The Sun. — London, England, 1850-12-18 00:00:00

i.pult, rrd. Sophie, A Eljobetl' T Gertrad6 for ilepoo l , 01 n in cOOlll Donnell, fq con tact, 0 ° slat ere° isel of 8 1 .) 00 ! t about Do it 00 10 rrivod here. le Tees t o ng, bug gpi °ads. 1./ebec• Tan , e n ry, ‘ 1 " Put b°e' e a for Di' ado° Pi sld• T ao o° , st 4 fundar.; oth° iAY•? ;Sp itir n Ali ty. 0.0 Nero to . boo P t o tan g e t r• b e o • pi in p 'g er r lei ry B a r 1 19 so n~oarg no 0 515 ' i re 1010 We.- -- -- 1 .... so. ----.10 /' i6O te, an d ill ial 10 tie. Ace. ° Or tO as 8c1; bf the AY' ) b e occoP • ta uy re' Do ivb° •ges" Via' ClOge' 0 008 ,AY.) oAfr) e — cl °III )ifig sl eiPe cfr P° or' pg . r o 0 r tO P r `' the th e the bet )1 4 # IV 'be GR OWING RAPE FOR SEED. An agriculturist near Braintree gives the following as the mode in which rape for seed is grown in that nei ghbourhood :—" The land intent d for it ought to be in gaol heart and ploughed immediately after har vest, and well harrowed, the weeds and s.ubble ga thered together and burnt.; it may then be ploughed a iNe or scarified, it makes little difference how, 3 0 that it is got into fine ti!th. This is absolutely necessary, as, from its being such small seed, it is ii k eicuit to plant well, unless the weather is favour able, The land must have a good dressing of dung, r ee tty well rotted, as it gets better mixed Pith y the soil in working it than when it is long. font apart, or on very good land. They will sue ese d well if transplanted, but this involves much t abour and expense ; and after paying much atten tjl t 1 to it, I have always found the greatest quart tY of seed fr om th a t sown w h e r e it is to st a nd ; there is one advantage in sowing it in a seed bed, Y° l l can choose your own time in putting in the a f e ed, when the ground and weather is suitable; ;: r if the weather is very dry after harvest, it is Zinost impossible to get a plant ; and it should be r t u _as soon after harvest as possible, as the Plan's then have time to gain strength before whinter, and you may thin them out in the autumn the en your people are not so fully employed as in out, at all, W e h ave no t a l wa y s thi nne d th em 8 all, only givi ng the m a rou g h h oe i ng i n th e p ra ng, r , but the last two years we have singled out Part, and left part. That part thinned out has BohiPd n ear l y t wo quar t ers per acre more th an at left, and the seed is of a finer quality, and it abies you to stir the ground well w ith the hoe, a 4 keep it free from weeds. If transplanted, it uld be done with th e fir s t f avoura bl e opportu -2Y after the land is got into a fit state, and the wheather suitable (that is, the ground moist, and bT in, weather); the plants ' may be either dib tiel' n, like cabbageplants, or planted in the furrow, e Plough covering them in the next bout ; but Mulebeve r way it i s d one , no thi ng b u t s h or t b us hy a nta should be put in, as the long stalky ones never t r a itn th out like their stouter brethren, and they are L ble to be killed by the frost; it is ripe about the , att e r end of July, and is reaped with the sickle, and /aid re' small heaps, just large enough to be turned t e "„' l . l Y ; but if fine weather, it does not require l e 4 l l °R' much, as it readily stells out - . We thresh it *b lue field, making a floor by clearing a square space 1,4 11 1 t the middle, and raking the ground fine, then apa ce watering it till like puddle ; we then cover the and with about a foot thick of haulm or short straw, a ll set fire to it ; when reduced to ashes, we roll with vY ben e a roll, and the floor is ready to thresh upon dry." fro A —RECK MATE.—A few weeks ago a young man 41 : t he neighbourhood of Manchester was met in the street es s „, rv erpool by one of his neighbou r s, wa l e ing w ith a young ski e 'g r an, a rel a ti ve of hi s w if e , b ut w i t h w h om h e was cen theesel to be rather too familiar. The neighbour dodged A rn 't and found that they had taken their passage to tetea rica ' The neighbour hastened home, and communi law— the fact to th e w ife, who p rom ptly came to Li ver p oo l, ls ke the captain, and told him her story. He told her to go Nik and sell he r goo d s i mme di a t e ly, an d re t urn t o hi m . 86 did so, arriving just as the vessel was about to leave. ashore tak en on b oar d an d t h e young woman was sent firth When the faithless husband went below to his a he found his wife there instead of his paramour. A k ee —IrcH EN IhreweNice—A kitchen husband, who of Ps all th e money in his own pocket, and plays the part ad f l e n rveyor f. r the household—not even authorising his le vere t ° send f o r a p oun d o f sugar or butter without his P eel and special permission-13 about as contemptible a f oo l" en of humanity as one can imagine; unless his wife be tn or a drunkard, and then his conduct is praiseworthy. Josan with a regular or comfortable income should allow h at Wife a certain sum for housekeepinee and let her manage bet te as she please e. The less they I alk ' of money matters the re eati r • Money is the root of all evil ; it is sure to destroy do k4we felicity. If possible, do not even converse about it. We With J! gentleman who was so averse to money transactions e ' l3 wife that, in order to avoid giving it into her hands, tveP-Ilt it into a corner of his desk at the commencement of n eve r quarter, and there she never failed to find it, and he wretch h ' er what she did with it. Many . a misFra . ble " might yet become a happy man by following a similar herald. L N DERSTORM AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY the THTuING.—On Sunday morning, about three o'clock,ce , j ,lua bitants of Abingdon were suddenly roused from their thekuDera by a t h understorm which burst immediately over bei e town. The alarm it produced was considerable, there ae ks g . no indication during the previous evening of so un lieesnable a visitation. The thunder completely shook the a ti ' d ' es, while the lightning was of the most vivid intenseness, 11,Z:the hail, snow, and rain completely deluged the streets. st e e els' a quarter ' of an hour had elapsed from the first ter- Ik e * P e "' when a messenger on horseback rode at full speed 44 4 `Sie town with the alarm of fire, the electric fluid having liad e er ,...”_ lone barn on Wick Farm, in the occupation of Mr. ita ks s' s , , about a mile off. Many of the townspeople hastened sieer,sliately with the engines to the scene of conflagration, o ne the the pelting of the storm, but on arriving there they Ilerty - Isaw that an attempt to save any portion of the pro - alre e '"a"irld be perfectly useless. The roof of the barn had rea s :s'Y fallen in, and its valuable contents were one burning ei se ,;; and the w i n d, w hi c h h a d b een bl ow i ng a l most a hur tieit"e, had communicated the fire to. a large wheat and bean )It e a B hort distance from the ba rn , b o th o f w hi c h soon f e ll a ejsth/ to the destroying element. The building was insured e County Fire-office; and the farming stock, which con weed of Y-fou upwardsre of 150 quarters of barley, the produce of 'ltr acs of b eans, ten acres of wheat, a variety of a gri Tealtural implements and utensils, the whole o f w hi c h er dest ro y e d, were fully insured in the Royal Exchange. e total damage is estimated at 1,0001. A 1174 NEW MILITARY DISTRICTS IN IRELAND.— ceording to the new arrangements that have be l en . mad d e in t Dublin, Ireland of the order of the Adjutant-Geneferalclivsisauge five In r i ?.l a m, Ireland has been divided into the Lublin districts •—lst District, Dublin (Head j -quarte . rs, districtof ' conteins- 1. The entire counties e e ... in, Kildare Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscom- Carric to&ether with the towns of Deogheda and Of xi n . " - Oliannon. 9 . The northern and eastern portion lire fit lea County, bounded by the river Ballynacarrig, " s., ` 4ll,lS ilver-onilbrook, and the Brosna, thus includ rhillipstown and Tullamore. 3. That portion of th . e te d nt Y of Wicklow which lies north of the parallel of le t t ilietno? t'iYhed st town old, Arklow, that town remaining District, Cork (Head -quarters, Co ) ti Is e ~.18 district are comprised the counties of Cork an s o SaT, with the exception of that small portion of the latter /n ' et l ie . ll - i s. to the north-west of the river Feale. The arrange s hati ts will leave the several forts on both banks of the Lower lielk ll ",in the same district with Limerick. 3d District, With tHead-quarters, Belfast), to remain as . at . prese 4 n_, bi sts :ie addition of the counties of Sligo and Leitrim. 4th to l er, Kilkenny (Head-quarters, Kilkenny). This district I: e e e foi !i! e ci s e... I. The entire counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, whi ch Queen's, and Carlow. 2. That part of Wicklow 4 'The south of the town of Arklow, including the town. th e s eastern part of the county of Tipperary, bounded by Ca s h el Suir from Newcastle near to Roscrea, with Cogheen, tie le el s Golden, Holycross, Thurles, and Templemore.. sth, tract rick District (Plead-quarters, Limerick). In this.dis risk aiste e ontained-1. Ihe entire of the counties of Lime eeent,elare, and Galway. 2. That small portion of . the Peal e Y ° I . Kerry which lies to the north-east of the river rioah' as detailed under Cork district. 3. The whole of the and a°„.` Tipperary and the western part of the same county; bo eu "si, the sout h- western por ti on o f King's County, the I larb e ar Y being f orme d as f o ll ows :—Frankfurd, Shannon ur, and ehannon-bridge. tea s jE c i l s COLLECTION OF THE 1848 Hop DUTY.—The Wr. Inland Revenue has, during the past week, issued t iae te c :,` M ar c faoias against a large number of our hop 0p ( 1,4 8 who have not yet paid the last moiety of the 1848 sliail a "q; and we learn from undoubted authority that fa inter P r oceedings will be at once commenced against all de- We shall be doing a service to all those planters leeth;an raise the money by recommending them to save etti e r n , "Tenses (Exchequer processes are always Testly) , out of this difficulty at once. We are convinced t . i d t the C' arl eY will have to be paid, and that the sooner it is pat 44iletter. We learn that the collector of inland revenue at Ves• st° ne 'will, probably, be all this week at his office, and fe w 'ileerely hope that at the end of that period there will be ssesia„Yinents remaining to be collected by summary process. sqlsissone Gazette. 12ta,, ADDRESS+4,i,., - ' OF THE MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND the ;, 11 , 8 OP LONikON.—The Rev. Dr. Vivian, chaplain to L l ecret'g l it Hon. the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Catty, private vrai s a rY to hi s L or d s hi p , atten d e d a t th e H om e-office on fsettisY to deliver to Sir George Grey the address to the Queentoselothe m the subject of the bankers and traders Papal o aggression. f the city of r t 11 en \l' ed W ° MORE FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSIONS.—On Tais e n :,,s ( laY last a most disastrous . occurrence happened near co h, 91amorgarshire, which has spread tlie greatest ba re (nation and dismay throughout the neighbourhood, Ait e i S ' e ' an explosion in Messrs. Vivian and Son's Mona tot e„4", 20 persons were injured and two killed The rie sx s Taibach and Aberavon are plunged in grief at this fat a l P e cted stroke of ill-fortune. On the same day a second Pee:xplosion took place at the New Duffryn Colli T ery, the Thor e rt Y of Mr Thomas Powell, the Gear, near Newport. er- 0 - I Zere 51 . persons in the pit, of whom three only were the u e. ll '''' 'IP at first. The three men who were saved said pi t , were nearly suffocated in coming to the mouth of the agen a t ild gave but a poor account of those left behind The b efore s of the colliery, Mr. Meredith, had on l y j us t g o ne down wag t he accident c ccurred. The explosion was terrific. It the time before any correct account could be obtained The fate of t h e miners. By Friday, however, t h e worst a r aecertained, Two men have been brought up dead. Pit " a re yet missing. All the rest were brought out of the r\ re Ol aTrialetPTON, DEC. 17.—The Peninsular and ntal e aotipany's steam-ship Montrose, Capt. Weeks, with e eninsular mails, a full general cargo, specie to the d a re %net of 3.0001., and about twenty passengers, left this Si n ; The Reyal Mail Company's steam-ship Medway, Capt. the " 8, with the West India mails, a large cargo, specie to aft;arnount of 10,550/., and about sixty passengers, left this e an t , ) °, L Pil. The Peninsular Company's steam. ship Indus, mailwith the heavy portion of the India and China D IRECT is expected about the 2ith instant. h e LONDON AND PORT,MOUTII RAILWAY.— was a meeting of the Direct London and Portsmouth 10 Y' r aY Company yesterday, for the purpose of forfeiting 44 '1 4 5 shares, on which a call of 1!. 10s. remained unpaid ; th e e " giving the directors power to enforce the arrears from , a sielaulters. The resolution, after some discussion, was e; " l ed ; and it was stated by the chairman, as his expecte b.cm, that on the final winding up of this concern, a sum of at' e r ki l , 24...and 18s. per sha`re, would be returned to the ST CURE.—Dr. Moore, author of " Zeluco," ,n 1 to say that at least two-thirds of a physician's fees this for imaginary complaints. Among several instances of th e nature he mentions one of a clothier, who, after drinking .„ .4 e, Bath waters, took it into his head to try Bristol hot s Z t !s. Previous, however - , to his setting off, he requested his S'"3 sician to favour him with.a letter, stating his case to Vly brother Galen. This done, the patient got into a chaise started. Aft er roceeding, half-way, he felt an itch to " 3 ' '' into the contents of the lett r, when the following words Wr ese nted themsel ves: „u Dear Sir, the bearer is a fat uniltshire clothier—make. the most of him." It is almost effect to addthat his , cure was from that moment Aro e s e e t e4 d ed ,As he ordered the . chaise to turn, and immediately bottle.' THE ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CMG Ul T.— Yorh, Dec. 16. (Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.) Thomas Rotherfo7th was indicted for wilful and cor rupt perjury before the magistrates at Hull, on the 23d of last November. Mr. Campbell Foster prosecuted, and Mr. Digby Sey mour defended the prisoner. It appeared that a person named John Catingnani, fiArnortger at Hull, and ore Edward Matson Maw, a beer-house keeper there, reidiog in the same street, were on bad terms together, and meeting in the Paul Pry public-house, in Hull, on the 18th of November, a guar- rel took place between them, which led to the commis sion of an alleged assault, for which next day Maw took out a summons against Cottingham. Next day, the 19th of November, about half-past eight o'clock at night, the wife of Maw passed Cuttingham's shop, and at that time Cottingham was standing at his door tslking to the prisoner and showing him the summons which he held in his hand. fie then used some abusive expressions to wards Mrs. Maw, and flourished the summons in her face, saying, "Look here what your - of a husband has sent to me." Mrs. Maw told him whatever he had to say about her husband to tell it to him and not to insult her, at the same time laying her hand upon,Cottingham's arm. Cottingham immedi- ately gave her a violent push with his band on her shoulder, and threw her on her faco in the street with considerable violence. For this assault Mrs. Maw took out a summons before the magistrates, which came on to be heard on the 23d of November, and these facts hav ing bun proved and corroborated by two witnesses who were accidently passing at the time, Cottingham called on the prisoner to give, evidence in hie defence; and the prisoner then swore that Cottingham never flourished the summons in Mrs. Maw's face, that his hands were in his pockets the whole time, and be never touched her _ _ with his bands, but that he twisted himself away from her, when she placed her hand on his arm, and in doing so shoved her down with his elbow; that Mrs. Maw had previously pushed him into his shop, and that she reeled and fell because she bai had a good deal of drink. The magistrates disbelieved this testimony, and ordered Cot tingham t , ) find sureties to keep the peace. They also ordered the witness li)thertorth to be indicted for perjury. The minutes of the prisoner's evidence before the ma gistrates at Hull having been proved, Mrs. Maw and two witnesses who had been before the magistrates gave evidence of the assault as proved before the magistrates, and stated that this evidence of the pri soner before the magistrates was false in each particular, and that as he was standing close by at the time he must have known it to be so. The Learned COUNSEL for the defence contended that the prisoner's evidence before the magistrates was his ac count of what he saw and believed to be true, and called Cottingham himself and a man named Carlton, who each gave testimony bearing out the evidence of the prisoner before the magistrates. Mr. FOSTER having replied, His LORDSHIP summed up, and left it to the jury to say on the evidence, first, whether the testimony of the pri soner was false; and, secondly, whether the prisoner knew it at the time to be false. The jury retired, and after an absence of about an hour found the prisoner Not Guilty. Harriet Jackson, a young women, who appeared at the bar very smartly dressed, was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury before the magistrates at Hull, on the 18tt of October last. Mr. Thompson prosecuted and Mr. Dearsley defended the prisoner. It appeared that in the years 1848 and 1849 the York and North-Midland Railway had had several packages of goods stolen from their waggons in the neighbour hood of Hull, which led to the apprehension of several persons employed on the Hull and Selby Railway living at the village of Staddlethorpe and 'the neighbourhood. Amongst others a man named Richard Ponder was taken into custody and examined before the Hull ma gistrates, and the prisoner, who is Ponder's sister-in law, was called upon to give evidence on that occasion. A part of the goods stolen consist- d of bales of silks, and it had been observed that the prisoner, though in humble circumstances, •had appeared at a feast called Dry pool feast, near Hull, dressed in a red and black coloured silk drei.s, which was the pattern of the stolen silk, and which Ponder was then charged with having stolen. On being examined the prisoner swore that she had never worn such a dress, and never saw any silk of the kind in P, nder's house or anywhere else. This statement was now given in evidence, and witnesses were called to prove it to bo false._ _ _ _ Mr. DiARSLEY having addressed the jury in an able andingeni,,us speech, HisLORDSHIP summed up, and the jury found the prisoner Nut Guilty. (BOore Mr. Baron MARTIN.) Marlin ill''Grtire was indicted for burgtaiy at Halifax, from the dwelling-house and shop of Lewis Belerma, on the night of the 13th of July last, and stealing there. from a large quantity of silver plate, watches. and jewellery, to the value of 1,0001. Amelia Wade was also indicted along with the prisoner on a second charge of receiving the above prepetty, knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. Hall and Mr. Pickering appeared for the prose cution, Mr. Overend defended ArGuire, and Mr. Blanchard Amelia Wade. It appears that the prosecutor is a foreigner, carrying on the hut.iness of a watchmaker and silversmith at Ha- 'Hex, and residing in a house adjoining his shop. On the night of the 13.11 of last July his'shop was broken open, and about 100 watches, plate, and jewellery of various kinde, and about 400 rings, to the value of about I,oool.„were stolen. The burglary was com mitted in so expert a manner as to leave no doubt but that it had been committed by practised thieves. There Nets a vacant piece of ground near prosecutor's shop on which a constable met a man on the night of the rob bF ry, whom he identified as the prisoner M'Guire. On the 25th cf last November the prisoner M'Guire pawned a gold watch at Liverpool, the number of which had been altered, and which was part of the property stolen from the prosecutor's shop. The way in which this was discovered was somewhat singular. The prisoner M.`Guire, it appeared, kept a public-house in Liver pool, and the female prisoner a beer-house there, and from suspicion attaubing to him;from some cause or other which did not appear in evidence, he was apprehended on the recent charge of extensive plate robberies at Liverpool, as also th e f emale prisoner. On being taken into custody and searched a bunch of keys were found upon M'Guire, and be was asked where he lived. On the officers proceeding to his house it was found that one of the prisoner's keys opened a drawer. in which was found a book, and in that book a pawn-ticket for a gold watch, which turned out to have been pawned by the prisoner, and was identified by the prosecutor as part of the property which had been stolen from him. The maker's number was a'tercd where visible, but not in the body of the woe ks, and this had led to the prosecutor being communicated with. The evidence against the female prisoner was that she li ve d i n Sawney Pope street, Liverpool, and in July last, shortly after the rob bery, she took a box to Manchester, which she left with a woman named Gregory, saying that it only contained some old clothes cf hers, and she would call for it shortly. however,She, never went for it, an d t hi s exciting sus picion, mrs.G Gregory informed th e pol i ce, who b roke open the box, and in it was found about 2001. wor th of stolen property. These facts having been proved, Mr. OvEizaND, for the pri:;oner Iti‘Guire, made an able speeci for the defence, in which he contended that the prisoner was not identified with the burglary or receiv ing, and was a respectable man, and he called witnesses to show that M'Guiro bud purchased the watch of a person named Woolfe. Mr. BLANCHARD then addressed the jury on behalf of the female prisoner. Mr. Hann having replied, His Loansnir summed up and the jury found both the prisoners Guilty of receiving. Sentence was deferred. The tri3l occupi , d the whole day. SMOKING ON HORSEBACK.—On Tuesday a young gentleman, named Ramshaw, died from injuries received by being thrown from his horse. The Durhanz Advertiser states that the horse took fright, in consequence of a spark falling upon his back from a cigar which its rider was smoking. He is stated to have been an inveterate smoker. A LAWYER'S READINESS.—A lawyer, who was sometimes forgetful, having been engaged to plead the cause of an offender, began by saying—" I know the priso ner at the bar, he bears the character of being the most consummate and impudent scoundrel." Here somebody whispered to him that the prisoner was his client, when he immediately continued, " But what great and good man ever lived who was not calumniated by many of his con temporaries ?" DESPERATE STRUGGLE.—On Thursday night, as Inspector Smith was conveying by county cart a prisoner named Alfred Ward, who was committed for fowl stealing, the prisoner insisted on getting out of the cart and releasing his handcuffs, on pretence of a call of nature. These re quests being refused, he tried to fling himself out, which was prevented; he then commenced striking furiously with the handcuffs on the side of the cart, the inspector strng ' gling with him, and the horse running from side to side. The left handcuff eventually gave way from the violence that had been used. The prisoner then made a desperate attack upon the inspector, seizing him by the throat and pressing him down, upon which the inspector let go the reins and threw the prisoner back, his head almost resting on the wheel. The prisoner then, with both hands, seized the offi cer's staff, which was again wrested from him. At this time the horse backed into a ditch, and the inspector, jumping out on the road, faced his adversary, who was following, and dealt him a blow with his staff on the right side of the head. The prisoner again attempted to escape, placing one foot on the footboard, when he received another blow from the inspector on the left side of the head, which took effect, and be fell back into the cart, the blood streaming down his face. The inspector then drove him to Orsett station, where he was attended by Dr. Corbet, who dressed his wounds, which we learn are not considered dangerous.— Essex Harald. TAKING PLACES IN OMNIBUSES. —Yesterday Mr. Arnold, the Worship-street magistrate, decided that it was perfectly legal for persons to take places in omnibuses, and the conductor of an omnibus was justified in reserving such places for those who had taken them. [This decision is directly contrary to that of several other metropolitan magis trates.—Ed. Sun.] At the Lambeth Police Court yesterday Mr. Elliott gave judgment in the case of the policeman Jourdan, who was charged with annoying a person named Brown, by following him about wherever he went. Superintendent Hayes s Ca id tch he th heacdomonplahiliisanotT and uponlrestJoris that y ordered Jourdan to evidence Mr. Elliott dismissed the complaint, stating that the party who had given the orders was responsible to the complainant if he had exceeded the law. A TIGHT Ir.—The BeOrord Times states that, last week, W. Burgess, in the employ of Mr. Thomas Sworder, solicitor, of Luton, was in the malt-mill room of Messrs. Sworder, at the brewery, when he isadvertently lost his footing, and nearly fell to the ground ; the carpenter, who saw the danger, caught him by the leg, and the grip neces sary to secure its object was so firm that the flesh was con siderably discoloured. Death must otherwise have ensued , as the height to the ground is nearly sixty feet. SUN, COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, DEC. 17. The Queen anl Prince Albert walked this mornio, in the Slopes. The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise in the grounds but the Castle. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out hunt ing this morning, etended by Colonel Bouverie. The Duke and Duchess of B3dford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady o,:tqvia Grosvenor, 'he Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady M. Cecil, the Earl and Countess Spencer and Lady G. Spencer, and Lord George Lennox, are expected at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen and the Prince. The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will include the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady 0. Grosvenor, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady Mary Cecil, the Eirl and Countess Spencer and Lady Georgiana Spencer, and Lord George Lennox. The band of the Coldstream Guards will attend during dinner. The Queen's private band will after wards attend at the Castle. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, arrived at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's, at half-past eleven o'clock yesterday morning, from Frogmore. Her Royal High ness left town at two o'clock in the afternoon, on her return to Frogmore. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge ar rived in town on Monday night from Dublin. Yes terday his Royal Highness went to Kew to visit their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz. Lord John Russell left his residence, Pembroke Lodge, Richmond-park, yesterday afternoon for Windsor Castle. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of In land Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Co lonel Anson had an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet on Monday, at his official residence in Down ing -street. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of Gibraltar. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. The Lords present were—the Master of the Rolls, Mr. Baron Parke, the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, and Sir Xdward Ryan. An appeal from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, "Brayne and Edwards v. Bather " (part heard), was resumed and concluded. The Queen's Advocate and Sir Fitzroy Kelly, and Mr. Whateley (Queen's Counsel), and Dr. Addams, appeared for the respec tive parties. An appeal from the Isle of Man, " Moore v. Clucas" was commenced. The case was adjourned. LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Sir Edward Lytton's play of the Lady of Lyons was repeated last evening, and the performance of Mr. G. V. Brooke in the arduous character of Mel notte more than confirms the favourable impression which his first appearance in that part, a few nights since, produced upon us. He is, to our thinking, not only the best Claude Melnotte at present on the stage, but the best Claude Melnotte who has hitherto ap peared. His conception of the part is original, his acting most effective; he seizes and embodies the more delicate nuances of the character in a manner superior to any of his predecessors. Miss Helen Faucit was the Pauline, and as long as she remains on the stnge she will continue to he the Pauline; the attempts of others may be tolerated in her absence, but wherever she is Pauline is hers, and hers alone. She is so thoroughly identified with this beautiful creation of Bulwer's genius, that every one in speak ing of Pauline thinks only of Miss Helen Faucit. The play was well performed throughout, and the theatre was well attended. INTENDED HARBOUR AT BRIGHTON. DESIGNED BY W. H. SMITH, C.E. To-morrow another public meeting (the third) will be held in the Town-hall, Brighton, for the purpose of taking into consideration the splendid project of improvement here visibly presented to us in a litho graphic engraving. The value of the scheme is far from being of a merely local character. In every re spect it must be considered as one of really national importance, whether we regard it as affecting our commercial or our maritime interests. For a very considerable period the absence of such a work as that which has been here projected by Mr. William Henry Smith, civil engineer, namely a harbour of refuge situated between the Goodwin Sands and the Isle of Wight, has been manifestly the source of many calamitous and' ruinous catastrophes. The losses arising out of this one circumstance of omission have been recently estimated, indeed, at no less an amount within the last eighteen months than 500 human lives, and from 400,0001. to 500,000/. worth of valuable property. Had the harbour, contrived and designed - according to the arrangement before us, been only in existence during the last few weeks many of the terrible disasters recorded of late in our columns would un questionably have been prevented, many lives would have been spared, and much property saved from what is now irrevocable destruction. The plan laid down in the design portrayed in the present engraving is one conceived upon the recoil principle, partly in connexion with the noble pier already con structed at Brighton. By adopting this principle two great advantages would be secured—the harbour would be more durable, because more elastic, as it were, than one of a different description, and besides this might be completed within three months from the present time, at a cost of about one-tenth that required in the building one of atone or granite. The eastern arm of the proposed Barbour, connected at one end with the existing pier -head, would termi nate with a lighthouse, and the western with a fortifi cation and revenue-station. The latter building would be manifestly calculated to prove singularly beneficial to the interests of all concerned in the transaction, affording facilities for the conveyance to and from shore of fish, water, and provisions. Everything con sidered it is scarcely possible to estimate too highly the advantages certain to accrue from this benevolent and spirited enterprise. Upon the decision of the inhabitants of Brighton in its regard, the immediate interests of science and humanity are dependent. OPENING OF THE NEW ORGAN AT THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM. Last evening new organ, recently erected for the chapel of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, in the Old Kent-road, was opened, with the performance of a selec tion from Handel's " Messiah," the vocal portions of which were sustained by Miss Birch, Miss Dolby, Mr. Diller, and Mr. Benson. Mr. Willing, the organist of the Foundling Chapel, presided at the organ, and be tween the parts pla3 ed the National Anthem, in the chorus of which all present heartily joined. The tone of the organ is exquisitely sweet, and very powerful. It was built expressly for the chapel by Messrs. Bevington and Sons, of Soho-square, and was fitted up and placed in the organ gallery with a promptitude and celerity that does great credit to the builders. It is in every respect a most admirable instrument. Its external characteristics are in accordance with the best taste, the decorations of the case being cream-colour and gold, while the base part is spotted yellow granite. Its quality is of the purest description, a fact that was fully established in the course of the evening. It is built on the German scale, with two complete rows of keys —great and swell organ. The great organ runs from CC to F in alt, and contains open diapason, stop diapason, claribel, dulciane, flute, principal, twelfth, fifteenth, acs quialtrie, three rank cremona, and trumpet. The swell organ is tenor C, and contains a double diapason, an open diapason, a stop diapason, a principal, doublette, cornopean, and a copula. It also contains a set of pedal pipes, two oeteves of German pedals, and three composition Gee. man pedals. The number of stop pipes in the great and small organ, is nineteen, and the the total number of pipes is 906. The chapel was crowded, and the comp an y seeme d highly delighted with . the performanc e , b ot h o f t h e organist and the vocalists, who kindly gave their services gratuitously. THE NEW NOVEL, " i-OVE AND AMBITION," BY THE AUTHOR of " ROCKINGHAM."—The announcement of a new novel of fiction by the author of " Rockingham" will be gratefully welcomed by every reader of that delightful novel. The descriptive force and truth, the varied inci dents, the remarkable vigour of narrative, the pure and generous tone of sentiment, and the terse idiomatic diction which so strikingly characterised that tale, will have pre pared the public to expect much from the future productions of its gifted author. A perusal of the volumes before us will abundantly satisfy the anticpations justly excited by the earlier production of the same pen. In " Love and Am bition" we find the characteristic qualities which formerly charmed us in " Rockingham," together with other elements of interest which, to many readers, will perhaps be yet more at taa ct iv e. Morning Chronicle. Messrs. Hunt arid Roskell, of New Bonctstreet who have transferred to themselves the fame, as well as the business, of Storr and Mortimer, have favoured us with an inspection of a cup, ordered by the Bombay Turf Club, value 300 soya., and weight 300 ounces. It is of the Etruscan form, modelled and designed by Mr. Alfred Brown, in frosted silver, with the appropriate title of the " Tria juncta in uno," as Mars in his chariot, heralded by Fame and Victory, with the attendant British lion, Bellcna in her car, lighted by the flaming torches of the furies, and Neptune with his trident and his tritons, are the prominent trio, with a profusion of accessories tastefully and elaborately wrought. A. novice would inquire, how intrinsic worth in the raw material, with such beauty of design and labour of execution, could be remunerated at the price? but the neophyte is not aware that now-a-days there is such a spirit of honourable ri valry afloat, that these Turf prizes are produced at a large positive loss, with 013 incidental solid profits of world spread reputation. INTERIoR OF TRE CRYSTAL PALACE.—A capital view of the interior of the Palace of the Exhibition has just been issued by Mr. G. Berger, in an oblong steel engraving. The perspective is well managed, and the sketch affords alto gether a better notion of the appearance of the edifice than • any other picture of a like kind that has yet fallen under our observation. CARDINAL WrstmAN.—The new Cardinal has re ceived autograph letters of congratulation from the Emperor of Austria, the King of Bavaria, and the President of the French Republic. lERICAN NEWS. OPENING OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. PRESIDENT' MESSAGE. ARRIVAL OF THE NIAGARA. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 17. After an exceedingly stormy passage, the Royal Mail Steam-ship Niagara, Captain Stone, from New York direct, entered the Mersey shortly after nine o'clock this morning, with 52 passengers, specie and freight to the amount of 260,000 dollars, and the usual mails. The Niagara at ten minutes past four P.M. passed the United States Mail Steamer Arctic, forty miles east of New York, on the 4th, and the Asia on the following night, at :even P.M., 290 miles east of the same city. Yesterday, the Niagara, twenty miles east of Tuscar, spoke the Chimera, of Liverpool, dismasted ; offered to take off the crew, but they rr fused. The most important portion of the news relates to the opening of Congress, which took place on the 2d Inst. A quorum having been formed, both Houses organized, and a joint committee was appointed to wait upon President Fillmore to inform him that they were ready to receive any communication which he had to make to them. The committee returned in a short time, and reported that the President would communicate with both Houses without delay, and in a few minutes afterwards the regular annual Message was received and read. The following is a copy of THE MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Being suddenly called, in the midst of the last session of Congress, by a painful dispensation of Divine Provi dence, to the responsible station which I now hold, I contented myself with such communications to the Le- gislature as the exigency of tho moment seemed to re quire. The country was shrouded in mourning for the loss of its venerated chief magistrate, and all hearts were penetrated with grief. Neither the time nor the occasion appeared to require or to justify, on my part, any gene ral expression of political opinions, or any announce ment of the principles which would govern me in the discharge of the duties to the performance of which I had been so unexpectedly called. I trust, therefore, that it may not be deemed inappropriate if I avail my self of this opportunity of the re - assembling of Congress to make known my sentiments, in a general manner, in regard to the policy which ought to be pursued by the Government, both in its intercourse with foreign nations and in its management and administration of internal affairs. Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights, and owing certain duties to each other, arising from their necessary and unavoidable relations; which rights and duties there is no common human authority to protect and enforce. Still they are rights and duties, binding in morals, in conscience, and in honour, although there is no tribunal to which an injured party can appeal but the disin terested judgment of mankind and ultimately the arbi tration of the sword. _ Among the acknowledged rights of nations is that, which each possesses, of establishing that form of go vernment which it may deem most co n d uc i ve to the happiness and prosperity of i ts own citizens; of chang ing that form, as circumstances may require ; and o f managing its internal affairs according to its own will. The people of the United States claim this right for themselves, and they readily concede it to others. Hence it becomes au imperative duty not to interfere in the government or internal policy of other nations; and, although we may sympathise with the unfortunate or oppressed everywhere in their struggles for freedom, our principles forbid us from taking any part in such foreign contests. We make no wars to promote or to prevent successions to thrones—to maintain any theory of a balance of power, or to suppress the actual government which any country chooses to establish for itself. We instigate no revolution, nor suffer any military expedi tions to be fitted out in the United States to invade ter ritory or provinces of a friendly nation. The great law of morality ought to have a national, as well as a per sonal and individual application. We should act towards other nations as we wish them to act towards us; and justice and conscience should form the rule of conduct between governments, instead of mere power, self-in terest, or the desire of aggrandisement. To maintain a strict neutrality in foreign wars, to cultivate friendly re lations, to reciprocate every noble and generous act, and to perform punctually and scrupulously every treaty oh ligation,—these are the duties which ,we owe to other states, and by the performance of which we best entitle ourselves to like treatment from them; or if that, in any case, be refused, we can enforce our own rights with jus tice and a clear conscience. In our dome,tio policy .the constitution will be my guide, and in questions of doubt I shall look for its in terpretation to the judicial decisions of that tribunal which was established to expound it, and to the usage of the Government, sanctioned by the acquiescence of the country. I regard all the provisions as rgaaily binding In all its parts it is the will of the people, expressed in the most solid forms, and the constituted authorities are but agents to carry that will into effect. Every power whish it has granted is to bo exercised for the public good ; but no pretence of utility, no honest conviction even of what might be expedient, can justify the as sumption of any power not granted. The powers conferred upon the Government, and their distribution to the several departments, are as clearly expressed in that sacred instrument a s th e imperfection of human language will allow ; and I deem it my first duty not to question its wisdom, add to its provisions, evade its re quirements, or nullity its commands. Upon 3 ou, fellow-citizens, es the representatives of the States and the people, is wisely devolved the legis lative power. I shall comply with my duty in laying before you, from time to time, any information calcu lated to enable you to discharge your high and respon sible trust for the benefit of our common constituents. My opinions will be f ran kl y expresse d upon t h e lead ing subjects of legislati on; and if, wh i c h Id o not anti cipate, pass the me t u w n e co li n e s u ti s t e u s ti e o f nl C a e , encroachment on the ju s t powers of other departments, ieh any should A c t should appear to or with provisions hastily adopted and likely to produce consequences injurious and unforeseen, I should not shrink from the duty of returning it to you with my reasons for your further consideration. Beyond the due performance of these constitutional obligations, both my respect for the Legislatur e and my sense of propriety will restrain me from any attempt to control or influence your proceedings. With you is the power, the honour, the responsibility of the legislation of the country. The Government of the United States is a limited Government. It is confined to the exercise of powers expressly granted, and such others as may be necessary for carrying those powers into effect; and it is at all times an especial duty to guard against any infringe merit on the just rights of the States. Over the objects and subjects entrusted to Congress its legislative autho rity is supreme. But here that authority ceases, and every citizen who truly loves the constitution, and desires the continuance of its existence and its blessings, will resolutely and firmly resia any interference in those domestic affairs, which the constitution has clearly and uncquivocslly left to the exclusive authority of the states. And every such citizen will also deprecate useless irrita tion among the several members of the union, and all reproach and crimieation tending to alienate one portion of the country from another. Tie bsauty of our system of government consists, 'and its safety and durability must consist, in avoiding mutual collisions and encroach ments, and in the regular separate action of all, while each is revolving in its own distinct orbit. The constitution has made it the duty of the Presi dent to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In a government like ours, in which all laws are passed by a majority of the representatives of the people, and these representatives are chosen for such short periods that any injurious or obnoxious law can very soon be re pealed, it would appear unlikely that any great numbers should be found ready to resist the execution of the laws. But it must be borne in mind that the country is extensive; that there may be local interests or prejudices rendering a law odious to one part which is not so in another, and that the thoughtless and inconsiderate, mis led by their passions or imaginations, may be induced madly to resist such laws as they disapprove. Such per sons should re collect that without law there can be no re al practical liberty; that, when law is trampled under foot, tyranny rises, whether it appears in the form of a military despotism or of popular violence. The law is the only sure protection cf the weak, and only efficient restraint upon the strong. When impartially and faith fully admiuisterad none is beneath its protection, and none above its control. Yuu, gentlemen, and the coun- try may he assured that, to the utmost of my ability-, and to the extent of the power vested in me, I shall at all times, and in all places, take care that the la ws be faithfully exe cuted. In the discharge of this duty, solemnly imposed upon me by the Constitution, and by my oath of (Mice, I shall shrink from no responsibility, and shall endeavour to meet events as they may arise with firmness, its well as with prudence and discretion. The appointing power is one of the most delicate with which the Executive is invested. I regard it as a sacred trust, to be exercised with the sole view of advancing the prosperity and happiness of the people. It shall be my effort t) elevate the standard of official employment, by selecting for places of importance individuals fitted for the posts to which they are assigned, by their known integrity, talent, and virtues. In so extensive a coun try, with so great a population, and where few persons appointed to office can be known to the appointing power, mistakes will some times unavoidably happen, and unfortucate appointments be made, notwithstanding the greatest care. In such case, the power of removal may be properly exercised; and neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, will be no more tolerated in indi viduals appointed by myself, than in those appointed by others. FOREIGN RELATIONS. I am happy in being able to say that no unfavourable change in our foreign relations has taken place since the message at the opening of the last session of Congress. We are at peace with all nations, and we enjoy in an urninent degree the blessingif of that peace, in a pros p and growing commerce, and in all the forms of amicable national intercourse. The unexampled growth of the country, the present amount of its population, an..l its ample means of s:l-protection, assure for it the pro tection of all nations; whilst it is trusted that its eharae fer for justice, and a regard to the rights of other status, will caus e th a t respect to- be readily and cheerfully paid. DECEMBER 18, lB5O. To effect this all duties should be specific, wherever the nature of the article is such as to admit of it. Ad va lcron duties fluctuate with the price, and offer strews temptations to fraud and perjury. Specific duties, on tho contrary, are equal and uniform in all ports, and et all times, and offer a string inducement to 11w importer to bring the best article, as he pays no more duty upon that than upon one ce infer or quality. I therefore strongly recommend a modification of the present tariff, which has prostrated some of our most important and necessary manufactures, and that specific duties be im posed sufficient to raise the requisite revenue, Leaking such discrimination in fay, ur of the indusaial pursuits of our own country as to encourage home production without excluding foreign competition. It is also im portant that an unfortunate provision in the present tariff, which imposes a much higher duty upon the raw material that enters into our manufactures than upon the manufactuled article, should be remedied. The papers accompanying the report of the Secretary of the Treasury will disclose frauds attempted upon the revenue,in variety and amount so great, as to justify the conclusion that it is impossible, under any system of ad vatoico duties levied upon the foreign cost or value of the article, to secure an honest observance and an ef fectual administration of the laws. The fraudulent de vices to evade the law, which have been detected by the vigilance of the appraisers, leave no roem to doubt that similar impositions, not discovered, to a large amount, have been successfully practised since the enactment of the law now in force. This state of things has already had a prejudicial influence upon those engaged in foreign commerce. It has a tendency to drive the honest trader from the business of importing, and to throw that im portant branch of employment into the hands of unscru pulous and dishonest men, who are alike regardless of law and the obligations of an oath. By these means the plain intentions of Congres, as expressed in the law, are daily defeated. Every motive of policy and duty, therefore, impel me to ask the earnest attention cf Con gress to this subject. If Congress should deem it un wise to attempt any important changes in the system of levying duties at this season, it will become indispensa ble to the protection of the revenue that such remedies, as in the judgment of Congress may mitigate the evils complained of, should be at once applied. As before stated, specific duties would, in my opi nion, afford the most perfect remedy for this evil; but if you should not concur in this view, then, as a partial remedy, I beg leave respectfully to recommend that, in stead of taking the invoice of the article abroad as a means of determining its value here, the correctness of which invoice it is in many cases impossible to verify, the law be so changed as to require a home valuation, or appraisal, to be regulated in such manner as to give, as far as practicable, uniformity in the several ports. ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINT IN CALI- THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC CANAL. A convention was negotiated bt-tween the United States and Great Britain, in April last, for facilitating and protecting the construction of a ship canal be!creen ;he Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and for ofl er purposes. This it Etrument has since been ratified by the con tracting parties, the exchange of ratifications baa bean eft; eta d, and proclamation thereof has been duly made. In addition to the stipulations contained in this con vention, two other obkets remain to be accomplished between the contracting powers. First, the designation and establishment of a free port rt each end of the canal. Second, an agrennent fixing the distance from the shore within which bell4,Terent mnratime operations shall not be carried on. On these points there is little doubt that the two Governments will come to an under standing. THE NICARAGUA QUESTION. The company of citizens of the United States who have acquired from the State of Nicaragua the privilege of constructing a ship canal between the two oceans, though the territory of, that state, have made progress in their preliminary arrangements. The treaty between the United States and Great Britain of the 19th of April I •st above referred to being now in operation, it is to be hoped that the guarantees which it offers will be suffi cient to secure the completion of the work with all prac ticable expedition. It is obvious that this result would be indefinitely postponed if any other than peaceful mea sures, fn. the purpose of harmonising conflicting claims to territory in that quarter should be adopted. It will consequently be my endeavour to cause any further ne gotiations on the part of this Government, which may be requisite for this purpose, to be so conducted as to bring them to a speedy and successful close. Some unavoidable delay has occurred arising from distance and the difficulty of intercourse between this Government and that of Nicaragua, but as intelligence has just been received of the appointment of an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of that Go vernment to reside at Washington, whose arrival may soon be expected, it is hoped that no further impedi ments will be experienced in the prompt transaction of business between the two Governments. RAILROAD ACROSS THE ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC. Citizens of the United States have undertaken the connexion of the two oceans by means of a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under grants cf the Mexican Government to a citizen of that republic. It is understood that a thorough survey of the course of the communication is in preparation, and there is every reason to expect that it will be prosecuted with charac teristic energy, especially when that Government shall ' have consented to such stipulations with the Govern ment of the United States as may be necessary to impat t a feeling of security to those who may embark their pro perty in the enterprise. Negotiations are pending for the accomplishment of that object, and a hope is con fidently entertained that when the Government of Mexico shall becomo duly sensible of the advantages which that country cannot fail to derive from the work, and learn that the Government of the United States de sires that the right of sovereignty of Mexico in the Isthmus shall remain unimpaired, the stipulations re ferred to will be agreed to with alacrity. By the last ad vices from Mexico it would appear, how ever, that that Government entertains strong objections to some of the stipulations which the parties concerned in the project of the railroad deem necessary for their protection and security. Further considerrtion, it is hoped, or some modification of terms, may yet reconcile the differences existing between the two Governments in this reT:ct. Fresh instructions have recently been given to the MiLister of the United States in Mexico, who is prose cuting the subject with promptitude and ability. Although the negotiations with Portugal for the pay ment of claims of the citizens of the United States against that Government have not yet resulted in a formal treaty, yet a proposition made by the Govern ment of Portugal for the final adjustment and payment of those claims has recently been accepted on the part of the United States. It gives me pleasure to say that Mr. Clay, to whom the negotiation on the part of the United States has been entrusted, discharged the duties of his appointment with ability and discretion, acting always within the instructions of his Government. It is expected that a regular convention will be imme diately negotiated for carrying the agreement between the two Governments into effect. CONVENTION WITH BRAZIL. The Commissioner appointed under the Act of Con gres4 for carrying into etf,ct the convention with Brt,zil, of Jan. 27, 1849, has entered upon the performances of the duties imposed upon him by that Act. It is hoped that these duties may be completed within the time which it prescribes. The documents, however, which the Im perial Government, by the third article of the conven- • ti gin, stipulates to furnish to the Government of the United States, have not yet been received. As it is presumed that these documents will be essential fur the correct disposition of the claimg, it may become necessary for Congress to extend the period limited for the dura tion of the ec mmission. The sum stipulated by the fourth article of the convention to be paid to this Government has been received. PORT DUES ON VESSELS OF CHILI, &c. The collection in the ports of the United States of discriminating duties upon the vessels of Chili and their cargoes has been suspended, pursuant to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of May, 1828. It is to be hoped that this measure will impart a fresh im pulse to the commerce between the two countries, which of late, and especially since our acquisition of California, has, to the mutual advantage of the parties, become so augmented. Peruvian guano has become so desirable an article to the agricultural interests of the United States, that it is the duty of the Government to employ all the means properly in its power for the purpose of caus ing that article to be imported into the country at a reasonable price. Nothing will be omitted on my part towards accomplishing this desirable end. I am per suaded that in removing any restraints on this traffic, the Peruvian Government will promote its own best interest, while it will afford a proof of a friendly disposition towards this country, which will be duly appreciated. HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND ST. DOMINGO. The treaty between the United States and his Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, which has recently been made public, will, it is believed, have a beneficial effect upon the relations between the two countries. The relations between the parts of the island of St. Domingo, which were formerly colonies of Spain and France, respectively, are still in an unsettled condition. The proximity of that island to the United States, and the delicate questions involved in the existing contro versy there, render it desirable that it should be perma nently and speedily adjusted. The interests of hemanity and of general commerce also demand this; and, as inti mations of the same sentiments have been received from other Governments, it is hoped that some plan may be devised to effect the object in a manner likely to give general satisfaction. The Government of the United States will not fail, by the exercise of all proper friendly offices, to put an end to the destructive war which has raged between the different parts of the island, and to secure to them both the benefits of peace and commerce. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury for a detailed statement of the finances. The total receipts into the Treasury, for the year ending 30th of June last, was forty-seven millions four hundred and twenty-one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight dollars and ninety cents (d 0115.47,421,748,90). The total expenditures during the same period were forty-three millions two thousand one hundred and sixty eight dollars and ninety cents (dolls. 43,002,168 90). The public debt has been reduced since the last annual report from the Treasury department four hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred and seventy-six dol lers and seventy-nine cents (dolls. 495,276 79). By the 19th section of the Act of 28th of January, 1847, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands were pledged for the interest and principal of the public debt. The great amount of those subsequently granted by Congress for military bounties will, it is believed, very nearly supply the public demand for several years to come, and but little reliance can, therefore, be placed on that hitherto fruitful source of revenue. Aside from the permanent annual expenditures, which have necessarily largely increased, a portion of the public debt, amounting to 8,075,986 dolls. 59e., must be pro- vided for within the next two fiscal years. It is most desirable that these accruing demands should be mot without resorting to new loans. THE TARIFF QUESTION. All experience has demonstrated the wisdom end policy of raising a large portion of revenue, for the sup port of Government, from duties on goods imported. The power to levy those duties is unquestionable, and its chief object, of course, is to replenish the treasury. But if in doing this an incidental advantage may be gained by encouraging the industry of our own citizens, it.is our duty to avail ourselves of that advantage. A duty laid upon an article which cannot be produced in this country—such as tea or coffee—adds to the cost of the article, and is chiefly or wholly paid by the con sumer. But a duty laid upon an article which may be produced here stimulates the skill and industry of our own country to produce the same article, which is brought into the market in competition with the foreign article, and the importer is thus compelled to reduce his price to that at which the domestic article can be sold, thereby throwing a part of the duty upon the producer of the foreign article. The continuance of thi, process creates the skill, and invites the capital, which finally enables us to produce the article much cheaper than it could have been produced from abroad, thereby benefit ing both the producer and the consumer at home. The consequence of this is, that the artisan and the agricul turist sire brought together, each affords a ready market for the produce of the other, the whole country becomes prosperous; and the ability to produce every necessary of life renders us independent in war as well as in peace. A high tariff can never be permanent. It will cause dissatisfaction and will Le changed; it excludes compe tition, and thereby invites the investment of capital in manufactures to such excess that when changed it brings distress, bankruptcy, and ruin, upon all who have been misled by its faithless protection. What the manufacturer wants is uniformity and permanency, that he may feel a confidence that he is not to be ruined by sudden changes. But to make a tariff uniform and permanent, it is not only necessary that the law should not be altered, but that the duty should not fluctuate. FORNIA. There being no mint in California, I am informed that the labourers in the mines are compelled to dispose of their gold dust at a large discount. This appears to me to be a heavy and unjust tax upon the labour of those employed in extracting this precious metal; and I doubt not you will be disposed, at the earliest period possible, to relieve them from it by the establishment of a mint. In the meantime, as an assayer's office is es tablished there, I would respectfully submit for your consideration the propriety of authorising gold bullion, which has been assayed and stamped, to be received in payment of Government dues. I cannot con ceive that the treasury would suffer any loss by such a provision, which will at once raise bullion to its par value, and thereby save (if I am rightly informed) many millums of dollars to the labourers, which are now paid in brokerage to convert this precious metal into avail able funds. This discount upon their hard earnings is a heavy tax, and every effort should be made by the Government to relieve them from so great a burden. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Moro than three-fourths of our population are en gaged in the cultivation of the soil. The commercial, manufacturing, and navigating interests, are all to a great extent dependent on the agricultural. It is, there tore, the most important interest of the nation, and has a just claim to the fostering care and protection of the Government, so far as they can be extended consistently with the provisions of the constitution. As this cannot be done by the ordinary modes of legislation, I respect fully recommend the cEtabishment of a❑ agricultural bureau, to be charged with the duty of giv ing to phis leadirg branch of American in du,try the encouragement which it so well de serves. In view of the immense mineral resources of our country, provision should also be made for the em ployment of a competent raineralogiat and chemist, who should be required, under the direction of the head of the bureau, to collect specimens of the various minerals of our country, and to ascertain by careful analysis, their respective elements and proportions, and their adapta tion to useful purposes. He should also be required to examine and report upon the qualities of different soils, and the manures best calculated to improve their pro ductiveness. By publishing the results of such experi ments, with suitable explanations, and by the collection and distribution of rare seeds and plants, with instruc tions as to the best system of culthatioa, much may be done to promote this great national interest. THE LATE CENSUS. In compliance with the Act of Congress, passed on the 23d of May, 1850, providing, among other things, or taking the seventh census, a superintendent was ap pointed, and all other measures adopted which were deemed necessary to insure the prompt and faithful performance of that duty. The appropriation already made will, it is believed, be sufficient to defray the whole expenses of the work, but further legislation may be necessary in regard to the compensation of some of the marshals of the territories. It will also be proper to make provision by law, at an early day, for the publica tion of such abstracts of the returns as the public in terests mry require. TERRITORIES ON THE PACIFIC. Tie unprecedented growth of our territories on the Pacific in wealth and population, and the consequent increase of their social and commercial relations with the Atlantic States, seems to render it the duty of the Government to use all its constitutional power to im prove the means of intercourse with them. The im portance of " opening a line of communication, the best and most expeditious of which the nature of the country will admit," between the valley of the Mississippi and the Pacific, was brought to your notice by my prede ces,sor i❑ his annual message, and as the reasons which he presented in favour of the measure still exist in full force. I beg leave to call your attention to them and to repeat the recommendations then made by him. The uncertainty which exists in regard to the validity of land titles in California is a subject which demands your early consideration. Large bodies of land in that State are claimed under grants said to have been made by authority of the Spanish and Mexi can Governments. Many of these have not been per fected, others have been revoked, and some are be lieved to be fraudulent. But until they shall have been judicially investigated, they will continue to retard the settlement and improvement of the country. I, there fore, respectfully recommend that provision be made by law for the appointment of commissioners to examine all such claims with a view to their final adjustment. I also beg leave to call your attention to the propriety cf extending, at an early day, our system of land laws, with such modifications as may be necessary, over the state of California and the territories of Utah and New Mexico. The mineral lands of California will, of course, ' form an exception to any general system which may be adopted. Various methods of disposing of them have been suggested. I was at ;first inclined to favour the system of Is acing, as it seemed to promise the largest revenue to the Government, and to elOrd the best secu rity against monopolies; but further refLetion, and our experience in leasing the lead-mines and selling lands upon credit, have brought my mind to the conclusion, that there would be great difficulty in collecting the rents, and that the rela tiens of debtor and creditor between the citizens and the Government would be attended with many mischie vous consequences. I therefore recommend that, instead of retaining the mineral lands under the permanent con trol of the Government, they be divided into small par eels and sold, under such restrictions, as to quantity and time, as will insure the best price, and guard most effec tually against combinations of capitalists to obtain mono polies. THE INDIAN TRIBES. The annexation of Texas, and the acquisition of Ca lifornia and New Mexico, have given increased import ance to our Indian relations. The various tribes brought under our jurisdiction by these enlargements of our boundaries are estimated to embrace a population of 124,000. Texas and New Mexico are surrounded by powerful tribes of Indians, who are a source of constant terror and annoyance to the inhabitants. Separating into small predatory bands, and always mounted, they overrun the country, devast a ti ng f arms, destroy i ng crops, driving off whole herds of cattle, and occasionally murdering the inhabitant s or carry i ng t h em into captivity. The great roads leading into the country are infested with them, whereby travelling is rendered extremely dangerous, and immigration is al• most entirely arrested. The Mexican frontier, which, by the 11th article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, we are bound to protect against the Indians within our borders, is exposed to those incursions equally with our own. The military force stationed in that country i (al though forming a large proportion cf our army) s re presented as entirely inadequate to our own protection, and the ful fi lment of our treaty stipulations with Mexico. The principal deficiency is in cavalry, and I recommend that Congress should, at as early a period as practicable, provide for the raising of cne or more regiments of mounted men. For further suggestions on this subject, and others connected with our domestic interests, and the defence of our frontier, I refer you•to the report of the Secre- tary of the Interior and the Secretary of War. THE AWAY AND NAVY. I commend also to your favourable consideration the suggestion contained in the last-mentioned report, and in the letter of the General. in-Chief, relative to the es tablishment of an asylum for the relief of disabled and destitute soldiers. This subject appeals so strongly to your sympathies, that it would be superfluous in me to say anything more than b are ly to express my cordial approbation of the proposed object. The navy continues to give protection to our com merce and other national interests in the different quar ters of the globe, and, with the exception of a single steamer on the north ern l a k es, the vessels in comm i ssion are distributed in six different squadrons. The report of the head of that department will ex hibit the services of these squadrons, and of the se veral vessels employed in each during the past year. It is a source of gratification that, while they have been_ constantly prepared f or an y hostile emergency, they have e e l v l e t r o y t w h h e e d r e ig m n i e t t with yas to the the respect peaceful ns due, and just purposes of the nation. rft ( The two brigantines accepted by theoQi4;linittu'—' - - a generous citizen of Neve York, and — lakedirader.the command of an offs •er of the navy t .pWied-ett j the t Arctic seas in quest o: the Brithh coin. dbr, 5ir,1349, Franklin, and his companions,in complier' with the!Ael had,h ejL_"lis heard ar Congress, from, a penetrated proved ilent flay a high last ;lortlierffa.l. Etta& but the success o' this noble and humane enterprise is : et uncertain. I invite your attention to the view of our present naval establishment and resources presented in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and the suggestions therein made for its improvement, together with the naval policy ec om men de d for the security of our Pacific coast, and the protection and extension of our commerce with East ern Asia. Our facilities for a larger participation in the trade of the east, by means of our recent settlements on the shores of the Pacific, are too obvious to be over looked or disregarded. The questions in relation to rank in the army and navy, and relative rank between officers of the two branches of the service, presented to the Executive by certain rerolutions of the House of Representatives, at the last session of Congress, have been submitted to a board of officers in each branch of the service, and their report may be expected at an early day. I also earnestly recommend the enactment of a law authorising efficers of the army and navy to he retired from the service, when incompetent for its vigorous and active duties, taking care to make suitable pro vision for those who have faithfully served their coun try, and awarding distinctions, by retaining in appro priate commands those who have been particularly conspicuous for gallantry and good conduct. While feeling the obligation of the country to maintain and honour those who, to the exclusion of other pursuits, have devoted themselves to its hazardous service, this obligation should not be permitted to interfere with the efficiency of the service itself. I am gratified in being able to state that the estimates of expenditure for tho navy in the ensuing year are less, by more than one million of dollars, than those of the present, excepting the appropriation which may become necessary for the construction of a dock on the coast of the Pacific, propositions for which are now being con sidered, and on which a special report may be expected early in your present session. There is an evident justness in the suggestion of the same report, that appropriations for the naval service proper should be separated from those for fixed and per monent objects, such as building docks and navy yards, and the fixtures attached; and from the extraordinary objects under the care of the department which, how ever important, are not essentially naval. A revision of the code for the government of the navy seems to require the immediate consideration of Con gress. Its system of crimes and punishments had under gone no change for half a century until last session, though its defects have been often and duly pointed out, and the abolition of a particular species of corporal punishment, which then took place, without providing any substitute, has left the service in a state of defec tiveness, which calls for prompt correction. I therefore recommend that the whole subject be revised without delay, and such a system established for the enforcement of discipline as shall be at once humane and effectual. TUE POST. OFFICE. The accompanying report of the Postmaster-General presents a satisfactory view of the oparationa and con dition of that department. At the close of the last fiscal year the length of the inland mail routes in the United States (not embracing the service in Oregon and California) was 178,672 miles; the annual transportation thereon 46,541,423 miles; and the annual cost of such transportation 2,724,426 dollars. The increase of the annual transportation over that of the preceding year was 3,997,3i4 miles; and the increase in cost was 342,440 dollars. The number of post offices in the United States, on the Ist day of July last, was 18,417—being an increase of 1,670 during the preceding year. The gross revenues of the department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1850, amounted to 5,552,971 dolls. 48 cents, including the annual appropriation 200,000 dolls. for the franked matter of the departments, and ex cluding the foreign postages collected for and payable to the British Government. The expenditures for the same period were 5,212,953 dolls. and 43 cents, leaving a balance of revenue over ex penditures of 340,018 dolls. and 5 cents. I am happy to fiad that the fiscal condition of the de p:atment is such as to justify the Postmaster-General in recommending the reduction of our inland letter post age to 3 cents the single letter when prepaid, and 6 cents when not prepaid. He also recommends that the pre paid rate shall be reduced to 2 cents whenever the revenues of the department, after the reduction, shall exceed its expenditures by more than 5 per cent. for two consecutive years; that the postage upon Cali fornia and other letters sent by our ocean steamers shall be much reduced, and that the rates of postage on news papers, pamphlets, periodicals, and other printed matter, shall be modified, and some reduction thereon made. It cannot be doubted that the proposed reductions Kill for the present diminish the revenues of the depart ment. It is believed that the deficiency, after the sur plus already accumulated shall be exhausted, may be almost wholly met either by abolishing the existing pri vih Fs of 6,nding free matter through the mails, or by raying Out of the Treasury to the Post-office department a sum equivalent to the postage of which it is deprived by such privileges. The last is supposed to be the pre ferable inode, and will, if not entirely, so nearly supply that deficiency as to make any further appropriation that may be found necessary so inconsiderable as to form no obstacle to the proposed reductions. PUBLIC WORKS. I enterbin no doubt of the authority of Congress to make cppropriations for leading objects in that class of puLlic woile.l comprising what are usually called works of internal improvement. This authority I suppose to he derived chiefly from the power of regulating com merce with foreign nations, and among the states, and the power of layi ng an d co ll ect i ng imposts. Where commerce is to be carried on and imposts collected, there must be ports and harbours, as well as wharfs and cus tom-houses. If ships, laden with valuable cargoes, ap proach the shore, or sail along the coast, light-houses are necessary at suitable points for the protection of life and property. Other facilities and securities for com merce and navigation are hardly less important; and those clauses of the constitution, therefore, to which I have referred, have received from the origin of the Government a liberal and beneficial construc tion. Not only have light-houses, buoys, and bea cons been established, and floating lights main tained, but harbours have been cleared and improved, piers constructed, and oven breakwaters for the safety of shipping, and sea walls to protect harbours from being filled up, and rendered useless by the action of the ocean, have been erected at very great expense. And this construction of the constitution appears the more reasonable from the consideration, that if these works, of such evident importance and utility, are not to be ac complished by Congress, they cannot be accomplished at all. By the adoption of the constitution, the several states voluntarily parted with the power of collecting duties of impost in their own ports, and it is not to be expected that they should raise money, by internal taxa tion, direct or indirect, fur the benefit of that commerce, the revenues derived from which do not, either in whole or in part, go into their own treasuries. Nor doI perceive any difference between the power of Congress to make appropriations for objects of this kind on the ocean and the power to make appropria tions for similar objects on lakes and rivers wherever they are large enough to bear on their waters an extensive traffic. The magnificent Mississippi and its tributaries, and the vast lakes of the north and north-west, appear to me to fall within the exercise of the power, as justly and as clearly as the ocean and the Gult of Mexico. It is a mistake to regard expenditures judiciously made for these objects as expenditures for local purposes. The position or site of the work is necessarily local; but its utility is general. A ship canal aroend the falls of St. Mary, of less than a mile in length, though local in its construction, would yet be national in its purpose and its benefits; as it would re move the only cbstruction to a navigation of more than a thousand miles, affecting several states, as well as our commercial relations with Canada. So, too, the break water at the mouth of the Delaware is erected, not for the exclusive benefit of the states bordering on the bay and river of that name, but for that of the whole coastwise navigation of the United States, and, to a considerable extent, also, of foreign commerce. If a ship be lost on the bar, at the entrance of a southern port, for want of sufficient depth of water, it is very likely to be a northern ship; and if a steam-boat be sunk in any part of the Mississipi, on account of its channel not hav ing been properly cleared of obstructions, it may be a boat belonging to either of eight or ten states. I may add, as somewhat remarkable, that among all the 31 states there is none that is not, to a greater or less ex tent, bounded on the ocean, or the Gulf of Mexico, or one of the great lakes, or some navigable river. In fulfilling our constitutional duties, fellowcitisens, on this subject, as in carrying into effect all other powers conferred by the constitution, we should consider ourselves as deliberating and acting for one and the same country, and bear con s t an tly in mind that our re gard and our duty are due, not to a particular part only, but to the whole. I therefore recommend that appropriations be made for completing such works as have been already begun, and for commencing such others as may seem to the wis• dom of Congress to be_of public and general importance. SETTLEMENT OF PRIVATE CLAIMS. The difficulties and delays incident to the settlement of private claims by Congress, amo un t i n many cases to a denial of justice. There is reason to apprehend that many unfortunate creditors of the Govern ment have thereby been unavoidably ruined. Congress has so much business of a publics character that it is impossible it should give much attention to mere private claims, and their accumulation is now so great that many claimants must despair of ever being able to obtain a bearing. It may well be doubted whether Congress, from the nature of its organ izstion, is properly constituted to decide upon such cases. It is impossible that each member should ex amine the merits of every claim on which he is com pelled to vote; and it is p re p osterous to ask ajudge to decide a case which he has never heard. Such deci sions may, and frequently must, do injustice either to the claimant or the Government, and I perceive no better remedy for this growing evil than the establish ment of some tribunal to adjudicate upon such claims. I beg leave, therefore, most respectfully to recommend that provision bo made by law for the appointment of a commission to settle all private claims against the United States; and as an ex parte hearing must in all contested cases be very unsatisfactory, I also recommend the appointment of a solicitor, whose duty it shall be to represent the Government before such commission, and protect it against all illegal, fraudulent, or unjust claims, which may be presented for their adjudication. This district, which has neither voice nor vote in your deliberations, looks to you for protection and aid, and I