The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1853. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Formal Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager , THIS EVENING, FEB.. 5, Will be performed the popular and highly successful Comedy of MASKS AND FACES ; or, Before and Behind the Curtain —by Messrs. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart. Parselle, and Lambert; Mrs. Stirling, Miss F. Maskell, and Miss Rosa Bennett. After which (never acted). a new and original Farce, called TO FARIS AND BACK FOR FIVE POUNDS. To conclude with the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and SETTLED. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, Will be performed the Comic Drama calledessrs A PHENOMhewsENON IN A SMOCK -FROCK. Characters by M. C. Mat, F. Matthews, and Horncastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss E xtravaga nza, After which, the new and popular original Fairy entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews, Suter, Horncastle, and Templeton ; Madame Veatris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Wyndham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosina Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New itond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, Will be presented the powerful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, 0. Smith, and Emo ry ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Keeley, and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with the inccecsful new Comic Pantomime, called NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlecuin Merrie Monarch. Principal 13ansense, Mdlle. Anriol ; Clown, Mr. Flexmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, Will be performed the new and original Comeiy, in three acts, by Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID; or, Dorothy's Fortune (as played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal eharae *tors by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harley, J. Vining, Ryder, F. Cooke, Everett, and Chester ; Mrs. W. Laey and Mrs. C. Bean. I'o conclude with the new and criginal Gland Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled lIARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormaek ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pan taloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Desborough. ROYAL OLYMPIC; THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, ---- Will 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. ; tternoster, Mr. Compton. To conclude with ROMEO AND JULIET ; or, Harlequin Queen Mal, 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. Batty. Crowded Nightly to witness the Extraordinary Holiday Attractions. LAST WEEK BUT FIVE of Mr. BATTY'S MANAGEMENT, As he is about retiring from the Profession, having Let the Theatre to XT. WILLIAM COOKE. THIS EVENING, FEB. 5, The Performances will commence with the Equestrian Drama of L'iSCLE TOM'S CABIN. After which, an unequalled Routine of Scenes In the Circle. Ta conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of FORTUNIO AND HIS HORSE COMRADE; or, Harlequin and the Seven Gifted Men. Deers open at Half-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven. Vox-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAT —Mornint 32 min. after 11 1 Evening 0 min.aft. 0 T o -M onn ow—Morning 7 min. after 12 i Evening 40 min.aft. 12 DAILY WEATHER TABLB. SATIIEDAY, FEB. 5, 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. HASTINGS—N.E., gentle breeze—overcast. F O LKESTONE--E., light breeze—rain. TUNBRIDGE—N.E., gentle breeze—scud, rain, Gumtwica—N.E., gentle breeze—overcast. SWINDON—N.E., gentle breeze—rain and snow. CAMBRIDGE—N.E. ' gentle breeze—cloudy. YARMOUTH—E., strong breeze—overcast. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Thursday morning at nine o'clock : LixtEßlcK—N.,_gentle breeze—cloudless. MIILLINGAR—N,. calm—partially cloudy. TUNBRIDGE—S.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. LEIGHTON—S.E., calm—overcast. HOLYHEAD--S. Vr„ strong breeze--rain. WHITBY—S., gentle breeze—overcast. DARLINGTON—S.S.E., strong breeze—partially cloudy, light frost. SNAP—S., gentle breeze—sleet and rain. THE WEATHER.--Sox OFFICE, FEE. 5. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 36 highest since noon yesterday. 30—lowest this morning and during the night. 37—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'85. WIND, E.N.E.--Fresh breeze, with clouds and sun shine. A good deal of rain in the night. vr.3) A 0 --!=, Axlv LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1853. We would solemnly warn the people of Eng land to be watchful of the course pursued at this moment by their Government. There is need that all impartial observers—that all men not truck ling to the holders of place in Downing-street— should lift up their voice to bid the multitude Beware of the policy now being adopted by the Leaders of the Administration. Mr. COBDMT has not issuedjiis pamphlet from the press too soon. The evil scheme, against the revival of which he and all honest citizens in the realm would protest, is even now making its deplorable renewal mani fest, and doing this, moreover, in a manner re markable for its astounding effrontery. A considerable proportion of the journals prepared the way for the renovation of the old policy, for the renovation of that atilbcious and pernicious policy which the more sanguine amongst us had fain imagined to have been long , ago altogether abandoned. It is the old aristo cratic element again rampant, again egging us on into a contest with France—in the hope that once embarked in war the national attention must necessarily be diverted from the great aim of carrying out a comprehensive system of poli tical alterations, or legislative improvements. In illustration of the truth of this assertion, we have witnessed of late the encouragement of the horrible old war panic. We have it dinned into our ears unceasingly that the French are certainly coming to land on our shores, to indulge themselves in a razzia more terrible than the world has ever -witnessed, to carry off the gold from the Bank of England, to sack London, to convey the QUEEN from Osborne House close prisoner, and to destroy the prestige of our insular glory, if not to wipe the name of the British Empire from the chart of Christendom. It began with a de parted warrior, grey in years and in renown. It has been echoed since, in all the changing notes of alarm, from the magnificent volume of the merry old man of Brunnen, to the single sheet octavo of the most melancholy pamphleteer. FrOm the outset we have acknow ledged that more care ought, in reason, to be taken of the maintenance of our National De fences. We have insisted all along that we have too much at stake not to render ourselves, by every rational precaution, as nearly as possible impreg nable. Satisfied that the adoption of this course, under the circumstances, was, all things considered, only reasonable, we have observed with compla cency the increase of our Navy (an increase, indeed, for which we had, for one, during many years past loudly and unremittingly cla moured), and the general re-organisation of our militia. We have never dosed our eyes to the weak points in the coast defences of the United Kingdom. On the contrary, we have been amon g the foremost of those who have besought the rulers of England to watch more carefully over this conservation. But throughout the whole of this period we have recognised the atrocity of those insults which have been continually directed against a friendly Government --a Government doing us no in jury whatsoever, but, on the other hand, g iving reiterated assurances of a wish to maintain intact a cordial and lasting alliance. The con duct of those who have hurled these insults across the Channel, has from first to last glared upon us in their true light, namely, as being no less foolish than it is criminal. Latterly, indeed, the men who have acted thus, have done the utmost to render Joint' BULL at one moment ludicrous, and at another detestable in the presence of civil ised Europe. They have endeavoured to exhibit him before the face of the whole world under two aspects of most odious degradation—now, as a whimperer, and now as a blusterer. They have pourtrayed him after this fashion—as though having stuffed his pockets and his carcase to repletion, he had sat down in his old age (and, one might almost fancy it, in his dotage) to dwell over the hor rid presentiment that he was to be A kicked by Somebody ! going Again, not satisfied with this, they have represented him, if that were pos-. sible, 1111.der a still more despicable appearance— ; himself, in the midst of profound peace, with all kinds of warlike vapourings, alternately shaking his fist and his cudgel at his old friend JOHNNY CRAPAITD, on the other side of the water- -in short, they tried to make him out at once. a coward and a bully. In say ing this, we do not exaggerate the re cent outcry by one tittle. We call things by their right names. We say that • the people who have fostered this war-cry of late, have alternated simply between an almost craven timidity, and a wholly intolerable insolence. Under all this, moreover, we have not failed to detect the meaning of the hubbub—the cause of all this vapouring—the reason of all this ro domontade. It is the old story over again. The people are to be deluded once more by that aristocratic influence which abhors the idea of innovation, and loathes the very name of retrenchment that influence which, to avoid those two evils, plunged us into a war that lasted during more than twenty years, and which cost the toiling population of these islands a debt of 500,000,u001. —and which, if not guarded against very vigilantly at this moment, will plunge the nation again into a no less ruinous contest, exciting once more an insensate hatred against the French, and weighing us down under another debt this time, perhaps, a debt of double 500,000,000/. We say, therefore, to the coun try at large—Beware ! We warn every calm and unprejudiced spectator of events against the criminal course being now pursued by men who should guard them against calamity instead of re viving warfare, in order that they may the more effectually retard civilisation. If it be asked where are the tokens of this deplorable cause being fostered by our statesmen, we point simply to the remarks uttered recently by two of our most eminent statesmen, when addressing their constituents —one, some weeks back, at. Car lisle, the other, only yesterday, at Halifax. Through those two occasions the world witnessed the extraordinary spectacle of Cabinet Minis ters speaking in terms of unendurable insult of the thrice elected chief of a friendly nation, the supreme head of a powerful and neighbouring Government ! It was as if Sir JAMES GRAHAM had, in so many words, urged NAPOLEON 11.1. to retaliate, by descending upon our shores—as if Sir CHARLES WOOD had cla moured eagerly for a positive attempt at a French invasion. Meanwhile, a general officer in the rainy of the Queen of England so far forgets his position both as an officer and as as Englishman as to wager that the EMPEROR will bring his soldiers down upon our shores, upon the un derstanding that in the event of our being in truth thus assailed he—wearing the colours of his Mo- NARCH, and.carrying the sword of his country—is to be rewarded by the sum of 10,000/. for the arrival of that great danger to his fatherland ! Beholding all these disgraceful transactions, hearing all these bitter and unstatesmanlike words, observing the growth of this panic, and remarking the develop ment of these evil passions, we do, again and again, beseech the more enlightened and conscientious members of the community to review the whole question in their calmer judgment, and to decide which is assuming the nobler part—France or England. It is much more pleasant to commend than to censure, and as few of our readers read long speeches, however carefully we report them, we will just give them the best sample of our win nowings from last week's Manchester orations. Very long, and we must own lively and spicey, was the declamation, whether in the Corn Ex change, or in the Free-trade Hall. ; there was no lack of various diet for this politically vegetarian banquet. " The Services" were entertainingly served up for the general amusement, so were Emperors and Admirals, Prime Ministers, and the Press ; Englishmen, Frenchmen, and. Ameri ctahues,e n p t a s e t ain alarms melt t and present diaercdit panics.the hosts, Certainlyani most peaceful were the peace debates, if so they may be called, for every resolution was carried unanimously. To our mind the really valuable part of the whole affair was its tendency to rectify common opinions—suppositions we should rather say—respecting France. It must be confessed that the English Press generally has been guilty, since the 2d of December, 1851, of an undesir able propensity to see hostile intentions, or at least suspicious indications in everything across the water. We are not going to apologise for the coup d'etat and its first consequences. The con scientious moralist may find plenty there to con demn ; we have only to do with it politically ; and from that point of view we must hold that after the French nation had fairly elected the subverter of the Republic, we were bound to re gard the act as theirs ; they had appropriated it, and it was for us to treat their Government as we should wish the French Press to treat ours. That is, their public measures were, of course, fair sub jects of European discussion ; but their Ministry and their President or Emperor, should at least have been treated respectfully. Utterly alien as the whole affair might be to our notions of politi cal and even moral fitness, Frenchmen expect we should allow that they understand their oR A mat ters better than we do. We were much struck with the good sense of Mr. COBDEN'S remarks on these points at the meeting on the 29th. It is, he observed, the popular ignorance in England of the habits and tastes of the French people which is at the bottom of all our censures, and 0 1 1 our outcry about in vasion. Mr. COBDMT himself has long had much personal acquaintance with France and French men, and is quite as good an authority as many of our o Arn correspondents." He justly observes, that the French have not yet acquired our full appreciation of the value of Representative Go vernments ; and certainly they have had but little since 1792 to inspire them with lasting re spect for Houses of Parliament. Public meetings and voluntary associations, also, they have never been able to avail themselves of successfully ; and therefore their more sober men shrink from the hazard of them in less qualified hands. The Habeas Corpus Act, which we value as such a guarantee of our personal liberty, has nothing corresponding to it in France, nor have the French people, when the fullest power has been in their hands, ever bethought themselves of this first safeguard against lawless despotism. The time may come when they will prize these things as we do, but it is a plain fact that they do not now. The Freedom of the Press, also, is not, in their view, what it is in ours ; and we may well re member that it is not very long since the Six Acts were passed, and since chains were forged to restrain the free circulation of English political news, which are only lengthened a little at this hour, but are not yet destroyed. Mr. COBDEN thinks that, instead of self-complacently " stroking our beards, and thanking Heaven that we are not as other men are, we had better learn from their in difference to the Abolition of the Freedom of the Press to take care that our Newspaper Press shall be a useful organ in the cause of morality and of truth, and, above all, of international peace ; and that our public men and leading statesmen shall be so truthful in their representative capacities, show patriotism enough, for the people to trust them, and cling to their Free Press and their re presentative institutions." If, however, we wonder at the French indiffer ence to what we deem so valuable, Mr. COBDEN well observes that they have their wonderments also about us. What they do prize and praise above all things is their Equality in Social Rank. They have made a clean sweep of every vestige of feudalism for upwards of sixty years ; they tole rate no arbitrary rank or titles, no entails, nor anything indeed which creates social inequality. They carry it into their religion, not even the Church, which comprises nearly the whole popula lation, is selected for special endowment ; all people are put upon a footing of perfect equality. An hereditary House of Peers like ours would not be endured for a moment ; LOUIS NAPOLEON'S Throne would not be worth twenty-four hours' liurchase if he were to attempt it. Their system taxation is the most fair and equal in the world ; and there could not exist in France such a thing as a legacy and probate duty on one kind of pro perty, and not on another. Candid Frenchmen envy us our personal liberty, but confess, nation ally, to a stronger passion for equality. Our stronger passion is for liberty, indulging which, we astonish them by our indifference to the social distinctions which condemn the great majority to a permanent artificial inferiority. Now, if a spirit of impartial comparison like this, which might be indefinitely carried out, be propagated from the Manchester Meetings, it would be worth all the trouble and expense incurred by the friends of peace. JOHN BULL is egregriously conceited of his own tastes, and contemptuous of those of foreigners ; still he is fair-minded, and we hope will take this lesson to heart. Our invasionists were also reminded of many facts which it behoves them well to remember. They were assured, if they have forgotten it, that Frenchmen have something to lose by war as well as we. That their Bank had contained more sil ver than the Bank of England contained of gold and silver put together ; and that silver is far more common there in even private families in middling circumstances than in England. That instead of about 30,000 they have 8,000,000 landed proprietors,—farmers who plough their own land, certainly not men likely to leave their homesteads to enrich themselves by marauding in England ; and that the rural population generally are in a very far superior state to our own. But then the French Navy and Cherbourg, and those steamers to America ! Well, we and they both keep building together ; and we are in a condition to have almost as many sailors and guns afloat in the Mediterranean as we have on our own coasts at home,—well, towards a thousand guns and ten thousand men in both, not to speak of our large reserve and our comparatively immense mercantile marine. And Cherbourg,—Mr. MILNER GIBSON, who speaks like a sailor, and seems to know all about it from frequent personal inspection, thanks the French _heartily for it ; de clares that all who navigate there owe them thanks also for such an invaluable port of refuge on a coast which needs it so much, and for the large sums expended on its fine but costly breakwater. As to the fleet of American steamers to be subsidised by Government, he affirms, from personal knowledge, that Cherbourg is the only port suitable for them, as being one adapted to vessels drawing much water, and capable of being entered in all weathers, by day or by night. We have previously remarked on the reasonable call of the speakers for more efficient employment of our military and naval expenditure ;—with such facts to tell of, as that military authorities dis puted in the House of Commons whether we have 9,000 men or 60,000 to meet an invasion with ; that Sir JAMES STIRLING himself, a man high in the Navy, stated, before a Committee of the House of Commons, " that the number of officers in the British Navy over and above what was necessary for the work to be done, either in peace or war, was equal to the keep of 20,000 seamen (a state ment never contradicted)—it is clear that revision, economy, and efficiency, not increased estimates, are the first work in this department for the new Government. The Dissenters are beginning to combine for Parliamentary action. They are adopting the regular and approved plan of operations. Their forefathers built Meeting-houses, and initiated public business by fasting and prayer. They are building a Club House, and propose to begin their Parliamentary action by feasting and speechi- fying. We know not who can reasonably object to all this. They occupy by the laws of the land a somewhat different political position to Church- men ; they have, therefore, their own peculiar political points to maintain, or make good ; and if they choose to come to Parliament " eating and drinking," instead of appearing there in fasting and sackcloth, we shall but welcome them the more heartily. We not only do not grudge them their MILTON Club, in Ludgate Hill, nor the dinner which its committee has advertised for ' the 16th, to " the Members of Parliament re cognising the principles of Evangelical Noncon formists," but we wish their Club success, and wish them as merry a banquet as their hearts can desire. The Dissenters of the class in ques tion are very numerous, and comprise much of the respectable portion of the tradesmen and manufacturers, and it will be a political and public advantage that they should have a recognised public centre, where their leading men will natv rally associate, and whence they can exert the same kind of general influence as the other Clubs have long done. By the term " Evangelical," we presume they wish to exclude Unitarian and Catholic Dissenters. With the pranks of the Irish Brigade before their eyes, the wisdom of the latter exclusion will be disputed by few ; but with so many able Members of Parlia ment professing Unitarian sentiments, and the unquestionably improved character of Unitarian theology in England, it appears somewhat unde sirable to separate themselves from such efficient theological posi tion.a occ upying a precisely similar We acknowledge the deeplinn dis tinction,e but we presume that theologyeithoer at the i s to be gentlemen, however, of course no subject of action or discussion, business best, and we Cluborrstehe knowdinner. t their These ew n are sorry to own that there are not wanting mem bers of the Daily Press who would have made a most unworthy use of it, had the Nonconformists Parliamentnconformists adopted The Dissenting awider basis. Members asis in this form quite a noticeable body—one capable, if fac tiously inclined, of giving no small trouble ; they are more numerous than the Peelites, and if they do not include in their number so many " Talents ~ they are not de stitute of it by any means; neither are they likely to fold their talent in a napki n and to bury it in the earth. There are amongst them a full supply of men " who have a stake in the country," and men of high social standing. The City at least will do all honour to such names as C H ALLIS and PET o . h. large i r t W y- e eai mg w ho e tu n r e t Dissentingf o o m f e somewhat t s wh at p anr i d sed of to el fin eet d ers populationur e Mem bers represent. They sit for counties and boroughs containing 228,057 electors, and a po pulation of 4,290,905 —one-fifth of the electors, and more than a fifth of the population. Of course our remarks exclude Ireland and its incal culables from consideration entirely. It has also been observed that, omitting the county Members, the Dissenting Members, although not more than one-tenth of the borough Members in the House of Commons, yet repiesent fully oneethird of the borough electors of the United Kingdom. Such facts are very instructive. They clearly show either that Dissenters are much constituencmi more numerous propo rtionally in the populous admitting this to be in some degree the case, they rather show, we think, that large constituencies are much more free from religious bigotry, and that a man's being a Dissenter is amongst them no hindrance to his obtaining the honours and the confidence to which every good citizen may justly aspire—the truth being, that in such. constitu encies the electors concern themselves, very pro perly, not about a man's religious creed, but about his political creed. No religious views probably could be more diverse than those we know of e both the two Hon. Members for Finsbury, but they and no oppos in g r n a s consistent an d hearty Liberals, candidate could venture to attack either on the score of his faith without the certainty of arous ing the just indignation of the electors. Would that as much coulAmerica of every constituency in the kingdom. certainly surpasses us in this resp e ct. Lord CARLISLE declares that he envies them the i r re ligious free dom ; and. Sir CHAnnEs LYELL states that it ble to was tell him a long timeto what be fore he could fi nd any one a d eno mination th e President ! calculating There is, we co nceive, no difficulty belongedn the course which Dissenters will pursue in the House Commons. With but one exception, from of Cambridgeshire, they are all Liberals, mostly steady, and many of them very ea rnest, Liberals. A great part of them are men of business, or well acqua i n ted with p ractical life ; hence they have not a tinge of faction about them. vote Th againstey will, all fur less, steadily an d consistently g rants for religious Purposes, but they will then no Bill t o sepa ra t e Church and Sate, or bring in even to relieve th eir old o on ents, the Bishops, pp from their legislative duties in the House of Lords. They will not be, likely to obtrude their voluntaryism into the debates, though it were too much to expect that if Mr. SPOONER or Mr. GLADSTONE, according to their respective modes, give them occasion, they should abstain from em bracing it. The Coalition may probably expect their full support in any measure of Reform, whether relating to India, or the Colonies, and especially to the Income Tax and Electoral Reform. Nothing, probably, will more detract from the cordiality of the support they would render the present Government than any paltering with schedule D, or any shuffling with their favourite question of Representatiire Reform. We have no idea that they will be in danger of dissenting par tisanship ; they were elected for their political, not for their religious, views. The utmost their constituents wish, or even would allow, is that they should guard with a jealous and firm hand the common religious liberties of all. They come in great part from districts which have for a long time refused to pay church rates, and in which the numerous new churches have been built by generous individuals, or by voluntary contribu tions ; and this will give the tone we imagine to their habits of thought, and their speaking on ecclesiastical subjects. In regard to National Education, there is a schism amongst them. The thoroughgoing Vo- luntaries objecting to State grants for religious purposes conceive themselves bound to oppose Government grants to schools in which religion is taught. Perhaps none of them object on princi ple to the Government support of Secular Educa tion ; and probably a majority would gladly sup port anything in furtherance of education that did not give undue power to the Established Church. Dissenters have always been zealous and active friends of education. They began 50 years ago, amidst great opposition, the movement which has now absorbed the Church itself in the stream, and they may therefore be safely reckoned on to support earnestly any fair proposition. NATIONAL DEFENCE AND THE MORAL RELATION OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE. ..;10. - LVEY AN. VAL NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocic. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday, were estimated at 12,000 bales, of which 6,000 were taken on speculation. The market closed with a hardening tendency. Railway shares were rather firmer. The great decrease in the amount of bullion in the Bank of England, stated as being likely to ap pear in the weekly return to the 29th ult., is actu ally shown to have occurred, and by all accounts, will probably take place again in ensuing weeks, as there are still exports to the Continent. So long as these go merely in payment of staples which we work up into manufactured articles, yielding a handsome profit, there can be no valid reason for complaint. All we are concerned to prevent, is participation in the loans of bankrupt, foreign States, and unhealthy speculation, and if the Bank lost two or three millions sterling more, it would be a positive advantage, and ultimately would ren der a larger stock of bullion than ever, a matter of certainty, if the money is known to be employed in our export trade. Of course, should there be a deficient harvest, a new combination of circum stances totally distinct, would arise. The circula tion of notes last week was lessened, the withdrawal of private balances being met by the specie. In discount there was a failing off, and should this continue, a further increase in the charge will not at present be attempted. Compared with the pre vious week, the changes are as follows : Active circulation Decrease Bullion Decrease £22,983,450 490,325 19,042,835 362,084 4,235 237,239 661,444 1,837 29,794 13,654,165 516,580 67,095 Rest— Increase Public Deposits—lncrease Other deposits—Decrease Seven day and other Bills—lncrease Government securities---Decrew.e Other securities Decrease Notes unemployed—lncrease The banking interest throughout the country appears to be very flourishing, and both in the metropolis and the provinces large dividends have been recently declared as the result of business done in the last six months. The Royal British Baak made yesterday its third annual report, and made, with the consent of the proprietary, a divi dend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, and made an addition, besides, to the reserve fund, which now amounts to 7,5001. Since the Bank commenced business, 2,1411. have been written off the preliminary expenses, besides improvements and repairs being liquidated out of current revenue; and, upon the general progress of the Bank, and the condition of the Money Market, we have the following information : " The abundance and cheapness of money alluded to in the report for the half year ended on the 30th of June last, as necessarily tending to the reduction of all bank ing profits, continued to operate in the same way through out the half year just concluded ; and although the rates charged by this bank for its advances on cash credits and convertible securities did not fluctuate, and were not, therefore, on the one hand subjected to the depres sion which the discount of purely commercial paper un derwent ; yet, on the other hand, the directors, from a regard to one of the main purposes of the institution — namely, to induce parties previously unaccustomed to banking, to make deposits and keep balances at their credit, considered it right to continue to allow the same rates of interest as had been announced at the beginning. The sums so paid by the bank were, in 1850, 4.4561. 14s. ; in 1851, 9,6011. 10s. Bd. ; and in 1852, 13,3941. Bs. 6d. The accounts open at the end of the first year were 2,989, second year 3,994, and last year 4,411. " Notwithstanding. however, the comparatively large amount of the payments for interest, and their progres sive annual increase, the directors have been encouraged to continue the shtem the bank adopted and has hitherto followed, from knowing that very industrious persons have been benefited by it,---and that, while depositing customers have had much the greater part of the earn ings of the bank, the proprietors have had an ample return on their investments, and have had these made more valuable by the formation of a Reserved Fund, now equivalent to 15 per cent. on the paid-up capital." Bills of Exchange on the principal continental towns were negotiated here yesterday afternoon at very full rates. Paris, 90 days, 25 27-i to 30 ; Amsterdam, 11 18-i to 19 ; Hamburgh, 13 6to 6 ; Frankfort, 1191 to ; and Trieste, 11 7to 12. The exports of gold direct from London during the week to Thursday last, were 87,456 ounces and 2,0001., all but 256 ounces being sent to the Conti nent, and 17,900 ounces of silver. Besides these amounts, the steamer from South ampton takes out between 200,0001. and 300,0001. in silver to Alexandria and the East Indies. The English Stock Market has been very dull, but nevertheless a shade firmer. Consols 99k to for Transfer, and 99k for Account. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been 103 to 14-, and the Three per Cents. 100 to *. Exchequer Bills have been quoted 50s. to 555., and India Bonds 60s. premium. Foreign Stocks are also very dull, but Grenada have improved, as adividend is coming forward. The Active Bonds realise 22, and the Deferred llf to 1. Mexican Stock has been heavy at 22k The Turkish Loan is at discount, and the Aus trian Scrip, 7i premium. Dutch 4 per Cents. have been 97i _Railway Shares have been all better, and the Bears have been buying back. Mines are dull. BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY (limn the Official List.) ItuAness none. 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities... ....... ICI4 IC3 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 34 per Cent. Annuities.... ..... ..... India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO 6O Consols for Account 10th February 'J9.} g Exchequer Bills lid. March. June. £lOOO.. .. 59 5 £5OO 5O 5 Small 55 5 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK, Austrian Scrip, 5 per Cent 7l Grenada Bonds, Deferred, I . lli 4 Ditto Ex Dec., 1849, Coupon 22 Mexican 3 per Ceut 22a i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 22i Swedish Loan li d Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 i d Venezuela Bonds 31 per Cent. Dutch Exchange 24- per Ceut — Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates... .... . TWO O'CLOCK. Consols . - $ Ditto February Account 4 SALE OF RENTERS' SHARES IN THE COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—Yesterday, at the Auction Mart, Messrs. Shuttleworth and Sons, the auctioneers, offered to public competition two renters' shares in the Theatre Royal, Covent-garden, the income from which is 121. 10s. per annum, and the possessor is entitled to a free admis sion, transferable once in a season, which usually sells for 51. or 61., held for an unexpired term of 41 years — the first was sold for 1701., and the next 1601. The original cost was 5001., and they have been sold at a premium. A MILITARY POLYGAMIST.—Ann Proud, a woman aged 39, and Emma Derby, aged 19, were brought before the Sheffield borough magistrates on Thursday, charged with being disorderly. The prisoners both claimed to be the wife of Wm. Proud, a private in the 21st Regiment of Foot, now stationed in Sheffield. The elder prisoner had for several years been received as Proud's wife into the barracks where the regiment had been stationed. Latterly, he had formed an acquaint ance with the younger prisoner, who lived out of the barracks, and passed herself off also as his wife. The two women went into the town last night, and after quarrelling about which had the greatest right to the soldier, resorted to fighting to settle the point. The result was, that they were both taken to the lock-up. It was stated that the soldier was among the spectators in the court. The Mayor ordered him to be called. On presenting himself before the bench, the follow. ing dialogue passed :—The Mayor—Which of these women is pour wife ? Soldier—One of them is as dearito me as the other. The Mayor—Explain what you mean by that. Soldier (smiling)—They are both my wives.—The Mayor—You may think it a laughing matter, but you will find that it is not. Do you mean to say that you have been married to both these women, and that they are both of them your wives ? —Soldier—Yes, and I can bring you two more, if you want them. (The younger prisoner, who with the soldier appeared to think the whole proceeding a piece of fun, here burst out a laughing.) Mr. A. Smith (to the soldier—What do you mean by the answer you just now gave the Mayor ?—Soldier—l mean that I have four wives.—Mr. A. Smith—Where did you marry your first I, wife ?—Soblier—l married one in Ireland, one in Scot land, and two in Engllnd..—Questions were then put to the soldier as to the names of the four women, and the places where he had been married. The light then began to dawn upon him that the matter was not quite so much of a mere joke as he had at first th oug h t it, and he returned very evasive answers. Th e smile entirely left his countenance a moment afterwards, when the Mayor directed him to be taken into custody . on the charge of bigamy, and remanded for • younger prisoner finding matters growing serious, dis claimed that she was the wife of the sold a moment before had stated that Leeds. The whole of the threeparties The ~ though he he married her at were remanded. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BUN. SIR,—It app ears th a t th e F renc h - E mperor i s deter mined to possess a powerful navy. He has at present a fleet of war -st eamers near l y equa l t o our own, an d i s still augmenting their number. Twenty screw line-of battle ships have recently been laid down, and are rapidly progressing. It cannot b e suppose d th a t th e B r i t i s h people look upon t h ese prepara ti ons w ith i n diff erence ; quite the c on t rary : t h ey are fully aware that the inde pendence — nay, the very existence of the nation is threat ened. 'What is greatly to be regretted is, that no encou ragement is given to the enrolment of volunteer, or rifle corps, which, without such support, the present force is totally inadequate to the defence of the country. It is not by the addition of 20,000 regular soldiers to our present army, brave as they are, that we will be able to protect our shores against the vast host of France ; but a suggestion by Government for the formation of volun teer corps would in a few weeks exhibit to the world halt s -a-million of men banded for the preservation of peace and the prevention of invasion. Twice has France within the last 40 years been prof:- trate, and at the mercy of Britain and her allies, and should such an event once more occur, care would un doubtedly be taken that she should never again disturb the peace of the world. The necessity of these remarks is obvious, and their justice is proved by the consideration that the moral relation of England to France is that of the preserver of her nationality, since but for the generosity of British statesmen the Treaty of Vienna might have borne a very different aspect, and the dismemberment of France might have been urged as more necessary for the pre servation of the peace of Europe than the partition of Poland. This reflection seems to establish a moral claim on the part of England. or a duty on the part of France, not to jeopardise either by covert or open hos tility the independence and integrity of that power which preserved her from extreme humiliation, after the . most signal vanquishment of her armies, and the triumphant entry of her capital by the Allied Powers of Europe. Such a duty being established, there arises its correlative—the right of this country to demand for what purpose exist those great naval preparations in the ports of France, against which there is evidently no power capable of contending but that of England. If the reply to such demand be unsatisfactory, Britain will certainly be justified in attempting to prevent such an in fliction as an invasion by means similar to those which she, under threa'ening circumstances, employed at Co penhagen in 1807. The blessing of peace, however desirable, must never be purchased at the cost of independence. THE VOICE OF THE NATION. Feb. 1, 1853. TIONAL DEFENCE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD. Sir,—lt would be a great satisfaction to the nation if some responsible minister could announce in precise terms :—" We consider the national armament and the national organisation sufficient for the national defence. We have secured immediate information from abroad of any preparation or movement that may be considered dangerous to this country. In case of threatened ag gression our arrangements for resistance are complete. Men are for thcoming for our fleets—generals for our armies • stores, ordnance, and depots of ammunition are provided ; the stations and disposition of our armed force are determined upon. The orders we shall issue are prepared, and their prompt execution may be de pended upon." It is not unreasonable to demand that some such an nouncement should precede any further legislation. Until a minister is in ai position to make such an an nouncement it is insanity to argue the advantages of the ballot or discuss the provisions of a Jew bill.—Your obedient servant, HAROLD. London, Jan. 31. THE MAIL TO INDIA.- The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Ripon left Southampton yesterday with the India and China mails. This is the first bi monthly dispatch under the new contract. The Ripon took out about 50 passengers amongs t w hom were Lieu tenants Glinn and Coffin, Admiralty agents in the India and China seas. The mail consisted of about 60 boxes, which will cross the Desert, besides bass for the Mediter ranean. Accounts from Constantinople have been received to the 20th of January, and contain rather important in telligence.. Instead of direct remittances to meet the liabilities of the Bank of Constantinople, bills at three months' date for 150,003/., drawn by the merchants recently appointed to conduct the liquidation of the bank upon their agents in London, have alone been re ceived. Political affairs continued in a very unsatis factory state, and the re-actionary Ministry seemed determined to carry their injurious system as far as pos sible. Not a word is said about the loan, and the bond holders therefore appear to remain precisely in the posi tion they occupied two or three months back when Lord Stanley, on behalf of the Derby Government, defended the conduct of the Sultan, and asses led that a satis factory settlement was to be immediately expected. Ali Pasha, who was Grand Vizier when the loan was con tracted, has been v i r t ua ll y b an i s h e d by b e i ng sent as Governor to' Smyr na am E b ff ios e us n ito d n i t , oo r t he proceed ca pen em r e Foreigned b s as t s ot aCl P or a , ri is s is, in like man ner , to b e sen t t o B roussa . Fuad and it said that Reschid Pasha n b uto M t i mw n i he s ne t t e t hi r 0 , e nr i e t di i n s . a a d A d med Among i special g s other proceedings indicative of the spirit of the present Government, has been the issue of a decree restoring to the governors of provinces the arbitrary power of life and death, as it existed previously to the Tanzimat. To add to the prevailing complications apprehensions were en tertained that affairs were taking an unfavourable turn with Russia, ostensibly on the question of the Holy Sepulchre and the rights of the Greek Church. Letters from Riga, of the 4th January, state that the recent importations of gold from England into Russia, thus announced, amoun ted to 1,125,0001. Of this total 821,5001. had been received at St. Petersburgh, 244,8001. at Riga, and 52,9001. at Odessa. At the annual meeting of the Royal British Bank, held to-day, a dividend was declared at the rate of six per cent, per annum, after making an* addition of an equal amount to the reserve fund (which has now reached 7,5001.) and appropriating 9881. in further liquidation of preliminary expenses. The report showed a steady increase in the business of the establishment, the accounts open having been 2,989 at the end of the first year, 3,994 at the end of the second, and 4,411 on the 31st December last. --Times. REPRESENTATION OF BLACKBURN.—It is reported that Mr. Eccles, one of the Liberal members for Blackburn, is about to resign his seat, and it is also confidently stated that addresses will be issued in a few days from Mr. W. H. Hornby, in the Tory interest, and Mr. Monta gue Fielding in the Libera l interest. Mr. Hornby is the gentleman whose name appeared in the papers some months ago in a paragraph headed "Assault by the Mayor of Blackburn," and Mr. Fielding is a son of the late baronet Sir William Fielding. A considerable and respectable pat ty in the town seem to be anxious to de viate from the rule that has hitherto prevailed of having a gentleman of local interest merely, and prefer a stranger of greater political mark t. represent their borough, which his become, in consequence of the great increase in its population, one of the most important boroughs in the country. Viscount Duncan, it is also repoi led, is likely to come forward. sed to be paid We understand that the dividend pr,opo by the London and North-Western ~,,ailway Company will be at the rate of 5 per cont. pe7 annum, carrying ^ over a balance of 90,000/. or 95,000/. The directors MARYPORT AND CARLISLE RAILWAY • their of the the Maryport and Carlisle Railway:iv i.n dend at the yearly report just issued, recommend a I rate of 4 per cent. per annum. The dividend to BLACKWALL RAILWAY DIVIDEND. — per share, be declared at th e forthcoming meeting is , being au improvement on the previ ous halt year s, and the report, it is understood, will be favo urable —a surplus being carried over after the dividend is paid. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENOH-(THIS DAY.) (Before Lord Campbell and a Special Jury.) MACHEATH V. VISCOUNT FRANCKFORT. This was an action against Viscount Franckfort to re cover compensation in damages for a libel which he had published, reflecting on the character of the plaintiff (Mr. Macheath) who resides in Vigo-street, Regent street, The libel arose out of the same circumstances in re spect of which Lord Franckfort was found guilty at the suit of another party, and sentenced to a term of im prisonment, which he is now undergoing. After the jury had been sworn, Sir Frederick Thesiger, who appeared for the plaintiff, expressed his gratification at being able to intimate that the parties had come to an arrangement, and that the jury would be relieved from investing the case. Lord Franckfort had seen, he was happy to say, the gross im propriety of his conduct, and that it would be perfectly useless attempting to set up any defence to the action. He (Sir Frederick Thesiger), however, thought that as his client's character and reputation had been most seriously and wantonly maligned, it was but right that he should press for substantial damages, and the Attorney-General, who represented Lord Franckfort, had agreed to a verdict being entered for the plaintiff for the sum of 2001. The Attorney-General said he felt quite convinced that it would be impossible for him to contend against the evidence, and he had to thank his learned friend for the conciliatory spirit he had displayed, in so readily agreeing to the terms proposed by him. Lord Campbell thought the defendant's counsel had takes the proper course, and rejoiced that the jury were spared the necessity of entering into a matter of such a painful character The libel was one of so extraordinary a nature that it might be doubted whether the author of it was in his right senses, and perhaps Lord Franckfort, who was now suffering the sentence of the court, might be a fit subject for the clemency of the Crown. A verdict was then ordered for the plaintiff. Damages 200!. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FEB. 4. Her Majesty gave this evening the fifth of a series of dramatic performances at the Castle. The Queen wand his Royal Highness Prince Albert, with their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred, and the Princesses Alice, Helena, and Louisa, passed from the royal apartments to the temporary theatre in the Rubens-room at eight o'clock. Her Majesty and the Prince were accompanied by the following illustrious circle, who had had the honour of dining with her Majesty :—Her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent, her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Lord Chancellor and Lady Cranworth, the Duke and Duchess of Lein ster, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, the Earl of Mulgrave, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right Hon. Sidney and Mrs. Herbert, and the Right Hon. Sir William and Lady Molesworth. Shakspere's tragedy of Macbeth, was the play selected for the evening's entertainment, and immediately on her Majesty and her distinguished guests being seated, at tended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, the performance commenced, the parts being filled according to the following programme : MACBETH. Duncan (King of Scotland) Malcolm / (his sons) Donalbain 5i Miss Hastings. • Macbeth 5 / i (Gene. of the Ki ng ' s Mr. C. Kean. Banquo Army. Mr. Graham. Macduff 1 (Mr. Ryder. Lennox Mr. G. Everett. Rosse (Noblemen of Scot. J Mr. J. Vining. Monteith land) 1 Mr. Stacey. Angus 1 Mr. Brazier. ( Caithness Mr. Stoakes. Fleance (son to Banquo) Miss Kate Terry. Seward (Earl of Northumberland, General of the English forces). Mr. Terry. Seyton (an officer attending on Macbeth) .... Physician Wounded Officer Mr. Paulo. Mr. J. Chester. Mr. H. Vezier. Mr. J. Collett. Mr. Daly. Mr. Collis. Mr. Rolleston. Miss J. Lovell. Miss Desborough. Mrs. Chas. Kean. Officers Apparitions Lady Macbeth Gentlewoman (attending on Lady Macbeth) Mrs. W. Daly. Mr. Addison. .... / Mr. Meadows. Mr. Saker. Director Assistant Director Mr. George Ellis. Prompter The Theatre arranged and the scenery painted by Mr Witches. Thomas Grieve. Her Majesty's private band was in attendance. The following gentlemen and ladies had the honour of receiving invitations to be present at the performance, in addition to the Queen's dinner guests :—His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar and the Coun tess of Dornburg, the Dowager Viscountess Ashbrook, Lady Caroline and Miss Barrington, Lady Jane Stan hope, Lady Frances Hotham, Mr. Hotham, the Hon. Mrs. Sackville West, the Right Hon. the Speaker, Colonel the Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps, Colonel the Hon. Charles and Mrs. Grey, Miss Farquhar, Lieut.- Colonel F. H. and Lady Emily Seymour, the Right Hon. Henry and Lady Mary Labouchere, Sir Henry and Lady Mildmay, the Provost of Eton, the Rev. W. and Mrs. Canning, Lieut.-Colonel Williams (command ing officer), Lieutenant Lumley, and Lieutenant Hawks ley, of the 2d Life Guards ; Colonel Angerstein (com manding officer), Captain the Hon. H. A. Neville, and Captain Tipping, of the 3d Battalion Grenadier Guards ; Mr. and Misses Grenfell, Mr. Henry Seymour, and Mrs. and Miss Seymour. Refreshments were served to the company as at the previous entertainments. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Co lonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, left the Castle at half-past nine o'clock this morning by a special train of the South-Western Railway for London, and returned to the Castle at five minutes before two o'clock. The following had the honour of dining with her Ma jesty yesterday :—Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Lord Chancellor and Lady Cranworth, the Duke and Duchess of Leinster, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, the Earl of Mulgrave, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right Hon. Sidney and Mrs. Her bert, and Sir William and Lady Molesworth. The band of the 2d Life Guards attended in the Castle during dinner, and performed the following music : March. Overture, " La Ga,zza.Ladra" Rossini. Waltz, " Nordlander" Labitzky. Grand Selection, " Il Prodigue" Auber. Quadrille, " Gizelle" Musard. Galop, " Immergrun" Labitzky. The Conscripts Farewell March Her Majesty's private band afterwards attended and played the following compositions : Sinfonia No. 1, Op. 38—Andante un poco. Maestoso, Allegro molto vivace, Larghetto, Scherzo molto vivace, Trio, Coda, Allegro animato e grazioso Schumann. Divertissement, " Le Prophete" Meyerbeer. The Committee on Education of the Privy Council had a meeting yesterday, which was attended by the Lord President, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Duke of Argyll, Lord John Russell, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. John F. Leslie Foster had an interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday at the Colonial-office. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has removed, with Mrs. Gladstone and family, from Carlton-gardens to his official residence in Downing-street. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office, yes terday, from the Governor of Gibraltar. Dispatches were sent yesterday to the Governor-General of Canada. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday. An appeal from the Prerogative Court, "Farlar v. Lane," was resumed. PRIVY COUNCIL.-At the Privy Council appointed to be held on Monday next at Windsor Castle, the prin cipal official business to be transacted is understood to be the setting before her Majesty the roll of high sheriffs of the various counties. The ancient ceremony to be observed is, we believe, thus :—The list of names will be submitted to the Queen, and her Majesty will thrust a golden bodkin through the paper, and which ever name is pierced, the same becomes high sheriff. OFFICIAL PROMOTION. —The Customs authorities have issued a general order to all the ports in the kingdom, directing, that in the case of an officer removed from one part to another on promotion, the amount of salary due to him to the date of his giving up charge of his office should be paid before he quits the port ; any subsequent payment in consequence of such removal and promotion being subject to the directions of the au thorities in the matter. STATE OF THE CHURCH MARKET.—Messrs. Shuttle worth and Sons, the auctioneers, in their February list of property for sale, remark on the demand which exists for property of various descriptions, and add that " ad vowsons and church property are sought with avidity, and maintain their value." ST. J-131ES'S THEATRE.--FRENCII PLATS. A new piece, entitled Tambour Battant, which, how ever, has made its appearance in this country in a native ?nib, as Tak,inv by Storm, was produced here last night, in which M. Ravel played the principal part. A young lady who has determined to marry nobody who does anything like anybody else, finds at length a spouse in M. Ravel, who comes to look after lodgings which she is to quit in six weeks, but which he wants sooner— in ten minutes "—and who, by the perfect ease of his im pudence, the cleverness of his volubility, and his deter mination not to have the house, first excites the wrath, and then the mirth and interest of the lady. The in truder is an artist, and he has also made a vow that he will only marry a ladywhom he never saw, and of whose existence he was only conscious by having pressed her foot when travelling in the 'unlighted coupe of a dili gence. His only clue to the fair one's identity is small pistol which he finds after she has left the vehicle, and by this means he, of course, discovers that his host •ss is the inamorata in question. Accordingly he offers his hand and heart, but the lady not at irst se' cepting either, he proves that he answers to her beau ideal of a husband by crowding together all the visits, letters, and observances of a courtship into a ten minutes' interval—a feat certainly never performed by any lover but himself before, and which is accordingly duly successful. The character was one which gave full play to M. Ravel's peculiar powers, and, in spite of a severe cold, we never saw him to greater advantage than in the rattling, audacious, and light-hearted lover of last night. There was another novelty—a little piece plaYe ( ! . first—entitled, Diviser pour Regner, slightly extravagant in its construction, but which served to introduce two débutantes, M. Fede and Madame Marimont, both valu able additions to the company. To-night M. Rave l makes his first appearance in L'Etcurneau. SOCIAL SOIREE OF REFORMERS AT MANCHESTER. A social soiree or reunion of the leading Reformers of the county of Lancaster, and their representatives, took place on Thursday evening at the Town-hall, Manchester , of a pleasant and successful character. From 300 to 400 invitations had been issued, and the room was veil . crowded. After partaking of refreshments, the business commenced, a little before 7 o'clock, by M r , George Wilson taking the chair, supported by Mr. John Bright) M.P., Mr. T. M. Gibson, M.P., Mr. Joseph Brothertont M.P., Mr. James Heywood, M.P., Mr. J. Kershaw , M.P., Mr. Charles Hindley, M.P., and Mr. G e orge Hadfield, M.P. Among other gentlemen present Wer e —Mr. Alexander Henry (late member for the county) , Mr. Thomas Bazley, Mr. Bailey, Mr. A. Buckley, Mr' Henry Ashworth, Sir Elkanah Armitage, Mr. Sale Schwabe, Mr. E. R. Langworthy, Mr. Watkin Lees , Mr. John Platt, Mr. R. N. Philips, Mr. R. Munn' Mr. F. Steiner, Mr. F. J. Philipi, &c. There wer e gentlemen present, in fact, from Liverpool, Lancaster, Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Bolton, Oldham, Roll' dale, Stockport, Ashton, Busy, and almost every tow n in the county. The CHAIRMAN took a review of the various county and borough election struggles in Lancashire during th e last 20 years (since the Reform Bill) ; and after conga' tulating the meeting on the result of the recent returns' and urging upon his friends not to let success rend er them careless of the registration, said, he felt stronglY indignant that their power in the Legislature should 13 ! so limited, in consequence of the arrangements made at the period of the Renos.n Bill. He would not do any such thing, but he thought that reasons could be s hol why 25 of these meml'e:s s h ou ld b e tak en away an given to the towns possessing a population of frore 10,000 of 25,000, which were now wholly unrepresent ed ' And the most timid reformer and most moderate m an would hardly object to the disfranchisement of thon g boroughs which had a population less than 5,000, An to handing over the 20 members to those large c °1 1; stituencies. He would go fui-:,her, and.eay that no ine could object to take one, at least, of the members 1a „ those cases, and hand him over to those distrir e which were so feaifu]ly unrepresented. Under tn new Reform Bill they would have the same franchis e . in Manchester and in Buckingham. The pretece tion to the voter, whatever it was, would be k b g , same ; but, when they c.7.me to this question of the 4 1 1 1 tribution of seats, which was the true leverage by they were to cos:e3t abuses, and to give its due wet ic i to population, property, and industrial rights, it w° be found that the struggle would commence, and tha t would be ten times more difficult to give them their 1.a15, and just rights, as large and improving c onstituenc i e 4. than in- giving th em a l ow f ranc hi se an d theballu (Cheers.) 'fed The Right Hon. T. M. G I BS ON , M.P., w as roe', /i f with great cheering. He said—Although the budg el ' the late Ministry, as a whole, was bad, an d a ltlul.)il e the attempt to re2eal half the malt-tax, and subst itu i s an increased house-tax, was an impolitic propositiotnoro my opinion, still there were good indications of a t policy in that budget. (Hear, hear.) And I hope tto . those indica":,ions will not be ost sight of by by th e orie e censors of the late Government, particularly in rei . ties , to one proposition—l mean with regard to the tea a t e l res t. in which this district must take a most especial in t f o e °, (Hear.) Lord Derby's Government came into ° ori e l s lived, produced its plan, died, and all in ten n3 f (laughter)—and if reform, and those measures t ° o the provement that are expected, are to be put Of f , r esee year 1854, we should actually be allowing the t. r Kith" Government no less a pc.rlod than 14 o: 15 moti t ' g ir ' e 5 1 1, out requiring from them that they should rall" .u. sign. (Hear, hear.) And was there ever a P ert ' when the matter could b 3 undertaken better thap til present one ? Are we ro:; now ca-able of consideri n l this question calmly and deliberat A) s—can it be said th at a measure of reform would be hastily earriA in a s cramb le, and. by a mere concession to clamour, o r ill-conside r tt demands ? Nothing of the kind. (Hear, hear.) would be his endeavour, as it would no doubt be t i e ja , of his hon. colleague, to enforce these views in perGe ment without going into neelle,3 opposition to th to e vernment. They would at the came time endea vou promote, to the utmost of their ability, those great Pried ciples dpublic policy which he believed were sanct v i° to by the constituency of Manchester, and comities 0 , the welfare of the whole population. (Loud chee r Si) of Mr. BROTHERTON, M.P., Laid, the Reform ho d 1832 was considered a great measure, and yet lt ne ar disappointed many, who thought that it was ne'__ h i e ls extensive enough. (Hear, he ar .) E v ery reform was not complete must set the people after other P ill forms, and obtaini ng th ose measures w hi c h tend t o roll mote their happiness and cons-ort. No Reform no se would be satisfa c t or y a t thi s Vine which did not 1 ) t, to equalise the distribution of th e representation. , 710, hear.) The commerc i a l an d manufacturing al° vie r. must insist on getting their fair share of political P ° o je• (Applause.) The hon. member then alluded to the jio cation question and the various schemes proposed- ra ted. hoped the people would say explicitly what they wa it re' He was almost in f avour o f an y genera l sc heme, to its spected the rights of conscience and admitted all benefits, (Aplause.) TS° Mr. J. HEpYWOOD moved, and Mr. H. As ir° seconded the owin resolution : rs "That this meetings equeets the Liberal meme e- t heer nested with the county of Lancaster to consider } sir selves a committee for the purpose of aiding in eill 'th ceedings with reference to Parliamentary reform, othe view to secure such additional representatives a d o° county as its p o p u l a ti on, industry, wealth, and W e ' require." • stir Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., made a lengthened speech 11l tha t port of the resolution, and concluded thus :—I o r an extension of the franchise to household suffrag. e ,;:stel" a Si. franchise, would be to alarge extent annul:n ( l7; th e evil in many districts, if it were not accompani e the dc' ballot. (Cheers.) It would lead of necessity to th e moralisation of the workmen, and ultimatelYy by 7, th e temptation it wo u ld h o ld out to us, it would lea' ar: demoralisati on o f t h e employers. (Hear, hear, a n te sey plause.) Well, now, we are going next week ° co s in the new Government, and the new c i rc umsta n e - o er ss which we find ourselves. Mr. Gibson stated the thing'l which he s h ou ld pursue—Mr. Brotherton , coincided in that view—l am willing t o su bscribe l e per they said. O ur posit ' on has been one of perfect in o tvei deuce. Whether Lord Melbourne were in jor' whether Sir Robt. Peel were in office, Wbe ther were i° 4 John Ru sse ll were i n office, whether Lord DerbY: seen office, office, o r w h e th er Lord Aberdeen be in office; to me that our duty is precisely the same—t° es °- t all the favour th a t h onest men i n favour o f re. , ° r look upon Governments, surrounded as they are., l " ) ;,;io n4 dif f iculties, and having (even when honest and es for or to do right) to contend with most powesful inter o r posed to them. (Hear, hear.) But we m ust O f p oor get that we are the reprezentatives of industry) ° t par bers, of intelligence, and of wealth ; that we V te (i ina li g , liament opposed to many antiquated blunders, ,Tilefie,o hoary abuses, to many selfish and mischievous Prt!-itig (Hear, hear.) We must not lo wet that everY t 6 ll B B...-s n o country has gained since the revolution of 1 • ee d i n e s especially everything of late years—has been c lass e s manly contest of the industial and conireerci o f t l ! o t against the aristocratic and pHs ileged classe s Coe fil io country. We must cairy on the sam e resa i d, There are great things yet to be done. of past exertions are most encouraging—there is a loe 0 0 wide field before us for future exec tions and f teW De i r e ° cess. When lam permitted to speak here or e reo l: vo without the walls of Parliament I would alwaY s i r h elie io tt f favour v eb o He n rpo profitable fie w t ao h fb a lc t e o l ame b md e oa i e nd v sv e aln to dt ao b g e ne just, eoutea t,es p ire ehde peo ple e ; n e to il e c ial b e t bo mentary displays, or to the mere seeking of _ e to b e r ie ours or emoluments. I would rather aspure faithful representative of this great constituenci eor e to fend all it s r i ghts and i n t eres t s —(cheers) --t° : s ad or e far fa as possibl e a ll the liberties we now P°ese-till ni- e re lay up, if it i s poss i ble, for our ch ild r en s hers W gloriou s i n h eritance of freedom than our t able to bequeath.to us. (Loud cheers.) seer after t°' rid the The resolution was then unanimously agr e dor proceedings terminated about a qu arter o'clock. LITEBATUBff• ,erg V° sHook ;" The Art v ex, ~,b,, engravin 174, attraction r a e n- o d r Journal.—There are three t b, 1- if first •• - g 8 i n the Art Journal of this mc',. 4 6 , P,0 Time. T, fro m attention The second is a beautiful pi.et,i_lr.! not l i no Angler' a painting of Mulreadys c'' . of g The rior in Rome"u• An " Artist's Ra bl from A li 640 ° etsheenttshNiVrde'stwmhinic:teirtbwreiarPgv ts(l,4 m e i s •,, as a illustrated by several woodcuts' ii wof ea t th e Art," by Mrs. Merrifield, is we b° 0 1 . 04 of all ladies. No. 1 9 of t f Niell ° rt oMasters of Art continues the " IlistorY 9, ~ ilo or o f lissil l." There are also arficles ou tn_v,i f io l ornamenting metals, and art in the pry Y