The Sun. — London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

rfa irtl ?T:t* c ifi,;,,,, At 1!, SUN OFFICE, Six o'clock. WORCESTER RACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) STEEPLECHASE. Bandon ...... The General... Eight ran. All the horses went the wrong course, and the race is void. F EARFUL RIOT AT BLACKBURN. APPLICATION FOR THE MILITARY. Nov. 1, 9 r. m. This town has this day been given up to lawless violence, and another instance has been furnished of the incapacity of the borough for self-govern tient. The occasion of the riot was the election of c ouncillors for St. Peter's ward ; but it was evi dently pre-organised, as during the night before gangs of men paraded the streets and disturbed the inhalitants. At ten o'clock great confusion Prevailed, and the banks and many shops were closed. From that time till four p.m. the Principal thoroughfare, King-street, was in the hands of two contending mobs, who, with stones and iron-bound bludgeons, strove for the mastery. The whole of Mr. Hornby's windows were smashed in ; stones being procured in abundance from some Paving operations going on at this time. Aldermen Roole and Dugdale are sufferers, and the wounds in flicted must be of a serious] character. The. autho- rities were conscious of their inability to cope with the insurgents, and no effort was made, the whole day, to put down the riot. This circumstance caused the most cruel apprehensions to many respectable families. The magistrates met this evening, and have engaged a posse of special con stables, and a special train in communication with the military at Burnley. The mobs were headed and led on by respectably dressed men, apparently the overlookers at the mills. It is to be deplored that many of the mills were closed to-day. The inhabitants of this borough have been compelled to conclude that the franchise it possesses is only a source of bitter animosity, and of risk to life and property. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian of this day.) MANCHESTER, Nov. I.—ln our own market we had a u►ore cheerful tone yesterday, occasioned by greater ease 1 11 the money market, and by an apparent probability of the resumption of negotiations on the Russo-Turkish question. The sales of the day have been very small, but prices are well sustained by the absence of all pres sure to effect, sales. The " turn-out" at Preston and Wigan exhibits an appearance of unabated obstinacy. In Burnley there are stopped, as we learn, on the best authority— Rand mules Self -actors . Thostles .... Spindles. 59,560 199,832 242,794-502,186 Looms 12,447 Tape machines The number of horses' power is From Bury we have the following printed announce inent:— We, the undersigned members of the Bury Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers' Association, do hereby agree that we will cease working on the 10th Novem ber, 1853, both as regards spinning and weaving, unless all disputes now existing between the operatives who are now on strike and their masters who are members of the said association be arranged in the meantime, to the satisfaction of the committee of such association : Walker and Lomax Hutchinson and Openshaw S. and T. Ashton W. Wild and Brothers Bothwell and Grundy J. Haworth and Sons John Alcock and Co. Nicholas and Milnes J. Openshaw & Brother William Warburton William Wanklyn Livesey and Ashton Richard Wild T. and R. Greenhaigh. John Walker In his circular of yesterday Mr. G. F. Mandiey gives the following estimates of the effects of the strikes : From a rough estimate gathered from the most reli rkable sources, there appear to be at present "locked up" s and the workers " turned out" in Preston and its imme diate neighbourhood, 64 mills of 2,400 horses' power, having 1,100,000 spindles, capable of producing about 800,000 lb weekly of average No. 32's yarn, and 20,000 looms, suspending a production equal to about 90,000 pieces of India shirtings weekly, of 81 lb each. The number of hands in forced idleness is about 25,000, whose average weekly earnings, When employed, is said to be nearly 12,0001. In Wigan and Hindley 25 mills are closed of about 1,300 !horses' Power, suspending about 400,000 spindles, mostly em ployed in yarns of low numbers, and 1,800 looms. The number of hands "on strike" is about 7,500, whose Weekly earnings would be nearly 2,0001. In Wigan and its vicinity there are also 4,500 colliers and drawers who have been on "strike" about six weeks, making 12,000 out of employment in this district. At Burnley and Padiham there are 58 mills closed of 2,300 horses' power, and 510,086 spindles and 12,067 looms ; the unemployed • hands are about 12,000, whose usual wages weekly would amount to about 5,800. In this district madapol laros, printing cloths, and shirtings, are largely pro duced. At Bacup there is 30 mills closed, of 1,400 horses' power, 300,000 spindles, and 8,000 looms, and about 8,600 hands rendered idle, and weekly wages to the extent of 5,0001. withdrawn from circulation. Thus, i ndependent of several minor and isolated strikes in Manchester, Bury (where about 1,000 hands•are turned out, principally in the fustian trade), Bolton, Newton kjeath, &e., there are, at least, in the four centres of Burnley, Bacup, Preston, and Wigan, closed 183 mills, of the aggregate force of 7,400 horses' power, with 2,310,086 spindles, and 41,867 looms ; and 47,100 opera tives unemployed. It is no exaggerated estimate to calculate the number of workpeople now on strike in this county at 50,000, and the average loss of wages at 26,000/. weekly. Rocuptr.r, Oct. 29.—We have had an extremely dull market, with very little business doing. The merchants are unwilling to purchase only at reduced prices. There 1 , 8 a decid e d f a ll i n th e p r i ce o f woo l, var yi ng f r om 11d. to 2d. per lb., and the manufacturers buy for immediate use only. In the warehouses the country orders are much more limited than is usual in the beginning of No vember. I :IALIFAx, Oct. 29.—A1l the branches of the worsted trade are in a very languid state. Both spinners and m anufacturers are greatly limiting their operations, and prices have a downward tendency. The wool market 18 quiet, and the staplers are free sellers, at reduced quotations. RIIDDERSFIELD, Nov. I.—Business in the market to day is almost at a stand. There has been a very quiet sa y With the exception of a few deliveries to order, very little has been done in either the Cloth-hall or the ma nufacturers' shops. The wool trade has also been l i l at• In L on d on th e fi ner qua liti es o f woo l are f u ll y 'id• per lb. c h ea p er; w hil e th e l ower, or coarser quali ties, scarcely find purchasers. LLASTINGS MUNICIPAL ELECTION. EAST WARD. Bromley, J. R. (Liberal) Coussens, John (Liberal) Ross, Thomas (Liberal) 476 Picknell, Edward (Liberal) Burfield, Charles (Tory) Rarvey, Anthony (Tory) Four Liberals elected. WEST WARD. Deud ne y, R o b er t (T or y) Peerl ess , J o h n (Lib era l) Birch, W m . (T ory ) First tw o elected, giving a Liberal majority in the Town Council. THE CHOLERA. (Prom the General Board of Health .) DUNDEE. Oct. 31—Cholera EDINBURGH. Oct. 29—Cholera ARBROATH. tlet. 29—Cholera NEWCASTLE-IRON-TYNE. Deaths. O,A. 31— Cholera 1 A arrhcea WOLSTANTON. Oct. 29— Diarrbcea. TENDRING (ST. OSYTH). °Ct' 29— Diarrb.cen, EASINGTON UNION. Oct. , 1 This o—Chotera b. weel Ago, tfarb r , ca %. (which is just reported) occurred at Sealan' fiv " ur kt this union. There was another case about which also occurred at Seaham Harbour, I„" no retutn was then made. The description of the t j' a e ra a 1 1) 1 ty is thQ the situation is confined and the walls Deaths. Deaths. THORNE UNION. Oct. 29 ti tul 30— Cholera Oct. 29 any LITTO N , l 31— lera At fri th and Bexl Cho ey attacks of choleraic disease, as well as Occurred. c 'T. AIIES'S WESTMINSTER. —Marlborough -court, arnaby-street, ()et 30, cholera, 1. This case is de teribed as occurring in a narrow court, in a densely PoPulaied neighbourhood, the sewers of which are all 1111(lergoing repairs, X I STREET-TERRACE, NEW NORT I I-110AD.—Oct. 29, eilcd t'ra, 1 (12 hours.) to a war dishes au military ;dom, for L Univer- uthorise s into the ) close of 35 that a stationed ,fined fur on their 7eturn to increased ccasioned 'he King the corps adopted ny is n I:i -llation is presence ist might [lout the th ult. ,nference Council. t the first lling ell t founded. nister of captain s ' fiver per' for or lo ved that 'a t their ie Tarif f office 1 . 1 idmielw een or 101 ; th e A of the d, at 4 /1- D Ap• W. ;liB Axri ved—• • Rope, ~Marta, vss, ° .asino, for Ila Blo' ed—gsg . 16th of and Oft red—Pre . pun3Pa . iselierg , e la Dll' :tinge, lot Lrrived-- 1 Avetes, lberingo, Uan gar- Rouen Mourne; Sailed -CalyW , i Belgis , ,nd other C. Y. Z. , carailb' —Pirelli? Quebec. :atavier; ) Ocean, -►e, e°ll Arriv ed Chid' iTived--• bee. Ljax Op ,d--- City iskelinap hantonif gouche ; lizabeth I—ldes goner —Burn ork for burgh ; °ads.- - boder o y, do.; Ids, for strong. Callao ; Zenner , in, and Clydo, Wind. - uebec ; gustine gel- Catbs - Carl, a guste, Union , 'gated ; Lterins , [erne' ; a.m. rgsre t , every , pro h par uichi ; to the p n the , ; the RIOT AT WIGAN. It was briefly announced in The Sun. of yester day that there had been another riot at Wigan on Monday evening, and that one person had been shot, if not killed. Subsequent inquiries have shown that the affair was much more serious than might have been inferred from that statement, and that eight or nine persons were shot, while it still remains doubtful whether one of them has not re ceived fatal injury. • In pursuance of the resolution adopted by the master colliers at their meeting on Friday after noon, their works were thrown open on Monday morning, to give an opportunity of returning to work to such of the turnouts as were disposed to do so at the old prices ; but at a numerous meet ing of the colliers on strike, held at the Lane Ends, Aspull, it was determined not to accept these terms. The Welsh colliers, who had been brought . to take their places by Mr. Peace, Earl Balcarres's agent, had been lodged, ever since their arrival, at the works of Earl Balcarres at Springs-bridge, Haigh, nearly two miles from the centre of Wigan, but, on being sounded by the managers of the colliery as to their intentions, 24 of them expressed fears of violence, and at their own re quest were at once sent back by railway to the prin cipality. The remainder, however, signified their intention of accepting the situations offered them, and accordingly descended the pits to work. The greatest indignation was aroused among the turn outs when this fact became known to them, and threats to be revenged on the ‘..‘ knobsticks," as they are called, were uttered with little or no at tmnpt at concealment. As evening approached the opinion became almost universal in the neighbour hood that the night would not pass without vio lence being committed, and various rumous were in circulation as to the mode in which vengeance was to be taken on the men who were at work. Accord ing to one report, an attack was to be made on the coal-mine in which the obnoxious men were en gaged, and earth thrown down the shafts in order to prevent egress, and so bury them alive. Another account was, that the men would be attacked at the saw-mills, while they were in bed ; and a third was, that an assault would be made on the house of Mr. Peace himself, at Haigh, near the seat of Lord Bal carres. It was well known that both places, which were about a mile and a quarter distant from one another, were prepared for such an eventuality, and that Haigh-hall had also been put in a very com plete state of defence. In the town of Wigan these rumours did not meet with much credit, the people pointing significantly to the soldiers as an assur ance of security. Things remained in this position till about half-past five in the evening. The dark ness so patiently awaited by the colliers as a cover to their movements, and so much feared by the in habitants, was then fast settling over the town and neighbourhood, and almost immediately after wards, a mob of 300 to 400 colliers, mostly youths of 18 or 20 years of age, marched through the town with fifes and a drum. The importance at tached to this movement by the authorities was speedily made manifest •in the hurry and bustle which attended the disposition of the police and military. The bugle of the 34th Infantry sounded through the streets, and the soldiers were hastily mustered, and placed under arms at the Public hall. The borough police were assembled in the same building, where the magistrates were already in consultation, and messengers on foot and on horseback were seen hurrying to and fro. It was ascertained that the turnouts who had just marched through the town in disorderly procession had taken the road towards the saw-mills but it was reported that this movement was only a ruse to cover the real point of attack, which was to be Mr. Peace's house. Shortly before seven o'clock, a servant of Lord Balcarres arrived on horse back with a message from Mr. Peace to the authori ties at Wigan demanding the aid of the military. This man reported the road to the saw-mills to be very dangerous, and crowded with riotous people, from whom he had received several blows as he rode through them. The military now started on the track of the turnouts. What are called the saw-mills are, in fact, the works gene rally of the sawyers, carpenters, and other artizans employed in preparing timber, waggons, ironwork, and other materials for the extensive colliery of the Earl of Balcarres. Mr. Peace, the manager, has his offices there, and transacts his principal busi ness at the works. The canal forms the left boundary of the premises, and substantial build ings of stone enclose it on the right and further side. At the front entrance a temporary wooden fence, six or seven feet high, in which is a wooden door, had been run up to complete the enclosure on that side. A pile of warehouses across the centre of the premises, with a gateway in the middle, divides them into spacious yards, the first being about 100 and the second nearly 203 yards in length, the width varying from a few yards at the entrance to 100 yards along the greater portion of the place. It appears that early in the morning a note had been received at the saw-mills stating that two meetings of the colliers were to be held, one at Wigan and the other at Aspull, after which one party was to attack the " knobsticks " at the saw mills, while the other was to find work for the au thorities and military at Wigan. Inspector Gillott, with ten men of the Bolton division of the county police, was sent for from Aspull to augment the small defensive force of workmen on the premises, and they were stationed in the outer yard. About 6 o'clock in the evening a noise was heard of a great number of workmen coming from the direc tion of Wigan, and it was soon ascertained that they were armed with heavy sticksand stones. The mob was about 350 in number. On reaching the front gates of the saw-mills it appeared evident that they had expected to meet a large reinforce ment of colliers from Aspull and Bla,ckrod. One of the leaders said their promised allies were " soft —," and dared not join them. They passed on a short distance towards Aspull, but, receiving no accession of strength, they stopped, and, after a short consultation, wheeled about and at taeked the saw-mills by trying to force the gates of the outer yard, assailing them with stones and- pieces of wood. Stones were also thrown at the police inside. As they were unable to force an entrance they attempted• to scale the boarding ; but immediately their hands appeared on the top of this fence the police struck them with their truncheons and beat them off. Mr. Peace was there with four of his men, and they, with the policemen, fought with the greatest de termination. The besiegers seemed equally reso lute, and several had to be struck heavily on the head, so that the scalp was lacerated; before they would drop. After this point of defence had been maintained about a quarter of an hour, many of the rioters got to a part of the fence whence they commanded the flank and rear of the defenders ; and one of their huge missiles • knocked down a policeman, and rendered him senseless for a few moments. Another party of the assailants were at the same time steadily working to open a passage by tearing off some of the boards, in which they were at length successful. The police-sergeant steadily refused to use firearms, but said his men should stand at the gates as long as they could hold them. Mr. Peace, seeing their danger,— for the mob were maddened by the resistance they had experienced, and yelled an d.uttered dreadful threats —now advised that they should retire to the inner yard, where they would be able to keep their assail ants at bay more effectually until the soldiery, who had already been sent for, were at hand. Immediately after this retreat the mob burst into the yard in great numbers, and it was taken possession of by between 200 and .300 men, mostly active young colliers. A large fire was burning in the centre, and this they overturned and commenced kicking about, to the serious danger of the surrounding property. The police force held the doorway be tween the two yards, and Mr. Peace and his men took up a position in the warehouses of which these gates form the centre, and the windows of which commanded the spot where the rioters were now assembled. One of the men in the ware houses now fired his gun at them through the window, having first broken the glass with its muzzle, and this inspired them with a momentary panic, in which they retreated to near the outer gate. Some of the leaders here called out to their companions that they were " soft' • if they were frightened at that, and they were rallied, and again advanced about seventy yards towards the inner yard. Four more guns were then dis charged at them from the warehouse, which evi dently took effect, and led to a precipitate and general flight. The mob immediately evacuated the promises, and Sergeant Gillott and his men now left by a back way, and gained the main road, where they found the rioters dispersing to wards Wigan. Mr. Superintendent Scott soon afterwards arrived with cutlasses for the police, and now took the command of them himself. In about half-an-hour afterwards the military arrived from Wigan, consisting of 150 men, under Captain Wilt, with whom were Mr. Joseph Acton, magis trate, the Hon. Colonel Lindsay, and the Hon. Colin Lindsay, sons of Lord Balcarres, arrived from Haigh-hall. They remained some time on the pre mises, and ultimately a body of 50 soldiers was left to protect the place, under Lieutenant Brown Westhead. s the military were returning over Springs-bridge, which is at a considerable elevation above the canal, and overlooks the saw mills, there were a good many people looking at them, some of whom uttered cries of disapprobation, but those who did so hastily slunk into obscurity under the shadow of buildings and hedges. What was most sur prising to a stranger was the hardihood with which people who stood. on the bridge, and acknowledged THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1853. that they had been there during the evening, de nied that there had been any attack on the pre mises, or that there had been any shooting, or that any one had received injury ! It was afterwards learnt, however, from a collier who there is reason to believe was present, that the first shot wounded two men, striking one in the arm and the other in the breast. The next discharge, of four (but as he supposed only three) guns, also took signal effect. He says either six or seven were shot—one in the thigh and others in various parts of the body. Al together there were eight or nine shot. The same man states that they parted with their band of music at Scholes, on the way from Wigan ; that, in fact, they drove them away, not choosing that the musicians should know what was further in tended to be done. SHARE MARKETS.-(YESTE.RDAY.) BRITISH RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. 1 Closing Prices this day. Business done this day. There was no further disturbance during the night, nor up to the report leaving ; but there is great doubt whether another attempt will not be made in some quarter. About a quarter past two yesterday morning the military were reinforced by a troop of the Ist Royal Dragoons, under Captain Ainslie, from Manchester, who have taken up their quarters at the Royal Hotel, having left Manchester at half-past ten on Monday night. THE ABUSES CONNECTED WITH IMPRISON MENT FOR DEBT AND CONTEMPT. ELECTRICAL PHENOMENON OF AN AURORAL BOW. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Six,—On Monday evening last, about eight o'clock, the northern part of the heavens was illuminated with the auroral lights. Streamers were observed at times shoot ing up near to Ursa Major. The wind during the even ing was blowing fresh from the S.S.W. Passing clouds occasionally obscured the scene ; but about half-past nine the atmosphere became quite free from clouds, when suddenly a brilliant stream of electric light rose from the S.W. horizon, stretching itself to the N.E. as far as the zodiacal sign Taurus, the end of it pointing near the planet Saturn ; the stars of the first magnitude were rendered invisible by its brilliancy, but several shooting stars were observed during the time. Its altitude from the earth was not more than three miles. Shortly after ten o'clock it entirely disappeared, and the sky assumed its wonted appearance, thickly bespangled with its in numerable occupants. Several persons in various parts of the town where arrested at the unusual sight, with inquiries " What is it the sign of ?" &c. A similar ap pearance in the heavens occurred on the 3d of Decem ber, 1845, and again on the 19th,of March, 1847. The wind since the equinoctial gales have prevailed from the equator, and the thermometer ranging from 50 to 60 degrees of heat, rather unusual at this period of the year, and it has all the appearance of a continuance. On Friday evening, about six o'clock, a sharp tempest passed over this place ; the lightning was extremely vivid, accompanied with a heavy shower of rain. The air is often electrical at night with lightning. On Thurs day evening, at half-past five o'clock, the planet Venus will be in conjunction with Jupiter in the tropic of Cap ricorn, in the S.W. part of the horizon. Whether the above phenomenon is viewed as ominous in a political sense remains for the curious to conjecture. I remain, your obedient servant. W. SALTER. Lowestoft, Nov. 1, 1853. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. beg to suggest the importance of immediate and general inquiry into the case of every prisoner for debt, or contempt, in England—who has been confined three months without applying to the Insolvent or Bankrupts Court ; also the case of every other prisoner who solicits such inquiry, and power for this purpose should be vested in the commissioners of the Insolvents and Bankrupts Court, for it is far beyond doubt that hundreds are imprisoned unjustly—in fact not to enforce payment, but to prevent the just application of property, and for the purpose of more conveniently defrauding their victims. In building transactions such cases have been of com mon occurrence, on account of the high rate of interest, large margin of value, opportunities for disputing every advance as the works proceed, and preventing the crea tion of income by withholding the advances required for finishing ; and because mortgages in budding transac tions are usually executed upon arrangements to advance funds as works proceed ; in fact, it is obtaining a mort gage without a shilling of consideration, and obliging the mortgagor to exhaust his means and credit in im proving the security. It appears incredible that such a heartless system of fraud should exist in a great com mercial country where impartial justice is supposed to be administered, yet such is the fact, and to an enormous extent. The course of practice is to select the most valuable building estate which the apparent respec tability and means of the mortgagee and his solicitor will enable them to obtain, promising the owner every assistance he may desire to create income by the erec tion of houses, and to make the required advances as works proceed under the direction of an architect acting for the mortgagee, but at the same time inserting a much smaller amount in the mortgage deed than the value of the works planned by the architect. This enables the mortgagee and his solicitor to find, some pretence for disputing on every advance when required. The mort gagor is thus led into liabilities, and when the houses are roofed the mortgagee will as soon after as possible refuse further advances ; the debts for works and materials therefore remain unpaid, notwithstanding their value has been added to the security. The houses, of course, remain unproductive, because they are unfinished, interest in the meantime accu mulating, and professional costs and other charges are increasing, and the mortgagee and his solici tor then commence their complaints about not being able to obtain payment of interest, and return of the amount advanced, which they have taken care the mort gagor shall not have the means of paying. The only means contemplated for repayment having been by let ting and selling the houses, originally arranged to be finished, by advances to be made by the mortgagee, and from the period of signing the mortgage deed, the most dishonourable means is taken to prejudice the mort gagor, which, added to the want of income, prevents a transfer of the mortgage security. At this stage of the fraud the mortgagee gives notice of sale, and if the mortgagor has not the means of protecting his property by repayment of the advances, or by filing a bill in Chancery, it will be sacrificed in its unfinished state to the mortgagee, his solicitor, or persons con nected with him in the transaction, and shortly after the mortgagor will have the mortification of seeing the property producing a large income in proportion to the outlay of the guilty party in the transaction. Persons who carry on this description of fraud rarely sup ply the means of finishing houses for if they did so rents would be created to pay interest, and the houses become marketable to repay advances, thus defeating the fraud originally contemplated. It is very common for such persons to attack the mortgagor by a claim in Chancery. Notice of sale, and also proceedings at law for recovery of the amount which they allege, are due from their vic tims. All these proceedings going on at the same time, with the assistance of other legal proceedings by credi tors that have been left unpaid for the purpose of in volving their victims in debt and difficulty, and obtaining judgments against them. The want of public attention to this description of fraud has been the cause of depriving thousands of widows and orphans of property ample for their support, if it had been fairly protected, and timber, lead, iron, and other merchants and bankers are also defrauded of their just claims. This estate stealing mortgage system is in principle similar to bill stealing, but carried on by a more wealthy class of practitioners and capitalists, who have hitherto escaped prosecution, under the protection afforded by the Court of Chancery. Numerous cases of similar character have come under my observation. The solicitors and money-lenders who practise frauds of this nature, calcu late on the aversion of men of property to expose them selves in the Bankrupt or Insolvent Courts to obtain pro tection. The power of investigation would also protect the public against much fraudulent litigation to which the victims are at present obliged to submit. lam con fident that if such power of inqury existed there would not be one-half the number of prisoners confined for debt or contempt, and at the same time it would assist in obliging the fraudulent debtors to apply the best means tol meet all just claims against them. The inquiry should be held at the respective prisons after giving the detaining creditors seven days' notice. Of course the commissioners holding the inquiry must have the power of discharging prisoners on such terms as may appear just between debtor and creditor. There are other ques tions of importance worthy of consideration by the law officers of the Crown, viz., that of obliging the detaining creditor to make an allowance to his prisoner as in other countries. The extent of time for imprisonment for debt and the limit of power to imprison beyond a certain age; for within the last month there was a prisoner in the Queen's Bench of the age of 88 at the suit of his own son ; and two females in the same prison died, shortly before, at the respective ages of 86 and 94, both victims of Chancery proceedings. In my opinion females of all ages should be protected against imprison ment for debt, the same as the other sex during their minority. The less credit they have the better for their general comfort and happiness When a, felon is takeiiby a police officer, he is removed from the station to the police office for examination by the magistrate, before he can be committed to prhon, and thus an opportunity is afforded him for explanation and defence. I am therefore at a loss to understand why debtors, when arrested, are not taken from the lock up house before a judge or commissioner at cham bers for private examination previous to removal to a prison where, by confinement, the difficulties of honest creditors are increased, and consequently the means of payment of their debts diminished. A similar investi gation appears desirable previous to allowing a detainer or vesting order—the latter particularly, because they are frequently applied for to enable dishonest solicitors to obtain the management of property they would not be entrusted with under any other circumstances.—l am, &c., OBSERVER. THE NEW CAVALRY REGIMENTS FOR INDIA. —ln answer to numerous inquiries that have been made at the India-house by parties interested in military mat ters, it has been authoratatively denied that there is any truth in the ,report for some time past circulated, that three additional India cavalry regiments were to be raised, one for each Presidency. Those, therefore, who expect commissions in the new regiments will have long to wait, seeing that no intention of raising such regiments ever existed. Nevertheless, the applications through the Military Department at the India-house, made by individuals and officers seeking commissions, have been considerable ; and it has been thought ad visable to disabuse such parties of the idea that any new opening for entering the service exists. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN OF FORTUNE. —Yesterday, information was forwarded by Mr. Cook, the summoning officer of St. Mary, Newington to W. Carter, Esq., coroner for East Surrey, of the following melancholy death of Mr. George Webster, a gentleman of fortune, residing at Walworth. On Saturday morn ing last the unfortunate gentleman, while in the act of crossing Parliament-street, near the Treasury, was knocked down by one of the Westminster omnibuses, and on being raised from the ground it was found that he had sustained several severe injuries. The assistance of Dr. M`Cann, surgeon, of Parliament-street, was promptly procured by the police, but the deceased, at his own urgent request, was conveyed to his residence at Walworth, where it was afterwards ascertained that his right leg was extensively fractured, from the effects of which he gradually sank, and expired on Monday even ing last. The deceased gentleman, before his death, stated that no person was to blame, but that the melan choly accident must have arisen from his (deceased's) extreme deafness. ENGLISH V. AMERICAN CLIPPERS.—ERRATITM.—In speaking yesterday of the performances of the Aberdeen built clipper ship Stornoway, we stated that her com petitor in the race from China was the Challenger, whereas it should have been the Challenge, a large and powerful American ship of about 2,C00 tons. The Chal lenger is a Thames-built ship, from the yard of Messrs. Green and Co., of Blackwall, and has always done her work well. A CRUEL Hoax.—The Liverpool Mercury says : The turn-outs at Preston were hoaxed last week by re "" ceing a letter, dated "Boreland House, Ch e l msford, the si ed John Tyrrell, and containing shapesome thing of a cheque for 500/., w hi c h i t was t O li c o t u . g 2 h 4iil' t i' was a donation from Sir John T, Tyrrell, 3.1,1)., the colleague of the noted "W. 8." !Aberdeen . 100 Ambg. Nottng. Bost. and Eastn. Junct Birming. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Juuct 18j 100 10041 Do. Chesh. di Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., £2O. .... Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead. Cork and Bandon Cork, Black, & Pass Dublin&BelfastJunc Dundee Perth&Aber demi. June Lion Do. New 100 8i 100 all 11i 100 1781 11i all all all 100 42 34 all all 100 100 - 100 47,3 174 all 100 1 4 7 1 71 alr! East Anglian Do., 08 E & H) Eastern Counties .... Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock Do., New A East Lancashire East &West Ind. Dk & Birming. June Edinburgh& Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth. &Dundee Glasgow & S. Western Great Northern k. 0., A. Stock 0., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre.)l Great Western..... I Irish South-Eastern. Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Lancash.andYorksh Do., Fifths Do., Wst. Riding Un Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Southpt London & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. &Sthend. Loud. Bright & S.Cst. Lond. and N. Westn. Do. Fifths Do.lo/.Sh., M&8...0 London and S. Westn Do., £5O Do., £4O Lnndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. Manch.Shef.& Lincin Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby Midld. G. West. (Ire.) Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle Newmarket Do., Bury Extension. Nwpt.Aberg.&Hrfd Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Norfolk Northn.Counties Un North British North Devon, No. 1 'Do., No. 2 .. Do., a A Deferred Do., B Guaranteed North Staffordshire North Western N. & S. Westrn. June Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Biimg Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed St csk Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester ' (N. W. Min;.. r Tio. Ilalves,l - os: IDo. Oswestry. Shropshire Union South Devon . ISouth Eastern.. !South Wales .., S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do Stockton di Hartlepl. Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny Waterford&Limeriek West Cornwall. Wimbledn & Croydon York Newctl.&Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland 194 -2(,) 4 - 41 si 91 13 —ll die 16 18 5i 4id 94 96 51i 51 154 160 1 13 15 44 . ia 7i - 8i 4i , 1 3 -- 34 128 -- 12 38 -- 42 27 -- 29 62 - 64 - = 6 2t - 23 79i 80, 57 59 124 - 126 101 - 103 80 - 80 85 88 10 —12 p 63 —63 i 71 5 7 4:} . 12a 13 8i bin 95 97 d L 024 - 103 ; P t r 72 74 14 —13 d 13 —12 d 19 - 20, 60 - 66 33 - 35 52 54 i d par 5 4Ad 48 56 4 3d 26 27 8 10 I li - 7 - 7i 6 std 7i par 2 p 37 - 39 87 89 53 - 55 60 - 62 55 65 24 lid 15 - 17 71 - 8A 11 - 13 - 4 - 14 - 16 59 - 61 331 - 344 3 - 2i - 15 16 ii . = 9 62i 63i 46 -- e -- 47 PREFERENCE SHARES. 'Aberdeen Do. No. 2,7 p. c. , Bris. &Ex. 4 p. c. St Do. 4p. C. Shares , Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5i per cent._ Cork &Bandons4p. e. Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction ...... .... 1 EastAnglian (£3 3.0s) 1 1 6 per cent ........... Do: (£.l) 7 per cent. Do. (£7 17s) 7 p. c. Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No.l Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 p. c. St Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent East Ltneash. 6 p. ets. Edinb Prth. &Dundee 5A per cent. Glasgow &S.Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Northu. 5 p. e Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem. Do. 4A p. c. Scrip Gt, Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Gt. Westn. (Berks Hants Ex. 5 p. Do. cov. red. 4A p.c. Do. con, red. 4 p. c. Do. irred. 4 p. c Lan. & York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St. Do. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 Do. New Guar.6 p. c. London & S. Western Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler Shares Londy. & Ennis. Sh Man., Shef., & Lin , Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO Do. £6 .. ...... Marypt. & Carl. 4 p.c. Do. 4i per cent....... Do - Consol.6 p.c.St. Do. Consol. Bristol & Birm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Extension Do. 5 p. c. Eat Do. Guar. 56 per ct Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £l5, 6 p.c Do Shrews. &Birm.N.G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), 8 .c Do. .5 per cent........ !South Devon, Do. New ..... S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4h per cent. Pre. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar. Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.c. York, Newcastle,and Berwick,4 p.c. Pref Do York&N. Midland H and S. Parch ~ .-- ... ;A •• • - . Xil 6 - 6,1 35 - 4. - 5 - 1 p 1 - ljp 1 - lb 13 - 134 18 20 3 - 3.} Ill? = ii, 'lO6 - 108 P - 4PI 7i - Sk 99 --101 95 - 100 95 - 100 14Plar' 2 - 3 ••• - ••• 1 12. - 13,i 6 - 7 9 91 - .•. - ... 13 i 140 I 1 id L ii 101 -- 103 i - iPm 94 -- 104 1 16 -- 17 9i -- 101 12 -- 14 Par -- i p 231 -- 241 98 -- 102 19 -- 20 93 96 4i , - 4i id par Pm Pm 131 3 FOREIGN. .ntwerp&Rotterda.m i r G lgianEastn. June. Beziers to Graissessac Charleroi& Erquelin. Dijon and Besancon Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France Grand Trunk Canada Shares and Bonds t. Western of Canada Shares _ Lucca & Pistoj a 5 p. c. _ pref Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. et. pref Lyons & Mediterrau Madras Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds (fmy. B. & Ams. Shs.) NorwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen & Cherbrg Quebec & Richmond Rouen and Havre Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Sth-Eastrn. of France Southern of France Upper India Scrip West Flanders Do. 5A per c. 3 2d 4 11 2d 12 —1 1i 2 3 3 iP id 2 2ip 4 2! —13 d - Brsl 5' 1 1. 1 id p i - lb 6i -7/ 1 3 - 34 12A -- 14 74 -- 8§ 16i -- 16 p 39 — 4l I 35i 36 4 4 3 1 2 p 18 —19 i ld par 1 id 2 4 p 4.p -- dia LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Bautwirs. HD Bedford r oti eg u a aky.. n &r , Birm. & Oxfd. guarantee.... Do. withoutgr Birm. Wolv. & Dudley guar. Bnckghamsh. Clydesdale Jc. E. Lincol n gr . 6 per cent. Glstr.& Dn. Fr Hull & Selby Do. A Shares. Do. f Shares. Lon.&Greenw Do. Preference Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Manch. Bxtn and Matlock Middlesbro' & Redcar Midld.Bradfd. Northern and Easternsp.c. Do. 6 per et. Do. Fixeds p e Prest. & Wyre Do. i Shares. Roystn . Sr, Hit. Do. Shepth. St Shef. Roth .and Goole g. 5 p.c. S. Staffordsh. Wear Valleygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&Somrstl 99 - 101 49 - 51 13S - 142 30 - 107 -- 109 634 -- 614 261 13 -- 144 244 -- 254 n _ 3 98 -- 100 iiio 59 - 61 137 - 142 137 - 142 (us 2 I_i 29i -30 i 95 -- 97 , Closing Prices Compans. Leasing 1 this day. I London N. Westi GLlVestn Do L. &N. W. ,Caledon.., Gt.Nrthn. l Gt. Westn Yk. New. & Rem. Y. &NMd Do Do IS. Eastern Do (Norfolk.. L.& N. W. & Midld. Stckton & Darlingt. Midland.. E. Count. Do Do L. &N.W &Ln&Yk Do Gt Northn D 0... Lancash& Yorksh. /4.3lClean Stoat. & Darlingt Do IGtWestn. IPaid, Business this day. 41 i 51 3 2 4t I 12. 60 0 80 79} 801 57 9 7 i 121 101, 80 80 12 p m 62 96. 10;3 12 GO 591 GOI GO EXTRAORDINARY METEOR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,--Perhaps one of the most extraordinary meteors that ever appeared in England was seen from two inde pendent stations in the parish of Beeston on Friday last, at 3h. 57 min. p.m., and, of course, in broad daylight. Had this phenomenon occurred at night time, it would have been a glorious object. The following particulars niay be relied upon :—The meteor moved nearly perpendicularly down, inclining to east. It was first seen as a circular body, of about half the apparent diameter of the sun, being accompanied by a stream of light ; afterwards it increased to almost the diameter of the sun, and then burst into fragments, with an explosion. The report of the explosion was from 1 sec. to 3 sec. after the meteor had disappeared, and resem bled distant thunder. The meteor passed over about 15 deg. of space, disappearing 30 deg. E. of N., at an altitude of about 10 deg. ; duration, 3 sec. It was very brilliant, shining with a somewhat yellow light. Soon afterwards, near the spot where it had disappeared, a band of prismatic colours was visible, being 2 deg. wide and 5 deg. in length. This phenomenon when first per ceived was as brilliant as a rainbow, but soon faded, finally disappearing in about 5 min. Clouds were dis persed over the sky, from behind one of which the meteor appeared, afterwards vanishing behind another. The prismatic colours were seen upon clouds, or shining through them. The difference of position as seen from two stations half a mile asunder, together with the report from the explosion occurring within 1 sec. and 3 secs., makes it probable that it fell within a mile of this place, most likely north of the Beeston Observatory, and north-west of the Highfield-house Observatory. Search will be made for meteoric fragments, and possibly with good chance of success.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient Observatory, Beeston, Oct. 29. E, J. LOWE. all 100 all 100 all all all all all 100 124 St. St. 25 100 100 18i 9A all MINES. 1 all Agua Fria 1 all Anglo Austrin. Gold 4 d par 10s. all Anglo Californian d— ar 10 2 Australasian ll d 20 5 Australian 1 all Australian Cordillera a id g . 1 all Australian Freehold a 4d. $ 1 all Ave Maria — id 1 all Baden(Gd. Duchy of) 4d par 1 all British Austrin. Gold d 20 13.5 British Iron 7 9 35 24 Brazilianlmp.(issued at .t 5 pm 6— i 6i 4 a 30 all Do. Cocaes & Cuiada 24 3 n 20 15 Do. St. John Del Rey 34 —36 1 i Carson's Creek 40 all Cobre Copper 4l —43 42 5 1 Colonial ... 15 Copiapo St. all Copper Min. of Eng 55 —65 25 all Do. Pref. 7A p. cent 5 71 , ad 31 5 all English and Austrin, Copper Smeltg.Co. 23 3 2a 20 all General 2 all Great Nugget Vein._ 4 p 2 all Do. Registered 3 all Great Polgooth - 2d 1 all Lake Bathurst 4 d 1 all Liberty 3 all Linares 1 all Lond.&Californ.Gold Quartz Crush. Co. 4 1 all Mariquita • a 4(- 1 10 9 Mexican&S.Americn 6} 7 1 all New Granada ld— par 4 a 1 all Nouveau Monde P l 4 10 5 Nova Scotia Mining and Copper Smeltg. . 5 1 Port Philip — 4 d 1 all Quartz Rock 50 all Rhymney Iron 15 15 Do. New — 30 101 Santiago de Cuba 4 5 44 1 all South Australian . — d 10 7 Tin Croft .5 7 5 284 all United Mexican 2i 3 34 4 3 1 all Waller — dis 1 all West Granada 1 all West Mariposa 1 all Yuba - d JOINT-STOCK BANKS. 40 all Australasia 73 75 75 3 50 all British N. American 20 2 Clutd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China ad— 1 d 14 100 25 Colonial ••• 100 20 Commercial of Lond. 20 10 English Scottish and Australian la —14 d 20 15 Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia ip 15a 50 20 London and County ... 50 10 London Joint Stock 22 24 100 20 Lond. & Westminster 33 35 34 20 2 London Bank of Aus tralia and India 50 22 National of Ireland 25 all Oriental Bank of • Corporation 45 47 I 45, 4 25 5 Do. New — 100 25 Provincial of Ireland 484 10 all Do. New 5 1 Royal Au.straln.Bkg & Gold Imp Co A dis— par 25 all South Australia 39 41 25 all Union of Australia 7l 73 72 . .24 Do. New 74 84 50 10 Union of London lB 19 181 40 all Union of Madrid MISCELLANEOUS 100 35 Australian Agricult. 40 41 40 4 1 39A 20 12 Australsn.Pcific.Mail 10 8 Australn. Royal Mail 31 50 38} Brit. American Laud 55 60 100 323 Canada — 5 5 Crystal Palace 4, —l4 p 21 2 4 2 Crystal Pal. of France ... 20 3 Eastern Steam — 1 1 Electric Teleg. of Ir — 15 14 Gen. Steam Navigat — 20 16 General Screw Steam 13 . 1 20 5 Irish Beetroot Sugar 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 3 Netherlands Land l4 4(1 20 10 Nrth. of Europe Steam 50 all Peninsular & Oriental 50 25 Do. 100 60 Royal Tail Steam 25 25 South Austral. Land 35 37 1 all Submar. Telegraph.. 5 2 Univeral Emigration and Colonization.... 100 284 Van Diemen's Land 15 —l6 I NEW PENNY RECEIPT AND DRAFT STAMPS. The following correspondence, in reference to the New Stamp Act, will be found serviceable to all engaged in mercantile transactions : "TO THOMAS KEOGH, ESQ., INLAND REVENUE, SOMER. SET-HOUSE. " Union-road, Plymouth, Oct. 18, 1853. " Sir,--There is a great deal of misunderstanding about the New Stamp Act, and I should feel much obliged if you would kindly reply to the following queries :—lf I receive a promissory note at thirty days, two or three months, or a banker's draft at seven or fourteen days, am I obliged to give a stamped receipt for the amount ? Are railway companies obliged to give stamped receipts for fares above 405., received in cash over the counter at the station ? Are auctioneers compelled to give stamped receipts for amounts above 405., for goods purchased at auctions ? Are farmers and cattle-dealers obliged to give stamped receipts for corn and cattle sold at fairs and markets ? " Is it necessary to give a stamped receipt for moneys paid on account of a bill delivered, not actually settled, or is a stamped receipt merely necessary at the settle ment of the account ? Are tradesmen obliged to give stamped receipts for goods sold over the counter, such as grocers, drapers, &c. ? "Drafts on Demand.—Can one merchant draw a draft on another merchant for the amount of an account without passing through a banker, provided the penny stamp is attached thereto, and if so, will an acknow ledgment on the back of the draft to be a legal receipt ? " I have seen some cheques with postage stamps and receipt stamps on them, but I imagine that neither of these are valid, and I presume that the proper draft on demand' stamps must be on these to order' cheques. " Trusting you will kindly answer the above queries, " I have the honour to remain, sir, ," Your obedient servant, " WlLLuat E. RENDLE." "TO THOMAS KEOGH, ESQ., INLAND REVENUE, SOMERSET- HOUSE. " Union.road, Plymouth, Oct. 21, 1853. " Sir--I am sorry to trouble you with these additional queries, but trust that you will reply to them at your convenience. "According to an old act of Parliament, I believe it was enacted that if a letter was sent through the Post office, acknowledging the receipt of money, it was held to be a legal receipt. Has this law been repealed or not, and if not, how does it affect the new law ? " If I draw a draft on demand to order on a stamped form, will a receipt given on the back be a sufficient legal receipt ? An answer to the above at your convenience will much oblige, sir, your obedient servant, " WILLIAM E. RENDLE." " Inland Revenue, Somerset House, London, Oct. 27, 1853. " Sir,—ln answ e r t o the questions submitted in your letter of the 18th inst., I am directed to acquaint you that if a receipt be given for a demand satisfied by means of a bill or note of any description, it must be on a stamp ; and if receipts be given in any of the cases men tioned by you, they must be on stamps ; but there is nothing in the Stamp Act imposing an obligation on the person receiving money, in any case, to give a receipt unless he be required to do so by the person making the payment. " A draft to bearer or order on demand may be drawn on any person with a penny stamp, and a receipt for the contents when paid may be written on the back without a receipt stamp. No other than the stamp provided for the particular description of document can be used. A draft stamp cannot be used for receipt, nor a receipt stamp for a draft, and a postage stamp is good for neither. " A receipt may be given on the back of a duly stamped draft for its contents. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, " THOMAS KEOGH. "To Mr. William E, Rendle, seed-merchant, Plymouth." Ili I I Si i g 34 i 63 2i 11i 31 7 461 7 23 100 99 8418 5 ig i 4525 t i 6 404 servant, P.S.—Since writing the above, I have ascertained that it was well seen from Beeston by Mr. W. Felkin, jun., who bas kindly given me these additional interest ing particulars :—The meteor at first moved much more obliquely than afterwards ; it three times burst into fragments, and was distinctly observed to pass beneath a cloud. DRAINAGE OF THE LONDON MARSHES. Yesterday, a meeting was held at Belvidere, the seat of Sir Culling Eardley Eardley, Bart., consisting chiefly of persons interested in the drainage of the marsh lands to the north-east and south-east of the metropolis, to consider of measures by which the drainage of those marshes might be most efficiently and satisfactorily effected. Sir Culling E. Eardley was called to the chair. The meeting was attended by the Earl of Shaftesbury, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, C. 8., of the General Board of Health; Mr. T. W. Rammell, one of the engineering inspectors of that board ; the Rev. Henry Brown, rector of Wool wich and chairman of the Woolwich local board of health ; the Rev. W. Ackworth, of Plumstead ; Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, Bart., of Charlton; Mr. James Macgregor, M.P., Mr. Clifton, and other gentlemen of Romford, &c. Sir C. E. EARDLEY stated that as a resident land owner he had invited the present meeting, c o n s id er i ng the drainage of the immense tract of marsh lands in their neighbourhood to be of great importance, in a sani tary point of view, not only to the immediate residents in the vicinity, but also to the whole of the metropolis. The question was of interest to the metropolis, which was so largely affected by these marsh lands that he con sidered the subject was entitled to the serious attention of Government. In this view he had requested Lord Palmerston's notice to the matter, and in his reply his lordship had expressed a favourable opinion as to the contemplated measures, as being calculated to be of great benefit to the two million and a quarter per sons inhabiting the metropolis. His lordship h a d a l so referred to the drainage of the fen lands of Lincoln shire, the experience upon which, he thought, might be consulted with advantage. He (Sir C. E. Eardley) had applied to his right hon. friend the Earl of Shaftes bury, and to other members of the General Board of Health, on account of the attention which it was well known that board had paid to the subject of suburban land drainage, and to the economy as well as efficiency of works for its execution. He had requested their pre sence that day, to hear the statements of parties locally interested in the matter. The Legislature had already given facilities for the drainage of settled estates, and it certainly appeared to him that this was also a case that demanded Government aid similar to that which had been afforded in the cases he had just referred to, in order to facilitate the drainage of these collective estates, comprising such extensive marsh lands. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY concurred in the general object of the meeting, and was anxious to learn the results of the experience of those who were loudly and most deeply interested in the subject. The Rev. Mr. ACKWORTH gave a deplorable account of the effect produced upon the population of his district by the marsh miasnii. That district was free from ague, and the result was to prevent respectable tenements being built, even on the most picturesque and inviting sites, which no one who knew what they were would occupy if they could avoid them. Several other gentlemen detailed the deleterious in fluence produced by the whole districts of marsh land. • Mr. CHADWICK mentioned, as the result of much in vestigation, instituted at the time of the prevalence of influenza, that not only were fogs occasioned by these marsh lands surrounding the metropolis, but that after the prevalence of easterly winds, cases of a gue were sometimes found to be scattered over the whole extent of the metropolis. He stated that the earliest attention to sanitary measures arose from the demand for relief in the marsh districts. The most experienced medical officers in Lincolnshire had reported that in districts where, before drainage had been carried out, they had used pounds of quinine, they now only used ounces, after the drainage works had commenced. Being interested in these draining operations, he had made various inquiries of guardians as to the effect of such works on the health of the populations. One common reply he received was, that "we have. paid no attention to the health of the po pulation, but these drainage operations have succeeded most remarkably as regards the health of the stock which has been kept upon the land." The result of all inquiries, however, was, that wherever land drainage operations were properly conducted, they had paid ex tremely well. The works in question might, in fact, be conducted simply with a view to improvements in the productiveness and an increase in the value of the land. On the Kent side alone there were 700 /acres of evapo rating surface of stagnant ditches, which it would be very profitable to drain and fill up. In so far as sani tary interests were involved, it would be the duty of the General Board of Health to give all the advice and as sistance in its power, while in as far as the works were purely operations of improved agricultural production, Mr. Blamire and the other Enclosure Commissioners would no doubt give all the aid that might be desired. Other urban populations throughout the country _ rn. were beset by contiguous marshes, and the question pressed proved works and compulsory outfalls had long for careful consideration . Mr. RAMMELL stated that on a view of thesuerffreoeutniyde ing district, he thought that the expeancsree.And that of draining works would be about it. a s-wer, the further cost of pumps, to be w t o i l; l u i I s e d b involvin team gabout would be about 2s. 6d. per acre, the same outlay as for the drainage of per Lincolnshire c marshes—viz., about 3s. 6d. per acre r annum, which re neiative o t e land would no doubt prove highly several gentlemen pre owners. It was pointed out by sent that much of the land, especially on the Essex side, needed treatment as town land, and that some portion s of the district were u nder no jurisdiction or commis sioners whatever. R es olution having been agreed to recognising the im portance of the contemplated works in an agricultural as well as in a sanitary point of view, being made gene ral for the whole of the eastern district of the metropolis, a committee was appointed to consider and report on the further proceedings desirable to be adopted, and as to the requisite works and the Legislative aid likely to be needed preparatory to re p resentations being made by deputation to Lord Palmerston. NEw TURKISH LOAN. —It appears that a Turkish functionary, Namik Pasha, is now on his way to Paris to negotiate a loan for the Sultan of 2,000,000/. Pro posals are contemplated to be issued both in Paris and London, but, after the circumstances which attended the last loan, it is highly improbable that they will be entertained on this side. THE LONDON NECROPOLIS AND NATIONAL MU SOLEUM.—The works for this undertaking are about to be begun at Guildford, the commoners having been arraged with and paid 15,000/. for their rights, having claimed 22,000/. Lord Onslow was also arranged with for 2,118 acres for the cemetery. THE WEST INDIES. The royal mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain Abbott, arrived off Southampton yesterday after noon with the usual West India, Central American, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and Californian mails, in charge of Lieutenant Tickell, R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates are— Vera Cruz Oct. 5 Tampico Havannah Santa Martha Sept. 23 Greytown Chagres Carthagena Jamaica — 12 Hayti - 13 Porto Rico — 15 Trinidad ............ Oct. 12 Grenada .... 13 Carriacoa ........ 13 St. Vincent l3 St. Lucia l4 Martinique — 14 IGuadaloupe — 14 Dominique — 15 Antigua — 15 Montserrat — 15 Nevis — 15 St. Kitts — 15 Tortola St. Thomas — 16 Berbice .. Demerara Tobago ... Barbadoes.. During the homeward voyage the Magdalena ex perienced very heavy weather, having met with a succession of fresh gales, with a heavy swell from the eastward. She brings 43 passengers, and on freight specie from Tampico value $65,014, and for account of the Mexican bondholders $28,134, the total value from the Gulf of Mexico being $93,148. No silver was shipped at Vera Cruz, the Avon having encountered a very heavy norther while lying off that city, which continued from 2 p.m. of the 2d to 4 a.m. of the sth of October, when there was a temporary lull till 8 a.m., during which time the passengers managed to get on board. The specie remaining at Vera Cruz will therefore be shipped by the next homeward packet. The Magdalena also brings gold dust value 7,5671., and gold value 26,9041. 10s. besides silver ore value 811 ., preciou s stones value 7391., and platina value 4901. The freight list also comprises 150 serons of cochineal, 11 serous of indigo, 94 cases of cigars, 12 bales of tobacco, 9 casks and 18 tierces of coffee; 53 bales of sarsaparilla, 359 packages of pimento, 6 live turtle, 4 cases of tortoiseshell, and 90 packages of sundries. An accident happened to the Royal mail steam ship Conway at St. Kitt's, which led to some de rangement of the intercolonial mails in the West Indies. After the Magdalena's arrival at St. Thomas's from England, on the 2d of October, she despatched the intercolonial packets, the Teviot and Conway, both starting together on their re spective routes, carrying mails and passengers ; the former for Jamaica, the latter for the Wind ward Group. The Conway had on board 37 pas sengers, including Mr. Mackintosh, the Governor- General, and Mr. Drummond Hay, Lieutenant- Governor of the Leeward Islands, returning from Tortola to the seat of Government at Antigua. The Conway proceeded no further than St. Kitt's, there unfortunately striking the ground at the south western extremity of the island, on the Belle Tete Reef at a quarter-past 3 o'clock on the morning of the 4th ult. It is dfficult for the uninitiated to account for the accident, the land appearing dis tinct about two miles off. From Jamaica we have private advises to the 12th ult. The new Governor of the colony, Sir Henry Barkly, had been duly inaugurated. He arrived at Kingston in her Majesty's steam-ship Brisk on Tuesday, the 4th of October. He landed at the Government wharf in Port Royal-street, and was received with the loudest demonstrations of joy. Flags were hoisted at every available flag staff, and the shipping in harbour decorated in the gayest colours. He was driven to the railway station in the carriage of Colonel Farquharson, who met him at the wharf, and proceeded by special train to Spanish Town, the seat of his Government. The shrill sound of the whistle one full hour before the time of arrival of the ordinary train attracted to the station in Spanish Town a large assemblage of persons, and the enthusiasm was equal to that exhibited in Kingston. Nothing can convey an idea of the manifestations of joy at Sir Henry Barkly's arrival. The peculiarly momentous period of his appointment, the painful state of public affairs, and Sir Henry's fame for conciliatory conduct in British Guiana, all rendered the circumstance of his arrival one of greater interest and importance than are generally attached to the appointment of a new ruler. On the 6th ult., two days after his arrival, he was duly inaugurated into office, the customary oaths being administered. There was an unusually large assemblage of persons present at the interesting ceremony. The second train from Kingston on that particular day conveyed 200 passengers, a very large number for one train on the Jamaica Railway. After his inauguration his Excellency lost no time in entering upon his important duties. Two proclamations were issued immediately, one renewing the appointments held under the former administration, the other calling the Legislature together on the 18th of October for the despatch of public business. The day was looked forward to by all classes with natural anxiety. Sir Charles Grey, the former governor, had taken private lodgings in Spanish Town, which he would continue to occupy until his departure from the island. The Hon. John Mais, a gentleman known many years ago as a public man, died on the 9th ult., in his 76th year. There was a very general depression in business circles. All descriptions of provisions were scarce, and prices very high in consequence. The public health was pretty satis factory. Coughs and colds prevailed, but the yellow fever had disappeared. The weather was becoming more pleasant than it had been for a long time. The accounts from Demerara are politically un important, no meeting of the Legislature having taken place. From the interior, the complaint was universal that the canes were not yielding well, and the crops would therefore be short ene d. The produce was, however, greatly ahead of former years, and the average per acre was said to be a hogshead and three-quarters, equal to a ton and a half of sugar. The canes for next year were in the highest degree promising. Trade was dull. The general lr in w was the extremely colony,a l h th ot e , u a g n h d fever yelw feverwai.irewttasy principally confined to the shipping and to the Colonial Hospital. .Smallpox had also been pre valent. One or two_ arrivals of Portuguese immi grants had taken_ . place, but labour wa s s till gr e a tly in demand, and in Essequibo the planters were compelled to resort to the expedient of task gangs. The steamer Rattlesnake, intended for ferry ser vice, had arrived at Georgetown. From Trinidad our advices are to the 12th ult. At a meeting of the Board of Council, resolutions, embracing matters of considerable interest to the financial state of the island, were passed. A motion was also made by Mr. Rennie for re commending to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that an agent for Trinidad should be ap pointed in London, at a salary of 3001. sterling per annum. The report of the 'committee appointed to inquire into the scheme sent out by the Colonial office for reducing the postage between England and the colonies was adopted, after which the council adjourned, to be called together at an early date for deliberation on tl e ie ar e i s i tim th a a t t es (:) tl f ie lB w s e 4 a . ther, From St. Lucia we l though sea sonable, had been oppressi ve ly h o t. The Count de Guoydon, the new governo r o f Martinique, arrived at Fort de Franco on the 23d of September, and the next day issued a proclama tion announcing his assumption of the Government. The island of Grenada had been deluged with rain, to the serious detriment of the cane crops. M an y of the estates had also received serious da mage from the floods, where the crops, labourers' cottages, and provision grounds had been more Or l e ss damaged. The island was suffering from a lack of labour, and, in consequence, th e c ro p o f the forthcoming year was expected to be deterio• the Y atmospher e h a d considerably rated The in he q a u t an o t f i t abated. _ _ _ Accounts from Barbadoes state that the House of Assembly had agreed to a petition to the House of Commons in favour of a reduction of the duty on fallenßritish inPlantation the islan. s d u . A good deal of rain had and there had gar liusiness was very full, been few arrival s o f s hippi ng . . The legislative session of Tobago was opened on the 13th of September by a speech from President whichYeates, gave an unfavourable view of the position. of the affairs of the island. The Tobago Chronicle reports favourably of the promises as to the en • suing year's crop, the weather being good and estate work proceeding very satisfactorily, notwithstanding a paucity of labourers. Her Majesty's ship Buzzard arrived at Jamaica from a cruise on the 27th of September, and sailed on the Ist of October for Portobello. The steam sloop Brisk, 20 days from Madeira, with Sir Henry Barkly, the new Governor, on board, ar rived on the 4th ult. Her Majesty's ship Vestal, 17 days from the Bay of Fundy, and the brig Daring, from a cruise, arrived at Port Royal on the 10th ult. Her Majesty's steam-frigate Me sera arrived at St. Thomas's, from Tortola on the 11th, and left the following day for Barbadoes. The Royal mail steamship Avon was on the Gulf of Mexico station ' • the Clyde, in the Spanish Main ; the Conway, at S avan nah ; the Dee, a t New York ; the Dement, on the Northern Isla n d s route ; the Eagle, at Jamaica ; the Esk, at St. Thomas's; the Medway and Teviot, on the Spanish Main. routes. When the Magdalena left St. Thomas's, at 4 p.m. on the 16 th ult., the new a l r e ri ft ve S d ou o t ut, and Southampton on the has not s 3 t d e a o m f s o h i c p t o S b o e l r e , n i t i , a d w l i i i i o c t h been spoken by the Magdalena. The Solent on the 16th ult. was 13 days out from Southampton. On the 27th ult., in lat. 41.7 N., long. 28,41 W., the Magdalena signalled the English merchant ship - 'atricia, steering about S. W. by W. She had a largo black ball painted on her foretopsail. N e w , r and for ;Wing here, She 31. took lung, p° ol7 ,ores etta, 'ilia, bion ta-- , ary, Bel' wrt, 812s1 50 20 20 25 25 20 20 50 20 10 25 10 1.0.6 St. 20 5 St. 10 20 20 20 50 20 10 50 40 25 25 6i 25 50 20 100 3i 100 20 20 10 St. St. St. St. St. 100, 100 100 100 13h 20 20 50 all all 6 all 100 ,all 21s. 100 20 14, 100 100 100 100 6 100 100 124 12. 12 St. St. all 100 1100 161 10 St. St. 100 100 100 100 all 100 12/ i 73 i 26 7 98 :J; 1071 10A 100. E . 5 i 33/ i all; 100 30 97 6