The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-07 00:00:00

1 4 8 . he intended, at a future time, to move an inqui r y Poli ce to the w h o l e question of the administration of th e , te ir J. GRAHAM said he was not at all prepared for ' l . speech the Noble Lerd had delivered, as he had re i°lod no notice whatever (.f his intention to ' ring the ,lect forward. The Neble Lord had last year moved U a Similar return, and he (Sir James Graham) then statenow he was ready to accede to it ; nor had he aims any objection to granting the present one. In the lit.eee of the Chief secretary for Ireland, and without but he he could not go into the details of the subject, te `" he believed 't would be found that the Lord Lieu eflant of Ireland hid fully carried out the administration • p .o le law i ntrusted to him. rd ' e Lt MENTS apologised to the Right Hon. ,sl/Bronet fur the abrupt manner in which he had brought ,7,_°!esttbject forward, but he still contended it »as one `41.41,g for inquiry. the'.° A.TTO RNEY•GENERAL (Ireland) quoted L . k2th section of the Arms' Act, under which the Lord diak:_ete.n.ant had proceeded, and added that there was no es t ‘! sit toll on the part of the Government to withhold sey Informat. ,A ffr _ ton. vpi ts w an explanation from Lord CLEMENTS, which lutell:'Attorrupted by cries of " Spoke," and a few words t i n ee hiepp , F. RENCH, confirming what had fallen from ' ter tneY-General, the Return was ordered. ths rite CLEMENTS then moved for " a Return from hit ' ;41erk of the Crown of the county of Leitrim, of the to he „and residences of those Jurors who were ordered et te :_atied by the Judge of Assize at the Summer As seteTt 1844, held in Carrick on Shannon ; and Copies eh , se";eeffit davits of any such Jurors accounting for their due the , ogether with the Orders of the Judge of As- Lee re°° •" -- Agreed to. !the 4 CLEMENTS then moved for a return, showing , r ? e t inbe t„ of policemen in every county ir. Ireland who sitt se triune the duties of constables, but are em of 14_ ither as clerks or officers' servants, having charge , Seel it s e s or Otherwise, distinguishing the number of ettipeeltell employment other than that of a constable, `see s ( ith the expense, including all pay and allow -1.4441. Leese in each employment. al qete l ! f ew words from Mr. BROTHERTON and 4 N R is w e -, the return was agreed to. heh 4 CH, then moved for a return by name of q ee e Il s waY comp an y, which had complied with the sixth Setil sot :' the Act of last session for the regulation of ib e j s s ' and which came into operation on the Ist No her,'l'. With at of such compliance, as to the car heei e ir L9g. Seats and being protected from the ssea elettil, t ile conveyance of third •class passengers; . also, est otlettuin of those_ which have not complied, with 4111(Irelause of the said Act; and specifying also t t k leL r4 or the day and the speed ot the trains in each ttlC,PectiVely, under the penny a mile clause; the de er dleether to show the steps taken (if any) to re eke •I,,Penalties provided by the said Act.—Agreed to. Voiae;;LIORNELY moved for the appointment and e e l' l'e - e i s nll °t S. Select Committee on public petitions:— s t rteeB",%.elY,, Sir Hebert . elerry Inglis, Earl of Arun -11.4,104 " t tey, Lord Courtenay, Vlscount , Duncan, Cap '1141,' lir- Cowper. Mr. Pusey, Mr. Edward Buller, it l i k k r ""e3', Mr. William Hamilton, Mr. Owen Stan ei°,,tr. v?, t iPns, and Mr. Villiers Stuart.—Agreed to. ',l 4 es 4 A T Postponed his motion regarding Corn kue th e Private Bills. •' h • • 4 `itte ) ,, notion that the answer of her most gracious I Nte• the address of the House of Commons. Q,Il ' Q. ()te e t 4 .- , EN wished to call the attention of the Ve,h, ,(:)3. Gentleman to the absence in the royal ;Clet e : any reference to the state of the agricultural bated 4 ., Member of the Government . hail, indeed, Stetilt as _Le give an exanation, by saying that the e h ,. ""L tt , 1 districts were not in such a state of le? li- •i f as , . to demand any . particular refs qlh Pth e , this was the reason, it was a departure e l :tie g ent, for hitherto extraordinary depression lo,:ire otbBfteufectures or agriculture, was the cause of • 1 114 fse l . erV atiOß. Last year, when a Committee was le 6 , e l , en '? inquire into the state of the agricultural Iv il , of the grounds for refusing it was, that kle ' e r A 6 3. quarter ; now wheat was only 455. a ts t ele; t l h esnd he would a.sk the Hon. Gentlemen oppo %Sp' they felt themselmes justified in holding it,'Neka°geine expectations to the farmers respecting Itiele of price, inducing them to enter into bargains ktt4 ti et t i the supposition that farmers had the power I S e , he lv e Price of land. Lord Beaumont, at a great k t ` r ,ifts t .„; teeeting, had stated that Parliament would tt e l ette ra e ,F B 5 65. for their corn. Had events justified Sel. late c rib °n? b i . lion. Gentlemen opposite said farmers ",_tet ri e „l 'feta want of sufficient protection, be.i be 10: 4 1 `te t C t ueught they were suffering frees protec- Nt eth er, The Hon. Members ;apposite repre- Ll/4letitteverfel interest, and if they really thought , 4 4 : ttet 1 ;: 11 land so onereeis he thought they could' tr o te 4 ets te- Ilia ° Join with hinl'in calling for a Select tllote°,r the House to inquire into them. He was Sthet..4l.et4i,°°Pea that this would be acceded to ; and if ettlt etB Who professed to be such warm friends of ‘NO% dot did join with Hon. Members on that se e eex kqt t t 14 r,ouse, they weuld coerce the Government rtlei°B:ke'cknenittee. He mentiored this subject to :,,114.1,,, for Somersetshire (Mr. Miles), who re , 4h/1lb:1411 the courts sy possible, and thought that it 4ll te et s k e enied willing to accede to the hiespropo!i - ue ,(Mr. Cobden) asked was full, fair, li, m'ncluiry. He had waited patiently to see eti. th-e 0), comber would bring forward this motion, it t t t; sate g so, he thought it his duty again to L e h /14,Ject under time consideration of the House. L'etOieted,S_ thanked the Hoe. Member for the manner I'4 4 :t h e had spoken of him • but he should recut- Q i iteght• se: B , ol 3ly an individual Member, and could t e N e llist ee ' t ue t• hole agricultural body. If the agri- VS 4 1l is t ! existed which the Hon. Member de- C i ti t t l i ft, Pit ask the Government to accede to the ctsh h eete s :"Nrely the observations of a Noble Lord Ot .AI ' N' 4 eghter)—could form no basis for . the 0 tl ee islnteeest forming such sanguine expetations iji'Aikthniet":4,Pricesof corn. - The Right Hon. Gentle 01.8ethe (I °l the , Government had spoken distinctly C. tto a 'batter, and nothing he said could be con tstsq, he triarentee to the farmer for the price of 4,tlssAtee I ght Hon. Gentleman had distinctly stated Ot sg se ll the nun Prevent fluctuation of prices. Ile did k h l ky ,'", Le ith . "room were much inclined to trouble the 1,711 k ,' 4, tt,, ~,- teeital of their grievances. He was sorry 4 th ben le N rs e ,,,e lousily speaking. the farmers did not . trust Isi s ltee, „„'e el Commons for an alleviation of lies l 'lltle t he;„ l ,.'• he Hon. Member must take his own ki, 4 11,"g, 0 , "J,ect. There were Members both able 4 1 1 ,e4Poti ths t uat side of the House, to . state their pi.,.,ket onto " question ; but he (Mr. Miles) would kle , th„Q, Illa s taY or the other. I ts: i t it e ee 1 ,,,,"`N whe spoke in • such a low tone of th ; l' f or m" ° , "B almost inaudible in the gallery, was V!S to tsi ); 4,,Y that it seemed a principle with that _et ofll sessions past, to refuse all inquiry into vutt;vor before distress. The facts of that ie44`..et„;(?re them ail They had a corn-law, 0•-- 4 41 ,4 Ili st 4 r ilabl Yt though varying in degree, desti. 4 1 ,..7r ~,,"4 tteCOM i d it. The Noble Lord, o,,i„sa, The . pan e lq '4 I th an city of London, had well said the ti44eill th e eo at rr , ,Protection was the bane of agriculture, 1 / 4 11 the tli ttre ‘ — ',ltvv, as he had said, they had distress, t‘it t , hs t ,%ist e ,"„ B , t neY had always been inclined to asso "to r l'Ac i i th—eedoitLa committee. They had the corn k li b ke.44 tithe ha.,..ress, why then refuse the Com t`lo to ere ot s " ascribed this distress to the change s th ssl l4 !lace protection effected in 1842; yet they tit t ti ne 4 4 it r . t aun the working of that protection, , 4) l4 c : t ans y of the House. They promised, too, A I Ss tkr erisle s tlt the Freemasons' Hall, and in other IN Ss, 13,,,Te farmer from any other change in Nltie ti e l let at""?,elet, therefore, wish to ask the Right tNylis e a die i t 'a! head of her Majesty's Govern- Lee'lle t ee th at ‘'lth all respect, whether he had given ~ '. , )i te t h::•) t ie ° o further reduction should be made? ~tiN,ll de ttl th a sk, ed him if he had communicated V 44 B ,e s 0 B ,w, f ee II t I ,"e would not meddle with the ex still,(,te t i °tit if " 0 impression seemed to be, that he dust 4 1 1 / 4 1 t kibe, a° t , he prayed the Right Honourable 111 globe, thisthe public mind i , f the impression '4,0 4 1 , 1 a lly Bubsolerem assurance, because, if . he it the e entes e e•l c h .° (Mr. Gibson) would feel him eh i t , 4 Es thou ' 4l tmg the rumour.—(Laughter) 0 il lt, 11 ) 4 8 tile ail at that it would have been but 1. to e l : ', 4 01 1 „ llB L°n should have been made in her 4*tht, 4 ' l, iti t . met j„`°, ate distress which was but too well isqh th e Rtne agricultural districts. He agreed l \ , N I ; did : o r !' Member for Stockport, so far, s ; 4 ►e) iii ef i oi :' agree with him in another of his j itl ll t ' t 4 5 t,, l e i! of ti l t l .: l ls some of those on that (the Con „kt4i b ; t tlr - ""'ve f o ,' - '"use, in persevering in his deter (\Pe " n ti:„Perioe -- T B4 I inquiry int r this distress at \t l i t ttp ‘,44 e. ! h eua ,, for . one, would not support t , i v eil tec itte s o re, with reference to the Vtif'd . ttlt the distress, he was convinced h i 4 4 ett e , °gether from the Chan es made in the 'i bide `lt h es l it whe ther permanent or g otherwise, and ‘ ;:Os t . lt '• kr °l. 3" di a a t . ° t ° say that those changes had pro -4i;;tll74lfreht„, wiess which was now so prevalent. 4 t It iel i the llohl e n ha d last spoken had reterred to Yiti L 4 LlL ti t.ti _ , whe_ Lord, the Member fur London, shit. ti " he said that protection was the i, ) e l 'et . '"rd 1, 'lt remained 0 44 0f6 ee had chan to be seen whether i;„'ll ln t let L°' wile a g ed . his opinior . i . since the time ii, 4 e s s el e e e ansid his proposition for a fixed ke e ti p eth q ri. A L ered a protection to agricul- V fiL4l4., sing'"oer for Wolverhampton, who NN ~Ot • e d..eet of th e • t y .N ti . ,' 4t ed that prosperity .of the menu lii,,,44L,,,,,,,,,:tih.,,th:takrsia.:),,f,,f,4bcezg,rrtsiheetzwlirtauspr.osperity Then, ifoc tc_ae rinsetsn.asiTonhe _ , h d by the / 4 ' 1 4;4 41 .4 ot kath ur , za districts, 411 fore th her sid e .„ why . Hon. ,11,, 4,, at k i s ;eels to increase that distress k`e s'm t " 4 trce er Y ce--(Hear hear. ) The Hon. ktilt,4 l toik s til : bs i„.. I.ieer ok:_x:ved,, with refer. t e h n a c t e w to ith wh re a - t „,le l ,tt t :ti e t Zdtfie at i• o t n 9 estY 8 speech, 4 nt i ) th 4 l h , 4 our na °f the prohibitions which r 0 ,_ t? I ,.) , l sth e es to i_ ,aenufactures, some step should t4itjriol,, ' . ,t_h e ,tel2°L! e some relaxation. He (Mr. teittt4let ( ere 't th e 1.3 °treacly taken was a very good I )' i B ts tv I°a nufact k b , tthstece r e t ie n ow i. users, and he hoped that N t ltty 4 sititY•el"e th e " a .ye st unething better than 44 41. ;it 14,4,19/ear.) beirs.tresses that prevailed P il k L tver n thn Du ing the year that sac s N l , l fle e ill - Proteetive duties, there was i t c l Vi le t t l i e s N I) , 8 great der English crops, but after ,h,ithe to daps' sub„"cincY In the barley, oats, tti th . e1 44 , 1 ..1 1 , 4, oebarr jeently the alteration in the e,N, alie n ,' woul d v " the hope that the prices (op ti l i t , p u lush, u , k k , litklit t „ . the law s ' and i. , ~13 for the loss sustained l ie thi t a t al b It ca us e," 'ant instance, therefore, t. i kise SS e vu great distress among the 1 '4p: 4 14.1:44C to ha to all fact to say that the I tiollt s ' l l itj °f tee n°t caused great misery, and he . led to it, wit on 14 tOr ti ltin - fur which • •h t eN s , e sale ,eg B °3' lurth l ouN t 4 lls et ,Pror e .`kler e wa al' in eat 11, ty . 4i,ed t hen BB m ade S Something exceedingly ,Tek t - Tied a; by the landlords, that ci . gim ,ti l go .sgstr es , ~, it est ti ultlvato s i tk cli kii, 4 % l / 4 — : a t l x t i th B , o 4 q tharts ctilif a st t rtes h es at time existing in said that et the ~ 1 4 2 1,? did :told 14.°Wleoecoeretaist of laBnl3°Clitiletddpi proprietors, 0 I t a the,,e, quenee of the change in )*‘ 6'l---'441c1 f l y benefit he asked, create g uonetit the farmer in one of two ways, by recommending th*t the remaining taxes on the land be redeemed, or by having a greater protection enacted. Now, he asked ,them whether it was possible to do one: or othee er 'these? They might as well stay the oneretikins of nature as at tempt to do either,:hecaUse protection had reached its limit; and the L'egislature had, during the past session, almost already removed all the taxes which pressed upon the farmer; and the taxes which were wont to go into the Exchequer, now went into the pockets of th e land lords, in th e s h a p e of rent,—(lleals heti%) They could do nothing, then, to serve the farmer. They did not, in consequence, wish to have a Committee of inquiry. The lion. Member for Falmouth said that the Right lion. Baronet, in proposing the new Corn Bill, did not promise the farmers 58s. a quarter. The promise Was a very guarded one. It wes, that a eertilin price would be guaranteed by the LegislatUre.' That was, indeed, a very guarded statement ; but the landlords had been doing their best to make that expression convey a cer tainty of 58s to the farmer. That impression was con stantly inculcated by their bailiffs and stewards in the country, and the opinion was strengthened by their as sessing the land to the poor-rate at 565. per quarter. This system had been continued since 181 t;, when the law had been passed ; and the landlords ought their to have told the farmers the degree of power they really possessed. There was no consistency in the conduct of the landlords towards their tenants, no affinity between their acts in that House and their professions in Free mason's Hall or in that shop which they had opened in Bond-street, where they ought to have placed above the door, " The British farmer regularly taken in and done or."—(Laughter.) It was time that that imposition en .he farmer should be ended. If he (Mr. Bright) stood in the same relation to the people who were employed by him in Lancashire that they did to the farmer, and if he came to that House and assented to pass a law to keep up the price of their labour, which was afterwards rescinded, he would not again have the face - to say to those persons that Parliament had the power of keeping up their wages. And that was exactly what the land lords were doing. The lien. Member for Dorset had explained to the House that the farmer suffered when the grain crops were large and the prices low, and when the grass crops were insufficient to feed their cattle. But did they (the friends of the farmer).never think that they were putting him to this inconvenience by the duty they had placed on Indian corn—and Indian corn they knew was food for cattle—and by the duty on Egyptian beans, also good food for cattle. - He would tell them that the law they had made to keep these out injured the farmer, end assisted to create the distress now so much complained of. He was not very conversant with agricultural matters, but that was not absolutely necessary for the understanding of this question. Be held a letter in his hand, which appeared in the Wilt shire monopoli>t journal, written by Nathaniel Haver ton, a man of the very first intelligence, and a farmer, and he said that he lost by the protective duties at the rate of Bs. per quarter. it.had hei n >aid that the Lan cashire manufit,turers were making fifty per cent. of profit. lie said that those who made the statement knew very little about it; but, whatever their profits, they did not come to Parliament for protection to their interests. They did not wish to - overeharge their cus tomers, as the landlords did-in the matter of 11 est India sugar. The result of the inquiries instituted by the members of the Anti-Corn-law League in the counties, proved that where the agricultural labourer expended at most 255. a year for himself and family, the manu facturing labourer expended three times as much. It Was well known amongst their supporters that the Government were most anxious to proceed on the prin ciples of free trade. Many and many Conservatives had spoken to him in exultation, and had said, "Did I not tell you Sir Robert Peel would do this? And if you free traders would not be so impatient, he would still go on ; and as the fears of the agriculturists are dissipated he will do all that you desire, for he has no interest but that of the good government of the country." Every one knew that the Right Hon. Baronet had ambition, fur if he had not he would not have been where he was. Few men did anything without ambition. The Right Hon. - Gentleman knew that the present system was turning the agricultural population into a population of paupers. On Monday last he was in Buckinghamshire, and the first thing that struck him was the number of fields which he saw covered with ant-hills. So numerous were they, that it was impossible to find a space sufficiently large to wield a scythe. That was protected land in the county of the very man who was especially the farmer's friencl----Who had taken upon himself, at the Freemasons' re - Lavern, to say that there would be no alteration made at present. The next object that met his (Mr. Bright's) eye was the multitudinous chimneys of the.union of the Aylesbury district. The persons that ought .to have cultivated the land were confined in that house.---(Hear, hear.) An Hon. Friend of his, who lived in the neigh bourhood of Salisbury, and who was a subscriber to the WiltsProttction Society, had said to him that he would rather have free trade at once than see the farmers hum bugged as they had been by the landlords fur a long time past. Now he (Mr. Bright) thought it was time that this state of things should be, put an end to. He did not call upon them to transfer protection to the manufacturers, for he believed that their skill and industry would be a sufficient protection to them. He would not have wished to have seen a total and immediate repeal of the corn laws in 1839 and 1840, when the price of wheat was 70 . or 80s. a quarter, because such a sudden change would have caused a serious panic amongst the agricultural interests. But now they had wheat at the tree trade price. In fact, the price of wheat in the chan nel islands, where free trade existed, was 3s. higher than tee price in this country. They had a 20s. protective duty here, and yet they were in distress. In 1823, they had a protection that amounted to actual prohibi tion, and yet they had agricultural distress. Such also was the state of things in 1835 and 1836 ; (Hear, bear)—and lie believed that if the present protective system were maintained, the time would come when, instead of complaints being sent up from the agricultural counties, on account of her Majesty's Ministers leaning towards free trade, the com plaints would be that they did net go much further. The population was growing up, and there was no employ ment commensurate with their increasing numbers, but they were competing for the little employment there was. The amount of wages was about six or seven shillings a week, and the destitution that existed was a disgrace to the Legislature and the landowners of the country. It was going on, and they could not stop it, and yet they actually made a law to secure themselves from foreign competition, leaving their defenceless la bourers subject to all the evils of that competition which they had brought upon them. He had no hope of doing much to convince lion. Members opposite, and the leaders Of party were seldom convinced ; but he could assure Hon. Gentlemen opposite. that amongst their tenantry a feeling of suspicion was springing up—a feeling which he could not wish to see spread amongst them were he a landowner. Hon. Gentlemen opposite had charged the Anti-Corn-law League with increasing that feeling ; but they had only told them what they were beginning to discover themselves—that they bad been deluded by th e i r l an dl or d s. They had told them that the landlords were entitled to their rent, and they had also told them that the landlords had no right to raise the value of their property ,by passing a law to shield themselves from competition with foreign coun tries, whilst they diminished the profits of their tenantry and the wages of their labourers, by forcing them into competition amongst themselves. That was the charge which they brought against the agricultural interest, and it would be reiterated so long as the present system con tinued. They need not lay the flattering unction to their souls that the agitation against the corn-laws would be put down by prosperous years. He might, if the time of the house would allow him, enter into particulars, to show that the agitation, from time to time, went on increasing, and he could shoe , that such was the feeling in Lanca shire at the present moment, if the Council of the League should think fit to call for it, they might raise almost any amount of money to carry on the agitation to a suc cessful conclusion.—(Hear, hear.) Hon. Gentlemen op posite must see that their measures were continually slipping from their grasp, and a different policy was gra dually growing upon them. The present Government, when they came into office, were looked upon as Conser vatives or monopolists; but from that time to this they had never dared to defend a system of restriction or mo nopoly, although they were the very men whom the monopolist party had plated on the Treasury hench— men the most distinguished in that whole party, and who were possessed of as great an amount of knowledge and statesmanship as any set of men in the country. He would ask them, then, whether it was worth while to maintain the present system under such circumstances ? Let them show a virtue, even if they had it not ; and he trusted it would now be shown, and let them get rid at once of this law, which had inflicted such tremendous evils on this country. Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN could not but admire the tone and moderation of temper which had charac terised the addresses of the Hon. Members for Stock port and Manchester. He could not, however, say so much for that of the Hon. Member for Durham, who, he trusted, would ere long learn that to make a bullying speech, and to get into a passion was not the way to deal with the gentry of England. If the Hon. Gentle man thought he could set the tenantry of England against the landlords by such vituperation, and such abuse, he (Mr. Stafford ('Brien) would tell him dis tinctly that he never was more miserably disappointed in his life. The Hon. Gentleman was now in the seventh year of his agitation, and the ill success which had at tended it m4.ht have taught him to adopt another course. The Hon. Gentleman could not suppose, that having been hitherto such a false prophet, any thing he could now say would be attended to. Some time ago, when there was distress in the manufacturing districts, the Hon. Gentleman said, that that distress would never be removed so long as the protective system lasted ; but that distress had been removed, and the protective system still existed. In conclusion, he could only say, that if the Hon. Gentle man would move for the Committee, he (Mr. O'Brien) would not only not object to it, but would be willing to serve upon it. Mr. VILLIERS said the Hon. Gentleman had not answered a single charge which had betel brought for ward by the Hon. Member for Durham. The lion. Gentleman had made some personal allusions, and that was all. The Hon. Member for Durham brought one specific charge against the landowners to which it would oe well for the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire to address himself. That charge was, that the landowners protected themselves from competition while they sub jected their labourers to competition amongst them selves. The landowners came there to pass a law to pro tect themselves against that competition from which their tenants were suffering. The Hon. Gentleman bad not addressed himself to that point. He (Mr. Villiers) could not but remark the difference between the opinions of the lion. Member for Dorsetshire and the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire. The Hon. Member for Dorsetshire said the agricultural distress vras owing to the late relaxations, whereas the Hon. Member for Northamptonshire said the country was f:tourishing be cause the restrictions were maintained. it was not those restrictions that bad caused the i rcaptity, but the cowl if ; w e 10 11 0 • 146 a ~~ e' .~{ 1)` , ~i 44 . . , . . t: s• 1 1 "4 k Cl ' ' I ry , VI ti 1 1" II!.' S *- t Ist . ' • L0.N1)61 - 4' PitiDAt •h - _.e.kii4 _ .. , _._ , , R T.l A ft. It 7 I t44t. try was now prosperous k_n s9ite of t h h It wits l aiving to the intervention of Providence that they had beets saved from the consequences of the restrictive system; and this ought to be a lesson to show them that they could not thwart the ends of Providence. They had had good harvests lately, but - a system of free tilttle would enabl e t h e peop l e of this country filW4a to enjoy the blessing n.qtaxtliari'eses. • - • • - mfr it. PEEL said he did not intend.to be drawn into a discussion on the subject of.the corn-laws. He had had no reason to expect.that a discussion. would be entered into at that period of the session, although there mil tq thing irregular in the proceeding- bn the question of an address to her Majesty. Yet it was usual in matters of such great importance to give notice to the House.-:-- (liear, hear.) He must say that the Hon. Gentleman ho had commenced that discussion had been most tem perate in his address, and did not appear at all to have the intention of provoking a discussion on the subject of the corn lac s. He (Sir R. Peel) had understood him to say that it was his intention to repeat, in a certain con , tingency, a motion which in the course of the last year he had made, but rather than dti it in a hostile manner, he invited Hon. Friends of his (Sir R. Peel's) on that (the Ministerial) side of the House, to co-operate in sup port of that motion, as the co-operation of the Govern ment on that subject would be of very little importance, because in such case they might overcome the Govern ment. The Hon. Gentleman, in perfect fairness, stated that he did not ask for an immediate decision, and he said that he would give the House a fortnight to con sider of the question, and he (Sir R. Peel) thought his Hon. Friend the Member for Northamptonshire and 'the Hon. Mernber for Somersetshire might have taken the offer of the Hon. Member for Stockport, and availed them selves of the fortnight's consideration, rather than at once commit themselves to the motion of the Hon. Gen 7 tletnan. They had, however, committed themselves to it. He must say that in point of temper and spirit, the lion. Gentleman was very fairly met by his (Sir R. Peel's) Right Hon. Friends on that side of the- House. lie therefore regretted that the Hon. Member for Durham should have afterwards addressed those gentlemen in what might almost be called terms of vituperation. —(Hear, hear.) He had been asked by the Hon. Mem ber for Manchester whether he had given any assurance to any one that no further alteration should be made in the corn-laws, and the Hon. Gentleman said that it had been stated by the Vroteetion Society, and on the implied authority of that assurance from him—(Hear, and a laugh)—they had told the farmers that there would be no farther ebage. • He did not think the Hon. Gentleman hrid a right, to pia such a question to him without giving him notice. Ile did not thinkit ne cessary for'hint to say that he had had no cotninunicalion with the Agricultural Protection Society, and that he had given no assurance inconsistent with the declarations which he had already made in the House. As to what had been said of agricul : rural distress, he regretted it must be admitted there was considerable distress in some parts of the country, and he felt siucere sympathy with the sufferers. But he did not believe that it could be asserted that there was general agricultural distreSa. He believed that in many parts of the country there was a considerable de gree of prosperity. He believed that if they looked. to all parts, ofErigland; - cotfaiid, 'arid Ireland,-they would see different degrees of prosperity and adversity. But in looking for the causes of distress, they should consider whet arose from mere physical causes. Look at the failure of the hay crop last year, and other failures. Look at the extraordinary drought which prevailed through a part of the year, and which had in some places caused great distress. They would find that the dis tress arose chiefly from those natural causes, and that it could not be attributed fairly to the changes which had taken place in the laws regarding the importation of agricultural produce. Nor did he think that any legis lative measures would relieve the distress, or prevent its occasional recurrence from such natural causes. Ha thought that the restoration of protection (as it had been) would be impos,ible, and he thought that if it were possible, it would not be a remedy for agricultural distress, which arose from causes which the Legislature could not control. Mr. BRIGHT explained, that he had not intended to apply terms of vituperation to gentlemen opposite, of whom he had spoken in two capacities—as private gen tlemen, and as Members of that House. We under stood the Hon. Member to express regret that the temper and intention with which he had spoken were misunderstood. Lord JOHN MANNERS said, that although he was not a member of the Agricultural Protection So ciety, still he did not wish the debate to close, without saying a few words in reply to some observations which had fallen from Gentlemen on the Opposition side. In doing so he must apologise to his friends, who were better acquainted with the agricultural interest than he was, for undertaking to reply on this occasion. But there was one observation particularly which he was not willing to pass unnoticed ; one Hon. Gentleman had said, that the landlords exposed the peasants at present to a furious and desperate competition amongst them selves. If, then, that competion was furious and des perate, how much more so would it become if they were exposed also, to the competition of all nations ? —(Hear, hear.) He would not occupy the House fur ther than to observe, on a statement made by the Hon. Member for Durham, that the. Government were frittering away the interests of the farmers and the peasants. Now, he would ask the Hon. Member how far the, proposition of the lion. Member would im prove matters, by destroying their inter es t s a lt oget h er . He agreed with an Hon. Friend near him, that in that House they were all too ready to look upon themselves as manufacturers or agriculturists—(Hear, hear)—and too little disposed to, consider the most important of all questions, as to the relation of rich and peer in this country,—(Hear.) He further agreed with his H on . Friend, that the time was not far distant when it might be necessary that they should all unite in considering measures fur promoting the happiness of the working . classes in this empire. —Hear, hear.) Mr. BROTHERTON was not about to occupy the House my length of time, but he wished to make an ob servation upon what had fallen from the Noble Lord ho had just sat (1 , a n The Noble Lord spoke of the competition to which free trade would expose the pea sane, and had expressed his interest in the happiness and welfare of the peasant, but the Noble Lord had forgotten that there was a population in the country—(He a r, hear, and laughter)— and that that population must be fed, and that to be fed it must be employed.--(Hear, hear.) Agriculture could not employ more than one eighth of the population, which was continually in creasing, and could only be supported by manufactures. But manufactures could not be maintained without com merce.—(Hear, hear.) If they would take away the re strictions upon commerce, all classes would be benefited —farmers, manufacturers, and peasants.—(Hear, hear.) The corn-laws were calculated only for the benefit of the landlords, but were unjust and mischievous to all the rest of the country.—(Hear, hear.) He earnestly implored the House to consider whether the restrictions upon trade were not unjust and injurious to the whole commu nity, and if it were satisfied that they were so, to lose so time in repealing them.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was then agreed to. RAILWAYS. Mr. R. COLLETT presented several petitions in fa vour of the branch lines proposed by the Hull and Selby Railway Company. The Hon. Gentleman presented se veral other petitions in favour of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway. The House then adjourned at a Quarter to Nine o'clock. Fortescue rnsdetrunlst interesting Baroness - and 'Mai Woo!gar a very Spirited bike. M r . Cowell, who ap-' peared as Count Jollivers, the Court poet, was exces sively quaint and amusing. He made a great deal of a very little part. Tip . .plece,walannounkted for repetition by .11.1:idsh a6ijsi kne unanimous applause, of a house crowded to the ceiling. .COURT The Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon, at Bucking ham Palace, for She .reteption, dt tIW a the Ad di'dges from both Houses of Parliament. Soon after two o'clock the Lord Chancellor arrived at the Palace, attended by Mr. J. W. Birch, Clerk-Assistant of Parliament, Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart., Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and 'the Sergeant-at-Arms, and accompanied by the Mar quis Camden and Lord Glenlyon, the mover and seconder of the Address in the House of Lords, and also by the fol lowing Peers :—the Duke of St. Albans, the Earl Nelson, the Earl of Ellenborougb, Earl of Dalhousie, Earl of Hard wicke, Viscount Ilawarden, Lord Redeedale, and Lord Col chester, 1110 Deputation was conducted up the grand staircase by Sir William Martins, Gentleman Usher to the Green Drawing-room. The Lord Chancellor shortly afterwards conducted the Peers to the presence of her Majesty on the Throne. The Lord Chancellor, supported on either side by the mover and seconder, and followed by the other Peers, advanced to the foot of the throne, aid read the address from the House of Lords. His Lordship then advanced, and, kneeling, pre sented the address to the Sovereign. Her Majesty having re turned a most gracious answer, the Peers retired from the royal presence with the asual reverences. At three o'clock the Members of the House of Commons arrived at the Palace. The Speaker wore his gold State robe, and was attended by Sir William Gosset, K.C.H., Sergeant at-Arms, and his chaplain, and was accompanied by the Hon. Francis Charteris and Mr. Baring, the mover and seconder of the address, and also by the following Members of the House of Commons :—Lord S. Russell, Lieut.-General Sir Howard Douglas, Mr. T. Greene, Right Hon. J. Nichol!, Right Hon. Lowry Corry, and Mr. W. H. Bodkin, Mr. Busfeild (Bradford) Mr. Morris (Carmarthen), Mr. Ewart (Dumfries), Mr. P. S. Butler (Kilkenny County), Mr. Aldham (Leeds), Mr. Thornely (Wolverhampton), M r. Brotherton, Mr. Collett, Mr. F. Hodgson, ,Mr. Sanderson, Hon. H. Manners Sutton, Mr. George 'W. Hope, and Mr. J. Young. The Deputation was ushered to the Green Drawing-room, and was afterwards conducted to the Throne-room by the Lord Chamberlain. The Speaker, having the mover and seconder on either side, and followed by the other Members, advanced to the flint - of the Throne. The Right Hon. Gentleman read the address from the House of Commons, 'and, kneeling, pre sented the same to the' Queen. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, ascending the steps of the Throne, received the address from the Sovereign, Her Majesty-re turned a most gracious answer, and the Speaker and other memb, rs of the Deputation withdrew. His Royal Highness Priece Albert stood by the side of her Majesty during the reception of the addresses. The Ladies in Waiting, the Countess of Gainsborough and the Viscountess Canning, were on her Majesty's right. The Ibllowing Cabinet Ministers were present :—The First Lord of the Treasury, the Cornmander•iw chief, the Lord President, the Lord Privy Seal, the 'Secretary of State for the Home Department, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Chief Com missioner of the Woods and Forests. .The following Great Officers of State attended':-;-The Lord Steeeird, the Lord 'Chamberlain, 'The Master of the Horse, and the Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert. The following also attended the Court :—The Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, the Captain of the Yeomen Guard, the Marquis of Londonderry, Gold Stick in Waiting, the Treasurer of the Household, the Vice- Chamberlain, the Comptroller of the Household, the Marqdis of Ormonde, Lord, in Waiting; Lord George Lennox, Lord in Waiting to the Prince ; the Hon. Sir Edward Butler, Lieu tenant of the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms ; Sir Geo. Philip Lee, Lieutenant of the. Yeomen Guard; Captain the Hon. Arthur Duncombe, Groom in Waiting; Sir George Anson, G.C.8., Groom in Waiting to the Prince; Colonel Buckley, Equerry in Waiting; Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting to the Prince ; Mr. H. Robinson, Standard-bearer to the Honourable Corps of, Gentlemen- at- Arms ; Colonel Reid, Silver Stick in Waiting; Sir Noel Harris and Mr. Des Voeux, Gentlemen Ushers in Waiting; Mr. J. B. Curling, Clerk of the Cheque of the Hen. Corps of Gentlemen-at- Arms; Mr. Ellerthdrp, Adjutant of the Yeomen Guard; Sir Benjamin Smith, C.S. ; and Messrs. Wilson and Wortley, Pages of Honour. The Ministers and Officers of State and the Principal Officers of the Royal Household stood at the sides of the Throne .during the reception of the Addresses. The Throne room was lined by her Majesty's Honourable Corps of Gen tlemen-at-Arms. The Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the Grand Hall. A Guard of Honour of the Foot Guards, with the Band of the Regiment, was on duty on the Palace Lawn. Her Majesty gave audience to Sir R. Peel. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback yesterday, attended by Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, went yesterday afternoon to Cambridge H ouse , t o visit the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelit z . The Equerries in Waiting attended. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard, arrived in.town in a carriage and four at half-past twelve o'clock yesterday, from her residence, Frogmore House, near Windsor. The Royal Duchess visited the Duchess of Gloucester, at Gloucester House, . and partook of a dejeund with her Royal Highness. The Duchess of Kent also visited the Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, at Cambridge House. Her Royal Highness afterwards proceeded to Buckingham Palace, to visit the Queen and. Prince Albert. At half-fast three o'clock the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady I anny Howard, left the Palace in a carriage and four, on her return to Frogmore. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the Hon. Amelia Murray, the Hon. Lucy Kerr, Marquis of Ormonde, Colonel Buckley, and Colonel Wylde, honoured the St. James's Theatre with her presence last evening. The Band of the Grenadier Guards was in attendance at theß uc d k i i r n e g e h tit. oml;malt Schott, eonN performed the nesda r yduring fo d ll i o n w n i e n r g , and, under Pot-pourri, "Lucia. di Lernmermoor"—Donizetti. Quadrille, "La jolie fille de Ghent."—Musard. Waltz, " Die Mozartishen"—Lanner. Polka, " Cerito,"—Ladner. . Galop ' "Parisina"—Kuhner. ' Mr. John Wood, Chairman'of the Excise, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a meet ing yesterday. There were present the Bishops of London, Lichfield, and Worcester, and Lord Ashley. The Earl of Yarborough and Mr. Edward Heneage, ALP•s transacted business yesterday at the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, and presented memorials from the town •P fr; from the M to r. wn AY of Great Grimsby in favour of the Great Grimsby and Shef field Railway. favour of the same. M.P., and Mr. T. J. Dixon, of Sir John J R oh . n A T . r C o h u r:s p t e, op ß h a e r r t ,. , Holton, presented a memorial from the town of Brigg. cherett, presented memorials f o s c f o ugh Louth, B u i n - Mr. G. T. Heneage, of Hainton, and Mr. Lewis d'Eyncourt presented a memorial from Market Rasen, in favour of the same. Mr. John Angerstein and Mr. George Skipworth presented a memorial from the town of Kirtow on-Lindsay, in favour of the same. The Earl of Arundel and Surrey and Mr. John Parker, M.P., presented memorials from Sheffield, Blanchester, Eck ington, and the neighbourhood, in favour of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway. yesterday. Mr. Dean,Chairman of the Casto ms, h a d an i nterv i ew w i t h ac companied by Lady A. Paget, N visited Captain Siborne's new mod e l o f "aterloo, at the Egyptian Hall, yesterday. Great i n t erest was exc i ted among T the visitors by the theC he ha b n i ce arci ll u o i r s o o f f t A h n e g E le x s c e h y, eq Der presence of the Noble Marquis, whose position on the model is so remarkable, having in the impe tuous charge nearly ridden through the French Cuirassiers. SPORTING IN TELLIGEN CE. TATTERSALL'S.--YESTEADAL cliEsTan 8 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Lot. 10 to 1 agst Mr. Jaques's Semiseria—taken freely. 16 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Obscurity—taken 22 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's The Era—t. F. 20 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott's Cataract—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. H. Stebbing's Celeste—taken 20 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck'a Pug—taken, and afterwards offered. 30 to 1 agst Mr. 0. Parry's Zanoni 30 to 1 agst Mr. Bell's Winesour—t. and aft. off. 33 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's St. Lawrence—taken 33 to 1 agat Mr. Irwin's Pride of Kildare—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Foigh-a-ballagh—taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Plummer's Alice Hawthorn 50 to 1 agst Mr. Isaac Day's Seaport—t. and aft. off. 50 to 1 agat Mr. Parry's Master of the Rolls filly—t. and aft. off. 50 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Portrait—t. and aft. off. 66 to 1 agst Mr. Armstrong's Extravaganza—t. and aft. off. We have quoted the market prices of 'all the horses that were backed, but should add, in explanation, that not above three or four , were in any demand, viz.— Semiseria, The Era, St. Lawrence, and the Pride of Kildare; the first two being decidedly the " lions." Pug was on the go, and the general betting marvellously flat and unprofitable. DEADY. 11 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Alarm —take 12 to 1 12 to 1 agst Col. Peel's Cobweb colt—take 13 to 1 15 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Kedger—taken 18 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Pam—take 20 to 1 30 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Newsmonger—taken 33 to 1 agst Mr. A. Juhnstone's Annandale —no friends 30 to 1 agst Mr. St. Paul's Mentor 40 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Laird co' Cockpen —taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. A. W. Hill's Ironmaster 40 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Frederica colt 50 to 1 agst Mr. Coleman's Young Eclipse 66 to 1 agst Mr. Coleman's Fusbos—taken 10u0 to 10 agst Mr. Parry's Adonis—taken So little was done on the above race, that we shall make no apology for leaving the quotations to speak for themselves. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—`J he annual ge neral meeting of this Society took place at Exeter-hall on Tuesday evening, when a report of the proceedings during the past year was read, the Committee reelected, and other business transacted. It appeared from the statements contained in the report that twenty concerts had been given in the year, at ten of which the sub scribers had admission, that the number of subscribers had much increased, the list being almost full, that the receipts of the year had amounted to nearly 5,000/., and that in addition to the invested property of the Society, the balance in the Treasurer's hands had been increased to nearly 3004 Much gratification was expressed at the success of the last concert (Judiis Maccabeus) and it s repetiticn announced for Friday next, 14th i nst. WA.tt COLD R A singular incident p e , irre d luring the fire at the warehouse of Messrs. ISPCrea and Boord, which took place last week in this town. Amongst the individuals who laudably gave their assistance on the occasion, was Mr. John Brier, hairdresser, and landlord of the Labour-and-Health house, Southgate. For some years Mr. Brier had laboured under deafness, still more so on catch ing cold. On this occasion, whilst actively engaged inside the burning building, one of the engines played into his ear, and knocked lam down. On recovering from the stunning effects of the accident, Mr. Brier found, to his great surprise and gratificatitn, that his hearing was completely restored, and finding the. benefit to continue, gave the firemen a treat, declaring they had done him more good than all the doctors in the towrt.-atgalffaz Gwardient. LONDON' AIN - it:l4lth • HTON WAY COMPANY. Yesterday afternoon the half-yearly general meeting of the bondon and Brighton Railway Company was held at ihe LondOn;:bfidgb R.N., Chairman of the Board of Directors, presiding. The CHAIRMAN, in introducing the immediate busi ness of ' the meeting, said he hoped the increase of traffic in the last half-year, shown in the report, as com pared h i h 1843, the wouwould fullyrith manifestthecorrespondingDirectors had displayed in promoting the interests of the periodt td eit d o r t of othe s year which Company. The very small increase of a half per cent. in the working, expenses, by which the same increase had been realised, would evince the vigilance with which they watched over the expenditure. The increase in the cost of locomotive carriages, &c., amounted to the sum of 2,4801., which left the small sum of 450/. to cover the expenses occasioned by an increase of traffic amounting to 11,244/. He had further satisfaction in telling them that this progressive increase was still going on, the first five weeks of the present half-year showing an increase over the last of ten per cent. While they had been par taking in this benefit the public had not been without their share of advantage. The increase in the number of passengers had attained 211- per cent., while the re ceipts for the same had only amounted to 14, owing to the reduction which had been made in the fares. The Board of Trade having given notice of their intention to report to Parliament against two of the branches projected by the Company, the Directors deemed it injurious to proceed further with them. No notice, however, had been taken in the re port of the branch from the Three Bridges to Horsham, and in order that no advantage might be taken by the other competing Companies, the Direct3rs were desirous that they should be armed with the pokers set forth in the report, and a resolution for this purpose would be submitted to the meeting. The last and most pleasing subject upon which he had to touch was the dividend. After payment of 30s. per share, there would remain a balance of 894 E The dividends which had been paid since the opening of the line were as follow:—In 1842, 305., equal to 31. per cent.; in 1843, 205., equal to 21 per cent.; and in the last year, 425. per share, equal to 41. 4s. per cent.; and they anticipated, when their traffic reached its maximum, each year would show a progres sive increase. He believed he had now touched upon every point worthy of notice; but before he sat down, he would take that opportunity of stating that this was the last time he should have the honour of addressing them as their chairman. He had that morning placed in the hands of the Directors his resignation. Since he had had the honour of being a member of their administration, some good, he thought, had been done. When he first entered upon office, their shares were at 32/. ; yesterday, he believed, in the mar ket they were 55/. and a half, and their dividend had in creased from 21. per cent. to 41. 4s. He thought that fact alone would show them that he had rendered the Company some good serviee since he had had the honour of being a member of their administration. The report stated that the Directors had much satis faction in reporting the progressive state of the improve ment, in their affairs—the present half-year presenting the following result, as compared with the corresponding period of 1843 : Receipts for Passengers, 14 per cent, more . £14,450 „ Goods, &c., 9 per cent. more Increased Receipt 15,873 Expenses of Working, If per cent. more £415 „ Tolls, more 1,150 „ Government duty, rates, &c more 2,078 •1 Property -tax, Bc., more Increased Expenditure - 4,629 The difference, being net increase on the half- year, is fo which, adding the deficit brought into the last Christmas account As well as the reserve from Midsummer last, of 11,244 4,549 169 A larger available Balance is yielded for divi dend, by the sum of £15,962 The Directors called the attention of the Proprietors to these figures, which showed that, whilst their work ing expenses, compared with a period when reductions had already. commenced, had been increased only in the small ratio of 11 per cent., their receipts had aug mented at the rate of 14 and 9 per cent. The Directors had to regret thattheamalgamation of the locomotive and carriage establishment of the South-Eastern and Croydon Companies, in which they united on the Ist of March last, and from which they anticipated important advan• tages to the three Companies, was -to be broken up at the end of the present year, a notice having been given to that effect, according to the deed of agreement, by the South-Eastern Company ; both the Croydon and their own Board of Dii ectors concur in opinion that the step was unfortunately precipitate, and they be lieved that a little more experience would have realised the anticipated advantages. Under these circumstances, a serious expense would have to be incurred by this Company in erecting workshops for The - repairs of their locomotive engines, but the Proprietors might rest as sured that every principle of economy would be adopted for that purpose. In consequence of the great increase in the traffic, a further supply of engines and carriages would be required before the return of the summer season, for which purchase the Directors had availed themselves of the late advance in the price of their Shares, and had sold' the whole of th, se remaining un issued and forfeited, at an average price of 51 including the dividend, the proceeds of which sale they hoped would meet the expense thus to be incurred. With a view to the public convenience, the Directors tad increased the speed of one of the trains, accom plishing the distance between London and Brighton in one hour and a half, an improvement which they had reason to believe had given much satisfaction. The ex cursion trains, commenced last summer with a view to afford to the humbler classes a healthful recreation at a small expense, have proved and continue to be, a source of profit to the Company. Since the last half-yearly meeting, the utmost efforts bad been used to bring about a settlement of their claims on the South-Eastern Com pany; several conferences had been held between the two boards for that purpose, and these conferences had been followed by a long correspondence, calling on the South-Eastern board either to admit and settle the ac count rendered, or to furnish their objections thereto ; both of which they decline doing, declaring that their objections to the account could only be submitted to ar• bitrators, as pointed out by the Act of Parliament. Nothing therefore remained but to proceed in the course pointe I out by the Act of Parliament, and a letter was accordingly written on the 20th ultimo, to she South-Eastern Board of Directors, calling on them to appoint an arbitrator within 14 days, pursuant to the Act. It would have been seen, that the Committee of the Board of Trade for railways published in the Gazette of the 14th ultimo, a notification of their intention to report to Parliament against the London and Brighton Wandsworth branch, and to recommend the postpone ment of all the lines to Dorking.. They also notified, in the Gazette of the same date, their intention of reporting London ed and en aed Chichester, Ports mouth, Portsmouth o e rttea P a rliamententdh EthExtension, t eL a e g ne a ni i en n en s ,n t at t hn h ed e rD ß oi r rr i ectgs ht n mt outh with a branch to Shoreham-bridge—in the two latter cases manifesting a disposition to protect the interests of the Brighton Company. In none of these reports had any notice been taken of the projected branch from Three Bridges to Horsham. Under these altered circumstances, the Directors had come to the determination to recommend to the Proprietors, as they could not anticipate what course might be taken by the opposing companies, to invest them with powers to exercise their discretion whether to proceed with any, or all of the branch lines. They further recommend that, in the event of no Act being obtained, the expenses already incurred, or which might arise in reference to these branches, be paid out of-the general funds of the Company: for this purpose, it would be necessary to rescind the latter part of the sixth clause of the second resolution, passed at the special general meeting held on the 9th of January last. The Directors concluded their .report with the gratifying announcement that they had to propose a dividend of thirty shillings per share, amounting to 52,7341. The CnsraraArr moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. J. SMITH, and subsequently carried unanimously. Captain Lews drew a comparison between the ex penses of the Brighton and the Leeds and Manchester lines, and said he thought, as the latter had nearly double the traffic of the other, and was more than 76 miles in extent, while the Brig hton was only 56, there must be some want of good management in their Com pany, when the expenses of working the Leeds and Manchester only exceeded by 1,0001. that of the Brighton. This was owing, he thought, to the want of a general and responsible superintendent on the line, and he would therefore suggest Whether it would not be advisable for the Directors to take into consideration the propriety of appointing some talented and experienced gentleman capable of undertaking the duties of such an office ? The CHAIRMAN concurred in this suggestion, and eventually premised that it should be acted upon. Subsequently a resolution, declaring a dividend of 305., payable on the 14th instant, was agreed to, and the powers recommended in the report given to the Board of Directors. Mr. C. P. Grenfell was elected a Director in the room of Mr. Nash, and Sir John Simpson and Mr. Edward Crowley having been re-elected Directors, a vote of thanks was carried to the Chairman, and the meeting separated, after a sitting of nearly three hours. LI rERATURE. REVIEW OF THE REV. THOMAS B. FREE MAN'S JOURNALS OF VISITS TO ASHANTI, 4v. By Thomas Clarkson, Esq. London. Nisbet and Co., Berners-street. Anything on the subject of the suppression of the slave trade, emanating from the pen of the ven e r a bl e Thomas Clarkson, must command the attention of every friend of humanity. After alluding to the various plans which have been tried for the sup pression of that infamous traffic, the venerable philan thropist speaks in terms of well-merited eulogium of the efforts of the Rev. Thomas Freeman, a Wesleyan Missionary in Ashanti, and gives it as his decided opinion that it is by the spread of the Gospel alone, among the various native tribes of Africa, that a stop can be put to the abominable traffic in human flesh. The following appeal will be read with interest, and cannot fail to produce the desired effect upon all abolitionists : " I do then most earnestly recommend Mr. Freeman's journal, and the completion of the Wesleyan Society's mission, so happily begun, to all the friends of Africa, in fact to all who call themselves abolitionists, to whom it is of no little importance. I feel myself more interested in doing this than perhaps any other person, having been the first in England to take up the great cause of the abolition of the slave trade, and having laboured in it, with but little intermission, for new more than sixty years. I cannot therefore be supposed to be indifferent to any event which may either hasten or retard its progress." ADELPHI THEATRE. Buckstone's admirable drama of The Green Bushes is drawing crowded houses every evening to this theatre ; and, backed up as it now is by the admirable dramatic anecdote of the Soldier of Fortune, which was produced with the greatest sucee•is lest evening. The scene is laid at Versailles, just on the eve of the departure of the young Duke of Anjou, to take possession of the throne of Spain. The soldier of fortune is a certain Captain O'Rourke, an Irishma n , whose only f or t une i s hi s swor d, and who is w ilh ng to be second in a duel or principal, if need be, for the sake of the breakfast which always e4ther precedes or follows such affairs of honour. The Duke of Anjou (Miss Woolgar) has heard of a certain Count Albert (Mr. Selby) taking the name of the Baroness Beaupre (Miss Fortescue), and has challenged him in defence of that lady's honour. The Count is ignorant Jof the rank of his antagonist, and wishes for a second who is also ignorant of it, and finds one in the Captain. The Duke is slightly wounded, and shortly afterwards the Captain is surprised to find that he has received the appointment of Lord of the Bedchamber to the King of Spain. He at tributes his promotion to a lady who had dropped a bouquet from a, window which he had picked up. That Lady is the llaroness, and the bouquet was intended for the Duke of Anjou. The Baroness's husband (Mr. Lambert) discovers, as he thinks, the intrigue which O'R,e.urke is carrying on with the Baroness, and en de svours to get him shut up in the Bastile, but the Duke protects him from the Baron's fury, and then the Captain eiiscovers that the " little cock-sparrow," as he calls him, is in truth the King of Spain, and the man to whom he is indebted for his fortunes, while theßaroness makes an ap peal to the Duke not to attempt to deprive her of that 'honour, in defence of which he has been wounded. The piece was most carefully put upon the stage, the cos tumes were superb, and the acting admirable. Hudson, as the Captain, sung Lover's song of the " Bould Sojer 89. Y" with great gusto, and was much applauded. Bilge SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. Yesterday afternoon a special general- meeting of the above Company was held at the London Tavern, on the subject of the proposed extension of the South-Eastern Railway. Sir John Kirkland, Chairman of the Directors, occu pied the Chair. JOHN WHITEHEAD, Esq., the Secretary, read the Report of the Directors, which was extremely lengthy, and from which we quote the following extracts : " The Directors are satisfied that the true interests of the • Railway are in the strictest sense identical with those of the public, and that no system can be con sidered as permanently prosperous and secure, unless it provides within itself the greatest practicable amount of public accommodation. " The new railways which they propose to construct are—the North Kent line, beginning on the Surrey side of the Thames, at a point between the Hungerford and Waterloo-bridges, and passing by the Bricklayers' Arms station, over the Greenwich Railway , by Deptford, Woolwich, Greenhithe, Dartford, Gravesend, Stroud, Rochester, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Faversham, and terminating at Chilhara, where it joins the Company's present line from Ashford to Canterbury, Ramsgate, and Margate. It comprehends also a branch from Milton next Sittingbourne to Sheerness, and another branch, or rather dullicate line, from Eltham to Ston e , near Dartford. The MicOter and Dal line, The DUidstou find Rocheater line. The direct Tunbridge line from Elthain tO Shofehattir Otford and Igtham; with a fork to Tunbridge and Paddock "Wood: The line from Tun bridge to Tunbridge Wells. And a line from Ashford to Hastings. " Notice has also been given to extend the Greenwich Railway as far as the Park, and to make a return branch from Woolwich to the opposite side of the park, so that, if the consent of the Government be obtained, the line to Woolwich will pass direct through G reenw i c h an d Greenwich park, instead of taking the more circuitous route by Blackheath. " One of the most important features in this system is the connexion between all parts of the country and the great terminal station, opposite to Hungerford-market. The South-Western Company are preparing to extend 'their line to the same point ; and other lines are pro posed, by which the communication will be carried on to the Great Western and London and Birmingham Railways, and thus to all the important districts of Great Britain." The report then suggests various other improvements in different parts of the line. The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be adopted by the Proprietors, and moved the following resolutions :- 1. That it is expedient for the South Eastern Railway Company to provide funds, by the creation of new shares, for making the undermentioned lines of railway, in favour of which the Board of Trade have announced their intention of reporting to Parliament :—South- Eastern—Maidstone and R. cheater . ' • South-Eastern — Branches to Deal and Walmer, and Extension and De viation at Margate ; South- Eastern—Ashford to Hast ings ; South-Eastern—Hungerford-bridge to Tunbridge and Paddock Wood, and branches ; South-Eastern — North Kent, Hungerford-bridge to Chilham, with branch to Sheerness, subject to any modifications which .may appear to be desirable' for the naval and military establishments of the country, and reserving consideras tion of the branch to connect Greenwich and Woolwich; and so much of the line from Tunbridge to Hastings, Rye, and St. Leonard's, as lies between Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells ; and also for widening and extending parts of the London and Greenwich Railway, if found eipedient ; subject to a power in the Directors to make all such deviations, extensions, contractions and varia tions of all, or any, of the said lines and works, and to execute such incidental works, as they shall think ex pedient. 2. That the additional capital of 3,780,000 L, being the full estimated amount required for constructing and opening for traffic all the contemplated lines, be raised by the issue of 126,000 new shares of 501. each, to parties who shall pay for the same 30Z per share, by instalments as after mentioned. k 3. That the first instalment of 21. 10s. per share be paid on the 17th day of February, 1845, and the re maining instalments of such amounts (not exceeding 21. los. per share), and at such dates (at intervals of not less than two months), as the Directors shall, after the passing of any Act or Acts in relation to the before. mentioned new lines, or any of them, determine to call the same. That twenty-one days' notice of such calls shall be given by advertisement in the London Gazette, and two London daily morning newspapers, and two newspapers published.in Kent. That, upon payment of all such instalments, or upon payment of such propor tion thereof as the Directors shall declare to be re quired, the shares, on account whereof the same shall liave been made, shall be forthwith issued and regis tered ; but that, if default shall be made in the due payment of any instalment upon any share for the space of thirty days after the same shall have become due, all pre vious instalments in respect of the same share shall be absolutely forfeited to the Company, and no party in respect of such previous instalments shall be en titled to any share, or have any claim on the Com pany ; and that all instalments paid after the time when the same shall have become due, shall be paid with in terest at the rate of 5L per centum per annum computed from that time. 4. That every such instalment paid shall be deemed to be and shall be entered in the Company's books as a pay ment in the same proportion to 50L as the instalment so paid actually bears to 301. 5. That no dividend shall be payable in respect of any 'such new share, or any of such instalment so paid, until six months after the day on which a dividend shall have been declared on the now existing shares of the Com pany next following the opening for traffic of the latest in point of execution of the new lines of railway deter mined to be constructed by means of the additional ca pital aforesaid ; and that all profits accruing from any of the new lines which may have been wholly or partially opened: before such day, shall be divisible among the Proprietors for the tune being of the now existing 126,000 shares. 7. That every registered Proprietor of any existing share or shares on the sth day of February, 1845, shall be entitled, in respect of each such share, to one new share so to be issued as before mentioned, provided that he shall signify his acceptance of such share by payment of the first instalment of 2/. 10s: per's/mire to one of the bankers of the Company on or before the 17th day of February, 1845, in compliance with a circular letter to be sent by post to the registered address of each Pro- prietor from the office of the Company, 7. That the Directors shall be at liberty to issue, upon such terms and in such manner as they shall think pro per, any of the said 126,000 new shares to which no paities shall become entitled upon the 'foregoing con • ditions. Mr M`GREGOR entered into a long statistical state ment,' and gave the details of the probable cost of the va• rious extension lines. These lines were of the utmost importance to the Company, both on account of the im portance of the districts through which they passed, and taken in connexion with the French lines which were at present in course, of progress. _ The resolutions were then put seriatim, and werepassed with the utmost unanimity by a very crowded meeting. Thanks to the Chairman were then voted and acknow ledged, and the meeting separated at half-past three o'clock. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE. Thomas Moulton, City policeman, 473, was charged by Major Shaw, the superintendent of the City police, under the following circumstances:-- Between the hours of half-past nine on the night of the 17th, and nine on the morning of the 18th of January, the shop of Mr. Gibbs, of No. 78, King William-street, was entered by thieves, by means, it is supposed, of skeleton keys, and robbed of a very large quantity of cloth, kerseymere, satin, bandannas, cashmere scarfs, &c. &c. By the direction of Mr. D. W. Harvey, the City Police Commissioner, the defendant and the sergeant of the beat were suspended, and the former was brought before the Lord Mayor in consequence of certain sus picious matters connected with his conduct. Inspector Todhunter stated that the chief reason for bringing the case before the Lord Mayor was, that a light had been seen through the skylight, in the house, from without, at an early hour in the morning, just as a policeman had been seen shutting the street door, im mediately after which the light disappeared, and that as the defendant was the policeman whose duty it was to watch the place, and he had made no report of the cir cumstance to his sergeant, there was ground for suspect ing that he was, at all events, criminally negligent. William Gordon, a fishmonger, stated that, as he was going to Billingsgate one morning, two days after which he saw an account of a robbery in Mr. Gibbs' house, in the Morning Advertiser newspaper, he saw, a little before six o'clock, a policeman come out of the shop and shut the door, and he also saw a light in the shop, which in stantly disappeared. The policeman was about the size of the defendant, but witness could not swear to his iden tity. The policeman turned his back to witness, and the❑ proceeded to try the doors of other shops. Major Shaw stated that the defendant had been re lieved at six o'clock on the morning of the robbery. Sergeant Howard (406) stated that it was his duty to visit the men on the beat to which the defendant be longed, and the defendant had been on duty from nine on Friday night till six on Saturday morning, when he was relieved. The defendant was regularly on his beat. It was the duty of the defendant to report to his ser geant if he found any door open, but the defendant had not uttered a word upon the subject. Witness acci dentally heard of the circumstance and informed his in spector, and the imspector reported it to the super intendent. The LORD MAYOR—Tbe defendant has to go over his beat. Is it not possible, that while he was absent from the spot, the circumstance might have taken place ? The sergeant—There is no policeman near the place who at all answers the description of the defendant. Gordon—The policeman I saw close the door had no whiskers, and I see this man has none, and he seemed to wish to avoid me, and pretended to be trying the other doors. There was a thick fog at the time, and I was afflicted with a severe cough. John Butler (107) stated that he went, according to the instructions ho had received, to the house of the de fendant's uncle, a respectable farmer, and asked for the defendant, but both uncle and aunt denied that they had seen him for about a week. Afterwards, however, they produced him, and he stated that he had been living with them ever since the period of his suspension by the Commissioners. In answer to a question from the Lord Mayor, Gor don stated that the light was visible in the shop two or three minutes, and that the moment the door was closed by the policeman it went out. The Loan MAYOR—WeII, defendant, you have heard what has been stated. You are accused of gross and criminal neglect of duty as a policemant. Can you ac count how this circumstance took place? everyT hetPenrismoinneorte—ls! andl cannot, me never r Lo assure you lam wholly innocent. lam wholly at a' o house to form any opinion upon it. n rd. observed passed o s s a e ll d y the lighth i s s sl j , i o i c r the M p a ( the superintendent By the desire of the e witness seen Lord Major, Gordon sa id in which em Sh an aw o — ug l h f t t t h o e hav went to examine the newspaper in Tuesday morning's to his Lordship that appeareditmo .9itordon saw the light, ing of which Gordon spoke Advel tiser, so th h at h t e h h e ad seen the occurrence described he had read the account of - th p e er robbery, and he reported as that on which have been Sunday morning. by him, must the mornings on which he did business at Gordon corrected his statement by saying, that he spoke of Billingsgate. Inspector Todhunter—The defendant must have passed Mr. Gibbs`s door twice withi n seventeen minutes, and it certainly is most extraordinary how such a quantity of goods could be gu t out of the house without the knowledge of the policem an appo i nted to the locality. The LORD MAYOR—I admit that the case is one of great, suspicion, but I am not satisfied that the robbery was committed in the morning, and Gordon cannot iden tify the policeman ; neither is his statement clear as to the day on which he says he observed the light. I shall, under all the circumstances, bind over the defendant in his own recognisances, to the amount of 201., to appear here to answer any charge which may be brought against him. Thomas Collins, the apprentice of a respectable trades- Matt ; residing in Walbreok, was charged with haying 'neglected the business of his master.- - - • The defendant had, it appeared, returned home drenk, and not only left his work unfinished, but abused the : complainant and his brother. •_ The Loan MAYOR said that in such a case nothing was like a little wholesome example, and sentenced:as defendant to one month's imprisonment with hard la bour, in the House of Correction. LAUNCH OF THE TER RIBLE. At the early hour of twelve O'clock number& a the parties who had obtained tickets of admission to witness the lattucb of this mag nificent war-steamer, arrived at Deptford Dockyard, and occupied -- the seats allotted to them, which were sheltered with carnage in the ".. rear, and covered with the flags of almost all nations. By halt-14 1 st twelve o'clock, the period when the first sounds of the hammers Oa the dog-shores were heard, it was scarcely possible for those who lia4 delayed arriving until that time, to snake their way through the dense crowd which had assembled outside the barricades surround ing the vessel, all anxious to witness the interesting spectacle. A • , great number of naval officers assembled at an early hour, and many of them went on board, among whom were Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, G.C.8., Conunodore Sir Charles "Napier, Captain Geo.rgo Smith, Inventor of the Paddle-box Boats, Captain Ahstin, Captain Otway, Lieutenant Rivers, and Baron Gersdorff, the Swedish Ambassador. Shortly before one Sir John Hill, Captain Super intendent of the Dockyard, • arrived, escorting his daughter, Miss Lucy Hill, and having taken their stations on the platform, Mr. Oliver Lang, master shipwright at the Woolwich Dockyard, who designed the vessel, presented a glass of wine to Miss Lucy Hill, and she drank to the success of the Terrible. The bottle from which the wine was taken was instantly attached toe cord, and Miss Hill brok e it on the bows. Mr. Wilcox, master shipwright's assistant at Dept ford Dockyard, then gave instructions to proceed with increased dispatch in loosening the dog-shores, and in a •few minutes the majestic war-steamer began to move and glide onwards into her future element amidst enthusiastic cheers of the numerous spectators.. The day was beautiful overhead, although the wind was piercing cold, and there could not have been fewer than ten thousand per / sops present on this interesting occasion—a scene always gratifying to Englishmen, who pride themselves on their wooden bulwarks, .of Which this vessel is a superior specimen, combining all the best qualities of steam-vessels of first-rate character. Sonic idea may be formed of the great size ,and • capabilities of the Terrible, when it is stated that each of her paddle-box boats will accommodate or carry 200 men. The engines are to be fitted by Maudsley, Sons, and new, who were present to witness the launch, and will 'be 'of 800-horse power. As the vessel entered the river her form appeared very pleasing and bold to the eye, and the figure-head of Jupiter, carved by Helyer and Son, had a very majestic appearance, suitable to the character of the god of thunder. The Odin steam-vessel, another war-steamer, designed by Mr. Lang, will be commenced im mediately on the slip on Jg on hieh the the Terrible shp wasatbuilpte;ptafer, will be and the Spit fire, at present construe launched in the middle of neat month. The following are the di mensions of the Terrible : • Length from the fore part of the , pgure-head to the ft. in. . aft part of the taffrail 246 0 Length between the perpendiculars .. •••••• • • • • • • 226 0 Length of the keel for tonnage .. .... ... 196 10 6 Breadth extreme ............ ••. • • 42 .... 42 0 • • • • 41 2 Breadth for tonnage . • . • • .. • • • Breadth moulded • Dopth in hold ... ....... ....... ...... •• 27 4 Burthen in ;tons, 1,847 7-94. - NEW RAIL WAYS. (From the Time' City Article.) Among the parties interested in new railways what occurred Ingle debate of last night on the subject has engaged very general atten tion. Previously to any decisions by the Board of Trade, a word of caution was thrown out tinder this head, that they should be made public in such a manner as to leave no suspicion that disclosures had been made, by which one set of speculators might take advantage of another set, and the bona jfde holders, or those intending to become so, sustain a positive ihjury. The mode adopted by the. Board of Trade, in publishing their decisions in the Gazelle, would appear to have been perfectly suited to that purpose; but as' the fact has be come known to the dealers in railway shares, which may be verified • also by a reference to the current quotations of the market, that bargainS to 'it large extent - have- been made in the .pew rail wityd shortly previous to the decisions upon- Ahem. and in a manner to reap the benefit of those deeN! sions, it is assumed at the Stock-Exchange, as we have already hinted, that the secret must have transpired. The reproach of these transactions does not, however, necessarily fall on those members of the Board of Trade who have taken a part in the decisions in ques tion. The ingenuity of speculators, where such large profits are in volved, might prove an over-match for the utmost circumspection they could use. Hence it has become necessary that the caution hitherto exercised should be increased, and that no person whatever, except the members of the Board, should know until the hours of business at the Stock-Exchange are over, what the announcement is to be in the Gazette of that evening. Another question, not of less interest than that Just described, connected with the Board of Trade, is, the degree in which their deci sions arely likely to influence those of Parliament itself, when the re spective Bills are introduced. From the well-known character of some of the members of the Board, for judgment as well as for in tegrity, it is to be inferred that their decisions, especially when .they proceed to give the reasons which have guided them, must have eon• siderable weight ; but it is not deemed the less essential that more time should be obtained, agreeably to the suggestions thrown out by Lord Howick, for bringing in railway. Bills, placed under these pecu liar circumstances. Such is the excitement at present among the speculators in railway shares, that bargains are made in them at the coffee-houses and other places of resort in the City, long after the conclusion of business ac.the Stock• Exchange. The appearance of the Gazette is impatiently looked for, and its contents eagerly perused. This form of the prevailing mania is beyond the reach, of course, of all caution or control, and as all .concerned have access to the important information sought exactly at the same time, this is a matter of secondary wnseq,.:ence. It is only those who are upon the spot, and witness its violezce and the general excitement springing out of it, both within and ul:.hout the walls of the Stock-Exchange, who can form an idea of the perilolal task undertaken by the Board of Trade in putting forth these decision 4 and which are the Mel for this fire. Not only London, but Bristol Liverpool, Manchester, and other large provincial towns are establish ing places of resort for dealing in railway shares ; and the whole country is thus in danger of becoming one scene of gambling and speculation ;In these undertakings, to the injury of all regular busi ness, and[ the probable derangement of the Money Market, which has maintained for several months past such remarkable a eaciiness. - - RAIL WAY DECISIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE. It is impossible not to feel the importance of the subjects alluded to ' by Lord Howick in the debate on the railway decisions of the Board of Trade ; for, whatever may be the nominal duties or the nominal • powers of the Board, the practical effect of their decisions has been to throw into the scale so great a weight, that the rejected schemes appear thenceforth unable to continue the contest, and languish until they disappear from the Money Market; while the favoured projects ' are regarded as if they had already received the sanction of Perna ment. Practically, therefore, and perhaps necessarily, the Board has become a judicial tribunal, thOUgh utterly unfitted by its constitution for the exercise of judicial functions. An anomaly has suddenly sprung up—a tribunal, composed of persons neither by , age, station, experience, nor acquirements commanding the re- • spect or justifying the confidence of the public—of ueces sity condenuiing unheard—of necessity proceeeding in secrecy —irresponsible—yet deciding on. amounts as comphred with which the subjects of dispute in Westminster -hall are alto gether trivial ; making or ruining fortunes by a single Insertion in the Gazette. Surely it is obvious that all this w•as neither foreseen nor intended in its origin. Parliament could never have Intended to de legate its power to such an extent. And it is obvious that the public generally, to say nothing of the rejected parties, cannot be fully satisfied with a tribunal which is the very reverse of every judicial institution to which they haVe been accustomed. The im mense amount of business which has been suddenly brought before this new tribunal in its very infancy, and before any of its effects could have been observed, is a inisibrtune, yet one which could scarcely have been anticipated ; but it might undoubtedly, we think, have been foreseen that a formal notification in the Gazette, issued from a Government department, would carry with it greater weight than would have been due to the mere preliniinary inquiry of certain disinterested individuals. It is this connexion with the flovernmeut which appears to constitute a grave objection to the tribunal. Already, as Lord Howick observes, some of the inconveniences arising from the Executive Government taking too much upon themselves in respect to private interests alre beginning to work. Whispers begin to cir culate that secrecy has not always been observed; that certain par ties•have been always right in their speculations. We agree with Sir Robert Peel that it would be better if tangible accusations were substituted for these vague insinuations ; but we agree also in the answer of Lord •Howick, that it is an objectionable system which enables parties to set such - Statements abroad; nor do• we desire to see a Minister compelled to get up to contradict them. It is remark able that on the same evening Sir J. Graham should have been called upon to declare, with reference to the report on the harbours of re fuge, that he knew not by what means the press could have gained access• to the report, and that he had not the slightest idea what manner ithad got before the public. Secrecy, therefore, is not always possible; and yet whatever may be divulged, where the amount of the stake Is so considerable, will nndoubtedly provoke in sinuations, and cast discredit upon those who should be above suspi cion. The only remedy for these mischiefs would Annear to be that suggested by Lord Howick—that the weight of Government autho rity, notwithstanding the report of the Board of Trade', should be used neither on the one side nor on the other; that the Boarli should be as an important witness produced for the assistance of the.Com inittee, and no more. But that parties should abandon their proJeCts before the reasons of the decisions have been made known, above all. before it cau be known whether the Board were unanimous or divided —whether the decision may not, after all, have been the decision of one single individual—is a result which could never have been in tended, and which the House of Commons has done well to discou rage, by giving reasonable facility for the rejected lines to state their claims.—Times. [ADVERTISEMENT.]--A POOR MAN'S LIFE SAVED BY HOLLOWAY'S PlLLS.—Jeremiah Laughlin, a porter about the quays of Dublin, was afflicted for years with shortness of breath, spitting of phlegm, night persptra tions, and general weakness of body, a want of appetite, sick head-aches, besides suffering much from tie liver. This man was in the second stage of consumitien, and not expected to live three months, when he commenced the use of Holloway's wonderful Pills, and, by their means alone, he is now as strong, as hale, and as well as ever he was•in his life.—Sold (also Holloway s Oint ment) at 'the Establishment of P ro f essor Holloway, 244, Strand (where advice may be had gratis), and by almost all respectable vendors of medicine throughout the civilised world. SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SOClETT. — Wednesday, the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the subscribers to this ex cellent institution, was held at the Office, King William street, City. J. Labouchere, Esq., in the chair, supported by several naval officers and other gentlemen. The report stated that the appeal made at the last annual meeting had not altogether been unattended to. The report next stated that the Committee had received from the Spanish Govern ment the sum of 20/., as an annual testimony of the Queen's high opinion of the great utility of the hospital to foreign seamen ; also a donation of 25/. from the King of Saxony, &c. The Committee reported five liberal bequests, one being to the amount of 1,909/., by W. Waters, Esq. ; and another, 9001., by J. Clegg, Esq. The total receipts for the past year amounted to 4,229/. 9s. 2d. The expenses amounted to 5,7051. Ils. Id., showing a deficiency of 1,479/. Is. 11d. Such were the calls on the benefits of the hospital, that, but for the bequests, the funds would be in a very depressed state indeed. The number of patients ad mitted daring the year was 2,415; out-patients, 1,724; making a total of 4,209. The number of sailors, of all na tions, who have received the benefits of the institution since the commencement, now amounts to 71,628. The officers for the ensuing year having been elected, the meet ing separated. DREADFUL DEATil.—On Tuesday afternoon the inmates of the house No. 13, Duke-street, .Stamford-street, ere Lambeth, were sudden l y alarmed b y hearing a loud an d piercing scream proc eedin g from some p art of th e premises. The parties immediat el y instituted a search to ascertain the t il e en i a e front room ingover different p ar t s o f on th e second flber s filled with smok e . Whilst h sup e pr b e e s d se s ( t l ea g dr.oanf7pwhichlookingappeared to wt c h a he u i s c e ht of house,h theey tthey noise, s e ne , 'Ne.rdh found t they c h o e m ar e d fr a on k l kind of half-suppressed th quarter they discovered a fine young itself, Eliza beth Beard, with nearly the w h o l e of h an, named burnt off her back. The b e d stead ha • her wearin g a pp are l \ a most frightful spectacle presented hayingbeen drawn awa y, creature being burnt i n suc h the unfortunate a shocking . looked like a piece of partia man ner th a t h er f ace partially consumed leather. A mes senger was instantly sent for medical attendance, and Mr. Menzies promptly attended, but not in time to be of any as sistance to the poor creature,for There is no doubt but that the unfortunate young woman's wearing apparel by some accident caught fire, and that in her anxiety to subdue the flames she had crawled to the spot where she was found. Strange as it may appear, the furni ture in the room was not injured. STATE OF TRADE.—The market continues in the same state as for some weeks past ; Tarn, being exceedingly scarce and in good demand, both for shipping and for the home trade, continues to advance in price ; and some descriptions, particularly No. 30 warps, were sold yester day about one-eighth higher than on the preceding Tues day. For cloth the demand was not quite so good as last week ; and some qualities of 27-inch printing cloth were a shade lower. With that exception, however, prices are firm.— RocitDALE FLANNEL MARKET.—MoNDAY, FEB. 3.—There has been something like an average market to-day. The manufacturers re obtaining rather more for their prices, but not enough to cover the advance in the raw material. There has been a considerable failure announced in the market to day: the liabilities are stated at 20, 0 001. TThisis likelyt o affect both wool dealer and manufacturer. W ool mill con tinues firm in krice.-21fanclicsterquardn. is fixed for hearing aPPe. I ea * " A PPEAL UAUSES.--Next T hu rs day rd bd It the Rout,e ords, their 1,0 ps begin Milne.* Ott IMOD. thin OatlY wita IOCUJ 4S Tf jo - 0P 49.0 P° ll eel ler° ac• sr, to' to to s te ) b.' sb+ Oil Or ~~.