The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

COURT etteTILATt. Tho Queen and Prince Albert took their usual early Walk yesterday. , His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back yesterday attended by his Equerry in Waiting, Colonel Bouverie. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Family took their accustomed walking and poney exercise yesterday in the royal gardens. ,The Royal dinner party yesterday at Buckingham palace, included her Royal Highness the Duchess of l ent, the Marquis of Anglesey, Lady Adelaide Paget, „ f ad de Grey, Lady Augusta Bruce, Baroness de Speth, Viscountes s Palmerston, Lord Robert Grosvenor, and the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay. The Countess of Gainsborough has succeeded the Countess of D es art as the Lady in Waiting to the Queen. The Marquis of Ormonde has succeeded the Earl of Morley as the Lord in Waiting to her Majesty. And Mr. IL Ormsby Gore has succeeded General Sir Edward Bowater as the Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. Mr. Jacob Brett had the honour of submitting his electric printing telegraph yesterday, at Buckingham Palace to the in , pection of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, who, on seeing the rapidity and certainty with Which the telegraph printed in coloured and black let ters, was pleased to express his approbation at its sim plicity and ingenuity. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of _althridge, and the Princess Mary visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday at Marlborough House. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent left town at ton o'clock yesterday morning, for her residence Progmore House, Windsor. Her Royal Highness re• turned to Clarence House, St. James's, at half-past five oclo c k. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of C ambridge honoured the Italian Opera with their pre- Bence yesterday evening. . : ,,Lady A ugusta B ru ce has succeeded Lady Fanny °toward, as the Lady in Waiting on her Royal High ness the Duchess of Kent. A deputation from the Lough Neagh Drainage Cora- P ar ly , consisting of Mr. Grafton and other directors, and,, accompanied by the Marquis of Done g al, Lord J ohn Chichester, M.P., Mr. D. R. Ross, M.P., and kr, Bryd e e, the Parliamentar Agent of the Coman, : had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer 44 Downing-street, yesterday. Sir Richard Bulkeley had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. deputation on the subject of steam communication W Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Mauri tius, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial -office. The deputation consisted of Messrs. R. Buckle, F. Mangles, P. W. Flower, H. Watson, S. Yenning, Joseph Maitland, and C. D. Hays, and was headed by Mr. J. Evelyn Denison, M.P. Mr. R. Spooner and Mr. Charles Hibble had an inter , on Monday, with Sir George Grey, at the Home office. The Marquis of Lansdowne (Lord President) passed 1 11 indifferent night on Monday night, and was not so Well yesterday. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NORTHAMPTON RACES.—(TuEsDAY.) This day's list afforded rather more racing than was 4 , l ,ticipated; and, considering the circumstance u nder ankh it was increased, and showery state of the wea ther, more than was desirable; the first race h a vin g come "l off, a field of fourteen horses'showed at the po st for e Althorp Park Stakes, the greatest number ever as tlerabled together for a two-year-old stake at Northamp -4/11, and therefore well calcnlnted to give eclat to the meeting. U n f or t u nately, through some unaccountable bl undering of the flags, four of the fourteen were p ulled tip immediately after starting, their jockies concluding ti lt to b e a false start, Th ey we re--Beverlac, Little Red ' 4l , (l iag Hood, Mother Cary's Chicken, and Lu c y Ashton. The other ten ran the distance , and a very fine race I, e 'll tween Woodcraft and the Sheriff terminated in favour is f . the latter by a bead. On returning to the stand to We igh, a cry of " No start" greeted the jockies , a n d ea ch, it is said, it was declared to be by the s tarter . In eo tigequenee, all but Publican and Protection, who were co nvinced," proceeded to the post again , and , a s it i s is set ted, on their own responsibility, and even without receiving any order from the starter, started a second ti me, and ran the race through, saving two or three, w T , O did n o t ge t o ff, w hen Beverlac won by a length, "! Sheriff second. Meanwhile the starter and his a ssistant were called before Lord Spencer and web Lord W. Powlett, when it aeared that the starter red his flag, and that it was answered th e a similar movement in advance, and that „ starter's flag was immediately raised again, but not e Utee.start larstother. Upon this evidence it was decided that the Was valid, and the Sheriff the winner of the G.• The matter, however, is not finally settled ; Mr. .e en . pr e - 4 ,„`"anns the race, on the ground that the first was th e „„„._''need by the starter to be " no start," and that the n ( 1 Was the valid one. The steward, on receiving Prete be wi t h, s, gave directions that the stakes shall it to the and the only 4(lenkeY have determined on submitting is a seriou s will one, and we have no doubt ,etrter. So leadonerous to the appointment of Mr. llibburd as erous an office ought not to be in the affair, of any but experienced hands. Apart from this 411 , there was nothing in the racing to call for a r emark. The Tallyho Stakes, of 10 soya. each, h. ft., and 25 added. 2 miles. Sir C. Cockerell's Congress, 3 yrs . EL Darling 1 kr. P. P. Rolt's Spectator, 5 yrs I L 4, Ongley's Wee Boy, 3 yrs 1. . J. Stevenson's Rothersthorpe, 3 yrs ; 7 to 2 on Congress, who won by eight lengths ; run e n ' l l t four minutes 12 seconds. T he Althorp Park Stakes of 10 soya. each, and 50 added, for two-yrs. old colts, Bst. 71b. and fillies Bst. 41b. bAbout half a mile. Sandford's The Sheriff W. Boyce 1 Payne's Woodcraft ` l " . r. Bristow's Fernhill 3 The following also started :—Mr. S. L. Marsh's Mo ther Cary's Chi c k e n s —M r . Mytton's Old Brompton— ir_,J- Gerard's Lucy Ashton—Mr. Francis's Little Red utuing Hood—Mr. B. Green's Beverlac—Mr. Sadler's iiid of the Forest—Mr. Mos Lyn's Chippeway—Mr. C lipper's Protection—Mr. Drinkald's Good Boy—Duke Richmond's Nectar—and Lord Chesterfield's Pub -wan. Betting -2 to 1 agst Woodcraft, 3to 1 agst Beverlac, Wo n 1 agst The Sheriff, and 8 to 1 apt Chippeway. 31 1 by a head. Woodcraft beating Fernhill, by half o tength, Nectar and Old Brompton well up. Run in Vees. After the first start, 6to 4 was laid against T .e Sheriff, an d 2 to 1 a gst B e verlac. h e Northamptonshire Cup Stakes of 10 cove. each. winner to be sold for 5001. Twice round—about three miles. kr. Wreford's Witsend, 4 yrs (A. Day) 1 Robbins's Roebuck, 5 yrs 2 Lord W. Powlett's Fort:William 4 yrs 3 4 •1 1 '. Meikiam'a Susannah, 3 yrs J. Osborne's Faithless, 3 yrs , Mr. T. Parr , s I c icle, 4 y rs s to 4 og st Witsend; 3 to 1 agst Fort - William; and 4 it t _,° agst S usa nnah. Witsend made all the running , tb il u . , q won in a canter by four lengths. Run in 6 minutes f h 24 seconds. e Pytcbley Stakes of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft and 50 added for three-year-old colts Bst 91b, and fillies Bst 61b. (3 ne mile. •,,,, I. Dale 's Brown Bess (C. Daley) 1 Atostyn's Queen Mary 2 22 t0 1 on B rown B ess . W on by a l eng th. Run in Tlnhlutes and 21 seconds. ueßeaten Handicap of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added. Once round and a dis. L ai r. Davies Princess Royal. 7st Illb (Denman) 1 Crauston's Comme it faut, Est 2 fi r. Wesley's Elimea, 7st Illb 6t04 on Comme it faut. Won cleverly. NORTHAMPTON HANDICAP.—In our return of this w 141. Omitted to state that Halo carried 4 lbs over wei g ht. atchdog's weight was Bst 111b,' not Bst 41b, and his time" in the Queens' Plate was 3 minutes 44 seconds. TUESDAY MOANING. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. 4 to 1 agst Euclid colt—tak. 16 to 1 agst Sting. 10 to 1 agst Footstool. 2,000 GUINEAS STAKES. 6 to 1 agst Glentilt I7to 1 agst Liberator—t. fr. 7to 1 agst Conyngham—t. I9to 1 agst Christopher—t. Offers to take 3 to 1 about Planet. CHESTER CUP. 30 to 1 agst Dulcet 40 to 1 agst Inheritress. 2 0 to 1 agst Antler 2 ° to 1 agst Punch "u to 1 agst Newcourt. I LATEST BETTING AT NORTHAMPTON. ,6,, to 1 agst Van . Tromp DERBY. a 40 to 1 agst Pavilion 44 to 1 agst Planet (t to 5001.) 40 to 1 agst Black Dwarf—t 12 t o I or , agst Epirote 50 to 1 agst Will o'the Wisp V s to 1 agst Lib era t or (t) 42 to 1 agst GI tit 50 to 1 agst Montpensier (t) 25 to 1 n n en 1 1 , 40 agst —nyng-am 66 to 1 agst Oxonian (t) to 1 agst Christopher ' 66 to 1 agst Reiver. II 11E lt MAJESTY'S THEATRE. — Their Royal High - 1 tres sesZ ".e the D u k e an d Duchess of Cambridge honoured the q ° rniances yesterday evening at her Majesty's T h e atre a i th their presence, attended by the Baroness Hammerstein 114 Baron Knesebeck. The Queen Dowager's Box was oc riPied by the Marchiones of Ormonde, the Hon. Miss Anacichell, Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall, Miss Wakley, and Sir Lltire Barnard. There were also present : —The Prince evenstein his Excellency the French Ambassador, his Excellency' the Austrian Ambassador, his Excellency the Ru ssian Minister, the Baroness Brunnow, and Mdlle. Olga de ,71Ther, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the ..iarquis ; 4 1 d Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Marquis of Huntley, the D arquis of Donegal, the Marquis of Douro, the Marquis of itir icarde, the Earl of Cawdor, the Earl of Muns ter, the Virl o f Falmouth, the Earl Grenv i l l e, Vi scoun t Clifd en , Blseount Dencannon, Viscount Cantilupe, Count lioudriaff -BFoley and the Hon. Miss Foley, Lord Ernest t h rt l, n ! Lord dardner, Lord Sands, Lady Lyndhurst and on. Mi ss C op l ey , Lady Brougham, Lady Malet, Lady fa:et Carnet, the Count and Countess de Jarnac, le Count Louis de Noailles, the Right Hon. the Lord sa3ror, Lady Carroll and the Misses Carroll, Sir F. Booth, 14 1 . r R. Webb, Sir W. and Lid y Freemantle, Sir T. Hare, Sir ni Broke, Mr. and Lady Augusta Wentworth, Colonel Wild -4:11, Captain Meynell, R.N., Mr. and Mrs. Bruton Trelaw /e, Mrs. Packe Redding, Mr. Barry Baldwin. M.P., Mr. Chen De Burgh, Mr. and Mrs. E. Phillips, Captain .)en, & c. arc PAT * ter _, AL EFFECTS OF PLAYING AT " CAT."—Yes pitn4Y Mr. Baker held an inquest at the London Hos son'', on the body of James Bonny, aged four years, the er ,,,. ° f a pastrycook, living at 39, Prince's-street, Mile h'• The deceased, on Wednesday last, was playing at th!" is termed " cat," when, in stooping down to strike h__ playthig, piece of wood pointed at each end, his 1;.... 4g , came in contact with the wheel of a cart, and he bat , aocked down, when the vehicle passed over his killing him almost instantaneously. Verdict, "Mental death." o 2 fib°°B,3l on &be ime n.t o f ang 10 5' Of 13°Ir nia tlS A °. sCOVe r ' - )d o ,one , i d nd g c 7 e , w ick Abe row 1, Lug CO I su it 0 n eo dila ,A. 6 1 gO , - , he coin° ro r s p fi h . ?rvati c Li /Attu Bova', nt i t y of reesd a f dista n edY .01 B a d ce), a n and ur thin": Ind th e : t aw e J' norniq minuted ent Plan ling, by 3 of the various than to licemeu :ey Was ight be kg, OCCI.C7 .at NAVIGATION LAWS: wages and the provisioning. of their ships, or other wise their men would leave them. He believed that if they were to throw the ports open to morrow there would not be one in a hundrcd Baltic vessels corning to this country, because they left families at home, and were not accustomed to depart for any time from their own homesteads. By Mr. Hume—At present the United States ad mitted vessels from Prussia, Denmark, and Swede❑ to bring goods into the United States from any country whatever ; and the result was that Prussia last year sent twenty-one ships of 5,439 tons ; Sweden, eighty-four ships of 24,057 tons ; Denmark, nineteen ships of 4,910 tons ; while England had sent 5,209 ships of 809,777 tons. With regard to Prussia, the same thing occurred. In the year 1846, 298 British ships entered the port of Stettin, and 838 Prussian ships, including in the latter number both the foreign and coasting ships. In Dantzic there were 136 British ships, and 589 Prus sian ships. In Pilau there were 93 British and 247 Prussian. In Russia the trade was practically alto gether in the hands of the British. Thus, in Cron stadt, in 1846, there were 123 Prussian ships engaged in coasting and foreign trade, and 657 British ships ; while at Riga there were 249 Russian and 603 British ships. The masters of Baltic ships underwent a seareh lug examination, and were highly qualified for their duties. The Committee then adjourned till one o'clock on Thursday. The select committee on this subject met yesterday in committee-room N 0.2. There were present, Mr. Ricardo, who, in the absence of Mr. M. Gibson, was appointed to the chair ; Hon. Mr. Liddell, Mr. Mitchell, Admiral Dundas, Mr. Hume, Mr. Lyall, Sir Robert Peel, Sir George Clerk. Mr. M - Carthy, Sir 110%s and Douglas, Hon. Mr. Villiers. The examination. of Mr. Browning was resumed. By Mr. Hume—He was well acquainted with the South Sea whale fishing trade, both in its English and American branches. The Americans had a great ad vantage over the English, owing to the circumstance that their vessels were provided cheaper. They were generally ships that were too old for other trades ; and they were purchased and fitted out on a joint account by different parties ; the shipwrights repairing her, and other artisans fitting her with stores, taking their chance of the profits arising from her fishing. The same are rangement was made with those who navigated her—tha ordinary seaman receiving one-sixtieth part of her net profits, and the captain about one-twelfth. Then the vessel did not carry any money with her ; but the cap tain took out a qu intity of cotton goods, with which he traded with the islanders in those seas for provisions Ile turned this to account even with his own sailors, for if they wanted spending money the captain told them, that he would advance them no money, and that if they wished to anticipate their profits, or their lay, as they termed it, they must do so at their own disadvantage, for he could only give them cotton goods, which were worth not more than from two to three cents per yard, but for which he charged them at the rate of 2s. per yard, and the sailors in their thoughtlessness, were too ready to agree to it. He knew that British seamen were, to a considerable extent, employed in the American whale fishery. There were a great number of burdens and duties pressing upon the American whale ships; he calculated them to amount on a ship of 317 tons to 3641. He knew that this was the case in 1844. The English whalers could not compete with these American vessels, because they were fitted out for a three or four years' voyage, so that an expense was incurred which the profits would not pay. But the colonial whale fishing vessels, particularly those from Australia, were well able to compete with the Americans, and their numbers were increasing. If the navigation-laws were repealed and the colonists allowed to purchase foreign vessels, parti cularly those that might be stranded on their coasts, they would have a still greater advantage. The number of vessels of all sizes employed by the Americans in this trade on the Ist of January, 1847, amounted to 722. The number of British whalers was thirty-nine. The number of vessels employed from Sydney, New Bruns wick, Van Diemen's Land, &c., amounted to seventy. five. The American whalers were generally of an in ferior class of vessels, and could not follow the whales into high latitudes or hook on to them in rough weather. The best whaling ground was off the Chatham Islands, where the weather was stormy. If the navigation-laws were repealed, he had no fear of competition with the Americans. By Admiral Dandas—The system of paying the sea men by the lay made the bargain a more profitable bar gain for the owners; but it tended to disgust the seamen with the service, as captains were sometimes induced to ill-treat their men, to force them to desert, and thus forfeit their claims to their share in the profits. The colonial whalers were principally manned by English men, and now they employed a great number of their New Zealand fellow-subjects, who made capital whalers, particularly in striking the whale. He expected much good from the colonists being allowed to purchase fo reign stranded vessels; but he could not tell how many had been stranded in the course of a year. The American Government used to give a bounty to their whale fishers, but he did not know if it was still con tinued. By Mr. Liddell—lf the London whaling vessels were to remain constantly upon the fishing grounds, and send the cargo home on freight, they would be able to carry on the trade to great advantage; because their vessels were stronger than those of the Americans, and could follow the whales into latitudes where the Ame ricans could not follow them. The English shipowners had nothing to fear, if the duties were removed from fo reign timber used in ship-building. Mr. Liddell—But are not the generality of British vessels built of British oak? Mr. Browning•—They would be so, but the supply is not equal to the demand. Mr. Liddell—Well, I can assure you that I live in a ship-building country, and I have a good deal of oak to dispose of; but Ido not find, unfortunately, that the demand is equal to the supply?—(Laughter.) Admiral Dundas—lf the navigation-laws were re pealed, would not the Dutch, Danes, and Swedes enter into the trade of bringing coals from Newcastle to London, and sail their ships cheaper than we do? Mr. Browning—l do not think they would. The men would desert immediately. Admiral Dundas—l don't think you understand my question. Suppose a Dutchman to bring a cargo of coals from Newcastle to London, would he carry these coals cheaper than an Englishman would carry them? Mr. Browning—lf the navigation-laws were repealed, we should get our ship cheaper than we do now. Admiral Dundat—But did you ever see the feeding on board these ships? Mr. Browning—lf they come into this country they must be fed the same as our own sailors. .........._ Admiral Dundas—But the Dutchman lives on board his own ship ; he has nothing to do with our ships or sailors. _ . Mr. Hume explained that the witness meant that the effect of competition would be to equalise the rate of wages and provisions on board both kinds of ships. Mr_ WCarthy—As the Baltic ships are frozen up in their own ports for a great portion of the winter, would it not be a great advantage to them to employ the winter in our coasting trade? Mr. Browning—Oh, the men would desert immediately. Mr. Liddell—But they come over here occasionally now; why do they not desert? By Mr. Mitchell—Leaving out the question of the coal trade, there was not the remotest chance of foreigners competing with us in our coasting trade. This closed the examination of Mr. Browning; after which the committee room was cleared for a short time. On our re-admission we found Mr. Berger, of the firm of M‘Lean, Mearns, and Co., merchants and commission agents, under examination. He said that his house was en g a g ed in bringing several articles frem the United States, but not the produce of that country, into England. Among these articles were palm oil, African and East India hides, gums, Cuba tobacco, East India drugs, spices, &c. These articles, under the provision of the nav i ga tion-laws, could only be brought here in British vessels; and as they were for the most part shipped from the northern ports of the States, such as Salem, Boston, &c., to which ports English vessels seldom came, the consequence was that they had often to wait for weeks and months in order to obtain vessels, and sometimes to send for them to St. John's, New Brunswick, and other colonial ports. The vessels so obtained were generally of an inferior description, involving increased insurances, risk of loss, and risk of losing the market. He cited several instances where the merchants had sustained great loss and inconvenience in consequence, and in some cases where the goods were not shipped at all; and this latter consequence had lost his firm the com mission on the cargo, which was a heavy loss, that he could not consider otherwise than a tax which they had to pay for the protection of British shipping. He was aware that American vessels were generally preferred by American merchants in which to ship their goods. He was frequently ordered by his American correspon dents on no account to ship their goods in British ves sels. This happened every month. He believed this preference did not arise from patriotic motives, but simply from commercial motives. By Sir George Clerk—The principal reason why the American vessels were preferred was their superior sail ing. He had also been engaged in the Mediterranean trade, and the same inconveniences were experienced in that trade. For instance, the Gambia and Senegal trade was almost exclusively in the hands of the Bordeaux and Marseilles merchants, and the gums brought in those trades could not be brought to England even by English vessels. The consequence was that when the English market was bare, the manufacturers must either go without, or they wero carried from Bordeaux to America, and then, at great cost and loss of time, trans shipped to England. By Mr. Liddell—The American -navigation-laws, which were the type of our own, prevented foreign goods being sent from this country except in American vessels ; and this caused a great loss of freight to the English, for these articles of foreign produce were gene rally of a very fine description, which commanded high freights. The English only exported the coarser and cheaper articles, which commanded low freights. He was aware that the best English vessels were quite able to compete with the finest American vessels, but the English ships of that class went chiefly to the south for cotton, and it was only the ships of an inferior class that went to New York and the other northern ports. By Sir H. Peel—The greatreastoh3 n e w . mhyadtehethAe voyage merican ships were preferre d was that of British seamen, quicker. He should be sorry to hu sa t. y h a e ny h t e h l i i n e g ved in dis paragementthat, a E nd ng m li a sh te , s w w h e ic r h e s e ni ce t a e r r t i e s paribus, r:and r 0 the o re out sooner than the English officers ; for in more an was shown by the fact that they got their ca . rgoesin th and mteellritgceannt cthapantaltnhse. one instance his American correspondents had com d plained that the English captains were so long in is charging their cargoes, though, on the average, there was a greater number of hands on board the English vessels. He considered that the average amount o vesse t dif ference between the English and American ls on their passage to this country was about ten days ; and that difference was still greater on the passage out. By Sir Howard Douglas—lf the navigation-laws were repealed, he thought that the particular trade in which he was engaged would be doubled; and, therefore, even though the Americans obtained a share in it, that would not diminish the profits now made by the English, or, at any rate, the loss would be so small as to bear no pro portion to the loss sustained at present by the merchants. By Admiral Dundas—The abject of the navigation laws might be the encouragement of seamen ; but the fact was, they had already produced more seamen than they wanted, and hence they had been able to spare so many to the Americans. Admiral Dundas—Then you think the repeal of the navigation•lAws would reduce the number?—Mr.Berger did not say that ; but he must remark that the amount of British shipping did not cause trade, but it was trade that caused the amount of British shipping to be em ployed ; and therefore he thought that the increase of trade would cause the number of British ships and British seamen to be increased. With regard to the Baltic ships, he knew that they were built and navigated nominally cheaper, yet they were not so in reality. People were apt to lose sight of the fact that even now the Baltic shipowners preferred their vessels to be frozen up in their ports for three months in a year rather than send them abroad. They ha d certain advantages while at home, but the moment they left their own shores those adranteges were loot ; for they must Paige the VIIMI WEIN, LONDOX, WEIDN2SDAY EVENING, MAR(JJI 04, 1447 I Slough, and to be called " the Windsor Railway." He again repeated, that any information would be afforded to the proprietors on the subject of these lines. The Chairman concluded by proposing the first Bill—namely, the West London RiLilway (the cr)st of which was 180.0001.), which having been seconded, Mr. NIARRIOTT said that he saw not less than 22 Bills, which were to be submitted for the consideration of the shareholders, many of them lines of great extent, in volving a vast number of branches. Now, he thought that the proprietors ought to know in what financial position they stood already, and he trusted the directors would be prepared to inform them upon that point. The CHAIRMAN said that at the last meeting of the proprietors, a full, and in every way satisfactory, state ment of their finances had been laid before the meeting, and he could not think at that time of entering upon a discursive argument involving minute particulars, which had been already deemed satisfactory.—(liear, hear.) Every Bill, as it would be proposed, would be explained as fully as the directors could, and every question they would endeavour to answer. A SHAREHOLDER thought that these questions should be answered. He did not see that the proprietors should recklessly rush into'an expenditure which might involve them in bankruptcy and ruin. The eIIAIIIMAN again leiurated his f , .rmer statement, that the ❑uujority of these Bills had already received the sanction of the proprietors, and it was really unfair to c,ll upon the directors to cuter into particulars which had been at the last meeting fully explained. The first Bill was then c:►rtied. The second Bill, 1 - )t. making branch railways from the Great Western Railway to the towns of Egham, Staines, Brentford, and Twickenham, having been submitted to the proprietors, Mr. MARRIOTT asked what the capital estimated for the project was? The CHAIRMAN said 500,0001. After a few words from a shareholder against the project until further information were given ; and from Mr. VOUSELY, in favour of it, the Bill was approved of. The third, a Bill to make a railway from Windsor to Slough, was put and seconded. The estimated coat was 110,0001. In answer to a question from Mr. MARRIOTT, Mr. SANDERS (the secretary) said that the company were not liable for 14,000,0001. in addition to the 9,000,000/. which they were authorised to raise by shares or debentures. _ Mr. MaunioTT said that the simplest way to meet his inquiry would be to state what the financial position of the company was ? The CHAIRMAN interposed, and begged the proprie tors to remember that Mr. Marriott was the gentleman who urged the claims of other lines, at the recent meet ing at Birmingham, in contradistinction to that of the Great Western Company. He would, under all these circumstances, put it to the meeting, whether his ques tions should be answered.—(Cries of " No, no.) Mr. MARRIOTT denied that he had advocated the claims of other lines, or tried to injure the profits of the Great Western. His sole object was to get the best price for his own shares. The fourth Bill, to approve of constructing a line to Henley and Radstock, was, after a few words, acceded to. The fifth Bill, to make a railway from the Berks and Hants Railway, at Hungerford, to join the line of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway at Westbury and Devizes, having been put, (estimated cost 600,0001.) Was unanimously agreed to. The next Bill was a Bill for making a line from Bridport to export, the proposed capital for which was proposed to be 1,480,0001., which was also unanimously agreed to. - The CHAIRMAN then said that the next series of Bills were those in connexion with the Wilts and Somerset Railway, and with respect to the principle of which the Committee of the House of Lords had, in the last session of Parliament, pronounced a decisive and favourable opinion. The Bills included under this head were Bills for authorising certain alterations in the line of the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway; a Bill to construct a railway from Bleadon to Blandford, with branches to Glastonbury and Gillingham; and a Bill-for improving the harbour of the town of Weymouth, the whole of which were also unanimously agreed to. The next series of Bills were two in connexion with the South Devon Railway, which were brought forward by independent companies, and in which the Great Western Company had only interest, by virtue of the shares which they held in them; the first of which was a Bill to authorise the construction of a railway from Tavi stock to Launceston, and to extend the line of the South Devon Railway to Torquay and Brixham ; and the second, authorising certain alterations and amendments of the line of the Cornwall Railway, passed in the last session of Parliament, both of which were also unani mously agreed to. The next Bill referred to the districts in the neighbourhood of Cheltenham, entitled " A Bill for making a Railway from the:Great Western Railway at Cheltenham, to join the Oxford and Rugby Railway, near Oxford," for which 4 per cent. and half profits were gua ranteed by the Great Western Company. This Bill was also agreed to. Four Bills were then proposed in connexion with the South Wales Railway, which were brought forward by the South Wales Company, and upon the capital of which 5 per cent. was guaranteed by the company, in cluding a Bill for making certain alterations and amend ments in the South Wales Railway; a Bill for making a railway from Ystradgunlais, in the county of Brecon, to , Swansea, in the county of Glamorgan ; a Bill for enabling the Vale of Neath Railway Company to make certain alterations and amendments in their line of rail way; and a Bill to authorise the Gloucester and Forest of Dean Railway to construct a dock or basin at Glou cester in connexion with that railway—which were also unanimously agreed to. Two Bills in connexion with the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway were then submitted to the meeting, the first of which authorised that company to make a railway from Cheltenham to join the Strat ford-upon-Avon branch of that railway ; the second authorising the construction of a railway from Stour bridge to join the line of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway, near Dudley and Hales Owen, the capital required for which would be about 700,0001., both of which were also agreed to without opposition. The next was a Bill which was merely a duplicate Bill of the former ones, and authorising the construction of a railway from Stourbridge to West Bromwich. The three remaining Bills had reference to the Bir mingham and Oxford Railway, passed in the last session of Parliament, but which had been purchased by the Great Western Company since the passing of the Act, authorising the construction of several small branches of railway, and the application to Parliament for power to purchase the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolver hampton Railway. In laying those Bills before the meeting the CHAIRMAN alluded to the circumstances which bad attended the course of conduct pursued by the London and North-Western Railway Company, with respect to the Birmingham and Oxford Railway Company, and the purchase by the former company of a great number of shares for the purpose of obtaining the management of that line in their own hands. The subject was under the consideration of the Court of Chancery, and the directors had also felt it their duty to bring the subject before the atten tion of the House of Lords itself, who had appointed a Committee to inquire into the allegations contained in the petitions which the directors had felt it their duty to present. The members of that Committee would be ap pointed immediately after the Easter recess, and the directors had not the slightest doubt of the ultimate success of the course they had adopted. The Bills he would propose on this subject were—first, a Bill to make certain alterations in the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Company, and to purchase the Strat ford-upon-Avon Canal Navigation. The second was a Bill to authorise the construction of a line from the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Rail way, near Warwick, to join the line of the Stratford upon-Avon branch of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol verhampton Railway, and for other purposes. The third was a Bill for uniting the Birmingham and Oxford Junction Railway Company, and the Birming ham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway Company into one company, and for authorising the sale of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley, and other new works, to the Great Western Company. These Bills were severally passed, and the business of the special meeting was declared at an end. After a few words from Mr. VOLTSELY, Tho CHAIRMAN begged to assure the Hon. Proprietor, and all the Proprietors, that every effort would be made by them to come to amicable terms with all their neigh bours. _ _ _ After a vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors the meeting separated. A SHIP RUN AWAY FROM HER CREW. (From The t f he ollo P w ol i yn ng es e ia x n Sandwich tr , ac a t n fromt ls Ju helalnogd-booorkn Sof t e h p. 26.) e t Inez, containing an account of her late disaster on the north west, has been kindly furnished us by Captain Jackson, and will be read with interest. It is not often that a ship is in a position to run away from her entire crew:— " On the 22d day of July, in lat. 59 25 N., while lay ing off and on at Middleton or Rose Island, the ship struck upon a sunken ledge of rocks, about four or five miles from the land, which the most part of the time showed no signs of danger, the water being very smooth; but occasionally there would be a heavy sea and breaker rise over them—but the man at the masthead, and some twelve or fifteen hands that were on the deck, saw nothing of this till the ship struck. There are no such ro cks or anything of the kind put down on any charts that I have, or have ever seen—and I have good charts of the whole Pacific Ocean. When the breakers came up they would raise the ship and set her down with such force as to render it impossible to do anything on board of her; and the first mate and the rest of the crew, being twenty in number (myself and the second mate, with two boats' crews, being at the time on shore) for fear the masts would fall upon them, lowered the two boats that were on the cranes, and all got into them and left the ship, without taking anything with them except a few clothes. I discovered from the shore that there was difficulty on board, so I mustered a boat's crew as soon as possible, and started for her, but had not got far before I met the mate, who stated that the ship was going to pieces. I made no stop, as I felt anxious to secure something out of her. I soon perceived t hat ev ery roller was driving the ship along over the rocks, l and I felt in hop es that I mi g ht be able to do something with her—and when I got half-way from the shore to the ship, she u droveot tosea, the yardsbeing over hel edge altogether,an d trimmed filled away,heading that w ay when she struck, though the topsail haliards had been let go; but the jib and foresail were trimmed aft so as to draw well, and there was a good breeze at the time from the eastward, and the ship headed to the south west, and went so fast that she got about ten or twelve miles from the shore before I could come up with her. As soon as I got on board I hove the ship to as dead as possible, and took up my boat, and then ordered the men to start the pumps while I was examining the damage done. The men freed her of water in about ten minutes, and all the damage I found was the rudder was gone, and planking about it considerably damaged, with the tiller and wheel broken to pieces, and the hurricane house over the wheel broken to pieces. In about three quarters of an hour after I got on board the second mate came, stating that the other two boats were close in shore when he left. We now began to study how we should get the rest of the crew off the island. The ship was drifting away from it fast, and the weather thick, so that we could not see it. It was near night, and I knew if we drifted until morning these would be very small chance that we should see the island if it were clear. So I got the deep-sea line and sounded, and found that there was only fifty fathoms water, with a smooth sea, with not much wind, and that was growing lighter. So I con cluded to anchor. I got up a kedge, and bent a hawser and both my cutting falls to it, and let go and brought the ship up about fifteen miles from the land. It was now nearly dark, and the weather thick, so I thought it would not be prudent to send a boat in that night; but I did not know but they might hear a gun on shore, so I fired three times and set the watch. At two A. M., ou the 23d, we called all hands, and gut some breakfast, and du n I sent the second mate on shore to fetch tl.e men and everything off as quick as possible. The ship lay very easy by the kedge. and only lo4ked abut strokes per hour. At two rnc , the boats with all hand:, came. It was now nearly calm, and the , ship would be entirely unmanageable, without a rudder ; so I let her lay, and went to work to make a rudder as fast as pos sible—but we had no blacksmith, and with the tools and materials we had to work with, it was no easy job. We got it done the 25th, and hung it about nine, p.m., and we took our anchor (we had been laying all this time by the kedge, with scarcely any wind) and got under way immediately and started to the south-east. I did not know what the state of her bottom was, so I started for Oahu, and thought I would follow the coast down until I got near the latitude of the islands, in case any thing should happen, that if we were compelled to leave we would not have so far to go with our boats. " August 11, in lat. 53 N, long. 137, we had strong breezes and rough sea, which broke our rudder loose from the false stern-post, so that we had to take it in and secure it again, which took us three days, the ship all the while drifting about, she being almost entirely unmanageable without a rudder. We fixed it much stronger this time, and then put away for Oahu. This time, thinking the rudder stronger,' - and the leak getting no worse, I started direct." UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. OXFORD, MARCH 20. WADHAM COLLEGE. A Clerkship will be vacant in Act Term, and will be filled up on Friday, the 11th of June next. Candidates are desired to call upon the Warden at 9 o'clock in the morning of Thursday, the 10th of June, bringing with them testimonials from their college or school. The Lord Bishcp of Oxford proposes to hold his next Ordination on Trinity Sunday, the 30th of May next. All candidates must transmit the requisite papers to his Lordship's secretary, Mr. John Burder, 27, Parliament street, Westminster, on or before the 30th of April. Mr. Senior, formerly Fellow of Magdalen, is now the only candidate for the Professorship of Political Economy, vacant by Dr. Twiss's term of office having expired. The Professorship was founded in 1825, by Mr. Henry Drummond, the banker, and formerly of Christ Church. Mr. Senior was the first professor, and is now re-eligible. Dr. Hampden will preach the sermon before the 'University on the Fast-day. The long-agitated question of the parochial burial grounds is now settled, and the enclosure of the three grounds will be proceeded with without delay. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Mr. Philip Oxenden Papillon, of University College, has been elected to a Mathematical Exhibition in that society. The Rev. W. A. Ormsby, M.A., of this College, has been instituted to the rectory of Edgefield, Norfolk. WADHAM COLLEGE. The Rev. Henry Brancker, M.A., of this College, has been licensed to the perpetual curacy of St. Peter's Church, Bishopsworth, Somerset. The Rev. James Bandinel, M.A., has been appointed to the curacy of Marshwood, Dorset. The Rev. Edmund B. Venables, 8.A., to the curacy of Buckland Newton, Dorset. The Rev. W. F. Addison, to the perpetual curacy of St. George Kemoyn, Cornwall. CHRIST CHURCH. The Rev. F. Lear, 8.A., to the curacy of Bishops*, Wilts. The Rev. 11. W. Brown, 8.A., to the curacy of West Grinstead, Wilts' The Rev. Barrington S. T. Mills, 8.A., to the curacy of Great Canford, Dorset. WORCESTER COLLEGE. The Rev. R. B. Greenlaw, M.A., of this College, and chaplain to the Bishop of Rochester, has been presented to the vicarage of Chigwell, Essex. LINCOLN COLLEGE. Philip Woolcombe, 8.A., of this College, has been licensed to the curacy of West Stafford, Dorset. QUEEN'S COLLEGE. The Rev. Edwin Meyrick, M.A., late of this college, has been appointed to the vicarage of Chisledon, Wilts. ORIEL COLLEGE. The Rev. Anthony Buller, M.A., of this college, rector of St. Mary Tavy, Devon, has been appointed chaplain to Henry Charopernowne, Esq., High Sheriff of Devon. The Rev. J. P. Prescott, M.A., to the curacies of Wil lingale Spain and Willingale Doe, Essex. MAGDALEN HALL. The Rev. Arthur Wellington Wallis, of this Hall, and Boden Sanscrit Scholar in 1837, late Principal of the Sanscrit and English College at Benares, in the East Indies, formerly of Sidmouth, Devon, has been appointed, by the Hon. East India Company, assistant chaplain in the Presidency of Bengal. CAMBRIDGE, SIARcH 20. BELL'S SCHOLARS. Calvert, Trinity College, Collett, Clare Hall. SCHOLASTIC APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. George Moyle, M.A., of Pembroke Col lege, to the Second Mastership of the Grammar School, Bury. C. Scott, 8.A., of St. John's College, to the Mathe matical Tutorship of the Grammar School, Bury. THE INSTALLATION. There is some doubt as to whether this anxiously looked for event will come off in the July of this, or the next year. The obstacle to the taking place of the fes tivities this year is a probable one resting on the suppo sition that the general election is fixed for July. CAIUS COLLEGE. DISTRESSED IRISH AND SCOTCH.—It appears that the rumour, which assumed the shape of an authentic state ment in the local papers regarding the intention of this College to devote the cost of the Annual Foundation Feast to the relief of the distressed Irish and Scotch was incorrect. On the other hand, it is but justice to the Ccllege to state that the sum 431. 6s. 6d. was collected in chapel for the same benevolent purpose. THE CHußca. The following appointments have taken place: 'rhe Rev. Robert Aliwood, 8.A., of Caius College, to the bishopric of Morpeth, Australasia. The Hon. and Rev. William Henry Lyttleton, ALA., of Trinity College, to the rectory of Hagley, Worces tershire. The Rev. Isaac Wood, M.A., of Trinity College, to the archdeaconry of Chester. The Rev. Charles Craven, M.A., of St. John's College, to the rectory of Spexhall, Suffolk. The Rev. Robert Scarlett Grignon, 8.A., of Trinity College, to the ♦icarage of Dedham, Essex. The Rev. Joshua Greaves, M.A., of Trinity College, to the donative curacy of St. lienelm's, Worcestershire. The Rev. William Oliver, 8.A., of Trinity College, to the curacy of Westbury, Salop. The Rev. Charles Nourse Wodhouse, M.A., of Trinity College, to the archdeaconry of Norfolk. The Rev. John henry Gray, 8.A., of Christ's College, to the curacy of Rothley, Leicestershire. The Rev. Ebenezer Howell, M.A., of Emmanuel Col lege, to the perpetual curacy of Lunds, Yorkshire. The Rev. John Wilson, 8.A., of Clare-hall, to the curacy of St. John, Preston, Lancashire. The Rev. Thomas William Thompson, 8.A., of Pem broke College, to the perpetual curacy of New Bucken ham, Norfolk. TANCRED, or the NEW CRUSADE. The following is extracted from Mr. Disraeli's new work : LORD DENRY SYDNEY (LORD J. MANNERS). "It was a name that touched Tancred, as it has all the youth of England, significant of a career that would rescue public life from that strange union of lax principles and con tracted sympathies which now form the special and degrading features of British politics. It was borne by one whose boy hood we have painted amid the fields and schools of Eton, and the spring time of whose earliest youth we traced by the sedgy waters of the Cam. We left him on the threshold of public life; and, in four years, Lord Henry had created that reputation which now made him a source of hope and solace to millions of his countrymen. But they were four years of labour which outweighed the usual exertions of public men double that space. His regular attendance in the House of Commons alone had given him as much Parliamentary ex perience as fell to the lot of many of those who had been first returned in 1837, and had, therefore, been twice as long in the House. He was not only a vigilant member of public and private Committees, but had succeeded in appointing and conducting several on topics which he esteemed of highest importance. Add to this, that he took an habitual part in debate, and was a frequent and effective publid writer, and we are furnished with an additional testimony, If that, indeed, were wanting, that there is no incentive to exertion like the passion for a noble renown. Nor should it be forgotten, that in all he accomplished lie had but one final purpose, and that the highest. The debate, the com mittee, the article in the Journal or the Review, the public meeting, the private research—these were all means to ad vance that which he had proposed as the object of his public life, namely, to elevate the condition of the people. "A scholar and a man of the world, learned in history and not inexperienced in human nature, he was sensible that we must look to the constituent principles of society for the causes and the cures of great national disorders. lie there fore went deeply into the question; nor shrank from investi gating how far those disorders were produced by the opera tion or the desuetude of ancient institutions, and how far ' it might be necessary to call new influences into political existence for their remedy. Richly informed, still studious, fond of labour and indefatigable, of a gentle disposition though of an ardent mind, calm yet energetic, very open to even and conviction, but possessing an inflexibility amounting to obstinacy when his course was once taken, aready improving speaker, an apt and attractive writer, affable and S sincere, and with the undesignin thefaculty of making friends, Lord Henry seemed to possess allqualities °s h igohf lineage,pol leader, if we add to them th e golden ones n all engaging appearance, youth, and a temperament prejudice in of f the which the reason had not been developed toe the heart." NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 23.—A Court of Inquiry, or dered by the Admiralty to investigate the conduct of Captain Hamond while in command of the Salamander steam-sloop, terminated its labours this day at noon. The result is, of course, not publicly known. The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Ramsay, and the Avenger steam-frigate, Commander Potbury, arrived this morning from Cork, to load with seed barley for Ireland. Arrangements are being made for the formation of the dockyard volunteers into companies for drill and exer cise during the summer. The Duck navy lighter, arrived this afternoon from Devonport with stores. The Talbot, 26, Captain Sir T. Thompson, Bart., has discharged her freight, and is preparing to be paid off all standing, being required for the " relief service." When she left the Pacific, the following was the exact force of the British, French, and American squadrons in those seas:— BRITISH. Guns. Collingwood (flag) ... ... ... 80 Constance ... ... 50 Grampus ... ... 50 Fisgard ... ... ••• ... 42 Juuo ... ... ... 26 Carysfort ... ... Calypso ... ... Modeste Fr )lic ... ... ... ... 16 Sampson ... ... 8 Cormorant ... ... ... ... 6 Spy ... ... ... ... ... 3 FRENCH. 345 Virginie (flag) Uranie (pendant) ... ... ... 50 Meurthe Heroine ... ... Ariadne Rhin ... ... Somme ... 20 •.• ••• ••• Fortune ... ... Lampiore ... ... Sarcello ... Phaaton ... ... AMERICAN. Columbus (pendant) Independence Congress ... Savannah ... Cyane ... ... ... Saratoga ... ... Portsmouth ... Warren ... Dale ... ... Shark ... ... ... Relief ... Erie ... 90 54 50 50 *7O The above does not include troop, store, surveying, or other partially armed vessels, to the best of our belief; nor does it include the French 46 met by the Talbot at Rio, going out to Otaheite with the new Governor. PROFESSIONAL ATTENDANCE IN TEE NEW COUNTY CGURTs.—There appears to exist some misunderstand ing as to the attendance of professional men in the new county courts. They complain that the fees allowed to be charged are too insignificant for them,to appear in a cause. The fees allowed are certainly of a very limited character, and it will become a question for future con sideration whether a graduated scale would not have been more expedient, in order to induce respectable men to practise in courts whose jurisdiction extends to 20/. Persons who are sued for 181. and 201. will re quire assistance to get up their defences, and some one to address a jury on their behalf. By the 91st section 9f the County Courts Act, it is provided that no person shall be entitled to appear tor any other party in any proceeding in any of the said courts unless he be an at torney of one of hor Majesty's superior courts of record, or a barrister-at-law instructed by such attorney on be half of the party or by leave of the judge, or any other person allowed by the judge to appear instead of such party, but no barrister, attorney, or other person, except by leave of the judge, shall be entitled to be heard to argue any question as counsel for any other person in any proceeding in any court holden under this Act, and no person not being an attorney admitted to one of her Majesty's superior courts of record shall be entitled to have or recover any sum of money for appearing or act ing on behalf of any other person in the said court, and no attorney shall be entitled to have or recover therefor any sum of money unless the debt or damage claimed shall be more than 405., or to have or recover more than 10s. fur his fees and costs unless the debt or damage claimed shall be more than 51., or more than 15s. in any case within the summary jurisdiction given by this Act, and in no case shall any fee exceeding 11. 3s. Id. be allowed for employing a barrister as counsel in the cause, and the expense of employing a barrister or an attorney either by plaintiff or defendant shall not be allowed on taxation of costs in the case of a plaintiff where less than 5L is recovered, or in the case of a defendant where less than 51. is claimed, or in any case unless by order of the judge. Each judge has exclusive jurisdiction in his court to allow an advocate or not, and to make an allow ance for assistance rendered, as also to admit or exclude a class of men called " agents," who practise as attorneys without the necessary qualification. FOREIGN POTATOES.—The latest arrivals of po tatoes from ♦arious foreign countries have included the following:—The Magnet, from Harlingen, brought 13 bask , -ts; the Sarnia, from Jersey, 20 tons' weight; the Eclipse, from Madeira, four barrels; the Countess of Lonsdale, from Hamburgh, 4 barrels; the Flora, from Leghorn, 3 casks; the Favourite, from Cadiz, 124 tons weight; the City of London, from Rotterdam, 20 bas kets; the Hama, from Malaga, 25 mats; the City of Rotterdam, from Harlingen, 40 baskets and 29 bags; the Sarah Sands,,from New York, 90 barrels; the Eight Sons, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 5 bags; the Jacobus Begeman, from Harlingen 35 tons weight; and the Olympe, from Bordeaux, 350 bags of the article, the produce of France. This list comprises the arrivals during the past week at the ports of London and Liver pool, and presents many features of interest, not so much on account of its extent, as for the variety of places from which the supplies took place, in some instances for the first time, including some from Holland, Jersey, Madeira, Hamburg, Italy, Cadiz, Malaga, the United States, Nova Scotia, and France. These supplies, the produce of different foreign countries, vary as to their degrees of quality and adaptation for seed purposes, but it is understood that all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, are of very fair, and in many cases excellent quality. The principal shops in Covent-garden and other of the large markets of the metropolis, having the name of the producing country appended to the dif ferent parcels exposed for show, present a very remark able appearance, and one which until lately was not the case. A WORKHOUSE CENTENARIAN.—Died, on Tuesday, March 16th, at the Cheltenham Union. Workhouse, Mrs. Sarah Bradstock, aged 105 years and nine months, and for upwards of forty-seven years an inmate of the estab lishment. In chronicling this event we cannot confine ourselves to a mere record of the fact that the " oldest inhabitant" has thus passed away from amongst us, but as her death was attended with circumstances alike honourable to all parties, we make no apology for intro ducing them to the notice of our readers. Mrs. Brad stock has been well known to the visitors of the Chel tenham Workhouse for many years past, her amiability of disposition and good conduct having procured for her the respect of all who knew her history. She was a woman of great activity and industry, of cheerful and unrepining disposition, and, it is believed, of sincere piety. She was, up to nearly the time of her death, always the first in chapel for morning prayers, and although retir ing early to rest, she never did so until after evening prayers were concluded. She was married in early life, and had one daughter. Her faculties were good almost to the last, and her death did not arise from any particular disease, but from a gradual and imperceptible decay of nature: her end was peace. The funeral, which took place on Saturday, was attended by a large number of persons. It had been decided that she should not be buried in " the poor ground," but a spot in the new burial ground was selected for her, the churchwardens kindly foregoing the fees on the occasion. Through the exertions of Mr. Belcher, and Mr. and Mrs. Porter, the master and matron of the union, the ceremony of inter ment was nl a d v ery g rave'srespectfully clothes, st r e The yyn w l o h d )- herbsw a s Pall, and Mr. and Mrs. Porter (iee mourning), Mr. mb m er em oi nmaneeadnttlflowers. The coffin was covered with a handsome Wilson and a (tw nu o hers of the board of g • d the remains to the inmates of the house, accompa . me J. N. Belcher, and ceased, as well as to bcommemorate the circumstance of To mark his respect for the de• iht,sl.l great last resting ag e, M u r t: r cl C i ns ) has commenced a subscrip tionv the er grave, an for the erection of a headstone o d it is understood that the Rev. F. Close, the incumbent of the parish, will forego the customary fees for its erec • don.— Cheltenham Examiner. M pl r a . e ß e. elc Belcher EFFECTS or RAILWAYS ON THE LONDON FISH MARKET.—Yesterday afternoon upwards of 200 pads of mackarel, containing 20,000 fish, caught at Plymouth, 219 miles from the metropolis, were brought into Bil lingsgate-market through the medium of the Great Western Railway. The sudden glut so reducing the prioe of these fish that the retail &Wert were able to sell them at six and eight for a shilling. BANK OP ENGLAND, A General Court of this Company was held yestorday at the Board Room, to determine whether, in addition to the dividend of 3/. 10s. per cent. for the year ending the sth of April next, a bonus out of the interest and profits should be made of one per cent. out of the capital stock of the corporation. There were present the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and a large number of the directors. The advertisement convening the court having been read, the ballot was immediately commenced, but did not terminate till after four o'clock. The scrutineers then made their report, which stated that 253 of the corporation had voted, of which 19G were for the affirmation of the report, and 57 against it. The bonus of 1 per cent, was consequently confirmed. The Court then separated. SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY. A meeting of the proprietors and shareholders of the above company was held yestcrday at the Nine Elms Sta tion at Vauxhall. The Chair was taken at one o'clock by Mr. Chaplin. The SECRETARY having read the advertisement con vening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting had been culled according to .Lord Whareclitfe's Act for confirming tlic resolutions which they bad previou,ly adopted with re gard to certain Bills in Parliament. 'Phu solicitor would read to them the various Bills to be submitted for their consideration. _ _ The SOLICITOR then read the titles and preambles of, the Acts, which were agreed to, al follows : A Bill to amend the Acts relating to the London and South-Western Railway, and to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to increase their capital, and to complete various arrangements with other companies, and undertakings, and for other pur poses. A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to widen and improve the London and South-Western Railway from the junction thereof with the Richmond Railway to the terminus at Niue Elms, and to enlarge their intended station at the York road, Lambeth. A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail. way Company to make railways from Andover to join their Salisbury Branch Railway at Michaelmarsh, and from the same branch at Romsey, to join the South ampton and Dorchester Railway at Redbridge, all in the county of Southampton, to be called " The Andover and Southampton Junction Railway." A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail way Company to make a railway from Salisbury to Yeovil, with branches to Shaftel,bury and Wincanton, and to the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester and Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railways • and to purchase or lease the said Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway. A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail way Company to make a railway from Blandford, in the county of Dorset, to Braton, in the county of Somerset. A Bill for making a railway from Exeter to Yeovil, with branches and extensions therefrom, to be called " The Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway." A Bill to amend the Exeter and Exmouth Railway Act, 1846; and to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to subscribe towards lease, or pur chase the said railway. A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail way to make Railways from Exeter to Truro and Ply mouth, with various branches therefrom, to be called " The Cornwall and Devon Central and Plymouth Railwy." A Bill for improving and regulating the Harbour of Sutton Pool, within the Port of Plymouth, in the county of Devon. A Bill to enable the Taw Vale Railway and Dock Company to lease their undertaking to the London and South-Western Railway Company. A Bill for making a deviation in the line of the Taw Vale Railway, for making branches therefrom to the towns of Bideford and South Molton, for enlarging the dock, and amending the Acts relating thereto. A Bill for enabling the London and South-Western Railway Company to make extensions of the Guildford Extension and Portsmouth and Fareham Railway, near Portsmouth ; and a deviation in the authorised line thereof, near Godalming. A Bill for authorising the sale of part of the Brighton and Chichester (Portsmouth Extension) Railway to the ' London and South-Western, and the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Companies, and the use by the last-mentioned company of part (Wandsworth to London) of the London and South-Western Railway. A Bill for making a railway from Staines to Woking ham, with branches to the London and South-Western Railway. A Bill for making a railway from Richmond to Wind sor, with a loop line through Brentford and Hounslow. A Bill for making an alteration in the line of the Southampton and Dorchester Railway, and branches therefrom to Lymington and Eling, and for other purposes. A Bill for making a Branch Railway from the South ampton and Dorchester Railway to Blandford, and for other purposes. A Bill for making a Branch Railway from the South ampton and Dorchester Railway, at Moreton, to Wey mouth, and for other purposes. A Bill for making a Railway from Southampton to Cheltenham, to be called " The Manchester and South ampton Railway." A SHAREHOLDER inquired what was the estimated cost of the execution of these various projects? Mr. LOCKE said about 6,000,0001. The common seal of the company was then affixed to the Bills. The CHAIRMAN expressed his regret that so little ad vance had been made by the directors since last ineetin g ' but they had been compelled to w a i t for Mr. Strutt's Bill being completed, which would not be until after Easter. A SHAREHOLDER wished to make a few observations with regard to the Bill introduced by Mr. Strutt. It was a Bill which had been very much criticized and handled by the various companies, and it was consi dered as affecting the interest of railway property in a very material degree. It was criticized as having not only a prospective, but a retrospective effect, and in that shape it would inflict incalculable injury upon railway property. He knew perfectly well that the Chairman, in common with the other directors, had organized an opposi tion against the measure, but in his opinion the opposition should have been carried to a larger extent. It appeared to him that a petition signed by the whole of the railway proprietary would have great influence in Parliament. The Chairman, in the commit tee of which he was an unworthy member, had presented a petition against the measure; but the view he took of it was—that the proprietary, one and all, should have joined in that petition against Mr. Strutt's Bill. It was a measure calculated to inflict serious injury upon vested interests. The Government might as well interfere with their landed properties, for when they pur chased shares, they had looked at their rights, under the Act of Parliament, and they knew what they were buying; but now came a powe r, under the sanction of the Government, for th e purpose of disarranging entirely the foundation upon which their property rested. —(Hear, hear.) His intention was not at the present time to go more particularly into the measure which Mr. Strutt bad proposed; but he trusted, however, that the opposition which they had so wisely raised against the scheme might have the success it deserved. The CHAIRMAN said that he believed that the railway world, whose interests were much affected, were unani mous against the Bill, and the reason they had not pro ceeded more vigorously up to that moment was because it was generally understood that considerable modifica tions would be introduced by the Government when the Bill came again before the House of Commons. The meeting then resolved itself i nto a special meet ing, for the purpose of electing a new director, in the room of Mr. Robert Sheddon, retired. The SECRETARY read a letter from Sergeant Gazelee, declining to become a candidate for the vacant office, according to the notice he had given. The CHAIRMAN then proposed Mr. Ker Seymer, M.P., and stated that the influence of that gentleman in Dorsetshire would very materially further the views of the company. Lord ORLEY seconded the motion, which was unani mously agreed to. Mr. KER SEYMER having returned thanks in an appropriate speech, A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman and .ors, and the meeting separated. direct , _ CL ARENCE RAILWAY COMPANY. A special general meeting of the proprietors of this railway was held yesterday, at the George and Vulture Tavern, St. Michael's -alley, Cornhill, to submit to them the draft of a Bill introduced into Parliament this ses sion, to enable the co m p an y to amal gamate with the Y n accordance with the standing orders , th e onl y busines s transacted was meeting,retionary power to a d s is c c ircumstan ces might Leeds waAs ee et and hllee dmt T eee h tt i ihe resgkewhßee chair. As Railway w f a e y r eC3eol one, p:, i Mr. Blanshard it e approving of t t hh theee u s l bemi committeegi t a t e l i e g t i ee r fe e , s o andlu directors i o g n i s v t t i on o ge the eat require in carrying out the arrangem ents , which were unanimously agreed to. The meeting then separated. GREAT WESTERN RAIL WAY. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETIN G. A special general meeti n g of the proprietors of this railway was held yesterday , at o ne o'clock, in the Board room, Paddington Station, for the purpose of taking into consideration the drafts of twenty-two Bills, which the company intended to apply for in the present session. Charles Russell, Esq., chairman of the company, presided. The advertisement calling the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN then said, that the meeting of pro prietors convened for the 14th of December was for the double purpose of sanctioning the Birmingham and Oxford , lines, and for giving approval to other sch emes . M an y o f these were Bills of last session, and it w ou ld b e unneces saryforhim to rovert to them, as they h a d a l rea d y rece i ve d the approbation of the shareholders. Th e p resent mee ti ng was called for the purpose of giving effect to the long list of Bills submitted to them, and he would therefore take the projects, not as they came in the list, but as they were distributed through certain localities ; and he would take first that which was known by th e name o f t h e West London Railway, which would give them the ad vantages that were at present, or would be, enjoyed by the London and South-Western Railway ; the next would be the Bill fir making branches to Egham, Staines, Brentford and Twickenham ; and the third Bill he would associate with this group would be one for making a branch railway to Henley and Radstock, to widen certain portions of the Great Western Railway, to enable the Great Western to amalgamate with the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway, and to purchase the Wycombe and GreatVestern and Uxbridge Railways, and for other purposes ; and the fourth a nd last was a scheme to ma ke - a line from Windsor, to join the Great Western st THE POST-OPPICM' 143;it CARRIERS. The following is a copy of a memorial which is now in the course of receiving the signatures of the letter carriers who are scattered over the London district, and which will in a few days be presented to the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury by some Members of the House of Commons : ‘4 TO THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HXR MAJESTY'S TREASURY. " The humble Memorial of the undersigned Letter Car riers of the London District Post-office, " Showeth, that your memorialists have for many years petitioned the several Postmasters-General for du increase of salary, rising according to years of service, as recommended by the Commissioners of Revenue In quiry, in their 18th Report. " That at two periods, eighty, and then sixty, making in tall cne hundred and forty of the senior letter carriers, were granted ss. extra per week, but with these excep tions, the wages of the London district letter carriers, upwards of nine hundred in number, are but 20s. per week. " Chat your me,morialikts for these wages, have in the town districts to perform twenty-two deliveries, and nine collections per week etch ; and v. hicit duties your memorialists beg r, speetfully to observe are of great im portalice to the community, their services comprising cot only the delivery of the general post letters in the morning, with the London district Liters, but the deli very also of the home, colonial, and foreign ina , l3, which arrive after the morning dispatch, and are of lorger titivation than those discharged by any other class of public servants. " That your memorialists beg leave to represent to your Lordships that a scale or salary has recently been granted to the general post letter carriers, and whose duties, we beg leave td represent, are but six deliveries per week each, with evening sorting dudes, but without any collections, and for these duties they, the general post letter carriers, receive for wages 235. per week, on entrance, aftervi ards 255., and finally 30s, per week ; besides compensation for the loss of various privileges. " That in the course of the various alterations that have taken place in this department, the duties have been increased from eighteen deliveries per week,. till your memorialists now perform twenty-two deliver*, and nine collections each, per week ; and in the carrying out of these aforesaid alterations, a large portion of your memorialists have lost extra duties, for which they formerly received 3s. per week each, and which duties are now made a part of their fixed duty, and they re ceive no compensation for such loss. "That in the country districts of the office the greater portion of your memorialists receive but twenty shillings per week, notwithstanding they have in some instances to perform even twenty.five deliveries per week (in eluding a delivery on Sunday mornings), besides collec tions, and have no means of earning any extra duty money throughout the year. " That the casual extra duties which your memorialiso sometimes have to perform, often at a great sacrifice of health, and the deprivation of the time allowed in the intervals of their regular duty for rest, they are still paid for ; but your memorialists beg to represent that the general post letter carriers also receive extra duty money over and above their wages, and that your me morialists cannot attain to the extra five shillings per week allowed to the one hundred and forty seniors in the London district, under fifteen years' service ; whilst in the case of the general post letter carriers, they re ceive thirty shillings per week for that service, in a much shorter period. "That your memorialists beg leave to represent, that our wages on entering the office are but nineteen shil lings per week, and that we are under the disadvantage of being sent to various places for uncertain periods of time, within thirteen and fourteen miles of the office, thereby having to struggle to maintain two homes opt of the above-named wages ; an expense and inconveni ence not suffered by the general letter carriers. " That your memorialists have been officially informed that her Majesty's Postmaster-General, in gracious reply to our petition to his Lordship, presented in Auguet, 1846, and in consideration of the high prices of provi sions, has recommended, or is prepared to recommend to your Lordships, that a gratuity of two shillings per week extra be granted to two hundred of your memo rialists, whose wages are but twenty shillings per week, and also, that one shilling extra per week be granted to the remainder of your memorialists, being the junior men, which extra sums we beg l eave t o represent to your Lordships do not meet the demand which the pressure of the times force upon us. And we, therefore, humbly entreat of your Lordships to take the case of your memorialists into your just consideration, and pray, that any measure which may be considered neces sary to the well-being of one department, may be ex tended to the whole ; feeling confident it will do away with the jealousy that does, and ever has existed be tween the two departments, and that we may work with that unanimity, so essential to the service and the in terests of the public. " And your memorialists will ever pray, &c." LYCEUM THEATRE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR-A paragraph in reference to the Lyceum Theatre appeared in The Sun of Friday last, quoted from the Era of the 14th instant, which observes, speaking of the rent, " The latest demand, report says, is enormous, and equal to that asked for Drury-lane. The present lessees have determined upon rejecting such an ad vance," Fte. Allow me to say that no advance whatever has been proposed. _ . . The rent was fixed and the agreement signed on the sth of February, 1845. On the 12th instant an application was made by Mi ssrs. Strutt and Keeley, the lessees, for a reduction of that rent which, not being acceded to, led to their giving notice on the following day of determining their tenantcy. As report speaks of Mr. Strutt as one of the propri etors of the Era, it must be a matter of surprise how a statement so erroneous should have originated in that paper.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, _ S. W. ARNOLD. 31, Golden-square, March 23, 1847. THE REVENUE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—It appears the quantity of British spirits con sumed in 1846 was 24,106,600 gallons; consequently, the loss to the revenue was 9,039,9751., British spirits paying half the duty levied on foreign spirits. I have no objection to a moderate protection to domestic in dustry—such, for instance, as Sir Robert Peel has given the British sawyer, viz., 20 per cent. If the English distiller had no more protection (and why he should nobody knows), the Exchequer would have been richer by 5,423,9851., which would have enabled the Govern ment to abolish the window-tax, the duty on bricks, and several other most objectionable imposts, even if t hey dare not yet do justice to England by compelling pro perty in Ireland to pay the income-tax, which the Whigs may depend they must do, or else go out after the next general election. The Irish landlords have so dygusted the English people, that few candidates Air raye chance without pledging themselves to do justice to England.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, A CONSTANT READER. FATAL ACCIDENT AT SEA. - Mr. Baker held an inquest yesterday, at the Lundon Hospital, on the body of John Gilbert Middleton, aged 37, a cuddyman of a ship at present in the East India Dock. About six weeks since, whilst the vessel was about five degrees north of the Line, the deceased fell with his arm against the boom of the ship, which strained it very much, and caused it to become swollen. When the vessel arrived in London he was removed to the above hospital, where he died from the injury he had received. Verdict, " Accidental death." FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NEWCASTLE AND CAI. LISLE RAILWAY.—On Saturday, as the twelve o'clock mail-train from Carlisle to Newcastle was passing Ridley Hall, three miles from Haydon-bridge, a man was oh served on the line. The engineman immediately blew the whistle, and put on the reverse motion to stop the train ; but before this could be accomplished, the engine struck the trespasser, and threw him underneath the wheels. The greater portion of the carriages passed over him, severely crushing his legs, causing severe injuries. He was placed in one of the car riages, and brought to Haydon-bridge, but ho expired before reaching that place. It was found that he was a joiner, named Brown, residing at Hexham, and who has left a widow and seven children. No blame appears to be attached to the conductors of the train, as the accident occurred on a curve of the line, and means were used to give warning to the deceased ACCIDENT ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. —Yesterday Mr. Baker held an adjourned inquest, at the London Hospital, on the body of William Prior, aged 35, a labourer on the Eastern Counties Railway. The deceased had entered one of the trucks of a coal train, which was strictly prohibited by the company. The trucks opened at the bottom to allow the coals to fall through, and were not considered safe for any one to ride in. William Perry said, that the deceased and himself. on the evening in question, having missed a train that was to have conveyed them to London, got into one of the coal trucks. Shortly afterwards witness; fell asleep. When the train arrived at Ponders End, the flap at the bottom of the truck he was in must have given wan'and the remainder of the trucks, 22 in number, have passed over deceased's leg. Mr. Day, house surgeon, said that when the deceased was admitted the Accidental left leg had a compound fracture ; a m p u t at i on was re sorted to, but deceased expir e d on th e 14th instant, from the effects of the injuries received.—Verdict, martial a A s T se e na tt l ezn a A t At e . Death. h h u e m iq ß o n a r d r a l y c k s a , gen C e O r li al ß c T o - u l‘ r i t A - R fo i r fle th h e ri t g ri a a d l e o , f on W t . he G e . hargeof Williams,tra private in th e 60th drunkenness, and o f hay ing struck Sergeant James Corrigan, a superior officer, wKl,l,leiny,inpt.hte.,exNeycaustion of . his duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Major Wood, actinpgraessiddeerntutyof: judge a C d o v u o r c t at ; e. Brigsde Sergeant statedhaving James Corrigan d the the said he offences charged, which occurred on March - prisoner said pleaded guilty, but trusted that the Court would consider that ho struck the sergeant whilst in a state of intoxica tion, not that he wished to make any excuse for being so, but many persons whilst in that state, have committed acts for which they have been truly sorry when sober. He had received a severe fall some years ago when at sea. which had affected his head, and whenever he drank he was unconscious of what he did. He had many respectable friends in the army, among them a milObr in the Royal Engineers ;he had him, formerly been in the royal navy. Lieutenant Percival Heatheote, acting that there were no former con quarter master, stated • • against the prisoner ; that he had been seven con victions months in the service, and his character was good. This terminated the proceedings, the issue of which will not be made known until promulgated by the Horse Guards. 4 - V ': • 4 • ck, LOO of Lis- I ite