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

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Termel l Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and Manager. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, Will be performed the popular and highly successful Comedy of MASKS AND FACES; or, Before and Behind the Ctutain—by Mews. Benjamin Webster, Leigh Murray, Stuart. Parselle, and Lambert ; Mrs. Stirlinv, Miss F. 3fa.kell, and Miss Rosa Bennett. After which (last time), the gorgeous Extravaganza, entitle,. 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 1N A SMOCK-FROC K. Characters by Messrs. C. , F. Matthews, and Horncastle ; Miss F. Baker and Miss Extravaganza, 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 Vestris, Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis, Miss Wyndham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Itosina Wright will appear. To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKLNS. Sole Agent for the Private Bogies, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, New PA-aid-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, Will be presented the powerful new Drnna of SLAVE LIFE ; or, IJacle Tom's Cabin —by Messrs. Mire I Wigan, 0. Smith, and Nmery ; M a dame. Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Keeley, and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with the successful new Comic Pantomime, called NELL °WYNNE ; or, Harlequin Merrie Monarch. Principal T)anseusc„ Mdlle. Auriol ; Clown, 41r. Fleamore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, Will be performed the new and original Comedy, in three acts, by Doug'as Jerrold, entitled ST. CUPID; or, Dorothy's Fortuna (as played at Windsor Castle, by Royal Command). Principal charac ters by Messrs. Wright, W. Lacy, Harley, J. Vining, Ryder, F. evoke, Everett, and Chester; Mrs. W. Lacy and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and criginal Grand Comic Christ mas Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FAIR STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and the Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hudne ; Pan taloon, Mr. Paulo; Columbine, Miss Desborough. ROYAL OLYMPIC: THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, 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. ; Patternoster, Mr. Compton. To conclude with ItOMEO AND JULIET; or, Harlequin Queen Mab and the World of Dreams. Clown, Mr. Edwin Edwardes, with his highly-trained Dogs. Buz-office' open from Eleven till Five, under the superintendence of Mr. Edward Chatterton. ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Crowded Nightly to witness the Extraordinary Holiday Attractions. LAST WEEK BUT FITE of Mr. BATTY'S MANAGEMENT, As he is about retiring from the Profession, haying Let the Theatre to Mr. WILLIAM COOKE. THIS EVENING, FEB. 4, The Performances will commence with the Equestrian Drama of UNCLE TOWS CABIN. After which, an unequalled Routine of Scenes in the Circle. To conclude with the Grand Comic Pantomime of FOItTUNIO AND rllB HORSE COMEADB ; or, Harlequin and the Seven Gifted Men. Doors open at Half-past Six o'clock. To commence at Seven. BL' 1-office open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAT —Morning 7 min. after 10 ( Evening 51 min.aft. 10 To-Monaow—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 places 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—cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—cloudy. YARMOUTH-S., gentle breeze—rain. The returns from the following places indicate the state 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—cloudy, fog, and frost. SHAP—E., calm—overcast. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 4. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 35—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. zrti .410 sottit. 0ky,74.11—W,, 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 from 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 VLADTKA 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 loosein 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 tinople. Since then war has raged almost uninterruptedly between the infuriated troops of the SULTAN and of the VLADIKA. 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 a•onally conducted by the Vizier of Antivari. Tile subsequent attack from the side of Turkey has turned out in no way more fortunate, the attack led by OSMAN PASHA himself, and directed along the valley of the Mor2tska. 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 w h en 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-di_ comfited soldiers of the SULTAN-CALIPH. 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 thILLACRICH. One of the subjects which must necessarily occupy the legislative consideration during the present session, and which, ind ee d, pre - em i nently claims th e calm; and deliberative consideration of Parliament, is that which has been popularly \, ✓~ 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 prase nt instance, " the ear." The question is not, merely whether we are to continue for any and, what time certain privileges to a commercial cons pany, by means whereof they may be enabled t o . lay handsome dividends to their stockholders, or Proprietors—whether we are to break the fall of those leviathan monopolists by giving further time, that they may be enabled to set their house s in order ? but rather whether we shall permit the welfare and happiness of a population fiveiiild that of the United Kingdom, and more than. one-sixth of the inhabitants of the globe, to r amain in the hands and subject to the caprices of t wenty-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 soinsters, 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 llon. 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 630,000/. per annum, being 10i 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 slavery" —l5O, 000, 000 of their fellow-creatures. Verily, Hindoos are held cheaply in the market. Their ebony brethren who, according to Mrs. STowE, sell for from 500 dols. to 1,500 dols., may regard with contempt those 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 4,000/. India Stock, the outlay of 3,000/. 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 oducation-L-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 expire next year. The proprietors made an ex ceedingly good bargain when they obtained a Government guarantee for 10i 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 redeemtd 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 bands ; 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—those 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 till) Bombay Association, the great—almost too great—moderation whereof gave it peculiar force. Another, and even 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 reasonable 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 that 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 inertia 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 difference 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 he completely demolishes the famous "class in come" argument of Mr. BARRAGE. 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 CosBETT 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. BABBAGB and Mr. GLADSTONE in regard to the Income Tax ! As in the case of terminable an nuities, Mr. FARE shows that they would be guilty of including capital in income. In plain language, to tax incomes from fixed and precarious sources alike is confiscation of capital in the case of the latter. Mr. BABBAGB'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 class change, but the income of the class remains the same. The income of the tradesman class, of the la bourer class, and the farmer class, all are as permanent as the income of the landlord class and the fundholder class ; all classes ought, therefore, to contribute on the whole amount of their income, because, as classes, their incomes are equally permanent." Now Mr. FARR shows that, as classes, they do differ, and differ very widely. The precariousness of life is common to the individuals of all the classes ; but the dependence of the income in the one case coll that precarious element of the claw/ 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 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 mental or bodily labour, the persons composing that 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 all 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 42,0491. per yearthis 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, 000/. 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. FARR'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. TifoltrsoN, 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 son al interest in protectint, 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 provements as these, the late Hon. Member for tb fa e v o ott s te of t C h a a r t l ow nu r will render rus a and himself nto the llgen t especial body London. GENERAL 13 - ROTHERTON AND M.R. 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 com plimants to Mr. Cobden. " He sends him a duplicate of a letter he addressed to him yesterday, at his town residence, 103, Westbourne 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, he 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,—l perceive, by a report of your speech at the meeting of the Peace Confouerence mat Manchester say that, o n n Thursday evening l ast, y arede to , order to test the sincerity of those who differ from you in opinion as to the probability of inv 0004,asion you will inva en- ter into a legal b ond topay down 10, when 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 pro engagement osal, and am prepared to pe rform my part of the when I receive your reply. " I am, Sir, your obedienervant, " T. W. Bta ROTHEBTON. "To. It. Cobden, Esq., M.P." MR. COBDEN'S ANSWER. "Manchester, Feb. 2. "Sir,- --In reply to your communication I beg to say, that although my offer, to which it refers, was addressed to a gentleman individually, and not to the public, yet, as he has declined my challenge, and as your leetter and duplicate, forwarded to me at two ion has reached me, I addresses, have come to hand before any o ther applicat have very great satisfaction and pride in transferring to a General in her Majesty's service the insurance against the risk of invasion Which I had intended for the relief of the terrors of a respectable conductor of an influential provincial newspaper. I must, however, suggest one alteration in the terms of agreement as contained in your letter. Instead of undertaking to pay 10,000/. wh duty en an invasion takes pla ce to one whose professional it might be to prevent such an event from occurring, and who might thereby be placed in the invidious position of backing the chance of his own defeat, I will, upon tho condition that you subscribe a shilling engage a-week to ent to the Manchester Infirmary, enter into a eant 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 say agree with me ; and I have the honour to be "your obedient servt, " RIC an HARD COBDEN. "Lieutenant-General Brotherton, &c. " P.S.—I shall inform the treasurer of the Manchester Infirmary that a subscription from me to that charity of 2/. 12s. a-year will be paid by you during your lifetime, or until the French attempt an invoiost of then isla " ndfh MOIVEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocK. 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 market closed steadily but with more disposition to sell. The sales included 250 Pernam and Maranham at 61d. to 6id., 20 Bahia at - 6p., 700 Egyptian at bid. to 74d., 900 Surat at aid. to 40. 2 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 Coffee 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. 6d. 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 price s , offering in this market the stocks which they have inFrance, 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 Italian Silk there has been very little doing." All Consols Gold and C opper Mines Company, " with regard ftuortthheer —dispute b e t ween th e " Australian large tract of land which it possesses, and which it int en d s to lease to mineral companies, has been obvi a t e d b y 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 Segenhoe estate to the company's agent on his arrival there. : —l am, Gentlemen, 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 , Portunity 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 dividends 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 99i to for account. The New 3 per Cents. have been quoted 103 to k, and the 3 p er C en t s . 99-/- to par. Exchequer Bit s I 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 Deferred at 22 to I. Dutch 4 per Cents, have been heavy at ni 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 V. to 11. 10s. ' the Midland 11., the Oxford and Wolver hampton 11., the South-Eastern 1/. 55., the Caledo nian 1/. to 11. 10s., and Great Western 11. to 21. Most others have 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 large product, and the Zacatecas 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 THIS DAY. (Front the Official List.) _ B u s I n e s 3 clone. Bank Stock 3 poi Cent. Reduced Annuities 914 100 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 34 per Cent. Annuities...... .... 'Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6s South Sea Old Annuities 99i Consols for Account 10th February 991 i 9 4 Exchequer Rills l i id. March. Juno. £lOOO.. £5OO 5B PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Mexican 3 per Cent Ditto for the Account 22 a Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent Ditto for the Account Swedish Loan 22 d Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852. Venezuela Bonds 3i per Cont. Dutch Exchange 2i per Pout Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates......... 97.4 THREE O'CLOCK. Consols. ............................. Ditto February Account 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. P. Berkeley, the member for Bristol, appropriately presided on the occasion. The great metropolitan demonstration has been fixeLl 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 read to the meeting, that the progress orthe bank during the last year had been of a satisfactory descrip tion, no less than 2,504 new deposits having been made in the last year. 22,774 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 , Edward Scott, Bart., whose acknowledgment was like wise produced, 1,2071. 18s. ; in the hands of the actu ary, 141. 3s. 4d.—total, 365748/. 13$. 4d. The balance dne to depositors at that date, as per balance-sheets, pd. iu r h. o e d 7b u da c . ia ed n , ce 3 6 d 4 u ,9 0 1 ,3 7 1 9 depositors . 1s 9 d u has — s since rpl 9d.=—surplus, s ri , se B n 3O t 0 1 . 3 1 7 3 5 5 , 8 . 3711: THE LORD-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 colle g e . 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. Flaxen SURVEYS OF THE BRITISH COAST.—The fol lowing very extraordinary statement appears in the Bel fast Banner :—" We have received front an Edinburgh correspondent a letter, dated the 29th ult., in which it is stated that du r i ng th e l a st 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." • - --- IRON PAVEMENTEL—Workmen are paving Howard street, Boston, United States, with cast iron. The pave ment is composed of circular boxes of cast iron, about 12 inches in diameter, and five inches in height, divided into six compartments, so small as not to admit the hoof of a horse. These spaces will be filled with gravel ; but some other substances, such as a composition 01 asphaltum and sand or gravel, may 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 boxes—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 surfve, AMERICA. 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, 1091 to 109 - ; Paris, 5 13-i 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 tria: 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/.los. was worth intrinsicall y 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 proceedinc , 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--I 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 him, at some times during the last year to the amount of 50,0001. 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 mina 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 Aldersori 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. 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. Huddlestoie—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, ani 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, FED. 3. The following had 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 following have been invited, and are expected to d4:—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 left 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 resumed and concluded. An appeal from the Preroga tive Court, " Farlar v. Lane," was commenced. The case was adjourned. The Duke of Newcastle arrived in town on Wednes day night from his 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 Granville, the Duke of A rgy ll , V iscount Palmerston, Lord John iussell, the Duke of Newcastle, Sir James Graham, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molcsworth. 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 Counoil broke *p about half past 6 o'clock. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. Since our last report, the arrivals of English wheat up to this market, 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 the 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 moderato inquiry for oats, beans, peas, and flour, at Monday's quotations. Fardish .. Irish Foreign .. ARRIVALS THIS WEER. Wheat. Barley. 720 7,170 I 5,020 8,41 G Oata. I Flour. 110 9,0 z. 0 640 12,16) I 260 SMITHFIELD. The supply of beasts on offer in to-day's market was limited. Prime 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 55 per 81bs. We were extensively sup plied with calves ; hence, the veal trade ruled heavy, at a decline in the quotations of from 4d to, in some instances, 6d per 81bs. The sale for pigs was less active : in prices. however, no change took piaci> Milch cows were very dull including their small calf. Per Sibs to • s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...2 Bto 2 10 Second quality ...3 0 3 2 Prime large oxen 3 4 3 6 Prime Scots, &c. 3 8 4 0 Inferior sheep ...3 8 310 Seco id quality ...4 0 4 4 Prime erse.-wlled.4 6 4 8 Beasts Sheep ~ Calves Pigs TOTAL SUPPLY. at from 141. to 19/. 5s each , link the Urals. 795 3,800 400 330 S. (1. 5. 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 FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts . Sheep Calves • Pigs NEWGATE AND The general demand was le Per Blbs by t s. d. s. cf. Beef, inferior 24 2 8 Do., middling 210 3 0 Do., prime largo 3 2 3 4 Do., do. small 3 4 3 6 Pork, large 2 8 3 0 LEADENHALL. :ss active, at our quotations, the carcase. . . Mutton s. d , Inferior sd 3 2 :3 C Do.,midclling 3 8 4 0 Do, prime 4 2 4 6 Veal 3 0 4 4 Pork, small 3 2 4 0 BOROUH HO. Since our last report, rather an ex P tensive 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 K en t , 95s to 112 s ; S ussex, 92s to 110 s. per at. COLONIAL. SUGAR. —The demand for British plantation has been fair, and prices have been well supported. Barbadoes, by auction, realised 36 s t o 3 9s 6d for mid to fine. Yesterday y there was rather less doing. East India —Bengal, about two-thirds found buyers publicly, but at 6d decline ; fine white 38s 6d to 395, mid and good 37s to 38s, low 36s Gd, and grainy low white, 39s 6d to 40s. Common brown was taken in at 28s to 29s 6d, for mid and good brow n , an d l ow to good yell ow , a t 3 0s to 35s Gd. Refied 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 6(1. to 365. Brown Bahia was taken in at 32s to 35s 6d for ord to fine. COFFEE. —Business has not been active, and for Native Ceylon of good ord quality, 47s per cwt, have to be paid. Plantation C e yl on was taken at 53s to 64s for low mid, and good and the most recent sales wore at 56s to 56s 6d, for mid and good 70s to 735, for fine marks 495 6(1 to 555, f or fine fine or d an d l ow mid small, and 31s to 32s Gd for very ord.; peaberry r ea li s i ng 675. Costa Rica has been firm, - having been taken in at 49s to 60s for fine ord to mid coloury. Mocha, good garbled yellowish sold at 73s to 765, and longberry at 76s to 79s 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 b een a demand for Pimento at 6d per cwt. for mid, and at sid to 6d for ord to good. White Pepper has been in good request. Singapore at 7d to 7id for mid and good, being dearer. Allepy sold at 3i/c1 to 3 3 7(1 for mid sound, and at 38(1 to 3id for mid and good, bei ng chiefly taken by exporters. RICE.—Not much has been done in any description: SALTPETRE.—BengaI sold a shade lower —ord, 244 to 191 per cent. refraction, at 248 to 24. s 6d ; and good, at 28s 6cl for 5 , 1 per cent. COTTON.—The market has been activ ,at full rates. TALLOW.—P.Y.C. has been dull, at 44s Gd 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 Tagus steamer, sold by Keeling and Hunt, landed in bad condi tion, realised prices according to character. Black Spanish nuts aro out of first hands. A speculative inquiry exists for Barcelona. Seville sours are in request, and there are none on hand at present, TOBACCO.—The imports during the past month were 1,553 hhds. ; the deliveries were 953 hhds. against 1,430 in 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 qnotations. 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 Harannah 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 segars 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 tQ 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 the purposes of the trade, but chiefly confined to the best marks ; in Giron a 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 as regards colour and texture ; there is more inquiry for cutting purposes- Amersfoot, except for snuff purposes, continues neglected. Negrohead 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 BANK.—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 was 42,0591. 11s. id., 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 the capital 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 least a month before the customary period. Several important changes in fashion, destined for March and April, have already been forwarded by their agents to the house of Messrs. Jay, of Regent-street, and have been courteously shown to us. The novelty, however, which we were most pleased with is of native produce, and is likely to make great alterations in the peculiar requirements of their trade. It is a "crape-silk," which possesses the sombre characteristic of its first name, with all the dura bility th is required for mourning wear, as im plied by at a its joint ppellation. 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 secreted in the house, behind 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 manin 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 ernin+t , Roman surgeon Baroni was twice seized with colic after ' taking coff ee w ith the Marq u i s B an di n i . I t appethat this man, being taken very ill, con f esse d th e wh le fl plot to a priest, who either wrote or caused the penitent to write the warning letter to the marquis. The con cealed authors of this infamous attempt are considerbd i to have acted from pecuniary motives, arising from tyre succession to the Bandini property, but nothing has las yet been ascertained. _, UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, FEB. 3. In a Congregation holden this day the following de grees were conferred : FnMASTERS OF ARTS. Henry Tudway, Trinity, Grand Compounder. Wm. F. Buchanan, Exeter. Francis T. Conington, Fellow of Corpus. Henry Wadham, Scholar of Corpus. John Escreet, Worcester. RMph J. Coward, Brazenose. Rev. Alfred Lennox Peel, Fellow of All Souls'. Rev. Benjamin Malian), St. John's. George H. Bengough, Oriel. John H. Iles, Lincolp. BACHELORS OF ARTS. Martin Irving, Balliol. Henry Burrup, Pe übroke. Rev. Thomas Le Neveu, St. Mary Hall. Osmond Dering, St. Mary Hall. • George E. Martin, Postmaster of Merton. The amended form of the New Viner Statute, the full particulars of which were lately given in the Sun, Will be promulgated i n C ongrezation on Thursday, the 3d of March, at 10 o'clock, and proposed in' Convocation on Tuesday, the Sth of March, at two o'clock. PLAN PROPOSED FOR CONVERTING TO, A INCOME TAX INTO A EQUITABLE TAA ON PROPERTY. TO THE EDITOR. OF THE TIMES. Sir,-It 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 ; so that the contribution of each per son having property over a certain amount during a given; year may be made as nearly as it is possible proportiona l 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 2,500/., 3,5001., 4,5001., 100,500 1 . in the year, would, if the tax was at the rate of 1/. P er 1,0001.-nearly one farthing in the pound-and 5001. wer e left untaxed, be called upon to pay severally 21., 31., 1001., or in that proportion whatever may be the rate o f taxation ; on the principle that the property expresses 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 th e public engagements, in war, or in any serv i ces or w orks which the nati on , through its representatives, decides shall be performed at the common cost; It is not pretended that the exact value of any persoilo • property, any more than the precise amount of his ill' 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 ex changed at their true value, as buyers and sellers readily confess. Valuations of lands, houses, or rents, always differ to some extent. Still the value of commodities and securities can be fixed with sufficient accuracy for the purposes of trade, and if for the purposes of trade, fo r the purposes of taxation also. Actuaries value life annuities every day. The Government sells and con verts Consols into such annuities every day, at tabu' lated price s . Th e va l ue of annuities on the lives of the whole nation has been calculated in the Englis h Table at different rates of interest. Now, it is certain that a uniform life income from a profession, cannot er coed 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 incom es from a trade or pro f ess i on, and incomes from lan d, houses, or any other kind of property. Land in El ) gi land is worth about 27 years ' purchase on the gross, a n' 30 year's purchase on the net rental. A, who hac t . rental of 1,0001. a-y ear , i s th ere f ore worth 27,000/. ." his rent is derived f rom I re l an d , i t is not worth so rale'• Houses vary in value, but they may be taken on a verage r at 17 years' pur c h ase. S o i f B. has 1,000/. al e `,l from houses he may b e assesse d at 17,0001. C has 1, 001) a-year from Cons o l s a t par.; h e i s now ' worth 3 3 ) 333 1. D, of the age of 40, has 1,000/. a-year for life 00 Gr. vernment or landed secu r ity ; th e annu i ty, ta ki n g T o interest of money at 3 p er cen t . , i s worth 16,69 01. ; can sell it for nearly that sum and for no more. doctor, or F, a lawyer, of the age of 40, has 1,000/. year net from his profession ; his capital is incorporated' in him, dies with him, and is exposed to As great risk r 7 capital invest e d i n h ouses or trade ; from which a re t° of at le as t 5 per cent. i s expected as profit and insurance against loss of capital. At this rate of interest, and u t f i the English lif e t a bl e, an equ i valent annuity is wor 13,1121., on w hi c h h e i s therefore to be assessed. Cri. farmer, or H, a m anu f ac t urer an d merchant, has 1,000 year, the produce of capital and skill ; he would bea.ssessneut at 17, 000/.unless ho chose to return his age, and the anl° u t of capital embarked in the business, when the assessment 3, may be reduced to 15,000/. or 14,000/. A tax a bou t . a ll farthing in the 11., or of about U. on every 1,000/• o t _ ort. assessed property, would amount to a sum little 01 ' 10 A. of the tax now levied ; and on the foregoing prin e 'P l iuo would pay 271., B 17/., C 33/. (variable with the -'"'• of stock), D 171., E 13/., F 131., G 171 H 171. nea rl y Under the Income Tax, as now assessed, each of "'" ys persons, differing so much in ability and wealth, P' l ' the same sum annually. ny Any erro r i n th ese valuations is inconsiderable CO Thus, in with the inequalities of the inco m e tax- . 0 01; in the Times of this date Consols are q oted a t 3/. Long Annuities at 64 ; that is, a dra''," a-year in dividends from Conzlols harnwano who the third part of 1001, or 331, Ss. 4d - o rt s w . l f i o i o l r i e l e tlI v 8 er) ; ' 11 , who has Long Annuities is worth 6/. 1' of the annuity. They are both taxed the same this year under the Income Tax Act ; on the same p rope rty, invested at nearly the same rate of interest, one is taxed more than five times as much as th e other; • It is an error of more than 400 per e en Hero, then,. is a large margin to cover mere error s , , of valuation, which could never exceed 100 per cen,!i t and would generally not exceed 20 per cent. The Dra ft Report and the evidence (pp. 217-39) contains many important details which are here omitted. It is !ili a cient to sac * that tables may be constructed by whi r r eer . the common cases may. e calculated as readily and ts tainly as amounts of interest by clerks, or the conte" of casks by excisemen. • No valid reasons, it is said in the report, can be shor e why any considerabl e p ar t of the pruperty o f oec t country should be e xemp t f rom taxat i on, as the el' of such exemption i s t o t h row an undue share 0- f the j a public burdens upon the owners of property another form. The tax, however, on industrial comes should not descend to incomes below 50/. ; an d ,. to render the t ax equ i ta b le, 5001. should be risi ducted from the capitalised value of every ind ust r ,. n ei income, which would be equivalent to deducting . I _', ter every assessment about 321 . of the income of the h; T " es , or young, a,nd still more from the old and infirm/ h d The various grounds for this exemption are stated the evidence and the Draft Report. It would re' t he the possessors of small incomes without introdueingg r . principle of graduation, which was employed in lr bl. Pitt's measure withi n sa f e li m i ts, but is necessar ily trary and menacing to large properties. Thus 13, .; 0 . 40, has 1751. 12 s a - year as salary in a bank ; his TA be sessed" on its value, without deduction, w°nr 1/. 18s. 4d.-with the deduction 1/. Bs. 4d. 40, has 1,756/. a-year, derived from his pro f es sion° b e barrister ; hi s tax, before the deduction w° .°l * d It 191. 3s. 9d, an d a f ter the deduction 181. 13s. 9 "' ss• would be eq u i va l ent to striking off 10s. from the °dere ment of ev er y person-rich or poor-which Nv° ll ,' 114 duce the t ax o f a man of 1001, a -y ear f rom 1/ . 10e. s r or one-third p art, while the tax of a man of 2001. 3-j r e t ; would bo r e d uced from 3/. to 21. lOs or one-sixth P a re d and the ta x o f a man of 1,0001. a-year' would be le we from 151. to 141. 10s., or only one-thirtieth part. f the With regard t o t h e mode of collection, the form ° L d returns would b e much sitnplified ; the tax on ( 1 ) tbe and (2) houses would be paid by the occupiers on (4) assessed value of the net rents ; the tax on (3) stock ines, annuities for terms, (5) railways, (6) canals, ( 7) , 1/1 1 ,, r - the and (8) some of the other property, would be paid "„d t her Bank of England, the East India Company , and the,aile companies in which the stock was engaged , out of “ e i ,„ in tions from the dividends. The tax on the proPer;jen money and other securities, profits of trade and 111 th° facture, farms and professions, would be charged 0 1 2 ,,ve individual. Th e tenants of real property you'd ss the right o f recovering from the superior owners , - er itg present, thei r s h are of the tax; the owner, of reelf e or from the mortgagee ; or, where be had only a t ° temporary interest, and the p roper t y did no t dosc e his heirs, from the reversioner. the Such is a brief outline of the plan propos,ednillos Chairman of the Committee of the House of Co for rendering the income tax a property tax as eq , e dge, as is practicable in our present condition and know' v ts ; by the method of valuin revenues, incomes, and rerelo" which is universally employed in determining the t by -pop A dye value of nearly all property by the Gover. or ' e spy insurance offices, by friendly societies, and, inn hies' in by theev e , or private k r every merchant , ud o nl._am, c ., : man o. _us c., WILLIAM 1114°. ' * See E v id ence i n 2d Report of Committee on Joon° Tax, p. 221. --- m i g 1146 11 ). - amnaorteheutdoerrdst Jheustices COMMISSION OF LUNACY AGAINST MRS. - ". ; 31 we '-• This long litigated and deeply interesting case 1 5 ' 0 Loll' liev Chancellor once e ‘ onsi . slew t p.. .. superseding of the late commission' in lunacy- .. s , the the subjoined remarks from the Lancet of J OO-13 "',tion 29th ; they will serve to correct a -misrepresent ,ti r e .c1 :- r i a th ti° a n o v lf u t vi r li e ' co th ; which is in circulation in relation to this e" e A : r e st‹ . statement that the Lord - Chancellor had refuse" " taillb' against m.... c e rn . ., e d sede the commission of 1 .0 , en so. lo on the ground that he believed er to be cu. 'l'4' mind, is a• plain misrepresentation of the fants• te the Lord-Chancellor did not express any °Oilier', a r s d.C ll3 , l ll , - The J- 4°. „erg" - sanity or insanity of Mrs. Cumming. to suet pre cellor stated that it was not in his power the commission on . - .eg enlerl 1 a4l - terms of the arra l , posed. Dr. Winslow has been the official ineunlioien, viser of Mrs. Cumming since the date of the e° ll , l , °eV aud it is known that subsesubsequent observation bait olio confirmed that eminent ' physician in his opinion, I.l ' J er' unfortunate lady is of sound mind." MIDDLtsE ii m quarterly g elj bl° ' x osrlTAL.—The usual .._ that 03- the 0 court of the governors and subscribers to this t charity was held yesterday. The report statehad bet; numbe r of in-paticnts during the 13 ' 4 yea a r ttnn aea c ; 2,305 and 13,000 out-patients had been , e d bY by i during the same period. ! The report concluu,d , redd e ing attention to the deficit of 2,1- 93 /- 155. ' would co in expressing an earnest ho that the public She ete-d p e he bal 3ll all forward and support the hospital. T 65., c o showed the total receipts to amount to 6,5 51 1. .. bOlB ll the expenditure to 8,745/. is. 7d., leaving ''' againikthe I , -Qspitadi of 2,1831. 14. 74, i .- { ~~ DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1853.