The Sun. — London, England, 1851-12-20 00:00:00

[it I 'i Airs " [ndot rir, ; mg y le, ;redelld°' , . jesili Lodeocv, „issiPr i i ro." . t jerl ei ? ! In 100)' _ 43 01 to et 0 f ib' ell ; 0 4 15 0 P!!! _ ,t04, 1 q 1; ; sl3' Eivrz NE W MUSIC. -Lisn SONGS AND MELODIES. By Charles Macke and Sir He airy II Bishop< be ;A : very noble - and be a utiful enterprise . has recently toc,p) a dventured upo by the proprte ors than tof t h he r trated Lonrlon Ne n ws, being no other e a, and . therefore also the conservation, of the u nd "41 mime of England. It is intended that this mroeloefirtaking shall a ccom pli s h, in regard to the lovely " les ot our native land, what was about the '''eacetnent of the presentcentary accomplished in 4 1 8 1 rd to the very exquisite melodies - of Ireland. There t;tLecessity for this step if the people were 111 Y solicitous in this matter of witnessing a gr e a t eff rk ( Jf artistic preservation. Without some s u c h rt Orl t he part of an adventurous composer we e h ' la le to lose one by one the most precious . of at",tausical treasures. It is our sense ot this fact, es ')f its importance, which induces us the more Iv! u T l Y k to welcome what, under any circumst e ances, at acceptable. In order to demonstrate p rise to our readers how fully entitled the enter al e here referred to is to their confide bene— fit trO o calcul a t e d t o accom plish a to a P i culiarly d es i ra bl e —i t i s on ly necessary to 'de to the names of the two gentlemen Ch wh "a hands it s con d uc t h as been entrusted. Mack a y i s to accomp li s h f or th e "English It " what was f ormer ly a ccomplished for the lo th Melodi es " b y Thomas M oore. H e i s to ad apt ab words poetical in rhythm, and unexception; tth:e sesentiment. Sir henry Bishop is, on th ,la ad ha nd, to ar range th e o ld melodies of Eng- As L° new symphonies and accompaniments, the lir)eieriWiae formerly done in regard to . of s. melodies of Ireland by the kindred gen i us thi s thi s tr. J ohn Stephenson. As the first instalment to- t Reth A rluy el and exquisite serial we have grouped tor n s4 0 , 0 legs than five very lovely and celebrated tong, P°Blti " When Daisies Pied," is the opening Ai ' l3e ing taken from the original of Thom as hn_ drer, su rie Arne, written somewhere about one u d olibi Y:arB ago. This, Charles Mackay has rendered titt et C, welcome by the grace of his new verses erane charr,;‘ T he Cuckoo." As the second we have so , the ~T,;n g stanzas called " The Wintry Winds,' to 1t 4 ,1",:' tune of " The Vicar of Bray," originally ine hll-theed Playford's Dancing Master. " Th_ . 41 1 ,,,,,•"1a" is the title of the new version to the wel h l e keti ri 44 of " Sally in our an o d w t ell oftror th y this is so much to our taste, and that e 41 41 0! o f the powers of Charles Mackay, we 6 resist the pleasure of its quotation "TINE BOATMAN. Th, (Air-4 Sally in our Alley.') bridegroom smiled a happy smile, 4‘,lie o'ebride was sweety blus, r the water's tranquil b hing east ,„4, sound of bells came gushing. "tiepb:tildesrnsids laugh'd, or watch'd the light But the ripple's viver dimm'd the boatman's face li s , " row'd th em o ' er t h e r i ver . a tfell hi s oars; his thoughts were sad. Silo' s eighteen years in summer Wer the stream I row'd the bride, Th, e ( 7:baro, a fai r y comer . 48 11 8 rang gaily, as to-day, Aed L .° the tout the y brought her; kA , S ire and mot h er wept for joy -4 ‘elarist'ai ng o f their daughter. i e ;p it _ ovv once more across the stream— / And y all kind thoughts po s sess herl— the b r id e, and bridal guests, Ti t , Pray that Heaven may bless her. Ihtiun shines bright, each heart is light, .4" a , laugh rings loud and merry, aooirs of welcome from the shore I, 4 c'rae booming o'er the ferry. t l ' i l !rd time she must cross the flood, bia s Death, our lord and master; t r ne'er see that mournful day!' 11:()! bo bo atman, row us faster! atman, row, ur oars are slow, Anpaae flies, and lovess presng, 'c g e p s a shall earn a double fee, b ro tn i dea your l a d y ' s b less i ng. " tab e notes upon the melodies, written by Sir H. !, tt •N -13 t;' clad forming one of the most distinguishing t ` f at e ‘,. ° e n at o , f the enterprise, we observe with no lit sal)( ; Qat we are indebted for this favourite air 41 ' £ ;1, 1 i n our Alley" to Harry Carey, a " rn P °- tit e ." earl in t h e 3 7 . part of the eighteen.th.century. As te,tria version before us it is gratifying, ', i 4a e , o , 'oat it is note for note as Sir Henryß ishop uers to e 0 ,. have heard it sungnobwy Incledon. given by 4rle s ALAI Love " is the name it .. ° daced int a o Yto `` Packington's Pound," a melody 1 4 ,7au1d 8 . Ga y's Beggar's Open!, to r , ,ern far and . composed , as . back as the time immediately t t i w , lylitrie, ',accession of Quee ,, n Elizabeth. "Of again, is the new D r< gpati on "., n l , 3ll t Regal Beauty, etatat Ar i n _ a naed to the song composed. either by hp ito'aestkireene, or by Loveridge,,_the author of *ere B eef of Old England' [Sir iarl~to t 0 LcirvsertihdegeTelody on Dr. Greene,h o_ll. —the air alluded to Henry p p re 111) ' 'W ri as "Is • firstl loved a Bonnie e )114, „_ air a y l e r n are the traces of our national (2 11 4 y tinedies from some degree of obscurity by Sir Irle s "°P, and adapted to new words by Dr. ti 4 t i b l oyer; a o e f k B s o Y l ; That it will be the to merit 4bi Pro' of g we cannot do h the poet te a cr.—itself and the celeb r t it b y t b wf o re t ol culooEntfhee 4‘ ll tb: ll _Paser engaged upon the enterprise. We it Yt to j. u adertaking as one honourable, ineverY tio%, e' .. et optli who are now pledged to the public for who dl i d._ (l 4T n . ----------------=--- Niq er Gaz e l; Wl " A RAT AND A SNAKE. --The to tt i,, La a 130 ands a gentleman of the town bad afigrbatttlbee k%" get uz, desiring to see what kind of a Iti t ali se between his snakesbi and a rat, put a r , at_ i in . t aZ a leelt it i h n b e i l ln• The snake struck P at the rat, who, find - 11 44. t i gee quarters with an enemy . , like . all cowards, e attii t e bit - , i? attacked his adversary i, kisi l Lete si c :' atm on the head and neck until hearianefdewa I nt,... ate n, itti gy. The snake died of his wounds )sipaed wi , ‘Ue rat was dby a dog ; I s 441 tli" at b leaMe fthe d that killed the rat e ,,,, v _ e B _, e o . og e ra a t re t n b o a t t ' 'Da n i a ';.alt prat lay in the box that Charley built. — N 4 ll c o 4 n luinr. I tI SNUe tk‘Y Pre v • nee of the excessive cold which h as h r a e r : 3 Lle h i z aile a w n , e it d b a tu t a S d t n oc e k se holm vub a a g p r p e i a ly t , number of do g s . / -.e n*. ' t gey ran about ' the streets a s n a d ys a t t h ta s cE a d ra s b ev a e rgraal t h Ile i ti l tratal -ere ge stock of bullion held by the Bank oj ti io bog s ending tk ef,/i, th departments during the month increase of tt 4281 vernber was 15,777.,2541., being htBe. oi'B4BB,l2. riod last ared with the previous monatah,and a , When compared with the same pe 4 , 44 t Li Nl si lie2 ° ,, W l Pitinalr —The screw-steamer Glasgow, rock - I (Irk, arrived in the Cl . 'de last night at ele ven _ L lir els e A lti ld at Gi a.s N'llti; 'Blle lef e t ich4rs, , being the . 0 w this. quickestmorningafter aopuasrseaegoertf,ffoenr.iya NI gtily 26 ,_ ew I ork at the same time as th_e a A se t e l o a g n e t r ic e : ,4 f ull ter nours behind it, She brings 46 p 4 41 "bi a ". .. h 4 Polliti.„"loN or LOAD PANMUE Scotch hit e ra. Ti3 O f Lord Pannaure is announced by the li htly E .— The serious tlk e Latest accounts state his Lordship to have s g ( r ki n - Lafu us - r ., th. 4t o a n d f r -P Aaes.—The numerous omnibusesaud Piccadilly ot e ast,,,,, p r om Chelsea vid the Strand gi n . 3d . ",, 'Li the metropolis, have announced the a r i ' r i adoptionlontina the'llt,kb, . 4 re for the whole of the distance. tletenii,"llBerese, Chels.ea? and the Ba . nk, for the first time since ti ttie ed. Th on this important line of road were first este n." Public have now, therefore, 'tt(lta Pimlico'"'' h 1 vehicles on this line, An t4 e sea by the numerous . th. ruu.or Westminster, or from Knightsbridge by the the means of for CL'aalaji,Nnibuses from Brompton, &c., to the Bank,. rntehlm---i...,,,`biatrtile.?f 34. for the entire distance . ; and this, it must Nb,„'Le. i t .U, through one of the main arteries of the me m6,-'anise h i a now believed that although . the Paddington I ttn;Nequ n 4v e made an important reductio dt n oorn i s n tb th e e O r x t f a o r r e d s: ee,t.anu t r i l te of the active opposition start! will, on ac tliii!t.of ti l i t _elborn line of road, the pro p IV bu rl aLa r.duction, of the fare on he Chelsea and Picea 101etien in obedience to the general desire, before long ,ge- too carri E Of as gers from the Edgware-roa.d r O 4l l 40 4 43 :41 °r 31 , a w -e ith L a s 2 s d ea . - "fare from Tot . tenham-court - enteid give 11 . for the entire distance, which arrangementso_pas kit,? ufeneral satisfaction to the immense mass f kit - "'de most important road. kaNP; T HEATRE.--For (Icon, C L iIEATRE.—For the first time . in a h s i a s ristn,,..-•ant, Mr. Fallen is to produce a pantom i me as in ls - P, atutr tiOvelty. The piece has been for some will be ,:lsl lsti en, an d all the resources of the theatre ilt k . ,,tion, iL The title is Red Rufus, or Harlequin Fac t, A Ap o ,, Q4 a Fan er. k ot tlti S til, , B : A ßlKte-lIALL.—The following . are . the tilt:tZtlkiiiii i f t e c n t li ca eril o e f ilwhopas d their examination in the medicine, s and received certificates to ,11, tr t iou' ° I hursday, the 18th of December :—He 3' 4 i rt T. -ondon; Frederick Brooker F . uleber, M a aidstone ; D 'ha m Tor, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Josiah Ramskill, Leeds ; 14Vier• henry Devo p rt ; Robert Brockman , INewho_u t t e e . , ' ' 1- "urY rowell a ß a annister ; and James M Cann, I N T. thl4 14 aArl TT From an official paper ,_,N,,,„ - ...ARDOUR.— toiv 4 rifled, it appears that the numb d er of vessels, ex leasure yachts te at tu t . bleen's ships, mail packets, an '4l tonne the harbour, was in the year 1,513, 1 the regis tk,ileage of which amounted to 163,470 tons. Zr. ieltaken,DlNAßY LEGACY.—By the recent death of i4e 411:L1-8,0_12, of . the Grange of Barry, Mr. Thomas Low,_ ton e . , ts !44 /1 at la st sixteen years has been employed as a . dock has succeeded to an irlaeri7 i l i s 7 tB tu of a b o : t the port c i ,.f Dunde On Tuesday e last Mr. Low resigned h:rle l a i ti gn at the docks, where his weekly wages i v )ove tti ll : tl age:) . : l , W eek, to enter on the possession of the a -4, e. -, le gacy Ii is upwards of GU years of age.- - 94 if t itre s s. e ts ll . 4 t.th n l3 .!", e b.eeu informed that i it is definitely arranged I,i'nerre.reation of Inspector-General of the Cavalry to h e go,l er ,„ u Pon his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, shall.be "L C " e nce of the promotion of Lieut.-General .. en .1; Brother the 1:: and that his Royal Highness will assume his duties k it. °(`, gt . April next. ' k r e r t , vti i x. F. YOUNG, M.P.—lt is with sincer e . e r u el ou t ir earn that the Hon Member for Scarborough is f _ W i e il ly nt&i . ° . l g ,iB,43,vere indispoation, arising from an attack of isk Curling, Ine on. Gentleman is at present at the seat . ot e Lett e. E sq. 11, Ringsdown, near Deal.- Sluppo 1 9 ttpd—Na/., v —Yes j„-ily k, ---J oALT AND ALKALI COMPANY. . CZl•t4,"t h r ' T.. Jones brought in a claim for 2,ooo_ er l., o with ti n ':lLan y . copsideration alleged being the transfer .t tbe n t 'L oth er vL a licence for manufacturing British alkali, soap, 111411 awe ber nLeals. The official manager said he was not N e el 4; r e that the company had received the lic . ence from wvl4 lll47 3 4b att, and must therefore resist the application. After `v C14C144i9D1 Qui clia449a TM piqued._ THE SUN, CHANCERY REFORM. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sia,-1 observe in some able articles on the sub ject of Chancery Reform, the position has been taken up by the press, that there is no necessity for re taining the Court of Chancery as a separate jurisdic tion from the courts o f common law ; and that, in fact, the law of the country may be more beneficially and cheaply a dministered by one tribunal. Perhaps, however, it may not have struck you how very little additional legislation is required to effect this desirable object. Now that the Amendment of Evidence Act has passed, by which plaintiffs and de fendants are themselves competent and compellable to give evidence in an action at law, little more is wanted to effect the desired result than an enactment that the jurisdiction of the common law courts shall extend to the recovery of any demand in respect of a legacy under a will, a distributive share under an intestacy, and of the balance of a partnership account. A simple law to this effect would for all main practical pur poses relieve the people from the incubus of Chan cery, by enabling them to resort to a more speedy and economical tribunal. As a practical man, I am convinced there is no sound reason why jurisdiction on these questions should not be given to the courts of common law. Where the amount in dispute is under 501. it has been conferred on the county court, and been found to work most beneficially ; and the common law courts now equally possess all the powers and ma chinery requisite to enable them to deal with the subjects referred to. I have recently been consulted by two young ladies in a case which illustrates the hardship and absurdity of the present state of things, They have had a legacy of 2001. each left to them by the will of their grandmother, and also half the residue of her personalty, per haps 3001. more, all to be paid to them on their coming of age. The remaining half of the residue happens to be bequeathed to their cousins, who are now infants under 21. The solicitor to the trustees has received, and now has in hand, most of the trust moneys. The two legatees, being of age, have applied for their legacies, there is no dispute as to the suffi ciency of the assets, but the solicitor (wishing, it is to be feared, either to delay payment, or that the money shall be disbursed in Chancery costs), de clines to pay the legacies until the whole question of the residue is wound up and settled by the Court. I threatened proceedings, but in order to forestall these, and to prevent any settlement at law, the solicitor has filed a bill in Chancery for an account, at the suit of the infants, though neither they nor their parents were aware of the bill, or would have consented to one being filed; there is however no help for it. " The cause must go on, and yet when it comes before the Court there will be no decision, but by the decree the accounts will be referred, as a matter of course, to be investigated by the Master; or, as Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, in a recent case, expressed it, a decree is obtained to destroy the estate in due course of law. Before the Master the parties are not brought face to face, or orally examined, but t he investi g ation is conducted by the system of written interrogatory and affidavit. And the report, when after months, or, as is commonly the case, years, it has dragged its slow length through the Master's office, may be ex cepted to and overruled by the Court. Under such circumstances the legatees must think themselves for tunate if they only lose their legacies, and the infants are very likely to lose their residue. How different would have been the case if the par ties had been able to bring the question before the county or common law courts. The executors and par ties interested would have been summoned, them selves and their witnesses examined face to face, the accounts gone into viva voce before the judge, admis sions made, vouchers and documents produced, and in the course of a month or two, and at a comparatively trifling expense, the legacies recovered, or at least the whole case adjudicated upon with as much equity and fairness as human means permit of. The inherent defect of the Court of Chancery, and from which the other courts are free, is that it is based upon the Pontifical law and the system of written procedure. What indeed can be more absurd than the mode of proof in this court ? The depo sitions of the parties and examination of witnesses are in writing, and in reply to written interro gatories—often; too, taken ex parte, and at their own private residence, sometimes through the medium of an examine., but never in open court, or before the Master or Judge himself, who tries the cause. Is this a mode of arriving at truth ? If there were an intention of fraud or concealment, can anything more be favourable to it than this private examination ? Can anything be more conducive of delay ? A game at chess played by correspondence is tedious, but it is nothing to this law game playedin writing, where the lawyers are paid by the folio. Indeed, I think it must be obvious to any one whose mind is not utterly clouded by prejudice, that the nature of the question in dispute can never make it necessary, that a worse mode of arriving at truth should be adopted in prefe rence to a better mode, in other words, that whether the question be legal or equitable, it never can be n ecessary, as to disputed facts, to pursue the system of written interrogatory and examination through the medium of third officers, in preference to oral evidence given face to face before the judge himself. To believe that the Court of Chancery has any peculiar pow ers for the benefit of the subject is an error. "It is quite a mistake (as Blackstone re marks) to suppose that it is the business of the court of equity to abate the rigour of the common law — both are equally bound by fixed rules and precedents ; th e re is not a single rule of interpreting laws whether equitably or strictly, that is not equally used by the judges in "At courts both of w and euity the ." And again,— little liberality on the part q of co mmon law judges , by extending rather than nar rowing the remedial effects of the writ of trespass on the case, might have effectually answered all the pur poses of the Court of Chancery, except that of obtain g a discovery by the oath of the defendant:'— "Bstone's Corn.," vol. 3, p. 430.1-2 and p. 51. As Lord Chancellor Cottenhamremarked,—" There is no man who knows the manner in which justice see is administered in the Court o f Chancery, but must that its power is totally inadequate to the prompt and proper performance of the duties that devolve upon it, and that parties only come to the court when dire ne cessity compels them." Indeed, of all absurdities, an ab surd mode of administering justice is one of the most pernicious ; the delay serves no party, but injures all d , and the dissatisfact ion and heartburning co with it are probably more galling than the loss of property itself. To the man who withholds another's rights, the Court of Chancery operates rather as a protection than a terror, and behind its shield of ob struction and delay he boldly defies the fair suitor. I trust and believe, good that the remedy will shortly be applied. The gsense of the public, aided by your own able endeavours, and of the press, even now demand a change ; and I am persuaded that the remedy, to be effectual, must either be by abolishing the present written mode of examination and proce dure in the Court of Chancery (and Lord Brougham's proposed Bill for enabling these courts to refer ques tions of fact and account to the County Court Judges, instead of the Masters, would be very efficacious in this direction), or by conferring on these latter courts full jurisdiction as to those fertile sources of Chancery abuse, viz., questions of legacies, intestacies, and partnership estates. I am, Sir, your W . Cedi en llA t, LLINOR faithful servant, . A Member of the Council of the Association for Chancery Reform. Leek, December, 1851. ------- SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE BY FIRE.—On Thursday night last, a working man named David Berry, who resided in a cottage near King's-mill, Huddersfield, with his wife and four children, retired to rest in the upper room or chamber of his dwelling, but they had not been in bed many hours before Berry was awoke by finding the lower room fill e d with flames, which w ere rapidly making their way into the chamber, then filled with smoke. He awoke his wife and children, and did the best he could to secure their escape. He succeeded in forcing his way through the flames, un fastening his cottage door, and speedily getting assistance. Before, however, aid had arrived at the cottage, three of the children, boys, aged eight, five, and two years, had been suf focated by the smoke, and the mother and the other child had been so severely burnt that there is little chance of their recovery. was far a The d poor man had been out of work for the last three months, and to in washing, a sub sistence his wife has bee n in the habit of taking washing, and the fire, it appears, arose from some clothes which had been hung to dry at the fro nt of the fire having by some means got ignited. A Cow IN A PASTRYCOOK'S. On Thursday morning much alarm was created in the vicinity of Middle sex Hospital by the following mischievous career of a cow belonging to Mr. Shaw, of Wells•street, who had sent a wan with a horse and cart to his farm at Hendon to fetch up the animal, which, being young and very lively, he gave direc tions should be brought by a halter to its neck and fastened to the tail board. This was done, and the cow having be haved quietly throughout the journey, the rope was untied on reaching the cow-shed door in Wells-street, when, finding its head loose, it immediately scampered off the same way it had come, butting at every one who attempted to step it. having knocked down a boy and a man, who were thrown some yards, it went along Mortimer -street at the same speed, till coining to Great l'ortland-street, it turn ed shar p l y therein. A lady and gentleman, who were on the pavement a yard or two otl; sought shelter in the shop of Mr. James, pastrycoole, No. 13. The animal bolted in after them, and before they could make good their retreat, the counter-flap being down, butted each so violently as to tear their dresses to ribands, besides inflicting much personal injury. In;:iits plunging it broke down the counter, destroying the pastry and glass dishes, when it suddenly slipped down, falling on its side. Some ropes where then thrown over its head, and being fastened, tied to ono of the hind legs, in which posi tion, by the aid of several persons, it was dragged into the street and taken to a shed. THE HAT REFORM—This movement, commenced in B . irmingham a few weeks ago, by G. Linnyeus Banks, and which has extended itself to several other towns in the neig hbourhood, is progressing most rapidly and favourably, 6' Kossuth hats" may now be seen, not only in the hatters' shops, but also at public meetings, and concerts, and even in the open streets. The Ist day of January is the time fixed for the public generally to adopt it. EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1851 SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNAL S. , some sort or other, within foe knowledge of the coin- FROM THE MORNING FAPERS OF THIS DAY. mittee, occurs at sea as nef Orly as may be at intervals HERALD.—Spite of the angry growls of some of 2 hours throughout the year. It must not, of of our contemporaries, whose maxims of right and course, be understood that every accident implies a wrong are measured by their prejudices, we must total wreck, with the loss of all hands. if a ship uphold that Louis Napoleon was justified in the carries away any of her ini portant spars, or, on en course which he has pursued. It may be ver y well tering her port, st r ik es h eav il y aga i ns t a pi e r, w h ere by to tell us that there were no overt a c ts on the p art of serious damage is occasioned, the accident is dul y re the Assembly which could warrant such viole nt p ro- gistered in this pithy c h ron i c l e o f Ll o yd's. Never ceedings ; it may suit the temper of los ers to affirm theless, as we g lance u p and,down the columns, it is that the President was bound to wait a nd see what no exaggeration to say th a t t evo -thirds of the accid e nt s his opponents would do before he resorte d to force. recorded are of the m os t ser i ous d es cription. One ship This is the language of men who have be en antici- is crushed in the ice near Lief) au—another is burnt out paled in their designs by one more bo ld and more at sea—a sloop is cap s i ze d a t St. Kites—or a huge energetic than themselves ; but it is not the dicta te merchantman founders off Cape de Gatt. Thus the re of reason nor of sound policy. " There is no ques- cord continues for well nigh to io hundred pages, filled tion," says Lord Bacon, " but a just fear of immi. with these brief memoranda a loss, and misery, and law- death. We are unable to sa cot what degree this re ister of Lloyd's can be ac pted as a fair index to nent danger, though there be no blow given, is a the tragedies which are of such hourly occurrence ful cause of war." That the danger was imminent g upon the surface of th e oce a n . The machinery A no s s e o m n e hl c y a , can o o u f le t t h w e h i o n e h n a s ,c, s , h t u o d s e i e d n a t m h e e s t e h m a p v e e r g o a f i n t h e d e more than usual notoriety by their present restraint. brought into action by th e dir e ctors of this great That some of the most leading politicians who graced establishment for the inform etion of the underwriters the debates of the last two months with no common and of the mercantile commitaity certainly appears to share of fluency and virulence, made no secret of their act upon every quarter o f th e g lobe. Would it, how hostility to the very person of Napoleon, is notorious ever, embod y th e information collected at N e w Y o rk enough. Had o not their t n h o e w ir lo sc u h d e e m st e i s n been their e d x ef e e l a a t m ed a , tio t n he s for the benefit of the United this register contain an ab s t aac t o f all that is known States ? In short, does very men who at the outrage done to the laws would themselves with regard to accidents at sea ? How does it deal have been the foremost in defending the line of con- with the cases of those ships concerning which nothing duct which Napoleon has turned agains t them- is known other than that fthey sailed away from a selves. It is absurd of them to ta lk of law and particular port, and ha ve M ince no t been heard of? constitutional order, which they have daily endea- We can readily conceive that whatever information voured to bring into contempt; it is monstrous is received at any B r iti s h p or t, or an y port within the for men whose conduct was marked with the British possessions, i s tr ans f erre d to the central selfish and narrow, the mean and tri cks y s p irit which establishment at the Royal Exchange. Are characterised so large a portion of their political we also informed of Nvhat is known in fo conclave, to come forward and claim t he s y m p ath y reign countries as to the losses of their own of Europe, as if their lives had been devoted to the shipping on their own s h ores , w hen no British welfare of their country—as if, indeed, their con - seaman, or seaman tradin g to a British p ort, has duct and votes in the Assembly had b e e n such as been a witness of the disa s t er ? We cannot tell how befitted immaculate statesmen, and had not been dis- this may be. It would ha ve b ee n very desirable, for graced by intrigues, by insubordinat ion, b y con- the information of the gen e r a l reader, to whom the fusion, by clamorous and furious passi ons, which will system of Lloyd's register i s n ot a matter of course, long make it remembered in the anna ls of Euro p e as had the return been accompa n i e d with a few prefatory the most disgraceful assemblage that ever p rofessed to remarks, explaining the sources of these returns, and deliberate for the interests of a g reat nation. the principal points on which they were defective. _ If all were known, we fear that the average of acci that the farce should have been played out — t hat dent or wreck every 2 hours would be fearfully in- It is quite time that it should be swe p t awa y the possibility of a revival under any such adulterine creased. Let us take the case of the small fishing phases should be removed. We might have wished, craft which sail from our Cornish and northern port s perhaps, that such a result could have been effected to the herring and other fisheries. A gale might without loss to the subject arorwe timesithout and there torestraint a hisre swamp one-half of the little squadrons—would personal liberty ; but there Lloyd's books record the fact ? So throughout the men that cannot be judged by the ordin ar y maxims world. A very heavy per-tentage of the loss of life by which other states and other men are re g ulated. which occurs by peril of the winds and waves happens There are periods when in the body po li t ic, q uite as in the small coasting boats, whose owners, in one much as in the natural body, violent d iseases admit fashion or another, seek a livelihood on the fringes of no other than violent remedies ; when the physician the sea, We much suspect that, could we obtain a per who confines himself to ordinary ru l e s is a traitor feet knowledge of all the mishaps that occur on the sur to his patient, and the strictest observer of the face of this unstable element, the average loss would be letter of the law is the greatest violato r of its spirit ; n; fearfully increased in amount, and would be repre -the summum us is become summa ilg'uria. That sented by still more untoward proportion than 1 loss the present conj u ncture is such a one, no one can, to 21 hours. In all probability a serious loss or total for a moment, doubt. The loudest oppugners of wreck every hour would tally more closely with the Napoleon's coup de main do not attempt to justify truth of the facts. It would not, however, be to much the proceedings of the Assembly; no one raises a Purpose turning over the leaves of this terrible record voice in defence of their doings, or pretends to see unless we could derive from them some practical in in their conduct any real love, much less a n y ind i - formation whereby such disasters may be prevented, cations of self-sacrifice, for those great principles of or at least greatly diminished in number for the government which can alone restore peace and order future. It would be in vain for us to hope that nauti to France. The only spirit by which they were go- cal skill and the science of shipbuilding can ever be verned was that of hostility to the man who was the brou g ht to that degree of p erfection, that sea and land most popular in their nation ; who alone has shown, travelling shall be brought to the same le v el of se in all the convulsions by which his unhappy country curity. But a very cursory glance will suffice has been lacerated, some consciousness of his duty as to show that the accidents which occur to ships a ruler, and some ability to have his rule observed; suited to the statio ns upon which they are who alone, amidst the furious follies of the Mountain, employed, and—according to the natural presump or the Utopian republicanism of Cavaignac and his tions of the case—ably manned and commanded, followers, has shown some sense of what is prac- are comparatively few in number. Bad ships, bad ticable and useful—some indications, at all events, of crews, and bad commanders a ff o rd but a sorry chance power and ability to rule, and rule well, as far as the for a successful voyage. The natural tendency of the circumstances of the time will allow. No wonder, great extension of commer c i a l i n t e rcourse, of the in that having treated him as a puppet, they are creased necessity of high sp ee d, a n d c onsequently the now furious at their disappointment; that intend - em p lo y ment of lar g er and b ett er craft, under the com ing to have made the President a tool , they have mend of more competent m en , will infinitely diminish long found that the weapon has recoiled upon them . the number of accidents at Bea. How often is it that selves. Their conduct towards him has been we hear of a disaster occurring to any of the noble that of mean and malignant spirits, who have fallen ships owned by the leadin g mem b ers o f th e s hipping into their own pit, and been duped by their own interest ? The truth, too, mu st be told. The inca devices. The offence never to be forgiven is to P acity of too many of the m as t e rs in the British mer cantile marine has been the pregnant cause of loss to have been outdone by a man whom they had intended to over-reach, and whose intellect they had despised. their owners and death to their crews. Men scarcely They have shown all along that they never intended competent to take the responsibility of an ordinary that Napoleon should rule de facto ; they have vio- day s work, or, if competent, o f notoriously intemperate lated, if not the strict letter of the Constitution , yet habits, were placed in command of sea-going ships, its meaning and its spirit, in making the voice of the through the parsimony or nepotism of the people, which they professed to respect, a nullity— owners. 'The consequences that might have so far at least as that voice was heard in declaring been expected naturally ensue d. We find the results that Napoleon should be the head of the Government. of these improper appoi n t men ts in Lloyd's books. They could not shut their eyes to the fact, that the There was no kind of secu r ity, no guarantee of any vast majority of the nation gave their votes to him, kind, that a man was competent for the discharge of not on the mere supposition that he was to be a puppet the duties he undertook. The remark, we are in the hands of the Assembly, but that he was to pos - ashamed to sa y , a pp lied with g reater s tri n gency to the sess and exercise a far larger amount of power than British merchant service than to any other. The the Assembly ever felt it convenient or agreeable to masters in charge of ships from the United States and acknowledge. Throughout they had been the ag- Baltic ports were far above the average of their British gressors ; they have been the men who have been compeers, if we except the commanders of the very setting the constitutional liberties of the people at best class of ships, trading to the Indian and Chinese defiance ; they have been undermining the ri g ht o f seas. This evil, too, is in the course of remedy. The popular opinion in their attacks upon the President, result of the educational clauses in the Mercantile who is the representative of it. The people of France Marine Bill of last session will no doubt be to provide must now be the judge—they alone can decide who is a much larger body of well-trained men, from among the real aggressor, who has been the true ob s t ac l e i n whom our shipowners can select the most competent the way of improvement and of good order. They pers ons for command. We will not, even so, presume who have been so loud in professions of respect for the to say that there will be an end of all peril from tem ests and collision, but at le as t it is not too much to sove reignty of the people, who have lauded the people P of France as the light of the nations, who have spoken predict that one-half of the accidents which occur to of the late revolution and its consequences as " the seagoing ships might be av o id e d. The mere Istate revelation of a new gospel"—they, surely, of all men, ment that, accordin g to Ll oyd's boo ks, a disaster at will not have the effrontery to decline a decision from sea occurs once every 2 hours, should call attention those whom they affected to respect and almost to to the point. idolise. The men who professed to consider that DAILY NEWS.—Th e Chancell o r of the Exche the remedy for all evils, social, moral, and Intel ledge, quer, in his speech to th e people of H a lif ax on and his convicti on t h at educa ti on s h ou ld b e Thurs lectual, was to be found in a republican mode of day, described his gr ea t fai th in the va l ue o f know government, can scarcely, with any degree of f this admis decency, disclaim their own work ; the idolisers of extended in this coun t ry. Mr. Cobden, who sat be side Sir Charles IV oo d , made the most o republican enlightenment can only, with a very bad reminding th e H on. Member o f h er M a j es ty' s sion g r a ce, now turn round and condemn as partial, blind, by and frivolous, what, only a few weeks sinc e, the y Ministry that every part i cle of the su b stance on w hi c h wo uld have exalted to the skies as the very perfection knowledge is c onveye d —every primer o f th e c hild of all schemes which it had ever entered i n t o the heart and every newsp aper o f the man—has to b ear a h eav y, of man to conceive. Our cont em p orar y p ursues mischievous, and indefe nsible tar. Th e earnest and i tt i es , mean, we un another method. He has leave to be erratic—expert intelligent men w h o exerted themselves a t th e c l ose in proPnecYing when the event is p assed—slow, so- of last and the be g innin g of the prese nt year to pro derstand, to rene w th e i r exertions be f ore P ar li amen t l lenan, and sonorous in administering advice when it cure the aboliti on o f t h e paper d i o s n t g o o late—he chapter on n hi s gratifies pol i t his ica readers n s an d occasionally w i with experiences. a again assembl es . Th ey are prepared to conten d th a t industry, a stoppage of the very sources Monarchy, republicanism, a n d despotism fall before the paper duties—being an injurious restriction on roposed—ought to be abolished. Though it may his pen like the hopeless Trojans before an intellectual praiseworthy A j ax _o the Chamber of Deputies was too narrow"— of revenue, and suicidal therefore to the purpose " the National Assembly had repudiated its own P existence"—" Monarchy failed from the obliteration be alleged by nonchalant or gree dy recepients of taxa of the aristocratic element„ --until the hapless tion, tha t the wants of the Government will not permit patient is left under this e, political physician in the the smallest dim inution of revenue, the advocates o f same state as Sancho "nza in "is government of the the abolition of paper duties have much too good a island of Barrata ria. We will, however, do our con- cause to be stopped b y such a flimsy barrier. A sur temporary one piece of just ice, slow as he is in plus, let it be reit era t e d , always has re f erence t o ex rendering justice to other men—we w ill give him iSting expenditure, which is never likely to be more credit fur not being o f th a t v il e excep ti on w hi c h h e wantonly excessive than when self.sufficient Ministers has so readily applied to others of theimorning prints. preside over a nation rich and prosperous by other He never formed an exception ; however erratic his exertions than theirs. The proper basis for propos course may be, he is always sure to come in at the ing the abolition of taxat ion is not the supposed ex death ; ailint ? aid , ; negant . 9 nego. He w ill be no igencies of the G overnment as mapped out b y L or d John ma rtyr ;he has no inclinatio n to suffer for an y poli- Russell and Sir Charles Wood, at the suggestion tical or religious peculiarity. To coincide with the of the Horse Guards and Admiralty and Ordnance opinions of others, when his own have become un . Boards; but the injustice or inconvenience of a tax, popular is become with hi m a p ro p ert y of easiness ; compared with the value of the servic es it is im p osed , and with the like b oldness as a g reat master of fence to pay for. Befor ! restrictions on industry be tole in former times, when the mountain w ill n ot co m e t o rated—because Sir C. Wood has expended every Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the mountain. It farthing he can lay his hands on—it must be demon does not often happen that all prophets are so fertile strated that no portion of the Government expenditure in expedients. can be dispensed with. The usual official insinuation is, TIMES.—A very interesting return to an or- that the dividends will be unpaid and national credit der of the House of C ommons has been made by annihilated—that the navy will be dismantled and the management of Lloy d ' s. We find in it an abstract national security endangered—that the j udges will be of all collisions, accidents, and wrecks of vessels, and unsalaried and justice not administered, if all the the number of lives lost in each year, s i n ce th e I s t mo ney be not granted which the Government day of January, 1847, till the 31st day of December, demands. No just man would impair the national 1850. In other words, here we have placed before credit, endanger the national security, or lessen the us a sort of index of all the misadventures that have efficiency of the courts of justice. But, with the occurred at sea for the last four years, so far as they performance of great duties, num e r o us assumptions have fallen within the knowledge o f Llo y d's. The of injurious power are cou p led, f or w hich men in sacrificed to statistics. We scarcely k now how to essential services ; and a reductio n of taxat ion which register is sufficiently dry and bald. Sentime n t is office make the people pay a s mun ifi cent l y as f or convey an idea of this curious blue-book to our would compel the Government to lessen these as readers otherwise than by superficial measurement. sumptions, and limit the sphere of its operations, It contains 193 pages, each page averages about 70 . would be doubly beneficial. We are advocates of lines, and each line contains the record of a disaster. a reduction of taxation, because we believe that the Supposing we open the book at random, we find an expenditure of the Government is in various abstract of the mishaps that occurred on the 26 th of wa y s wantonl y excessive, an d might be greatly February, 1847. Thus ran the first half-dozen lines reduced—with great advantage to its cha of the page, line for line as in the original : uet iissue —of the the Government 'and great benefit to th e pu bli c . Th e Vessels. Tonnage. Nature of accident. q Lord ltavensworth 361 Put back to Shields , laid on shore . come to a stand - still if it be required to forego the Andre Felix 5 at 5.7 il. i s t not e paper rmduent duties, Amaury .. .. stated for 1849—but whether that sum m i g ht no t h produce whether Ulrica At Malta, been on shore. H0rati0......403 At Malta, considerable damage. be saved by wise retrenchments. In fact, a large por- Prince George 482 Wrecked at the Dardanelles. tion of the public expenditure is wasted on "services" To abandon the tabular form of the original, we find which inflict injury on the nation, and should be dis that on the same day the Mogul was wrecked at pensed with even if given gratis, instead of costing Barber's Point, the Aura went on shore at the Dar- 1 vast sums of money as they do. The G ove rnment is danelles, the Princess Royal got on shore at Bombay t 1 a trustee for the taxpayers, and every farthing of the the Surrey put back to Moulmein, having been on money it expends for purposes not conducive to popu shore ; the Lady Nugent, a 642 ton ship, in the gar advantage, is surplus revenue which ought not to Straits of Singapore came into contact ; the Johns be levied at all—much less levied by d u ti es res t r i c ti ng sank off Point Romania ; and the San Antonio was industry. The first step towards levying the paper abandoned at sea. Such are the contents of the duties is, to make every man who desires t 3 become a first thirteen lines of page 11 of Lloyd's register as paper-maker register himself and take out a licence. transferred to the blue-book. Now, if we mul- The next is, to have his premises surveyed by an ex- i tiply 193 by 70—the number of pages by th e else officer, and every room in them marked and num . number of lines—we find that the return coin. bered. Before he commences business he must make prises an account of 13,510 accidents at sea. Let a true and particular entry, in writing, of all his us divide this by 4, the number of years over mills and premises, and every implement he us e s in which the return travels, and we have 3,377 the manufacture of paper of every description ; he and a fraction to represent the mishaps of each year. must state w hat kinds of paper he means to make, This yields, within a trifling fraction, 65 accidents, and every engine, press, vat, and machine, is to be wrecks, &c., for each of the 52 weeks of every year, distinguished and numbered. The Government as and, COW equently, rather more than 9 for every period sumes a lordship over industry, and claims a right to of 24 hours. As a last result, we may take as a fair control its exercise. It requires to be paid four pounds deduction from Lloyd's return that an accident of four shillings before it will allow a man to become a paper-in Aker. The licence confers ti privilege ; it is an advantage from which other men are restricted unless they pay ; and usurped by the Government from the rest of the community and sold to the ma nufacturer. It is a pecuniary mulct for him on other men, it is a restriction or an impediment; and com bined with the numerous other restrictions imposed by the law, prevents many men from joining paper making with some other occupation, or carrying it on io a small way, and thus extending competition to the advantage of the public. The licence and the regu lation create a limited monopoly, and—derived from the age of the Tudors and the Stuarts—is a con tinuation of abuses which in their time provoked the memorable resistance of our ancestors. Having created a sinister interest for the manufacturers, many of them are loath to resign it. The abolition of the duties would let in competition, and deprive the present paper manufacturers of a privilege which they have paid for. Many of them, therefore, under the influence of this sinister interest, work with the Government and keep alive the monopoly. This is found to be the case in all trades subject to the Ex cise laws, such as brewers, maltsters, distillers, and soap boilers, all of which are confined to compara tively few hands. The division and the union of employments in the manner most beneficial to the people are alike impeded by such regulations. Num berless persons are prevented from finding suitable occupations—competition is checked, and the consumer is injured. In 1801—the date of the earliest returns to be relied on—the quantity of paper subjected to duty was 31,699,5371b5. ; in 1849, the latest com plete returns in our possession, it was 132,132,6571b5., or between these two periods it had increased four fold. Between the same periods the population was more than doubled, but the number of licensed paper makers decreased. In England and Scotland, for which alone the returns are complete, they were, in 1801, 446, and in 1849, only 381. In this last year, the number in the whole empire was only 419, or 27 less than in England and Scotland alone in 1801. Thus, with a fourfold increased production of paper, an almost insatiable demand for it, and a wonderful increase of population, the number of paper-makers fell off between 1801 and 1849,14 8-10 per cent. In othei manufactures, of which the pro duction is in demand, and which have been much improved—such as cotton-spinning —a continually increasing number of masters and of men find em ployment, but in the manufacture of paper the reverse is the case. Happily for the community only a few of our arts and trades have been Iseized on by our Government and subjected to excise restriction; or employment must diminish population decrease, and England, instead of being prosperous and tranquil, would be shattered and convulsed like France and Austria. The mind may be helped to form a just view of the consequences of the system by supposing it extended to all trades —every occu pation and employment being subjected to excise licenses, restrictions, andi regulations ; and then it is plain, from the example of the paper duties, that the advantages of society would be confined to a few, the condition of the bulk would be deteriorated, and the number, strength, and riches of the whole be enor mously diminished. From the decrease in the num ber of paper-makers, the increased consumption of paper is plainly not due to them. It arises of course from the demands of those engaged in unlicensed oc cupations, who have increased in wealth and numbers. The extension of the paper manufacture, therefore, and even its continued existence, is due to the pros perous unlicensed trades of the community. Greatly as the consumption of paper has increased, it would have increased much more rapidly, giving employ ment to a much greater number of hands, and distri buting it, and distributing wealth more equally through society, had the manufacture not been sub jected to excise duties. What it might become under perfect freedom, we may hereafter find an opportunity of discussing. One thing we may meanwhile hope —it is, that Sir Charles Wood, if called upon to pre pare another Budget, will not forget how the tax on paper limits the increase of that knowledge he spoke in favour of at Halifax on Thursday. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. WESTBURY STEEPLECHASES.—T/111 Free Handicap of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft, and 80 added. (11 Subs.) Mr. B. Laud's General, 11st Ilb (Owner) 1 Mr. Theobald's Hinton, lOst 31b (T. Burrows) 2 Mr. Williams's Flirt, lOst (J. Holman) 3 Mr. Haddy's Fifteen-pounds-no-object, lOst (Sadler) 0 Mr. Elmore's Evertors, lOst Mr. Rhys's Kate Kearney, lost (R. Treen) 0 Mr. Vevers's Venice, lOst (Stevens) 0 Mr. Palmer's Baptiste, list 71b (T. Davies) 0 Mr. Cartwright's Thurgarton, Ilst 71b (T. 011iver) 0 Betting-3 to 1 each agst Thurgarton and Venice, 6 to 1 agst General, 7 to 1 agst Fifteen-pounds-no -object, and 10 to 1 apt any other. Won by a length; the same between second and third. The Selling Stakes of 5 sows, each, 2 ft, and 25 added. (5 Subs.) Mr. Symond'sYoung Lottery (1001), list 71b(Ablett) 1 Mr. B. Laud's Frank (501.), 1 let (Owner) 2 Mr. Haddy's Vulture (304 lOst 71b...... (J. Sadler) 0 Mr. Rhys's Kate Kearney (504), list ...(R. Treen) 0 Mr. Cartwright's Vixen (30L), lOst 71b (T. 011iver) 0 Even on Young Lottery, who won by two lengths, and was sold for 102/. The Hunters' Stakes of 3 soya. each, 1 ft, and 20 added. (7 Subs.) Mr. Nash's Kossuth (201) (Stevens) 1 Mr. Flower's Factory Girl (30/.) (T. Burrows) 2 Mr. Gordon's Madcap (20/.) The winner was sold for 33/. _ HANDICAP FOR THE GREAT MFTROPOLITAN STAKES. Age at. lb . Nancy 4 9 3 Clincher King of Oude 5 8 Elthiron Vatican Landgrave Cariboo Hernandez The Ban 4 8 5 bliss Ann Backbiter Due-an-Durras Chatterbox Marlboroughßuck 4 8 2 Neasham 4 8 0 Musician Barcelona Old Dan Tucker. 6 7 12 Vampyro a 7 12 Bordeaux Sir Charles 5 7 10 Chief Justice The Marquis 4 7 10 , iby Mark Tapley 5 7 8 1 Fugleman Hippolytus Brother to Truth teller Sir Rowland Tren• chard Cock Crow Herbert Calculator lanthe 4 7 emus 4 7 Melford . Kelquade (late 3d of May) Hesse Homburg 4 7 Officious Lough Bawn C by Harkaway, out of Duo and Durras's dam 4 7 3 Grand Duke Young England Calmar Terpsichore 5 7 0 Tophana a 6 13 Tom Holtby Pendennis Kick-up- the- Dust 4 6 12 Combatant Hungerford 4 6 12 John of Berwick 5 6 10 Don Pedro 4 6 10 Antigone 4 6 10 Achyrantbes Grey Tommy 3 6 7 Knook Knoll Harp Sister to. Cloth worker 5 6 7 Kathleen 5 6 6 HUNTING AEI Age st lb. andlewiek 5 6 4 ird-on-the-Wing 3 6 2 , rantie 3 6 2 larpsichord Letterpress 4 6 0 ferry Bird 3 6 0 fasham &dine High Sheriff E'elopidas 3 5 13 Ischia F by Ithuriel, out 1 of Sorella's dam 3 5 12 Young Trouble- some Curl ...... .... . Perjury Bardolph 3 5 11 icareerow Elyacinth 3 5 10 Blood Royal Ready Reckoner 3 5 7 blaresfoot 'Black Audrey 3 5 7 Old Rowley 3 5 7 0 by Melbourne, out of Sally War- foot 3 5 6 roe Miller :ogratitude 4 5 5 fanitia . 3 5 5 Cyclops Surprise (h b) [ Follow -me-lads I Burndale ....... Bishop 3 5 3 Alary Ann 3 5 2 Stamford 4 5 1 Snowdrop Plumstead Poodle 3 5 0 rested 3 5 0 Ethelwulf Sir Charles Napier 3 4 13 Lady Amyott Captain Flash 3 4 12 Kate, by Auckland 3 4 12 Urbanity 3 4 11 F by Ratan, d by Melbourn C by Cotherstone, out of Wryneck 3 4 11 F by Lanereost, out of Jemima Benita 3 4 6 ICzarina Barbara Bell Royalty Uncle Sam . [ Eller Miss Bundy ISnarry 3 4 0 Truth (pays for feit) 4 8 12 'OINTMENTS. Her Majesty's staghds., Tues. Uxbridge-oommon; Fri. Iver-heath-11. Brookside barrs, Mon. Newmarket-hill; Thurs. Tag combe Tye-10i. Crawley and Horsham hds., Mon. Holmbush-lodge; Wed. Kingsfold ; Fri. Champion's-gate-10i. Worcestershire hds., Mon. Feckenham; Wed. Brom:- grove Liekey; Fri. Tiddesley-wood-10i. Herefordshire hde., Tues. Rotherwas; Fri. Yazor. Lord Redesdale's hds., Mon. Bolter's- barn ; Wed. Loughborough-gate; Fri. New-barn; Sat. Blenheim —lOl. Ludlow hds., Tues. Bucknell ; Fri. Norton's-camp-101. Ledbury lids., Tues. Suckley ; Fri. Bromsberrow beath-101. Upton-upon• Severn harrs., Tues. Ripple-101. Wheatland lids., Mon. Willoy Park; SA. Wenlock —lO. Newcastle and Gateshead harrs., Mon. Ileddon-on the- Wall; Fri. Crook-gate-10. Morpeth harrs., Mon. Bothal Village; Fri. Uartlotd bridge-10i. Haydon hds., Wed. Esp-hill; Sat the Rennel-9. Tindale hds., Mon. Swinburno Castle South Lodge; Thurs. Rowley Village; Sat. By woll-10i. Durham county hde., Mon. Twizel; Wed. Willington; Fri. Seaharn-lodge-101. Raby hds., Mon. Summerhouse ; Wed. Winston bridge; Fri. second mile -atone from Bishop Auckland —lOl. The shipments of specie by the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Ripon reach 259,8001. Of this 60,0001. is in gold for Al exandria and Ceylon, and 199,8001. in silver for Madras, Bombay, Calcutta; Singapore, and Canton—the proportion for Calcutta being 147,000/. MINING INTELLIGENCE. (From the Mining Journal of this day.) The progressive consolidation of business on the Mining Exchange, by a much larger attendance of members than heretofore, is tending to a considerable increase in the transactions in shares of good repute. This effect h as been particularly perceptible during the present week; the demand, however, having proved much beyo n d t h e supply, of dividend shares ' in particu lar, which are very firmly held. Doubtless the influ ence of capit a l may be also traced in these circumstances either from its natural accumulation or its abstraction from less favourite sources of investment. The specula-. are announced, tive class of m i nes have also met with a fair share of at tention • and where improvem ents rise'name d ann teo c n e a d t , clu a cor respondingencein value is th e . Without being o ver sanguine, la C • we venture to predict a still more satisfactory state of things in this • market, in proportion as the basis of the business bedomes ex tended. In the Metal Market-Copper continu es very active. and quotation well maintained. Lead n its • proved position. In tin, the smelters b m av aintains lll 2 of blocks, ingots, and bar tin, 31. per e to advaneed the n, the price now being respectively 875., 875., and 88s livered in London, Liverpool, or Bristol,p2er ewe, de discount for cash. This advance is likely to i b per cent. ' mined, even should a further rise not take and main to the want of stock at the present time, and theOwein mated produced of the next quarterly yield from the ati. re spective tin mines falling considerably short of the ex pected demand. Foreign has been extensively dealt in. In Speller the market is in a feverish state, a quantity of about 7,000 tons having been taken out of the stock by a wealthy company, has raised the price, at which there are buyers, but few sellers. How it will settle, time will show. In the Bullion Market-Mexican and South Ameri can dollars, buyers at 4s. I kid. per oz. Bar.silver con taining gold, all gold above 5 grains in the pound to be paid for, bs. lfd. per oz. standard. Bar silver without gold, ss. Oid. per oz. standard, Bar gold, 775. 9d. per oz. Spanish Doubloons, 78s. 9d. per oz. Columbian Doubloons, 78s. 6d. per oz. American Eagles, 765. 2fd. per oz. At West Caradoc meeting, on Thursday, at the White Hart Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, a dividend of 4/. per share was made. The profits on the two months' work ings was 1,5141. 143., and a balance remains in hand of 1,6001. At the Levant Mine meeting, a dividend of 21. per share was declared. At the Stray Park, Camborne Vean, and Wheal Francis Mines meeting, on the 12th inst , the accounts for Sept. and Oct. showed-Balance against adventu rers last account, 669/. 2s. lid.; tutwork cost, 342/. 2s. 7d.; merchants' bills, 167/. 17s. 4d.; tribute on ores sold Oct. 2, 80/. 3s. 2d.; subsist, 1224 ls. Id.; lord's dues, 201. Is. 2d..5.1,401/. Bs. 3d.-By copper ore sold Oct. 2, 4281. 6s. Bd.; tin, 53/. 3s. 6d,; profit on Wheal Francis, 239/. 19s. Bd.; leaving balance against the adventurers, 679/. 18s. sd. By copper ores at Stray Park, 388/. Os. 7d.; ditto Wheal Francis, 7864 12a. 2d. At Wheal Trelawny meeting, on Monday, the Bth inst., the accounts showed-Balance in hand last ac count, 1,8821. 75. 5d.; silver-lead ores sold, October, 1,739/. 9s. 2d.; Nov. 1,784/. 2s. Bd.; Dec. 1, 1,4864 (computed)e.6,B9ll. 19s. 3d. Tutwork for four months, ending Sept., 2,195/. 155.; tribute, 430 Z 18s. 4d.; car riage of ore and materi a l s , 165/. 2s. 5d.; dressing ores, 5884 19s. 10d ; lord's dues, 351/. 12s. 2d.; coals, 4331. 16s. 3d.; merchants bills, 1,2651. I Is. 9d. ; _ sundry payments, 1,0471. 155.; Charles Trelawny, Esq., for compensation for land destroyed, 1341. 15s.i leaving balance to next account, 272/. 13s. 6d. About 500 of the foregoing charge is for work done for the new engine,and for the purpose of paying for the same a call of Si. per share was made. At Wheal Zion meeting, at Bath, on Wednesday, tho 9th Dec. (T. E. Stubbs, Esq, in the chair), the ac counts showed-Cash in hand last account, 2241. 445. Id.; received for calls, 424; discount, &c., 31. 55.; advanced by the purser, 128/. 16s. 5d.=3984 15s. 6d.-Paid ba lance for Sept., 6/. 7s. 11d.; Oct. cost, 349/. 13s. 6d.; leaving balance to next account, 42/. 14s. Id. A call of 2s. 6d. per share was made. At the Butterdon Mine quarterly meeting, on :the Bth inst., the accounts showed-Balance account, 351/. 15s. id.; cost for July, 151/. 15s. 9d.; Aug., 1901. ss. Id.; Sept., 208/. ss. 9d.902/. Is. Bd.-By call, September, 8124; leaving balance to next account, 901. Is. Bd.; to discharge which, and carry on future operations, all of 15s. per 812th share was made. At Dolcoath bi-monthly meeting on the Bth inst., the accounts showed-Ores sold, 3,357/. Bs. Bd.; old iron, &a. 157/. 1 Is. 10d.3,515/. O s . 6d. C ost f or S eptem b er and October, 3,4321. 2s. ltd.: leaving a profit of 821. 17s. 7d.; which, deducted from debt to end of August, 2,116/. 4s. 4d., leaves balance to next account, 2,033/. 6s. 9d. At Penhauger Mine meeting on the Bth inst., the ac counts showed-Cost four months, end October, 233/. 16s. 2d.; cost of steam-engine and shears, 3991.632/. 16s. 2d. By cash in hand last account, 163/. 17s. 9d.; call, September, 4061 : leaving balance against the ad venturers, 62!. 18s. 5d.; to meet which a call of 2s. 6d. per 812th share was made. At Trelusback Mine meeting, on the 9th instant, the accounts showed-Balance from last account, 3591. 3s. 7d. ; labour cost, September, 1931. Bs. 10d. ; October, 1811. 7s. sd. ; subsist, 61. ; merchants' bills, 1561. ls. 6d....8954 Is. 4d. By call, 5121.; clothes money, 4/. 9s. sd: leaving balance to next account, 3781. ils. 11d. 'A call of 7s 6d. per share was made to discharge the same. At the South Plain Wood meeting, on the 9th inst. (T. Camplin, Esq., in the chair), the accounts showed- Balance last account, 168/. 25.; calls, 1641. 155...332/. 178. By labour cost, Augu s t, 741. Oa. 5d.; September, 74/. 4s. id.; merchants' bills, 411. 17s. Id.: leaving ba lance, 143/. ss. sd. The assets amounted to 3204 2s. 5c1.; and liabilities, 401/. 145.: showing balance of the latter over assets, 81/. 11 s. 7d. At the bi-montbly meeting of Groat Bryn Consols Mine, on Wednesday (W. Gather, Esq , in the chair), the accounts showed a balance in band of 2,8451. 18s. sd. At the quarterly general meating of the East Wheal Russell adventurers, held on Wednesday, the accounts showed a balance of 283/. 6s. 6d. in favour of the mine, and a balance of assets over liabilities of 1501. 174. Id. At the Devon Consols North meeting, held on Thurs day, the accounts showed-Balance last account, 1 9021, 6s. 7d.; iuterest on Exohequer-bills, 31. 12s. 6d0=1,9064 2s. Id.-Cost Oct., 551. 19s. 9d.; Nov., 671. 3s. 6d.; secretary's salary and office rent, 121. 125.; printing, &c., 71.135. 6d.: leaving balance in favoar of company, 1,7621. 13s. 4d.; the report was considered favourable. At the Dalrhiew Copper Mine hi-monthly meeting, on Thursday, the purser' s accounts showed a balance of 615/. ss. 6d. to the credit of the mine. The works were uninterrupiedly continued. The finance committee of the Coed Mawr Pool Lead Mine met on Saturday, when the accounts showed a ba lance of 7504 Bs. 3d. remaining after the discharge of all liabilities, including the cost of the machinery, mine buildings, and a residence for the captain on the ground, which have been erected and finished in a substantial manner. At the Condurrow meeting, on Monday, the accounts showed-Balance last account 55/. 31. 6d.; ores sold, 1,729/. 4s. I 1d.=1,784/. Ss. 5d.-By labour cost October and November, 1,295/. 12s. 3d.; merchants' bills, 3141. 9s. 5d.; dues, 86/. 9s. 3d.: leaving balance in hand, 87/. 17s. 6d. At the Castle Dines meeting, on the 10th inst. (Mr. W. Vivian in the chair), the accounts showed-Balance last account, 2171. 105. 4d.; call. 3964= - 6131.105. 4d. By labour cost, August, 271. 12s. 101; September, 117/. 54. ltd.; October, 101/. 12s. 10d; second instalment pur chas ) money, 133/. 6s. Bd.: leaving balance in hand, 2331. 12s. Id. At the North Basset bi-monthly meeting, en Wed nesday, the accounts showed-By sale of ores, &c., 2,569!. Is. 4d.-Mine cost, 1,7024 6s. Bd.: leaving balance in hand, 866/. 14s. Bd. At the &lelin-Lyn-Pair Mine meeting, at the Raven Inn, Aberdovey, on the 11th inst., the secretary read a statement of the accounts, showing a small balance against the mine, when a call of W. per share was made, for the purpose of working and the erection of a new crusher, which is immediately wanted, having large quantities of ore now on the surface. At Wellington Mine bi-monthly meeting, on the 16th instant, the accounts showed-July labour cost, 183/. its. ltd.; August, 1891. Ils. 6d.; merchants' bills, 331 165.; income tax, 141. 1 Is. Bd.; dues, 81. 7s. 2d.....4291. 18s. 3d. Copper ore sold, 136/. Bs. 5d.; tinstuff, 14/. 25.: leaving balance against the adventurers, 279/. 7.. 10d.; add balance from last account, 1271. 10s. 2d.: leaves to next account, 4061. 18s. A call of 11. per share was made. At the East Pool Mine bi-monthly meeting, on Tues day, the accounts showed-Balance last account, 2331. 12s. 10d. • labour cost, October and November. 879/. 19 s . 7d.; merchants' bills, 2981. 16s. 4d.; dues, 361. 13s. sd.:=-.- 1,4491. 2s. 2d. Copper ore sold, 9171. 45. 3d.; arsenic, 34/. 10s.; tin, 148/. ea. 4d.; water drainage, 1004: leaving balance to the next account, 248/. 18s. 7d. At West Wheal ' Darlington meeting; Ike accounts showed-Labour cost for eight months, ending Sept., 4741. Os. 2d.; merchants' bills, 2,3821. ss. 2d.=2,858/. ss. 4d. By call, 1,2801.: leaves a balance against the mine of 1,5781. ss. 4d. A call of 251. per 64th share was made. At Wheal Catharine quarterly general meeting (0.1 J. Wickler, Esq., in the chair), the accounts showed- Balance from last account, 4011. ls. 11d.; by call of 5s on 1,024 shares, 2461...63/. ls. 11d.-Payment * August, 39/. 75.; September, 65/. 12s. 4d.; Oct. 4s. 981 in GI; merchants' bills, 186/. 14 s. 7d.: leaving balance'4s. in favour of the adventurers, 267/. 3s. 6d. During the week shares have changed hands in D e von Great Consols, Alf re d Consols, West North and West Basset, St. AubYn and Grylls, East Buller, Trelawny, South T Holland, W F - mbar e st to vidence, Garreg, Trevelyan, West Russell, Mary Ann, Speedwell, Chiverton, Trebarvah, Cairn Valley, Boring don, East Boring don, Zion, Alltey-Orib' Bedford Uni ted, Wheal Golden, Mining Company of Ireland, West Polgooth, N or th Tamar Console, West Wheal Rose, East Trescoll, North Trelawny, West Callington, St. Agnes Beacon, Galt-y-Myn, Melin-Llyn-Pair, Wicklow Copper, West Tolgus, Condurrow, Wheal Tom, South Tolgus, Wheal St. Agnes, &c. In Foreign shares the dealings have been in-St. John del Roy, Cobre, Santiago, and United Mexican. The arket for the Californian gold mining shares has been quiet during the week, with little change in prices. In the shares officially marked in the Stock E x change, a moderate number of transactions has occur red, besides occasional dealings in the others, but there is no particular movement, although the aces wits of the still increasing yield of quartz mining in C a lif orn i a, even with the inferior mechanical means available there, are so stimulating. It is satisfactory to notice that the com panies lately established here appear to perceive the necessity of promptitude in carrying out their ar rangements. A large portion of the passengers taken out by the Medway, Royal Mail packet, which left Southampton for the West In dies on Wednesday, consisted of miners, including the staff of the Agaa c iii4 and N9uYeall Ludo Wnpanies. The LONDON, SATU'RDAI:Y shares t o i a d r e i s — . ; AAgyuea Maria, Fria, t t 0 0 l i n e p t re q in a quotations I t v i o e n s ii t of lra r t i h p e o s s e a , i dis.; Golden Mountain, 1 16 die. to 1-16 prem.; Nou veau Monde, - to 4 prem. The Agua .Wria Gold Mining Company have received from Colonel Frdreont a r e . newed lease, extending the original term from seven to twenty-seven years. The prosecution of mineral enterprise in Australia is likewise engaging an increased amount of attention, as is evident from the number of gold mining and gold re ducing projects already submitted to the public, in addi tion to the large number of embryo schemes which have not yet attained that degree of consistency. The shares of the new English and Australian Copper Smelting Company, which has contracted for the smelting of the Burra Burrs ores, aro regarded with favour, and com mand a prem. of Ito I. The British Australian Gold Mining shares also aro firm at i to i prem. RAILWAY RETURNS TRAFFIC RETU NS FOR THE PAST WEEK. Mlles opened, 1 NAME OF RAILWAY. Receipts. 185 u. Aberdeen ............ „ ...... ..... 1 Belfast and Ballymena,'.. • .... .... Belfast and County D0wn............ Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Bolton, Blackburn, and West York •... Bristol and Exeter .... „....... Dublin and Belfast Junction ........ Dublin and Drogheda.• • ... ....... _ Dublin and liingstown • • • • ... • . Dundee and Arbroath • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 1 C C h ork t ! r ßl an ac d kr il o o e l k y , h a e l a id d.. Passage •••• . • :: :: :: Eastern 'D''suntdLe Edinburgh,aPd I.2:undelk and En n iskillen. •• • • • • • •• • • ... 8t A nglian.....• .. • • • ' • ..... • • • • • • Exeter and Glasgow, and South VVes iern .• •••• 4••••••••••• Glasgow • • •• •• • • EE dal s as t be Co ra e, " Perth, ohint ire ee d a nd.. Aberdeen 5.0.r.f..0ik Junction . ....... ...:...: cr er d u l l. Farness nallwaey twz • • • • • • ..... ••••••• . Great Northern and and Dundee.... • • Great Southern and e. I.• •••• • • • • ~G reat Western . W ... . -B—t... rn . (lreland) Irish South Eastern • :: ... • • • • .. Lancaster and Carlisle.: • • • • • • •• •• Lancashire and Yorkshire:. • ... • • ****** Leeds and Thirsk ...... ''' •—• • • • Liverpool, Crosby, and. South " • • . • • London and North Western . P°rt— •• London and Black well .. .. ; •• ••• • • • London, Brighton, and South... 0 .. ...; • • London and South Western... C - --- • Londonderry and Enni s kill en .. : • •• ••• Manchester, Buxton, and Matlock. ' Sr.,. •. Manchester, Sheftl el el, an d Li ncoln i th; Manchester and South Junction....- Maryport and Carlisle ............:: Midland .....- .... - Midland Great Western (Irish) .. •.... Monk lands .... • • • ................. Newcastle and Car1i51e.............. North British ...................... North Staffordshire •• • • .....• ...... North-Western .. .. •• • • ............ Scottish Central .... ...... .......... Scottish Midland •••••••• • • • . • • .... Shrewsbury and Birmingham ...... Shrewsbury and Chester ............ Shropshire Union .................. South Devon • • • • • • .. . .. ............ South Eastern.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ...... South Wales .. •••••••••• • • • • • • • • .. South York., Doncaster, and Goole .. Ulster. • • • • • • Waterford and Limerick • ........... West Cornwall ••• • • • '• ............ NVhitehaven Junction ....• • • • • • • • ... York and Newcastle, and Berwick .•• York and North Midland. • • • • • • • • •• 26% 189!4 94% 49 6 4 16% 31 171% 241% 188 264 261 03% £1,115 57% 21% 63 442% 134% 240 599 3,395 6,896 2,278 608 3,464 14,515 1,706 3,371 2,031 163 3,363 6,815 4,121 15,632 3,7 49 14,133 285 41,485 654 8,308 8,395 112 1,565 560 20,893 1,220 7 64 2 ,060 3,17 0 4,514 403 1 , 5 46 457 1851. £1,391 65i 1,351 181 1,116 3,515 7,532 2,389 110 627 837 553 414 659 188 427 1,521 9,314 687 1,308 2,111 BZ4 366 4,010 14,376 1,736 3,230 2,029 189 13,212 6,659 Central of France FOREIGN. Dutch Rhenish •• •••• " • ***** • M aria Antonia ••••• • • • • • •• • Mo ntereau and Troyes •••• •• •• •• • Northern of France .. •• • •• •• •• • Orleans and • Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans ...... Paris and Rouen. ..•• Paris and Strasburgh Rouen and Havre .......... •• • .... Tours and Nantet ..... . 368 3,482 10,402 4,160 16,338 its IAS Iti,boT 1,504 3,100 827 266 41,266 140 1,009 18,708 3,320 5,675 8,034 5,835 4,734 2,351 782 8,039 9,195 116 6,426 b 99 22,196 1„99T 189 13,025 7,518 3,811 804 214 ma ,5,b57 3,608 7,050 4,906 7,642 1,937 DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WAPPING. Yesterday morning, about a quarter to one o'clock, as a policeman was walking his beat in Great Hermit age-street, Wapping, he discovered that the premises, No. 11, Crown-court, leading out of that street, were on fire. The premises in question are a double house, with one front door, but two staircases, and were let like two separate houses, the front portion, containing four rooms over each other, to Mr. James Stiff, and the back to Mr. James Cander. The fire broke out in the front parlour, and rapidly ascended the front staircase to the second floor, where Mr. Stiff's family were in bed. The first act of the policeman was to arouse the inmates and to help the family of Mr. Stiff down the staircase of Mr. Cander's house, and a messenger having been dis patched to Wellclose•square and other stations, several engines of the brigade, as well as the West of Eng land engine and a private engine from the neighbour hood, wero promptly on the spot. The fire, however, had by this time.such a firm hold of the building, which, although a double house, was merely run up with lathe and plaster, that it was impossible to save the front of it, which was entirely burned out, and the latter portion, although not completely destroyed, is rendered quite un tenantable. The house, No. 8, Great Hermitage-street, in the occupation of T. J. Norrie, the back part of which comes within a few yards of the premises in which the fire originated, was at one time in considerable danger of being destroyed, tho window frame of the back room second flJor being on fire; the indefatigable exertions of the firemen, however, in an almost miraculous manner, prevented the flames from extending, although consider kble damage was done to this house and the furniture by water and removal. THE PREMIER AND THE MANCHESTER REFORM CONFERENCE. At the late Reform Conference held at Manchester, the following resolution was adopted:—" That the follow ing gentlemen be a deputation for the purpose of aeking an interview with Lord John Russell, to represent to him the general views of this conference, and to urge upon him the propriety of introducing a measure of reform calculated to meet the views and expectations of this con ference:—The Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P., R. Cob den, M.P., J. Bright, M.P., Sir Joshua Walmesly, M.P., J. Kershaw, M.P., John Williams, M.P., Sir E.Armitsge, George Wilson, Manchester; Alderman Forbes, Bradford; Alderman Carbutt, Leeds; Edward Baines, Leeds; F. Crossley, Halifax; George Had field, James Watts, Manchester; H. Ashworth, Bolton; P. J. Dixon, Carlisle ; the Lord Pro vost of Edinburgh; G. W. Harrison, Wakefield; W. Biggs, Leicester; R. W. Philips, Manchester, W. Raw son, Manchester; C. E. Rawlins, Liverpool; and Charles Potter, Darwen. Mr. Milner Gibson was requested on the part of these gentlemen to lose no time in seeking an interview with the Premier, but on reaching London we believe that he found his Lordship had left town for Woburn Abbey. The Hon. Gentleman has since written to Lord John Russell to ask the honour of an interview for the deputation, and the following is the reply:— " Woburn Abbey, Dec. 13, 1851. " Lord John Russell presents his compliments to Mr. Milner Gibson, and is sorry he cannot r( ceive a depu tation from the confereace which was lately held at Manchester on the subject of Parliamentary reform. "It appears to him that there would be great incon venience in receiving deputations from particular dis tricts on a subject of this nature, in which the whole country is interested." CAPTURE OF A. SEAL AT APPLEDORE —One of these amphibious animals, so common in high northern lati tudes, but so rare on our coast, was seen swimming about in Appledore-pool on Thursday morning last by William Henry Fishley, the waterman who plies the ferry between A pple ganhtd t h a t e r u oarck dore and Instow. Having a gun with him, he fired at th e seal, and struck it on the aide; he lost his object fo r a s h ort period, but on its again coming to the surface h e repeate d his tealc fire, and the third shot mortally wounded th e an i ma l , which immediately made towards the sho re an d endeavoured to i h t could. s F h i a s h r I;eYthe followed, a h i w t a o l v k e a r w th ay e h as fa ead s : it in its mouth, and did not quit its hold until it had lost two of its front teeth in the struggle. It was then taken to the boat and conveyed to Barnstaple, where it was exposed to view at the Star Inn. It is a full-grown • specimen, and ex hibits an extraordinary affinity to the canine tribe.—Exeter Flying Post. GLOUCESTER, ABERYSTWITH, AND CINTRALWALRS RaiLwAT.—Yesterday a meeting in this matter was held, before the Master i n Ch ancery (Tinney), to consider the validity of a variety of outstanding claims, about sixteen in number, the principal being 3 ,000/. from Mr. Saunders, soli citor; 5,0001. from Messrs. Hill and Everill, 4321. from Messrs. Ravenhill, 35C/. from Mr. Hawker, the se c retary; Powell, 5001. from Mr. Thompson, engineer ; 1621. from : nol and 15.000/. and others, in all amounting to between 10. 0 — : Mr. Hetherington o st several soli. shareholders for the official manager , . m " After considerable opposed these claims y a3 n alleged claims, citors, who attended in support of m th s l m l_ behalf of the discussion, the Master allowed turnthe I them into debts proved by giving the parties liberty to and as against particular indivi duals or general members of t! a ra vr 'of the company, who, on inquiry, might be found liable to p discharge of debts. _ the same by means of a call us. D id.oSIBRY THE LA" A are of a more cheering character alto- TRADES.—The last ar rivals the e hosiery and lace ; the former will, perhaps, as regards both . America prospects of commercial affairs in this town benefited by the improved state of af fairsxtensively be more e latter will also benefit partially by the there, but the . advices, more particularly as regards fancy goods— last ' lly a certain class of block laces. But the time for goods-- especially giving out orders for the manufacture of goods for the ensu ing spring trade there has passed, as it takes some time to gether f l o or complete orders to any extent, unless manufacturers should be foolish enough to have goods on hand in anticipation of demand, which the experience of past years has taught them very wisely to avoid. The demand for hosiery goods gene rally remains without much alteration. Some few orders have been received from London houses in tie general trade for spring goods, but these orders are only yet very partial, as it is commonly supposed that January is early enough for these parties. The stock of goods held by hosiers genera* is smaller than usual for the average of years ; and in chic business particularly there is a prospect of a remuneraetnitsvo, business for some mono lis in the en-uing year at all The lace trade depends so much upon the wh,m ii of fashion, that it would be idle to speculate /In , prospect ; its condition also may be more or deteriorated, and will doubtless be P tainty, by the present and prospective co Nottiaphaset Journal. The mercantile advices state that the fluctuations th e : a nd everts, less improved ort in some uncer knecution of Europe.—. upon its fromrate of exchange on London in by every alteration in the Vienna of the 16th were very great, and were Renter.a The premium on gold was still quotation of French si l ver per cent. From Milan it was 30 per cent. and on. - great activity. The accounts and that the market sho wed increase of business, American describe an from Trieste also of which was very low, being much in de.. cotton, the stock cotton yarn was sought at advanced prim, stated that silk had risenoor 10 per cent. in a few days, ma.o. At Vienna co (robe' 01, C l °`,l, ll I; pe% I; pi Per itY o is fib ° ricooj; i l AP I 1p b~ p e t l b o e l , , 1 0 ll