The Sun. — London, England, 1853-03-28 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL, IIdYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. Bnckstone. THIS EVENING, Hazen 28, Sheridan's Comedy of THE RIVALS. Supported by Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, William Farren, Henry Corri, and Rogers ; Mesdames Reyno'ds, Bucklugham ' Poynter, and Ellen Chaplin. With Mr. BUCKSTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PARNASSUS. Mr. Bnckstom, by Mr. Buckstone ; Fortut.e, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Fpirit of Mount Parnassus, Miss Louisa Howard. TEIE TWO QUEENS. Supported by Messrs. Compton and Howe. and Mrs. Buckingham and Miss Louisa Howard. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Sean. THIS EVENING, Mazes 28, Will be performed the 'Tragedy of MACBETH. After which will be produced a new Drama, adapted from the the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Paigrave Simpson, called MARCO SPADA. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. V inbag, Ryder, Graham, and Everett; Miss Heath and 24133 C. eclarcq. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, Maxon 28, Will be presented A STRANGE HISTORY. Characters by by Madame Vestris, Mrs. Y. Matthews, Miss Julia St. George, Mts.; Bi,bertson, Y. iss 80. in a Wright, %ll B' —xs asor, Mrs. Horn, and Miss Wadlmm ; Mr. C. Mashews, Mr. F. Matthews, Mr. R. Roxby, Mr. Cooper, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. Beltan, Mr. B. Baker, Mr. Rosiere, &c. THEATRE: ROYAL ADELPIIT, Fro..rietcr, lir. B. Websts.r. —Directress, Madame Celeste, THIS EVENING, MAICR 28, Will Fe presented WF.P.S rEit AT HOME M ADELPIII FARE CIF TitltEb.; REM, YEi ANI) A DESERT. Characters by Messrs. B. We:ister, L. Murray, Keeley, &c.; Miss P. Maskell and Mrs. L Ilarray, &c. After which, A NOVEL EXPEDIENT. With TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. THE PRETTY GIRLS OF STILBERG. PEPINO THE DCMB• BOY, AND PUG, HIS MONKEY. LOYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. Farren. First Night of an entirely new Drama. THIS EVENING, AfAacH 28, Will be presented SALVATORI ; or, the Bandit's Daughter. Supported by Messrs. H. Marston. F. Robson, and W. Morgan (their Ilrst appearance here), G. Cooke, Binloch, and Clifton; Misses Anderton and H. Gordon. To be followed by the Farce of CATCHING AN HEIRESS. To conc.nde with the Ballet of THE DUMB RECRUIT. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. First Night of the New Management.—New Dramatic and Eques trian Company.—New Spectacle and New Stud of Horses. THIS EVENING. MARCH 28, Will be produced an entirely new grand spectacle, in three acts, by Fitzball (founded on principal recent hostile events in Kaffraria), entitled AMAKOSA ; or, Scenes of Kafir Warfare ; with new scenery, costumes, and appointments. To be followed by SCENES of the ARENA. To conclude with a POPULAR FARCE. , x-oftlca open daily Prom Eleven to Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. lIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tina DAY —Morning 55 min. after 3 Evening 17 min.a ft . 4 To - Mbanow—Morning 37 min. after 4 `Evening 57 min.aft. 4 THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MARCH 27. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 37—hi g hest since noon yesterday. 22—lowest this morning and during the night. 42 this day at noon. BAROMETER, 30.12. WIND, W.S.W. to S-W.--Variable, with light showers of snow. In the aftenwon heavy rain. MARCH 28. 44 highest since noon yesterday. 29—lowest this morning and during the night. 40—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 30'22, still thing. WIND, N. by W. to N,E—Light breeze and dul weather, with glimpses of sunshine. DAILY WEATHER TABLE. MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1853, State of the wind and weather at each of the following pi:tees at nine o'clock on Saturday morning. The stations a - ee arranged in order of latitude. LIMERICK—W. calm—overcast. MIJLLINGAR—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. IfAsTirras—N.E_ L . strong breeze— cloudless. SOUTHAMPTON—N., strong breeze—cloudless. FOLKESTONE—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. TUNBRIDGE—N.E. strong breeze—cloudless.BASlNGSTOKE—N-W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GREENWICH --E., gentle breeze— partially cloudy. Sr aoOD—N.E_,. gentle breeze—partially cloudy. CAMBRIDGE —N., gentle breeze—cloudless. YARMOUTH—E., gentle breeze—cloudless. The returns from the following places indicate the state of the weather on Friday morning at nine o'clock : IlAsrmas—N.E, strong breeze—cloudless. gOUTHAMPTON—N., strong breeze—cloudless. FOLKESTONE—N,E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. GRERNWICH—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy. SWINDON—N.E., fresh breeze—partially loudy. THE PUBLICATION OF " THE SUN" COMMENCES EVERY AFTERNOON AT THREE O'CLOCK, AND TITS LATE OR THIRD EDITION, CONTAINING THE DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT THE SAME EVENING, With all other News arriving up to the hour of Post, AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. EXPRESS EDITIONS will be forwarded after the Post is closed by the Latest Trains. ~--- . wit ivey '4111 1 ( 0 ., ) - Jr,. - .41. k„,. 44'4146 , , LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1853. A POSSIBLE CONTINGENCY. We are no alarmists; but sometimes we feel uneasy on the chapter of accidents. The Russian fleet in the Black . Sea is stated to be in readiness to make a descent on• Constantinople with an army of 30,000 men, more—or less. Turkey is said to have solicited the protection of France and England. We learn that the French fleet has set sail for ""the Greek waters"—in other words, the Dardanelles, and the English squadron of only five sail of the line may probably follow. The French fleet is nearly double the force of the English. Now, suppose that, instead of backing up the Turks, the French were by a singular fatality to join the Russians for reasons best known to both, where would the Turks be ?—but what is of far more importance to Europe and to the independence of England, where would the squadron of Admiral DUNDAS be ?—whether it were cooped up in Malta or running away home, if it could or would run away, is matter of most grave consideration. That Russia would hazard much for the capture of Constantinople, is proved by her past conduct—and her present insolent bearing to the SULTAN is a fair sample of her moderation to the weak. The command of the ocean is the only power on which England can rest her independence with safety, Let her lose that, and all her well-ap- Pointed regi , ments, militias and volunteers would little avail against the combined armies of the Continent, who would make no scruple of visiting us in much the same style as Russia now threatens the independence —nay, the very existence—of Turkey. Again w e say we are no alarmists ; but as accidents w ill happ en it is better to be prepared against a casualty than t o for help when none will aid. We have shipsini3praarb r undance ; but where Sp r y are our hearts of oak ? over the world to better themselves. Why a b oxaci v on it e hoi class of men it a fair : serve for the protecticm , of the rest re muneration ? Labour is left to find its level in the common market of industry on land, and azd why should it no t have the same field. of competition on the water ? Because England depends o n op ; her sailors for her freedom, she therefore her benef ac t or s ! Fair play is bonny Pla a s if we wish and,h G pe to preserve and maintai n our national independence, we must pay. for our pro tection. Honesty is the best policy with nations as with individuals. Our seamen are as patriotic as they are brave, but one eAnnot and will not en- durefor ever. A political accident might avenge no only Waterloo, but Trafa gar, "at one fell swoop!' Let our Admiralty beware ! Improvements in the City of London have, lb] a considerable time past, been so repeatedly talked of, without anything really important having yet been accomplished, that a large majority of the citizens have latterly regarded the question with liloinething like feelings of positive desperation. Ne vertheless, a change for the better is, at last, we rejoice to think, becoming discernible—the " silver lining " is at length visibly breaking through the gloom of even this cloud of uncer tainty. improvements are actually growing up, moreover, not in one direction only, but, as the saying is —here, there, and everywhere. We are promised new wharves, bridges, and thorough fares. We are promised a grand Central Railway Terminus. We are promised—best of all, and most desirable of all—a bold and compre hensive movement for the reorganising of the Corporation. None of them, by the way, before they were wanted. It would be difficult, perhaps, to say which among them all was the most necessary innovation. Here, at any rate, they are at this moment in a tolerablyfair way of realisation. Their respective champions have long emulated each other in the fervour of their advocacy, and in this manner it has come to pass that simul taneously, in so many directions, the crude theory is blooming into the ripened enterprise. In testimony that we are not here speaking in any way at random, or yielding idly to these more sanguine anticipations, a few rather remarkable facts may be grouped together with some profit and no little satisfaction. Foremost among these facts we would mention some in particular of a novel and gratifying character. We al lude to those furnished by the report recently presented by the Improvement Committee to the City of London Corporation. From that docu ment it would appear that the Committee in ques tion have not been altogether as indolent as the public imagined, we still conceive, not unreason ably under the circumstances. Scarcely anything, it must be remembered, of a really practical cha racter was known to have been accomplished. Almost everything that has been done proves (even now that these " doings" are no longer sub rosa) to be nothing more than simply preparatory. Yet, as preliminary measures of considerable im portance, the acts adventured upon by the Com mittee, we will allow at once, are acts entitled to our most cordial, and earnest commendation. Besides otherwiie actively continuing the line of street improvements from Queen-street to St. Paul's Churchyard, they have satisfied the claims of various owners and occupiers of property along the projected route by the payment of different sums, ranging from 5/. in some instances to more than 16,0001. in others, amounting altogether to 188,929/. 16s.—although these claims were ori ginally entered at 255,2731. 17s. 3d., being a reduction of 66,344/., a saving by no means un important ! In order properly to appreciate the boldness of these arrangements on the part of the Committee, it must be borne in recollection that the whole of this large amount (an amount, it will be observed, very little short of 200,0001.) has been awarded by them simply with a view to throwing open, as a public thoroughfare, several thousand feet of valuable ground, in order at once to facilitate the traffic, and to ameliorate the sani tary condition of the metropolis. What enhances the merit of the transaction, moreover, in an extraordinary manner, is the circumstance that all these things have been effected at the cost and charge of the City, from their own local funds, without the necessity of applying for pecuniary assistance to Parliament. Thanks to the enterprise, the energy, and the per severance of its indefatigable originator, Mr. CHARLES PEAnsox—the scheme of erecting in Farringdon street, on the site of the old Fleet Prison, a grand Central Railway Terminus, appears at this mo ment to be in a fair way of realisation. Very recently we took occasion to exult at an incident which augured so well for the ulterior triumph of the more assiduous promoters of the undertaking. As if to confirm in its regard the most sanguine of our anticipations, another incident took place on Wednesday last, from which we are led to believe that the matter is in even better train than we at first conjectured. The Lord Mayor upon that day received a numerous and influential deputation, who waited upon him for the purpose of requesting his Lordship to convene a special meeting of the Common Council, in order that the Court might there receive a petition pray ing its members to give their cordial support to Mr. PEARSON'S plan for city railway and street improvements. Notwithstanding, the Lord Mayor did not conceive himself authorised to accede to this request, we cannot but rejoice at the atten tive hearing accorded by his Lordship to the arguments advanced by several of the spokesmen of the deputation. Discouraging though it might seem to be at the first glance, there was, never theless, much wisdom in the suggestion thrown out by the Chief Magistrate to the advocates of the proposed measure when he recommended them to look as little as possible for pecuniary assistance either to the Corporation or to the Government. Unless this recommendotion be acted upon, we must continue anxious as to the fate of the whole enterprise. For most certainly the public did not remain to be informed now for the first time that the Corporation of the City of London might excuse themselves for very apparent parsimony in regard to the encouragement of the undertak ing, upon the plea that their revenues and estates are very_ deeply mortgaged ! As to the reluc tance of the 'Government to come forward munifi cently with a grant, or even with the promise of any such substantial aid, we all knew long before Wednesday how adroitly petitions for assis tance in these matters would be shifted from one department to another without any good whatever coming from the appeal made to the Administration. As the LORD MAYOR rather humorously reminded the members of the deputation, the PRIME MINISTER would perhaps refer any such appeal to the Commis sioners of Woods and Forests, and those Com missioners would in all probability refer it to the CHANCRI.LOR of the EXCHEQUER, and that Right Hon. Gentleman would in every likelihood, and in exceedingly cautious terms, express his regret " that the demands for the reduction of taxation left him no surplus for local improvements 1" So that—in the events of any reliance having been placed upon the House of Commons and the Court of Common Council—the project must between the two stools ultimately fall to the ground, leaving its disappointed originator only one other to repose on, and that a rather uncomfortable one, namely, —the 'stool of repentance. Placing their trust more upon themselves in this matter, we have every confidence that the citizens of the British capital will before long secure to themselves the advantages of which the Central Railway. Termi nus could not possibly fail to be productive, and together with these advantages, obtain others aris ing out of the long-looked -for street improvements. Reference has already in these remarks been cursorily made to the beneficial changes which are simultaneously being effected in regard to the re form of our Metropolitan Corporation. A committee, it appears, is almost immediately to be appointed for the purpose of preparing a Bill for the speedy and comprehensive extension of the wardmote franchise. This important resolution was arrived at by the Common Council no later than on Tues day, after careful and mature deliberation. That it cannot altogether dissipate the numerous and enormous evils of the existing system we are of course fully confident. But the step taken, how ever slight and timorous, is still a step—onwards. Using a very old and hackneyed metaphor, it is the small end of the wedge, which, having at last been inserted, will not be long in being driven home by the necessity of the times and the force of circumstances. Together with the above-mentioned more im portant, we are gratified to observe in the course of dev e l opmen t at t hi s moment and various minor me tropolitan improvements, endeavours are at _ e:Igt11 being m a d e t o fill up one of the most abominable gaps in Lond on — one th a t long been the eyesore of the neigh tween Paternostmeau the " blank plot " be tween mediatoly confron er t iro g w and Newgate-st ree t, i m - This spot, it appears, that the Improveme ts Committee are now i to the Commissioners botfehlweouwgess not to the City, but t end of Cheapside. Woods and F ores t s , an d itwiisthe a rnestly to be the Postmaster-General c aster-General upon m a l e po ei n c ti o g ih nu e 3 s n u i b ca i e ti ct ° , ll hoped that the ground may, before long, be in some way satisfactorily I occupied. Temple-bar (as Bleak House has intimated), the leaden-headed gateway leading to the domains of a leaden-headed Corpo ration, still flourishes, it is true ; but west of Temple-bar, the cab-stand, which had so long proved an intolerable inconvenience to the traffi c of the Strand from Catherine-street to Somerset. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MARC H 28, 1853 We have repeatedly directed the public atten tion to the gross and palpable injustice of the sys tem under which the present Income Tax is levied ; to the manifest absurdity of charging all receipts --we certainly cannot consider them as net in; comes—at the same rate, no matter from what sources they may be derived, whether fixed and permanent, or precarious and temporary. On the one side are incomes which can be confidently re- , lied on—dependent not merely on the health and energy of the party, or even on the fashion of the day. It matters not whether the owner be well or ill, at home or abroad, toiling at the desk or in the counting-house, disporting himself at some fashionable watering-place, or drinking untaxed. wine and smoking untaxed cigars at some German spa, or French or Belgian town, where the grim visages of Sheriffs' officers are un-' known, at least so far as liabilities incurred in England are concerned. Under any circum stances he still receives his dividends or ground rents. As DIIMBIEDYKES said, " they are graw ing while he is sleeping." A bearded Huissier may occasionally demand rather too urgently the settlement of some petty account ; but the " aliens"—the English creditors—are taught to respect the sanctuaries where their unhallowed demands cannot be intruded. On the other, hand, the less favoured individual who earns his daily bread by his daily labour must remain where he cannot shirk hie liabilities to his credi tors, " public" or " private." As a consumer he pays heavily at every meal—whether drink ing tea or coffee, sweetened with foreign, colonial, or Irish beetroot sugar, imbibing wine on which duty at ss. 6d. per gallon has been levied, together with a further duty on the " glass" in which it is bottled—spirits, foreign or domestic—or ale or stout, where there is not only a heavy duty on the malt and hops, that ought , to constitute the chief ingredients in the beve rages, but also heavy payments for licences to make the malt, and afterwards to vend the pro duce. He is also (as we have repeatedly shown) bound to incur other expenditure incidental to his profession, trade, or calling, for which no allow ance is made in the estimation of the expenses, and to lay by some provision for a rainy day, when he can no longer provide for his help less family, or even for his own exigencies. But still he is charged. sevenpenco in the pound, or 71. ss. per 3001., as well as theowner of 10,0001. in the Three per Cent. Consols, with whom he is thus for fiscal purposes—unfortunately on no other—placed on a footing of perfect equality. ' But this flagrant grievance --this scandalous and indefensible inequality, put forward, too, under the name of equality, by no means consti- tutes the worst part of the case. There is a still deeper injury inflicted on the commercial classes, who are not only charged on what they actually earn, but too frequently on what they do not earn, and who are compelled to submit to the inquisitorial cross-examination into their most private affairs, perhaps by some rival in busi ness, who may 'desire to get rid of a for midable rival, or to damage the credit of a too successful competitor. We have always felt that !the wages of industry should be free from every 'fiscal charge—that until they became " savings," and were converted into accumulated - and realised property, they could not properly be subjected to the demands of the tax-gatherer. We put forward this principle long since, and we have never abandoned it. Although frequently advo cating the propriety of discrimination—of recog nising the distinction between industrial income and property—it was only as a step in the right direction—tending towards the ultimate exemp tion of the savings of industry—the total abolition of Schedule D. That is the consummation at which every fiscal reformer should aim, which equity and expediency alike demand. On this very interesting and important point, we would earnestly invite the public attention to the powerful letter of " Alga Lieus," which will be found in another part of this day's impression. Our esteemed correspondent clearly and distinctly points out some of the many evils that attend the present system. The inequality, bad and inde fensible as it is acknowledged to be, is as nothing in comparison to the " exposure of circumstances" involved in the investigation into the accuracy of the return. The vast importance to a mer chant or trader of maintaining his credit beyond even a breath of suspicion must be thoroughly appreciated. It has originated the proverb that " a good name is better than house and land." There are few men who in their trading career have not been, more or less, dependent on the supplies obtainable on the faith of their untarnished reputations, and the belief that they were doing a "good safe business." What injuries might not the exposure of the most private transactions of these parties occasion. How could a person paying a heavy rent, and maintaining a large staff of clerks and assistants, bear up against the suspicion that there was but a very slender margin of profit after liquidating the bond fide trade expenses ? Great publicity would not be necessary to occasion the mischief. We know "A hint in tender cases is enough." The slightest intimation to his bankers, or the wholesale houses with which he is dealing, will be quite sufficient to destroy his prospects, and when it is known that even the secrets of the " Bank parlour" occasionally leak out—that the transac tions even of " Cabinet Councils" are unaccount ably brought to light—how can we suppose that the returns of income to the provincial assessors will be kept sacred ? more especially when we know that unsealed and badly, folded appli cations have been openly left at counting houses, subject to the inspection of any curious or prying clerks, and that even the returns themselves have occasionally been sold as " waste paper," so that the purchaser of a quarter of a pound of butter or bacon may learn the actual profits of his nominally well-doing neighbour 1 • As we have already repeatedly stated, the mer chant or trader would not escape free. All his tangible property embarked in his business would be charged according to its actual value, and that is all to which it should fairly be liable. APOTHECARIEW-HALL—The following are the names of gentlemen who passed their examination in the science and practice of medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thursday, the 24th of March : —G eorge Alder Watson, Scarborough ' • Alexander Johnst o n , Bir mingham • William Edward Naters, Sandyford, New castle on-Tyne • Thomas Fernandez Clarke, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. house, has, within the last few days, been sum marily removed by order of the Police Commis sioners. Further on, towards the heart of the city of Westminster, the dilapidated equestrian Aatue of the First Charles at Charing-cross has during some time past (not, however, before it was imperatively required) been in course of reno vation. NELSON'S monument in Trafalgar-square still continues, unhappily, incomplete, and the empty pedestal hard by yet remains a practical satire on GEORGE IV., implying that his effigy cannot easily be " matched" by any appropriate companion. If we remember these shortcomings with chagrin, however, we bear in mind with some degree of satisfaction the circumstances of that horrible, yellow caricature of the Second CHARLES having been removed long since from Leicester-square, in order to make room for Mr. WYLD'S " Great Globe"—a removal only less sub ject of rejoicing to the lovers of Art than the previous removal of that stone monstrosity at King's-cross, purporting to represent the Fourth GEORGE in the attitude of the Eighth HARRY, or than the scarcely less commendable removal of that other stone monstrosity, which libelled the personal appearance of her present MAJESTY in that little apology for a Square, in Pimlico, called no less libellously by the name of our gracious SO VEREIGN. We should rejoice, of course, to witness the obliteration of numerous other blots upon the metropolitan escutcheon. Nevertheless, we are fain to solace ourselves in this respect with the phrase "all in good time"—the pet phrase, by the way, of your systematic proscrastinators. How ever, changes are, as we have shown, being now actually effected ; and, therefore, let us still con tinue to hope for more and more city improve:- men ts. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. There was no cotton market at Liverpool on Saturday. _ _ • The wind having been contrary, and the Cam bria steamer not a new boat, the American mails are not expected until Wednesday. In the Stock Exchange this morning considerable sensation has been produced by the report that the Home Government will grant no more charters to colonial banks or other undertakings, a determina tion that might have been anticipated after the speech of the Duke of Newcastle, made a short time since in Parliament. It is obvious that the colonists will no longer be willing to allow English corporations to amass large profits out of their industry, unless an adequate induce ment is offered as regards a benefit to Aus tralia. The Legislative Council of New South Wales has made such a strong report upon the laws of banking, and so e nerge ti ca ll y pro t es t s against banks having their head quarters in England, and placing none of their resources in the colony, that there seems to be no longer any option left to the Secretary for the Colonies here but to postpone further action in the matter pending a reference to Australia. A local charter might then be granted, but it would probably be of a much less liberal character than any given to previous establishments. We will not affirm that the Select Committee of the Legislative Council is right in all the views it has taken, but no doubt the large profit s o bt a i ne d upon gold buy ing have sensibly contributed to their decision. The probability of a general and official inquiry into the law of partnership here, and the expediency of making alterations therein, will weigh with Go vernment in abstaining from any special grants, even for companies having their seat of operations at home. The English Funds have been very firm this morning in the absence of any large dealings, many , parties being out of town for the holidays. Con sols have been done at par for money, and are now 99i For Account they have been 99i to par. The intelligence from Constantinople is of a nega tive character, but that Russia will gain influence appears to be certain. Exchequer Bills of June are 75., and those - of March 6s. to 10s. premium. East India Bonds are worth 40s. premium. Foreign Stocks ar&generally very firm, although not much dealt in. Equador bring 51 1 to 6 ; Mexi can have been up to 25i and 26 ; and Brazilian, Old, are at 104. Russian Four-and-a-Half per Cents. have been marked 1031 to and the Five per Cents. 114. Spanish New Deferred Stock is at 25 to it. The Turkish Loan is at 2 1 premium. Sardinian Stock is firm at 97. Dutch T wo-and-a- Half per Cents. are at 66, and Danish Five per Cents. at 105. The railway meetings announced are the fo] lowing : Company. Date. Place. Glasgow, Airdrie, & Monkl. Mar. 29, Glasgow. Glasgow, Barrh., & Neilston Mar. 30, Glasgow. Irish South-Eastern Mar. 30, Dublin. Manch., Sheff., & Lincoln April 13, Manchester. Redruth & Chasewater April 6, Queen-street-pl., U. Thames-st. Shrewsbury & Chester Mar. 31, Chester. South Yorkshire May 12, London Tavern. Stirling & Dunfermline Mar. 29, Edinburgh. West Flanders April 7, 61, Moorgate-st. Ditto April 19, Bruges. The railway " calls" for the month of April are as follows : Date. Call. Cork and Bandon, New Preference 9 ... £1 0 0 Dublin and Drogdeda, Preference 251 1 ... 5 0 0 *Great Western of Canada 2O ... 5 0 0 London, Tilbury, and Southend l3 ... 2 0 0 *Lyons and Mediterranean Ito 15 ... 2 0 0 *Namur and Liege, Preference ll ... 4 0 0 Newmarket, Bury Extension lB ... 010 0 Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford l4 ... 1 10 0 *Qaebec and Richmond l5 ... 210 0 West Cornwall.. 2O ... 1 0 0 Total £381,195. * The amount called by foreign companies is 193,6201., but the holdings of English proprietors are not known. Tot - al called in 1853 £2,971,748. The Railway Share Market is particularly inac• tive, and prices are scarcely so high. Great North ern have advanced, but Great Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire and South Western are scarcely so high. The French shares are duller, and rather in favour of buyers also. The Gold Mme Shares have been quiet, at steady prices, and the Cordillera rather higher. The Land Companies are much the same. The Joint Stock Shares are scarcely so good ; and the London Bank of Australia aid India, which has not yet got its charter, is down to discount to par. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Tinvinem. 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO Bank Stock for Account Consols for Account Exchequer Bills, lid. £lOOO £5OO . Small 100 991 June. 7 March, 10 6 7 12 10 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 'Brazilian New Bonds, 1829 di 39, 5 per Cent 9B Danish Bonds, 5 per Cent. Equador Bonds tii Mexican 3 per Cent ..,.... ............... .. 26 5 4 1 Ditto Account March 31, Portuguese 4 per Cent. 39 / Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. llBi Ditto, 4A per cent lo3i 9 Sardinian gouda, 5 per Cent. 97 i Spanish New Deferred, 3 per C en t.. 25 41 Ditto Passive (Converted} si Turkish Loan,g6 per Cent., 1852. 2/ 2 'Venezuela Bonds 31 per Cent. Dutch Exchange 24 per Cent 66 THREE O'CLOCK. 99i if 99/ 100 Consols . Ditto April Account . FIRE AT DEACON'S ConEE-BousE.—A fire that occa sioned considerable confusion broke out at a late hour on Saturday night in the premises belonging to Mr. Deacon, well known in the City as " Deacon s Coffee house and Hotel," situate at No. 3, Walbrook, immedi ately facing St. Stephen's Church. The flames originated in the kitchen on the first floor, owing to a defect in the hearth of the stove. The inmates, on finding that the flooring had become ignited, endeavoured by all means in their power to extinguish the fire, but after labouring for nearly an hour they were compelled to send to Wat ling-street engine-station for the aid of the firemen ; and in the course of a few minutes several firemen and two engines attended, when, by ripping up the wood-work, &c., the men were enabled to get at the exact seat of the fire, which was happily extinguished in a very brief period. The damage is thus returned by Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of the fire brigade Flooring and joists under the hearth burned ; stove and stones taken up ; wood lining over the fireplace cut away in the kit- Chen on first floor, and the ceilings under damaged by water." Mr. Deacon was insured in the Royal Insu rance Office.—Three other fires also took place during Saturday, viz., in Willia m - s t reet, Islington ; Munster street, Regent's-park ; and Princes -street, Stepney ; but the property destroyed at each was so trifling as not to deserve lengthened reports. SIR GEORGE RUSSELL CLERIC'S MISSION TO THE CAPE. —We copied on Thursday last, from an evening con temporary, a paragraph stating that Sir George Russell Clerk, K.C.8., late Governor of Bombay, and a most distinguished civil officer in the highest rank of Indian administrative duties, is about to proceed to the Cape. It is understood that the object of Sir George Clerk's mission is the settlement of boundaries, and particularly the boundary of the Orange River Sovereignty. THE ROYAL NAVY.—On Saturday two general orders, issued by the Board of Admiralty, and now in force, with respect to the entry of volunteers from the mercantile marine into her Majesty's ships of war, and with respect to salvage, were printed in a Parliamentary paper. The first circular relates to the name of the ship from which the men entered, with particulars as to the crew, and the reason for leaving the merchant service. With respect to salvage, all officers are to afford every possible assist ance to vessels in danger or distress, and no claims for salvage to be raised unless really important services are rendered. Efforts are to be used to save property, &c. THE SANITARY CONDITION OF PLYMOUTH.—In his report to the Board of Health, Mr. Rawlinson, C.E., draws a dark picture of the sanitary condition of the borough and town of Plymouth, comparing it to War saw, one of the worst cities an the continent. At a meeting of the town council of Plymouth, on Wednes day, after a long speech from J. Collier Cookworthy, Esq., M.D., reviewing Mr. Rawlinson's report, and pointing out various inaccuracies therein, the council unanimously determined to oppose the application of the Health of Towns Act to Plymouth, which is the re medy proposed by Mr. Rawlinson for the bad state of things which his report reveals. GREAT FIRE AT KNELLS, NEAR CARLISLE.—On Sa turday morning last, the extensive mansion of John Dixon, Esq., of Knells, near Carlisle, was burnt to th e ground—the outside walls only being left standing. The fire originated in the butler's pantry. About half-past 11 o'clock on the previous night he retired to rest, the members of the family and servants having preceded him. All then appeared to be safe. Between one and two he heard an unusual noise, and supposed the house was being broken into ; but, to his great astonishment, found fire raging upon sides. He instantly gave the alarm, when the inmates of the house escaped with safety. The loss is variously estimated at 10,000/. 12,0001., and 14,0001. MURDER OP A WIPE BY HER HUSBAND.—A, tinker, residing in Harrison's-lane, Sunderland, was, on Tues day last, committed to Durham Gaol, to take his trial for the wilful murder of his wife. She had been labouring under chronic rheumatism for some time, and he had suffered her to lie in a small back room in the midst of filth and vermin, with scarcely any food, while he was drinking and cohabiting with another woman, till she died on Tuesday week, a day or two after she had been removed to the workhouse. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of wilful murder. irb 21.ittion SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS. On Saturday last we were present at a private view of the pictures exhibited this year by the Society of British Artists. The exhibition is more distinguished for pro fusion than perfection, and though, on the whole, the society has collected together a pretty good set of pic tures, we were unable to discover anything on the walls sufficiently prominently excellent and striking, as to jus tify us to felicitate ourselves on the progress which the artistical talent of this country has been making during the past year. Mr. Hurlstone, the president, bears away the palm of honour, both in number and quality. His " First Appearance of Columbus in Spain " is the facile princeps of the whole exhibition. The different attitudes of the three figures are very fine, and the co louring has that rich mellow tint which suits a Spanish subject. His other pictures, which are mostly studies of Italian heads, a la Murillo, under various titles, are also very successful, both in composi tion and execution, and fully equal to Mr. Hurlstone's reputation. Of the other historical pictures, there are none which call for particular mention, except, perhaps, Mr. Wageman's "Henry IV.'s Soliloquy on Sleep," which is painted with all the care and minuteness of what is now called the Pre-Raphaelite School. The anxious and deeply thoughtful face of the monarch, however, seems more fitted for the soliloquy of the King in Hamlet. The landscapes, as a class, are by far the most prominent and excellent works of the whole exhibition. Mr. Bod dington is there with an unusual number of his bright sunny views, and Mr. West also, with his bold power fully painted waterfalls, some from Norway, and others from England and Wales. This artistt seems to revel in Welsh scenery, and some of the views which he has presented us with from that land of mountains are most excellent. "Margate Sands," by Mr. Tennant, is remarkable for the beautifully clear and transparent tone in which it is painted ; and Mr. Clint's coast views—" Castle Cliff, Hastings," and "Lovers' Seat"— are among the most meritorious of this class. Mr. Ward, Mr. Cole, and the Messrs. Williams are also contributors in this class of very creditable specimens. Mr. Pettitt's " Seventh Vial," which we suppose, for want of a better title, we must also call a landscape, is a monstrosity of the first order. Its composition, which is an utter failure as to effect, shows how difficult and im possible it is to realise scenes so vast and terrible as those which were presented to the imagination of the Apostle. As for the execution, a mass of green and red colours divide the canvass between them, and it is only by dint of hard staring that the spectator at last discerns some falling columns in the foreground, a few flying figures and toppling rocks behind—the sight which, according to Mr. Pettitt's idea, the Apostle saw on the opening of the Seventh Vial. We hope that this will be the last we shall hear of Mr. Pettitt on the Revelations. Ano ther picture by the same hand, "A Scene from the Creation," which represents all the beasts of the field marshalled together in a row as if on parade, speaks more of zoological knowledge and manual skill than of the higher powers of a genuine artist. There is the usual proportion of nude and demi-nude figures, a pro pos of mythological or fancy subjects, which, as the best thing to do we pass over in silence. There are none of any particular merit, and though in many the faces are pretty and well painted, there are some, we regret to say, which, without any counter balancing excellence, rather overstep the line which good taste has prescribed with regard to such pictures. Among the most objectionable iu an artistic point of view, is "the nosegay" where the nymph favours us with a sight of a pair of shoulders, &c., which for breadth and mus cular development might, we believe, belonged to Milo the oak splitter. The portraits are unusually uninter esting ; among the best are Signor Gardono, by Buck ner, and " Miss Adujo," by F. Hurlstone. Mr. Buckner has also contributed several studies of heads, two of which " from a Sicilian Exile" and of a Ro man Head," are of very considerable merit. There are several subjects exhibited from Mrs. Beecher Stowe's novel, of which a head of " Uncle Tom," by Mr, C. H. White, drawn well and without affectation, is by far the best. Mr. Dessurne's " Fall of the Angels" ought to be classed with the " Seventh Vial" as a mon strosity. Such a conglomeration of arms and legs stick ing up in the air, upside down, we never saw on canvass before. There is neither taste, design, nor effect in the picture, so far as we could perceive, though it would take a contortionist of the first order to get a proper view of it. If Mr. Sands, the ceiling-walker, wishes to have his portrait taken as engaged in that exciting feat, we should recommend him to Mr. Dessurno. The Messrs. Wilson exhibit several good sea-pieces, of which "A Fresh Sea-breeze," by Mr. J. Wilson, "Off the Coast of Holland," and " St. Michael's Mount," by Mr. J. Wilson, jun., deserve especial notice. Among the animals, Mr. Earl's " Disowned " a little terrier who had evidently been recently kicked out of doors, is by far the best. The deprecating forlorn air of the outcast tells its own tale in an instant, and the picture will be a great favourite with that large sec tion of the public most readily struck by this class of paintings. Among the water colours, the most merito rious are some luscious fruits and flowers by Mrs. Duf field, two drawings of dead game by Miss Bouvier, and an Ophelia beautifully painted by Mr. G. B. Boyce. A numerous fashionable crowd of visitors thronged the rooms all day on Saturday. MARLBOROUGH-STREET.-(THIS DAY.) COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, MARCH 26, The Queen and Prince walked in the Home-park t morning. The royal children took their usual morning exercise. Prince Albert rode out on horseback this forenoon attended by Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, and visited the new model lodging-houses at Windsor. Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena and Louisa were driven out in an open carriage to-day. The Earl of Aberdeen arrived at the Castle this after noon on a visit to her Majesty. The Queen and Prince drove out in an open carriage in the afternoon. Colonel Bouverie and Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros were in attendance on horseback. The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred also drove out in an open carriage and four, attended by Madame Rol lande. The following had the honour of dining with her Ma jesty this day :—The Duchess of Kent, the Princess Adelaide of Ifohenlohe, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Lady in Waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, Sir George Couper, Colonel Dixon, commanding officer Ist Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards, and Lieut.- Colonel Williams, commanding officer 2d Life Guards. MARCH 27. Her Majesty, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and Princess Alice, the Duchess of Kent, Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, the Earl of Aberdeen, and the ladies and gen tl emen of Court, also the do mestic household, attended divine service this morning in the private chapel of the Castle. The Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley officiated. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office on Saturday, from the Governors of Gibraltar and Ber muda. Viscount Palmerston left town on Saturday afternoon, for his seat, Broadlands, Hants. A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office, Downing-street, on Saturday afternoon. The Ministers present were the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord J. Russell, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmer ston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon.. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The council sat two hours and a half. Earl Granville arrived in town on Satur day morning to attend the Cabinet Council from Alden ham Park, Bridgnorth. Viscount Palmerston arrived in town on Saturday morning from Brighton. The Earl of Aberdeen left town after the Cabinet Council on Sa turday, from Windsor Castle. THE INCOME TAX. THREATENING THE SIMMERS OF THE JUNIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB. Lieutenant Frederick-Mundell, 4, King-street, Port man-square, was brought up in custody of Sergeant Bewley, of the D division;.eliarged, on a warrant signed by P. Bingham, Esq., one of the magistrates of this court, for that he did, by means of a menacing letter, unlawfully threaten one Samuel Pole, and other members of the Junior United Service Club, whereby the said Samuel Pole apprehends that he and others are in danger of some bodily harm from him, the said Frederick Mundell. Several gentlemen, members of the club, were in at ;endance to watch the case. Mr. Samuel Pole said he was a Major in the army, and one of the members of the Junior United Service Club. The letter which he now produced had been re ceived by the chairman and committee of the club from the defendant. He did not know whether the letter was in the handwriting of the defendant or not, but believed it was. Mr. Leadley, the chief clerk, read the letter above al luded to, in which the writer complained that he had been treated in an unjust and ungentlemanly manner by the committee and members of the club, by their ejecting him from the club, of which he had been ;, member, that he demanded to be restored to his membership, and called upon Mr. Pole and the other members to act to wards him as became gentlemen and officers, and that if they did not do him justice he would wreak summary vengeance upon the whole of them. The letter was signed Frederick Mundell. - Mr. Bingham said - the . matter need not go any fur. her ; and told the defendant that a letter couched in such language as the one first read was not allowed by law. If he (defendant) was the writer of that letter, to save further trouble, he (Mr. Bingham) should order him to enter into his own recognisance in 2501. to be of good behaviour for the next three months. And he should also call upon him as a gentleman of honour to promise not to use threats towards complainant and the other gentlemen connected with the club. The defendant faithfully promised not to repeat the offence, and having entered into the required recogni aanee, left the court. THE EIIRIALS IN MARYLEBONE.—On Saturday, a meeting of the parocial authorities was held at the Court house, Marylebone, for the purpose of taking steps to close the vaults under the parish church, Christ Church, of Trinity Church, and St. John's-wood Chapel. Mr. Churchwarden Stephens presided. On the motion of Sir J. J. Hamilton, Bart., seconded by Mr. Harlowe, the report of the burial vault committee, which recom mended the closing of the vaults under the above churches, and that when interments should take place in the unoccupied portions of them they should be only used as catacombs and be hermetically sealed, was unanimously adopted. AN EMIGRANT SHIP ON THE GOODWIN SANDS. — On Saturday intelligence was received at Lloyds, that, at ten o'clock that morning, a large Dutch vessel, called the Febro, had gone on to the Goodwin Sands. Immediately on the vessel striking, signal guns were fired, and it being ascertained that she had 300 emi grants on board, the Deal boatmen and others put off in their luggers to render assistance and save the pas sengers. On nearing the vessel it was found that the sea was making a clear breach over her ; and, a line being got out, the women and children were dragged on board the luggers, and subsequently the men. Some of the latter, however, in their eagerness to escape, fell overboard, and were carried away . by the sea, six un fortunately perishing. The remainder, however, were safely land e d a t Deal, where they received the most hospitable attention. Fortunately the weather mode rated, and permitted the Deal boatmen to lighten the vessel by casting a considerable portion of her cargo overboard, and thus prevented her sinking into the sands ; and it is hoped she will get off with the flood. Unfortunately, however, in order to save the ship, the private effects of the poor emigrants have been nearly all sacrificed. THE ORIENTAL COMPANY'S STEAMER CITY OF LONDON left Southampton yesterday with ship-letter mails for Gibraltar, Malta, and Constantinople. Her period of starting from Southampton has been altered froni th e 29th to the 27th of the month, i n order that she reach Malta on her homewa r d passage in time to inay trans fer her passengers and merch an di se from Turkey andtheßlack Sea, destined for France, to the Malta and Mar seilles mail packet. LIVERPOOL, March 26.—The Hoyal mail steamer Europa, Shannon, commander, sailed from the Mersey this morning for New York, with the usual mails and a large number of pas sengers. The steam-ship Cambria, wit advices from New York to the 15th, and Boston to the 16th inst., may be expected to arrive h ere on Mon day ; and the st eamer Baltic, with New Yo r k a d v i ces to the 19th, may b e expected here on Wednesdaymext. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Liverpool, 26th March, 1853. SlR,—The mercantile world is much indebted to you for the able and persevering advocacy in The Sun in favour of exempting the commercial community from the continued enforcement of the present objectionable clauses of the Income Tax. But the strong and insur mountable objection which mercantile men have to this Income Tax is not to its amount, but to the very prin ciple of the tax itself. It is the exposure of a man's circumstances which constitutes its odious principle, and from this cruel and hateful principle you cannot divest the tax. The Commissioners must have power to investigate the truth of a man's return of his income ; and consider the odiousness of this power. Men of landed property have no objection to their circumstances being known, because their source of income being from rents, requires no concealment—it is known to all their tenants as well as to himself, and therefore he has no repugnance to returning the amount of his income. An ex amination before the Commissioners would not injure him, but to a merchant the case would be essentially different. You know that a merchant's business depends merely upon his credit--destroy his credit and you ruin his business. What consigner abroad would consign a cargo of produce to any merchant here who was reputed to be in difficulties, or who was supposed to have lost so much as to have rendered his stability precarious ? No one would consign to him, or execute his order abroad ; and ruin would probably ensue. But, admit that no such exposure or suspicion had taken place, he might have continued his business as usual, and probably have recovered his previous respectable standing amongst his fellow-merchants. But you may say, the Commissioners are bound to secrecy. This is a very slender security; they have mercantile friends to whom they may give a hint, al though they may not plainly reveal the whole truth. They may have a banker—a friend whom they think it right to guard against the danger of loss by some indirect mode of communication ; and they have clerks, who may not think themselves bound to preserve silence. Indeed, sometimes Income-tax bills are left at offices un sealed. But it is not only the probability of ex posure, and the ruinous consequence attending such exposure, but it is the degradation of a mer chant or any respectable mercantile man being com pelled to appear before these Income-tax Judges, like criminals before a Spanish Inquisition, and to be tortured with prying questions as to his affairs, which he would not communicate to his most intimate friend. It is an odious, degrading situation, to which no Englishman ought to be compelled to submit. It is not the amount of the sum which he has to pay, pro vided. he were justly assessed ; but it is the hateful degradation be feels in being compelled to appear like a criminal before men of his own standard perhaps, and to answer all the prying questions which they must put to him, in order to extract the real state of his affairs. Can any man so situated avoid feeling a most exasperated hatred against the power which so tyranni cally forces him to reveal his most private affairs. Men out of business cannot enter into the feelings of men in business, who are thus compelled to appear before this odious tribunal. You may recollect that two or three years ago, there was a great decline in cotton—the prin cipal article of our import. The value of our cotton im ports in 1851 was about 15 millions sterling; the price fell during the year about 50 per cent. Consider the immense loss to those who owned this immense value. What would have been the consequence had even one interested in this article and participating in the loss, been brought before the Commissioners, and been cross-questioned by them as to the altered situation of their affairs ? Some few failures did take place, but the probability is, that the majority paid their assessments rather than be called before the Commissioners, although, most probably, they had lost large amounts instead of having gained any income. This shows that the tax is cruel and unjust —unjust where men, through fear of discredit, pay a tax on in come where they had received none, or cruel when they are compelled to appear before Commissioners, and to expose their private affairs, which they would wish to conceal from their nearest friend. But you may think it is unfair to exempt mercantile men whilst other classes coming under schedule D have rea son to complain of hardship in their own case. Well, no doubt, it is to them also a cruel tax, for even then it requires an exposure of circumstances which all men detest. It is abhorrent to an Englishman—perfectly hateful. What, then, can be done ? Why, abolish schedule D —this is the only remedy. But do not suppose that the mercantile and professional classes would thus totally escape the Income Tax. Look at the immense property held by all these classes, and which would still be subject to the Income Tax. Look at the houses, buildings, and land held by mercantile and professional men in London, Man chester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and all the large towns. Be sides this funded property, it is impossible to calculate how many millions of money would still be subject to the Income Tax, even allowing schedule D to be repealed. It would be a useful problem in statistics to ascertain how much the classes now under D would pay under all the other letters—so much, probably, as might reconcile Government to bestow this mighty boon upon mercan tile and professional men. What a glow of enthusiastic attachment to the Government would prevail through the nation—how ardently would the loyalty to the Queen be increased ! Devise any other mode of taxation you please, pro vide it do not cause an exposure of their private circum stances, and I verily believe the commercial community would submit to it without a murmur. You, Mr. Editor, cannot effect this desideratum, but you do not know the influence which ably argued arti cles in The Sun may produce even on the Government itself. ANGLICUS. REDUCTION OF POSTAGE ON LETTERS TO BRAZIL.— The following notice has been Issued by the General Post con office. Marc d with h, 1853.—A postal agr eement having been clude the Government of Brazil, on and from the Ist of April next, the B ritish rate of postage upon l e tters conveyed by packet to or from Brazil will be re duced to—ls, for a letter not exceeding ioz, in weight ; 2s. for a letter exceeding ioz. and not exceeding loz. ; 4s. for a letter exceeding loz, and not exceeding 2oz. ; and so on, according to the scale in operation for charg ing inland letters. Upon letters sent td Brazil, these rates of postage must be taken in advance. Newspapers may be forwarded to Brazil, by packet, free of postage, under the usual regulations. THE ACCIDENT AT MASBRO'.—The unfortunate man who was killed in so frightful a manner on Tuesday evening from imprudently getting out of a train while it was moving alongside the west platform at the Masbro' station (Midland Railway), near Sheffield, and who was then unknown, was on the following day identified as Mr. Edward Cuthbertson, of Arundel-street, Sheffield, and one of the managers for Messrs. Spear and Jackson, manufacturers. He was returning from visiting a sick brother at Derby. He has left a wife and three children. The inquest was held at the Prince of Wales Inn, Masbro', on Thursday, when Sir Isaac Morley, one of the directors of the Midland Railway Company, was present. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and they and the coroner (Mr. Thomas Badger) regretted that it was the too frequent practice for per sons to get into and out of railway trains while in motion, and expressed a hope that railway authorities would put down this dangerous practice by enforcing the penalty provided for that offence. RUSSIAN DUTCH LOAN. —By a return issued on Saturday it appears t h at the Russian Dutch Loanlast the year was, in pri nc ip a l, 16,000,000 fl or i ns , an d in terest 793,750 florins. Ne R w A Y TE or O k show, y E as was anticipated, a suddexcANGE.—The commercial accounts n from tendency to reaction from th e recen t p an i c . Th e ra te of discount o w f as not confidence mu and a much lower, ebnuetral there was n ampoesrtceopftitbhlee specula would increasepeenla. would never reco ver . T wo or th ree smal tive stocks. Several o f th em , however, banksit w in Con ashop•d _ - necticut had failed, with an aggregate note circulation of about 80,0001. The advices from St. Petersburgh state that the rate of exchange continues at a point which will prevent gold being sent from this country—namely, 38gd. to and. BIRMINGHAM pACES. (THIS DAY.) (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) THE FREE HANDICAP. The Screw Nom de Guerre Six ran SPORTING, INTELLIGENCE. SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCXCIX. In addition to the seven flat race meetings for this week, we also have the Birmingham and Oldham Steeple chases to-day, St. Alban's and Beckford to-morrow, Driffield on Wednesday, Stretford and Tanfield on Thurs day, Abergavenny on Friday, and Newton on Saturday —plenty of work for one week, both for the regulars and irregulars. - The meeting at Catterick-bridge to-morrow is, for the first time for some years, a failure. The couple of stakes with Ihe greatest number of entries will be most unin teresting, as but two, or three at the outside, will be the utmost that will start for either. The stakes I allude to are the Early Triennials. The four years old one will, I believe, have only Songstress and Evadne at the post; and the three years old, Catspaw, Elspeth, and Ante verta. The remaining stakes are not important enough to call for a remark. No movement worth recording transpired yesterday with respect to the Northampton events. It seems to be pretty generally understood that Kingston will not show for the Trial Stakes, and that Russborough also will be on the missing list. I shall enter fully into particulars concerning the first day's racing to-morrow. THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF. CHELTENHAM SPR STEEPLECH. Weights for the Grand An] ING MEETING AND &SES, Anuri 5. mai Steeplechase Handicap• Yrs st lb Talisman Leporello Friendless a 9 6 View Halloo a 9 6 Gulnare a 9 Dearest Mae a 9 Little Charley a 9 2 Betsey Prig a 9 0 Honest Tom a 8 12 Pontiff 8 12 Yrs st lb Peter Simple a 11 10 Peter a 11 2 Sir Peter Laurie a 11 1 Vain Hope a 11 0 British Yeoman a 10 10 Miss Mowbray a 10 10 Bourton a 10 8 Oscar a 10 5 Shinrone Maurice Daley a 9 -10 Charlton Weights for the Free Handicap Selling Steeplechase. st lb a t lb Gulnare ll 7 Harriott lO 4 The Rejected ll 7 Anne Laurie lO 4 Legislator ... ... 11 7 Nome de Guerre .... 10 4 The Unknon ll 4 Leporello lO 4 Trust-me-Not Bullfincher lO 11 Bosworth lO 0 Gipsey Bess lO 11 Stanley lO 0 Tulip, gelding Telegraph lodine lO 7 Theodine Greatheart gelding.. 10 7 Wings 9 10 Acceptances to be signified in writing by the 31st March. _ - -- - Weights for the United Hunters' Stakes. st lb Melford ll 8 The Miner .. 11 2 Gaylad lO 12 Tom Gurney 10 10 Thurgarton.. lO 10 Maurice Daly lO 8 Tulip gelding lO 8 Justice lO 8 Doctor Husband lO a Reindeer lO a Weights for the Free I st lb Volunteer lO 6 The Unknown lO 6 Charlton lO 6 Gipsey Bess.. . .. The Fawn lO 2 Heron fill Cinderella ' Diana lO 0 Annie Laurie lO 0 Theodine lO 0 [andicap Hurdle Race. -- st lb, Half-and-Half ll 4 View Halloo ll 0 Melford. lO 12 Odiham lO 12 The Miner lO 5 Tom Gurney lO 4 Gay Lad lO 2 Unknown Janus lO 0 Nonsuch 9 10 Acceptances to be signifi( the 31st of March. st lb Bosworth 9 10 Harriott 9 S Pontiff 9 8 Annie Laurie.... ~ , 9 8 Charlton 9 S Sir Harry 9 6 1 Landlord 9 6 Gerard 9 6 Theodine Doctor Husband 9 6 d, in writing, on or before RAILWAY TRIALS.-CONVICT 1 OXS FOR NEGLECT OF DUTY: The High Court of Justiciary met at Edinburgh oii Thursday last for the t r i a l o f th e o ffi c i a l s o f t h e North British Railway, implicated in the collision that took place at Portobello, on the Bth of October last. The. panels were five in number, of w h om t h ree were tr i ed on Thursday. John M`Donald, engine-driver, Thomas Wilson, sta tion-master, Portobello, and John Ilogarth, porter, Portobello, were placed at the bar, charged with cul pable homicide, as also culpable neglect of duty ; in so far as on the Bth October last, a goods-train, consisting of eighteen trucks or waggons, drawn by a locomotiv e ' engine, in ch arge o f M` Donald, having arrived at r°ll1 0 bello fro m Edi n b urgh station at or about fifty-five in.' nutes past five o'clock, or at all events within fifteen minutes of th e expected arrival of the 5.55 train from Edinburgh, Hogarth, in violation of his duty, neglected to present the fixed station signal at nal the west of the station to warn the mail train that the station was not clear, and Wilson neglected to see that th e said signal was duly presented, and con tinued to b e presented, whil e Wilson also neglected to take proper measures, and to issue the necessary orders f or t h e clearing of the line for the passage of the mail-train ; and M'Donald, aware of the starting of the said train, n eg l ected his duty to proceed with his own train to th e first offset or sidi ng , at the station, whic h i. would hold it c l ear of the main line ; in consequence of all which, or part thereof, the mail train came into T ie. lent ,collision with the goods train, the porter of the goods train, named Stewart Ogilvie, was killed, and several of the passengers of the mail train were bruised and injured. At the close of the evidence for the prosecution, the charge against Hogarth was withd rawn , and the eviden ce on the s u bj ect of the si gna l s b e i ng contradictory, the court direct e d th e j ury only to consider the other point. _ The jury f ound Wilson guilty of culpable neglect of duty in not clearing the station, and I,lPonald also guilty, in not removing his engine and train from the line, with this extenuation, that he was under the im pression that he should attend to the orders of the guard' Sentence was delayed till next day. On Friday William Lyall, superintendent of the goods department, Edinburgh, and Alex. Ran ie°3s foreman porter, and acting as day pilot-guard, wer e charged with culp a bl e homicide, or culpable neglest o duty, in so far as, on the Bth of October, they or dered or permitted the irregular train to leave the Edinburgh station at about 5.45 p.m., or, M least, within 15 minutes of the time advertised for the starting of the mail train, with the object of depositing some of the t ruc k s at the Portobello station, and soul: at Leith junction ; in consequence of which, the W A ; train havi ng started from Edinburgh at or about its usual time, the collision occurred as above stated. The charge against Lyall was withdrawn, and he Woe accordingly acqu i tted. The jury found the case agains t Ramsay not proven. Wilson and M‘Donald were then placed at the bar for sentence, and were awarded— Wilson eighteen months', and M`Donald four months', imprisonment. Throughout the trials the counsel on both sides, and especi a lly th e court, an i madverted strongly at the l a xity on the part of the servants of the company that was countenanced by their s u p er i or officers, and which led t! such dang er t o th e pu bli c. The Lord Justice Clerk r_e_ marked that th e di sc l osures t h at had b een made, made pretty evid en t th a t on a s i m i lar case occurring it would be the manager or th e di rec t ors, an d not the i nfer i or. ser vants of the comp an y, that .would be held responsible , should this laxity be allowed to continue. CAPTAIN JOHNSON AND THE WIDOW.—It will be recol- [ected that when the soi-disant Captain Johnson was committed to take his trial at the Old Bailey for robbing Mrs. Stewart of railway shares and cash to a considera ble amount, bail was accepted for his appearance. The trial was afterwards postponed till the following ses sions. As soon as the captain was released from prison he at once proceeded to the house of his victim, and, singular to say, on presenting himself before that aged but infatuated lady, she threw herself into his arms, and declared that no power on earth should induce her to prosecute the object of her admiration. So convinced was Johnson of the weak ness of his victim that he had been frequently heard to say that all he required was to be once more admitted into her presence to make all right. As the sessions ap proached, the prisoner's anxiety to procure bail became the more urgent, and the price for the requisite sureties became increased, and ultimately 201. a-piece was known to be the sum paid to the bail upon which he was libe rated. As was anticipated, he did not make his appear' ante at the ensuing sessions ; and the consequence was, that his recognisance of 4001., [as well as the recognis ances of his two sureties of 2001. each, were estreated, and a warrant was granted by the judge for his appre hension. From what transpired, no doubt remained on the minds of those acquainted with the circumstance s that a part of the arrangement was, that Captain John son should leave the country, and that Mrs. Stewart should join him ; and the sequel proves the justice of that opinion. On Wednesday last the whole of the effects of Mrs. Stewart were sold by auction by Me ssrs ' Lockwood, on th e premises, No. 20, Brunswick-pla ce ' ; Barnsbury-road. Th e house was stored with furn i tur e and effects o f th e most costly and elegant descri ption mid amongst o th er things sold were 400 ounces of p l a te ' wavoersE connvsiiedEer. PENSlONS.—The able.Ob.serverGs . o a fine-toned harmonicum, and 200 volumes of bound , st an d ard works. The sum realised by this sale ension of p 3001. pe r annum "fo r goo d and meritorious service," whic h lapsed i patronage by the death of Sr Thomas C a p e ] , G. 0.8 , has been conferred on Vice - A d ' - miral Sir George Sey mour, 0.11, K.C.H., commanding the squadron on the West India station. And the p e n',_ , ion of 1501. per annum, which reverted to the Admiralt y patronage by the promotion of Captain Boxer to th e rank of Rear-Admiral, has been conferred on Captaw of he r Michael Seymour, commodore-superintendent Majesty's dockyard, Devonport. BIRMING-HAM RACES. (THIS DAY.) (EY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE. Shinrone Tipperary Boy Six ran. Os Ha An 111 R4a 181 181 181 184 184 shei den of 2 5s 2 452 Off! rate to 4 Info Sec( Prir Prir Ink Sec( Prir Bea: She, Cab Pig A fit Si and lip t aye! in t I3eei Do. Do. Do. Porl Ino( gen the ditt ter( Yet 95e ball pile may Re] Su lim full ( i uc hai 80, bra tip PC be . 1)11 An bit ri