The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-19 00:00:00

°* er retain of this ad ditional p roof of that warm inte rest and watchful care which he has never ceased to manifest for the welfare and aivancement of all classes of our native subjects, and for the preservation, to the princallalities in alliance with the East India Company, of those indefeasible and most cherished rights, upon which each fearful inroads have of late years been made, under no other sanction than that of the irresistible means which a succession of military triumphs has at length placed at our disposal, for enforcing such not less impo litic than unjust exercises of an assumed right. After those lucid expositions of the Hindoo law, and usages as regards succession by adoption, by which this Court has of late been edified, proceeding as as they did from many of its most experienced, most enlightened, and best informed members—after the unqualified recognition by the British Government in the fifteen cases so pertinently quoted, and so ably commented upon by the mover of these resolutions, in practical illustration of the inviolability of the rights thereby conveyed,— unwilling as I feel to occupy the time of the Court by any further cita tions of a like tendency, there is one so remarkable from the pre-eminsnt authority in which it rests, and from the important result to which it led, that I do not think, on such a review, it should pass unnoticed. I allude to the case of the tributary principality of Kur noul on the death of the Nabob, in the year 1821, with out male heirs, and to the memorable minute by the late Sir Thomas Munro, fully concurred in by Lord Hastings, which was to the following effect : " I think we have no right to meddle in the affairs of Kurnoul on the pretence of malatlininibiration on the sufferings of the people, or on any other grounds than those of securing our own rights of pescush and military service, and the peace of our own districts. I think we ought to wait quietly for the Nabob's death, and to acknowledge for his successor the person of his family who by his choice, and the support of his officers, may be enabled to assume the government." Upon this case, Mr. Chairman, too much stress cannot be laid, from its having led, after three years' consider ation, to the authoritative adoption of a fixed principle by the Court of Directors for the future guidance of the Government of India. Your Honourable Court, on the review of a similar tranaction elsewhere, so long back as the year 1819, thus' disposed of the question of succession by adoption in your letters to Dena!, dated 1824, which direct as follows:—" It does . not appear I to us, that the treaty of Bhopal affords a warrant for all this interference; it is not provided by that treaty that you shall have either the power of inter fering with the appointment of a Nabob, that of choos ing le minister, or that of dismissing any of the Nabob's attendants." Can, gentlemen, language be stronger confirmatory, except when by treaty it is otherwise ex pressly provided for, of the absolute right of every native principality to provide for its own successor? It remains for me to point out that this disavowal by the first authorities, bath of England and India, of all claims on the part of the East India Company to in terested interference with the usages of succession in default of male heirs in the direct line, among our de pendent and tributary states, is in perfect unison, not with the speculative opinions, but with the well-founded convictions of all your most eminent governors and statesmen from the date of our earliest alliances with the native powers. Warren Hastings, so long back as 1774, thus expresses himself:— " The general principle upon which we have acted, and which we mean to make the rule of our future policy sad conduct, is, no other than that which your authority and that of the Legislature have equally pre scribed to us, to maintain peace in India. The preser vation of power necessarily includes the vigorous defence of your possessions with such parts of the dominions of your allies as are guaranteed by treaty; it excludes every idea pf conquest, much less could we suffer the small states which look up to you for protection to be swallowed up by the great ones." In the same unmistakable language the late Mar quis of Wellesley, thirty years afterwards, thus expressed lit resell:— " Every principle of true policy demands that no effort should be omitted by the British Government to establish a permanent foundation of general tranquillity by securing to every state the free enjoyment of its just rights and independence, and by frustrating every pro jr-ct calculated to disturb the possessions or to violate the "rights of the established powers of Hindoatan and of the Deccan." After a lapse of nearly forty years the same distin guished Nob:eman thus-expresses himself:— " No further extension of our territory is desirable in India, even in the event of war, for conquest, if that could be justified or were legal, as the law most wisely . etends." While, as regards some other meditated inno vations in Bengal, he has enjoined in the same letter, " pieta non numere." That pre-eminent statesmen the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinetone, when interrogated by the Legislature 'flair . teen years after- our conquest of the Mahratta country, thus replied:— . , . . "It appears tome to be our interest as well as o ur duty to use every means to preserve the allied Govern meets; it is also our interest to keep up the number of : independent powers; their territories afford a refuge to all those whose habits of war, intrigue, oe depredation 12131. e them inseparable of remaining quiet in ours." After an avowal, gentlemen, of those sentiments, Can an , iota of doubt he entertained in the mind of any reason able man what would have been the result of a refer ence to such prescient, authority - regarding the - recent ' anneiatiou 0: the Samara territory? That practical and feraseeing statesmen, and that best of triends which the natiVet ot our osvn vriitory, as well as the principalities of Italia ever had, the late Sir John Malcolm, thus ex - ' preSscs himself in their, behalf, when on -the same occa sion interrogated:— "'The wars to which we hare been compelled from our condition have left us sole sovereigns of this vast terri tory; but they have involved us in great, though not it retrievable embarrassment; the pressure of financial difficulties recommends every measure which promises imtuediete relief, but that to be permanent must be . 'weight, not in the future annexation of territory, but in the improvement of what we pos sess, and in the general revision and reduc ,tion of our establishments. To enable us to e ff ec t - • - them objects we must not cast away one iota of., good • • feeling or meti.• for allegiance. that exists, or which we hove a prospect (1 creating in the minds of our native subjects. We must maintain to thautmostnf our power the. higher orders of the comeaueity, for on their being 'conciliated to our rule, the futere peace of this empire infest greatly depend, and with it our power to -lessen - , the expenses of its Government. . . _ . ~ We cannot admit our right to carry the privilege of ' giving itivice, and a modified interference, stipulated by treaty, to go under any circumstances short of hostilities, extreme public danger, or. the violation of faith, to the establishment of a right to assume the government of the country, with the power of which our treaties .are ' contracted." . ' In'a leiter to the Court of Directors, of the 25th April; 1827, on the occasion of his leaving England to take upon hiMself the Government of Bombay, the same die: tiogui,hecl officer, in accordance with the views of those high authorities before cited; and aware of the cone- Spondieg sentiments of those to whom he was addressing ' iiimeelf, thus again states— • " The petty e:tres can cherish no hope of resisting the . power of the British Government of which they are the - tritutariee and dependants, and if we can succeed in placing their minds at repose, as to the conti nuance of 'their power over their respective tribes ' and territories, I have no doubt .but that, by their gradual reform, we may establish a system calculated teyond any we have yet adopted to -give permanence to our power, and to reconcile the upper as well as the lower ranks of society to our Goverment." "That, experienced officer and political functionary, ' ' Colenel J. : :item), thus expresses himself on the. all . 'lmportant matter under discussion: — The mode and extent of our interference must de. reed . upon th e circumstances and character of the allied is' reed and Governments, and must rest very much on i'eh;-; judgment and discretion of the British Resident and . x Government. T o procure t h e c h o i ce o f an able and ` . . / ; 1 , dive Minister, and t o gu ide an d s upport his pro. ' 66titt will often be the policy ot the British - PeVertiteetit, connected with, assiduous endeavours to , -• 4 ' , j c o u tle t e i.,e ti e t r_a_t is , and maintain the dignity of the Prince. e iteupoitcy equally dictete the necessity of avoid ''iing every occasion that might . lead us • to take terri- Vella(' piessiesSion of the - dominions of any Ultied states; for it is of high importanceof the to retain &base 'n'a'ive Governments, on the ground, without t reference t o either reasc.ns, of their givin trust, eneoluneent, , and . dignity, to giving situations tia"s of , natives in general, and' especially 'to the higher classes of them." Upon' such an occasion, I am not less unwilling to omit whet has been prominently noticed by t h at is expe rienced and most distinguished of your pub' . ' : it s in the political department both in the Co • • . ~ land and India, the late Mr. Neß.Edmonsto n •, who this expresses himself : 7 -. - . , " It must be bile - endeavour to conduct our relations with the allied states as much as possible in - Cy air to the professed p rinci p le of their foundation. st , etidesivour to render the chiefs w hat in words yMt treaty we recognise them to be, the absolute rulers of their cotintry.' least, that distinguished historian and ,p Th oli o t il ie g a h l functionary, last t the late Colonel Todd, thus ex 'presses himself on the same occasion:— "If the impression should become general-4f no 'me thod benee the Bajpoot states that ul , limate'devised to convince is not our object, what can we 'expect but the conversion of our best friends into our bitterest foes?" Such,- gentlemen, are the authorities on which this appeal is now m a d e t o your sense of justice, for the athill , ints of some legislative enactment, for arresting the progress of encroachment upon the hereditary and indefeasible rights of the tributary and dependent states with whiels we have formed alliances. Upon an occasion like' the present, I could not but feel it a duty in enthbent upon me as e forward in their behalf. member of this Court to come I have done so, g entlemen, ac tuated.by nolections spirit of hostility towards our re opected executive. I h ave d one so w it h aview not of lowering but of elevating the reputation for moderation end 'good faith of the'Britili et Gove r n ment. n I have done so; gentlemen, with the vi ew of arr t ho se to whom such a large share of their auth or i ty if .delegated, in a . careereof harshuess, selfishness, end injrincusticipaleite,ywthhirochughhas„. it'i sf: aken the confidence of every principality through .out India in our probity and honour, and. Created the greatest alarm and anxi e ty, lest aerywhere fate to that which has befallen the Satta ra .similar dynasty hOillt . l await them and their families. 'ree CHAIRMAN then rose and said, that he should not attempt, neither did he think that it would be expected front him, to follow the Hon. Mover and Seconder throughout the whole of the long arguments which they lied used on the present occasion. The first part of the mu. Mover'. address consisted merely in a aeries of eulogies on the manner in which our government had been carried on, and it must be quay unnecessary for THE SUN, him (the Chairman) to follow him through that part of his speech. The other half of his speech bad been a discussion upon the affairs of the Raja of Sattara; he had taken this opportunity, and he (the Chairman) thought very unwisely, of renewing the question of the resumption of Sattara. He thought the Court would agree with him in saying that ho thought this by no means a fit opportunity for renewing the discussion upon that subject. The question wee one which had been over and over again discussed in that Court, and which had been finally settled and decided upon by ballot, and he did not see that there was the slightest. occasion to renew it. He should feel it his duty to oppose the resolutions which had been moved, and he did so cameupon grounds. The Hon. Gentleman p f l o a r i w n ar a cl ud w s i i rh pl e e ertain four abstract propositions, but did not those propositions imply an undeserved cen sure upon the Government of India ?—(Cheers from Mr. Sullivan's supporters.) The Hon. Gentleman asked them not merely to signify their opinion upon these questions, but to pass a censure upon the proceedings of the Government in India. The Hon. Gentleman's sups porters cheered this ; there could be little doubt, then, what there object really was. Why, then, did they not come prepared with some straightforward motion upon the subject, and not attempt a vote of censure by a kind of side-wind.—(Cheers.) Mr. SULLIVAN—Though I have not the slightest hesi tation in saying that I disapprove of the proceedings of the Government, my object is not to pass a vote of cen sure upon them, but to prevent .the recurrence of any such transactions for the future. The CHAIRMAN said that was no answer. If they wished to censure the Indian Government, why do it, by a aide-wind in this manner ?—(Cheers.) That would be a straightforward way of conducting the business. The Hon. Gentleman had gone at some length into the Mandevee, Colaba, and Sattara cases, and he had main tained that there were distinct breaches in the law and custom of our Indian empire. Mr. SULLIVAN—I scarcely said three words on the subject of Sattara. The CHAIRMAN appealed to the Court whether a greatpart of the Hon. Gentleman's address bed not been on the subject of Sattara. But he would not enter into the discussion of these cases; the Hon. Gentleman knew very well that there were peculiarities con nected with all the cases, and particularly with the Set ters case; that he must know from his great experience in Indian affairs. But those peculiarities were very dif ferent from any which the Hon. Gentleman had com municated from his collection of papers. Some which he had stated were such that he demanded to have a tribunal to settle the case, and to decide what should be done. He proposed in his four resolutions that a com mission, or some other tribunal, should be constituted to investigate the facts of the case. Now, he imagined they had already a tribunal in India which was quite sufficient to satisfy any one. Where could they desire to find a more experienced and independent tribunal than the Council, every member of which was chosen for his independence and knowledge of affairs, and bound by his oath to give a fair and impartial vote upon every subject which came before him ? Where could they de sire a more proper tribunal than this? What occasion or what need was there for a special tribunal, thee, to decide on thesecases, when they had this respectable body already in existence? The directors, too, acted upon the responsibility of their offices, and the proprietors had an opportunity, which they not seldom took advantage of, to express their opinions upon various points. But the Hon. Gentleman would not be satisfied with the decision of auy•tribunal. With regard to the question of Set ters, the Hon. Gentleman was aware that he (the Chair man) in some of his opinions agreed with him; but there was this difference between them, that he (the Chairman) was not so presumptuous as to think that he was infallible, or to persevere in his endeavours because he thought he was right and everybody else was wrong. With regard to these resolutions, the Hon. Gentleman talked of our iniquity in assuming to ourselves the para mount power. He was surprised to hear a gentleman who had filled such prominent situations coming out with such sentiments. The Hon. Gentleman was per fectly aware that the people in India regarded us as the paramount power, and looked up to us for protection and patronage. In the case of Holkar everything that was done by the East India Company was done by the desire and express request of the natives, who bad ap pealed to the Company as to their protectors, and the Hon. Gentleman knew that. Again, what did he mean by saying that Martund Row was set aside by the East India Company alone for their own private ends? Mr. Strerstv'est—l never said so, or at least I never meant to say so. If I did, I withdraw the expression. The CHAIRMAN had heard the Hon. Gentleman say that Martund Row was a serpent in the Governor-Gene ral's path. Mr. SULLIVAN—Ah, certainly, I did say that. The CHAIRMAN—The Hon. Gentleman knew that the r parties came forward to - ask for our assistance in the selection to put some one in his place; but the Hon. Gen tleman said that this was a most unjustifiable proceeding on the part of the East India Company. With regard to the treaties, he (the Chairman) said that the East India Company were bound to exercise the power which bad been deposited in their hands. The Honourable Gentleman knew very well that the Company was regarded in India as the protectors of the native states, and he knew also that if they had stood aloof, and not interfered with native affairs, that at this moment there would not have been one native state remaining between the Ganges and'the Indus. The Hon. Gentleman knew very well that all the residents Were placed by the Government with a view to affording aivice and assistance to the native princes—to inculcate upon them moderation in thntreament of their subjects. If the Company had not strictly adhered to that line of policy, and did not continue to adhere to it, the country itself would speedily lapse into a state of anarchy, and they would be obliged to take military possession of it. He did not think it was necessary or important to follow his Hon. Friend into the Mysore case. The great object of the East India Company was to treat all these cases with the consideration which they deserved. He trusted he had said enough, at - all events, to show the Court that his Honourable Friend's object, though he did not avow it, was to censure their govern ment of India and to express a decided want of confi dence in them. He would ask the Court if they were I prepared to adopt such a course on this occasion? Were they prepared by that indirect manner to show a want of confidence in their Government?—(Hear, hear.) He hoped his Hon. Friend would not press his resolution to a division. If he did, he (the Chairman) would feel himself called upon to move the previous question. Mr. M. LHwIN said it appeared to him that it was by no means a straightforward thing on the part of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Sullivan) to endeavour to censure the Court by implication, instead of doing it directly. If his Hon. Friend wished to do anything practicable to benefit the Raja of Sattara let him take some practical step in that direction. They did not know who the fiaja of Sattara was ; no one knew who he was. How much better for his Hon. Friend would it have been to haie brought before the Court the case of Mysore.—(Ques tion.) That was as much the question as was the matter of the Raja. of Sattara. - A PROPRIETOR —Are you not one of the requisi tionists, Mr. Lewin ? Mr. Lxwat said he was one of the requisitionists.—, (Laughter.) He thought if his Hon. Friend brotie'lli before- would trheeceiCvoeurfrtomanytheeasee on of rt the subs sidtanctoinalinejruai s t ti .o e na ' j ag deserved. on., of of the (Mr. Sullivan), who was g Mr. PETER GORDON expressed his obli are Icon, Friend to his oldest and moat experienced servants of the Com pany, . fur the trouble and abilit y displayed in bringing this matter befo r he had The real question was, should they conti the Court. tirely to their wealth and military power P" to trust en act with justice towards the native ea. should they family ie England had its own legal peinces? Every man had a descendan t — (Laughter)—ae: Alecen every the ordinary course of events in In s • d adoption .was as well as the poor. Whenever the aa, among the rich princes of India had been brought case of it the native forward had been the practice to represent them as nay i n ... of wives and concubines. But he wairdgreat number Company,that almost all men • who went to re mi nd n this this country into the Compare from feservice went out single; and it was notorious that, when these young En g lish bachelors returned home, the most of them left familiesg behind them in India. — ',Laughter and Question.) The CHAIRMAN hor . ,ed the Hon. Propri e t or would not diverge into questior,s which were not before the Court. Mr. GORDON :Jontended that adoption wu the question. —(Lauffiter.) Those gentlemen of whom he spoke returned to England, became directors of the East India Conspaysty; and entirely cast off their Indian females. There was 'even a taint on the character ei Lord Teigte mouth, unspotted as it otherwise was, in this matter o adoption., It'iELDElt rose to order. This was not a court 01 kr. GORDON asked if the East India Company bad nev,tr libelled. the native princes? Mr. VlELnzn (with great warmth)—l am sorry to say rcm are a blackguard._(. Chair, " " Order," and great ex citement, in the m id st of which Mr. Gordon resumed his seat.) Major-General BRlciaas said he thought the Chairman had unfairly Sullivan)se that thelpropositions of his lion. Friend (Mr. the C were brought forward with the view of attacking ourt of Directors. It was not his (Major-General the case of the Raja of Briggs's) Sett intention to dilate upon settled, but it had been seattledwa. Tihthaotutnatshee had d ide b n ee c n e before the Court. Ex that was necessary to have been cept the case of Holkar, there wit: not one ease in which the Governor-General had ever as serted his right to in recognised princes. The terfere with the succession of nised the officers British Government bad always of the Mogul Government as sovereign the same way they recognised altghne princes, In ov until 1802, when the P as h a , w h o held G rule over the great officers of the M a h ratta Governme nt , was driven from the th rone , and fleder , e to Bombay. The British Government then madeoawtrreaaty with the Pasha, by which he relinqui s h e d all p influence over his officers. On that occasion he nd recog nised, as sovereigns, all the officers of the Pasha's Go. vernment. In a word, we made certain treaties with them, and it was proposed by the resolutions before the Court to adhere to those treaties.—(Cheers.) The practice of adoption in India was a religious ceremony. It had been said 1:e and his friends made a difference between adoption and the case of lineal descent. There was neither in practice nor in law any difference what ever. The directors themselves had stated that there was no difference. Ile contended that if they departed from the principle of adoption the social condition of the people 'of India would undergo demoralization. All the ladies in the harem would have children ; should a lady in the family-way produce a female there would be a boy brought forward, to be substituted for adoption. They would thus neglect those principles of morality which th ey s h ou ld ever ma i nta i n, by their departure 1 I L Tm_a practice whi c h genera lly obtained in the country. "U. wo uld cheerfully suppo r t th e resolutions of his Hoc. 1 Friend, LONDON, Mr. MATTHEW CLARKE thought the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sullivan) had been fully justified in bringing this subject before the proprietors, because it involved the , great question of adoption on the part of the native princes of India, according to their religious usages. He thought it was exceedingly important that they should review their proceedings with respect to the past, as a security for the future; and that they should be exceed ingly circumspect aot to interfere with the right of adop tion—a course which would certainly put down the moral influence of their cause in lndia.—(Hear.) Mr. SULLIVAN replied—la the face of this Court I venture to ask whether a single fact I have stated in the course of my long address has been answered, or whether a single argument of mine has been controverted.— (Hear, hear.) The object of my first resolution was to deny that you could exercise any right or privileges over the sovereign states of India which do not belong to you under the general law of nations or by treaty. My next resolution declares that the native princes of India have independent right cf succession regulated by local usages, and that I have proved by stating to you a series of instances of adoption spread ing over a period of twenty years. My third proposition is, that those who are not sovereigns should have their rights determined by the terms of the grants from their superiors. My next proposition has reter• ince to the subject of disputes between yourselves and your allies.—( Bear.) I propose that those disputes should be determined by some competent and impartial tribunal.—(Hear.) I have been asked what I consider an impartial tribunal; but you know yourselves what I mean.—(Hear.) You know that we are not the impar tial parties to decide disputes, and to prove this I need only recall to your recollection what you did in the Sat tare case.—(Hear.) But, says the Chairman, can you have a better authority to refer to, or a more impartial tribunal than that which is composed of members of the council. Why, that very council recommended the confiscation of Sattara. Now if the case of Sattara has been introduced by implication it is not my fault, since the object of my proposition is not to re-open the Sattara controversy, but to prevent their being a dozen Sattara cases.—(Cheers.) Here are two volumes of your treaties made with the native powers of India—there are some 400 or 500 treaties in all by this Company; and when you find the Governor- General proclaims to the public that it is his intention to deal with every treaty precisely as he has done with the Sattara treaty, I think it is time to lay down the principle that lineal descendants do not necessarily mean hears male.—(Hear, hear.) And yet that is precisely what has been hinted at. But I can tell you that, if an opinion of that sort were to be pronounced from the chair, your teritories would not be worth twenty years' purchase.—(Hear, bear.) Now, my resolution has exposed the declaration of the Goteraor-Gereral. Then he says this much—that he means to deal with all the powers with whom you have an alliance in the man ner I have mentioned, and I want you to determine whether you will sanction it or not.—(Hear, hear.) Now, the proposition I have made to you is of a practical character. Admit its principle and you will not have the least difficulty in the world.—(Hear, hear.) You have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. and why not refer disputes to them?—(Hear, hear.) If you have a dispute with the Raja of Budwar, or any other of your subjects, he brings you before the Committee of the Privy Council, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, therefore, is a fit and proper tribunal to which to refer these treaties. You have no right to take them up one by one and say the meaning is so and so, and that is my interpretation.—(Hear, hear.) Now that is precisely what you have done in the Sattara case; but I tell you distinctly that the object of my resolutions is not to open up the Sattara question but to prevent the occur rence of a hundred dozen of Setters cases.—(Cheers.) That is my distinct object, though in the Sattara case there cannot be the slightest doubt as to the meaning of the treaty; and in proof of its necessity need I state any other fact than that, when it was proposed to refer for the meaning of the treaty with Setters to him who made it—Mr. Eiphinstone—that reasonable proposition was denied, and that you turned a deaf ear to all Mr. Frere's importunities that you would not disinherit all the heirs, or who claim to be such, to the pricipality without giving them a hearing? If, therefore, I hold up my hand singly in this Court I shall vote forthe rm• lotions being put, in order that they may be entered on your records.—(Cheers.) The resolutions were then put and negatived seriatim, the Chairman moving the previous question in each instance. The Court then adjourned at three o'clock. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. GRAND EXTRA NIGHT, Combining the talents of Madame Sontag, Mdlle. Catherine Hayes, and Mdlle. Parodi ; Signori Coletti, Relent, Lablache, Calzolari, and Sims HoeTes; Mdlles. Carlotta Grist, Marie Taglioni, and Amalia 4 Ferraris, _ The second appearance of Signor Bancardi. The Nobility, Subscribers, and the Public are respectfully informed that a Grand Extra Night will take place on THURSDAY, April 25, when will be presented Mozart's Operr, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL ultimately the palatial residences of Alexan dria and Philadelphia. It is romantic, moreover, to have opened a new line of commerce in a quarter of the globe hitherto only remarkable for the extent of its piratical devastations ; but, above all, it i?, to be sure, in the highest degree romantic to have disclosed a channel whereby her Britannic MAJESTY'S steam navy can be supplied, from Labuan, with coals, at 17s. 6d. per ton, in lieu of with coals at 335. 6d. per ton from Singapore ! Matter of-fact as we are, such romance as this will always be welcomed in England, even by our unpoetic and money making generation. As to the objection advanced against the colonizing enterprize of his Excellency the Raja of SARAWAK, to the effect that the locality selected at Labuan is of a most unhealthy character—it should be borne in recollection that the evil inveighed against has been long since obviated, the marsh in the vicinity of the new settlement having been carefully drained. In consequence of this it has come to pass that not a single case of fever has been heard of among the colonists during the whole course of the last twel ve months, and this, be it observed, notwithstanding the pernicious influence of a tropical climate upon the constitutions of Europeans. Of a great warrior it has been said very beautifully and emphatically— " If he was guilty of audacity in .risking the lives of his men, he was not sparing :of his own !" And the same might be said of Sir JAMES BROOKE, in re ference to his Bornean enterprises. His own con stitution, notwithstanding its natural vigour, was seriously shaken, if it has not been ac tually undermined by a fever caught by him some time back in consequence of the marsh already par ticularised. But partially restored to convalesence by the aid of his physician, and by the beneficial effects of his recent visit to his native country, Sir JAMES BROOKE has again; by participating personally 1 in the late expedition against the pirates, dissipated all the promises of returning health ; insomuch that he is peremptorily recommended to proceed forthwith for change of air to Penang, and, in the event of that removal proving ineffectual as a restorative, is earnestly advised to hasten back at once to England. That the members of her MAJESTY'S Government should have pushed forward yesterday for the vindi cation of a great citizen and public benefactor like Sir JAMES BROOKE, is surely not surprising, when, from the facts already.mentioned, it must be obvious that his Excellency could not possibly have shown himself more thoroughly disinterested. It was but just, consequently, that the charges made by the Earl of ELLENBOROUGU against one of his conspicuous integrity should have been disproved by Earl GREY with so much warmth and earnestness. Such was due to the reputation of Sir Jamas Bitoomt for valour, patriotism, and singlemindedness. It is impossible to peruse the report of the proceed ings in the House of Commons last night on the Marriages Bill without expressing the deepest con demnation of the unfair and factious opposition offered to the further progress of that just and salutary measure, and also regretting that a power so liable to abuse and perversion should be pliced in the hands of a minority. Under the present system any two or three Members banded together for the purpose, and indiffe rent to the censure and reproach of the community in general, are enabled to obstruct and suspend the busines s of the country, and to overrule the opinions of a large and overwhelming majority of their brother repre sentatives. They may, if they think proper, even " die on the floor of the House" before any proposi tion can be discussed on its merits, or passed through any one of its various stages. They may speak any number of times on the same subject, or introduce the most irrelevant questions, totally apart from the matter under consideration ; they may, in fact, dis• arrange the entire order of business appointed for the day, but there is no remedy for the out raged and indignant majority. After repeated divisions, in which the " tyrant minority" become " small by degrees and • beautifully less," the majo rity are compelled to yield to the reckless antagonism exhibited by the obstructives. This glaring grievance, this absurd anomaly, has naturally attracted the at tention of the Speaker, who suggested, " in order to prevent the vexatious repetition of questions of ad journment and frequent divisions, that no such ques tion shall be repeated within one hour after the House has decided against adjournment, and that no di vision upon the question shall be allowed, unless twenty-one Members, by standing up in their places, shall declare themselves with the Ayes." It is in deed very desirable that these suggestions, emanating from a gentleman of such great practical experience, sound judgment, and deserved influence, should be speedily adopted. Until some such regulation be carried, there is always the possibility of the power being resorted to for the purpose of evading the salu tary rules for the dispatch of business, and of ob structing the progress of all useful legislation. Long since we warned the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Bate that the opponents of the Bill would adopt evety means, per fas ant nefas, to defeat the wishes of the majority. The Fabian policy is that by which alone they can hope to succeed, and that will be unscrupulously resorted to on any and every occasion. The, proceedings last night afforded the strongest evidence of .the accuracy of our forebod ings. A large number of gent lemen attended in • their places during the entire evening, in order to assist in carrying a measure which justice and expediency alike demanded. Mr. STUART WORTLEY had himself " remained in the House for many unbroken hours, although suffering under revere indisposition, in order to ad vance the progress of the Bill." He had listened to the protracted debate on the question of "doing away with the trial by jury," and enabling a couple of the " great unpaid". to direct the infliction of corporal punishment at their mere will and pleasure on the rising generation who were on the verge of manhood. At length, when his exemplary patience was about to be rewarded, when the time bad arrived for going into Committee on his Bill, the Right Honourable Gentleman the ex- Attorney-Greneral expresses " a hope " that the Bill would not be forced on at so late an hour (half.past eleven), and on Mr. WORTLEY refusing to comply with this extraordinary request, moved " that the debate be adjourned." This proposition was negatived, on a division, by a decisive majority of 63, no less than 152 gentlemen having voted in favour of immediate progress. A new amendment was, however, moved by another Honourable Member for the adjournment of the House, which was in like manner rejected by a still larger majority of 95. Undeterred, however, by this unequivocal expression of opinion, a similar proposition was again made, without a moment's delay, when another division took place, and a majority of $5 over ruled the vexatious suggestion, the diminished number being ascribable to the departure of many Hon. Gentlemen, who left the House in disgust. Again was the adjournment called for,, and at length Mr. WORTLEY, although supported by nearly three fourths of the House, was compelled to yield, and the debate was adjourned until the 16th of May, or , in other words, for no less than four weeks. This is neither just or reasonable. It is indeed a re proach to the British nation that such tactics should be permitted to gain even a temporary triumph. Bigotry and intolerance have thus prevailed, for the time being, and those who desire to prevent the civil and religious liberty of their fellow-subjects, to fetter and restrain them in the most sacred relation:of life, are elated at the result, forgetful of the disgraceful mode lay which it was aehieved. Why, we ask, should there have been any new adjournment ? The principles of the measure had been canvassed and discussed usque ad nauseam. Its very details have been fully and attentively considered, and every reasonable sug. gestion offered by its opponents'had been acceded to. It was only prevented from becoming the law of the land last year by the prorogation of Parliament. An immense body of evidence had previously been taken before the Commissioners appointed in June, 1847, in pursuance of a vote of the House of Commons — evidence that must have convinced any impartial and unprejudiced mind of the propriety and necessity of the /measure. It was, therefore, no new question, on wiiich further time was required, in order to pre- Tent. Hon. Gentlemen from being taken by surprise, cr being obliged to come to a hasty and premature conclusion. There were ample data before Parlia ment on which to ground its decision ; and yet it was on si ich a topic that the minority chose to avail them sele,‘A of the formidable power with which they are .100stek by what are termed "the privileges of the 19, 1850, House." I most dangerous and unconstitutional precedent has thus been established, which may be followed so as to prevent the possibility of any measure of reform, however urgently re quired by the voice of public opinion, from being sanctioned by Parliament, or becoming the law of the land. The question is eminently one of" liberty of conscience. "The dearest and most sacred privilege of freemen has been unnecessarily assailed, and we tell the minority, temperately but firmly, that opposition such as that last night offered to the al teration of the iniquitous law of 1835 cannot and shall not be suffered to prevail. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. We have received the Paris journals of yesterday. The account of the melancholy accident at Angers is fully confirmed. It appears that the weather was very violent at the time, and that the troops on pass ing the bridge neglected the advice given to them to maintain a distance of twenty-five paces between each. The number of persons drowned has not been accurately ascertained. The Lieutenant-Colonel of the regi ment was rescued with great difficulty. The Siècle has opened a subscription for the families of the suf ferers and heads the list with a subscription of 500 r. The National has been seized for having accused the PRESIDENT and his Ministers of contemplating a coup (fetal. It appears that the differences between the Legiti matists and Orleanist sections of the reactionaries still continue. M. LECLERC has been started by the Le gitimatists for Paris in revenge for the slight which they imagined the Union Electorale, the mejority of whom are Orleanists, put upon them by starting M. FERDINAND For. The Union Electorale declared that they would submit the names of MM. LECLERC, For, and other reactionary candidates, to a prelimi nary ballot, and M. LECLERC wrote to the President of the Union, declaring his willingness to submit to the preliminary ballot ; he has, however, since with drawn his letter, and the Union Electorale has, in consequence, determined to continue the candidature of M. FERDINAND FOY. Although the Legitimatists have taken up M. LECLERC, we believe he can scarcely be considered as belonging to that party. The Ministry were beaten on Wednesday in the Assembly on a paltry vote for 18,000 f. for supplying copies of the Moniteur to the Sub-Prefects. M. BERRYER opposed the grant, and it was refused by 322 to 275. PARIS BOURSB. APRIL 18. Closing Prices— Rentes, Five per Cents., 89f. 35c.; ditto, Three per Cents, 55f. 65c. ; Bank of France, 2,125 f. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, Arum 18. Central of France (Orleans and Vierzon), 12 1 /—Narnur and Liege, 6 1 / 2 —Paris and Rouen, 19 LE , NOZZE DI EIGA.RO. Susanna, Madame Sontag; tho Countess, Mdlle. Parodl ; Chern. Mdlle. Catherine Hayes ; the Count Almaviya, Signor Coletti Figaro. Signor Belletti ; iasillo, Signor Calzolari ; 13a;tolo,Signn; Lablache. In the Wedding Same, tie Zarabanda in A (composed expressly lbr this Opera) will be danced by Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi and Mdlle. Marie Taglioni(who will appear as a cavalier.) With various Entertainments in the Ballet department; com prising the talents of Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi, Mdlle. Marie Taglioni, Mdlle. Amalia Ferraris, M. Charles, and M. P. Tagllonl. And other Entertainments, in which Signor Baucardi and Mr. Sims Reeves will appear. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tiekets to be made at the Box Office of the Theatre. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. First appearance of Signor Baucardi. TO-MORROW EYENLbII* Will be presented Yerdi's Opera. I LOMBARDI Giselda, Mdlle. Giuliani; Pegasio, Signor Coletti ; Arvino, Signor Dai Fiori ; Oronte, Sipnor Baucardi (his first appearance): In the course of the evening will be presented selections from the admired Ballet LA, ESMERALDA, comprising the celebrated Truandalse„ by Mdllo. Carlotta Grisi and M. Charles. After which the admired Ice Ballet, by M. P. Taglioni, entitled] LES PL &ISMS Dl ; ou, Les Patineurs. The principal characters by Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi, Mdlle. Marie Tagliexi, and Mdlle. Amalia Ferraris; in the course of which the admired Spanish Dance, La Zingarella, by Mdlle. Marie Taglioni ; a new grand Pas, by Mdlle. Ferraris; and a grand Pas de Deux a la Ilongroise, by Mdlle, Carlotta Grist and M. Charles. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and, alckets to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre. Doors *pen at Seven, the Opera to eornmenee at Half-past Seven. ROYAL ITALIAN OPF..RA, COVENT-GARDEN. First night of Zora and fir.,t appearance of M o nsieur Zelger. TO•3IOP.ItOW EVENING will be produced (for the, trot time) with new scenery, dresses, and deeorations, grand opera, founded on Rossini's celebrated Composer, entitled work, " Mose in rgitto , "• with the alterations and additions by the Z 0 R A. Ana's, Madame Caatellan ; Sinaide, Madlle.Vera ; Nicotri, Mdme. d'Okolski; Meris'.nare, Signor Tarnburini ; Zora, Mon. Zelger (his first appearance at Vae Royal Italian Opera); Babies, Signor Levis ; Osiris, Signor Trygliafico ; The Oracle. Signor Polonlai ; Aufide, Signor Seidl; rAral Amenofl, Signer Tamberlik. The Diver t. rbement in the third act will be supported by Monsieur Alexandre and 3ladlie. Louise Taglioni. Cemi v oser, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa. The - ~, t ,enery by Messrs. Grieve and Telbin. The dresses by Mrs. Bailey and Madame Marzio. The appointments by Mr. Blamire. The machinery by Mr.'Allen. the Ballet arranged by M. Alexandre. The spectacle arranged by Mr. A. Harris. The doors will be opened at Ilalf-past Seven, and the perform ances commence at Eight o'clock precisely. 'rickets for the Boxes, Stalls, or the Pit, may be had (for the eight or season), at the Box-office of the Theatre, which will for the future be open from Ten till Five. Madame Grist, Madlle. di Merle, Signor Tamberlik, M. Zelger, and Signor Mario. _ 1 GRAND EX ETA NIGHT On THURSDAY NEXT, April 25, When hill; be performed (for tbo first time this season) Rossini's celebrated opera of LA DONNA DEL LAGO. Elena, Madame Grist ; Atbina, Madlle. Cold ; Malcolm Grteme, Madlle. de Merle ; Douglas, M. Zelger ; Serano, Signor Lavia ; Itodago bhu,- Signor Tamberlik ; and Giacomo V.. Signor Mario. Th;GrandFiriale of the First Act, representing the Gathering of the Clans, will be executed by two Military Bands, in addition to tie usual oraestra. Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa. The Doors will be opened at Half-past Seven. and the performances commence at Eight o'clock precisely. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Last Nights before Whitsuntide. The Lessee has great pleasure in stating that the growing attraction of the Grind Easter Spectacle of the DEVIL'S RING, Togother with the urgent recommendation from all quarters that it should be continued, has induced him to make such arrangements as will meet the general wish, and supersede, for the present, the necessity of closing the Theatre. THIS EVENING, Will be presented, by her Majesty's Servants. The Comedy of CHARLES THE TWEFTH. Charles the Twelth, Mr. Cooper. After which THE DEVIL'S RING ; or, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. In Three Acts and Four Elements. The following are the principal Scenes. ELEMENT THE FIRST—FIRE. A beautiful View of the CITY AND HARBOUR OF CATANIA IN SICILY, With Mount Etna Smoking In •the Back-ground. CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ELEMENT : Arnuph, Mr. W. Montague ; Rodoiph, Mr. Frazer ; Herman, Mr. S. Jones; Conrade, Mr. Clifford ; Otho, Mr Everett; Adolphus, Mr. Darcic ; ;Rupert. Mr. Abbott ; Carloman, Mr. Brayne ; Herbert, Miss F. Iluddart ; - num, Mr. S. - Artand ; Host of the " World's End," Mr. G. Watson.; the Enchanted Princess Eveline, Miss E. NaLsett ; Leela, Miss Ratter; The Spirit Devil's Ring, 3118, A. Lem' gale Wkirliburg, Mr. Seymour ; Go-dah, Mr C. Fisher. CAVERNS OF THE BRAZEN HAND. TEMPLE AND SPIRIT OF THE DEVIL'S RING. TELE INTERIOR OF THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S ABODE THE REALMS OF FIRE. ELEMENT THE SECOND —WATER. FILLS OF NIAGARA IN THE NEW WORLD. THE CITT OF THE FOUNTAINS. BREAKING THE SECOND CHARM. THEY ASCEND UPON THE BOSOM OF THE WATERS CHARACTERS IN TILE SECOND ELEMENT: Herbert, Miss F. Iluddart; Franco, Mr. S. A r t an d ; A merican Settler, Mr. R, Romer ; Indians, Messrs. Henry an d Tressidor ; o l f ndd i tt e n li S a q i v ad aw as , , Miss Foster; F. Spirit S ; p G iri o - t d e a f h t , h id e Wate rs ,rc.iher. lo . Miss Neil; Queen GRAND NAIADE BALLET. ELEMENT THE THIRD—EARTH. DIAMOND CAVES IN CALIFORNIA. CHARACTERS IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH ELEMENTS: Franco, Mr. S. Artaud ; The Black Knight Herbert, 3iiss F. 3 1I fu tiart c b k b iow! the Princess Evellne, Miss E Abbott, Henry, Ellar, Brayne, &c. ; Mr. Manderson : Gnomes, Messrs Nelson ; Leela, Miss Rafter ; Go-dah, Mr. C. Fisher. THE SICILIAN VINEYARD. A TERRIFIC COMBAT EISTWEEN HERBERT AND THE SABLE sincanr. ELEMENT THE FOURTII—AIR. ?RR PALACE OF RAINBOWS! 11 4LL , or THE HUNDRED KNIGHTS. T ituraPhal Entry of Herbert and Princess Eveline in CAR DRAWN BY REAL HORSES. GRAND MILITARY BAND, t 1173 BORGEOUS PROCESSION! CRICKET de with (4th tim e ) a new and original Farce, called THE MATe FRENCH PLAYS _ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. - TRIES BVIGNING The Performances will commence at half-past Sevets o'clock pre cisely, with IdERONEE ; ou, Brune et Blonde. After which the Popular Colnedy or LA MARQUISE DE SENNETERRE. Ls Coremandeur de Lonjumeau, M. Samson; lienriette, McUle. Demain. To conclude with (f or the first Mime in this country) a li c w Comedy, by M. Samson, entitled BELLE M 1 ET LE GENDRE. Duchemain, M. Samson ; Elise, Mdlle. Denain. The Box-office of the Theatre is open daily from Eleven till Five Bexe3 and Stalls at Mr, MltCtioll'3 Royal Library, 33, Old Bond- Arcot, . . THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. ,Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton. THIS EVENING, Will be performed a new drama, called THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. _ _ . Dr. Primrose, Mr. Webster ; Squire Thornhill, Mr. H. Vanden hoef; Mr. Burchill, Mr. Stuart ; Moses, Mr. Buckstone ; Mrs. Prim, rose, Mrs. Keeley ; Olivia, Miss Reynolds ; Lady Blarney, Miss P Horton ; Miss Skens, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. To conclude with the Last Edition of IVANHOE, with all the newest improvements. Cedric the Saxon, Mr. J. Bland ; Sir Briant de Bore Gnilbert, Mr. Selby; Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe, Mrs. Keeley; Wamba, Mr. Buck ssone ; Isaac of York, Mr. Keeley; Robin Hood, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Rebecca, Miss P. Horton. The Box-office is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Under the direction of Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, be performed the celebrated Drama of THE HARVEST HOME. Principal characters by Messrs. Ilughes, Wright, Paul Bedford, 0. Smith ; Madame Celeste, and Miss Woolgar. To be followed by a grand historical Spectacle Vaudeville, entitled PLAYING FIRST FIDDLE; or, Follow my Leader Principal Characters by Messrs. I'. Bedford, Lambert, Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, and Miss K. Fitzwilliam. To conclude with MY PRECIOUS BETSY. Characters by Messrs. Wright, Bedford, Worrell; Miss Harding, and Mrs. F. Matthews. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. THIS EVENING Will be repeated (17th time):a Lyrical. Comical Pastoral, entitled CYMON and IPHIGENIA, altered from the text of David Garrick. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Harley, F. Matthews, R. Roiby and F. Cooke; Mits St. George, Miss Kenworthy, Miss Dickinson, Mrs. Hamby, Miss Oliver, Miss Manners, and Miss Martindale. To be followed by THE ISLAND OF JEWELS. To conclude with TWO IN THE MORNING. All applications for Private Boxes must be made to Mr. AllcrOft IS, New Bond-street. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING, Will be produced (Fifth time in this country in its com plete form) Auber's • Opera of GUSTAVUS THE TIIIRI). Gustavus, Mr. W. Harrison ; Oscar, Miss L. Pyne ; Ankastrom, Mr. Weiss ; Ribbing, Mr. G. Barker ; De Horn, Mr. R. Latter; Christian, Mr. Wynn ; Countess Ankastrom, Mdlle. Nau ; Arvedson, Madame Maetarren ; Principal Folie, Mdlle. Celeste Stephan. After which a New Grand Tale, of Enchantment, with aPlendid Seenery, Costumes, and Appointments; extensive Machinery, &c . ., entitled THE QUEEN OF THE ROSES; or, The Sorcerer of Candahar. Principal characters by Messrs. Ryder, Forman, Honey, Craven'; Miss Louisa Howard, Miss Saunders, and Miss Tillars. ASTLEY'B ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Unequalled sumac of the new grand Easter Spectacle of Enchant ment. Last week but one of that extraordinary American Equestrian Young Hernandez, universally pronounced the wonder of the world. TEAS EVENING The Entertainments will commence at Seven o'clock, with Fitnball's new magnificent Spectacle entitled THE FOUR SONS OF AYMON ' • or The Days of Charlemagne. Most gorgeously produ ce d , and Introducing a Living Camel of the Desert, Zebra, the beautiful Stud of Horses, and all the vast Ind unequalled resources of this Establishment. To be succeeded by a brilliant routine of Equestrian Wonders, daring which Young Hernandez will appear in an entirely New Act called the Page Troubadour. ' To conclude with the interesting Melodrama of MEG MURDOCK ; or, the Fatal Glen. . •. Box office open From Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Just published, in 3 VOL,I THE NEW NOVEL, PRIDE AND IRRESOLUTION. A Second Series of " The Discipline of Lifer Comprising the Histories of ADA MOWBRA Y and SUSAN GREVILLE. " Lady Ponsenby is a searcher of the inmost recesses of the human heart. It la long since we hare read a work with so much pleasure." Post. " To Lady Ponsonby we are indebted for writing which would do no discredit to the best efforts of Miss Austin."—Weekly Chronicle. bleary Colbarn, publisher, 13, Great Marlboroagh-street. T" LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. Established in 1836. Empowered by Act of Parliament. Offices in Liverpool, Nos. 8 and 10, Water-street. Offices in London, 3, Charlotte-row. Mansion-house, and 118, Eegent-street, Waterloo-place. TRUSTEES. Sir Thomas Bernard Birch, Bart., M.P., Adam Hodgson, Esq., Samuel Henry Thompson, Esq. DIRECTORS IV LIVERPOOL. William Nicol, Esq., Chairman. Joseph C. Ewart, Esq., Joseph Hornby, Esq. r Deputy-Chairmen. Swinton Boult, Esq., Secretary. BISECTORS IN LONDON. William Ewart, Esq., 31. P., Chairman. George Frederick Young, Esq., Deputy-Chairman. Frederick Chinnock, Esq., Manager of West End Office. Benjamin Henderson, Esq., Resident Secretary. The amount of Capital subscribed exceeds 1,500,0001. Liability of Preiprietors unlimited. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Extract from the Report of the Directors for the year 180 t—" It is gratifying to the Directors to be able to report that the Fire busi ness of the Company has largely increased during the year, and ex ceeds by a million that of 1548." LIFE DEPARTMENT. Extract from the Report of the Directors for the Year 1849 : *Jhe steady increase in the Life Business of the Company, whicb has been noticed in successive Annual Reports, was realized also in the last year. The number of Policies issued was 23G; the Amount insured 13!,8831.; the new Premiums received 4,2621. Is. 2d ; and, at the same time, notwithstanding the terrible mortality with which this country was visited, the claims were only eight per tent. greater than those of 1848." Full Prospectuses may be had on application at the Offices or Agen cies, and every facility and dispatch will be afforded to persons de sirous of negotiating business. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tun DAY Morning 33 min. after 6 1 Ityening 3 min. after 7 To-Momiow—Morning 40 min. after 7E Evening 21 min. after 8 THE WEATHER.—Stm OFFICE, Aran. 19. THERMOXIITER, Lowest, 42 ; Highest, 60; Noon, 52. BAROMETER, 3008. WIND S.S.W.—stiff bre( ze and heavy rain since morning 4.ar . .z...,-' , '/A-5; . 4. ~ 5 , 14 A .s i.„, e5.,,A,. - ~ fs ' p-- 4.56 , . -----1 , --, 74- .giz W • ‘.. . 1 S.# 4 . ~, , ..s ,w e . .. S —. . .. • "*IV LONDON,: FRIDAY. APRIL 19, 1850. Our noblest public benefactors usually find their reward either in the grossest aspersions or in insinua tions of the most dark and dastardly character. Last evening Sir JAMES BROOKE, the illustrious Raja of Sarawak, came in for the customary instalment of the national gratitude. Having dedicated his private fortune to the service of his fellow-creatures and the extension of the glory and influence of England, he is charged with speculating in the affairs of Labuan with a view to his own pecuniary advantage. Hav ing devoted the best years of his manhood to the cause of our colonial government, he is accused of having embarked in an expedition detrimental to the interests of his fellow -countrymen. Having again and again emperilled his life, and having, moreover, by his self-sacrificing regard to the welfare of huma nity, undermined a naturally robust constitution, he is designated (we cannot but think somewhat sneer ingly), in the British House of Lords, " a gallant romantic English gentleman." The nobleman who permitted himself to become the disparaging satirist of this eminent citizen was no other than the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH j and the occasion afforded him yes terday for the utterance of these melancholy and un deserved accusations was the second reading of the Pirates' Head Money Repeal Bill. We fully and earnestly sympathise with the emotions of mingled regret and indignation which the Noble Earl the Chief Secretary of the Colonial Department evinced while repelling the attacks levelled against his Excellency Sir JAMES BROOKE by the ex-Governor- General of our Asiatic possessions. Few will withhold their coincidence in the opinions ex pressed by Earl GREY in language of deep and elo quent admiration. The career of the Raja of SARA WAY, in truth, is precisely one of that description which secures the cordial regard of a race whose veins are beating with the blood of the Angles and the Saxons, and whose ancient parentage maintains among them a passionate devotion for the memory at once of the chivalric warriors of Normandy and of the adventurous Vikings of Scandinavia. His cha racter is of that hardy and resolute kind which is of all others dear to the hearts of England. His only weakness, if such in his instenee it can be desig nated, is one arising from the depths cf his conviction, from the earnestness of his belief, from the ardour of his moral temperament—we mean that religious zeal which opportunity some times freezes into bigotry, and sometimes in flames into fanaticism. Otherwise than in hi s austere predilection for his own doctrinal opinions, or rath e r f u r the doctrinal opinions of th e class with whom he sympathises, to the exclusi on from his regard of all other religionists, the nature of this distinguished man is one such as extorts respect and elicits eulogium. Yet it is against this unselfish and valiant Englishman that a Peer of the realm has dared to direct the most shameful and detestable inuendoes According to the Karl of ELLENDOROUGH, his Ex cellency Sir JAMES BROOKE is " a gallant romantic. English gentleman." IVell, of his gallantry there is no question, of course, whatever—that being the groundwork of his reputation. But the Raja e SARAWAK, saith the Lord of Southam, is " romantic" In every individual no doubt, whose character is at all chivalric, there is necessarily a large amount of what is termed romance. But, assuredly, if Sir James BaooxH is romantic ,to : a ny extravagant degree, his romance is of the most practicable kind imaginable. Vor example, it is very romantic to be sure—the creation of an other colony hard by the Eastern Archipelago. The romance of such an act, we opine, is somewhat of a kind with that of Sir STAMFORD RAFFLES ! Then, again, it is marvellously romantic of course—tae establishment of the site of a city already sprouting into existence on the coast of Labuan. A romance, this, kindred with the romance out of which have arisen, at intervals, firstly, the hovele and SPAIN. Madrid journals of the 13th have arrived. Their contents are unimportant. MADRID BOLSA, APRIL 13.—The Three per Cents. were sold at 29i 7-16 for paper and money. GERMANY. Accounts from Erfurth state that the Constitution has been accepted en Woe. The Prussian Minister MANTEUTFEL gave to the Members the assurance that the Government approved of the adoption of the Constitution in its entirety, and was prepared to go with the Parliament. TURKEY. Respecting the disturbance iu Corinthia, we learn that the Vizier of GRAYNIK sent thither a plenipo tentiary, who was to negotiate amicably with the in surgents. He was well received, but the' proposed mediation terminated with the decided declaration of the chief of the insurgents, that they would neither now nor ever consent to pay the taxes imposed by the VIZIER, inasmuch as they paid those stipulated by the SULTAN ; that it was by no means their wish to rise against the supremacy of the SULTAN; that they were ready to return to their allegiance to the VIZIER, but that they protested against every fresh imposition of taxes. It is supposed that a fresh sup ply of troops will enable the - VlzzEit to act with more decision. PROTEST OF THE HUNGARIAN EXILES IN AMERICA. The Hungarian fugitives and exiles in New York have issued a solemn protest against all the acts com mitted by the Austrian Government in their country. The protest opens as follows :—" We, the under signed natives of the kingdom of Hungary, and of the provinces indissolubly united with the Crown of that country, as the only members of the nation who are able to express themselves with perfect freedom, and to raise their: voice for the sacred:cause of their oppressed country, declare hereby, in the name of God the sternal and the Just, the Defender and Avenger of Trutb, in the face of the whole civilised world, and under full conviction that we express the sentiments of the whole Hungarian nation, as fol lows"—(Here follow resolutions passed at the exiles' meeting). These resolutions are sold in New York by thousands, and are being prepared for circulation in Europe. EARLY INTELLIGENCE.—By the courtesy of W. Byers, Esq., the manager of the Scottish Midland Railway, we were yesterday afternoon, at a quarter past six o'clock, favoured with a copy of the fourth edition of The Sun of the previous evening —about twenty-one hours •from Lon don. It is almost intolerable that the same paper should, by the present postal arrangements be delivered only on the forenoon of the day following that on which it can be se cured by a railway parcel.—Aberdeen Herald. GAPE or Goon Horz.—One day's later news from the Cape of Good Hope informs us that the Neptune convict ship took its departure from the colonial waters at eight o'clock A.m. on the 21st of February. In the evening of that day ) . a general illumination took place, when the city was never known to have presented a gayer scene. The houses of the poor as well as of the 'rich contributed their portion of light to the dazzling blaze, while the streets were thronged with spectators gazing with rapture on the splendid view around them. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 18.—The Navigator, which sailed from Buenos Ayres on the 14th February, has, after a passage of sixty-four days, arrived in the Mersey, but does not bring any news whatever. Freights were dull, and business generally quiet. LONDON HOSPITAL—The anniversary dinner in aid of the funds of this old and useful charity was yesterday held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge (the president) in the chair. From his Royal Highness's appeal in behalf of the in stitution, it appeared that its annual expenditure amounted to 15,00GL, while its fixed income was 10,0001., and that con sequently the balance of 5,0001. had to be raised by voluntary subscriptions. The number of inpatients admitted during the year was, it appeared, 4,402 ; of out-patients, including accidents treated as out-patients, 16,816; while the total number of patients since its foundation was 925,616. After the usual loyal toasts and the healths of the various officers of the institution, the company dispersed. Thomas Kilpack, the proprietor of the "American Bowling Saloon," King-street, Covent-garden, was yesterday fined 101. by the Court of Inland Revenue for retailing spi rituous liquors without a licence. At a general meeting of the Middlesex Magistrates, yesterday, reports were presented from the visiting justices of the various prisons in the county, and a recommendation made for a diminution in the staff of officials in the House of Correction in Coldbath-fields. The proposal of the com mittee on county expenditure to disallow for the future all fees to coroners for inquests held in cases where death oc curred from felony, and in which the perpetrator had been apprehended, was fixed for the 30th May. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, APRIL 18.—The market to-day was quiet, owing to cotton being more freely offered in Liverpool yesterday and to-day. Prices were eteady at the advance asked on Tuesday. Domestics do not part ake of the advance, and are still a drug upon the market. On the whole, the business to-day has not been extensive, but there was more inquiry that" earlier in the week. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY.—We have niuch pleasure in being enabled to state, upon what we deem exeollent authority, that the arrangements necessary to be made to further the formation of this noble line to Fid down have been all but completed, and that a very brief space of time will elapse before the works thereon will be proceeded with.— Tipperary Free ♦ress. GUANO.—An account of all guano imported into the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1841 to 1849 inclusive has just been published. The return called for in cluded the years 1838 to 1849, but as guano was not speci fically charged with duty until 1841, no account of the im portations for those years could be rendered. The largest quantity imported in any year during the period to which the account refers was 283,300 tons in 1845, and the smallest, 2,881 tons in 1841. The quantity imported in 1849 was 83,438 tons. The countries furnishing the greater portion of these imports are Peru and Bolivia, Chili, the western coast of Africa, and the colonial territory of the Cape of Good Hope. From Peru and Bolivia the imports have gra dually risen from 1,000 and 2,000 tons to 73,567 tons in 1849 ; from Chili the largest importation of guano was 11,956 tons, in 1145, since which the importation has decreased to 4,311 tons in 1849. From Africa the first importation of guano was in 1843, when 175 tons were brought in ; in 1845 the imports rose to 207,679 tons; in 1840 they were 950, and in 1849 they were 2,045 tons. From the Cape of Good Hope the first importations were in 1844, and amounted to 253 tons; the next year 46,848 tons were imported from this place, and in 1849, 767 tans. ORPHAN WORKING SCHOOL, HAVERSTOCK HILL, HAMPSTEAD-ROAD.—The ninety-second anniversary of the charity was held yesterday at the London Tavern, Bishops gate-street; John Remington Mills, Esq., president of the institution, in the chair, supported on his right by Sheriff Nicoll. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Genge, assisted by Masters Wheatley and Smith, Mr. Shoubridge, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Farquharson Smith, who presided at the pianoforte. In proposing the toast of the evening, " Prop perity to the Orphan Working School," the chairman alluded to the presence of M. E. Ducpetiaux, in spector-general of schools, &c., in Belgium. M. Ducpetiaux returned thanks, and declared that having examined many charitable institutions in England, he hoped that the example set by us would be adopted throughout the civilized world. The amount of subscriptions announced was 634/. Iss. Mr. Higgs was the toastmaster on the occasion, who discharged his duty with his usual judgment. SEIKEI COINAGE.—The last symbol of Seikh supre macy in the Punjaub is about to pass away. The coinage of Runjeet Singh and his successors is to be called in with the least practicable delay, to be assayed and melted down at Lahere, and forwarded for recoinage to Calcutta or Bombay, 114 49011 to a alfacicilt 011191111 t 9f cOMPUVI. Cal; cats bo obtained to replace that about to be withdrawn N 216 111 be tion. We suspect that, desi ra bl e as th e a lteration W ts e some time must elapse before a complete change ct li ot li place, and that, un l ess a per i od b e fixed within viblc'deta the Nanukshaie rupee is to be considered a legal tee go considerable number will b e re t a i ne d b y those Whocejl the " ancient regime" with a lingering hope th at i dol supremacy may once mo re b e i n t h e ascen dant.- Chronicle. THE LATE LIEUT.-COLONEL YOUNG, „we) officer, second in command of her Majesty's 10th l'es , ,,„• 0 , of Infantry, who died at Wiseerabad, entered the fl o rw' st i an ensign in the 17th Regiment of Infantry in,, lBl , : eede captain in the 31st Regiment he served with the ler,, c "„affil General Pollock, and was present in the actions at M ° ° - ph leacen, and Jugdullock, as well as in the actions i'n' i i o of to the occupation of Cabul by that general. Capte° sal , P afterwards served with the alst in the campaign on 11, i 1 and was dangerously wo un d e d -i n t h e b att l e o f 1 11 °°" • 2 0 iig December, 1845. He was afterwards appointed a !Zile' , the 10th Foot, and in 1848 b ecame a lieutenantr n - isei The deceased officer had re ce i ve d me d a l s for Aff0„100 and the Sutlej, and in 1849 was nom i nate d a ColnPa the Bath. t b eiP FOREIGN Hors —The importations of J o tIO hops continue to take place to a considerable extent eel° United States of America, and also to a lesser e xtol' po re _Belgium, the produce of these cou n t r i es , w hich is of tug ot pe sacs, as evincing the practi ca bilit y o f a con tinuance de supply of this novel article of foreign merchandise ' ll 4OO out the year, the present being the first of such iinP ° ',:d e lee from abroad taking place. The American ship IndeP e P or defi from New York, has brought 110 bales, consigned t ° ,„ atit' the Nautilus, from Antwerp, 5 bales; the Soho, frt st io werp, 10 bales; and the Sir Edward Bankea, from D A place, 15 bales of the article. ' THE CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMP.- ed yer deputation from the directors ikf this company wail Tel terday upon the trustees of the Essex and Middlese,r w all; pike roads, to present a memorial, praying to be a" ° pass their mains, connecting their works on BON - 8n with the City, along part of the turnpike road at the-' not efl bridge. Mr. Dakin, the chair man o f t h e G a s C° l35 OP Company, was heard in support of the memorisi9;l l , er Tyrrell, on behalf of the old cas companies, appe„se u " 4 0 -e a r plication. After considerable discussion,-the - trun.slo o , vided, 54 voting against the gas mains being leclooll„ the road, and 23 in favou r o f th e P r a yer o f the - eer being granted. If this d ec i s i on i s con fi rme d at ti-l e ata a general meeting of the trustees, it will compel the P,; 0 110 pany to adopt another line of road, for which pertni,,e,s' w i t oel' been already obtained-only it is a little more s led An interesting legal question will, it appears, be rt; the division taken on this occasion. A large D l "' -e at ) " the trustees of the turnpike-road are also shareholderl 11 4 gas companies now unde r con t ract f or li g h t i ng the Old Consumers' Company b e i ng a r i va l company, ter'che tb supply gas at a cheaper rate, it is contended thin , Id ' General Turnpike Act the t rus t ees i ntereste d i n the ° ,1 1 ; companies were legally ex c l u d e d f rom vot i ng , un der al' of 501. each. ,e' lONIAN BANK.—A. special meeting of thl s he ster; pany took place yesterday, at the offices, Great Vii° d th e street, City, for the purpose of electing a director Ito - l'e j room of Lieutenant-Colo ne l Si r Frederick Henke'', /1- ststri tired; Mr. Oliver Ferrer in the chair. The Chair/11 0 ,4r, that this not being the g e ner a l mee ti ng , b u t onl y one for the above-named purpose o f e l ec ti ng a direct ° ;ai , duty would be simply to propose M r . J o h n Rank rector. The motion was carried un an i mous ly, and to t ing separated. li°' The' anniversary of Lord Rodney's gloriel l t e r of tory of the 12th of April, 1782, was celebrated 9_,„ e3 Cll l ,l h by a numerous meeting of th e mem b ers o f the NA T I • who dined together at the Th a t c h e d H ouse . CaPtgl.r, -fed ney Mundy„ a descendant o f th e l a t e G a ll an t .A.diniwl the chair. 00 1 , 0 FROME.—Last week a young man named George, about 18 years of age, was discovered lying a, g w ., a barn at Nunney, near F rome , w ith hi s t h roa t cut. dsl rover's inquest was consequently held on the followl tl e t the when an open verdict was re t urne d t o the effe th e de there was not sufficient evidence to prove whether v ceased had destroyed himself or had met his death ir ° CAX d unknown hand. Since the inquest Messrs. Giles an,- - af,O, surgeons, if Frome, were called in to examine the r i- 4 „1 bl .discovered that the skull had been fractured ',, 1 1, - c aol.„`'; blow, and from the manner in which the wound . ha d ",e - stw i , flitted in the throat they were decidedly of opinion deceased could not have committed suicide, but 111 ,1 1 . 5 0 " b ed been murdered. It further appeared that his P och` blood/ , been rifled and turned inside out, and the marks. °' Ar fect 4 fingers thereon, but the hands of the deceased were, le' clean. On Monday last Henry Hillier, alias Axolo t t , A bourer, was brought before the Frome magistrates , c e p d bi d r on suspicion of committing the murder, who renig l 2.iortfr for a fortnight, when he will be again brought up examination.- Sherbourne Journal. filar be . 1 ,64 WESTERN CITY DISFENSARY.—TeSteruaY t, op. anniversary festival of this institution, which was es,; :ng gr h : t in the year 1830 with the beneficent object of affor u qted r tuitous medical assistance to the poor, was cele b i r DX' Radley's Hotel, Bridge-street, Blackfriars. Sir M.P., occupied the chair. At the c l ose of an elee' it h tb past, and the usual loyal toasts having been drunk tor accustomed honours, the Chairman rose to pronos e `foal; of the evening-" Success to the Institution whos e d w' o tion they had met to celebrate." The district entbra; the dispensary was extremely large, the popula ti oe ol , dense, and of such a character as to require preciself Dell% of such an institution as the present. Surrounded bib tb!' volent charities of almost every description for all ) . e ,sel city was so remarkable, this institution stood forth 1 3 ' i nently deserving their support, on account of the I ° l ll ol I d which it aforded to the denizens of the neighbesr_aod, which it was situated. These institutions reconwyt themselves naturally to the kind benevolence of all' to tb their privilege to heal the sick and to adininister t qi~ t., wants of the afflicted, and he was sure all would jel'icoo him in drinking success to so worthy and philantl a l institution. Mr. Conyers responded to the toast, wh i ub oir s fr il needless' to say was received with enthusiasm. - ri d lo tions were then annoucced to the amount of 2254, a . " ted. 'tote festivities prolonged to a late hour, th e company s eper DREADFUL FlRE.—Shortly after nine o'eloc,,i t ail l morning a calamitous fire took place at the oil shove, factory of Hux and Co., York Wharf, Princes-street, le l beth, immediately opposite some small h ous e s near tr e lsr Thames. The engines of the Brigade and West of o ito° were quickly on the spot, as also the floating enght e o 6l o } Southwark-bridge station; but the exertions of theri,ll 4. were useless with regard to saving the factory, ne ar 'l„afrp which was destroyed, with machinery, &c., and net t i de e Not less than at least eight poor families have been re's o o, temporarily househel, and their furniture destroyed. _ of V; of the men were very much injured by the boiling %we' the rosin, one so much so that his recovery is C all ' doubtful. Cret/tr An ill-looking young fellow, named - p o lice' Wallace, was yesterday charged at the Southwar k ` a 110 1 ' court, with having desperately assaulted Daniel ..-- ° 0 0e,, 1 0 an aged man, by striking him on the head with a „ I , l „ s iiss°, l The prisoner, it appearei, knocked at the door of 0 ",- s oe' house, which , was opened by the old man, when the I :I ; as° / ; commenced a ferocious attack by striking him with Air user on the head, having done which the prisoner cle c ' e llir The old man is not expected to recover. The prise s remanded. A ter' The case :of Johnson v. Squire was tried Y A e o sily t day in the Court of Exchequer before Mr. Baron A lue o e, It was an action of slander. The defendant had surge slO, an action in the Westminster County Court ageh 3e efelF Pierce Egan, the proprietor of the Rome Circle, fur to D e ,i supplied to him. Johnson was a witness in the caus e " i folv, half of Egan, and the defendant, when asked.if o te; cross.examine him, addressed him as follows :—" 3r49 ..n ... bb et .d / thief ;you broke into my premises, and committed a "; three weeks ago, and you keep false keys which eu te ' o t for that purpose." ',that cause terminated in favour,,, pr°: Egan, and adversely to Squire, and soon afterward') w o , to sent action was brought for the injury inflicted ve tt° plaintiff by these slanderous expressions. The jUTY plaintiff 51. damages. SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.--Yesterday t he wilic mitteg passed the preamble of this company's Bill, b t in g $ 1 , 1 4 1 they propose to raise for the purposes of the underte';;lo l- , sum not exceeding 1,200,0001., by the creation of Ile" it, e" or stock, with optional powers to borrow the same:, ,p0 0 .4 1 ' proposed, on behalf of the London and Brighton 1,9 ; ‘ , 0 (11 1 ' with the consent of the railway commissioners, w irwi g De; a clause for referring any possible prospective. diell 11 :,01, 0 tween themselves and the South-Eastern to the arulcrd' of the railway commissioners, but the Committee deco insert it in the Bill. t TT HAPPINESS AS A MORAL AGENT.—That gives happiness, we all know; but if it be true, that m O yov, ness contributes to virtue, the principle furnishes 0:00 some sort of excuse for the errors and excesses of able ) li de l d men, at the bottom of life, fretting with impatience,. being their obscurity, and hatching a thousand chimaeras o ', or neglected and overlooked by the world. Th e naturel. et for these errors is, the sunshine of prosperity : as th b ei ta ' 01 / 1 , happier, they get better; and learn, from the respe°,llol 3 / they receive from others, to respect themselves. Al," ever," says Mr. Lancaster (in his book just publishe,"(o met with a boy particularly mischievous, I made 'e monitor : I never knew this fail." The cause for the PCB tion, and the kind of encouragement it must occasion, fess appear rather singular; but of the effect, I have a of doubt. —Sydney Smith. ply ASSOCIATE INSTITUTION FOR THE i-NOTEC.-° WomEst—The annual general meeting of this 06 61 00 1 held yesterday, at the Hanover-square Rooms, fbc,,itte} Hon. Earl Talbot in the chair. The report of the c 013 ' 4 , 0 11°, related principally to the Act passed in the last sees'. sr Parliament for the better protection of females udder o°,oo of 21 years. The committee referred with regret t ° o o o opposition encountered by that measure in its P., r i s iett through Parliament,and with dissatisfaction to its pr°' o o which, in their opinion, do not afford sufficient protectloce, female virtue. The committee, acting under lega l n ti gat t have determined not to attempt to procure any agi e l, s ern", of the Act until next session. The total amount of e, ll 'fifly; tions during the past year has been 1,0161. 13s. 4 0 * to tit: payment or expenses and the purchase of stock, o f till amount of 1911. 10s., there remains a balance in hay' arly, treasurer, 2061. ss. 14d. The report was receiv e 'ioo adopted. Resolutions were passed expressing the 00 1 0 00 the meeting as to the practical insufficiency of the M i l t , pre session, and recommending the committee to propose A prOs mium for the best prize essay bearing on the crinlioi'; co d tices which it is the object of the society to prev er lptr treating of such legislative measures as may behest, to accomplish that end. A vote of thanks to the uh 7. terminated the proceedings. f t t 1 36 JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.—By the repo— registrar, which has just been published, 're appearSit",ittrilf the companies were provisionally gastereu.orel the year 1849, 31 of which have been coMpletelY req h e te7 4 and 134 have not obtained complete registration. _: o ptel' received for registration during the same year have 11 W A ' offie e to a total of 2,9271, 2,891/. 6s. being paid at the Ile a Dom : in London, and 311. 14s. in Dublin. The number 0 ' panics which have failed to make any return of au dit s of a report by an auditor of their accounts, during theis.lo 1849, was 59. No proceedings, however, had beel l thereon. n o 0 ., A VILLAGE SoLomoic.—A few days 1 0,6„,,,- Ta i 1 1" the inhabitants complained to the mayor of MaTicorl3 1 ,00 4 Commentry, department of the Nievre, that their ge e , g s lo3 ° been stolen by a dealer; but as he had mixed ther n ostr 4 flock of his own, it was impossible to recognise the ni ' upon the mayor, a shrewd, hardworking peasant, 5 0- beee ordered all the geese to be placed in carts, and thishe vi ., l3 , l llo,l done he sent the carts some little distance from the 00; The villagers wondered greatly what this could ten AP even ventured to utter suspicions of the mayor's ifie u° ,0 te e probity. But the functonary took no notice o f th st marks, and stalked solemnly off with the carts. li l fsto9 l , the spot he had indicated, he cried to the drivere to; and then, with great dignity, added, "Now let l 017 geese—those that have been stolen will make th: to the back to their masters' farm yards—those that beleeboosg e dealer will remain." This was done, and 10, as the 'l,ooo' Solomon had said, the stolen geese waddled graveli; wards to the great astonishment of the simple Yills lo6-.^ dialrmet dealer WU arreeted.—.Galignan4 M 0 is H, 41 ;:46 o, btoc N Per Cent /:" Cent r _vt3l 4 ,, m k _ s e ."' eolitto 6 . 1 01,8 f u sqUel 1,000 1 500 1 entail PRt 6tdtil, * A) „ Dit to Atl i Ditto Ditt o , Equado / 'utlci cat b,itt o , Oitt opars . ?o bat Pitt C P 2 ) I, Ditto; ' Ditto bit to ' Att bitto. 1 %6 114 —,O l 21