The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-04 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager. THIS EVENING, FEs. 4, Will be performed the poyiar and highly successful Comedy of M ASKS AND FA Websteri Leigh Murray, Stuart, Parselle, and Lambert ; Mrs. Stirliw, Miss F. Maßkert, and Miss Rosa Bennett. After which (last time), the go r g eous Extravaganza, entitled LEO THE TERRIBLE. To conclude with the Farce of BOX and COX MARRIED and SETTLED. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, Will be performed the Comic Drama called A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK-FROCK:. Cba , acters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Homcastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss C. Mitchell. After which, the new and popular original Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE GOOD WOMAN IN THE WOOD, in which Messrs. F. Matthews , Suter, Horncastle, and Templeton ; Madame Vestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, =las Wyndham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosh= Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Sole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New Bond-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENLNG, FEB. 4, Will be presented the powerful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or, Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, 0. Smith, and Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Keeley, and Mrs. Keeley. — To conclude with the successful new Comic Pantomime, called NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlequin Merrie Monarch. Principal Danseuse, Mdlle. Auriol ; Clown, Mr. Fleamore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. lean. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, .._ . Will be performed the new and original Comedy, in three acts, by Douglas Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID ; or, Dorothy's Fortune (as played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal charac ters by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harley. J. Vining, Ryder, F. Cooke, Everett, and Chester ; Mrs. W. Lacy and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled MARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR ; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pan taloon, Mr. Paulo ; Columbine, Miss Desborough. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, Will be presented LILIAN GEItVAIS. Supported by Messrs. Compton, W. Farren, jun., Flaking, Cooke, Edgar, Bender, and Clifton; Misses Anderton and U. Gordon. After which. JOHN DOBBS. John Dobbs, Mr. W. Farren, jun. ; ratterncster, Mr. Compton. To conclude with ROMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Q.leen Mah 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 Mr. WILLIAM COOKE. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, The Performances will commence with the Equestrian Drama of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. After which, an unequalled Routine of Scenes in the Circle. To conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of FORTUNE° AND HIS HORSIi COMRADE; or, Harlequin and the Seven Gifted Men. Doors open at Half-past Rix o'clock. To commence at Seven. Box-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tuts DAT —Morning T min. after 10 1 Evening 51 min.aft. 10 To-Moaaow—Morning 32 min. after 11 I Evening 0 min.aft. 0 DAILY WEATHER TABLE. FRIDAY, FEB. 4, 1853 State of the wind and weather at each of the following rlaces at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations are arranged in order of latitude. HASTINGS—S., gentle breeze— Overcast. SOUTHAMPTON—N., gentle breeze—foggy. FOLKESTONE—S.E., light breeze—overcast. GREENWICH--S.E., gentle breeze—overcast. STROOD—S.W., gentle breeze—overcast. SWINDON—S.E., gentle breeze— 31oudy. CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—cloudy. YARMOUTH—S., gentle breeze—rain. The returns from the following places indicate the stati , of the weather on Wednesday morning at nine o'clock LANCASTER—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. WHITBY—S., gentle breeze —principally clear, frosty. DARLINGTON—S.E., strong breeze—cloady, fog, and frost. SNAP—E., calm—overcast. THE WEATHER.—SRN OFFICE, FEB. 4. THBRMOMETBR, IN TED SHADE. 85—highest since noon yesterday. 32—lowest this morning and during the night. 36—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'57. WIND, N.--Light breeze, and cold, dull weather. ztt 4 LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1853. Danger is again frowning upon the rule of the young SULTAN-CALIPH. His frontiers are now threatened, not merely from the Russian, but also, and in a more flagrant manner froth the Austrian dominions. The pretext for this mili tary demonstration against the Sublime Porte, is, of course, the recent outbreak between the Turk ish troops and the soldiers of the VLADIKA of Montenegro. Between those belligerents an old hatred has for a considerable time past been rankling. At every available opportunity it has manifested its existence in a series of contests, in which all the laws of humanity have been openly set at defiance. Invasions have at intervals been made across the boundaries separating the two countries from each other —now by the Osmanlis, now by the Montenegrins --the invading party al ways returning with such execrable trophies of success as the bleeding heads of the vanquished displayed upon their city ramparts—the sanguin ary fruits of these lawless and barbarous expedi tions. The same furious animosity has again broken loose in these eastern quarters of the European Con tinent, and in spite of every rational consideration, the contending races have given the rein to their mutual lust of carnage and spoliation. Hitherto, in this unhappy struggle, the advantage has, for the most part, been on the side of the warlike and adventurous Montenegrins. During the past ten years, from 1842 to 1852, inclusively, the endea vours of the Porte have been directed to the injury and degradation of their detested neigh bours. Their endeavours, it must be remembered, have been made under the able and vigorous direction of OSMAN, the Pasha of Scutari. His attacks have been, on each successive occasion, repelled by DANIEL, one of the most energetic among the Princes of Montenegro. The latter chieftain, during the course of last November, advanced suddenly upon the small garrison of twenty-seven Turkish soldiers, incautiously insu lated in the little fort of Zsabliak. Prince DANIEL'S attack upon that almost undefended post was of course successful, and OSMAN PASHA thereupon found himself placed at the head of an avenging expedition, hastily fitted out by order of the supreme authorities at Constan tindple. Since then war has raged almost uninterruptedly between the infuriated troops of the SULTAN and of the VLADIICA. Upon one occasion upwards of three hundred of the gory heads of the Turkish soldiery were car ried back to the camp of the foe, after a midnight surprise adventured upon by the Montenegrins. Against this ferocity the armies of ABD-UL-MEDJID have as yet opposed a fury quite as unbridled, but by no means so successful. Indeed, the first ad vance made by the Turks along the narrow strip of coast lying between the sea and the lake of Scutari proved altogether abortive, although per sonally conducted by the Vizier of Antivari. The subsequent attack from the side of Turkey has turned out in no way more fortunate, the attack led by OSMAN Pasua himself, and directed along the valley of the Moratska. Meanwhile Grahovo has been taken, the village rased to the ground, and the district ravaged by fire and sword —=the WOIVODE being compelled to seek safety in flight across the Austrian frontiers. Such is the situation of affairs in the seat of war at the period when the Viennese Government has resolved upon a direct interference. It is under these circum stances that the celebrated Ban of Croatia has; again appeared in the field, conducting his Sla vonic followers against the already partially-dis comfited soldiers of the Suarasr-Camar. A brief interval will now prove whether there is still re maining any of its ancient vitality in the Moham medan councils at Constantinople, and whether the Osmanlis can yet hope to triumph over their European antagonists, now that the forces of those antagonists have been swelled by the troops of Austria, and that their leaders are being mar shalled under the banners of the redoubtable JELLACHICH. One of the subjects which must necessarily occupy the legislativ e cons i deration during the p r esent session, and which, indeed, pre-eminently vlaims the calm and deliberative consideration of Parliament, that which h as b een popularly THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1853 termed " the renewal of the East India Com- pany's Charter." Much more, however, is im plied than " meets the eye," or rather, in the present instance, " the ear." The question is not merely whether we are to continue for any and what time certain privileges to a commel3ial company, by means whereof they may be erabled to pay handsome dividends to their stockholders, or proprietors—whether we are to brep'z the fall f those leviathan monopolists by giving further ime, that they may be enabled to set their ouses in order ? but rather whether we slip '1 ern]it the welfare and happiness of a popul.ation fivefold that of the United Kingdom, and more than one-sixth of the inhabitants of the globe, to remain in the hands and subject to the caprices of twenty-four elderly gentlemen, who are required to show no qualification for the arduous and im portant duty but the possession of a certain amount of X. s. d. invested in East India Stock. Nor are the constituency by whom the Members of the Hon. Board are to be selected in any degree more competent. Rich widows and wealthy spinsters, who are so fortunate as to possess the re quisite number of asterisks before their names, may, although not qualified to vote at the elec tion of a parish officer, decide the return of Hon. Directors in whom the patronage of all the important offices under the Anglo-Indian Go vernment are vested. The , owners of capital stock to the amount of 6,000,0001. sterling, which may, in 1874, be redeemed by the payment of 12,000,0001., and who, in the meantime, receive 630,0001. per annum, being 101 s per cent. on their original investment, or, at least, on the nominal amount of their holding, are allowed to exercise a material influence over the destinies of—we had almost said "to hold in slavent-150,000,000 of their follow-creatures. Verily, Hindoos are held cheaply in the market. Their ebony brethren who, according to Mrs. STOWE, sell for from 500 Lois. to 1,500 dols., may regard with contempt hose twenty-five of whom, on the average, are consigned to the tender mercies of the possessor of one pound of stock, or 6,250,000 human beings to a Director—the qualification or purchase money for which appears to be the possession of 4,0001. India Stock, the outlay of 3,0001. or 4,0001. hard cash in Committee-rooms at the London Tavern, and canvassing ex penses, liberal promises as to the exercise of his patronage in favour of some at least of his supporters among the " immaculate" constitu ency and a course of fawning and flattery during some six or seven years service, not in India—not in any manner that would qualify him to discharge efficiently the duties of his situation, but in haunting the resorts of those whose suf frages he is to gain by any means, per fas ant nefas. Such is the constitution of the body to whom we hand over, if not the government, at least the patronage, of our magnificent Oriental Empire. It is a clumsy contrivance after all, and one that will not bear investigation, to divide the power be tween the Board of Control and the Court of Di rectors, so that either party, when called to ac count, may contrive to shift the responsibility from their own shoulders, and to cast the blame, for which the occasions are but too frequent, upon others. If the Directors be assailed for the exor bitant and ill-used power of the Legislative Council, the flagrant disregard of the rights and privileges of the native princes, as exemplified in the case of the unfortunate and deeply-injured Rajah of SATTARA, or for the gross extortion on the RYOTS—the salt monopoly—the neglect of education—or the defective roads of the territory —they shelter themselves under the shield of the President of the Board of Control, while that fortunate individual in turn interposes the Honourable Court between himself and any formidable missile ; thus, like Clown and Panta loon in the Pantomime, alternately presenting the wrong aspect to any assailant. There can be no possible reason why this ridi culous system should continue a single hour be yond the period improvidently granted, which will - xpire next year. The proprietors made an ex ceedingly good bargain when they obtained a Government guarantee for 104- per cent. on the original stock, which cannot be interfered with until 1874, and which must be paid although our influence in Hindostan were practically annihi lated, and which then can only be redeemed at the rate of 200 per cent. They cannot complain if they are no longer permitted to retain the semblance of political power, the reality of which is vested in other hands ; or the distri bution of patronage, which is rarely exercised in favour of the most worthy or those who possess the strongest claims. The natives of India—thoge who are so deeply interested in the, to them, vitally important topic—are, we rejoice to find, bestirring them selves. Last week we alluded to the petition which emanated from the Bombay Association, the great—almost too great---moderation whereof gave it peculiar force. Another, and oven more interesting, document has come to hand from the Madras Native Association, couched in the most temperate language, and which, after simply alluding to the grievances. to which they are exposed, prays for " inquiry, and that the Char ter of the Company may only be renewed from year to year, until that inquiry be brought to a conclusion." This is a just and r ~sopable de mand—one that should not be slighted or neglected. We regret that neither time nor space permit us to enter this day into the allega tions so powerfully put forward. We shall, however, take an early opportunity of so doing, and of offering some observations on one of the most remarkable remonstrances that ever emanated from an oppressed and injured community. We confess that we should do so with greater pleasure if any member of the Cabinet other than Sir CHARLES WOOD :presided over the India Board, and was bound to take these well-founded com plaints into consideration. The laisser flare" policy however, will not answer in the present instance. Something must be done. And we trust titat the remaining Cabinet Ministers may stimulate their sluggish colleague. It is sufficient that one Go vernment has been overthrown—one party ejected from power through the vis inertix displayed by the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for Hali fax. Next to Mr. HUME, in his capacity of " inde pendent Member," obtaining a Committee, and to Mr DISRAELI, in his capacity of Statesman, recog nising the taxable differdnce between fixed and precarious incomes, the public will be hardly less indebted to Mr. FARR, in his capacity of Actuary, devoting his high qualifications to the adjustment of the Income Tax. We owe him thanks for every one of his masterly letters ; but were never more struck with the superior value of practical knowledge of life, combined with science, to mere science, than in his last communication, in which lie completely demolishes the famous " class in come" argument of Mr. BABBAGE. Were a Norfolk farmer to purchase a lean bul lock for 101., to give him 51. worth of food, to sell him for 201., and then to tell his neighbours that he had cleared 151. by his beast, and all the manure besides, his brother bull-frogs, as COBBETT used to call them, would laugh heartily at the blunder. Yet precisely similar is the blunder of which Mr. FARR convicts such mathematicians as Mr. BABBAGE and Mr. GLADSTONE in regard to the Income Tax ! As in the case of terminable an nuities,, Mr. FARR shows that they would be guilty of including capital in income. In plain language, to is confiscation f rom fi xe d an d precar i ous sources alike confiscation of capital in the case of the latter. Mr. BABBAGE'S argument, confessedly the most plausible one for this injustice which has yet appeared, is as follows : " Society is divided into classes ; individuals of the (lass change, but the income of the class remains the same. The income of the tradesman class, of the 11- I:ourer class, and the farmer class, all are as permanent as the income of the landlord class and the fundholdcr class ; all classes ought, therefore, to contribute on the whole amount of their income, because, as classes, their ilcomes are equally permanent." Now Mr. FARR shows that, as classes, they do differ, and differ very widely. The precariousneEs of life is common to the individuals of all the classes ; but the dependence of the income in the one case on that precarious element of the class, and in the other case on something not precarious, necessitates a large deduction from the income, merely to maintain its amount in the former case ; while, in the latter, the land or consols sustain the amount of income, needing no deduction whatever in order to do so. Take the barristers. The income of this class MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS, CITY, Two o'CLoorc. The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at from 5,000 to 6,000 bales, of which 1,000 American were taken on speculation. The maricet closed steadily but with more disposition to sell. The sales included 250 Pernam and has not only to maintain the class while earning it, but has also to replace those who die, and to train the coming generation of barristers ; to lodge, feed, and educate at School, College, and Inns of Court, the whole class, for 21 years at least. Now, regarding the barristers as a class, all this must be spent upon it to keep it qualified for its work. Nor is this all. To keep up any class of incomes which depend on in , dtal or bodily labour, the persons composing tha, class must be kept alive. Land or funds produce their income, whe ther the proprietor be • alive or dead ; in fact, often go on accumulating the dividends or rent for years, while the owner is unknown. But per sons who earn incomes, must live in order to earn them. The expense of living needful to the work of each class is, therefore, a second deduction, in addition to that of rearing and training, and is to be regarded as a part of the capital included in incomes dependent upon the exertions of living men. Mr. FARR gives two carefully computed statements, in which he illustrates these circum stances in regard to the labourer class. We give merely his results ; taking 2,000 of this class, of all ages, their earnings will average about 211. per head, or 42,04f,1. per year—this is their income. But the outgo needful to maintain the class in efficiency, is equal to 131. per head ; a de duction which reduces the value of their whole income to about seven years' purchase, as compared with twenty years' purchase of the nett profit of their wages. Again, he supposes two persons purchasing these different kinds of class income. A. purchases say 1,000,0001. of rents of land. Now, since the labourers and farmers who work the land are all provided for before the rent is paid, he incurs no expense whatever to keep up the amount of the rents ; his land never dies, never needs support during minority, education, apprenticeship, or food. B. purchases 1,000,0001. of barristers' incomes ; but he finds that out of it he must both maintain the . present barristers, and provide a succession of barristers at a heavy expense. If, indeed, he has bought the income from this source, at the same price as A. has purchased the in- come from land, he will find but a small return indeed for his outlay ; he would find that the income he had purchased was not pure in come, but required that a large part of it should be employed as capital to maintain the class itself in existence. We trust that many of our readers will study Mr. FArat's elaborate but lucid state ments in full ; but we especially commend them to Mr. GLADSTONE'S notice. He really must, as well as the unlucky Protectionists, swallow his leek, leaves and all; like them, he has been driven to certain admissions, but nothing will do now but an Income-tax conversion. He must quit the Cabinet or quit his crotchets. Oxford even can not save him. Like the Corn-law struggle, and so many others, the procrastination of justice brings one most invaluable blessing with it—that of doing the thing at last with such thorough un derstanding of the case that it can never be tampered with again. Mr. FARR will prove an Income-tax Col. THOMPSO,N, and, if need be, we shall not want an Income-tax COBDEN to rouse the country to demand its rights. Mr. GLADSONE, therefore, had better strike at once than originate a new League, and better give in wholly than attempt any compromises like the old Bs. duty of the Whigs. LONDON AND COUNTY BANK. That part of the proceedings at the annual meet ing of this bank yesterday, which had reference to the exertions made by the directors to promote the interests of their clerks, certainly deserves more than a passing notice at the present time, when the ultra-utilitarian spirit of the age had tended some what to loosen those bonds of attachment which ought to exist between capital and labour. It ap pears that the directors, in consequence of the prosperous state of the bank, have determined to give each of their clerks a bonus equivalent to 10 per cent. on his salary for the year. But this is not all. Mr. J. Sadleir, the chairman has, with the assistance of his colleagues, succeeded in carrying out two ideas of his own, with the view of benefit ing' the officers in the bank in a still greater degree. The old system of requiring clerks to give bonds of fidelity from private friends or guarantee societies, has been abolished, and there is substituted a plan of mutual guaranteeship among themselves, each contributing his share according to ascertained scales to a fund out of which all losses through dishon esty will be made up. The maximum amount is to be fixed at 3,0001., and all the surplus beyond that is to go towards the formation of a provident fund for the assistance of aged or disabled clerks and their families. To this latter fund Mr. Sadleir has presented the munificent donation of 4,5001., and it is anticipated that it will be further augmented by subscriptions from other quarters. These three most wise and judicious measures cannot but be productive of much good, both as regards the clerks and their employers. The abandonment of private suretyship will release the former from a disagree able sense of obligation to friends, and relations ; and the latter will find that, under the new arrangement, all the clerks will have a per sonal interest in protecting the bank from any species of peculation. Then the fact of there being a provisionfor old age andfor the families of deceased members of their body will relieve the minds of the clerks from that harassing anxiety which po verty in prospect for themselves and those depend ant on them, is sure to occasion ; and thus they will enter upon their various duties with cheerful ness and goodwill, and unclouded by any feeling of despondency as to the future. By taking the initiative in such important im ecial favourite of zt ll s re a n s d t e h r e h se im , s t e h ll e th la e te es flon. Member for Lon don ' ptChraaortvloenlnivumerous and intelligent bo p dy—the Clerks of --- ----_ GENERAL BROTHERTON AND MR. COBDEN. Mr. Cobden presents his compliments to the Editor of the Times, and will be obliged by his inserting the fol lowing correspondence which has passed between him and Lieutenant -General Brotherton. Manchester, Feb. 2. "Lieutenant -General Brotherton presents his corn plimants to Mr. Cobden. " He sends him a duplicate of a letter he addressed to him yesterday, at his town residence, 103, Westbo terrace ; but finding he is not in town, and not likely to return immediately, and as the letter might. not be for warded to him, be thinks it better, in order to avert the chance of delay, to send him this duplicate. Jan. 30. --- " Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, Jan. 29. " Sir, —I perceive, by a report of your speech at the meeting of the Peace Conference at Manchester, on Thursday evening last, you are made to say that, in order to test the sincerity of those who differ from you in opinion as to the probability of invasion you will en ter into a legal bond to pay down 10,000 i., when inva sion takes place, to him who will undertake to pay is. a-week as a subscription to the Manchester Infirmary till that event does occur. "Being one of those who differ from you totally in opinion upon this subject, I accept your proposal, and am prepared top erform my part of the engagement when I receive your reply. our obedient servant, " I am , Sir, y " T. W. BROTHERTON. "To. R. Cobden, Esq., M.P." MB. COBDENS ANSWER. "Manchester, Feb. 2. "Sir, ---In reply to y our communication I beg to say, that alth oug h my offer , t o which it refers, was addresse et, d to a gentlema n individually, and not to the public, y as he has declined my challenge, and as your letter and duplicate, forwarded to me at two addresses, have come to hand before any other application has reached me, I have very grea,., satisfaction and pride in transferring to a General in her Alajesty's service the insurance against the risk of invasion which I had intended for the relief of the terrors of a respecta,ble conductor of an influential provincial newspaper.. I must, however, suggest one sheration in the terms of agreement as contained in your letter.' Instead of undertaking to pay 10,000/, when an invasion takes place to one whose professional duty it might be to prevent such an event from occurring, and who might thereby be placed iu the invidious position of conking the chalice of his own defeat, I will, upon the condition that you subscribe. a shilling a-week to the Manchester Infirmary, enter into a legal engagement to pay you the above sum of money when a French inva sion is attempted. Enclosed is the name of my solicitor, and I should wish the bond to be . completed as soon as possible ,—in which, with your views, you will I dare say agree with me ; and I have the honour to be " Your o b e dient servant, " RICHARD COBDEN. "Lieutenant-General Brotherton, &c. "P.S.—I shall inform the treasurer of the Manchester Infirmary that a subscription from me to that charitye, of 2/. 12s. a-year will be p aid by you duringour lifetim or until the French attempt an invasion of these islands." Maranham at 61d. to 6id., 20 Bahia at 60., 700 Egyptian at 64d. to 74d., 900 Surat at 3/d. to 41d., and the remainder nearly all American. Railway Shares were dull and heavy at lower prices. The produce markets have this week been steady on the whole, and the business done has proved satisfactory. Tallow is duller, and Co Tee not brisk, but Sugar has been steadily purchased for consumption. Tea is quiet, and Cotton in demand. Spices have attracted attention. The Silk market is thus reported on by Mr. Henry W. Eaton : "In Chinas, the sales of Tsatlees have been limited, the trade probably wishing to see the qualities of the recent arrivals before operating, while all the Taysaams have been taken at fully previous rates. In Bengal silk a fair business has continued, • every thing from lls. Gd. to 12s. 6d. selling currently. About 120 bales of the Jungypore qualities lately alluded to have also been sold at from 12s. 6d. to 13s. 3d. The accounts just received from Calcutta report the market as firm, and the prospects of the new Bund good as regards quantity. The Brutias imported during the month have been sold freely at a slight advance on the prices of De cember. The Persians, owing to the present scarcity of coarse silk, were also taken at from 12s. 3d. to 135., prices to which our manufacturers have not been ac customed for a long time, until lately, and at which I cannot believe that the consumption by them can reach its former extent. As, however, the importers are, in consequence of these prices, offering in this market the stocks which they have in France, a portion of which are now arriving from Marseilles or Paris, in addition to the expected importations from• Persia, we many natu , rally hope for more reasonable (prices in this [silk. In L Italian Silk there has been very little doing." All further dispute between the " Australian Consols Golti and Copper Mines Company," with regard to the large tract of land which it possesses, and which it intends to lease to mineral companies, has been obviated by the owner confirming the title, as will be seen in the following letter ad dressed to the directors : "As the solicitor of Captain Macqueen, I beg to in form you that I withdraw the notice of the rescinding the contract between Captain Macqueen and the said company, served upon you, and dated the 30th Decem ber, 1852, the differences between the company and the Captain having been satisfactorily adjusted. "I am happy to add that no further question is likely to arise as to the validity of the contract between Cap tain Macqueen and the company, and that Captain Macqueen is fully prepared to deliver possession of the Segenl oe estate to the company's agent on his arrival there.—l am, Gent'emen, your obedient Servant, (Signed) " J. NEEDHAM." The commercial news just received by the Col lins line of steamer from New York is very satis factory, and the exchange on London was im proving. - The accounts received from Mexico by this op poi :amity are even worse than those to hand yes terday, the revolution being rapidly extended to all provinces. From New Granada, the agents of the bond holders write that an arrangement in reference to the divideLds in arrear is promised. The English Securities have been very dull, and the continued decline at Paris checks any improve ment here, with the knowledge that the Bank of England is still losing its bullion. Consols have been 99 to for transfer, and 99k to for account. The New 3k per Cents. have been quoted 103 to 3, and the 3 per Cents. 991 to par. Exchequer Bills .of March are dull at 555. prem. Foreign Stocks are quite neglected. The only bargains are in New Grenada Deferred, at 11; in Venezuela, at 38 ; and in Spanish New Defe:Ted at 224 to . Dutch 4 per Cents. have been heavy at 97 4 to The Railway Share Market has been extremely depressed, and the speculators for a fall are still selling freely, upon the ground that the dividends are low. The North-Western have receded 1/. to 1/. 10s., the Midland it., the Oxford and Wolver hampton 1/., the South-Eastern 1/. 55., the Caledo nian 1/. to it. 10s., and Great Western 1/. to 2/. Most others hP,ve gone down in proportion. French shares are weak and quite neglected. The Gold Mine Shares have been flat, but gene rally at about the previous rates. The United Mexican Mine Shares have been heavy, as the ac counts from the mines do not show quite such a largo product, and the Zacateca' claim has been compromised for less than was expected. The Land Company's Shares are lower ; and the Australian Banks are scarcely so good. BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY , (Frsa the Official List.) _ P.ueiness done, 3 per Cent. I?7;duced Annuities....... ..... 99,1 1C J 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 34 per Cent. Annuitics lO3 4- Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6s Consols for Account 10th February 094 Exchequer Bills 41. March. June. £lOOO.. ..... ............ ................... 55 £5OO 5B PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'C LOCK Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent Ditto for the Account Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cent. Dutch Exchange 2 per Cent Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates.....,., . Consols . ....................... Ditto February Account .. 22i i i 38 HALP-PAST TWO, 99 ENERGETIC AGITATION IN FAVOUR OF THE BALLOT.— We have much pleasure in informing our readers that measures are now in active progress, under circumstances of the most auspicious kind, for commencing an energetic agitation in favour of vote by ballot. On Wednesday a private meeting of some of the most dis tinguished friends of secret voting, was held in the Lon don Tavern, with a view to adopt the necessary steps for a great metropolitan demonstration in favour of the ballot. Mr. H. F. Berkeley, the member for Bristol, appropriately presided on the occasion. The great metropolitan demonstration has been fixed for to morrow fortnight, .by which time all the members of Parliament favourable to secret voting will be in town. An association to promote the success of the forthcom ing agitation, is now in the course of formation, and on the list of the committee we already find the names of nearly twenty members of Parliament, headed by Mr. Cobden. We are sure we need not add that this journal will give its warmest support to the contemplated move ment.—Morning Advertiser. ST. MARYLEBONE BANK FOR SAVINGS.—The 23d annual general meeting of this institution was held on Thursday, the 3d of this month, at the office, 76, Wel beck-street, Cave ndish-square —the Rev. John Hume Spry, D.D., in the chair. It appeared from the several reports react to the meeting, that the progress of the bank during the last year had been of a satisfactory desrip tion, no less than 2,504 new deposits having been made in the last year. 2,774 deposit accounts remained open on the 20th of November last, of which 17,284 held balances averaging less than 21. 19s. 7d. The sum in the hands of the Government on the 20th Nov., 1852, as per receipt from National Debt-office, signed by Sir A. Spearman, Bart., and laid before the meeting, was 364,5261. 12s. ; in the hands of the treasurer, Sir Claude Fdward Scott, Bart., whose acknowledgment was like wise produced, 1,2071. 18s. ; in the hands of the actu ary, 141. 3s. 4 d.—total, 365,7481. 13s. 4d. The balance due to depositors at that date, as per balance-sheets, produced, 36 4,917/. 19s. 9d.— surplus, 8301. 13s. 7d. The balance due to depositors has since risen to 375,831/. 4s. 7d. THE L ORD - LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND.—The Earl of St. Germans made his public entry into Dublin, at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. The day turned out very fine, and his Excellency rode on horseback from West land-row to the Castle. His reception along the route was extremely cordial. A body of the University stu dents cheered the noble Earl as the cortege passed the college. The Lord Mayor and Corporation preceded the procession from the railway terminus to the Castle. The Countess of St. Germans and the Ladies Eliot, rode in a close carriage, and were also cordially greeted by the spectators stationed in the streets. FRENCH SURVEYS OF THE BRITISH COAST.—The fol lowing very extraordinary statement appears in the Bel fast Banner :—" We have received from an Edinburgh correspondent a letter, dated the 29th ult., in which it is stated that during the last week a French steamer has been cruising off Berwick, and every night the men are engaged in taking soundings of the Tweed, while during the day artists are employed in making sketches of the coast. Our contemporary adds that this steamer, having completed its mission at Berwick, has gone to Newcastle on a similar errand." DR. CUMMING ON THE CASE OF THE MADIAIS.—Last night Dr. Cumming del ,rered a lecture on the case of the Madiais, to a cro vded auditory, at the Caledonian Caurc'i, Holloway. The rev. gentleman improved the occasion to point that moral which he has already deve loped in his newspaper letters— that the persecution of the Madiais, and all such similar cases constantly occur ring in Italy, are the logical consequences of the canoni cal law of the Church of Rome, which insists upon the persecution and extirpation of heretics as a primary ec clesiastical duty. IRON PAVEMENTS.—Workmen arc paving Howard- Oreet, Boston, U n it e d St a t es , with cast iron. The pave ment is composed of circular boxes of cast iron, about 12 inches in diameter, and five inches in hei g ht, divided into six compart m ents, so small as not to admit the hoof of a horse. Th ese s p aces will be filled with gravel ; but some other s u b s t ances , s uch as a composition of asphaltum and sa n d or geare l, m ay be found more suit able. The surface of the pavement is grooved, to pre vent horses from slipping, and on the outer edge of each box are keys which fit into the edges of the surrounding bo::es—thus binding the whole firmly together. The thickness of the outer rim and inner division is about an . inch. The street will be covered with a net-work of iron, filled in with a substance to produce a smooth and durable surface. ARRIVAL OF THE PACIFIC. LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY MORNING. By the steam-ship Pacific, we have advices from New York to the 22d ult. She brought 54 passengers, but no specie. The Pacific passed Holyhead at two p.m. yester day, but was compelled to come to anchor off the buoy at six p.m. through fog, and did not arrive till seven o'clock this morning. The screw steam-ship Andes, from Liverpool, arrived at New York on the 21st. There' is no news of importance by this arrival. In the New York stock market a large business had been done at firm prices. The money market was easy. Foreign exchanges in good demand. Bills on London, 109 i to 1091 ; Paris, 5 13i to 5 12k. The cotton market was buoyant, but without any alteration in prices. Wheat and flour without change. Freights to London unaltered. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY), OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Baron Martin.) THE GOLD CHAIN CASE. John Edward Lamude surrendered to take his trial on a charge of selling a chain purporting to be gold, knowing the same to be of base metal. Mr. Parry prosecuted, and Sir F. Thesiger and Mr. Clarkson defended. Mr. Parry opened the case, stating that the chain in question, though sold for 3/.105., was worth intrinsically only 195., and adding 10s. for the expense of manufac ture, there would leave a profit of 2/. In fact, not quite one-third of the chain was gold. Mr. Baron Alderson said that, after directing considerable attention to the case he had come to the conclusion that this was not an indictable offence. Lord Mansfield had ruled a similar case in the same manner. No doubt there was cheating and fraud in the case, but it was more a case of a foolish bargain between two parties, in which one of them had been deceived. The proper proceeding would have been to take a warranty, and then the sufferer by the bargain would have had his remedy by civil action. He did not believe that it was an indictable offence, much less against the shopman, who was not shown to have been aware of the spurious nature of the goods he was selling. Mr. Parry said there was a case in the books in which a person going into a pawnbroker's shop, and offering to sell a dozen thimbles which he said were silver, and afterwards turned out to be base metal, had been in dicted for it. Mr. Baron Alderson said this case came under the head of endeavouring to obtain money under false pre tences, because here the seller took the first step. He should, however, ask the jury whether they thought there was sufficient evidence to show that the shopman was aware of the spurious nature of the goods he was selling. The Jury having consulted, said they did not think that the blame rested with the prisoner ; they did not think that he was aware of the nature of the goods. The prisoner was then ordered to be discharged. THE CORN FORGERIES. Robert Ferdinand Pries was placed at the bar, charged with feloniously uttering a receipt for 7,323 quarters of wheat, with intent to defraud James Holford and others ; also with unlawfully obtaining, by false pretences, the sum of 9,0001., with intent to defraud Ignace Schultoff and another of the same. Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Parry prosecuted, and Mr. Huddlestone defended. Mr. Ballantine opened the case, and proceeded to call the following witnesses : Mr. Hermann Christian Turck, examined by Mr. Parry—l am a member of the firm of Collmann, Stoltes forth and Co., foreign bankers, of London and Ham burgh. I have known the prisoner six years. Our house has been in the habit of advancing money to at some times during the last year to the amount of 50,000/. The document which I hold in my hand was deposited by the prisoner with us as security. The document being read, purported to be an acknow ledgment of the transfer of 7,323 qrs. of wheat to the order of Messrs. Collmann and Stolterforth, by direction of Mr. R. F. Pries. The document was signed Young and Brown. Mr. Young, examined by Mr. Ballantine--The signa ture attached to this document is neither mine nor that of my partner. This is the usual form of document given by them. Mr. Huddlestone contended that this document was not an accountable receipt. It was nothing more than the acknowledgment or assertion of a transfer, and the forgery of it did not, therefore, amount to a felony within the statute. Mr. Baron Alderson said that at present he enter• tained no doubt whatever that the document was an ac. countable receipt. Mr. Baron Martin was entirely of the same opinion. Mr: Brown, the other partner of the firm of Brown and Young, deposed to the name of the firm being a forgery. Mr. Turck recalled ; examination by Mr. Parry—On the 30th December the prisoner came to me, and asked me to allow him to take away the document, for the pur pose of raising money in other quarters. I allowed him to take it, first writing on it, " Retransferred to Mr. R. F. Pries." Mr. Emile Adolphe Hermann—l am the managing clerk of Messrs. Holford and Co., foreign bankers. On the 4th of January the prisoner brought this document to our bank. Seeing the name of Collmann and Stol terfoth upon it, I had no hesitation, and upon this and anothe document I advanced the prisoner 18,0001. John Huggin, the detective, deposed to having taken the prisoner into custody while in the train for Newcastle. Mr. Young recalled, and cross-examined by Mr. Huddlestone—We should never give such a document as this if we had no corn answering the description in our possession. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. Huddleston addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner. Mr. Baron Martin summed up, anl The Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. Mr. Ballantine said he thought it but part of his duty to mention that there were two other indictments against the prisoner, and that there were many other documents in the possession of Messrs. Collmann and CO. similar to those on which the prisoner hsd been indicted. Mr. Baron Alderson sentenced the prisoner to trans portation for life. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FEB. 3 The following bad the honour of dining with her Ma jesty yesterday :—The Duchess of Kent, the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Duke and Duchess of Lein ster, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, the Earl of Carlisle, the Earl of Mul grave, the Dean of Chester, the Rev. F. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, and Mr. Gibbs: The Band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the Castle, and played during dinner. Her Majesty's Private Band afterwards attended, and played the following selection : Overture; " Joko" Lindpaintner. Fantasia, Contra Basso, Mr. A. C Rowland Rowland. Selection, " Lestocq" Auber. Kriege's Marsch Mendelssohn. Prince Albert went out hunting this forenoon, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. 'The followinc , have been invited, and are ex p ec t e d to day:—The Lord-Chancellor ' and Lady Cranworth, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere, Lord and Lady Ashburton, the Right Hon. Sidney and Mrs. Herbert, and Sir William and Lady Molesworth. The Hon. Caroline Cavendish and the Hon. Flora Macdonald have succeeded to the Hon. Amelia Murray and the Hon. Lucy Kerr as Maids of Honour inWaiting to the Queen. The Queen and Prince drove out in an open carriage this afternoon, attended by Lord A. Paget and Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon ' on horseback. Her Majesty will hold a Privy Council on Monday next, the 7th instant, at Windsor Castle. Summonses were issued yesterday from the Privy Council-office to the Ministers and Officers of State. Count Colloredo, the Austrian Minister, had an inter. view with Lord John Russell yesterday, at the Foreign. office. A deputation of the Local Executive Committee on the Manchester and Salford Boroughs' Education Bill, consisting of Mr. William Entwisle (chairman), Mr. John Peel (honorary secretary), the Rev. C. Richson, and Mr. J; P. Bunting, were introduced by Sir James Kay Shuttleworth, and had interviews yesterday with the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, and the President of the Board in the course of the day. The Earl of Aberdeen left town for Windsor Castle after the breaking up of the Cabinet Council yesterday afternoon, on a visit to the Queen. The Lord Chan cellor leit town yesterday afternoon, on a visit to her Majesty. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue, had an interview on Wednesday with the Chancellor of' the Exchequer, at his official residence in Downing-street. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office yester day from the Governors of the West India Islands. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes terday. The Lords present were—The Lords Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, the Judge of the Admiralty Court, Sir J. Patteson, and Sir E. Ryan. An appeal from Canada, part heard, " Pollok v. Bradbury," was res ur ed and concluded. An appeal from the Preroga- Court, " Farlar v. Lane," was commenced. The ca a was adjourned. The Duke of Newcastle arrived in town on Wednes. day night from seat, Clumber, Notts. A Cabinet Council was held at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office, Downing-street. The Ministers present were the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granvill e' the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, Lord John Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, Sir James Graham, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Marquis of Lansdowne travelled from Bowood yesterday morning to attend the Council, and arrived at the Foreign-office soon after 3 o'clock. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also joined his colleagues, after attend ing in the Treasury with the Governor and Deputy- Governor of the Bank of England on the subject of the loan. The Council broke up about half-past 5 o'clock. AMERICA. MARKET NEWS--,-(TEL(S DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. Since our last report, the arrivals of English wheat up to this maket, coastwise, have been very moderate, and in low condition. The supply received fresh up to this morn ing's market being limited, the show of samples of both red and white qualities was small; nevertheless, the -de mand for all kinds was in a very inactive state, at Monday's decline in the quotations. For forward delivery, scarcely any business was trans acted, although offers arrived on lower terms. . The imports of foreign wheat have amounted to 8,410 quarters, chiefly from tho near ports. Selected parcels sold at late figures ; but all other kinds were dull in the extreme. Floating cargoes almost nominal. There was a slight improvement in the sale for malting barley, at full prices. In grinding and distilling sorts very few transactions were reported. Malt—the show of which was tolerably good—moved off slowly, at late figures. We had a moderate inquiry for oats, beans, peas, and flour, at Monday's quotations. English Wheat. 720 ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Barley. I Malt. 2,170 5,020 .rish foreign .. Oats. Flour. HO 2,00 640 — 12,t6) 2CO 8,410 SMITHFIELD. The supply of beasts on offer in to-day's market was limited. Primo Scots, &c., moved off steadily at fully Monday's prices ; but all other breeds were a dull inquiry at late rates. Sheep—the number of which was small— sold freely, at full rates of currency. The primest old downs produced 5s per 81bs. We were extensively sup plied with calves ' • hence, th e vea l t ra d e ru l e d heavy, at a decline in the quotations of from 4d to, in some in s t ances, Gd. per 81bs. Th e sa l e for pigs was less active : in prices, however, no change took place. Milch cows were very dull, at from 141. to 191. 5s each, including their small calf. Per Sibs to sink' the ofFals. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...2 8 to 2 10 Second quality ...3 0 3 2 Prime large oxen 3 4 3 6 Prime Scots, &c. 3 8 4 0 Inferior shy 3p ...3 8 3 10 Seco al (party ...4 0 4 4 Prime crse.-wlled.4 6 4 8 s. d. s. d. Prime Southdown 410 5 0 Large crse. calves 3 2 4 2 Prime small do _4 4 4 8 Large hogs 210 3 6 Small porkers 3 8 4 0 Suckling calves 19 0 24 0 Quarter old pigs 19 0 23 0 Bea,sts Sheep . Calves Pigs FOREIGN SUPPLY. - 795 . 3,800 . 400 . 330 Beasts Sheep Calves I Pigs LEADENHALL. TOTAL SUPPLY. NEWGATE AND The general demand was le Per Sibs by 1 s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef, inferior 24 2 8 Mutton, Inferior 32 3 C Do., middling 210 3 0 Do. ,middling 3 8 4 0 Do., prime large 3 2 3 4 Do., prime 4 2 4 6 Do., c/o. sir 011....3 4 3 6 Veal I 0 4 6 Pork, large 2B 3 0 Pork, small 32 4 0 Iss active, at our quotations. lc carcase. GH HOP. Since our last repoßOßOUrt, rather an extensive business has been transacted in all new hops, at a decided improvement in the quotations. Old qualities are held for more money. Mid and East Kent pockets, 95s to 168 s ; Weald of Kent, 95s to 112 s ; Sussex, 92s to 110 s. per cwt. COLONIAL. SUGAR.—The demand for British plantation has been fair, and prices have been well supported. Barbadoes, by auction, realised. 36s to 39s 6d for mid to fine. Yesterday there was rather less doing. East India—Bengal, about two-thirds found buyers publicly, but at 6d decline ; fine white 38s 6d to 398, mid and good 37s to 38s, loiv 36s 6d, and grainy low white, 39s 6d to 40s. Common brown was taken in at gds to 29s 6cl, for mid and good brown, and low to good yellow, at 30s to 35s 6d. Refined was generally at lower rates. Foreign Havannah 'was taked in mid to fine yellow at 37s to 41s 6d, and low and mid brown at 34s 6d to 368. Brown Bahia was taken in at 32s to 353 6d for ord to fide. COFFEE.—Business has not been active, and for Native Ceylon of good ord quality, 478 per cwt. have to be paid. Plantation Ceylon was taken at 53s to 64s for low mid, and good and the most recent sales were at 568 to 56s 6d, for mid and good. 70s to 735, for fine marks 49s 6d to 555, for fine fine ord and low mid small, and 31s to 32s 6d for very ord ; peaberry realising 678. Costa Rica has been firm, having been taken in at 498 to 60s for fine ord to mid coloury. Mocha, good garbled yellowish sold at 733 to 765, and longberry at 768 to 798 per cwt. COCOA.—Trinidad has been sold at 35s to 39s 6d, for mid and good red, and at 32s to 34s 6d for ord to good grey. SPICES.—There has been a demand for Pimento at 6d per cwt. for mid, and at 5d to 6d for ord to good. White Pepper has been in good request. Sin ga p ore at 7d to 70 for mid and good, beingdearer. Allepy sold at 3d to 3d for mid sound, and at 3ad to 30 for mid and good, being _Luch has been done in any description. SALT e ß x e p n o g r a t l er soll a shade lower—ord, 241 to 191 c h t rT a E k TN e n n oEt b . per cent. refraction, at 24s to 24s 6d ; and good, at 28s 6d for 5i per cent. COTTON.—The market has been active, at full rates. TALLOW.—P.Y.C. has been dull, at 44s 6cl per cwt. on the spot, which is scarcely the previous value. GREEN FRUIT.—The stock of all kinds is reduced to a small compass, and is likely to continue so until a change of wind takes place. A parcel of Lisbon oranges, per Tagns steamer, sold by Keeling`and Runt, landed in bad condi for Barcelona. Seville sours are in request, and there are n t i n ° t n s , a r r e e a j o s u e t d of p r ificresst according A t° s e p h e a c r u a l e a t t e i r v . e i n Blackqui r ySpanish nuts are out of first hands. A speculative inquiry exists none on hand at present. TOBACCO.—The imports during the past month , were 1,553 hhds. ; the deliveries were 953 hhds. against 1,4!,(2ii} the corresponding month of 1852. The stock is 18,784 hhds. against 21,637 in 1852. In Virginia sales have been upwards of 150 hhds., chiefly leaf, at full prices ; in strips few sales have been made, but holders appear very firm at present quotations. For Kentucky leaf and strips the de mand has continued very steady, and holders have shown no disposition to effect sales, excepting at full prices. Some purchases are represented to have been made during the month for re-sale, but particulars have not trans pired: Maryland, of good and fine sorts, has been taken to some extent ; low descriptions, however, has been ne glected. In Havannah leaf transactions have been very trifling, stock being nearly bare of selections suited to the wants of the trade ; light descriptions for fillers are in good request. The arrivals of Havanna sugars per last steamer were taken by the trade at a slight advance in price, particularly for those of eligible sizes, and more at tention has been paid to those remaining of the old crop. In Manilla cheroots very little has been done in conse quence of a further advance in price—the stock is nearly exhausted. Very few sales have taken place in Manilla leaf. In Yara and Cuba transactions have been limited ; two parcels of the former have arrived, one of which has just been sampled, and proves of fine quality. Nothing has been done in Havanna seed leaf, Florida, Porto Rico, and St. Domingo. Brazil continues in fair request, but buyers have not stocked themselves freely, prefer ring folded to flat descriptions (of which latter the recent imports, were principally composed) at the re lative prices. In Columbian (Ambalenia) a large business has been done, both for export and thb pmposes of the trade, but chiefly confined to the best marks ; in Giron few sales have been effected. A more extended business has been done in German. The imports of the new crop having produced a fair proportion, eligible both as regards colour and texture ; there is more inquiry for cutting pur- Amerfoot, except for snuff purposes, continues neglected. Negrobead and Cavendish have not met with such a ready demand as in the preceding month, but prices remain un altered. American Stalks are in less request, and mixed talks are dull of sale. Smalls are in fair demand. LIVERPOOL UNION BANIC.—The annual meeting of the proprietors of this bank was held on Wednesday, in the Clarendon-rooms, Liverpool. From the report, it appeared, that the net profits of the past year wa s 42,0591. 11s. ld., deducting all bad debts. Out of this a dividend of 6 per cent., together with a bonus of 6s. per share had been paid, leaving a balance of up wards of 14,0001. to the reserve fund, which now amounts to 70,8991. By a resolution passed in 1848, the dividend was limited to 6 per cent. until th e cap i tal reached 60,0001., but it being now upwards of that amount, the directors advised that the surplus should be allowed to accumulate until it should reach 100,0001. FASHION.—The marriage of the Emperor of France has made the fashionable season much earlier than usual and our English milliners have visited Paris at l east a ' month before the customary period. Several important changes in fashion, destined for March and A pr il , have already been forwarded by their agents to the house of Messrs. J a y, of Regent-street, and have been courteously shown to us. The novelty, however, which we were mos t pleased with is of native p ro d uce, and is likely to make great alterations in the p ecu li ar requirements of their trade. It is a " crape-silk," which possesse s th e sombre characteristic of its first name, with all the dura bility that is required for mourning wear, as implied by its joint appellation. , POISONING IN ROME. --All Rome is occupied in dis cussing the extraordinary attempt to poison the Marquis Bandini of Macerata, together with his wife and family, the success of which was prevented by a mysterious re velation of the plot to the marquis himself, not be fore he was extremely unwell from the effect' of the mi nute but oft-repeated doses he was unconsciously in the habit of imbibing. The Marquis Bandini, soon after his marriage with one of the daughters of Signor Maz zini, of Rome, a few years ago, returned with her to his native city of La Marca, where he was soon seized with a very severe malady, but recovered on being brought back to Rome. Last summer the Marquis spent some months again at Marcerata, and he, as well as the marchioness, were extremely unwell the whole time they were there, and likewise after their return to Rome, without being able to specify the exact nature of their malady. An anonymous letter, however, revealed the affair some weeks ago, informing the marquis that poison was daily administered to him, the marchioness, and their two children, mixed in their food, and that, as a proof of the assertion, the poison would be found sec r et e d in the hous e , b e hi n d a particular crucifix, specified in the letter. Upon examination, this was found to be strictly true, and consequently the marquis immediately resolved to change all his household, amongst whom was a Geneose maid, who went the next day to the police-office, and applied for a pass port to return to Genoa. This circumstance ex cited the suspicions of the police, the marquis having lost no time in informing the authorities of what had happened, and the woman was arrested. From what was subsequently divulged it is suspected that a man in the pay of some person unknown used the influence he possessed as the maid's lover to induce her to mix poison with her master's food, and especially with the sugar, which was drugged to such an extent that the eminent Roman surgeon Baroni was twice seized with colic after taking coffee with the Marquis Bandini. It appears that this man, being taken very ill, confessed the whole plot to a priest, who either wrote or caused the penitent to write the warnin g letter to the marquis. Th e con cealed authors of this infamous attempt are considered to have acted from pecuniary motives, arising from the succession to the Bandini property, but nothing has as 1 yet been ascertained. UI.VIVERSLTY INTELLIGENCE. -- o -- OXFORD, FEB. 3. In a Congregation holden this dfiby the following de ;rees were conferred It:MASTERS OF ARTS. Henry Tud way , T r i n i ty, Grand Compounder. Wm. F. Buchanan, Exeter. Francis T. Covington, Fellow of Corpus. Henry Wadham, Scholar of Corpus. John Escreet, Worcester. Ralph J. Coward, Brazenose. Rev. Alfred Lennox Peel, Fellow of All Souls'. Rev. Benjamin Mallam, St. John's. George 11. Bengough, • John H. Iles, Lincoln. BACHELORS OF ARTS. Martin Irving, Balliol. Henry Burrup, Pe übroke. Rev. Thomas Le Nckreu, St. Mary Hall. Osmond Dering, St. Mary Hall. George E. Martin, Postmaster of Merton. The amended form of the New Viner Statute, the foil particulars of which we re l a t e l y g i ven i n . the Sun , will be promulgated in Con grega ti on on T hursday, the 3d of March, at 10 o'clock, and proposed in Convocation on Tuesday, the Bth of March, at two o'clock. PLAN PROPOSED FOR CONVERTING TIIE INCOME TAX INTO AA EQUITABLE TAX ON PROPERTY. TO THE EDITOR. OF THE TIKES. Sir,—lt is proposed in the Draft Report of the Chair man, which is printed in the proceedings of the Com; mittee of the House of Commons, to make the Income Tax equitable by reducing all the incomes arising from trades or professions to their present value; and to assess this and all the other property in the country at an equal rate in the pound ; o that the contribution of each pei son having property o ier a certain amount during a given year may be made r s nearly as it is possible proportional to the value of his property during that year. Four per sons who enjoy incomes equal, respectively, to life annui ties of the value of 2,50 , 3,50.0/., 4,5001., 100,5001. in the year, would, if the x was at the rate of 11. per 1 , 00 0/.—nearly one farthing in the pound—and 500/. were left untaxed, be called upon to pay severally 21., 31., 4/., 1001., or in th a t p roport i on w h atever may be the rate of taxation ; on the principle that the property exp r esses the measure of their ability and of their just liability to contribute to the public revenue, whether it is expended for the protection of life and property in fulfilling the public engagements, in war, or in any servic es or w orks which the nation, th roug h its representatives, decides shall be performed at the common cost. It is not pretended that the exact value of any person's property, any more than the precise amount of his in come, can be determined. Scarcely any commodities that are sold, whether lands or cotton, houses or horses, stock or shares, life or perpetual annuities are ell - at their true value, as buyers and sellers readily confess. Valuations of lands, houses, or rents, alwaY o differ to some extent. Still the value of cornmoditieS and securities can be fixed with sufficient accuracy for the purposes of trade, and if for the purposes of trade, for the purposes of taxation also. Actuaries value lif e annuities every day. The Government sells and con' verts Consols into such annuities every day, at tabu", lated prices. The valu e o f annu iti es on the l i ves 01 the whole nation has been calculated in the Englis h Table at different r a t es o f i n t erest. Now, it is cer t a in that a uniform life income from a profession, cannot 04- ceed in value a life annuity. This is self evident. Then we have here a ready way in constant use for determin: ing the relative values of life annuities equal to income,' from a trade or p ro f ess i on, an d i ncomes from lan'', houses, or any other kiiid of property. Land in Eng ; land is worth about 27 years ' purchase on the gross, a n; 30 year's purchase on the net rental. A, who bas il rental of 1,0001. a-year, is therefore worth 27,0001. his rent is derived from Ireland, it is not worth so mile"• Houses vary in value, but th e y may be taken on aveng e at 17 years' purchase. S o if B . has 1,000/. a - Y eas from houses he may be ass esse d a t 17,000/. Clias I, ooo t . a-year from Consols at p ar . ; h e i s now wort h 33,333 1 . D, of the age of 40, has 1,0001. a-year 'for life on el; vernment or landed security ; th e annu it y, t a king the interest of money at 3 per cen t., i s wort h 16 , 690/. can sell it for nearly that sum and for no more. BY doctor, or F., a lawyer, of the age of 40, has 1,0001.. a, year net fro m hi s p ro f ess i on ; hi s cap i tal i s i ncorpo rated in him, dies with him, a n d is expose d to as grea t r isk capital invested in hous es or t ra d e ; f rom w hi c h a return of at least 5 p e r cen t. i s expecte d as profit and insurnnce by against l oss o f capi t a l. A t t hi s rate of interest, ana . „ o. the English lif e t a bl e , an equivalent annuity is vo„' 13,1121., on which he is therefore to be assessed. 6 `; farmer, or H, a manufacturer and merchant, has 1,0 001 a year, the produce of capital and skill ; he would be assese e pt at 17, 000/.inal ess he chose to return his age, and the alne u _ at of capital embarked in the business, when the assessment may be reduced to 15,000/. or 14,000/. A tax 03 1 3 11 farthing in the 11., or of about 11. on every 1,000/. °, 01; assessed property, would amount to a sum little si,L e of the tax now levied ; and on the fore going prineiP' ,/aa o p fe Underrs st persons, stock), t, ) h, differing en l ic 7 .0 1. mg , e ß s 01, 1 a, 3 nx / , ` s, in l no 3 vr / . , G ability assessedl7a/ and would pay 271., B 17/., C 33/. (variable with the v` the same sum annually. Any error in these valuation s is inconsiderabl ef mc°ll ::: pared with the inequalities of the incometax in the Times of this date Consols are quoted * at iO O 4 / ' Long Annuities at ; that is, a man who draws 3 7 a-year in dividends from Consols is worth on each• the third part of 1001, or 33/. Bs, 4d. ; while the 0 4 ' who has Long Anniii , es is worth 6/. 10s, for ever!' L; of the annuity. They are both taxed the same t"' year under the Income Tax Act ; on the same proper t i i ' s d'HeNaviceh7:lt.°lnif, e':11:1)--"e3sr: invested at nearly the same rate of interest, one o _ , taxed more than five tim es as muc h as th e othl It is an error of more than 400 per e e e P ro Here, then, is a large margin to cover mere e11: 4. , of valuation, which could never excee d 100 per cent' and would generally not exceed 20 p er cen t. The P n e of Report and the evide nce (pp. 217-39) con t a i n s nt f K, important details whi c h are h ere om i tte d . It is luau cient to say that tabl es may b e constructed by whiic the common cases m a y b e ca l cu l ated as readily o,ll'l tainly as amounts of i n t eres t b y c l erks, or the co ntent of casks by excisemen. o No valid reasons, it i s sa id i n th e report, can b e she why any considerable part of the property ° l e" aec t country should b e exempt from taxation, as the ,he of such exempti on i s to throw an undue share of ".0 public burdens upon the owners of propery ;- another form. The tax, however, on industrita comes should not descend to incomes below 501. 3 aa• to render th e t ax equ i ta b le, 5001. should be tritil ducted from the ca pit a li se d va l ue of every ind lis fa Ns income, which would b e equ i va l ent to deducting tor every assess men t a b out 3 2 1 . of the income of the 131;es, or young, and still more f rom the old and infirm, 11, The various grou n d s f or t hi s exemption are stat e `' the evidence and th e D raft Report. It would ren t ho the possessors of small incomes without introducinggr• principle of graduation, which was employed in r bi. Pitt's measure within sa f e li m i ts, b ut is necessarily 30g0 trary and m enac i ng to large properties. Thus ]3 ',, as' 40, has 1751. 12 s a - year as salary in a bank ; his tix,[be sensed on it s value, without deducti on wow- l ot 1/. 18s. 4d.— w i th the deduction 11. Bs. '4d. A' 40, has 1,756/. a- taxyear, d er i ve d f rom h i s profess ion , be barrister ; his , before the deduction sv eul ; ~ 19/. 35. 9d, an d after the deduction 181. 13s. I)._%gess." would be eq u i va l ent to striking off 10s. from the "r ‘ i re' ment of ev ery person—rich or poor—which w°11;11., duce the t ax o f a man of 100/. a-year from 11. 10s. w ye ar or one-third part, while the tax of a man of 2 00 /•,, 5 ; r . ; would be reduced from 31. to 2/. lOs , or one-sixth and the tax of a man of 1,000/. a-year would be " 3 " e from 151. to 141. 10s., or only one-thirtieth part. „f th e , With regard t o t h e mode of collection, the form °f 10" returns would b e much simplified ; the tax on (~ the, assessed val ue o f the net rents ; the tax on and (2) h ouses would be paid by the occupiers (4) (3) steel" e s, annuities for terms, (5) railways, (6) canals, ( 7 ),, by tihe B.ank of England, the East India Company, and (8) some of the other property, would be pai'ther an d the,%, i c• companies in which the stock was engaged, out of tl e ty in tions from the dividends. The tax on the prl e „,, r a nir money And other securities, profits of trade an",the facture, farms and professions, would be charge ll ,, — have, - The tenants of real property - Vi °ll.. aS a," the right of recovering from the superior ovin ers ' a eriiiib present, their share of the tax; the owner, of ree° life or from the mortgagee ; or, where he had only a descent temporary interest, nod the prop er ly did not de 3c his heirs, from the reversioner. by the Such is a brief outline of the plan propes,e'„,,, i oo Chairman of the Committee of the House of ue— i ti tabl ° for rendering the income tax a property tax as lodg e ' as is practicable in our present condition and kro i ro ts; by the method of valuing revenues incomes, an't e r eW surance offices, by friendly societies, by by every merchant, whicht is universally employed in deter pining inive value of nearly all property by the Government lost banker, or private in the kingdom ..___l am, &c., FAI 3II. WILLIAM and l , nmoofrVoiaes° Evidence in 2d Report of Committee 011 1'133e Tax, I). 221. o r giS Ci r COMMISSION OF LUNACY AGAINST MRS. - _, f . sv e - ie lieve, once more under the consideration This long litigated and dee interesting case is , i„o 111 ' o f the to the Chancellor and the Lords Justices, with a 'Ol i ve coPi superseding o f th e late commission in lunacy. , try the the subjoi ne d remarks from the Lancet of ./a nu ` Oj ai ' 29th ; they will serve to correct a misrepre sell ol l3B which is in circulation in relation to this case :' — o super statement that the Lord -Chancellor had refused to sup mind, sede the commission of luna against Mrs. Cli; so ot on the ground that he believed her c to be of , u The misrepresentation Lord- is a plain ' • of the facts the Chancellor did not express an opinion as C ha ir Tho L °l : rse de sanity or insanity of Mrs. C p umming y . cellor stated that it was not in his power to suet„ ci e Pr o ' the commission on the terms of the arrange rri _di oa l a posed. Dr. Winslow has been the official ree ic , viser of Mrs. Cumming since the date of the commis, as 00; and it is known thaesubsequent observation o tbat tb: confirmed that e • • • • his opini" l cra / unfortunate lady is of sound mind." v g el/ ble eminent physician in MIDDLESEX' HOSPITAL.—The usual quarte r . l - co ltio , , i , court of the governors and subscribers to th e i c s i that the 2, 305, charity was held yesterday. The report stated had I ,rto number of in - patients during the last Yearttoodet'Ai during the same period. The report conclud.„"., a ' o clvi o jug attention to the deficit of 2,193/. 15?. ~ I _ ( ' l li d ce ~t and 13,000 out-patients had been a, ei by 0 .'., expressing an earnest hope that the publiebaLunoolevoa forward and support the , hospital. The gala 65., a ce showed the total receits to amount to o ,°' • bala leaving 11 ' the expenditure to 8, 7451. is. 7d., le