The Sun. — London, England, 1850-04-19 00:00:00

ever retain of this additional proof of that warm inte rest and watchful care which he has never ceased to manifest for the welfare and advancement of all classes of our native subjects, and for the preservation, to the principalities in alliance with the East India Company, of those indefeasible and most cherished rights, upon which such fearful inroads have of late years been made, under no other sanction then that of the irresistible means which a succession of military triumphs has at length placed at our ei posal, for enforcing such not less impo litic than unjust exercises of an assumed right. Atter those lucid expositions ef the Hindoo law, and usages as rettards succession by adoption, by which this. Court has of late been edified, proceeding as as they did from many of its most experienced, most enlightened, and best informed members—after the unqualified recognition by the British Government in the fifteen cases so pertinently quoted, and so ably commented upon by the mover of these resolutions, in practical illustration of the inviolability of the rights thereby conveyed,— unwilling as I feel to occupy the time cf the Court by any further cita tions of a like tendency, there is one so remarkable from the pre-eminent authority in a hich it rests', and from the important result to which it led, that I do not think, on such a review, it should pass unnoticed. I aUude to the ease of the tributary principality of Kur noul on the death of the Nabob, in the year 1821, with out male heirs, and to the memorable minute by the late Sir T homl s Munro, fully concurred in by Lord Hastings, which was to the following effect:-- "I think we have no right to meddle in the affairs of kurnoul on the pretence of maladministration on the sufferings of the people, or on any other grounds than those of securing our own rights of pescush and military service, and the peace of our own districts. I tbiuk we ought to wait quietly for the Nabob's death, and to acknowledge for his successor the person of his family who by his choice, and the support of his officers, may be enabled to assume the government." Upon this case, Mr. Chairman, too much stress cannot bo laid, from its having led, after three years' consider ation, to the authoritative adoption of a fixed principle by the Court of Director: for the future guidance of the Government of India. Your Honourable Court, on the review of a similar tranaction elsewhere, so long ba c k as the year 1819, thus, disposed of the question of succession by adoption in your letters to Bengal, dated 1824, which direct as follows:—" It does not appear ,to us, that the treaty of Bhopal affords a warrant for all this kterference; it is not provided by that treaty that you shall have either the power of inter fering with the appointment of a Nabob, that of choos ing a minister, or that of dismissing any of the Nabob's attendants." Can, gentlemen, language be stronger confirmatory, except when by treaty it is otherwise ex pressly provided for, of the absolute right of every native principality to provide for its own successor? It remains fur me to point out that this disavowal by the first authorities, both of England and India, of all claims on the part of the East India Company to in terested interference with the usages of succession in default of male heirs in the direct line, among our de pendent and tributary states, is in perfect unison, not with the speculative opinion, but with the well-founded convictions of all your must eminent governors and eteteemen from the date of our earliest alliances with the native powers. Warren Hastings, so long back as 1774, thus expresses himself:-- "The general principle upon which we have acted, and which we mean to make the rule of our future policy and conduct, is, no other than that which your aut'sority and that of the Legislature have equally pre seribed to us, to maintain peace in India. The preser vation of power necessarily includes the vigorous defence of your possessions with such parts of the dominions of your allies as are guaranteed by treaty; it excludes every idea of conquest, much less could we suffer the small states which look up to you for protection to be swallowed up by the great one.. In the same unmistakable language the late Mar quis of Wellesley, thirty years afterwards, thus expressed himself:— " Every principle of true policy demands that no effort should be omitted by the British Government to establish a permanent foundation of general tranquillity by securing to every state the free enjoyment of its just rights and independence, and by frustrating every pro ject calculated to disturb the possessions or to violate the sights c f the est tblisbed powers of Hindostan and of the Doccsv." After a lapse of nearly forty years the same distin guished Nob'eman thus expresses himself:— " No further extension of our territory is desirable in India, even in the event of war, for conquest, if that could he justified or were legs', as the law most wisely stands." While, us regar Is some other meditated inno vations in Bengal, he has enj 'sued in the same letter, quieta non tn,vei e" _ _ That pre eminent statesmen the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstune, when interrogat d by tie Legislature 'thir teen years after our conquest of the Mahratta country, thus replied t— "lt appears to me to be our interest as well as our duty to use every en ens to preserve the allied Govern ments; it is also our ict-rest to keep up the number of independent powers; their territories afford a refuge to all those whose habits, of war, intrigue, or depredation rneke them inseparable of remaining quiet in ours." After an avowal, gentlemen, of these sentiments, can an iota of doubt be entertained in the mind of any reason able man what would have been the result cf a refer ence to such preacieet authority regarding the recent annexation of the Sattara territory? That practical and far-seeing statesman, and that best of trieads which the natives of our own territory, as well as the principalities of India ever had, the la!e Sir John Malcolm, thus ex prcsi a himself in their behalf; when on the same occa sion interrogated:— " The wars to which we have been compelled from our condition have left us solo sovereigns of this vast terri tory, but they have involved us in great, though not ir retrievable embarrassment; the pressure of financial (lithe:fides recommends every measure which promises imintafiete relief, but that to be permanent must be sought, not in the fruro annexation of territory, but in the improvement of what we pos sess, and in the general revision and reduc tion of our establishments. To enable us to effect these objects we must not cast away one iota of good feeling or motive for allegiance that exists, or which we have a prospect e f crea , ing in the minds of our native subjects. • We must mairit tin to the utmost of our power the higher orders of the community, fur on their being conciliated to our rule, the future peace of this empire must greatly depend, and with it our power to lessen the expenses of its Government. . We cannot admit "cur right to carry the privilege of giving advice, and a modified interference, stipulated by treaty, to go under any circumstances short of hostilities, extreme public danger, or the violation of faith, to th e estahlishment of a right to assume the government of tiip country. with the power of which our treaties are contra,ted. In a letter to the Court of Directors, of the 25th April, len, on the occasion of his leaving England to take upon hitriself the Government of Bombay, the same dis tinguished officer, in accordance with the views of those 'lige authorities bef ire cited, and aware of the cotre spun:lir% sentim: nts of those to whore ho was addressing himself, thus again F t ttes— T 1 e petty *'a es can cherish no hope of resisting the power of the British Governmt of of which they are the tributaries and d pendants:, and if we can succeed in placing their miuda at repose, as to the conti nua:lee of their power over their respective tribes and territories, I have ne doubt but that, by their gradual reform, we may establish a system caleulited teyond any we have yet adopted to give permanence to our power, and to reconcile the upper as will es the lower ranks of society to our Goverment." Than experience TI • d officer acid political functionary, : Colonel J. elunre, thus expresses himse f on the all important matter under discussion:— `' The moee and extent of our interference must de. p. ne upon tire circumstances and character of the allied princes, and Governments, and must rest very much on Iho judgment and discretion of the British Itesideut and (',vernalont• To procure the choice of en able and active elini.ter, and to guide and support his pro ceedings, will often be the policy of the British Government, &Inflected with assiduous endeavours to concentrate and maintain the dignity of the Prince. Justice and policy equally dictate the necessity of avoid ing every occasion that might lead us to take terri teral possession el the dominions of any of the allied states; for it is of high importance to retain these naive Governments, on the ground, without reference to other reasons, of their giving situations of trust, emolument, and dignity, to the natives in gene ral, and especially to the higher classes of them." u i , o s k such an occasion, I am not lees unwilling to omit w h a t has been prominently noticed by that most expe rienced and most distinguished of your public servants in t h e politiCal department both in the Councils of Eng land and India, the late Mr. N. B. Edtnoneteee, who thus expresses himself I t must be our endeavour to conduct our relations with the allied states as much as possible in subserviency to the professed principle of their foundation. We mu st endeavour to render the chiefs what in words and by our treaty we recognise them to be, the absolute rul ers o f their country.'" Though last not least, that distinguished historian an d political functionary, the late Colonel Todd, thus ex presses himself on the same occasion:— "If the impression should become general—if no me thod be d e vi se d to convince the Rajpoot states that ul timate appropriaion is not our object, what can we expect but the conversion of our best friends into our bitterest foes?" Such, .gentlemen, are the authorities on which this f appeal is now made to your sense of justice, or th e adoption of 8012118 legislative enactment , for arrestin g the progress of encroachment upon the hereditary and indefeasible rights of the tributary and dependent states with which we h ave f irmed alliances. Upon an occasion like the present, I could not but feel it a duty in cernbent upon me as a member of this Court to come forward in their behsle I have done so, gentlemen, ac tuated by no factious spirit of hostility towards our re spected executive. I have done so with a view, not of lowering but of clevatiolg the reputation for moderation end mod faith of the British Government. I have done so, g. nil. mete with the view of arresting those to whom such a large share of their atithority is delegated, in a carer of harshness, selfishness, ; and in j ustice, which hes st alien the confidence cf every principality through out India in our probity and honour ; and everywhere created the greatest alarm and anxiety, l est a similar fate to that which has befallen the Sattara d • 3 nasty should await them and their families. Tt.e Citereziee then rose and said, that he should not attempt, nether did he think that it would be expected from him, to follow the flqn. Mover and Seconder throughout the whole of the long arguments which they La 1 used on the present occasion. The first part of the Alen. plover's address consisted merely in a series of eulogies on the manner in which our government had been carried on, and it must be quite muiecessary for THE SUN, him (the Chairman) to follow him through that part of , I his speech. The other half of his speech had been a discussion upon the affairs of the Raja of Sattara; he had taken this opportunity, and he (the Chairman) thought very unwisely, of renewing the question of the resumption of Setters. He thought the Court would agree with him in saying that ho thought this by no means a fit opportunity for renewing the discussion upon that subject. The question WAS one which had been over and over again discussed in that Court, and which had been finally settled and decided upon by ballot, and he did not see that there was the slightest occasion to renew it. He should feel it his duty to oppose the resolutions which had been moved, and he did so upon plain and simple grounds. The Hon. Gentleman came forward with certain four abstract propositions, but did not those propositions imply an undeserved cen sure upon the Government cf India ?—(Cheers from Mr. Sullivan's supporters.) The Hon. Gentleman asked them not merely to signify their opinion upon these questions, but to pass a censure upon the proceedings of the Government in India. The Hon. Gentleman's sup porters cheered this ; there could be little doubt, then, what there object really was. Why, then, did they not come prepared with some straightforward motion upon the subject, and not attempt a vote of censure by a kind of side-wind.—(Cheers.) Mr. SULLIVAN—Though I have not the slightest hesi tation in saying that I disapprove of the proceedings of the Government, my object is not to pass a vote of cen sure upon them, but to prevent the recurrence of any such transactions for the future. The CHAIRMAN said that was no answer. If they wished to censure the Indian Government, why do it by a side-wind in this manner ?—(Cheers.) That would be a straightforward way of conducting the business. The Hon. Gentleman bad gone at some length into the Mande►ee, Colaba, and Sattara cases, and he had main tained that there were distinct breaches in the law and custom of our Indian empire. Mr. SULLIVAN—I scarcely said three words on the subject of Sattara. The CHAIRMAN appealed to the Coutt whether a great part of the Hon. Gentleman's address had not been on the subject of Sattara. But he would not enter into the discussion of these cases; the Hon. Gentleman knew very well that there were peculiarities con nected with all the cases, and particularly with the Sat tara case; that he must know from his great experience in Indian affairs. But those peculiarities were very dif ferent from any which the HOD. Gentleman had com municated from his collection of papers. Some which he had stated were such that he demanded to have a' tribunal to settle the case, and to decide what should be done. He proposed in his four resolutions that a com mission, or some other tribunal, should be constituted to investigate the facts of the case. Now, he imagined they had already a tribunal in India which was quite sufficient to satisfy any one. Where could they desire to find a more experienced and independent tribunal than the Council, every member of which was chosen for his independence and knowledge of affairs, and bound by his oath to give a fair and impartial vote upon every subject which came before him ? Where could they de sire a more proper tribunal than this? What occasion or what need was there for a special tribunal, than, to decide on these cases, when they had this respectable body already in existence? The directors, too, acted upon the responsibility of their offices, and the proprietors had an opportunity, which they not seldom took advantage of, to express their opinions upon various points. But the Hon. Gentleman would not be satisfied with the decision of any tribunal. With regard to the question of Sat tara, the Hon. Gentleman was aware that he (the Chair man) in some of his opinions agreed with him; but there was this difference between them, that he (the Chairman) was not so presumptuous as to think that he was infallible, or to persevere in his endeavours because he thought he was right and everybody else was wrong. With regard to these resolutions, the Hon. Gentleman talked of our iniquity in assuming to ourselves the para mount power. he was surprised to hear a gentleman who had filled such prominent situations coming out with such sentiments. The Hon. Gentleman was per fectly aw are that the people in India regarded us as the paramount power, and looked up to us fur protection and patronage. In the case of Holkar everything that was done by the East India Company was done by the desire and express request of the natives, who had ap pealed to the Company as to their protectors, and the Hon. Gentleman knew that. Again, what did he mean by saying that Martund Row was set aside by the East India Company alone for their own private ends? Mr. SULLIVAN—I never said so, or. at least I never meant to say so. If I did, I withdraw the expression. The CHAIRMAN had heard the Hon. Gent'eman say that Martund Row was a serpent in the Governor-Gene ral's path. Mr. SULLIVAN—Ah, certainly, I did say that. The CHAIRMAN—The Hon. Gentleman knew that the i parties came forward to ask for our assistance in the selection to put some one in his place; but the Hon. Gen tleman said that this was a most unjustifiable proceeding on the part of the East India Company. With regard to the treaties, he (the Chairman) said that the East India Company were bound to exercise the power which had been deposited in their bands. The Honourable Gentleman knew very well that the Company was regarded in India as the protectors of the native states, and he knew also that if they bad stood aloof, and not interfered with native affairs, that at this moment there would not have been one native state remaining between the Ganges and the Indus. The Hon. Gentleman knew very well that all the residents were placed by the Government with a view to affording a ivico and assistance to the native princes—to inculcate upon them moderation in the treament of their subjects. If the Company had not strictly adhered to that line of policy, and did not continue to adhere to it, the country itself would speedily lapse into a state of anarchy, and they would be obliged to take military possession of it. He did not think it was necessary or important to follow his Hon. Friend into the Mysore case. The great object of the list India Company was to treat all these cases with the consideration which they deserved. He trusted he had said enough, at all events, to show the Court that his Honourable Friend's object, though he did not avow it, was to censure their govern ment of India and to express a decided want of confi dence in them. He would ask the Court if they were prepared to adopt such a course on this occasion? Were 1 they prepared by that indirect mangier to show a want of confidence in their Government ?—(Hear, hear.) He I hoped his Hon. Friend would not press his resolution to a division. If he did, he (the Chairman) would feel himself called upon to move the previous question. Mr. M. LEwIN said it appeared to him that it was by no means a straightforward thing on the part of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Sullivan) to endeavour to censure the Court by implication, instead of doing it directly. If his Hon. Friend wished to do anything practicable to benefit the Reja of Sattara let him take some pracfcal step in that direction. They did not know who the Raja of Sattara was ; no one knew who he was. How much bitter fir his Hon. Friend would it have been to have brought before the Court the case of Mysore.—(Ques tion.) That was as much the question as was the matter of the Raja of Sattara. A PROPRIETOR—Are you not one of the requisi tionists, Mr. Lewin ? Mr. LEWIW said he was one of the requisitionists.— (Llughter.) Ile thought if his Hon. Friend brcught before the Court any case of substantial injustice it would receive from the Court the consideration it deserved. Mr. PETER GoRDoN expressed his obligation to his Hoe. Friend (Mr. Sullivan), who was one of the oldest and most experienced servants of the Com pany, far the trouble and ability he had displayed in bringing this matter before the Court. The real question was, should they continue to trust en tirely to their wealth and military power, or should they act with justice towards the native princes? Every family be England had its own legal successore, every man had a de scendant — (Laughter) —and adoption was the ordinary course of events in India, amoeg the rich as well as the poor. Whenever the case of the native princes of India had been brought forward it bad been the practice to represent them as having a great number of wives and concubines. But be would remind the Company.that almost all men who n ent to India from this country into the Company's service went out single; and it was notorious that when these young English bachelors returned home, the most of them left families behind them in India.—(Laughter and Question.) The CHAIRMAN hoped the Hon. Proprietor would not diverge into questions which were not before the Court. Mr. GORDON contended that adoption was the question. —(Laughter.) Td h b o e s n e am ge n n u t t le r m en e tu n rs of uf w th h e om En h set n e g n i t a i li rely cast off their Indian f ema l es. There 'se was, in this matte r c f mi.uth, unspotted as it others.'-: There was even a taint on the ch a racter cf L ord Teign adoption. Mr. FIELDER rose to order. This was not a court of libel. ner M er r. lls G i: a ll p er the asked ri if avep the East India Company had Mr. FIELDER (with great warmth)—l am sorry to ss you are a blackguard.—(" Chair," " Order," andgreat ex citement, in the midst of which Mr. Gordon resumed his seat.) Major-General BRIGGS said he thought the Chairman had unfairly assumed that the:propositions of his Hon. Friend (Mr. Sullivan) were brought forward with the view of attacking the Court of Directors. It was not his (Major-General Driggs's) intention to dilate upon the case of the Raja of Setters. That case had been settled, but it had been settled without the evidence that was necessary to have been before the Court. Ex cept the case of Holkar, there was not one case in which the Governor-General had ever asserted his right to in terfere with the succession of the native princes. The British Government had always recognised the officers of the Mogul Government as sovereign princes. In u th n e til samewhen , waY they recognised the Pashawich the Pasha, who held rule over the great officers of the Mahratta Government, was driven from the throne, and fled to Bombay. The British Government then made a treaty with the Pasha, by which he relinquished all power and influence over his officers. On that occasion he recog nised, as sovereigns, all the officers of the Pasha's Go vernment. In a word, we made certain treaties with them, and it was proposed by the resolutions before the Court to adhere to those treaties.—(Cheers.) The practice of adoption in India was a religious ceremony. It had been said Lo and his friends made a difference , between adoption and the case of lineal descent. There was neither in practice nor in law aoy difference what ever. The directors them s e lves had stated that there was no difference. He cont ended that if they departed from the principle of adoption the zocial condition of the ; should people of India would undergo de m oralization. All the ladies in the harem would have children a lady in the family-way produce a fereale there . would . of morality which would thus neglect those principles be a boy brought forward, to ho substituted r adoption. which they should ever maintain, by their departure , from a practice which generally obtained in the country. He would cheerfully support the resolutions of his . Hon. Rxiond. LONDON, Mr. MATTHEW CLAREE thought the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sullivan) had been fully justified in bringing this subject before the proprietors, tecanse it involved the great question of adoption on the part of the native princes of India, according to their religious usages. He thought it was exceedingly important that they should review their proceedings with respect to the past, as a security for the future; and that they should be exceed ingly circumspect not to interfere with the right of adop tion—a course which would certainly put down the moral influence of their cause in lndia.—(Hear.) Mr. SULLIVAN replied—ln the face of this Court I venture to ask whether a single fact I have stated in the course of my long address has been answered, or whether a single argument of mine has been controverted.— (Hear, hear.) The object of my first resolution was to deny that you could exercise any right or privileges over the sovereign states of India which do not belong to you under the general law of nations or by treaty. My next resolution declares that the native princes of India have independent right cf succession regulated by local usages, and that I have proved by stating to you a series of instances of adoption spread ing over a period of twenty years. My third proposition is, that those who are not sovereigns should have their ri gbts determined by the terms of the grants from their superiors. My next proposition has refer• once to the subject of disputes hstween yourselves and your allies.—(Hear.) 1 propose that those disputes should be determined by some competent and impartial tribunal.—(Hear.) I bare lot en asked what I con'ider an impartial tribunal; but you know yourselves what I mean.—(Hear.) You know that wo are not the impar tial parties to decide disputes, and to prove this I need only recall to your recollection what you did in the Set ters case.—(Hear.) But, says the Chairman, can you have a better authority to refer to, or a more impartial tribunal than that which is composed of members of the council. Why, that very council recommended the confiscation of Sattara. Now if the vase of Sattara has been introduced by implication it is not my fault, since the object of my proposition is not to re-open the Sattara_ controversy, but to prevent their being a dozen Sattara cases.—(Cheers.) Here are two volumes of your treaties made with the native powers of India—there are some 400 or 500 treaties in all by this Company; and when you find the Governor- General proclaims to the public that it is his intention to deal with every treaty precisely as he has done with the Sattara treaty, I think it is time to lay down the principle that lineal descendants do not necessarily mean hears male.—(Hear, hear.) And yet that is precisely what has been hinted at. But I can tell you that, if an opinion of that sort were to be pronounced from the chair, your teritories would not be worth twenty years' purchase.—(Hear, hear.) New, my resolution has exposed the declaration of the Governor- Ge: eral. Then he says this much—that he means to deal with all the powers with whom you have an alliance in the man ner I have mentioned, and I want you to determine whether you will sanction it or not.—(Hear, hear.) Now, the proposition I have made to you is of a practical character. Admit its principle and you will not have the least difficulty in the world.—(Hear, hear.) You have the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. and why not refer disputes to them?—(Hear, hear.) If - - you have a dispute wiiti the Raja of Budwar, or any Other of your subjects, he brings you before the Committee of the Privy Council, and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, therefore, is a fit and proper tribunal to which to refer these treaties. You have no right to take them up one by one and say the meaning is so and so, and that is my interpretation.—(Hear, hear.) Now that is precisely what you have done in the Sattara case; but I tell you distinctly that the object of my resolutions is not to open up the Sattara question but to prevent the occur rence of a hundred dozen of Sattara cases.—(Cheers.) That is my distinct object, though in the Sattara case there cannot he the slightest doubt as to the meaning of the treaty; and in proof of its necessity need I state any other fact than that, when it was proposed to refer for the meaning of the treaty with Sattara to him who made it—Mr. Elphinstone—that reasonable proposition was denied, and that you turned a deaf ear to all Mr. Frere's importunities that you would not disinherit all the heirs, or who claim to be such, to the prieipality without giving them a hearing? If, therefore, I hold up my hand singly in this Court I shall vote forthe reso lutions being put, in order that they may be entered on your records.—(Cheers.) The resolutions were then put and negatived seriatim, the Chairman moving the previous question in each instance. The Court then adjourned at three o'clock. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. • GRAND EXTRA NIGHT, Combining the talents of Madame Sontag, Mdlle. Catherine Hayes, and Mdlie. Parodi ; Signori Coletti, ITelletti, Lablache, Calzolari, and Sims Reeve.; Mdlles. Carlotta Grisi, Mario Taglioni, and Amelia Ferraris, The second appearance of Signor Baucardi. The Nobility, Subscribers, and the Public are respectftilly informed that a Grand Extra Night will take place on THURSDAY, April 25, when will be presented Mozart's Operr, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 19, 1850. ultimately the palatial residences of Alexan dria and Philadelphia. It is romantic, moreover, to have opened a new line of commerce in a quarter of the globe hitherto only remarkable for the extent of its piratical devastations ; but, above all, it is, to be sure, in the highest degree romantic to have disclosed a channel whereby her Britannic MAJESTY'S steam navy can be supplied, from Labuan, with coals, at 17s. 6d. per ton, in lieu of with coals at 335. 6d. per ton from Singapore ! Matter of-fact as we are, such romance as this will always be welcomed in England, even by our unpoetic and money. making generation. As to the objection advanced against the colonizing enterprize of his Excellency the Raja of SARAWAK, to the effect that the locality selected at Labuan is of a most unhealthy character—it should be borne in recollection that the evil inveighed against has been long since obviated, the marsh in the vicinity of the new settlement having been carefully drained. In consequence of this it has come to pass that not a single case of fever has been heard of among the colonists during the whole course of the last twelve months, and this, be it observed, notwithstanding the pernicious influence of a tropical climate upon the constitutions of Europeans. Of a great warrior it has been said very beautifully and emphatically— " If he was guilty of audacity in ,risking the lives of his men, he was not sparing :of his own !" And the same might be said of Sir JAMES BROOKE, in re ference to his Bornean enterprises. His own con stitution, notwithstanding its natural vigour, was seriously shaken, if it has not been ac tually undermined by a fever caught by him some time back in consequence of the marsh already par ticularised. But partially restored to convalesence by the aid of his physician, and by the beneficial effects of his recent visit to his native country, Sir JAMES BROOKE has again, by participating personally in the late expedition against the pirates, dissipated all the promiies of returning health ; insomuch that he is peremptorily recommended to proceed forthwith for change of air to Penang, and, in the event of that removal proving ineffectual as a restorative, is earnestly advised to hasten back at once to England. That the members of her MAJESTY'S Government should have pushed forward yesterday for the vindi cation of a great citizen and public benefactor like Sir JAMES BROOKS, is surely not surprising, when, from the facts already . mentioned, it must be obvious that his Excellency could not possibly have shown himself more thoroughly disinterested. It was but just, consequently, that the charges made by the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH against one of his conspicuous integrity should have been disproved by Bari GREY with so much warmth and earnestness. Such was due to the reputation of Sir JAMES BRoolut for valour, patriotism, and singlemindedness. It is impossible to peruse the report of the proceed ings in the House of Commons last night on the Marriages Bill without expressing the deepest con demnation of the unfair and factious opposition offered to the further progress of that just and salutary measure, and also regretting that a power so liable to abuse and perversion should be placed in the hands of a minority. Under the present system any two or three Members banded together for the purpose, and indiffe rent to the censure and reproach of the community in general, are enabled to obstruct and suspend the busines s of the country, and to overrule the opinions of a large and overwhelming majority of , their brother repre sentatives. They may, if they think proper, even " die on the floor of the House" before any proposi tion can be discussed on its merits, or passed through any one of its various stages. They may speak any number of times on the same subject, or introduce the most irrelevant questions, totally apart from the matter under consideration ; they may, in fact, dis arrange the entire order of business appointed for the day, but there is no remedy for the out raged and indignant majority. After repeated divisions, in which the " tyrant minority" become " small by degrees and beautifully less," the majo rity are compelled to yield to the reckless antagonism exhibited by the obstructives. This glaring grievance, this absurd anomaly, has naturally attracted the at tention of the Speaker, who suggested, " in order to prevent the vexatious repetition of questions of ad journment and frequent divisions, that no such ques tion shall be repeated within one hour after the House has decided against adjournment, and that no di vision upon the question shall be allowed, unless twenty-one Members, by standing up in their places, shall declare themselves with the Ayes." It is in deed very desirable that these suggestions, emanating from a gentleman of such great practical experience, sound judgment, and deserved influence, should be speedily adopted. Until some such regulation be carried, there is always the possibility of the power being resorted to for the purpose of evading the salu tary rules for the dispatch of business, and of ob structing the progress of all useful legislation. Long since we warned the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for Bute that the opponents of the Bill would adopt every means, per fas aut nefas, to defeat the wishes of the majority. The Fabian policy is that by which alone they can hope to succeed, and that will be unscrupulously resorted to on any and every occasion. The proceedings last night afforded the strongest evidence of the accuracy of our forebod ings. A large number of gentlemen attended in their places during the entire evening, in order to assist in carrying a measure which justice and expediency alike demanded. Mr. STUART WORTLEY had himself " remained in the House for many unbroken hours, although suffering under cevere indisposition, in order to ad vance the progress of the Bill." He had listened to the protracted debate on the question of "doing away with the trial by jury," and enabling a couple of the " great unpaid" to direct the infliction of corporal punishment at their mere will and pleasure on the rising generation who were on the verge of manhood. At length, when his exemplary patience was about to be rewarded, when the time had arrived for going into Committee on his Bill, the Right Honourable Gentleman the ex- Attorney-General expresses " a hope " that the Bill would not be forced on at so late an hour half-past eleven), and on Mr. WORTLEY refusing to comply with this extraordinary request, moved " that the debate be adjourned." This proposition was negatived, on a division, by a decisive majority of 63, no less than 152 gentlemen having voted in favour of immediate progress. A new amendment was, however, moved by another Honourable Member for the adjournment of the House, which was in like manner rejected by a still larger majority of 95. Undeterred, however, by this unequivocal expression of opinion, a similar proposition was again made, without a moment's delay, when another division took place, and a majority of 85 over ruled the vexatious suggestion, the diminished number being ascribable to the departure of many Hon. Gentlemen, who left the House in disgust. Again was the adjournment called for, and at length Mr. WORTLEY, although supported by nearly three fourths of the House, was compelled to yield, and the debate vs as adjourned until the 16th of May, or , in other words, for no less than four weeks. This is neither just or reasonable. It is indeed a re proach to the British nation that such tactics should be permitted to gain even a temporary triumph. Bigotry and intolerance have thus prevailed, for the time being, and those who desire to prevent the civil and religious liberty of their fellow-subjects, to fetter ar.d restrain them in the most sacred relationof life, are elated at the result, forgetful of the disgraceful mode by which it was aehieved. Why, we ask, should there have been any new adjournment? The principles of the measure had been canvassed and discussed usque ad nauseam. Its very details have been fully and attentively considered, and every reasonable sug gestion offered by its opponents had been acceded to. It was only prevented from becoming the law of the land last year by the prorogation of Parliament. An immense body of evidence had previously been taken before the Commissioners appointed in June, 1847, in pursuance of a vote of the House of Commons — evidence that must have convinced any impartial and unprejudiced mind of the propriety and necessity of the measure. It was, therefore, no new question, on which further time was required, in order to pre vent Hon. Gentlemen from being taken by surprise, or being obliged to come to a hasty and premature conclusion. There were ample data before Parlia ment on which to ground its decision ; and yet it was on such a topic that the minority chose to avail them selves of the formidable power with which they are invested by what are termed " the privileges of the , LE NOZZE DI I'IGARO. Susanna, Madame Sontag; the Countess, Mdlie, Parodi ; Cheru bino, Mdlle. Catherine llayes ; the Count Almaviya, Signor Coletti ; Figaro, Signor Benet:l; Basilic., Signor Calzolari ; Bartolo, Signor Lablache. In the Wedding Scene, the Zarabanda in A (composed expressly fbr this Opera) will he danced by Mdlie. Carlotta Grist and Mdlle. Marie Tsglionl(who will appear as a cavalier.) With various Entertainments in the Ballet department, com prising the talents of Mdlle. Carlotta Grits!, Mdlle. Marie Taglioni, Mdlle. Amalie Ferraris, M. Charles, and M. P. Taglioni. And other Entertainments, In which Signor Baucardi and Mr. Sims Reeves will appear. ♦pplications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be male at the Box Office of the Theatre. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. First appearance of Signor Baucardi. TO-MORROW .EYENIINU Will be presented Verdi's Opera. I LOMBARDI. Eliselda, Mdlle. Giuliani; Peg,asio, Signor Coletti ; Arvin°, Signor Dal Flo: ; Oronte, Sipnor Baucardi (his first appearance): I❑ the course of the evening will be presented selections from the admired Ballet LA ESMEIIALDA, comprising the celebrated Truandalso, by Mdllo. Carlotta Grisi and M. Charles. Alter which the admired Ice Ballet. by M. I'. Taglioni, entitled! LES PL AISIIiS D? L'HIVER ; ou, Les Patineurs. The principal characters by Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi, Mdlle. Marie Tag Heat, and Mdlle. Arnalla Ferraris; in the course of which the admired Spanish Dance, La Zingarella, by Mdlle. Marie Taglioni ; a new grand Pas, by Mdlle. Amalia Ferraris; and a grand Pas de Deux a la Ilongroise, by Mdlle, Carlotta Grist and M. Charles. Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and 1 ickets to be made at the Box-oMee of the Theatre. Doors *pen at Seven, the Opera to commence at Half-past Seven. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. First night of Zora and first appearance of Monsieur Zelger. TO-MORROIV EVENING will be produced (for the fret time) with new scenery, dresses, sand decorations, a grand opera, founded on Itossini's celebrated work, " dose in Egitto," with the alterations and additions by the Composer, entitled Z 0 R A. Anat.!, Madame Castellan ; Sinaide, Madlle. Vera; Nicotri, Mdme. d'Okolskl ; Merismane, Signor Tambur'ni ; Zora, Mon. Zelger (his first appearance at the Royal Italian Opera) ; Babias, Signor Lavia ; Osiris, Signor Tagliafico ; The Oracle, Signor Polo:alai ; Aufide, Signor Soldi ; and Amenofi, Signor Tamberlik. The Divertisement in the third act will be supported by Monsieur Alexandre and Madlle. Louise Tagiloni. Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa. The scenery by Messrs. (}sieve and Telbin. The dresses by Mrs. Bailey and Madame Matrzio. The appointments by Mr. Blamire. The machinery by Mr. Allen. The Ballet arranged by M. Alexandre. The spectacle arranged by Mr. A. Harris. The doors will be opened at Half-past Seven, and the perform ances commence at Eight o'clock precisely. Tickets for the Boxes, Stalls, or the Pit, may be had (for the night or :eason), at the Box-office of the Theatre, which will for the flature be open from Ten till Five. Madame Grisi, Madlle. de Merle, Signor Tamberlik, M. Zelger, and Signor Mario. 4, GRAND EXTRA NIGHT On THURSDAY NEXT, April 2.5, When will be performed (for the first time this season) Rossini's celebrated opera of T,A DONNA DEL LAGO. Elena, Madame Grist ; Alblna, Madlle. Cotti ; Malcolm Grmme, Nfadile. de Meric ; Douglas, 111. Zelger ; Serano, Signor Lavia Rodrigo Dhu, Signor Tamberlik ; and Giacomo V., Signor Marto. The Grand Finale of the First Act, representing the Gathering of the Clans, will be executed by two Military Bands, in addition to tke usual orchestra. Composer, Director of the Music, and Conductor, Mr. Costa. The Doors will be opened at Half-past Seven, and the performances continence at Eight o'clock precisely. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Last Nights before Whitsuntide. The Lessee has great pleasure. hi stating that the growing attraction of the Grand Easter Spectacle of the DEVIL'S RING, Tog.'ther with the urgent recommendation from all quarters that it should be continued, has induced him to make such arrangements as will meet the general wish, and supersede, for the present, the necessity of closing the Theatre. THIS EVENING, Will be presented, by her Majesty's Servants, The Comedy of CHARLES THE TWEE' TH. Charles the Twelth, Mr. Cooper. After which THE DEVIL'S RING ; or, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. In Three Acts and Four Elements. The following are the principal Scenes. ELEMENT THE FIRST—FIRE. A beautiful View of the CITY AND HARBOUR OF CA YANIA IN SICILY, With Mount Etna Smoking in the Back-ground. • CHARACTERS IN THE FIRST ELEMENT: Arnuph, Mr. W. Montague ; llodolph, Mr. Frazer ; Herman, Mr. S. Jones; C,nracle, Mr. Clifford ; Otho, Mr Everett; Adolphus, Mr. Darcle ; ;Rupert. Mr. Abbott; Carloman, Mr. Brayne • Herbert, Miss F. Madden ; Franco, Mr. S. Artaud ; Host of the World's End," Mr. G. W atson ; the Enchanted Princess Eveline, Miss E. Nelson; Leela, Ml ss.Rafter ; The Spirit Devil's Ring, Miss A. Lona dale ; Whirliburg, Mr. Seymour ; Go-dab, Mr C. Fisher. CAVERNS OF TIIE BRAZEN HAND. TEMPLE AND SPIRIT OF THE DEVIL'S RING. 1 THE INTERIOR OF THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S ABODE. THE REALMS OF FIRE, ELEMENT TUB SECOND—WATER. FALLS OF NIAGARA IN THE NEW WORLD. THE CITY OF TIIE FOUNTAINS. BREAKING THE SECOND CHARM. THEY ASCEND UPON THE BOSOM OF THE WATERS CHARACTERS IN THE SECOND ELEMENT: Herbert, Miss F. lluddart ; Franco, Mr. S. Artaud ; American Settler, Mr. R. Romer ; Indians, Messrs. Henry and Tressidor ; Miss Foster ; Spirit of the Wate rs , Mi ss Neil; Queen Miss F. Grey ; Go-dah, Mr. C. Fisher. GRAND NAIADE BALLET. ELEMENT THE THIRD—EARTH. olfnd the ianNtuaadvre; ' DIAMOND CAVES IN CALIFORNIA. bliss F. Hubbart ; Franco, Mr. S. Artaud ; The Black llerbert, M CHARACTERS IN TIIE THIRD AND FOURTH ELEMENTS : Knight • Mucklow, Mr. Manderson : Gnomes, Messrs. Abbott, Henry, Ellar, Wayne, &c. ; the Princess Eveline, Miss E. Nelson ; Leela, Miss Rafter ; Go-dall, Mr. C. Fisher. THE SICILIAN VINEYARD. A TERRIFIC COMBAT BETWEEN HERBERT AND THE SABLE KNIGHT. ELEMENT TIIE FOURTII—AIR. THE PALACE OF RAINBOWS! HALL OF THE HUNDRED KNIGHTS. The Triumphal Entry of Herbert and Princess Ereline In A CAR DRAWN BY REAL HORSES. GRAND MILITARY BAND, AND GORGEOUS PROCESSION! Ti conclude with (4111 time) a new and original Farce, called TIIE CRICKET MATCH. FRENCH PLAYS.-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING The Performances will commence at Seven o'clock pre- cisely, with 31EROVEE ; ou, Bruno et Blonde. After which the Popular Comedy of LA MARQUISE DE SENNETERRE. Le Coramandeur de Lonjumeau, 31. Samson ; Henrietta Mdlle Demain. To conclude with (for the first time in this country) a New Comedy, by M. Samson, entitled BELLE MEItE ET LE GE NDRE. Duchemaln, M. Samson ; Elise,Mdile. Denain. The Itoz-olllce of the Theatre is open daily rrom eleven till Five Boxe4 And Btalls at 3,1 r. Ultchell'a Boyd Library, 33, Old Dond atlcat. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET .Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton. THIS EVENING, Will be performed a new drama, called THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Dr. Primrose, Mr. Webster; Squire Thornhill, Mr. H. Vanden hoff ; Mr. Burchill, Mr. Stuart ; Moses, Mr. Buckstene ; Mrs. Prim rose, Mrs. Keeley; Olivia, Miss Reynolds; Lady Manley, Miss P Horton ; Miss Skeggs, Mrs. Fitzwilliara. To conclude with the Last Edition of IVANHOE, with all the newest improvements. Cedric the Saxon, Mr. J. Bland ; Sir Briant de Bore Guilbert, Mr. Selby; Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe, Mrs. Keeley; Wamba, Mr. Buck ssone ; Isaac of York, Mr. Kee!cy; Robin Hood, Mrs. Fitzwillism ; Rebecca, Miss P. Horton. The Box-ofiloe is under the direction of Mr. I. T. Archer. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Under the direction of Madame Celeste. Tills EVENING, Will be performed the celebrated Drama of THE HARVEST ROME. Principal characters by Messrs. Hughes, 'Wright, Paul Bedford, 0. Smith ; Madame Celeste, and Miss IVoolgar. no be followed by a grand historical Spectacle Vaudeville, entitled PLAYING FIRST FIDDLE; or, Follow my Leader Principal Characters by Messrs. P. Bedford, Lambert, Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, and Miss K. Fitzwilliam. To conclude with MY PRECIOUS BETSY- Characters by Messrs. Wright, Bedford, Worrell; Miss Harding, and Mrs. F. Matthews. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. TIIISETENING Will be repeated (17th time):n. Lyrical. Comical Pastoral, entitled CYMON and IPHIGENIA, altered from the text of David Garrick. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Harley, F. Matthews, It. Roxby sad F. Cooke; Mios St. George, Miss Kenworthy, Miss Dickinson, Mrs. Hamby, Miss Oliver, Miss Manners, and Miss Martindale. To be followed by THE ISLAND OF JEWELS. To conclude with TWO IN THE MORNING. All applications for Private Boxes must be made to Mr. Allcroft (5, New Bond-street. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING. Will be produced (Fifth time in this country la its com plete form) Auber's Opera of GUSTAVUS THE THIRD. Gustavus, Mr. W. Harrison ; Oscar, Miss L. Pyne ; Ankastrom, Mr. Weiss; Ribbing, Mr. G. darker; De Horn, Mr. It. Latter; Christian, Mr. Wynn ; Countess Ankastrom, Mdile. Nau ; Arvedson, Madame Meetarren ; Principal Folic, Mdlie. Celeste Stephan. After which a New Grand Tale of Enchantment, with splendid Seenery, Costumes, and Appointments; extensive Machinery, &c., entitled THE QUEEN OF THE ROSES ; or, The Sorcerer of Candahar. Principal characters by Messrs. Ryder, Forman, Honey, Craven ; Miss Louisa Howard, Miss Saunders, and Miss Villars. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. W. Batty. Unequalled success of the new grand Easter Spectacle of Enchant ment. Last week but one of that extraordinary American Equestrian Young Hernandez, universally pronounced 'the wonder of the world. THIS EVENING The Entertainments will commence at Seven o'clock, with Fitzball's new magnificent Spectacle entitled THE FOUR SONS OF .4LYIIION ' • or The Days of Charlemagne. Most gorgeously produced, and introducing a Living Camel of the Desert, Zebra, the beautiful Stud of Horses, and all the vast and unequalled resources of this Establishment. —.— To be succeeded by a brilliant routine of Equestrian Wonders, daring which Young Hernandez will appear in an entirety New Act called the Page Troubadour. To conclude with the interesting Melodrama of MEG MURDOCK ; or, the Fatal Glen. Box •office open From Eleven till Foar. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Just published, in 3 vols., THE NEW NOVEL, PRIDE _. AND IRRESOLUTION. _ _ A Second Series of" The Discipline of Life';" Comprising the Histories of ADA MOWBRAY and SUSAN GREVILLE. "Lady Ponsenby Is a searcher of the inmost recesses of the human heart. It 1.3 long since we have read a work with so much pleasure." Post. " T• Lady Ponsonby we are indebted for writing which would do no discredit to the best efforts of Miss Austin."—Weekly Chronicle. Menry Colloarn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough -street. T HE LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. Established in 1626. Empowered by Act of Parliament. OMees In Liverpool, Nos. 8 and 10, water-street. Offices In London, 3, Charlotte-row, Mansion-horse, and 28, Regent-street, Waterloo-place. TRUSTEES. Sir Thomas Bernard Birch, Bart., M.P., Adam Hodgson, Esq., Samuel Henry Thompson, Esq. DIRECTORS IN LIVERPOOL. William Nicol, Esq., Chairman. Joseph C. Ewart, Esq., Joseph Hornby, Esq., Deputy-Chairmen. Swinton Boult, Esq., Secretary. DIRECTORS IN LONDON. William Ewart, Esq., M.P., Chairman. George Frederick Toung. Esq., Deputy-Chairman. Frederick Chinnock, Esq., Manager of West End Office. Benjamin Henderson, Esq., Resident Secretary. The amount of Capit a l subscrlbed exceeds 1,500,0001. Liability *1 Proprietors unlimited. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Extract from the Report of the Directors for the year 1849 :—" It Is gratifying to the Directors to be able to report that the Fire busi ness of the Company has largely increased during the year, and ex ceeds by a million that of 1848." LIFE DEPARTMENT. Extract from the Report of the Directors for the Year 1849 : a ' The steady increase in the Life Business of the Company, which has been noticed In successive Annual Reports, was realized also in the last year. The number of Policies issued was 236 ; the Amount insured 132,8831.; the new Premiums received 4,2621. Is. 28 ; and, at the same tine, notwithstanding the terrible mortality with which this country was visited, the claims were only eight per rent. greater than these of 1848." Fair Prespectuse; may be had on application at the Offices or Agen cies, and eyory facility and dispatch will be afforded to persons de sirous of negotiating business. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAT Morning 33 min. after 6 Evening 3 min. after 7 To•Mosaow—Morning 40 min. after 7 I Evening 21 min. after 8 THE WEATHER.—SIN OFFICE, APRIL 19. THRRNOMRTIR, LOP/lA, 42 ; Highest, 60; Noon, 52. BAROMETER, 30 08. WIND S.S.W.—stiff bre 254 and heavy rain since morning At Ate*Mt alttlt LONDON,: FRIDAY. APRIL 19, 1850. Our noblest public benefactors usually find their reward either in the grossest aspersions or in insinua tions of the most dark an 3 dastardly character. Last evening Sir JAMES BROOKE, the illustrious Raja of Sarawak, came in for the customary instalment of the national gratitude. Having dedicated his private fortune to the service of his fdlow-creatures and the extension of the glory and influence of England, he is charged with speculating in the affairs of Labuan with a view to his own pecuniary advantage. Hay- ing devoted the best years of his manhood to the cause of our colonial government, he is accused of having embarked in an expedition detrimental to the interests of his fellow-countrymen. Having again and again emperilled his life, and having, moreover, by his self-sacrificing regard to the welfare of huma nity, undermined a naturally robust constitution, he is designated (we cannot but think somewhat sneer- ingly), in the British House of Lords, " a gallant romantic English gentleman." The nobleman who permitted himself to become the disparaging satirist of this eminent citizen was no other than the Earl of ELLENDOROUGH ; and the occasion afforded him yes terday for the utterance of these melancholy and un deserved accusations was the second reading cf the Pirates'iy spat Head m Repeal Bill. We fully and st the emotions of mingled earnestly Money with regret and indignation which the Noble Earl the Chief Secretary of the Colonial Department evinced R bile the attack s l eve ll e d aga i ns t his Excellency repellingllen cySirJAMES BROOKE by the ex-Governor- General of our Asiatic possersion'. Few will withhold their coincidence in the opinions ex pressed by Earl GREY in language of deep and elo quent admiration. The career of the Raja of SARl wax, in truth, is precisely one of that description which secures the cordial regard of a race whose veins are beating with the blood of the Angles and the Saxons, and whose ancient parentage maintains among them a passionate devotion for the memory at once of the chivalric warriors of Normandy and of the adventurous Vikings of Scandinavia. His cha racter is of that hardy and resolute kind which is of all others dear to the hearts of England. His only weakness, if such in his instance it can be desig nated, is one arising from the depths of his conviction, from the earnestness of his belief, from the ardour of his moral temperament—we mean that religious zeal which opportunity some times freezes into bigotry, and sometimes in flames into fanaticism. Otherwise than in hi s austere predilection for his own doctrinal opinions, or rather for the doctrinal opinions of the class with whom he sympathises, to the exclusion from his regard of all other religionists, the nature of this distinguished man is one such as extorts respect and elicits eulogium. Yet it is against this unselfish and valiant Englishman that a Peer of the realm has dared to direct the most shameful and detestable inuendoes ! According to the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH, his Ex- cellency Sir JArdEs BROOKE is " a gallant romantic English gentleman." Well, of his gallantry there is no question, of course, whatever—that being the groundwork of his reputation. But the Raja of SARAWAK, saith the Lord of Southern, is " romantic." In every individual no doubt, whose character is at all chivalric, there is necessarily a large amount of what is termed romance. But, assuredly, if Sir JAMBS BROOKE is romantic to any extravagant degree, his romance is of the most practicable kind imaginable. For example, it is very romantic to be sure—the creation of an other colony hard by the Eastern Archipelago. The romance of such an act, we opine, is somewhat of a kind with that of Sir STAMFOItD RAFFLES! Then, again, it is marvelously romantic of course—the establishment of the site of a city already sprouting into existence on the coast of Labuan. A romance, this, kindred with the romance odt of which have arioep, at intervals, fatly, tho hovels and 41' 6 a 714 TD ) F. ea?, • I. •o nROIT ' - - r House." A. most dangerous and' unconstitutional precedent has thus been established, which may be followed so as to prevent the possibility cf any measure of reform, however urgently re quired by the voice of public opinion, from being sanctioned by Rirli;ment, or b^coming the law of the land. The question is eminently one of" liberty of conscience. "The dearest and most sacred privilege of freemen has been unnecessarily assailed, and we tell the minority, temperately but firmly, that opposition such as that last night offered to the al teration of the iniquitous law of 1835 cannot and shall not be suffered to prevail. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC We have received the Paris journals of yesterday. The account of the melancholy accident at Angers is fully confirmed. It appears that the weather was very violent at the time, and that the troops on pass ing the bridge neglected the advice given to them to maintain a distance of twenty-five paces between each. The number of persons drowned has not been accurately ascertained. The Lieutenant-Colonel of the regi ment was rescued with great difficulty. The Stack has opened a subscription for the fsmilies of the suf ferers, and heads the list with a subscription of 500 f. The National has been seized for having accused the PRESIDENT and his Ministers of contemplating a coup d'etat. It appears that the differences between the Legiti matists and Orleanist sections of the reactionaries still continue. M. LECLERC has been started by the Le gitimatists fur Paris in revenge for the slight which they imagined the Union Electorale, the majority of whom are Orleanists, put upon them by s t art i ng M. FERDINAND For. The Union Electorale declared that they would submit the names of MM. LECLERC, For, and other reactionary candidates, to a prelimi nary ballot, and M. LECLERC wrote to the President of the Union, declaring his willingness to submit to the preliminary ballot ; he has, however, since with drawn his letter, and the Union Electorale has, in consequence, determined to continue the candidature of M. FERDINAND For. Although the Legitiniatists have taken up M. LECLERC, we believe he can scarcely be considered as belonging to that party. The Ministry were beaten on 'Wednesday in the Assembly on a paltry vote for 18,000 f. for supplying copies of the Moniteur to the Sub-Prefects. .M. BERRTER opposed the grant, and it was refused by 322 to 275. PARIS BOURSE, APRIL 18. Closing Prices— Rentes, Five per Cents., 89f. 35c.; ditto, Three per Cents, 55f. 65c. ; Bank of France, 2,125 f. BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, APRIL 18. Central of France (Orleans and Vierzcn), 12 1 A—Namur and Liege, OA—Paris and Rouen, 19. V. SPAIN. Madrid journals of the 13th have arrived. Their contents are unimportant. MADRID BOLSA , APRIL 13.—The Three per Cents. were sold at 29i 7-16 for paper and money. GERMANY. Accounts from Erfurth state that the Constitution has been accepted en bloc. The Prussian Minister MANTEUFFEL gave to the Members the assurance that the Government approved of the adoption of the Constitution in its entirety, and was prepared to go with the Parliament. T URKEY. Respecting the disturbance iu Corinthia, we learn that the Vizier of GRAVNIK sent thither a plenipo tentiary, who was to negotiate amicably with the in surgents. lle was well received, but the proposed mediation terminated with the decided declaration of the chief of the insurgents, that they would neither now nor ever consent to pay the taxes imposed by the VIZIER, inasmuch as they paid those stipulated by the SULTAN ; that it was by no means their wish to rise against the supremacy of the SULTAN; that they were ready to return to their allegiance to the VIZIER, but that they protested against every fresh imposition of taxes. It is supposed that a fresh sup ply of troops will enable the VIZIER to act with more decision. PROTEST OF THE HUNGARIAN EXILES IN AMERICA. The Hungarian fugitives and exiles in New York have issued a solemn protest against all the acts com mitted by the Austrian Government in their country. The protest opens as follows :—" We, the under signed natives of the kingdom of Hungary, and of the provinces indissolubly united with the Crown of that country, as the only members of the nation who are able to express themselves with perfect freedom, and to raise their; voice for the sacred:cause of their oppressed country, declare hereby, in the name of God the Eternal and the Just, the Defender and Avenger of Truth, in the face of the whole civilised world, and under full conviction that we express the sentiments of the whole Hungarian nation, as fol lows" (Here follow resolutions passed at the exiles' meet in g). These resolutions are sold in New York by thousands, and are being prepared for circulation in Europe. EARLY INTELLIGENCE.—By the courtesy of W. Byers, Esq., the manager of the Scottish Midland Railway, we were yesterday aftercoon, at a quarter past six o'clock, favoured with a copy of the fourth edition of The Sun of the previous evening —about twenty-one hours from Lon don. It is almost intolerable that the same paper should, by the present postal arrangements be delivered only on the forenoon of the day following that on which it can be se cured by a railway parcel.—Aberdeen Herald. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—One day's later news from the Cape of Good Hope informs us that the Neptune convict ship took its departure from. the colonial waters at eight o'clock A.M. on the 21st of February. In the evening of that day, a general illumination took place, when the city was never known to have presented a gayer scene. The houses of the poor as well as of the rich contributed their portion of light to the dazzling blaze, while the streets were thronged with spectators gazing with rapture on the splendid view around them. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 18.—The Navigator, which sailed from Buenos Ayres on the 14th February, has, after a passage of sixty-four days, arrived in the Mersey, but does not bring any news whatever. Freights were dull, and business generally quiet. LONDON HOSPITAL.—The anniversary dinner in aid of the funds of this old and useful charity was yesterday held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate.street ; his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge ( the president) in the chair. From his Royal Highness's appeal in behalf of the in stitution, it appeared that its annual expenditure amounted to 15,00 a, while its fixed income was 10,00(1, and that con sequently the balance of 5,0001. bad to be raised by voluntary subscriptions. The number of in-patients admitted during the year was, it appeared, 4,402; of out-patients, including accidents treated as out-patients, ; while the total number of patients since its foundation was 925,616. After the usual loyal toasts and the healths of the various officers of the institution, the company dispersed. Thomas Kilpack, the proprietor of the "American Bowling Saloon," King-street, Covent-garden, was yesterday tined 101. by the Court of Inland Revenue for retailing spi - - rituous liquors without a licence. At a general meeting of the Middlesex Magistrates, yesterday, reports were presented from the visiting justices of the various prisons in the county, and a recommendation male for a diminution in the staff of officials in the House of Correction in Coldbath-fields. The proposal of the com mittee on county expenditure to disallow for the future all fees to coroners for inquests held in cases where death oc curred from felony, and in which the perpetratar had been apprehended, was fixed for the 30th May. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, APRIL 18.—The market to-day was quiet, owing to cotton being more freely offered in Liverpool yesterday and to-day. Prices were steady at the advance asked on Tuesday. Domestics do not part ake of the advance, and are still a drug upon the market. On the whole, the business to-day has not been extensive, but there was more inquiry than earlier in the week. WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY.—We have much pleasure in being enabled to state, upon what we deem excellent authority, that the arrangements necessary to be made to further the formation of this noble line to Fid down have been all but completed, and that a very brief space of time will elapse before the works thereon will be proceeded with.— Tipperary Free Press. GUANO.—An account of all guano imported into ' the United Kingdom in each of the years from 1641 to 1819 inclusive has just been published. The return called for in cluded the years 1838 ti 1819, but as guano was not speci fically charged with duty until 1841, no account of the im portations for those years could be rendered. The largest quantity imported in any year during the period to which the account refers was 283,300 tons in 1843, and the smallest, 2,881 tons in 1841. The quantity imported in 1849 was 83,438 tons. The countries furnishing the greater portion of these imports are Peru and Bolivia, Chili, the western coast of Africa, and the colonial territory of the Cape of Good Hope. From Peru and Bolivia the imports have gra dually risen from 1,000 and 2,000 tons to 73,567 tons in 1849 ; from Chili the largest importation of guano was 11,956 tons, in 1345, since which the importation has decreased to 4,311 tons in 1849. From Africa the first importation of guano was in 1843, when 175 tons were brought in; in 1845 the imports rose to 207,679 tons; in 1843 they were 950, and in 1849 they were 2,045 tons. From the Cape of Good Hope the first importations were in 1814, and amounted to 253 tons; the next year 46,848 tons were imported from this place, and in 1849, 767 tons. ORPHAN WORKING SCHOOL, HAVERSTOCK HILL, HAMPSTEAD-ROAD.—The ninety-second anniversary of the charity was held yesterday at the London Tavern, Bishops gate-street; John Remington Mills, Esq., president of the institution, in the chair, supported on his right by Sheriff Nicoll. The musical arrangements were under the direction of ➢ir. Genge, assisted by Masters Wheatley and Smith, Mr. Shoubridge, Mr. Lawler, and ➢lr. Farquharson Smith, who presided at the pianoforte. In proposing the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the Orphan Working School," the chairman alluded to the presence of M. E. Ducpetiaux, in spector-general of schools, &c., in Belgium. M. Ducpetiaux returned thanks, avid declared that having examined many charitable institutions in England, he hoped that the example set by us would be adopted throughout the civilized world. The amount of subscriptions announced was 634/. 15s. Mr. Higgs was the toastmaster on the occasion, who discharged his duty with his usual judgment. SEIKLI COINAGF.—The last symbol of Seikh supre macy in the Punjaub is about to pass away. The coinage of Runjeet Singh and his successors is to be called in with the least practicable delay, to be assayed and melted down at Lahore, and forwarded for recoinage to Calcutta or Bombay, as 139011 M “12191114 Gt CQUIPAPY'4 cola can be obtained to replace that about to be withdrawn from cir e c, b ulr , tion. 'We suspect that, d es i ra bl e as t h e alterat i o n w i ll some time must elapse before a complete change can 18 1 ) , place, and that, u n l ess a period be fixed within which 0° the Nanukshaie rupee is to be considered a legal tenders considerable number w ill b e reta i ned by those w ho cliq kb ° the " ancient regime" with a ling er i ng h o p e that 6el iore supremacy may once mo re b e i n t h e ascendant.—L ai Chronicle. THE LATE LI E U T .-C OLONEL YOUNG, C.13."--Tlil9 r n t officer, second in com man d o f h er Majesty's 10th Regirn of Infantry, wh o di e d at W arms' uzeerabad, entered the ar, ss an ensign in th e 17 t h R eg i ment of Infantry in 1 819. a 9 undo captain in the 31 s t R eg i ment he served with the force sif General Pollock, and was present in the actions at goz e h e jel lezeen, and Jugdullock, as well as in the actions which led to the occupation of Cabul by that general. Captain le', l l afterwards served with the 31st in the campaign on the Su` is and was dangerously wounded in the. battle of Moodkee9".,, December, 1845. He was afterward s appointed awe ori ) l the 10th Foot, and i n 1848 b ecame a lieutenant-colonel. The deceased officer had received medals for Affghanist o f and the Sutlej, and in 1849 was nom i nated a ComPame n the Bath. FOREIGN Hors —The importations of foreie hops continue to take place to a considerable extent frorn United States of America, and also to a lesser extent fr ° t , Belgium, the produce of these countr i es, w hi c h i s o f inill r h s ante, as evincing the practic a bilit y o f a cont i nuanc e in h , supply of this novel arti c le o f f ore i gn merchan di se throug_, out the year, the prevent being the first of such importatioe: from abroad taking place. The American ship Independ ege r ; from New York, has b r o ug ht 110 b a l es, cons i gne d to orde t , the Nautilus, from Antw er p, 5 b a l es; t h e S o h o, f r om Al s werp, 10 bales ; and th e Si r Ed war d B an k es, from the 58 place, 15 bales of the article. A THE CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMPAN.•-"- deputation from the directors of this company waited Yet' terday terday upon the truste es o f t h e E ssex and M i dd l ese x Tl;\ r to pike roads, to present a memor i a l, pray i ng to b e allolveu os pass their mains, connecting their works on Bow-conO t j, with the City, along part o f th e turnp ik e roa d at t h e C5O e l bridge. Mr. Dakin, the chairman of the G as Consume Company, was heard in support of the memorial, and lU , r ,. Tyrrell, on behalf of the o ld cas compan i es, oppose d the d i 'plication. After considerabl e di scuss i on, t h e trusteel, .g vided, 54 voting against the - gas mains being placed 5 1°,41 the road, and 113 in f avour o f t h e prayer of the nlelll°.itt being granted. If thi s d ec i s i on i s con fi rmed at the 0,0, general meeting of- the trust ees , it w ill compe l the Vs c° lo o pany to adopt another line of road, for which permission, been already obtained—only it is a little more circuit°r; An interesting legal question will, it appears, be raised ho the division taken on this occasion. A large n umber the trustees of the turnp •` ike-road are also shareholders in he ,:, he gas companies now under contract for lighting the rood. 10 Consumers' Company being a rival company, tendefillg he supply gas at a cheaper ra t e , i t i s conten d ed t h a t by tas General Turnpike A c t th e t rus t ees i nterested i n the 01"ibty companies were legally excluded from votiug,under a Pel l "' of 501. each. lONIAN BANK.—A special meeting of this Or., pony took place yest er d a y, a t th e offices, Great Wmche street, City, for the purp ose o f electing a director in the room of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Frederick Hankey, W ho e 4 tired ; Mr. Oliver Farrer i n th e c h a i r . Th e Ch a i rma n sts t i g that this not being the general meeting, but only a apes it one for the above-n ame d purpose o f e l ect i ng a di rec tor, di , duty would be simply t o p ropose M r. J o h n Rankin $.. rector. The motion was carr i e d unan i mously, an d th e Mee ing separated. The anniversary of Lord Rodney's glorious v ie ; tory of the 12th of April, 1782, was celebrated yesterlb, by a numerous meeting of the members of the Navy C.,: n a. who dined together at the Thatched House. Captain led ney Mundy„ a descendant of the late Gallant Admiral? " the chair. FROME.—Last week a young man named Tho Tis George, about 18 years of age, was discovered lying deau co , a barn at Nunney, near Frome, with his throat cut. "Iv roner's inquest was conseq uen tl y h e ld on t h e f o ll ow ing u h , when an open verdict wa s re t urne d to t h e e ffect t', e , there was not sufficient evidence to prove whether the ceased had destroyed hims e lf or h a d met hi s d eat h from " s . unknown hand. Since the inquest Messrs. Giles and Cosh surgeons, of Frome, were called in to examine the bodyt,!, A discovered that the skull had b een f rac t ure d i n f ro nt blow, and from the manner in which the wouad had bee ? ibe flicted in the throat they we re d ec id e dl y o f opinion that deceased could not have committ e d su i c id e , b ut m ust b a w d been murdered. It further a pp e ar e d t h a t hi s poc kets P o been rifled and turned inside out, and the marks of ble ° t if fingers thereon, but the hands of th e d ecease d were perfee ly clean. On Monday last Henry Hillier, alias Axford, „ K 1 bourer, was brought before the F rome mag i s t ra t es , chstr:f. on suspicion of committing the murder, who remanded he for a fortnight, when he will b e aga i n b roug h t up f o r AO' t examination.— S/ierbourne Journal. h e fir g ! t WESTERN CITY DISPENSARY.—Testerday „ be . anniversary festival of this in s tit u ti on , w hi c h was estab°rs. in the year 1830 with the beneficent object of affording g d ot tuitous medical assistance to th e p oor , was ce lebrat e ke, Radley's Hotel, Bridge-street, Bl ac kf r i ars. Si r J. Pure. M.P., occupied the chair. At th e c l ose o f an exc ellent to past, and the usual loyal t oas t s h av i ng b een d run k With,„syt accustomed honours, the Chairman rose t o propos e the w dir of the evening—" Success to the Instit u ti on w hose font' bi r tion they had met to celebrate." The district embraced as the dispensary was extremely l arge , th e popu lation ;i t ' dense, and of such a character a s t o requ i re precise ly tbe of such an institution as the present. Surrounded by t r th ia volent charities of almost e ver y d escr i pt i on f or w hich city was so remarkable, this institution stood forth pre -6 lie f nently deserving their support, on account of the local r e d je which it afforded to the denizens o f th e ne i g hb o arllo o o 4 which it was situated. These institutions recornrl ll o . 9 .4 themselves naturally to the kind b enevo l ence o f a ll. it t he their privilege to heal the sick and to administer to id , wants of the afflicted, and he was sure all would Pil l : W o e him in drinking success to so worthy and philanthrop ic institution. Mr. Conyers responded to the toast, which t r ii p , needless to say was received with en th us i asm . Sub s der lions were then announced to th e a m oun t o f 2254, and festivities prolonged to a late hour, the company separate L . A DREADFUL FlRE.—Shortly after ni ne o ' c lock 0 . 1 0 morning a calamitous fire took place at the oil and VI, factory of Hux and Co , Y or k Wh ar f, Princes-street, It:gir beth, immediately oppo s it e some sma ll h ouses near t he r" v - c i Thames. The engines of the B r i g ad e an d W est of Ese„,o were quickly en the, sp o t, as a l so Ile floating engine J r " 0 Southwark-bridge station ; but th e exert i ons o f t h e firelled were useless with regard to saving the factory, nearly which was destroyed, with ma c hi ner y, & c. , an d no t insu r e g Not less than at least eight p oor f am ili es h ave b een rend er o ,o temporarily houseless, and their furnit ure d es troyed. S° ,, of of the men were very much i n j ure d b y t h e boiling ov, e re d the rosin, one so much so that his recover y i s consid er doubtful. An ill -looking young fellow, named George, Wallace, was yesterday charged at the Southwark r° ll l l, court, with havieg desper a t e ly assau lt e d D an i e l er , an aged man, by striking him on the head with a lianni The prisoner, it appeared, k noc k e d a t t h e d oor o f house, which was opened by th e o ld man , w h en t he prie w commenced a ferocious att ac k b y str iki ng hi m w i t h a mer on the head, having d one w hi c h t h e pr i soner decamp s 1 The old man is not exp ec t e d to recover. T he prisoner ' remanded. Hollaa er The case :of Johnson v . S qu i re was tried YO - ter 0, day in the Court of Exchequer before Mr. Baron Aldersesc It was an action of slander. The defendant had broner, an action in the Westminster County Court against 1, 30 Pierce Egan, the proprietor of the H ome Ci rc l e , f o r articbc supplied to him. Johnson was a witness in the cause on el half of Egan, and the defendant, when ask e d if he w" cross-examine him, addressed him as follows:—" You or r' thief ; you broke into my premises, and committed a eobl?.eeilt three weeks ago, and you keep false keys which enter W ide, for that purpose." That cause terminated in favour of 1 7,.. Egan, and adversely to Squire, and soon afterwards the P t be sent action was brought for the injury inflicted es t ee plaintiff by these slant - Wrens expressions. The jury gacc plaintiff 5/. damages. SOUTH-EASTERN RAlLWAY.—Yesterday the Combh mittee passed the preamb'e of this comp an y' s B i ll, by we they propose to raise for the purpo s e s o f th e un d er t a king ore s suns not exceeding 1,200,0001., by the cre a ti on o f new j e,. 13 00 or stock, with optional powers to bor row th e same. ikapp proposed, on behalf of the London a n d B r i g ht on Con l P, o e with the consent of the railway commissioners, to introu,.. a clause for referring any possible prospective disputes tween themselves and the South-Eastern to the arbitra , '", o of the railway commissioners, but th e C omm itt ee decline d fr insert it in the Bill. HAPPINESS AS A M OR A L AGENT.—That • ttle gives happiness, we all know; but if it be true, that bir i fa, y ness contributes to virtue, the principle fur n i s hes tie ti og some sort of excuse for the errors and excesses o f able y° der men, at the bottom of life, fretting with i m p a tience u" i a their obscurity, and hatching a thousand c hi mera s of b e () neglected and overlooked by the w or ld. The natural e ar a t for these errors is, the sunshine of prosperity : as theY h relt happier, they get better ; and l earn , f rom t h i respec t on o . they receive from others, to respect themselves. " ever," says Mr. Lancaster (in his bdok just published) , 0 met with a boy particularly mischievous, I made bite, monitor : I never knew this fail." The cause for the Pre7, o .. tion, and the kind of encour a g emen t i t must occas i on , I cLift fess appear rather singular; but o f th e e ff ect, I h av e no of doubt.— Sydney Smith. ASSOCIATE INSTITUTION FOR THE PROTECTIO N WOMEN.—The annual general meeting of this society r h t held yesterday, at the Hanover-square Rooms, the '.., g te e Hon. Earl Talbot in the chair. The report of the commitof related principally to the Act passed in the last sess io n Parliament for the better protection of females under the 1 , 1 56 of 21 years. The committee referred with regret to ',A opposition encountered by that measure in its progr 11 1 7, through Parliament, and with dissatisfaction to its prey's ° to which, in their opinion, do not afford sufficient protectionice, female virtue. The committee, acting under legal adv ers e have determined not to attempt to procure any amendr i l ; „, of the Act until next session. The total amount of subseli t ' e r tions during the past ye ar h as b een 1,016/. 13 s . 4d. After payment of expenses and the purchase of stock I° ,oo amount of 1911. 10s., there rem a i ns a b a l ance i n hand °1 ... 4 treasurer, 2061. ss. 114 d. The report w as received, r o e adopted. Resolutions were passed expressing the opilli t ot the meeting as to the practical insufficiency of the Act r e session, and recommending the committee to propose a I;sc, mium for the best prize essay bearing on the criminal P_„,l tices which it is the object of the society to prevent, 'red treating of such legislative measures as may behest adt,,,P to accomplish that end. A vote of thanks to the cbel l '" terminated the proceedings. o f tbe JOINT STOCK' COMPANIES.—By the report - 165 registrar, which has just been published, it appears tb,,e' r ia joint-stock companies were provisionally registered ' lu r ed, erg iste feee the year 1849, 31 of which have been completely and 134 have not obtained complete registration. Tb e st ed received for registration during the same year have 11 110u f rice to a total of 2,927/., 2,8911. Gs. being paid at the bead c o o. in London, and 31/. 14s. in Dublin. The number of c or panics which have failed to make any return of auditore,ear of a report by an auditor of their accounts, during t h° y gev 1849, was 59. No proceedings, however, had been to thereon. e of A VILLAGE SOLOMON.—A few days ago 80 01 0 0 the inhabitants complained to the mayor of Malicorne, bo Commentry, department of th e Ni evre , t h at th e ir geese been stolen by a dealer; but as h e h a d m i xe d them ~ 11 0 . iler flock of his own, it w as i mposs ibl e to recogn i se than. , T my upon the mayor, a shr ew d, h ar d wor ki ng peas ant, sole b et a ordered all the geese to be placed in carts, and t hi s having iee , done he sent the car t s some li tt l e di stance f rom the vli and The villagers wond ere d greatly what this could mean' „o even ventured to utter suspicions of the mayor's wisd oro probity. But th e functonary took no notice of thes? r at marks, and stalked sol emn ly o ff w ith th e carts. Arriv e " r , the spot he had indicated, he cried to the drivers " St_ c P t ee and then, with grea t di gn it y , a dd e d, "N o w let loose geese—those that have been stolen will make their 70 back to their masters' farm yards—those that belong t° the dealer will remain." This was done, and 10, as the Solomon had said, the stolen geese waddled gravely DSe wards to the great astonishment of the simple yilitigeal dishonest dealer wais arreoted....Galignan4 11I0? The molted A;r:t r i ( tiun. 4 500 rartharr end 40 i mProvi In M arrivals 1 , 5 450 Durii ouailfts, fir Con; 1 1; 11 „ te , E s Stoc bet c ert . 4 Pere etlt 31 , , 2 4 4ig l„P, Sea Div 4 4.0 01 f ° l leb4. l l le] I t Onol 5001