The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-01 00:00:00

E SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1853, THI EATRE ROYAL, HAYM ARKET. a pI ivate individual, from hirin g an y num b er o f farewell Season of 3lrZßenjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager - v eh ides for the accommodation of those arriving THIS EVENING, FER. 1, a a t m ..o o r un d t ep o art f departing u f n r e o r m aLi i o t n s s t tati b o e n . s, pa n i o d r t f o or fix su th ch e Will be performod the popular . and highly successful Comedy of ' MASKS AND FACE . ; or, Beforelatunrd_,Byebanstuad rttr:orcar,uTe%tion,—abnyd Bennett. hiring. The privilege of entering on its private Messrs. Benjamin . Webster, Lambert ; Ws. Stirinvz. Miss Le F. i ! h Haskell, entitled LEO THE property would '— and Miss Koss be amply sufficient, for it must Alder which, the gorgeous Extravaganza, be►rfimembered that a ca b-d r i ver w ill b e b oun d TETRontoEnßZie with the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and TTLED. by - any agreement he makes to accept any remu neration, however trifling or below the fare fixed by law. Any consideration, however trifling, we 'uld be sufficient, and he would be firmly held to his bargain. On both grounds, therefore, that " place" did not extend to private property, and that the party might be considered as actually hired by the company it must be held that there is not (except in cases of direct solicitation by the driver) a "plying for hire," so as to render him personally responsible under the later Act. On the second point, as to the meaning of the word " elsewhere," the same authorities will ap ply as to the necessity of its being ejusdem generis with the " standing or place" appointed, which, by the 29th section of the Act, must be in " the centre part of the street." The opinion of Sir FREDERICK POLLOCK, referred to by Mr. ELT4IOTT, is perfectly clear and distinct on this point. It de dares that "elsewhere" means "elsewhere," in some public place or street; it was meant entirely for the protection of public places, and has no reference to any place that is purely private." If, there fore, there were an actual, and not merely a con structive, " plying for hire " within or at a railway station, it would not fall within the statute, nor would the party be liable to any penalty. And the fact that the Commissioners of Police do not consider themselves authorised to appoint a stand within the stations of railway companies, or on any private property, although allowed to do so, under a subsequent Act, at " any place of public resort," affords additional confirmation to the argument. It was attempted to rest the question to a cer tain extent on the ground of " public conveni ence." Now, no degree of public convenience can warrant an interference with private property, un less under the sanction of a direct enactment ; and care will in every such case be taken that every party deprived of his rights shall receive ample compensation. But ¶ere it otherwise, we deny that the public convenience would be in any degree promoted by removing the control from the hands of the company, and allowing any drunken or abusive driver who possessed a licence to enter the station at any hour or time he thought proper (as he would be entitled to do if it *ere made a public standing place), and to set the most useful regulations of the company at defiance. It is a matter of public notoriety that there is a greater security against extortion or misconduct of any kind in cases where the cab has been taken from a railway station than if picked up at a public stand. The drivers know that they are under strict surveillance, that any complaint will be promptly attended to, and strictly investigated, and they will not lightly risk the valuable privileges which would be for feited in case any gross misconduct should be established against them. Let us only consider for a moment the facilities for purloining small but valuable packages that would be afforded, under cover of a dishonest " cabbie." It would not be fair to the companies. to deprive them of the power of excluding suspected characters, while their responsibility was continued and enforced. The only possible result of forbidding the plying for hire within stations would be that passen gers would be compelled to go with their luggage to the nearest stand ; and we can easily conceive the confusion, annoyance, and loss that would arise when persons, just off the road, and wearied with the journey, were surrendered to the tender mercies of the gangs of pickpockets and swell-mobsmen who would fre quent every standing. The only complainants, indeed, are the excluded cab-owners, who consider that their more favourable brethren derive con siderable advantage from their admission ; but this is no greater grievance than a refusal of liberty to put their hands into the pockets of their wealthier neighbours. The mere fact that they pay a heavy duty to Government—which they would not unless they conceived it their interest so to do—cannot possibly warrant their intrusion on private property, or subject the Railway Com panies to their unwelcome visits at all hours of the day o 4 night, however inconvenient. The matter works well as it is, and there is no neces sity for any interference with the existing system. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestria. THIS EVENING, FEB. 1, Will be performed the Comic Drama called A PHENOMENON IN A SALOCK-FBOCK. Characters 1)y Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Horncastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell. After which, the new and popular original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN ILE WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews, Suter. Horncastle, L and Temple ton; Madame Veetris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosana Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Sole Agent tor the Private Bows, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Nr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, FEB. 1, WM be presented the powerful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, V'nele Tom'. Cabin —by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, 0. Smith, and finery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Laura h o ney, and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with the sneee , sful new Comic Pantomime, called liarle.min enlo NE GIVYN NE ; or, nassense, Mdlle. Auriol M Clown, Mr. Flexmore.Monarch. Principal ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. e. Kean. THIS EVENING, FEB. 1, Will be performed the new and original Comedy, In three acts, by Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID ; or, Dorothy's Fortuna (as played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal charac ters tw Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harb-y, J. Vining, Ryder, F. Cooke, Everett, and Chester ; Mrs. W. Lacy and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and criginal Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline iPan taloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Carlotta Leclercq. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, FEB. 1, Wl]) be presented LILIAN GERVAIS. Supported by Messrs. Compton, W. Farren, jun., Hoskins, Cooke, Edgar, Bender, and Clifton; Misses Anderton and H. Gordon. After which, JOHN DOBBS. John Dobbs, Mr. W. Farren, jun.; Patternoster, Mr. Compton. To conclude with ROMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and the World of Dreams. Clown, Mr. Edwin Edwardes, with his highly-trained Dogs. Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Chatterton. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. PAttty. Crowded Nightly to witness tho Extraordinary Holiday Attractions LAST WEEK BUT FITE of Mr. BATTY'S MANAGEMENT, As he is about retiring from the Profession, having Let the Theatre to Mr. WILLIAM COOKE. THIS EVENING, FEB. 1, And following Evenings, will be presented the Equestrian Drama of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. After which, an unequalled Routine of Scenes in the Circle. T 9 conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of FORTUNIO AND HIS HORSE COMRADE; or, Harlequin and the Seven Gifted Men. On THURSDAY, Feb. 3, the Last Juvenile Performance will take place, when the Pantomime will be played first—concluding, by Eleven o'clock, with a popular Farce. Doors open at Halt-past Six Yclock. To commence at Seven. Box-ottice open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. We insert with much pleasure the letter of " An Old Reformer" on the Ballot, as we always do communications which controvert our argu ments with ability and candour ; and we at once concede to him, that universal suffrage, as it is termed, or at least some extension of the suffrage which shall include the great bulk of rate-payers, is the constituency most appropriate to the Ballot. When each man, or nearly sn, has a vote for him self, each may safely leave his neighbour to vote for his own interest, and regard his own honest preference as a sufficient guide. Such is the assumption of the Fox MAULE theory. But it is, after all, a low and unworthy one. We trust the time will never come when it will be the control- ling idea in the minds of English Electors. " Every man for himself," and " no friendship in trade," are, we are aware, settled maxims in Manchester, and its adjacent towns ; but we are happy to know that the thorough selfishness of commerce has not destroyed all brotherly sympa thy between man and man ; and the schools, libraries, and parks bear witness, and we trust will do so increasingly, to the pleasing fact. So much do we disrelish the low conception that each voter should vote for himself only, that we think the tendency of the Ballot to lessen this feel- ing, and to train men to a nobler one, one of its chief recommendations. The intimidated voter is frequently under the moral necessity of voting for his immediate personal interests in a most humiliating form. He is compelled selfishly to save himself and family at the cost of what he believes to be the general interests of the nation. The Ballot, in a vast majority of instances (and this large majority is sufficient to justify its use), would deliver him from the necessity of acting on motives he so despises. The bribed voter, again, whether influenced by beer or money, must be thrown upon higher motives than for merly in giving his vote secretly. He now gives it from the lowest and vilest of inducements, he could not be influenced by worse, and the great probability is when no one could pay him in any shape with safety, that he would begin to conceive of and to ponder more disinterested considerations. We must even condemn the kind of influence exercised by non-electors over the shopkeepers and publicans at Stockport ; for so far as it is really moral, as our correspon dent terms it, the Ballot would leave it untouched ; the tradesmen susceptible of moral influence, would also be so could they vote secretly. The truth is, that the only " influence" affected by the Ballot would be that of threats from the operatives of exclusive dealing ; a threat which which we have heard them justify as necessary to balance the threats of customers as important nearly to the shopkeeper by their wealth, as the workmen are in consequence of their numbers. We equally detest both threats. No elector ought to be at their mercy. We advocate the Ballot as leaving the tradesman-voter equally free from the intimidation of the individually wealthy few, and the collectively wealthy many, but open to ;the moral influence of both. We may notice, in passing, that the theory of all classes of persons being represented by our present other wise indefensible hodge-podge of constituencies, is one which is founded essentially on this selfish view of the electoral '-privilege. Each class will, it is said, vote in accordance with its interests ; therefore we must have a large swarm of petty boroughs, and boroughs entailed with an estate, att T.ljOversity or two, tenant-at-will and Woodstock-park constituencies. All sorts, in fact, because electors will be sure to vote not for the nati ona l i n t erests, but only for their private ones. We cordially hate the doc trine, and its degrading tendency. We hold that PROVIDENCE has designed us to be trained, by our social combinations, to something a step or two beyond our animal pleasures, and beyond our tills and ledgers too. The family, the parish, the municipality, the national Legislature,—all are or . ought to be concentric indeed, but widening circles, by expanding to which our whole moral tiro becomes ennobled. Of course, a man voting secretly may also vote selfishly ; but he cannot be compelled or tempted very easily by his fellow creatures to do so ; and every man knows that it is in those acts which are screened from the eyes of men, he is most likely (unless depraved indeed) to remember his responsibilities to society, and even to the GREAT JUDGE of all right and wrong. But descending to much lower ground—to Stockport, arid other similar boroughs as they are—we much question the moral and politi cal influence of the non-electors ever the electors. We have known a good deal of such boroughs since the Reform Bill, and we have seen unparalleled efforts made by thousands of non-electors, and we have seen their man a bare winner, and we have seen him also defeated. We have seen operative electors silenced by Tory masters, or obliged to vote against their wishes, whom, with the protection of the Ballot, their masters c.ould never have managed. We have known men compelled, for their fami lies' sake, to vote with their employers, who, even if their employers had dared to exact a wicked promise from them, would have thought it less wickedness to break it in the interest of their innocent country, than to keep it in fidelity to a guilty tyrant. So far, therefore, as we have seen, any influence of the' non-electors has been frequently overba lanced by those vilest of tyrants, who, having votes themselves, yet rob their poorer dependents of theirs. Moreover, we have heard shopkeepers remark, that between the demands of the opera tives and those of the master they choose to re main neuter ; others have observed, " Why they are too many to hold together long, and if I do but sell sugar and plums a farthing a pound cheaper for awhile I shall have them all back again, and others too, and keep my rich cus tomers besides." Hence we are persuaded that the lower classes have nothing to lose by con ferring the Ballot on the present electors. In ..deed, we feel confident that the elected at the hus tings would then more commonly be the elected at the poll. Stockport, moreover, is, as it strikes us, rather an unfortunate borough as an argument against the Ballot. It enjoys a somewhat unen viable notoriety in connection with another larger borough on the other side of Manchester for electoral misbehaviours, which would dispose many decided opponents of the Ballot to think that Stockport might be most advantageously required with Oldham to give its votes secretly. Each borough has been honoured with the candidature of a Methodist-Tory (the meanest type of Toryism), and each has obtained a British reputation for in sufferable displays of drunkenness and violence at the elections in which this gentleman was a candi date. In Stockport this gentleman—who voted against the ten-pound franchise in counties, against the Jews admission to Parliament, for the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, of course, but against the Ballot, against, indeed, every Liberal measure we can now remember—in Stockport, this gen tleman triumphed. Surely he was not the man of the unrepresented 8,600 ! Into the details of Stockport electioneering we cannot now descend, we may have time on another occasion ; but we imagine that Stockport and Oldham will be gene rally adduced as imperative arguments in favour of the Ballot. Take the kingdom through, how ever. No man can doubt that the influence of the millions of non-electors is as nothing compared with that of the few wealthy electors and the aristocracy. It is so in the numerous petty boroughs ; it is so by universal confession in nearly all the counties. The farmers are influenced solely by their landlords ; it were ludi crous to think even of the " moral and political influence" over them, of agriculturallabourers, and country tradesmen. We would call our correspon dent's attention to the speech of Mr. H. H. VIVIAN, the Member for Truro, at a " crowded and enthusiastic meeting" held in that town in favour of the Ballot, which ho will find in another part of to-day's paper. He found in examining a county constituency, with a view of contesting it, that the agents went to work after the usual and indispensable custom, inquiring, not how this or that elector will vote, —not what are his opinions on political subjects, —but, " Whose tenant is the man?"—" Whom does he work under ?" and thus, he says, the electors were arranged, in fact regularly scheduled under certain influences, by which it could be pretty well predicted how they would vote. Mr. VIVIAN found the schedules were against him ; but having thought little of the Ballot pre viously, the moment of his touching an election convinced him of its necessity. Mr. VIVIAN had another interesting lesson on the necessity of the Ballot at St. Ives (Cornwall). The schedules there were A, the electors under a large mine proprietor ; B, those under a large landed proprietor ; C, the ten-pound householders not very numerous ; D, the old free men, a very candid class of men, always hesi tating till the last hour, and very " open to con viction." He found the tenants from year under " perfect discipline ;" the miners also, as some who had been once insubordinate had been sent in con sequence 20 or 30 miles to their work in perfect discipline also. In one district lie heard but the name of the great miner mentioned—in another, that of the landlord. And the independent voters being but a hopeless few (the Liberal member this Y ear polled but 18, his Tory competitors, 256 and 218), Mr. VIVIAN thought he had no chance by which Truro, r d o e , se w r e ve a s r . e ha lv pp e y s t u o m sa u y p , from the the with nw the success sn t s h d e tri present with the remark, that, proper influence of tv t o l l :e ldfr non-electors, e°electorne it would free a realm and of the wealthier electors. where thousand the B from all° th t c improper influence of Peers of the It is deeply to be regretted that, in consequence of a petulant decision on the part of the Common Council of the City of London—a decision at variance with the opinions previously expressed by that body—Mr. CHARLES PEARSON has been compelled to retire from his position as honorary member of the Central Railway Terminus Com pany. The announcement of this unfortunate cir cumstance was made about a week since, on the occasion of the first general meeting of the share holders of the Company, at their offices in Black friars. That the original of the entire scheme should be thus summarily obliged to retire from any connection whatsoever with its management, is most deeply to be regretted ; and, but that the enterprise has been so far advanced under his guidance as to defy the chances of its abandon ment, we should view the withdrawal of Mr. PEARSON as calculated to prove disastrous to the undertaking. Happily he has contrived al ready so firmly to establish the pro ject in the public estimation, that he leaves his post at the Board of Management for a while with out much cause for serious solicitude as to the consequences. Nevertheless, while such is un doubtedly the case, it must be admitted on all hands that the course pursued in this matter by the Court of Common Council is most earnestly and energetically to be deprecated. It must be remembered that Mr. PEARSON originally pro posed his plan for a Central Railway Terminus, at a time when he himself was a member of the Common Council. He, in fact, promoted the measure, as he has himself observed, " in confor mity with the express resolutions of the Common Council, pronounced twice in its favour after an interval of some years by that body I 1" Yet the Common Council eats its own decision—enters a formal dissent rom the Copany's Bill—and thereby, of couf rse , necessitates Mr. PEAR soN's immediate resignation of his seat as an honorary member of the Board, in con sequence, of course, of the official position held by him as Solici tor to the Cit of London Corpo y r ation. We may c onfidently assert that the inci dent here referred to will not in any manner tend to elevate an already unpopular municipality in the public estimation. As atters now stand, we can only hope that some m circumstance DIRT speedily arise that will admit of Mr. PEARSON'S speedy return to his place at the Board of the Central Railway Terminus Company. His tem porary retirement, it is at least gratifying to remember, was marked by a resolution of the Shareholders, expressive of regret for his de parture, and of hope for his return under more favourable auspices --a resolution which, having been duly proposed and seconded, was, of course, carried by acclamation. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY). CITY, Two o'CLocK. OLD COURT. (Before the Recorder.) ROBBERY PROM THE PERSON. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at from 10,000 to 12,000 bales, of which 2,000 American, 300 Bahia, and 700 Surat were taken on speculation. The market closed with ani mation, and American were nearly id. per lb. higher, and all kinds a shade dearer. The sales comprised 7,000 American ; 800 Bahia, at 61d. to bid. ; 400 Egyptian, at 6d. to Id. ; 1,200 Surat, at 3d. to ; and 90 South Sea Island, at Is. 7d. to 2s. sd. per lb. Hannah, Healey, 20, a married woman, and Ann Jack son, 19, also a married woman, were indicted for steal ing eight sovereigns and other moneys, the property of William Slater, from his person. Mr. Ryland prosecuted, and Mr. Payne defended the prisoners. The Railway Share Market was much excited, and a largo amount of stock was sold at lower prices. The state of the Manchester Market, according to the report of Messrs. M`Nair, Greenhow, and Irving, was quiet early last month, but has become active since, the purchases being unusually large in both goods and yarns. The writers thus describe the effect of the advance in discounts : " The most prominent feature connected with the closing month, as possessing not only local but general interest, pertains to the movements of the Bank of Eng land, in having, in the course of 14 days, advanced its term: of discount from 2 to 3 per cent. ; a proceeding which has been condemned by many, but on the other hand com mended and highly approved by more, who had fore; seen the necessity and wisdom of adopting such an alternative. Had, however, the action of the Bank been o_ identified with adverse times in the commercial and ma nufacturing interests of the country, its influence would have proved of serious import. As it is, when every legitimate interest may be said to be in a more prosperous to the o l d e s condition o n m d i e t m i o b n e r of th a t n h e present ever k n o g w e generation— and r a t h in o efre and probably, too, in a greater degree than any records of former times manifest—the effect ought, we think, to be considered corrective than otherwise. Here, at any rate, no panic has ensued; greater and necessary caution has, however, been observable on the part of operators, accompanied with a wholesome belief, that whatever temporary inconvenience may have been experienced in the way of restricting previously meditated enlarged operations of a comparatively speculative character, the temporary influence is calculated unquestionably, to do much ultimate good." Accounts from St. Petersburgh notice the sale of 3,000 casks of tallow at a price equal to 465. per cwt. laid down here. Messrs. Smith and Charles send the following report upon the state of the London market :-- "Between the Ist and the sth ult. the market was quiet at 455. to 455. 3d. On the 6th a rapid advance took place reaching 475., even for Siberia or C. Tallow. This advance was not maintained, while the rise of the rate of interest soon after gave a blow to speculation in all descriptions of produce, and our market with the rest, suffered from the movement. In the course of the month advices arrived of the, export duty on Olive Oil having been doubled by the Neapolitan Government, which must indirectly influence tallow. The past month,has presented some remarkable feature in, rela tion to supply and demand. Thg exports from Australia, which had accumulated before the gold mania set in, have arrived earlier than was anti ,cipated, and the whole of the wrecked tallow from Petersburgh had also come to hand ; so that our ar rivals have been heavy. The mildness of the weather durin g the first three weeks had the effect of keeping back lemand, and the soap trade is rep orted generally as being very flat, buyers of this article holding back in case any alteration should be made in the Excise duties. We may remark that active exertions are to be made, both in London and in the large towns, by the trade, to impress on Government the desirableness of the repeal of the tax, and it is hoped that the budget will be brought forward at an early period, that the question may be set at rest. advices from Petersburgh are from the 10th to the 22nd January, buyers at 1255. cash ; no sellers under 1275. ; 1325. asked, 10s. down. The new supply is reported as not more than last year. The sales of " sorts" here have been large, and prices have declined, especially for Australian Tallow. The weather having been more favourable for candle making within the last few days, we have a better demand on the spot. There is a good supply of Town Tallow, at 448., nett cash. It is thought by some par ties that the effect of the late wet weather will be felt in the lambing season, and that home Tallow will not be an average this year. The number of the Bankers' Magazine for Feb ruary is unusually strong. Besides an excellent resume of the progress of 1852, there are papers upon a decimal currency, the " Coming Speculation in Shares and Scrip," " The Financial Position and Prospects of the United States," and the customary information upon banking and monetary topics. The aspect of the English Stock Market has not been promising, and there is a further decline of per cent. It cannot be averred that money is in the least scarce, or that the demand for it increases, but speculators want some temptation to operate boldly for a rise, and the " Bears" take advantage of the existing apathy to depress values. Reports have been rife of railway loans forßussia and Piussia, besides other foreign contracts, and the continued decline in the French funds is dwelt upon as a motive for depression. In the existing state of affairs at Paris, however, and after excessive gambling, if the Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Rentes were 2 to 3 per cent. lower, one need not have been surprised, and their steadiness is really matter for congratulation, considering that they rule at such advanced quotations. Cons ols have been done at 99 to 99* for Transfer and Account. The New Three -and-a-Quarter per Cents. are better than they were, being 104 and the Three per Cent. Reduced, after being 99k, have rallied to 1001. In foreign securities there is very little doing, and values are merely nominal, though heavy upon the whole. The Spanish Passive Stock has been marked sf, and the Committee's certificate is 41- per cent. Peruvian Deferred Bonds have been dull at 61k, and Grenada Deferred at a decline to 10k. Brazilian Old Stock is worth 102. Dutch 4 per Cents. have been quoted ni to Railway shares are to per cent. worse again, with some few exceptions. Great Northern keep up, and also South-Eastern, Oxford and Wolver hampton, ' and Caledonian • but North-Western, South-Western, Great Western, Midland and York, and North Midland are flatter. French shares are neglected. Strasbourg about 10s. lower, and Sambre and Mouse to t. The Gold Mines are cheaper. Nuggets are to g down, Colonial and some of the others United Mexican have receded I to The Australian Banks are firm. The Agricul tural shares have dropped 51. to 101., with very little doing. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (Front the Official List.) Business cone. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 99i 100 1 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 3 1 per Cent. Annuities. ............ Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6i India Bonds, £lOOO 7O South Sea Stock Consols for Account 10th February 99 4 Exchequer Bills lid. March. Juno. £lOOO.. 56 9 5 £5OO — Small 6O PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. lO2 Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent Equador Bonds 5ll Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent 64 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. r•panish Bonds, 3 per Cent ..t. — Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent 22i Spanish Passive (Converted) 54 Spanish Committee Cod. of Coup. not fun, 4i p 0 Swedish Loan 1 2 d Turkish Loan., 6 per Cent., 1852 — Ditto for the Account i d Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent 65 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ... 9 7i B 4 4 THREE O'CLOCK. Consols Ditto February Account The prosecutor said he met the women about two o'clock in the morning, near Temple-bar, and accom panied them to several public-houses in the neighbour hood, where he treated them to drink. He then engaged a cab, and gave them a ride down the Strand. Shortly afterwards he became unconscious, and on arousing from his slumber, he found himself in a cab in the Blackfriars road, about five o'clock in the morning. The prosecutor, in answer to a question, said he was perfectly sober when he first made the acquaintance of the females, but he admitted that the same evening he had been to the Coal-hole, where he had the honour of drinking a social glass with the " Lord Chief Baron." The Recorder having summed summel up the evidence, the prisoners were acquitted. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, JAN. 31. The Queen, accompanied by the Duchess of Nemours, walked in the Home-park this morning. The Royal children took their usual walking and pony exercise, accompanied by the children of the Royal visitors. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the Duke of Nemours and the Hon. Charles Murray, went out shooting this forenoon, attended by Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Viscount and Viscountess de Redcliffe have been invited, and are expected to-day. The Hon. Charles A. Murray left the Castle this afternoon for London. A deputation to present a memorial to the Govern ment in reference to public improvements in the Borough of Southwark, had an interview with Sir William Molesworth yesterday, at the Office of Works and Public Buildings, in Whitehall-place. The deputation consisted of the Rev. W. Cadman, Recto io ; Mr. J. Putley, Churchwarden ; Mr. J. Cumner, IChurchwarden A. Pocock, O verseer ; M r. J. Stevtens, Chairman of the Board of Guardians ; Mr. T. Martin, Mr, J. White, Mr. C. Anderson, Mr. G. W. Cross, Mr. W. IL Mathews, Mr. W. Babbage, Medical Officer ; and Mr. J. Day, Vestry Clerk. Viscount Palmerston has returned to town from his seat, Broadlands, Hants. Colonel Sibthorp, M.P., had an interview with his lordship yesterday at the Home office. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone arrived in town yesterday from Moor-park. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office yester day from the Governor-General of Canada and the Go vernors of the other North-American provinces. Dis patches were also received from the Governors of Hong- Kong, the Mauritius, Ceylon, and Malta. BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.—The following shows the steady increase of bathers and washers in London. The aggregate numbers at seven establishments in the metropolis, from January to December, 1852, inclusive, amount to 800,163 bathers, 127,580 washers. Corres ponding period of 1851, five establishments, 647,242 bathers, 132,251 washers. Corresponding period of 1850, three establishments, 509,200 bathers, 60,154 washers. Corresponding period of 1849, two establish. ments, 297,831 bathers, 9,070 washers. Corresponding period, of 1881, one establishment (Goulston-square, Whitechapel), 48,637 bathers, showing an increase in 1852, over the corresponding period of 1848 of 751,526 bathers, and 197,580 washers ; and an aggregate in five years of more than 3,100,000 bathers and washers. The figures in the foregoing statements are irrespective of the bathers and washers at the George-street establishment, which is not conducted according to the acts. THE FRENCH EMPRESS.—John Comyn of Badenocb, commonly called the " Red Comyn," was said t o h ave betrayed to Edward I. of Engl an d the designs of Robert the Bruce for the recovery of Scottish independence, after having sworn to promote them. So pretended, at least, Robert the Bruce. And upon the 10th of February, 1305, at a meeting between the parties within a church at Dumfries, attached to a convent of Minorite Friars, Robert Bruce stabbed J o h n C omyn with a dagger. The wound not provi ng mor t a l on the instant, one of f e Bruce's companions co m pl e t e d th e task ' with his own , and these words, " Ise mak s i c k er. " This companion, was Roger Kirkpatrick o f Cl ose b urn, whose descendantso still bear the motto o n th e i r s hi eld, and one ofwh shortly about to mou n t th e throne of Imperial Framnceie. —Caledonian Mercury, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.--FRENCH PLAYS. Mr. Mitchell's season commenced last night with a crowded and fashionable audience as merrily and suc cessfully as could be wished. M. Ravel, the clever comedian of the Palais Royal, made his first appearance since 1848, and with him came the handsome and spirituelle Mademoiselle Lambert, and a debutante Madlle. Emma Fleury, a graceful and intelligent young actress, who will be found a valuable addition to the company. Besides these stars there was a good working company, full of that ease and vivacity which, especially in scenes of every-day life, given such an air of ensemble and reality to French comedy. After a lever du rideau, in the shape of a little piece called saute de s'entendre, which served to introduce Madlle. Fleury. M. Ravel made his appearance in a real Palais Royal vaudeville, called Un Monsieur qui suit es femmes, a piece which some play goers may recollect having seen at the Strand Theatre, under the name of Kensington . Gardens. Of pl o t th ere is not a vestige in the piece ; is nothing beyond a series of ludicrous situation, into which the hero, Hector Dache min, a young Pari s i an b ac h e l or, gets himself by his irrisistible penchant for following every lady he sees. .At length he gets caught. A lady of distinguished appearance, the wife of a repre sentative, Madlle. D'Ermont, is subjected, like others of more humble guis e , t o hi s annoyances ; but, instead of showing timidity, boldly meets his advances by taking him home to dipe with her at her own house. Here, dressed in "!' frock -coat and blue cravat," as he pite ously complains, he is horrified at finding himself the bUtt of a large family dinner party, to every member of which he is introduced by the lady as Monsieur que je ne connais pas. His course of lif e h as , however, made him acquainted with several awkward secrets of his tormentors. One of them he recognises as having 'been seen intriguing with a femme de ch,ambre, his wife has dropped a billet doux to her lover, which Hector has picked up ; another gentleman has fought a duel with unloaded pistols ; and a fourth having signed a contract of marriage with a lorette, named Georgina, has, in place of fulfilling it ran away and left her ; and, when driven to desperation, he is able by whispering these home-truths into their ears, not only to silence them 411, but to obtain their united consent to his marriage with Madlle. Mathilde, a ward of the family, and the young lady of whom he really is enamoured ; so that, after some pouting on mademoiselle's part at Hector's indiscriminate gallantry, he is made happy, and vows henceforth to follow no more ladies, inasmuch as article 214 code civil enacts that "une femme dolt suivre son marl partout 1" The other novelty, York, is also a Palais Royal vaude ville of a more recent date, being produced there in July last. Here we have one Hector Dolbrun, who rusticates in Switzerland, dressed in a complete suit of white, and, meeting with a grim Major, who has an old daughter and a young wife, falls in love with the wife, and, mistaking her for the daughter, demands her hand from her husband. The method by-which he has introduced himself to the family is of the oddest. The Major, to check his wife's fancy for her pet dogs, causes them to be secretly drowned in the neighbouring lake, and the last victim, " York," is saved by the gallant Hector, who first comes on leading the rescued creature by a string. When the Major has given his consent, and Hector discovers his mistake, his despair at the notion of marrying the dreadful daughter is so violent, that every body things he has the hydrophobia, and he becomes an object of universal terror, till at last he is released from his dist ress b y a conve nient captain, who takes his bride off his hands, and he is allowed to retain " York" as a reward, for his gallantry. The weight of both pieces rested on the shoulders of M. Ravel, who is scarcely ever off the stage ; and, indeed, we may say that they have been written to display his pecular powers, and certainly none but himself could do them full justice. His performance of Hector Dachemin was a highly finished piece of art, his inimitab'e ease and buoyant vivacity, make that which, in ordinary men would be but common-place impertinence, seem the result of pas sionate devotion to the sex, carried, perhaps, a little too far under the influence of high animal spirits. In the second act, too, the conflict between his natural self possession and the embarrassment produced by his ridiculous position is highly amusing, nor must we omit to mention the clever manner in which he reco vered himself, when he found that he was able to turn the tables on his assailants. He never saw an artist so per fectly master of the whole armoury of bye play and asides, and in many instances the mere play of his mo bile features—so expressive, yet without a tinge of ex travagance, was irresistible. The most remote country man, who never heard a word of French in his life, must have laughed at the animated versatile love maker, and sympathised intuitively in his embarrassments from first to(last. Both Madlle. Lambert and Madle. Fleury played with spirit and elegance, and did much towards the success of the piece. Both pieces were well received, and the principal actors were called at the end of each piece. As an augury of success for the season, nothing could be more successful. LONDON SACRED HARMONIC UNlON.—Handers Ora torio of Solomon was performed here last night with considerable success. The vocalists were—Miss Birch, Miss C. Felton, and Mrs. Temple, Mr. Lockey, and Mr. Lawler ; and the entire performance, choral and soloist, went smoothly and equably off. 31r. Surman, of course, conducted. The hall was full. REPRESENTATION OP THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—Last afternoon a meeting of the alumnie and eleves of the University College was held in the theatre of the college—Mr. Liston, F.R.C.S., in the chair—to adopt measures for securing to the college the right of returning two representatives to Parliament. The chairman briefly and lucidly explained the object of the meeting, and insisted upon the right of the university, in common with Oxford, Cambridge, and Trinity Col lege, Dublin, to be represented, urging in favour of the University College that it admitted to its full honours all persons irrespective of religious creed, and that it had been originally founded under a promise from the Government of the day that in due time it would be fully admitted to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the other universities. Messrs. Gawgee, Frankshaw, Baines, Murphy, H a ll, an d Li tc h ard similarly expressed themselves in eloquent addresses. A petition to the Legislature, embodying the objects of the meeting, was unanimously adopted, after which, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. ROYAL ANNUITY SOClETY.—Yesterday the annual general court of the governors of this charity was held at the London Tavern, Henry Pownall, Esq., J.P., in the chair. The report stated that during the past year six annuitants had been placed upon the books, and that four others were to be elected that day, from a list of 133 candidates. Six annuitants died during the year, and 21 men, and 34 women, are at present on the books. The festival lately held yielded 1,323/. During the abovementioned period the trustees invested 4601„ and received 4001., the legacy of the late Mr. Croft.. The total income was 2,1431. 17s. 10d. ' of which sum 70/. 14s. 10d. was the b a l ance at the last audit, and 3361. 18s. subscriptions. The expenditure was 2,1021. 7s. 4d., of which 1,2501. was in annuities, so that a balance of 411. 10s. 6d. appears in favour of the charity. The re p.rt and financial statement were received and adopted, after which the poll was declared open. At the conclu sion of the business the successful candidate were de clared elected, and a vote of thanks passed to the chair man. GERMAN HOSPITAL, DALSTON.—The annual general meeting of the managers and supporters of this institu tion was held yesterday forenoon at the London Tavern; his Excellency Chevalier Bunsen—in the unavoidable absence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the president, presided. The advertisement convening the meeting having been read, the Rey. Adolphus Wal baum, secretary and chaplain, proceeded to read the re port of the committee, which set forth that during the past year 706 in-patients had been admitted into the establishment, and the out-patients for the same period numbered :—At the Hospital, 4,082 ; at the City Dis pensary, 1,202 ; the Western Dispensary, 316—making a total of 5,600 ; and the number since its opening, in 1845, to be:—ln-patients 3,513, and out-patients 20,935. The report further stated that ten beds had been added during the past year, to what is termed the Adolphus Ward, which has only lately been erected, through which nearly 100 ;poor women and children could be accommodated. Notwithstanding this com paratively favourable statement, as many as 278 urgent cases could not be admitted for want of room. The financial position of the charity showed the income of the past year to have been, from all sources, 2,486/. 95. 10d,, and the expenditure 2,501/. 9s. 10d. These results con sequently made the expenditure exceed the receipts by 151. The report and the accounts were agreed to nem. Con, and after some formal business the meeting separated. MURDER AT PRESTON. —The Town-hall of Preston was densely crowded yesterday (Monday) by persons anxious I to hear the examination in a case of murder, committed at an early hour that morning in Turk's Head-yard (a I court in the the main street near the Market-place). The name of the deceased is Thomas Wilcock, an itine rant nutseller ; and the parties implicated in his death are James Parker, also a nutseller ; and Ralph Ire land, a journeyman joiner, both of whom appeared in the dock. The circumstances of this shock ing occurrence, as far as they have at present been elicited, may be gleaned from the subjoined evi dence. John Atkinson, a bailiff living in Turk's Head yard, deposed that about five minutes before two that morning, being in bed, he heard some one exclaiming, " Thou shalt have it now for what thou bast done be fore." Witness immediately got up, and opened his window, when he saw the prisoner Parker strike a man twice. The man fell down, and never spoke afterwards. Witness was sure Parker was the man who struck the deceased. Saw Parker run away. James Livesey was called, and said over the that head and about whilst deceasedwtahe n was down, eck. Parker After kicked him this he ran away as fast as he could. Some one ran be fore him, but who it was witness could not say. Both men were apprehended soon after the tragedy—Parker at a brothel, kept by a woman with whom he cohabited ; Ireland at his sister's beer-house, where he lodged. The prisoners were remanded until Wednesday to await the result of a coroner's inquisition, to be held this afternoon (Tuesday). . TDB BALLOT. TO TEE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —ln your paper of to-day there is a leading article upon the Ballot, and all parties on the Liberal side will quite agree with you on the expediency of try ing the Ballot, after the experience of the last general election. The objection raised by many to secret voting is, that in the United States it does not in all cases pre vent corruption. These opponents to the Ballot, how thisv forget that in country citizens are not made by a residence of two or three years ; but that voters are only eligible by re gistration. I n my experience in America, b the corruption at el ec ti ons mainly practised electors was violent partisans of the W. y to the p ollin g - booths wh o we 13. scho ol , takingre ot cizens ;in some cases they h a d not been landed n in the it country three months. It may be asked, What security had either side that such votes would be given as directed ? There would be no security if the voting tickets were not given until applied fo r a t the polling -places at the time depositing the vote. And this is, I should imagine, the course which in England would be marked out. Altogether I am convinced that in England a more improved system than that which exists in the States could be adopted. It strikes me that to meet the views of the opponents to the Ballot, voters might be allowed the ot optiobut n of either giving in th e i r votes viva voce, or by Ball, no g committees should be allowed in either case to exist any longer, It is folly to regret a system proposed in accordance with popular feeling, because it does not attain perfec tion. It is quite evident nothing can be worse than our present system • and a tri a l o f an i mproved system of vote by Ballot should not be inconsiderately objected to. I remain, Sir, Your obedient Servant, A LANDHOLDER. Liverpool, 13th Jan., 1853. P.S. In making the foregoing suggestions, of course I admit that it may be within the possibility of the Go vernment to offer a plan quite as effectual. TO THE EDITOR OF TEE SUN. Sin,—l have seen considerable talent displayed of late in your paper, in discussing the question of the ballot ; and twenty years ago, when I was young in politics, I was as sincere in recommending the Ballot as a part of the Reform Bill as any man can be in advo cating it at the present time. However, I begin to think that it would not work well, and I will give you my reasons as succinctly as possible why I think so; and I will illustrate my opinion from a town of the middle size, to wit, Stockport —a town with about 10,000 as sersments to the poor rates within the boundary of its borough, out of which about 1,400 are Parliamentary electors. At present the 1,400 electors appoint two persons to make laws for themselves, and likewise for the 8,600 rate-payers who have no votes. If the 1,400 electors were to obtain the ballot, the 8,600 rate-payers would have to be governed by laws made by secretly elected persons, and over the appointment of whom they have no moral or political control. Now, I contend that, until the suffrage is extended, it would be morally and politically wrong to give the 1,400 persons the Ballot ; for, whatever any person max say to I the contrary, feel certain that the non-electors do exer cise a great moral influence over the shopkeepers in every borough election ; and from their number, and their respective connections, they invariably will do so. Stockport, JantOLD REFORMER. ary. THE STATE OF THE WEATHER.—Last night and this morning the metropolis was enveloped in one of the thickest fogs London has been visited with for some time past. At nine o'clock this morning the Strand, Fleet street, Holborn, and all the leading thoroughfares, had the appearance of evening, the whole of the business having to be transacted by gas-light. The omnibuses and cab-drivers had all their caution required to prevent accidents occurring to foot p assengers . T ra ffi c on the river - was for the most part of the morning suspended, and the few barges passing down frequently came in contact with each other or with the piers of the bridges. In the suburbs north of London the fog prevailed to the same extent, and the danger was greatly increased by a thick coat of ice covering the roads and footpaths. NEW APPOINTMENTS AT THE MINT.—It is understood that the Treasury has determined to increase the num ber of employes at the Mint, with the view of qualifying the newly-appointed parties for employment on a new mint establishment, which the Government contemplates forming in Australia. The proposal is to remove cer tain clerks from the various Government offices to the Mint, and place them on probationary duties, in order that they may be qualifi e d f or the service of the Govern ment in the Royal Mint of Australia. A few selections have already been made from the Census-office and the Register-General's department at Somerset -house. There is an excess of some sixty extra, or supernumerary clerks, in these departments, whose term of service will expire with the close of the present year, consequently the applications to the Treasury from this class, for em ployment in the proposed new mint establishment, are numerous. A small staff of mint employe s for Australia. however, is all that seems to be at present contemplated. THE RECENT CASE OF STABBING IN ANGEL -COURT , STRAND.—yeste r d ay, i n consequence of a representation made by the medical officers of Ring's College Hostal, Mr. Jardi ne , po li ce magistrate of Bow-street, attenpided at the above institution, for the purpose of taking the dying depositions of Mrs. Sarah Fitzgerald, who was seriously stabbed in the breast on Sunday morning by her husb an d, w i t h a large ginablet, at her residence, No. 7, Angel-court, Strand. John Fitzgerald, the husband, was brought forward in the custody of police constable Butcher, 308 A. Mrs. Fitzgerald, on being tendered the book, refused to be sworn, nor would she say a single word that might tend to implicate her hus band (the prisoner), and when asked how the occurrence took place, answered in an evasive manner, and then added that they (the prisoner) and herself had been drinking on Saturday evening, and had some words on their return home, but by whom, or by what instrument the wound was inflicted, she would not say. When shown the gimblet, and asked if it was done with that instrument, she would not answer. Mr. Jardine de termined to remand the prisoner until the fate of the unfortunate woman was known, as her case has been pronounced h ope l ess b y the medical officers. On inquiry at a late hour, it was stated that the wounded woman was sinking rapidly. STATE OF WESTMEATH.—Another murder was com mittedmasa man ne in the employmentarKilbeggan,onof an En Thursday nighgtlshinn .iThaev, whoictim Mg gentleman, a n O , n w t h h o e previous night a hßom occupied a farm sc c o le t s c etolh an e t Catholic lately purchased the demesne of Castle Daly in th e Encumbered Estates Court, was fired at in his own h house but fortunately escaped with a sli g ht wound in tithigh, a quantity of slugs being lodged in the wall beside him. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tm% Der —Morning 50 min. after 6 Evening 14 min.aft. 6 To-Morrow—Morning 41 min. after 7 Evening 12 min.aft. 8 DAILY WEA7HER TABLE. TUESDAY, FEB. 1, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations Lre arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGS—N.N.E., gentle breeze—cloudless. SOUTHAMPTON — E., gentle breeze—foggy. FoLuzsTONE—N.E., light air—cloudless. TUNBRID GR—N.W., gentle breeze—cloudless. GREENWICH—W. calm—foggy. calm , —cloudless. SWINDON—N.W. light airs—cloudless. LEIGHTON—N.W., calm—overcast. CAMBRIDGE—N.I., gentle hreeze—cloudless. YARMOUTH—E., gentle breeze—cloudless. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Saturday morning at nine o'clock LEIGHTON—N. E., calm—overcast. EfoLTHEAD—Calm—overcast, frosty. LANCASTER—S. - W . ., calm—foggy. WHlTBY—Calm—foggy. DARLINGTON—W.S.W., gentle breeze—overcast and foggy. Sn4P—S.E., gentle breeze—overcast. THE WEATHER.--Snr OFFrca, FEB. 1. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. go —highest since noon on Saturday. 29—lowest yesterday morning, and during Sat. night. 32—yesterday at noon. BAROMETER, 30'28. WIND, N.—A thick fog came on last evening, and has continued ever since. It was very dense this morning ; but has cleared up a little towards mid-day. rt'c aft ar , L.N A 44 IV* ~~L ~.~;;y,~~n„ LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 183. The very able and conclusive judgment of Mr. ELLIOTT at the Lambeth Police Court, on Friday, when finally disposing of the summons against a cab-driver for an alleged plying for hire at the Waterloo terminus, and within the grounds of the South-Western Railway Company, ought to have the effect of setting that vexata questio at rest for ever. It bears every mark of calm deliberation, and of cool and attentive consideration. There was no controversy as to the facts. Everything neces sary to raise the issues had been admitted. The matters in dispute had been fully argued on either side, the meaning of the enactments discussed, and many pertinent cases cited. The decision is in every way worthy of Mr. ELLIOTT'S previous re putation, and, coupled with those of the majority of 'the Magistrates, and the opinions of the late ATTORNEY and SOLICITOR GENERALS, may be con sidered as completely overruling the rather hastily formed opinions of Mr. A'BECKETT and of the one gentleman whose views coincided with his own. Under ordinary circumstances, it might be antici pated that the matter would terminate here—that Mr. A'BECKETT would bow to the decision of the majority of his magisterial brethren, and that the cab-owners privileged to enter the stations of the South-Eastern and Brighton Companies may be freed from a persecution to which those re sorting to the London and North-Western, the Great Western, the Great Northern, and the South-Western stations are no longer liable. We fear, however, nothing but the decision of one of the Superior Courts will satisfy Mr. A'BECKETT, and if such indeed be the case, and that he refuse to observe the ordinary routine, it will be his duty to place the matter on such a foundation as will enable that decision to be as speedily and economically obtained as may be practicable. Two questions, depending on the construction of different statutes, have to be determined before we can arrive at a just and proper conclusion. Ist, What is " a plying for hire," within the meaning of the Acts Ist and 2d Wu. IV., c. 22, and 6th and 7th Vle., c. 86 ? 2dly, Whether the word " Elsewhere," contained in the 32d sec tion of the last-mentioned statute, can be con sidered as applying to private property ? On the first point, " the plying," generally speaking, is a constructive plying, depending on the interpre tation of the 24th section of the Ist and 2d Wm. c. 22, which enacts "that every hackney c rriage which shall be found standing in any street or place, and having thereon any of the numbered plates required by that Act to be fixed on hackney-carriages, shall, unless actually hired, be deemed to be plying for hire, al though such carriage shall not be on any standing, or place, usually appointed for the pur pose of hackney-carriages standing, or plying for hire." In that clause, the word " place" must be deemed to be ejusdem generic with its an tecedent " street," and to mean only any locality open to the public. The case of PAUL V. JAMES, cited by Mr. ELLIOTT, is directly in point. A mer e standing atthemit agyee;t7-( )yf any inone of the s t a ti o ns, on the private company, " could not therefore be deemed. a plyi ng f or hi re " under that Act, and there is nothin g in the sub sequent statute to extend the meaning of the phrase ; and as the 34th section of the 6th and 7th Vie., imposing a fine, must be considered as a penal enactment, it must, according to the established rule, be construed strictly, and most favourably to the defendant. It is clear that the "plying for hire" must be distinct and positive, which never takes place in railway stations, the regulations not allowing any solicitation of pas- sengers. Again, even if the word " place," should be held to include private I property, and that PALM v. JAMES had been overruled, it • might fairly be contended that there was "an actual hiring" by the Railway Company, so _ o tAss to take the cam out of the statute. There is vg to prevent a company, any more than :OA = e•-• ' - J DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION AT HORSELYDOWN. Yesterday (Monday) morning, between the hours of two and three, the inhabitants of Dockhead and Horse: lydown were most painfully alarmed in consequence of the sudden outbreak of a fire, which in a compare' tively brief period reduced to ruins the furniture and wearing apparel o f near l y a d ozen i n dustrious families, and greatly jeopardised the lives of aline twenty individuals. The scene of the terrible nue' fortune was Charles-street, Horselydown, in which th e t : roughfare st oo d one o f t h e anc i ent structures, b u t Which had been so modernised arid altered as to form three houses. One part was occupied by Mr. J. Harris, bread and biscuit baker, whilst the other portions were let out in separate tenements. At the time of the outbreak, the whole of the inmates, with the exception of Mr. Harris s journeyman, were in their beds asleep. Amongst the number made prisoners by the destructive element oer. • several youn g children, whose screams on seeing the and smoke issuing into their rooms became pitiable in ' extreme. The p aren t s • o f t h e ch i ldren made to t h e frent windows, and w ere on th e po i nt of throwing them out t into the street, wh en th e b ystanders entreate d to do so, but to wait until the fire-escapes arrived. The poor creatures on finding that if they remained any 11041' nothing could prevent their lives from being destroyed tied a number of sh ee t s t oge th er, an d b y t h at exPech.P. they succeeded in low er i ng th ree c hild ren out o f the win. dow, and safely lodging them in the street. The fathe r of the children then low e r e d hi s w if e d own i n the said manner, and afterwa r d s l owere d hi mse lf d ow n, e n , thereby they escaped a horrible death. An old gen e c i man who also lived in the upper part of the house, an t who had a female relative sleeping there, on finding al a the fire was progressing so fiercely, laid hold of hr friend and carried her through the flames, and fortune r „,, te neither of them received the l eas t p ersona l i n j ur y. "1 g stairs, first, second, and third fl oors o f th e pr i va te lo n : a are nearly burned out; the roof is p ar ti a ll y d e stroy r ! and the baker's building and contents are very consid er ably damaged by fire, water, and smoke. The buifich,l which belong to St Olave' s grammar sc h oo l s ar e unde r stood to be insured in one of the London offices. COAST DEFENCES. DOVER.—Captain Swinton's company of Royal, M. ,, tillery (11th batt a li on ), arr i ve d a t D over H e i g hts ,P; racks on Thursday, per rail, from Woolwich. lieutenants (in addition to C a pt a i n S w i n t on ), 4 sergea ll i ii 3 corporals, 4 b om b ar di ers, 2 trumpeters, and 'be" gunners, form the strength of the company t o stationed here. In addition to which, gunn ers rived, per sa m e conveyance , t o re i n f orce the '":„ companies already stationed here ; and we heal' _ . l; other company will shortly follow, which will l'as about 500 of the Royal Artillery in this garrison. band of the 67th played them to the Heights. Our teries, breast-works, defences, &c., we understa.nd , be shortly placed i n th a t s t a t e as o f o ld, w h en Dover"; s one of the first, ports, and one of the strongest garri ° , l ° in England. A com p an y o f th e R oya l s a ppers "" of Miners is also expected here, their services being !A. important in the construction of fortifications and tary works of every kind. FOLKESTONE.—The surveyors of the Ordnance bs isik been making surv e y s d ur i ng th e wee k aroun d the - g, tery, down the face, and along the foot of the No little cupsternation has been caused thereby, ° r ibs the surveyors. are correct, part of the Pavilion, iv offices recently erected by M r . F au lk ner , the by perty occupied by Mr. Ashtell (recently purchas e Mr. Hart, Bellevue-house, the house on the per ,ly steps, and the new hotel, have all been unwitt iri t P purchased, or built upon, under th e a ssurance the land belonged to the Earl of Radnor. W r e, reason to know that a few years back a gentl e o proposed erecting a villa where th a t on the 1 33f ts 5 1 now stands, but after some negociation the age tile Lord Radnor stayed proceedings, stating th 3t , mo bt ground belonged to the Bo ar d o f O r d nance . Ne tO Mr. Craxford was well assured the land belong" J e d the Earl of Radnor, or he would not have elcP ell 2,0001. or 3,0001. h e RYE.—An ordance survey is bei ng m ade of t e re ct' garden of Rye, with the view we understand of e ing a battery 'there. PEMBROKE.—The battery at the west end of the -,„0 yard is undergoing alterations, th e 24-pounder „ s bi o g have been dismounted, and th e em b ras ures are l' ;n e ch adapted for 32-pounders, with eight-inch and guns at the angles. When completed the batterY,lo' be most formidable, and with skilful and resolute `"Tio leryists might bid defiance to almost any force. 4 61 engineer department at Pembroke, under the maul of Lieut.-Colonel Victor, are being engaged in fortifYit'o the port by the erection of Martello towers. 1„e igloo be hoped, however, their attention will soon be dir e 0o• to the construction of adequate barracks, the aocote— dation there at present being little more than f ° , 1. 0 handful of men, scarcely sufficient, in fact t o mon o efficient daily guard for the dockyard. IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—The followingimpude ntr tli i) ; bery w as comm itt e d upon a l a d y name d Stanley, at e sy Great W es t ern Railway, at Paddington statio n turday, w hil e waiting for tickets for the 12.40 iee 0 1 ' Mrs. S. was waiting with her "porte /t onna ther French p urse , i n her hand, when a thief cam e u p „ p er, and snat c h e d i t from her in the most i m pudent in a t l ie re and, notwithstandin g all the cries and entreaties, t he was not a policeman or official who could g,T i vall‘ slightest ass i s t ance , and the man was allowed off quietly with the purse, containing four 57. now -) sovereign, two half- sovere i gns, and two half- e roWn -4 ' big PATRONAGE OF THE BISHOP OF Lorfr,o-rr:-----rirstlior, lordship has the gift of the Precentorship, Chanc e ship. Treasurership, and all the 27 Prebendaries ino, Paul's Cathedral, t oge th er w ith th e two arc hd ea conf te ; What these dignities are worth, it is impossible to st 3 oo e but some idea m a y b e f orme d f rom th e f ac t that th e 00 prebend of Finsbury, which has long been held blost Lord Bishop of Carlisle, is worth 3,000/. a Year-to and coming to the benefices, we find that 101 sePar,ao tet 3l distinct livings are in the gift o f hi s l or dship, tn The value of which is not less than 46,0001. a yea r ' rich most valuable is St. Botolph, Bishopsgate-street;eed is worth 2,300/. This is the on ly one which e ., ,0 001' 2,000/. ; but there are no fewer th an 12 b e tween 1 and 2,0001.—viz., Acton, just vacated (1,5000 6 0, George's, Hanover-s quare , G rea t H a dh ai n Kensington V., St. Andrew Undershalt, St. - 01 - 1 7 St' Lothbury, Newi ng t on St, M ary R . ; P a dding - t°;. 0 0 0 James P.C., ditto Trinity P.C.; Westminster, St., R., ditto St. Martin's V., 'Wilton-place, St. Fa All these, taking the lowest estimate, are yronn tw ee' over and abov e 1,0001. a year. Th ere are three ":9001.j 9001. and 1,0001. ; th ere i s one b etween 8001. and air three, between 7001. an d 8001. ; six, between 6 ° o ee' 700/. ; six, bet ween 5001. and 600/. ; eight, b et a Ol e 4001. and 500/. ; ten, between 3001. and 400/. ; nye' rest—about 50—are worth 3001. and under, mill of them being under 1001. a year. ic° O s DETENTION OF THE AUSTRAL IAN MAILS.--N°i rid" issued yesterday at the Ge nera l P os t- o ffi ce, St. 11 13 c lot, le-Grand, that the Aust ra li an ma il screw s team - P 3 O6T with the mails for the C a p e o f G oo d Hope!, S°%olit: and Western Australia, Vi c t or i a, Sydney, IN Wales, and Van Di emen ' s L an d , which shou ld in oath, course be dispatch e d on th e 3d inst., from P l i rra° sdj with the mails of to - morrow evening, th e 2d ins" i o ri t tained until the 23d inst. Letters and newspaPt be in time on th e even i ng of the 22d inst. But 3 icicfr be pre paid. The H ar bi nger mail screw steara -4 will sail from Southampton on the 10th inst., 1 7 mails of that m orn i ng for Port Philip and 5Yd11%.."1; THE WINTERS OF THE LAST EIGHTY winters out of the 20, between 1771 and 11 ,7.11_! 3 „ -- severe ; and only 17 out of 40 winters between " - .,`" r " 1851, had that character, or little more than hau . ' 0 .07 4 prevalence of numerous very cold winters is th lu j i te,r'" to the period between 1771 and 1791. The " -- Nl l3 or e s - severe when the mean of the four months from c b oc; ber to February, inclusive, is below 36°. Ni ue ° Ti ll 17 .4 1 ii curred in 80 years, and five of them betwee n eat and 1795, or more than half in the earliest '" With regard to the months of December and Ja nu lo o 7, may be briefly stated, that the former of these is re-ben unusually cold when its mean temperature is at or re- ben the 'freezing point; and there were only five ins ° :o'4 this in the period of 80 years, three of which 1 40 s 0 between 1784 and 1796, and the other two in I 'oo l ll ' 1846. January is intensely cold when its men u 11 , -° rature is below 30°. There are six instances 0 1 the 80 years, four between 1776 and 1795, and c ui in the present century—namely, in 1814 and 1 1 8 t ieer ce pi ' latter will be well remembered, for under its u3 t reel e '' plants perished that had withstood all the other et tap er: l ; cold J anuarys, even those of which the mean tofighle, ture was still l ower th an t h at of 1838, the , was 27.79° ; while that of Janu ar y, 1814, was and of January, 1795, 26.75°. Bu O the DEATH OF GREAT GRA NDCHILDREN O F find the following melancholy announeenienut sea,i in ft, Dumfries Courier of Tuesday last :—" Died' 3 t board the ship Chance, from Liverpool to Port t he gth on the 7th Septempber last, Arrabella Ann ;,"n oral, ' September, Robert Burns ; on the 13th c i : ' o rice Arthur Vincent, the only children of Mr; 0 ° ,4 W. Hutchinson, surgeon, Government mean' jzob or of the Chance, and great grand-children eoolal Burns. Mrs. Hutchinson is the daughter.es_ under Glencairn Burns, and was educated in DunifT, l ' the care of her grandmother, " Bonnie Jean. et froul TUSCAN POLICE. —Th e f o ll ow i ng i s an extra s d 01 ?y, letter dated Flor ence , Jan. 18: O ne of the eergioso ciliary visits by the police, technically ea lledP ont ° l o zione, which have of late years become n° a ties, _" /i 0 occurrence, though contrary to all existing tie of perOce perpetrated the other day on the houses of "' w ho ills, living under British protection. The persons and b been the obj ec t s o f this outrage are Mr. Law le Y'd t w e t Bertolacci, a Corsican by birth, but who serve a reel p Britisli army during the last war, and is still ", blob ro of a pension from our Government. They ll o ntiw e country-houses in the neighbourhood o f the y has station of the Leghorn Railway. Mr. r - ' 3 ' w ° it %%l i e large farm, and M. Bertolacci devotes himself, for t e appear, more to horticulture than agr iculture o f only s usp i c i ous article found on the premises pocket • th after a most rigorous search, was a letter in o f his t of M. Bertolacci from a M. Bastian°, a frien— aani ge rd Leghorn, thanking him for his present of 3 , lri tCre s3 ' o f, red cabbage, which, as the writer declared, ii .. 3 rta jon quite a furore at Leghorn, and was eagerly fn i , his ion% even by the Austrians.' This mysterious all pollcof turally excited suspicion in the minds of the head, a . who can detect the seeds of revolution even T ino arce' cabbage •; and M. Bertolacci narrowly,e?P' ha g tion as a cure for his love of vegetables. , 5 1, Too CAREFUL.—George Stone, the Bristol to been robbed of his hard-earned savings, amotint i Z o g He had refused to put the money in the bank) IUI it would ak &WSW JOwrnat