The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-14 00:00:00

This day is published, price 6d., PRESS ORDERS, containing the opiniol Is of the leading journals upon the Abolition of Newspaper Privi leges. Edited by ALBERT SMITH. London: Kent and. C !0., Paternoster-row ; and to be had at the Egyptian-hall, Piccadil IMMO =MI THEATRE ROYAL, HA.YMARKET. Farewell Season of Mr. Benjamin Webster as Lessee and 3111na4 er. THIS EVENING, FZIt. 14, Will be performed the new and original Comedy, in five ac ts, called NOT SO BAD AS WE SEEM ; or, Many Sides to a Chan Lc ter. Supported by Messrs. B. Webster, Bar iss R ry osa. Bennett, Sullivan, Re AI lacek ;y, Buckstone, Leigh Murray , Stu art, Rogers, M A. Vining, Mrs. Leigh Murray, &c. After which, the new and original Farce, called TO PARIS BACK FOR FIVE POUNDS. To conclude with the Farce of A CAPITAL MATCH. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the M an agement a Madame Vestrie. THIS EVENING, Tax. 14, Will be performed the Comic Drama called A PHENOMENON IN A SMOCK-FROCK. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Honicastle ; 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 Vestriz Miss Julia St. George, Miss Robertson, Miss Martindale, Miss Ellis Miss Wyndham, Miss Eglinton, and Miss Rosins Wright will app eat To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS. Bole Agent for the Private Boxes, Mr. W. Allcroft, 15, I++ e , ff und-street. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celesta. THIS EVENING, FEB. 14, ____ _ Will be presented the powerful new Drama of SLAVE LIFE ; or. . Uncle Tom's Cabin—by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, O. Smith, ; end Emery ; Madame Celeste, Miss Woolgar, Miss Harding, Miss Keeley, , and Mrs. Keeley. To conclude with the succe,sful new Comic Pantomime, cane( 1 NELL GWYNNE ; or, Harlequin Merrie Monarch. Princi ps .1 Danseuse, Mdlle. Awful Clown, Mr. Flexmore. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean. THIS EVENING, Fan. 14, Will be produced Shakapere's Tragedy of MACBETH (as ac tec at Windsor Castle, by Royal command). Principal characters b: Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new and original Grand Comic Chri' d - nlaS Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN CHERRY AND FA Lft STAR; or, The Green Bird, the Dancing Waters, and Ars Singing Tree. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Hulbae ; P an - taloon, Mr. Paulo ; Columbine, Miss Desborough. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Parra*. THIS EVENL.NTG, FEB: 14, Will be presented THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Supported by Messrs Farren, W. Farren, jan , Hoskins, Shalders, rar. Bender, and Einloch. Mesdames A. rhilips, Anderton, H. (lord on. E. Turner, B. Bartlett, &c. After which, A DEED WITHOUT A NAME, in which I►ir . Compton will appear. To conclude with THE swiss COTTAGE. Box-office open from Eleven till Five, under the superintends) ICI 3 of Mr. E. Chatterton. ASTLET'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. LAST WEEK BUT THREE of Mr. BATTT'S MANAGEMEI. PT. Extraordinary Attraction. The Two most powerful Equestr tau Dramas ever produced—Mazeppa, and Uncle Tom's Cabin. THIS EVENING, FEB. 14, And during the Week, the Entertainments will commence v ►ith the superb Spectacle of ALIZEPPA. AND THE WILD HOR SE, reproduced with all its original splendid and magnificent effects. After which, Batty's brilliant Scenes in the Arena, supported by' the first Equestrian talent in Europe. To conclude with UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. Doors open at Hall-past Six o'clock. To commence at See Rox-offlce open daily from Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, I Ir. W. West. HIGH WATER AT LOND, ON BRIDGE. TIM DAT —Morning 44 min. after 5 Evening 1 min.aft. To-Moaaow--Morning 17 rain. after 6 I Evening 35 min.aft. 6 DAILY WEA7HER TABLE. MONDAY, FEB. 14, 1853. State of the wind and weather at each of the following places at nine o'clock on Saturday morning. The static ma are arranged in order of latitude. LIMERICK—N.E., gentle breeze—cloudless, frost. MULLINGAR— N., strong breeze—cloudless. HASTINGS—N.E., gentle breeze—snow. SOUTHAMPTON —N., strong breeze—snow. Fo LK E STONE--N .E., light breeze—snow. TUNBRIDGE—N., gentle breeze—snow. GREENWICH—N.E., gentle breeze—overcast. STROOD—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. SWINDON—N., strong breeze—cloudy. CAMBRIDGE—N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. YARMOUTH—E., strong breeze—snow. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FRB. 13. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE!. 30—highest since noon yesterday. 27—lowest this morning and during the night. 29—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29'64. WIND, N.N.E.—Light breeze, and cloudy weather heavy fall of snow. FEBRUARY 14. 28—highest since noon yesterday. 25—lowest this morning and during the night. 28—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 29'82. WIND, E.S.E.—Light breeze, and cloudy. The snow storm seems to have impeded the arrival of the mails throughout the country. Four or five inches of snow fell in Norfolk, and more in the northern counties. The Publication of " THE SUN" Commences every afternoon at THREE O'CLOCK, and the Late or Third Edition, containing the. DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT ON THE SAME EVENING, with all other news ariving in London up to the hour of Post, at SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. Tbz et ;-41 LONDON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1853. Another province has been added to our enor mous possessions in Hindostan. Pegu, on - the 20th of last December, was formally announced by proclamation to be annexed to the British do minions. It was declared to be incorporated with our Eastern Empire by order of the Governor- General, and the event has since been celebrated by a Royal salute fired in each of our more im portant Asiatic Presidencies. It is nothing more than the old story with a new illustration. It is the continuation of the romance of Oriental con quest by the Anglo-Sakons—simply by another incident. A war provoked by one of the petty sovereigns has led, as usual, to the dismember ment of his territories. At least the dismember ment has commenced. A single province has been seized and declared to be a portion of our posses sions. The rest will, of course, follow in due time according to the customary scale of territorial absorption. In earnest of this, a threat has been j already held out over the head of the fated King of Ava--that threat being uttered by the Gover nor-General in Council, and communicated through the medium of the already mentioned proclama tion. It is in the closing paragraph of that docu ment that the Court of Ava receives the warning intimation that if the King of that ilk shall fail to renew his former relations of friendship with the British Government, and if he shall recklessly endeavour to dis pute its tranquil possession of the province, it has now announced to be its own, the Governor-Gene ral in Council will again put forth the power he holds, and will visit with full retribution aggressions which, if they be persisted in, must of necessity lead to the total subversion of the Bur man enTire "—an intimation to all intents and purposes sufficiently significant. Were we not therefore, i n correct, asserting that the recent oc cupation and subsequent annexation of Pegu is literally nothing more than the old story with a new illustration. Pegu is taken, and in the very process of its capture we remind the Court of Ava of our invariable policy under such circumstances, by informing the KING that in the event of his not acting in such and such a manner, we shall feel under the necessity of advancing upon the residue of his dominions, and thereupon formally annexing them to o ur already stupendous possessions. The enemies of British power in the East designate our policy in this respect to be consistent at least in the pro gressive grandeur and unblushing boldness of our spoliations. History fortunately comes in to exonerate the Anglo-Saxon race in that quarter from the odium of aggression and the consequent crime of robbery. The annals which tell of our extraordinary advancefromArcot to Seringapatam, and so on from the southern limits of the Carnatic to the northern boundaries of Affghanistan—show in facts so undeniable as to command the recog nition of all impartial writers, from Oasin to MILL, that the origin of each successive struggle in the East has been some event in which the British Government has be en the assailed, and some neighbouring power the assailant. Hitherto upon these oecayions the Anglo-Saxons have acted with astounding promptitude. They have appalled their anta • goniat into submis sion by marching an army forthwith over his frontiers, seizing his chief cities and fortification, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1853. and thereupon reimbursing itself for the outlay required in the expedition by adding one or other of the conquered provinces to the bulk of what constituted already its dominions. Upon a re petition of hostilities from the same quarter the Governor-General in Council has adopted a similar course for the indemnification of his Government. Therefrom—out of this very rational, and, all things considered, very just and reasonable policy —has grown up the vast system of our Oriental dominions. Among the secrets of our successes in its extension, as we have intimated, have been the energy and promptitude which the Anglo-Saxon authorities at Calcutta have repelled their eastern antagonists. Unhappily, in the instance before us, but little regard seems to have been had either to this energy or to this promptitude. Through out the whole of the Burmese War we have shown ourselves anything rather than prompt or ener getic. Having placed our forces, both naval and military, under the command of officers who ought in reason to have been long - ago regarded as super annuated, we have looked on complacently while they have been throwing away, one after another, the most golden opportunities. Dilatory to the last degree in their movements, they have sacrificed time, and in sacrificing time have squan dered the lives of those placed under their authority, exposing them at one moment to the dangers of un equal conflict, and at another to the decimating perils of pestilence. As a natural consequence the old Admiral in command died—while the old General in command found himself crushed under the weight of a by no means undeserved unpopularity. After continuing the struggle against the Burmese during several weary months, General GODWIN at last drags the campaign to a tardy conclusion, and the event is celebrated, as we have shown, by the annexation of Pegu to the British territories. Every sensible observer in the United Kingdom must, of course, regard that annexation as merely a preliminary step to the seizure of the whole of the dominions of the • King of AvA, by the a]l conquering arms of the Anglo-Indian Government. An alternative--(the usual alternative). —has been held out to the Burmese MONARCH by the Governor-General in Council : the alternative of the ruin and exile of himself and his race, by the total subversion of his Sovereignty, or of his ac • ceptance by the renewal of his former relations of friendship with the British Government. In all human likelihood, the Court of Ava will recoil from the mere notion of renewing any such rela tions of friendship, and striving by every imagin able means to dispute the British occupation of Pegu, will drive the Government of Calcutta to fulfil its threat by advancing upon the re maining provinces of the Burmese Empire, and quietly adding them en masse to the rest of our Oriental possessions. In speaking thus we are only taking the Past as a guide to the Future—we are only threading the maze of pro babilities by the clue of experience. Hitherto our quarrel with the Court of Ara has been its refusal " to make amends for the injuries and in sults which British subjects have suffered at the hands of its servants," and for which refusal the Governor-General of India, in Council, resolved, by force of arms, to exact reparation. This, re member, is the explicit avowal of the Proclama tion of the 20th of last December. Well, the reparation has only been commenced, we take it, by the annexation of Pegu-..it can only be com pleted, in all probability, and that, ..perhaps, be -1 fore very long, by the seizure of the rest of the Burmese provinces, and their incorporation with the territories already owning obedience to the Anglo-Indian Government. The Commissioners for inquiring into the state of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches are at length beginning to enter in good earnest on the important duties committed to their charge. They have forwarded to the several Deans and Chapters throughout the kingdom copies of the Commission under which they are empowered to conduct the investigation, together with a series of interrogatories, to which answers are requested by the 9th of April next. Suggestions, as to the means by which the purposes of the Conami s- sion may be best attained, are also invited at as early as period as may be practicable. These interrogatories, although not quite so stringent and searching as might be desired, will still, if fully and satisfactorily responded to, necessarily elicit much valuable information, amply sufficient to warrant the future legislation which the serious abuses that have sprung up during successive ages so urgently, so imperatively demand. There has clearly been a desire to spare the blushes of some Rev. Pluralists, who, although in receipt of incomes affording amply sufficient remuneration for the entire devotion of their time and labour to the efficient discharge of their capitular duties, are yet enabled to accept other lucrative situa tions ; so that one branch or other of their eccle siastical labours must be neglected. We should be happy to have a distinct account of the nume rous avocations devolving on the leviathan plura list, and the manner in which he provides for the efficient discharge of his various offices. Nor would a return, showing the distribution of time byhis venerable brother-in-law, Archdeacon CROFT, be an uninteresting document. It is, indeed, wonderful how these much-wronged men contrive to get through business which, from the remune ration attached to the various preferments, must necessarily be of a very arduous character, re quiring much application and trouble on the part of those who have so chivalrously undertaken the onerous tank. It would also be desirable to have ascertained the degree of relationship or connexion existing be tween the parties in possession, and the patrons by whom they had been presented, so that it might be shown that each of these preferments, conferring not merely competence, but wealth, on the fortunate occupants, were originally bestowcv,l on comparative strangers as the reward of literary ability, that they might enjoy as a fitting reward for unquestionable merit, the otium cum, dignitate, and that there was no appearance of nepotism or undue favouritism in these appointments, as some irreverent scoffers have more than hinted. It is, however, a sound principle that no person is bound to criminate himself and therefore it is, we suppose, that these apparently pertinent inquiries have been so studiously omitted. , The first head relating to the original, the pre sent, and the future contributions of the Chapter will show, at the same time what were the inten tions of the founders of these institutions, and how far these intentions have been carried into practical operation, or how or in what respect they have been departed from, or the Statutes infringed upon, and also the probable effect of the 3d and 4th Vro., c. 113, when the provisions thereof be came operative. It will be interesting to compare the duties of the members and officers of the Chapter in the olden time, and the residence re quired from each—and the definition given in the Statutes of the term "residence," with the duties and residences now required, and the understand ing as to what constitutes " residence " at the present day. There might, under this head, very properly have been an application as to the past and present emoluments of the members of the Chapter, and the proportion which each bore to the total capitular revenues. But this most important topic has been totally, we had almost said studiously omitted—an omission the more remarkable, inasmuch, as the questions " how are they paid ? what are their stipends and allowances, statutable or other ?" are put in refer ence to the vicars, minor canons, and school masters ; and " what are their emoluments ?" in reference to the lay vicar's clerks, and all other statutable officers. It would almost seem as if it were deemed expedient to limit the operation of an y capitular reform to the inferior officers, and that prebendaries were a class too dignified to be interfered with by Parliament. We fancy, however, that Sir BENJAMIN HALL and the Mar quis of BLANDFORD will scarcely be contented with defective information on the subject on which legislation is most essential. - In addition to the queries relating to the va rious officers and the schools, there are others touching the number and manner of the different services, the state of the fabric, together with-the funds applicable to keeping it in repair, and the amount actually expended within the last fourteen years, the impropriate rectories, and the value of the tithes and glebes thereof, and the patron age value, and situations, &c., of the vicarages and perpetual curacies, and the situations, popu lation, and value of the other benefices in the gift of the Chapter. Those applicable to the expendi ture for sacred purposes, and the grants, annual or occasional, for the augmentation of vi carages or perpetual curacies, will, we trust, exhibit in the strongest light the liberality of those wealthy bodies, and the judicious application of the ample funds, with the control and manage ment whereof they had been intrusted. The answers relating to the powers of the Visitor, an.d the applications that may have been made to any other interpreter of the Statutes since the time of the Reformation, will show the sharp look-•out after abuses that have been kept up for the last three centuries. There is one head, however, which appears supererogatory. To the inquiry, What are the relations of the Chapter to the Bishops ? the answers might be, with little variations, " Sons, sons-in-law, brothers, brothers-in-law, uncles, nephews, and cousins by birth or marriage." The list could scarcely go much further. There would appear to be very snug family parties in the Cathedrals of each Diocese. We trust that Deans and Chapters may share the fate of Ecclesiastical and Prerogative Courts. Nothing but the complete abolition of the system will suffice, and the transfer of the actual duties to other hands, by which they would be far more efficiently discharged at less than a tithe of the present expenditure, and an immense fund would become available for religious and educational purposes. We believe The Sun was the first of the press to urge upon British Catholics their obvious interest and duty in regard to the MADIAIS. Commenting upon their setting up a Religious Equality Agita tion, we assured them of the derision which such an attempt must call forth, unless they vindicated British Catholicism from the stigma of complicity with Tuscan barbarities to Protestants. We pointed out to them that the cause of the MADIAIS was more theirs than ours,—that it was a grief to us but a disgrace to them. We reminded them of their cries of persecution, when refused by Act of Parliament, not Bishops and Cardinals, and any Church Governors they pleased, but merely the appropriation of titles from our territory, a pro hibition which they share with every British sub ject ; and we showed them that they would be held guilty of the most selfish insensibility if they raised such a clamour about empty names for themselves, and yet, by the canons of their own Church, con signed humble and harmless Protestants to a dun geon for years, only for reading and distributing the Bible. Our appeal was unheeded, as we feared it would be. Soon after Sir CULLING EARDLEY invited Mr. LUCAS by name to concur with him in remonstrating with the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Catholic agent in these cruelties. The invitation drew forth the savage reply, which Mr. KEOGH and Serjeant SHEE were so honourably forward to disavow. Still nothing was done. It appears, however, that Mr. RICHARD BESTS of Southampton, an English Catholic, did send a truly creditable letter to the Times, which that journal, most unaccountably to us, refused to insert, preferring ten pounds towards the expenses of a deputation of English Catho lics in behalf of the MADIAIS, and exhorting his fellow-believers to send such a deputation. The letter was afterwards sent to the Leeds Mer cury, Lord CARLISLE having addressed the Catho lics, on behalf of the MADIAIS in that journal. His Lordship takes up the view to which we had previously invited the attention of the Catholics. He pleads with them their own constant assertion when seeking liberty for themselves, that their Church has made the same advance which all others have in this country, in shaking off the doctrine and practice of persecution for conscience sake. He suggests to them the propriety of " a deferential, dutiful, submissive remonstrance to their spiritual superior, but one which should still be earnest, importunate, and incessant, till, by its timely intervention, they are rescued from this glaring inconsistency, this intolerable reproach." Lord CARLISLE, however, does not succeed much better in his appeal to Catholic abhorrence of per secution than The Sun or Sir CULLING EARDLEY. It appears to us as if " the old principles and codes of intolerance once certainly attached to their Church had not fallen into desuetude," as his Lordship kindly hopes, and Catholics here have so often asserted. In the number of the Leeds Mercury following that in which Lord CAR LISLE'S bland epistle was published, the Hon. CHARLES LANGDALE figures as respondent ; but, alas, it is substantially to the same effect. Like Mr. LUCAS, he attempts to shuffle off by hinting at the inaccuracy of the reports of the case cir culated in this country. Like Mr. LUCAS, how ever, he makes no attempt to correct them, and how he could do so when the whole legal proceedings, the indictment and the sen tence themselves, are lying before us both in Italian and in English translation, it is difficult to see. Very naturally he declines to debate the question of " the accuracy of the charges," and tries more plausible ground. The POPE, to whom Lord CARLISLE suggested that the deputation should be sent, has, he says, nothing to do with the matter. The laws of Tuscany alone are in fault. Well, then, send the deputation to the DUKE, and let it beseech him, by all the liberty which Catholics here enjoy, by their liberty to read and circulate Mass-books, by their liberty to con vertto do every thing but touc h the. pre English clergymen and ladies, by r t o h g e a l t r i li ve, l34 3 3rt o y f the sc.dulßutot prot C es ß t o: s — as le it beseech E t ngl b a e n s di c s h li h b i e m ra t l o to be c as ath m ol e ic r u th K i E s very important point. is that wr the D g I Mr. LANGDALE must knoHwethknatohwes is but the tool of Rome. If he does not, every other Englishman no w knows the Papal Canon Law on the duty of Catholic Princes towards those MING who deem it the right an d dut y of all men to read Cum has published the the Scriptures. Dr. MURRAY, clauses relating to this s ub j ect of the Bull Unt-' M URR AY, who ought to know, genitus, which Dr. declared to be a part of the law of the Catholic Church. That Bull, aft er denouncing the Pro testant view of the Scrip tures, "as false, blas phemous, impious, heretical," adds : "And we to coerce and compel of the secular arm charge our venerable b rethren the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishop s, all who oppose or resist the a id being called in for consistent Catholic, and ff the POPE the authority at whose 6 b . ddin he would this purpose i f necessary." Th© DUKE, therefore, is bu t a immediately cease ' H l Word. the readers and distributors of mi GOD S H o 1T of Mr. LANGDA.LE'S second argument is, that to victise in dungeons the American ladies for slavery. Look at ho t persecuting la ws ? To which we against Catholics in Protestan t Swedenm e, he says ; are there no can only answer, that to any thi ng approaching if the Tuscan cruelties against till sho in Sweden, we s hould not rest to deliver their Protes tants here had done their utmost Protestants can b© far was Sweden ? says, so grace. But why travel, he oin Lord 3 - 011 N Did not you, Lord LISLII,. DeituAni of the infamous name and faith from such an unendurable dis- RUSSELL, the writer Letter, in enacting a we do not wonder at any relu ctance Now, mil lions of your fellow-subjectsthe Catholics m a y feel persecut?ing law against to " be the obsequious followers of the RODENS, from the calumnious glowing tint Alliance, still is all this hall " But what outrages of Exeter- • stir about the The folly of the up stir and other members of to the purpose ? - Ecclesiastical Titles was mons with tpu the pompous follies may bo fairly match ed t That Austria, the which gave occasion to i ryl . AN meant an insult to s enough, but it POPE, and Cardinal W isE _ That care about such an insult is now quit © a s foolish to England was very To us it England, no man in little d o ubted. seems that the real victory will doubt. on this matter is with let them not cla the Catholics. A t all events , G hi s senses enera in- Attorney mour till some Eng lish • hi c h every Catholic dig structed to enforce a l aw w nitary defies or laughs at. No, Mr. LANGDALE, be honest. Look at the facts e En (sh of the case. Compare the Tuscan law wit ch osed th io di Tress nof law. One made to resist the su pp unprovoked off a foreign Prince, the other the spring of a persecuting faith ; the one leaving ' Catholics free to do everything but assume the emblems of sovereignty over our soil, the other prohibiting Protestants to have and to circulate the Holy Scriptures ; the one sanctioned by com paratively light pecuniary penalties, the other by imprisonment for long years in a felon's dungeon; the one drag-chained by every legal hindrance to its being enforced, the other diligently worked by spies and police ; the one practically left as a dead letter, the other remorselessly pressed against the debilitated and the dying ; the one touching only conspicuous men not easily oppressed, the other pursuing a poor lodging-house keeper and his wife into their humble apartments ; the one unsup ported by any kindred legislation, neutralised rather by its opponents, composing half the Government of the day, the other backed by the bloody guillotine as more Catholic (we regret to write it) than the gaol. Let Mr. LANGDALE look on this picture and on that—let him say what feature is exaggerated either way—and let him, and let all Catholics blush to mention in the same breath the bondage and the blood which Popery demands for Protestants reading and circulating their Bibles, and the paper penalties which Eng lishmen have laid by in their archives against trenching on the secular rights of the English SOVE REIGN. Let Mr. LANGDALE and the Catholics be aware that the majority of intelligent Englishmen regret enough the foolish measure of 1851, but that it is vain indeed to think to blind them to the Catholic atrocities of dungeons and death for Bible-reading, or Bible-teaching either, by throw ing in their eyes the dust of an Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. We can just discover the difference between an unenforced fine and attacks on our liberty and life. We can assure Mr. LANGDALE of another thing : and that is,,that from persons from whom we should not have expected it, we have heard the remark, that if French and Austrian bayonets are to claim the right of upholding the POPE and per secution in Italy, it may well become a question whether England ought not to occupy Florence, or some other place for the interests of Protestant liberty. SeTeral of the Metropolitan Railway Companies have brought forward Bills for authority to con struct connecting links or branch lines, which must exceedingly promote the public convenience, while at the same time they will, we trust, prove remu nerative speculations. From the list of those Bills that have already received a first reading, in serted in another part of this day's impression, it will be found that the London and North-Western and the South-Eastern Company are exhibiting extraordinary exertion. The former company has no leis than seven bills, viz. : "I. To construct line from Northampton to Market Harborough. 11. Ditto from Tring to Oxford. 111. Ditto from Crewe to Shrewsbury. IV. To make branches to Stourbridge. V. To obtain additional powers as to the Oldham branch. VI. To construct branches to St. Albans and Amersham. VII. To con nect the Buckinghamshire with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton." These improvements, if carried into execution, must prove exceedingly beneficial to the inhabi tants of the districts traversed by the new line, allowing opportunities for considerable savings, both of time and money. The South-Eastern projects are no less impor tant. They are as follows :-- "I. To form a junction with the Great Western at Reading. 11. To make a branch from the North Kent to the Thames. 111. Do. from Lewisham to Bromley and Croydon. IV. Do. from Strood to Maidstone. V. To- vest in the South-Eastern the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway and Continental Packet Company." The public will owe a debt of gratitude to the Directors of this important Company for the spirit and enterprise displayed in these valuable addi tions to the railway communication of the country. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, Two o'CLocK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 500 American and 500 Pernam and Maranham were taken for ex port. The market was tame, but closed steadily at previous rates. The sales comprised 5,000 Ameri can ; 600 Pernam and Maranham, at 6/d. to 6/d. ; 300 Egyptian, at 6/d. to 8/d. ; and 500 Surat, at 3d. to 4id. per lb. Railway Shares were firm at higher prices. The railway meetings announced for the week are the following : Buckinghamshire, Feb. 18, Euston Station. Colchester, Stour Valley, &c., Feb. 16, Colchester. Cork and Waterford, Feb. 15, 2, Delahay-street, West minster. Dublin and Belfast Junction, Feb. 16, Dublin. Dublin and Wicklow, Feb. 16, Dublin. East and West India Docks and Birmingham Junction, Feb. 19, Euston Station. East Indian, Frib. 18, 50, Old Broad-street. Gloucester and Dean Forest, Feb. 19, Gloucester. Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, Feb. 15, Liverpool. London and Blackwall, Feb. 15, London Tavern. London and North-Western, Feb. 18, Euston Station. London and South-Western, Feb. 16, London Tavern. Madras, Feb. 15, Office. Maria Antonia, Feb. 14, Florence. Northern and Eastern, Feb. 17, Office. Sambre and Meuse, Feb. 17, Office. Sheffield, Rotherham, 8., w., H., and Goole, Feb. 18, Wakefield. Taff Vale, Feb. 16, Bristol. Vale of Neath, Feb. 19, Cardiff. York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Feb. 18, York. In reference to the import trade of New York, returns show that in four weeks the increase was $832,717, and this, it was stated, was quite a mode rate augmentation. A favourable feature was the uniformity in the receipts of foreign dry goods. The importation of these articles is watched with interest, as they form an important item in the total value of imports, and show to some extent the state of the foreign trade. From Miramichi we learn that a fishery meeting had been held, at which resolutions were passed to the effect that, as the British North American coast fishery was daily increasing in value and im portance, the idea of conceding them to the Ame ricans should not be carried out without the con sent of the colonists. Accounts from Caiifornia are of an interesting character. In the new Pacific state the inhabitants were suffering very much from famine, floods, and sickness. The floods were so extensive that many towns and districts were under water ; miners were compelled to leave the " diggins," and provisions had become so scarce in some parts of the interior that many of the people were actually starv ing, attributable to the very bad condition of the roads. The quantity of gold shipped from the Atlantic States from the Ist ult. was but little more than 1,800,000 dols., which was owing to the unfavourable weather. This, h owe ver, was not expected long to continue, and larger ship ments were looked for. But to the " diggers" these floods are generally of ultimate advantage, as they wash away the earth, and leave the gold on the surface. In San Francisco flour was cheaper, and an increased stock was expected ; the wholesale price was 31 dols. to 32 dols., and the retail 33 to 34 dols. per brl. Money was abundant at 2i to 3 per cent. At the meeting of the British American Land Company just held, a dividend at the rate of 30s. per share for the year was declared, 15s. to be paid on and after the 11th April, and 15s. on and after the 10th October next. There is no definite infor mation concerning the gold discoveries, but that gold does exist in the eastern townships is ascer tained. Advices from Constantinople, of January 29, state that the value of money had risen there. The Australian florin was worth 4i piastres, and roubles were at 20 piastres ; francs were at 5 piastres. The English Stocks have been firm, but with very little doing. Consols have been marked 994 for Transfer, and the same for Account. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. are at 103± to The advices from Paris are satisfactory, and upon the opening of the Senate it is hoped the Em peror will make such remarks as will strengthen confidence. Bank Stock has been very steady at 228. Exchequer Bills are 525. to 555. premium, being scarcely so good. East India Bonds are at 60s. premium. Foreign Securities have been without any parti cular alteration. Mexican Bonds have been steady at 231 -a. Peruvian 6 per Cents. have been sup ported at 104. Grenada Deferred Stock is at 114, and dull. Brazilian Small Bonds are at loti, and the 4-i per Cents at 97±. Buenos Ayres Bonds are marked 64. Portuguese 4 per Cents, are 38±, and Spanish 3 per Cents. 47i. The Swedish Loan is at 1 discount. Russian Bonds are supported. The Gold Mine Shares have been very active, and many buyers have taken them up. Great Nugget Vein, Colonial, and West Mariposa have been in most demand. There is a report that Colonel Fremont's title to the mineral on his estates has been declared inva lid, consequently squatters can occupy the ground. The Land Company's Shares are firmer, and South Australian Land are up 2/. to 4/. The Aus tralian Bank is rising. Railway Shares are at very full prices, and in some cases dearer. The French lines are all de cidedly better. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. . (From the Official List.) _ _ Business aone. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.... ...... 3 per Cent: Consol s A nnu iti es New 3} per Cent. Annuities 10 3; Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6i India Bonds, £lOOO — Ditto, under £IC3O 6O Consols for Account 10th March March. 99 B g June. Exchequer Bills lAd. £lOOO.. 55 2 Small 52 -- - PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian _Bonds, 5 per Cent. — Ditto New, 1862, 43 per Cent 97R Ditto New, 1843 Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 64 Grenada Bonds, Deferred, Mexican 3 per Cent - Peruvian 6 per Cent. Portuguese 4 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto, 43 per cent lO3. Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent..... ....... ' p,inish Bonds, 3 per Cent Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent — Ditto for the Account 22i Swedish Loau * Consols THREE O'CLOCK. 99 i Ditto March Acco un t FIGHT BETWEEN THE "MANCHESTER PET" AND THE " PLUCKY EivelasiiMAN."—A little bit of a "spurt" has taken place between Cobden and the Englishman. The reporter for Beli's Life was not present, but one of the combatants has furnished the following account of the " mill,"which is addressed to the " Pet ' in these terms —" You are a sporting man. I wrote letters, but you mitke a book. You post a challenge for the championship. You choose the day, the wager, and the stakes. Ten thousand pounds to a shilling a week. I take the odds. Done ! You go into regular training. You eat Burke raw ; chew, but, wisely, do not swallow Alison ; and digest the whole Pictorial History of England. The fight comes off, You peer in prime condition. What bone what sinew ! 'Nil nisi nerves cuteau.' You s4ep into the ring, like Spider Bill' himself, with high-lows, shorts, a handkerchief, and bottle-holder. There is a rally, and a round. You hit wild, groggy, and go down. Time's up. Where are you? Nowhere. You and your bottle-holder have jumped over the ropes, and the word is non in veniendus." SCARCITY OT SEAMEN.--In consequence of the largo number of vessels which have been dispatched for, and lying in the ports of Australia, there is a very great scarcity of seamen, which is equally felt in Bristol and all the ports of the Bristol Channel. So much is this the case, that out bound vessels have been dertaineatfor a length of time, actually waiting for men to man them. At the Welsh ports, on the other side of the Channel, seamen are very scarce and eagerly sought for. Her Majesty's war steam-frigate the Encounter, of 14 guns, under the com mand of Captain O'Callaghan, is lying in the Cumberland Basin, Bristol, for the purpose of enrolling seamen for her Majesty's service, and a rendezvous for this abject has been opened in the neighbourhood. A BLACK DECISION.—At the Marlboro'-street Police court, William Portinie, a manof colour,lr, as charged with refusing to support his illegitimate child. Margaret Mackey , said she was engaged by M. Robin, the conjuror, in Titch borne-street, to do work, and there met with the de fendant, who was also employed to assist in the t r i c k s and conjurations at the theatre. The defendant con trived to become intimate with her, and the result was the little copper-coloured fac-simile of the father. The de fenslant, notwithstanding the prima facie proof of paternity vresented by the child, stoutly declared he was not the father. The complainant had no other corroborative proof than that , which was afforded by the unmistakeable resem blance between the child and its putative father. Mr. Hardwick was hardly inclined to think that this kind of -Sroof was the corroborative evidence contemplated by law. :t was just possible that the defendant was not the father, as there were other black men in London. He should asAaftegroaond therefore remand the case, to see if the complainant could bring some kind of corroboration of her declaration. n a o b v o e u l t t y a n o f hour,the thingand while we victort o get y h together stilla b DANCING MATCH.—A dancing match took place at eo resultc t b a a t l o a r n s ofe ,t and ha:)e mt contest.h T er e ampton, on Saturday night, the 29th ult., for 101., be tween the celebrated veteran dancer, Old Tommy Gilpin, of Mardale, late of Kentmere, and Mr. John Hall, of of o.t33litiastnmeergoPnvtaedroenend. that he had forgot his " nankemeemnydsuddenl: deal large of betting tbr ti alh assemblagelo e yf o the s t p h drawers," land offered to double the wager if his anta • gonist would hneet him on Monday night to decide the contest. This :was agreed to. Monday night came, and sure enough JOld Tommy, his " nankeem," and his backers were there ; but his competitor did not venture to appear. Of course, Old Tommy claimed the wager, and threw up his cap, and declared that his next exhibition should be at the Alexander diggings, Australia, —Carlisle Journal. RAILWAY AND OTHER PRIVATE BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. We have prepared the following list of railway and other important bills which have already been presented to the House of Commons and read a first time. What with these and the election petitions, our representatives will have enough of hard work cut out for them in select committees during the present session. Aberdeen.—For raising further monies and extension of time for purchase of lands, &c. Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, &c.—No. I. To authorise traffic arrangements with the Great Northern. No. 11. To authorize erection of station at Nottingham, and abandonment of portion of the line, &o. Ardrossan.—For vesting the company in the Glasgow and South Western Company. Bangor and Caernarvon.—For sale of line to the Ches ter and Holyhead. Birmingham and Oxford, &c.—For providing additional station accommodation in connection with the Great Western, and other railways. Blackburn.—For extension of time, &c. Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire.—For making lines to Seacombe and Liskard. British Electric Telegraph Company.—For amendment of Act. Cheltenham and Oxford Union. Crystal Palace Company—For diversion of roads and purchase of lands. Devon and Dorset.—For making a line from Stoke Canon to Maiden Newton. Darlington and Barnard Castle. East Grimstea,d. 'East and West India Docks, &c.—For dissolving the existing company and incorporating a new one. Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland. 'Eastern Counties.—To make line from Stratford to Woodford and Loughton. 11. To make line to Ham Creek and the Thames. East Lancashire.—For extension of line to Southport and Rainford. Great Extra -mural Cemetery Association.—For cemetery at Willesden. Great Northern.—l. For amendment of Acts. 11. For branch to Bedford. Hull and Holderness. • London Docks Bill.—To augment stock and to form a new *entrance from the river. London, Brighton and South Coast. —To enlarge London and Brighton Stations, and to form branch line to Crystal Palace. London and North-Western.—The following are the ob jects of the different bills promoted by this com pany:—l. To construct line from Northampton to Market Harborough. 11. Do. from Tring to Ox ford. 111. Do. from Crewe to Shrewsbury. IV. To make branches to Stourbridge. V. To obtain additional powers as to the Oldham branch. VI. To construct branches to St. Albans and Amer sham. VII. To connect the Buckinghamshire with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton. Limerick and Foynes. Limerick, Ennis, and Irillaloe.—For power to sell, &c. London Assurance Bill. London and Finsbury Improvements.—For improve . ments in London and Finsbury, and for construc tion of railway and stations. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire.—For alteration of Barnsley branch. Manchester and Southport.--For alteration of line, &c. Monkland.—For branches. Midland.—For making line from Leicester to Hitohen. Peebles.—From Hawick to Peebles. Portadown and Dungannon. Redruth and Chasewater. South-Eastern.—The following are the objects of the bills promoted by this company To form a junction with the Great Western at Reading. 11. To make a branch from the North Kent to the Thames. 111. Do. from Lewisham to Bromley and Croydon. IV. Do. from Strood to Maidstone. V. To vest in the South-Eastern the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway and Continental Packet Com pany. South Devon and Tavistock.—For line from Plymouth to Tavistock. Severn Valley.—For making a line from Hartlebury to Shrewsbury. St. Helen's Canal and Railway.—For extending the line to Rainford, &c. Warrington and Altrincham.—For extending line to Stockport. West Cornwall.—For branches, &c. Wimbledon and Croydon. Woodford.—From Hackney Wick to Woodford. Worcester and Hereford.—This company has two bills for making railways between Worcester and Here ford, and for forming junctions with other cora panys, &c. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FEB. 12. The following had the honour of dining with Her Ma jesty yesterday :—Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Her Royal Highness the Princess Augustus of Saxe Cobourg, Her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenloho, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Lady in Waiting to the Princess Augustus of Saxo Cobourg, the Baroness do Speth, Lord George Lennox, the Hon. Charles Gore, Colonel the Hon. C. B. and ➢Zrs. Phipps, and Lieutenant-Colonel F. H. Seymour. The band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the Castle during dinner and performed the following selection : Overture—" Fisble Berger"... ... Adam Duet and Finale—" Sicilian Vesper" Lindpaintner Eng JubelkLange Sommerlatt — ie, " ter 3 Sertz—" Die Weihe s Wat infd elornzTone .• .•• ... L. Spohr Bolero ... • ••• Bosquet March of the Brave Captain Armstrong H er Majesty's private band was in attendance in the evening. Her Royal Highness the Princess Augustus of Saxe Cobourg took leave of Her Maesty this morning, and left the Castle for Claremont. Lord George Lennox and the Hon. Charles Gore also left for London. The following had the honour of dining with Her Ma jesty this day :—Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Lady in Waiting to Her Royal Highness the Baroness do Spoth, Sir George Couper, and Mr. Gibbs. Th e Queen's private band attended after dinner in the Castle and played the following pieces : Overture—" Heimhehr aus der Fremede" Mendelssohn. Selection — " Lestoce Auber. Sinfonia (No. 2) The Queen and Prince, the Prin ce o f Wales,l3 the Princess Royal, and Princess Alice, with the Duchess of Kent and the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, attended Divine service this morning in the private chapel of the Castle. The ladies and gentlemen of the Court and the domestic household were also at the service. The Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated. A deputation consisting of Sir John Shelley, M.P., Mr. John Macgregor Mr. Mullins (solicitor), had an i n t erv i ew on S a t ur d ay w ith the Eight ALP, Mr. Humphrey Brown, M.P., and HoE. Card we ll an d L or d St an l ey o f Ald er l ey at the Board of Trade. Mrs. Chisholm had an interview on Saturday with the Duke of Newcastle at the Colonial-office. On Saturday evening the Duke of Newcastle gave a grand dinner at his residence in Portman-square. The following had the honour of dining with his Grace :—The Earl Granville, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Hon. C. virus, u. Hon. H. Fitzroy, Hon. F. W. Charterio, Mr. Merivale, Mr. M. Milnes, Mr. S. Denison, Captain Elliot, R.N., Governor of Bermuda ; Captain Foote, R.N., Mr. Ross, Solicitor-General of Canada West ; Mr. Daly, Governor of Tobago ; Mr. Temple (Hon darns) Mr. Leslie Foster, Mr. R. W. Grey, and Mr. Nothersole. George Hudson, Esq., M.P. f or S un d e rland, has just li ha n s d ed ann in is sthe largely Irish E en n g cu ag m e b d ere in d taken possession of the M er li n P a rk e state in Galway, whichs tates hcen our t a t . e y m p r ure . mining speculations in different parts of Ireland, and is at present working the Glengola lead mines, hi the neighbourhood of Oughterard. The Merlin Park marble quarries are supposed not to be sur passed in Ireland, as regards the supply and qua lity of the material, and Mr. Hudson is about to work them on a scale that will afford permanent employment to a large number of labourers and mechanics. TURN-OUT OF COTTON CLOTH WEAVERS.—Manchester was yesterday placarded with an appeal to the public from the Havannah weavers of Messrs. J. P. Westhead and Co., who complain that they have been compelled to strike in consequence of a reduction of wages below what are given in Manchester of 15 per cent. The cotton districts have been remarkably free from strikes for some consider able time past until this arose) ST. VALENTINJI'S DAY.--This day being the Feast of St. Valentine, according to annual custom the Postmaster- General has directed that the district Post letter-carriers shall be regaled with a substantial dinner at some respect able tavern, in their respective Walks, the dinner to con sist of roast be pudding, and -vegetables, and to take Place ill eachdistrict at one o'cloc k . The sort e rs, Bub sorters, messen gers , por ters, and constables attached to the London Distri c t- o ffi ce *lll be regaled in a similar manner in the Great H a ll, on the basement floor o f the General Yost-office, or el se ' at their option , they will recei v e a shil ling each. Th e drivers of mail-carts, post-boys, and others, whose service cannot be well dispensed with during the day will be provided with a substantial supper in the even ing, and each person on the establishment aro to have a supply of ale. The number of letters delivered this morn ingexceeds by far any of form er y ears. Hunt AND SELBY HATLWAY.—The half-yearly meeting of the Hull and Selby Railway Company was held at the York and North Midland station, at Hull, on Saturday, Richard Lottie, Esq., in the chair. The formal business having been transacted, the report was read by the secre tary, from which it appeared that from the half-year ending the 31st of December, 1852, a balance was shown of 31,6831., 168. 3d. to the credit of the company, and the directors recommended that after the payment of the in terest upon the quarter shares due on tho Ist of February, 1853, a dividend be declared of 21. 9s. on the 501. shares each, and of 11.45. 6d. on the 251. shares, such dividend to be subject to the income tax. The Chairman moved, and Mr. Leonard West seconded, that the repor t be received, and that the dividends suggested be declared. Mr. Foster said'ho i observed in the statement of accoun ts an item for solicitors and law charges amounting to 1461. The Chair , man having explained how this amount had been expended, Mr. Foster expressed himself satisfied with that explana tion. Mr. Pease and Mr. Whitaker, the retiring directors, and Mr. John Bowes, the auditor, were the n unanimously re-elected ; and the usual votes of thanks having been passed to the several officials, the proceedings terminated. THE GREENWICH WATERMEN.—On Monday last four more watermon of this town (making in all 15 during the past fortnight) left for Australia, a free passage being granted on account of their working during the vo have As in the former case, they aro all y oun g men, and just completed their apprenticeship,—Kentish Mercury. THE COALITION PEA. We copy the following smart jeu d'esprit from the Morning Herald Now's your time—look out, and see, Here's the Coalition pea ; Which is the thimble? make your game, This or that, 'tis all the same. Here it is—now it's gone— Which is the thimble you bet upon? Is it reform of the criminal law ? You lift it—and look like a Johnny Raw. Well, upon that—reform of the Church ? You lift it—again you are left in the lurch. Well, now—reform of the income tax ? You're wrong, 'tis saddled again on our backs. But, surely, not without modification ? You're done again, and so is the nation. But come, at last, thimble there ? Reform of Parliament, I'll swear. You're wrong again—you're done, 'tis clear, We've put it off to another year. Then, what the deuce have you got at all, ITnder the thimbles, any or all ? Dear sir, don't be so impatient and hot, I'll show you presently what we have got ; 'Tis something wonderful, something new I 'Tis neither more nor less than " a Jew ! I 1" A living Jew, whom we mean to force Through houses both, as a matter of course, And render the state entirely free From national Christianity. Thimbles one, and thimbles all, Thimbles great, and thimbles small, Thimbles many, and thimbles few, We've nothing under them but the Jew ! ! ! P.B.—The joke and idea that give the fun, Are taken from Friday evening's Sun. W.G. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCOLXXV. LINCOLN SPRING MEETING.—This meeting, under the stewardship of the Mayor of Lincoln, with Mr. Richard Johnson, of York, as judge, and Mr. J. H. Peart as starter, is marked to come off to-morrow and Wednes day, with four races for each day. The races commence to-morrow, at half-past one, w i th th e T r i a l S takes of 5. sovs. each, with 40 added, for three-years-old and up wards (one mile). Out of the nine entries, probably five or six will run. Mr. Wise's BROUGHTON ought to o"cupy the- first place ; Billy Richardson and Game Tommy the second land third positions. The remainder stand no chance of finishing in front. For the Steeplechase little has been done among the betting fraternity ; and as I have for a length of time dhsisted from giving an opinion on these 'cross country ebents I must pass this st a k e over b y mere l y o b serv i ng that The General and Bruce have some fanciers in the ancient city of Lincoln. The Two-years-old Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 30 added, for colts Bst 71b, fillies and geldings Bst 41b (straight run in, nearly half a mile), will be contested by Bsmall field. The race w ill b e con fi ne d ent i rely to RIDESMAID, Vixen, and Pope Joan, the first -named being the first to clear the judge's chair, the other two following in the order I have placed them. Vixen is reported to be very fast on her legs for a short distance, and it would not be throwing money away to back her, to save stakes in case Bridesmaid should miss the mark. The Selling Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 30 added, optional selling weights (over the mile course), will bring to morrow's races to a terminus. On Wednesday, the first race on the list is the Two. years-old Selling Stakes of 5 sovs, each,, with 25 added ; colts Bst 101 b, fillies Bst 71b; the winner to be sold . for 100 sovs., &c. (straight run in). This stake does not close until this evening ; which is likewise the case with the Innkeepers' Selling Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 30 added, optional selling weights (one mile). Out of the fifteen entries to the Lincoln Springllan dicap Stakes of 5 sovs. each, SO added, some half-dozen will go to the post. The race at the present time seems to me to lay between Ring David, Little Davie, Brough ton, and Newport ; and as I have here placed them, so, if meant, I f ancy t h ey will pass the post; but for, my' final opinion see The Sun of to-morrow. Nothing whatever has been done in the/ handica Hurdle R ace, consequently indicating the winner in thi p s instance is quite out of the question. It is a sweepstakes of 5 Bove. -each, with 30 added (two miles, over five flights of hurdles). THE SPIRIT OP THE TURF. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS. --The Atto l has nominated Mr. J o h n Wickens and Mr rnTeYGenera 171 - T 11 to represent him in Equity, in th e matters. relating to P rr u e ' lie charities. The right hon. gentleman has als o selected Mr. Alfred Harrison t o b e counsel in Equity to the Board of . Works, and t o th e Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes. The above o ffi ces are vacant by the appointmentof Mr. Milbourne J ames to the office of Vice-Chancellor of th e . Duchy of Lancaster, in the r oom o f Mr. Bethel, her Ma jesty's Solicitor-General. —Observ er. EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION AND LOSS OF PROPERTY NHAR THE BRIDGWATER STATION OF THE BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.—.A destructive fire broke out on Saturday at the extensive works of Messrs. Hutch inson and Ritson, the contractors for the Yeovil and Dorchester branch of the Bristol and Exeter Rail waY. These works are situate on lands belonging to the company adjacent to the railway, and at about three-quarters of a mile distant from the Bridgwater station. The flames speedily communicated with a large quantity of Kyanised balls, and the fire burnt with terrible grandeur, rendering it soon apparent that all efforts to save the engine-house and machinery would prove unavailing. By about half-past ten o'clock the - violence of the flames was subdued, but not until the engine -house, two powerful engines, a valuable lathe, and other implements used in the business, and as much prepared timber as would, laid longitudinally, have made five on six miles of railway, had been consumed. Happily, the wind blew from the eastward ; had it been otherwise the loss of property must have been much more extensive, as the yard was well stocked with timber. The damage has been estimated at from 2,0001. to 8,000/. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPA. At four o'clock yesterday afternoon, the British and North A mer i can R o y a l Mail steam-shiP Europa, Captain Ryrie, arrived in the Mersql from oston and Halifax, with 95 passengers and 200,000 dols. in specie on freight. The EursP a left Boston at noon on the 2d instant, and Halift l early on the morni ng o f th e 4th, a nd passed the Canada, belonging to the same line, off Halifax. The Royal ail steamer Africa, from hence, anu the United States steamer Hermann, from South ampton and Havre, had both arrived out at Neal York on the 30th ult. ' • and the screw-steamer C it y of Glasgow arrived at Philadelphia on the 31st. By this arrival we have six days' later news fora all parts of the United States than we had previously received by the Arabia. There had been very little of importance in the proceedings of Congress. The debate in the Senate on the Monroe doctrine, in reference to the relative positions of the United States and Cuba, was pot' poned until the 3d instant. In the extradition case of Kaine, who had been demanded by the British authorities in Washington , and whose cause has been so often argued before the United States' Courts, the Supreme Court at Washington had decided, on the 31st ult., to gran t a re-hearing of the whole case, which was fixed t° commence at New York on the 4th of April. By the arrival of the mail steamer from Cat fornia at New York, with two million dollars 01 gold-dust, we are in possession of intelligence fro l i. the golden state to the Ist of January, at 'laic' time the prices of provisions in California WI very high, and a famine was very generally dreads" throughout the mining districts. Heavy swirl and floods had occurred, and great suffering an numerous deaths were the consequence among the miners. From Mexico we have advices to the 11th of January. Everything was still in a confused state' COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. The commercial advices by the Europa report busins o ° generally throughout the Union as being active in ever , ' branch. Money was plentiful, and obtained upon east terms. Stocks were in good demand, and prices Awl maintained. COTTON.—In the cotton market there was but little doing, holders were not pressing sales, and the pr:, viously-quoted rates were maintained. The receipts ba d been very large, which tended to keep down prices. Neal Orleans and Mobile, 12c. to 124 c. ; Upland and Florida/ llic. to llic. BEEADSTUFFS.—There had been a pretty fair businest done in breadstuffs. The market, on the s ailing °I steamer was firm, and prices generally steady •Western Canal flour, $5 374 to $5 50 per brl., steady; Gennessee wheat, $1 30 to to $1 32 ; Indian corn, round yellow, 70 to 72 cents, very firm ; Indian m e a l, $3 50 t° 's3 52. IRON.—The demand was good, and prices firm. PuovisroNs.—ln provisions there had been a law business transacted. Prices, however, are generally quoted lower. Are F IIBIGHTS. The rates demanded by shipowners to higher than quoted by the previous advices. Flour, Liverpool, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. per barrel ; grain, llid• ls. per bushel ; cotton, 3-16 c. to lc. ; cotton, to Sam' c. to ie. per lb. EXCHANGN.—There was a fair demand for e xchallg s e for the Europa ; •the rates were—On London, 1094 W firm ; Paris, 5 131; Hamburgh, 364 to 36f ; Bremen , 794 to 79f. MIDDLESEX .SESSIONS-( THIS DA Y). The February Sessions for the trial of prisoners f° r , the county of Middl esex, commenced this morn i n g, a" the Sessions -house Clerkenwell-green, before Mr. Sr . ; geant Adams, the Assistant-Judge Mr. Witham, and full bench of magistrates The calendar ' contains. th names of 67 prisoners for trial, of which 4 are 'a gue. meanants. DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY. William Sadler, 22, Mary Clark, 24, and Inn s l .,_° kes ' 25, ple a d e d not guilty to an indictment charging tn e,„ ; with stealing a p oc k et - handkerchief and nine sovereigns, the property and moneys of Mr. Charles Hamburg' from his person. Mr. Payne appeared for the prosecution, and 311 " O'Brien for the defence. of It appeared from the evidence that, on the night + the 6th of January, about half-past nine, the proseclir o . was proceeding along the Cambridge Heath-road , ale wards his home, when he was met by the two female prisoners, near the Queen's Head public-house. T he y separated- went - on each side of him, and the P goner Stokes put one of her arms round his body, with her other took from his pocket a pocket - h aTl A — t h e a chief and the money named in the indictment, and -oho ran away. He followed and caught her, wh ell o a nd coughed twice, when the prisoner Sadler et r; in t cr - r 1" 1 said, "This is my wife, what are you do i ng her and at the same time struck him a. violent bl ow °li Tit head, which knocked him down. Th e en pr isoller g then came up, and she and Sadler continsued Rasa the prosecutor until a policeman came up and took th em into custody. St o k es was captured the day alb Stokes was well known to the police. The jury found all the prisoners guilty. of The learned Assistant-Jud ge sa id that the offenc o e f which the prisoners had b een f oun d gu il ty was 011e,_ u r r t most serious character. Th e sen t ence o f th e Liu, to therefore was, that they each be i m p r i sone d an d kept hard labour in the House of C orrec ti on f or 18 calei l months. MARLBOROUGH-STREET---(THIS DAY.) CONVICTION OF A Dos STEALER.—James Co —dor fancier was placed at the bar, before Mr. charged with stealing a bull-terrier, the properti John Ludy, carpenter, No. 7, Little York-building s • 4 3 ,6 Mr. Bishop, of Bond-street, attended tto watch case on behalf of the Society for the Prosecution of I)L 5 ' Stealers and their Conf e d era t es , o f w hi c h soc i e ty he '— the orignator. sri The prosecutor st a t e d th a t on th e 31 st o f Sall - the last he went into the I)arlour at Ben Count's, fe l : At h purpose of partaki ng o f some refreshment, having `,;Z: it . him at the time a b r i n dl e d an d w hit e b u ll-t err i e r. " tog i ness took a seat at a t a bl e , an d th e pr i soner , wile 00 , also a dog with him, s a t o pp os it e t o hi m . Witn" ea soon after finishing his liquor, whi c h he ben s t to have been drugged by some one, fell asleep, and and when h e awo k e h e m i sse d his doe Prosecutor then went upst a i rs an d i n f or med lue p Caunt of his loss, and in spite of every effort V A nese could not succeed in finding the prisoner till a t night, when he found him at his lodgings in Drury -e° o l 6 and gave him in charge. Prosecutor added, that . , the dog, which had not b een f oun d , was worth 51 . , and collar it had on worth is. 6d. o rf Mrs. Caunt said on the night of the 31st of Tan ' bet she was in the bar when she saw prisoner pass til e for house, complainant's dog under his coat. Prisoner left tor house, and directly he was gone she was told prosevol had lost his dog—she then told him that Cox had W . it away with him. elcl Mr. Bingham said it was so seldom that a man nei be brought t o j ust i ce for appropriating other Ps' , " kir valuable dogs to themselves, but he thought i n the % l a sent case the (Iffence had been f u lly proved, and he shame now inflict th e f u ll est punishment the law alloy/al,' , prisoner was then committed, under the second seoute " Bishop's Act," to the House of Correction for the o of six calendar months. which We S. JOHN'S -WOOD.—Among the institutions n find rising u p on t h e skirts of London, we mils . st' the St. John's-wood Literary and Scientific Socie',Y,,; t ioa John's- woo d seems the very place for such an ine tl 'ce to take r oo t i n. I t has long been a favourite resi, its of men of letters—art has many of her votarie s it° pleasant nooks, and the district can boast its Prost college, an d it s o b servatory. Nor is it altoget her 3 n ot ing in historical and legendary contrasts—for had o w in ancient days its monks and its priory ? Star te d itioeS der f avoura bl e auspices, and on liberal con Leioer as to terms and management, the new society P r ? „ a s well. With out expensive meetings and proceerpro' that evil which is fatal to so many w e ll-conceive 4 00 jects— it h as a l rea d y o b ta i ned such an amount of 8 % 0 0 as justifi es reasona bl e hopes of success. A rea dinf d be eo • has be en opene d— a library, small, but growing , formed—and a course of lectures is commenced. or of the thing is fairly inaugurated—and it is in the P ° lo o the inhabitants of the district, by a prompt and ti aka co-operati on , to render it in time one of the iner so lort• and agreeable meeting places in the suburbs of - 14 " • ill —Athenceutn, t a rd PIO SUSPECTED CHILD MURDER.—Late on Sa-- h i ‘ i s the body of' a remarkably fine newly-born male_ ° ,.,l found on the step of the house of the Rev. Coni e tio3 o( 6 berly, 30, Mornington-crescent, Regent's-Perk' as th x . tion having been given to the policeman on as if or lo body was immediately conveyedto the St. raa cr , see t *, house, where Mr. Waldegrave, the house surge° er ' a minute examination of the body, from which ti ' ve lori doubt that the child was born alive, It was ? a d, 1,1 in a piece of white calico much stained with vit a o over which was closely folded a piece of blac 4 :',..uvialt calico. The police have received instructionsvio the most rigid search for the inhuman parent. via rde' meantime, notice of the occurrence has been f°l. to Mr. Wakley, the coroner ...-- . THE MURDER at CLAYII.IDON, DEVONS O IZ: OO C AO considered that Hitchcock, the man who 11 °, w ar - ics, rir mitted for trial in connection with George 0 1?`, 0 actual murderer had more to do in the a tr°cle :rk° than was at first supposed. It appears that _P e T o b r y penregvarlingdto be m arr i e d to a daughter o f Ifit el ; e robb between thimp ression is that they concocted r_eesecl the French nut tree, so as to make him be lie ;ey tb es he be attacked it was by other parties. re Jal,t dogged him to the Lower Farm Gate , w he o ree, n e e Blackrnore tracked Hitchcock; Sparks 'that'll° tolul-eii over the hedge and passed his victim, but, ; t i l o of the people, he had not heart to strike t ' e r ang fi e ld cock, it is thought wa behind urging attack, and finallithe s poor wretch we hi t nln y t : t w he, e fe :; beyond and out a second time, and then g a d flit e° ooo* .blow. When Braddick came to a pprehen, it vra s 004 in the morning, he told him that he thougut se ttle t he i S n p t a h rk e s, who had promised to bring him °v a i d b e bad ooci s ' ns morning. Now, as Sparks t Bed s ' s ' money he borrowed of a Mr. Iloniball a het co could have had no money . to lend except ' e te th e c°' taken from Blackmore. This led the jurilY. sion that Hitch coc k was an abettor of th e r