The Sun. — London, England, 1850-03-27 00:00:00

and heavy request, st la3t week's prices. The quxttity of Eugiith Oafs on sale was small, that of foreign good. All kinds ruled inactive. Beans, Year, Indian Corn, and Flour, very dull. No market will be held her: on Friday next. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK, Wheat. Qrs. F.nglisk Fmtch • • Irish . • • -• •• • • Yoreign 11Arley. Outs. Malt. Flour, Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. Sachs 650 1,740 1,670 1,560 2,290 1,0 10,310 157 , WHITECILAPML. Our market was very inactive to-day. lc prices no material chani:e took place. Beef from 2s 4d to 3s 2d ; Mutton, 25 Sd to 35 6d; Lamb, 45 10d to 53 10d; Veal, 33 to 35 10d; and Pork, 2s 10d to 4s per Sibs. rsouteUOZ UOP zrzzatunT. Only a 'United business is doing in our market. Holders, howerer. will not sell except at full prices. SECONDARIES.—(THIS DAY.) (Befoze 'Mr. Secondary POTTER ) HILL V. COLLINS. This was an action to recover 91. 15s. on an I 0 U. nacre was no defence to the action. WRITECHLIRCH V. GILLENT. This was an action to recover the sum of 481. premium for the lease of a house, granted by plaintiff to tit fendant. It appeared by the evidence that the defendant had obtained the house on the underatancling that hu should pprform certain repair: , ' in lieu of paying the plemium , but he had negleged to do so. The jury gave a verdict for the amount. BANKRUPTCY.—(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Commissioner GOULBURN.) IN RE WOODHAINL This was an insol% eney case under the old Act. The insolvent had carrred on business as a chinaman in Lam beth - w alk. Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. Buchanan. appeared with proofs preparatory - to a dividend, the creditors, who were chiefly of the Hebrew persuasion, having declined to sign the proofs on Saturday from religious scruples, and it became necessary to adjourn the case till this day. The proofs were now admitted. BOW-STREET.-(THIS I)AY.) A showily-Iressed young woman, whose name did not transpire, was charged on suspicion with stealing a gold watch, the property of a professor of music, named Ken clay, residing in Euston-place, Euston-square. The prosecutor stated, that on the evening of the sth instant, he paid a visit to the Holborn Casino, and re mained there till about half - past eleve n o'clock. On leaving the dancing saloon he accidently ran against the prisoner, who enticed him up a court, and after fumbling with him for a few minutes, she darted off, and then he discovered that she had taken with her his valu able gold watch. No sooner had she disappeared, than a couple of suspicious-looking fellows blocked up the entrance of the court, and he was therefore afraid to leave the spot at the moment. Mr. HENRY—Then you did not follow the female ? . The prosecutor replied that he did not. Mr. Ilexes'—How do you know that the female took your watch ? The prosecutor said, when he entered the court ho examined his waistcoat-pocket, and found that his watch was quite safe. Directly the prisoner ran from him he felt that there was something wrong, and then, to his dismay, he ascertained that the prisoner had managed to detach his watch from the guard-chain, leaving the chain dangling from the pocket. Mr. HENRY—Are you satisfied teat the prisoner is the party? The prosecutor was confident she was. He had not seen her since till last night, when he met her again near to the same spot in Holborn, and gave her into custody. The prisoner, in her defence, Raid the prosecutor was mistaken. She had never seen him till last night, when , be came up to her and said " Ab, my dear, how do you do?" She told him that she was quite well, and asked him to treat her, but, instead of doing so, he said " What have you done with my watch? I shall give you into ceetody , " and shortly afterwards they came up with a policeman, and he did so accordingly. Mr. HENRY—What are you? Prisoner—An unfor tunate woman. Mr. HENRY—Has the watch been found?—The pro secutor replied in the negative, adding that the police man who was on duty near to the Casino on the night of the Bth instant remembered having observed the pri soner loitering about. Mr. HENRY remanded the prisoner for a week, to enable that officer to attend, and to allow time for in quiries at the pawnbrokers. The prisoner was therefore detained in custody. The five men, Bennet, Tiddyntan, Laidler, Jones, and Sullivan, who were remanded from last Wednesday, were again placed at the bar on the charge of obtaining sums of money from Mr. Wyatt, an aged and infirm man, carrying on the business of tobacconist in Great Queen-street, by t hreatenin g to give publicity to an un natural crime with which they charged him. The whole of the prisoners were most respectably at tired, and here upon this occasion represented by Mr. Games. Mr. Wontner, as usual, attended on the part of the prosecution. It will be remembered that the prisoners had by their threats succeeded in extorting money from Mr. Wyatt to the sum of 501. hard cash, an 1.0. U. for 50/., and a promissory note for 40/. The note was, however, partly cancelled before the present proceeiings were instituted, but the 1.0. U. was to have be en met and raid by the prosecutor on the very day that the prisoners wore en trapped. Sergeant Thompson, F 11, deposed that on the 12th instant, by previou s a pp ointment, he attended - at the prosecutor's house, about nine o'clock at night, and was concealed behind a curtain. Soon afterwards Laidler and Jones came into the shop, and saw Mrs. Lake, the prosecutor's niece. She asked where the others were, • and Laidler replied that they were at a neighbouring ' public-house. She directed ono of them to go for them, and Jones left for that purpose. la the meantime Laidler begin talking to Mrs. Lake as though he were a professional man, remarking that Mr. Watts, of the , Olympic Theatre, had been arrested for forgery; but, be continued, "we have got Clarkson for him, and as 6,0001. have been ra;sed on the lease of the theatre, we shall do everything to get him off." By this time the other prisoner bad come in, and they were in- vited into a back F arlour by Mrs. Lake. He heard Mrs. Lake ask t hem, " Well, gentlemen, what is your demand upon Mr. Wyatt ? " Laidler replied " 240 She asked him if all of them were to have the money, and one or two of them said " Yes, certainly." Some conversation then took place about an agreement, Mrs. Lake asking where Mr. Laidler, who represented himself to be a solicitor, lived. Laidler replied " You have got it," but Mrs. Lake said she had lost it, and Laidler exclaimed " Well, never mind, you will find it in the agreement here." Mrs. Lake then asked " Who shall I pay the money to ?" Laidler said "To me, I will make it all right with the rest." Sullivan was then about to leave the room, when witness thought it high time to come from his hiding place. He did so, and said, " Which is the ,, solicitor?" Laidler said, " Ob, that is no matter now, and as witness thought so too, he simply took him into custody, and told the other I prisoners that they were his prisoners. On the way to the station-house, Laidler said, sneering, "Is that b--y old fox Sullivan taken?" Witness replied that he believed he was. " Ah," added the prisoner," I'm glad of that. He was the general, you know, but with all his generalship Ido not care. Mrs. Lake can clear me." At the station-house he found on him an agree. went, and an I. 0. U. for 501., which be now produced. Laidler gave his address as 5, Cecil-court, St. Martin's lane; and in searching his room, witness found the fiy aheet of a brief, the draft of an agreem• nf, and some Other papers, which be also produced. He had known all the prisoners for some time. Bennett ho had fre quently seen dressed as one of the Horse Guards Blue, and as an Hungarian. Sullivan was frequently' with women, and upon different occasions he had seen all the prisoners together. Laidler said the brief sheet found at his premises was not in his haudwriting. Sullivan said that tall that had been stated about him was false. The police-constable deposed to having waited out side the shop, while Sergeant Thompson went in, and to , seeing all the prisoners, with the exception of Laidler end. Jones, loitering about the street; After which the depositions of Mr. Wyatt and Mrs. Lake were read over. It will be remembered that one of the prisoners first introduced himself to the prosecutor by purchasing a cigar at his shop, and finding that he was a man of nervous temperament, he enlisted the services of the other prisoners, and commenced the system of extortion which has lei to this prosecution. Mrs. Lake, who is neje, of the prosecutor, planned the meeting with Sergeant Thompson, her sus picion having been aroused Is 3 the mysterious communi cations which were passing between the prisoners and her uncle, and to her sagacity is due the credit of having brought the conspiracy to light. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. HENRY asked eash of the prisoners if they bad anything to say, giving them the usual caution, that what they did say would be taken down in writing and used against thew. Laidler denied that he had ever been guilty of such an offence. He had teen an innocent tool in the hands of others; and it was mainly at the request of Mrs. Lake herself that be attended to see the matter settled. The other prisoners said nothing, but Sullivan wished to know if he was charged with extorting money from the prosecutor? Mr. HENRY said he way. Sullivan then replied that he was innocent. He had understood that the matter arose out of a gambling transaction, and he had never spoken to or made any de mand on the prosecutor. Mr. HENRY reminded him that he was present when the demand of 24/. was made. Sullivan said he was there entirely by accident; he was induced to go in by a boy connected with a person menisci Hollind, end when he heard Mrs. Lake a,k what demands they had upon her uncle he said distinctly that he did not expect anything. Sirs. Lake stated that the prisoner could hear all that passed, but it was true that he disclaimed having any demands upon her uncle, and said that "he did not ex pect anything." Sullivan having again protested his innocence, Mr. HENRY said it was his duty to commit them for trial. An attorney, who said he was instructed to watch the cuss for Bennett by his uncle, a captain in the navy, up• plied to have his client 'admitted to bail, but his applica tion was refused. The parties were then bound over to prosecute, and the prisoners removed in custody. THE RAILWAY COMMISSInIv,--1t is understood that Captain Simmons, the Government Inspector of Railways, succeeds Captain Harness, as Secretary to the Commission. ATTEMPT TO BURN DOWN THE! SURREY THEATRE. At a few minutes alter one o'clock this morning the vicinity of the Surrey Theatre, in the Blaektriars-road, was thrown into a state of considerable alarm by the outbreak of a fire (subsequently discovered to be the work of an incendiary) in that favourite theatrical estat li,hment, the destruction of which for some time wee threatened. The circumstances are these : At the close last night of the Lenten musical entertainments of Mr. Henry Phillips (who Lae taken the theatre for the week) the fireman and watchman, who are expressly employed to secure the safety of the bailing from fire, went over the various departments as was their customary duty, and saw to the proper extinguishing of the gas and fires. At one o'clock they resumed their rouude and bad completed them, when one observed a strong smell of something burning, and upon searching the various rooms found that it emanated from the ward room, and on the door being opened so dense was the rush of smoke anal heat as to prevent the exact locality of the fire being detected. The men promptly gave an alarm to the police, who started oil for the aid of the engines, end in a short time the e belonging to the bri gade, under the superintendence of Mr. Henderson. ar rived. Most fortunately their services eventually were not rt quired, the firemen connected with the theatre, aided by the police, succeeding in confining the mischief to the apartment where it had been discovered. It at once excited suspicions as to the origin, no light having, it waa said, been admit'e 1 into the wardroom since the close of the theatrical entertainments on Saturday night last; and an investigation being made, sufficient proof was established to show that it had been wilfully kindled, and no dout t by some party who possessed a perfect knowledge of the interior of the theatre. A basket filled with pieces of canvas', saturated with oil and turpentine, had been placed in one corner cf the ward-room, and its contents tired through a hole in the wall of the building from the out side. Whether the hole bad purposely been made does Not transpire. It is evident the destruction of the theatre was the intention of the miscreant. Had the discovery taken place later, and the ward-room " well alight" (the phrase of the firemen) it would have ben impossible, from the peculiar construction of the building, to have obtained assistance in time to check its easier, and the destruction of the whole house would have been inevitable. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NEWCASTLE RACES. The following are the declarations of forfeit at New castle up to seven o'clock P.N. on Monday, and to the close in town . The Northum ethnic] Plate— Chanticleer,, Inheritress, Uriel, Defaulter, Legerdemain, Vanguard, Langton, Strychnine, Quiz, Ada Mary, Alp, Priesteo, Backbiter, The Cocktail, Champion, Robert de Bro., Primrose, Lady I am off, Clincher, Burghley, St. Valentine, Sir Philip, Probity, Mulgrave, Seneca, Equine, Timothy, Luxury. The Members' Plate—Lady Hyde, Ribaldry, Van guard, Strychnine, Robert de Brus (sold to go abroad), Timothy, Baroness. BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY. TUB NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STALES.-7 to 2 agat Os terley (take 4 to 1), 7 to 1 egat Harriott (t), 8 to 1 agat Itahratta (t freely), 2 to 1 agst Mounseer (t), 11 to 1 agst Chantrey (t), 15 to 1 agst Belus (t), 16,t0 I agst Ballinafad (t), 25 to 1 agst Sylvan (t), 25 to 1 agat Grief (t), 25 to 1 agst Bastinado (t 30 to 1). THE ALTHORP PARK STAKES.-2 to 1 sgst Prestige , (t freely), 7 to 2 agat Buckhound (t). CHESTER CuP.-15 to 1 agst Miss Ann (t 16 to 1), 16,t0 1 agat Glaucs, 18 to 1 agat Peep-o'-Day Boy (t), 20 to 1 agst Cossack (t), 20 to I asst Roland 22 to 1), 22 to 1 agat Fogleman, 25 to 1 agst Ellerdale (t 30 ti 1), 30 to 1 agst Horn of Chase (t), 40 to 1 agst Mounseer (50 to 1 taken freely). METROPOLITAN HANDICAP-2 to 1 agst Cheerful (t), 25 to 1 sgst any other. DERBY.-6 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum (t 13 to 2), 7to 1 agst Bolingbroke, 12 to 2 agst the Nigger, 12 to 1 agst Knignt of Avenel, 15 to 1 agst Italian, 15 to 1 agat Vol tigeur. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM TIIP, MORNING PAPERS OF THIS TlMES.—Easter is generally considered the car dinal point of the session. It may then be guessed with tolerable accuracy what will be done, what will never be attempted, and what will be introduced only to be given up. The youth of the session is past ; from this to Whitsuntide is the less imaginative, but more practical period of manhood ; and then succeeds the fag-end of the legislative life—wearinesq, haste, vain repentance, and inevitable decay. But Easter is rather early this year, and they who congratulate themselves on having broken the neck of their annual task may possibly find themselves deceived. There are those who " sow their wild oats " in youth, and rapidly mature into dulness; and there are those also who scarcely wake up till they are men, and then break into unsuspected activity. It may be so with this session. Hitherto it has not shown remarkable power either for good or for evil. There has been scarcely one adjourned debate. With a regularity that smacks of design the cry to " Divide " has risen at the most critical moments, and con signed to the limbo of good intentions many a well-prepared harangue. It is true we have been spared endless reiterations, nor can it be complained that any subject has been left unex hausted. Bat suppressed eloquence often begets open dissatisfaction. There are murmurs of volcanic rebel lion in the foundations of the political world. Oa the most leading question of the session Ministers have been run very close; on several other occasions they have found their friends rather lax in their allegiance, and lately they have had recourse to the ultimo ratio, the threat of a resignation. To check the rising sedi tion it has been feund necessary to preach the doc trine of blind party submission. The utmost con tempt has been expressed for inconvenient excesses of private opinion. " The beneficent whip," which an eccentric writer holds to be the fated instrument of African and Celtic civilization, has been still further glorified for its mission on the backs of the Whigs. We have a feverish, restless, and desultory House, formidable not so much for any positive error as for the slight resistance it might offer to a sudden and attractive delusion. But it this be the youth of the session, what are we to expect from its manhood ? The danger is that no man can tell what to ex pect from it, or what not to expect. Wherever there is uncertainty there is also danger. If the House of Commons showed a little more momentum, if its canvass were a little better filled, its course would be steadier, and it would answer the helm more truly. But whose fault is this ? It is the fault of circumstances—the fault of many men and of many things; but the foremost fault of all is, that colossal blunder which has tied the bulk of the agri cultural interest to an exploded, a blasted, and a scandalous cause. A question long ago settled in our great court of arbitration and before the tribunal of national justice, with an award on its merits and a verdict on its crimes, is still kept alive in the memo ries and follies of the defeated party. A hundred living questions are thrown into abeyance by one dead one. A fanaticism for the impossible past shuts out its victims from a proper interest in the possible future. In the frivolity, passion, and impotence of its pro ceedings, the Protectionist sect suffers a sentence of self-excommunication. Thus it becomes an element of disturbance rather than of activity in the political machine. It lies across the deck of the State like a broken mast, which can neither be used nor consigned to the waves. Thus a party which possesses many claims to our gratitude and respect has made itself almost incapable of good. Every question that arises is already prejudiced by its bearings on a dead and gone corn-law. If an angel from Heaven were to announce a new boon, or a messenger from below were to suggest a new crime, the novelty, from whatever source, would be judged by its protective tendencies. So long as we have such men amongst us, we must needs be liable to the extremes of stagnation and tempest, to hollow con federacies and fruitless diTersions. Ministers are said to complain of a state of things which adds fresh elements of uncertainty to a game already more de pendent on chalice than OR skill. It is true that they have to deal with variable winds, a treacherous cur rent, and a chopping sea ; but, u nfortunately for the state, men with the trick of power can better turn such a condition of affairs to their own convenience than to the public weal. It is easier to baffle and neutralize folly than to make it patriotic and wise. The Ministerial specific for this disorder is to keep the House of Commons well employed. A rapid succession of business has brought it through its first period with comparatively little damage. Ministers have not permitted it either to rest or to fly off into an eight days' debate. Their very errors have amused and occupied the public mind. Alcibiades lopped off his dog's tail to divert the attention of the Athenians, and Lord Palmerston has created a similar distraction by his fleet in the Pincus and his squadron on the slave coast. There is a prospective virtue in such absurdities, for every mail that arrives is expected to bring the tidings of some fresh political divertissement—some barbarous protégé to be avenged or chastised—some insurrection ro be encouraged or betrayed. For our domestic and colonial affairs a more blameless and appreciable policy is required. Last night the House of Com mons adjourned to meet on Monday week ; and for that week, and the week after, the work is cut out for us by a ready, if not a master-hand. The ord • nance and the navy estimates, the Irish Franchise Bill, the Australian Colonies Bill, the stamp duties, and the announcement of a Select Committee to in quire into the emoluments of all public offices, pro vide for the fortnight after Easter, • and evi dently will have to fight their way against rival and contending movements from all sides of the House. Every independent legislator has his designs on this critical period of the session, as if it were now or never. The Chancellor of the Exchequer must be at his post to defend the window•tax, "taxes on knowledge," the malt tax, and we know not what taxes besides. A pro posed general revision of the salaries of our judicial offices is already anticipated by Lord John's ampler notice. Lord Palmerston wilt have to prove to Mr. Cobden's satisfaction that a little bullying is an ad mirable substitute or assistance to arbitration ; and either be or a colleague will have to reconcile Mr. Disraeli to our existing diplomatic arrangements. Such is the prospect as far as we are permitted to see for the present, but we do not forget that there is much to be done yet before Parliament has earned its salt for this year. Not to ask for more than was promised in the Royal Speech, there are measures of great importance and of difficult determination still in an embryo stage. There are but fifty days between Easter and Whitsuntide, after which nothing re mains but to wind up the session, to gather up the fragments, and to busy the dead. We have only seven weeks left for preliminary discussion on the general merits of such measures as may be proposed, and two weeks out of the seven are already provided for. So no time must be lost when we meet again. CHRONICLE. —That the time has come for a temperate and well-adjusted reduction of the higher class of official salaries, whether political, diplomatic, or judicial, few reasonable persons are likely to dis pute. In announcing their intention of taking the first step towards this object, the Government are certainly in no degree in advance of public opinion. To spare the highly-paid functionaries while the subordinate officers are in daily process of being cashiered or cut down, is a sort of economy against which every man's sense of justice revolts. The re trenchment which the voice of the country now demands must pervade all ranks of the public ser vice, from the highest to the lowest. That the more exalted offices of the State afford a fair scope and margin for reduction, without impairing either the efficiency of the administration or the real dignity of the occupants, none but those whose minds are sophisticated by false standards or vicious precedents will be found to question. We repudiate, indeed, the short-sighted parsimony which, in filling such appointments as those of a Chief Justice or Minister of State, would select these officers on the principle of accepting the lowest tender. The Crown is entitled to com mand for its service the highest talent and the most distinguished merit that the community affords, and those who accept its more eminent preferments should be placed above the reach of temptation, of depend ence, or of contempt. These principles, it is true, have been too much overlooked in other countries ; while, in England, not content with a just and ra tional assertion of them, we have carried our munifi. cence beyond the verge of prodigality. The differ ence in the rate of judicial and political remuneration here and abroad—we allude particularly to the United States and to France—is not merely the dif ference between a niggardly and an adequate allow ance—it is a disproportion which the diversities of wealth, of prices, or of social habits in the respective countries are quite inadequate to justify. Thus the salary (as now reduced) of the Cnief Justice of England is B,oool.—that of the President of the Court of Cessation in France is 8001. a year. The salary of the English Ambassador to the French Re public (exclusive of residence and outfit) is 10,0001. —that of the American Minister to the same country is 2,0001. per annum. We should be sorry, indeed, to exchange the exalted character and status of our British judges for the inferior estimation and ieflu encc which necessarily attach to the underpaid law yers who preside in the French courts, nor do we desire to see the representatives of Majesty in foreign capitals cut down to a bare standard of Spartan fru gality. But there is a rational medium in all things, and in the present instance there can be little doubt that, if our neighbours have pitched there estimate below the mark, we have erred, to almost the same extent, in over -:hooting it. It is idle to tell those who know, as we do, the crowded numbers and the curtailed profits of the English bar, that the presi dency of the Queen's Bench, with a salary of 7,0001., , or even 6,0001. a year, is not a prize sufficient to at tract and satisfy the ambition of the most learned and TILV, SUN', ILONDOIq, WIIDNESDAY EVENINGt, IVIARCII 27, 1830 COURT CIRCULAR. - - WINDSOR, TUESDAY. The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning in the S►opes and Windsor Park. The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise in the grounds around the Castle. His Royal Highness Princ• Albert rode out on horseback this forenoon, attended by Colonel Bouverie. The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, and Baroness de Speth. There was no addition to the royal dinner party en Monday evening. The guard of honour of the Scots Fusilier Guards on duty yesterday on the arrival of her Majesty at the Great Western Railway station was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Micklethwait. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester received their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam• bridge and the Princess Mary and a select party at dinner yesterday evening, at her residence, Gloucester House. _ _ _ ----- - A deputation, including Mr. Gurney, Mr. Foster, and Mr. Dunn, had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday. Mr. Christopher, M.P., transacted business yester day at the Railway Board. The Committee on Machinery of the Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 met yesterday in the New Palace of Westminster. The members present were Sir John Rennie, Mr. Pusey, M P., Professor Walker, Professor Willis, and Mr. Brunel. Colonel Reid, R.E. (chairman), and Mr. Dilke, attended on the part of the Executive Committee. Mr. S. Russell, secretary to the Commission, was in attendance. The Committee on Sculpture of the Commission Exhibition of 1851 met yesterday in the New Palace of Westminster. The meeting was attended by Vis count Canning, Lord Ashburton, Sir Richard West macott, Mr. Baring Wall, M.P., Mr. William Wyon, and Mr. D. N. Maclise. Mr. Cole attended on be half of the Executive Committee. Mr. Stafford Northcote, secretary to the Commission, attended. The Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Carlisle, the Countess of Carlisle, and Lady Mary Howard, and Lord Eddisbury, visited the Museum of Practical Geology, in Jermyn-street, yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a committee meeting yesterday. Earl Grey left town yesterday for his seat, Howick Hall, Northumberland. Sir George Grey left town yesterday fur his seat, Fallsdon, Northumberland. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary Wood left town yesterday, for their residence, Mickle ton Hall, near Doncaster. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of South Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, and Gibraltar. WESTERN LITERARY INSTITUTION, LEICESIER-SQUARE. PEOUT'S DIORAMIC VIEWS OF AUSTRALIA: --We were on Monday evening present at the private view of the exhibition of Prout's Dioramic Views of Aus tralia, which is to be opened to the public to-day, in the theatre of the Western Literary Institution, Lei cester-square. These views are painted by Mr. J. Skinner Prout from sketches made by himself on the spot, and their accuracy may be therefore depended on. These dioramic (or, to speak more properly, dis solving views) are twenty-four in number, and illus trate every phase of emigrant, convict, and aborigi nal life, while they, at the same time, convey a much more lively, and a much more accurate idea of the splendid scenery of these magnificent colonies than can possibly be conveyed by any ver bal description. The scenery of Van Die men's Land is of a very grand and sublime character, consisting of bold headlands, lofty, mountains, and towering precipices ; that of Norfolk Island is beautiful exceedingly—it is a paradise, of which man has made a hell—while that of new South Wales, combining the sublimity of that of Van Diemen's Land with the beauty of that of Norfolk Island, possesses greater variety than either. Mr. Prout WAS present, and explained the different points of interest in each view as it was exhibited, im parting, in a pleasing manner, a variety of useful and entertaininginformation on colonial matters, manners, and people. All who intend to emigrate—all who have friends in the Australian colonies—all who take an interest in our colonial empire, or on the subject of penal discipline, should.pay a visit to this very inte resting exhibition. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. From the establi,hment of the Messrs. Ackermann and Company there has very recently issued a series of most exquisite sketches, lithographed from original drawings taken by Lieutenant W. H. Browne, R.N., Enterprise, representing late of her Majesty's ship the sublime and extraordinary scenery witnessed by himself and his brother navigators in their recent voyage to the north in search of the Arctic expedition. In noticing the admirable panorama now exhibiting at Mr. Barford's Gallery, in Leicester -square, we in cidentally mentioned that the paintings had been copied f.oin drawings made by Lieutenant Browne ; consequently, it only remains for us to announc briefly the fact of the present interesting publication.e The series consists of ten beautifully coloured engrav ings, the illusion of which is wonderfully successful. --- BOLTON'S PENNY OMNIBUS GUIDE FOR LONDON END THE Surtunns.—The appearance of this cheap and useful little book supplies a desideratum which has long been felt by the metropolitan public. In addition to a complete and accurate list of all the conveyances, their routes, times, places of departure and arrival, together with the various fares, there is appended a list of stage-coaches running to and from London, cab fares, 8.c., combined with a mass of general and interesting information, such, for instance, as a list for public and gratuitous exhibitions, a table of the racing and steeplechase fixtures for the current year, Ste. This little book cannot fail to command a most extensive circulation, and no one in London should be without a copy. GAME CERTIFICATES.—The net produce of the duty paid on game certificates of each class and on licences for the sale of game, acrording to a recently published re turn, amounted in 1844, to 139,5921. ; in 18,45 it amounted to 136,3271.; in 1846, to 140,613/. ; in 1847, to 145,3271.; awl in 1848, to 126,8821. successful lawyers of the day. It is equally monstrous to assert that such a sum i s insufficient to maintain unsullied the honour and purity of the ermine. Again, with respect to the higher class of diplomatic situations, which are usually held by men of rank and property in this country, the State i 3 undoubtedly bound to supply its servants with the means of main taining the just dignity of their station, and of meet ing the extraordinary expenses which appertain to it. The honour of the British Crown ought to suffer no disparagement in the persons of its representatives abroad ; but neither, on the other hand, ought such appointments to be made subservient to the purpose of repairing dilapidated fortunes, or of in dulging a taste for ost en t at i ous magnificence. With regard to the salaries paid to members of the Cabinet, and to the holders of high political ( ffices at home, it is undoubtedly true that a public career in this country, if it be viewed in a merely professional light, is anything but a lucrative one. AR a pecuniary speculation, no prudent man, however great his ad vantages, or however fair his prospects of success, would dream of investing his capital in politics. The Secretary of State, whr, after a long apprenticeship to his harassing vocation, draws at last a precarious .5,000/. a year from the Exchequer, would find the public still a heavy debtor to him on an accurate ba lance of profit and loss. Nor, indeed, if we should take into account the qualifications required, the long training undergone, and the wear and tear of body and mind which the position of a leading Cabinet Minister involves, would the mere amount of salary appear extravagant. But it is not in such scales that political service is to be weighed. Accord ing to the system of government which prevails in England, statesmanship is not—nor is it desirable, in our judgment, that it should be—regarded as a remunerative profession. It is a career from which, with rare exceptions, all who do not possess an inde pendent fortune are excluded. It is the power, the influence, the patronage, the fame, the high place, the noble theatre of action—and not the emoluments —which form the attractions and the compensations of office. The Noble Lords and Right Hon. Gentlemen, who spend and are spent in the service of the public, find, in the salaries attached to their offices, an acknow ledgment of the gratitude of the community, which is not, indeed, unacceptable in itself, but which is incapable of being measured by a com mercial standard. Reduce the scale of Ministerial salaries in due proportion to the retrenchments car ried out in other departments of the public service —and there can be no doubt that the country will be just as well served, by the same men, and from precisely the same motives, as at the present time. It is an understood principle in this country, that reductions in public salaries should have only a prospective operation. The application of this maxim, rather than rule itself, was the occasion of a somewhat keen discussion in the House of Commons on Monday apropos to the Bill for reducing the Chief Justices' salaries, and to Lord Campbell's ap pointment. The announcement made by Lord John Rnssell in the early part of the evening, that it was intended to submit the revision of judicial salaries to a Select Committee, naturally suggested the inquiry whether the emolument of the new Chief Justice—the wax of whose patent is yet scarcely cool—would not be subject to the discretion of that tribunal, and also whether the Bill by which it is proposed definitively to fix the salaries of the two Chief Justices would no be more advantageously postponed. The Premier conceded so far as to abandon that part of the Bill which related to the Chief. Justiceehip of the Common Pleas, and he explained that appointments to the Queen's Bench, subsequent to that of the new incumbent, would fall within the province of the Committee. But upon the point of the salary payable to Lord Campbell himself, Lord John lussell stood firm—alleging that there was a distinct under standing and compact made with that Learned Lord, that be was to receive not less than 8,0001. a year, and that to re-open that arrangement would be to make the revision of salaries operate retrospectively. The insensibility shown to this argument by a large and respectable section of the Members present, who persisted in dividing in favour of an amend- ment moved by Mr. Henley, may probably be attri buted to two circumstances. First, to a doubt as to the complete sincerity of the Premier's allegation—a doubt not unreasonably founded upon the fact pointed out by the Member for Marylebone. " I can hardly suppose," observed Sir Benjamin Hall, " tbat the measure of which notice has been given this evening did not exist in the intentions of the Government as much as three weeks ago. 7 11; - ;;;; --- 6111ef Justice has hardly been that time in his seat. Is it possible that his appointment can have been made without reference to the impending reductions i" The other consideration which probably made the House suspicious of some indirect manoeuvre in this case, was of a more personal character. Great as are the acquirements, and eminent EVI are the claims, of Lord Campbell, the reminiscences connected with his judicial preferments are nut, it must be owned, parti cularly fragrant. The seventeen days' Chancellor ship of Ireland—" that superior job," as Colonel Sibthorp rather happily termed it—is not yet effaced from the memory of the generation that witnessed 40 intrepid a sacrifice to prirty obligations. We may t , afely assume that, if the biographer of the Chan cellors had never thrust himself into the seat of Lord Plunkett, the liou:e of Commons wou!d not have manifested so malicious a desire to cut down the emoluments of his Chief Justiceship. SUPPLEME A T TO THE POST-OFFICE LONDON DIRECTORY for 1850. It hes been an annual custom with the proprietors of the "Post-office London Directory" to publish a few weeks subsequent to the assembling of Parliament in February, a supplement to that valuable work, con taining amongst other inf orma ti o n a Peerage and Par ..... liamentary Directory, and a complete Postal Di rectory. This supplement is just published, and within the compass of a thick royal octavo pamphlet we have a Peerage and Parliamentary Directory corrected up to the present time, and giving the town residence during the present session, and country seat of each Peer and Member of the House of Com mons ; the names and addresses of all persons who have commenced business since the publication in December last of the Post-office London Directory for 1850, and a Postal Directory furnishing all the regulations of the Post-office as affecting the receipt or dispatch of letters ; a list of the post towns in the United Kingdom arranged alphabetically, distinguishing those at which money orders can be obtained or cashed, and in other cases the exact distance from the town at which money orders can be had ; also stating the time of the delivery of London letters and the time at which the box fur the receipt of London letters closes, so that the return of post can be always calculated. This Postal Directory contains, likewise, an alphabetical list of the 5,000 principal places throughout the world to which mails are dispatched, with the king dom in which each is situated and " Universal Rates of Postage on Letters and Newspapers to the colonies and foreign parts, with the routes of the mails and the days of their dispatch." This work is clearly and neatly printed, and so admirably arranged as to be exceedingly easy of reference. It is a fresh proof of the ability, of the energy, and of the industry of its spirited proprietors. MANCHESTER TRADE RETORT, MARCH 26. There is no material change in the market to-day. Probably a little more briskness has characterised it ; inquiries have been numerous, but the business done has been very limited. The prices now offered for yarns are such as would little more than defray th e cost of the raw material, leaving a lamentably low per centage for t h e s pinner. These rates are insisted upon, but the producers still appear disinclined to yield, and a few bargains have been struck. The little busi ness that has been transacted is at prices a shade lower than those of this day week. Forty-inch shirtings still hold their price, and there is no disposition to make any further con cession. The goods market is very inegular, and prices slightly receding. ABERDEEN RAILWAY.—It appears the directors intend to open the remaining portion of this line to Aberdeen in the course of next week, provided they obtain the sanction of the Government officer. On the line being opened for traffic it will complete the communication between Aberdeen or London by railway. LOANS TO IRISH RAILWAY COMPANIES.—It ap pears from a return just issued that the Public Works Loan Commissioners lent to the Dublin and Drogheda Railway Company, at various periods, from the 26th of December, 1842, to the 20 t h o f M a rch, 1843, sums amounting in the amountedaggrega aggregate to t 30 01,5061,00001. and datthse principal rep a id t o 51,1791., per cent. The interest p a id leaving 105,821/. due. They lent to the Great Southern and Western Company, between the 20th of September, 1847, and the 29th of January, 1849, 495,000/., at 5 per cent. The interest paid amounted to 36,012/. They lent to the Water ford and Kilkenny, between the 20th of September, 1847, and the 26th of November, 1849, 83,0001. The interest paid amounted to 6,130/. They lent on the 3d of November, 1849, to the Midland Great Western (first advance) 100,0001. at 3% per cent. Total of all moneys lent 834,000/., of which 51,1791. was repaid. The interest paid amounted to 72,193/. The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland lent to the Dublin and Kingstown Company 75,000/. on the sth of No vember, 1832, and 37,2001. on the 29th of November, 1836, at 4 per cent., together 112,200/., of which 54,5961. was re paid. 51,016'. was the amount of interest paid, and 1,8751. was the amount of interest due. The principal outstanding amounts, to 57,604/., which is in course of repayment by halt yearly instalments of 3,000/. The sum lent to the Ulster Company, on the 18th of July, 1840, was 20,000/., at 5 per cent., which has been repaid. The amount of interest paid was 3,813/. On the Dublin and Kingstown branch to Dal key 25,000/. was lent on the 21th of November, 1842, which has been renaid with interest amounting to 1,534. The total amount advanced was 157,2001., of which 99,5961. was repaid, leaving 57,604/. due, which is in course of payment. The amount ut interest paid was 56,3671. and the amount due 1,875/. ENCUMOFRED ETATES.—A return has just been made, pursuant to au order of the House of Lord 9, dated 15th February, 1850, front the Commissioners of the Court of Encumbered Esta'es, Ireland, stating the number of pe- titioris lodged in their coart, the total rental of the property proposed to be sold, and the gross amount of encumbrance) stated to be chargeable thereon. By this return it appears that the number of petitions lodged to the 15th day of Feb ruary (inclusive) is 481 ; the total rental of the property, 608,3271. Ba. 7d. ; and the gross amount of the encumbrances stated to be chargeable thereon, 12,671,0591.135. 6d. Of the smisod, and 27 Arc duplicates, 481 petitions, 14 have been di If these dismissed , and duplicate petitions, and the rental and encumbrances stated therein, are deducted from the fore goiug, the result will be, •as ahon•n by the return :—Peti dons, 440; rental, 531,4091. 161.; encumbrances, 10,219,772/. 10s. 8,1. Souza A USTRALTA.—The Alpha,ar;ivad yesterday from Adelaide. She is the first wool ship . of the season from Awstralia. Her dates are lot. co late as those per overland mail ; they, however, supply papers 'of intermediate date, which allude to the arrival of sevefali emigrant ships from England. Villages and rural townships— were rapidly springing up, which would form a eonsidtrable advantage to future emigrants seeking to locate themselves in a less scat tered society than the previous settlements afforded. The discovery of gold in tha colony is spoken of with interest, and some lately found is stated to be of exquisitely pure metal. THE IItDUOTRIAL ExIIIBITION OF 185 1 .—The Lord Mayor hae. had the high gratification to receive a com munication• Ptince Albert, of which the following is a copy . " Buckirgliam Palace March ?A "My dear Lord, Ilie Royal Highness cannot allow the splendid dinner given by your Lordship on Thuisday last to have passed over without endeavouring to express the grati fication which be derived from it. lie commands me to thank you very Much for the kindness of the motives which prompted yoir to givethat entertainment, and at the same time to con grateinte'.) our Lordship on the comple'e success which bids fens to attends this endeavour to unite all parties and classes throeghout the united kingdom in the support of the Exhi bition of 1851. "For himself, his Royal Ilighness desires me to add, that he shall ever look back with true pleasure on an evening which was to him personally one of unmixed satisfaction and gratification. " C. GREET." HIGHGATE SCHOOL.—The annual prizs of this school were adjudged on the 21d inst., as follows i—Exhibi tion of 50/ per annum—J. Martineau Fletcher; Governors' Gold Medal for Latin Ilexameters—Charies Griffith ; Latin Prose—J. Martineau Fletcher; Greek lambics—W. H. Ran kin ; History—R. Goodhall Smith. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—An event has just occurred in the town of Reading which has caused a painful sensation among the inhabitants. Mr. John Weeder, late mayor of the town, on Tuesday evening last, after transacting the business of the day, went out to take his usual walk. As he did not return, and no tidings were heard if him, a diligent search *as . made, and on Tuesday morning his body was found in the River Kennett, about fifty yards below the Basingstoke railivay bridge. His gold watch, purse, pencil-case, and papers were found upon his person. Mr. Weedon practised as a solicitor for many years, and only a few months ago retired from business. NATIONAL GALLERY FOR SCOTLAND.—A Bill hes been introduced into Parliament for the erection of a national gallery for Scotland at Edinburgh. The buildings (which are to be on the Mound) are to contain apartments " for other purposes connected with the promotion of the fine arts." BANK OF ENGLAND.—Yesterday a ballot, com menced at eleven o'clock in the morning, for the purpose of taking the determination by vote, in print or writing, on the resolution proposed at the court of proprietors last Thursday, viz. :—" That a dividend be made of 4 per cent. interest and profits for the half .year ending the 28th of February last, without any deduction on account of the income-tax." At four o'clock the ballot closed, and it appeared that the reso lution was unanimously cenfirmed. DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR IVIGAN.-= Between six and seven o'clock on Saturday morning-anex plosion of firedamp took place et Messrs. Evans and Tur ner's colliery, in Haydock, situated about a mile and a half from Newton raceground. The explosion occurred in what is called the Rock-pit," and thirteen persons were either smothered or burnt to death, some of them being literally burnt to a cinder. It appears that eleven of the persons were working in a drift 1,000 yards from the pit's eye, with out any conducter,when this explosion took place, all of whom were burnt to death. Two others were working about 120 yards nearer the pit's eye, and they, on hearing the explosion, rushed into the face of the fire, instead of making to the pit's eye. There were five other persons in the workings at the time, but they being employed considerably nearer the pit's eye did not receive much injury. The pony-driver sustained, howeve r , a slight scorching; and o ne of the ponies was killed by a loaded waggon being blown against him. The pit is about 141 yards deep. The majority of the sufferers have left wires and families. The men were allowed safety lamps, if they thought proper to use them ; bat there does not appear to have been any restriction against working with naked candles, although the men had to run away from the fire the day before the fatal occurrence took place. An inquest was held upon the bodies of the sufferers on Monday, when tlis jury, after examining several witnesses, returned the following verdict :—" It ae happened that the foul and inflammable air in the said coal mine, by some means unknown to the jury, took fire accidently and casually, and by misfortune exploded, whereby the said above-named unfortunate men and boys were grievously scorched and burnt upon the body and limbs, whereby they instantly died." —llalffa.% Guardian. THE CATTLE Ta , ►ns.—Th• Apollo, screw steam vessel, arrived at Blackwell on Monday, with acargo of oxea from Holland. On her passage she experienced a heavy gale from the north, which caused loss or serious injury to nearly 50 fine oxen. Of these, about 20 that were on deck were thrown overboard; the remainder, about 80 in number, were landed at Blackwell, many of them dead, and other'S dread fully mangled. It is believed that all this meat finds its way into the London market. ACCOUNTS OF TEM COAL WHIPPERS' OFFICI.— From statements of the accounts of the Coal Whipper's office for the past year, and of the branch office at Wool wich, which have just been ordered to be printed, it appears that the receipts of the fund amounted, in the hnlf-year ending June 30, 1849, to 42,893/. ; and in the half-rear end ing Dec. al, to 42,7411. 19s. All expenses having been paid, there remained, at the end of each of the six months, a balance respectively of 2,2811. and of 2,376/. The receipts at t►e Woolwich branch office amounted in the year to 1,0261., and the expenses to 9851., leaving a balance in hand of about 401. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—There are accounts from Tasmania, which report the arrival of the six Irish political offenders—Messrs. Smith O'Brien, Meagher, O'Doghorty, Martin, Donaghue, and M'Manus—in the brig of war Swift, on the 27th October. His Excellency the Governor, by the same vessel, had received instructions from tho Homo Go vernment to issue tickets of leave to them, on condition that, the indulgence thus afforded them should not be made a means of escape. They all, with the exception of the first, accepted the offer, and were located as follows : M'Manus, at Norfolk; Meagher, at Campbell Town ; o•Dogherty, at Oatlands; ilartin, at Bothwell; and Donaghue, at "Hobart Town. They are all stated to have sufficient funds for their support, with the exception of the latter, who represented to the Governor that he was without funds, and requested, therefore, that he might be permitted to reside a t H o b ar t . . Town, in order that he might follow his profeesion of a law writer. This was granted to him. Smith O'Brien obstinately refused to accept a ticket of leave, and was therefore, on the following Wednesday, the let of October, dispatched to Maria Island, where he will be under strict surveillance. Ile had, however, an opportunity of first speaking with Martin and O'llogherty. THE ASYLIIM POI IDIOTS.—This truly valuable institution held its anniversary last evening, at the London Tavern. His Roval Highness the Duke of Cambridge pre sided. About 150 gentlemen were present. In proposing the tout of "The Queen," the illustrious chairman men tioned that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to present a gonation of 250 guineas to the institution, and which entitled her to a bed for one inmate during life. Mr. C. Lushington passed a glowing eulogium apon the merits of flee institution, and the services that the chairman had rendered it by his patronage and munificent benefactions. It was afterwards mentioned that the illustrious chairman had left a party who were assembled to celebrate the birthday of his son, the Prince George, of Cambridge, in order to be pre. sent at the anniversary of the institution. The claims of the society having been warmly advocated by Sir George Carroll, Mr. Cubitt, M.P., Mr. Spring Rice, and other gentlemen, it was announced that the subscriptions of the festival amounted to the munificent sum of 2,6001. Ilia Royal Highness then vacated the chair, and the company separated, highly gra tified with the results of the festival. . ASTURIAN MINING COUPANT.—A. special general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yester day at the offices, 9, Austinfriars, for the purpose of ausider ing a report and the proceedings of the board of directors and liquidators; also the report of the committee on recon stitution, appointed on the 27th November last, with the proposed deed of reconstitution, and counsel's opinion thereon, &c. Mr. Charles Cunningham occupied the chair, and, after the reading of the advertisement convening the meeting, proposed an adjournment to the 16th of April, in consequence of the illness of Mr. Moore, who had had the preparation of the deeds of the company in hand. After some discussion the proposition was agreed to. A few questions were put to the chairman, which elicited the facts that the actual amount owing at present to bankers, directors, &c., was 17,0111. 10s. 4d., and that they had been paying 2,0001. a month off ever since August. 200,0001. had been spent altogether in the concern, in which, the chairman stated, that at present he, himself, his friends, and family, had about 15,000/. A letter from kr. Kelly, Vice-consul of Spain, was read, who augured extremely favourably of the increasing value attached to the property of the company. The met ing then adjourned. DEATH OF Till DEAN OF SALISBUIL—The Very Rev. Francis Lear, D.D., expired at the Deanery, in the Close, Salisbury, at a late hour on Saturday evening list. He was appointed to the deanery about the close of Sir R. Peel's Ministry, through the influence of the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, M.P., to whom he had been tutor. Tee deceased also held the rectory of Bishopstone, near Salisbury, worth about 1,0001. per annum. The benefice is in the &ift of the Pembroke family. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—Tbe draft of a Bill, pre pared by Mr. Wyld, M.P., has been privately circulated, having for its object the establishment of an executive coun cil for the management of the convicts, and for the formation of a Legislative Assembly for the free colonists of the island of Van Diemen's Land. It is proposed that the Legislative Council shall consist of seven members, to be appointed b y or with the consent of her Majesty. The executive are to b e invested with the power to make laws for punishment and discipline of convicts. It is proposed to appoint a Legisla tive Assembly, consisting of twenty-four members, seven of whom shall be app inted by her Majesty. The assembly are to be empowered to make laws, appropriate taxes, and to impose duties, and also te make provision for the better ad 'ministration if justice. GREAT FLOOD IN CALIFORNIA.—A letter just from Philadelphia contains the following passage :—" Those tremendous scourges—fire and water—have recently proved very destructive in California. By the last arrival we were informed of the burning of one-half of the city of San Fran cisco. And now we have, by the arrival of the Alabama at New Orleans, news from San Francisco 14 days later, to January 15—the principal item of which is, the submergence ' by a flood of the city of Sacramento. Only one house, and that built on raised poles, was above the water, which was three or four feet deep. Immense herds of cattle have been drowned—the inundation extending over the entire valley of Sacramento, and varying from 20 to 50 miles in breadth, from the Sierra Nevado to the coast range of mountains. Much misery, starvation, sickness, and death must be the natural results of this great overflow. The loss of property at Sacramento city is estimated at 1,000,000 dollars. The sufferings of the inhabitants there are deic , ibed as dreadful. But cne writer consoles himself by stating that this great flood, while it destroys much property "will wash out the gold in immense quantities." The Alabama has brought 500,000 dollars worth of gold dust on freight. ller mails will not reach in time for the English steamer, all our news from her being per telegraph from New Orleans.' At Stockton the Americans at the mines had been at tacked by large bands of Chilians. Several were killed on both sides, and a number of Americans, who had been taken prisoners, were afterwards released. The excite ment at San Francisco even was great on this subject, and all the accounts say that the Chilians will be attacked in their turn, and expelled from the country. Such a course would 'probably lead also to the expulsion of other foreign (Spanish race) gold diggers. ''.. , ,,i) - trt Xtietttatt DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES. The Provisional Government of the Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein having made an appeal to the in habitants to pay taxes to it instead of the Danish Government, they complied with alacrity. Itiwas reported that the Prusiian Government 'had advised this proceeding, but the Berlin State.Gazttte says that the Governm en t s t rong l y opposed . ohlthe uound that it was contrary to the armistice: DAN ÜBIAN PROVINCES. Letters from Bucharest of the Bth announce-posi tively that the Russian troops had at last begun to evacuate the Danubian principalities; part of them were leaving by the extreme frontier near Kistritza, Aresu, &c., and part were beingconcentrated at Kra." jovst, from w h ence t h ey were' to proceed towards Bracla and Fokschan. The fffee i that was to remain in the principalities was not irieeVii: The Porte a n d the CAW:eV St. Petersburgh have agreed upon an arnpatet lie granted to the Moldavian a n d Wallachiati',.eXt - es: Ft oni this am nesty, which will be soon prociimed, Mr. Elida and Mr. Felyex-mtrnbers of the Provisional Government, ate excepted, as well as the four young men who were Compromised in the attack committed upon the persOn of Prince Ribesco a few days before the rev c- Intionary movement of 1848. BANK OF FRANCE. .The`follovting is a return of the situation of the Bank Fiance On March 21:— ASSETS. Cash'and ingots ... Ditto in branch banks Bills past due ••• ••• ••• Bills falling due in Paris, of which 12,346,660 f. 94c. were received from the branch banks ... 39,396,234 22 Bills in the branch banks ~• ... 65,036,919 0 Advances on coins and ingots... ... 2,995,700 0 Ditto by the branch b an k s 386,877 0 Ditto on French public securities ... 19,278,769 85 Ditto by branch banks... ... ... 2,501,367 0 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 0 Ditto on the loan of 150 millions ... 50,000,000 0 Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0 Rentes, disposable funds ... 42,514,988 13 Investments of the new branch banks in the public funds ... Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... Real property of the branch banks ... Interest in National Discount Bank ... Ditto branch banks ... Bills protested at Paris Ditto at the branches ... Expenses of administration of the Bank Ditto of the branches ... Miscellaneous ... f. 340,248,701 41 . . 141,226,586 0 661,229 18 12,826,541 39 4,000,000 0 3,239,831 0 200,000 0 230,000 0 1,402,889 93 1,458,631 0 198,411 38 236,803 0 412,108 72 L 788,452,588 2 LIABILITIES. Capital ... . . ... ... f. 67,900,000 0 Ditto (~f the Branch Banks ... ... 23,350,000 0 Reserve fund ... ... ... ... 10,000,000 0 Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,730 14 Reserve-immobiliere ... ... ... 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ....393,776,700 0 Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 71,765,9Q0 .0 , Ditto to order (post-bills) ... ... 1,748,846 0 Account -current with Treasury creditor 87,284,860 14 Various accounts current ... ... 81,774,454 83 Ditto in branches ... ... ... 23,835,329 0 Bills payable at sight ... ... ... 5,247,000 0 Ditto at branches ... ... ... 1,300,386 0 Bills of the branch banks payable by the Btlilk ... ... ... ... 6,199,911 52 Ditto of the Bank payable by branches.. 3,762,665 0 Dividends payabl e ..• Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 18,915 0 Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 480,440 6 Ditto branch banks ... ... ... 865,025 0 Expenses anticipated ... ... ... 260,787 50 Re-discounts of the last six months ... 263,317 26 Ditto in branch banks •.. ... ... 285,209 0 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 931,690 51 f. 785,452,588 21 Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France, D'AROOUT. We find by the foregoing account that the cash in hand has increased within the week by 4,500,000 f. The amount of commercial bills discounted have increased by 250,000 f. The protested bills have diminished by 105,000 f. The bank-notes in circulation have decreased by 500,000 f. The balance to the credit of the Treasury has decreased by 2,250,0001. The sundry credits have increased by 4,750,000 f. THE FRENCH BUDGET. The report of the Committee on the Budget of Receipts was on Friday distributed to the Assembly. The Committee reminds the Chamber that in the report which it had already presented on the budget of expenses it proposes a saving of more than 40 millions on the ordinary' and of more than 44 millions on the extraordinary expenses. In going beyond that, it would have feared to compromise the ser vices for which it was indispensable to pro vide. This may be readily understood by ana lysing the nature of the expenses which amount to 1,408 millions for the ordinary budget of 1850. This r amount includes in the first place nearly 264 millions which are only matters of order, and do not constitute a real charge ; 43 millions for expenses incurred fur the recovery of revenue and sundry products, and more than 326 millions representing the amount of the public debt; there, therefore, really remains to pay the ex penses annually demanded for the public services of the country a sum of 735 millions, and it is on this sum of 735 millions that the Committee proposed a reduction of 40 millions. It did not consider itself justified in going beyond that figure while the interests of the country demanded the army to be kept up to its present effective strength. It was therefore to the increase of the receipts that it considered it necessary to devote its attention. The ordinary receipts are estimated at 1,251,523,967 f. It com prises in these estimates the price of the sale of the domains of a portion cf the' old Civil List for the amount of . 9,105,0001. Of this subject the Committee proposes the abrogation of the decree of 1848, which authorises the Minister of Finance to sell the woods, forests, and lands of the old Civil List, as this property having now become the domain of the State cannot remain subjected to a special measure. The Committee proposes an additional article, to the effect that no national property can be devoted to the public service but by a Bill. The report states that the reduction of the duty on salt has been very prejudicial to the in terests of the Treasury. The receipts for January and February of this year are less by 3,550,000 f. than they were in the corresponding months of 1849. While admitting that there may be an increase in the consumption, the Committee expresses a doubt whether it will give the advantages expected from it. The old duty would have given an amount of 70 millions, whilst the actual duty will only realise about 29 millions, which will make a loss to the Treasury of 41 millions. The duty on potable liquors received in 1849 is only nine millions lower than in 1846. That duty figures in the budget for 100 millions. Without in any way prejudicing the result of the parliamentary inquiry, the Committee observes how injurious the suppression of that tax would be to the Treasury. The reveuue from Algeria stands at 14,340,000 f. The receipts resulting from the special bills are only set down at 32 millions, as they will only come into execution during the last eight months of the year. The stamp, registration, and patentee duties established by the Bills presented by M. Passy and by the present Minister, will give for the entire year forty millions. The postage on letters will produce eight millions. The extraor dinary receipts are set down in the budget for eighty-four millions, of which ten millions arise from the re-payment to be made by the Northern Railway Company, which will then remain a debtor for 35 millions; three millions for the duty on the transfer of the succession of Madame Adelaide, and 71,895,150 for the fonds de dotation and the arrears of the sinking fund. This last sum, however, the Com mittee only admits temporarily, believing it will be im possible not to take into account in the budget of 1851 the engagements entered into towards the creditors of the State. The Committee establishes the excess of the ordinary expenses over the receipts of all kinds at 588,8701. ; and as there have been already new credits voted for a sum of 14 millions, the net excess of the ordinary expenses is 14,588,870 f. The Committee does not present any modifica tion as to the creation for the services of the Treasury, and for the negotiation with the Bank of France, of bonds bearing interest payable at fixed dates, the amount of which has been fixed at 200 millions. The Minister of Finance has demanded authorization to inscribe in the Grand Livre or the public debt and to negotiate by means of public competition a loan of 200 millions. The Committee has considered it its duty to strike out this article. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this da3 .) MANCHEsTEItt TUESDAY.—In mule and water twist for exportation, there is no material change since last week. Common 40's are taken with fully as much readiness fur the East; and there has been a little more inquiry for spinnings adapted to the markets of the Levant. Yarns suitable for the Euro pean continent continue to be bought only in small parcels, for purposes of assortment, at the lowest pre vious rates. Taking warps and weft for home con sumption in the aggregate, they have yielded a little further in value since Saturday ; and it is only in this way that the sales have been somewhat increased. The serious decline in this last class of yarns has rendered a trade m hich, not long ago, was a compara tively good one, almost as bad as that of water twist. Short time is, therefore, impending in this depart ment. At Stockport a meeting of the principal mill owners took place yesterday, and was adjourned until to-morrow. In that borough there is a steam-power tf at least 3,000 horses and, up to this time, some thing like three-fourths are pledged to four days, er thirty-nine hours per week.. We are assured that the agreement will be nearly unani mous. Although no further concession is made in domestics, the difficulty of selling is in no degree diminished. What stock there is, how ever, appears to be in few hands, abbe and dis posed to hold on against any further fall, now that the production is so greatly curtailed. Printed cloths are in very limited request, at the lowestiretes of last week. In all descriptions of 40-inch shirtiugs, how ever, and particularly in those weighing seven pounds and upwards, the transactions have been of consider ablC . extent for the Calcutta and China markets. The niakers,aie sioW, for the most part, more or less under contract ; and, consequently, disposed to harden in their deminds. nocimer.sy MONDAY. —The market has been ra ther thinly attended to-day, and the business trans acted has been more limited than it was .on the Prg" ceding Monday. The wool market continues slack, and prices have rather a downward tendency. MACCLLSFIELD, TILIESDAY.—We have to report * chequered sort of market for manufactured goods. In the piece trade there is a fair demand, as also for goods suitable for shippers ; but the demand for the home market is but slack. The cold weather we have lately experienced has, no doubt, had the effect of holding things back to some extent. On the resumption of business, with warmer weather, we hope to see a good demand, at remunerating prices,• as the accounts from China appear decisive, the prices of silk being fully established, and a ,con siderable diminution of supply upon what was pre viously expected to be the year's total. The dyers, in some instances, are receiving more work from the warehouses. The raw silk market is quoted with much firmness, chiefly on account of the overland mail, lately arrived, which reports supply at 13,500 to 15,000 bales maximum. Some letters speak of the former number as being the probable quantity, and prices fully 25 per cent. higher than last season. HUDDERSFIELD, TuxsnAr.—There is little visible change in our market since Tuesday last, buyers still continuing timid. There seems to be some hope of the price of wool sinking; till which, combined with more favourable weather, a better state of things cannot be expected. HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—The attendance in our Piece Hall to-day was not large, nor was much busi ness done. As prices seem likely to recede, the mer chants are very shy of purchasing; and what goods are sold are quoted at rather lower rates. The same may be• said •of yarn ; the shipping houses buying very spatingly, and the spinners having to submit to a reduction in 'price upon all new contracts. There is not much doing in wool, and the quotations are on the decline. LaEDS, TUESDAY.--We have h a d an i n diff erent market, rotla.on Saturday and to-day; the merchants acting with great caution, and only buying sparingly to meet present demands. The manufacturers are still busy with orders, and stocks are low. TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD REFORM ASSOCIATION. Sir,—On Monday the 25th, the principal debate was in Committee on the Chief Justices' Salaries Bill. Many reasons may be advanced against the policy of beginning economy with the cutting down the salaries of the Government in general, and of the heads of the law in particular. I can perfectly conceive how it may suit the Protectionists to say, " You have made a cruel interference with our purses and have reduced the price o f corn . N ow then the; first thing we will do for you, shall be to cut down your own salaries, that as far as we are able you may be a warning to yourselves and to future Govern ments, how they meddle with our purses and reduce the price of corn." I can perfectly understand how and why they should say this, and how they should add (as was done with much eloquence and clear ness last night) that another object they have is to demonstrate the truth of what they always main. tained, that Free Trade is a humbug and a fraud, and means cutting down every man's salary or wages, from the top of the tree down to the bottom. Bat the thing I cannot comprehend, or reduce to any measure of public or private reason, is why those who consider themselves Free-Traders, should hop down upon this bushel of chaff, and scratch about in it with as much glee and earnest delight, as if it really was a good thing providentially set before them for the welfare of their cause. That men longing for, and seriously calculating en the restoration of restrictions upon foreign commerce, should state that the country is in a state of undis guised pauperism in consequence of the grievous error of Free Trade, and insist on the necessity of begin ning economy in the most wounding way, by cutting down the salarie s o f the high o ffi ces in the law a n d Government, is nothing perhaps but what the Free- Traders would do if they had for thirty years had a tax on home-grown corn in favour of foreign, and were now suffering under the removal of their wrong. But that the Free-Traders at this moment should chime in with this, and present themselves as willing co-operators with their interminable enemies ;—that they should give up the opportunity of stating, that though they cannot resist voting for economy, they believe the country to be intrinsically better able to pay 1,0001. in salaries now than it was 901. five years age, the proof of which is in the fact that sala ries and wages are raised in something like that pro portion in all but the classes which are justly suffering for their sins ;—that they should quietly sink the opportunity of strengthening their cause against future dangers, and run their heads into every noose the ingenuity of their adversaries can frame to take advantage of their yielding moments, is what nobody is bound to explain, but everybody who understands the circumstances to resist. On Tuesday the principal debate was on requiring the Royal Academy to produce accounts. It pearsap they have not h a d any pu bli c money ; but they have had a public house. Nevertheless, the right to demand any knowledge of their accounts was negatived by 47 against 19 The House broke up till the Bth of April. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, N OLD REFORMER. London, 27th March, 1850. It will be seen from a notice in our advertising columns that the extensive house of J. P. and E. West- - head and Co., of Manchester, whose warehouse and stock were entirely destroyed by fire on Friday Morning last, resume business this day (Wednesday), with a come plete:and well-assorted stock, after an interval of only four days. The accomplishment of this stupendous re sult, which will doubtless prevent the loss of their Spring trade, is, we understand, _mainly (min_ to the great promptitude and exertions of the buyers of thi house, and to the citcumitanee cf the extensive works of the Messrs. Westhead supplying a considerable portion of their general warehouse stock. TAXES ON KNOWIADGE.—Mr. Milner Gibson has given notice that he will, on Thursday, April 16. " submit a motion to the Rouse, as to tae policy of abolishing all taxes which directly impede the diffusion of knowledge amongst the great body of the people, with a view to the repeal of the stamp on newspapers, the excise tax upon paper, the tax upon advertisements ; and the duty on foreign books." Smucc Luns.—About three o'clock on Sunday morn ing, as William King, chief boatman in the Coast Guard service, was visiting the men on the different guards in this district, he caught sight of a man running away from the direction of No. 9 guard. He followed him some distance, but in the darkness soon lost sight of him. He then proceeded to apprise John Perkins, a oommis sioned boatman on No. 9 guard, of the circumstance, and told him to keep a good 100k -out. lie then went behind the wall of Adelaide-crescent, and Perkins down to the beach. Shortly after they had separated be heard a pistol, which had been fired on the beach by Perkins; and, on going up, he discovered that Perkins had found a small boat at the edge of the water, containing five tubs of contraband spirits, but there was no one ii or near the boat, and the night was too dark to enable them to discover any vessel at sea, had there been one near. They seized the boat, At about ten the same morning they observed the Isabella lugger weighing anchor. They had hal suspicion of this vessel, and when she came to shore they boarded her, and on finding the vessel smell strongly of liquor, and picking up a small piece of hoop, such as is used for tubs, and some brick sinkers on board, they took the two men in the tugger, Paine and Newington, into custody, and detained the vessel. These men were on Monday examined before the bench of magistrates, and rernandel till Saturday. On Monday twenty-five tubs were captured in a fly belonging to a person named Teesdale, which was being driven from Broad water to Worthing, and the home and fly Isere detained, but the driver and the smuggler who was in charge of the spirits escaped, the latter junping out of one door of the vehicle as one of the Coast Gusa.d entered the other.—Brighton Gazette. YARMOUTII.—Arrd. Triton, with less of bowsprit, &as from contact with the Mango Park, of Newcastle„ Cove, Ft camp, from Blyth, with damage f rom contact. OFF THE WIG/IT.—TUSCRI", Thompson, Bombay, in 112 days; Hull, Canada; Williams, Mauritius. Soul-Y.—The Herbert, from Cardiff, has put back leaky, and with fore foot knocked off, haring gni ck on a sunken rock. R. JUSTICE ERLE AND THE QUIKERS.-A t the opening of the A ss i ze C ourt at Bodmin on Monday. there were several Q ua k ers prestat who refused to take their hats. Mr. Justice Erie, who presided, addressed then 1, and said that all spectators in a court must take off their hats; hereupon one of them assured the Learned Judge tha t they did not keep on their hats in contempt of the Court, bf it from a religious scruple not to show respect to man ; to whi eh Mr. Justice Erle rejoined, "Then you had better leave the court, and if vou refuse I must order you to be removed," where upon all the Quakers left the court. - - EXTRIORDINARY SWARM OF BEES NEAR LEIGH.--- A few da3 s ago a hive of bees belonging to Mr. A n.rwood, master of the Culcheth workhouse, swarmed, and aftt ty flying about for some time they knit upon the head and al ioulders of a young man named iVinstanlev, who was standin i; about 10u yards from the hive. He walked about forty y yds in great fear, when his mother requested him to take oil bi a cap as qu i e tly as possible, and lay it upon the ground. T be bees immediately began to leave his cap and person, u id 'knit upon an a djoining tree. He was thus fortunately ;m134 from his perilous situation. —Manchester Courier,