The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-25 00:00:00

BMW' _ __---"" '' 4 Rd 13 D ft Y.) Dioderso „priflefi Franc' alcie ll t° oil shot ° to Cr ° s, a rog e )115, bat' r--Arr d. Ider, 6t; 'iver v a or no t , Lrl, lob ; " point: is , ijobile i ftira s ! " , Of M sllr ig 12 Wile . Y.) '7 3 ' . 6 3 1 -4il; 00- , Si Per Clov er gi P et ;an • 31 ioo Lr 8 P a ft r ow sh t el) r 16 0 5150d713; 81 Pit • , ts cle• 45 ay, steo 4“ , orirt ) 253 COWS' Its w ell sled in' 10 , 1 i° , rolh ru led 1 4 / 1 1/ ' ; si 41 ) n e e , , s Lid 1 ` ) sd P er Stor e • two" e g oft?' ril s ;ij 243 rE O ' 1 , 04 ~~ lv astice' : 4 0 1 e ^auld fallhee o security fur property or liberty if it could be las ti es Y con'eaded that all lawyers and all states ltet 6 . . 4 ' been mist ken fur centuries as to the true o nl f an 01s1 Act of Parliament. The Court could Y nate • P•et uni try to discover the jute ition Propcfth°.,PTslature from the lenguage of the statute. on that principl e , hi s (Lord Campbell s) 11:4°1 thren and himself all thought that no reason o 4th 'ea alle ge d to invalidate the sentence in this case, si k i n e g r ound that th e Queen in Council and the Judi a nd of th e P rivy Council had no jurisdiction, easee'efore they felt bound ti say that a rule to show lla ez Y a:imbibition should not be granted to stay )I.,,e e ution of th e sentence oug h t no t t o go . 'te refused accordingly. (kf,, X CREQUER.—(THIS DAY.) "re the LORD CHIEF BARON and Barons PARKE, ROLFE, and PLATT.) orQ. ai."°l CRATIAM AND OTUERS V. CONNELL. t tO i t• CLAR K move d for a rule to shoe' cau- , e why lbG 9 , one m a d e b y M r . J ust i ce T a lfourd, and lb s ,;'",er by Mr. Baron Alderson, charging certain clett ol the U n i on Bank o f London w i t h a j u d ,it sr , should not be arrested. The second order for L b `Pqrtion of t h e first, Lut was varied in its terms, ttlia l : A l u rPose ef having the decision ef the Court upon tbeearrant Point of law. The question turned upon 140;°nstruction t f the lat tied 2d Vice, c. 110, by the 11, 1 15th sections of which it was provided, that . 1144 person against whom a judgment had been . _ o t h er 'ha l m i k ti soy of the superior courts at Westminster any Government stock, funds, or annuities, I oreha-4 ' ll any public company in England, it should 114* ( 4 fur a judge to order the judgment to be h tap e s * out of such stock, fund, or shares. ItietortPPeared that the defendant was the pro of t a cettrin number cf shares in the "Me d ° lig, and these shares the judge's order had trotis c r ar geable with a judgment debt of 5,962/. The Wii.ottat;tohF4utptohnevehich the present application wag made t Union Bank did not come under the ca e- Ni b ; r t Public company, the Learned Counsel cor!- „miitiO that the public had , no right in the company, it ` 4° 41f. k P ti vate and not a public partnership, and that t ° bri sk fact of its being well known was not sufficient T hi t i lß it under the operation of the statute. Court granted a rule. Rog CLAFK v. O'CONNOR. , m O/4 "aS an action brought in a county court in 4 tu r " ta lllonsbi re , by an alluttee in the National Lan %ten,Y, a , iust Mr. Fe arena O'Connor, M.P., to re ( - 1 to te ,. ° burn of 41. 19.. 9d., which the plaintiff had oe ILle defendant in the shape of subscriptions upon i 4 Pi: i t 's in that project. Judgment was given for "tititit'-ei in with criSts, but the defendant disputed the , t 'llT 44 ' of the county court,: on the ground th a. rtatilqtiff and defendant were in partnership, in which . mttslmy remedy would be in equity, and he nits iilt(iolltitist";e..ll,shtteadirr d a writ of prohibition from this court. t, m otionHAYES, the Court, this morn a rule nisi to show cause why the wr „ ito Nt4 1 ,7 11 should not be quashed, in erd.er the " es to jurisdiction might be determined COURT.—(THIS DAY.) efore Mr. Under-Sheriff RUMMELL.) 411 W RARE V. PENTON AND OTHERS. • OLT,, 1 n TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. — This ,I t latt l °e llen to recover the sum of 161., for two , 14 t e ,. -h' r ent of a Louse, No. 52, York-street, West retr were ste l as executors of a Ottl, ett aed Tubb s 1 -1 1 Part cf the . plaintiff it was shown that Tubbs 4 Possession in 1845, but in September, 1848, ti) k4 lit - wa r rytcl saish notice to quit at Lady-day, 1849, h not t'll November last that defendants offered tom 111 9 PoFsession if plaintiff would absolve them a t ‘ 4 l ,' 'lability for rent; but this was refused, and it th F "1(d that defendants still held possession. 1.7 e tjr the de dit was shown that Tubbs bad let , -, d 1 1314 , 1 to a . p e c ti a o nt named Mar hall, vnho quitted at qttc'ltY, 18-19,rbunt as he could not be tound, it could 14 t ° wn that possession had been given up. . 11 1; 4 p isulateeSneeiee said that, the occupation being t i t le , t ; t eds the law presumed that it still continued till t l'st I , ( ",: r4 rY vas shown. It was not sufficient to . show i to quit had been given. He considered 4 ,,""s ease, sod under the present form of action, . 44 di ed quarter's rent could Le recovered, as defendant T he fore the sec o nd quarter became due.. J u ry gave a verdict for 8/. 41A v vro : S ION-HOUsE.—(THIS DAY.) :41%1' mown ' who stands charged with stealing the ritb; h ee letter - beg, was again brought up for final 11 11 1el e , ti ° 13 , before Mr. Alder man Gibbs. thO t 'tft tAce lex appear( d as before, on the par t of the ef t e° a utheritiee, for the prosecution, and sta . te ithstanding the offer of a reward, the dragging tf;,,t river:4 e ,; (1 greatest general exertion, the bag had te‘ t, s k i "orivered. to had no further evidence to 11 5 44 etna th.erefure Lad to requs . s . t that the Alderman r ,sei t , • Mit the prisoner for trial upon the testimony 4 O dueed. 4 7 ) " to the ALDERMAN, who gave the usual stlol,-e.prisoncr declined saying anything,_and was s mutted fer bbers - STREET.—(THIS DAY.) di t ' ll -I ' 4o ( Tis Was this morning pieced at the Lar before r 3 e sa i t. e uarged with attempting to steal a valuable t) li t44 4-t re°° entor, Mr. Samuel Varley, the clothier cf F4atlYeodepoud that, having lost eith . er a coat, or °r some etLer , portion of wearing . apparel, Ot'int er Y day fir the last week, he determined upon illPt!arria°,wa.teh en the opposite side of the street. Yes- V:le%b i „ ) ' ll lott, about nine o'clock, the prisoner, with ~`r lads, came up to the shop. The prisoner t 4 i u l tia ' q - " ) unpi n the coat from the block and , 1 . are it . 4 a r t1,, e13 the shoulder of the " dummy." Ihe pri ,4lo 'do and P a SSedtheshop, for king in to see if he were th. l Iva a was returning for the coat when the person j, 1 , 6 0 ,..° 1 1 the opp os i te side rushy d across to seize him. tt i " r 'r. wi t h hi s " pa l s ," esca p e d unt:l his when he came round again. He was 4 IZo ePon. and iven into the custody of the po- Was fully committed to take his trial. "ERNIINSTER ELECTION ltd p 4 Slrp~➢ C OMMITTEE. —(THIS DAY.) the THE DECISION. Al e g it -43113 it'ee met this morning, for , the purpose of 14 tp 144 decision on the ceition presented against ~Tb4111.11. f 'dd • c. Mr. Best for Kidderm i nster. ''Qrucnit" s opened shortly after two 1. ( k i t .ee-room ,wa 11, 4 an dthe Ch a i rman announ ced that the U mit tulanimously decided that Mr. Best was duly lON OF JUDGE OF TILE gI IERIFF'S COURT.—(THIS DAY.) • 00 1 . a 14pecial Court of Common Council was L ie Purpose of electing a judge o . f the City I, n kpp,„.`.'ourt, the office being . rendered vacant by 0 11 'e vill ta4nt of Mr. Commissioner Bullock as Com rgeant. The Right Hon. the LORD MAYOR tkk( ll tl.) . the chair, t&t,, 44 URIE then proposed Mr. A. Ryland, one of j • eders, as a fit and proper person for the 4, ° t lodg e h No, • ti144,.1;448 seconded the nomination of the Learned t,br. dean eallt ) !ht3 OBB,inn proposed Mr. B. Gurney, Q.C., )71,,10•Itinte for the vacant jud . geship. woos conded him i t r w , 1),..,T1R1P.8 then nominated Mr, Prendergast, Q.C. t% g r' I Y LOTT seconded Mr, Prendergast. i L ted to", agreed that the number of candidates Ee t 11 1 ,4 It tr , t c'• lt,(;1144-.TinEn took the sense of the members, _wi r d it t h tt , choice of the two to have fallen on M . 4he '4.0. and Mr. M. Prendergast, Q.C. e -g etto qtoor(1 e rs then proceeded to the elcctiou by polling, being taken tilttl'4,,Yor and the Court of Aldermen t tu e Wards alphabetically. HisLorg i s . V ., de et Mr. Alderman Thompson, Aqr 11" , r of the Court of Alderman present, polled I ti', ll ;hifj 4( lergas t. 1 1N Pat one o'clock the poll closed, when the ' 1 41 1 , 1 l'r t -- ,: it ineunced the result as follows:-•• Gurney, qleo'Zrgast, 71. Mr. Gurney was _ ecordingly tk "' awl took his seat at th- law Meet's' table kis ttp t ,, . ‘.1111,P ,n.:"'ETING OF ST. LUE.E'S.— h On ve T str3 tl . e . s r d o Ly k;1/ ",41.0,14 Lee above tarish took place ita t \'4,l" Whether any, and what, assistan e ce should be Mr._ Church 41k our of a new park at Islington. N . , l , c 'eq l t il g took the chair ; and, at his reqhest, Mr. Lloyd, tr, ef the arkgave a statement of its localitand tl4 't• • area would 6, e said the ere ld cover SCO acres . of d by the villas on Ilig.hto i`iipt;)t,e, `., a ll e g 100 acres c c The covered would be about IZO, / t,,k a t l , t t lio 4 44 l l (l is f i ll l s o ' t v p ro j ec t t had already received th ° e l 7o b u e n r - t the al ifig t highness Prince Albert, L shley, Lord Carlisle, and i o a t i h n o e g r r d emi o nent Tyler, the chairman of the up ton a c p o e m ti : u that they had refrained from drayi ke t , °l 4,,,theY could take .the serve and obtain a b le co-opera k'tt \ thole 15 pre parishes of the boroughurge t t e active s, t ,e h ,le favour of the proposed park, as he said 6 q t'vinPace, unless at once secured, would be covered tli s l , - ga in less than twelve months. Other . members ' ll mserf the Question a resolution approv . in of the I,N . , llo t v eli al 'k, was una . nimonsly carried, and aublic g meeti l n . g s N t a 'ote d Pt Was determined to be held forthwith.. Than Ne i 4% )seing broke up.l, to the Islington deputation for their attendance, 1 1 ,° 1 1 0 ; 4 11 p.trICH DOGS OF THE REGIMEN . T —The has 74,„"ttitt7Papers record the death of Nestor, a dog J lfth division of infantry, now in who garritio l n v. a , t t,tgi t Z in all their marches since 1827. was_ n n? .. 4 1e,to kt 'uerit in the last campaign, and at the siege of e 4t ttlcl . d t tiel lt 4 ',law by a shot horn a howitzer. RetnLn s ' 4 l , ' l. ad "e spent there the last twenty years of his t tft In t 1 3 7 t he 1 7th of March, in his he rtent-fourte . a b r .. . Nia%d al in state a suitable time, was solemnly i m Nti tr t he wall of the fortress. Six men . carried d V ge o n ,g - Place in a coffin, lined with white. A ise l fisq ‘tl' his reinaing and a salvo announced he l u oss . °Y the re giment ' surviving dogs . of th it tN l , l , 6l lll,i t) o the occasion black collars and white rosett whn tO'ilekti„,on whom the seniority has devolved, and r s of `'. , the h Mine is already so dim sightedthat the 1)44 e 4i 1. oft,v-e,,?t.h have' furnished' bins with spectacles, by 11 l it t -,. "tea he gravely paces the passages of the ue t , it ti i'veri," TUE CHEMISTRY HERSELF."— Sir Henr y d 1. 4 w 4, i, v "7 Popular at Washington ; and, moreover, b a s y ItolYea4, first lady that has been here with our em as y e a or al won 'all hearts. She is a pleasant agreeabl - Ne i""e4 it; ' ll 4 rmst captivating manners. She has es , tt Y t h i ter algood presides rislistyle of dinner and tea. At 1 ' 4 4 e r elf she at her table, and does the chemis -45.t4r.. ' and hands over to the guests. .Her dinner 411 0 . 1 fo r ;wfficre pleasant and easy than any thing we , bays ay 'treat !ratY years. y h• t oil Correspondent of the P L ot. s * -- as m g a alebuk 411's'1)4eite3,e.,nd Duchess de Nemours and the Duke / N I u Aumale honoured the performance of AlO - P h re lit ti Ve, at the St. James's Theatre, last evening, eke. FRENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. The reign of Ilauieoorn (lie still continues here, and it will continue to flourish so long as Mr. Alit. chell can retain such accomplished artistes as Al. Samson and Mdlle. Denain toembody the inspirations of Moliere and his followers. Last night the Alison throne, the chef d'oeuvre of Aloliere, and by many critics considered the most perfect comedy ever pro duced, was performed, M. Samson personating Al ceste, and Mdlle. Denain, Celimene. The Alceste of M. Samson has al ways been celebrated as a perfect spe cimen of high comedy acting of the classical school and his acting last evening was as polished and per fect as ever ; his declamation was beautiful. The Celimene of Mdlle. Denain was an exquisite piece of refined coquettry. No other lady on the stage can approach her in this character, or indeed in ihe personation of any of the heroines of French classical comedy. The mantle of Alaclemoiselle Mars has fallen on her, and she worthily continues the suc cession of the classical artistes of the French stage. The theatre was brillirtntly attendtd. Among the company were the Dike and Duchess of Nemonn, and the Duke and Duchess of A umale. THE AUTOPHON ; or IMPROVED ORGAN. We recently visited the factory of Mr. Charles Dawson, organ buildrr in the Strand, for the pur pose of inspecting a newly invented instrument which he has patented ; he calls it the Autophon, and from its simplicity, its cheapness, and its supe rimity in every respect, it must ere long supersede the barrel organ, and every other invention for the mechanical production of music that bas as yet been presented to the world. The sound-producing portion of the Autophon is precisely the same as the sound-producing portion of an organ, consisting of pipes and bellows, but instead of cumbrous and ex pensive barrels being employed to produce the tune, this instrument is contrived so that sheets of perfo rated paper being supplied to it, on merely turning a handle, music is performed, every different sheet of paper producing a different tune. The effect is pre cisely that which is produced by the best barrel organs, and the superiority of the Autophon con sists in the fact, that instead of barrels, cumbrous, expensive, and liable to injury, sheets of paper are employed, which can be furnished as cheaply as ordinary music, readily replaced, and lightly and easily packed. The variety of melodies and harmo nies that can be performed is thus multiplied with the same ease and economy which the press has given in the supply of literature. The power of transposing is also afforded, so that from the same sheet music may be executed on any key that may be desired. Further, as the sheets can be made-of any length, pieces can be performed which from their extent are unsuited to barrels, unless the barrels were made of excessive size, or fitted with delicate and expensive apparatus for shifting. The mechanism is of the most simple character, and consequently by no means liable to injury or wear ; it is applicable either on the small or the large scale, from a size little exceeding that of a musical box up to that of the largest organs. Existing instruments, whether finger er barrel organs, pianofortes, seraphines, and such like, can be fitted with the necessary apparatus ; and one gauge being maintained in all, the same sheets of music are uni versally applicable. We were much pleased with the ingenuity and simplicity of this novel instrument, the tones pro duced were clear and psrfect, and there was a crisp ness about the notes which contrasted most favourably with the slovenly dragging of the notes of a hand organ ; there was, moreover, none of that dis sonant "clicking" which is heard in a hand-organ whenever a change of key takes place. We heard moreover, what is, we believe, perfectly unique in the history of " mechanical music," a duet pla3 ed, and played most accurately by two performers on two separate instruments. As a church organ, in a rural district, where organists are not to be found, the Autophon will be invaluable, inasmuch as a variety and change of tunes can be commanded at a small ex pense, while the supply of tunes to a barrel organ must be necessarily of a very limited character ; and if a new tune he wanted the new barrel will cost at least five guineas, whereas the same can be procured for the Autophon for about one shilling, while for clear ness and beauty of tone, and accuracy of perform ance, the Autophon is infinitely superior. As we be fore stated, it must, from its superiority in every re spect over every other mechanical means of producing music, necessarily supersede them all. PANORAMA of FREMONT'S OVERLAND ROUTE to OREGON and CALIFORNIA. Yesterday evening we were favoured with a private view of a grand moving painting designed to illustrate the overland route across the Rocky Mountains to Oregon, Texas, and California, as tracked out by the celebrated John Charles Fremont, Colonel of the Topographical Engineers in the army of the United States. There are few men of our times whose lives have been more richly fraught with romantic adven tures, moving accident , , and hair-breadth eseapes, than Colonel Fremont; and no work, whether of the pen or the pencil, which correctly portrays the wild vicissitudes of his variegated career can be without interest. His adventurous spirit carried him across the Rocky Mountains, and made him familiar Kith the mighty wilderness which spread be tween the Mississippi River and the waters of the Pacific. The painting at the Egyptian Hall, which will be opened to the public on Monday, gives a more faithful representation of the various thrilling scenes that occurred to Colonel PlC:merit and his party while engaged in their adventurous expeditions than could be conveyed by any written chscription, however skilfully composed. The sketches from which the painting has been executed are from the pencils of Colonel Fremont, Captain Wilkes, and Mr. James Drayton, all of the United States To pographical Engineers; and the painting itself has been produced expressly for the United States Government, by Messrs. J. Kyle, W. Dallas, and J. Lee, of Washington. -We shall probably pay the exhibition another visit on an early day, when we will take occasion to speak of its merits in detail ; for the present it will suffice to pronounce a general opinion on the work. It appears to have been painted with much greater care, and with more precise attention to the rules of art, than many scenic paintings that we remember to have examined ; and we have no hesitation in asserting that the general effect is exceedingly fascinating to the eye. The grouping of the figures is, for the most part, cleverly managed, and though the effects of light and shade are not always as delicately discriminated as they might be, the perspective is well managed, and the more picturesque objects in each view are thrown out with artistic skill. The views in California are, per haps, the best in the collection, and on the whole the panorama is exceedingly effective, and will well repay a visit. MARRIAGE IN HIGII LIFEI—The marriage of the Hon. Philip Sidney, only son of Lord De L'lsle and Dud ley; to Mary, only child of the late Sir Wm. Foulis, of In goldsby Manor, in the county of York, Baronet, was solem nized on Tuesday at St. George's Church, Hanover-square, in the presence of a very numerous circle of the connexions of both families. The bride was led to the altar by her cousin, the Marquis of Kildare, attended by a train of six bridesmaids—the Hon. Adele Sidney, the Hon. Ernestina Sidney, the Hon. Philippa Sidney, Miss Geraldine Ross, Miss Augusta Somerset, and hilts Olivia Henry. The bride was attired in a rich white satin dress, trimmed with Brussels point lace flounces. The head dress consisted of a wreath of orange blossoms and a magnificent point lace veil. The bridesmaids wore white embroidered muslin dresses, with pink glace silk mantillas, and white crape bon. ets trimmed with white and pink roses. The ceremony was performed in a very impressive manner by the Rev. Philip Dodd, rector of Pensnurst, who had the honour of officiating some 25 years since at the marriage of the noble father of the bride- groom to a daughter of the late King William 11r. The bride and bridegroom left the church in a travelling carriage and four, for '1 heobalds, in Ilertfordshire, whence they prc ceed to the Continent. DEATH OF THE EMPRESS DOWAGER OF CHINA. —By a remarkable coincidence—sufficiently so at least to be worth recording—the news f the decease of the Queen Dowager of Great Britain arrived at Canton on the same day with an empress from the Board of War at Peking, announc ing that the Empress Dowager of China, also eminent for her virtues, departed this life (lit. went to roam with spirits) upon the 16th day of the 12th moon of the 29th year of Tau kwang (18th January). Officers, civil and military, are thereupon enjoined to array themselves in white, and per form ceremonies proper for such occasions. They are also to affix a blue stamp to all public documents, and are not to permit drums to beat or fifes to play in front of their Ya• muns. The Peking Gazettes bear witness to the devout re spect with which the Empress Dowager was uniformly treated by his Imperial Majesty; which, however, was no more than proper gratitude on his part; for it was her pre ference of him over her own offspring that induced Kia-king to nominate Titu-kwang as his successor.—China Mail. RAILWAY BlLLS.—Yesterday the preamble of the Caledonian and Wisbaw and Coltness Railways was declared not proved. The preambles of the North Staffordshire Rail way Company's Bill for extension of time to purchase lands, and that of the Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Junction, were declared proved. The Bill of the North Staffordshire Railway for their Ashbourne branch and power to lease is withdrawn. The standing orders have been declared to be dispensed with in the case of the Eastern Union Railway Company's Bill, and in that of the York, Newcastle, and Berwick and Great North of England Purchase Bills, in which they sought additional provision. On Saturday Catherine Gibbons, an aged finale, who came a passenger in the Britannia steamer, was killed under the following circumstances :—The deceased was on the deck while the vessel was being brought into the Cla rence-doik, and very imprudently sat down on the coil of a hawser. When the vessel began to move the hawser tight ened, and the deceased was unable to extricate herself from it. One of her legs became entangled, and though imme ciate assistance was rendered she was not extricated until her foot wi.s torn ofE She died the same day at the North ern Hospital.—Verdict, Accidental death.—Lirerpoo/ Mercury. IMPORTATION OF IRON FROM CHINA —TWO im portations of iron have just taken place from China. The vessel Robert Small, arrived in the docks from Canton, has brought 5,170 parcels of pig iron, awe portion of her cargo, consigned to order; and the vessel Charlotte Toone, from Canton, has brought 5 tons weight of the article, consigned , to order. These importations of iron from China are some what remarkable, and of considerable interest. , THE SUN, COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen awl Prince Albert tcok a drive in an open carriage and four yesterday. The Equerries in Waiting, Lord Charles Fitzroy and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Alexander Gordon, attended on horseback. The Duke and Duchess de Nemours visited her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback yesterday, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended by Mr. Birch, took a drive yesterday in an open carriage. Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Louisa, took an airing in an open carriage and four yesterday. . Her Majesty's private band was in attendance in Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, and played the following pieces : Overture, Selection, Czaar and Zim mermann'' L(.2.' zing. Selection, '•Figaro" Jallacic Mar soh. Lieut.-Colonel the lion. Alexander Gordon has re lieved Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour in his duties as Equerry in Waiting to his Royal Highness Prince Albert. Tne Duke and Duchess de Nemours visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday et Clarence House, St. James's. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent took a carriage airing yesterday. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a Cabinet dinner yesterday evening, at his official residence in Downiag-street. The Ministers present were Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir G. Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, Sir Francis• Baring, the Earl of Car lisle, the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, and the Right Hon. Fox Maule. A deputation from the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Company, consisting of Mr. Francis Rufford, M.P. (chairman), Messrs. N. Grazebrook, W. Lewis, B. Oliveira, Henry G. Bushby, Joseph Tucker, James Walker, and G. B. Thorneycrofc (directors) ; Mr. Charles Bedford and Mr. F. T. Elgie (solicitors) ; and Mr. Noel T. Smith (secretary), had an interview with the Commissioners of Railways yesterday, at their office in the Board if Trade. Aluzirt. A deputation of inspectors of land, for the cattle show of 1851, had an interview with Lord Seymour yesterday, at the office of the Woods and Forest•. The deputation consisted of Mr. Humphrey Brand reth, Mr. B. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Thomas Raymond Barker, Mr. Shaw, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Fisher Hobbs, and Mr. Pusey. The Marquis of Clanricarde is suffering from an attack of illness. _ _ Dr. Lyon Playfair had an interview with Earl Granville yesterday at the Board of Trade, The Finance Committee of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, consisting of Earl Gran ville, Lord Overstone, and Mr. T. F. Gibson, met yesterday at the, Board of Trade. Colonel Reid, Chairman of the Executive Committee, was also preseLt. A deputation, consisting of the High Bailiff of Westminster, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Lewis, had an interview yesterday with Earl Granville. Divatehes were sent off yesterday evening from he Colonial-office for the Governors of Ceylon and Hong Kong. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BATd AND SOMERSET RACES—WEDNESDAY. Tho Dyrham Park Stakes, of 15 soya. each, 10 fr, and 100 added, far three years old. One mile and a half. (11 Subs.) Mr. Gannon's Deicoon, Bst 10Ib Mr. Jenkins's Miss Larkaway, Bst 101 b (A. Day) 2 Mr. Fowler's The Monk, Bst 5 b (Whitehouse) 3 Mr. E. V. Fox's Taunton Dean, Bst 101 b (S. Rogers) 4 5t02 on Deicoon, who won by fLur lengths. Run in 2 win. 49 ecs. The Weston Stakes of 10 sous. each, and 50 added, for _ _ two „ years old. T.Y.C. Straight half mile. (15 Subs.) Mr. Howard's Prestige, Bst 41b (A. Day) 1 Mr. Waring's ;gloom, Bst 41b (T. Carlisle) 2 Capt. Archdall's Quadroon, Bst 41b (Wakefield 3 4 to 1 on Prestige, who won in a canter by a length and a half. Run in 55 secs. l'he City Cup of 100 sovs. in specie, added to a Sweep stak, sof 20 sovs. each, h ft. To ',tart at the Red Post and go once round, .about two miles and a half. (12 Subs.)Sir J. Hawley's Fernhill, 5 yrs (A. Day) 1 Mr. Fowler's John Dory, 4 yrs (Whitehouse) 2 Captain Lowther's Tarn Wadlin, 4 yrs...(S. Rogers) 3 Betting—Even on Tarn Wadlin, and 5 to 2 agst the other two. Won by a length. Run in 5 rain. 34 sec. A Sweepstakes of 5 soya. each, with 20 added, was won in four heats by Hasta (H. Goater), beating Car buncle (won first heat), Lethargy (won second hest), Sepulchre, Terpsichore (fell), Waterfall, and several others. THE DERBY.-12 to 1 offered on the course agst Mil lie Callum (reported to be amiss), and 40 to 1 agst Dei coon. No other chsnge. CHESTER Cur.-1,000 to 15 egst Osterley. The others as b, fore. MALTON RACES. rho Claret Stakes of 10 sove. each, for three yrs old. One mile and a halt. Mr. Hessfline's Timothy, Bst 71b ~. 1 Mr. G. Barton's Sir Philip, Bst 71b Mr. J. Shepherd's Kill or Cure, Bst 71b [he Convivial Handicap, of 10 sous each, 5 ft, and only 3is diclateti, with 50 added. Ono mile. (10 Subs., 8 of whom declared.) Sir C. Monclr's Gulliver, 4 yrs, 7st 41b 1 Colonel Arson's f by Touchstone, '3 yrs, Est slb 2 Three others started. The Farewell Stakes were won by Bastinado beating Galileo, and the Tallyho Handicap by Leonidas beating Little Queen and Billy Brown. CURRAGLI APRIL MEETING.—TUESDAY. The opening meeting for the season commenced this dray. The weather was most propitious and the attend ance large. A special train, which left the King's bridge terminus a few minutes after twelve o'clock, brought down between three and four hundred passen gen. The racing was of an average chat acter. Among the fashionables present were—the Marquis of W ater ford, Marquis of Drogheda, Earl of Miltown, Earl of Clontnel, Lord Rusborough, Sir Thomas Burke, Bart., &c. Tee only race c f the day worthy of notice was the lest on the list a sweepstakes of 15 sous., 25 added, which eai won after a gallant struggle by King Fisher, by a short length. Scurry Stakes, 5 BOW. r ach, with 25 cove. added. Anglesey Post. - Mr. Watt's Earl Warwick, 3 yrs, Est 21b (J. Wynne) 1 Col. Westenra's b lcTrouncer, 6 yrs, 9st 101 b (Wynne) 2 Cept. Lane's br c St. John, 3yrs, Est 41b (Monahan) S Mr. Mangan's b f Portia, 4 yrs, Bst (L. Keegan, jun.) 0 Mr. Farrar's bl c Viscount, 4 yrs, 7st 81b ...(0 wens) 0 Wa!erford's bcs Whiteboy,3 yrs,6st 21b(Doyle.jun.) 0 Mr. Irwin's ch c Independence, 3 yrs, Est 21b (Lynch) 0 Mr. Murphy's ch fby Tearaway—Zulima, 3 yrs, Ist 81b 0 Mr. Williamson's eh oby Retriever, 3 yrs, sst 81b 0 Betting-2 to 1 agst Trouncer, sto 2 agst Portia, 4to 1 agst St. John, 5 to 1 agst Warwick. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs.; weight for age. Two Mr. Kelly's ch h Blucher, 5 yrs (Dawson) 1 Mr. Watt's b h Little Harry, 5 yrs (Lilly) 2 Mr. Murphy's ch c Dough, 5 yrs. (Magee) 3 Lord Waterford's b h Duc-an-Durras, 5 yrs (Doyle) 0 Captain Haworth's ch m Baroness, 4 yrs...(Cnifney) 0 Mr. Disney's b c Conveyor, 3 yrs...(L. Keegan, jun.) 0 Mr. St. George's gr cby Verulam—Whim (Wynne) 0 Betting —2 to 1 agst Dough, 3 to 1 agatLittle Harry, 3 to 1 agst The Baroness, 5 to 1 agst Whim colt. The Madrid Stakes, 25 sous. each, for three yrs old. _ Mr. Disney's b c Captain Grant, 84 31b... (Wynne) 1 Mr. Knox's br c St. John, Qst 41b (Foley) 2 Mr. Murphy's Brother to Dough, Bst 41b ... (Magee) 3 Mr. Watt's b f Marchioness d'Eu, Bst 81b (Lilly) 0 Mr. Irwin's ch c Pio Nono, Bst 61b (Doyle) 0 Mr. Courtenay's gr f Caprice, Bst 21b ... (L. Keegan) 0 Lord Waterford's Brother to Johnny, 7st 41b(Doyle) 0 Sweepstakes of 15 soya., 5 ft, with 25 sous. added from the Club, and 25 soya. from the Trainers' Fund. Waterford Post. Mr. Kennedy's br h King Fist er, 9st 51b ... (Wynne) 1 Capt. Holdt n's br c Woodlands, 4 yrs, Bst (Magee) 2 Capt. Lane's bin The Darter, 5 yrs, Bst 101 b (Keegan) 0 Mr. Watts's br c Jester, 3 yrs, ist 121 b (Lilly) 0 INTELLIGENCE EXTRA. ASCOT HEATH-1850. Nominations for the Fernhill Stakes._ Lord Ciiien"sßeaufott, 2 yr,; Mr. Howard's Pres tte, 2 yrs; Mr. E. Batson's King of Cymry, 3 yrs; Duke of Richmond's Officious, 3 yrs; Duke of Rich mond's b f by the Ugly Buck out of Margelina, 2 yrs; Mr. Grataicke's Countess, 3 yrs; Major Martyn's Fez nande, 3 yrs; Lord Exeter's Ghio, 3 yrs; Mr. Merry's Louis Napoleon; Mr. Stevens na Britannia, 2 yrs; Mr. C. Liley's Thea, 3 yrs; Mr. Ford's Slane out of Re ceipt, 2 yrs; Baron Rothschild's br f by Kremlin out of the Evening Star, 2 yrs. Nominations for the Emperor's Plate. Lord Clifden's Surplice, 5 yrs; Mr. Pedley's Cossack, 6 yrs; Mr. W. Edwards's Bolingbroke, 3 yrs; Sir R. Pigot's Esedarius, 4 yrs; Lord Ex( ter's Little Jack, 3 ps; Lord Egliutca's The Flying Dutchman, 4 yrs; Mr. Ford's Lady Evelyn, 4 yrs; Lord Howth's Piep-u'-Day- Boy, 6 yrs ; Lord Stanley's Csnezou, 5 yrs ; Mr. Barnes's Sotterley, 5 yrs; Lord Exeter's Glenalvon, 4 rs ; Lord H. LE nnox's William tie Conqueror, 3 3rs ; Mr. Merry's Chanticleer, aged ; Lord Lonsdale's Je richo, aged. DONCASTER, 1850. LAST DAY.—Match--500 sovs., 100 f ; last mile and half of St. Leger Course. Mr. Gannon's Deicoon, 3 yrs, Bst 71b, against Mr. Syer's Augean, 3 yrs, 7st., G OODW 00D, 1850. The Cup has closed with 23 subscribers. NEWMARKET SECOND MEETING, 1850. TIIESDAY.—Match-100, h ft; Yearling Course. Duke tf Bedford's Mabratta, Bst 7ib, against Mr. Ramsbot tom's Io:e, Tat 121 b. WARD OF CmEar.—A vacancy has occurred in the representati( n of this ward in the Court of Common Council, by the death of Mr. Deputy Brook, of Cheapside, who has been 1( r nearly forty years in the corporation. A requisition having been presented to Mr. J. Bennett, F.R.A.S., gold smith, of Cheapside, requesting him to serve the ward in council, he has consented to be put in nomination as a can didate on the liberal interest. LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DREADFUL MURDERS. The pleasant market tow of Otley, iu the valley of the NVharle, about ten miles train Leeds, in the direct line cf road between Harrogate and Belton abbey, has just been the scene (la most diabolical out rage, in which one man's life was instantly and six or seven other persons were stabbed, including a married woman, who lies in a very precarious state from the wound inflicted upon her. The circumstances are as follow :—For some time past a number of men have been employed in making a reservoir for the supplying of a woollen-cloth manufactory with water, at a place called Burley-wood-head, on a high bar ren tract of land known by the name of Rombald's moor, upcn a portion of which is situated the well known Ben Raydding hydropathic establishment. Five sr six of these men, generally known by the name of " navvies," were drinking on S iturday after , nooa and evening at the Red Lion public-house, O.ley, kept by Henry Roundel!. Tney left that house quietly, about twelve o'clock at Light, worse for liquor, but app , .rently quite able to know what they wire doing. Soon after they had got out of the house is appears they stole a live fowl from Reundell's premise., and after they had turncd into a Arca or road called Westgate, which leads towards Burley-wood-head, where some of the men lodged, they wilfully commenced breaking the windows t f some of the inhabitants. Same thus broke lea throwing stones through them, and otters by striking ad them with their fists, utter - ieg at the same time brutal threats against the in ratites of the houses. Two of the party appear to have gone quo tly home, and the four now charged with the wilful mu der remained behind breaking windows. The noise occasioned by the smashing and falling of the glass attracted the attention of Henry Thornes, a clerk in the post-office, who lives in West gate. He went out of the house with his slippers on, walked lup to three of the men, and calmly asked them to pay for the windows they had broken, but they refused, doubling their fists and Tutting them in Thornes's face, with a threat to pay with physical force. A man named Ives, whom Thornes had met on the road, was present, and one of the men, afterwards identi fied as George Towleston, struck Ives over the mouth with his hand, which caused his mouth to bleed a little. As soon as Ives felt the blow he struck Towleston over the head with his walking-stick with such force as to inflict a wound, and knock the man down. When this was' done, Thornes and Ives ran away, pursued by two of Towleston's companions, who uttered the most violent im precations, but soon gave up running. The noise of the disturbance caused two women, named Mrs. Dickinson and Mrs. Kershaw, to go to the doors of their houses to see what was the matter, and at the same time Mrs. Dawson, the wife of Robert Dawson, a neighbour of the other women, went to the door to throw some water out, in a me ment or two after which she was followed by her husband, and a navvy carne along the street break ing the windows of one of the houses. As soon as he got to where the women, Robert Dawson, and Towle stein were, Dawson asked him if be knew what he had been doing; but, instead of giving bins an answer, the man dragged Dawson into the street and com menced using him with great violence. Mrs. Dawson, seeing her husband ill-used amid another navvy going up, ran a short distance to a public-house fur some assistance. She was only away a few minutes, but before her return her husband's brother, John Dawson, who lived only about 40 yards off, had run out cf his house in his trousers and shirt to his brother's assist ance, and had been stabbed in the right thigh by one of the navvies, and was lying dead on the steps of his own door. She also found that her husband had received.a deep cut in his cheek, that Mrs. Dickinson had been stabbed in the thick part of the thigh, and a daughter of Mrs. Kershaw, about 15 years of age, had been stabbed in one of her shoulders. It would appear, indeed, that two or three of the enraged brutes ran about with knives in their hands, stabbing or threaten ing to stab all persons they came near. One of them actually attempted to cut a young man's throat when he was looking at the dead body of John Dawsor, but the young man got away from him. In a short time, after information of the murder having been conveyed to some men who were at the White Horse Hotel, four or five persons (constables and others) set off in pursuit of the perpetrators of the barbarous outrages. They were overtaken about half a mile from Otley, on the road to Bradford, and after a desperate resistance, in which they inflicted with knives some severe wounds upon two or three of their captors, three of the villains were secured and placed in custody, and the fourth was apprehended. not very far off, on the following day. On Monday afternoon an inquest was held on the body of the deceased John Daaeon be fore Mr. Brown, coroner, at the White Horse kotel, Utley. The deceased was a very steady, sober man, aged 28. lie was unmarried, and lived with his father, and was a sawyer. The wound which caused his death was at the upper part of the right thigh, where the ft moral artery and the first branch from it were cu , , as if with a stab irons a knife. The jury, after the examination of twenty witnesses, returned a verdict of Wilful Murder" against the four prisoners, who ;;eve their names Gorge 'Towleston, Robert Farrar, Nathaniel Scholey, and William Jaques. The Coroner made out his warrant, and they were all committed to York Castle to take their trials at the next assizes. Three of the prisoners, it is said, belong to Wake field, and the fourth (Jaques) is a Lincolnshire man, but he married a Wakefield woman. They are from thirty to forty years of age, and their countenances, more or less, are of a villancus cast, whilst their faces bear marks of hard usage and dissolute habits. Knives were found in the possession of three of the prisoners, and one knife had blood upon it. Mrs. Kershaw, the woman who was stabbed and now lies in in a precarious state, is the wife of a shoemaker. She is about thirty years of age, and has four children, one being an infant at the breast. INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. On Tuesday, April 23, (William Cubitt, Esq , Pre sident, in the chair,) the paper read was a " Descrip tion of the Insistent Pontoon Bridge, at the Dublin Terminus of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland," by Mr. R. Mallet, M. Inst. C. E. This bridge was stated to be situated on the line of approach from the city to the terminus, and formed a passage over one branc h of the Royal Canal, where it crossed the Phibsborough-road, upon the Foster Aqueduct. By the Act it was provided that the na• vigation of the canal should be as free and unimpeded as possible ; and from the circumstance of there being only a height of 16 inches between the intended surface of the road and that of the water of the canal, it necessarily involved the placing of some kind of moveable bridge, of rather peculiar construction. After due c onsideration, the one described in the paper was designed and adopted, as being more suit able to the peculiarities of the situation than any other, owing to the water channel being only 17 feet 4 inches in width, and that the passage to be made across it required to be at least 50 feet in breadth. The general idea of this form of moveable bridge was that of a pontoon, or flat-bottomed boat, con structed of iron, the breadth being nearly equal to that of the water space to be crossed, and the length about equal to the width of roadway required. The deck beams of this pontoon projected over the sides, and rested, while in situ, upon a rabbate, or continu ous recess, formed along the top course of each quay wall, but while the pontoon was floating light, the ' projecting deck beams were two inches clear of this rabbate, and the roadway platform constituting the deck of the pontoon was elevated to an equal height above the level of the top of the quay walls, or land, on each side ; in this state the pontoon could be freely and readily pushed along the canal for a distance of rather more than its own length, until it was brought opposite to a lye-by, provided by increasing the width of the canal at this point, and being put therein, the navigation was perfectly free. As a pontoon afloat would form a very unstable roadway for carriages, means were provided for allow ing it to settle down in the water, and rest firmly upon the rabbates; and also for again rais'ng it rapidly, so as to float clear of the rabbates, and enable it to be moved away into the lye-by. For this pur pose two large valves were placed in the bottom of the pontoon, one near each end, by which water was allowed to enter, and sink the pontoon, until it hung upon the projecting deck-beams. For removing this water, when it was required to float the pontoon, a large syphon, of a particular construction, was pro vided, which was capable of being brought instantly into use, and of being as quickly detached when a sufficiency of water had been withdrawn to enable the pontoon to be moved. These operations were stated to be performed very readily by one man, the navigation being cleared in four minutes, and the roadway restored in less than three minutes. The details of the construction c f the pontoon, of the sy phon, and all other parts of the work were then minutely given; also the total cost of the struc ture, whirl, exclusive of the mascnry, was 1,125/., that of the masonry being about 1501. ; and it was stated, to have continued in use, with perfect satis faction, since its completion in February, 1847. This form ef construction was considered to he applicable, in situations where a comparatively nar row water channel had to be crossed by a very wide roadway; but as the particular circumstances of other localities might differ from the one in question, the author suggested various alterations in the, de tailes, so as to meet these exigencies. The next paper read was a " Description of a wrought-iron Lattice Bridge, constructed over the line of the Rugby and Leamington Railway," by W. T. Doyne, Assoc. Inst. C. E. This bridge, which was 150 feet span, carried a public road over the Honinghatn cutting. It con sisted of two girders 156 feet in length, and 10 feet 6 inches in depth, placed at a distance of 20 feet apart, and connected together by means of wrought-iron transverse girders, and by a :system" of horizontal etii;gornil bracing. The bottotn c,f the ;min girders were formed of two angle irons, and wrought-iron plates, eight in number at the centre, but diminishing to three at the ends, and of such dimensions as to trmke the effective sectional area at the centre, after deducting the loss by rivet holes, equal to 26 square inches; that of the top, which was somewhat differ ently constructed, so as the better to resist compres sion, being equal to 40 square inches. The lattices were formed of a series of bars of spoke-iron, intersect ing each other at an angle of 60 deg., being crossed at those points, by longitudinal bars, for the purpose of giving additional rigidity, and of making a closer parapet. The transverse girders, 7 feet 6 inches apart, were each formed of a plate of wrought iron, with two angle irons at the top and the bottom ; these were covered with corrugated galvanized iron, one tenth cf an inch thick, upon which concrete and then a layer ( f gra% el and loam metalling, 6 inches thick, were laid. This bridge was erected by Messrs. Smith, Smi h, and James, of Leamington, Upon a plalornt wi ich gave to the girders a camber of 7 inches in the centre, w hich was rcduced to.n inches upon removing the tlatform. rine total cost Lf the bridge was about 3 500/._ . . Dui ing the progress of the works the author made some experiments upon the strength of rivets of dif ferent siz-s, from which it appeared th:tt the average breaking weight, per squart, itich of m ctional area, was 35.10 tom for a chain joint, and 1S 82 tons fur a lap joint. The paper announced to be read at the next meet ing, Tuesday, April 301 h, when the monlly ballot for members will take place, was No. 834, "On the Absorbent Power of Chalk, and its Water Contents, under different conditions," by Professor /kilted. APRIL 25, 1850. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. RAILWAY TOLLS. The Commissioners of Railways have made their report to the House of Commons on the Railway Bills introduced during the present session in which it is proposed to raise or alter the, tolls authorised under existing Acts. Tnirteen days after receiving the order of tire House the Commissioners were ire formed by the promoters of the Aberdeen (Amend ment of Acts, increase of capital, alterations of station and of line and levels, &c) Bill, that the toll clauses would be withdrawn to avoid the de lay which their retention would cause to the progress of the Bill. Under these circumstances the Commissioners ceased to consider it as one of the Bills referred to them. It was proposed to increase the toll for the use of the line 50 per cent., and the charges for conveyance 161 per cent. In the South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole (amendment of Acts and deviation) Bills it is proposed to increase the tolls for the use of the line to convey manure and minerals 100 per cent , and the toll and charge of conveyance 25 per cent.; the toll on stones for building and pas lug to be increased 200 per cent., aed cl arges for conveyance, includ ing use of line, 75 per cent. ; fur the cirri. ge of tiz.h and poultry a dem ase of 33 per cent. Au increase of 50 per cont. in the fares c f first-class pssengers., rod 25 per cent. in those f second and third dabs passengers. The proposed increase in the charge fee the conveyance of sheep is 200 per cent. ; fur pipe 300 per cent. ; and for mules and other beaets c f burden, 400 per cent. With the exception of about five miles, employed for coal traffic, the only part of the lines authorised, at present open for traffic, is that between Swinton and Doncaster, eight miles in length. The line has only been opened about five months, during which period it has been worked by the Midland Railway Company for 25 per cent. of the gross receipts, and is to be worked at that rate for a period of seven years. Considering the short time that the line has been worked, and that the company are the proprietors of a great extent of navigation competing with the railway routes of the district, the Commissioners are of opinion that no sufficient reason has been shown for the alteration of tolls proposed by the Bill. The South Wales, No. 2 (Repeal and 'alteration of powers as to Forest of Dean Railway and Works, &c.) Bill proposes to authorise a charge for the conveyance of goods on the Forest of Dear. and the South Wales Railways of 3d. per ton per mile, being id. more than the maximum authorised by the Act of 1847, and also to sanction a limited charge for the use of the wharves at Ballo Pill, for which no charge can at present be exacted. The Commissioners state that if the Bill be so alte ed as to secure the observance of articles entered into between the promoters of the Bill and opposing parties, no objections would exist to the proposed alterations of the tolls. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Bill for the alteration of &c., proposes to increase the present rates and tolls 20 per cent., except in cases of corn, the increase upon which is 50 per cent. In addition to the in crease of fares, this Bill renders a first-class passen ger liable to an additional charge of 61., the same with a second or third-class passenger in the smaller sums of 4d. and 2d., in addition to which, however short the distance travelled, or however convenient or otherwise flee station may be, whether terminal or not, the company seek to add to every fare so computed, the sum of 61., 4d., or 2d., as a terminal charge. Memorials have been received in opposition to this proposed increased traffic from landowners, merchants, manufacturers, &c., on the railway, from the East Lancashire Railway Com pany, and parties resident at Halifax, Huddersfield, Bolton, and Oldham. From the statement sub mitted by the company for the consideration of the Commissioners, it appears that in 1847 the p-cductive capital of the company was 3,699,7631., and the gross revenue was 356,9331., which, after deducting all expenses, 142,7561, left net revenue of 214,175/. 7 being at the rate of 5 78 per cent. profit upon the expended capital ; the length of line opened for public traffic at this time being 042- miles. At the end of 1849 the productive capital of the company appears to have been 8,179,5091., being an increase of 121 per cent. upon that of 1847, the mileage of . railway open being 157 k miles, exclusive of 234 opened in October and December, 1849, being an increase of 144 per cent., while the gross revenue had become 545,1741., being an increase of 52 per cent. The working expenses had, in the meantime, increased to 266,3721., or by 86 per cent., and the net revenue had become 279,3321, having therefore only increased 30 per cent.; and it now, therefore, yields, at the rate of last year, only 3.41 per cent. profit upon the productive capital of the company. Considering that the company have, in the statment of their reasons for this appli cation of an increased tariff, set forth that the dimi nution of the dividend is not consequent on a dimi nution of traffic, the Commissioners are of opinion that the present traffic on the main line is at least sufficient toy ield the same dividend, 5 78 per cent., that it yielded is 1847 upon the capital expended in the construction of that portion of the line. From th:s consideration it would appear th it the present pe cuniary position cf the company has been brought about, nut by the reduction of tolls by the Act of 1846, but by the investment c f a capital sum amounting to three times the capital producing revenue at the end of 1847 in 181 miles of railway, of which 157 k were completed and open for public traffic at the end of 1848, which are either unprofitable speculations or the companies have not had sufficient experience fully to ascertain the extent of the traffic upon them. This railway had, at the time of accepting the tariff in the Act of 1840, which also conferred powers for making several branch railways, a full knowledge of the capabilities of the district, their main line having been in operation through the heart of it fur several - years ; and, therefore, the Commissioners, considering that the traffic upon the main line at the rates of the present tariff, is sufficient to yield a pro fitable revenue of at least 6 per cent. upon the capital expended upon it, consider that the company have not established a case for the repeal of the Act, and there fore do not recommend that powers should be granted to the company to increase their existing tolls. The Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Bill proposes to amend the six mile clause of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company, Es applied to the line between Liverpool and the junction, stated to be about 1.1 miles in length, and to provide that the owners of the line shall only be empowered to demand tolls as for three miles. The East Lan cashire Company have stated, in opposition to the proposed alteration, that the joint line from the junc tian to the town of Liverpool has cost at the rate of 250,0001. per mile, including stations; and that, therefore, the present tolls are unusually moderate. The Commissioners recommend that such a modifica tion of the six-mile clause as will enable the Liver pool, Crosby, and Southport Company to convey pas sengers over the joint line into Liverpool at a mode rate rate should receive the careful consideration of the Committee on the Bill. The Great Northern Rail way Bill, for amending of Acts and alteration of tolls, proposes that the present authorised tolls be increased. The Commissioners state that, considering the outlay upon the Great Northern Rail w ay has been very great; that it does not pass through any very extensive manu facturing districts with a dense population ; and con sidering, also, the competition to which it will he subject at several points from other companies when open throughout the whole length, and that the tolls upon the navigations possessed by the company are not affected by the Bill; and considering, also, the particularly low rates of charge now authorised upon the Great Northern Railway, being less than the average rates which other railway companies are em powered to levy—the Commissioners are of o pinion that the company have shown a sufficient reason why Parliament should grant them an amended tariff. They recommend that a tariff on the same scale as that of the London and North-IVestern Railway, with which it is a directly competing line at many points, should be adopted and conceded to them. The Commissioners, however, are of opinion that the.clause by which the company seek to continue their powers to demand from all first and second-class passengers 6d. for every fractional part of 61 beyond the integral number of sixpences will be objectionable, in case Par liament should see fit to concede to the company a higher tariff than at present. The Commissioners enter tain great objections to the inquisitorial powers possessed by the company, by which it is rendered unlawful to include in one package several parcels of various sorts and intended for various individuals, and by which the company may demand a separate sum for each such parcel. It appears to the Commissioners that if the charges of the company are raised, it is due to the interests of the public that the powers for repealing the provisions of former Acts to the effect that the second-class carriages shall be closed and have glass windows, that third-class carriages shall be covered and have seats, and that the company shall run third-class trains every day, as ef:en as the Commissioners shall prescribe, should be withdrawn from the pre sent Bill. The Commissioners are of opinion that the repeal of the clauses in the former Act, pro viding that the direct geographical distance, as mea sured on the Ordnance map, and not the distance according to the length of railway, is to be that for which companies are empowered to charge, will not operate prejudicially to the interests of the public. AriarnEn GORHAM CASE.—It is stated that a case very closely resembling that of the Rev. Mr. Gorham and the Bishop of Exeter is likely to ciccur in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. The Magistrates having appointed the Rev. Mr. Simpson, who is understood to be the editor of a publication called The Protestant, to the chaplaincy of the Bridewell, in that city, a number of the high church clergy have memorialised the Bishop, all , ging that the Rev. Gentleman holds the heretical opinion that baptismal rege neration is not a doctrine of the Church of England, and praying his Lordship, on that account, to refuse !tun the ne cessary licence. It remains to be seen what course the Bishop will take in the matter, which has given rise to a good deal of interest in the neighbourhood. CLOSING OF LEWES SAVINGS BANK. LEWES, APRIL 24.—This town, this morning, was thrown into a state of considerable excitement, by the publication of the following notice :-- "LEWES SAYINGS-BANS—NOTICE TO DEPOSITORS, &C. " In cons , quence of the continued serious illness of the actuary, Mr. Henry Bartlett, and some unexp!ained re cently discovered errors in the accounts, the bank will be closed until further notice, and the committee will take immediate steps to secure the mo , e complete exa mination of the depositors' books, of which a large number have is, t yet been produced. For the present, they may be left with the treasurer, George Molineux, Esq., at the Lewes Old Bank. Lewes, April 23, 1850." The most remarkable circumstance connected with this announcement is the fact that about six weeks ago only the depositors' books were called in by the managers, and an inquiry then, supposed to be of the strictest and most gratifying character, was the re sult. The best proof of this is the publication of the following advertisement, which appeared in the Sus sex Express of March 16 : "Lewes Saviegs Bank.—We, the undersigned mem bers of the committee appointed at a sp cial meeting of the trustees and managers to examine the depositors' books with the ledger, hereby certify that a large pro portion of such books have been produced to and exa mined by us, and we have found the same correct, and the whole of the accounts appear to be accurately and properly kept, and reflect great credit upon the stetu.,ry, Mr. Henry Bartlett.—(Signed) Burwood Gadlee, Figg, Geo. Molineux, jun., John Fames, E. Morris, Wm. Button.—Lewes, March 7, 1850." _ _ At the last annual meeting, it appeared,- by the statement submitted. by the actuary, that there were 2,125 depositors, whose accounts amounted to 46,8751. 18s. 10d. ; sixty-two charitable societies, which deposit 3,0601. 25.; and three friendly socie ties, 4811. 1 ls. Bd. ; making a total of 2,180 accounts, with 50,4171. 12s. 6d. deposits. Mr. Bartlett, the actuary, who is at present suffer ing from a most serious illness, bears 'the highest character, and it is hoped by the depositors that, not withstanding the closing of the bank, the errors may admit of a satisfactory explanation. Of course nothing official has transpired, but the immediate cause of the announcement that there were " some unexplained recently discovered errors in the ac counts," is said to be as follows:—List Saturday night a book from a country depositor was handed to the manager for the night, of course in the actuary's absence, with a note requesting payment of the ba lance shown on the face of the account, 28/. ; the whole depcsits being 721., and the withdrawals 34/. On reference to the ledger, however, the balance was found to be only 63. The actuary denied that there was any defalcation, and asserted that the whole would be found to be a mistake. Mr. Bartlett has been actuary of the Lewes Sav ings Bank about twenty years. His sureties are bound in moderate sums only. IRELAND. DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY—SALES OF ENCUMBERED ESTATES.—The sides are proceeding rapidly, but nevertheless, there are yet no indications of that " ruinous depreciation" in the value of land predicted by the Protectionist opponents of the Encumbered Estates Act. On the contrary, notwithstanding all the discouraging circumstances arising from the famine difficulties and the present low prices of agi i cu'tural produce, the rates of purchase almost daily realised are fair and satisfactory ; End w here pro perties of a really valuable kind are offered, the rates obtained have been in some instances now ly as high as those prevailing before the potato failre c. Others of an inferior description bring very low rates, especially when they are in remote and isolated districts, and the land in such a ne glected and impoverished condition, as to re quire time and the outlay of capital to render it even moderately productive. There were no less than six separate sales yesterday, the details of which possess no interest for your readers, and it will be sufficient to notice the results. Some of the lots were by no means attractive—none of them were considerable in value, and one was merely a lease hold interest in a farm of nine acres in the county of Waterford, held for an unexpired term of seventy four years, which was purchased by a tenant-farmer for 1001. The yearly value was estimated at 131., so that eight years' purchase has been paid for this ter minable interest in a very small holding, and the rate of purchase must be considered high. But the experience of the Commission has proved that much higher prices can be obtained from tenant farmers, for small lots, than from any other class of purchasers. A small fee-simple estate of 464 statute acres, in the county of Limerick, with an estimated rental of 3571., produced a very brisk competition, and was sold to Mr. F. White for 6050/., or seventeen years' purchase. This was the only property of any consi derable value sold during the day. REPEAL OF THE ADVERTISEMENT DUTY. (From Punch ) Yesterday, an enormous meeting of advertisers of all denominations took place in Palace-yard. Mr. Jenkins, as representing a class (the large class of domestic servants), was unanimously bellowed to the chair. From what we could gather of the sentiments of the speakers, they were (in fragments) as follow : " A "Wet Nurse, a Respectable Young Woman," thought it was like their impudence that she could'nt offer to take charge in the newspapers of a precious baby from the month, without paying eighteenpence duty to that Lord Russell. " A Lady's-maid turned 20," who understands hair-dressing and millinery, gave it upon her honour and word that the eighteenpence was shameful—abo minable—and if the Queen only knew it—it was her (the Lady's-maid's) opinion—her Majesty would'nt permit it, that she wouldn't. " A housekeeper to a single Gentleman or Trades man," said they had only to be unanimous to put down the eighteen-pence for ever and forever. If they warn't attended to this time, she gave 'em warning for her part let the Ministry look to his windows ! (Cheers.) " A Butler in a quiet Family where a Footman is kept," said, it was well-known that the corn-laws was repealed, only that the eighteenpence might go into the Lord Chancellor's pocket, He hoped he had always been loyal—always in his own person rallied round the altar and the throne—but the eighteenpence on advertisements was a fundamental blow at habeas corpus. He only hoped—it was his daily prayer—that he should not be druv to join the Chartists. _ _ " A Footman, single-handed," said it was hin famous— _ _ " A Groom, or to Drive a Brougham," cried— " Shabby !" " A Waiter to an Hotel" asked, if they stood the eighteenpence, " what next were to follow P"— And then began a multitudinous roar, hundreds of advertisements—advertisers we should say—condemn ing the eighteenpence. " The Natural Standard of Sherry," —hiccuped " shameful—" "The Most Approved Stoves" roared "disgusting"— " The Everlasting Gold Pen" would write it down— " A Revolution in Light" would show it up— " What to eat," &c., would not digest it— And, in fact, every advertising interest—represented and declared after its peculiar manner—so empha tically denounced the continuation of the eighteen penny tax on the advertising industry and commerce of the c aintry, that — The noise of the meeting coming to the ears of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whilst in the House, he was seen to bend over to Lord Russell, and heard to say, " I see how it is ; we must give the eighteen•- pence up. 'Tis only a trifle after all—and—yes, I'll manage it."—Punch. THE EARL OF ELLESMERE.—The Ermina schooner, Royal Yacht Club, sailed from Portsmouth yesterday morn ing with her noble owner, the Earl of Ellesmere, and a party of live gentlemen, who accompany his Lordship on a voyage to the Mediterranean, whither he is gene for the benefit of his health. • WIT AND PROFESSED WITS. I wish, after all I have said about wit and humour, I could satisfy myself of their good effects upon the (character and disposition ; but I am c onv i nce d the probable tendency of both is, to corrupt the under standing and the heart. I am not speaking of wit where it is kept down by more serious qualities of mind, and thrown into the background of the pic ture; but where it stands out boldly and emphatic ally, and is evidently the master quality in any par ticular mind. Professed wits, though they are gene rally courted for the amusement they afford, are seldom respected for the qualties they possess. Tne habit of seeing things in a witty point of view, in creases, and makes, incursions fr om it s own proper regions, upon principles' and opinions which are ever held sacred by the wise and good. A witty man is a dramatic performer : in process of time, he can no mere exist without appl ause than h e can ex i st w:th out ai r; if his audien ce b e sma ll, or if t h ey are inat tentive, ori f a new wit defrauds him of any IT tion of his admiration, it is all over with him—he sickr-r.p, and is exti , guished. The applau.es of the V eirre on which he performs are so essentill to him, thit he must obtain them at the expense of deee-xy, frier a'- ship, and good feeling. It must always he probable, too, that a mere R it 13 a person of light raid frivolous understanding. his business is not to discover rel..- tions of ideas that are useful, and have a real it flu ence upon life, hut to discover the m ore trifling relations which are only amusing ; ver looks at things with the Lake(' eye f common sense, but is always gazing at the world through a Claude Lor raine glass—discovering a thousand appearanc es which are created only by the instrument of inspec tion, and covering every object with factitious and unnatural colours. In short, the character of a mere wit it is impossible to consider as very amiable, very respectable, or very safe. So far the world, in judg ing of wit where it has swallowed up all other qua lities, judge aright; but I doubt if they are suffi ciently indulgent, to this faculty where it exists in a lesser degree, and as one out of many other ingre • dients of the understanding. There is an association in men's minds between dulness and wisdom, amuse ment and folly, which has a very powerful influence in decision upon character, and is not overcome with out considerable difficulty. The reason that the outward signs of a dull man and a wise man are the same, and so are the outward signs of a frivolous man and a witty man ; and we are not to expect that the majority will be disposed to look to much snore than the outward sign. I believe the fact to be, that wit is very seldom the only eminent quality which resides in the mind of any man ; it is commonly accompanied by marry other talents of every description, and ought to be considered as a strong evidence of a fertile and superior understanding. Almost all the great poets, orators, and statesmen of all times, have been witty. Cresar, Alexander, Aristotle, Descartes, and Lord Bacon, were witty men ; so were Cicero, Shakspere, Demosthenes, Boileau, Pope, Dryden, Fontenelle, Jonson, Waller, Cowley, Solon, Socrates, Dr. John son, and almost every man who has made a distin guished figure in the House of Commons. I have talked of the danger of wit: I do not mean by that to enter into common-place declamation against faculties because they are dangerous ;—wit is dan gerous, eloquence is dangerous, a talent for observa tion is dangerous, every thing is dangerous that has efficacy and vigour for its characteristics : nothing is safe but mediocrity. The business is, in conducting the understanding well, to risk something; to aim at uniting things that are commonly incompatible. The meaning of an extraordinary man is, that he is eight men, not one man ; that he has as much wit as if he had no sense, and as much sense as if he had no wit ; that his conduct is as judicious as if he were the dullest of human beings, and his imagination as bril liant as if he were irretrievably ruined. But when wit is combined with sense and information ; when it is softened by benevolence and restrained by strong principle ; when it is in the hands of a man who can use it and despise it, who can be witty and something much better than witty, who loves honour, justice, decency, good-nature, morality, and religion, ten I thousand times better than wit ;—wit is then a beau , tiful and delightful part of our nature. There is no more interesting spectacle than to see the effects of wit upon the different characters of men ; than to observe it expanding caution, relaxing dignity, un freezing coldness—teaching age, and care, and pain, to smile,—extorting reluctant gleams of pleasure from melancholy, and charming even the pangs ef. grief. It is pleasant to observe how it penetrates through the coldness and awkwardness of society, gradually bringing men nearer together, and, like the combined force of wine and oil, giving every man a glad heart and a shining countenance. Genuine and innocent wit like this, is surely the flavour of tire mind ! Alan could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food; but God has given us wit, and flavour, and brightness, and laughter, and per fume:, to enliven the da3 s of men's pilgrimage, and to charm his pained steps over the burning marle."— Sydney Smith. THE SURREY NEW PRI3ON. In arranging the designs for the Surrey new prison, n.,w in course of cen•truc 'ion at Wandsworth, under the direction of Mr. D. Hill, ar chitect, it has been attempted to make them in such a way as to be uniform and complete for the number at first intended to be provided for (700), and that the future exteu•ion (to 1,000), should nct interfere with the buildings.crectei nor destroy their uniformity. The buildings are d signed in the plainest and most simple style, and of the most substantial kind. 'I hey are executed in brickwork, with stone dressings, quoins, pl nths, cornices, window sills, &c., ant are arrang,d on the principle of Pentonville prison, and with the latest improvements in the various fittings and details. There are 543 cells provided for male prisoners, and 165 for females, making a total accommodation for prisoners of 70S cells, not including punishment and reception cells : the whole will be thoroughly ve tilated, and fitted up with soil-pan or water closet, washing basin, with sufficient supply of water (a sepa rate cistern being provided for each cell), and a gas light. Rooms on the ground, first, and second floors, adjoining the central hall, have been provided for trade instructors. Baths have been provided both for males and females supplied with hot and cold water. The cooking kitchen, bakehouse, and serving rooms are entirely distinct from the main buildings. The infirmaries, both for males and females, are entirely sepa rated from the other parts of the prison, and are provided with separate airing courts. The chapel will be fitted up with separate seats or stalls for 391 prisoners, pews for go'rernor's and chaplain's families, and galleries for the officers. The prison will be warmed by hot water, similar to the man ner adopted at Pentonville. The whole of the cells, both for males and females, are 13 feet by 7 feet, and 9 feet high to the crown of the arch.—Builder. FATAL EFFECTS CAUSED BY A PIN IN THE EAR.— We think it right to give publicity to the particulars con nected with the following fatal occurrence, in order to show how careful every person ought to be in introducing pins into either the mouth or ears :—A short time since Miss Lavinia Ann Maria Downie, nice to Mi. Downie, g irdener, Traquair House, a most amiable and interesting young lady, twenty-four years of age, who had suffered from occasional severe pains in her head and a considerable degree of deafness ever since her childhood, and whose heakli had been gra • dually declining for the last three 'years, was seized with a most painful inflammation in the left car, accompanied by frequent bleeding also from the ear. About the Ist of March her case became much aggra vated by the increase of the pain and inflammation, and on the 20th ult. an ordinary-sized metallic pia was ex tracted from her left ear, enveloped in a firm substance, with numerous fibres adhering to it; several hard bodies, resemb ling in shape the grains of buck-wheat, but of various colours, were also taken oat of the right ear. The poor girl endured the most intense pain, which she bore with Christian fortitude, till the 4th inst., when death closed the scene. The pin must have been lodged in the head for nearly twenty Years, as ;he never recollected having put one into her ear; but she had a distant remembrance of having, when a child, had a pin in her mouth, which she thought she had swallowed. It is the opinion of several eminent medical men, that in all probability the one extracted was the same pin. It was found, on examination, to have been frequently bent and twisted.—Culedonian Mercury. EXAMINATION AND COMMITTAL OF THOMAS SMEETON FOR EMBEZZLEMENT AT Irswacli.—This indi vidual, who has recently been secretary to several building societies in Ipswich and its vicinity, was fully committed for trial on Monday last, on three separate charges. First, for obtaining money under false pretences on behalf of the East Anglian Building and Investment Society; second, for em bezzling money belonging to the Suffolk Improved Building and Improvement Company; the third charge being for a similar offence against the same company. The Ipswich Ex press states :—" Since these cases were heard, we understand that the prosecutors had originally intended to confine their proceedings to four cases—two in each society. Some threats, however, have reached the ears of the directors to the effect that if Smeeton be not dealt mildly' with, he will endeavour to implicate some of the gentlemen who have been intimately connected with the societies. The effect of this has been to induce the prosecutors to carry the entire case still further against the prisoner, in order that the value of such threats may be tested, and the character of the direc tors vindicated in the eyes of the public." ACCIDENT RELIEF SOCIETY.—The annual festival of this institution was celebrated yesterday evening, at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street. In the absence of Mr. 0. Thompson, M.P., who was prevented by indisposition from attending, the chair was taken by the Rev. H. Cole, th e honorary chaplain. After the routine toasts had been dis posed of, the Rev. Chairman proposed "Prosperity to the Society," which he characterised as one of the most purely charitable institutions in this country. Ile stated that during the past year three hundred and sixty families had been re lieved, and two hundred and ninety-eight pounds distributed amongst them, and in she course of his observations he oh by giving orders u se p rl o - d e t t a l i i i ii e t at t n h e e n p fo ra r c i t h ic e e o sa t p a p ffo y rd ( i )f ng relief food having lid to abuse, and being evidently objectionable, the committee had for in money, and that this proved most benefi c i a l . S evera l d onat i ons had dst di s t r ibuted relief only s a a ( l: l t m d e r e a a nttiiiolinuneal subscriptions were announced. THE ROYAL ADELAIDE 'TEAM-PACKET.—The stern frame, with the vessel's name, " Roval Adelaide, llublia," with the sternpost and upper part of rudder-post with iron tiller, all attached together, also the greater part of the atter d e ck, and the whole side of a boat, were picked up on the Essex coast, and taken to Burnham. Very little cargo hes been saved. The divers have been at work whenever the weather would allow of their operations; and there has been a revenue cutter on the spot to prevent plunder as much as possible. TIIE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.—A numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Chelsea was held at the Com mercial Ilall,King's-road, yestcrdr.y,Mr. Fielder, the church warden, in the chair. The Hon. A. Liddell, Rey. C. Dris. cull, Mr. G. Downey, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Ryder, and others 4: addressed the the meeti. g. Resolutions were passed in fiiyoar of the proposed exhibition, and a committee was nominated for the purpose cf assisting the Royal Commissioners in carrying it into effect. Messrs. Fielder, .Challacombe, and Murray were appointed treasurers; and the Rev. E. Rudge, curate of St. Luke's, was elected hon. secretary to the local ‘ committee. •