The Sun. — London, England, 1851-06-24 00:00:00

Whet Rid hii 'eports o the itee of %tree they intended to take with relset to the sche ' dales ? The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND meek i nnte reply, which was inaudible. Mr. S. CRAWFORD protested against a portion of the measure (the 71st clause). but would not.on the pee wit occasion offer any opposition. NAPIER said one of the clauses which had been ',Tooted to was only to clear up a doubtful point. The the which referred to ejectments did not go beyo nd ,4,8 existing laws. dar. ROCHE said the 73d clause gave a wider po wer „_% 41 . 1 1 at present existed. This constitutad a new law :gib regard to the tenure of land in Irel:md. re ob- Jetted to the principle of passing laws bit by bit, while t he great If of landlord and tenant was l eft un lettled. If the law of distraining for rent were done 4l faY with, he believed nothing would tend so effectually to ~the settlement of the landlord and tenant ques tion. ' l9 bit by bit legislation was vicious, imprudent , and 9arious to the beat interests of Ireland. They were I l ting new powers to landlords, but they were denying t h lthe tenant the means of obtaining compensation fur Provements. The Bill was then read a first time. 4. 11 r. REYNOLDS intimated his determination to offer opposition t , ) the 82d section of the Bill. oir W. SOMERVILLE said all the schedules would 1 11 Postponed for the present. Mr. REYNOLDS wished a day to be fixed for going ° I I with the sch , dules. Mr. FRI;NCH said all the objections that could be tinged to the schedules had already been urged by the l ion. Member himself in Committee. Mr. REYNOLDS observed the schedules were in such %imperfect state that the authors would be obliged to correct them. Mr. wAWN said the Hon. Member for Dublin was linough to tire out the patience of the House and the 'pantry —and of Job himself. The Hon. Member came wroard to ask for the delay of a measure which he did *et understand. Mr. S. CRAWFORD said it would not expedite Irish business for an English Member to rise and make such Lot/larks as those which had Callen from the lion. Mem bers (Mr. Wawn). Mr. REYNOLDS would receive with perfect good 'amour the lecture of the intelligent Member for West Shields; bat he must, again say he hoped the schedules Would be postponed for a longer date thin Thursday. a Sir W. SOMERVILLE could not postpone the ache 'Mies beyond Thursday. Dar. WAWN said the Hon. Member for Dublin, be fore he attempted to remark upon the intelligence of any 1401 2. Member, ought first to set himself right in his geography. Shiel Is was north, not west. Mr. TAYLOR moved s' That the present chairman of 1 11 .4 0 county of Dublin, so long as he si all remain in office, not ineligible to sit in Parliament." The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND would not oppo.r the proviso. Mr. REYNOLDS thought the proviso a harmless one, but would wish to see it extended to the successors of the Piesent chairman. The proviso was then inserted, and the clause (as so *Mended) agreed to. Clauses to 24 were agreed to. On the clause relating to the courts of assistant bar titters, Colonel DUNNE moved that the jurisdiction of the courts be extended to 501, instead of 40/, as in the Cause. Sir W. SOMERVILLE was in favour of 501., but as " 1411 Select Committee had decided in favour of 401., he Would vote for adhering to their decision. Sir D. NORatt:YS saw no use in referring Bills to select Committees if the House were not to abide by the decisions of such Committees. Mr. HERBERT said there was no understanding that the House should not consider this point. Mr. HUME was in favour of inserting 501., as it would assimilate the courts in Ireland to the county courts in England. Mr. GROGAN would adhere to the sum of 401., as agreed to by the Select Committee. The Committee then divided— For the motion ••• •.• Against it ... Majority . The clause was then agreed to. Clauses to 40 inclusive were agreed to. Colonel DUNNE gave notice that he would move the Insertion of clause 41 of the original Bill on bringing up the report. Clauses to 72 inclusive were then ordered to stand part Of the Bill. Clause 73 was postponed. Clauses to 81 were agreed to. Clause 82 was postponed. The remaining clauses were ordered to stand part of the Bill. ... 39 . . 82 ... -43 Colonel DUNNE then said he wished to introduce a clau se , which had been in the original Bill of the Go l'ernment, to the followivg eff'ct:—" That if an action r►as brought in any of the superior courts the person bringing it should not be entitle d to larger costs than he !rould in an inferior court, unless the judge who tried It would give a certificate that it was a cause fit to be tried in the superior courts." The Hon. Member having read the clause brought it up, and it was moved to be read a first time. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND op posed the clause, to which he said great objection bad been expressed in Ireland. The clause bad been fully discussed in Committee, and had been rejected atter ma ture consideration. Mr. French, Mr. Monsell, and Mr. Keogh supported the clause. Mr. NAPIER opposed it. The CLIAIRMAN asked whether the Hon. and Gal lant Member meant to press it? Colonel DUNNE intimated his intention to do so. The Committee then divided, when there appeared— For the clause ... ... 63 Against it ... ... ... 92 Majority ... —29 The clause was eccorclingly lost. The House then resumed, the Chairman reported pro tress, and obtained leave to sit again. The Collection of Fines, &c. (Ireland) Bill was corn bitted pro forma, and ordered to be re-committed on Monday next. LANDS CLAUSES CONSOLIDATION (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. LABOUCHERE moved the second reading of this Bill. The object of it was to substitute for the sys tem of trial by jury in cases of compensation for the oc cupation of land by railways a more summary and cheap System. A general feeling prevailed in Ireland in favour of a change of the present system, and ho had, therefore, prepared the present Bill, in which he pro posed to follow the course that had been adopted in the Shannon Navigation all—namely, to constitute a court of arbitration, which should be an open court of inquiry, and which should make a draft award, and a second court should give the final award. Another system which had been suggested was that the final decision should be referred to a jury at quarter sessions. He did not say which was the pre ferable system; but ho meant to consult the Irish Mem bers of all parties without distinction, and whichever system was thought the most desirable anon the whole, that he should adopt. Mr. DISRAELI thought the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman a most remarkable and dangerous one. It appeared that the Government were no longer to in troduce their measures on their owe responsibility, and induce the House of Commons to adopt them by open discussion; but the Right Hon. Gentleman told them that he asked them to agree to the principle of a mea sure, and that with regard to all its details he was to settle them with the Irish Members, wherever he should meet them. The Right Hon. Gentleman did not propose to refer it to a Select Committee in the usual und le t etimate way, with the view of iefluoncing the decision in some degree by the report of that Committee. If he did so in the usual constitutional manner he had no doulet the House would pay proper atLention to the decisiuu of the Committee; but he (t.f.r. Disraeli) protested against the course he proposed to take in the matter. After a tew welds from Colonel DUNNE, Mr. S. CRAWFORD oppo-ed the Bill as an invasion of the rights of property which the House ought cot to sanction. Mr. MONSELL s .id the Bill at present only affirmed the principle of arbitration; the details were for their future consideration. Mr. O'FLAHERTY thought that there ought to be an appeal given for the decision of the arbitrator. In opposition to the doctrine laid clown by the lien. Mem ber for Buckinghamshire, he contended that it was only fair and reasonable thut the feelings and opinions of the Irish Members should be consulted upon Irish quest i ons , just as Eeglish Members ought to be consulted upon questions bearing exclusively upon the interests of this country. Mr. BERN AL said it was highly necessary that some Bill should be introduced and parsed upon that subject, and that some final rule should be laid down for the guidance of Committees, He approved of the main principle of the Bill, but he did Lot pledge himself to support its details. He would remind the Hon. Member for Buckinghamshire that that was a question affecting exclusively Irish interests, aid that it was only reason able that an sppeal should be made to the experience of Irish Members open the subject. Mr. HERRIES s he did not mean to oppose the second reedieg of the Bill. But he should observed that be agreed with his lion. Friend the Member for Buck inghamshire that the course which the Right Hon. Gen tleman the President of the Board of Trade had stated that he would teaks upon that subject was neither very regular nor very constitutional. It certainly appeared to him that the Right Hon. Gentleman had announced in too decided and general a manner that he would allow the .Irish Members—whom he would consult out of that House—to decide the mode in which he would carry out that measure. Mr. VESEY expressed his belief that the course taken by the Right Hon. Gentleman the President of the Boatel of Trade wa s perfectly just and reasonable. Mr. AGLIONBY said he. very much questioned the propriety of the mode in a bich the Right Hon. Gentle man the President of the Board of Trade proposed to deal with the subject. He could not help thioktng that the point which the Right Hon. Gentleman stated that be would leave to the decision of the Irish Dderabors was of too important a character to be settled out of the House. Mr. J. STUART said he thought that that Bill should not have been introduced 'vithout that consultation with the Irish Members which it was proposed that tho Right Hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade should hold with them after an advanced stage of the measure. In his opinion the proper course for the Right Hon. Gentleman to pursue would bo to withdraw that measure, and to introduce another in its place, after he had consulted the Irish Members. Mr. CONOLLY that he - iiewed with distrust any departure from English law with respect to property in Ireland. They bad had a vast sacrifice of property THE SUN, of late in that country, under the Encumbered Estates Commission. Mr. U A. HERBERT said he thought it was most desirahie that that Bill shou!d be passed with the least possible delay. Most persons were agreed that asme such measure was at present indispensable in Ireland. Mr. GOOLD supported the second reading of the Bill, as affirming the proposition that the present state of the law was unsuited to Ireland, and that the principle of arbitration should be had recourse to. Mr. SCULLY also supported the second reading, being of epinion that good woutd result from carrying out the principle . of the Bill, though the details were susceptible of improvement. Lord C. HAMILTON said he felt that he shou'd be acting inconsistently with the general opinion of the House it he did not support the Bill; and he trusted the lion. Member fur Buckinghamshire would not press his view of the question on the present occasion. He must also tender his thanks to the Right Hon. Gentleman op posite for this attempt to adapt the law to the peculiar circumstances of Ireland. Mr. G. A. HAMILTON approved of the principle of the Bill, though not of all its details. Mr. DISRAELI, in explanation, denied that he had stated that the Irish Members should not be consulted on Irish subjects. Oa the contrary, he thought they ought to be consulted, nut only on Irish, but ou all other sub jscts introduced into this House in a parliamentary manner, arid accordiog to the usage and custom of Pet liament.—(ther, hear.) And whenever a Bill was in trouuree into this House they ought to be consulted, either in the discussion iu this House or in a Select Com mittee. Mr. LABOUCHERE also explained. The Bill had its origin in toe representations of Lish Members, acid it was quite consistent, therefore, when it had been intro duced, that he should consult them on tee details. — (Hear.) He avowed that he was not ashamed of taking "that course, and that on all Bills relating to trade, and ehlch did not involve any party principle, he conceived that it would bo of the greatest acivawsge for a Member of the Government to communicate frankly with Mem bers on all sides of the House, without distinction of party.—(Elear.) Whenever he had a Bill relating to Ireland he ibould always resort to the advice and assistance of the Irish Members. Tne Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day wet k. CHURCB BUILDING ACTS AMENDMENT BILL: On the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill, Mr. HUME rose and asked the Home Secretary to consent to its postponement. Sir G. GREY declined acceding to the lion. Gentle man's request. Mr. FttE WEN supported the second reading of the Bill. Lord DUNCAN urged that several portions of the measure were objectionable, and particularly the clause which provided for letting at a rent seats in churches which were now entirely tree. Mr. S. HERBERT said that this was a measure of practical reform, which was greatly needed, and t hat the Noble Lord's objections could be better considered in Committee.— (Hear.) Mr. HUME moved the adjournment of the debate, ob serving that a question of more vital importance, as affecting the rights of the poor, bad not come under his notice durihg the last Went) , years. Mr. AULIONBY seconded the motion for adjourn ment. The principle of the Bill was, he said, to take away those seats in churches which had been subscribed for es tree seats, and to let them for -the purpose of giving the proceeds to the incumbent. After some further conversation it was agreed (Sir G. ey consenting) to adjourn the debate until twelve o'clock to. morrow (this day). GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH. BILL. On thu reading of the order of the day for considering the amendments in this Bill, Mr. .13R1SC0 ruse end moved that the borough of Hastings be included iu the provisions of the Bill. LortreEYe.OUit said that he had purposely omitted Hastings in cun-equence of a petition to that effect presented to the House from the borough by one of its Members. Mr. FULLER supported the motion of Mr. Brisco. Mr. FRE WEN said that all the medical mere in Hast ings and St. Leonard's had strongly expressed their opi nion in favour of the necessity of extending the Bill to the town. Ho knew that au anxious desire existed on the part of the majority of the inhabitants of the town to be included in the Bill. Lord 1101211 A NI said the question was, not whether Hastings should have the benefit of a board of heath, but whether the whole borough, including St. Leonard's, should be brought under the operation of the Bill. Why could not Hastings test contented with draining their own town, without insisting on including St. Leonard's, of which is great majority of the inhabitants,were op posed to it? There was more in this than met the eye, and no doubt the contributions of St. Leonard's would be very valuable in assisting Beatings to carry out the plan. Under all these circumstances, he would resist the mu tton of the Hon. Member for Hastings. Viscount EBRINUTON would reserve any amend ments which he had to make till the third reading, and would merely observe that if the Bill were to be delayed till absolute unanimity were to be obtained in evt ry town, the intentions of Parliament would be to a great extent defeated. After some further discussion the House divided, when there appeared— For Mr. Brisco's motion ... ... 46 Against it ..• ... 48 Majority against the motion ... —2 The report was then agreed to. The Lodging Houses Bill was read a third time and passed. The other orders were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter-past One o'clock. • Mr. DUFF paired off against Mr. Walpole's amend ment o❑ the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, with Mr. MUL LINGS in favour. Mr. ►ECULLY paired off with Mr. EDWARDS on Mr. Walpole's amendment on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. BLAIR paired cff in favour of Mr. Walpole's amendments on the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill, with Mr. FORSTER against. Mr. Nlcony Fired with Mr. Fox (Longford) in fa• ♦our of Mr. Walpole's amendment. Mr. BUCK paired off in favour of Mr. Walpole's amend ment, with Lord CLARENCE PAGET against. COURT CIRCULAR. Her Majesty the Queen, and his Majesty the King of the Belgians, accompanied by the Princess Royal, aed the Princess Charlotte of Belgium, took a drive in an open carriage and four yesterday afternoon. Lord Alfred Paget and General Weteyss attended on horse back. His'Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Bouverie. inspected the household troops yesterday morning, in Hyde Paik. His Royal. Highness Prince Albert and his Majesty the King of the Belgians went yesterday afternoon to Leicester-square, to inspect Mr. Wyid's large Model of the Globe. His Majesty was accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Duke de Brabant, the Count de Flandres, and the Princess Charlotte, and was attended by Colonel de Moerkeike and Count Albert de I3riey. His Royal Highness was attended by Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey and Colonel Bouverie. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by Mr. Bitch, took a drive in au open carriage yesterday. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Arthur and the Prin cesses Helena and Louisa took an airing in an open car riage and four yest. rday morning. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Col. Bouverie, rode out on horseback yesterday efternoon. The Queen had a dinner party yesterday at Bucking ham Palace. The company included his • Majesty the King of the Belgians, his Royal Highness the Duke de Brabant, his Royal Highness the Coact de Flandres, the Duchess of Sutterlend and Lady Constance Leveson Girwer, his Excelleucy Monsieur and Madame Van de Weyer. the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Aber deen, Viscount Carden, Viscount Canning, Colonel the floe. Sir Edward Cust, Lieutenant-Culenei Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Peipos, leloneieur Qiniteler, the ChevalterKiiet ner, Colonel tie Moerkerke, Count Albert de Briey, and Sir R 'ben Carswell. The band of the Coldstream Guards attended during dinner, and eeriormed the following selection:— Overture, " Waverley" ... Berlioz, Wal.z, " The Mandelina" ... Carl Buller. Fantasia, " Prophete" Mee erbeer. Qaadrille, " The Hibernian" ... Jullien. Glee, " Blow, gentle Gelee" ... Sir R. IL Bishop. " Leila Rookti" Cooper. H er Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by the 13ttrontss do Speth, lett town yesterday morning for Frog more, near Windsor. Iler Royal Iliehness re• turned to her residence, Clarence House, St. James's, in the afternoon. A dep u t at ion from Hestingte coneistin of the Mayor g of H"'inge. Mr. Alderman Scrivens, and the Town Clerk, hed an interview yesterday with Lord Seymour, at the office of her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests. A deputation, consisting o, yesterday, at the Board of l c ersty, Mr. Percy, and Mr. Wray, jun., Trade. Mr. G. 1 . 1. .Cavendish, had an interview with the Commissioners of Railways Mr. Roebuck, i Ur. Kane. of Dublin, hal Grey esterday. had an interview with Sir George missionere of Rail mays •est , an interview wit's Mr. Pressly had an erd, t the Exchequer yesterday, •• interview with at the Board of Trade. the Chancellor of "th the Cora -37, at his official residence in Downing-street. CHEAP GAS IN THE CITY OF LONDON.—Yeger • day the Great Central Gas Consumers' Company Bill passed the Committee of the House of Lords without opposition. Atter a three years' struggle, the old City Company have agreed to amalgamate with the new company upon terms by which their works and pipes will be t a k en for shares in the amalgamated company, to be valued at the prevent price of iron and building material, after making proper reduction for wear and. tear. The Bill, as passed, will secure to the public and the shareholders all the benefits the new company was established to confer. It is understod that since the reduction of price. the con umption of gas in the City has so greatly increased that it will be quite sufficient to occupy both lots of works and pipes. THE ALPHABETICAL HONOURS OF AN AUTHOR.-- In an advertisement of a sermon, which appears in the Dublin Mail, the author (Rev. Mr. Carson) has pinned to his name, "MDABTCDFRUSICTPW." have, it is true, m.,cte the appendage more formidable by away the lull points; but it at best is a puzzle.— Weekly News. [We tak, Mr. Canon to ba a Doctor of Me dicioe ; Bachelor of Arts of Trinity College, Dublin; heh low of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland; and Chief Trumpeter to the Prince of Waled I]—.Gatethead Observer. LONDON, LITERATURE. THE REIGN OF AVARICE. An Allegorical Satire. In Four Cantos. William Pickering. Whoever has penned the volume here submitted to our consideration has, we cannot but think, somewhat unwisely, encumbered his satire with allegory. The result hes necessarily been the restricting of his powers within a very narrow limit of comprehension, insomuch that the book from its very manner cannot by possibility obtain any extended popularity. Allegory under all circumstances is the most perilous style for a writer to adopt it he would achieve for him self any appreciable influence among the masses, or secure even a moderately diffused reputation. Even when clad in the gorgeous trappings thrown around it by the halcyon-like imagination of Spenser, it fails with the bulk of man kind to exercise a eery powerful fascination. At tractive it undoubtedly is in the brief and graceful essay s of Addison, but even there it cannot always escape from the danger of falling into unintended tedious ness. It required indeed the vigorous and vitalizing genius of Bunyan to develope it in its full perfection as a means for disseminating the principles of the true and the beautiful. Our satirist has, therefore, se lected a perilous course for the display of his abili ties, but in its employment, if he has evinced but little judgment, he has revealed some humour and no small ingenuity. As the title of the volume sufficiently in dicates, the year 1846 is apostropkized throughout as the "It sign of Avarice." To every one, therefore, who experienced either joy or sorrow in consequence of the railway mania of those times, the four cantos will present a variety of scarcely resistible objects of curiosity. We like the independent manner in which the satirist concludes his " Preface," saying-- The author has now but to leave his work in the hands of those whom it is intended to amuse. It will nothing affect others, to know whether he had leisure or was interrupted during its composition; whether there were anxieties or ease; whether it was intensely pon dered, or rapidly sketched; whether he thinks this or that part wonderful, end would call attention to it; whe ther he implores mercy and forgiveness for trying to please, or not; and whether he is in favour or against making excuses and promises in a preface; for all this information is commonly enough given, but the things which it concerns may be readily surmised, in a greater or less degree, of every man—that is to say, as to anxie ties, fears, hopes, and cares—whether he be a poet or not." Among the allegorical personages introduced in the course of the work may be mentioned the good Queen Nice, the Lord Keeper Law, Honour, Avarice, Usury, Suspicion, Elm - a°, Cacocerdus, Scrip, tied the Ambassadors Truth and Conscience. The scene is sometimes in Chrysepolis, or the Golden City, and sometimes iii the City of Speculation. As a specimen of the author's style, we give the follow ing passage, in which the satirist recounts the appear ance of the principal warriors in the army marshalled by Pen and Press : " Here Tsmpora, Trimestris, Edinord Move stately onward, each a potent lord; The first gigantic in diurnal might, Armed at ull points, on duty day and night, Capricious, great, observant of his name, For speed and force of universal fame. The other twain pace on at greater length, Judicial in their genius, and their strength, Serve the same King, but general-like oppose Each other's plans, for public service foes. Northern Lignigron, young Quotidia❑ there, Frown opposite intentions through the air— Numenisens, and his awned friends Each to the court romantic lustre lends— Chronicus Hebdomadalis, Atlas great, And shining Sal attend in mailed state. Mercurius swift, and rolling Or bit then Met t with Scrutator—Taurus, of bold ken; There stern, oft harsh, hag dsitor behold, Yet great in letters; and - Yearn= old; And Chronicus, and calm Theates wise, With Athettean grim, attract the eyes, And Mimus' presence lends a glad surprise. But Nlimua' self may dread his glory's loss When ho shall dare to ridicule the cross." In the above paragraph the reader will easily recognize the prominent organs of public opinion among the London newspapers, such as the Times, the Chronicle, the Sun, the Globe, the Dis patch, Punch, and others of our contemporaries. At the close of the satiric allegory, Cacocerdus is stormed, and the King, addressing the Trigonians (a people who have returned to their allegiance) on the impiety of their conduct, the virtues descend among the mul titude, and the forgivenness of heaven is pronounced over the penitent. If ever effusion had moral, " Tne Reign of Avarice" has one, but one, we fear, few will be tempted to go in quest of among the quagmires, and thickets, and other bewildering impediments of allegory. FINE ARTS. WOOD ENGRAVINGS. Cundall and Addey. Several of the noblest master-pieces of ancient art have recently been produced as wood-engravings in a manner that would have amazed even the powers of &wick. Among these we must particularise Beech's " Adoration of the Shepherds" from Rembrandt, Johnson's "Descent from the Cross," from Rubens, and Anelay's splendid transcripts from the " Last Supper," by Leonardo da Vinci, and from the " Holy Family," of Raphael d'Urbino. The engravers are respectively Linton, Dalziel, Mason, and Measom ; While the four plates have been admirably printed by Leighton, Brothers. As specimens of wood-engraving we cannot call to our recollection any works more remarkable. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. THE QUEEN'S YACHTS AND THE ExnlaxTloN.—The officers, eeanoezt, martues, and boys of the Royal Yacht establidiment at Portsmouth, wiii all proceed to London to visit the Great Exhibition, to-morrow (1 2 l1cdneidq). Iler Majesty the Queen has most graciously ordered that a spiciat train sh,;.l be in readiness at 6 A at. on that day to convey them to L .aidon via' South-Western Railway, and that a return special train shall be al.to in readiness at thu Waterloo Station, at 6 P,31., to convey them back azain, thus a ffording them the whole day to inspect the Exhibition. ARRIVAL LT PORTSMOUTH or REAR-ADMIRAL FAN SIIAWE, C.B.—The Centaur, 6, steam-frigate, C.Autno dore (new Rear- Admiral) Arthur Fanshawe, C.V., Acting Captain Fatten, arrived at Spithead about tau o'clock yesterday morning, from the coast of Africa, having been relieved by the Penelope, 16, steam-frigete, Commode)] eIL W. Bruce, Captain Lyster. Ott her arrival the Centaur still had the broad pendant but did not salute the flag of the Commander-in-Chief. Captain Patten landed about noon pith the public dis patches and letters, but the Commodore did not land till the evening, when he was met by Admiral Sir Byern Martin and General Fanshawe, who have been awaiting the arrival of the Centaur for the last two days at the George Hotel. The Centaur has had a quick passage home, having been under steam nearly all the voyage; she left Ascen sion on the 24th of May. The Penelope steam-frigate, Commodore Bruce ; the Gladiator, 6, li:earn-frigate, Captain Adams; the Jackal, tender to Gladiator; the Bloodhound, tender to Sacup• Son; and the Alecto steam-sloop, Commander Lavie, recently arrived from England, were lying there. The Penelope was about to proceed to the south coast. The Centaur left Sierra Leone on the 2d of June. The Cygnet, 8, Commander White; Penguin, 6, Com mander Etheridge ; and Volceno steam-vessel were there. She brought about a dozen prisoners from that place, and landed them a few days after at the Grand Canary Island, where, we are sorry to state, the cho lera was raging most fearfully ; sixty or seventy per sons were dying daily from it. The Centaur landed the prisoners, but did not further have eny coma:mica tien with the island. She touched at Madeira yesterday week, and came from thence, under steam, home. She has brought home Lieut. John irevenen, late of Firefly; Mr. J. A. Corbett, surgeon, late of the Ranger; Mr. Main (boatswain), with about twelve invalided sea men, which the Sprightly conveyed to the hospital, she having gave out to bring them on shore. The islands and squadron were healthy. There was scarcely anything doing in the slave trede ; no prizes had been taken for some time past. There were no orders down for the Centaur; but she wilt probably pay off at Ponsmouth. The commission of the Commencer-in-Chief, promoting him to the rank of rear-admiral, was awaiting him at Portsmouth, and we are sorry to say the distressing intelligence of the death of Mrs. Fansaawe was also communicated to him. Mr. Barnes, Master of the Firefly, died off Congo on the 12th of February, and Mr. Biddle, Second Muster of the Gladiator, succeeded to the appointment. The Sidon steam-frigate, Commander Gardner, fitting for troops for the Cape, hoisted the pennant and ensign yesterday morning, and has since bent stile. Wellesley, 72, Captain Goldsmith, late flag-ship of Admiral the Earl of Dundonald, G.C.8., was paid off yesterday morning at Chatham. The clerks began paying the people at nine in the morning, and by two o'clock all bands were out of the ship in the most or derly manner. The Adder steam-tender, took the Ports mouth and Plymouth people to their respective homes. The pay clerks took 8,0001, down, and brought back 5,0001, the latter aunt having been allotted by the ship's company, another instance of the improved habits of our seamen. The noble old Admiral was down on Friday and dined with his officers, and never Ras a gallant ve teran better received than he was. The old Wellesle,t'e ribs echoed again and again with the hearty cheers of every one. She has been a most happy and comfortable ship. Magicienne steamer, having bad her compasses ad justed on Friday evening, sailed from Devenport on Saturday morning, in charge of Mr. Bidellecombe, master of the St. George, and party, for Woolwich, to convey Mr. Brown with his party to Pembroke, to navigate the Valorous from Pembroke to Woolwich. Retribution steam-frigate, Captain Warden, is ready for service, but she will wait for the Sidon steam-fri gate, Commander Gardner, who has to receive provi• stens, and both vessels will stow as much water as pos sible; for every gun discharged they have received one of the largest class tanks. It is expected that both ves sels will go to Cork to embark the troops on Wednesday. PLYMOUTH, *AEURDAY.—Her Majesty's ship Cale donia, 120, Captain T. W. Carter, which went up har bour on the 14th inst., has completed the delivery into the dockyard of all her guns, masts, stores, &u. The crew will be paid off on "1 ueedey. A COMIC DAGUERREOTYPE. Under the title of " A Shareholder's Pour Phases " being a species of Comedy of Errors, a strange sort of broadsheet has just been published from original photographs. The engrav ings represent the same countenance under four very different aspects—namely, when receiving " The allot ment," when hearing there is " No allotment" when finding " Shares down," and last of all when " Smashed up." The effect is ludicrous enough, but would be somewhat more agreeable if the face of the individual portrayed were not so abominably ugly. NORTH AMERICAN 'RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —I am pleased to notice in your excellent paper of the 12th instant that you are favourably disposed to wards the projest for constructing a railroad to connect with the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to which subject I have devoted exclusively more than nine years, but you say, " we coincide with the view expressed to the effect, that Mr. Whitney is altogether incorrect in as serting the greater facilities of carrying the proposed railway through the United States than through the British territory." I should not remark upon this had I not already declared to the English public that " a route from near to Quebec in a line almost direct to the Rocky Mountaine, as quite as feasible as on the Ameri can side." I have also publicly expressed my fears that during the present season the lands on the American side may be so fee occupied by the rapid settlement which is there taking place as to defeat the work, and then there could he no hope for its accomplishment, ex cept on the British side, where I believed my plan might be carried out, though with more difficulties!: A little examination of the facts connected with the subject must, I think, satisfy the practical mind that I am right. In the first place, the lands, though the soil may he equal, are not as well adapted to settlement; all to be yond Lek° Superior the country is covered with heavy timber. To partially clear an acre for a crop would cost 10f. or 2/. The emtgrants aro unaccustomed to such clearing, and could not do it ell to acy extent, and be sides the ciicaste is not so favourable as on the American side, where, too, the country is mostly prairie, ready for a crop, end where the tide of emigration is setting with a force not easy to ha checked;er diverted, and is now drawing from the Canada side probably one-half of all who go there from this ceuntry. The settlement on the American side is such that there can he no doubt the sale of lands would furnish e means for the work quite as fast as it would be wanted. This settlement is au rapid, and extending west and north so fast, that the work must now be commenced several hundred miles rattail of where it might have been done five years ago. The number of acres located by actual purchase, and for eulaiers' bounties during the last year. and nearly all in this direction, exceeded 5,000,01,0. The settlement in 'Vhasousin, between leke e elichigan and the Mississippi, has for several years exceeded 100,000 souls per annum; in lowa, south of the Mississipiir,o7rcd 1ine, 50,000 th er e annumand in Minisota, north of the ptops settle ment for last year was estimated at over 50,000. From these facts, who can doubt, if the work were commenced on the American side, that it would go on from the pre sent momentum of settlement with certainty and great rapidity? Capitalists and practical business men, both hero and in the United States, have confidence in my plan, and though there is to be no stock and no divi deeds to look to as a reward for investment, still the land, under the plan proposed, is considered to be the vary best basis of means, and immediately available to any necessary amount; because, so fast as sections of the road could he completed, the sale of the lands would commence, the avails of which would be subject to the in vestment made upon them, and the security always in creasing, from the increased value which the road and settlement would impart to the remaining unsold lands. The public mind both in Europe and America seems to have settled that this road must be constructed, and that y plan cart accomplish it, without cost to a nation or to the world. Now it is clear that two roads cannot be constructed were two commenced, one on the British and the other on the American side; the better climate, the better adaptation of the lands to settlement on the American side, would with the already formed current of emigration draw from the British side to it. b y A s next the l et a u r e : n and fer no h o e (I e i l nw m e o e pu r r i lo c dp a o n se ssue i ed d gtoost mustthabt undertake it might emii gthe construction of the road, be as well to wait to that Cale. And I will repeat what I have before sei that " this is a work for the world; rt i a s n 1 1: y. h d e e re r , e an t : h t o i t t th ru l :he highway. The lands are the only mace of means for very y b , e a c:o l nsid ered es the world's it much fear, be no te longerterritory.—Respectfully Londonr _. available Jan eiteu 2 r e in e: u .iy l ; lBy own s c ountry, then it is th e d esi re of my heart th a t it rney be accomplished t hrou g h British . 3 1 iours, ASA WHITNEY. The diamonds worn by the Marchioness of Lon. dortderry, at the costume hall, were Of the 'value of 10,C00I, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 24 5 lB5l . APPOINTMENTS. WOOLWICH, JUNE 2'3.—Vlce•Admiral the Hon. Joce line Percy, 0.13., to be Csmsmander-in-Chief at Sheerness. Lieutenant—Sir Henry Blackwood, from the Hastings, 72, f:144-bh:p on the East Ladies station, to the Prince Regent, 90. flrg-ship of Commodore Martin at Lisbun. Mates—John Nutt, to the FiTard flag-.hip at Wool wich; Edward Howard to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth. As,istant-Surgeons—James D. Cronin (1844), from the Victory flag-ship at Portsmouth, to the Recrinution; Charles Hall Chambers, acting (1851), to the Impreg nable flag- ship at Devonport. Second Mater—Henry G. Thomsett (1847), from the Blenheim steam-guard-ship, to the Retribution, for ser vice in the Sidon. Assistant-Engineers—Thomaa Owen and Charles Icely, to tho Dasher steam-vessel at Sheerness. Masters'-Assistants—Reginald Rusden and William Stiven, to the Impregnable; Edward C. Ball, to the Sidon. PROMOTION. James Scard to be acting boatswain. The command at Sheerness has been conferred this day on Vice-Admiral the Lion. Jocelin Percy, C. 8., re cently promoted to that rank. The Magicienne steam-frigate arrived at Woolwich yesterday afternoon in charge of Mr. Biddlecombe. Captain Irvine Smith Whitty, appointed a director of convict prisons in the room of Mr. Vonles, appointed an inspector of prisons, visited the Warrior and Justitia convict-hulks to-day for the first time. CARRIER PIGEONS IN TIM PRINCE ALBERT DISCOVERY SHIP. Several carrier pigeons were placed on board the Prince Albert, for the purpose of transmitti ng intelli gence. One of these escaped at Stromnesa just as the ship was putting to sea; but it found its way on board again, as appears by a note from Mr. Kenn e d y, w hich he throw overboard in a bottle, and which has been picked up at Rspness, Westray, one of the northern most of the Orkaey Islands. It must have been thrown overboard immediately after the Prince Albert got out to sca; in fact, before she had entirely cleared the Sound, as appears from Mr. Kennedy's paper:— (Copy.) " Rapness, .Westray, June 9, 1951. " Sir,—l beg lecve to trouble you at this time with the enclosed, which was found upon the water upon Sabbath last, being the Bth, by a young m e n named Thomas Seaton, my next neighbour, upon his return from church in the afternoon. It was float : ing off the shore in a bottle corked and waxed, and ha could observe a paper in it; he they stripped cif his shoes and waded so that ho could get bold of it; be then brought it to we. It was on the west shore of Rapneos, just to the westward of the Bowl of Rap ness; and as your address was upon it I thought it would be very wrong nut to forward it to you. I hope you will attend to tho requirement contained in it, and let Lady Franklin know the contents. "I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) ' "JOHN SEATON, "Inspector of the Poor of Westray. "G. Wylie, E-q writer, Stromness." Enclosure withal the above letter:— " Discovery-ship Prince Albert, off Roy Sound, June 3, 1851, 5 P.M. "The carrier pigeon that escaped at Strowness is again safe on board"; it joined us immediately , after the pilot-boat left us, and is now with its stater, Lady Ross. (Signed) " WILLIAM KENNEDY, " Coait)ianding L,dv Franklin's private • Arctic EiPecliti6n. " Any person finding this will au an act of kindness by sending it to J. Wylie, Esq., writer, Stromness. " Mr. Wylie will please give notice to Lady Franklin." LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. Br AGNES STRICKLAND.—A new, revised, and considerably augmented edition of this valuable and interesting work is announced for publication in eight monthly volumes, embellished with portraits of every Queen. The first volnme is to appear with the magazines on the 30th of June. The following is an extract from the Prospectus : " A revised edition of the Lives of the Queens of Englan.',' embodying the important collections which have been brought to lignt since the ap pearance of earlier impressions, is now offered to the world, embellished with portraits of every Queen, from authentic and properly verified sources. The series, commencing with the consort of William the Conqueror, comprises thirty Queens, who have worn the crown-matrimonial, and four tne regal diadem of this realm. Such as they were in life we have endeavoured to portray them, both in good and ill, without regard to any other consideration than the develop ment of the facts. Their sayings, their doings, their man ners, their costume, will be found faithfully chronicled in this work, which also includes the most interesting of their letters." -------- [AnvEnnsEmENT.]—lt is an undeniable fact that Holloway's I'ilis are the Finest Medicine in the World.—ln all cases of deranged stomachs, determination of blood to the head, bile, sick headaches, stomach and liver complaints, there is no remedy known that gives such immediate relief as these far.famed pills, the peculiar properties of which act directly on the mainsprings of life, so that no disease, however dangerous, can resist their influence; therefore all persons predisposed to any of these disorders should, at this season of the year, promptly have recourse to a few doses, which would effectually check every symptom and restore health and vigour. —Sold by all druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday the adjourned inquest on the body of the gentleman found in the Thames, off Woolwich, on Tuesday last, was resumed before Mr. Carttar, the coroner, at the Ordnance Tavern, Woolwich. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the deceased (who was identified as Mr. H. Grigg, one of the Cinque Port pilots) about three weeks since, was employed to pilot a vessel through the Downs, containing a very valuable cargo, and in doing so had the misfortune to get her on the Godwin Sand,; the captain thereupon refused to let him remain in charge of the vessel, and having obtained another pilot, or dered Mr. Grigg to be put on shore. This circumstance preyed on the mind cf the deceased, and on the 4th instant he suddenly absented himself, and the same day a person answering his description jumped overboard from the Sons of the Thames steamer, and was drowned. The evidence, however, was not, conclusive on this point, and an open verdict of "Found drowned" was returned. The deceased was a resident of Dover, where he was much respected, and had been a pilot thirty years. DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION. [A brief account of the fAiowing appeared in our Fourth Edition of lust night.] Yesterday afternoon one of the most t vens:vely de structive fires which has occurred in Or erouni London for many years past tofA , . plate in the borough of South wark. Four imm=ense hop warehouses were uttf rly de etroyed, and a fifth so much burnt and injured as to render it uoubttul whether its entire demolition will not be roqc.iaid.., The buildings referred to were five large warehouses t d s nnp l t : o t aoir a o n t tot i c. g h i h i nfoo r r : ji n ( g rt uidbhrbnu buildings saldeajedt of ngl h f agc e , b ntse 1 fdor:alrenbockt erection; tioiooot immense abutted, largo rdeog o on n ne on s d set i hta. buildings h a a bers - eue b stincho r k, ofriouoderuc: storeroom, ch e such o , psroi a ain T aixhro:fdteotneye forming a lit extent sl l b t or i e h g o,hiao a rt a e.f. t , St. Saviour's Church; on the east, on the Bridge-house smallofd the ok block and ofa set o f i l l o o o t r et i ; ni a li n s d on o d n s th to e re w s. est 'The na length ware houses is about 450 feet by 80 or 90 feet in depth, and each contained six floors, besides extensive cellars. The conflagration commenced in the warehouse nearest the bridge-foot and adjoining the Bridge-house Hotel. This building was let to three different persons—Mr, Dresser, a cheese merchant, renting the cellars; Messrs. Hollings worth, paper-makers, of Maidstone, rented the three first flours, which were used as repositories for white rags; and Mr. Wigan, a hop merchant, who suffered so severely in a fire which occurred a few months since not 100 yards from the spot, occupied the two top floors. About half-past three iu the afternoon some persons engaged near the spot observed a body of flame to shoot from two windows in the basement story, apparently coming from the stoclsof Messrs. Hollingsworth. They instantly raised an alarm, and dispatched messengers for the assistance of the fire brigade. The flames, however, spread with unaccountable rapidity, and in less than twenty minutes they had ascended the staircase and dif fused themselves throughout every part of the building —every aperture in which shot forth immense volumes of fire. These ascended over the roof to such a height as to render them visible from almost any part of the metropolis. The engines summoned were quickly on the spot, while the more distant stations were alarmed by the fire itself. The bridges on the Thames became rapidly crowded with spectators, while an immense number ran to the scene of mischief. For several mi nutes after the arrival of the engines some difficulty was experienced in procuring a proper supply of water, and by the time they succeeded in getting into operation it became evident that any chance of saving the burning building was totally out of the question. The firemen, under the direction of Mr. Braidwood, now confined their attention to the safety of the Bridge-house Hotel and the warehouse adjoining, both of which were in imminent dan ger. The scene which presented itself was fearfully grand. The flames rose in eddying volumes to an immense height, diffusing an intense heat around, and threatening the warehouses adjoining Hibernia-chambers in front; while the pinnacles of St. Saviour's and the windows in the northern end of the aisle cracked and flew in all direc tions. While the most strenuous exertions were being made to subdue this body of flame a gust of wind drove the huge volume over the roofs of the warehouses ad joining, the party walls of which proved sufficiently solid to resist the intense heat. The mischief was fore seen, but no means of preventing it existed; the fire spread rapidly along the roofs and increased the body of flame to such an extent that the church was in imminent danger. Under the directions of Mr. Braidwood the hose of several engines was hauled up to the roofs, and although the firemen were scarcely able to endure the intense heat, they remained playing on the burning mass, and retreated foot by foot as its encroachments rendered a retreat necessary. Window after window became reddened with the conflagration, which spread itself downwards from the roof of the second warehouse, de etroying two more floors of hops belonging to Mr. Wigan, and Sour belonging to Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton. The owners of goods in the adjoining warehouses, ularmed at the serious appearance of the fire, and its ra pid regress, determined to remove their property, and accordingly, a considerable number of hop pockets, the property of Messrs. Humble and Son, in the third ware house, were carted away. A considerable portion of the stock of Messrs. Allan and Anderson, who occupied the basement story of the second warehouse, was also caved before the fire reached it, although it was acme what damaged with water. 'the utmost exertions were then made to save the body of the third warehouse from ignition, as it was evident that if this caught the whole rango must be sa crificed. The roof of the first warehouse having fallen in, leaving no hope of saving any of the property con tained, except the stock in the cellars, the jets from the West of England brigade engines, with those of the two floating engines, were brought to bear upon Nos. 2 and 3, and in a short time the flames had slightly abated, rendering a nearer approach practicable. No time was lost in improving the advantage, and by the most unre mitting labour the fire was so far subdued that all dan ger of its extending further seemed at an end by eight o'clock. A short time after eight o'clock, however, in spite of the continuous play of the engines, the flames, stimulated by a slight rise in the wind, and by having reached some inflammable goods in one of the floors, again rose. Their spread was again most rapid. In a very brief space the third warehouse was on fire, from the basement story up, and the fire, gliding over the roof of the fourth warehouse, ignite.' the fifth, which was also speedily in flames. The sight which now presented itself was such as is, fortu nately, seldom witnessed. The huge block of burning houses—red hot from the intensity of the fire, and shooting forth flame and sparks like a volcano— might be seen front any elevated spot in the city and the bridges, which were crowded to the utmost. The Bo rough market was so thronged as to be impassable, the people being in momentary expectation of seeing St. Saviour's Church ignite. The fire shone through the windows with such brilliancy as to give rise to several reports that the sacred edifice was on fire, and the sight of men actively passing buckets from hand to hand into the interior strengthed the supposition. Nothing could exceed the alarm which prevailed; the safety of distant as well as proximate buildings was threatened by the immense flakes driven off, while those whose goods were at all exposed hastened to secure them from the risk of burning, or the scarcely less imminent risk of having them stolen by the gangs of thieves who are never idle on such occasions. The fourth warehouse several times caught fire and was often extinguished, and up to 12 o'clock it withstood the flames around it. After that time it was gradually damaged by the intense heat com municated through the party walls; but the contents having bean removed by 11 o'clock, the fire found little or nothing to quad it further. The fire remained burning all night, and was easily visible from a distance. We are happy to state that St. Saviour's Church, though somewhat damaged, has sustained no serious injury. Alderman Humphery, to whom the premises belonged, was ort the spot as soon as possiblo after the outbreak, and directed some of the operations of the firemen. He is insured in the Sun and Union offices to the full ex tent of the value of the buildings. The lose is estimated at nearly 200,0001. No cause can be assigned for the conflagration, as it was stated that the stock of rags was perfeetiy dry, and would not, therefore, be likely •to ignite spontaneously. It is not considered probable that it was the result of carelessness, as the persona em ployed on the premises would not require candles so ear .y in the afternoon. Upon the first alarm the flames seemed to come from the direction of the foot of the staircase. As soon as Messrs. Barclay and Perkins were in formed of the conflagration which was raging in the neighbourhood they offered to send all their hands to assist in extinguishing it or removing property. The offer, however, was not accepted, as there was a eufli• thent body of police on the gr6und to do whatever was required. _ _ The scaffolding in front of the warehouses now erect ing along the river side became so heated that it was deemed necessary to send up men with tackle to draw up buckets of water to cool it. The water so thrown down fell upon the men working the engines beneath, who after remonstrating several times persuaded a fire man, who was also dretfthed to the bkin, to direct his jet upon those above. This led to somo very curry word:, and 3t length matters were adjusted by the hose of two engines being drawn up and directed so as to pre vent any risk to the buildings. The greatest credit is due to the police for their effi cient conduct on the occasion, and also for their for bearance, although their patience was sorely tried by the pressing forward of (-lger crowds into situations of danger. LATEST PARTICULARS.—(Two O'CLOCK ) OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LOSSES. The brigade still hold safe possession of No. 3 ware house, and are employed on the roof discharging the water from some four or five engines, Eeluoing the floating engines, on to the flaming ruins of each side, and there seems every expectation that they will succeed in their purpose. The tire, however, still continues to rage, and is likely to do so for some hours yet. Undoubtedly, it is the largest fire that has happened in the metro polis for a great number of years. One of the chief officers has, during the last hour, been engaged collecting a list of the sufferers and the property destroyed. Its contents, which we subjoin, will convey some idea of the fearful character of the conflagration:---- No. 1 warehouse, the property of Mr. Aldo ram Humphery, M.P., totally destroyed. It was occupied as stores and warehouse-room by the undermentioned persons:—Cellars, by Mr. Hewett, American provision merchant; basement stores, by Mr. Dresser, cheese factor; first, second, and third floors, by Mr. Hollings worth, piper manufacturer, of Turkey-mills, near Maidstone; and the remaining floors by Messrs. Wigan end Co., hop factors, of High-street, 13o rough. The merchants were partly insured in itieveral offices. No. 2 warehouse, belonging to Mr. Alderman Hum phery, destroyed. It was divided into six stores; four of them were rented by Messrs. Kitchen and Thornton, merchants, and the remaining by Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop merchants, insured. No. 4 warehouse, also the property of Mr. Alderman Humphery, totally destroyed. The whole of the stores were rented by Messrs. Wigan and Co., the hop factors. The firm we are informed had nearly 20,000 pockets of hops in this warehouse. The whole is destroyed, value of each poclnt averages from 121. to 151. The Bridge-house Hotel, the portion adjacent to No 1 'warehouse, injured by breakage and water, insured. Six almshouses in the rear damag e d by fire and water, occupants uninsured. St. Saviour's Church roof damaged by fire. The in terior damaged by water. The edifice is insured. 'eeeeral wharfs fronting Alderman Humphery'e ware house severely scorched and their contents damaged by water. Ilespecting the amount of insurances effycted on the property very little information could be Elicited. The warehouses of alr. Humphory (which were only erected in 1559, at a cost of nearly 100,0001) were insured in the Sun Fire-office 6nly to the extent of 40,000/ The merchants occupying the st..)res crere for the most part insured, but not to :%ta (xtent to cover the vc+!ue of their property. . . It is hared the total loss tisili amour.: to little short of MOGUL Up to the present hour the Brigade authorities hive not been apprized of any lons of fife. LATEST PARTICULARS.-(THIS DAY.) At twelve o'clock today, although the flamea had bee:i long completely got under, there still existed in all the three warehouses an immense body cf smothered embers, which sent up dense volumes of smoke, and rendered necessary the continual working cf several en gines, placed in Montague-close and St. Saviour's passage, to restrain it from bursting out into flames. The floating engines, also, manned by 200 men, were still at work, throwing torrents of water on the ruins. All the three warehouses are completely demolished, and of the warehouse in the occupation of the liessrs. Wigan and Co., which caught fire last, nothing remains but the four bare walls. The corner nearest to the mar ket presents a very dangerous appearance; large gaps in the walls on both sides are widening every hour, and great fears are entertained that before long that corner, at least, will fell in. Montagtn-elmo in some places is covered uncle deep with hops, smoking with smothered embers, and in others is flooded with the streams of water which have been poured en the buildings. .Next to the extraordinary circumstance of the fire taking a sudden leap from the second to the fourth of the pile, passing over entirely Messrs. Alien and iku derson's premises, th e greatest wonder is how St. Saviour's Church escaped. 13:70nd having all its win dows cracked, and the walla blackened, this ancient pile has sustained little or no injury. The unfortunate fireman who was ea terribly scorched at the time when the flames were first discovered in Messrs. Wigan's warehouse lies in a very paecarious state. It is feared that his sight is entirely d estroyed, and it is miraculous how, not only ho but the body of firemen with him at the time, escaped with their lives, so sud denly and powerfully did the flames burst forth. ENTERTAINMENT TO HER MAJESTY'S JUDGES. Yesterday the Sheriffs for the City (Carden and Hodgkinson) entertained her Majesty's Judges, at the Skinners' Company's Hall, previous to the election of Sheriffs for the ensuing year, which takes place this day. Amongst the guests were Mr. Baron Parke, Mr. Jus tice Patteaon,Mr. Baron Platt, and Mr. Justice Wil liams. There were also present Mr. Alderman Thomp son, M.P.; Aldermen Hooper, Farncombe, Lawrence, Salmons, Cubitt, Hunter, Moon, Finnis, Carter, and Sidney, M.P.; Mr. Masterman, the Recorder, the Town Clerk, the Common Sergeant, Mr. Commissioner Gur ney ; Sergeants Manning, Goulburn, Murphy, M.P.; Thompson, Jones, Bellasis, and Wallinger ; Messrs. Clarkson, Ballantine, and Huddlestone; the Under- Sheriffs Law and Ellis, Dr. Vivian; the Revs. Mr. Eng lish, Mt. Wrench, and the ordinary of Newgate (Mr. Davies); Mr. Catty, Mr. Dakin, Sce. After the usual loyal toasts had been drunk and re sponded to, Mr. Sheriff CARDEN proposed " The health of her Majesty's Judges," thanks being returned by Mr. Baron PARKE, who said that he deeply regretted that the task had not fallen into abler hands, as until this very afternoon the Lord Chief Baron bad intended to be present, and to avail himself of the civic hospi tality, and had only been prevented, he understood, by either just having had, or being about to have, an addi tion to his family. This observation created a good deal of merriment and laughter from all parts of the spacious hail. The toasts —" The Army and Navy," " The Sheriffs for the City," " The Recorder, Common-Sergeant, and Mr. Commissioner Gurney;" " The Bar," " The Enter tainment Committee at Guildhall," " The Skinners' Company far the use of the Hall," were given and re spr.ndedto most cordially. The dinner, which Ras of the choicest description, was provided by Messrs. Staples, and Mr. Harker offi ciated as toastmaster. REPRESENTATION OF BATH. BATH, JUNE 23.—The nomination of a Member to serve in Parliament for the city of Bath took place this day. The hustings were erected in the Orange-grove, immediately adjacent to Bah Abbey. There was a com plete absence of that excitement which we have witnessed at former elections. No bands of music or show of ban ners paraded the street on either side, nor was the gathering outside the hustings by any means as tumul tuous as on prior occasions. The candidates arrived on the hustings a little before eleven o'clock. Mr. W.ilusT came forward for the purpose of pro posing Captain Scobell (tho Liberal candidate). He said that that gentleman Lad always shown himself to be a consistent Reformer, and had invariably advocated the great priaciples of freedom. They wanted a person who had faith in great principles, and who would apply those principles to all their political institutions. Mr. NORMAN briefly seconded the nomination. Mr. BAILEY had much pleasure in proposing Mr. W. Sutcliffe to represent them in the Commons' House of Parliament.—(Cheers and hisses.) Mr. R. T. GORE seconded the nomination. Captain SCOBELL en rising was greeted with loud cheers. He advocated reform in the administration of our army and navy, passing strictures upon the manage ment of the public dockyards, and concluded a long address to the constituency by urging union among the different ranks of Reformers, observing that, if they were all true, he should be the Member tor Bath the day after to-morrow. He was not the tool of any body of electors or any body of politicians—ho was not in the hands of the Whigs or the Radicals, but he was an upright and liberal Reformer ; and as long as God gave him health, strength, and life he should continue so.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. W. SUTCLIFFE, the other candidate, who was very indistinctly heard, possessing a very weak voice, said he came forward as the candidate of the great Con servative party at Bath. If they were willing to accept as their representative a fellow-citizen of their own, brought forward by the Conservative gentry, he believed it would do great good towards uniting different classes in the city. Therefore it was not merely because ho had lived 50 years among them that he came forward. He would now proceed to touch on one or two topics. There was ono subject, and that a very important ono, on which ho felt there was no difference between himself and his gallant opponent. He alluded to a judiciou!, searching, but careful inquiry into the public expendi ture. The only way to preserve in its integrity every large and public establishment was by a periodical and searching inquiry into its mangement, and if there were anything upon which ho would pledge himself, it would be never to ♦ote against any motion brought forward honestly. Ho appealed to his conduct for many years in the corporation in proof of the sincerity of his opinions. On the subject of Papal aggression, he had taken an active part against it during the list few months. Mr. Sutcliffe concluded by observing that, if elected, ho should go to the House of Commons as free as any man, to take that part on great questions which to the best of his judgment should appear to be right. The show of hands was then taken, and declared by the Mayor to he in favour of Captain Scobell. A poll was then demanded on behalf of Mr. Sutcliffe, which will take place to-morrow. The contest will probably be a close one. COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) COWES, Jurtz 23. A NARROW ESCAPE.—The . Russian barque .2Egir, Davids master, from Havannak to Cowes, for orders, and the T. and I'. Woodward, Woodward master, from ditto, having received their orders for Bristol, on the 18th proceeded for that port, but on the 19th, when off St. Catherine's, the American ran foul of the Russian, carrying away her larboard bulwarks, stanchions, &e., and her own bowsprit, leaving part of her figure heed en board the .7Ezir; she then proceeded to the westward. The JEgir ran for Cowes, and she now lies alongside the Medina commercial-wharf. When ran into she was on the starboard tack and had a light up. The T. and P. Woodward took her just abaft the mainmast, and had she not been a very- powerful vessel she must have been completely cot down. Wind N., and very tine. Bar. 30.00. MR. BRINLET RICHARDS' MATINEES.—Mr. Brin ley Richards, one of our most able pianists and musicians, summoned his friends yesterday to the first of two perform ances of classical music for the pianoforte, in the New Beetho ven Rooms, which were completely filled by an aristocratic and fashionable audience. We have rarely remarked a more I strict and undeviating attention paid to a selection exclu sively of serious music. Mr. Richards was assisted by Ilerr Ernst '(violin) and Signor Piatti (violoncello), vio l whom he played Beethoven's first trio in C minor, and i with Herr Ernst Mozart's fine and elab orate sonata I in A, fur piano and violin. Both were admirably per formed ; the latter especially, one of th e most diffi cult and trying of Mozart's chamber pieces. Mr. Richards also played solos, selections from Mendelsohn and Sterndale Bennett, besides some elegant pieces of his own composition, among which " The Vi s i on, " a romance, and a scherzo, called the "The Rivulet and the Birds," at' tracted particular attention, an d were loudly APplaulAt" Not the least interesting of the performances was the Andante con Variazioni of Mendelssohn (0 ). 8 —r 3f. tliur , thous), l ous), for two perform ers on the pianoforte,) inwhich -.,i I...charda was assisted by Mr. Cipriani Potter. Hen ‘• yaria tions" were like tbes e ,th ere would be no defence f o r the opponents of this particular form of fantasia. One o f Sig nor Botteini's wond er f u l exhibitions on the con t ra bass°, an d a Mr. Cipriani couple of airs by t h at popular favour i te , Miss Catherine Hayes, agreeably var i ed the program me. ni Potter presided as accompanist a t the pianoforte. AT SEA.—On Two MEN DROWNED IN Saturday morning a fatal atfraY as she was toAok}:pllaallTon board a steam tug, the Queen, belonging to North Shields,The vessel left the Tyne I run ping along the Durham coa c s r t ;iv of three hands on board, early in the morning.port, to ek fur the purpoie of lookiwngithouathefourres,hipwshetno a i d .e i t tltre into nce and had been to Pea some place between the en; , lnerron and the fireman regarding the the stoking of vessel. They quarrelled first with their took to blows. They first commenced to fi g ht forward in the vessel, and were with some difficulty separated by the steersman • he had scarcely got back t o hi s , helm w hen they again commenced to fight, an d before' however, he could interpose a second time they got abaft th e f u nnel, and having grappled each other closely, fought to the l ar board side of the boat , and in a moment, having t r ip pe d themselves over the rails, fell headformost into the sea. The steersman immediately rau forward and stopped the boat, but beforehe could do so they had disappeared, and were never more seen. It vas half an hour before the steersman could procure assistance, so as to be able to navigate the vessel back to the Tyne The names of the parties drowned are Luke Blyth, engineman, and Stanley Dennis, fireman. They belonged to North shields, and were married. They were both sober. SUMMER ASSIZES. Convict° and authentic List of tho Summer Cireuiti for 1851. WESTERN CIRCUIT. Before Lord Campbell and Mr. Justice Coleridge. List day f.r full Cr.C121i5.31012 Assim, Town. notice of trial. days. - I)t , viss , g. July 4 Winchester Dorchester Exeter llodmin... July 23 Bridgewerer July "S Bristol .................. August 2 .11011 E CIRCUIT. Before Lord Chief Justice Jervis and Mr. Baron Alderson. Hertford ............ July 5 Che1m5f0rd............ July 11 Maidstor:e ............. July 18 Lewes Croydon NORFOLK CIRCUIT'. Before Lord Chief Baron Pollock and Mr. Justice Cress- well. Aylesbury Bedford Huntingdon July 7 Cambridgo Norwich p.9wich July 19 MIDLAND July 12 July 15 July 17 ........ ........ July 24 juiy '''' •• July 30 CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Baron Parke and Mr. Justice Mauls. Oartham .. July 5 Northampton Lincoln July 9 2319 Nottingham July I' , Derby Leicester _ _ Caventry Warwick July 23 NORTH WALES CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Justice Wightman. Newtown y Carnarvon Beaumaris Ruthin Mold July 26 Chester July 30 SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT. Cardiff'July 12 Haverfordwiest . .. : B efore'' ........Mr. JulyjJuulystoi: Talfourd. July 25 C • ardigau ............. .. J u ly 19 Brecon .................. J u ly 23 Presteign ............... July" 28 ... Chester. July 30 OXFORD CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Justice Erle and Mr. Baron Martin. Abicgdon... Oxford July .5 Worcester Stafford ......... July 24 Shrewsbury July 21 ......... July 31 Hereford Monmouth Gloucester _July 30 __ __ August 9 _____ _ _ August 1 August 2 NORTHERN CIRCUIT. Before Mr. Baron Platt and Mr. Justice W il liams. York July 2 12 Durham Newcastle July 21 Carlisle July 25 Appleby Lancaster July 30 ... August 9 Liverpool August 2 Mr. Justice Patteson will remain in town to attend Chamber!, &c. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER. A meeting of the shareholders in this company WaS held yesterday, at the London T%vern, for the purpose of taking into consideration the relative advantage of an alliance with the North-Western Company, as compared Ivith that proposed by the directors with the Great Western Company; Sir William White in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, stated that the present meeting had been called for the purpose of considering the offer made by the Lond , :in and North-Western Company to this company, and for ap pointing a committee to confer with the shareholders as to the advisability of accepting such offer. Mr. Thomp son and Mr. East would tell them the exact nature of the offer. Mr...atosirsori said the London and Nortis-Western Railway Company had made an offer to this company of 41 per cent., nod the arrangement stood open fur the de cision of the directors, who had full power to call in first counsel. Ile need not tell them that the offer made by the London and North-Western Company was far be yond that made by the Great Western, for he had no doubt that the Great Western proposal would end in the same way as they usually did, or similarly to their en gagement with the South Wales Company.—(Hear, hear.) He would, therefore, strongly advise them to make certain of this 4i per cent., although, at the same time, he must confess that he considered their line was worth more. It was then moved that the meeting highly approved of the course taken by Sir W.White, Mr. Thompson, Mr. East, and others, in endeavouring to obtain adequate terms for the shareholders ef the Shrewsbury and Chester Company. A long discussion ensued relative to the agreement which had been entered into with the Great Western Company by the directors of this company; after which the resolution was carried by a large majority. Mr. PULLEY then moved that Sir W. White, Mr. Thompson, Mr. East, or any other gentlemen, be ap pointed as part of a committee of five shareholders, re presenting that body, to make such agreement with the London and North-Western Company, under the advice of counsel, as they might deem best for securing a cer tain and adequate dividend; such agreement to be sub mitted to the shareholders for confirmation or otherwise; and that the directors bo called upon to furnish the shareholders with copies of the agreement proposed or alleged to ha►e been mado with the Great Western Company. This having been seconded by Mr. C. EAST, After some further explanations from Mr. ROY, the resolution was carried. Mr. Thompson, 21r. East, Major-General M'lnues, and Dr. Fraser were then appointed as a committee, to con fer with the shareholders in Scotland and elsewhere; and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting se parated. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, JUNE 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market was very Bat to. day, and busines s was w i t h diffi cu lty transacted at previous rates. LIVERPOOL. JUNE 23. STOCK ExanAtcon. 7 — The business to-day was again ,invited, and prices romewhat lower. The transactions were as follow :—East Lancashire, 14 11-16—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 52 , i —London and North-Western, 121:%—Ditto, New Quarters, 3% p.—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin colnshire, 25Lv—Midltul, -Itg t —Ditto, Halves, 18 , 4 die.— Shrewrbury and Chester (oswestly and Chester), 13 7.16 South-Eastern and Dover. 223. MANCHESTER, JUNE 23. STOCK EXCITANots.— T he transactions to-day were as follow :—East Lancashire, 14,74 n.—Ditto, Preference, Fifths, 3-16 p —Ditto, ditto (2d issue), 5-16 p.—Lancashire and Yorkshire, —London and North-Western, Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (C), 2 3-16 p.—North Stafford. shire, 834 dis.— Shrewsbury and Chester, New, % South-Eastern and Dover, 22 15-16. BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 23. B X EXCHANGL—The share market still continues re. markably flat. Prices are aboutfstationary, with little pro spect of improvement. The only transaction reported to-day was—Shrewsbury and Birmingham (B), 4% di& WOOLWICH GARRISON, JUNE the Royal horse Artillery, under the 2.3.---The whole of Colonel Bell ; the 17th Lancers, under command of Litia.Colonel- Lawrenson ; the Foot Art illery, formed into Lieutenant bs - ttiit Lieutenant-Colonel Lethbridge, and the first under Lieutenant-Colo/lei Ot threeleeecend under pounder batteries, gunners disnio waY ' ! t int under Lieu tenant-Colonel Williams —the three theb t 1 with two 9- pounder Crut tenden ; the Royal Marines. under Lieutenant-Colonel .Icli.,,tna:iti:orn Gil lespie; and the light field-batteries, under Lieutenant. Colonel Anderson, assembled at h a lf-Past eight o'clock A.M. to-dr.y, and, aft er being a edw ith 20 rounds to each gun of ttie Roy a l Horse Aitrivfiery and field batteries, and 10 rounds to each man of the battalions and Royal Marines, proceeded to th e common a t balf-past nine. At ten o'clock Lieutenant -General Sir Thomas Downmsn, C. 8., K.C.H , commandant of the g&rli'"' arrived on the ground, accompaoled by Lieutenant -Colonel Brercton, C. 13., 1 ' 1 . 11 ., Bri ,- ade-..tajor Bingham' Captain Tylden, De. puty-Assistant-Quartermaster-General of Artillery, and gallant Lieutenant-General other officers of his staff. The having taken they were and L nonand of the whole of the troops, marchedtheepuast at slow time, and the Horse Artil lerycera at a trot and canter. The troops anint through the evolutions of a field day, which were accomplished i they diplisbed in a most efficient manner; the firing eathe charges of the Royal Horse Artillery, preceded by - LalleerS, and the manner in which • they took up their the remarkably good. I'wo troops positions being , • Of the Lancers made excellent charges, advancing through the centre of the troops, and wheeling with great rapidity, the one to the right and the other to the left of the whole of the troops- The batteries had a fine effect when they fired the trees at the west end of the upper part of the amongst on The field day for exercising the troops to o k place preparatory to a grand review, which is to take place en Thursday, the 26th inst., should the weather be favourable, in the presence of his Majesty the King of the Belgians , his Royal Highness Prince Alb er t, and their Royal Highnesses the Dnke de Brabant and Count de. Flandres. LIR BRITISH FISHERIES. The Great Exhibition now affords an excellent opportunity to all persons in terested in the improvements of deep sea fisheries. The different models of tishing- yesse l s belonging to Great Britain, with fishing-linen, nets, and oth er a pp aratus, col lected together and arranged in Class 29, situated under the north end of transept on the galleri es, is bo th highly I creditable to th e contributors and Executive Committee. The models of fishiror-vessels with their gear being in a de partment by themselves, there being no models of other description of vessels near them t o detract attention, the mind is enabled to dwell uninterruptedly on the subject be. Ifore the eye for contemplation. At this department a beautiful contrast is readily shown of the real and true ad vantages the decked -welled smack must possess over an open markets with the best quality of fish, and boat, for supplying . . fish hauled in the freshest possible condition. When areout of the sea and hove into an open boat's bottom, they die very shortly afcerwards, and ifsed that day or the day not u f o ll ow ing they become unlit for use in , a fresh state. ln the k the fish are kept alive for several daya or welled- smack 3 if required. The advantages possessed by. the • i' de c c e k k e d vessels for safety, comfort, and being better calcu lated as nurseries for training youth to b , e , active able sea men is also shown at la single glanc . e Hie Pearl fishing. smack, eighty tons burden, with improved screw-propeller, a model of which, by Mr. J. E. Saunders, is in this depart ! men , t arrived at Grimsby a few days since, from• Norway, with 20,C00 lobsters on board, all alive in the vesses well. , far pos 'ublio ?reed ution Cord, our ct to ) the were lan i he .sion not