The Sun. — London, England, 1850-12-18 00:00:00

~:~ Pa OWING RAPE FOR SEED. th agricult ur i s t near B ra i n t ree g i ves the following 4; L e mode i n w hi c h rane fer seed is grown in that Ol'hpurho o d : —" The land intended for it ought to , I t 4 good heart and ploughed immediately after klr hewell harrowed, the weeds and stubble ga zer::: it is r.ed togeth-r and burnt; it may then be ploughed 9114 or •f; it t t. scari..e,..,makes dityerence how, got into fine tilth. This rbsolutely tfi ' I rY, as, from its being such small seed, ,. it is able °to plant' well, unless the weather is favour re the The land must have a good dressing of dung, wi th - Y well rotted, as it gets better mixed it the soil in working it than when it is long. toots t he best way to drill the seed in about one () el apart, or 1 on very good land. They will sac -40 well if transplanted, but this involves much ti lti nt and expense ; and after paying much atten t° it, I have always found the greatest quan °f seed from that sown where it is to stand ; tere °fle advantage in sowing it in a seed bed , ed C an choose your own time in putting in the t ur when th e groun d and weather is suitable; alp 4o it :the weather is very dry after harvest, it is i impossible to get a plant ; and it should he 14 4 , as soon after harvest as possible, as the Ai t , - ; t 1 then have time to gain strength before Abe ers and vou may thin them out in the autumn th e Your people are not so fully employed as in st i t:?riog. Ilre have not always thinned them sp r i:' id% only giving thetn a rough hoeing in the / *t ugs but the last two years we have singled out yi e li 4 nd left part. That part thinned out has 4 1 11 i. nearly two quarters per acre more than k ftb i e 'ts and the seed is of a finer quality, and it to es You to stir the ground well with the hoe, ‘, ll L :eeP it free from weeds. If transplanted, it be done with the first favourable opportu 11,,kafter the land is got into a fit state, and the tb: e r suitable (that is, the ground moist, and ti t h er ,' weather); the plants may be either dib the .4 1 ) like cabbage plants, or planted in the furrow, ithitough covering them in the next bout : but pl ktt ever way it is done, nothing but short bushy br a aahould be put in, as the long stalky ones never lisbi'u out like their stouter brethren, and they are 4t t , e to be killed by the frost ; it is ripe about the e nd of July, and is reaped with the sickle, and tetteltl s h mall eaps, just large enough to be turned ta rn :l; but if fine weather, it does not require ia t i l in ß much, as it readily shells out. We thresh it kbo b e , field, making a floor by clearing a square s p ace INCthe middle, and raking the ground fine, then spite w atering it till like puddle ; we then cover t h e tild e With about a foot thick of haulm or short straw, he en are fi re to i t ; w h en re d uce d t o ashes, we roll with 4 .7 roll, and the floor is ready to thresh upon ry: C MATE.—A few weeks ago a young man tt ti v 'e neighbourhood of Manchester was in the street I tsts a . : r Pool by one of his neighbours, walaing with a young litle r " , a relative of his wife, but with whom he was con tihere-,,'°_, be rather too familiar. The neighbour dodged Amp . an d found that they had taken their passage to tlitel',a• The neighbour hastened home, and communi !or t i"e fat the wife, wh promptly came to Liverpool e eaPt c ain, to and told him o her story. He told her to go , I:he 4 ,7" sll her goods imeditely, and return to him. q s: so, e arriving just as m the a vessel was about to leave. Nis re "' taken on board and the young woman was sent net th When the faithless husband went below to his . r ?_ found his wife there instead of his paramour. ketp s 4 ITCHEN HUSBAND.—A kitchen husband, who of ;141111 the money in his own pocket, and plays the part cit e t v 'Yor far the household—not even authorising his kver e ?„aend for a pound of sugar or butter without his aPeei, 64 and special permission—is about as contemptible a fee o 'n of humanity as one can imagine ; unless his wife, be te, h r a . drunkard, and then his conduct is praiseworthy. hiss wit with a regular or comfortable income should allow J i Sst certain sum for housekeeping, and let her manage 'ett et " . ',e Pleases. The less they talk of money matters the ,tteai„ aloney is the root of all evil ; it is sure to destroy do 'elicity. If possible, do not even converse about it. We Z'ith his gentleman who was so averse to money transactions " ta it ls .wife that, in order to avoid giving it into her hands, 'vey it into a corner of his desk at the commencement of s ever quarter, and there she never failed to find it, and he wret t h as ked her what she did with it. Many a miserable 11 Y3tee2 ili gh m yet bec eraome a happy man by following a similarlY F "ily Sild, EitTx r , • L., - s , ERSTORM AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY Ibe in 4l.r .acici.—On Sunday morning, about three o'clock, 4, te r , i) habitants of Abingdon were suddenly roused from their t e e ,. rB „ b .Y a thunderstorm which burst immediately over "lee ') ""• The alarm it produced was considerable, there ene • ~ . . ,44 0 , abi indication during the previous evening of so un -4113" a Visitation. The thunder completely shook the 4 nd t i; o w nile the lightning was of the most vivid intenseness, liserceivhail, snow, and rain completely deluged the streets. nez .,, a quarter of an hour had elapsed from the first ter eito when a messenger on horseback rode at full speed st ee ,oe town with the alarm of fire, the electric fluid having Il ti e e 'c oc Z lone barn on Wick Farm, in the occupation of Mr. l a t runeei ' about a mile off. Many of the townspeople hastened aespi te ately with the engines to the scene of conflagration, tit o ec , the pelting of the storm, but on arriving there they p erty ;saw that an attempt to save any portion of the pro al Q uid be perfectly useless. The roof of the barn had tams;) ; fallen in, and its valuable contents were one burning Bea n ' and the wind, which had been blowing almost a hur rick e ",lad communicated the tire to a 1 irge wheat and bean ta 3 , t s nort distance from the bare, both of which soon fell a tO r ,the destroying element. The building was insured k-Ounty Fire-office ; and the farming stock, which con tie, of Upwards of 150 quarters of barley, the produce of ig t i c ..; . four acres of beans, ten acresof the whole v o a f riea ic o l f i w ere coral implements and . utensils, t Th e p `lestroved, were fully insured in the Royal Exchange. damage is estimated at 1,0001. TH Eek e° NEW .MILITARY DISTRICTS IN IRELAND.— evserding to the new arrangements that have been made in titblltilunb.bi,tliairt.nu,etiee f the order of the Adjutant-General, iesued at Ireland has been divided into the following five r Y districts •—1 t District, Dublin (Head -quarters, pu m a : 'ThisL-• district s contains - 1. The entire counties lee n an T , -Ildare, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Roscom arrl "'lay°, togeth er with the towns of Dr o g heda a nd of / 5. 1 c - onsSFiannon. 2. The northern and eastern portion tre e in g 's C°untY, bounded by the river Ballynacarrig, ,til, ;Silver-on-Milbrook, and the Brosna, thus incluct eoutti bil liPstown and Tullamore. 3. That po rtion of the bad e Y of Wicklow w hi c h li es north of the parallel o f lati uf the tow n o f A r kl ow , t h a t town remaining in the In ti e i n.Y district. 2dtrict, Cork (Head -quarters, Cork). *IS distri c t are comprised the counties of Cork and hi c k' with the excepti on of that small portion of the latter k e is to the north-west of the river Feale. The arrange 4ants will leave the several forts on both hanks of the Lower li s i f ri , n ° ,l in the same district with Limerick. 3d District, Wit h lt, (Head-quarters, Belfast), to remain as at present, bistrue addition of the counties of Sligo and Leitrim.. at to to let, Kilkenny (Head-quarters, Kilkenny). This district We e . n s tai n-1. The entire counties of Kilkenny, Waterford, a.hr,,,` ° ,rd, Queen's, and Carlow. 2. That part of Wicklow 3 i ts " lies south of the town of Arklow, including the town. th e e eastern part of the county of Tipperary, bounded by t est r i 'ver Suir from Newcastle near to Roscrea, with Cogheen, Li mey , e l Golden, llolvcross, Thurles, and Templemore.. sth, trietick District (Head -quarters, Limerick). In this.dis rice, are contained-1. be entire of the counties of Lime toe_ Clare, and Galway. 2. That small portion of . the l' ea 7tY of Kerry which lies to the north-east of the river tOr,tel) as detailed under Cork district. 3. The whole of the and A O Tipperary and the western part of th e same count) ; b out ,7,th, the south-western portion of King's Co unt y , the lia r h u arY being formed as follows :—Frankturd, Shannon ` J ur, and shannon-bridge. &Is e ise a „ COLLECTION OF THE 18 , 48 HOP DUTY. — The wr, t i of Inland Revenue has, during the past week, issued ta ant of seis e facias against a large number of our hop hop Ps who have not yet paid the last moiety of the 1843 siri ) ij lit Y; and we learn from undoubted authority that ise ar Proceedings wil be a oace comnced against all de whe,it'lPr We shall be l doing t a service to e all these pl inters furth e c d raise the money by recommending them to save tetti senses (Exchequer processes are alwas costly) by th e ng Out of this difficulty at once. We are convinced . that the better will have to be paid, and that the sooner it is paid t le a - .. We learn that the collector of inland revenue a V e l mi tone will, probably, be all this week at his office, and few - , 43P- erely hoe that at ' the end of that period there will be .2 1 raYrnents remaining to be collected by summary process. aidstone Gazette. Tlat, ADDRESS OF THE MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND th .- 7,Rs OF LcesooN.—The Rev. Dr. Vivian, chaplain to se c r . . I ght Hon. the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Catty, private oti s'ri ( f tar Y to his Lordship, attended at the Home- b efli Q ce n to deliver to Sir George Grey the address to t e uee ee e - , the merchants, bankers, and traders of the city of on the subject of the Papal aggression. azonn FATAL CoLLIELLY EXPLOSIONS LI ~"nesdav last a most disastrous occurren ce ha pp ened near eo - r7 ac h , blamorganahire , which has spread the greatest ste rnation and dismay throughout the neighbourtod 1,_ 11e1 .7", an explosion in Messrs. Vivian and non's ]Norio to t- I ; n whereby 30' persons were injured and two . I The t l p. l of Taibach and Aberavon are plunged in grief his . fatal stroke of ill-fortune. On the same day a second explosion took place at the New Duffryn Colliery, the prb There of Mr. Thomas Powell , th e Gear, near Newport. e re were 54 persons in the pit, of who m three only were u t° ught up at first. The three men w ho were saved said hey' ;t+ and nearly suffocated in coming to the mouth of t he a„ -1 gn d gave but a poor account of those left behind The bef ore of the co lli er y, Mr. Meredith, had only just gone down ' it ere the a cc id en t occurred. The explosion was terrific. It ot a s,,erne time before any correct account could be obtained t ue fate of the miners. By Friday, however, the worst 1,,a,s ascertained, Two men have been brought up dead. "ree are yet missing. All the rest were brought out of the Pit alive. S oUTHAUPTON, DEC. 17.—The Peninsular and ‘riental C ompany ' s s t eam - s hi p Montrose, Capt. 'Weeks, with t . a mount Peninsular mails, a full general cargo, specie to the Pount of 3,0001., and about twenty passengers, left this es, 5 , .7 • The R o yal Mail Company's steam-ship Medway, Capt. 'yfrions, with the West India mails, a large cargo, specie to t he amount of 10,5501., and about sixty passengers, left this af ternoon. n The Peninsular Company's steam- ship Indus , Vt. Soy, with the heavy portion of the India and China "'ails, is expected about the 24th instant. DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY. — -there was a meeting of the Direct London and Portsmouth Railwa,., Company yesterday, for the purpose of forfeiting ' - ' ,45 5 shares, on which a call of 1/. 10s. remained unpaid; the of giving the directors power to enforce the arrears from Lue defaulters. The resolution, after some discussion, was ,Carried; and it was stated by the chairman , as his expecta tion, that on the final winding up of this concern , a s um of betwee n 12s. and 18s. per share, would be returned to the s hareholders. „ EASY CURE.—Dr. Moore, author of " Z,Auco," used to say that at least two-thirds of a physician's fees Were for imaginary complaints. Among several instance:, of this nature he mentions one of a clothier, who, after drinking the Bath waters, took it into his head to try Bristol hot Wells. Previous, however, to his settiug off, he requested his Physician to favour him with a letter, stating his case to any brother G4ea.,...This done, the patient got into a chaise sad :started. After proceeding half-way, ho felt an itch to Pry into the contents of the letter, when the following words r esented thianselves:—" Dear Sir,, the bearer is a fat Wiltshire clothier—make the most of him." It is almost 'necessary to A dd that his cure was from that moment ..it ected, as he ordered the clusiso to turn, and immediately 'l444 .tsclect hum ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHARN CIRCUIT.— York, Dec. 16. (Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.) Thomas I?otherfurtit was inlet d for wilful and cor rupt perjury before the magistrates at Hull, on the 23d of last November. Mr. Campbell Foster prosecuted, and Mr. Digby Sey mour defended the prisoner. taR;: It appeared that a person named John Cottingham, a fishmonger at Hull, and one Edward Matson Maw, a beer-house keeper there, re,iding in the same street, were on bad terms together, and meeting in the Paul Pry public-house, in Hull, on the 18th of November, a quar rel took place between them, which led to the commis sion of an alleged assault, for which next day Maw took out a summons against Cottingham. Next day, the 19th of November, about half-past eight o'clock at night, the wife of Maw passed Cottingham'e shop, and at that time Cottingham was standing at his door talking to the prisoner and showing him the summons which he held in his hand. He then used some abusive expressions te wards Mrs. Maw, and flourished the summons in her face, saying, " Look here what your of a husband has sent to me." Mrs. Maw told him whatever ho had to say about her hustand to tell it to him and not to insult her, at the same time laying her hand upon ~Cottingham's arm. Cottingham immedi ately gave her a violent push with his hand on her shoulder, and threw her on her face in the street with considerable violence. For this assault Mrs. Maw took out a summons before the magistrates, which came on to be heard on the 23d of November, and these facts hav ing been proved and corroborated by two witnesses who were accidently passing at the time. Cottingham called on the prisoner to give evidence in his defence; and the prisoner then swore that Cottingham never flourished the summons in Mrs. Maw's face, that his hands were in his pockets the whole time, and he never touched her with his hands, but that he twisted himself away from her, when she placed her hand on his arm, and in doing so shoved her down with his elbow; that Mrs. Maw had previously pushed him into his shop, and that she reeled and fell because she had had a good deal of drink. The magistrates disbelieved this testimony, and ordered Cot- 1 tinghsna to find sureties to keep the peace. They also ordered tho witness Rotherlorth to be indicted for ! perjury. The minutes of the prisoner's evidence . before the ma gistrates at Hull having been proved, Mrs. Maw and two witnesses who had been before the magistrates gave evidence of the assault as proved before the magistrates, and stated that this evidence of the pri soner before the magistrates was false in each particular, and that as he was standing close by at the time he must have known it to be so. The Learned Counsel, for the defence contended that the prisoner's evidence before the magistrates was his ac count of what be saw and believed to be true, and called Cottingham himself and a man named Carlton, who each gave testimony bearing out the evidence of the prisoner before the magistrates. Mr. FOSTER having replied, His LORDSHIP summed up, and left it to the jury to say on the evidence, first, whether the testimony of the pri soner was false; and, secondly, whether the prisoner knew it at the time to be false. The jury retired, and after an absence of about an hour found the prisoner Not Guilty. Harriet Jackson, a young woman, who appeared at the bar very smartly dressed, was indicted for wilful and corrupt perjury before the magistrates at Hull, on the 1 Bth of October last. Mr. Thompson prosecuted and Mr. Dearsley defended the prisoner. It appeared that in the years 1848 and 18411 the York and North-Midland Railway had had several packages of goods stolen from their waggons in the neighbour hood of Hull, which led to the apprehension of several persons employed on the Hull and Selby Railway living at the village of Staddlethorpe and 'the neighbourhood. Amongst others a man named Richard Ponder was taken into custody and examined before the Hull ma gistrates, and the prisoner, who is Ponder's sister-in law, was called upon to give evidence on that occasion. A part of the goods stolen consisted of bales of silks, and it had been observed that the prisoner, though in humble circumstauces, had appeared at a feast called Dry pool feast, near Hull, dressed in a red and black coloured silk dress, which was the pattern of the stolen silk, and which Ponder was then charged with having stolen. On being examined the prisoner swore that she had never worn such a dress, and never saw any silk of the kind in Pander's house or anywhere else. This statement was now given in evidence, and witnesses were called to prove it to be false. Mr. DEARSLEY having addressed the jury in an able and ingenious speech, His LORDSHIP summed up, and the jury found the prisoner Nut Guilty. (Before Mr. Baron MARTIN.) _ Martin APGuire was indicted for burglary at HaMat, :rom the dwelling-house and shop of Lewis Belerma, on the night of the 13th of July last, and stealing there from a large quantity of silver plate, watches. and jewellery, to the value of 1,0001. Amelia Wade was also indicted along with the prisoner on a second charge of receiving the above property, knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. Hall and Mr. Pickering appeared for the prose cution, Mr. Overend defended M'Guire, and Mr. Bl'anchard Amelia Wade. It appears that the prosecutor is a foreigner, carrying on the businegs of a watchmaker and silversmith at Ha- lifsx, and residing in a house adjoining his shop. On the night of the 13.11 of last July his shop was broken open, and about 100 watches, plate, and jewellery of various kiud>, and about 400 rings, to the value of about 1,000/.„were stolen. The burglary was com mitted in so expert a manner as to leave no doubt but that it had been committ,d by pructisid thieves. There A' s a vacant piece of ground near prosecutor's shop on which a constable met a man on the night of the rob b,ry, whom he identified us the prisoner M'Guire. On the 25th of last November the prisoner M'Guire pawned a gold watch at Liverpool, the number of which had been altered, and which was part of the prop, rty stolen from the prosecutor's sht p. The way in which this was discovered was somewhat singular. The prisoner M'Guire, it appeared, kept a public-house in Liver pool, and the female prisoner a beer-house there, and trom suspicion attaching to hirnifrom some cause or other which did nut appear in evidence, he was apprehended on the recent charge of extensive plate robberies at Liverpool, as also the female prisoner. On being taken into custody and searched a bunch of keys were found upon M'Guire, and he was asked where he lived. On the officers proceeding to his house it was found that one of the prisoner's keys opened a drawer, in which was found a book, and in that book a pawn-ticket for a gold watch, which turned out to have been pawned by the prisoner, and was identified by the prosecutor as part of the property which had been stolen from him. The maker's number was altered where visible, but not in ihe body of the works, and this had led to the prosecutor being communicated with. The evidence against the female prisoner was that she lived in Sawney rope street, Liverpool, and in July last, Shortly after the rob bery, she took a box to Manchester, which she left with a woman named G re g or y , sa3in g that it only contained some old clothes c f hers, and she would call for it shortly. She, however, never went fur it, and this exciting sus picion, Mrs. Gregory informed the police, who broke open the box, and in it was found about 200/. wcrth of stolen property. These facts having been proved, Mr. OTF.REND, for the prisoner M`C3 wire, made an able speech for the defence, in which he contended that the prisoner was not identified with the burglary or receiv ing, tend was a respectable man, and he called witnesses to show that M'Guire had puichased the watch of a person named Woolle. Mr. BLANCHARD then addressed the jury on behalf of the female prisoner. Mr. HALL having replied, His LORDSHIP summed up and the jury found both the pi iaimers Guilty of receiving. Sentence was deferred. The trial occupi , d the whole day. SMOKING ON 11011$EBACK•—On Tuesday a young gentleman, named Rarnshaw, died from injuries received by being thrown from his horse. The Durham _Advertiser states that the horse took fright, in consequence of a spark falling u pon his back from a cigar which its rider was smoking. He is stated to have been an inveterate smoker. A LAWYER'S READINESS.—A lawyer, who was sometimes forgetful, having been engaged to plead the cause of an offender, began by saying—" I know the priso• ner at the bar, he bears the character of being the most consummate and impudent scoundrel." Here somebody whispered to him that the prisoner was his client, when he immediately continued, " But "hat great and good man ever lived who was not calumniated by many of his con temporaries ?" DESPERATE STRUGGLE.—On Thursday night, as Inspector Smith was conveying by county cart a prisoner named Alfred Ward, who was committed for fowl stealing, the prisoner insisted on getting out of the cart and releasing his handcuffs, on pretence of a call of nature. These re quests being refused, he tried to fling himselt out, which was prevented ; lie then commenced striking furiously with the handcuffs on the side of the cart, the inspector strug- , gling with him, and the horse running from side to side. The left handcuff eventually gave way from the violence that I had been used. The prisoner then made a desperate attack upon the inspector, seizing him by the throat and pressing him down, upon which the inspector let go the reins and threw the prisoner back, his head almost resting on the wheel. The prisoner then, with both hands, seized the offi cer's staff, which was again wrested from him. At this time the horse backed into a ditch, and the inspector, jumping out on the road, faced his adversary, who was following, and dealt him a blow with his staff on the right side of the bead. The prisoner again attempted to escape, placing one foot on the footboard, when lie received another blow from the inspector on the left side of the head, which took effect, and be fell back into the cart, the blood streaming down his face. The inspector then drove him to Orsett station, where lie was attended by Dr. Corbet, who dressed his wounds, which we learn are not considered dangerous.— Essex Herald. TAKING PLACES IN OMNIBUSES. —Yesterday Mr. Arnold, the Worship-street magistrate, decided that it was perfectly legal for persons to take places in omnibuses, and the conductor of an omnibus was justified in reserving such places for those who had ta ken them. [This decision is directly contrary to that of several other metropolitan magis trates.—Ed. Sun.] At the Lambeth Police Court yesterday Mr. Elliott gave judgment in the case of the policeman Jourdan, who was charged with annoying a pers on named Brown, by following him about wherever he went. Superintendent Hayes said he had on his own responsibility ordered Jourdan to watch the complainant, and upon that evidence Mr. Elliott dismissed the complaint, stating that the party who had given the orders was responsible to the complainant if he had exceeded the law. Gralr.—The Bedford Times states that, last .wick,' W. Burgess, i n th e em ploy of Mr. Tho mas Swordcr, solicitor, of Luton, was in the malt-mill room of his o t o h t e i n ca , ' n a g n' e d r, n c e a a u r g l3 h • fell to bier the gessrs. SWorder, at the brewery; when he inadvertently lost aw . l eg, an d the grip eery to secure its object'was so firm that the flesh was cot geoundl th e eiitenr,ewe'ehso. siderably . diseoloured. Death must.otherwise have ensued, u the height to the growati 411 4 3114 slaty fea t . T IT E SUN, LON D 0 N, WEDNES DAY EVENING, DECEMBER IS, 1850. The in the The in the COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, Dec. 17. Queen an Prince Albert wJked this morning Slopes. Royal Family took walking anc - 1 pony exercise erounds ab :ut the Castle. His Royal Highness Prance Albert went out hunt ing this morning, a•tended by Colonel I3ouverie. The Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady o,:tavia Grosvenor, he Marvis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady M. Cecil, the Earl and Countess Spencer and Lady G. Spencer, and Lord George Lennox, are expected at the Castle to-day, on a visit to tilt-, Queen and the Prince. - The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will include the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady 0. Grosvenor, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter and Lady Mary Cecil, the Eirl and Countess Spencer and Lady Georgians Spencer, and Lord George Lennox. The band of the Coldstream Guards will attend during dinner. The Queen's private band will after wards attend at the Castle. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Fanny Howard,' arrived at her residence, Clarence House, St. James's, at half-past eleven o'clock yesterday morning, from Frogmore. Her Royal High ness left town at two o'clock in the afternoon, on her return to Frogmore. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge ar rived in town on Monday night from Dublin. Yes terday his Royal Highness went to Kew to visit their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz. Lord John Russell left his residence, Pembroke Lodge, Richmond-park, yesterday afternoon for Windsor Castle. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of In land Revenue, and Mr. Pressly, had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Co lonel Anson had an interview with the Right Hon. Baronet on Monday, at his official residence in Down ing-street. Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governor of Gibraltar. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yesterday. The Lords present were—the Master of the Rolls, Mr. Baron Parke, the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, and air Ed ward Ryan. An appeal from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, "Brayne and Edwards v. Bather " (part heard), was resumed and concluded. The Queen's Advocate and Sir Fitzroy Kelly, and Mr. Whateley (Queen's Counsel), and Dr. Addams, appeared for the respec tive parties. An appeal from the Isle of Man, " Moore e. Clucas" was commenced. The case was adjourned. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Sir Edward Lytton's play of the Lady of Lyons was repeated last evening, and the performance of Mr. G. V. Brooke in the arduous character of Mel notte more than confirms the favourable impression which his first appearance in that part, a few nights since, produced upon us. He is, to our thinking, not only the best Claude Melnotte at present on the stage, but the best Claude Melnotte who has hitherto ap peared. His conception of the part is original, his acting most effective ; he seizes and embodies the more delicate nuances of the character in a manner superior to any of his predecessors. Miss Helen Faucit was the Pauline, and as long as she remains on the stage she will continue to be the Pauline; the attempts of others may be tolerated in her absence, but wherever she is Pauline is hers, and hers alone. She is so thoroughly identified with this beautiful creation of Bulvver's genius, that every one in speak ing of Pauline thinks only of Miss Helen Faucit. The play was well performed throughout, and the theatre was well attended. INTENDED -HARBOUR AT BRIGHTON. DESIGNED BY W. H. SMITH, C.E. To-morrow another public meeting (the third) will be held in the Town-hall, Brighton, for the purpose of taking into consideration the splendid project of improvement here visibly presented to us in a litho graphic engraving. The value of the scheme is far from being of a merely local character. In every re spect it must be considered as one of really national importance, whether we regard it as affecting our commercial or our maritime interests. For a very considerable period the absence of such a work as that which has been here projected by Mr. William Henry Smith, civil engineer, namely a harbour of refuge situated between the Goodwin Sands and the Isle of Wight, has been manifestly the source of many calamitous and: ruinous catastrophes. The losses arising out of this one circumstance of omission have been recently estimated, indeed, at no less an amount within the last eighteen months than 500 human lives, and from 400,0001. to 500,000/. worth of valuable property. Had the harbour, contrived and designed . according to the arrangement before us, been only in existence during the last few weeks many of the terrible disasters recorded of late in our columns would un questionably have been prevented, many lives would have been spared, and much property saved from what is now irrevocable destruction. The plan laid down in the design portrayed in the present engraving is one conceived upon the recoil principle, partly in connexion with the noble pier already con structed at Brighton. By adopting this principle two great advantages would be secured—the harbour would be more durable, because more elastic, as it were, than one of a different description, and besides this might be completed within three months from the present time, at a cost of about one-tenth that required in the building one of stone or granite. 'Die eastern arm of the proposed harbour, connected at one end with the existing pier -head, would termi nate with a lighthouse, and the western with a fortifi cation and revenue-station. The latter building would be manifestly calculated to prove singularly beneficial to the interests of all concerned in the transaction, affording facilities for the conveyance to and from shore of fish, water, and provisions. Everything con sidered it is scarcely possible to estimate too highly the advantages certain to accrue from this benevolent and spirited enterprise. Upon the decision of the inhabitants of Brighton in its regard, the immediate nterests of science and humanity are dependent. OPENING OF TIIE NEW ORGAN AT THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ASYLUM. Last evening the new organ. recently erected for the chapel of the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, in the Old Kent-road. was op,med, with the performance of a selec ;ion from Hands l's " Messiah," the vocal portions of which were sustained by Miss Birch, Miss Dolby, Mr. and Mr. Benson. Mr. Willing, the organist of the Foundling Chapel, presided at the organ, and be tween the parts played the National Anthem, in the chorus of which all present heartily joined. The tone of the organ is exquisitely sweet, and very powerful. It was built expressly for the chapel by Messrs. Bevington and Sens, of Soho-square, and was fitted up and placed in the organ gallery with a promptitude and celerity that dues great credit to the builders. It is in every respect a most admirable instrument. Its external characteristics are in accordance with the best taste, the decorations of the case being en am-colour and gold, while the base part is spotted yellow granite. Its quality is of the purest description, a fact that was fully established in the course of the evening. It is built on the German scale, with teo complete rows of keys—great and swell organ. The great organ runs from CC to F in alt, and contains open diapason, stop diapason, claribel, dulciane, flute, priucipal, twelfth, fifteenth, see quialtrio, three rank cremona, and trumpet. The swell organ is tenor C, and contains a double diapason, an open diapason, a stop diapason, a principal, doublette, cornopean, and a copula. It also contains a set of pedal pipes, two octives of German pedals, and three composition Ger man pedals. The number of stop pipes in the great and small organ, is nineteen, and the the total number of pipes is 906. The chapel was crowded, and the company seemed highly delighted with the performance, both of the organist and the vocalists, who kindly gave their services gratuitously. THE NEW NOVEL, " LOVE AND AMBITION," BY THE AUTHOR of " ROCKINGHAM."—The announcement of a new novel of fiction by the author of " Rockingham," will be gratefully welcomed by every rea d e r of that delightful novel. The descriptive force and truth, the varied inci dents, the remarkable vigour of narrative, the pure and generous tone of sentiment, and the terse idiomatic diction which so strikingly characterised that tale, will have pre pared the public to expect much from the future productions of its gifted author. A perusal of the volumes before us will abundantly satisfy the anticpations justly excited by the earlier production of the same pen. In " Love and Am bition" we find the characteristic qualities which formerly charmed us in " Rockingham," together with other elements of interest which, to many readers, will perhaps be yet more attaactive.—Morning Chronicle. Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, of New Bond. street who have transferred to themselves the fame, as well as the business, of Storr and Mortimer, have favoured us with an inspection of a cup, ordered by the Bombay Turf Club, value 300 soya., and weight 300 ounces. It is of the Etruscan form, modelled and designed by Mr. Alfred Brown, in frosted silver, with the appropriate title of the " Tria juncta in uno," as Mars in his chariot, heralded by Faiiie and Victory, with the attendant British lion, Bellona in her car, lighted by the flaming torches of the furies, and Neptune with his trident and his tritons, are the prominent trio, with a profusion of accessories tastefully and elaborately wrought. &novice would inquire, how intrinsic worth in the raw material, with such beauty of design and labour of execution, Could be remunerated at the price? but the neophyte is not aware that now-a-days there is such a spirit of honourable ri valry afloat, that these Turf prizes are produced at a large positive loss, with the incidental solid profits of world spread reputation. INTERIoR OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE.—A capital view of the interior of the Palace of the Exhibition has just been issued by Mr. G. Berger, in an oblong steel engraving. The perspective is well managed, and the sketch affords alto gether a better notion of the appearance of the edifice than any other picture of a like kind that has yet fallen under our observation. CARDINAL WISEMAN.—The new Cardinal has re ceived autograph letters of congratulation from the Emperor of Austria, the King of Bavaria, and the President of the French Republic. .A.MEEICAN NEWS. OPENING OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. ARRIVAL OF THE NIAGARA. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 17. After an exceedingly stormy passage, the Royal Mail Steam-ship Niagara, Captain Stone, from New York direct, entered the Mersey shortly after nine o'clock this morning, with 52 passengers, specie and freight to the amount of 260 ; 000 dollars, and the usual mails. The Niagara at ten minutes past four P.M. passed the United States Mail Steamer Arctic, forty miles east of New York, on the 4th, and the Asia on the following night, at seven P.m., 290 miles east of the same city. Yesterday, the Niagara, twenty miles east of Tuscar, spoke the Chimera, of Liverpool, dismasted ; offered to take off the crew, but they refused. The most important portion of the new s relates to he opening of Congress, which took place on the 2d . _ inst. A quorum having been formed, both Houses organized, and a joint committee was appointed to wait upon President Fillmore to inform him that they were ready to receive any communication which he had to make to them. The committee returned in a short time, and reported that the President would communicate with both Houses without delay, and in a few minutes afterwards the regular annual Message was received and read. The following is a copy of THE MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the Rouse of Represent atives. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. Being suddenly called, in the midst of the last session of Congress, by a painful dispensation of Divine Provi dence, to the responsible station which I now hold, I contented myself with such communications to the Le gislature as the exigency of the moment seemed to re quire. The country was shrouded in mourning for the loss of its venerated chief magistrate, and all hearts were penetrated with grief. Neither the time nor the occasion appeared to require or to justify, on my part, any gene ral expression of political opinions, or any announce ment of the principles which would govern me in the discharge of the duties to the performance of which I had been so unexpectedly called. I trust, therefore, that it may not be deemed inappropriate if I avail my self of this opportunity of the reassembling of Congress to make known my sentiments, i❑ a general manner, in regard to the policy which ought to be pursued by the Government, both in its intercourse with foreign nations and in its management and administration of internal affairs. Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights, and owing certain duties to each other, arising from their necessary and unavoidable relations; which rights and duties there is no common human authority to protect and enforce. Still they are rights and duties, binding in morals, in conscience, and in honour, although there is no tribunal to which an injured party can appeal but the disin terested judgment of muukind and ultimately the arbi tration of the sword. Among the acknowledged rights of nations is that, which each possesses, of establishing that form of go vernment which it may deem most conducive to the happiness and prosperity of its own citizens; of chang ing that form, as circumstances may require; and of managing its internal affairs according to its own will. The people of the United States claim this right for ' themselves, and they readily concede it to others. Hence it becomes an imperative duty not to interfere in the government or internal policy of other nations; and, although we may sympathise with the unfortunate or oppressed every where in their struggles for freedom, our principles forbid us from taking any part in such foreign contests. We make no wars to promote or to prevent successions to thrones—to maintain any theory of a balance of power, or to suppress the actual government which any country chooses to establish for itself. We instigate no revolution, nor suffer any military expedi tions to be fitted out in the United States to invade ter ritory or provinces of a friendly nation. The great law of morality ought to have a national, as well as a per sonal and individual application. We should act towards other nations as we wish them to act towards us; and justice and conscience should form the rule of conduct between governments, instead of mere power, self-in terest, or the desire of aggrandisement. To maintain a strict neutrality in foreign wars, to cultivate friendly re lations, to reciprocate every noble and generous act, and to perform punctually and scrupulously every treaty ob ligation,—these are the duties which we owe to other states, and by the performance of which we best entitle ourselves to like treatment from them; or if that, in any case, be refused, we can enforce our own rights with jus tice end a clear conscience. In our domestic policy .tho constitution will be my guide, and in questions of doubt I shall look for its in terpretation to the judicial decisions of that tribunal which was established to expound it, and to the usage of the Government, sanctioned by the acquiescence of the country. I regard all the provisions as equally binding. In all its parts it is the will of the people, expressed in the most solid forms, and the constituted authorities are but agents to carry that will into ace , . Every power whish it has granted is to bo exercised for the public good ; but no pretence of utility, no honest conviction even of what might be expedient, can justify the as sumption of any power not granted. The powers conferred upon the Government, and their distribution to the several departments, are as clearly expressed in that sacred instrument as the imperfection of human language will allow ; and I deem it my first duty not to question its wisdom, add to its provisions, evade its re quirements, or nullify its commands. Upon you, fellow-citizens, as the representatives of the States and the people, is wisely devolved the legis lative power. I shall comply w ith my duty in laying before you, from time to time, any information calcu lated to enable you to discharge your high and respon sible trust for the benefit of our common constituents. My opinions will be frankly expressed upon the lead ing subjects of legislation; and if, which Ido net anti cipate, any Act should pass the two Houses of Congress which should appear to me unconstitutional, or an encroachment on the just powers of other departments, consequencesor with provisionsni u iu rhastilyios el unforeseen,aandspte dndli I should kelytopr notoduce shrink from the duty of returning it to you with my reasons for your further consideration. Beyond the due performance of these constitutional obligations, both my respect for the Legislature and my sense of propriety will restrain me from any attempt to control or influence your proceedings. With you is the power, the honour, the responsibility of the legislation of the country. The Government of th e United States is a limi ted Government. It is confined to the exercise of powers expressly granted, and such others as may be necessary for carrying those powers into effect; and it is at all times an especial duty to guard against any infringe ment on the just rights of the States. Over the objects and subjects entrusted to Congress its legislative autho rity is supreme. But here that authority ceases, and every citizen who truly loves the constitution, and desires the continuance of its existence and its blessings, will resolutely and firmly resist any interference in those domestic affairs, which the constitution has clearly and unequivocally left to the exclusive authority of the states. And every such citizen will al s o deprecate useless irrita tion among the several members of the union, and all reproach and crimination tending to alienate one portion of the country from another. The beauty of our system of government consists, :and its safety and durability must consist, in avoiding mutual collisions and encroach ments, and in the regular separate action of all, while each is revolving in its own distinct orbit. The constitution has made it the duty of the Presi dent to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In a government like ours, in which all laws are passed by a.majority of the representatives of the people, and these representatives are chosen for such short periods that any injurious or obnoxious law can very soon be re pealed, it would appear unlikely that any great numbers should be found ready to resist the execution of the laws. But it must bo borne in mind that the country is extensive; that there may be local interests or prejudices rendering a law odious to one part which is not so in another, and that the thoughtless and inconsiderate, mis led by their passions or imaginations, may be induced madly to resist such laws as they disapprove. Such per sons should recollect that without law there can be no real practical liberty; that, when law is trampled under foot, tyranny rises, whether it appears in the form of a military despotism or of popular violence. The law is the only sure protection of the weak, and only efficient restraint upon the strong. When impartially and faith fully administered none is beneath its protection, and none above its control. You, gentlemen, and the coun try may be assured that, to the utmost of my ability, and to the extent of the power vested in me, I shall at all times, and in all places, take care that the laws be faithfully executed. In the discharge of this duty, solemnly imposed upon me by the Constitution, and by my oath of office, I shall shrink from no responsibility, and shall endeavour to meet events as they may arise with firmness, as well as with prudence and discretion. The appointing power is one of the most delicate with which the Executive is invested. I regard it as a sacred trust, to be exercised with the sole view of advancing the prosperity and happiness of the people. It shall be my effort to elevate the standard of official employment, by selecting for places of importance individuals fitted for the posts to which they are assigned, by their known integrity, talent, and virtues. In so extensive a coun try, with so great a population, and where few persons appointed to office can be known to the appointing power, misteltee will some times unavoidably happen, and unfortucate appointments be made, notwithstanding the greatest care. In such case, the power of removal may be properly exercised; and neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, will be no more tolerated in indi viduals appointed by myself, than in those appointed by others. FOREIGN RELATIONS. I am happy in being able to say that no unfavourable change in our fcreign relations has taken place since the message at the opening of the last session of Congress. We are at peace with all nations, and we enjoy in an eminent degree the blessings of that peace, in a pros p•-rows and growing commerce, and in all the forms of amicable national intercourse. The unexampled growth of the country, th e p resen t amoun t of ita population, and its ample means of self-protection, assure for it the pro tection of all nations; whilst it is trusted that its charac ter for justice, and a regard to the rights of other states, will cause that respect to be readily and cheerfully paid. THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC CANAL. A convention was negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, in April last, for facilitating and protecting the construction of a ship canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and for other purposes. This instrument has since been ratified by the con tracting parties, the exchange of ratifications has been effected, and proclamation thereof has been duly made. In addition to the stipulations contained in this con vention, two other objects remain to be accomplished betAyeen the contracting powers. „ First, the designationand establishment of a free port at each end of the canal. Second, an cgreement fixing the distance from the shore within which belligerent maratime operations shall not be carried on. On these points there is little doubt that the two Governments will come to an under standing. THE NICARAGUA QUESTION. The company of citizens of the United States who have acquired from the State of Nicaragua the privilege of constructing a ship canal Leta een the two oceans, through the territory of that state, have made progress in their preliminary arrangements. The treaty between the United States and Great Britain of the 19th of April list above referred to being now in operation, it is to be hoped that the guarantees which it offers will be suffi cient to secure the completion of the work with all prac ticable expedition. it is obvious that this result would be indefinitely postponed if any other than peaceful mea sures, for the purpose of harmonising conflicting claims to territory in that quarter should be adopted. It will consequently be my endeavour to cause any further ne gotiations on the part of this Government, which may be requisite for this purpose, to be so conducted as to bring them to a speedy and successful close. Some unavoidable delay has occurred arising from distance and the difficulty of intercourse between this Government and that of Nicaragua, but as intelligence has just been received of the appointment of an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of that Go vernment to reside et 'Washington, whose arrival may soon be expected, it is hoped that no further impedi ments will be experienced in the prompt transaction of business between the two Governments. RAILROAD ACROSS THE ISTHMUS OF TE HUAN TE PEC. Citimens of the United States have undertaken the connexion of the two oceans by means of a railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under grants of the Mexican Government to a citizen of that republic. It is understood that a thorough survey of the course of the communication is in preparation, and there is every reason to expect that it will be prosecuted with charac teristic energy, especially when that Government shall have consented to such stipulations with the Govern ment of the United States as may be necessary to impart a feeling of security to those who may embark their pro perty in the enterprise. Negotiations are pending for the accomplishment of that object, and a hope is con fidently entertained that when the Government of Mexico shall become duly sensible of the advantages which that country cannot fail to derive from the work, and learn that the Government of the United States de sires that the right of sovereignty of Mexico in the Isthmus shall remain unimpaired, the stipulations re ferred to will be agreed to with alacrity. By the last ad vices from Mexico it would appear, how ever, that that Government entertains strong objections to some of the stipulations which the parties concerned in the project of the railroad deem necessary for their protection and security. Further considerrtion, it is hoped, or some modification of terms, may yet reconcile the differences existing between the two Governments in this respect. Fresh instructions have recently been given to the Minister of the United States in Mexico, who is prose cuting the subject with promptitude and ability. Although the negotiations with Portugal for the pay ment of claims of the citizens of the United States against that Government have net yet resulted in a formal treaty, yet a proposition made by the Govern ment of Portugal for the final adjustment and payment of those claims has recently been accepted on the part of the United States. It gives me pleasure to say that Mr. Clay, to whom the negotiation on the part of the United States has been entrusted, discharged the duties of his appointment with ability and discretion, acting always within the instructions of his Government. It is expected that a regular convention will be imme diately negotiated for carrying the agreement between the two Governments into effect. CONVENTION WITH BRAZIL. The Commissioner appointed under the Act of Con gress for carrying into effect the convention with Brezil, of Jan. 27, 1849, has entered upon the performances of the duties imposed upon him by that Act. It is hoped that these duties may be completed within the time which it prescribes. The documents, however, which the Government, by the third article of the conven tion, stipulates to furnish to the Government of the United States, have not yet been received. As it is presumed that these documents will be essential for the correct disposition of the claims, it may become necessary for Congress to extend the period limited for the dura tion of the commission. The sum stipulated by the fourth article of the convention to be paid to this Government has been received. PORT DUES ON VESSELS OF CHILI, Fie. The collection in the ports of the United States of discriminating duties upon the vessels of Chili and their cargoes has been suspended, pursuant to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of May, 1828. It is to be hoped that this measure will impart a fresh im pulse to the commerce between the two countries, which of late, and especially since our acquisition of California, has, to the mutual advantage of the parties, become so augmented. Peruvian guano has become so desirable an article to the agricultural interests of the United States, that it is the duty of the Government to employ all the means properly in its power for the purpose of caus ing that article to be imported into the country at a reasonable price. Nothing will be omitted on my part towards accomplishing this desirable end. I am per suaded that in removing any restraints on this traffic, the Peruvian Government will promote its own best interest, while it will afford a proof of a friendly disposition towards this country, which will be duly appreciated. HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND ST. DOMINGO. The treaty between the United States and his Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, which has recently been made public, will, it is believed, have a beneficial effect upon the relations between the two countries. The relations between the parts of the island of St. Domingo, which were formerly colonies of Spain and France, respectively, are still in an unsettled condition. The proximity of that island to the United States, and the delicate questions involved in the existing contro versy there, render it desirable that it should be perma nently and speedily adjusted. The interests of humanity and of general commerce also demand this; and, as inti mations of the same sentiments have been received from other Governments, it is hoped that some plan may be devised to effect the object in a manner likely to give general satisfaction. The Government of the United States will not fail, by the exercise of all proper friendly offices, to put an end to the destructive war which has raged between the different parts of the island, and to secure to them both the benefits of peace and commerce. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. I refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury for a detailed statement of the finances. The total receipts into the Treasury, for the year ending 30th of June last, was forty-seven millions four hundred and twenty-one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight dollars and ninety cents (d 0115.47,421,748,90). The total expenditures during the same period were forty-three millions two thousand one hundred and sixty eight dollars and ninety cents (dolls. 43,002,168 90). The public debt has been reduced since the last annual report from the Treasury department four hundred and ni❑ety-five thousand two hundred and seventy-six dol lers and seventy-nine cents (dolls. 495,276 79). By the 19th section of the Act of 28th of January, 1847, the proceeds of the sales of the public lands were pledged for the interest and principal of the public debt. The great amount of those subsequently granted by Congress for military bounties will, it is believed, very nearly supply the public demand for several years to come, and but little reliance can, therefore, be placed on that hitherto fruitful source of revenue. Aside from the permanent annual expenditures, which have necessarily largely increased, a portion of the public debt, amounting to 8,075,986 dolls. 59c., must be pro• vided for within the next two fiscal years. It is most desirable that these accruing demands should be met without resorting to new loans. THE TARIFF QUESTION. All experience has demonstrated the wisdom end policy of raising a large portion of revenue, for the sup port of Government, from duties on goods imported. The power to levy those duties is unquestionable, and its chief object, of course, is to replenish the treasury. But if in doing this an incidental advantage may be gained by encouraging the industry of our own citizens, it is our duty to avail ourselves of that advantage. A duty laid upon an article which cannot be produced in this country—such as tea or coffee—adds to the cost of the article, and is chiefly or wholly paid by the con sumer. But a duty laid upon an article which may be produced here stimulates the skill and industry of our own country to produce the same article, which is brought into the market in competition with the foreign article, and the importer is thus compelled to reduce his price to that at which the domestic article can be s old, thereby throwing a part of the duty upon the producer of the foreign article. The continuance of this process creates the skill, and invites the capital, which finally enables us to produce the article much cheaper than it could have been produced from abroad, thereby benefit ing both the producer and the consumer at home. The consequence of this is, that the artisan and the agricul turist are brought together, each affords a ready market for the produce of the other, the whole country becomes prosperous; and the ability to produce every necessary of life renders us independent in war as well as in peace. A high tariff can never be permanent. It will cause dissatisfaction and will be changed; it excludes compe tition, and thereby invites the investment of capital in manufactures to such excess that when changed it brings distress, bankruptcy, and ruin, upon all who have been misled by its faithless protection. What the manufacturer wants is uniformity and permanency, that he may feel a confidence that he is not to be ruined by sudden changes. But to make a tariff uniform and permanent, it is not only necessary that the law should sot be altered, but that the duty phould ;ot fluctuate. To effect this all duties should be specific, wherever the nature of the article is such as to admit of it. Ad va lorem duties fluctuate with the price. and offer strong temptations to fraud and perjury. Specific duties, on the contrary, are equal and uniform in all ports, and at all times, and offer a strong inducement to the importer to bring the best article, as he pays no more duty upon that than upon one o` infer or quality. I therefore strongly recommend a modification of the present tariff, which has prostrated some of our most important and necessary manufactures, and that specific duties be im posed sufficient to raise the requisite revenue, nsakiug such discrimination in favcur of the industrial pursuits of our own country as to encourage home production without excluding foreign competition. It is also im portant that an unfortunate provision in the present tariff, which imposes a much higher duty upon the raw material that enters into our manufactures than upon the manufactured article, should be remedied. The papers accompanying the report of the Secretary of the Treasury will disclose frauds attempted upon the revenue,in variety a❑d amount so great, as to justify the conclusion that it is impossible, under any system of ad eateeoze duties levied upon the foreign cost or ♦alue of the article, to secure an honest observance and an ef fectual administration of the laws. The fraudulent de vices to evade the law, which have been detected by the vigilance of the appraisers, leave no room to doubt that similar impositions, not discovered, to a large amount, have been successfully practised since the enactment of the law now in force. This state of things has already had a prejudicial influence upon those engaged in foreign commerce. It has a tendency to drive the honest trader from the business of importing, and to throw that im portant branch of employment into the hands of unscru pulous and dishonest men, who are alike regardless of law and the obligations of an oath. By these means the plain intentions of Congres, as expressed in the law, are daily defeated. Every motive of policy and duty, therefore, impel me to ask the earnest attention of Con gress to this subject. If Congress should deem it un wise to attempt any important changes in the system of levying duties at this season, it will become indispensa ble to the protection of the revenue that such remedies, as in the judgment of Congress may mitigate the evils complained of, should be at once applied. As before stated, specific duties would, in my opi nion, afford the most perfect remedy for this evil; but if you should not concur in this view, then, as a partial remedy, I beg leave respectfully to recommend that, in- ' stead of taking the invoice of the article abroad as a means of determining its value here, the correctness of which invoice it is in many cases impossible to verify, the law be so changed as to require a home valuation, or appraisal, to be regulated in such manner as to give, as far as practicable, uniformity in the several ports. ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINT IN CALI- 1 The two brigantines accepted by the Government from a generous citizen of New York, and placed nader the command of an ofa!er of the navy to proceed to the Arctic seas in quest of the British commander, Sir John Franklin, and his companions,in compliance with the Act of Congress, approved in May last, had, when last \,',` heard from, penetrated into a nigh northern latitude; but the success of this noble and humane enterprise is 3 et uncertain. I invite your attention to the view of our present naval establishment and resources presented in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and the suggestions therein made for its improvement, together with the naval policy @commended for the security of our Pacific coast, and the protection and extension of our commerce with East ern Asia. Our facilities for ft larger participation in the trade of the east, by means of our recent settlements on the shores of the Pacific, are too obvious to be over looked or disregarded. The questions in relation to rank in the army and navy, and relative rank between officers of the two branches of the service, presented to the Executive by certain rerolutions of the House of Representatives, at the last session of Congress, have been stabmitted to a board of officers in each branch of the service, and their report may be expected at an early day. I also earnestly recommend the enactment of a law authorising officers of the army and navy to be retired from the service, when incompetent for its vigorous and active duties, taking care to make suitable pro. vision for those who have faithfully served their coun try, and awarding distinctions, by retaining in appro priate commands those who have been particularly conspicuous for gallantry and good conduct. While feeling the obligation of the country to maintain and honour those who, to the exclusion of other pursuits, have devoted themselves to its hazardous service, this obligation should not be permitted to interfere with the efficiency of the service itself. I am gratified in being able to state that the estimate' of expenditure for the navy in the ensuing year are less, by more than one million of dollars, than those of the present, excepting the appropriation which may become necessary for the construction of a dock on the coast of the Pacific, propositions for which are now being con sidered, and on which a special report may be expected early in your present session. There is an evident justness in the suggestion of the same report, that appropriations for the naval service proper should be separated from those for fixed and per monent objects, such as building docks and navy yards, and the fixtures attached; and from the extraordinary objects under the care of the department which, how ever important, are not essentially naval. A revision of the code for the government of the nary seems to require the immediate consideration of Con gress. Its system of crimes and punishments had under gone no change for half a century until last session, though its defects have been often and duly pointed out, and the abolition of a particular species of corporal punishment, which then took place, without providing any substitute, has left the service in a state of defec tiveness, which calls for prompt correction. I therefore recommend that the whole subject be revised without delay, and such a system established for the enforcement of discipline as shall be at once humane and effectual. THE POST- OFFICE. The accompanying report of the Postmaster-General presents a satisfactory view of .the operations and con dition of that department. At the close of the last fiscal year the length of the inland mail routes in the United States (not embracing the service in Oregon and California) was 178,672 miles; the annual transportation thereon 46,541,423 miles; and the annual cost of such transportation 2,724,426 dollars. The incresso of the annual transportation over that of the preceding year was 3,997,354 miles; and the increase in cost was 342,440 dollars. The number of post•of&ces in the United States, on the Ist day of July last, was 18,417—being an increase of 1,670 during the preceding year. The gross revenues of the department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1850, amounted to 5,552,971 dolls. 4S cents, including the annual appropriation 200,000 dolls. for the franked matter of the departments, and ex. eluding the foreign portages collected for and payable to the British Government. The expenditures for the same period were 5,212,953 dolls. and 43 cents, leaving a balance of revenue over ex penditures of 340,018 dolls. and 5 cents. I am happy to find that the fiscal condition of the de partment is such as to justify the Postmaster-General in recommending the reduction of our inland letter post age to 3 cents the single letter when prepaid, and i cents when not prepaid. He also recommends that the pre paid rate shall be reduced to 2 cents whenever the revenues of the department, after the reduction, shall exceed its expenditures by more tha❑ 5 per cent. for two consecutive years; that the postage upon Cali fornia and other letters sent by our ocean steamers shall be mush reduced, and that the rates of postage on news papers, pamphlets, periodicals, and other printed matter, shall be modified, and some reduction thereon made. It cannot be doubted that the proposed reductions will for the present diminish the revenues of the depart ment. It is believed that the deficiency, after the sur plus already accumulated shall be exhausted, may be almost wholly met either by abolishing the existing pri vileges of sending free matter through the mails, or by paying out of the Treasury to the Post-office department a sum equivalent to the postage of which it is deprived by such privileges. The last is supposed to be the pre ferable mode, and will, if not entirely, so nearly supply that deficiency as to make any further appropriat,on that may be found necessary so inconsiderable as to form no obstacle to the proposed reductions. PUBLIC WORKS. I entertain no doubt of the authority of Congress to make appropriations for leading objects in that class of public work, comprising what are usually called works of internal improvement. This authority I suppose to be derived chiefly from the power of regulating com merce with foreign nations, and among the states, and the power of laying and collecting imposts. Where commerce is to be carried on and imposts collected, there must be ports and harbours, as well as wharfs and cut- tom-houses. If ships, laden with valuable cargoes, ap proach the shore, or sail along the coast, light-houses are necessary at suitable points for the protection of life and property. Ocher facilities and securities for com merce and navigation are hardly less important; and those clauses of the constitution, therefore, to which I have referred, have received from the origin of the Government a liberal and beneficial construc tion. Not only have light-houses, buoys, end bea cons been established, and floating lights main tained, but harbours have been cleared and improved, piers constructed, and even breakwaters for the safety of shipping, and sea walls to protect harbours from being filled up, and rendered useless by the action of the ocean, have been erected at very great expense. And this construction of the constitution appears the more reasonable from the consideration, that if these works, of such evident importance and utility, are not to be ac complished by Congress, they cannot be accomplished at all. By the adoption of the constitution, the several states voluntarily carted with the power of collecting duties of impost in their own ports, and it is not to bo expected that they should raise money, by internal taxa tion, direct or indirect, for the benefit of that commerce, the revenues derived from which do not, either in whole or in part, go into their ow❑ treasuries. Nor dol perceive any difference between the power of Congress to make appropriations for objects of this kind o❑ the ocean and the power to make appropria tions for similar objects on lakes and rivers, wherever they are large enough to bear on their waters an extensive traffic. The magnificent Mississippi and its tributaries, and the vast lakes of the north and north-west, appear to me to fall within the exercise of the power, as justly and as clearly as the ocean and the Gult of Mexico. It is a mistake to regard expenditures judiciously made for these objects as expenditures for local purposes. The position or site of the work is necessarily local; but its utility is general. A ship canal aroend the falls cf St. Mary, of less than a mile in length, though local in its construction, would yet be national in its purpose and its benefits; as it would re move the only obstruction to a navigation of more than a thousand miles, affecting several states, as well as our commercial relations with Canade. So, too, the break water at the mouth of the Delaware is erected, not for the exclusive benefit of the states bordering on the bay and river of that name, but for that of the whole coastwise navigation of the United States, and, to a considerable extent, also, of foreign commerce. If a ship be lost on the bar, at the entrance of a southern port, for want of sufficient depth of water, it is very likely to be a northern ship; and if a steam-boat be sunk in any part of the Mis.sissioi, on account of its channel not hav ing been properly cleared cf obstructions, it may be a boat belonging to either of eight or ten states. I may add, as somewhat remarkable, that among all the 31 states there is none that is not, to a greater or less ex tent, bounded on the ocean, or the Gulf of Mexico, or one of the great lakes, or some navigable river. In fulfilling our constitutional duties, fellow citizens, on this subject, as in carrying into effect all other powers conferred by the constitution, we should consider ourselves as deliberating and acting for oee and the same country, and bear constantly in mind that our re gard and our duty are due, not to a particular part only, but to the whole. I therefore recommend that appropriations be made for completing such works as have been already begun, and for commencing such others as may seem to the wis dom of Congress to be.of public and general important-a. SETTLEMENT OF PRIVATE CLAIMS. T gr h e e s r s e , a i m s o r u e n a t soofn in h The difficulties and delays incident to the se ttlement o t o f p a r i d v e a n t iea lclaims u s b ti y c e Con . that many unfortunate creditors ment have thereby been unavoidablye Govern meat ruined. of a Congress has so much busin ess publio character that it is impossible it should give much t t oaP many P a r e c he a n e a d attention to mere private claims, and their accumulation is now so great that many claimants must despair of ever being able to obtain a hearing. It may well b• doubted whether Congress, from the nature of its organ ization, is properly constituted to decide upon such cases. It is impossible that each member should ex amine the merits of every claim on which he is com pelled to vote; and it is preposterous to ask a judge to decide a case which he has never heard. Such deci sions may, and frequently must, do injustice either to the claimant or the Government, and I perceive no better remedy for this growing evil than the establish ment of some tribunal to adjudicate upon such claims. I beg leave, therefore, most respectfully to recommend that provision be made by law for the appointment of a commission to settle all private claims against the United States; and as au cx parte hearing must in all contested oases be very unsatisfactory, I also recommend the appointment of a solicitor, whose duty it shall be to represent the Government before such commission, and protect it against all illegal, fraudulent, or unjust claims, ' which may he presented for their adjudication. iTbia district, which has neither voice not; vats to rmv deliberatiow, looks to you for prolootiou tad aid, yid : FORNIA. There being no mint in California, I am informed that the labourers in the mines are compelled to dispose of their gold dust at a large discount. This appears to me to be a heavy and unjust tax upon the labour of those employed in extracting this precious metal; and I doubt not you will be disposed, at the earliest period possible, to relieve them from it by the establishment of a mint. In the meantime, as an assayer's office is es- tablished there, I would respectfully submit for your consideration the propriety of authorising gold I bullion, which has bean assayed and stamped, to be received in payment of Government dues. I cannot con ceive that the treasury would suffer any loss by such a provision, which will at once raise bullion to its par value, and thereby save (if I am rightly informed) many millions of dollars to the labourers, which are now paid in brokerage to convert this precious metal into avail able funds. This discount upon their hard earnings is a heavy tax, and every effort should bo made by the Government to relieve them from so great a burden. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 1 More than three-fourths of our populatidn are en gaged in the cultivation of the soil. The commercial, manufacturing, and navigating interests, are all to a great extent dependent on the agricultural. It is, there tore, the most important interest of the nation, and has a just claim to the fostering care and protection of the Government, so far as they can be extended consistently with the provisions of the constitution. As this cannot be done by the ordinary modes of legislation, I respect fully recommend the estab'ishment of an agricultural bureau, to be charged with the duty of giv ing to this leading branch of American in dustry the encouragement which it so well de serves. In view of the immense mineral resources of our country, provision should also be made for the em ployment of a competent mineralogist and chemist, who should be required, under the direction of the head of the bureau, to collect specimens of the ♦arious minerals of our country, and to ascertain by careful analysis, their respective elements and proportions, and their adapta tion to useful purposes. He should also be required to examine and report upon the qualities of different soils, and the manures best calculated to improve their pro ductiveness. By publishing the results of such experi ments, with suitable explanations, and by the collection and distribution of rare seeds and plants, with instruc tions as to the best system of cultivation, much may be done to promote this great national interest. THE LATE CENSUS. I❑ compliance with the Act of Congress, passed on the 23d of May, 1850, providing, among other things, for taking the seventh census, a superintendent was ap pointed, and all other measures adopted which were deemed neces:ary to insure the prompt and faithful performance of that duty. The appropriation already made will, it is believed, be sufficient to defray the whole expenses of the work, but further legislation may be necessary in regard to the compensation of some of the marshals of the territories. It will also be proper to make provision by law, at an early day, for the publica tion of such abstracts of the returns as the public in terests may require. TERRITORIES ON THE PACIFIC. The unprecedented growth of our territories on the Pacific in wealth and population, and the consequent increase of their social and commercial relations with the Atlantic States, seems to render it the duty of the Government to use all its constitutional power to im prove the means of intercourse with them. The im portance of " opening a line of communication, the best and most expeditious of which the nature of the country will admit," betwee❑ the valley of the Mississippi and the Pacific, was brought to your notice by my prede cessor in his annual message, and as the reasons which be presented in favour of the measure still exist in full force, I beg leave to call your attention to them and to repeat the recommendations then made by him. The uncertainty which exists in regard to the validity of land titles in California is a subject which demands your early consideration. Large bodies of land in that State are claimed under grants said to have been made by authority of the Spanish and Mexi can Governments. Many of these have not been per fected, others have been revoked, and some are be lieved to be fraudulent. But until they shall have been judicially investigated, they will continue to retard the settlement and improvement of the country. I, there fore, respectfully recommend that provision be made by law for the appointment of commissioners to examine all such claims a ith a view to their final adjustment. I also beg leave to call your attention to the propriety of extending, at an early day, our system of land laws, with such modifications as may be necessary, over the state of California and the territories of Utah and New Mexico. The mineral lands of California will, of course, form an exception to any general system which may be adopted. Various methods of disposing of them have been suggested. I was at ,first inclined to favour the system of leasing, as it seemed to promise the largest ' revenue to the Government, and to afford tho best secu rity against monopolies; but further rctl , :ction, and our experience in leasing the lead-mines and selling lands upon credit, have brought my mind to the conclusion, that there would be great difficulty in collecting the rents, and that the rela tiens of debtor and creditor between the citizens and the Government would be attended with many mischie vous consequences. I therefore recommend that, instead of retaining the mineral lands under the permanent con trol of the Government, they be divided into small par cels and sold, under such restrictions, as to quantity and time, as will insure the best price, and guard most effec tually against combinations of capitalists to obtain mono polies. THE INDIAN TRIBES. The annexation of Texas, and the acquisition of Ca lifornia and New Mexico, have given increased import ance to our Indian relations. The various tribes brought under our jurisdiction by these enlargements of our boundaries are estimated to embrace a population of 124,000. Texas and New Mexico are surrounded by powerful tribes of Indians, who are a source of constant terror and annoyance to the inhabitants. Separating into small predatory bands, and always mounted, they overrun the country, devastating farms, destroying crops, driving off whole herds of cattle, and occasionally murdering the inhabitants or carrying them into captivity. The great roads leading into the country are infested with them, whereby travelling is rendered extremely dangerous, and immigration is al most entirely arrested. The Mexican frontier, which, by the 11th article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, wo are bound to protect against the Indians within our borders, is exposed to those incursions equally with our own. The military force stationed in that country (al though forming a large proportion of our army) is re presented as entirely inadequate to our own protection, and the fulfilment of our treaty stipulations with Mexico. The principal deficiency is in cavalry, and I recommend that Congress should, at as early a period as practicable, provide for the raising of one or more regiments of mounted men. For further suggestions on this subject, and others connected with our domestic interests, and the defence of our frontier, I refer you to the report of the Secre tary of the Interior and the Secretary of War. THE ARMY AND NAVY. I commend also to your favourable consideration the suggestion contained in the last-mentioned report, and in the letter of the General-in-Chief, relative to the es tablishment of an asylum for the relief of disabled and destitute soldiers. This subject appeals so strongly to your sympathies, that it would be superfluous in me to say anything more than barely to express my cordial approbation of the proposed object. The navy continues to give protection to our com merce and other national interests in the different quar ters of the globe, and, with the exception of a single steamer on the northern lakes, the vessels in commission are distributed in six different squadrons. The report of the head of that department will ex hibit the services of these squadrons, and of the se veral vessels employed in each during the past year. It is a source of gratification that, while they have been constantly prepared for any hostile emergency, , they have everywhere met with the respect and courtesy due, as well to the dignity as to the peaceful dispositions and just purposes of the nation. Diuo- ;phis, 6betbi rude, n . Na n, for ;t, dr treak 1130 0 t fiv e 11 01. here. es to got ,Ten back r Li' ACi ll iie. I !UDR , )ther icer° T l r• . . --- Belo' ria 3 1 iii , t ice. ; sd; Y the 11) 0 the re , 0 A ti ) the ,lords w ho coil' org e ' c o 0. T. rose' Pr lia° ort° 4 lar a , of pri" ) t he , tb e i 06 0 0 O s iffi9