The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-22 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL GUARDIAN SOCIETY MR. ROWLAND HILL IN LIVERPOOI. On Friday evening last , the Guardian ;society of this town, established in. 18 9 3, for th, protection of trade, celebrated its twenty-fourth anniversary by a public dinner, at Eastwood's Royal Hotel, where exactly one hundred and forty gentlemen were entertained with all the substantials and elegancies which that first-rate house is so well-known to afford. More than usual in terest was excited on the present occasion by the fact that Rowland Hill, Esq., the distinguished originator of the Penny Postage system, had accepted the society's invitation to dine with them. The chair was occupied by Mr. Denton, the President of the Society fur the past year. On his right sat George Hall Lawrence, Esq., Mayor of Liverpool, Mr. Coun cillor Tinge, and Mr. Councillor Parker ; on his left were Rowland llill, Esq., Mr. John Smith, of the Liverpool Mercury ; and Mr. Evens, the Society's solicitor. At the same table we observed Mr. Manchester, President of the Preston Guardian Society; Mr. Walthew, Presi dent o f t h e Houseownere Guardian Society; Mr. Fran cis Venn, Sergeant at Mace of this borough; Mr. Wrenn, Treasurer of the Society; Mr. Coward, Mr. Condlifle, and Mr. White. Immediately in front were Mr. Reay, the Secretary of the Society; Mr. Cottam, Secretary of the Manchester Guardian Society ; Mr. Hemming, Se cretary Of the Birmingham Guardian Society; and Mr. Carr, Secretary of the Preston Guardian Society. The `dee-chai r was occupied by Mr. Richard Crossley, in the absence of Mr. J. R. Jeffery, the President elect. As soon as the cloth was withdrawn, the Secretary read letters of apology for unavoidable absence from Lord ~ Sand° ' l, Xl'* , Sir Howard Douglas, M.P., William Brown, Esq M.P. Mr. Alderman Watkins, President 1 orthe Manchester Guardian Society, and other gentle- Men who had been invited. The CIIAntstAN proposed the health of the Queen and the other usual loyal and patriotic toasts. Mr. JORN SMITH rose, and expressed the pleasure it afforded him to have been requested by the committee to propose the health of one of the greatest benefactors of the country, and of the world—(Cheers) —the author of the Penny Post System—(Cheers)—one who, though far from beige. an old man, wavan old friend of his, viz., Mr. Rowland'Hill.—(Loud cheering.) When Mr. Hill's pamphl e t,ab a d vocat i ng t h at no bl e measure , a ppeared, t C opwhich Mr Hill had ben good enough to send to him followed him . to Dublin e , where he read it aloud to a social and fashionable party, whose attention was tivetted to it as much as if it had been one of the most Popular nove l s; the men of bus i ness f e l t k een l y e evils of the old system, the cost of correspondence, air the trouble which one friend imposed upon another ce were hl evei.rrying letters to parties in towns they might ttansiting; hose who had near and dear relations at a by the long delays or serious cost attending annoyed ther e; ft , st attending written communications with ' e lls of the ad . h• h the proposed cons& -13 " even the young ladies were not un sYs tet e vantages w te . the Liverpool (Loud would confer in certain affaires du . ccrur . .— n to laughter and cheers.) It was a high gratificatio Itt 'attY of testify; Guardian Society to have the oppor .ng their gratitude to the author of that aYstetee The health of Mr. Hill was g i ve n amidst loud aPPlause. Mr. ROWLAND HILL on rising to address the corn - Pany was received with rapturous welcome.—(Enthu siastic plaudits continuing for some time.) He begged to thank hi s friend Mr. Smith for the manner i n w hi c h he had proposed, and the company at large for the Manner in which they had received the toast just gi v en. Re had d one himself the pleasure of accepting the in vitation wi t h which the society had honoured him for several reasons —first, that he might in person acknow ledge the friendly interest the society had taken in What so much concerned himself ; secondly, that he alight explain the nature of the duties attaching to his P re sent position in connexion with the Post-office ; and abov e a ll , those that he might investigate on the spot _ alleged def ects i n t h e postal arrangements o f this lo cality, which had been so ably stated, from time to time, in the Liverpool Mercury. It was a matter of personal convenience to himself that his duties in the P ost•office should be clearly understood, as the erroneous ideas which prevailed respecting them had involved him in a correspondence which occupied time Which ought to be devoted to other subjects. His duties were to advise the Postmaster-General, on all points to which his Lordship might be pleased to direct his attention and to carry out gradually the remainder of his own system of Post-office improvement, of which the penny rate was only one feature. Without a ge neral understanding to this effect, he need scarcely say that he should not have felt justified in accepting office. (Cheers.) Of the management of the present details he had no control whatever. But though a slight considera tion would show that it was impossible that he could ex ercise any direct power in the Post-office, he had the good fortune to serve under a nobleman who, with ex cellent business habits, united a thorough appreciation of the duties and responsibilities of his important office, and who was sincerely desirous of making the institution, over which he presides, as useful to the public as pos sible. He wished to convey to his hearers some idea of the magnitude of the institution. W ere h e merely to state that so many millions of letters passed through the post-office in a year, no one could form any accurate con ception of the reality. The best mode probably to con vey any idea of the whole, would be for him to describe some part. For instance, last night, when he left Lon don, he was at Euston-square when the mail was brought in to go by the train, this being only one of many Which are dispatched by railways. It was considered an exceedingly light mail ; but small as it was, it literally filled six large omnibuses ; and the heavy mails for warded on a Saturday night, filled nine carriages of a similar description. Again, the number of dead letters since the adoption of prepayment had become a very twits 410_,_ o ters, in , alefraction—less than the two-hundredth part—of the o 0 0/. per Filestile_ letters, the average amount of money found address whatever :in' of bank notes, and bills of exchange, therefore, that in ann u m _(Hear, hear.) Many thou sandspounds W ere actually found in letters with no (Laughter.) The company would see, difficulty was way of any extensive a * so vast machine the difficulties in the ()Teat Another e change were very s , • . that the machine was constantly in mo tion ; it never stood still night or day, and the greatest care forethouht, and calculation were therefore neces sary i n do to 'Thing alterations. In improving it would not n and arely they snia-° a mistake ; that might stop it altogether ; tigate If a steam engine try an experiment ; all must be inves s, settled with unerring certainty beforehand. became and the requisit defective, it could be stopped, P H e e • re Pairs made ; but not so with the confidence svhichwis mind, and to continue to him some portion of that great wish the •t• to bear these facts in should be lost in a assuring them Checearrying of his p1an...... ( th t they had hitherto reposed in him, so far as he was concerned no time liar defectsout the remaining portions in thisrs.) . With reference htoadthehoptecthue flequisite local knowil:idgh e bet t hood, h t e hat all could Justify erern edied, but he thoughtg he had ay heard enough to him i n s lyin . proverne g that there was much room for ine nt, whilst there were reasons for adhering to Some existin a i n ;,,,_, g arrangements which, no doubt, appeared L.sszsious. It might seem to many absurd that letters _ , l e d ( be carried pasta town for which they were in na is and then brought back but it not really absurd. It ; was tow n in k . arose from the impossibility of every Were a ing up a bag for every other town. There or sh,a,Bout one thousand post towns, and if every one million made up one thousand bags, there would be a °seen of bags ; in fact, more bags than letters. It had 21, e struck him that some pains should be taken to ' the main features of the Post-office system intelli gibleto the lam people. Th ere was no department of G0r..._0 r..._0 ment which came so much into contact with the pies and it was advisable that they should know what qrrangensents were capable of improvement and what li ere n ot. hr . ties a d is desire had ever been, in all the difficul do . n. opposition with which he had to struggle, to be a lh . stice to the institution, and he was happy to fusr„hele to say that even before he went to the Post _sei i nstructions had been sent to the surveyors to !' l ' i a t i _ certain returns with reference to the distribution I dtZ is neighbourhood though, owing to the many other been they had to perform, these returns had not yet u made.—(Hear hear.) Perhaps it might be inter s esting to the company to revert to a few facts connected with th e ch —(Cheer ange Produced by the plan of penny postage. reduced rs) -i mmediately before the intr. due ion of the tors n t rate of Postage, the number of chargeable let sevent of including franks —delivered amounted to amounYtedive mil"°" annually. Last year it had a half to two hundred and ninety-nine millions and ,or to four-Fuld the original number. It would re quire sopa th• e frig more than that to bring the Post-office re revenue up to the former gross amount; but less than the number of letters delivered in the London district, omprisin g a c i rcle of 12 miles round the Post-office, St. Martin'a-le-Grand, was as are at • bid system, was delive d ,„, a as that which, under the dom. The increase wasrera kn cil the %hole United King to twenty-eight millions last y going on, and amounted previous year. It was the opi y n s ion o c;, , napared with the that the introduction of the penny rate increased gentlemen, difficulty of effecting improvements. It was said i t he could not afford to give cheap postage, and greater .at t fa l c e ? ' lities a l s o ; but, in fact, improvements had followed one another more rapidly since the p, nay postage came into operation than before. When the plan was first pro posed, the large towns had only a single mail connecting them with London : now they have two mails per day. Again —In England and Wales there were formsrly only two thousand post-offices of every kind ; now there were four thousand. There was a growing conviction in the minds of all connected with the Post-office, that to make the establishment profitable, they must make it as use ful as possible, and to that great object his best efferts should be devoted. Mr. Hill concluded amidst great cheering. After some other toasts, the company separated a little before twelve o'clock. liOE RERIES.—On F: i lay information wac received by the p o li ce of the following daring robberies :—Front the h ouse of mr. Andrews, No. 45, Western Villas, Bloomfield road, Paddington, six silver table spoons, eight dessert s p o ons, seven t ea spoons, and other articles of plate ; Iron the house of Mr. Stovin, No. 2, Duchess -street, Portland- P la ce , a hu n ti ng watch, with a gold chain ; from the Derson of Mrs. Brown, of No. 29, Dorset -street, Dorset square, in a P a ddi ngton omnibus, a double .cased ~.4.11d watch, with a black ribbon and two gold seals attached ; and from the Cathedral Hotel, St. Paul's Churchyard, a gold watch, a gold pin, with a cameo head, and a finger ring. CONVERSION TO THE CHURCH OF ROME.—We . I ";.,ave to announce the conversion of another clergyman of the .12:stablishment to the Roman Catholic Church, in the person Of the Rev. Edward Caswall, M.A., of Brasenose College, xford, who made his profession of faith at Rome, about tires weeks ago, according to letters received from that city. Casa all's brother, a member of C am b r id ge University tYi a r eceived into the ' Roman Catholi c Ch urc h a few months - The nu m b er o f clergy who have joined the Church of Rome durin g the last eighteen months, is now about seventy ; the converts from the middle and uppwr ranks of the city considerably exceed that number. )F CAI iILBERT. larement, on by Prince ;e d s, who ha d t of the rest . te, to allot for 3 part of so ienate of the any eminent proposed fet of that lint .gratifying to proceedings t there does done would mnination. l i and pride n lress, and so :ient and re" CORTII. part of last to prerent restored bl by, Duo. s shown ha;:ing car Mr. Co lqtr f constableh A numb er n in in the the attemp t leforced acbean, and Finding, the icr, vehicla diers of th e during 1 11 . e ct in cheer six of the, ,heeded aII are on th e 10 shipme ot the vess el he militari :petted tl3 O on the Bth we ll as pu t trict ; 51 1 C 13 : 'SdfLY ;zero barley, b e. was to ta lc t 3 ras scarce i f, I asseMblf ° Macked ig : as early si' t lentatioll len inipri le , detachEnen` 0 Men 5 00° lan, wb er r ?markie, ng t ll6 l them,, the wil°' [onday 1 of OW , assem bled ed the sh i l j er vessel 14 h e spot 13 , 5 „ a de to shy of the m il ': qty vver ° :; oin ab : ° to u i r ing 113 F grain P! Li rut inlet —We 11° n g the ~h * The de le spinners ly. There . bu uote j sit rattier v e cannot has pre' l es are li the buyer• week was ate, but en s, but fin e vhole, the ge at thi c l sam e, and moderate' I a little: yr, the /as' doing hr and th e 119 sease': :ug WOO , P re hoeSr Clothing V V mya ri mentioned busine ss ' a trifle ja , as been $ eans an d , ;e sales ox prospect mpossibla :loth t but when per cent' or 70 Pe r ths 2 g ° ' of tbirig 9 ,d a corn' g to hear Iten3Pl at° „ pa d 11 y Instal' ,xtencle i ; from t ' eh a mil .se of the ers 1:14 ne. , 0 n ovo 1 ; clear ed wh iebt ir Spria p LI rpo s ef ir i es are , rs P ill ,n d sl 3 e g t, and nes 01 ' ion. ,I? , a ntler jai there jot ad. ortalitl 001 am orii r e eivaS 4 among ba n t t ha i 01 . 6 Trio ring tbe, hives 0 among ning 11 n, siuB is Ora' N e gro W° primal I. The Dublit; Anvil Tina, to bet Inished with She THE SUN,_ LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 22, 1847. WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY. An adjourned meeting of this company was held on Fri. day at the Oflice, 449, West Strand; Lord Courtown in the chair. The CHACR74.AN announced the state of the poll taken last evening, and declared the directors' motion, empowering the directors tg go to Parliament for a Bill amending the last year's Act, to be carried by a majority of in votes. Messrs. REYNOLD and DicKsox, in long speeches, pro tested against the announcement. The SECRETARY then read the directors' report. It stated that the company had obtained their Act last session, em powering the construction of the line from Dublin and the port of Kingstown to Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow, as proposed, except the small part from Dublin to Dundrum, granted to another company; that they had entered into arrangements for that part of the line, and for the extension of the terminus to St. Stephen's-green, Dublin, with the Dublin, Dundrum, and Rathfarnham Company; with the Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction Company, respecting the line connecting the town of Carlow with the port of Wexford; and with the Dublin and Kingstown Company for the extension of their line from the port of Kingstown to the Bridge of Bray; that the directors recommended the construction forthwith of fifty miles of the line, via., from Kingstown to Bray, 7 miles; from the Wexford, arlow, and Dublin line at Ennisc , rthy to Wexford and the Packet Station in South Bay, 26 miles; and from Bray to Wicklow, 17 miles; that the Great Western and the South Wales Companies give their assistance to this line and hold one fourth of their shares. The accounts subjoined to the report showed receipts from deposits of 1/. 108. per share, amounting to 112,779/. ; expen diture, 39,853/. 16s. 4d. ; leaving a balance i❑ hand of 72,9251. 3s. Bd. The CMAIRMAN intimated that it was not the intention of the directors to make the calls of which they had given no tice in the report. He then moved the adoption of the report. Mr. SAINSBURY seconded the resolution. Mr. REYNOLD asked what was the amount of the out standing liabilities. The SECRETARY—Not above 7,000/. np to the present time. Mr. Ritirsow, after adverting to a variety of topics in a very long speech, moved, as an amendment, that the accounts rendered were not satisfactory, as being too general, and, therefore, that the meeting should be adjourned for a week, and Mr. Reynold and a gentleman to be named by the directors, should be appointed to investigate the accounts and report at next meeting. Mr. DICKSON, in a long speech, reviewed the whole history of the company, and seconded the amendment. After a good deal of discussion and recrimination, through a course of four hours, _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN put the amendment, and after a show of hands declared it to be lost. Mr. RZYNOLD and Dr. GRAY declared that the clerks in the office had voted, and demanded a poll. Mr. HATTER said the clerks in question were registered shareholders. _ _ The Cumin(Azi intimated that the clause in the report announcing that a call would be made this month of 11.108., and of 11. in November next, would be retained. ....—. ..... _ ... The poll was then opened till six o'clock last evening, and The third day's meeting was adjourned till to-day, at eleven o'clock. The adjourned meeting of the shareholders of this com pany was held on Saturday, at the offices, 449, West Strand, Lord Courtoun in the chair. The CnAIRMLN announced the result of the polling last evening for and against the report of the directors, which was, For the report 28,018 shares, being 5,944 votes. For fhe amendment, 12,477 „ If Majority for the 1 15 541 968 ~ original motion) ' The CHAIRMAN moved that the snm of 1,000/. be fixed as the yearly allowance of the directors. After some observations from Messrs. PERRY and Bo and other gentlemen, the resolution was put and carried. The CHAIR3IAN moved that the salary of the secretary should be fixed at 1,0001. a year. After observations from Mr. REYNOLD and Mr. DICKSON, Dr. GRAY said he differed from those who wished to cut down the secretary's remuneration. He had found through out his experience of an establishment of which he had the control, that good and sufficient salaries were in the end the best way to economy; for the well-paid servant both gave better services, and effected a saving to his employer, much exceeding the amount of his salary. The resolution was put and carried. Messrs. Slade and Codd were then appointed the auditors of the company at a salary of 201. Tie cordial thanks of the meeting to the Right Hon. Chairman, were moved by Mr. SLADE, and seconded by Mr. REYNOLD, and carried with acclamation. The Earl of COURTOIIN courteously replied, and The meeting adjourned. THE GALWAY ELECTION. RETURN OF MR. MONAHAN. The following is the official statement of the High Sheriff : Monahan O'Flaherty 506 Majority 4 SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCHESTER.—FRIDAY. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE.-8 to 1 agst Brunette (taken) —l2 to 1 agst St. Leger (taken)-12 to 1 agst The Roarer (taken)-12 to 1 agst Saucepan-13 to 1 agst Culverthorpe -100 to 7 agst Red Lancer (taken)-100 to 7 agst Avoca (taken)-100 to 6 agst Profligate (taken)-100 to 6 agst Jerry (taken)--100 to 6 agst Cure All-100 to 6 agst Dis count. CHESTER Cm'.-22 to 1 agst Medicant (taken)-25 to 1 agst The Lamb-30 to 1 agst Camera Obscura (taken)—.3o to 1 agst Punch (700 to 20 laid once)-20 to 1 agst A , Atler (offers to take 1,000 to 30)-40 to 1 agst Flitch (taken)._ 40 to 1 agst Crim. Con.-40 to 1 agst Fitzallen-50 to, 1 agst Sting-50 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond-50 to 1 agst In heritress. No betting on the Metropolitan and Newmarket Han dicaps. DERBY.-15 to 2 agst Van Tromp-10 to 1 agst Epirote (offered)-12 to I agst Planet (offered)-23 to 1 agst Glentilt (offered)-25 to 1 agst Conyngham (offered)-1,000 to 15 agst Christopher. LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. Acceptances for the Handicap of 20 Sovs. each and 100 added. at. lb. st. lb. Brunette 3 21R M e i d dn L ig a h n t 10 10 ee. ......... lO 10 1212 St. Leger Saucepanlo 8 Cure-all Sam Slick ... ......... .. 11 12'Barnard lO 8 Pioneer Ballybar Discount .. ... 11 9 Young Lottery ... ...... 10 7 Culverthorpe ll 6 Roarer Jerry The False Heir Pluralist ll 4 Matthew Frederick .... ....... ... 11 2,Tramp Railroad ll 2 , t4uicksilver ........ ... 10 4 Christopher North Latitat Marengo Gog ... ll O'Little Tommy..... Ragman lO 12 br hby Brown Tom... 9 6 Avoca The Free Handicap has do: st. lb et. lb. Crcesus ........ 11 Repealer ll 0 Counsellor ll 4iValeria Fireaway Highwayman . 11 4C Will-o'-wisp Whistle Binkie ...... ... 11 0 Teresa Wandering Jew ll 0 Alice HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Mr. Theobald's staghds., Wed., Newton (Suffolk); Sat, Quv, at 11. Lord Elcho's hds., Tues., Budle ; Wed., Lilburn ; Fri., Twizel House ; Sat., Belford. Mr. Horndon's hds., Thurs., Chapman's Wells-10 1 / 2 . Mr. Roe's lids., Wed., Bigbury Court ; Sat., Crey Combe• Tiverton lids., Wed., Winsford Village; Sat., Dtfiverton —lO%. Devon lids., Thurs., Bradley-11. York and Ainsty hds., Tues., Dringhouses ; Thurs., Stri ven; Sat., Skelton-10%. 1 Sinnington hds., Tues., Dalby ; Fri., Gillamoo-10. Hurworth hds., Tues., Northallerton ; Sat., Hilton-10%. Bedale lids., Wed., Hutton Conyers; Fri., Catterick Bridge 10 1 ,6. —Sir C. Constable's stglids, Wed., Hedon-11%. Cleveland lids., 'Thurs., Guisborough Park. Mr. Drake's hds., Tues., Marston St. Lawrence; Thurs., Edgcott Village; Sat., Fenny Compton Wharf-10%. Mr. Watson's hds., Wed., Warkworth ; Fri., Longhirst -10 1 / 2 . Mr. Hildyard's has., Tues., Swainby Bridge; Fri., Hil ton-10%. Mr. Fane's hrra., Wed., Little Haseley ; Sat., Watlington. Warwickshire hds., Tues., Whichford Village; Thurs., Lower Shuckburgh Village; Fri., Church Tysoe ; Sat., Sherington. V. W. IT., Tues., Hournington Hall; Thurs., Lechlade; Sat., Charlton Gate. Berkshire hds., Wed., Tar Wood ; Fri., Step Farm. Lord Parker's hds., Tues., Nuneham Park ; Fri., Cane End. with 12 entries. DEATH FROM ATTENDING A FUNERAL.—On Fr i . day, Mr. Baker held an inquest at the King's Arms, Mal wall, Poplar, on the body of Ellen Mahony, aged forty years, of Paradise-row, Poplar, whose death was accelerated by attending a funeral. It appeared that the deceased had for some time past been suffering from a cold and cough. On Sunday last she was invited to the funeral of her deceased cousin, who was to be intepted in the Catholic chapel of Poplar. She was advised not to attend, but she persisted in doing so. After her return she appeared very unwell, and retired to rest. On the following morning she was found dead in bed. She was much affected by the dampness of the chapel and the coldness of the weather, which no doubt accelerated her death. The jury returned an open verdict of "Found dead." PRINCESS'S FDEATRE.—Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Uambridge, the Princess Mary, his Serene High ness Prince Frederick of Hesse and suite, honoured this ele • gant place of amusement on Friday with their presence. The boxes were filled with fashionable company, and the pit and gallery crowded. Bellini's beautiful opera eerie, Normu, commenced the performances ; the singers were in excellent v oice, and gave immense satisfaction. The beautiful duet in the second act was given in admirable style by Miss Anne Romer and Miss Bassano; the former, by her sweet simpli city, won the hearts of all her hearers, whilst Miss Bassano gave a truly impressive feature to her portion. The Hem ming Family pleased the royal party excessively ; the grace and ease with which these talented artistes execute the dif. ficult feats is Only wonderful ; we have seen nothing ap proaching them, excepting the Risle y s, and it is difficult to wound up the evening's en say which would bear away the te p r a t l a m in . me T u h ts e ; panto mimegitra:a.dsdience g • on the taste and libe rality week it was produced. The entire per formanceas much as the repre sented for the last time, but notwithstanding todeli i h t t h t a h s e b a e u en per formed fort}'-seven of the lessee. reflectedsev hhtisg,hietsstecermededit OF GUARDIANS.—On Fri dayST. AIARYLEBONE BOARD paris • hof St. Marylebone was he in . en th n e i . g eu in the chair; when workhouse, New-road, Mr. Mallil report of the trustees the weekly meeting of the w l . iard the of ho g a u r yd ro m o n m s of of the Mr. Thorne, the secretary, read the t be the Duke of a benevolent nobleman (since ascertained. e divided amongst the Portland) had offered to give to be t o n f os 2 t s i 3 le L a , er v i li n appointed to distribute a portion of the sum of 500 g.. which / of that t stated that -00 . sum had been received, and 53/. added to it, making a sum r m a o is s e t d d h es v er a v u i h n s g ur p ip o t o i r on o . f t T he he pa r ri ep sli u. , if a similar sum could be g ich ob h j a e d cts be i e n n Sir J. J. Hamilton moved, and Mr. Bird seconded, that the report be entered on the minutes, and that a vote of thanks be passed to the trustees for the way they had distributed t e h q e u equally distributed d iatricta ot amongstthe parish. the the money, was carried. The Duke of Wellington on Friday inspected • Brunetti's model of ancient Jerusalem. The Duke expressed belt Laub gratified. LITERATURE. BENTLEY'S MoITEVNLITERATURE.—The Letters of Horace Walpole, 6 Vols. The Letters of Lord Chesterfield, 4 Vols. On the first appearance of this serial publication we took occasion to remark upon the numerous excel lences by which it was characterised, and upon the advantages it afforded those who were desirous of making substantial and valuable additions to their libraries. Since then sufficient time has elapsed to test the merits of the publication, and to show whe ther the promises of the prospectus have been capable of fulfilment. According to the arrangements of the publisher, the various copyright works comprised in his plan have continued periodically their course of publication without any intermission, and without any abatement in the style of their " getting-up." Twice every month a separate Part has been issued ; once every month a Volume, massively bound and ele gantly emblazoned, has appeared, so that twenty-four parts or twelve volumes are forwarded to subscribers in the year. While the paper is richly glazed, and of a very durable texture, the type is large and clear, the printin g distinct, the arrangement of the contents complete in all respects, and the embellishments nu merous and appropriate. So many advantages, coupled with such remarkable moderation in price, cannot fail to redound to the credit, and to ensure the compensation of the entrepreneur. It would savour more of affectation than of judgment to volunteer any critical remarks upon the epistolary works here republished by Mr. Bentley, the celebrity of the letters of Horace Walpole and the Earl of Chesterfield being equivalent to the extra ordinary abilities they display. Of Horace Wal pole, garl of Orford, as a correspondent, it is impos sible to speak too highly. His " incomparable let ters" are bey on d a ll panegyr i c . It is upon those apparently ephemeral, but really immortal, composi tions that his f ame res t s , more per ti cu larly than upon any of his more l a b oure d pro d uc ti on pr o duction s , al though we have an eminent authority for rating his other literrry pieces at more than their ordinary va lue. We remember that Lord Byron, in the preface to his splendid tragedy of "Marino Faliero," thus vindicates Horace Walpole from the contempt with which he is too generally regarded :—" He is the father," says Byron, "of the first romance and last tragedy in our language, and surely worthy of a higher place than any living writer, be he who he may!" We are not prepared to go so far as Lord Byron has gone in this momentary ebullition of spleen or enthu siasm; but bating the conduct of Horace Walpole to the wonderful poet, the author of" /Ella," and his frivolities at Strawberry Hill, and his ridiculous jumbling together of oligarchism and democratism, we regard Horace Walpole as entitled to our esteem as an author, and to our gratitude as the writer of his delightful and matchless Letters. The epistles, again, of Phillip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, though redolent with pedantry, and ludicrous from their aristocratic primness, are always pleasant, always sparkling, and al ways instructive. The present beautiful edition is illustrated with editorial notes by Lord Mahon. Boob series, namely both the Walpole correspondence and the Chesterfield correspondence are rendered peculiarly attractive and interesting from the cir• cumstance of their being accompanied by numerous letters now first published from the original manu scripts. In the present deteriorated state of the bulk of periodicals, " Modern Literature " is a welcome and deserving innovation. HISTORY of EUROPE from 1789 to 1615. Vol I. 13y Archibald Alison. Seventh Edition. Any criticism upon this splendid and elaborate historical composition would be superfluous. The great work of Archibald Alison, has, both from the European importance of its subject and from the eloquence of the narrator, assumed a position in our national literature as elevated as it is permanent. An analysis of its character and an examination into its merits were consequently unnecessary. So much has already been written upon the dramatic and elegant style of Alison, as well as upon his endeavour to maintain throughout his pages a scrupulous im partiality, so familiarized is the general public with his magnificent production, and so fully are the abilities of our historian appreciated that we shall content our selves with simply commenting upon the peculiarities which exclusively characterise the present edition. In its publication the utmost care has been taken to preserve every portion of the original, unmittilated and unabreviated, so that in the compass of a most portable volume are comprised the entire contents of an octavo, or even of a quarto. The classification, the arrangement of the chapters, the footnotes, and the marginal references are singular for their com pactness ; and this supervision has even extended to the enumeration of the authorities quoted in the nar rative. A merely superficial glance at this catalogue will be sufficient to show the enormous research and labour required in the composition —a research ex tending over many hundred volumes, and necesitating a perusal of documents in German, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Latin, and Ru , sian. Even in ex ternal appearance the work is remarkable for the attention paid to its general character, the binding being at once chaste and substantial. As a frontis piece there is a beautiful engraving from the admir able bust of the author, produced in the studio of Mr. Patrick Park. A better edition, suited to the public at large, could not possibly have been issued. It is observed by Mr. Alison in the interesting preface affixed to the commencement, that " a subject so splendid in itself, so full of political and military instruction, replete with such great and heroic actions, adorned by so many virtues and darkened by so many crimes, never yet fell to the lot of an historian." No one will dissent from this esti mate, no one will deny that " the annals of modern Europe will be sought in vain for a parallel to that brief period of anxious effort and chequered achieve ment ;" and no one will hesitate to aver that in earnestness, in enthusiasm, in perspicacity, and in judgment, Mr. Alison has shown himself competent events, to o grapple that wi th hisam n e thateveasstt ssis n multitu de o tusually of modu lated by his impartiality, his enthusiasm tempe red b y his justice, hi s p ers picacity varied by his illustration, and his judgment unswerving upon the most delicate and complicated questions. CXIIL KNIGHT'S WEEKLY VOLUME. No. Bacon; his Writings and his Philosophy. Vol. 111. On this exc e ll en t a b s t ract o f L or d Bacon's philoso phical and mi sce ll aneous wr i t i ngs , a rranged by Mr. G. Craik, we have already spoken at some length. Now that the produ c ti on i s comp l e t e d in the present vo lume, it would be a ma tt er o f su p e rerogation to insist upon advantages which are so generally acknow ledged. In the miniature compilation of Mr. Craik, the very kernel of th e w i s d om o f "the wisest of man kind"is contained. While, however, the elaboration of the great origi na l s o f th e immortal Verulam is evaded, there is no sacrilegious mutilations of his thought and dogmas —even the quaintnesses of his manner are preserved, and we are rejoiced at this, for those quaintnesses form the most characteristic gar ment of the Baconian philosophy. THE CABINET HISTORY OF ENGLAND. - ____ _________ ....___ _ Vo/ XX// andA smainliatebrryidgement History,"o tihne thechaptersPictorial entitledistii‘e‘ History y iv e il f England, accompanied with a contin uation u p to the present time, by the author, Charles MacFarlane, this pocket edition of our national record s is sin g ularl y complete and sensible. It has now pr oceeded to a sufficient extent to enable us, in a great m easure, to estimate the value of the work as a who l e , and it is impossible to deny that it is deserving of particular commendation. While the main narration possesses all the staidness of Goldsmith, its minor episodes are sketched with brilliant and effective pencil. As an example, we may quote the description of the closing scene of the Reign of Terror. The master murderers "aw-bone with a p istol-s hotbespierre has broken his j __ _ in attempting suicide. Coffinhal has hurled Henriot are caught in their lair, at the Hotel de Ville. Ro from a window into an open sewer. Lebas has killed himself with a bullet. Saint Just had armed himself with a dagger, and Couthon has crawled under a table, when they are surprised by Leonard Bourdon 1 and his associates. 1 ~ When Leonard Bourdon burst into the room, fol lowed by some gendarmes (himself, according to some accounts, including his own, being disguised as a com mon gendarme), Robespierre was sitti ng bl eed i ng on a c hair, with a knife in his han d ; Couthon was lyi ng under the table as thou g h he were d ead ; the municip a l officers were throwing off th eir scarfs, and a pp arent l y preparing for flight . One or two pist o l s were fired by the gendarmes , and then all the conspir ators quietly submitted to be taken and bound. Henriot, badly wounded, disfigured, and covered with filth, was dis covered in the foul place where he had fallen ; Augustin Robespierre was also found alive, though with limbs broken and a skull fractured. Some of the armed people, who were now crowding into the council-chamber and running over every part of the vast building, dragged out Couthon by the heels from under the table, andTwuhilieerhies.proßvyed pro posed throwing his carcase into the Seine ; but here upon he opened his eyes and gave them to understand s th h a o t ut h i e ng wa , : v n i o e t to ):: Idevadic,t,n,r7l,:oLmeouneahrdasßdo)uirndg, consT h e . wounckd were put upon brancards or stretchers, and, r ducted a g e s ,tendthem th t i h s at tina th e o i s int e , who between three and four o'clock in the morning. At four wa o'clock in the afternoon, after suffering insults, out triumphed were as ferocious as those who fell, Robes pierre, his brother Augustin, Saint Just, Couthon, Hen riot, and sixteen others, were carted at the • ' tortures, to the Conciergerie to be carried through the busiest streets f Place de Is Revolution. The carts Wereo Paris to the countless multitude, and the windows followed by a and housetops are said to have been more crowded t h an ever they had been before. Jestings and laughh.g, filthy puns and quodli hots, were mixed with dire curses, shrieks, and anathe mas. During a halt, a band of women, formerly his own Ti icoteuses, or Furies of the Gu illotine, executed an in fernal dance round his cart, with clapping of hands and other dt-monstiations of joy. On arriving in the Place it de la Revolution they laid him d own u the ground at , the foot of the scaffold, for he was to be executed last of the twenty-one, and he could not stand—indeed, he too was now almost dead, his face was livid, his eyes were sunk in his head. At the fall of each head the countless multitude shouted and waved hats and caps, and they shouted the loudest when Sampson held up the heads of Saint Just and Couthon. At last, Robespierre's turn came, for the axe had clanked down twenty times, and there remained none alive but he. As his ghastly figure and well-known sky-blue coat (now torn, and streaked and clotted with blood) slowly emerged to the surface of the scaffold, there was another universal roar of voices, and a still more enthusiastic waving of hats and caps. Samson tore off his coat, brutally wrenched the foul linen bandage from his jaw ; the broken left jaw fell, and then a horrible cry or scream proceeded from him, being the first sound of lamentation or suffering he had been heard to utter since his arrest. This fearful cry was still ringing in the air, when the heavy axe, wet with the blood of his brother and his friends, clanked down once more. Samson held up the frightf u l head ; the specta tors shouted and applauded for several minutes, and then went away singing. It was towards seven o'clock in the evening of the 10th Thermidor, or 28th of July." We perceive that Mr. Mac Farlane takes the most charitable view of Robespierre's character, regarding him as a madman. We suspect Mr. Carlyle would be indignant at the insinuation. Albeit, the incon gruities of the incorruptible's character and conduct are only reconcilable on the supposition of his in sanity. 7HE SHOES of FORTUNE, and Other Tales. By Hans Christian Andersen. This little volume contains translations of many of Christian Andersen's children's tales, and a de lightful little book it is. There are very few authors so well qualified to write for the amusement of the young as is Christian Andersen; it is not necessary for him to assume a new style, or to write in a different language, when addressing juvenile readers, for his habitual strain of thought and form of expression is always simple and natural, and, in the true sense of the word, childish. So much is this characteristic apparent in this little vo lume, that so far from writing down to suit the capacity of his little readers, he appears rather, in most instances, to be only expressing his own thoughts and feelings. So great," the simplicity of this little book, so extravagant are the fancies of its author, that, we doubt not, many of the precocious juveniles of " the rising generation" will look down upon both work and author as too childish and too ridiculous to afford them any amuse. ment. On the other hand, all, of whatever age, who can appreciate the natural, and, remembering the fan cies of their once youthful days, can sympathize with the childish, will experience pleasure in looking over these miniature tales. Andersen gases abroad on the great field of nature with the imagination of a child, and the appreciation of a poet. With the imagination of a child, however strange the expression may appear, with the imaginative fancy, which invests every object with life, and thoughts, and feelings, and with the power of speech. To him there are literally, " Tongues in trees, books in the running brook, " Sermons in stones, and good in every thing." Yes, " good in every thing," for many of these simple tales, besides evoking smiles during their perusal, are calculated to inspire some moral reflection at their close. The " shoes of fortune," which give its title to the book, are founded upon a not very uncommon contrivance in fairy tales, the transporting or transforming of some fa voured individual into the place and person he might happen to desire. By putting on the " shoes of for tune," the poor man takes the place of the rich, the poet is metamorphosed into the bird carolling above his head ; the would-be traveller longing to behold the beauties of southron lands, finds himself suddenly in disagreeable quarters in a well packed diligence, and of course in all these and the other changes occasioned by the wonderful shoes, the favoured object of fortune finds no reason to approve of his change of state, and learns, it is to be hoped, a lesson of content. The first trans formation occurs to one Councillor Knap, who always admiring the days of King Hans, some four hundeed years ago, finds himself, on putting on the fairy shoes, transporting to that ancient epoch, on which his admira tion gives place to very different sentiments, as we sus pect would, under similar circumstances, be the ease with those who talk so much of " the good old times." It is unnecessary to particularise the various tales ; to those who can admire or appreciate one, the whole will bo most attractive, and the little volume a delightful re creation. We could hardly find a more amusing hook for those children in years who are not too wise or too learned to be really children in feelings. DIVISION ON FRIDAY AGAINST LORD STANLEY'S MOTION. HOUSE.OF LORDS? DUKE. ZARLI. saitorto. Norfolk Granville Hunedos MARQUISES. Spencer Beaumont Lansdowne • Shaftesbury Montcagle Sligo Waldegrave Crewe Westmeath RIMIOFS. Audley EARLS. St. Asaph De Mauley Fitzwilliam Hereford Foley Grey BARONS. Byron )(into Lord Chancellor Montfort Clarendon Camoys Campbell Auckland Paget Oriel Radnor Somcrhill Vivian Fortescut Strafford Lilford PAIRS. AGAINST. Portman Norwich (Bishop) Colborne ROE. Brougham Tankerville Wahingham. FALL OF TWO HOUSES IN KENT•STREET.-011 Thursday morning, shortly after four o'clock, an accident of a most alarming nature occurred in Kent-street, Southwark, by which seven persons nearly lost their lives. For some time past the house numbered 215 in the street, formerly used as a chapel, had been considered unsafe, notwithstand ing which, an elderly lady, named Smith, and her two daughters, continued to reside therein. On the morning in question, owing to a violent gale of wind, a lofty stack of chimneys, together with the party wall, fell with a crash resembling a peal of thunder. The heavy mass falling upon the top of that house, and on the one adjoining, known as the Temperance Union Coffee-house, both roofs were forced in, and also the floorings, so that the interior of both houses became filled with bricks and rubbish. At that time Mrs. Smith and her two daughters were in one building, and Mr. Smith, the landlord of the coffee-house, with his wife and two sons, were in the other. For some time it was feared that all the parties had perished, but the joists and flooring having settled upon the top of Mr. Smith's bedstead, they formed a kind of arch, which protected the inmates, and they thereby escaped. Mrs. Smith and her daughters also, by some extraordinary means escaped destruction; one of the parties only received any personal injury, and that merely a cut on the head. The upper room of the coffee-house was decorated with tents and canopies for the use of the society termed " The Sons of the Phcenix." The whole of the para phernalia has been destroyed, and Mr. Smith has lost furni ture valued at upwards of 100/. HANOVER, 'FEB. S.—DEARTH OF Foon.—ln this place, as well as in all others, the want of provisions begins to be severely felt, and there is every appearance of things becoming worse, for, except in the case of the larger pro prietors, there are few agriculturists who will be able to draw their supplies of bread even from their own stock until next harvest. Th. majority of these are already compelled to purchase rye, and in larger proportions than would have happened had not the potato crop failed. General relief committees have therefore been formed, and the States. General have themselves recommended the ministry to devise proper measures to meet the calamit": 4 APPREHENDED FEVER ON BOARD THE IRISH PRO VISION SQUADRON.—We are glad to state, with reference to a report which has prevailed, that the famine fever in Ire land had made its appearance on board her Majesty's ships on the coast, and to ascertain the truth of which report Dr. Lindsay, R.N., Deputy Inspector of Hospitals, was dis patched by the Government on Sunday last to Ireland, that dispatches have been received in London from the naval Commander-in -Chief at Cork, assuring the authorities that a strict investigation has taken place, and there are not the slightest grounds for apprehending so direful a calamity. The crews of the ships are healthy, notwithstanding their incessant and arduous employment, night and day, in the humane task of conveying provisions to the distressed popu• lation on the coasts. RAILWAY ROBBERIES.—On Friday information was forwarded to the police of a robbery committed at the Cam den Town station of the North-western Railway, of a box, directed to Mr. J. G room , Harwici containing 19.000 dozen of Harwich, Norway, an d flatted hooks, manufactured by F. Field, of Redditch, and a brown-paper parcel, addressed to Mr. J. Jones, of Jermyn-street, London, containing nineteen gross of Carlisle trebled-bronzed books. MONTE VIDEO..--By the William Piele, which ar rived in the Mersey yesterday, we are put in possession of papers from that city to the 16th of December last, but they , are enttrely devoid of any news political or commercial. It was reported that Riveira was up to Uruguay with a force of 3,000 men. In commerc i a l matters there was a stand still. Trade was dull, and very little business of any de scription doing. DREADFUL FIRE A ND L oss OF THREE LTV Es.— N EWTOWN, MONTGOMERYSHIRE. Early on Wednesday S— . last a fire broke out on the premises of the Queen's Head Inn, and although the engine of the Shropshire and North Wales Assurance Company was on the spot, under the management of Mr. D. Thom as , j un., t h e Company's Agent, and every exertion used to stop the progress of the flames, nearly the whole of the premises, together with the furni ture, &c., were consumed. We are grieved to add that Mr. Peplow, landlord of the inn, the ostler, and Mr. Ferry, malt stet, of Clunton, near B i shop's Castle (the latter was staying there for the night), were all burnt to death. The furniture and stock were insured in the above-named fire-office, but the loss is considerably grsater than the amount for which they were insured.— Shrewsbury Chronicle. PROVISIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES.—The Elsinore and Southerner, from New York, and Lord Duffe rin and Martha, from New Orleans, which were reported at Liverpool on the 18th inst., bring 6,940 barrels of flour, 1,205 sacks wheat, 14,306 bags and 12,604 bushels Indian corn, 530 barrels Indian corn-meal, 1,886 packages beans, 1,516 bags peas, and 100 boxes biscuit. A VETERAN.—The Journal des Daats announces the death, at Nancy, of one of the veterans of the French army. Jean Louis Turpin, native of Bordeaux, who enlisted as a volunteer at the age of 18 years, made his first cam pai n under Louis XV., and continued his military career under Louis XVI., the Republic, and the Empire, until the year 1804, the period when he was placed on the half-pay list, after 34 years of glorious services. This veteran captain was uncle to the celebrated Admiral Turpin. CONSEQUENCES OF THE CORPORATION CONFLICT. — Thursday the inconveniences of the Civic conflict, from the non-election of the corporate officers by the Court of Common Council, was made apparent. Thursday was one of the day s appointed for holding the City Sheriff's Court at Guildhall, but in consequence of Mr. Commissioner Bullock, the judge, not having been re-elected and sworn in, the Court was obliged to be adjourned, to the serious inconvenience of suitors and of all persons having business at it. The Court is one of record, and has jurisdiction to hear summonses under the Small Debts Bill. DUNDEE TRADE, FEB. 16.—We have no particular change in the state of our market to notice. It is under rood, that the sales of flax during the past week have been of considerable extent, and at full prices. Tows and codillas are in demand, and have been sold at an advance on the prices previously paid. In the value of jute there is no alte ration. Linens continue in fair demand as well as yarns, although some particular kinds are rather neglected. No arrivals from foreign since our last.—Courier. Major-General T. Cunningham, late Colonel of the corps of Royal Engineers, died on the 17th intant, at his residence in the metropolis. He entered the servi •ce ui 001. PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS. (From Lie Votes ana Proceedin, s of the House of Commons. rmDAY, FEB. 19. The following Railway Bills were presented, read a first time, and ordered to he read a second time : York and Newcastle and Newcastle and Berwick Amalga mation—" to authorise the consolidation into one undertak ing of the York and Newcastle and the Newcastle and Ber wick Railways." York and N•rth Midland (Harrogate Branch, Borough. bridge, and Knaresbcrough Extension)—" for enabling the York and North Midland Railway Company to make a Railway from their Church Fenton and Harrogate Branch to Knaresborough and Boroughbridge." York and North Midland (Knottinglev Branch)—" for enabling the York and North Midland Railway Company to make a Railway from their Line at Burton Salmon to Knot tingles-, with a - Branch therefrom, and for other purposes." York and Newcastle t Pelaw Tyne Dock, &c., Branches)— " for enabling the York and Newcastle Railway Company to make certain Branch Railways in the counties of Durham and York, and for other purposes. York and North Midland (East Riding Canals Purchase)— " to authorise the purchase by 10 - ie York and North Midland Railway Company of the interests of the Shareholders in the Market Weighton Canal ; and the purchase of the Canal communicating therewith, called Sir Edward Vavasour's Canal ; of the Pocklington Canal ; and of the Leven Canal ; all in the East Riding of the county of York." London and South •Western—" to amend the Acts relating to the London and South Western Railway, and to enable the London and South-Western Railway Company to in crease their capital. and to complete various arrangements with other Companies and undertakings, and for other purposes." Northampton and Banbury Rahway—" for making a Rail way from the Northampton and Peterborough Branch of the London and North-Western Railway to the town of Ban bury, to be called The Northampton and Banbury Railway,' and for other purposes." The following Railway Bills were read a second time, com mitted, and referred to the Committee of Selection : Dundee and Newtyle. Dundee and Perth (Alteration and Extension and Inch ture, Polgavie, and Inchmichael Branches). Cheltenham and Oxford. Edinburgh, L.ith, and Granton (Leith Extension). Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton (Union Canal and Caledo nian Railway Junction). Eastern Counties (Spalding to Newark). Braintree and Halstead. Eastern Counties (Wisbech to Spalding). Eastern Counties (Peterborough to Folkingham). Midland (Erewash Valley, &c.). Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junction (Alteration of Main Line and Hawes Branch). London and South-Western (Andover to the Bishopstoke and Salisbury Branch, &c.). Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham (Peterborough and Thorney Line). Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle- upon- Tyne Junction and Northern Counties Union Amalgamation. South Staffordshire (Cannock, Wyrley, and Norton Branches, &c.) STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Corn m ttee-: 1. That in the case of the Caledonian Railway (Extension of Motherwell Branch of Clydesdale Junction Railway to Auchinheath Mineral Field with Branches to the Wishaw and Coltness Railway, Canderside, and Hamilton) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on the inser tion of a Clause restraining them from taking a house and garden adjoining numbers 85 and 86, in the parish of Hamilton. 2. That in the case of the Caledonian Railway (Branches from the Clydesdale Junction Railway to the Douglas and Lesmahagow Mineral Fields and to Strathavon) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on the inser tion of Clauses restraining them from taking any part of a small piece of land between Number 8 and a road excluded from the limits of deviation, at the corner of a field, Number 6, in the parish of Blantyre ; and also any part of a field between a road, Number 14, and a field, Number 10, in the parish of Dalserf ; and also the part of Numbers 23, 23, 23, in the parish of Stonehouse, adjoining the occupation road Number 19 ; and obliging them to prolong the road Number 202, in the parish of Lesmahagow , and to ca rr y the s ame under the Railway by an arch of legal dimensions, if required so to do by the Trustees of the said Road. 3. That in the case of the Newry and Enniskillen Railway petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on forthwith giving such Notices, andslepositing such P,,lans and Sections with reference to any proposed new works as are re quired by the standing orders for Bills of the second class. 4. That in the case of the Newmarket and Chesterford Railway ( Extension to Bury St. Edmund's, with a Branch to Ely) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :--That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on making the Plan deposited in the Private Bill-office agree with the Book of Reference, by inserting on the Plan the Number 6 b, in the parish of Gazeley, and Number 5, in the parish of Westlev ; and on striking out of the Book of Reference Number 515, in the parish of Soham ; Number 5 a, Number 25, and Number 27, in the parish of the Holy Trinity, Ely; Number 12, in the parish of Kenford ; and Number 6 a, in the parish of Gazeley ; and on the insertion of such Clauses with respect to the height and span of the arch over the river Ouse, as the Commissioners of the Ouse Navigation may consider necessary. That the Committees on the four preceding Bills do exa mine, in the first place, how far such orders have been com plied with ; and do report the same to the House on the re port of the Bills.—Resolutions agreed to. NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFICE. The following *Railway Bill is appointed to be read a second time on Wednesday, Feb. 24 : Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Goole (Partial Alteration of Levels, &c.). THE WEST INDIA MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 19, Sex O'CLOCK, P.M.—The Royal Mail steam-packet Teviot, Commander James Fuller Buxton, arrived this afternoon at three o'clock, in 19 days from St. Thomas's, and six from Fayal, with 25 passengers and no cargo. The small number of passengers she has brought, and the want of any cargo, is to be ascribed to the circum stance of her Majesty's steam-vessel Hermes bringing the mails from Jamaica, not having accommodation far either. Her', latest dates are—Jamaica, 23d January; Trinidad, 22d January; Demerara, 21st January; Barbadoes, '26th January; Grenada, 27th January; St. Thomas's, 31st January ; La Guayra, 21st January; Fayal, 13th February. The Bop 1 Mail Company's ships were as follows :—Eagle, at St. Thomas's on the 31st January; Reindeer, at Barba does on the 26th January ; Tweed, at Grenada, en route to Jamaica, 27th January; Tay, at Grenada, en route to Trini dad, 27th January; Thames, on Spanish Maine route, 23d January; Medway, in the Gulph ; Severn, sailed from Ja maica for England, 16th January; Lame, at Grenada, en route for La Guayra, 27th January. MEN OF Wan.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop Hermes, Com mander Carr, arrived at St. Thomas's with the mails from Jamaica, on the 30th January, and was to sail on her return on the 2d February. The Salamander, Captain Hartland, arrived at Antigua, disabled, in January, where she would wait the disposal of the Commander in Chief. The Vesuvius was also at Antigua in Janusry. VESSEL SPOKEN WITH.—On the 10th February, in lat. 34 30 N., long. 38 30 W., passed an English ship; she signalised from Canton to Cork, requesting to be reported. The number shown at first was the first distinguishing pennant over 4,251. Afterwards she hoisted the second distinguishing flag over 109, signifying "Affiance." Wind at the time from the eastward, and apparently had been set in from that quarter for several days. (From the Jamaica Times of Jan. 23.) The state of the colony, generally, still continues un usually depressed; and little or no confidence exists between either the banks or the merchants, and the agricultural interest. Instead of nearly doubling our last year's crop of sugar, as many were led to expect, considering the extraor dinary favourableness of the season, we shall do well if we succeed in increasing it by even 10,000 or 12,000 hhds. This, with the concurrent increase which is expected h nearly every other sugar producing country, must necessarily re duce the price very considerably unless the resolution is at once passed, admitting our sugar and molasses into the breweries and distilleries. This concession granted, and the duty on tea reduced, thereby increasing the consumption, and by a necessary consequence the demand for sugar; and we may yet hope to obtain a remunerating price for our produce. If Government, on the other hand, refuses to open up these additional channels of consumption, the enormous supply which must flow in, as well from the free as the slave states, will inevitably have the effect of reducing prices much be low what we can afford to receive; and thus consummate the ruin of the remaining sugar producers in these colonies. With a suitable command of labour both as to quantity and quality we have little fear of yet being able to drive the slave-holder out of the market ; but to attain this end two things are es sential, first, that we should have additional labourers from the coast of Africa; secondly, that the slave-trade should po sitively cease. It is in the power of Great Britain to effect both of these objects. If she do not, she can never hope to see free labour prosper in her own colonies, or become the choice of any other Government. ( From hecordera's Mercantile Intelligencer of Jan. 23.) There has not been any change in our markets since our last worthy of particular notice. The active demand for con sumption has decreased the stocks of most articles, without advancing prices. The arrivals during the past fortnight have been rather heavy—especially of the articles of flour and codfish, which have undergone a decline, in consequence of the abundant supply. There does not appear to be much speculative demand. REVELATTONS OF PORTUGAL ; WITH A GLANCE AT THE PRESENT STATE OF SPAIN. BY MR. HUGHES.—AT the present moment when our attention is turned to the insurrectionary movements now taking place in Portugal, these volumes will be found of considerable value, as taey supply inf , rmation on which we may rely with confidence. Mr. Hughes is now there, and has taken infinite pains to render himself conversant with the subject, by searching out facts with the greatest diligence, and sparing no efforts while etnagaged in the undertaking he had in hand for facilitating vnngs and machinations i posi c ti bj n ect. Mr. Hughes seems to have been placed in a infor mation, whence he could command various sources of infor in these r . i and renders himself au fait to the private mancou considerable Isabel with side A ra L b A le lo p i l l e N as Guroe efrtin by which the marriage of the Queen eo c ru o s u r)o s mr i f no.sb,saesnb, observation. t o i t o t g n h . t a N b v o e u t. have There derivedi is m e tt o c n h . recommend itp volumesotwo which show the author to be possessed of struction the perusal of the work, and strongly —Sunday Times. Star has a letter from Grafton Steam Mills, Grafton Harbour, at that place on theamost singnlar phenomenon oc curred(Canada) Jan. 9, o'clock. The lake wascala afternoon of the Bth, about three when suddenly th e l a k e recededand the w i n d i n the north, from the shor e i n one im mense wave, up war d s of 350 feet, leaving the beach per ryafourtillina n t I t e l i d s i t a a t n e c i y e ;it returned seemed to gather itself int o a Nf.eacsttl coned,y d four feet higher th an it usually i,' in one unb ro k en wave, pletely, and overflowi ng the ual boundariesl.)urying th e wharf coin • hundred yards, sweepin g everything 3 up war d s of a by a dreadful noise. This happened eigh t !fore it, accompanied times, gradually decreasin g in violence or n i ne different re sumed its usual appearance.—Am,rican PaPer, e until" th e lake DEATH OF MR. CHARLES 1100TONWe regret to announce the death (at his father's house in Nottingh am Mr. Charles Hooton, the author of ~ Bilberry T ) of " Colin Clink," and of several valuable papers onhrurland," various magazines Ever since his return from Teas exas in Charles Hooton has suffered from ague, th e consequence x Ir. the swamp fever, which lie caught in the country,andtoot' allay his sufferings, he has been in the habit of taking large doses of opium and morphia. On ilonday evenin g h e , 4, mistake, took an over-dose of morphia, which terminated his existence, in the 36th year of his age. ST. GEORGE THE MARTYR, SOTITHWARK.-011 Fri day the auth. , rities of this parish, in consequence of the re. cent dispute with the Commissioners of Poor-laws, respect ing; the election of collectors of poor-rates, determined on another election, the former having been found illegal from informality. THE PROSPECTS of the POTATO CROP.—GOVERNMENT INQUIRY. At the beginning of last month the Poor-law Com missioners announced to the Assistant Commissioners and others, that Government was 'anxious to receive infor mation from leading gentlemen of practical experience, on the following point connected with the failure of the potato crop during the last and present year, viz., " whether any sorts of that root have not been more or less than others injuriously affected ?" It was also stated that the object of Government in directing an in quiry into this branch of the subject appears to be to collect such information as may serve as a guide to farmers who are making choice of sorts for planting ; and looking to the probability of future failures, it is a question of paramount importance, and to which atten tion does not hitherto appear to have been sufficiently directed. In accordance with the wish above expressed, Mr. Hawley, the Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, ad dressed a letter fram Durham to Mr. Milburn, of Thorp field, Thirsk, to which he received the following reply:— " Thorpfield, Thirsk, Jan. 26, 1847. " Sir,—l beg to inclose replies to your queries in re ference to potatoes. I have paid a great deal of attention to the matter, and am quite convinced that no causes, such as I infer are thought of by the tone of queries, are so far in operation as to account for the disease. Both the old and the new kinds were equally affected, and those which escaped most in 1845 suffered most in 1846. " I am aware how very little value opinions are of in the matter ; but I think the following statements are justified by facts " Ist. That in 1845 the white varieties and late va rieties suffered most by the disease. 2d. That it mani , felted itself most about the 12th of October, and pro gressed after they were removed from the ground most severely. 3rd. That all kinds were most tree from dis ease which were taken up early, say, before the Ist of October. 4th. That the disease was most in wet and clay districts, and least felt in dry and sand districts, as at Thirsk and Doncaster. sth. That very diseased sets still had vitality, and would produce plants, in some cases less tainted by disease than the sets free from dis ease would do. " While, 6th, in 1846, the red varieties were the worst diseased. 7th. That the disease manifested itself in one night, say, about the 23rd of August, all the tops being blackened as if by frost, though the night was thick and oppressively hot ; but no progress was made by the disease after the plants were removed from the soil. Bth. That the early kinds were the worst, and those the earliest removed from the ground suffered the most. 1 think it probable that this year they improved by laying in the soil. 9th. The districts most free from the disease in 1845 were the most affected in 1846, to wit, Thirsk and Doncaster, sad sand districts. " My opinion on the whole is, that it is owing to that mysterious law of nature, that bounds shall be set to the great increase of any species of animals or plants, and thus the balance of creation shall be duly kept. . . • " My impression is, also, that the disease will be less severe in this year than last, and by and by it will wear out as the " curl" in potatoes. and the dry rot have done before, but not before there is much misery and suf fering " I trust her Majesty's Government, in carrying out their preseit judicious and merciful measures for Ire land, will provide seed corn, especially rye, which will grow on the poor soils of that country, and be a tran sition from a delicate exotic vegetable to a hardy one, less accustomed to suffer by variable influences. Better to pay the Irish for growing and tilling their own soil and find them seed, than have a nation of paupers.—l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, "MATTHEW MARMADUKE MILBURN. " To W. H. T. Hawley, Esq."— Leeds Mercu PASSAG E OF THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. (From the Liverpool Mercury.) IMPORTANT TO SHIPMASTERS. The following letter well deserves the attention of those of the nautical world interested in voyages to the west of South America : " TO THE EDITORS OF -THE 'LIVERPOOL MERCURY.' " Gentlemen,—l shall feel obliged if you will give in sertion to the annexed remarks on the passage of the barque Cape Horn, of Glasgow, under my command, through the Straits of Magellan, on her last passage front Valparaiso to this port. " On Monday, November 16, 1846, at eight P.M., we made the Evangelists, bearing N.N.E. five miles, wind west, and tolerably clear •, at midnight Cape Pillar bore S.S.W. three miles, and by keeping the starboard shore on board, strangers will find no difficulty in finding Long Reach. On Tuesday, 17th, at noon, we entered Crooked Reach ; at ten P.M., were off Port Famine, which is a safe anchorage ground, and where there is a Chilian settlement, at which refreshments can be easily pro cured. On Wednesday, 18th, at 430 P.M., came to anchor in Gregory's Bay, in fifteen fathoms; good hold ing ground. On Thursday, the 19th, at 330 A.M., got under weigh; at 7 30 A.M., entered the First Narrows, with a strong flood tide against us, which we found no difficulty in stemming. At two P.M. we were clear of the Straits. At six P.M. we rounded Dungeness ; and, after the experience of four voyages round Cape Horn, in September, 1843, August, 1844, August, 1845, and the present voyage, I must say that the wear and tear, owing to the bad weather we encountered, with heave cross sea so prevalent between the west entrance to the Straits and Cape Horn, contrasted with the passage through the Straits from the west caast is, in my opi nion, not to be compared ; and h a d I another passage to make at the same season of the year, or in the winter season, with moonlight, I would take the Straits for my passage. The risk of life and property, and the war and tear in the one, are not to be compared with the other.—Yours, " JOHN LONGMUIER, Master. k‘ Liverpool, 36, Upper Pitt -street. Feb. 11, 1847." FOREIGN RAILWAYS. The Journal des Chemins de Fer furnishes some fur ther interesting information relative to the progress of the railway system on the continent of Europe. The details in the present instance are chiefly confined to the undertakings opened or i n course o f construction in Belgium and Holland. The progress of railway construction in Belgium is thus described :—ln the year 1835 the line from Brussels to Malines was opened, being 20 kilometres in length. In the year 1836 the line from Malines to Antwerp was opened, being 26 kilometres in length. In the following year, 1837, the three lines, Malines to Louvain, 20 kilometres; Termonde to Wetterin, 10 kilo metres; and Louvain to Tirlemont, 25 kilometres, were opened. In 1838 the Tirlemont to Ans, 45 kilometres; the Wetterin to Gand, 23 kilometres; the Gand to Bruges, 30 kilometres; and the Bruges to Ostend, 36 kilometres, were opened. The lines from Gand to Courtray, 44 kilometres, an d f rom L an d en to St. Troud, 10 kilometres, were opened in 1839. In 1840 the Brus sels to Jubise line, 25 kilometres, was opened. In 1841 the Jubise to Jurbise, 25 kilometres, and the Turbise to Mons, 10 kilometres, were opened. The Ans to Liege, 3 kilometres ; the Mons (French frontier), 27 kilometres; and the Courtray (French frontier) lines, 27 kilometres, were opened in 1842. The lines opened in 1843 were, Liege to Chaudfontaine., 12 kilometres ; Chaudfontaine to Verviers, 16 kilometres; and Verviers to the frontier of Prussia, 12 kilometres. The line opened in 1844 was that from Mouscron to Tour nay, in length 19 kilometres. In 1845, the Braine-le-Comte to Charleroy, 23 kilometres ; the Godardville to Gosselies, 21 kilometres, and the Charleroy to Namur, 37 kilometres, were the three lines opened. The lines opened in 1846 were the Antwerp to St. Nicholas, 1$ kilometres ; tied the Bruges to Thourout, 32 kilometres ; this making the total length of railway up to the end of that year, including the interior branch of the Antwerp, 3 kilo metres, and the Junction Line of the Brussels, also 3 kilometres, 609 kilometres. Among the lines specified, only those from Antwerp to St. Nicholas, and from Bruges to Thourout were constructed by private enter prise, the whole of the others being carried out at the expense of the State. It, therefore, appears that the Government works include 559 kilometres, of which 362 kilometres are double rails, and 197 kilometres single rails. According to official accounts, the sum expended by the Belgian Government in these under takings amounted to 159,174,827 f., which is at the rate of 1,339,130 f. 85c. f or t h e l eague o f 5 kilometres. The lines in course of constructi on , an d f or w hi ch special concessions have been gran t e d to part i cu l ar companies,include the Lie ge a n d N amur, l engt h 70 kilometres, estimated to cost 18,000,000 f. ; the At , to Termonde, length about 50 kilometros, estimated expense about 12,000,000 f. ; Manage to Mons, length 25 kilometres, estimated expense 5,000,000 f. ; Lou vain to Jemmappes, length 55 kilometres, estimated cost 20,000,000 f ; Jurbise to Tourney, length 48 kilo metres, estimated cost 8,000,000 f. ; St. Trond to Has sett, length 15 kilometres, estimated cost 4,000,000 f. ; the lines of the Sambre-et-Meuse, length 94 kilometres, estimated cost 10,000,0 . 00 f. These concessions, grant. d in 1845, show works undertaken to the extent of 423 kilometres, which will require an outlay approach ing 101,000,000 f. Independent of the railways already mentioned, others are projected, among which should be noticed the Erquelinnes and Charleroy, and the Great Luxembourg, both being regarded as exhibiting features of importance connected with the routes proposed to be opened by them. It is mentioned with regret that up to the present moment d the want of cordial feeling between the Be!giari f ai h , Dutch authorities has prevented the continuation o ß t ra e . Belgian Northern line from Antwerp to Northern ,t. the Bra bant, the result of which would be the connexion h lrianielws,ayanndettwheorokpoeuf opening g olla o n f d a w d it i h re t c h t e French lines,gl communicationnd be tween Amsterdam, the Hague, Rotterdam, and the whole of the Pays Bas with Paris. In Holland the lines opened to the public to the end of the year 1846 were those of Amsterdam to Haarlem (opened in 1839), 18 kilometres in length ; Haarlem to Leyde (opened in 1843), 28 kilometres in length ; Am sterdam to Utrecht (opened in 1843), 36 kilometres in length ; Ley de to the Hague (opened in 1844), 15 kilometres in length ; and the Utrecht to Arnheire (opened in 1845), 129 kilometres in length; making the complete extent of railway communication in ac!ive operation in the Netherland kingdom at that date 226 kilometres. The Government of th e country are still occupied with arranging the necessary plans to perfect their system. At this moment the line from th is being carried forward to Rotterdam, and fromhe Aa:rune. heim to the frontier of Prussia; besides' which theworks between Rotterdam and Utrecht are in full activity.have been To sum up these arrangements two concessions recently made, one for a line in Dutch Brabant a" een ant and . the other for a line in the Eastern Netherland " provinces, bordering on Hanover and Rhenish Prusi 111 AN CHINER, FEII . 20 . —'BOROUGH ELECTION. — At a meeting of Lord Lincoln's committee, held yesterday, it was resolved that a deputation should proceed to London on Tuesday next, to present the requisition, asking his Lordship to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the torouila.-41ft4eAster Guardian. THE WAR IN THE CAUCASUS TEEBISOND, JAN. 12.—The storms of the month OfDe cember had interrupted our relations with the Circassian coait. Yesterday the arrival of several vessels from Kertch and Suckum-Kaleh brought us positive news of great im portance relative to events of which Circassia has been the theatre. The following details, which are derived from the best source, are as well known at the Russian Consulate as at the Palace of Halil Pacha. :After two years of the most perfect tranquillity, which permitted the Russians to direct their entire efforts against Schamyl, the famous chief of the Tschetschenses and Lesgians, war has again commenced on the banks of the Black Sea and of the Kouban with the greatest ferocity. On the 7th of December the Governor of the Fort Golowin, situate 30 leagues to the north of Suckum- Kaleh, was warned by his spies that the warlike tribe of the Übbikhs was planning a night attack against the fort, and that at the same time the Tschigetes, commanded by Hadj-Terike-Okow, one of the bravest chiefs amongst the Circassians, were collecting in the mountains, in order to surprise the fortress of Gagra. On the same day the Russian steam-boat, coming from Redut-Kaleh and proceed ing to Kertch touched at Fort Golowin. The Governor of that fort immediately dispatched it to Gagra, to apprize the garrison of the danger which threatened it. This circum stance saved the Russians, for during the same night 4,000 mountaineers attacked the retrenchments of the Gagra with the greatest fury. The fortress, which is surrounded on all sides by lofty rocks, would have been certainly captured by the Circassians, if the garrison, accustomed to peace during two years, should h ave been taken unawares. But, notwith standing the brave resistance of the garrison, 800 men strong, protected by artillery, the loss of the Russians was consider able. The mountaineers, not being able to scale the walls, well defended by the Russian infantry, possessed themselves of a great rock to the north of Gagra, upon which the Russians had established a post. Thence they directed a murderous fire against the interior of the fort, and their balls reached even the sleeping apartments of the officers. This position was held during two days, notwith standing several sorties made by the garrison, which were repulsed. The want of ammunition at length compelled the Tschigetes (the lost Circassian tribe to the south of the great chain) to retire to the mountains. The attack upon Fort Golowin took place two days afterwards. More than 5,000 mountaineers of the Übbikh territory had surrounded the fortress. Although all their attauks were repulsed, the Rus sians themselves admit that the enemy showed more courage, boldness, and fury than on any previous occasion, and that but for the information given by their spies, the fort would have incurred a great risk of being captured. With respect to the movement on the Rouban we have no accurate in formation. We are assured, however, that 4,000 Schap soukhes, commanded by Chora Beg, had passed the river near Ladoschskaja. The cause of all this commotion, after an uninterrupted tranquillity of two )•ears, is owing to the following circumstances :—The Circassians are in want of corn and salt, which they are compelled to purchase from the Russians. In order to accustom them to pacific relations, Prince Woronzow had accorded them considerable advantages, and he carried his complai sance towards the Circassian chiefs so far as to permit them to trade with Turkey, and to send their female Circassian slaves for sale. But by degrees the Russian generals be came more exacting. They demanded of the Circassian chiefs to surrender the Russian and Polish deserters, of whom several hundreds are dispersed through the mountains. They demanded hostages for their fidelity, and they required that the Circassians should deliver up Schamyl's emissaries. When the Circassian chiefs refused to consent to these con ditions, the Russians refused to supply the Übbikhs and other tribes with corn or salt. The Übbikhs were ever re markable for their antipathy to the Russians, and when at length the latter captured a Turkish vessel near Pitzounda, laden with 60 female Circassians, the mountaineers lost all patience and revolted on three different points, aided by the majority of the Works, the nobility of the country. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.—This first of our metropolitan aquatic clubs gave their anniversary ball on Thursday evening, the company mustering, with members and visitors, nearly four hundred. Dancing was kept up with unflagging ardour, to the music of Adam's orchestra, till an early hour of the morning, an elegant supper having been done ample justice to soon after midnight. The Noble Commodore, Lord Alfred Paget, in giving the health of her Majesty, which was enthusiastically received, alluded to the especial honour accorded in her graciously becoming the patroness of the Royal Thames Yacht Club; and Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, in a very neatly-turned speech, expressed the de light which the club felt at the presence of so many of the fair sex, to whom the flag of every yachtsman must strike, and whose smiles were his best guerdon either on the deck or in the ball room. The admirable arrangements of the stewards were the topic of general comment, whilst their courteous attention to their guests, throughout the entire even ing, was unremitting. Such was the demand for tickets that the supply was wholly incompetent to meet it, and how ever we may sympathise with the disappointed, yet the en joyment of the evening was greatly enhanced by the judi cious restriction as to numbers, and the great care exercised in the distribution of the tickets of admission. SEIZURES OF ILLICIT DISTILLERIES.-011 Friday . appears to have been a busy day amongst the Excise officers, as no less than four illicit stills were seized by them in the course of the day. From the observations of Messrs. James and Frederick Pargeter, officers of Excise, of pre mises 27, St. Peter-street, Bethnal-green, and the delivery there of certain suspicious articles, they were convinced that something illegal was going on, and on obtaining a search -warrant they proceeded to the house, and having gained admission, they soon found that those suspicions were perfectly correct. On proceeding to the front kitchen, they found a large copper still in full work, running off strong spirits. They then went to the back kitchen, when another still immediately met their view, also at work. In this room two men were engaged, and so busy were they, that for some time they were unaware of the presence of the officers. One of them was holding a bladder with a funnel in it, while the other was filling it with spirits from a tub. One gave the name of James Brown, and the other Alfred Crompton, but protested they were only servants. ?;There was a large quantity of fermented wash and spirits, and the usual distillery apparatus, which they seized. The next case was at 7, Scott-street, Bethnal-green, kept by a man named Joseph Adlington. The officers got over a gateway, and effected an entrance into the house, where they found a still at full work, running off spirits of wine, a quantity of spirit 50 per cent. over proof, fermented wash (which was de stroyed), and all the usual apparatu., which were seized and conveyed to the Excise warehouses. The third case was in Stoney-lane, Petticoat-lane. Messrs. Bayford and Lewins, the officers, from information received, went to a house in the above street, and after a good deal of trouble effected an entrance. In a back apartment they found a very large still in full work, and a man attending to it, with an immense quantity of fermented wash prepared for carrying on a large trade, with spirits ready for sending out. The apparatus was of a complete description, the wh o l e o f w hi c h was se i zed. NARROW ESCAPE FROM ADDITIONAL CALAMITY:. The mother of the unfortunate boy, George Beale, whose un timely end was recorded in our paper of the 4th inst., was herself on the point of perishing upon the Downs, between Cherhill and Yatesbury, on the night of the severe snow storm of Monday week last. It seems that on the receipt of the melancholy intelligence, which was communicated to her by the Rev. Dr. Money Kyrie, she had started from London on a sudden impulse, " to see her child's grave." He was her favourite son. When near Yatesbury she en countered the full force of the storm. Blinded by the drift she lost her track, and was overpowered by constantly sink ing in the snow, which in many places were several feet deep. A man who accompanied her was in little bettor plight. She was brought to the rectory at Yatesbury in an almost insensible state; but, by the administration of proper remedies, was happily so far rest ore d i n e i g ht - a nd -forty - hours as to be able to return by rail to London. We hear that a subscription, proposed to help her on her journey, was readily responded to by all the principal farmers of the parish —Devizes Gazette. BURGLARY AND EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—On Friday morning it was discovered that the premises of Mr. Mar shall, in the Edgeware-road, had been entered, and watches of different descriptions, to the amount of 1001., stolen from the shop. THE ISLAND OF ASCENSION.—PORTSMOUTH, FEB. 19.—Letters from the Island of Ascension, up to the 29th of December, have been received. They furnish the gratifying intelligence that all the inhabitants were in good health ; that the turtle had re-appeared in abundance, and been taken and the ponds filled with them; and that the water tanks were also well supplied. Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, in the Devastation steamer, accompanied by her Majesty's ship Actmon, Captain Mansell, had put to sea on the 26th of De cember, intending to be absent for three months, and visit and inspect the different stations on the coast of Africa, and the men-of-war cruising off them. Sir Charles Hotham left her Majesty's steamer Hydra at Ascension, for her officers and crew to obtain refreshments and rest, after a long cruise on the coast. Commander Morell had heard that he was ap pointed to the Hydra, vice Young, promoted, and on the ar rival of Captain Hutton, who was to take command of the Tortoise and the Island of Ascension, will bring that steamer to England; she was to sail on the Ist of February. The African squadron were all at sea, and, with the exception of her Majesty's brig Wanderer, had been tolerably healthy. She has lost about ten officers and men from fever. The Larne, 16, and Espoir, 10, are ordered home to be paid off, having been n ear ly four years in commission, and the greater part of the time employed on the coast of Africa. Letters from her Majesty's ship Fox, 36, Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood, Bart., dated the Ist of January, have sail for foErngTlranina cadorUrnrili‘an. arrived ea e rne onexthp expected announcin gher b e l d ay t . o TI beingleave e offi t c h e ae r b s osut and at t crew itooa were all well. TENURE OF LAND IN IRELAND.—A document possessing much interest at the present moment was on Fri day issued among the Parliamentary papers. It contains au abstract of returns from the clerks of unions throughout Ireland relative tO - theniriber of persons holding land,-com parative size of the holdings, &c., and is reprinted from papers pre , ente.l to the House in the session of 184.5. The census of 1841 is taken as the basis of the calculation. From this return it appears—" That in the year 1841, the total population of the 130 unions was 8,174,029; and the total area 19,146 502 statute acres. Of this population the ntun was 883,097 (representing probably little short of four and a ~,b e i r t h of t h e ipre familiesrhsits m i millions). holdingio grossn . land The n e u r mher of persons holding land, whose holdings eo not exceed one acre of ground, is 124,407. Those holdings between one and two acres 2 3 . 5'5 4% amounted to 50,233 ; between 2 and 3, 35,368 ; between 3 and 2,600 to 3 , 000 , 4, 45,135; between 4 and 5, 52,071 ; between 5 and 6, 8 13e 6 t ,4 w 6 e 8 en ; b s et a w n e d e 9 n , 6 4o 7 B d 22 7 ; 4 b o e , t 3 w 7 e 4 e ; n b 9 et a w n e d en l 7 o, an 3 d 4,7 B 9 , number of persons holding from 10 to 20 acres was 186,155 ; from 20 to 50, 120,681 ; from 50 to 100, 4' ) ,772 ; from 100 to 200, 15,458 ; from 200 to 500, 5,947 , - from 500 to 1,000, 51:(1)2007,; 6. The T l h ,o e ol: e t r o , s 2 o ,o f oO la , fr om u 2 d B4 h ; eldt . y ,oo w o e t r 0 e 4 1 .0 ,9 0 0 0 2 , , 1 5 1 47 ; faroeniCs4,.oiO number 5,000, 3 ; and above i included in the foregoing classes,, of holders not ap pended to the return, there i 30,316. In the notes ftreonman3c estimate d ate th fo e the in common or joint bog, and otherwise unprofitable and, appertaining to many of the unions; but there is no formed d on o n f t th o e f waste, whole extent of such land, although it has been included in the above. return of the gr oss acres o f land given FIFESIIIRE, ST. MONANCE.—THE WEATHER AND FISHING.— The weather has been particularl y fine the whole of the week, a n d our fi s h ermen h ave b een diligent. The herring fishing has been prosecuted with indefatigable and untired earnestness. Many of our crews have slept little during the week. The fishing being at the May Island, seven miles from our place, in moderate weather it requires a considerable portion of the fishermen's time in making their passage to and from the fishing-ground ; that, combined with other labours which they have to perform during the day, prevents them from getting regular rest. The turbot fishing, which has been backward for some time, looks better, and several of our crews have this week caught fourteen or fif teen at one haul. The cod• fish have almost entirely disap peared again ; several boats having short lines caught only a very few. The wind has been prevailing from the north west, with keen frost, which has pinched our fishermen very much. The herring-fishing has not been very general. Se. veral of our boats have been singularly fortunate, but the ma , jority have barely made wages. —Edinburgh Weekly Reporter. We understand that the Queen has decided that ' the Garter, vacant by the decease of the late Duke of Nor i thumberland, shall be conferred upon his Grace the Duke of Bedford.