The Sun. — London, England, 1845-02-03 00:00:00

SUMMARY OF MEWS " °ll biilt Who runs /nay reaa: t. t.-A 1....L:4.4:41,7; . On Thursday evening their '. 4 . l ajesties the fling and and Queen of the French rectived the Sardinian Ain basrd t o . r e , 'sl* Ilc'ts•le-Conate, Minister of France in Holland, , ( h ie Prince of Saltu-Dyck, Lord Brougham the Counts s d de Merey-d'ArgentQl, d'Aunemont, Rohan-Chabot, ar Saint Aliturice. The Moniteur publishes a royal ordonnance confirmingfor the contract made with Messs. Vauthier and Co , the line of railroad between Aloritereau and Troyes. ebu. The report of the Minister of Finauce on the m lB4 _ facture and sale of on and snuff durin g the year ,,,. 3 was distributed on Thursday, to the Memte ra thetc(:n, Chanaber of Deputies. It appears from it thetlistfiv, the autoption had it,creast d, arid that the net pre . Government in 1843 was 3 , 5 00,0001. more tnan in 1842. t,11s The Moniteur was the returns of the impo . rta 4 0. Into France in December last, the duties ._ti "inch it, duced 13,399,399 E, showing an as compared with those of December, 1843. , iner6tase of 2,8 . 61,3 6u 9 5 r : ascot receipts amounted, in 1844, to 152,117,3(J19fh.e_;4!_h.cy were 143,054,703 f. in 1843, and 13 7,434,593 E in 18 ). I . ; appears from an official return, which has , been e ju_s n t In'ae, that the consumptio n of gunpowder in France neti 1843 had diminished by 114,754 6 1361. kilogrammes. pro6t to the Government was 2,393,386 E, being 43 , , less than iu 1842. ~M• buvergier de Ha.uranne has brought into the b_ Ch of Deputies, and laid upon the table, the pi Position that be introduced two y - ears ago, for doing awaY %ill' the ballot, and making the votes public. The Seine continued rising on Thursday. ' ' ll' scale tthe ric er the Pont -Royal marked 3i metres, at which pow rarer heemes unnavigable. 4 letter fro W. b. I n of the 28th ult.. announces . m ies ,1( C , th e thlith, on the morning of that day, of El:zabeth, Du e h s'iil born h er of Nassau, and Grand Duchess of Russia, atter aceouchrnent on the precedin g day antf j -. ohe was born in 1826, and married of a onthe 31st (' - arluarY, 1844. A.A. Berlin letter, dated the 25th, in the Joulnal de "V° t d cares • E ,e in the most positive manner that the iress uf Rsia is seri:ol.l,lY lii• ..__,• The Jura Jour-n(llde 1' Ain, of the 29th ult., says • c o ,• B ' and a part of the surrounding country are e_netHir:,l,ye ehd7ed with Nn ow. The mail fro m Paris . to G ey e ; great difficulty in crossing the Faucille ; it loses A l day four or five hours." brok, aull t one o'clock on Thursday morning, ,e a rl fi a re . sso L , out in the tan and flour mills of Mr. Robins o:1, 01. Leil: l -:sso l ti ' e : The Sub -Pi etect of Corbeil and ire IN t l he ? ir ju- t die ! ~.- !s.-ere immediately on the si,,,t, Ittll . _, b) n i.i. cur. Lill wirections and the activity ul the. tn . cur, ai . tvre to th ee , e fir was gut under, but not until . da creel_,, Aj te "t, it is said, of 10 0,000 f. had been iuti. 6,.. e e di sE ,„ e()r.dthg to a letter from Alexandria, et rlie ~• be e It s, ge n ," t s Z ,a h..rned cattle, w hien was some time l great In Egypt has ageiu broken out, an•caused s ra ea4 es. I,44eletttr. from Vienna, of the 20th, states that the d e j, And l'riheess of Salerno, th e Prince and P 9 I are e xp4 ll ,, v ille, and the Duke and Duchess d'A e u of Alisetreia.there in the spring, our a visit to th H E )a mPeror l i ? ' 4 ll t e h Pra7 'ee sat s:-.-" We learn from a certain . source.tie ° ltt e. -Ring and Queen of Prussia, arid the Princt the banl,74lch• w ill, in the month of June, nr"ceedbt?t te ha't;"f thy Rhine, the King of Prussia to inh , a . i . b e kett_44.of Stolzentels, near Coblentz, and the I rince d ertech his Chateau of Johannisberg." T he 1) uOtrit,t-----r•cs.sik4A.,),4 _1.3 *.Ai-, licia, flike atuckiiagharn has arrived at Buckingham the uotreola Stewe. /Es Grace is expected e t e o n a ib tt g ei e ed t 4 PBley fi of WeLington's grand dinner this v 1, uuse The /) , • tcin ear l ae of Newcastle and the Ladies :Pelham Cli . n- t , 0 still at eltimber Park, Notts. No period is y f e the 'srothe return of the family to Portman-square or , Then I\4; B.r ) , e"pe and D uchest of N'orfolk and the Ladies e tlSatllll,.i Adcliza Howard arrived 114 St. James's-squ , ar . ot,A r.ay eveni kattlphellu'e Nadel Sun g' u from Arundel Castle. TheLarl , The b Land y has arrived in place.Chesham- .ma ,and Duchess of Argyll and Lady Em x. ee, d to% wnose health is greatly iniproved, are e , u r hi s GitaVe Inverary Castle at the end of the week, tl ")4,11 raet'S seat, in D umbartonshire, en route 0 Th e ~ AI jj ilke f • / ..b Lord r • exam, t 0 Richmond the Earl of 1 ar• , .'-'a.ili.es een-Linoexn,nox, Lad Lord 'Georg Ilinox, and the Horace Seymour, 1'140114 Hordeth isi' Lady • Clint"' Sir Q frd and the misse s ,h•es Seymour, Lady ,ey 0 , iiPlAs Ik,, bir Henry Lecke Lady Lecke, and the dyci7ell( Major-General Si; Hercules Pakenham T\ r k ti,h enham Sir John Ornmaney, General and Mitten, ° °c't lirs.lGeneral Dorien and Mrs.. Charles and L' e 8.. L (Y:ci acre _arlY four hundred of the t",.l c i, a `,L,u, d the ball given by Colonel Sir d ut at pr_incipal ,.. nHo-. "ee, Rteo'4e officers of the 55th Regune f The t 414 lnesday evening lire°,t4llll.adolitlotio.n.ler,sey has arrived in Berkley-square to attend llorsealesty i n ~,, in order to be in readiness r et 0 ka rciti; 43' next. th Tiarrill :dritl;2lthesda ti3d 7 1:r i ach i ioCriapeasseitc):f asN 0r M t n a a n t b e u r r 3o: of the )3:431em ho,Cliatrenelon Hotel, from parti D el u p e a b t e m ss g or Ear at tosel:it:Gttlities of the Duke and h I be! utak ''awar r i s Buck tord cuxnpected in town to-day from cl,, • - and Lad 4 ill P a , k 1' Robert Grosvenor are expected to coargeis an d treet, • 111 Eaton Hall, the seat of the 1).1.0111(1]te:s of,flasrehioness of Westminster. .Earl and b rae theiro.nor and youthful family ptend . to 'tg(.l., bolo with their noble relatives som 47Tee4,_Addres 11h0X-4,.‘.,itAtittickvi. , h fr e ,.,,, 8,, in the House of Peers, in answer to the oliEtv,tmentdilestl:hrone, will by the Marquis be moved th a l urd seconded, bv Lord Glenleon. et,i:lollo,Nill:ci Morning, be-w eigh t arid nine o'clock, p1)1)ilt r , 4 br ze aring rubbery was committed on the pre e (1, I Li r• Collins, a dairyman residing in LI-ath :ts thailtPlsrleacl, Min- the) politee stationhnuee. It k, ti,l" "Jr k i t ,. 'II% C. Lune, outside his shop two large fine r , 41 1.14. 8 b tit'," they 1171 d not been ex used more than i ' '.. , eiore so . 1 Itabeci. liee e ,, ded . ille kxpert thieves-, Unebserved b . ); it4,44fitaely ovt,h'n carrying them t ff. Information wa '''it the 'us ti . ' the pelice, who went in three • tear pi 44 w:Ilev(. but without effect. It is s upsposed wvie h„the threwu into a cart that was standing hki„e Lord s 6 . 1.:44i,„;k had tin(lcirnmissioners of her Majesty's Treasury 1 B pir it ,e,ar, e(Tsifieration a memorial . from the t , , (r O4l s -tosoelation of Liverpool, . f ( . 4. r ,• taq. 1- J'aYMent of duty on the nat wastag, o praying to e th,'ts"'Ahips have authorised the CoCO'lltnibSiollerS liN''' , lay kr,:° ylvte effect to the alteration ' Prop.,: d by eket.qtht,selltnig in future the followint, allowance in k,"'llti g e t Pre,nt in fore,‘, vi for 6 y ime not kr'euitit l'a Year, fur every 'IOU gallonsz"— I onager gallon t he eVtiejtoYbe°l'ol"o 3g''ttsalir,,,nsa,ntltw-nqot eixiLleenaknt. anal years, 1 so on for tita il'a44hotusec:l rYears. the) gc4asicilsinany remain in 4 ''ti s, ,izitay i tat aPi:lded the total allowance ti r o_ ail gall ''--a 9,,ar'e exceed the follovviog propo . ~%„, oi ; „ . ter.eask, t h, e gallons; a hogshead, oee 1 4 4 PI Pe, seven gallons and further, that no hllr' l l In n rnade for the fracrio'nal part of a gallon, A id A l ta 13u tits to 6 l 'a t , i , ftY b e e -1 00th parts, in which case one / Par ch elvr of „4"Wed, It parts, be understood that `le e '-'ll4es " Lord s 1 I , if t th t"' v aUlt % ( . the Treasury refers only to w .• a l° ' praeti 'ou o f special security —it does uot l l i , re , 4 ,... ce observed at the decks in this port, 4 4,'';) 4 ir:::ell,larly enneen, ki lr i L ar tlish ..• a„,rtitaze ~,,s the ou . tp?rts, where it ketl.%t ei th eLI to th • ~opies of this order have 4,4(4ta of? tolleetor: several departments in London, a.ue ~.%1. the t c h e e a n d co eiolomptrfollerbs a e t the g v e f e io rb. • revenue officersi, ...I I f eat itrq a:dither information of the tt, r il . sl , 4 3 7 ttio lt kiLls tire3do-ke ari muc h alarm was felt in the vicinity VtiAk:,:illir,,,b4aki,,,;" .15erinoralsey, owing tw o very eisas -', so, w: i o ut at the extensiVe reheuses of e , e t hi .at le , ' :stapler, situat e on the south side of ktoetititialeartt'Letiotiltvii4nciu , I the Greenwi,h Railway. 4tritN4eti 1°I• the ith great fury, and faint hopes were th ~Ive,.. tallow_et. aafetY of Messrs. Willshere's, the ti;:etPlta,, tAtaii ilandlers, whose works, a short time ttil,ath:l44stroyed by fire. Engines were, with tl tt fia lai tt :, i ng obt:i to the spot, and an excellent supply 1 '4' taktr Preteis47l,,,,w great body was thrown on °Y t' Itett heavy. The damge, it is &wed will i, cl ctY okt, li (3,_lva,,!ath of th'°4,,thurst, neer Brid evrater, is nt ~.r),,t1',T,,,,, 11-181'. 11., Parsunsg, the late . r e f . or e tttr t •' Es 17 ti,' 6. n of the :tying is p.i., ,is 3 781 • . 4he annualvalue, according to the maid ,Il .....,,,,.........., --e Population, 341. ''ll k h ... th th ntte 0 A t , .11t tk t SEAR C kti,'' li h o " Di4k, cielt CONIMISSION.—Wet under th, ~ kil erl y e_ Boglie, the distinguished diplo thit/tlte'ssar;Ppereeted at . the French Embassy from !It:,th„,cc,tth, eep t i o4 ~ Paeration having been made for tvitirq,;l:e7 e ll ati L i n _e i l; o • rtTh Duke de Broglie comes tie j er etl e :tne nt; 11„, ant special mission from the e at °a ite.,_rto the i f 9e object of the Deke's Missio n i'4,f th,7 filly . .._ii'ght of search," and the slave .is now hoped that a settle f,,,ti.iWiii gong- it tetr a differences on that important 1._14. t'at,°°tty t aN,,-Alti na I'4Q PlaCe, to the mutual satisfaction lb, C ir:. tp,,all' :111+„rYt t ow AG „f .ttlik,n AGEIt COUNNESS or ALD tikk6tAi „ a t httrti,! de ath was e r t E e u ei .eel on Saturday last tietp., 111‘klell4id ea ce ill that gager Countess of Ald ,tll , rlc, 1 tiNtt 013, even,. .. .. capital, at an advanced Y tt le a,tly rt .4(1 co tnat ,,‘ vtu"k place on Wednesday titi.c,tl.,ill.. sid ed at Phis. es,.. had for the la.st five years v. th. tr; ( ' ll °f au , f Her Laddyship, who was 11,1:di .Itt i b ak t.rd At .1. . , the Rev. Fre elicit Hamilton, t•ci i ll , 14 , a o f b ("loald Hamilton, seventh - of 4116 4 1 11 l t111, 1 p lamilton, married .in April, 5° 1 11 . , .. i .. 7, ',,t,,, her 1 -41. „; °I Aldb --4 t -Atuys),;..‘ , borough by whom, who tt , J. ) tallr%sai ta " a qi ... Jaa!l issue three daughters, I.;PV. 1 1 4 4 ; La - , l . e ti to the Ilon. J. Rodney, 4t 4 tta It Toililaizabeth, wido N I , alma,Z tlt. atria e ; and Lady Emil), widow I t 1 1 ,,„ -41 q h °Oktlt,_ p i ,', oof :‘,rti6re 11;'....The OfteerB of the t • n ..mtifr-r11,,,, u,,z, In itouie . o 74 , I . 'ti t 4 th„ 4 pii,,, ,late]y seized 900 kilo -441.. \iiitilZzlit,,Dir:tlllo443t,twi.tl7,:t_ tteriTsin3o,tatiilaasduenadletrrgoofnteheabeiearrtaaiisr; .4 k i' ,0), It e as agreeable t- the taste ,4, tr t he l e ar k be sold at a much to price, (I 'l)l.e tad as %v restaurants ' 4y a s 4.•,:tat•._ .--...Gc0, ~ instead of butter in tit. ~,t.,„,,11.1.,15au.pf t, .tynunt s Messenger. 14') th'`[il l la arta" Alarquis of Bute with Lad Pt the ,_`'Seot,,i,l'Red to beeeolebr.ated on NV, ednesy -4 114te'qt&rri4 ''' PaPers .44 4.„.,,Re ot. me Star u.nie, upon ' autho r%) 44 quis of Bute will not Mr. Herepath has published an excellent map of he London and York line and its loop, as a supple ment to kis last Saturday's paper ; it your readers will refer to it, they will see how every statement in my former letter is borne out. I could have wished that Mr. Herepath had marked upon his map the various competing lines ; but if your readers will extend the Northern and Eastern line from Cam bridge, by St. Ives, Ramsey, Peterborough, Market DePping, Bourn, &c., to Lincoln, and thence, as the Midland propose to carry it, by Gainsborough and Doncaster to the York and North Midland at Monk Fry stone, and will pencil out branches from Stamford to Spalding, Heckington to Boston, Doncaster to Swinton, and from the North Midland to the Manchester and Leeds Railway, by Griggleston and Gomersall, they will perceive how completely the objects of the London and York line inay be attained at one-third of the outlay which the construction of that line and its loop will require, and without injury to existing interests. If I understand the general reasoning of " Inves tigator" correctly, it comes to this—that if the Lin colnshire lines are made the distance between London and York will be reduced eleven miles only, and the through traffic be retained on the Midland lines. Now, by the Northern and Eastern and Cambridge and Lincoln lines, the distance to Lincoln will be 136 miles ; if the line be carried on direct to York by the Lincoln, York, and Leeds direct and independent (through Snaith and Selby), the entire distance from London to York will be 194 miles, or only eight more than by the L on d on and York ; if the line be carried on from Lincoln, by either the London and York, or the Midland, the entire distance from London to York would be about 200 miles ; so that " Investigator" does not state the case fairly when he says that if the Lincolnshire lines are made, the journey from London to York would be 228 miles, or only 11 miles less than by the present circuitous route. With respect to the retention by the Midland of the through traffic on their present lines "Investi gator" is equally wide of the mark ; it is clear that tie through traffic must be diverted from the Midlands. When that Company found that the public required, and would have a more direct communication between London and York, they proposed to make part of the chain, and, at the same time, to connect Lincolnshire in the most direct and cheapest way with the manufacturing and mineral districts. The Cambridge and Lincoln, and the Eastern Counties complete the chain, under such arrangements with the Midlands as will secure the quick and cheap transit of the traffic along the entire line; in fact, the Midlands are bound by the stongest of all ir:ducements to a public company— their pecuniary interest—to pass the through traffic along the new line; but, even if they were not so bound, the Board of Trade would take care that the public were neither retarded nor inconvenienced in the use of any railway communication by the Midland or any other company. " Investigator" assumes that it never was the dis position cf . the Northern and Eastern Company to go northward beyond Peterborough; certainly they would not do so if other companies would do it for them, and so bring upon their line, already made, the traffic which they relied on when their first Act was obtained ; but if the London and 1 ork is granted, the Northern and Eastern line will be robbed of its just and legitimate traffic—all the district lying to the north of Cambridge, round St. Ives, Ramsey, Hunt ingdon, Peterborough, and the whole of Lincolnshire, a; well as the through traffic, would be taken from them. I hold a large number of shares in the Eastern Counties which I purchased, relying on their having th e traffic to which I have referred ; and I do not hesita'e to say, that there is no existing line of railway iu the kingdom which will be more deeply, unfairly, unt2eeevsarily, and permanently injured by a com peting line, than the Northern and Eastern line will be by the London and York, if that Company is permitted to make a competing line from Peterborough to London. I am reminded by " Investigator" that Cam bridge is not on the direct route between Lon don and York, and " that the Cambridge and Lin coln line touches no great town on its route." In return, I Nluuld remind " Invostigator " that the route from London to York, via Cambridge and Lincoln, has been sanctioned by the Legislature, has been selected and recommended by many eminent engineers, at various times, since 1826, as the proper trunk line for the country, and was, in fact, so se lected, in the the first instance, by the promoters of the London and York, and that Cambridge, Peter borough, and Lincoln, all of which are touched by the Cambridge and Lincoln line, and are directly and best accommodated by it, are the largest a n d mos t important towns on the route. I will now briefly allude to the continuation of Mr. Herepath's observations on the London and York Railway, published in his journal of Satur day last. Mr. Herepath, like "Investigator," has not attempted any reply to my letter, on the ground, that he will not be drawn into a dispute on the merits of the two lines. He has before frankly admitted that, perfect as he conceives the London and 'York scheme to be, he would rather the line had started from Cambridge and gone into the York and North Midland at Burton Salmon; for this opinion, which by his own statement, he has repeatedly expressed to the promoters of the London and York line privately, I have no doubt he could ad vance soun d and conclu sive reasons, which it would be difficult to reconcile with the support he is now giving to the London and York, and I can only regret that the prOmoters of that line have not paid more attention to his opinion. Mr. Herepath has got:e into an elaborate exposition of the character of the works on the London and York line, from items supplied (as I gather f rom hi s article) by the engineer of the line, and th e y are matters for an engineer to deal with. As to the cost of construction we are left to guess. Mr. Herepath averages 330 miles of railway au 13,3301. per mile!!! Now this is less per mile than the estimated cost of the Cambridge and Lincoln, which has neither tunnels nor viaducts, nor an expensive city terminus, and over a large portion of which the works are of as light and favourable a character as the hen and chicken p ar t o f th e L on d o n and York. It is not upon such gue s ses as this that the decision of the Board of Trade and of Parliament will be made. I LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—My attention has been called to a letter in the Morning Herald of the Ist instant, signed "In vestigator," which purports to be a reply to my com munication to you of the 23d of January last. I have read "Investigator's " letter with attention ; and lam sure, if your readers will do the same, they will agree with me, that though he sets out with the admission that my view of the case is one of minutiw and detail, he studiously abstains from any attempt to show either that the facts stated by me are incorrect, or that the conclusions which I deduced from them are erroneous. " Investigator" has not ventured to state that a new line of railway from London to Peterborough is called for, or can be justified, in a national point of view, or that it" made, it will be other than a directly com peting line with an existing railway. More than this—he does not deny that every town on its route may be amply pro‘id;4l for by other lines of railway now under the consideration of the Board of Trade, not one of which will interfere with existing inte rests. Neither does "Investigator" tell us in what re• spects the metropolitan terminus of the London and York line can be compared, in national importance, or in its accommodation to the traffic from the manu facturing districts and from Lincolnshire, with the existing and projected termini of the Eastern COllll tic... 3. He observes the same politic silence also with re ference to the proposed communication be'ween the main line of the London and York, and the Man chester and Sheffield, and Manchester and Leeds Railways ; not venturing to challenge my assertion, that by the London and York scheme the connexion of Lincolnshire with the manufacturing and mineral districts involves 43 miles of new railway, whilst by the Midland scheme the same object is as well, or better attained, by the construction of 12 miles only. Again, as regards the communication between London and York, " Investigator" does not deny the following facts: that the direct line involves the con structi,n of 18.54 miles of railway, whilst the exten sion of the existing line involves the construction of 132 miles only-; that there will be no saving in time, by the more direct route over the other; that the distance saved is chiefly, if not entirely, saved between Lor:don and Peterborough ; that from York the line inu,it be made to Lincoln and from the south to Pe terborouvh ; that to accommodate the heart of Lin colnshire, and the population collected in the nume rous towns and villages along the Car Dyke, the line must be continued from Lincoln direct to Peterbo borough ; that the chain of railway communica tion will then be complete from York to London via Lincoln and Cambridge ; that another new, expensive, and entirely competing line from Bawtry to London cannot bt.j ustified on any ground ofnational importance, and cannot hold out any reasonable prospect of return to the proprietors. "Investigator" has charged me with having stated "that for the first thirty miles from London the York line invades some of the finest garden ground to he found in England " I made no such statement; what I did state was, "the first thirty miles from London will require an enormous outlay of capital, then the line will pass through some of the finest garden land in England "—and this statement is substantially and literally correct, as at or near Biggleswade the line will pass through some of the finest garden land in England. I refer to this trivial charge against my accuracy as showing that the writer could not impugn or call in question the more important statements which my letter embodied, in asmuch as it is the only instance of mis statement or misrepresentation which he has ventured to attribute to n-ie. am assured by engineers of great experience, who have examined the plans and sections of the London and York line and who are acquainted with the country it will traverse, that it cannot be completed under an average cost of 20,0001. a mile. Many of the railway projects which have been re ferred to the Board of Trade have originated in a spirit of aggression, or as defensive measures, on the part of existing railway companies. I have on a former occasion expressed my conviction of the ne cessity for a preli m i n ary i nqu i r y by Governmentinto the merits of competing lines, with the view to the se lection of such one line, or to the amalgamation of such different lines, as may best provide for the ad vantage and convenience of the public with the least detriment to existing interests. I cordially concur with Mr. Herepath in the opinion, that the decisions which the Board has already annoueced are just and proper, and I look forward to its report on the Northern and Eastern lines, not only without anxiety, but with perfect confidence that it will be in accordance with the principles which have hitherto guided its deci sions. '1 he Board of Trade is well aware that the London and York is only another name for the Man chester and Leeds—and that the struggle for the dis trict north of Lincoln is, in fact, a struggle between the Manchester and Leeds and the Midlands. The Manchester and Leeds want to have the command of the traffic between the manufacturing and mi neral districts and Lincolnshire. The Mid lands say, that is our district, and you have no right to invade it. The Manchester and Leads reply, we will not only invade it, but we will divert from your line all the through traffic north of York. The London and York Company may assert that they are iadependent of the Manchester and Leeds, but it is notorious that they could not fill their subscription list till they were taken up by the Man chester and Leeds Shareholders, and afterwards amal gamated with the Wakefield, Lincoln, and Boston Company. The London and York scheme does not affect the Midlands only—if carried out in its inte grity, it will divert the traffic from another most im portant line of railway, one that for years yielded scarcely any return to its proprietary, and has never yet been able to pay more than 34- per cent., and whose proprietary have clung to it through adverse circumstances, in the reasonable expectation that sooner or later their property would be improved by the extension of the line north of Cambridge, either by themselves or by an independent company. Of all the schemes which the abundance of capital has called into being, the London and York with its loop, whether regarded as a means of shortening the distance between London and the north, or as con necting the rich and productive county of Lincoln with the ports of London, Ipswich, and Harwich ; or with the manufacturing and mineral districts, is the most uncalled-for and indefensible—uncalled-for, be cause it entirely disregards existing lines, by the aid of which the same objects may be better attained, at one third of the outlay, and consequently to the much greater advantage of the community—indefensible, because it can only be supported by the diversion of the traffia from important existing railways with which, moreover, it must always be a competing line. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, SPECTATOR, AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JANUARY. (From the Farmer's Magazine.) In noticing the weather experienced during this month, we may observe that, notwithstanding the fluc tuations (numerous in the extreme) which have been experienced, it has proved extremely mild. Whether, however, it has been seasonable is another matter to consider. True it is, there has not been a long con tinuance of cold easterly winds, yet we have had scarcely a sufficient number of sharp frosts, which are generally so much required at this period. However, our accounts respecting the young wheat plants are extremely favourable. Scarcely a single instance has come under our observation in which they have ap peared winter -proud, or displayed in other respects an unfavourable appearance. It cannot be denied that they have greatly stood in need of a heavy fall of snow to protect them, as well as to form a good tilth for the Lenten crops. Although thus early, every progress appears to have been completed for the sowing of barley and oats. As may be readily understood, complaints are more general of the scarcity of winter keep ; indeed, in some parts of the country, nearly the whole of the hay is already consumed. Fortunately, the turnip crop turned out better that many persons were pre pared to expect, or the consequences might have been even more serious than they have occurred. The great demand for oil-cake, consequent upon the scarcity of dry fodder, has produced a further rise in the value of that article—a s much as 131. ss. having been realised p©r 1,000. Comparatively speaking, the stock, both beasts and sheep, has fared tolerably well, yet an unusually large number has been re ceived up to our various markets in less than a half fat state. The epidemic amongst the beasts appears to have pretty well subsided in this country, though it has extended its ravages throughout nearly the whole of the continent of Europe, where very great losses have been sustained by the graziers. Strange as it may appear, in the tace.of a dry spring year, we have to noti ce a great increase in the rot in sheep, not only in the northern counties, but likewise in those lying south of the Humber. This we consider to have been principally caused by the heavy rains, and the rapid growth of rank vegetation in August and the beginning of September, which period, our readers will recollect, was a most fluctuating one. From the fact of most of the shipping ports in Holland being blocked up with ice, a ready in ference was drawn in the early part of the win ter, that the imports of live stock into this coun try from the above quarter, under the new tariff, would have been very trifling. But in this par ticular persons have been disappointed, for we .find the arrivals thence in the course of this month to have amounted to 142 beasts and 200 sheep. About a moiety of those supplies have reached us in fair saleable condition ; but the re mainder has proved extremely inferior. The prices realised for the former have varied from 141. to 191., and for the latter 275. to 435. per head. At the out ports no arrivals have taken place, neither are any ex pected for some time hence. Speaking prospectively, we may intimate that great exertions are being made in Germany and Holland, especially in the latter coun try, to improve their stock, so as to render it a profit able venture in our markets. That they will succeed in their endeavours we entertain very little doubt ; hence we are looking forward to very large imports during the present year. Hitherto the lambing season has gone on well, and very few losses have resulted from the severity of the weather. BELGIUM. DEFEAT OF THE OPPOSITION-TRIUMPH OF THE MINISTRY. BRUSSELS, FEB. I.—Ministers have triumphed. Last night it was decided, by a majority of 65 to 22, that no address should be presented to his Majesty, praying for the dismissal of the members of the present Adminis tration. Yesterday a petition was presented to the Chamber of Representati ves on t h e part of Mr. Richards, in which he set forth the result of the inquiry instituted by )vim and by Mr. Hunter,l respecting the pecuniary resources of the Entre Sambre and Meuse Railway, whose names were published by Mr. Taylor, and to whom rererence was made in your paper of last Thursday. M. Zoude stated that it had been ascertained by Messrs. Richards and Taylor that many of the shareholders were unknown to the commercial world, to the Post-office, to the letter-carriers, and even in the streets where they had taken up their residence. He asserted that they were in general coffeehouse-keepers and writers. The lion. Gentleman moved that the result of the inquiry made by order of Messrs. Richards and Taylor should be inserted in the Moniteur. M. Rodenbach remarked that the country would derive benefit from the competition of the two English companies. He supported Mr. Taylor, because that gentleman did not require the guarantee of a 3 per cent. minimum of interest. Moreover the Com pany formed by Mr. Taylor had announced their inten tion of depositing a security of a million or half a million of francs. The document alluded to was finally ordered to be inserted in thelMoniteur.—Morning Paper. TEEPLE CHASE MATCH AT Tuntsx.---On Tues day afternoon, the 2lst inst., a steeple chase match, for 100 sous. a side, was run between Mr. Dawson's, of Sowerby, br h Highthorne, and Mr. Reynard's Hog-green, near Ripon, b h The Hawk. High thorne was steered by Mr. W. Scott, the steeple chase rider of Loudon, while The Hawk was rode by his gallant owner. The interest excited by this match, far exceeded that of any steeple chase hitherto run at Thirsk. The start took place in a large grass field. Betting was two to one in favour of the Hawk, whose condition was considered much superior to that of his competitor. The " go" being given, the Hawk went off with the lead, over the first and second fences, but took the third a little too much to the left, which mistake gave him three additional fences to clear before he could get into the direct line. His superior speed, however, soon made up the loss, and he went on with the lead to the Mile-house, a few lengths only separating him from Scott, who was evidently acting on the waiting system, as his horse was not only deficient in condition, but overpaced. After a mile and a half had been run, Scott's horse showed strong symptoms of distress. A little beyond the Mile-house Scott again obtained an advantage for his tiring nag, by bearing more to the left than the Hawk into some large fields ; by this he avoided three or four fences which the Hawk had to take in choosing his line across some smaller field. The Hawk, followed close in the wake by Scott, again took up the running after turning round the flag. But again, as ill-luck would have it, by going too much to the left, he was thrown among the smaller fields, which Scott again avoided by shaping his course more to the right ; by this manoeuvre he saved his now blown horse the trouble of jumping nearly a dozen fences. Both were again nearly parallel, though going on apparently different routes, each taking his fences in excellent style, until they came into the starting field, when, to Mr. Reynard's surprise, he found Scott was a little ahead of him. A meat animating race now commenced for the gap, which Scott gallantly led through and racing towards the last fence, which both took nearly at the same time ; in jumping this the Hawk lost a couple of lengths by taking it too much to the left. Scott, meantime, steering his horse, straight as an arrow, landed him safely; and now the final tug came, and at it both went as fast as their gal lant nags could carry them. The judge's fiat was a dead heat, but the general opinion was that Scott had won by a neck.— Tyne Mercury. INCENDIARY FIRE. —O n Monday night, about ten o'clock, a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Home, of Marston, by which a barn, containing wool and clover seed, a rick of beans, a rick of hay, a quantity of wheat and other straw, and a variety of barn imple ments were destroyed. The amount of damage of Mr. Horne's property is about 300/., but we are happy to say he is insured. The damage to the buildings is to a great amount ; but here again, fortunately an insurance has been effected. Two men have confessed being the guilty parties, and have been fully committed to take their trial at the assizes. One of them is a car penter's apprentice, named Mark Compton, and about eighteen years of age ; the other is a farm labourer, named Christopher Nichols. Compton has also confessed that he is the person who fired the stacks of Mr. Rose, in the same parish.— Wiltshire Independent. THE 90TH "TRACT FOR THE TIMES."—We are gratified to learn that signatures to the requisition for a formal condemnation of the Tract, No. 90, are rapidly pouring in. Yesterday one only of the Reverend Gentlemen who have consented to receive authorities to subscribe the requsition bad by post no less than seventy-seven letters from members of Con vocation, requesting him to affix the names of the writers, and there can be no doubt that the names of a great majority of the members of Convocation will be sulscribed before the 13th. No time, however, ought to be lost, because the more prompt and the more abundantly signed the requisition, the more confidence will the Hebdomadal Board have in its wise and manly course. iWe have already mentioned that Dr. Faussett, the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, and Dr. Ellerton, Professor of Theology, will receive sub scriptions at Oxford ; so that all the members of Con vocation have to do, is to write to one or other of the Reverend Gentlemen ; but this ought to be done at once.—Church and State Gazette. We learn from a late number of the Portafoglio Maltese, that a young countrywoman of ours, Miss Emma Bingley, has made the most brilliant debut at Malta, in the character of Amine, in the Sonnambula. Miss Bingley is a pupil of Pasta—a title which carries with it an awful degree of responsibility—but which, ac cording to our authority, she maintained with the utmost credit to herself. Her voice is rich, melodious, and ex tensive, and formed in the very best school. " Scarcely had she concluded her first cavatina," continues the above-mentioned journal, " wh©a a unanimous burst of applause echoed through the house—not the mere en couraging plaudits that welcomed the youthful aspirant on her entry—but the homage awarded to an artist of real merit. The same success attended all her efforts throughout the piece." Amen! say we, and proud do we feel that the fair vocalist should have succeeded amongst Italians without the addition of ini to her name —a problem, by the bye, far more difficult to resolve amongst her own countrymen.—The Pandora. BRIGHTON PAVILION.—Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Royal, Princess Alice, and the infant Prince Alfred arrived at the Pavilion on Saturday, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton and Colonel Bouverie (Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert). The royal chil elren travelled to Brighton by railway, arriving at the terminus of the London and Brighton Railway shortly before one o'clock, having been exactly an hour and a quarter travelling from New-cross. The special train which conveyed the royal party was attended by two of the directors of the railway (Mr. Nash and Mr. Wigan), and the engine was driven by Mr. W. Cubitt. The mo ment of their arrival in Brighton was announced by a royal salute from the battery, and a merry peal struck up from the bells of St. Nicholas, on the tower of which, as well as from: o th er pu bli c edifices, the royal ' standard was immediately hoisted. In the evening some of the royal tradesmen illuminated their houses. Yes terday (Sunday) morning the Princess Royal and Prin cess Alice were taken out for an airing on the Cliff, in a close carriage. About 200 of the Scots Fusiliers ar rived by rail on Friday evening, to do palace duty. They will remain here during the stay of the royal children, and likewise of her Majesty and Prince Albert, who, according to present arrangements, will arrive at Brigh ton by railway next Saturday. ABOLITION OF THE SPY SYSTEM AT THE POST OFFICE.—On Thursday last much surprise was prevalent at the various departments of the General Post-office, in consequence of an order from the Postmaster-General, in pursuance of a communication from the Secretary at the Home-office, for the abolition of the Board where the practice existed of opening the letters of persons sus pected of having treasonable intentions against this and foreign Governments. This Board (which was presided over by Mr. Beade, of the foreign letter department, who had under him a few confidential clerks), was established by a patent during the Pitt Administration. In the course of the last session of Parliament it will bo recol lected that some motions were brought before the House by Mr. Duncombe, the Member for Finsbury, in conse quence of the discovery that a letter written by Mr. Mazziei had been opened. It is supposed that the Go vernment, not being desirous to have the subject again agitated, have resolved to abolish the office previous to the meeting of Parliament.— Observer. His Excellency the French Ambassador and the Countess de St. Aulaire g ave a sp l end i d ente rtainment on Saturday evening, at Manchester House. His Ex cellency the Turkish Ambassador, his Excellency Prince Castelcicala, his Excellency the Spanish Minister and Duchess Sotomayor, his Excellency the Portuguese Minister and Baroness Moncorvo, his Excellency the Danish Minister and Countess Reventlow, his Excellency M. Van der Weyer, his Excellency Mr. Murphy, his Excellency Count P o ll en , hi s E xce ll enc y the New Gra nada Minister and Madame Mosquera, the Countess of Tankerville, and Viscount and Viscountess Mahon, were among the guests of his Excellency Count and Countess d'Harcourn Count and Countess; also i le Grange, and M. Rubandy. The Countess remised a small circle after dinner, including his Excellency Count Dietrichstein, Countess Flahault, the Earl of Shelburne, &c. His Excellency the French Ambassador, the Duke of Buccleuch, Sir Robert Peel, Sir James Graham, his Excellency the Turkish Ambassador, his Excellency the Duke of Sotomayor, his Excellency M. Van der Weyer, and Mr. Harcourt, were among the guests of his Ex cellency Mr. Everett (the American Minister), on Fri day evening. IRELAND. THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND. DUBLIN, JAN. 31.—The Mercantile Adverti4er of this evening contains the following announcement, which is founded upon information derived from an unquestionable source : " We have learned from a source of the very best authority, that the Queen and her Illustrious Consort have determined upon visiting Ireland early next summer; and our informant adds, 'that great political changes are in contemplation for Ireland.' " We should state that this intelligence reached us before the resignation of Mr. Gladstone could have been known ; but it is impossible not to connect that event with the important changes in Irish policy ' spoken of by our correspondent." MURDER OF CAPTAIN APLEOD, STIPEN DIARY MAGISTRATE Mark-lane, as well as nearly the whole of the principal local markets, has been again well sup plied with wheat of home produce. Owing to the extreme caution manifested on the part of the dealers in effecting purchases, the demand f or th a t article has b een , on th e whole, dull ; yet the value of the finest qualities has been steadily supported—that of most other kinds having had a downward tendency. Barley, both of home and foreigm growth, having come very freely to hand, has sold heavily, at a reduction of from 2s. to 3s. per quarter. Superfine malt may be con sidered as having supported previous currencies; but the middling and inferior kinds have been almost unsale able. Oats and beans have ruled about stationary; but peas and flour have again declined. Our advices from Scotland are to the effect that the winter wheats are looking remarkably strong and healthy. The various markets have been rather more steady than with us, yet some diffi culty has been experienced in obtaining the quotations ruling in December. The shipments of oats from Ireland during this month have been by no means large, in conse quence of the extremely low prices at which that article has been selling here. Prime qualities of that description of grain, as well as those of wheat, have met a fair inquiry at full quotations. Other wise the trade has ruled dull. All agricultural la bours appear to be forward. The Enniskillen Chronicle, of yesterday, gives the following appalling statement in a second edition : " We stop the press to announce the melancholy and distrel,sing intelligence that Captain M'Leod, R.M., who was on temporary duty at Ballinamore, county Leitrim, from this town, was shot dead last night, at Garradice, near Ballinamore, the residence of Mr. Percy, with whom he was dining. Captain M'Leod left about one o'clock, on an outside car, and, coming out of the gate, was fired at and shot dead on the spot. Few gentlemen have ever discharged the duties of an important situation with more credit than he has done. The melancholy news created a great sensation here this morning, and a universal regret pervades every grade of society among us. Imme diattly on receipt of the letter, George Wood, Esq., and Wm. M'Leod, Esq., the only one of Captain XPLeod's sons at present here, posted off for Ballina more." An account of this dreadful murder, similar in substance to the above, reached the constabulary office at Dublin Castle this day. Captain M'Leod was appointed by Lord Normanby, and bore the highest character as an impartial and judicious magistrate. He had been, until his removal to Fermanagh, stationed in Tipperary ; and his conduct in that county afforded the greatest satisfaction. BISHOP PHILLPOTTS AND THE TAX GATHERER. (From the Western Times.) Our right reverend and respected diocesan does not like the palace provided for him by the State, and the consequence is that he has been suffering that venerable pile to fall into decay. Ho has removed from it, and taken up his [occasional] abode in the Clarence Hotel, although the 75th canon provides that no ecclesiastical person shall board or lodge in any taverh or ale-house. But ho does not mind a canon or two when he's in the vein. Our right reverend friend appears to be opposed to the window-tax, and having successfully resisted it be fore the Commissioners " below"—as will be seen by re ference to the following extract from the " Judges'cases"— the collector appealed to the Judges, who decided that he must pay. 3ishop Phillpotts also tried to evade the . poor-rate on simila r grounds to those which he took for escaping the Queen' s taxes. We do not retort upon him, as he did upon the people who kicked against the offer tory, by saying that he is sordid and selfish—but we do think it shows a determination to take care of Number 1, which will prove to his friends that he still enjoys the full use of his mental faculties. We wish that we could have seen the Bishop's name in the list of sub scr i pt i ons for the poor of Exeter this winter. The following details are given in the Mercantile Advertiser of this evening :—" Captain M'Leod at tended the petty sessions on Wednesday. Some tenants of Mr. Percy, of Garradice, near Ballinamore, a magistrate, were charged with Ribbonism. The other magistrates on the bench were disposed to allow the accused to give bail; but Captain M'Leod opposed this course, and bail was refused. Captain M'Leod dined in the evening with Mr. Percy, and on leaving that gentleman's residence he was attacked at the gate lodge and shot dead." THE NEW HIGH SHERIFFS. The Dublin Gazette of this evening contains the following : DUBLIN CASTLE, JAN. 31, 1845.—His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned gentlemen to the office of high sheriff for the following counties and counties of cities and towns in Ireland, for the year 1845 : Antrim—John White, E. q., of Whitehall. Armagh—T. M. Jones, Esq., Jonesborough. Carlow—R. S. Doyne, jun., Esq., Tullow Lodge. Carrickfergus—Stewart Dunn, sq., Carrickfergus. Cavan—Anthony O'Reilly, Esq., Baltrasna. Clare—Hugh Palliser ilk..kinan, Esq., Fenloe. Cork—Hon. H. St. Leger, Doneraile House. Cork City—James Morrogh, Esq., Glanmire, Cork Donegal --Lord G. A. Hill, Ballygar. Down—Hugh Montgomery, Esq., Rosemount. Drogheda Town—William Cairnes, Esq., Drogheda Dublin—Hon. Edward Preston, Gormanstown Castle, Dublin City—Thomas Crosthwaite, Esq., 9, Eitz william-square, East. Fermanagh—William .-irchdall, Esq., Dromard. Galway—Denis Kirwan, Esq., Castlehacket. Galway Town—P. M. Lynch, Esq., Kenmore-park. Kerry—Christopher Galwey, Esq., Killarney. Kildare—Lord William Fitzgerald, Carton. Kilkenny—Charles Hely, Esq., Foulks Court. Kilkenny City—John M'Craith, Esq., Kilkenny. King's County—Richard Warburton, Esq., &any hinch. Leitrim—Edward K. Tennisson, Esq., Kilronan Castle. Limerick—Edward C. Villiers, Esq., Kilpeacon. Limerick City—Henry Watson, Esq., Limerick. Londonderry City and County—Sir H. H. Bruce, Bart., Downhill. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Assessed Taxes, held at the Guildhall, Exeter, on the 12th day of Sep tember, 1844, to hear appeals against the first assess ments, 1844, the Bishop of Exeter appealed, by his agent, against an assessment made upon him for the duty upon 70 windows in the Palace at Exeter, upon the ground of its being unoccupied and unfurnished. It appeared from evidence taken before the Commie. sioners, and also upon a view that the Bishop and his family left the Palace in September, 1842, without any intention of returning ; th at t h e principal part of the furniture and effects h ave b een removed to the B i s h op ' s present residence, at Bi s h opstow, near Torquay ; t h at since September, 1842, t h e Palace has been unfit for occupation by the Bi s h op, and when he has visited Exeter he has transacted business either at the house of his secretary or at the Clarence Hotel. That some farniture is still left in the Palace ;the drawing-room is enti re l y unfurnished. In thedining room are some port ra i ts of former Bishops of the See suspended from the walls, and in the library about 200 volumes of books remaining on the shelves, both the dining-room and library are furnished sufficiently for use, but not so com pletely as when the Bishop resided at the Palace. There are also some articles of furniture in the entrance-hall, a stair -carpet, and some matti ng i n t h e passage. There is a bedstead and a b e d an d some art i c l es of furnit ure in the Bishop's late bed-room, and other bedsteads in other bed-rooms, but no beds or other convenience for sleep ing ; and when th e p or t er s l ept i n t h e P a lace, which he did occasionally between September, 1842, and April, 1843, f9r the purpose of pr even ti ng d epre d a tion, he took sheets, blankets, and pillows with him ; that no one of the family has slept in the Palace since 1842 ; and that the porter ceased to sleep there on the 29th April,lB43. Mr. Adshead, the surveyor, contended that the furni ture above-mentioned being still left in the Palace, it could not be said to be wholly unfurnished, as required by 6 Geo. IV., c. 7, s. 3, but the Commi ss i oners b eing of opinion that the furniture now in the Palace is left there for safe custody, and not for use; and that the Palace in its present state is unfit for the occupation of the Bi-llop and his family, relieved the app e ll ant, with which the surveyor is dissatisfied, requested a case for the opinion of her Majesty's Judges, which we hereby state and sign accordingly. The Commissioners beg to refer to Case No. 1,813. JOHN D. OSBORN, Chairman. ROBERT TAYLOR, CHARLES BRUTTON, Commissioners. SAMUEL DAVIES, 4th December, 1844. WF are of opi n i on, t h at the de termination of the Commissionersis wrong. W. 11. MAULE, R. M. ROLFE, C. CRESSWELL, W. ERLE. Although, therefore, the Bishop bath made the Palace too cold to hold him, the Judges decide upon rating him soundly. Longford—George Lefroy, Esq., Carrickglass. Louth—Frederick J. Foster, Esq., Castle Ring. Mayo—Henry W. Knox Esq., Netley. Meath—Lord Killeen, Killeen Castle. Monaghan—Andie Allen Murray, Esq., Lough Owna, Queen's County—Horace Rochfort, Esq., Clogrenan. Roscommon—Garrett O'Moore, Esq., Cloghan Castle. Perceval, Esq., Temple House. Tipp,ury—John Bayley, Esq., Debsboro'. Tyrone—Wm. D'Arey, Esq., Necairn Castle. Waterford—John B. Gumbleton, Esq., Fortwilliam. Waterford City—Jacob Penrose, Esq., Waterford. Westmeath—Hon. L. 11. K. Harman, Newcastle. Wexford—Patrick W. Redmond, Esq., Newtown. Wicklow—Wm. W. Fitzwilliam Hume, Esq., Hume wood. ASTIBURTON.—Wesave last week the address of the working classes to Mr. Matheson, M.P., on the occasion of their presenting the Hon. Member with a small, but by him highly prized, token of their sincere respect and esteem for him. The present was a snuff-box bought by a penny subscription from two thousand inhabitants. The intrinsic value of such a memento could not, of course, weigh much with a gentleman who ranks as one of the wealthiest Commoners of the day. But to a warm-hearted, sincere, and generous-minded man, no present could have proved more acceptable than did this humble token of the working -people of Ashburton to their Member. The Hon. Gentleman, in his answer to the address which accompanied it, shows how highly he prizes this inestimable testimonial ; and we refer to the answer, not only for proof of this, but for the enlight ened sentiments which it contains. Mr. Matheson bears important testimony to the value of free-trade princi ples, shows their inevitable progression, and looks to their ultimate triumph as the source of our national prosperity. We sincerely hope that the union which exists between the borough and its Hon. Representa tive may long continue—we believe that it will wholly depend upon the Hon. Gentleman himself to fix the term. The Peerage is chiefly recruited from the ranks of fortunate lawyers and successful warriors. We hope to see the day when the peaceful achievements of com merce will be considered one of the highest claims for the highest honours of the State. If ever the mer chant princes of our empire be selected for such dis tinctions, James Matheson will be of the foremost rank. —Western Times. The newspaper reports respecting the state of Sir W. Follett's health are very flattering. We regeet to say, however, that we doubt very much whether Sir William's family here receive such flattering accounts us the newspapers are favoured with.— Western Times, MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS.—It iS ROW defini tively arranged, we believe, that the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Fremantle goes to Ireland as Lord Eliot's suc cessor in the important office of Chief Secretary ; that the Hon. Sidney Herbert leaves the Admiralty, and takes Sir Thomas Fremantle's place as Secretary at War, with a sea t i n th e Cabinet ; and t h at the Right Hon. H. T. L. C orr y suc ceeds to the Fi rst Secretary ship of the Ad m i ra l t y, v acated by Mr. Sidney H er b ert. With regard to Mr. Cardwell, M.P., whose name has been mentioned in print, in connection with these neces sary chant:, es, we are enabled to say that, up to the pre sent moment, he has not accepted any appointment under Government, but it is hoped that, ere long, the country will have the benefit of his services. It was stated in the City on Saturday evening, upon authority which admits of no doubt, that Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., has been invited by Sir Robert Peel to take an office in all respects suited to his talents and commercial knowledge, and we fully expect that we shall, in a day or two, have to announce his accession to the Ministry in a position in which he can be eminently useful. Lord Dalhousie, as our readers are aware, quits the Vice- Presidency of the Board of Trade, and will become the head of that department by reason of the retirement of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.—Morning paper. TITE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY' EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1 DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF NASSAU. FRANKFORT, JAN. 29.—The death of the Duchess of Nassau, daughter of the Emperor of Russia, is announced by the Wiesbaden correspondent of the Frankftv terJournal in the following terms:--" It is our melancholy duty to announce an event which has plunged his Highness the Duke and the entire country into the deepest sorrow. Yesterday afternoon, the 27th, her Imperial Highness the Duchess Elizabeth, Archduchess of Russia, was de livered of a female child, still-born, and early the next morning her Imperial Highness expired under a severe attack of spasms at the heart." The Cologne Gazate also announces the same melancholy event, and adds that her Highness was born on the 26th of May, 1826, and married on the 31st of January, 1844. Her death will be another heavy affliction for her Imperial father. ;45. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—The Queen will hold a Privy Council to-morrow (Monday) afternoon at Bucking ham Palace, at half-past three o'clock. Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, the Prince Al fred, the Princess Royal, and Princess Alice, left the Castle, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Colonel Bouverie, and their R o y a l Hi g h nesses usual attendants, f or the Great Western Railway station at Slough, and travelled to town by a special train, ar riving at Paddington at ten minutes before ten o'clock. The royal party proceeded in three carriages and four to the New Cross station, and left for Brighton by a special train, arriving at the Pavilion a few minutes past one o'clock. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, walked for some time yesterday morning in th e roya l grounds adjacent to the Castle. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went to shoot, in the forenoon in the royal preserves, being the last day of pheasant shooting. The Prince was attended by the Marquis of Ormonde, Colonel Wylde, and Captain Meynell. The Earl of Aberdeen left the Castle early yester day morning for town, and returned to dinner. The American Minister, and Mrs. and Miss Eve rett, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Earl and Countess of Lincoln, and Sir R. Peel, arrived at the Castle yesterday, on a visit to the Queen. Count Pollon, the Sardinian Minister, and the Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Commons and Mrs. Shaw Lefevre, took their departure yesterday. The Countess of Gainsborough has arrived, and has succeeded the Marchioness of Douro as the Lady in Waiting on the Queen. Colonel Buckley has relieved Major-General Wemyss in the duties of Equerry in Waiting on her Majesty, and Colonel Wylde has relieved Colonel Bouverie in the duties of Equerry in Waiting on Prince Albert. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, and the Countess Wratislaw, joined the royal circle at dinner yesterday. The band of the Royal Horse Guards was in attendance during dinner. Her Majesty's private band afterwards attended, and performed the remainder of the evening. This morning the Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early walk_ Her Majesty and Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent, also the Court and the Domestic Household, attended Divine service in the private chapel of the Castle this morning. The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenav read the prayers, and the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell preached the sermon. Lady Fanny Howard was in waiting on the Duchess of Kent. The Royal Duchess remained to luncheon with the Queen and the Prince. The Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Princess Mary, attended Divine service yesterday afternoon in St. James's Church. Baron Knesebeck was in waiting on her Royal Highness. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited the Duchess of Cambridge and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz yesterday. A Cabinet Council was held at two o'clock on •Saturday afternoon, at the Foreign-office. The Mi nisters present were Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Wharncliffe, the Duke of Buc cleuch, Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl of Haddington, Earl of Ripon, Lord Granville Somer set, and the Earl of Lincoln. The Lord Chancellor arrived shortly before three o'clock. The Council sat two hours. Immediately after the Council Sir Robert Peel left town for Windsor Castle. The Earl of Aberdeen also left town for Windsor Castle in the evening, on a visit to her Majesty. The Attorney-General for Ireland had an interview with Sir James Graham on Saturday, at the Home. office. -- THE EAST SUSSEX BURGLARS. All the Sussex and several of the Metropolitan papers have of late noticed the commission of various acts of burglary, during the last four or five months in the vicinity of Brighton ; and not only the Brighton police, but the East Sussex co ns t a b u l ary, h ave been exerting their energies for the discovery of the cul prits, but without effect till last Thursday. One fea ture was common to all the burglaries, that the en trances were effected by the use of a centre-bit, and in nearly every case eatables and drinkables formed a main portion of the plunder. On the night of Tues• day last, the house of Mr. Hampshire, a small farmer, living at Newick, about twenty miles from Brighton, was broken open, and a large quantity of provision., comprising two legs of pork, hacked off the carcase of a recently-killed pig, seven rabbits and two hares, and likewise a dozen of port wine, were carried off. In the course of the evening, a man named Patching, who had recently removed from a neighbouring village to Brighton, was observed going towards the house ; and his footsteps being tracked for a long distance towards Brighton, the East Sussex constabulary called in :the aid of the Brighton police, who soon discovered that Patching lived in Apollo terrace, a row of houses at the northern extre mity of the town, from which there is an easy access to the Downs ; the constabulary, provided with a search-warrant, proceeded to search the house, where they pounced upon an immense quantity of stolen property, comprising tubs of pork, large quantities of bacon, and crocks of butter ; besides several other articles which have been since identified, among them being the surplice stolen from the Rev. Mr. Stavely's house, at Falmer, a b ou t t wo months since (cut into pieces), and the barrel of a gun stolen from the house of Mr. Blalier, of Perching. At the back of the house they found a rope-ladder, which being used only in the night gave easy means of ingress and egress to and from the Downs, without observation. Patching was not at home when the officers searched his house ; but a woman with whom he cohabited was ' apprehended. On being told that she must go to the station, she asked why they did not go to Burgess's house too ? Upon this hint the officers proceeded to a small greengrocer's shop, at the top of Cumberland-place, where they found similar quantities of provisions to :those disco vered at Patching's, and likewise the stock of Mr. Blaker's gun, the barrel of w hi c h h a d b een found at Patching's Both Patching and Burgess were in the neighbourhood while the officers were making the search; but, finding how the wind blew, made them. selves scarce. A jealcusy of the Brighton police ob taining any of the credit of the capture, induced the county constabulary to proceed alone, after ascer taining Patching's residence ; and to this it is pro bably owing that the two men are now at large, since, had the Brighton police, who knew them, been called on to assist, it can hardly be doubted that they would have been recognised and consequently appre hended. The stolen property and the woman who had cohabited with Patching were afterwards con veyed to Lewes. On the way thither she intimated that a house occupied by a man named Longhurst ought to be searched, and this was consequently done, when several articles, supposed to be stolen property, were found. The magistrates at Lewes are investi gating the case and the county constabulary are, meanwhile, exerting themselves to discover the whereabouts of Patching and Burgess. Several large pensions have lately fallen in by the death of the recipients. These are the late Sir Gore Ouseley, 5,0001. a year ; the Earl of Limerick, 8461. ; and Lady Ann Culling Smith, " sister of the Duke," 6001. There is also from 7,0001. to 10,0001. per annum by the death of the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, partlyarising from Parliamentary grant, and partly from the salary which she received as Ranger of Greenwich Park. COMMITTAL OF A SCHOOLMASTER TO MAIDSTONE GAOL.—ROCHESTER, FEB. I.—Yesterday a full Bench of County Magistrates for the north division of the lathe of Aylesford, assembled at the offices of Messrs. Essell and Hayward, and were occupied nearly the whole of the day investigating several charges of a revolting description against Mr. John Williams, of 21, Gibraltar-terrace, New-road, Chatham, and who has hitherto enjoyed the reputation of conducting an extensive and respectable boarding-school for the education of young gentlemen. It appeared from the exa mination of several of the boys that their master had, up to this charge made against him, about twenty boarder s an d a b out fif ty day scholars, and at night their master had occasionally different young gentlemen boarders to sleep with him, when he behaved to them in a most revolting manner. These abomi nable acts of the master were first discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Janes, of Rochester, who had a son a boarder at the establishment, and who had come home to them so exceedingly ill, that they called in Dr. Anam Martin, of Rochester, to attend the boy. The boy related that which implicated the master, and the pri soner was immediately apprehended. Several of the boys were examined, among whom were Twisten Janes, of Rochester, aged 10 years ; John Strother, of 35, John-street, Rotherhithe, 10 years old, and Thomas Janes, aged 15 years. Each of their evidence went to prove such offences against the prisoner that the Magistrates, without the least hesita tion, fully committed the prisoner for trial at the next Maidstone assizes, on each separate case. The pri soner is about sixty years of age, and has moved for some years in respectable circles in the neighbourhood. EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE FOR FIVE HUN DRED GuiNEAs.—Messrs. By les and Pooke, of Windsor, Berkshire, have made a challenge to all England to show a deer, a pony, and a hog, collectively, against any three animals of a similar species, bona fide the property of any two individuals in one town. The improvidence of many of our great landowners is such, that every year they become less able to make a stand. Who would believe that any of the nobles who have had the honour to receive her Majesty as a guest, should find it necessary to raise a large sum—rumour says as much as 100,0004—0 n his estates, very recently. —CV/ell:id:am Locker-on. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. WOOLWICH, FEB. 1.--- HER MAJESTY'S STEAM YACHT THE BLACK EAGLE.- 1 After a series of trials (completed this day), of Mr. Samuel Hall's smoke consuming apparatus, as applied to one of the boilers of 130-horse power of this vessel, it has been found so satisfactory (although Newcastle coal was used), that it is ordered to be applied to the other boiler. Each boiler having a separate chimney caused the contrast between the consumption and non-consump tion of smoke to be very striking. INCENDIARY FIRE.—On Monday evening, about seven o'clock, the farming premises contiguous to the mansion of John Maryon Wilson, Esq., were discovered to be on fire. It broke out in a cart shed, in which there had been no occasion to use a candle. A messenger be ing despatched to Dunmow, the powerful new engine quickly reached the spot, and subsequently that from the Roothings, by which means, aided by a plentiful supply of water from the canal, the extensive premises were saved, and also the dwelling-house, which, being nearly attached, must otherwise have come to the ground. The conflagration was entirely mastered by about half-past eleven. The property consumed consisted of the cart shed where the fire originated, a haulm stack, the roof of part of a long range of stabling, a waggon, several carts, and farming implements. The whole was insured. Damage supposed to be about 300/. The labourers be haved most praiseworthily, and so energetic were all pre sent to do their best, that those who worked the engines were often for some time standing knee deep in water. Not the slightest doubt is entertained that it was ma liciously sot on fire.—Chelmsford Chronicle. THE ADDRESS.--Parliament will be'opened by the Queen in person on Tuesday next; and, although the contents of the royal speech are a matter of strict official secresy until it is read to the Members present at the Parliamentary dinners given by the Ministerial leaders in the Lords and Commons, on the eve of its de livery from the throne, enough is known in the present instance of the policy of Government to enable us to say that no amendment to the Address will be moved in either House, unless ' indeed, Mr. Williams, of Covent r y, in the ingenuity of his habitual discontent, should im provise one for the torment of his auditors. The an nouncements of Sir Robert Peel at the close of The Hon. Francis Charteris, M.P., had an inter view with Sir R. Peel on Saturday. Dispatches for the Governor of Van Diemen's Land were sent off from the Colonial-office on Saturday. The Duke of Wellington and Sir F. Trench at tended the early service yesterday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The Rev. Dr. Wesley officiated, and preached the sermon. The Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the Earl and Countess of Wilton, Lord Ernest Bruce, and Lord and Lady Sondes, attended the daily service. The 'Rev. Dr. Dakins read the prayers, the Rev. Mr. Hall the lessons, and the Rev. Dr. Sleath the communion service. The Rev. Mr. Bouverie preached the sermon. The anthem was " Wherewithal shall a young man" (Boyce). Sir George Smart presided at the organ. LITERATURE. THE MEDICAL ARGUS, AND ADVOCATE OF THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER OF MEDICINE, SURGERY, AND MIDWIFERY. No This is the first Number of a new weekly medical periodical, which has been started for the purpose of upholding the cause of the general practi tioner, and of promoting union among the whole me dical body, so as to procure for the profession gene rally a higher status than it has hitherto enjoyed in society. These are most praiseworthy ob jects, and we sincerely hope that the projectors of the " Medical Argus" may succeed in their efforts to obtain them. The present Number, in addition to a leading article and an address, contains copious ex tracts from the contemporaneous medical press, and also lectures, reports of cases from British and fo reign hospitals, and a great quantity of information of a scientific character. It is printed in a clear type, on excellent paper, and its appearance is much in its favour. THE SCATTEI?GOOD FAMILY. 3 Vols. Bentley, London, 1845. As this tale, which is here republished in three volumes, has already appeared in successive numbers of Bentley's Miscellany, we need say nothing more on the present occasion, than that it is not undeserv ing the honour of republication. FINE ARTS. THE ATTACK OF THE LION. Brain and Payne, London, 184.5. We have here a plate engraved in the line manner from an original picture painted by his Royal Highness Prince Raden Saleh. The en graving represents a fierce attack made by a lion on a horse and his rider in the gorge of a mountain, close to the edg e o f a t remen d ous preci pice. There is infinite spirit in the drawing of the wounded animal, whom the savage lion is tearing to pieces with all the ferocity inspired by hunger. The countenance of the horseman, who has throw n him self back in hi s sa ddl e , and is clinging with both arms to the projecting branches of a tree, expresses a world of horror. LATEST FROM AMERICA. We have received New York papers to the 15th January. The Bill for the annexation of Texas wag still in Committee in Congress. The contents of the papers are unimportant. ASHELIRTON.--A MODERN WONDER.—One of the most extraordinary prodigies of railroad and printing dispatch has taken place this week that has ever been recorded' from this town, viz., the worki ng men ' s ad dress to Mr. Math eson , relative to the silver snuffbox, together with Mr. M.'s answer, were sent off from the post-office here at half-past six o'clock on Sunday even ing last for insertion in the daily Sun, London news paper, and, wonderful to relate, on Tuesday morning, about seven o'clock, both documents, and a highly inte resting leading and appropriate article appeared in that journal, and arrived here, thus having traversed upwards of 400 miles, in addition to the process of composing, printing, &c.— Western Times. THE WEATHER.—Since our last the weather has been extremely variable. On Saturday we had high winds and rain ; Sunday was a r aw bl us t er i ng d ay ; Monday somewhat calmer •, but on Tuesday there was a slight fall of snow, to which heavy additions have since been made, and with which a keen frost has set in. The wind which is from the east, is pinching, bitter, biting.— Carlisle Journal. -- - SUCCESS OF THE OFFERTORY.--A churchwarden, who was requested by one of the new-light successors of the Apostles, to superintend that now important rite, says,!he was one:Sunday surprised to see a young man in fustian, apparently a farm servant, very eagerly ap proach the plate, and deposit a shilling. As he did not retire, the farmer asked him what he wanted ? " Me chaunge," replied the rustic, " hand yore nine-pence." The nittepence was accordingly handed to him (for the money changers have not yet left the temple), and the lad-departed in the odour of sanctity. On examination, however, the shilling proved a mere brazen faced decep tion, and the nine-pence change was, therefore, clear profit to the pious donor.— Western Times. GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY. Ro- CHESTER, FED. I.—The differences between the Thames and Medway Canal Company and the contractors having b een amicably adjusted, the cylinders and plat es h av e been restored, and yesterday several trips were per formed between Rochester and Gravesend, many parties availing themselves of the opportunity thus aff orded g ratuitous journey by this conv e y ance, It ha s not of a as not been finally arranged to open this line to the public on Mon day!. the 10th instant. NEW QUEEN'S CouNsEL,--mr, Russell Gurney ono of the sons of M r . Baran Gurney, we are informed,' has received an intimation from the Lord Ch ance ll or, i n reply to his application, that h e will b© call e d w ithi n t h e Counsel. The effect of this appointment will be to place hi m over t h e h eads of Mr. Sergeant Channel and Mr. Sergeant Shee, who are many years his seniors both in rank and standing a t th e bar, and to l ea d t h ose eminen t -n d talented men on the Home Circuit, unless the Lord Chancellor grants them patents of precedence. In fact, owin g e a to the 1 • of Mr. Pl a tt to t h e b ench of the Court of Exch e e v qu tl e o r n , and the appointment of Sir F. Thesiger as Solicitor- General, both of whom belonged to the Home Circuit, Mr. B. Gurney will lead the entire bar on that circuit. I ast session have led the public to expect that her Majesty's speech will contain some gratifying recom mendations on the expediency of affording increased means for the extension of education among all classes of her subjects in Ireland, and that it may not leave un . noticed the very inadequate provision now made for the maintenance of an establishment exclusively devoted to the education of persons destined to be the religious in structors of a most important section of her people in that country. The royal speech will, we have no doubt, in all respects breathe such a spirit of kindlinerilaionbbd. conciliation towards our Irish fellow-citizegis as in sure a most cordial response from all sane poli tic ia ns. ril u st soThe s shadowed ed portionsfo forth h as to programm et t o he gi ll v f e it n ii o st t e a t ibiegrou jeotioe, iaffordingnan unanimoust o al l parties addressth e to pleasingtheir u duty v n e d re o i g f u con curringfo b h e e r r r g e r s a e c r i v o e u s s t s o p h e e i m c h s , e m l f •h t i h ls e t f a u t ll t r hieg h same time ea c h Mem submit to Parliament, botthhaeslil tio-their Minister principle may afterwards a t te o r f canvassing those specific measur es w hi c h de tails. The Opposition leaders will, therefore, offer no am e n dment—Observer. IRON FRIGATE.—.We understand that our towns man, Mr. Napier, has been commissioned by Government to build an iron frigate for the Navy, of 1,800 tons bur then, and that Mr. Napier is about to do so at h' and extensive wor k s at Govan, near Glasgow. Th is new will be the fi rst frigate built o n the Clyde, and we have so doubt that Mr. Napier will make her one of the best that ever entered her Majesty's service. - --Scotch Reformer's Gazette. ADULT BAPTISM.—On Wednesday evening a lady was publicly baptised at Christ Church, Liverpool, .in the presence of a large congregation, by the Rev. Field ing Oald, who preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. The baptism was by immersion in a large vessel of water, placed near the reading desk. Sir R. Peel acknowledges the receipt of 161. 12s. 6d. on account of " Unclaimed income-tax for eighteen months." Viscount Malden, eldest son of the Earl and Coun tess of Essex, and nephew to the Duke. of St. Alban's, has entered the army as Ensign in the 12th Regiment of Foot. A matromonial alliance -is on the /Ids between a gallant officer commanding one of her Majesty's ships of war in the Mediterranean, and son of a Noble Earl, and the lovely and accomplished daughter of the Governor of ono of our islands on that station. _ to o f ab er .,ll j3rP 1 ,1 lo) ;5-1C !id °C7 411' c ‘ ; 5 14 /.) IF K