The Sun. — London, England, 1845-12-26 00:00:00

SALE OF RAILWAY SCRIP. A. question of great interest has recently arisen, 00 which the opinion of the profe-sion is divided ; viz., whether the 7th and Bth Victoria, c 110, a. 26, ap plies to railway companies, and, consequently, whe ther sales of shares by persons not registered as shareholders of completely registered railway com panies, and sale s o f s h ares i n suc h com p an i e s provi sionally registered only are void, and the dealers subject to penalti e s. Th e o bj ec t o f the following re. Marks is to show that that section does not apply Section 2 enacts, that except where specially provided the Act shall not apply to such companies, and they are not named in section 26. It is for those, there fore, who s a y th a t sec ti on 26 a ppli es , t o prove it; and for those who deny it, to answer the ar gument on the other side. The argument IS this :—railway companies must be completely r egistered : section 26 applies to all companies completely registered—therefore sec. 26 applies to companies. To this argument there seem several answers. 1. Assuming that railway com tallies, and others which do require an Act of Parlia • '"ent, must be completely registered, it follows that all companies, with very few exceptions, must be completely registered, for it is clear that companies must b e who do not require an Act of Parliament, S ee. 2. The excepted companies are banking corn- P a nies and other societies named in that section ; `° which companies it is expressly declared the Act 13141 1 not a pply i n an y p ar t. Therefore, sec. 26 is a gener a l enac t men t as to a ll t o w hi c h the Act is applicable; but the above argument affirms it is a s pecial provision. 2 . The assertion that sec. 26 applies to all companies completely registered" is founded on the use of those Word s in the first sentence ; but it is obvims that if all companies to w hi c h th e A c t i x an y wa y applies must " completely registered," those words are super , - , .3 °113 ) and the expression " any joint-stock company, `, , any joint-st oc k c om p an y completely regis red, are identical, and it must be conceded that the it Word s " no joint-stock company" would not be a eial provision as to railway companies. It may be Id this is giving no effect to the words " completely ' e gistered." If that were so, it is using them no w earring than the argument referred to, but the true of the sentence is, "no shareholder in any ' c :Lat-st o ck com p an y, a lth oug h o r a fter it is corn • r,'etely registered," &c. It will also be found that r egistered," and " completely registered," are used discri m i na t e l y. 3. I t i s a d m i tte d to b e a goo d W ay of construing an Act of Parliament with an ex boeering clause, t o rea d every s entence as though excepting clause was included in it, unless me contradiction or incongruity follows. If so, the sent ence in sec. 26 would b e read, " no shareholder °f any joint-stock company completely registered and e r this Act, except companies for making rail- Ys, 'which cannot be carried into execution without e e authority o f P ar li amen t," &c. And it must be ° ceeded, th a t i n suc h ren d er i ng there is nothing e J a tradictory or absurd. Bbt it is said there are er sections where this test cannot be applied to i Act. S u pp ose it could not in some sections, that no reason why it should not in others. But it is n e ,,Pied that the rule is not universally applicable to 1 Act. One section referred is sec. 23, and it is ' that h 3 words, "and also in the case of compa *o's far making r a ilway s ," &c., show that the first hrt, cl s in the section, " any company," include rail th-"7 companies. This argument admits that but for te " Words " and also," and what follows, railway wallianies would not be within that section ; and it thotild be ad m itt e d, th a t if, i ns t ea d o f " and also," ee ere had been a fresh enactment, giving railway birenPanies the powers previously given to compa kr„ in general, then there would have been no siOnd for holding railway companies to be in hs'ed in the words "any company." So the same fiii gl , ssion should be made if after the words "and there had been these words, "in addition to the Nrernentioned powers, in the sword of companies lse tl iea " g railways, ' &c.; but the s an a p os n A exactly the same thing without as with the sup tieeg words. The beforementioned rule of construc t therefore, is perfectly applicable to this section ; a first th e part does not apply to railway companies; W(rds " and also" (at the outside) incorporate all th: 3 : i sions of the first with the second part; and even h t iL ti lay be doubtful, f o r it i s a great question if poi w ays can act " provisionally" otherwise than as sp,Led out i n th e l a tt er part of the section 4 th. The serrnent assumes, that railway companies must be h e "'Pletely registered ; but this is not so. There is t el Press enactment that any company shall com %el st e 'Y register ; the only way in which companies Pr e °rllpelled so to do, is that they can only act cor:isionally till they are, sec. 7. But railway ap Pa A flies may d o ev erything necessary to obtain without complete registration, sections are 4 o ; and when they have their Act, then they tot e , longer subject to the provisions of the sta- Squestion. It is true, railway companie s uoqsgister completely, sec. 9 ; but they ar e no t kici: l , to do so ; and the expressi o n i n sec ti ons 10 Pleteil, and others, " j o i n t- s t oc k compan i es com- Pa ti i registered under this Act, except such com lis e s as shall have been incorporated by Act of Par th,,,ent after complete registration," w hil e it s h ows okr. May so register, shows also that Acts may be ii 4 r l ned without such ' registration, or the words in th a ll are idl e . 5. The enactment that no shareholder to rece ive i a dividend is ridiculous when applied 4s st --„ way companies ; which cannot act (see the th ori Prpiso as to such companies, see. 25) till au ks : a l,' /I' a particular statute, at which time they j ° Longer subject to the statute in question, sect. o ast proviso. And it is totally inapplicable itis c ,„ (4 Panies incorporated by statute after their tiob:Pnration, so that there is an inevitable excep in it, notwithstanding its supposed ge %tit' V. Moreover, a railway company would be hi lt ld to complete registration, with no other deed tes t i t : r t le subscription con t rac t ( sec . 9). A s f ar as in tipph, I Can be guessed at, s e c . 26 was no t i n t en d e d t o to l e .to rail wa y compan i es . Th e pr i or sect i ons app l y k's.ctiMes to one, sometimes t o b o th c l asses o f com :e, b *. Those which require an Act of P ar li amen t sth e jought to the condition of applying for it, the ti 5 44 3,, are brought to a working c o nditi on , an d sec klisii`,6tb, and the following, regulate the wor ki ng o f ippi l atter companies. It is cert a i n s e c. 27 d oes no t te rr i to railway companies, yet the ar gumen t re st j e s Ci i 3 as good to show it does, as to show sec. 26 dces. 41 nu judicial ground for expounding the Act, but • t Z3' be observed that in the margin of sec . 26 di ▪ " 0 word " shareholders ;" in that of 27, Is et T e etors ;" 28, " au dit o r s ;" an d so o f o th er its ; showing that in the mind of the ab kphrkor of the sec ti ons , sec . 26 an d th e f o ll ow i ng were khreable t o th e same compan i es , one regu l at i ng d te hol y ers, others directors, other auditors. 7. It bi i ° means follows that if the first part of sec. 26 4 e ea to railway companies, the latter part does. Word s " and further," are found for nearly th e 4 1) ( 4 111 1e in a statute, to connect one enactment with , s er ; they seem intended to make a sort of p ro - Sot s'n a power to transfer shares, which, h owever , i s lorciefore given by the Act; th ere f ore th e y are unap t Net But taken as the beginning o f a su b s t an ti ve N h r uent, not limiting anything going before, the Ltiniruction of the clause will not be affected by its 1) 4 4 8' Stuck into sec. 26, when it might as well have a nywhere else. As a proviso its true place is in I ,t, 4 . 44 ; which, however, it contradicts. M oreover A the enal clause, not to be unnecessarily extend e d. b e f e ground s it is contended that there is no r ea - Stki Or holding sec. 26 to apply to railway companies, m any hold it does not. —Morning Paper. ' 4 ILWAY SHARE MARKETS. S TS EDINBURGH, DEC. 23. 57 , s EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Aberdeen, 4/. 155.- Ilp Banff, and Elgin, 21.-Airdrie and Bathgate, Arbroath and Forfar, 251.-Ditto, Half Shares, 2 ;:_,,:prMagh and Portrush, 1/. 155.-Ayr and Dumfries, d el. :Yr and Galloway, 2/ 55.-Banffshire,ll. 175.6 .- 31 13 4 s County Down, 31-British and Irish Union, n . "kt 4.e( lonian, ex new, 12/. 155.-Ditto,"New, 31.-Cale t ,7, 1 1 4 118 „ i ° ll , 2/. 18s.-Caledonian and Dumbarton, 6 1 ,41 and Northern Direct, 2/. 155.-Cambridge and Lin -ICaa and West Linton, 1/. 14s.- 2(6.-"ford and Bury, 1/. 12s. 6d.-Clydesdale Junctio . n, K) 6 d_---Cornwall and Devon, 1/. 155.-Deeside l os.-Direct Northern, 21.-Dublin and Enniskillen, )l -11 78i -,6d.-Dundee and Arbroath, 35/. IN.-Ditto, New. I: t 's l, 4 "utldee and Forfar Junction, 1/. ss. 6d.-Dundee and ex n 71.-East Coast of Scotland, 2/. 135.-East sbut,',,re, 1 55.-Fast Fst Lothian Central, 1/. 17s. 6d.-Edin -40/,'','lnd Bathgate, s.-a 3/.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, ex news, bt7'it,„''''itto Half Shares, 161. 10s.-Ditto, Quarters, 16/. 10s. B eNew, 131.-Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dumbarton, I‘l,'-dinbur'gh and Leith Atmospheric, 1/. 14s. 6d.-Edin -1- Leith Atmospheric Direct, 1/. 155.-Edi n b urg h, it i h' 'nu Granton 21/. IN.-Ditto, Preference, 18/. 108.- 016,-4Ni' and Nor ' thern, 3/. is -Ditto, Newport, 1/. 25.- Lo chgelly, 1/. 10s.-Edinburgh . and Peebles, Portobello, I t r ii• gli and Perth, 41. 7s. 6d.-Edinburgh, R,-,QII-11sselburgli, 1/. 10s.-Forth and Clyde Junction, . '4(2 'w and Ayrshire, 671.-Ditto, New Stock, 17/. 175.. 1 / I ;>ritt o , Quarter Shares, 16/. 155.-Glasgow and Belfast 6sti°ll„',4-----Glasgow Dumfries, and Carlisle, , 2/. bundee Junction, 21.-Glasgow and Garnkirk, 45/. I ); 4 l,'' , °‘v and Greenock, 21/.-Ditto, New Stock, 10/. 15s. (101)`°7 Preference, 2/. 55.-Glasgow harbour Grand Junc i4a-T, on- Harbour Mineral, 2/. 7s. 6c1.-Glas 'Nlp g and Ardrossan, 3/. 55.-Glasgow, Strat -444.Gr,-;%44,1 Lestnaha row, 31.-Granton Junction, V. 25. , 6d. -' Count D g- 6d.-Great North of Scot -3' • " n ' • li s -Inverness and • gi n Great orth and South Wales, .. Ittl d .1 ' I `' 153.-Lanark and Galloway, 11.175. 6d. Lanark oil ,othians, 2/. 129-Larne and Ballymena ; 2/. 25.-Lon ts.,V'd llounslovt, . 21.-London and Manchester (Rem.), 2 1. 1 , 41) (1 IV• n don and Manchester (Ilastriek), 4/. 10s.-London ‹,aate,..,lndsor, 11 .-Lotidon and York, 4/. 55.-Midland an ti'lll4l.l.ge'nev.ounties, 2/. 7s. Gd.-Morayshire, 11.-Newcastle lek, 'U. -Newry and Londonderry, 2/.- . l\ ort 24/.- -Ditto, Halves 5/. 10s.-Ditto, Extension to Ca sle, 2/. n t- "'• 6 d. --Ditto Ex , tension to Dalkeith, 5/. 17s. 6d. birc,°l-11 Wales Mineral New 4/. 75.-Perth and Crieff e erl i e r ' a , 2/, Is.-Perth and Inverness, ' 1/. 15s. 6d.-Scottish Lint ), 10 s. -Scottish Central and Caledonian Junc nreslter' 14s. 6 d-Scottish Midland, .51.-Scottish North .i b S6 l.lth- 14 5.-Scottish South Midland, 2t. Is.-Scottish ' n rn, 2/. 58 . - Strewslsory and Hereforo, 1!.-Shrews k. ' - ' 4we tr.Y9 and Chestd, 4/. 17t;. 6d.-South Midland, i kicC---Stirling and Dunfermline, 21. 10s. 6d.-Stirling and titu l aP' Strathern Junction, 2/. 1 lg.-Surrey Grand v.i.eion, IL 2s. 6d.-Tean and Dove Valley, 1/. 155. -Tyne 1 ILLI VF 11. 188.-Wi4haw and COtnees, 501. THE SUN '''LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 184 . 5 GLASGOW, DEC. 24. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Airdrie and Bath gate, 475. 6d.—Ayr and Dumfries Junction, 42s.—Bideford and Tavistock, 355.—British and Irish Union, 625. 6d.—Cale donian, New, 9s. p.—Caledonian Extension, 60s.—Dundee and Perth, 81.—East of Fife, 375. 6d.—East Indian Railway, 18s. 6d.—Edinburgh and Northern, 72s.—Edinburgh and Peebles, 475. 6d.—Glasgow and Belfast Union, 44s.—Glasgow, Kihnarnock, and Ayr, 17 '—Ditto, New, 17—Ditto, Quarter Shares (5 per cent. guar.), 17—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 65s.—Great North and South Wales, IN.—Man chester and Southampton, 55s.—Renfrew and Ayr, 258. Scottish Central, 13!.z—South Midland, 90s.— Stirling and Dumfermline, 425. 6d. ' YORK, DEC. 24 , STOCK EXCHANGE.— le sales are—Newcastle and Dar lington, Brandling, 51—York and North Midland Extension, 28!6—Newcastle and Berwick, 12%—North British, New Carhile Branch, 2 1 4—London and York. 4—Grand Union, 1 t —Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, and Midland, 41 — North Kent and Direct Dover, 2N—North Western, 2%. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE ORDINATIONS. His Grace the Archbishop of York held a general or dination at Bishopsthorpe, on Sunday last, when the following gentlemen were admitted into holy orders : Deacons of Oxford— George Scaife, 8.A., Lincoln College; William Williams, 8.A., Jesus College ; John Darnborough, 8.A., Lincoln College. Deacons of Cambridge —Digby Cotes, 8.A., St. Ca therine Hall ; John Miller, 8.A., Trinity College ; George Head, 8.A., Trinity College. Priests of Oxford—Rev. Joseph Moorsom, B A., Uni versity College; Rev. Charles Lyford, 8.A., New Inn Hall; Rev. Joseph Atkinson, 8.A., Lincoln College ; Rev. Anthony Loveboad, 8.A., University College. Priests of Cambridge—Rev. James Bell, 8.A., St. Catherine Hall; Rev. John Beresford, 8.A., S. Peter's College; Rev. Simon Hiley, 8.A., St. John's College, by letters dimissory from the Lord Bishop of Ripon. Priests of Dublin—Rev. Higher Gaisford, M.A., Tri nity College ; Rev. John Garrett, M.A., Trinity Col- lege. Priest of Durham—Rev. Francis Attree, 8.A., Uni versity College. Priest of St. David's College, Lampeter—Rev. James Douglas. The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells held the first ordination since his elevation to that see on Sunday last, when the following gentlemen were admitted into holy orders:— Deacons of Oxford—Frederick Burridge, 8.A., St. Mary Hall; John Hawker, 8.A., Balliol College; Charles Hartley, 8.A., St. John's College; George Wm. Winter, 8.A., University College (the last two by letters dimis sory from the Bishop of Exeter.) Deacons of Cambridge—Henry John Barnard, 8.A., St. John's College; Robert Mascall Chamney, 8.A., St. Peter's College; Henry Owen Crawley, 8.A., St. John's College; John Wilmot Neat, 8.A., Corpus Christi College. Priests of Oxford—Rev. Arthur Lowth, 8.A., Exeter College; Rev. Samuel Wareing Mangin, 8.A., Wadham College; Rev. William Meade, 8.A., Baliol College; Rev. Edward Arthur Tickell, 8.A., Baliol College; Rev. Owen Blathwayte Tyler, 8.A., Trinity College; Rev. Charles Henry White, M.A., Oriel College; Rev. Wm. Courtenay Clack, 8.A., Worcester College, by letters dimissory from the Lord Bishop of Exeter. Priests of Cambridge—Rev. Edward Ayshford Sanford, M.A, Trinity College; Rev. Wm. Briscoe Tritton, 8.A., St. John's College; Rev. John William Ward, 8.A., St. John's College; Rev. Francis Paul James Hendy, 8.A., St. John's College, by letters dimissory from the Lord Bishop of Exeter. His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury held an ordination on Sunday last in the private chcpel of Lambeth Palace. The most Rev. Prelate was assisted by the Venerable Archdeacon Harrison and the Rev. Dr. Mill. The following gentleman were admitted into holy orders:— Deaconeof Oxford—William Wrighte Gilbert Cooper, 8.A., Magdalene Hall; Thomas Scott Huxley, B.A , Exeter College; Charles Baker Tee s d a l e , 8.A., Ch r i st Church. Deacons of Cambridge—William Grey Watson, 8.A., Gonville and Caius College; Howard Lewis Parry, 8.A., St. Peter's College. Priests of Oxford—Rev. Robert Easum, B.A. , Lin coln College; Rev. Philip Sank e y, M.A., St. John's College. Priests of Cambridge—Rev. John Dunkin Adams, 13. A., Gonville and Caius College; Rev. George Frede rick Burr, 8.A., St. John's College; Rev. Benjamin Hale Puckle, 8.A., St. Peter's College; Rev. Edward James Reeve, 8.A., St. Peter's College. At the close of the ceremony the Archbishop granted licences to the gentlemen who had been ordained as deacons, as follow :—The Rev, W. W. G. Cooper, to the Assistant Curacy of St. Mary's, Dover ; the Rev. T. S. Huxley, 8.A., to the Curacy of St. Alphage, with St. Mary, Northgate, Canterbury ; the Rev. H. L. Parry, 8.A.. to the Curacy of Sandhurst, Kent ; the Rev. C. B. Teesdale, to the Curacy of Bognor, Sussex ; the Rev. W. G. Watson, M.A., to the Assistant Chaplaincy in the College of Civil Engineers, Putney. :The Lord Bishop of London held a general ordination at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, on Sunday last, when the following gentleman were admitted to holy orders:— Deacons of Oxford—Charles George Curtis, M.A., Merton College ; John Burrell Hayley, jun., M.A., Worcester College ; Henry Francis Mallet, 8.A., Baliol College. Deacons of Cambridge—Walter Trevelyan Bullock, 8.A., Gonville and Caius College ; John Charlesworth, 8.A., Trinity College ; Mercer Davies, 8.A., Trinity College ; John Hilliner, 8.A., Trinity College ; Vice simus Knox Vade, 8.A., Trinity College, by letters dimissory from the Lord Bishop of Rochester. Deacons Literates—Bennet George Johns, Alexander Wilson. Priests of Oxford —Rev. John Baines, 8.A., St. John's College ; Rev. James Charles Blomfield, 8.A., Exeter College ; Rev. Robert Jackson Butler, Brazenose College ; Rev. George Thomas Cameron, 8.A., Christ Church ; Rev. Raymond Samuel Daniell, 8.A., Magdalene Hall; Rev. Henry Daniel James, 8.A., Magdalene Hall ; Rev. Richard Lowndes , 8.A., Christ Church ; Rev, Edward John Morgan, M. A., Wadham College ; Rev. Mackenzie Edward Ch arles Walc ott , 8.A., Exeter College ; Rev. W. Wilson, 8.A., Wadham College. Priests of Cambridge—The Rev. John Ambrose, 8.A., St. John's College ; Rev. Sa muel Arnot t , 8 .A. , Emmanuel College ; Rev. James Baird, 8.A., Queen's College ; Rev. William Bishop, M.A., Corpus Christi College ; Rev. Henry John Bull , M . A., St. Jo h n's Col lege; the Rev. Sparks Beaumont Byers, 8.A., St. Peter's College ; Rev. George Branson Dodwell, 8.A., Clare Hall ; Rev. Charles Fane E d g e, 8.A., S t. Johns' Col lege ; Rev. James Green, 8.A., Corpus Christi College; Rev. Joseph Harris, M.A , Pembroke College ; Rev. Edward Hutton, 8.A., St. Catherine Hall; Rev. Thomas Rigby Kewley, 8.A., Magdalen College; Rev. Frederick Gifford Nash, M.A., Pembroke College ; Rev. G. Rust, 8.A., Pembroke College ; Rev. J. Harriers Thomas, 8.A., Trinity College, Cambridge ; Rev. Charles Alsager Tryon, 8.A., St. John's College ; Rev. William Way, 8.A., Trinity College ; Rev. Thomas Wren, 8.A., St. John's College. Immediately after the ordination the Lord Bishop granted licences to the following Deacons :—The Rev. W. T. Bullock, 8.A., to the Curacy of Little Horkesley, Essex ; the Rev..lohn Charlsworth, 8.A., to the Curacy of St. Mildred's, Breld-street, with St. Margaret Moses, City ; the Rev. C. G. Curtis, M.A., Charterhouse ; the Rev. M. Davis, 8.A., to the Curacy of St. James the Less, Bethnal.green ; the Rev. J. B. Hayley, jun., 8.A., to the Curacy of Camden-town Church, St. Pancras ; the Rev. J. Hillmer, 8.A., to the Curacy of St. Anne's, Limehouse ; the Rev. B. G. Johns, Normal Master at St. John's College ; the Rev. H. F. Mallet, 8.A., to the curacy of Harsnondsworth, with West Drayton. The Lord Bishop of Lichfield held a general ordina tion at Eccleshall, on Sunday last, when the Right Rev. Prelate admitted the following gentlemen into holy orders : Deacons—Edward Sandford, St. Bees, Divinity Col lege, Cumberland; Asheton Pownall, 8.A., Brazenose College, Oxford; Edwin H. Gifford, B.A, St. John's College, Cambridge; 11. J. Marshall, M.A., St. John's Callege, Cambridge; Vanden B. Johnstone, 8.A., Ern manual College, Cambridge; Charles Snow Lock, 8.A., Baliol College, Oxford; Joseph Mould, 8.A., Clare Hall, Cambridge; John Wadham, 8.A., Wadham Col lege, Oxford; James Wentworth Eiger, 8.A., Queen's College, Cambridge; Thomas Woodcock Fletcher, M.A , Trinity College, Dublin; William Henry Leicester, 8.A., Christ's College, Cambridge ; Thomas Vernon Mellor, 8.A., St. John's College, Cambridge. Priests—Rev. Talbot Hastings Bendall Baker, 8.A., Christ Church, Oxford, /Equales; Rev. Charles Henry Mainwaring, 8.A., Oriel College, Aquales ; Rev. Thomas Sanders Evans, 8.A., St. John's College, Cam bridge; Rev. Henry Hughes, 8.A., St. Mary's Hall, Oxford; Rev. Richard Jewsbury Heafield, 8.A., St. Ca therine Hall, Cambridge; Rev. Frederic Thorpe Pear son, 8.A., Queen's College, Oxford; Rev. Lionel Wil liam Stanton, 8.A., Trinity College, Dublin. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 24.—Her Majesty's steamer Lizard was stopped on Tuesday evening, in consequence of orders sent to the Commander-in-Chief by the, electric telegraph. She sailed last night to Falmouth, and will have dispatches forwarded her at that port for the ad miral at the Brazils. The Bittern, 16, is expected hourly from the eastward; the crew are to be paid wages directly she arrives, and the brig is then to proceed, without loss of time, to the Island of Ascension, with dispatches and some supernumeraries for Commodore Jones. The Myrmidon, a new steam-vessel at Blackwall, is ordered to be brought down to Woolwich and commis sioned. Men are to be entered for her in the St. Vincent. The Daring, 16, is r. ported to be ready for sea by the 30th instant. She will be paid directly she gets to Spit head, and it is expected she will be ordered to North America. The detachment of Marines for the Carysfort, under the command of First Lieutenant M'Callam, embarked in her yesterday. A number of seamen have been en tered, and she will begin to fit and get ready :(lt with all dijiateh. The Rodney, 92, and Superb, 80, are fitting at Spit head. The riggitrz supplied to the Superb has been so much worn and chafed, that it has been found necessary to furnish her with new lower riegin. Both ships are to be kept out of the harbour. They will be ready for sea in a few days. The Rattler screw-steamer is still in dock, to have Woodcroft's propeller fitted, The Scourge mortar steamer is retarded in her fitting out by the bed for her mortar. The Admiralty have this day promoted Mr. Thomas I3randreth, mate of the Excellent, to the rank of Lieute nant, in c,,n.equence of his having passed the best exa mination at the Naval College. The Admiralty have also directed commissions in the Marine corps to be made out fur the following three cadets in the Excellent, who passed out on Monday, viz.—Mr. G. D. Tieasty, son, progresses with ;her fittings for sea in the basin. Her seamen, gunners, and marines, are expected to join daily, the former from Portsmouth, and the latter from Chatham. The following officers, in addition to those already given, have been appointed to her :—Lieutenant Thomas A. Aldridge, vice S. A. Austen, to Carysfort ; Master, John G. Mugford, vice George Wilson, to Gla diator ; Surgeon, William Booth ; Purser, William Drury ; Assistant-Surgeon, Augustus Slight. The Viper brigantine, Lieutenant Edward Gray, has her topmasts up, and is progressing rapidly with her rigging, the few hands that she has entered being as sisted in the duty by the dockyard riggers. Mr. Nicholas L. Dolling is appointed assistant-surgeon in charge. The Fury steam sloop (building) will be launched on Tuesday, the 30th instant, and in so forward a state, her cabins being completely fitted and painted, as to be able to be got ready for commission, if necessary, in a few days. Two parties of hired shipwrights have been taken off her and placed on the Horatio frigate, the plans for her construction into a block ship with screw propeller having now arrived. The Drake navy lighter has arrived from Portsmouth with stores, and the Goodwill has sailed with stores for the same port. Mr. Richard Grundy, master of the Rochester lighter, has been appointed master of the Fortitude, fitted as a coal depot for Chatham. Mr. Campbell, boatswain of the Formidable, 84, re cently paid off here from the Mediterranean, has been appointed foreman of the riggers at this dockyard, vice Mr. John Young, superannuated on a pension of 42/. per annum. The Rev. J. Moore, M.A., has been appointed chap lain of the Trafalgar, 120, flag ship at this port. The Birkenhead iron steam frigate, of 1,400 tons, building by Mr. John Laird, at Birkenhead, is to be launched on the same day as the Fury. APPALLING SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE. The fearful gales from the N.W. and N.E. that have prevailed for the last week, have occasioned the most distressing casualties off all parts of the coast. Already intelligence has been received of the loss of upwards of 30 coasting vessels, and many homeward bound foreign ones, with wealthy cargoes. The gales commenced on the morning of Thursday week, and continued up to Wednesday. In the Channel their effects were truly frightful. At Bide ford, on Monday night, two vessels were totally lost within sight of the shore, and both crews, with the exception of one man, perished. One was a schooner, or what is called a brigantine, named the Albion, belonging to Brixhatn laden with iron. Her loss took place on the Bramstone Sands, and when discovered; she lay on her beam-ends, with her masts gone, and the sea sweeping over her deck. In a few hourse she broke up, and totally disappeared. Another vessel, a large barque, also was driven ashore, and but for the prompt arr i va l o f the life-boat, which took the crew off the rigging and landed them, they would have met with a watery grave. In the vicinity of the coast of St. Mumble's Head, and Cardigan Bay, the casualties were of a most fearful character, upwards olforty lives having, it is supposed, perished on board one vessel. All the information that has been received, which was from the Coast Guard, who state that large fragments of a large vessel, about 600 tons, were at daybreak, on Friday morning, discovered by them washed upon the beach a short distance from St. Mumble's Head, and they had every reason to believe it to have been the same vessel which they saw in the offing on the previous evening attempting to run in for shelter. There were between thirty and forty persons seen on her deck at the time, and should she prove to be the same, no doubt every soul has been lost. Another wreck is known to have occurred near the harbour during the same night. The general belief is, that she foundered with all hands, and she is ex pected to be the Dora. Further along the coast, the north of Cardigan, a shocking sight was witnessed. At one o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the wind blowing terrifically, the Victory, fro n Penmaudre, struck on the bar in thirty feet water. The crew ran up the rigging and lashed themselves to the topmast, which was out of water, where the poor fellows remained, with the sea beating over them, for sixteen hours before the life-boat could venture out to rescue them. When brought ashore they were in a miserable state of suffering. About five miles eastward of Cardigan harbour, a fourth wreck occurred, viz., that of the Margaret and Mary, of Aberystwith. It was discovered by one of the Coast Guard on Monday morning, who perceiving a mast-head protruding from a cave under a high cliff, immediately proceeded to the spot and found it to be a wreck. The master, Mr. Jones, was found on the rocks dead, and also a seaman dreadfully bruised; the rest of the crew were drowned. She was from Drogheda, laden withli mestone. A disastrous and total wre k took place on the rocks in Cemaes Bay, on the north coast of Anglesey, witnessed by more than two thousand persons, who had been attracted by the heavy firing of the signal guns of the unfortunate vessel. She was barque• rigged, about 400 tons burden, and called the Frankland, Captain E. C. Friend, master, laden with hides, sugar, cotton, and other merchandise, and was lost within a few hours' sail of her destination— Liverpool—after a favourable passage from Bahia. The particulars of the melancholy event will be found in the subjoined statement of the commander. He states—" The barque under my command arrived from Bahia, off the above coast at two o'clock in the morning of the 18th instant, with the wind S.W., or off the shore, and a moderate breeze, the ship standing along shore under all sail for the pilot station, when the wind suddenly shifted, with a violent blast, into the N.E. quarter, and the ship in con sequence became close on a lee shore, and, a tremendous gale coming on instantly, the only resource we had was to let go the anchors under the lee of the Middle Mouse and cut away all the masts. This was immediately done, and by the time the shin held, her stern was only 50 yards from the rocks, with a most dreadful sea breaking on them, and there seemed not the slightest chance of any of our lives being saved. The ship fortunately held on till day light, by which- time our guns and other signals of distress attracted many persons to the cliff, some of whom promptly came down on the rocks, at a great risk, to aid us. After many ineffectual attempts to get a line on shore, I was enabled to throw a hand lead, attached to the log line, on to the shelf of a rock, where Robert Griffith and Richard Owen, having lashed a rope to themselves, succeeded in reaching it with a boot-hook and line. I must here mention the gallant conduct of a youth named Owen Highland, who, seeing the line foul of a projecting rock, watchei the receding of the sea, and rushed out, at the risk of his life, to clear it, when a tremendous sea broke many feet over him, but, on its passing off, we and the people on the cliff were happy to see he had clung to the -rock, and, watching his opportunity, he reached s t e h a e o s h v e o r r t e o , k a nd him, i m a bed and, althoughu p h te cliffhe r endered beforeanother usu, service, his intrepid conduct cannot be too much praised. The line was afterwards blown clear, and by it another one and a hawser were sent on shore, arid carried up to the cliffs, by which means the crew were, one by one, hauled up in safety, one of the cables having previously parted, and the vessel being within a few feet of the rocks, in peril of being instantly dashed to pieces whenever the one should part, which event took place about two hours after, and in less than five minutes the ship was shivered to atoms against the cliffs, killing a large Newfou n dl an d dog anal other animals I had on board . " It will be seen that the vessel is a perfect loss, and the unfortunate crew lost everything they possessed, with the exception of the clothes they had on. It is reported that tha amount of the loss of the ship and cargo will exceed 20,000/. Along the same coast, off Pwllheli, Aberystwith, and Portwllaen, a number of other casualties hap pened. At the latter port, a boat, marked " Three Brothers," of Liverpool, was washed up on the beach, as also several timbers and a piece of a vessel's figure head. It is feared that they be longed to vessels lost during the storm. The ship Rob the Ranter, from Glasgow, put in for shelter on Sunday, having been struck by a tremendous sea the day before, which swept the decks of their boats, bulwarks, &c., and carried overboard two seamen, named Neil and INPEachern, belonging to Islay, and Christopher Growley, a native of Belfast, both of whom were drowned. The collier lost on Friday last, near I3owcastle, is supposed to have been from Bideford. Her unhappy crew acted bravely to save her, but the situation they brought her up in (cer tainly the only chance they had of preserving her), and in such a gale and sea, it was utterly impossible to rescue her from destruction, and at ten o'clock at night her cables snapped, and she was carried among the rocks, where she soon became a wreck. The coast guard, under tne direction of Mr. Annis, the chief officer at the station at Bowcastle, rendered every assistance, which, unfortunately, was much Mr. Henry Adair, and Mr. H. W. Mawbey. These gentlemen fill up all the vacancies at present in the corps for Second Lieutenants. SHEERNESS, DEC. 23.—The Bittern, 16, Commander Thomas Ilope, completed the adjustment of her com passes on Friday evening, and was to have sailed for Portsmouth on Saturday, but, owing to the continued northerly gales since that day, she has been unable to leave the harbour. Vice-Admiral Sir Edward King, the Commander-in-Chief, inspected and mustered her yesterday, and as there is nothing. now to detain her she will sail for Spithead directly the weather moderates. The Calypso, 20, a new corvette of the Surveyor's, was commissioned at Chatham on Thursday, by Lieu tenant Thomas L. Gaussen, for Captain Henry J. Wurth (1840), who arrived the following day, and took up his commission. The following officers beve also been appointed to her .—Lieutenant, H. B. Everest ; Master, Robert Knox ; Surgeon, James L. Donnet ; Paymaster and Purser, Cornelius Dealey ; Second Mas ter, Henry A. Martin ; Boatswain, Wm. Lawrence ; Carpenter, James May. The Wildfire steam tender has been taken into basin to have her defects made good. When being hauled in her figurehead and cutwater were unfortunately carried away, which will have to be replaced. The Fearless steamer has arrived from Chatham in the meantime to take her place. The Samson steam frigate, Captain Thomas Hender- At Redcar for three days it blew with terrific violence, and on Sunday evening, a vessel, supposed to be the brig Commerce, of Stockholm, Mr. Lister, master, foundered to the southward of the harbour, and every soul of her perished. A vessel seeing her go down bore down to her in the hope of picking up some of the unfortunate creatures; but none were to be seen. She had sailed from the Tees on the pre vious Wednesday from Dundee, laden with coals, and the inference is that the captain, finding the gale con tinuing, endeavoured to return, and in doing so met ' with her unfortunate loss. One of the crew was washed on shore on the following day, and was re cognised as being a native of that place. No other bodies have been picked up. Near where the ill-fated Margaret, Hull steamer, and all belonging to her, was lost—on the Dutch coast, near Norden, where the gale was fearful—another wreck, of nearly as appalling a character, occurred— viz., the total loss of an English vessel, s u pp ose d t o b e the Bellona, from Jersey. The vessel was discovered early on the morning of Thursday, lying bottom up wards on the sands of Nordenay ; and, from subse quent inquiries, it has been ascertained that all her crew perished, and no portion of her cargo has been saved. Amongst the fragments that were washed on shore were found some papers and two bills of exchange--one drawn in Palermo, on the 4th of October, 1845, for 751., by G. Dickinson, on Lewis Reis, payable on Power and Co., London; the other is (Wel Messina, dated Oct. 21, 845, for 801., by G. Hopkins, orilris and Co. The number supposed to have perished is 14 or 16. Further up the same coast, four other vessels were lost, the exact particulars attending which have not as yet been received. A steamer belonging to the port of London is re ported to be missing, and strong fears are entertained that she was lost during the gale, with all hands, while on her passage from the river to Bremen. She is called the Tom Bowline, and it appears that she left on the 11th inst., and nothing has since been heard of her. The above, it is feared, forms but a small number of the disasters consequent upon the gales. BURGLARY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER. BRENTWOOD, THURSDAY.—Yesterday, at the petty session held at the village of Orsell, a few miles dis tant, considerable interest was excited by the exami nation of two ill-looking young men, named George Freeman and James Scovell, before the magistrates, on the twofold charge of having committed a des perate burglary and made a diabolical attempt at murder. The prisoners were brought up by Mr. Thomas Coulson, the superintendent of the county police ; and during the examination, which lasted more than four hours, the Court was much crowded by the gentry, farmers, and others of the neighbour hood. The evidence adduced was very conclusive; and the subjoined narrative will be found to detail the whole of the facts of this alarming affair. On the night of Friday last, the 18th inst., Mr. William P. Stevens, a farmer, residing in the district termed Bulphan Fell, near Orseu, retired to rest, as also his two sisters, who alone live with him in the house, at ten o'clock. Nothing transpi re d un til a b ou t half-past one o'clock on the following morning, when, hearing a noise in the room which was immediately under the one he slept in, and, thinking it was thieves, he got up, and on opening the window gently and looking out he saw a light shining through a hole in the lath and plaster in front of the house, and by which the burglars had gained an entrance. He instantly armed himself with two pistols which he kept by his bed side, loaded, and then peeped out of the window, and on looking through the hole saw in the room three men. One, who had his face blackened, with a white Guernsey frock on, instantly on seeing Mr. Stevens, rushed close up to him, and said, " You you die !" and fired a pistol at him without injuring him. Mr. Stevens then aimed one of his pistols at the ruffian, which missed fire, and noticing the burglar was making after him, he ran away. The villain, howev er , st ill followed him, but did not gain upon him, and finding the chase ineffectual, he fired another pistol at Mr. Stevens, within seven or eight yards from him, but fortunately it did not take effect. The courageous farmer turned round and attempted to return the compliment by firing another of his pistols, but it also missed fire. The burglar then returned to the farm, alarmed his comrades, and they then no doubt made off. Mr. Stevens lost no time in proceeding to the police station at Orsell to give them the necessary information. Mr. Superintendent Coul son promptly forwarded mounted and armed officers in all directions in the vicinity of the burglary, and so surrounded it as to prevent almost the possibility of the villains escaping. As soon as daylight broke, a police-ccnstable, James Birdseye, No. 128, stationed at a place called Herongate, traced the footsteps of the burglars from the farm -house for upwards of two miles, and then saw where one had left and taken an other course. He pursued the latter, and, on going a few yards, found one of the prisoners, who gave the name of George Freeman, lying in a thick hedge, and sheltered by long grass. He was forthwith taken st into custody, an d b r i efly examined b e f ore t h e l oca l t m e radg!y, magistrate order of Bulphan, to of the other t wo b urglars. Mr. Superinten d ent Coul important informa tion,uan, who remanded him until yes son, having rece i ved some very sent M r . I nspector Smith to Lon d on, w hil e h e give the police time for the capture proceeded on to Chelmsford. Mr. Smith, after tracing the prisoner James Scovell about the east-end of the metropolis, succeeded on Sunday night in apprehend. ing him in Ratcliffe-highway, and conveyed him to Orsell for examination with Freeman. They were then identified as having been seen on the night of the 18th instant, at the George public-house, at a neighbouring village, called Corbets Tey, together about ten o'clock, and drinking out of one pot. Scovell was then noticed to have a handkerchief tied across his shoulders like a shot-belt, which appears to have had the Guernsey shirt rolled tightly in it. They were distinctly sworn to by the servant of the public house, wh o d epose d t h a t they left about e l even o ' c l oc k on the m orn i ng o f t h e b ur glary. Mr. Sup er i n t en d ent Coulson made a minute examination of the footsteps, and plainly saw that two of the men had ran away without shoes, and one with shoes. He instantly had the marks covered over to prevent them blowing away, so as to preserve them, and after Sco ve ll h a d b een captured Mr. Coulson took his shoes to th e fi e ld , an d found them exactly correspon d h with . the f oo t s t eps o f the person who had quitted with - shoes on. Th ere were two nails protruding from the edge of the r i g ht boot, which rendered the identification more complete. Scovell is the one supposed to have_ fired the pistol at Mr. Stevens. He has been . in the habit of wandering other trifling articles. the about the country hawking brushes, tea-trays, and In answer to the Bench, prisoners denied the charges preferred against t hem in the most positive manner. The Chairman (the Rev. Thoma s Hand) remarked that the evidence was very s atisfac tory, and he should commit all the prisoners for trial on the two charges. The prisoners were then remov ed, strongly hand cuffed, and conveyed to the county gaol at Chelmsford L re o left town f or W est b rook, H • CART ACCIDENT. — About o n e o' clock on Thursday morning an accident of a very serious character hap pened to a woman named Mary Smith, living at 7, Dean street, Westminster. She, with some other friends, were returning home down Tothill-street, and when they had got near the Abbey, her foot slipped off the curh-stone, and a dray at that lime g o i ng by,• she was knocked down and the wheel went over her loins. It was at first feared that she could not survive, and she was taken to the Westminster hospital, when it was found the injuries were not so serious as might have been expected, and she is likely to recover. STOCKTON AS IT WAS, AND AS IT IS.—ln 1788, Stockton imported coals for the consumption of the town— the duty on the consumption of the coals brought coastwise ss. 6d. per chaldron, having amounted in that year to 117/. Bs. 1 1 ,4 d. Last year (1844), the port of Stockton ex ported coals, coastwise and foreign, to the extent of 1,621,227 tons, Whitehaven and Berwick are now coal exporting places ; yet in 1788 the former paid duty 4gl. 9 - s., and the latter 941. 17s. 10d. on coals imported for home consumption. —Carlisle Journal, limited, in consequence of the dreadful serf. All be longing to her, excepting one man, met with a watery grave. The poor fellow remains in such a state as to be unable to furnish any facts concerning the loss. The effect of the gale on the north coast, from the mouth of the Thames to Scotland, appears to have been as disastrous as in the Channel. About sixteen miles to the north-east of the North Foreland, on a dangerous sand, called the Kentish Knock, and India man, called the 'Woodman, Capt. Good, from Bombay, was driven on it in the height of the storm on Satur day morning, her crew and passengers escaping in a very miraculous manner. Had the weather abated, there would have been some probability of getting her off, but the continuance of the gale caused her to be a total wreck. Between forty and fifty bales of cotton belonging to her cargo floated out, which have been picked up and landed at Ramsgate and Deal. Her loss is said to amount to near 30,0001. Off Har wich, Lowestoffe, Yarmouth, Bridlington, and other ports along the coast, the traders and colliers sus tained extensive damage. At Bridlington, the bay presented a most animated scene, by the number of vessels running in for shelter. There were upwards of two hundred at one period, the chief portion of which had lost anchors, cables, boats, bulwarks, and round houses, by their decks being swept by the surf. Near the Hasborough light a brig called the Idea, bound to Limerick from the north, with a cargo of coals, drove on to the sands, when she immediately capsized, the crew barely having time to cut away the boat and leap into it before the succeeding wave took her off into deep water, and then she immediately foundered. The crew were subsequently picked up and landed at Yar mouth in the most destitute condition, having lost a they possessed. THE CORN TRADE. (From the Mark-lane Express.) Leaving politics out of the question, we can dis cover no valid reason for the important decline which has recently taken place in prices. The deficiency in the yield of wheat, and the mischief done by the potato disease, • may have been exaggerated to serve party purposes.; but that a deficiency, and an im portant one, really exists as regards these two main crops, we feel ffilly convinced. However great, there fore may be the present langour, we are still dis posed to think that all the wheat now in the country, and that which,foreign states may be enabled to send us, will be required before another harvest can be secured. Latterly, however, the feeling has been all the other way; and those who but a few weeks ago talked of starvation in Ireland, and a dearth in Eng land, have manifested far more anxiety to reduce their stocks than buy at the present depreciated prices. The downward =tendency has consequently continued, and it may even be doubted whether we have yet reached the lowest point, though wheat has, within a month, fallen Gs. or 7s. per quarter at most of the principal markets, and the value of other articles has been depressed in the same proportion. _As yet there are certainly no symptoms of a return of confidence, the reports from all parts of the kingdom being equally dull. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, wheat was nearly un saleable, and at least 2d. to 3d. per 701 b. lower than on that day se'nnight. Flour was freely offered at 2s. per sack and barrel below former terms, and quo tations of spring corn, pulse, &c., were reduced in the same ratio. Later in the week the anxiety to realise increased, and a further small abatement was acceded to on Friday. The reports fiom the leading towns in Yorkshire are not more encouraging, the greatest consternation having been caused by the prevailing opinion that the laws were again to undergo alteration. At Hull busi ness was quite at a stand on Tuesday, and the trifling sales effected were at a reduction of fully 2s. per quarter on wheat. The article fell quite as much at Leeds on that day ; and at 'Wakefield, on Friday, the abatement amounted to 18. to 2s. per quarter. From the western and north-western districts the advices are of a similar character; but the decline in the value of wheat was not quite so important at Bristol and Birmingham on Tuesday as at some of the places above referred to. The sudden fall which the value of wheat has un dergone at the leading consuming towns has caused an almost total suspension of business at those ports on the east coast whence London and other large markets have recently been drawing a considerable portion of their supplies. At Spalding, Lynn, Boston, and Wisbeach, th e orders to ship round coast w i se have; fallen off so ma terially within the last week or two as seriously to affect prices, and good 601 b. to 611 b, red wheat may now be purchased at those places at from 50s. to 535. per quarter. In Scotland the same effect appears to have been produced on the trade by the news of the resignation of the Peel Cabinet as that which has characterised business in the English markets, viz., an universal unwillingness to 'go into stock. The trade had con sequently become very dull at Edinburgh, Glasgow, &c., and the prices of all articles had suffered an im portant reduction. • The Irish markets have not escaped the general panic. The potato disorder appears no longer re garded there; and at all the principal ports, not only wheat, but oats ! barley, &c., have receded much faster than they had previously advanced. The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been rather liberal of late. The greater proportion of the supply is again from the east coast, and the bulk of the shipthents from thence has gone direct to millers, who, some time ago, when the trade wore a very different aspect, bought free on board cargoes freely, in expectation of higher prices. The show at Mark -lane by land-carriage samples from the home counties has not been large. Some of the wheat sold on Monday was, however, refused on Wednesday, owing to the inferiority of the condition, a circumstance which imparted additional languor to business. On the whole, this has been a remarkably dull week, and we can scarcely call to mind a period when the determination to refrain from en tering into fresh engagements has been so universally manifested ; indeed, the actual transactions have been so extremely circumscribed since Monday last that it would be useless to enter into details. All that can be said under such circumstances is, that the down ward movement in prices has continued, and it was certainly impossible to effect sales towards the close of the week at similar rates to those at which busi ness was done in the commencement. These remarks are equally applicable to foreign as to English wheat, for though the very soft condition of the latter ren ders a large mixttire with the former necessary, the millers have generally sufficient old on hand for that purpose, and seem determined to use up their stocks before they consent to pay the terms asked by holders of fine Dantzic and other favourite sorts of foreign. The idea that the time has arrived when a material modification in the corn laws is likely to be made has certainly increased of late, and on the strength of this belief parties having wheat under lock have felt no inclination to press sales. On the other hand, speculators have kept in the back ground, the uncer tainty as to the future being deemed too great to en courage purchasers at present prices. Up to Wednesday nothing whatever was done in bonded wheat. On Friday there was rather more inquiry for the article; but the pretensions of holders did net meet the views of purchasers, and few, if any, bargains were closed. The recent fall of 4s. per sack in the price of flour has failed to induce the bakers to purchase ; many bought rather largely before the decline, and the sale of the article has lately been very restricted. Ship flour has been pressingly offered throughout the week, at rates relatively below those demanded for town reade—say 41s. to 425. per sack for good Norfolk households. Foreign flour has also receded in value ; 30s. in bond per barrel having become an extreme quotation for the United States. The supply of •barley consisted of 9,203 quarters English, 2,721 quarters Scotch, and 2,870 foreign. Judging from the quality of that hitherto received, the growth of this year must be considered coarse and inferior; indeed, as yet, scarcely any really fine malt ing parcels have appeared; picked samples, therefore, bear a relatively high value, and the best descriptions have sold quite as well this as the preceding week. The common runs have, on the contrary, been extremely difficult of disposal, and have barely supported the currency of Monclay. The preponderance of inferior barley has already had the effect of causing a decline in the averages, and on Thursday the duly advanced a step. Choice malt, like the best barley, has been scarce, and has commanded full prices ; secondary and infe rior kinds, though not actually quoted lower,• were certainly rather easier to buy on Friday. There is still'a considerable proportion of the abundant supply of oats received from Ireland about the close of the past month remaining on the market; and the total arrival for the week ending this (Sa turday) evening his amounted to 29,388 quarters; there has consequently been no scarcity of this grain. Notwithstanding the important fall which has re cently occurred in prices, the principal dealers have exhibited no inclination to parchase more than neces sary for immediate . use ; the trade has, therefore, re mained in the same depressed state as before, the turn, if anything, having been in favour of the buyer. As there, is no chance of a lo w er duty, but a strong probability of its advancing ere long, most of the cargoes which have arrived from abroad have lately been offered free from on board ship ; though by selling at present rates importers must in many instances be sufferers. Beans have hung heavily on hand, buyers having hesitated to pay former terms, and sellers having re fused to accede to any further abatement. Peas have also moved off very slowly at Monday's decline. The latest news from the United States is impor tant. Great excitement seems to have been caused there in the flour trade by the English advices, and such an impetus had been given to speculation as to raise the value of the article materially. Letters from New York, of the 29th ult., inform us that very large purchases had been mane there, partly on British account, at considerably enhanced terms : the disposi tion to purchase had, however, rather subsided in con sequence of the great advance in prices. During the week about 10,000 barrels Genessee flour had changed hands at 64 dollitrs per barrel, and that rate con tinued to be asked for good brands of western up to the date of our last advices. The wheat harvest ap pears to have turned out quite as productive as ex pected in the chief wheat-growing states, and the arrivals of flour down the Hudson up to the 28th of November had amounted t 01,582,237 barrels, against 1,414,979 barrels at the same date in 1844. The ex perts had also been on a large scale, 55,551 barrels having been shipped from New York between the Ist and the 25th of November. The value of wheat hav ing been run up 20 cents to 30 cents per bushel, buyers had become somewhat cautious in their opera tions ; still 10,000 to 12,000 bushels had been sold within the week, at price varying from 1 dollar 35 cents to 1 dollar 40 cents per bushel. Nearly 118,000 bushels of wheat had been shipped in November, be sides a good deal of Indian corn and rye. In the Canadian markets the effect produced by the news of the probability of a repeal of the corn-laws here had been to itepress the market, and letters fratn Montreal of the 26th ult. state that for some days very little business had been done in flour. The price demanded had been for good brands 355. per bushel, at which holders had manifested much firm ness. Wheat was being bought, with a view of storing till spring, at 6s. Bd. to 6s. 9,1. per bushel. The shipping season vas about concluded, and most of the vessels had sailed. The reports from the Baltic this week are general of a very sub lued character, the continued depression in the British markets having at length produced its usual effect on quotations. Letters from Dantzic of the 13th instant inform us that scarcely a sale of wheat had been made there during the week ; the last prices paid for new, weighing 59 to 60Ib. per bushel, had been 50s. to 51s. for high-mixed, 495. fir fine mixed, and 48s. for good mixed. No further river supplies were expected. From Stettin, Rostock, and other lower Baltic ports, we have nothing new to advise. Much less effect appears to have been produced there by the in telligence that the corn-laws of Great Britain were likely to undergo a material alteration than might have been expected ; indeed, business had rather be come dull than improved after the receipt of the news, and previous prices had with difficulty been supported. At Hamburgh, on Tuesday, the grain•market was also very depressed ; and since the previous post-day the transactions in wheat had been confined to a few retail purchases for local consumption. The price free on board for good 631 b. Waren was then 535. 9d., whilst ordinary sorts of red wheat were offering at below 50s. per quarter. From the eastern and south-eastern ports of Europe the advices are also flat this week. At the principal ports in the Mediterranean stocks of wheat appear to have accumulated, and the foreign demand having meanwhile greatly slackened, prices had tended downwards. The last quotations from Marseilles are for Polish Odessa wheat, weighing from 601 b. to 621 b., 41s. to 445. qer quarter free on board. At Leghorn, on the 29th ult., quotations ranged from 40s. to 48s. per quarter; and at Genoa good qualities were held on similar terms. By the ac counts from Odessa, it appears that some reaction had taken place in prices there. Freights were very high —say 13s. to 14s. per quarter for wheat. UNITED STATES. LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY AFTERNOON. We have Boston papers of the sth inst., by the Concordia, arrived to- day. The President's message had little or no effect on the Boston Stock Exchange or markets. The Boston Atlas thus alludt s to it : " We suspect, from a hasty perusal of the docu ment, that it will not turn out to be sufficiently belli cose on the Oregon question, to suit the taste of the rampant war loco focos of the west—and we ver3lmuch doubt whether the frigid acknowledgment, that there is a manufacturing interest in the country, which deserves some incidental encouragement from the Government, will be quite in accordance with the views of Mr. Polk's South Carolina supporters. " If the Whigs in Congress do their duty fully and faithfully, as we have no doubt they will, we think there is little danger of any essential change in the tariff of 1842—and we think there need be no very serious apprehensions of any war opera. tions, for a year at least, upon the Oregon question. We are rather inclined to the opinion that Mr. Polk, and his peculiar adherents, have pretty much made up their minds to be satisfied with ' the spoils of office'—and to let Oregon and the tariff take care of themselves. It was incumbent upon him to say something on these questions—and he has rid himself of them as summarily as any loco foco Pr es id en t, situated as he is, could well be expected to have done." The New York Express says :—" The President's Message is now spread before the public, and will be extensively read. It will not be pretended that its remarks in relation to Oregon are of the most pacific character, nor will his views in relation to the tariff, or Independent Treasury, or a change in the rates of post age, be received with - much favourlby a large portion , of the mercantile community. It appears that the con dition of the Treasury, up to the Ist of July last, was in a very prosperous state. Its condition since that period is not stated. We shall now have to wait until the receipt of the secretary of the Treasury's re port for the present receipts and future prospect of that important department. The commercial public have so long been accustomed to look upon the Presi dent's message as a matter of course, and as the opi nim of an individual only, that it has long since ceased to have much influence on the operations of in dividuals. If the course marked out by the Presi dent was to be pursued, very few merchants would project any long voyages, particularly to India or the Pacific Ocean, and yet we see that vessels are depart ing every day for those distant portions of the globe. The insurance offices are taking these risks without the least hesitation. These are strong indications as to the feelings and the views of the merchants, as to the belligerent tone of the message. It will take a day or two for the stock-market to be affected—we shall be very much mistaken, if the document in question should make any serious impression on it." The stock-market at New York closed on the evening of the 4th, at fully as firm rates as before the receipt of the message. THE PRESS AND THE LEAGUE. (From the Morning Advertiser.) Mr. Cobden, and the chief speakers at the great Manchester meeting, have been summing up the vast machinery and increased power they possess by their princely subscriptions, towards effecting the repeal in the corn-laws. Let us see if there be not another power, perhaps equally great, moving to the same end, but riot by the same machinery. The newspaper press of the kingdom is the public organ as well as the public instructor. The masses sup port those journals generally that mirror their own minds, hence the press may be said to reflect rather than create public opinion. Such being the case, it is an important, as well as a curious, inquiry, how far the press indicates public opinion upon the tre mendous question to be brought before Parliament; or, in other words, what are the relative numbers of newspaper readers for or against the repeal ,of l i the corn-laws, as proved by the last return to the House of Commons of the stamps issued to each. We may premise that, in adopting this " last return," which extended to the 31st of December, 1843, we are adopting a test of public opinion very far below that which a return made at this moment would furnish, if, as we consider very likely, other Liberal journals have increased in circulation in a similar pro portion to the Morning Advertiser. Taking the cir culation, therefore, as it was just two years ago, we find the following results :—ln the metropolis there are five morning papers, classed in the Parliamentary return as follows :—Advertiser, Chronicle, Herald, Post, Times. Now, three of those journals, viz., the Advertiser, Chronicle, and Times, are for repeal, and two of them, the Herald and Post, against it. The circulation was as follow :-- The three free-trade morning journals, per day, 30,561. The two monopolist morning journals, per day, 8,327. Exhibiting a majority of nearly four to journals above of the readers of the free-trade m orn i ng above the readers of the monopolist morninu journals. There are four evening journals, classed as follows : —Globe, Shipping Gazette, Standard, Sun. Three of these, the Globe, Sun, and Shipping Gazette, are for free trade ; the Standard for monopoly. The following are the comparative numbers : The three free trade evening journals per day 7,416 The one monopolist evening journal Exhibiting a majority of free trade readers of con siderably more than two to one. Of the weekly metropolitan papers, chiefly pub lished on Saturday and Sunday, we find the follow ing results:— Fifteen free trade weekly journals, per week (casting aside the units) .... ..... 214,000 Five monopolist journals (casting aside the units) per week Exhibiting a majority of free trade readers of more than seven to one ! This last list does not include Punch, which, not withstanding its drollery, has rendered great and good service to the cause of the people, or the League, and Eonomist, which being the organs of the League itself, may be said to come within its machinery, rather than that of the separate and in dependent body of the metropolitan press, sustained by the public voice. iWe find now this grand result-- The morning journals, circulated chiefly in Lon don, though largely in the country, more than three to one in favour of free trade. The evening papers, circulated chiefly in the coun try, though largely in town, more than two to one in favour of free trade. The weekly journals, circulated about equally in town and country, more than seven to one in favour of free trade. Of the provincial papers there appears to be nearly a similar result. We have taken all which are at, or above the cir culation of the lowest London morning paper, viz., the -Post. There are eleven provincial papers, the circulation of which equalled, or exceeded that of the Morning Post, daily, viz. :—the Bristol Mercury, the Hamp shire Telegraph, the Leeds Mercury, the Leeds In telligencer, the Leeds Times, the Lincoln and Stamford Mercury, the Liverpool Mercury, the Manchester Guardian, the Manchester Courier, the Manchester Times, the Newcastle Courant, and the Staffordshire Advertiser. The whole of these journals, save the Leeds Intelligencer and the Manchester Courier, are for free trade. The result stands thus : The nine provincial journals above the cir culation of the Morning Post, for free trade, circulated weekly... The only two provincial journals above the circulation of the Morning Post, that are against free trade, circulated weekly 11,347 Exhibiting more than four to one of newspaper readers in the provinces, in favour of free trade. We trust that these newspaper statistics will prove that the mind of the nation is working to the same result as the money and machinery . of the League, and is, thank God, fully as encouraging. IFAMINE 1N TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 7.—The panic, which this moment pervades so many countries of Europe, on the subject of a scarcity of grain, has at length ex tended to Turkey. The Government, with the fear of famine before its eyes, has just shut its ports, and the foreign embassies, convinced, no doubt, of the reality of the danger, have acquiesced in the prohibi tion, though, strictly speaking, opposed to treaty. The demand for the English market had up to this time been very extensive, but this source of supply will now be completely cut off. The Turkish Go vernment, there can be no question, has acted very prudently in imposing these restrictions, though it may perhaps be accused of want of foresight in neglecting to have done so before. The demand from abroad, combined with its own operations in the market, have had the effect of raising the price of wheat from 16 to 27 piastres the kilogramme in the conrse of six weeks. As a proof, however, that this advance has been chiefly produced by the in creased demand fur home consumption, we may observe that prices have not declined since the closing of the ports was announced, but just the contrary. The fact is that since the Government took the alarm it has been buying corn with the greatest activity, since it was discovered, all at once, that there was not more than two months' supply for the garrison of Constantinople in the public granaries. On being in formei of this the Sultan immediately commanded that a provision should be made for eight months; and as there was a deficiency of funds fbr this pur pose in the public treasury, he, with his usual bene ficence, advanced the greater part of the purchase money from his privy purse. In the meanwhile the apprehensions of a famine, which had at first been ex cited by the failure of the crops in Anatolia, have been seriously confirmed by the sudden elevation of prices. A :general cry of distress has been raised in the provinces of Asia Minor and Syria, where the price has risen to thirty piasters the kilo. ; and what tends to aggravate the evil is the difficulty of trans port, in consequence of the badness, or rather the complete want of roads. Owing to this circumstance the population of some parts of the empire are pos sessed of superfluity, while that of others is perishing from starvation. If we add to this, not only the improvidence and apathy of local authorities, but in many instances the cupidity which prompts them to speculate on the public distress, we may have some notion of the unmitigated horrors of a famine in Eastern countries. At Mosul, for example, the Pacha, who is of the true Tartar breed, has been profiting by the advanced price of provisions, to make a compulsory sale of some thousands of famished sheep, which he insisted on the butchers taking at the high market price. Rather than accept these tyran nical and ruinous offers, the whole corporation have taken to their heels, or concealed themselves. The Mussulman part of the population irritated by, though not daring to resent the oppression of their Pacha, had as usual vented their fury on the Christians, who are in daily fear of another massacre. For the correction of these abuses, as well as the timely adoption of a policy suited to th e emergenc i es of the pre sen t crisis, financial, political, and agricul tural, the eyes of the public are now directed to Reschid Pacha. We shall now, it is confidently ex pected, have something more substantial in the way of reform than firmans and vizieral letters. These things have long been laughed at by the governors of provinces, and the marchings and countermarchings of deputies and commissioners to and from the capital have been attended with no practical results whatever. A little wholesome severity, however, might do won ders, and Reschid Pacha, if we may judge from his measures, when previously in office, is not the man to overlook a specific so salutary.—Post. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster are entertaining a large party at Eaton Hall. Earl Gros venor and the Noble Marquis's guests enjoy the sports of the field daily. Earl Granville, we are sorry to learn, continues very much indisposed at his mansion in Bruton street. Mr. George William Hope, M.P. for Southampton, is about to resign the office of Under-Secretary for the Colonies. Tit a CALIFORNIAS.—LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—Ac counts from Vera Cruz to the 6th November, published in the American journals received by the packet ship Sea, Captain Freeman, report that the Special Minister delegated by the Eecutive of the United States to nego tiate the arrangement of the difficulties existing between the two countries had submitted the following proposi tions:-1. The Rio del Norte to be the boundary 2. An indemnity or 5,000,000 dolls. 3. Upper California to be ceded to the United States as far down as the head of the Gulf ; the river Gila, which empties into the Colorado of the west, to be the boundary. These terms, it is stated, were under discussion in the Mexican Senate. NORFOLK RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The unfortunate fireman died yesterday afternoon, about two hours after the accident occurred. His remains, as well as those of the engineer, are now at Rolverstone, near Metford, awaiting the Coroner's inquest. Both the men were married, and resided at Ely. The engineer has left two children, and the fireman one, with which his wife has been confined only a fortnight. The passage of the trains was interrupted yesterday after the accident, but we believe the railway is again open. ALARMING FIRE NEAR BERKELEY -SQUARE.—Last night, shortly before nine o'clock, a fire, which at one time threatened very serious consequences, broke out in the premises occupied conjointly with Mr. Muff, a bird stuffier, and Mr. Cashmead, a hat manufacturer, at No. 29, Davies-street, B , rkelev-square, The first discovery was made by police-constable 120 C, who saw smoke is suing from the area grating. An immediate alarm was raised, and the inmates, who were in the upper part of the building, were apprised of their danger. On reach ing the staircase, the smoke was ascending in such dense volumes, and the heat was so oppressive, that had it not been for the policeman keeping the doors closed until the parties reached the street door, they must have been burnt to death. Engines of the London Brigade, with the one belonging to the County Office, and another from Marylebone parish, promptly attended, as did also the escape of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire. An immediate and abundant supply of water was obtained, from which the engines were set to work, and, after labouring incessantly for an hour, the firemen succeeded in extinguishing the flames, not, however, until very serious damage had been done to the lower and upper part of the building and its contents. The origin of the disaster could not be learned. Yesterday morning, according to annual custom, the gifts of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland were distributed amongst the poor of St. Martin-in-the- Fields to the number of 800 poor men and women that have not received parochial relief, and are members of the Church of England. The donations were to each man and woman 2s. 6d., 1 cwt. of coals, 56ibs. weight of potatoes, 41bs. of bread; and to the females a new pair of blankets and flannel petticoats. The applicants had all a neat and cleanly appearance, and were provided with tickets to obtain the charity , which was received in the most grateful manner. SHOCKING CRUELTY TO HORSES.—The Animals' Friend Society, of 18, Strand, last week charged James Lyon, who had been convicted before by the Society for cruelty, with having hired a horse from Mr. Geddins, the knacker, and worked it so that it fell exhausted under its load, and, after lying a considerable time, was barbarously battered to death by a number of unskilful blows with the pole-axe, and the poor animal's back being a mass of wounds. James Lyon, however, not having been the driver at the time alluded to by the complainant, Mr. Henry dismissed the case. The Society also charged George Anson, at the Southwark Court, with having very cruelly beaten a horse with the butt ' end of the whip. The case was proved by W. Clarke, Esq., and Anson was fined 10s. and costs. ALARMING FIRE IN CIIEAPSIDE.—A fire of rather an alarming character broke out, between the hours of seven and eight on Christmas-eve, upon the extensive premises belonging to Messrs. N. and T. H. Rolfe, pianoforte-manufacturers and music -sellers, situate at 61, Cheapside, near Bow Church. It originated in the first floor, occupied by Messrs. Lewis and Co., tailors. When first discovered the flames had obtained a firm hold of the pattern-room and its contents. The neces sary intelligence was promptly forwarded to the engine stations, and in a very brief period two engines from Watling-street, with a powerful body of firemen, and Mr. Braid wood, the superintendent, arrived ; these were quickly followed by other engines of the brigade from the A, B, and D sections ; and also the West of England engine and firemen, with Mr. Connorton. There being, fortunately, an abundant stream of water supplied by the New River Company, the brigade set to work most vigorously, but a considerable time elapsed before the firemen succeeded in entirely extinguishing the fire. When that was accomplished it was found that that portion of the premises in which the fire began was burned out, and the contents destroyed. A middle compartment, belonging to the same firm, is likewise much damaged by cutting away, and the con tents of the stock-room are also severely damaged by water and removal. A store-room, belonging to Messrs. Rolfe, is seriously burnt, as well as the contents. The attics and roof, with the skylights, are broken in, and the valuable stock of piano s i n th e s h op and other con tents are extensively damaged by water. As to the origin of the fire nothing certain is known, but it is sup posed to have been caused by the gas-light in the pattern room coming in contact with the patterns. Messrs. Lewis are insured in the Alliance office, and Messrs. Rolfe are similarly protected by a policy in one or two of the metropolitan offices. WINDSOR, THURSDAY EVENING.—Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Ro3 al F am ily, w ill t a ke their departure from th e Castle, for B uc ki ng h a m Palace, according to pr esen t ar rangement, on Tuesday the 20th of next month, two days before the meeting of Parliament, whi c h w ill le 4(:lZet have) opened beenMajestyher tiiry ‘ar -iti person. I ns t ruct i ons to t hi s tl l ed to Buckingham Palace, in order that the extensive alterations and embellishments at the Sovereign's town residence, which have been for ime time in progress, may be completed by that period. A splendid baron of beet, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, was the principal dish, according to usual custom on Christmas-day, at the palace upon the royal banquet table at the Castle this evening. DEATH OF SIGNOR GIUDILEI.—Signor Giubilei, the vocalist, formerly of the Opera-house and Drury lane Theatre, died lately at Naples, where he had g one , in hopes of i mprov i ng hi s h ea l t h, b ut: in consequence of a second operation for the dropsy, he sunk under it, at the residence of his sister.