The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-13 00:00:00

OXFORD UNIVERSITY ELECTION. MR. PERCEVAL'S LONDON COMMITTEE. Sir BROOK W. BRIDGE, Bart., MA., Oriel, Chairman. Henry Bons:pet, Esq., M.A.. CorPus, Deputy-Chairman. Viscount Cranley, M.A., Ch. Ch. Viscount Bernard, M.P., MA., Oriel. Sir John Yarde Boiler, Bart , M.P.. MA.. Oriel. Sir William Fraser, Bart., M.P., M.A., Ch. Ch. Ron. George C. Agar, F.R.S., MA., Ch. Ch. Hon. Lloyd Kenyon, M.A., Ch. Ch. Riehard Richards, Esq., MA., Ch. Ch., Master In Chancery. Hon. and Rev. C. B. Bernard, M.A., Balllol. Bev. William Knatchbull, D.D., All Souls. Mr Panl Hunter, Bart., MA., St. John's. Rev. Sir Henry Thompson, Bart., M.A.,0 Charles Gray Round, Esq., M A., Balliol. Rev. Thomas Evans, D.D., Oriel. Rowel Gwyn, Esq., M.P., M.A., Trinit: Rev. Henry Linton, MA., Magdalen. Rev. John Goring, MA., Ch. Ch. Frederick Phillipse Morris, M.A.,Lincol Rim. William Harrison, MA., Brasenos Charles Sumner, Esq., MA., Balliol. Rev. Frederick Poynder, M.A., Wadhant. John Robertson, Esq., D.C.L., Magdalen-hall. Rev. William Brock. M.A., Queen's. Charles Porcher, Esq., M.A., Oriel. George Halley Prentice, Esq , M.A., Trinity. Rev. Henry B. Newman, M.A., Wadham. John Latham, Esq., D.C.L., All Souls. Rev. Hugh Stowell, M.A., St. Edmund Hall. John C. Moore-Stevens, M. A., Ch. Ch. Massey Lopes, Earl., M.A., Oriel. Bev. R. W. Huntley, M.A., All Souls. William 11. Cooke, Esq., MA., Brasenose. Rev. J H. Harrison, M.A., Merton. John Early Cook, Esq., M.A., Brasenose. John Round, Esq , M.A., Balliol. Roy. G. D. Wheeler, ma., Wadham. Rev. R. W. Greaves, MA., Wadham. R. Mereiyth Richards, Esq., M.A., Merton. Rev. E. D. Wickham, M.A., Balliol. W. Hughes Hughes, Esq., MA., Ch. Ch. C. LEMPRIERE, D.C.L., St. John's,/ Hon. Secs. F. P. MORRIS, M.A. Lincoln, MR. PERCEVAT,'S OXFORD COMMITTEE. THOMAS SHORT, Fellow of Trinity, Chairman. J. D. Macbride, D.C.L., Principal of Magdalen HAIL John Fox, D.D., Provost of Queen's. R. Bollock.Marsharn, D.C.L.. Warden of Merton. P. Wynter, D.D., President of St John's. B. P. Symons, D.D., Warden of Wadnam. James Thompson, D.D., Rector of Lincoln. John Wilson, D.D., President of Trinity. Viscount Dungannon, M.A., of Ch. Ch. Viscount Lewisham, M.A., Ch. Ch. Godfrey Faussctt, D.P., Canon of Ch. Ch. C. A. Ogilvie, D.D., Canon of Ch. Ch. J. Nelson, D.D., late Fellow of Queen's. jr. P. H o dges, D.C.L , late Fellow of New College. Yen. G. A. Denison, M.A., Archdeacon of Taunton, late Fellow of Oriel. Joseph Burrows, 8.D., late Fellow of B.N.C. Richard Michell, 8.D., Public Orator. William Dyke, 8.D., Fellow of Jesus. J. celcatt, B D., Fellow of Lincoln. Isaac Williams, 8.D., late Fellow of Jesus. A. B. Clough, 8.D., late Fellow of Jesus. John Tucker, Fellow of Corpus. J. rercy Severne, M.A., Lincoln. E. A Litton, M.A., Vice-Principal of St. Edmund Hall. John Morrell, 31. a., Fellow of B.N.C. Robert Walker, M.A., Wadham, Reader in Experimental Phl'oso phy. F.award J. Treffry, M.A., Lincoln. Francis Litchfield, M A., Merton. Frederiiit Metcalf, 31. A., Sub-Rector of Lincoln. lle , ry Farwell Roe, M.A. , Lincoln. William Morgan, M A., Fellow of Magdalen. F. B. Prior, late Fellow of Ntw College. G. K. Brown, M.A., Student o: Christ Church. H. Godfrey Faussett, M.A., Student of Christ Church. W. Simcox Bricknell, M.A., Worcester. J. Buller Yarde Buller, 31. A. , St. Mary Hall. Edmund E. A. Lechmere, 31. A., St. Mary Hall. Thomas Williams, M.A., late Scholar of Jesus. C. G. Davies, M.A., St. Mary Hall. EDWARD WETHERELL ROWDEN, M.A., late Fellow of New College. GEORGE PETCII, 3f.A., Fellow of Trinity. GRAN - VILE R. H. SOMERSET, 8.C.L., Fellow of All Souls. The London Committee congratulate their friends that the result Of the eighth day's poll has added three only to the majority of Mr. Gladeloc. Fully 1,5C0 members of Convocation are still unpolled, aitd ne,rly 200 of those who voted for Dr. Marsham at the last election have not, u yet, recorded their v.,tes. If the unpolled Ilembers or Convocation are but true to themselves, they may achieve a triumph.v t victory for Church of England and Constitu tional principles, by returning Mr. Perceval. The poll, which commences at 10 a.m., and closes at 5 p.m., will to kept open until every elector has had an °ppm tunity of recording his vote. ZIGELTH DAY'S POLL. )Jr. Peweeval Mr. gladstone .. 798 .. 912 THE &TRIL ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Farewell Feason or Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager. TIII3 EVENING, JAN. 13, Will be performed the popular and highly successful Comedy of MA , KS AND FACES: or, Before and Behind the Curtain—by 3itanrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart, Lambert, and Panels: Mrs, Stirling, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Fanny Maskell, and Miss Rosa Bennett, _ _ After which, the gorgeous listravaganza, entitlei LEO TILE TERRIBLE. ' • To conclude with the Farce of 130 X and COX MARRIED and SETTLED. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, JAN. 13, Will be performed the Comic Drama called A PHENOMENON 1)1 A SMOCK-FROCK, Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, ond Frorneastle; Mies F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell. After which (16th time). a new and original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. I. Matthews, Suter, Ilorneastle, and Templeton; Madame Yawls, Mae Julia St. George, Miss Robertson (her 16th appearance at this Theatre), Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham. Miss Hann ton (her 16th appearance at this Theatre), and Miss Rosh= Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKLNS. Sole Agent. WI the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, d ex. 13, Will he presented the powerful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Cullentord, 0. Smith, and Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Collins, and Mrs. Keeley. After which, the gloriously successful Comic Pantomime, called AEU. GWYNNE; or, Ilarleimin Merrie Monarch. Principal Datiseuse, Mdlle. Auriol ; Clown, Ilexmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Lider the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, JAN. 13, Will be perfbrined the Tragedy of lIABEILET. Principal charac tars br Messrs. C. Kean, W. Lacy, Harley, Addison, Ryder, J. Yin ing, Meadows, Graham, and Cathcart ; Misses Phillips, Heath, and Daly. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled lIARLEQUIN CHERRY AND PIO it STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the !Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hahne (16th appearance here); Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Columbine, Miss Car lotta Leclercq. ROYAL OLYMPIC: THE A.TEFI. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, JAN. 13, Will be presented iSABELLE ; or, Woman's Life. Supported by Messrs. Compton, W. Farren, jun., Hoskins, and Shaiders ; Miss H. Gordon and Mrs. A. Phillips. After which, ROMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and the World of Dreams. Harlequin, Mr. Forrest; Colum bine, Miss Marie Charles; Sprite, Mr. G. Thompson; Pantaloon, Mr. G. Tanuer ; Clown, Mr. Edwie Edwardes, who will introduce his highly-trained dogs, Amy, Tasso, and Snarleyou. Box-ufllce open tom Eleven till Four, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Claatterton. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Magager, Mr. W. Batty. THIS EVENING—A G3kND JUVENILE NIGHT. On this occasion there will be an Entire Change in the Amusements. The Performances will commence with the Grand Comic Panto mime of FORTUNIO AND HIS HORSE COMRADE; or, Har lequin and the Seven Gifted Men. After which, a Novel Arrangement of the Scenes in the Arena, supported by the Juvenile Artistes, entitled THE INFANT EQUES TRIAN MARIONETTES. Concluding with UNCLE TOM. Doors open at Hail-past Six xclock. To commence at Seven. Box-once open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tien DAT —Morning 20 min. after 4 Evening 41 min.aft. 4 1 o4.fonaow—Morning 2 min. after 5 Evening 21 min.aft. 5 DAILY WEATHER TABLE. THURSDAY, JAW. 13, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGH—S.W. strong breeze—suad.' FOLKESTONE—S.W., strong breeze—overcast. TUNBRIDGE—S.W, strong breeze—partially cloudy. BASINGSTOKR—S.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GREitizwiem—S.W., strong breeze—overcast. STROOD —W., gentle breeze—overcast. SWINDON--S.W., strong breeze—partially cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. HOLTHBAD--S.. hard wind—overcast, rain. SHAP—S.W., hard wind—rain. The returns from the following places indicate the state cf the weather on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock MULLTNGAR— W. strong breeze—hail. FOLKESTONE--S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. Laimirrox—N.W.N., strong breeze—stormy. YARMOUTH—W.,__ strong breeze—cloudless. LANCASTER—S.W., haad wind—scud—rain. WHITBY—S.W., strong breeze—principally clear. Saar.—s.W., strong breeze—hail and rain. THE WEATHER.-SuN OFFICB, JAN L 3. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 46—highest since noon yesterday. 37—lowest this morning and during the night. 43—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 23'47. Wpm, S.W.— Moderate breeze, and fine, sunshiny weather. Yesterday was very boisterous, with rain, and heavy b _ ...,,,..,, - , un. LONDON, TiIIITRSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1853. The Society for promoting the Amendment of the Law is proceeding steadily, energetically, and efficiently in its useful labours. No association has, perhaps, at any time achieved more signal success in the objects for which it was established. It has seen one after the other of its valuable suggestions and recommendations carried into practical operation. Its ranks have from time to time been augmented by some of the most learned and intelligent members of the legal profession, and there have been repeated instances of well merited preferment being conferred on those who have taken the most prominent part in its proceedings. Every report emanating from the Society comes with an authority that i nsure& a respectful and attentive considers flan. It is well known that nothing will be sanct i one d by, or even brought before, the general body hastily or inconsiderately, that is not the result of mature deliberation, by those who are thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the abuses and grievances for which they are endeavouring to provide adequate remedi_s—men who will not in shunning Scylla fall into Charybdis, but who have experience and judgment sufficient to prevent them from plunging into opposite ex tremes, and thus producing consequences no less injurious to the parties immediately concerned, and to society in general, than those that they were desirous of avoiding. The subject chiefly discussed at the last General Meeting of the Society, on Monday last, was one to which the public attention has been directed for some time past, viz., the testa mentary jurisdiction of the different Ecclesiastical Courts throughout the - United Kingdom. The exposures that have recently taken place respect ing the enormous emoluments of the " Leviathan Sinecurist" and his brother registrars, who receive almost princely incomes, for duties at best care lessly—but in the majority of instances, not at all performed—has produced considerable excite ment, and led. to the very natural inquiry " for whose benefit are these things maintained ?" It is not, surely, for the sake of the widow and orphan, whose funds, too frequently inadequate to their wants, are materially diminished by the extrava gant and almost ruinous expenses of proving, "in due form of law," the will of the deceased husband. and father, and who are compelled to submit to stringent privations in order to make up the 11,0001. per annum of the Rev. Mr. MOORE. If there were any question to be discussed—if the validity of the testamentary document were in any wise disputed, then, indeed, a stringent investiga tion by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction would be essential, and certain moderate expences should be submitted to by the parties interested. But there could be no possible reason adduced why the same tribunal should not adjudicate as well upon real as on personal estate, or why a person who had succeeded, as to the personal property, to the money and securities for money, should be compelled to enter upon a new scene of expensive and protracted litigation in order to establish his right to the broad acres, both questions depending on the . authenticity of the same document (!), but frequently decided different ways. It was, in fact, neither more nor less than a trap for new litigation, to bring new grist to the mill in the shape of extra suits before the different tribunals. There appeared considerable difference of opinion as to the nature of the substitute that should be provided, although there was all but perfect unani mity as to the necessity of abating the nuisance, by the total abolition of the testamentary jurisdic tion of the Ecclesiastical Courts. The resolutions prepared by the Committee proposed a transfer of the jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery, at the same time giving that Court the additional power necessary to enable it to adjudicate upon wills both of real and personal estate, with or without the aid of a jury, it being clothed with all the power and jurisdiction which the Ecclesias tical and Peculiar Courts at present have, and a subsidiary jurisdiction being conferred on the County Courts. On the other hand, Mr. JAMES STEWART, the respected, intelligent, and learned Treasurer of the Society, to whose indefatigable and efficient exertions its present proud position is mainly, if not altogether, attributable, looking to the vast benefits that would follow a perfect amalgamation of the legal and equitable jurisdic tions, brought forward an amendment, which we published in extenso in our impression of Tuesday last, to the effect that "no thorough or satisfactory settlement of the question can be come to, except by the establishment of a court of conjoined law and equity, having jurisdiction over wills of real or personal estate, and " that it is the bounden duty of the Government to provide such a Court for the proper adjudication of all testa mentary matters." The learned gentleman justly conceived that the Country would not approve of the establishment of a new Court while there were old ones in existence capable of dealing with the subject ; so that it would be by the proposed fusion of the legal and equitable tribunals that his plan would be carried out. Mr. R. COLLIER, M.P., introduced another amendment, which appeared to strike at the root of the existing grievance, and to provide a simple but efficient remedy. He would avail himself of the local machinery afforded by the various County Courts, and transferring the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts, on probates and letters of administration, to these tribunals, except in dis puted cases, where the property exceeded a cer tain specified amount, and where it should be removed to one of the Superior Courts, at the option of either party. This sound and excellent suggestion was followed by another from Dr. WADDILOVE, who wished that all the Ecclesiastical Courts should be amalgamated into a single tribunal, with jurisdiction over both real and personal estate, to be styled "Her MAJESTY'S Court of Probate and Succession for England and Wales." These propositions are all good in their way, and the worst would be a vast improvement on the existing system. We confess that we prefer Mr. Comara's view of the subject, which would be most economically carried into effect. Much, however, may be said on the other propositions ; and we shall, therefore, await the further discus sion, which will be resumed at the next meeting, and from which we anticipate much information and instruction.. One thing, at least is certain— the Ecclesiastical Courts are doomed. So much was announced by Lord DERBY'S Administration ; and we trust that the present Government will not hesitate about following in the footsteps of their predecessors on this important topic. Shortly after the late election we were all amused by the apparent inconsistency of Roman Catholics raising the cry of Religious Equality, and com mencing an organisation to obtain it. We were bound, however; to confess that the manly and Christian sentiments uttered by Sergeant SHEE and Mr. KEOGH redeemed the movement from the disgrace which Mr. LUCAS'S savage reply to Sir CULLING EARDLEY, justifying the barbarities inflicted on the MADIA IS for Protestantism, had brought upon it. We were almost as much amused the other day by stumbling upon a pas sage in a journal of very high religious pretensions, and which is the chief organ of the CULLING EARDLEY 86001 . of Dissenters. The religious paper we. refer to has always been most bitterly hostile to the • New Crystal Palace—hostile, at least, to the people's visiting it, if it suited them best to do so, on the Sunday. It has run many a tilt at the project, and at the Directors, too, in the most approved ANDREW Aormw style, and has summoned all available memorialists—even Sun day School committees and teachers—to the battle against these uncircumcised Philistines. Just now, of course, it is rejoicing, though with many misgivings for the future, in the disinter ment of the clause in an old Act of Parliament which interferes with the liberty of recreation desired by the people and by the Directors of the Company. The question must now be agitated in Parliament. Lord DERBY could not legally authorise the Company to open the Palace for profit on the Sunday ; and neither the Company nor Lord DERBY wished to do the thing illegally. It is confessed, and was stated by his Lordship in his place in the House of Lords, that the Act in question was passed for quite another purpose. Still, there it is, and no Englishman would wish to break the clear letter of the law, but demand rather its immediate repeal. Not being aware of it till too late, the Company appears to have been unable to comply with the standing orders of the Houses sufficiently early to obtain the Act they desire this session. It is, we think, much to be regretted that when they have been hindered by the mere practical obsoleteness of the un known or unremembered Act, Parliament should not readily dispense with the orders, and allow the case to come before the House of Com- MODS on its merits, especially since there is nothing in the whole project ,of the reckless spirit of ad venture which those standing orders were chiefly framed to discourage. The journal we allude to, however, foresees that come before Parliament =ultimately the question must ; and what would our readers think is the language in which they wish Parliament to reply Y Why, then, in the noble words of HENRY lll.'s Barons, when the Pope, a foreign Prince and Bishop, wished them to alter the laws of the realm to his taste— " We are unwilling to change the laws of Eng land." It will seem to the lover of our ancient history almost profanity so to pervert the spirit of these manly words, and to convert them from an expression of English resistance to pontifical as sumptions, to the purposes of pettifogging, secta rian zeal. But the amusing thing is, that it is a decided Anti-State-Church journal which thus perverts them,—a journal, some of whose clerical correspondents are continually demanding changes in the lawful public worship of the Church of England, and whose own leaders are continually teaching that all the laws which bind Church to State ought to be repealed ! It is a thorough going Dissenter, demanding that the laws of Eng land should not be changed ; therefore, that Church-rates and Ecclesiastical Courts are to re main in full vigour, and that the Church (which he wishes to see on a level with all other sects) should retain its honours and emoluments—nay, its MOORES and its CROFTS. HOW marvellous are the inconsistencies of a blind theological zeal ! To Dissenters, on the contrary, we naturally turn as religionists whose very existence depends on the recognition of entire religious liberty, and de mand of them, in the name of common sense and decency, to concede to others the full liberty they claim for themselves. Those who deny the right of the State to legislate in religious matters, are convicted of the most selfish inconsistency if they require the state to enforce their views of keeping the Sunday ; and even those who allow of State support of religious worship, if they advocate re ligious liberty intelligently, cannot ask the State to prevent a man's acting on his own views of Sabbath obligations, however much lager than their own. It appears that a petition is in circulation, and is obtaining numerous signatures, stating the dis approval with which the petitioners have heard of the attempts to close the Crystal Palace on Sun days, and the impossibility of great numbers of operatives going thither on any other day, alleg ing that visiting it would be highly conducive to their moral and intellectual improvement, and praying the House of Commons to take steps for its being opened on Sundays accordingly. The British Museum and National Gallery are also in cluded in the allegations and prayer of the peti tion. We rather regret this latter circumstance, because it mixes up together two very different questions, namely, whether Government itself should employ its own servants, and open its own institutions on the Sunday, and whether any re spectable a - Ad orderly subjects should be hindered in doing the same. The latter is simply the ques tion whether Governmont has any right to inter fere at all with its orderly and peaceful subjects in their avocations and amusements. The former many would think to be a direct slur by the Go vernment itself on the views of a very large sec tion indeed of the community. Certainly positive action on the part of Government is one thing, and non-interference with our reasonable liberties is another ; the latter is the case, and by far of course the stronger case, of the Palace at Syden ham. Mr. Huns has long had the other in hand. We wish him a hearty support, but we think even his object would have been better served by contending for the rights of the operatives and the Crystal Palace Company on their own merits. We can hardly imagine, however, after the manly declarations of the Earl of DERBY in the House of Lords, that any legislative difficulties will long be interposed. To allow the Act which has been so annoyingly raked up from obscurity to hinder the operations of so respectable a Company, can only be compared to the conduct of the Lanca shire Magistrates, who, unable to prove a case against some poachers, specially obnoxious to their game-preserving worships, actually sent the men to gaol, under an old, unrepealed Act of ELIZA BETH, for absence from the parish church. The Crystal Palace must not be sacrificed to the acci.: dental terms of an Act intended only to prevent offensive and disorderly assemblies.. separate a victim tesystem” to the stringency admi nistered o t la of e r convict thestras fa An at Milbank Prison. In the present in stance the unfortunate lad—only • t nine een years of age--laid violent hands on himself during the temporary absence of a warder. It appeared that in consequence of his docile and general good conduct, he was entrusted with the " shaving tackle" in order to shave himself. The moment, however, that the warder left the room he turned the • instrument against himself, and with too steady a hand inflicted the fatal blow. Several other fatal cases have, recently occurred, varying in the manner of death, but all arising from the same pred . • isposing cause—the stringency of the mind-dest • roym g , separate system the newly-invented c a pit a l punishment, which, although slow, is very Bars i n its operation. On the present occasion, we find the chief authorities of the prison—the Governor, the Phy sician, the resident Surgeon, and the It c h gu • ms Instructor of the establishment—all stating the results of their experience, and concurring in the opinion that the long-protracted solitary confinement materially aggravated the diseases of prisoners, and produced mental infirmity. Man is naturally a gregarious animal—" It is not good that he should be alone." But we endeavour to destroy or alter nature—to produce a new state of affairs. Why should we rail at capital punishments when theorists are permitted to play their experi mental pranks upon their fellow-men—to destroy their intellectual powers, and degrade them below the brute creation. Far better the quick and sudden death-blow than the lingering and pro tracted agony that permits the mind to brood over its sufferings till it bends and breaks under the trial. What is the object of secondary punishment ? Is it vengeance ? Or is the reformation of the criminal at all thought of ? The prison discipline quacks will all scout with horror the notion of vengeance. They will tell you that their sole object is the reformation of the culprit. But what will be the use of this reformation when the man is no longer an accountable being—when he has been reduced to helpless and disgusting idiotcy by the slow, soul-consuming torture. We have no morbid sympathies for criminals. We do not desire that prisons should be made places of ease, where the convicts are to enjoy every comfort. Let them be punished according to their deserts ; but let us not babble about the humanity of the British laws, and the abolition of capital punish ment, when we subject persons to such lingering agonies for mere acts of dishonesty, or trifling offences against property. Seven, fifteen, or twenty years may be but a slight term in the mouth of a Judge anxious to make a striking example ; but when we consider what a fearful inroad it makes on any, even the strongest, man's expectation of life—what a time it is to be secluded from his kind--we cannot help think ing that we are arrogating a little too much when we boast of the humanity (!) of our criminal code ; and this feeling of doubt will be changed into cer tainty as to the groundlessness of the assumption when we consider the regulations established by Inspectors and Visiting Justices. In the present instance, Captain GROVES, the Governor, declared, on his examination, that he had made two lengthy Reports on the injurious effects of the system, which " seriously affected the health of the prisoners." It was much better for him, relieving him from considerable responsi bility ; but he still deemed it right to state hi s objections to the practice. Dr. BAIN', the Phy. ' sician, was equally, decided. He declared that, " from his representations to the authorities on the subject, the term of separate imprisonment in Millbank had been much mitigated, and reduced to six months, instead of twelve or eighteen months, as at most convict prisons throughout the country. Even on a recent occasion, he re commended the removal of some prisoners to Portsmouth, and, it not having been done as quickly as he wished, he ordered them all into association, feariing for their minds." After this decisive testimony, what doubt or THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1853. difficulty can remain ? Something must be done, and that speedily. If further inquiry be neces sary, let it take place by all means ; but, in the interim, let there be some relaxation in the abo minable practice that drives men to insanity and suicide, and against the effects of which the 'me dical authorities are obliged to guard, " fearing for the minds of the prisoners." COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, JAN. 12. Those who dined with her Majesty yesterday were the Prince of Leiningen, Lady Emily Seymour, and Lady Caroline Barrington. Her Majesty's private band attended in the Castle in ;he evening, and performed the following musio Overture, "Les Chaperons Blanca" Anber. Solo Violin, M. Sainton, "Le T remo l o " D e B er i o t. Finale, " the lustigen Weiber von Windsor" Otto Nicolai, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Augustus of Cobourg are expected to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit to the Queen. Chevalier and Madame Bunsen, Sir James and Lady Graham, the Right Hon. W. and Mrs. Gladstone, and the Master of the Rolls, have been invited, and are also expected this afternoon. The Governor of the Bank of England and the Deputy Governor had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence in Downing-street. The Finance Committee of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 met yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, at Lord Granville's residence in Bruton-street. There were present Earl Granville, Sir Alexander Spear man, Bart., Sir William Cubitt, Mr. Coulson, Q.C., Mr. T. F. Gibson, and Mr. Edgar Bowring (secretary). Captain Owen, R.E., was in attendance. The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert arrived in town yes terday. The lion. Charles A. Murray had an interview yes terday with the Earl of Aberdeen. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Gladstone left town yesterday afternoon for Windsor Castle. Dispatches were received from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope yesterday at the Colonial-office. Dispatches were also received from the. Governors of Australia and New Zealand. ANTICIPATED RESIGNATION OF THE FOREIGN SECRETARYSHIP BY LORD J. RUSSELL. In speaking of the resignation of M. Drouin de l'Huys, the French Foreign Minister, the Daily News says :—" It is still more certain that Lord John Russell, in receiving the diplomatic body the other day at the Foreign-office, frankly told them that he held the seals of that department ad interim, only, and that in no great length of time the administration of our foreign affairs would be transferred to the Earl of Clarendon—a state ment the noble lord has since repeated to such of the re presentatives of foreign Governments as have transacted business w;th him. The importance of these circumstances is, as we have said, very different. Nevertheless, at a time when both in France and England strong Govern ments are said to be most indispensable, any provisional or precarious arrangements in their Foreign-offices can not be regarded as at all a satisfactory state of things. The reasons which have induced Lord John Russell to occupy the Foreign-office for so very short a period that in commencing his administration he avows its provisional character to the Foreign Ministers, — and plainly tells them that the other demands on his time precludes the possibility of his conducting that administration long after Parliament re-assembles —are not very difficult to penetrate. Though once a Prime Minister himself, Lord John's sense of public duty, perhaps very properly, induced him to accept office under Lord Aberdeen ;—nevertheless, in such matters, there is a personal dignity to be preserved : the mainte nance of which was satisfied by Lord John Russell again assuming the leadership of the House of Commons, with the responsible situation of a Secretary of the State hav ing a great department to manage. This manifestation of his importance to Parliament once over, the Earl of Clarendon will then (as Lord John has semi-officially stated to the foreign diplomacy) take the place originally appropriated to him in the Aberdeen Cabinet ; and as sume the direction of our foreign affairs, as stated in this journal some time ago. Viscount Mandeville, M.P. for Huntingdonshire, son of the high tory orange Duke of Manchester, has been offered a post in the household. ILLNESS OF LORD DENMAN.—The statement respectr ing the health of the noble and learned lord was far more unfavourable than the latest accounts from Nice justify. His lordship is nearly recovered from the effects of his recent attack of paralysis, and is considered to be almost out of danger. THE STEAMER AIISTRALIAN.—The Australian mail landed at Plymouth from the steamer Australian, on Tuesday, is the largest packet mail ever brought to this country. Some idea of the value of its contents, and of the success of the gold diggers, may be formed when it is stated that the mail contained 3,000 registered letters; The Australian is under orders for London, and will leave on the weather moderating. The presentation nugget for the Queen has been taken on, per mail train, in charge Captain Barnard. GOLD FROM AIISTRALIA.—Amongst the shipments of gold received by the Australian steamer are six boxes containing 2,897 ounces, for the Australian Freehold Gold Mine Company. THE STEAM-SHIP ANDES.—By the advices from New York, it appears that the new Cunard screw-steamer Andes, which left Liverpool on the Bth of December, had not arrived up to the 29th. The City of Manchester screw-steamer, that left Liverpool at the same date, had reached the Delaware on the 27th, and Philadelphia on the 28th. It seems probable therefore that, this being her first trip, some accident has happened to the machinery of the Andes, which, in the bad state of the weather, may have caused a very lengthened passage. The Liverpool and Philadelphia Steam-ship Company have completed a contract with Messrs. Tod and M'Gre gor of Glasgow, the builders of the steam-ships City of Glasgow and City of Manchester, for a new screw steam ship of 2,189 tons measurement, to run on the Philadel phia station, in addition to their present steamers. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.—To-day, about noon, the United States' Mail steam-ship Arctic, Luce commander, took her departure hence for New York, with 49 passen gers on board, besides a full cargo and the usual mails. ELECTION OP THE PROVOST OF ETON.—The consent of the Crown having been obtained to the appointment of the Rev. Edward Craven Hawtrey, D.D., head-master, to the Provostship of Eton College, in the room of the late Rev. Francis Hodgson, 8.D., the Rev. G. Bathe% vice-provost, the Revs. John F. Plumptre, Thomas Carter, George R. Green, George Dupuis, and John Wilder, assembled at the college chapel at twelve o'clock yesterday, and according to ancient custom went through the ceremony of confirming the appointment. The elec tion of the present Provost of Eton has been what is termed a "free election," the Crown on this occasion having declined to exercise its royal prerogative in the nomination. ETON COLLEGE.—In consequence of the melancholy event which has lately occurred in Eton College, the form, head master, with th e assent of the college, has g i ven notice h tha and the the Ring's lowerscholars, bny s the wi lower ll not b d eiv requiredisio n theof to m return to school until Thu rs d a y, January 20, with the middle and upper divisions of the fifth form. The sixth form will return on Saturday, the 22d. ROYAL LETTER ON EDUCATION. A royal letter is now in course of being forwarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury (by command of her Majesty) to the clergy of the various parishes in England and Wales, ordering collections to be made by the clergy on behalf of the National Society for the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. General Rosas, the ex-Dictator of Buenos Ayres, has taken Rockstene-house, in Southampton, late the re sidence of Sir h enry oBart. NEW ns ow, POLICE REGULATION.—Yesterday the following order, emanating from the new police commissioners, came, and is henceforward to be carried into operation : —All the coustables connected with police offices, as summoning officers, &c., sergeants acting as clerks at the different station houses, and those attending the theatres, and private parties of the nobility and gentry, are to wear an armlet as a distinguishing mark, and not doing so, they will in the first instance be subjected to a fine, and afterwards to suspension, to be terminated in still refusing to submit to the order as the commissioners may think fit. OVERFLOW OF THE THAMES.—Yesterday morning the tide again rose to an almost unprecedented height. Such an event is rather unusual at the new moon spring. tides, which, under ordinary circumstances, never attain a wry great altitude • but the heavy gales that have been blowing for the last two days assisted by the land freshet s i n th e river and its tributary streams, caused by the continual rains, tended greatly to increase the flow of water ; and had it not been for the warning con veyed by the high tides of the two previous day, causing the inhabitants of waterside premises to take precautions in order to prevent as far as possible the ingress of water to their dwellings, th e destruction of property must have been much greater than it is, notwithstanding the pre ventive measures that had been adopted. PROJECTED ENLARGEMENT OF COVENT-GARDEN MAR consequence of recent regulations restricting the vendors of fruits, vegetables, and flowers within the kerb -stone bounding the market, beyond wh i c h none are allowed to se ll articles under a severe penalty, it is con templated to extend the market westwardly by removing the parish church of St. Paul's within the churchyard, close to the next boundary wall, and converting its pre sent site, with all th e spare ground around it, into stalls and standings, the whole area being protected by a glass rooffin g similar to the central colonnade of the present market, which can be easily effected as soon as the law prohibiting intramural burials comes into effect—a desi deratum much looked for by many of the inhabitants, especially those whose dwellings abut upon and look over the churchyard, which often presents a spectacle very offensive, an d it i s even said occasionally emits a noxious effluvia. It will be remembered that St. Paul s Church, Covent-garden was burned down some years ago. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 500 American were taken on speculation. The market closed firmly. The sales comprised 5,000 American ; 200 Pernam and Maranham, at 6d. to &id. ; 400 Bahia, at 6d. to 6/d. ; 600 Egyptian, at 6d. to 71d. ; 500 Surat, at 3id. to 4id. ; a n d 40 S ea I s l a nd, at ls. 7d. to 2s. Id. per lb. Railway Shares were flat. The average price of wheat for the six weeks is 445. 3d. per quarter ; and last week's sales were 90,701 quarters. The miserable plight in which the creditors of Portugal are placed by the repeated confiscations forced upon them, and which would amount, if the last decree were carried out, to no less than 80 per cent., call for the intervention of our Government, and it is to be hoped Lord John Russell will imitate the example of his predecessor, Lord Palmerston, and energetically press upon the Lisbon Government the necessity of rescinding the order for the last deduction. As to the hold ers, they can do no good by converting. What greater security have they now than formerly that they will receive their dividends ? They sacrifice two-fifths of their capital, and get the same waste paper for the reduced amount in return. Roths child's loan, let it be remembered, was contracted at 72 for 3 per cent. interest, and had 40 .per cent. of the capital deducted in the year 1840. Mr. Thornton having laid the case before the , Stock Exchange Committee, has received a very satisfactory reply, and the latter are deter mined not to countenance the new swindle. This is as it should be. If the Portugese Government can only pay an instalment of interest on its debt, let it do so, but upon the existing bonds. In con versions there is always jugglery. The following is the committee's reply to Mr. Thornton's letter, with the resolution they have passed -- " Committee-room, Stock Exchange, London, Jan. 10, 1853. "`Sir,—Your letter of the sth inst., addressed to the chairman, has been laid before the committee, together with a letter addressed to me by the directors of the Bank of Portugal, of which I herewith transmit you a copy ; and both having been this day taken into deli berate consideration, I am instructed to forward you a copy of the resolution which was passed unanimously on the occasion.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obe dient servant, " GEO. WEBB, Sec. "'Richard Thornton, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Portuguese Bondholders.' " The Committee of the Stock Exchangelat the re quest of the directors of the Bank of Portugal, and of the chairman of the committee of Portuguese Bond holders, having taken into considerntion the iniquitous decree of the Portuguese Government, bearing date the 18th of December last, whereby a large portion of the property of the English bondholders is confiscated, " Resolved,—That it is with deep regret that they feel themselves constrained, out of consideration for the existing holders, to allow the bonds of Portugal to be still quoted in the official list of prices ' • they, however, pledging them selves that no pretended security of this Government, which by this infamous decree has placed itself in such a degraded position, shall be recognised on the Stock Ex change until that decree be annulled, or ample justice be rendered to the bondholders of Portugal. " By order of the Committe, (Signed) " ' GEORGE WEBB, See. " Stock Exchange, London, Jan. 10, 1853.' " The Bank of England meeting of Directors has broken up, and no further alteration has been made in the rate of discount. The weekly return in to-morrow evening's Gazette will show a further decrease of bullion, and this week a good deal has also been shipped. The Stock Market has been very agitated this morning. . It opened for Consols at 994- to par, then fell to 99i and when the Bank meeting broke up, rallied to 100 k. The continued decline at the Paris Bourse has likewise its effect as show ing how unsound the recent speculation has been there ; for although French railways are good pro perty, the late buyers must have been weak to submit to such high charges for " continuation." The New 3,1- per Cents. have been marked 104 to #, and the 3 per Cents. 100 k to 1001. East India Stock has realised 273 to 274. Exchequer Bills have been quoted 675. to 705., and India Bonds 775. to 795. premium, being previous rates. The foreign market is very dull, as the prelimi nary arrangements for the settlement are in pro gress. Grenada Deferred are at 12 to 12/, Mexi can at 23 to k, and Peruvian at 1031. Brazilian Small are worth 103. Spanish 3 per Cents. have been marked 48k, and the Deferred are about 23 to Dutch 4 per Cents. bring 98k to -a. The last week's Railway receipts, ascertained up to this day, are in round figures as under : 1853. 1852. Great Western 17,951 14,609 North Western 42,662 38, 389 South Western 8,501 8,692 ____ Brighton Midland South Eastern North Stafford Caledonian Great Northern .... 8,791 7,775 .... 45,727 40,102 14,762 13,754 5,346 4,509 8,874 7,662 12,719 9,403 Lancashire and Yorkshire 17,527 15,504 York and North Midland Newcastle and Berwick 13,249 12,937 The market for railways is rather worse, but this being settling day, parties are taking up shares apparently, and prices are thereby supported. The South Eastern are flattest. On Caledonian there is rather a heavy " continuation." The French Railway Shares are better within the last half-hour. The Gold Mine Shares have all been depressed as the list shows, but are better just now. The Land Companies' Shares have been all lower, but are now rallying. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From, the Official List.) Business done. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities lOOl a 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities... on 100 99 100 k 99i 100 New 3i• per Cent. Annuities lo4} 4 a i 4 India Stock India Bonds, £lOOO 77 9 Ditto, under £lOOO 77 9 South Sea Stock Consols for Opening 18th January Exchequer Bills 12d. March. June. £lOOO . £5OO 67 70 Small 67 70 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cont. — Ditto Small Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Mexican 3 per Cent Peruvian 6 per Cent. Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent 64 Portuguese 4 per Cent. 4O 40 a 40 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 4Eq Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. q 5 p 9 Dutch Exchange 2. per Ceut 66 x d Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates THREE O'CLOCK. Consols for Opening 18th January 99 ex .1. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN For the Week ended Jan. 13, 1853, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter. .. IWHEAT. IBAILLET. I OATS. I RTE. I BEANS. PEAS. 46s Od 29s 8d 1183 6d I 29s Id 34s 8d 32s SLI DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. \MEAT. I BARLEY. I OATS. 1 RTE. I I DEANS. PEAS. Is Od Is Od Is Od is Od is Od ls Od QUANTITIES OF GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK. Wheat, 90,701 ; Barley, 88 153; Oats, 19,356; Rye,l2l ; Beans, 5.240; Peas, 2,169 quarters. HAY MARKETS. SmutForzi.—Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 41 Os; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 5s to 1/ 13s per load. Supply good, and trade rather dull. CIIIIBERLAND.—Mead.ow hay, 2/ 17s to 4/ 4s; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 4/ 18s ; an d s t raw , 1/ 5s to 1/ 12s per load. A ful average supply, and a sluggish demand. WHITECHAPEL. —Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ Os ; clover ditto, 3/ 15s to 51 Os ; and straw, 1/ 4s to 1/ 12s per load. Trade dull, at late rates. MEAT MARKETS. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The general demand at this market to-day ruled very steady, at full prices. Beef, 28 4d to 3s 6d. ; Mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 6d ; Veal, 3s Od to 4s 4d ; Pork, 2s Bd. to 4s per 81bs, by the carcase. StAITHALL, JAN. 12.—The general demand ruled steady, at Thiproved prices. Beef, 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton, 35 6d to 5s Od ; Veal, 3s 2d to 4s 2d ; Pork 31 Od to 3s 10d per 81bs, to sink the offal. ROMFORD, JAN. 12.—Our market was firm to-day, and prices may be said to have an upward tendency. Beef, from 3s Od to 4s Od ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 58 2d ; Veal, 3s Od to 4s 2d ; Pork, 2s 10d to 3s 10d per 81bs. Quarter old Store Pigs, 20s to 23s each. HAILSHAM, JAN. 12.—The general demand ruled steady, as follows : Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 2d ; Mutton, 48 Od 58 2d ; Pork, 3s Od to 3s 8d per 81b. ARUNDEL, JAN. 11—Beasts and sheep higher, other stock steady. Beef, from 3s 4d to 48 2d ; Mutton, 3s 8d to 5s Od ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s Od ; Pork, 3s Od to 3s 10d per 81bs. CHICHESTER, JAN. 12.—Each kind of stock ruled stead, at full prices. Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 2d ; Mutton 4 5 (id to 5s 2d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s Od ; Pork, 3s 2d to 35 8d per 811:01.. CLERICAL OBITUARY OF 1852.—During the year which has just ended no fewer than 291 clergymen have died, and thereby caused the transference, in the course of that period, of ecclesiastical revenues to the amount of 101,449/. ! Of these 291 clergymen who died during last year, several were pluralists, holding, in some cases, two or three, and even four, different appointments ; so that we may reckon the number of distinct benefices at about 350 ; and as the whole is shown to be worth 101,449/., it will be seen that the average valu e o f each of these benefices or appointments is within a fraction of 300/, per annum. OVERLAND MAIL. We have received the following telegraphic mes sage in anticipation of the Overland Mail, dated " TRIESTE, JAN. 12. "The steamer Adria arrived this morning, with the Calcutta mail of the Bth of December. " Pegu was taken on the 21st of November, and will be annexed. " The campaign may be considered at an end, unless the Burmese forces should invade our new territory, which they will probably do. In such a case we should march on Ava. " The North-Western Frontier is quiet. " Calcutta Exchange firm, at 2s. -I.d. to 2s. ld. " The supply of money continues abundant. From China we hear that the insurrection gains ground. " From Sydney we have advices to the Bth of November, and from Swan River to the 21st of November." LAW INTELLIGENCE -(THIS DAY). COURT OF CHANCERY. (Before the Lords Justices.) Their lordships were this morning occupied with the part-heard appeal motion of the Attorney-General v. the Sheffield Gas Company. (Before Viee-Cha,ncellor Kindersley.) MURRAY V. BOGUS.-COPYWRIGHT. This was an application for an injunction by Mr. Murray, the publisher, to restrain Mr. Bogue, of Fleet street, from continuing to publish a book entitled " Swit zerland and the Savoy," which it was alleged was printed from a book previously published on the same subject by Mr. Murray. It appeared that in 1838 Mr. Murray first published a hand-book for " Switzerland, the Alps of Savoy and Piedmont," one of the famous red series so well-known to continental travellers, which reached its fifth edition last year. Soon after Mr. Bogue advertised a series of hand-books for travellers, of which two were published—" Belgium and the Rhine' . and Switzerland and the Savoy," which were bound and lettered in exactly the same manner as Mr. Murray's series. On examining the latter book, Mr. Murray was of opinion that it was a mere copy in design, and in many instances in the text also, of his book, and accord ingly made the present application for an injunction to restrain the present publication. The case was argued at some length last term. His Honour this morning gave judgment. After comparing both the books with other works published in Germany and in America, on the subject, he was of opinion that the defendant had not made an unfair use of the plaintiff's book, and that no case had been made out for the interference of the Court. He must, therefore, refuse the application. Injunction refused. No business of importance came before the other Courts. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. WALSH V. lONIDES. This was an application for a prohibition to stay all proceedings on a plaint in the Liverpool County Court. The action was brought on a contract by which it was agreed by one party to sell a cargo on board a ship, and to deliver it at any portion of the United Kingdom ; and by the other to pay the price agreed upon, on the delivery of the shipping documents and the policy of insurance. At Liverpool a demand on the vendor was made for the shipping documents and policy of insurance, but he failed to produce them, and proceedings were taken against him by the purchaser ; but in his par ticulars of demand he stated that he brought the action, for not delivering the cargo, which was a cause of action not arising within the jurisdiction of the County Court at Liverpool, because the cargo was to have been delivered at Drogheda. Lord Campbell, this morning, stated that the Court were of opinion that the rule should be made absolute, with certain modifications. They were extremely re luctant to interfere with the jurisdiction of County Courts, unless where it was clearly exceeded, and, in that case it was their bounden duty to grant a prohibi tion. As the contract in the present case was made in Liverpool, they could not say that a general prohibition should proceed. It appeared, from ancient authorities, that in ecclesiastical matters partial prohibitions were issued, and the Court thought the proper course with regard to this application would be to grant a prohibi tion against all proceedings as to that breach, which was not within the jurisdiction of the Liverpool County Court, namely, not delivering the cargo, leaving the plaintiff still at liberty to proceed under the plaint for not delivering shipping documents and policy of insurance, the judge of the Court having discretion to allow the particulars of demand to be amended, and restricted to that part of the contract. Rule absolute accordingly. BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY). Mary Ann Liddel was placed at the bar before Mr. Hall, charged with stealing a purse containing nine sovereigns and some silver, the property of Robert Ramin. Police-constable 138 F was on duty in the Strand about three o'clock this morning, when he heard the cry of " Police." ' He went to the spot and saw the pri soner, who was struggling with the prosecutor, and the latter told him that prisoner had robbed him, and swal lowed eight sovereigns and a-half. He directly took her to the station, where she was searched, and a sovereign and some silver was found upon her. The prosecutor was very drunk at the time. The prisoner, who denied the charge, was fully com mitted for trial. DEATH OF THE EARL OF STAIR. This venerable and excellent nobleman expired on Monday evening, at his seat of Oxenfoord Castle, in the county of Edinburgh. As one of the greatest landed proprietors in Scotland, and as long, actively, and honourably connected with Scottish politics, the an nouncement of Lord Stair's death will create a wide spread interest and sorrow ; but the deepest grief —a sincere and poignant grief—will be among those who were privileged to know his kindness and steadiness as a private friend. John Hamilton Dalrymple, son of Sir John Dalrymple, Bart., was born in 1771, and Nfas consequently eighty-two years of age at his death. He entered the army in 1790 ; became a general in 1838 ; and colonel of the 46th Foot in 1843. At one time he held an acting command of one of the Regi ments of Life Guards, and in that capacity occupied his always active mind in devising, with marked success, means of avoiding the infliction of corporal punishment. Many years afterwards, he was sent for by the Duke of Wellington, and requested to explain the nature and re sults of the experiments, which his Grace had come to think of importance. In 1810, Sir John Dalrymple succeeded his father in the baronetcy and estates. As soon as he quitted active connection with the army, he busied himself in politics, and espoused the Whig or Liberal cause, when its friends were few, and its prospects desperate. He made several attempts to enter Parliament for Mid-Lothian under the old constituency, and on one occasion came within a few votes of success. When the Reform Bill of Earl Grey was brought forward, Sir John Dalrymple was amongst the most zealous and influenti a l o f i ts Scottish supporters ; and on its passing, he was re warded by being returned as the first freely chosen member for Mid-Lothian, beating Sir George Clerk by a majority of 69. He only held the seat till 1835, when the constituency was swamped by Tory fi c titi ous votes. In 1840, by the death of his kinsman, the 7th Earl, he succeeded to the Earldom and estates of Stair, and next year received a Peerage of the United Kingdom, as Baron Oxenfoord. The brother of the deceased Peer, North Dalrymple, of Cleland and Fordel, father of Captain Dalrymple, M.P. for Wigtonshire, is now Earl of Stair, and there remains the consolation of a con fidence that in his hands the honours of the station will not be tarnished, nor its influence misdirected. SCARCITY OP COALS IN SOUTHAMPTON.—There is, at the present time, such a scarcity of coals in that town, that 14,000 tons have been brought by rail from London this week for the Orinoco steamer, which leaves there on the 17th inst. MYSTERIOUS DEATH.—Yesterday morning, between six and seven o'clock, considerable sensation was created in the neighbourhood of Linco lns - inn-fields, in conse quence of the mysteriou s d ea th of a man of 1e name of William Readin, aged 70 years, who resided in Wind mill-street, Tottenham•court-road, being found dead in 3 sewer. DEATH BY DROWNING.---OLI Tuesday afternoon, in the river Tees, below Stockton, a boat go i ng t o Middlesbro', with four seam en , named,George Tinkler, Jeffery Wil son, Henry Willi amson, and John Harll, was u pset by the heavy wind. Th e three latter met a wa t er y grave ; the form er Was saved, he Navi n succeeded in gett in g on the boat' s bottom, from whence he was taken by the crew of a steamer, after having been to this situation for nearly three hours. What adds son in this perilous melancholy catastrophe is, that Harll his bereaved parents have to lament during the third short space of six years, by drowning. THE FATAL A CCIDENT ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAlL WAY.—Yesterday Mr. William Baker resumed and concluded an i nqu i r y a t the Crown and Anchor, Cheshire- s t reet, B et h na l- green , respec ti n g the death of Mr. Richard Pratt, aged 53 years, late landlord of the above -named public-house, who lost his life from certain injuries received by jumping from a train on the Eastern Counties Railway, some particulars of which appeared in this • al of Monday last. The jury having journal re ceived some additional evidence, returned a verdict of " Accidental death." THE GRAVE OF ABD-EL-KADER'S ARAB FOLLOWERS.— The mayor of Amboise has just opened a subscription for erecting a tomb over the Arabs who died at the chateau of Amboise during the residence of Abd-el-Kader in that place. THE FRENCH EMPIRE. The Ottoman Ambassador, accompanied by the whole body of the Legation, presented yesterday his credentials to the Emperor. The Emperor received, on Tuesday, i n p r ivate audience at the Tuileries, M. de Oerthling, resident Minister to H.R.H. the Grand Duke of Mecklen burg-Schwerin, to present his new letters of cre dence to his Imperial Majesty. Count de Hatzfeld presented in public audience the letters which ac credit him as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the King of Prussia. The Em' peror also received in public audience M. Hubner, to present his letters a s E nvoy E x t raor di nary an d Minister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Austria. The Austrian and Prussian Ministerswere conveyed to the audience in a carriage of the Imperial Court.' Another carriage of the Court conveyed to a public audience his Grand Ducal Highness Prince Frede rick of Hesse to present, on the part of his nephew) the Grand Duke of Hesse, a private letter of con gratulation to the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor honoured the Italian Opera on Tuesday evening with his presence. By decree of the Emperor, dated Tuesday, the sum of 5,403,150 fr., inscribed in the budget of the State for 1853, for the charges of the personnel of the Imperial palaces and manufactories, is trans' ferred from the budget to the c h arge o f th e civil list of his Majesty. Another decree of the same date extends to Algeria the benefit of the decrees published in France for the remission of fines and imprisonment for offences of the pres s , o f p ena lties pronounced by the councils of discipline, of the National Guards, of those for offences against the fishery laws, and those committed against the laws regulating the circulation of carriages, &c. An Imperial decree of the 31st ult. increases from the Ist instant the salary of the Secretary' General of the Prefecture of Police from B,ooofr. to which it had been reduced in 1848, to 12,000 fr. per annum. Baron d'Andre, Envoy Extraordinary and Mi" nister Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of the French, in the Netherlands, has been raised to the grade of Commander in the Order of the Legion of Honour. M. Lemerle, Viscount de Beaufond, com m i ssar y of marine at Havre has been removed to Roche fort, and is to be replaced at the former port by the commissary of marine at Bayonne. The Pays of Wednesday has an article on the late operations of the Paris Bourse, in which, with out making any direct allusion to the remarks of the Siede of the day before on the same subject! evidently desires to show that the reasons assigned by its contemporary for the late heavy fall are not the true ones. The Pays adduces no arguments t° prove that the Bourse is no longer under the in fluence of certain financial notabilities, but, being left totally free to its own workings, rises and fal l according to the pulse of public feeling at the 0 0- , ment, acted on by th e a b un d ance or scarc ity 01 money, or the st a t e o f manu f ac t ures, an d ot h er in dustrial interests. The Si,ecle also has an interesting article concern? ing the establishment of a service of transatlane steamers from some French port on the coast of o Atlantic. Our contemporary sets out with laying 1 down as an incontestible principle that any aw l : pany, however powerful it might be, would so°, find itself unable to act with vigour, if it divin its strength between various ports, and that, con; sequently, som e one s t ar ti ng po i nt must b e se l ea w along the western coast of France. The conditi° ll of concentration of the service, the Siecle 10 0 on as absolutely indispensable to success; and, nft t having assigned its reasons for this opinion—v/13i indeed, we may observe , scarcely required so muc h elucidation a s our contemporary bestows on it, 1 proceeds thus : "The ports which now dispute to be selected as ill° place of departure are : in the Channel, Havre and Ch e f; burg ; in th e Atlantic, Nantes and Bord eaux ; and _2 O , the Mediterranean, arseilles, which is al rea dy in r o f session of the Levant line. We have again to ask what importance i s th e un i on o f a ll the services in ,0 hands of one company, if they are not concentrated on one point and in the same port ? The question Of 11he unit) of port bein g a d m itt e d th e next po i nt i s t o decide , on that which is th e b es t su it e d t o respon d to t h e esse it Y o tial conditions for the success of the transatalan - , packets. These conditions may be thus summed 1113 4 Ist, in time of peace to serve with the maximum._, safety, speed, and economy the interests of the c ounts . . o " whose relations with France they are to develope, and , IP , particular, the interests o f F renc h manu f ac t ure s and col l merce ; and 2dly, in time of w ar , t o a dd the greatest par:, sible amount of naval p ower t o th e coun t r y. One Pod w alone appears to us to unit e a ll th e con diti on s of a WT. 1 ,3 transatlantic establishment, and that i s Ch er burg. If t line to New York does not appear to b e ser i ous ly di s puted 3 Cherburg, it is not the same with the other lineS• Nantes founds its claims on the law of 1840, which granted it the Brazils and La Plata ; but Nante s hS ceased to be what may be called a seaport, anti ,is. Nazaire, which is situated at the mouth of the Rhone, has only one dock in an unfinished state, and the road stead is difficult of approach in the day, unapproachable at night, and dangerous in foggy weather. Bordeau% and Marseilles claim, in addition to the line t o the Brazils, that which is to serve the French and Spanish West India Islands, Guatemala, New Grenada, Venez" uela, Hayti, New Orleans, and French Guyana. B ut Bordeaux, separated from the sea by a r i ver 25 league s is in length, is only accessible at hi g h wa t er t o von, drawing from 14 to 15 feet o f wa t er . It i s gener ally' a't mitted that the Mexican line would require steamers e , 800-horse power. The ro a d s t ea d o f P au ill ac h a s, it s true, become the place of anchorage of the navigation vi Bordeaux, but Pauillac is 12 leagues from Bordel and this roadstead, at th e ti me w h en t h e curre nt very rapid, would not be safe for the shipment of 1 31er chandise on board t ransa tl ant i c steamers. Bordes,,i, pretends to off er an a d vantage of 48 hours over the other ports ; b u t thi s advantage would be 133°r0 than sacrificed by the difficulties of the navigat" of the Gironde. Marseilles, with nautical con dition t infinitely superior, Marseilles, the only one of our gr e4 ' commercial ports w hi c h d oes not feel any inco nvenience from the tide s , i s un f ortunately too far removed fr°,l Paris and th e p r i nc i pa l manufacturing districts, and °'- of the gr ea t current o f em i gration. Marseilles ha s ie ~o large and deep p or t, b u t h er d ry docks can only se'; for the rep a i rs o f vesse l s o f ord i nary tonnage. Cm`"; burg, as we h ave b e f ore sa id , unites all the conditi ol _ e which are w an ti ng t o th e ot h er ports. W hen ma d e centre of trans-oceanic communications, the port 'i t Cherburg would change nothing in the ordinary enTr e° ,l of transactions. Pl ace d i n th e centre of the Chsinn,"( coast, united by her railway with Paris, the North ; Europe, Alsace, G ermany, and Switzerland, it might/ to s, attracting all the freight which now goes from Havre,,i, Southampton, be come not on l y t h e rival of the Engur port, but also th e possessor of a great part of the tr"--,.; sit trade of H avre , w i t h out, however, depriving 1 -**-0 important port of the colonial market which it O possesses. A po wer f u l company has proposed to two Government t o un d er t a k e the establishment of all th Transatlanti c s t eamers at Cherburg, and the nr 0 alone of its pri nc ip a l founder, M. Levavasseur, „, owner of Hav re an d deputy for Rouen, renders "r at naage, in our op i n i on, to the superiority of til„'" port. The diff erent services will, according to the to "' der of th e company, be organised as follows :--Fr °- , Cherburg to New York ; five vessels of 1,000 holt power each, th e fif th to remain in reserve ; departn7" twice a month ; speed, 11 knots an hour ; length passage, 11 days, From Cherburg to the .Anno, and Mexi co : Fi ve vessels of 500 horse-power each' twice a- mon th ; run from Cherburg to Xof tinique, 14 days. From Martinique branch lines, communication by steamers of 250 horse-power, to to Guadeloupe, Vera Cruz, New Orleans, Cuba, 0 "• , Domingo, G rena d a, Cayenne, &c. From Ch er b u rg ~„ the Brazils : Three vessels of 800 horse ow er each I departur es once a - month ; run from 20 -p to 21 days: These vess e l s t o ca ll at Lisbon, Madeira, tho French and m establishment o f G oree on the coast of A ufriors ca c 'powe fro r to Rio Janeiro a ddi t i ona l vessels o f 250 in all 21 run to to Mo n t e Vid eo and Buenos AY res c : w er. The coin eels giving a total of 14,500 horso7l,ooof. per horse' pany solicits an annual subvention of 1,200 f. for those power for the New York line, a a difference which is ne' of the Antilles and the Braz i " ear a nd tear of the l a tter 175 days every year, es o e n ' tcl i ca on an average 140 days' cessary from the increased vessels, which would while the former would wo uld, therefore, be from 16 to 11 Y ears' This certainly would bet millionsT h e totala -year fnr subventionoo, but would it not become at ' vcoernysiddeisrtaabnite pege x P. h e o n d a , new and abundant source of pre c ' treTashoewryLddubrinlegyr commerce and of riches for the public perity for Fren theso violently at or Il th a r vr ee e, da fr y o s T o l lly high, and the sewers h w. S. • a vin_ o r r o e se tran usua filled, some of the streets w e ' - been the undated for several hours. We read in the Debats :—" Some persons hang expressed surprise at the announcement of the Sw n f n t d i tide e d of the gallery of pictures of the late Mike Orleans for the 18th and 19th inst. The sal°, a - sufficiently explained b y th e position of the GT:, dren of the duke as minors, and of whom nii ,; Duchess of Orlean s i s th e natural guardian. -1;0- advisers of H.R.H. th e D uchess of Orleans only taken the same course as that pursued by i . " advisers of H.RH. the Duch ess d e B erry in 11/44 for the sale of the cabinet of the Duke de Berri' a General Waldner de Freundstein, comnA ll o • of the 6th milit ary di v i sion at Strasburg, h as be ; appointed a member of the cavalry comroitto, Aa the place of General Grand, who has r ece , 4 l°- to another destination ; General Rilliet narile'the replace General Waldner de Freundstein in command of the 6th division. General de Salle e y appoint e d t o the command of the 10th wil i yhvision at M on t pellier, in lace of General d e i , Z a tolan, who has received another destination ; nd ° f a General Ta r t ar i s appointed to the comm, of the 14th m ilit ary division at Bordeaux in pm%de General L e P ays d e Bourjolly, who has b ee n 111 a senator, and placed en disponibilite. Accounts from the French West India W all a" received . to th e 16th. Th e yellow fever vill iaa j i dining. Amongst its latest victim Was v""