The Sun. — London, England, 1851-02-25 00:00:00

rThe following appeared in our Third Edition of .I.t night THE NEW MINISTRY. Our anticipations with respect to the probable rmation of a New Ministry based on the coali tion of men of Liberal principles, whether Conserva tive or otherwise, are being realized. Lord Jowl RUSSELL is now engaged in selecting his future coadjutors for carrying out the principles of Reform and Free Trade in an enlightened spirit. We heartily wish him success in his la bours so long as he has the true interests of the country at heart—totally irrespective of party, sectional, or class interest. The good of the country is paramount to all selfish interests, be they aristocratical or plebeian, and while Lord JOHN RussEr.r, acts on that national principle he shall hare our support, but not other wise. The House of Commons was crowded to excess, and the avenues leading to it were full of people eager to learn the issue of the Ministerial crisis. ----- Lord STANLEY was unable to form a Ministry. VICINITY OF THE lIOUSE THIS EVENING. The greatest excitement prevailed in the neighbour hood of both Houses this evening, owing to the general expectation that information could be obtained which would unravel the mystery at present overhanging the Ministerial crisis, and give some notion as to the pro bable successors of the Whig Administration. Opposite the entrance to the House of Commons an immense con course of persons had assembled to witness the arrival of the different Members, and they evinced the greatest anxiety to catch even at the slightest of the many rumours which were flying about in all directions. The excitement was increased towards half-past four by carriages driving rapidly and in quick succession, down Whitehall and Parliament-street, to the House of Commons. One of the rumours which seemed to be generally believed was, that though there would be a change in the Ministry, Lord John Russell would still hold the pct of Prime Minister. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 24. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Wool s.eck at Five o'clock. CHLOROFORM. Lord CAMPBELL introduced a Bill for punishing persons who criminally make use of chloroform and other stupifying poisons. He proposed that a first offence should be punished with imprison ment, and a second offence with transportation. He re gretted to be obliged to extend the criminal code, but new crimes called for new punishment. The Bill was then read a first time. PETITION S. The Earl of ST. GERMANS presented several peti- 'ions in favour of the Marriage Bill. The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented several petitions from places in Scotland against the Marriage Lord BROUGHAM presented several petitions in favour of the exten,ion of County Courts Bill. The Earl of HARDWICKE presented several peti ti3ns from Cambridgeshire praying for protection to the agricultural interest. The Earl of lIARROWBY presented several peti tions against Papal aggression. CERTIORARIS FROM THE COUNTY COURTS. Lord BROUGHAM drew the attention of their Lord ships to the returns which had been made of the writs of certiorari which had been issued to remove causes from the county courts to the superior courts. They had been few in number, and he concluded, therefore, that the judgments of the county courts had given general satisfaction. MINISTERIAL CRISIS. The Marquis of ,LANSDOWNE rose and said My Lords, I rise for the purpose of moving that .I:hia House at its rising do adjourn to Friday next. I feel that in proposing this adjournment, it is due to the House, with regard to the present state of public affairs, that I should state all the information which I can properly communicate to your Lordships. I have, therefore, to inform your Lordships that on Friday last, in conse quence of what had taken place on Thursday in ttse other House of Parliament, her Majesty's servants c,nsidered it their deity to tender their resignations to her M&jesty on that day. Some of her Majesty's servants—l myself among that number—were absent from town at the time, bat on Saturday we determined to tender our resignations to her Majesty. On th e same day her Majesty sent to the Noble Lord oppo alto, and he, as I understood, after due cansideration, informed her Majesty that he was not prepared to construct a Government. My Noble Friend late at the head of the Government was then sent for by her Majesty, and ho is now engaged in reconstructing the Government. This is the present state of affairs. All I can state at present is, that my Noble Friend la'ely at ►he head of the Government has, on redaction, thought that it is a duty which he owes to her Majesty, and to the public to attempt the recon struction of a Government. Beyond this I shall say nothing—l speak as the member of a Government which exists no longer. I hold office nominally only; I repeat I am only in office so long as our suc cessors shall not be appointed, and that therefore at present I am not in a position to make any further mmunication to your Lordships. Lord STANLEY—I will make no opposition to the motion of the Noble Marquis. Your Lordships will understand that it is at present imposseible fur me, under the circumstances of the country, to enter into any details on the subject to which the Noble Marquis had alluded; I have only to say that when I waited upon her Majesty and had the offer made to me to construct a Ministry, I laid before her Majesty wholly and unreservedly all my views. Nothing could exceed the graciousness, the condescension, indeed I may say the kindness, with which her Majesty received my communications ; but of what passed at that interview, and what was the advice as a Privy Councillor I tendered to her Majesty, of course I cannot at present say one single word. When the time shall come—when this political crisis shall be passed over—then I shall be prepared to state, fully and unreservedly, to the House and to the country the advice which I tendered, and the course which, as a public man and a Privy Councillor, I recommended her Majesty to pursue. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE agreed that it would be the duty of the Noble Lord, on a fitting oc casion, to fully and fairly state what had passed. With regard to himself, he had only stated facts of which he was cognizant, and he trusted, therefore, that their Lordships would accede to his motion. MARRIAGE BILL. The Earl of ST. GERMANS trusted that their Lord ships would see no objection in sitting to-morrow, in order to discuss the motion for the second reading o f the Marriage Bill, a measure which is not at 1 0 .1 connected with politics, but which is of great social tinportance. Lord CAMPBELL wished most strongly to impress upon their Lordships the importance of allowing the discussio n to come on to-morrow night. There W 35 nothing political in it, and he fully concurred in the pro priety of abstaining from political discussion till Friday. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, on the understand ing that no political matter should be introduced into the discussion to-morrow, would withdraw his motion. The proposition for meeting on the following (this) d ay, t o proceed with the second reading of the Mar rie.ges Bill, was then formally agreed to. COUNTY COURTS. his motion with re- L or d BROUGHAM postponed spot to the County Courts, which stod on the paper for Thursday, till Monday. THE NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR. Lord LANGDALE moved the second reading o f th e PA for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor, whi c h was agreed to. CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL. Lord CAMPBELL nominated the Committee to which this Bill was to be referred, and their Lordships then adj3urhed- TIOUSE OF CO.IIIIIOIVS, Feb. 24. The TiI'EAK ER too k t h e Chair at Four o'c lock, when th was au uuusuAlly large numbers of' Members attendance. NEW MEMBER. Mr. SMITH Cumn took the oatha and his seat for North Staffordshire. SECOND READINGS. The following Bills Were read a second time, asid ordered to be committed: — Bala Pool. Briton Ferry, Docks, and Railway. Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and ,Loughor Railway. Christchurch (Southwark) Parish. ~ . =~~• THE SUN, Great Western Railway (Arrangements with reference to the Purchase, &c. , of the W ilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railways). Killarney and Valencia Railway. London and Blackwall Railway (from London and Blackwell Extension Railway to Tilbury, &c.) Manchester Waterworks. Manchester Improvement. Mary port and Carlisle Railway. Midland Railway (Purchase of Leeds and Bradford Railway and Increase of Capital). Richmond and Lancaster Turnpike Road (Western District) Continuation of Term, &c. Sheffield and Glossop Road. Tenterden and Woodchurch Roads. Wiveliscombe Turnpike Roads. The second readings of the following Bills were post poned:—Buckingbam's Compensation Bill, which was ordered to be read a second time on Monday next, European and American Printing Telegraph Company, &c., Bill, Metropolitan Cattle Market Bill, and the Sub marine Telegraph Company, between England and France, Bill. PETITIONS. Lord GEORGE MANNERS presented a petition from a place in Leicestershire, signed by 700 owners and occupiers of land, complaining of agricultural distress ; also two petitions from the same county against the Papal aggression. Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL presented a number of pe titions from all parts of Ireland against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Mr. P. HOWARD presented two petitions from places in Northumberland to the same effect. Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from a place in Oxfordshire against the admission of Jews into Par liament. Mr. W. 0. STANLEY presented a petitiom from Cheshire in favour of the establishment of county financial boards. Mr. W. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Fins bury praying for the repeal of the window-tax. The Earl of ARUNDEL and SURREY presented a pe tition from Durham against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. Colonel SIBTHORP presented a petition from Lin coln complaining of agricultural distress. Mr. WAKLEY presented a petition from Finsbury praying for the repeal of the window-tax. Mr. 0. HIGGINS presented a petition from the town of Westport against any interference with the doctrine, discipline, or practice of the Roman Catholic Church; also from the same place praying for the establishment of religious equality in Ireland, by a more proper appli cation of the funds of the Established Church; also from the Neale, Louisburgb, Kilyerver, and various other places in the county of Mayo, against the Eccle siastical Titles Bill. Mr. REYNOLDS presented a petition from a parish in Dublin to the same effect; also petitions with a simi lar prayer from the corporation of Drogheda, and other places in Ireland; and a number of petitions praying for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge. Mr. R. M. FOl presented a petition from Longford against the Papal Aggression Bill. Lord DUNCAN presented several petitions praying for the repeal of the window-tax. Mr. MONSELL presented petitions from Limerick against the Papal Aggression Bill. Lord D. STUART presented a petition praying for the total repeal of the window-tax, and against the sub stitution of the house-tax. Mr. WYLD presented a petition against the paper duties. Mr. WILSON presented a petition against the win dow duties. Mr. P. WOOD presented a petition against the paper duty. Mr. HUME presented a petition praying for a modifi cation of the income-tax, and another against the Bible monopoly. APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE AT HALF PAST FOUR O'CLOCK. At half-past four o'clock both sides of the House were nearly filled, but the Opposition benches appeared to be more closely packed. The Members' and strangers' gal leries were also crowded. The whole of the Ministers, with the exception of Lord J. Russell, Lord Palmerston, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer hac by this time taken their seats on the Mi nisterial benches. The buzz arising from the almost generally suppressed ton© of conversation carried on in all parts of the House prevented the reporters catching distinctly the prayers of the different petitions which were presented. ELEVATION OF SIR J. C. HOBHOUSE TO TELE PEERAGE. Mr. 11AYfrt, whose appearance at the table pro clued an alde t t instantaneous silence in the House, said—Mr. Speaker, I have to move for a new writ for the e lection of a Member for the borough of Harwich, in the room of the Right Hon. Sir John Cam fiobhouse, who has accepted the office of steward of the Chilterr. Hundreds. —(Loud laughter.) Hon. Mestsbers having now finished presenting peti tions, the House remained for more than a quarter of at hour without any business to occupy it. All the Ca binet Ministers had now arrived, with the excep tion of the First Lord of the Treasury, whoa( usual seat by the side of Lord Palmerston rs mained vacant, when some considerable amuse ment was excited in the House by Mr. Moncktoi Milnes, who having just entered the House and per ceiving the vacant place unwit;ingly seated himself in it. apparently for the purpose of conversing with Lord Palmerston. This movement w sss received with loud laughter on all sides, apparently as j i saluting the Hon. Member as the future Paula Minister, and clearing away the mystery which has enveloped the political work during the last day or two. Lord Joust RUSBELL entered the Holse at five minutes to five, and was received with cheers from both sides of the House. The noise of conversation which had previously filled the House was now hushed, and, amidst deep silence the SPEAKER called on the Clerk to read the Orders of th Day. The Improvement of Towns (Ireland) Bill was or dered to be read a second time this day fortnight. The announcement of the title of this Bill caused con siderable amusement. The Metropolitan Buildings Bill was also ordered to be read a second time this day fortnight. MINISTERIAL CRISIS. On the motion for going into Committee of Ways and Means, Lord JOHN RUSSELL rose amid deep silence, and spoke as follows:—I promised the House on Friday night that I would on this day state the reasons that induced me to propose the adjournment of the Committee of Ways and Means until the present time. I now rise to acquit myself of that promise. The House will remember that imme iiiately after the commencement of the present session a motion was made by the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Buckinghamshire, calling upon her Majesty's Mi nisters to take immediate measures for the relief of the distress existing among the owners and occupiers of land. Every Member of the House, every person in the country, must have considered that that motion was a motion to take the conduct of the Government out of the hands of the present Ministers. The Hon. Gentleman the Member for Buckinghamshire took a perfectly Parliamentary course upon that subject, and I do not in the slightest degree complain of that course, I only state what must have been the effect of that motion in the view of every person if it had been successful. No less than 269 Members of this House voted for that motion, and 283 against it, and there was therefore a majority of 14 of those !persons who were present in the House who voted with the Government upon that occasion. Upon a question like that, brought forward with hostility to the Government, at the very commencement of the session, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given notice of hi s intention to bring forward his financial statement two nights after, it was evident that a majority of fourteen only must tend to weaken a Govern ment which was left in such a situation. It appeared to me, however, that although that majority was small, yet if there was a determination in all the Members of it to maintain those principles of financial po licy which, in fact, was the real question attacked by the motion of that day, that that union might have made up for the smallness of the majority, and the Government still have conducted successfully the affairs of the country. Had it not been for those circumtances I did think that the position which the Ministry held might make up for the evil effect of the smallness of the majority, but I considered that the time at which that majority was obtained, and the circumstances in which it placed us, would in all probability place us in constant difficulty. It exhibited in the Go vernment a weakness with which a Government ought not to be embarrassed. Close upon that came the divi sion of the other evening. It did appear to me that the lateness of the hour and the weakness of the House might possibly justify the Ministers in carrying on the Government at any other period; but in the circum stances in which we were placed by the minority on the part of the Government, I did consider it my duty to tender our resignations to her Majesty.—(Hear.) W e might possibly have been able to bring forward other measures which would have neutralized the effect of that majority ; but with the threatened measure of the income-tax, anti with this minority before us at this time, I did not conceive that I could come to any other conclusion than that even if we overcame the difficulties by which we were surrounded, it would be possible for the Government to pass through the session successfully. —(Hear, hear.) To attempt to do se would, in my con ception, have been equally disadvantageous to the country and the House. This circumstance over weighed in my mind the consideration of the smallness of the majority by which vre were supported on the motion of the Hon. Member for Buckingham shire, though even that would have been a matter of serious moment at any time. I thought, and stated it to my colleagues, that it was my opinion that it was our duty to tender our resignations to her Majesty. My colleagues agreed with me, but at the time one of the principal and most important members of the Govern ment was absent from London—the Marquis of Lansdowne having left town on Thursday night, for his seat at Bowood, Wiltshire. I communicated with him, but he did not arrive in town until Satur day morning. That was the reason why I did not earlier tender our resignations to her Majesty. The Marquis of Lansdowne perfectly agreed with me and our colleagues, and on obtaining his opinion I immediately repaired to Buckingham Palace and presented our resignations to her Majesty, which her Majesty was most graciously pleased to receive, and informed me that it was her intention to send for Lord Stanley to form the Government. In the course of the afternoon I received a message requiring my attendance at Buckingham Palace. On arriving there her Majesty informed me that Lord Stanley had stated to her that he was unable to make a Cabinet, and her Majesty then directed me to reconstruct a Government .—(llear.) I thought it my duty to state to her Majesty—although I assured her that I would use my utmost endeavours to accomplish that object—that she must be aware there would be great difficulties in the completion of such a task.—(Hear, hear.) There are great difficulties in that task. I do not consider it my duty, after what has taken place, to enter into any discussion, or to say anything further respecting what arrangements may be made—(Loud cries of " Hear")—but I shall merely move that the House do now adjourn till Friday next, when I shall be prepared to state what steps I have taken for the reconstruction of the Cabinet.—(The Noble Lord sat down amidst cheers from both sides of the House.) Mr. DISRAELI said—Sir, it not my intention to trouble the House with any lengthened remark after the statement of the Noble Lord.—(Hear, hear.) It is most true, indeed it is a matter of public notoriety that Lord Stanley has had an audience of her Majesty, and when Lord Stanley has received the gracious permission of her Majesty to state what transpired at the audience, he will do so in a constitutional manner from his place in Parliament. — (Hear, hear.) But, Sir, there is one observation in the statement of the Noble Lord which I feel it my duty not to let pass unnoticed on this occasion.—(Hear.) Sir, when the Noble Lord states that Lord Stanley stated to her Majesty that he was not prepared to form an Ad ministration — Lord J. RUSSELL—Not then prepared to form an Administration. Mr. DISRAELI—The correction of the Noble Lord does not at all affect the statement I am about to make to the House. Now I have to express my conviction that when the Noble Lord said that Lord Stanley had stated to her Majesty that he was not prepared then to form an Administration, the Noble Lord made a statement to the House which, upon further reflection, I think he will acknowledge is not founded upon what really took place.—(Cheers from the Opposition.) Lord J. RUSSELL said—Sir, after what the Hon. Gentleman has stated I think it necessary to make a single observation.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") The Honourable Gentleman is no doubt correct when he states that Lord Stanley will, at the proper time, and when he has obtained her Majesty's most gracious per mission to do so, give an explanation of what took place et the interview between the Noble Lord and his Sove reign, and my opinion is that Lord Stanley's statement will bear out what I have already said, namely, that he was not then prepared to form an Administration. — (Hear, hear, from the Treasury benches.) Mr. ROEBUCK said—Sir, before the motion for ad journment is put, I am anxious to make one single observation upon the extraordinary state of iffairs in which we are at present placed.—(Hear, near.) The Noble Lord has moved that we should adjourn to Friday, and the Noble Lord is *bout to construct a Cabinet without the House of Com mons having the slightest opportunity to express any opinion of its own upon the subject. Her Majesty, we are told, has been obliged, if I may so use the phrase, to send for somebody to make an Administration, and that step has hitherto failed. Now, Sir, Ido hope that the Noble Lord who has hitherto acted as the leader, not eimply of a great party in this House, but also as being the representative of a great principle, gill not forget in all the proceedings about to take place that that principle is now in his hand, and that in e great measure whatever will hereafter take place with respect to that great principle of financial arrangement in this country, its existence will depend upon the pro ceedings which he is to take, and upon him will rest the responsibility if we are again called upon to right the battle of free trade.—(Great cheering.) The motion for the adjournment to Friday was then put and carried, and the House, which was full to over flowing, immediately adjourned. PUBLIC WOOL SALES. The extreme rates to the close of Saturday's sale were: -Australian sheep's clam), Is. to 11d.; skin, Bd. to Is. 211. Port Philip sheep's clean, Is. ld. to Is. 7d. ; ,coured, ls. 2d. to Is. 11-kd. ; and lambs', ls. 3,/'l. to 13.80. Van Dieman's Land sheep's clean, Is. 3d. to Is. 7d.; scoured, Is. sd. to ls. 80.; and lambs', Is. 30. to Is. 111 d. Cape sheep's clean, 40. to Is. 50.; and lambs', Is. to Is. 4d. East India sheep's clean, 6/1. to 7d. Merino, lid, to Is. 00. Italian, 80. to Is. 6d.; and some German, Is. 4d. The quantity of Wool that has been offered this even ' ing is 738 bales of Australian, 319 of Van Dieman's Lind, 91 of Port Philip and Portland Bay, 36 of s o oth Australian, 139 of Cape, 58 of German, and 8 6 of goats' wool. Australian sheep's clean has realist d Is. lid. to Is. 70., scoured is. 4d. to is. 70., super 1.% Bd., and lambs' clean and scoured Is. Id. to Is. , creasy 60. to 100. Van Dieman's Land sheep's 7d. sold at la. ld. to Is. 60., lambs' at ls. 6d. and is. 7d., ctiped at Is. 20. to ls. 40, Cape scoured sold at Is. Id. i 1..) Is. 411., and lambs' at Is. Id. Port Philip, 15.; scoyed, Is. 60. to Is. 90., and lambs', Is. 40. to Is. 7,?, South Australian, scoured and clean, ls. 2d. to :s. sd. German Is. id. to is. sd. Turkey goats' wool Is. 7d. to ls. Bd. To-morrow afternoon the series will be concluded, and the country buyers have already made arrangements to leave immediately afters, by d lars the different trains. Some have already quitted i'cJondon. EXTENSIVE ADULTERATIONS We are gratified to learn that at length there is a pro oability of this subject being taken ap . in good earnest. The many extensive adulterations in articles of food, &c., has by recent investigations and Governmental convic tions, become so public, that the necessity of some pre ventative measures has been generally acknowledged. In Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Liverpool, petitions to the Go vernment are being actively signed, with the view of urging the Board of Inland Revenue to adopt efficient measures on the subject of the adulteration of coffee, and to protect honest dealers by prohibiting as far as pos sible the vending of the noxious manufactures usually sold under that name. The Lancet reports the result of forty-three examinations of pepper, a great proportion of which yielded an abundant supply of linseed, mustard, pea flour and sago meal; and upon this matter we are as sured that her Majesty's Commissioners are determined to use every effort to bring the offenders to the punish ment they so justly deserve. There are, however, many other articles equally adulterated in which the vigilance of the Exaiso officers, however needed, is seldom or never exercised. These are products paying merely a nominal duty, and consequently of no very great importance to the public revenue. It unfortunately happens that many of the articles thus left to the mercy of dishonest traders are of a peculiar description, and especially require protection against adulteration, from the fact of heir use generally being, in critical cases, such as the ~!eatment or food of invalids, &c. A couple of instances, ?icked from a great many, will serve to illustrate the position of such articles. Arrowroot pays a duty of 2s. 6d. per 112 lbs., and although its cost reaches from two to four shillings per pound, it is greatly used for patients, and a variety of domestic purposes. This article has been proved to be grossly adulterated. A recent examination of samples, purchased of various London dealers, showed a great proportion to contain only a very small particle of genuine arrowroot, while many specimens were actually destitute of a single grain of the article it purported to be! The foreign matter introduced consisted of sago meal, tapioca starch, potato starch, and common flour. A recent analysis of sus pected isinglass made at Apothecaries' Hall, nod also by Dr. Letheby and the Pharmaceutical Society, has shown the existence of a very great fraud in the amalgamation of gelatine with that article before it is submit , ed to the process of cutting. After an elaborate description of an analysis of isinglass by Mr. Theophilus Redwood of the abovenamed society, a report upon the subject, ema nating from the association, concluded with the follow ing words:— " It was evident from the results that the specimen under examination conidsted of a mixture of isinglass and gelatine, and the optical examination showed that the two substances had been worked together in a manner well calculated to elude detection. I felt satis fied, and Mr. Warington had previously expressed the same conviction, that sheet gelatine had been rolled between two sheets of isinglass, in the moistened state, so as to form a ribbon, in which the two substances would be united. "In order to get further evidence in confirmation of this view, I applied to Mr. Vickers, proprietor of the house of Simpson and Humphrey, of Little Britain, who is an extensive manufacturer of cut isinglass, and who, ASSETS. LIABILITIES. ... ... Total .. ••• ••• Corresponding week last year .7. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, having been a sufferer from being undersold by the manufacturers of the adulterated article, expressed a willingness to render me any facility that his manufac tory could afford for elucidating the subject. I accord ingly had some genuine isinglass and sheet gelatine, in the proportion of three parts of the former and one cf the latter, rolled into ribbon and cut, under u y inspec tion. 'I he speoiaaen thus prepared could not be dis tinguished by the eye from the best Russian isinglass. It agreed entirely with the adulterated article met with in commerce, not only in appearance, but in the charac ters presented when examined in the manner already described. I feel fully justified therefore in the conclusion I have drawn, that a most ingenious but unwarrantable system of adulteration is adopted in the manufacture of cut isinglass, and I trust that this exposure will enable those who deal in isinglass to detect the imposition, if its practice should be continued." From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that adul terations are committed with the greatest impunity ; and particularly in those expensive articles wh ich pay but a nominal duty to the revenue. In the case of isinglass ss. per cwt. duty is paid. The value of the article, when prepared for consumption, is about 16 or 18 shillings per pound; there is, therefore a goodly inducement for knavish manufacturers to introduce some 25 or 30 per. cent of an article not costing so many pence, particularly when the small amount of duty is not thought worthy the protection of the Board of Inland Revenne. CASE OF MR. LUKE JAMES HANSARD. A preliminary meeting of the friends and admirers of Mr. Luke J. Hansard took place on Thursday, at that gentleman's residence, 7, Southampton-street, Blooms bury, for the purpose of considering the best means of raising a testimonial to that gentleman, in the form of an annuity, as a memorial of his high public example, moral worth, and private munificence; Mr. G. F. Carden in the . _ chair. From a printed statement of the causes which have led to the present disastrous position, it appeared that, notwithstanding the fact of Mr. Hansard's forbearance and concession to his father, that gentlema❑ at his death, although leaving 40,0001., made no provision for his son or his family, beyond 5001, payable on his mother's de cease. After twenty-seven years' faithful service to the House of Commons, his daily attendance during those years not being less than thirteen hours, he was dis r charged from his office on account of having written a strong letter to Mr. flume, in condemnation of his re marks upon Mr. Spooner, who was at that time advo cating a Bill in Parliament for the prevention of pros titution. It appeared that preliminary meetings of the working classes had already taken place, and subscriptions raised. The resolutions passed on those occasions were for warded to the present meeting, and proved how deeply that class of the community sympathises with that gen tleman, pledging themselves to aid himself and family in every way within their power. After a few preliminary observations from the chair man, in which he steited it as his opinion that the present exact state of Mr. Hansard's affairs should be ascertained by his friends, in order that they might be better enabled to see how they could be of the greatest assistance to that gentleman, a resolution was unanimously passed to the following effect:—That this meeting, anxious to support and second the simultaneous efforts made by meetings of the working classes (particularly that of a preliminary one of the members of the different trades, held at 5, Pemberton•row, Gough-square, Fleet-street, on February 19), for assisting Mr. L. J. Hansard and his family in their present difficulties, do forthwith form a committee to carry out the objects in view. A committee having been formed, the meeting se parated. BANK OF FRANCE. The following is a return. of the situation of the Bank of France on Feb. 20:— Cash in hand ... Ditto in branch banks Bills past due ••• ••• ..• Bills discounted, but not yet due, of which 17,633,6001. were received from the Branch Banks ... 57,003,701 16 Bills in the branch banks ~. 83,787,419 0 Advances on coins and ingots... ... 1,482,300 0 Ditto by the branch banks 1,838,915 0 Ditto on French public securities ... 8,533,852 10 Ditto by branch banks... ••• 2,443,885 , 0 Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor... 50,000,000 0 Ditto on the loan of 75 millions 50,000,000 0 Rentes of the reserve fund ... 10,000,000 0 Rentes, disposable funds ... 42,675,496 28 Investments of the new branch banks in the public funds ... ... 12,952,725 7 4 Hotel and furniture of the Bank 4,000,000 0 Real property of the branch banks 3,487,201 0 Interest in National viscount Bank 200,000 0 Ditto branch banks •••• ..• 230,000 0 Expenses of administration of the Bank 107,550 05 Ditto at the branches ... ..• 155,907 0 Miscellaneous ... ... 1,773,078 9S ... 1.367,581,352 31 133,572,451 0 99,366 89 L 831,925,211 51 Capital f. 67,900,000 0 Ditto of the Branch Banks 23,350,000 0 Reserve fund 10,000,000 0 Ditto of the branch banks ... ... 2,980,730 14 Reserve-immobiliere 4,000,000 0 Notes to bearer, in circulation ... ... 419,889,800 0 Ditto of the branch banks ... 92,327,750 0 Ditto to order (pos'•-bills) ..• ... 6,023,245 64 Account-current with Treasury creditor 97,004,948 29 Various accounts current 74,735,411 54 Ditto in branches ... 22,412,533 0 Bills payable at sight 5,275,000 0 Ditto at branches 2,250,298 0 Dividends payable 590,318 25 Liquidation of the Algiers Bank ... 7,760 0 Expenses anticipated ... ••• ... 141,473 58 Discounts, interest, and expenses ... 476,194 85 Ditto of branch banks ... 721,262 0 Re-discounts of the last six months ... 169,73 U 65 Ditto in branch banks .. 287,673 0 Interest on protested bills .... 233,010 10 Miscellaneous ... 247,519 47 L 831.925,211 51 Certified by the Governor of the Bank of France, D'A RGOUT. It appears by the preceding account that the cash in hand has Increased by 4,400,0001 . The commercial bills discounted have increased by 1,700,000 f. The Bank notes in circulation have decreased by 1,750,000% The balance to the credit of the Treasury has in creased by 5,000,0001. Sundry credits have decreased by 500,000 f. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. TILE GIULAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.— (Miles in work, 236.2) —Return of Traffic for the Week ending Feb. 9, 1851 Passengers, parcels, carriages, horses, dogs, and mails ... £4,137 9 9 Merchandise and minerals ... 3,487 12 2 Cattle ... ... ... 174 8 7 Total .. £7,799 10 Correspthiding week, Feb. 10, 1850 (143 miles) : Passengers, parcels, &c. £1,208 19 6 Cattle ... ... 1,321 13 7 Total ... ... 2,530 13 1 EAMTEILN COUNTItS AND NORFOLK RAILWAY...TraffiC return for the week 'ending Feb. 16:— Passengers, parcels, &c. ... £5,761 14 3 Merchandise, cattle, and cartage 6,598 12 4 Total ..• •.• ... £12,360 6 7 Corresponding week of 1850 ... 13,287 1 7 MANCHESTER, BUXTON, MATLOCK, AND MIDLANDS JtTNC TION Ramwal".—Return of traffic for the week ending Feb. 16 : Passengers, ec e . Merchandise FEBRUARY 25, SHIP NEWS. NOTICES TO MARINERS. SAILING DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING PORT WILLIAM, FALKLAND ISLANDS. Ships from the southward should sight Cape Pem broke, which is the easternmost point of the Falkland Islands, and on which there is a wooden beacon 36 feet high, with a base of 9 leet square, tapering to 5 feet, and above all, a mast of 30 feet. It is distinctly visible at the distance of 10 miles. With a commanding breeze anything south of west, keep to seaward of the Wolf Rock, and pass between the Seal Rocks and Cape Pem broke, and then between Billy Rock and Seal Rocks, where there is plenty of water, and no danger that may not be seen. Having passed the Billy Rock haul up, and if in doubt, or if the pilot has not come off, anchor abreast of the William Islets; but in daylight there is no danger in standing in to the entrance of Stanley Har bour. The above directions are fir westerly winds, which generally prevail; but when the wind is easterly keep outside of the Seal Rocks. Coming from the northward, with westerly winds, make Cape Carysfort, or, with easterly winds, Volun teer Point; when they are passed, steer for Cape Pem broke, on which the beacon will be seen, until Port William opens to starboard, when run in and anchor, or wait for a pilot, according to the above directions. In case of darkness or fog, ships may anchor in the mouth of Berkeley Sound or of Port William, or stand off and on, as may be expedient, there being no danger that is not buoyed by the kelp. The Wulf Rock bears from Cape Pembroke S. -6 W. by compass, distant nearly three miles. It is of a triangular shape, each side being about three cables' lengths. The Seal Rocks lie about three-quarters of a mile from Cape Pembroke, and are ch an on all sides. The tide runs north and south about three knots between Cape Pembroke and the Seal Rocks; the flood setting to the northward, and the ebb to the southward. PHILLIPS, Pilot at Stanley. GRAVESEND, FEB. 24.—Wind IS., light, fine. Arrived—Caesarea, from Jert,ey; Calista, from Hon duras; Tiger, from Hamburgh; Gipsy Queen, from St. Michael's; Soho, from Antwerp; Stadt Dordrecht, from Dordt ; Madeira Pet, from St. Michael's; Louis de Geer, from Norway; City of Paris, from Boulogne; Rover, from Guernsey. Sailed—Traveller, for Cadiz; William, for Medemblik ; Sarah, for Naples; Toronto, for Valparaiso; 'Zillah, for Liverpool. VESSELS ►SPOKEN WITH. Susan barque, Jan. 26, in lat. 35, long. 33. St. Barbe, of Bordeaux, Feb. 16, under jurysails, 5 miles S.E. of St. Vincent. Channing, from New York for Canton, Sept. 14, in lat. 8 N., long. 28 W. Nisidea, from San Francisco for Calcutta, Dec. 27, in lat. 37 N., long. 123 W. Jacet Willis, from Hartlepool for Bombay, Nov. 27, in lat. 39 S., long. 50 E. Hilda, Norwegian ship, for Batavia, Nov. 28, in lat. 39 S. Andes brig, from Hamburgh, Jan. 6, in lat. 5 S., long. 31 W. - Schooneaur, from Hamburgh for Buenos Ayres, Jan. 6. Summer Nelson, of Cronstadt, from Hamburgh for Rio Janeiro, Jan. 7, in lat. 4 S., long. 30 W. Medora barque, from Liverpool for Rio Janeiro, Feb. 11, in lat. 44 N., long. 19 W. Sir Robert Peel, from Dundee for Pernambuco, Feb. 11, out 27 days, i❑ lat. 43 N., long. 13 W. Eliza, of and from Hamburgh for Valparaiso, Jan. 7, in let 5 N., long. 23 W. Helen brig, from Liverpool for Buenos Ayres, Jan. 5, in lat. 2 N., long. 23 W. Callao brig, f►om Liverpool, Jan. 9, in lat. 2 N. Mize barque, of Liverpool, Feb. 8, in let. 42 N., long. 15 W. Veta brig, from Dundee for Barbadoea, Feb. 17, in lat. 49 N., long. 11 W. Mary Allen, American barque, Jan. 9. A Russian brigantine, showing a red flag, with " W. B. in white, Jan. I t, in lat. 5 N., long. 26 W. Columbus ship, Jan. 11. Fame, of Yarmouth, bound eastward, Jan. 23, off Cape Sable. Industrie, Dutch schooner, Dec. 19, in lat. 53 S., long. 55 W. Fleetwood, from London for the Mauritius, Jan. 12, in lat. 9 S., long. 29 W. Fanny, from Liverpool for Port-au-Prince, Feb. 18. Candace brig, in lat. 49, long. 29. Accidental, from Havre for the coast of Africa, Feb. 9, in Ist. 41 N., long. 15 W. Avon, from Liverpool for Bahia, Feb. 15, in lat. 45 N., long. 14 W. Athens, American brig, 50 miles S.W. of Cape Clear, Feb. 13. Palonder, from Queenstown for Boston, Feb. 13, in lat. 47 N., long. 32 W. Ellen ship, of and from Liverpool for New Orleans, Feb. 4, in lat. 43 N., long. 17 W. D. Grey, bound west, Feb. 17, in lat. 49 N., long 11 W. 1851. SEABORNE MAILS. [s signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.] MINISTERIAL CRISIS, ! When made up in From what When PLACES. General Poet-office port die- due. London. patched. America (by Brit. pkt.)N February 28.. .. Liverpool Feb. 26 America (by U.S. pkt.) N March 7 .. Liverpool .. March 3 America (by 13 S. pkt.) bliMarch 8 So — thampt. Africa (West coast) .. Nll4th of the month PlYMouth March 3 Alexandria* • •'.. Nll9th & 30th of mo. Dover .. Feb. 29 Belgium • • .. N!Daily • • .. .. i)over .. Daily Brazil .. . M i 9th of the month ,Southampt. Feb. 24 Buenos Ayres • • .. Ml9th of the month iSouthanipt. Feb.l 24 California(viaChagres)Mll7th of month Southarn pt. Feb. 20 Cape of Good Ilope N'l4th of month Plymouth.. March 3 Constantinople* N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. Feb. 20 Central America •.. M:2d & 17th (Amon. ISouthampt. Feb 20 Channel Isles . • .. NiMon., Wed., & Fri.lSouthampt. Tu. Tk. Sa Chili .. M'l7th of the mouth Southampt. Feb. 20 France M& N Twice daily .. .. Dover .. Twicedaily Greece* • • .. N 7th 17 th 27th of mo Dover .. Feb. 20 Hamburgh N Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat. Holland M Wednes. & Satur.iLondon Moa.Thur Honduras .. .• N 17th of the mouth 'Southampt. Feb. 20 Ireland • • .. M& N Twice daily .. Holyhead • • Twicedaily India (via Southamp.) M 20th of the month Southampt. March 28 India (via Marseilles) N 7th& 24th of month Dover • • March 3 Mediterranean (via Southampton) .. M 20th of the monthiSouthampt. Feb. 28 Mediterranean (via Marseilles) N 7th& 24th olmonthDover • . March 3 Mexico .. 2d of the month.. Southampt. March 5 Madeira .. M 9th of the month Southampt. March 12 Si i7&o3,lo7tthht.ilf9mtlio,n27thth 1 Dover Feb. 20 Malta* .. .. Naples* .. N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover March 2 Papal States* N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover .. March 2 reninsular.. • • .. M 7th 17th 27th of mo Southampt. March 6 peen M 17th of the month ISouthampt. Feb. 22 Tuscany* .. N sth 15th 25th of mo Dover • • March 2 west Indies • • .. M 17th of the month Southampt. Feb. 20 West Indies (except Havanna & Nassau) M 2d of the month .. ,Southampt. , March 5 * The mails to those countries thus marked ( 4 ) are conveyed by French packe v!a Marseilles. THE MURDER AT BATH. Yesterday an adjourned coroner's inquest was held in this city on the body of Mary Clark, the particulars of whose death have already appeared in our columns. The coroner, in opening the business to the jury, said he had made an application to the magistrates by whom the hus band of the unfortunnte woman had been committed, to allow him to be present at the examination, but he re gretted they had declined to comply with his request. The evidence of Mr. Hunt, the surgeon, who had made a post mortem examination, was then taken. On his examining the body, besides the marks of blows upon the head, he found that blood had been streaming down the legs, and had saturated the stockings. On making a post mortem examination of the body he found the liver affected, as if occasioned by drinking, and the stomach was filled with beer; the right kidney was diseased On examining the vagina, there were found the marks of a recent blow immediately below the meatus urinartus there was also a wound on the externa l parts, about an inch in diameter, which he believed to have been inflicted by a blunt-pointed instrument, and to have been caused by great force; this wound ho believed caused the death of the woman, by occasioning hemorrhage. The de ceased was not pregnant. This evidence was corrobo rated by Mr. Skinner, surgeon. who assisted Mr. Hunt in the examination of the body. It was impossible the wound could have been occasioned by accident. Several other witnesses were examined, whose testimony went to show that Clark had been scuffling with his wife; that they had endeavoured to prevent him from ill using her; that he had succeeded in turning one woman, who, on hearing her cries, had gone to her assistance, out of his room. The deceased, it appeared, was an habitual drunkard. The inquest was ultimately adjourned. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The statement made yesterday afternoon by Lord John Russell to the House of Commons has added little to the perticulare of information we were already enabled to lay before our readers in the morn ing; and it would be altogether premature to infer from this guarded narrative and this repressed discussion that the time is already come when the whole transaction is before the country. Lord John stated that after the narrow majority which had repelled Mr. Disraeli's ad verse motion at the commencement of the session, fol lowed by a still more significant desertion of his own friends on a question of Parliamentary reform, the time appeared to him to have arrived at which he could no longer conduct the business of the country with a due regard to the public interest. Ho theretere tendered his resignation to her Majesty with the assent of his col leagues, and that resignation was accepted by the Queen. Lord Stanley was sent for, but atter an interview, which is described by the Protectionist leader himself as most gracious, condescending, and kind on the part of her Majesty, the result was, to use Lord John Russell's ex pression in describing the fact, that Lord Stanley in formed her; Majesty that he was not then prepared to form an Administration. To this account of the trans action it only remains to ho added, that upon the failure or termination of Lord Stanley's attempt the Queen was pleased to recall Lord John Russell, and to charge him to resonstruct a Cabinet in place of that which he had just dissolved. This duty Lord John Russell accepted, but the unfinished state of the negotiations binds him to absolute silence on the nature of the new Administra tion and on the prospects of success which may attend his efforts and those of the men who have not hesitated to join their best exertions to his own. We only know, therefore, that he is himself the head or Prime Minister of the embryo Cabinet now in process of formation. Upon these occurrences, which aro now known—as far as they are known at all—from the competent and unim peachable testimony of the chief actors in them, we shall confiuo ourselves to a few comments; and first, as to the motives of Lord John's precipitate resignation. We will not suppose that a measure of such importance was taken from the mere impulse of pique, or from a despondency to which Lord John Russell is not apt to yield. Still less do we wish to consider it as a ruse intended only to rid himself of some troublesome pledges and some indif ferent colleagues, while a few days of agitation were to reseat himself in office on more favourable terms. The power of the Prime Minister of England is not the ball of a political juggler, to be flung to the earth and caught on the rebound; and in this instance there are interests of incalculable importance to the welfare of the country depending on the result of these uncertain chances. We must assume and believe, then, that Lord John Russell, apprehending from recent divisions that he had lost the confidence and direction of the House of Commons, re signed; and that he has subsequently resumed the duties of reconstructing the Cabinet from the belief that he will materially increase its strength and efficiency, and recover the power he supposed to be wanting. Such a result is beyond all doubt one of the deepest moment to the nation at large, if we are to escape a sudden transition from the blessings of prosperity and peace which we now enjoy, to a struggle of unusual danger and intensity between parties and classes throughout Great Britain. This consideration has prevailed over all others in the minds of the states men who have been called upon to play a part in this crisis. They are men originally disconnected by poli tical habits, and arriving at the same point by very op posite paths. But they are animated by the same con viction of the paramount importance of those principles of legislation which they are met to uphold, and by the same prudent desire to preserve the institutions of the country from the destructive warfare of class interests. We learn with satisfaction that on all sides the negotia tions have been conducted in a liberal and disinterested spirit—with a manly readiness to make all the personal or party sacrifices which so great an emergency demands, and with no reluctance to strengthen the Administra tion, if possible, by the introduction of some men taken from a more advanced shade of liberal opinions. But while the personal difficulties may be removed by the patriotism and forbearance of individuals, there are difficulties of a more stubborn, if not insuperable character in the questions now pending betore Parlia ment, in the temper and dissensions of the House of Commons, and in the excitement of parts of the country, chiefly on the two points of Pupal aggression and agri cultural protection. To these topics no direct allusion was made by Lord John Russell, but they are obviously the facts on which the game is likely to turn, and they are facts which it is not in the power of man altogether to remove. The more these difficulties are considered the more will they deter any responsible statesman from assuming with eagerness the control of affairs; and even now, in spite of the exertions which have been devoted to the reconstruction of the Cabinet on a broader and more efficient basis, it would he rash to give a positive or confident assurance of the success of the combination. Its failure might be followed by the renewal of an attempt which we will not anticipate, and by a dissolution of Par liament, now equally deprecated by all men of reflection and experience. This consideration recalls us to the second point in Lord John's statement, where he mentioned in reserved but precise language that Lord Stanley had informed her Majesty, at his audience, that he was not then prepared to term an Administration. To the in expressible surprise of the crowded House of Commons assembled yesterday to receive the promised communica tion of the Minister, Mr. Disraeli rose at once after Lord John to controdict this assertion, and to contradict it in terms which only did not directly violate the forms of parliamentary courtesy and ordinary good breeding. There was, and there could be, but ore opinion as to the taste and manner in which this interruption was made, at a moment when all discussion was impossible and when the House was on the eve of adjournment. But if anything could increase the ill effect of such a proceeding on the part of a politician aspiring to lead that very House in the service of the Crown, it is the reflection that in im pugning the accuracy of the Premier in his account of what had passed on this occasion, the charge thus rashly thrown out unluckily touched the most august, and we will add the most truth-loving personage in the realm. There was nothing in the brief declaration of Lord Stanley in the Rothe of Lords to confirm Mr. Disraeli' insinuation. Taking, however, the simple fact that Lord Stanley, after having had an audience of her Majesty, with an offer of the Government, did not proceed to act in obedience to the Queen's commands, it must be clearly inferred that some cause did arise which led him to re nounce the task. That cause still remains a mystery, ' and there is something in this part of the transaction which has yet to be more fully revealed. It is denied that the refusal of the power of dissolving Parliament, to which we alluded yesterday, was in reality this cause, and we have now reason to believe that no such point was raised. But the failure of the intended Protectionist Cabinet at that early stage of the negotiation denotes, beyond all doubt, the existence at that moment of some obstacle deemed by Lord Stanley to be insuperable. Further consideration on the subject will probably convince the intrepid leader of the Oppo sition that he never in his lite had a greater escape, and that all his spirit and eloquence would fail to infuse into his colleagues that unity of purpose and that prac tical aptitude tor the administration of the affairs of his country which he would seek in vain among the inex perience of his adherents in the Commons or the de crepitude of his backers in the Lords, and we earnestly hope that no fresh circumstance will arise in the course of the next few days to enable or to induce him to repeat, with such coadjutors, that most formidable ex periment. CHRONICLE.—Lord John Russell informed the House of Commons last night that he had undertaken the task of reconstructing the Cabinet ; and the alarms of placeholders were allayed for the moment by the implied assurance that, with some alig ht change of persons and shifting of functions, the Government would remain substantially the same. We believe however to the House, that he has already failed in h is efforts, and that the however, no twithstanding the state ment thus formation of an Admi nistration now rests virtually with Lord Stanley. We are not surprised at this result. The formation of a stronger and better Govern ment than the last was, in many respects, made more difficult by Lord John Russell's sudden decision to sur render in anticipation of defeat. The country wished that the free•trade section of the Opposition should bring new life and vigour into the Administration; and it was a duty incumbent on individuals, however reluctant, to answe r the public can, if it should become p ossi bl e to accept office without a com p ro mise of essential w b a e s ga linketlyo to cling to o ffi ce, a ll f ar - doubt the expe di ency or principles. B ut when it appeared that Lord J o h n I s t e u e D s egl politicians himself practicability of a coalition. It was not merely remem bered that the vigour of statesmen from whom the re vival of official energy was expected would be cramped titular presidency of a the leader; but it was felt that ah i the embarras sments feeble b e rendered and u nsy useless p t s n b g y which had led to the late resigna tion would all survive in the person of the Premier, who was responsible for all !the recent Ministerial blunders. The liberal portion of the Whigs even within the Cabinet shared, as is well known, in the universal per suasion that the Durham letter, with all the blusterings an d evasions which h ave followede it, had led the party into a maze of confusio n . The absurd Aggression Bill was the personal act of the Premier; and it was difficult to understand how it could be either curried on or abandoned without discredit either to its author or his colleagues. We lay comparatively little stress on the general persuasion which pervades every class of society th a t th e j u d gment an d energ y of Lord John Russell were entirely unequal to the duties of his office. When action and determination were required by the conntry, it seemed impossible that a new Go vernment could prosper under the lead of the respect able depositary of all the hticknied formulas which con stitute the old Whig creed, with little reference to expe rience or to practice. With every wish to give a lair trial to any new combination which might seem likely to further the interests of the country—not excepting one iteilueing the name of Lord John Russell—we should have felt painfully the inht rent weakness of any coali tion which was burdened with the political incum brances, and hampered with the incapacity, of the late Minister. Althe ugh it bad been generally rumoured that Lord John Russell was still engaged in negotiations for the foimation of a Cabinet, his statement in the House of Commons yesterday, that he had accepted the task on Saturday night, excited a certain emount of surprise. There can be no doubt that his detail of dates and circumstances aas strictly uutheutic and accurate. When it is remembered that the state ment, so far as it regarded Lord Stanley, must necessarily have rested on an unthority which it would be in the highest degree indecorous to dispute, it is evident that Mr. Disraeli has committed soule• thing more grave than an indiscretion in questionieg its ac uracy. Lord Stanley cannot fail to have been seri ously displeased by the gratuitous and imprudent inter position of his ally. And the impropriety of Mr. Die- .......—e--e-ae reeli's interference was aggraveted by the verse and oflt.nalve tone in which it was couched , and still more seriously by the ineccuracy of the insinuation w hich it was apparently intende. , l to convey. Important eousee quences might follow from the more o r less uncondi tional acknowledgment on the part of the Protectionist leader that he was unable to form a Government. Mr. Di s raeli suggests that the offer made to Lord St a nl9 ' was clogged with the condition that ho shoal abetain from dissolving Parliament. The advantage w would . result to the Protectionists from the opportunity of attributing their failure to a prohibition imposed on their appealing to the country, is too obvious to require any comment. It is important that the country should know that neither the supposed condition nor anY, other restriction accompanied the royal offer to Lord Stanley. We have reason to believe that, deli berately . and without constraint, he renounced the hich opportunity of placing his party in office. Mr. Disraeli d tone and manlier gave oflence eves to his own part) , and afforded au easy triumph to his calmer and more ac curate opponent. Lord Stanley's statement will, we doubt not, confirm that which was yesterday sitnulta n eously communicated to both Houses of Parlianeeute The . only . peculiarity of Lord Larisdowne'e speech sisted . in the careful limitation of his own Ministerial position and character. It is possible that he mad be s " intended to intimate his unwillingness to r e j oin the ve sel which had just run on a rock and which was under such evil auspices, once Moro to try i ts fortune. Lord W afloat. hile, however we are content to accept he John Runsell% narrative ' of the proceed in g s at t Palace, we cannot treat too 'lightly his conventionana account of the circumstances which led t o his resin lion. It was occasioned, it seems, by the s mall ma eta ' ray against Mr. Disraeli, followed by the division p . the ten-pound county franchi.e. Such is the statemen tel" a bdut, made by the Minister who is best acquainted w ith the facts, to a House of Commons which un derstands theta sufficiently to know that the whole story is virtually 1 fiction. There is, perhaps, no moral guilt or Pe di" dishonour in repeating conventional phrases to an au " 1 : enoe which they cannot possibly deceive. Every NW ) , well as the speaker that, in explaining ber who heard Lord John Russell's apology kn ew : • carefully avoided mentioning any one of the reasons ?et! which it was really founded. But these verbal Dyson cations which deceive no one, if not culpable, are equal!): useless and undignified. If it was desired to divert puD i lie attention from those errors the impending result o', which was anticipated by a sudden surrender, no force 0 . 1 his condu ct ' _ speech could have been better calculated than the lan guage used by the late Premier to produce a contra!! effect. When he spoke of the Protectionist rootlet which all men knew to be free from dan g er to the Ministry, and of Mr. Locke King's victory, W hich ! w a s . too trifling an incident to have brought about eel it, et n' portant political result, the true causes of the d"fo the Aggression Bill and the Budget—were prese4,/, the mind of every friend and every opponent ; Pr a ? • h gebant quia non videbantur. The form of speech vilt described the withdrawal of the Budget as the re sti f i: and not its production as the cause, 'of a want of cn, d dente in the Government, was a figurei almost too Vr . even for the licence accorded by custom to offic isi %le nifestoes. If it was inexpedient to admit die ti re truths, there was a safe resource in silence. It 111 - e s markable that the excuses suggested for the inglort°r, flight of the Administration could have no practical Tea ing, even if they had been true on the actual di R us sell ties of forming anew Government. ' Even Lord John 1111.9 ther would not, even in an official statement, assert that either Mr. Locke King's motion, or the resolution on agr A l ' h i e tural distress, has in any ' way impeded or effet e : oo e negotiations since the commencement of Ow P r „:, n ot crisis. The Papal Aggression Bill, to which it v r " o3o ie convenient to refer in the House of Comm °c !'• 1101 nevertheless, have formed the obstacles to a thecoalitiou,oc. in uonjunction with the ill-omened Budget, it wa s face. ca ion of precipitating the late Ministers from °. the Had the negotiations of the last three day, ev ded . il l is i t reconstiuction of the Cabinet from its old n3ut eri e li e' tie must be evident that it would have been because tt' c ine l tenable policy of Lord John Russell formed the P. l.lll . c t :ret although, perhaps, impediment to any useful alliance. The late gill t he conduct of their leader, might have considers d t oot selves in a certain sense pledged to support bun. • •°lid were already involved, in some degree , in the false thoughtP which he had had adopted, , and they rnight boa unanimous in their disapproval °ton. that— The recent catastrophe, Returning `sSh, aeue were e th ey ams toerdewiooavudensr moreover, gi higroahoootrr,enet,ara.ifv.e , . Irreri,si. irci:fitii3O.o,lool as of an excuse for excluding Ireland from the oPy eh 0, est c etwh o ooo u nis r be se inua w tot o iro u na l a d st involve would not look the Bill. The new class of difficulties whic h litl 0 verdict rn -o which have already proved themselves to be ii ) ",,,, "ticise to perable. It would be a Waite of words to cri .„ t he flatterers ‘ w v la h o tg th m ou t g ui h s t tr t Lea g o ue v • oice e f that i o t bject cl' flatte t • 11 dulel i° t heir a m d which applauded and echoed -r- en h a ad hopelessly fallen, has not been 06hting t d ) fraellible• cewroinhatil:smhopmfotirghaherytahncapivoeeanttobFreiifieoytrnmed from Th ) e nl favoured organ of the pa taallaheesentnui-rfrocia jerterrdns which wnieh h p a r s ais c ed onsta t u b t e ly supported e vey ifrerfohlicr so formidable.us v to el°Pm P e a li rl t iarn o e f ut p o u f It:: or,Asien ~„ the blufnadveoruinrg anti-rapa• rndatio inaction m and recreation—has turnedofonraeites°lZ4-06:0ales: ciple and every theirrrhe and to o b u lece contumely. faults cynical not the repudiation of el e i ' c l o seet very party from the moment whehnieu atilt ulahl ]'all to with be ever e w r ya mourning 0:01! print: -ning to sta c • eo tlB the flatterersthe se confide in. 'bo far as Lord John Russell Ilse false an und o iat 0 u . desire of popularity, producing a6e juste pa' i n of the means suitable to attain it, he is jus- nished by the insults which he receives from th e , to forward and noisy of his partisans. It would pleb deed, have been difficult to foretell their deser from many precedents at similar periods — "With like acclaim they hailed the day, When first he broke his rival's sway ; And like acclai m would Stanley greet If he could hurl him from his seat." toA l t a h a o p u p g o h a eLorda t John cr i u s s i s s e l h l ' a s il s s t a u t h e s m t a e n n t t i a illeyd rt,thachile:rili conclusion, his failure in the attempt to reconstruo_ir 01 Cabinet has, as we have already said, left the t' k m ite dia forming an Administration in Lord Stanley's tPwith- We shall watch the result with eager interest, of eon' out a particle of anxiety - for the great caus e ? ottg mercial freedom. The indescribably embarrassi°olo bat ditions of the experiment which the course of ov e o ore tl thus thrust on the Protectionist leader waY he,, ° ,oteh li up in a sentence. He must at once, and finally, fr o be' choice between explicitly adopting and explioilltectioe. doning the principle and the policy of „F r° ,,itert le Should he adopt the first branch of the o btail l ' tive, he entirely debars himself fr° L ' 3 „ 0°1; ing the co-operation of any public 01 `li to oec i :. ing free-trade convictions, and he is c ompel' '',." the materials of his Cabinet exclusively °",.„titatht; combination of charlatans and incapables e l) :' 1 ; e oth e i : the Protectionist phalanx. Should he, 0 ° : h ieli b l ' a " hand, formally relinquish the principle frog' - he ir ow; party take their name, and which coestitutel ineetes orbs bond of union, he at once exasperates and al i , e ,bles h i f great mass of his supporters, and for ever oi — r e. - • 11 . self from again invoking their political stiPrb o f thi inevitable alternative his patriotism or his P r a ",;ficoll;g: is daily and hourly reaping expressing our conviction that, whatever tog; vell,, V i mediate issue of the present entan leinent, I :,„ e e t 10 -b f c result will be the formation of the g only Car-eottoth'' policy of commercial and industrial treedoro• u j a , boleti° from h _ e : owuarsn bound o t m o HERALD .—ln T, rd 11°13 ti n e -- - - -n the House of C woos. --° tioo - g °the exPl"' id °l t ww,a: hunlalisecsnchehool command n,moffyatee: offer eaatrudhdyoeapy conjectureevbconfidencee, t w e as a p d r?mised the n. and support o r a tofewelhileihttlberuil'7.:o:::,j] House, when, i n g' on aFvrnid ay, he Pr i . ° ,,% ° 0 3 tht; day till Monday In L o t. `cur e his stator° ,hich think he wt. --J• tee eor -- tt bio " h ot went somewhat beyond the limits w . in W. In co it ufl:e f himself, and Men° . e vi took place between the Queen e vi ct Lord Stellelaecord 0; o him. Lord John was ve&,ll awe: gracious Y . ,. 4 al b the t audience which her Majesty had sill ley 01005 however, °T e o air r . of o ha sai d was not likely to be coromeriled °l3' far at I ' 'e swered, in the House of Lor • wou ld p d i st Lords. lie kn ew ''' reci tid Stanley's chivalrous sense of honour ,_ e e at . him from divulging an y part of what took noiestYr, interview till ha should have received r s. howS o ve h u permission so to do. We are not sr a e S Vo i le , on to understand the motive that inducooieri rugoicioo Russell to commit this breach of the ei l ' ii L gt ood 1311- ; a l as such occasions. He wanted to sow dit i ‘ tr " to ito lhe- f t oil' amongst the followers of Lord StaoeY6 fidelity ° ren t, to doubt the energy, the courage, nod t ,"„ ° ; ta g io 9 P 13 ,,,,, a fail imble chief. But we trust, the object' ,u,'";tireetl, rosy coo' this envenomed shaft, however vi'e" 1 n oty W - „iicii short of its mark, and that the Nationa' reporie inirbiog tinue, as they have hitherto done, to ue f o to confidence in that chief whose honour a i c i no res 9° th eit adherence to their cause they have ”t bil' . . v WO pot doubt. We implore them not to be led a " b s ' t heY be Poo r allegiance by any means, plausible thongs wit s ho o i to wait the time when Lord StanleY c a . to l t lbiog explain his conduct, and the raotives all" done oo 00 or we pledge ourselves they will find he " 9 a t he b° that has not been dictated by the Vi WOE° t /i3 he o 11 t " • of a gentleman. ,„„ ot e a c cot°, explanations,—which were made in the 11°119 se i i3ter tlie l Lord Stanley has mons last evening, will be read with iite l-ir .l % t 4 Two ri. h t e h i n M g i s n iosnt e ly rial statements, —we c......n 00 , re , unexplained, from performing the e°'l l a nd c stir her gracious Majesty, of her own free vil Lord jobti 01 0 chaenenbeprdeevdeuacteedd, Vymßetrolice.oss,looo9 iv:ohrc,h, committed to him; and, secondly, that h „ trolY s bat' sell is at this moment engaged in wha t bt et hi%teis° the difficult task cf attempting to recoil rt, it y sn, t o , tered and broken Cabinet. Whatever w° c L ora te •i, or conjecture as to the real means by whiebeeo fee oi9° ley's performance of his commission lea crest s ° 106 our readers will perhaps feel that we apon t hoto ir eg discretion in forbearing to speculate ~a ve s', l ( 4' Court Circular and the news cf the dsY y r b i e tt ft o 0 0 6 informed our readers of many things a ou t bla v „oltif planations must yet be given. The obse r , 41 sat' s ott i tailed to remark that at six o'clock. e° evening Lord John Russell had 1 111 ~1 n iace m i,o, her Majesty; that this interview too 7 , ol d vo ief# correspondence bel we( n her Al'i es Y ot iae t y• iS Stanley had ceased ; that later in the r pies eo ! , Lord J. Russell solicits d an audience of t_l ev ii o 3 . 0 01 3 company with Sir James Graham—bird O f evil whose appearance even in that augus t P o) , coooter; scarcely augur good; and that, to add t° ' th at ' l ' e i ° by some person or other, Lord Clarendon, lii3 jeti jo he piece of intrigue, had been summoned frolo 0 Dora ff i c oot the Castle of Dublin at the very time wile d the ir i c ° o ofe : Russell's Cabinet I,rof ss• d to have resig ne be rg l o4' 4 and to have advised the Que,ll to ple°,chese t• fell servedly in the hands of Lord StanleY• ,',., Th, e r oel i we say, the observant have not failed to 0 0 " gr, PO but most important, sentences uttered bY •-- ~ .' DISCOYERY OF BURIED TREASURE AT FOUNTAINS ABBEY. RIPON, FEB. 20.—The excavations which have been going on at Fountains, since the subject was last noticed in the public prints, have been confined to that portion of the Abbey east of the Refectory, and south of the Chapter-house and Choir. Many who are well ac quainted with the ruins will remember a solitary arch just peeping above the ground, a few yards west of the river arches that support the remains of the Abbots'- house. It was known, from a plan of the Abbey pre pared by J. R. Walbran, Esq., of Ripon, for the Right llon. the Earl de Grey. that this arch bestrode an old water-course immediately in the rear of so me buried buildings supposed to have been the Abbey Brew-houses. In order, therefore, to come, at once to the real level of this water-course, the workmen bad been instructed to commence on nearly a level with the present river. O thn Thursday, the 13th of this month, they had got to e arch, whose crown had always been visible, w hen a workman, putting his pick behind a s tone, within a foot or two of the accumulated level, brought down what was at first thought to have been a quantity of old glass. lo the surprise and astonishment, ho wever, of all present, it turned out to be a number of silver coins, in a , most excellent state of preservation. T here were, in all, 354. Three of Philip and Mary; 165 o f Queen Elisabeth; 50 James I.; 129 Charles I.; and 7 Spanish pieces—date about A.D. 1640. It will at onc e be apparent that this buried hoard must have been the property () , f some one in the troublous times of Charles theirst, whose terror or caution had induced him to bide his money in this sequestered spot—the arch. no doubt, serving as a mark for the identical place. Sudden death, or the ter mination of the owner's career in sow! of the bloody fights of the civil wars, had prevented him from return ing and disinterring his hid.4en savings. A journeynaan hatter some time ago conceived a violent attachment for a young . girl, and she returned hi s love. Her parents , h owever, refused their consent to :h er marriage, because the young man was of illegitimate birth. She, never theless, continued her connexion with him, an d at last became enciente. She kept her secret as long as s h e could, and whe n her p arents learned it, they consented to the marriage. It was fixed to take place in the course of a few days, bat on Friday . she was suddenly seized with the pains of childbirth, and died shortly after being taken to the hospital. This caused such profound grief to the young man, that he swallowed a glass of aquatortis, and died shortly after in a state of great agony.—Galignani. £43 7 9 ..• 55 9 4 £9B 17 1 85 9 7 LOCHDROOM HERRINGS. —For three months back we have been almost daily supplied with fresh herrings from Lechbroom, which are retailed at from sixty to seventy for 6d. We regret, however, to learn that although the loch continues full of fish, there is no demand for herrings for the south, consequently few exportations thither have taken place. It is fortunate for the natives that there is now such an excellent line of road opened up between this district and the low country, and th a t the steep and rugged Dirie Mor is altogether avoided. So plentiful are the hetthat they are even taken in n o t more th a n two or the top of the l oc h, three fe of water at near Inverlael. --Inverness Courier. Another J e r em y Diddler has j ust succeeded in demonstrating how gullible are some of the citize a ns of Lincoln. Thi s gen tl ema n took up his abode with very knowing Bonifac e , w hom in his own esteem it was impossi ble to cheat. Pretending to have come down into Lincoln shire to take possession of his property at Stow Park, and to be in daily expectation of receiving the necessary documents from London, the fellow was allowed to fare sumptuously for a week, when intimations were given that it was desirable the bill should be settled. Feigning to have received the expected documents, he prevailed upon the " green" land lord to obtain a horse and gig for conveying him to Stow Park to take formal possession of the property, and thence to Gainsborough to consult his solicitor. The gig was hired, and the pair set out. Arrived at Stow Park, the fellow took up a sod, placed some papers under it, and then stamped the sod down with his foot, with au affectation of great gravity bidding the landlord to hold carefully in remembrance the fact of taking possession. Away they then went to Gains borough, and the " gentleman" sought to consult his solici tor, whilst Boniface tested his brother Boniface's profession, " good entertainment for man and beast." The gentleman returned; and Boniface, stimulated to boldness, asked for the wherewithal! to pay the shot. Here was a dilemma ! the gentleman had only 3s. ! would return to his solici tor and obtain an advance. Going out for this purpose, he was seen no more, and Boniface had to pay the shot, return to Lincoln alone, pay for the horse and gig, and wipe out the score against the gentleman," to prevent unpleasant re marks and remembrances. Stamford Dlei curt'. INDIAN ARCHITECTURE. —The eastorn worid pre sents to the traveller n othing more extraordinary than the ancient city of Annaradhapoora—its sacred character, its great extent, and its wonderful ruins: for upwards of 1,300 years it was the seat of government the capital of Ceylon first known by that name 500 years before the Christian era, and where ninety kings are said to have reigned. Its walls were 64 miles in extent, enclosing 250 square miles ; con taining wide and spacious streets (one of which extended from the rocky mountain of Mehintelai, where 1,800 stone steps lead to its temples), palaces, gardens, tanks, water courses, and paddy or rice fields. It has dwindled into a poor village, containing a few native huts, a small bazaar, the cottage_ of Mr. Tronchi ll, the district judge, and a court house. The surrounding country, which is generally flat, is dense forest and jungle, where, in every direction, for miles around, are temples, dagoba hs, scul p tured stones, and graceful columns of granite, with elaborate sculptured capitals, ad mirably executed.... Builder, Pit,' orP