &c., and will be re-opened to the public on Wednesday, the 9th in.tant. The total number of visitors to the Museum from Wednesday last until yesterday inclusive, was 41,947. - - REFUSAL TO MARRY BY A CLERGYMAN.—ine Liverpool Slaudurd of To( sday last sa)s:—" We are inlortt•ed that the Government solicitor, Mr. Reynolds, ingructed his agents at Liverpool to prerent an indict merit at the pre s. nt ti,siz.s against the Rev. Moorhouse James, 11. A (13. A. 1535), formerly of Jesus College, eumbent of Bedford, ne.;r Leigh, for refusing to marry Henry lri,f.er anti Ano,her. 'rite superintendent registrar of ehe district was examined before the grand jury, at uive,rned Pool. on Wednesc);t and a true bill has been re iitto court. lila( trial will take place at the March assiz,e" THE SUNDERLAND LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHIC SOCIETY. annual soirée of this irsitutit n tock place on Wtdri..sday vv. Chambers, of last, and was presided over by Edinburgh, who addressed the at: dif-nee ns.sernhleti at Sorre length and with gr.e at t ifect, on the crivent:qe of mg places of innocent reerea thni and t niigr t nmery for the humbler classes of society. Mr. Chambers was follow( d by. Mr. Digby Seymour, vitro also addrt sst-d the rretling in praise of the insti tion. 'Cite mu•ical res,,,urces of Sunderland were called into play t:) make the scree pass off with more éclat, and the te...ti%al was ap.,: et,! !at, !y closed with a sA4tuntial supper in the librs. y, at w filch the Ma) or presided, and where the healthy of Mr. Chambers and his brother were tOlifilinti and Artinlp s.:ilk nrtits.leinem LONDON, THE WELSH CHURCH. LLTTbR VIII TO _THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sia,-Ib , g to refer your correspondent " a inns" Sir Thomas Phillips's " chap. yin., pp. 317-29, where he will find a brief history of St. Devid's Col ege, Llampeter. That institution stands, and has long s•o - yd, a melancholy monument of the inability of even the best English Bishop and their Anglicized coadjutors to comprehend, and to supply the spiritual and mental requirements of the Principality. Bishop Burgess was its founder, and his episcopal successor is its visitor. The college was incorporated in the year 1828, expressly "for the reception and education of persona destined for holy orders." It received nut only a high degree of public support, but also many, noble benefactions from private bounty ; yet in the - Report of the Charity Commissioners in 1836, the abeyance, during a series of years, of two of its pro fessorships was stated to proceed from "inadequate r es ources. ' - - . Considering the sole and proper object of the insti- tution to be the home training of Welsh clergymen, it certainly is a most anomalous and extraordinary fact that the Professorships of Hebrew and of Logic should have been retained, while the Welsh Profes.orship was allowed to remain vacant and virtually abolished ! But the present inefficiency and poverty of the institution obviously proceed rather from its own inanity and perversion than from any real difficulties. The visitor and resident officers, who are thus nullifying the very purpose of the incorporation, while Disient is over running the land, for want of zealous Welshmen in its churches, of course must fail in making out a proper claim on the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who are, however, empowered by recent Acts of Parliament to augment the endowment of St. David's College, Liam ' peter, at discretion. It is not, therefore, to be won dered at, that " this enactment," as Sir T. Phillips expresses it, "has hitherto continued a dead letter." 'lhe original endowment of this college was pecu liarly unfortunate; and, since no one can suppose that Bishop Burgess acted upon the principle of doing evil to produce good, his conduct in this instance must b 9 ascribd to that sort of fatuity which cleaves from generation to generation to English rulers of the unhappy Welsh Church. Mr. Johnes informs us (Essay on Dissen', p. 113) that the poor livings with which this college was first endowed " were in some instances so completely stripped of their scanty revenues, that the parishioners were left without funds to support a resident minister." In the whole county of Cardigan there are not more than eight benefices with cure of souls which are above the value of 150/. a year ; and out of these eight only two had resident incumbents, %hen the professors of Llampeter were endowed with four of them :—Bettws Ttiwan, 2001.; Bryngw) n, 2001.; Llargoedinor, 4001.; and Penbryn, 3001. "Nothing could have been more unjustifiable," observts Mr. Johnes, " than the annexation of the living , ' just enumerated to the College of Llampeter, for in this very county there are no fewer than nine sinecures, most of them above the annual value of 2001, which might have been thus applied without depriving whole dis.xicts of a resident ministry" (page 214). The forlorn condition of these injured and impoverished [wishes may be clearly traced in the tables and notes of the second part of the Commissioners' Report on Welsh Education. " Six livings," says Sir T. Phil lips' " were granted to this college by King George the Fourth, namely, Llangoedneor, in Cardiganshire; Llanedi, 6t. Peter's, Caermarthen ; Llan2eler, in Carmarthenshire ; and Llandeur, Velfrey, and Nangle, in Pembrokeshire." Cd.mrnon sense and strict justice evidently require that all these misappropriated benefices should be forth - with restored to their proper parochial uses, and that the college should at once be sufficiently and liberdly endowed out of the property placed at the disposal of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. This being done, and each of these benefices bang severally bestowed upon a pious Welshman ;—the college itself being thoroughly renewed, its whole administration re formed and conscientiously directed to the tfficient education of useful Welsh ministers, to labour among their fellow-countrymen,—immense benefits might confidently be expected to follow such vigorous prtofs of the energetic revival of the Welsh Church. Blessed be the statesmen who shall bring such things to pass.—l am, Sir, &c., GORBONIAN. COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS. The half-yearly meeting of the College of Pre ceptors was held last evening, at No. 28, Bloomsbury square. The chair was taken by Dr. Wilson at half-past seven o'clock. The address was delivered by Philip Kingsford, Esq., barrister, a member of the council. having sketched the rise and progress of the science of uni versal logic, which he defined as the science of general method, he urged the necessity of its careful study upon all professors of education. He pointed out the evils arising from the communication of instruction to youth by unqualified and ignorant persons, but observed that, at the same time, the possession of information by the teacher was not alone sufficient to qualify him fur hie office. The philosopher not being always, nor often, the best instructor, two other things were necessary. The first included the process of exposition and corntnuni• cation ; the second, _the operations of training and development. For not only should mere knowledge be imparted, but the individual mind should be taught universal submission to its humanizing influences. The habit of controlling impulse and passion should be generated, and a capability should be impressed of receiving improvement from the influences of a continually • progressive civilisation. He com pared the condition of education at present with that of chemistry at the beginning of the last century; it was almost exclusively of an empirical character. But he hoped that the College of Preceptors, and other institutions of a similar character, would do as much for education as the Ito) al Society of London and the Academy of Sciences of Paris had already done for chemistry. He called attention to the numerous im• provements that had been lately made in the modes of communicating knowledge, and eulogised especially " Johnson's Physical Atlas," the " Geological and Ethnographic Maps," Dr. Arnold's " Henry's First Latin Bonk," and other elementary works. Ile invited all teachers to unite in the endeavour to exalt their profession from its present condition; to exclude for the future all unqualified persons from its exercise; to observe constant silence upon political and religious topics; as he felt assured that if they did so, they would not much longer have to complain that their labours were inadequately remunerated by the public. In conclusion, he pointed to the living tri umphs of painting, sculpture, and poetry, and asked if, whilst other artists filled the world with works of beauty, the teacher— the highest artist—should be alone unproductive ? He should not be unproductive ; but his works would be unobserved by all save the reflecting. Few but they would ever remember his benefits, and from them alone should he expect sym pathy and appreciation. The chief reward of the conscientious teacher was in his own mind. To feel himself a conscious instrument in the diffusion of truth and happiness, a living force in the moral uni verse, was to know the highest happiness of man, and to earn the right of believing in immortality. And the privilege was within the grasp of every teacher. The address, which was listened to with great attention, and frequently interrupted by applause, was loudly cheered at its conclusion. Dr. WILSON moved the thanks of the college to Mr. Kingsford for his very able and instructive address. Dr. HODGSON seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to, and the meeting separated. RECENTLY PROJECTED ASSURANCE SOCIETIRS.— The titles of projected companies provisionally registered during the year 1849 are sixty-three in number; nine appear, however, to be duplicates or partially altered, applying, it would seem, to others previously named and emanating from the same promoters. The following is a statistical summary of their various intended opera tions:—Accidental death, 5; Colonization, 1; Life clone, 35; Life and fidelity guarantee, 8; Marine, 3; Cattle, 2; Fire and life, 6; Fire alone, 2; Property, 3; Solvency and commercial debt, 2. some of the titles are highly novel, and characteristic of the curious taste of their progenitors. One starts with a " Champion," and ends with a "British Hotrcevathic Life," suggestive, we sup pose, of infinitessimal assurances. Then follows a "Gas Protector's Mutual," with the additional variety of argand and bat's-wing policies. Cambria, hitherto neglected, enjoys a triple slice; nor are the mining, trading, and industrial interests neglected. Amongst the novelties in the shape of assurances we have a sample of " Bachelor Policies of Fidelity," but whether the guarantee applies to pecuniary or hymeneal engage ments, the chronicler speaketh not. If, however, to the latter, we doubt not butithe insurers will be well sup ported by the fair sex.—The Reporter of this day. THE LAST NIGHT or TILE YEAR AT THE MAN VION•HOUSE.—The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress gave an entertainment, in the Egyptian-hall, to the juvenile members of families connected with the city of L-ndon. There were presuit between 600 and 700 young people on this very intereetiug occasion. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, with two of their juvoaile guests, opened the ball with an old-fashioned country dance. The Farents and friends of the children tre permitted to join the party about ten o'clock. The youngsters sat down, in parties of 300 each, to a supper, provided in excellent style by Ring and Burner, and the festivities of the evening were kept up until the new year had commenced. THE EARL OF ELLESMERE AND THE LONDON AND 14 1;:t r we s e o n ta t e h o r n s t t ( h p s s f i NORTH-WESTERN iiApirLewvaAiYit.,—d r e i7ge. P w e ' t a i ;e i° r u C h i n in B al and the London and North- E t t i c ie tiv u e 0' ester!, Railway, in consequence of which the goods b, twee n Liverpool and Alanchest( r were carried at luinously low rates. Negotiations have been carried on or some time betwei n the rival carriers, and have ter , ululated in en amicable understanding. With the com- BRIG111"S VIEW OF THE IRISH QUESTION. TO TH2 EDITORS OF THE LIVERPOOL MERCURY. Gen , lemen,—What is :west to be admired in Mr. Bright's spfech is that most admirable catholic sprit which feared not to state the truth—" That there vvms nothing in the Roman Catholic religion, or in the character of the Irish people, which could prevent that country obtaining the prolperity which she deserves, and which Nature has so evidently intended to be her portion." Mr. Bright most truly describes the cause of her present lamentable condition to be entirely owing "to the crimes and blunders of legislation ;" and who, except Sir Robert Peel and his party, will gainsay this fact ? Mr. Bright then prescribes his remedy to be " a free• trade in land." I should only weaken your own excellent observa tions were I to point out in detail that, however desirable such remedy may be, yet it can only operate through a course of years; but, in the interim, the question for statesmen to solve is this—How is the present distress to be mitigated ? Surely the circumstances attending the proposed sale of the Connemara estates will prove to Mr. Bright the wisdom of your remark, " That society will not accommodate itself to a change of system in a day," for that property was divided into lots to suit alldeseriptions of Furch tiers, yet there were none, and twiny lots were bought in at one pound par acre, the price fixed a 3 the va l ue o f un c leared land in New Zealand and Australia. Will not this fact clearly prove to the sagacious mind of Mr. Bright, that his remedy, however desir able to prepare the way for a more healthy state, is utterly inadequate to meet the present difficulty And then arises the question—ls it just and proper for the Legislature to use direct means to assist the Irish people to extricate themselves I have always maintained the affirmative of this preposition, and that it would be wise economy so to do ; but I would not attempt this through any plan tation absurdity, but use Irish hands, whether be longing to Roman Catholic, or to Church of England, or to Presbyterian hearts, to effect this object—using that which never yet failed when properly adminis tered, " A fair day's wages for a fair day's work." But assistance is necessary, or the past will be the history of the future ; and were the question to be decided by an English jury, Mr. Bright is the very first witness I would call to show the justice of ren dering such assistance, if this country is prepared to do that which is honest. What ? Is it possible that he who so eloquently described the cause of the present distress to be owing to the " crimes and blunders of legislation" could tell an English jury that the victim of their unjust laws should be obliged to drain the bitter cup of adver►ity, while those who had caused the infliction should coolly look on and do nothing ? I believe that Mr. Bright would repudiate such conduct, and, although I am not aware that he has ever expressed an opinion upon the subject, I feel morally convinced that if Lord John Russell were to re-introduce his measure for the reclamation of waste lands, he would be supported by Mr. Bright, Mr. Hume, and the whole Liberal party. There can be no rational doubt that, unless that or a similar measure ahould be adopted, holding out a fair prospect of giving to the Irish peasant employ ment, the present calamities will continue. Yes, must continue; there will be no perceptible difference bete. een the number of recipients of paro chial relief this year, if account be taken of the houses that have been levelled, and the inhabitants driven forth to die, or find their way to some coun try where their anxious cry for employment will not be answered by " the crimes and blunders of legis lation." The amount re quired for the support of the poor will, probably, be s omething less in consequence of this cause, and the comparative cheapness of food, and then you will have such statesmen as Sir Charles Wood quoting figures to show that Ireland is im proving, because in this and that union so many pounds, shillings, and pence less are required to support the people; and this is called government !!! But the pressure upon individuals for this reduced amount will be heavier in the more distressed unions, because all who have the means have flown or will flee from the country, and who will supply their place ? If the measure which I proposed, three years since, had then been adopted in the more distressed unions, not only would the people have been employed, at little more than they have cost as paupers, but the country would not have witnessed that paralysis which has taken place, and which must continue unless proper measures are taken. But the Grey party in the Cabinet, who treat Ire land as though she were a colony instead of the equal of England and Scotland, thought it better to do nothing, except lend money upon adequate security, so as to give the Government the least trouble. But time is sure to test such abortive schem's. The following paragraph, from the Athlone Sentinel, will show the folly of Sir Charles Wood's plan for re lieving distress in Ireland, while the succeeding paragraph will show th-tt the plan I recommended has, in another country, and without the necessity which existed in Ireland, been adopted by the wisest monarch, if not the wisest man, of the present day, the King of the Belgians : SIR CHARLES WOCD'S PLAN FOR RELIEVING IRISH DISTRESS, COPIED FfCDI 'ME "ATHLONE SENTINEL" '6 ►l'e regret to ,ay that the manner in which the railroad was commenced nearly occa,iot,ed a riot, which, but for the speedy interposition of the police, must have proved of a serious character. It appears that a numb( r of men belonging to the contractor, Mr. Dangan, who were strangers in the locality, were sent to open the work. The labourers of the place demanded employ ment, which was refused. They took up pickaxes and other implements and commenced working, when the police ware sent for," THE PLAN I PROPOSED FOR RELIEVING IRISH DISTRESS BY THE RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND. " Brussels, Nov. 23. " The Government forwarded a few days ago a report to his Majesty, recommending the establishment in the Commune of ymmel, in the Camphine (a vast tract of chitfly uncultivated land), of an agricultural colony, and proposing to erect twenty farm• houses, a church, a cler gyman's residence, and a school. The Monileur now publishes a royal decree approving of the scheme cf Mi sisters, and ord, ring it to be carried into execution. The Commune in question is situated to the north of the tirA section of the Meuse and Scheldt Junction Canal." Is it possible that such a measure can be wise in Belgium and foolish in Ireland—when thousands and thousands are seeking agricultural employment,which being unable to obtain, they have their daily bread doled out to them as paupers. I am, gentlemen, your very obedient servant, Cowar, Dec. 6, 1849. RIGBY WASON. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sts. —Perceiving that several exhibitions are open Purporting to show v i ews o f t h e Arc ti c an d P o l ar Regions, I shall f ee l great l y o b liged b y your inser tion of my statement—that I am the only officer or person in the EnterpriFe who took any drawings of those regions during the late expedition under Sir James Ross, and which drawings the Admiralty have allowed Mr. Burford, of Leceister-square, to use. Allow me to apologise for this intrusion ; but as I do not wish to see the public imposed upon, I trust you will excuse my trespassing upon your valuable columns.—l remain, Sir, your obedient servant, W. 11. BROWN E, Late Lieutenant of the Enterprise. 2, South Bank, Oxton, Birkenhead, Cheshire, December 29, 1849. Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held at the Maid's Head Inn, Thorpe, Essex, of gentlemen con nected with agricultural pursuits, as well as tenant tanners. Mr. T. Nunn, of Manningtree, took the chair, and addressed the meeting at considerah!e length, re plying in detail to many of the arguments by which free trade is usually support( d, and setting forth, in t,rms with which the public are already familiar, the griev ances of which the owners and cultivators of the soil consider themselves entitled to complain, and which ap peared to him as deeply to affect the working classes as they did the most opulent members of the community. Mr. Baker moved the first resolution, which was to the following effect:—" That the agricultural, shipping, colonial, trading, and other great interests of this country are at the present moment in intense su ff ering and di ffi culty, and fast hastening to a most fatal condition of general distress and ruin, from which no relief can be expected until the free -trade policy shall be wholly abandoned, and a system of just protection to native industry and capital against foreign competttion be substituted." Mr. C. Nunn moved the second reso lution, which asserted the necessity and justice of giving to agriculture as much protection as was enjoyed by the manufacturing interest, through the means of import duties. In the course of a short speech this gentleman censured both the commercial policy of Sir Robert Peel and the public conduct of Mr. Cobden in reference to the claims of agriculture. The third resolution was proposed by Mr. Cardinal, which expressed the opinion of the meeting on the great injury that our colonies sustained from the success that riga attended free-trade principles, and the grievances of which the shipping interest had to complain. The fourth resolu tion pledged the meeting to address the Queen on the distress under Hhich all the great interests of the coun try were suffering, and Sir J. T. Tyrell, M.P., who was present during the whole of the proceeding s , then ad dressed the meeting, putting before them in his usual manner the principal topics by which protection is generally defended and advocated. The several resolu tions were agreed to unanimously, and Mr. Round, in moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, expressed his conviction—his solemn conviction, that her Kejesty's Ministers were waging war against the territorial con stitution of the country. The meeting then separated. There were 500 persnns present in the room. JOSEPH ADY IN TIPPERARY.—On Monday last the notorious Joseph Ady sent some of his friendly letters, post-paid, to several persons in Clochjordan, informing them that ‘ 4 on the receipt of twenty shillings he would let them hear of something greatly to their advantage," but they were too knowing to bo hoodwinked by this tram TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1850. SAVINGS' BANKS. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) The mismanagement of the Rochdale Savings' Bank has brought upon other institutions no little trouble and a share of. unpleasantness. If a trustee or a manager had regularly attended the bank at Rochdale, and taken that part assigned to him in his character of trustee or manager, the frauds which have from time to time lieen committed, nor any one of them, could have taken place. Again, if the late actuary had the sole control of the business of the institution, the account which is transmitted to the National Debt Office monthly must have been a false one, in asmuch as it has certified thus :—" We the managers and the actuary, or secretary of the Savings' Bank established at Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, do hereby certify that the several sums of money stated in the columns two and five (the receipt and payment columns) were received and paid in our pre sence in the office or place appointed by the rules and regulations for conducting the business of the said bank." Now, if a trustee or manager gave regular attendance they must have paid very little attention to the business of each day; and if they did not give their attendance, it is passing strange and most extraordi nary that the certificate quoted above should have been every month sent to the National Debt Office, avow ing that such attendance was given. Look at the case in whichever way one may, it produces surprise and astonishment. Another point is not unworthy of remark just now. A hint has been thrown out that friendly societies, lodge members, and the like, who have invested in banks for savings, not being legally en rolled, are not entitled to withdraw the amount stand ing in their names. Now, for trustees and managers (who are acquainted with the law applicable to those institutions) to receive the funds of these societies and not refund their money, would be breaking good faith, and also acting very much like obtaining money under false pretence. Having received the deposits, they cannot, up to the present time (without com mitting a gross wrong and manifest injustice), refuse repayment to those societies. They might give them notice to withdraw their investments, and have none standing in their ledgers for the future but were duly certified by Mr. J. T. Pratt, as the law requires they should be. There is another matter yet not unworthy of notice—namely, the fact that in many banks for savings individuals are allowed to deposit (both for themt , elves and their children) who ought not to be permitted. It is highly improper, and also suffering that which is contrary to the principle and spirit of the Act of Parliament. The constitution, as well as the management of banks for savings, must be put into a healthy con dition. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S.—YEsTERDAY. Business was extremely flat, the only horses in demand being Voltigeur and The Nigger for the Derby, and Dough and John Cosser for the Chester Cup. The Metropolitan Handicap and Liverpool Steeplechase bets were mostly in scores and ponies. CHESTER CUP. 1,000 to 20 agst Lord Howth's Peep-o'-day Boy—taken twice 1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Murphy's Dough—t several times 1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack—taken 50 to 1 agst Sir R. Pigot's Essedarius 50 to 1 agst Mr. Stebbings's Malton 1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Merry's Chanticleer—taken twice 1,000 to 15 agst Sir R. Bulkeley's Melody—taken 1,000 to 15 agst Capt. Hervey's Lismahago 2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Meiklam's Raby—taken 2,000 to 30 agst Mr. Wreford'a Woodlark—taken 1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Jaques's Chantrey—taken 1,000 to 12 agst Mr. Gregory's Clermont—taken 'l,OOO to 10 agst Mr. Gregory's Kennington—taken 2,000 to 20 apt Mr. Meiklam's Emma—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Pedley's Chatterer—taken 3,000 to 30 agst Captsin llarcourt's Ellerdale—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Irwin's Horn of Chase—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Payne's Glauca—taken 1,000 to 10 agst Mr. Meiklam's Rowland—taken METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. 30 to 1 agst Testator • 30 to 1 agst Lady Mary DERBY, 1850. 11 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum— taken to 1001. 18 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger—taken 18 to 1 agst Lord Zetland'a Volt4eur—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Mildew 25 to 1 agst Lord Airlie's Clincher—taken and afterwards offered 30 to 1 agst Lord IL Lennox's William the Con queror—taken to 254 30 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Mayors 40 to 1 agst Mr. Dixon's Blarney THE OALS. 10 to ,l agst Lord Eglinton's Probity—taken to 1501. LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE. 20 to 1 each laid agst Vainhope, Vengeance, Peter Simple, Rat-trap, and Knight of Gwynne, and 25 to 1 agst the Oaks. CHESTER Cur.—Entries at Chester up to Monday morning: —Clermont, Reception, The Arab, Datea-1. Chorister, lanthe, Fi zpatrick, Ballinafud, King of Oude, Pantomime, Fugh•msn, Minimum, Bon-mot. Cocker mouth, Lambs'- wool, Idle Boy, Coll.tn libue, Kelesbea, Rhesus. John Cosser, Ad:i Mary, Manifold, Peep o'-day Boy, Ellerblie, Loup-gerou, Sir Richard, Captain Grant, Belus, Solon, Testator, Semen. STATISTICS OF THE TURF, 1849. The annexed table shows the amount of the Prin cipal Stakes, the Value of Cups and Forfeits received in Matches being included. From the gross amount, the winner's own stake, money awarded to second and third horses, and the usual expenses, have been deducted. Won. Amount. Lord Eglinton ... ... ... ... 27 £20,116 Duke of Bedford ... ... ... ... 45f 9,387 Sir J. Hawley ... 19 - 9,340 Lord Chesterfield ... 18 8,842 Lord Stanley .. ... 24 7,030 Lord Exeter: ... 32 5.875* Colonel Peel .. ... 17 6,755 Duke of Richmond ... ... 22 5 : 235 Mr. B. Green ... ... 37 4,760 Mr. Meiklam ... 21 5,687 Lord H. Lennox ... ... 17 - 4,262 Lord Clifden... 24 3 909 Mr. Payne ... ... 19 3,455 Mr. Greville... . . . . ... 14 2,995 Mr. A. Nicoll ... ... 2 2.900 Mr. Pedley ... 9 3,010 Lord Orford... .. 5 2.670 Mr. H. Stebbinga... ... 6 2 745 Mr. Itelt ... 17 2,117 Mr. F. Clarke ... . . 2 2,130 Lord Waterford ... ... ... ... 19 2,069 Mr. Disney ... ... ... ... ... 6 ' 2,120 Mr. Clarke ... . . - ... ... 4 1,545 Colonel Anson ... ... ... ... 7 1,325 Mr. Merry ... ... 5 1,519 Mr. J. Powney ... 3 1,285 Mr. Francis . . ... 2 1,313 Mr. ilalford ... 6 1,220 The late Lord Albemarle ... ... 2 1,110 • Exclusive of the Queen's Cup at Ascot. The following shows the amount of Money Won by each of the undermentioned Horses, together with the number of Races in which they proved successful. Owners' and Horses' Names. Age. Won. Amount. Lord Eglinton's Flying Dutchman 3 7 £11,870 Lord Chesterfield's Lady Evelyn 3 4 6,305 Sir J. Hawley's Vatican ... ... 3 6 4 211 Duke of Bedford's Sobraon ... 3 10 3,750 Colonel Peel's Tadmor ... 3 2 3,275 Mr. A. Nicoll's Nunny kirk ... 3 2 2,900 Lord Eglinton's Elthiron ... 3 7 2,825 Sir J. Hawley's Fernhill ... 4 2 2,809 Lord Orford's Fire-king ... 3 4 2,620 Mr. H. Stebbing's Halton ... 4 3 2,623 Lord Stanley's Canerm ... 4 8 2,600 Lord Stanley's Strongbow ... 3 10 2,085 Mr. Payne's Glauca ... 3 9 2,059 Mr. F. Clarke's The Fles ... 3 1 2,050 Mr. Meiklam's Raby ... 3 3 2,135 Mr. Greville's Clarissa ... 3 5 2,009 Mr. Rolt's gallant old Collingwood won the greatest number of races in the year, no fewer than twelve being placed to his account; the Duke of Bedford's Sobraon won ten ; Lord Stanley's Strongbow the like .number; and the splendid daughter of Mel bourne, Lord Stanley's Canezou, won eight races, including the magnificent Goodwood and Doncaster Cups. DIAMOND DUST. (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) The friendships of the world are often confederacies in vice or leagues of pleasure. Life is the hyphen between matter and spirit. A breaking wave is the only thing in nature which is most beautiful in the moment of its dissolution. The fetters of rhyme are no more than a bracelet to the true poet. As well pass a kaleidoscope from hand to hand, and expect no trembling touch will alter its aspect, as to think to hear a story from mouth to mouth literally and accurately repeated. When hearts are filled with holy affections, and home is happy, then do the young dwell in a charmed circle, which only the naturally depraved would seek to quit, and across which boundary temptations to error shine out but feebly. MR. 'WILLY'S CLASSICAL CONCERTS.—The third of these cor certs was held last night at St. Martin's hall, in Long-acre. In addition to the ordinary instrumental attractions, Mr. Willy had engaged Ernst, who executed, with Mr. Sterndale Bennett, Beethoven's Grand Sonata in G (No. 3, op. 30), for pianoforte and violin, and took part in Mcndelssohn's Grand Quartet in E minor, with Messrs. Willy, Hill, and Reed. The room wet; well filled; and some distinguished amateurs were present. Ernst was enthusiastically received, and was encored in the allegro vivace of the Sonata. THE TEMPERATURE IN PARIS.—On Friday, at midnight, the centigrade thermometer , marked 4 deg. 2 m. below zero; on Saturday , at six oclock, A. 31, it marked 4 deg. 9 m.; at seven o'clock, 5 deg. 7 m.; and at noon, 1 deg. 9 m. EXPLOSION AT GLASGOW.—OD Sunday morning, about seven o'clock, an explosion of gas took place in Bath-street, Glasgow, when three men were so dread fully injured that they are not expected to survive. THE MARSHALSEA AND PALACE COURTS. Yesterday some provisions in the Act of last session (12 and 13 Victoria, cap. 101) to amend the Act fur the more easy recovery of small debts and demands in England, and to abolish certain inferior courts of record, took effect. It is enacted that from and after the 31st of December, 1849, all the power, authority, and jurisdiction of the Court of the Marshalsea, and of the Court of the Palace at Westminster, shall cease and determine, and that all the actions and suits then depending in the courts respectively shall be trans ferred, with all the proceedings thereon, to her Ma jesty's Court of Common Pleas at Westminster if the debt or damages sought to be recovered in such actions or suits respectively shall exceed the sum of 201., and to the County Court for the district in which the respective defendants shall then reside if the debt or damages sought to be recovered in such actions or suits respectively shall not exceed the sum of 201., and such actions or suits respectively so transferred shall be dealt with and de cided according to the practice of the courts respectively or of the court whence the same shall be transferred, according to the discretion of the court, which shall, for the purpose of such actions or suits only, be deemed and taken to have all the power and jurisdiction to all intents and purposes possessed before the passing of this Act by the court whence such action or suit shall be transferred. Further; it is pro vided by the Act that all judgments obtained in any of the courts hereby abolished on or before the 31st of December shall, notwithstanding the passing of this Act, be as valid and effectual, and as capable of being enforced by the process of the court in which such judgments shall respectively have been obtained, as if this Act had not been passed. The records are placed under the charge of the Master of the Rolls. There are some hundreds of orders of commitment under the Small Debts Act to be executed, and the question is whether, as they were made by the Palace Court, they can be enforced. At present nothing has been done on the subject of compensation to the officers . and other persons connected with the abolished courts. The claims are under the consideration of the Treasury. CONVICTED PRISONERS. The following report, upon a subject of considerable interest to the citizens of London, has been ordered by the Court of Aldermen to be printed "In obedience to an order of the Court, of the 29th September last, to further consider our report respect ing the maintenance of criminal convicts in the gaols of this City ; to report the expenses thereof for the last four years ; and also the expenses of prosecutions, and whether they should be paid by the Corporation or the Consolidated Fund, and to report our opinion thereon ; we certify that we directed statements of these accounts to be made out by the solicitor, com mencing with the year 1846, the period from which by a resolution of the House of Commons, those items of charge on the county rate were to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund, under the Annual Appropriation Act; and we do further certify that we have received from the solicitor, in a tabulated form, which we have hereunto annexed, a statement of the costs of prosecutions, and the cost of the maintenance of prisoners for the years 1846, 1847, and 1848, averaging 4,8541. per annum. The corresponding accounts for the year 1849 will be laid before us as soon as the year closes. The Solicitor reports, as far as he has proceeded with the past months, he thinks it will slightly, but not materially, exceed the average of the three preceding years. And we do further certify that the Solicitor reports that the Corporation of London are entitled to claim payment half-yearly of these sums, out of the annual vote, the magistrates of sessions being entitled by law to levy a county rate for the amount. And we do further certify that, having taken., the whole matter into our consideration, e recommend that an account for the charges of prosecutions and the main tenance of convicts for the half-year ending 6th Oc tober last, be made out by the governors of the prisons, in the forms prepared by the Solicitor, and that application be made to the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury for payment of that amount, and of the annual grant made by the Appropriation Act for these purposes." THE RECORDS of the MAYOR'S COURT. The following is the report made by Mr. Sergeant Merewether, the Town Clerk, relative to the arrange ments of the records of the Mayor's Court : " In obedience to the order that I should report from time to time the progress made in the examina tion and arrangement of the records of the Mayor's Court, I have to certify that, in pursuance of the authority given to me on the 13th April, 1847, to employ a proper and competent person to examine the books and the records connected with the practice and proceedings of the Mayor's Court, I did employ Mr. Brandon, the Deputy Registrar, for that purpose, and that he has proceeded in the task, the progress having been from time to time reported to your Co.n mittee of General Purposes. " That a strong iron proof closet in one of the Record rooms under my care, has been fitted up for the reception of the records, numbers of which, pre- served from the fire in 1838, have been removed from the office in the Old Jewry to that depository, and secured in bundles. " Other rolls, nine in number, during the reign of Edward the First, have been examined, arranged, lickettd, and epitomised, and forms of each separate proceeding have been extracted in extenso. " Records of the reigns of Edward the Third, Richard the Second, Henry the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, have also been arranged. " There are books of precedents of the reign of James the First, illustrated with marginal notes, and references made to them by an index. " Records from the reign of Elizabeth to George the First, in 236 bundles, have been numbered and dated, so as to be capable of reference and inspection as occasion may require, rendering these records available for the future regulation and practice of the Court. " After the reign of James the First, I did not think it necessary that so copious an index as had been before made should he continued, many of the plaints being of an usual and ordinary description ; they were how ever classified and duly arranged for preservation, and others were arranged for future reference ; and, after a series of precedents had been secured, a shorter mode of indexing was adopted, curtailing the time necessary for completing the who!e arrangement which I now consider sufficient for ordinary practical purposes, though many records still remain unar ranged. " During the last three months of the employment of Mr. Brandon for the purpose of completing the work, a shorter mode of arranging and indexing has been adopted, not so satisfactory as the former, but in as great detail as I felt justified in ordering, without the further sanction of the Court, with whom it is left to consider the expediency of continuing or discon tinuing the undertaking "The arranging ceased on; he 31st of January, 184 fl, the classing of each species being completed to the 20th Charles 1., leaving the subsequent records to the Bth Geo. I. unclassed, but sorted in bundles. "It will be a satisfaction to the Court to learn that in a late case in the court of St. Martin's-le-Grand, the Judge required a selection of 12 records lor the purpose of showing the ancient practice of the Court, which were easily produced, in consequence of the arrangements which had been made, and the records so produced materially affected the proceedings in the cause. "11. A. DIEREWETIIER, Town Clerk." MADAME SONTAG'S CONCERT. We approach our office of critic this week with no ordinary feelings. We well remember with what regret we learned, some eighteen years ago, that the musical world was about to be deprived of one of its choicest ornaments. And little did we think then that it would ever again fall to our lot to have to record the public appearance of Henrietta Sontag. What wondrous changes have passed over the world of music since the enchantress was last heard in England ! Composers that were then in their zenith, and even others that have appeared since, have gone to their last home. Pasta and Pisaroni, Malibran and Schechner, were either in full fame, or in the promise of their young bloom. Kemble, Shaw, and Novello, were not thought of. Grisi and Viardot were at school, and Jenny Lind a child at play. How curiously does this illustrate the rapid and extreme mutations of this branch of the arts during the last twenty years! And yet, allowing for associations and recollections, which poetry forbid that we ever should grow too old to retain and cherish—the simple and surprising truth 's. that never was returning artist so able to abide all these as Madame Sontag. That her voice has been cared for like some precious pearl is ev ident, and "Time has treated the lady like a lover , not like a destroyer." But the sweetness and eve nnesss of t h e organ are as surprising as they are delight ful. How much must that delicacy and tenderness, which the other evening came o'er the ear, have . struck and charmed every hearer , e s p eciall y when i t compared with the rougher singers of a new generation. Then how chaste and complete is her style, how pure and eas y, how elegant and sparkling her execution, how sound and truthful her expression. We were delighted to find unimpaired those exquisite flute passages, which she chiefly executes a mezza voce and with the most perfect articulation ; and though her voice is mostly adapted for the adorned Italian style, for the sentimental or playful and graceful song, yet in the prayer from Der Fretschutz, "Und ob die Wolken sich verhullen," and in Bishop's charming air, " Home ! sweet home!" she abundantly showed that she is no less perfect in the simple song.—Leeds Times, Dec. 22. OLYMPIC THEATRE.—Mrs. Mowatt made her first appearance last night as Bratrice in Much Ado about Nothing, at the conclusion of which she was called before the curtain with Mr Tlnvannnrt HIGH TIDES AT YARMOUTH. The following letter has been addressed to a morning Contemporary : Sir,—Asl an inhabitant of Yarmouth I feel it to be a duty I owe equally to yourself and your readers; to give the most unqualified contradictien to a para graph which appeared under the above head in your journal of December 29, and in which a most gross fabrication was palmed off upon those residing at a distance from our seaport; and in order that the coos tradictio n may be as explicit as possible, I will, with your permission, notice the inventions of the Writer of the paragraph in question as they occur. The writer states that Yarmouth and Lowestoft are "laid under water," as well as " the whole of the sur rounding country for miles." I can only say this is utterly false, nothin g of the kind having occurred, nor indeed the slightest thing which could have given even a bare foundation for such a statement. Next, " The lower flats of most of the houses are flooded to the depth of from three to six feet ;" the fact being that in some of the under -ground cellars on the quay the water has risen (not flowed) about six or eight inches deep, owing to the drains not being able to dis charge themselves into the river by reason of the tide not being low enough to permit them, and owing also to the springs being affected invariably by the tides more or less. " Great destruction of property in consequence." The only damage I know of is in Mr. J. Palmer's salt warehouse by the river side, where salt to the value of 301. or 1001 has been de stroyed, and a few planks of the jetty into th e sea have been forced up, but 51. will pay for the damage. " The quay, market-place, and streets, are inundated." There is just truth enough, as regards the quay, to save it from being false ; but the rest is entirely false, not one drop of water having entered those places save and except the water arising from thawed snow. On the quay, near the bridge (where there is at least 200 feet of open plain), the river certainly overflowed to a distance of about twelve yards, and to a depth of five or six inches, not the slightest damage, how -1 ever, being done beyond that mentioned above. "The water over the bar was twelve feet deeper than usual:' I need only say that the water was two feet lower than at the high tide which teok place four years ago. As a confirmation of my assertion I subjoin a copy of the register of the depth of water at the tide gauge at the pier, furnished me by Mr. W. Teasdel, deputy-engineer, at the pier : December 11, 1845, depth 12ft. Bin. Is 27, 1849, depth 10ft. 4in. 28, 1849, depth 10ft. in. Thus it will ba at once apparent the total depth was not as much as the writer stated the excess alone wits. "Eleven vessels got on the sands," &c. Up to the present time only two vessels have been on the sands. and they have been assisted off without matezial damage. The " exertions to save life and property," with which the writer concludes, sounds so well it were a pity to contradict it. Suffice it to say, the only particle of truth in the entire paragraph is that part which relates to the railway, which is substfins tially correct. _ _ fam sorry to have been compelled to trouble you at this length, but I doubt not, for the sake of truth, you will find room for this letter; indeed, in justice to your high character for accuracy the impudent fabri cation should be exposed.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, Louis A. MALL. Great Yarmouth, Dec. 29, 1849. STRETHAM. SINGULAR INSTANCE OF THE POISONING Or A LARGE QUANTITY or PouLTRY.—Wm. Read, Esq., of Stretham, who is in the habit of rearing a large quantity of poultry, of a choice breed and fine de scription, on his plantation farm, was considerably surprised to hear from his steward, on Tuesday morn ing, the 18th instant, that the greater proportion of them, consisting of remarkably tine guinea and game fowls, upwards of twenty in number, were found lying perfectly dead upon the floor of the apart ment where they were accustomed to roost. The fowls being all young ones, in fat and excel lent condition, the first impression was that they had in all probability by some means been poisoned. In order to ascertain this fact, Mr. Read had the dead animals immediately forwarded to Mr. Pearson, an analytical chemist at Ely, for the purpose of a post mortem and chemical examination of them. Mr. Pearson gave it as his opinion that the animals all died asphyxiated or suffocated, occasioned by the re spiration of two poisonous gases, viz., carbonic acid and charcoal vapour—which was afterwards ascer tained to have been generated and mixed up with the atmosphere of the apartment where the fowls slept, in the following manner appears that the room in which the fowls roost at night is exceedingly low and close, and one of small dimensions,•deficient in proper ventilation, and almost air-tight when the door is shut; in the same room is an oven and furnade for the purpore of baking, which had been heated on this occasion with a large quantity of green wood. After the operatio❑ of banking was completed, the furl and ashes were removed from the furnace in a state of combustion, in the form of charcoal, the burning embers being left to c xtinguish themselves during the night upon the floor of the apartment, with the doors and windows closed, whilst the fowls were at roost. 'Thus, from want of proper caution, two of the most poisonous and deadly gases in nature were generated and accumulated, which are alike rapidly fatal to animal and human lire; and had any person been so unfortunate us to have been exposed to the influence of these deleterious agents, even for a few minutes, they would undoubtedly have shared a similar fate to that of these poor fowls.— Cambridge Chronicle. CALIFORNIA. The accounts from California relative to the pro duction of gold, do not differ materially from those received by previous steamers. It is estimated that there were about eighty thousand people among the mines, most of whom were digging with more or less success. The average product per head is set down at 5 dolls. ; but even that small sum is too high, judging from the comparatively limited shipments of gold dust. The exportation of gold dust from San Francisco has not averaged thus far—Nov. 2, 1842 — more than half a million - per month, as far as we can judge by the most authentic returns received; and it appears to us that if the average product was as large as reported, the shipments would have been to a much greater extent; eighty thousand miners, at an average of even one dollar per dsy, would produce more than 2,000,000 dolls. per month; and at an average of five dollars per day, would give an aggregate of 12,000,000 dolls per month. The statements, there fore, relative to the production must be very much exaggerated, or else the gold remains in the hands of the diggers. We have no doubt that large amounts of gold arc hoarded by the minus ; but we do not believe that the quantity mined is anything like that which the reported average product per head would come to. It is estimated that about 500 ves sels had, up to the Ist of November, arrived at ; ► Francisco from the United States and Europe, and that at least 100,000 people were at that time in California. The average cost of ou• fit for each person cannot be less than 200 dolls., which makes an ag gregate of 20,000,000 dolls. It will cost an average of at least 300 dolls. per annum for each to live. This amounts to 30,000,000. This makes a total of 50,000,000 dolls. for the bare outfit and provisions for one year. The 500 vessels which had arrived at the latest date, and the 500 on the way, are worth, on an average, about 10,000 dolls. each, which amounts to 10,000,000 dolls. The time of each individual we estimate to be worth, on an average 200 dolls; total, 20,000,000 dolls. Grand total of outfit, cost of living one year, cost of vessels engaged in the trade, and value of time one year, 80,000,000 dolls. This is a moderate calculation, as the actual outlay and absorption of capital up to this time will probably amount to fully 100,000.000 dolls. As an offset to this we have thus far received about 6,000 000 dolls. in gold dast from California and the . whole Pacific coast. It will be perceived that there t o still an enormous balance against California, will be a long time, at the rate already rea tzcd, and th r at , lt before we shall receive even the sums xpnded, to say would be satisfied with of f ot t h h i o n s g e aebooguatgepdroifintst.he.lttrai,sie.our imps_sion that most merely the cost of their shipments. Most of them and oinfafinrystofcotshte.: will never realize cent.; the charges, su c h as freight, have abandonwedillalelai milltdeuaporely'reotsrfiy, storage, N ew y & 0 rh c erald. H A motatort, DEC. 26, Noort.—The ice has de cresince yest er d ay . Th e steamer Th ame s quittedased s e nsiblytlli this city to-day at half-past nine o'clock, but encountered such a quantity of drift ice that she was obliged to put back, without having sustained any damage. Temperature, 2 deg. THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAT.—With rola once to the floods nt Yarmouth, we are re quested to state that the line of railway was opened on Suuday night for the up-mail train. The Lowestoft branch will be re opened to. morrow. The damage done to the line is very much h ss than was feared or rapectcd. EDINBURGH AND PERTH RAILWAIr...-.. The com mittee having adjust( d all the liabilities of this com pany, state that a return of 49. per share will be paid on the 20/. shares, and of 2s. 9d. per share on the 101. shares. REMOVAL OF TUE " TABLET " TO DUBLIN.—The Tublet this year is to be published in Dublin. '1 he editor, Mr. Lucas, states that on experience of ten years has convinced him that while the Irish Catholics can, if they choose, support a Catholic journal without be from the English, the English Catholics cannot out a their own strength support a Catholic journal at all. FORT WILLIAM.—LOCIII SUSPENSION BRIDGE. The opening of this bridge to the public took pace on Thursday, in the presence of a large assemblage of spectators. MUSIC IN PARIS. The directors of the Opera Comity() annour.ce the proximate performance of a new three act opera from the poi of M. Albert Grisar, en titled Les Porcheront. Thu leading parts are (wadded Darcier and M. 1119001cfn