The Sun. — London, England, 1840-04-13 00:00:00

EVEN ENG EDITION. TER AT THE ASIATIC JOURNAL. The distorted view taken of the Opium question by a periodical so expressly devoted to the discussion of Oriental alLiirs as the Asiatic Journal, really surprises us. All at once a film appears to have fallen on the eyes of those guardians of the national honour who only a few weeks since could discover in the accidental position of a flag at the Mauritius a sufficient pretext for a war which must have shaken Europe to its centre. They cannot see why any ship's crew should feel the slightest reluctance to sign a bond declaratory of their great willingness to be hanged in the event of a Chinese Mandarin swearing, by the god Fo, that he had discovered seven-eighths of two ounces of opium on board, and why like wise the ship and cargo should not be declared lawful Prize by Lin and his successors for ever ! Neither can they discover the slightest departure from what is just, legitimate, and proper in such cases, in the enforcing Custom-house regulations by the seizure and starvation of all foreigners, whether innocent or guilty ! But then it must be borne in mind that the same persons esti- mate the necessity of wars by the political opinions of those with whom they originate, and the effects they are l'kely to have upon certain principles. A war with China does not promise to abridge political liberty, to add to the chains with which religious intolerance would fetter the human mind, or to increase the mi litary and naval patronage of the Tories, and hence the Tory tools, one and all, cry out against But as the Asiatic Journal does not wear the livery - of faction, we cannot account for the very absurd view which it takes of a question which it has the best means of understanding aright. Some very useful hints may be gathered from a practical ar ticle on the " Administration of Justice in the British Settlements in the Straits of Malacca, and the Govern ment of Penang and Singapore," from the pen of Mr. Anderson, for some time Secretary to the Govern ment in these Settlements. " Notes of a Journey from Alexandria to Boulak," by Miss Roberts, throws some additional light on the social condition of Egypt. As everything regarding the domestic and religious his tory of the Chinese is at present invested with more than ordinary interest, the following extract from an article entitled " Analecta Sinensia," is introduced without any apology for its length. It is a description of a pictorial representation of THE CHINESE JUDGMENT OF THE DEAD. " On particular occasions, it is the custom of the Buddhist priests to exhibit pictures of the pains and pe nalties awarded in a future state, in order to obtain money from thurelatives of deceased persons, and the following account is digested from copies of these drawings, accom panied by valuable notes, in the possession of J. Reeves, whose services to Chinese literature arc only equalled by his liberality in endeavouring to forward the study. " At the end of the seventh day, the departed souls, who appear in their ordinary usual human form, are taken up to an elevated terrace, called the wang lieang tae, or look homeward terrace,' in order to see their native place, and feel convinced that they are dead. From thence they are brought to the first yuen, or court of the yen-wang, or judges of the dead, the infernal monarchs, as their name imports. Each of these monarchs is dressed in high of ficial robes, the colour of which varies, and attached to every court is an executioner and clerk. The attendants charged with the administration of the penal punishment are demons, with animals' heads, and on the table before which each judge is seated are the ordinary implements of writing, and the tseen, or wooden counters, which the Chinese magistrates fling down to indicate the number of blows awarded. To each apartment are two doors, over which is an enormous tiger's head, and underneath the head, which forms the top of it, is a chop or warrant, ge nerally having reference to the scene going on within the ,court. The apartments are decorated, as is usual among the Chinese, with long red labels, each containing a verse or .sentiment, placed against the wall, and these generally bear Allusion to the subject tried before the judges. Each judge has before him an oblong table. The first court is that of Tsin kwang wang, or the Monarch Tsink wang. The scene which takes place in this court is the release of Lin te, the mother of the priest Lo puh. She is suffering under the cangue, and her son, who has descended into hell for the express purpose of rescuing her, stands in the attitude of addressing her, while two other spirits, almost naked, are dragged before the court, or hindered from es caping by one of the officers. Another spirit is on the Point of entering, and at the side-door is the figure of a sns`n seated quietly, awaiting the judgment, with a sor t pity of countenance which strikingly contrasts with the nsisery and anxiety depicted on the visages of the 'Picked 0,212. The second court represents the trial which takes pl ace . upon the fourteenth day after death, or the second week and the septennial notation of time : the seventh month and seventh day apparently points to a notion borrowed from a ;surer source than Buddhism. This is before the King Tso o keang. The face of the clerk of this court is of a supernatural blue colour. A demon charged with the execution, and whose head is in the shape O 5 a sheep's, stands on the right side of the monarch. Before his tribunal appears a person of high rank, appa rently connected with the imperial blood, charged with seducing a lady of the palace, who is at his side. His accuser stands in mourning at the left, and in the centre of th e picture is an officer holding two maces. They are con demned to a lingering death. The third court is that of the monarch Tsung te. Before this tribunal appear three military officers, who have been decapitated; two bear their heads in their hands, and the third grasps by the heard a civil functionary, whom he drags before the court. These three accuse the civilian, as a warrant informs us, of the kingdom, and betraying it by his villany ; he is condemned never to return again to human exist ence an officer of the court stands looking a rne towards him, and holding in his hands a pair of handcuffs. The fourth court is of the King Woo kwan. One of the inferior officers leads by a halter, attached to the neck of each, a priest and priestess of Fish, who are charged with having violated their vow of celibacy ; they are destined for eternal punishment, while a fowler, seated quietly, awaits his turn, smoking a pipe, A soul, which has just entered, humbly ko tows to the court. This court judges at the end of the fourth week, or twenty-eighth day. The fifth hall is superintended by the monarch Tsung 10. A decapitated person, with unearthly blue features, appears before the court, kneeling down and looking up to a person ai. , parcntly of imperial rank. The scene here probably all udes to some story of Chinese history or fable, and men tion is made in the warrant of the state of Wei, and the Lin k - Wang, or dragon monarch of the Tong hae, or Eastesui seas. The red labels refer to the story Did the old dragon think to escape the decree of Heaven ? The sixth hall is under the direction of the monarch Peen thing, and effenders are brought here at the expiration of forty-two days. A female, who has lost her life to pre serve her honour, leads, by a silken halter, her persecutor before the court ; a clerk and an executioner, the last of whom bears considerable resemblance to a Hercules, wear ing a dog's head attire, and with a pard's akin round his loins, brandishes his sword, while a miserable or wicked soul appears in a supplicatory attitude before the judge. I❑ the seventh hall appear an adulterer and an adultress, with her murdered husband, of dwarfish proportions. The offending wife is accompanied by an old woman, who, it appears, advised her to the murder, which was accom plished by poisons secreted in the golden lilies, or shoes of her feet. The red labels in this apartment clearly refer to the crime It is soon known that lost chastity can never be regained ; And let them in the world, who seek for pleasure, behold its reward ! This hall is under tae authority of the Judge Tee shan. Cases are adjudicated here at the end of forty-nine days. The eighth Court, which tries the departed souls at the expiration of fifty-six days, is occupied with investigating a charge of rebellion. An inferior officer, wearing a red bead, and who thrusts his hands in his girdle with the air of a man of letters, stands by the side of a female listen leg to the accusation of a functionary. Attached to the Court are two officers, one with a sword, and the other • with a bamboo, for punishment, and two unhappy souls await their turn. The Judge's name is Ping ching. In the ninth Court, over which presides the Judge Too 101 C, are six virgins, who have destroyed themselves by drowning. They stand upon the left of the picture, and a man prostrates himself on the right, holding a chain. Another soul is waiting trial, while the red labels again allude to the trial going on, and the warrant states the circumstances of the case. The tenth hail, the last of these awful tribunals, is under the charge of the Chuen lun Wang, the ' monarch of the metempsychosis,' and it is be fore this Court that the souls are brought, three years after leaving this world, and having gone through their appointed trials. Here it is finally decided what change they arct o experience, whether to be restored to the human shape, or transformed into animals. A military officer, pierced by five arrows, drags another personage before the Court. To the right, a demon changes a man into an animal, while a purer soul on the left passes on to a better state of ex istence. A prostrate soul, just introduced, kneels in sub mission to the Court. The last plate, which demands a more specific detail, is the Yin yang keae, or boundary of the invisible state, and in this the dead, and the functiona ries of justice in the next world, are represented strolling k hoist. One personage conducts along, by a string, a erool e of living skeletons, and, at a distance, is a walled City, Fung too ching, ' the Fung too city,' a name given to the Hades, from its being situated under a mountain of the sem,' name. "The 6 ,'lter draWings,comprising this interesting series, I "Present Oh' punishment awarded to the wicked, for as Yet the description has on:, applied to the simple trial of the dead, acc or,iing to the legal p C rocess of Chinese ~o urts , which rather assimilates IP our examinations be fore Magistrates, than the trials of guropean nations, es- Fweially such as use the mode of Jury, and the Chinese Punishments of the dead far outstrip even the yen- N'eance doled out in Greek archaeology to the w ` e ked• I xion, with his wh eel, the parched lips d of Tantalu s , t h e e t e rnal fear of Sisyphtizi merc an the vul ture to the a the rock-bound Protnetheus, aid Chinese system. The Danaids, with their perforated urns mall, ildaed, of the fabled trials of th e Greek limiest, are Jests to th e Chi nese — mer e metaphysical p an g s, instead of . which the tort urer i s c a lled to up h o ld the performance of rectitude in this world by the terrible and revolting ex amples "I' t es of the penalties for the base in a future state e of existence. What the as a What • y are is awarded to the malefactor here —is aggravated in ", i! world of shadows, and corporeal zuffering, in all its wr\ thing forms, at which humanity shudders , is d e p icted to the laitticei ;yes. Devils, in the shape of Ine4, dvavv out, ant!Ainputat e -vith knives the tongues of slamlerers, er , o,.rec red-hot bulk: , down the thrc,2.s of liars ; others are urged on to the their arrival gate of Wang sae to T . ,":, , some with the frightful heads of e. where grinning nirn,::'. awai t , arrival ; women wh3 have died during parturitir;;'. Bathe in the sea of blood, or are torn topieces by viii , iand dogs, lashed into submission by demons ; here a s soul ' : p s t c_elli . ed in burning oil, forced into crackling flames, or \ . vehL tee-ribbed rocks, falling down with violence to their I , .V4Qsed by prongs upon mountains planted with hooks of iron still reeking with the blood of those who have gone bcfocc ; there the damned are sawn between planks, pounded in husking-mortars, and beneath gigantic bells, or ground up in rice-mills, while the dogs of hell lap their oozing blood—terrible examples, which none can stay ex cept by prayer ; and in one picture only, the goddess Kwan-yin exhibits her peculiar attribute, that of mercy, by pouring water from a vase and throwing down a flower of the lotus, to rescue an impounded soul. It is one of the few rays in the gloomy picture before us ; all the rest are dedicated to vengeance, and torture is the order of the day. Like the 11Iahommedan bridge, some pass over the Na ho kcaou, or Bridge of Woe, into whose stream the wicked are immersed, while the good pass over in safety; and in another representation, a pious son, in mourning, sleeping upon a mat, beholds in a vision his deceased mother rescued by a good genius from the power of the evil spirits by whom it is surrounded. One picture alone exhibits a female passing to the state of bliss, while another represents the wheel of the metempsychosis coloured blue, black, white, red, and green ; from this issue five streams of human life, two of which are occupied by females and animals, and the other three by the different grades of mankind, to whose final ordeal are dragge d, b y the minis ters of the invisible state, animals, from whose forms, as from the chrysalis, men are bursting forth." " During the seventh moon of every year, .throughout the whole Chinese empire, prayers are o ffered up for the spirits supposed to be suffering in the invisible state, or purgatory. These prayers are attended with illuminations and various other rites, and at this time ten pictures (from which these twenty four are taken) are hung up, oftentimes upon a very large scale, in their temples, or in temporary buildings, where the rites are performed. They are intended to fill the people with a dread of vice, as well as to induce them to commiserate those wicked persons who are in a state of misery. But as the priests keep up the idea, that spirits suffering in this way are to be re lieved by prayers said for them—and which prayers they will not offer up without being paid for so doing—it is fair to infer that one object of this exhibition is to obtain money from per sons who have lately lost a relative or friend."—M. S. note. OBSERVATIONS IN THE VETO ACT. By the REr. JAMES ROBERTSON, Minister of Elton. Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. The author of this able pamphlet proposes in the work to establish the following points : That the Act on Calls, commonly denominated the Veto Act, is, on the part of the Church, regard being had to the Acts of Parliament regulating her establishment, ultra tires. That the principles of the said Act are no where recog nised in the acknowledged laws and Constitutions of the Church. That it is inconsistent with the idea of Presbyterian Government. That it is subversive of the rational and tried principles of liberty, on which our Civil Judicial Institutions have been founded. That it seriously derogates from the spiritual jurisdiction essential to a scripturally constituted Church of Christ. That in the decision which the Civil Courts lately pro nounced, in the case of Auchterarder, they did not invade the province of jurisdiction rightfully belonging to the Courts Ecclesiastical. That the substantive objects which are sought to be at tained by the Veto Act, may be attained, both with greater safety and certainty, by a vigorous and well directed appli cation of the powers which:the Church, as established by law, already possesses. Most of our readers will naturally ask what this Veto Act" is which has made, and still threatens to make, such an uproar in Scotland ; and in looking over the arguments which are all directed against it, we endeavoured to find out the precise ground of corn. plaint, and place it in conspicuous characters before the public, but though all the other acts are given at full length, the teterriina belli causa is (as far as we have been able to discover) omitted. The substance, however, of this bone of contention, which was thrown among the peaceable and religious people of Scotland in the year 1834, appears to be this. The General As sembly agreed to a provisional law, which was after wards confirmed by a majority of presbyteries, nomi nally to give the people the choice of their pastor, and though the patron was still allowed to present, his pre sentation was utterly useless without the consent of a majority of the heads of families in communion with the Kirk. In other words, the Assembly passed an act infi nitely more unjust towards the p Aron and the presentee than the short-lived Act of William and Mary, inasmuch as by the Veto Act the presentee could not demand of the people reasons for their disapproval, and as no remu neration was made to the patron for taking away his vested right. Both these were specially provided for in the only Act passed for the abolition of patronage. Mr. Robertson enters into the subject at great length, discusses every point dispassionately, and with out any of that religious rancour or sectarian bitterness which generally distinguishes, above all others, the broils of churchmen, and thereby gives one presumptive proof that he has the best of the argument. Ile proves to demonstration that neither the Veto Act nor any thing like it, ever was the law of the land, or even the law of the Church, that it is un- British and anti-Scriptural, and that it must, if not timely checked, exert upon the character of the Christian people, an influence highly prejudicial. " It has nothing whatever," he states truly, of the open, straightforward, and manly character which the advo cates of popular election may, looking at the matter in theory at least, plead in support of their favourite mea sure," and he openly avows that be would prefer the out-and-out popular election to this miserable, Jesuitical attempt to impose upon the Christian community a be lief that they are electing their pastor, while the elec tion is virtually in the hands of only a portion of the ministers of the Church. On this subject we have repeatedly expressed similar sentiments, and have had them confirmed by numerous letters from Scotland, written by men who had evidently studied the question in all its bearings. If there is to be a popular election, let it be a reality and not a name. The veto act robs the patron, mocks the people, and exalts the Church. It makes the patron a non-entity, contrary to all the acts passed on the subject. It limits the franchise, according to the caprice, pride, and ty ranny of Ministers of the Gospel, all fallible men, who under the cloak of promoting religion and the pure worship of God, have but too often sanctioned the greatest injustice, and justified the worst of crimes. The Catholic priesthood, when they had the power, burned Protestants at the stake, the Protestant priesthood in turn even within less than a century hunted Catholics like wild beasts in Ireland, and the Chalmerses and Candlishes under the same pretence begin their system by setting the law at defiance, and would consummate it by establishing the most insufferable tyranny that ever afflicted a Christian community. The present Government have unwittingly lent themselves to the scheme. With the utmost sim plicity and ignorance of the character of these clerical agitators, they have given all the Crown patronage to the heads of families in communio❑ with the Church—that is, enfranchised by the Church, thereby increasing yearly the power of a party, encouraging the ambition of an insolent and rebellious priesthood, and changing the character of a Church approaching nearer to perfection for usefulness, morality, and pure religion, than any Church ever established on earth. Never was that Church in greater danger, and appropriately, therefore, does Mr. Robertson conclude his defence in these beautiful words—" Pray for the peace of Jeru salem ; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, peace be within thee. Because of the House of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good." FINE ARTS. EXHIBITION OF WATER-COLOURS. We went on Saturday to a private view of this popu lar Exhibition, which, as a whole, is of more than ave rage merit, though some few of the pictures arc very inferior performances indeed, both as regards design, and skill, and vigour of colouring. Among the bet ter class, we may mention No. 32, " St. George's Chapel. Windsor," which is from the pencil of Chase. The long reach of perspective in this painting is skilfully managed ; and some of the deeper tints in the foreground show a practised hand at effect. No. 122, " A Scene at the Gate of the Convent of San Gero nymo, at Belem, Lisbon," by Haghe, is a productipn full of animation, and richly, but not tawdrily, coloured. The figures of the monks in the archway of the monas tery, and of the ailing mendicant, who is lying down, on a sort of rude pallet, in the front, are well defined, more especially the latter. No. 139—the subject of this picture is " Ibrahim Bey, with two of his confi dential officers, reposing in the Nubian desert, in their flight before the troops sent against them by Mohammed Alec, in 1812." In the foreground, we see the indivi duals in question, sitting close together on the ground engaged apparently in conversation respecting the state of their affairs, while on both sides and behinthem, the flat, monotonous desert stretches away to an immense dis tance. The artist has given the appearance of extreme sultriness to this picture with striking accuracy. We see it in the still, burning atmosphere—across which scarcely a cloud travels, to intercept the blistering rays of the tropical sun ; as also in the burning expanse of sand, portions of which look just as though they were red hot. No. 1.55, " The Death of Titian." Th ere are some good points about this picture, but as a whole, it wants effect. The best executed figure is that of Titian, who is lying, in the last stage of decay, GM his bed. No, 189, " Dutch Fishing Boats riding out a gale off the Dogger Bank," by Duncan, is a very vigorous piece of colouring, and exhibits a breadth and boldness of which we did not suppose that this species of drawing was capable, The heavy undulating swell of the seas exhibits much of the spirit and freshness of Ituysdael. No. 197, " Pic Du Midi, from the Pass of the 'reurmalat, on the road from Bareges to Bagneres de Bigorres," is a fine, bold Pyre i-,66ar, landscape, vividly pourtrayed by Oliver. No. 201 Th e Canterbury hlgrims," is one of COrbouldis most effective productions. No. 279, " The Last Man," exhibits some showy effects of colouring, in which the artit seettl to bave attempted an i m it a ti on of Turner's mann er ; but tine Gonzeptiou is very indifferently worked out, and there is a want of natural force and simplicity in the exnution. There are several other pictures, • h u t want of space prevents us from comment ing on them, d On Sunday, a inotse-race fora bottle of spirits was run for on the forest, and several respectable trades, men went purposely to witness it.— NotfitTitain Review. MUSIC. - —*- NATIONAL ENGLISH AIRS. Chappell, London, 1840. This collection consists of ancient song, ballad, and dance tunes, many of which have been harmonized for the piano-forte by Dr. Crotch. Some are of a lively, others of a serious character, and all are of genuine English origin, which we take to be no slight recom mendation in their favour. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY , AMIL 13, 1840. THE PRESENT STATE OF THE FRENCH NAVY. (From the Colonial Magazine for April.) In order to place the reader in full possession of the state of the French Navy at the present time, Nve append a list of every vessel in commission, her commander, and station, on the Ist of January last. This is compiled from official documents, and has never before been published in this country in a complete Form. Distribution of the French Navy in commission on the Ist of January, 1840 :—•••• SHIPS OF THE LINE. Ocean, 120, Vice -admiral de Rosamel, Comman der-in chief of the squadron of reserve : Cap. A. F. Parseval-Deschene ; M onte b e ll o , 120, Rear-admi ral Le Bon de la Susse-Deschene : Cap. A. A. E. le Bon Gay de Taradel; Hercule, 100, Cap. P. J. M. Faure ; Jena, 90, Rear-admiral J. P. A. Lelande, Com mander-in-chief of Mediterranean squadron: Cap. A. J. Bruat ; Suffren, 90, C a p. L. F . l e N er maut de Kergrist; Diademe, 86, Cap. F. H. R o b ert L e f e b vre ; Santi-Puri, 86, Cap. M. de Suin ; Jupiter, 86, Cap. E. Dangean ; Neptune, 86, Cap T. C. le Ray ; Trident, 60, Cap. L. A. d, Ricaudy ; Genereux, 80, E. F. F. Graeb ; Alger, 80, Cap. C. C. Rigodit ; Triton, Cap. J. P. H. Laine— in the Mediterranean. FRIGATES. Minerve, 58, Rear-admiral L. F. J. Leblanc: Cap. P. L. Kerdrain—Brazil, ordered home. Belle-Poule, 60, Cap. S. A. R. Ic Prince de Joinville ; Amazonc, 52, Cup. H. F. Troude—in the 111editerrancan. Atalante, 52, Rear-admiral J. H. J, Dupotet, Comman der-in.chief, Brazils : Cap. A. N. Vaillant—Brazils. Artemise, 52, Cap. C. P. Laplace—East India and China. Andromede, 52, Cap. J. M. T. Henri-dc Villeneuve— South Seaa, ordered home. Gloire, 52, Cap. P. M. F. le Grandais—Brest for ser vice. In addition to these, Le Souverain, 120, Scipion, Le Marengo, and Ville de Marseille, 82, are described as disposable for service at Toulon. Captains have been re cently appointed to the two last, and they are most proba bly intended to relieve some of the ships whose term of service has expired. Hermoine, 46, Cap. P. L. A. Mathieu—Coast of Spain. Thetis, 46, Cap. F. Buglet, Command. Subdivison, Brazils—South Seas. Armide, 46, Rear-admiral Arnous-Dessaulsays, Com mander-in-chief: Cap. A. Louvil—Antilles, Junon (armed en flute), Cap. A. M. Lucas du Penhoat —Toulon. Medee (armed en flute), Cap. F. Favin Le veque—On mission to the Antilles. Magicienne, 46, Cap. ... —Guard-ship, Brest. CORVETTES. Thisbe, 30, Cap. J. F. Bouvier de la Motte Villarceau —Antilles, ordered home. Sapho, 30, Cap. P. J. Thibault—Brazils. Sabine, 30, Cap. J. A. F. Cosmao Dumanoir—Gulf of Mexico. Alemene, 30, Cap. P. J. Guindet—Brazils. Cornaline, 30, Cap. R. J. Desfosses—Particular service. Triomphante. 24, Cap. C. Penaud—Brazils. Creole, 24, Cap. R. J. Vermot— Antilles. Brillante, 24, Cap. T. Regnard—Moditerranean. Favourite, 24, Cap. C. J. J. Guyet—Particular service. Denaide, 24, Cap. F. J. A. P. Ducampe de Rosamel— On voyage of circumnavigation. Blonde, 24, Cap. F. H. Trehouart—Lisbon. Victorieuse, 34, Cap. L. J. P. Nonav—Antilles. Coquette, 20, Cap. N. F. Guerin—Cadiz. Camille, 20, Cap. T. J. L. H. Guillevin—Brazils. Bergerere, 20, Cap. J. C. Blanc —Tripoli. Astrolabe, Cap. J. S. C. Dumont d'Urville ; Zelce, Cap. C. H. Jacquinot—Surveying South Seas. CORVETTES-AVISOF., OR FOR DESPATCH, Diligente, I£3, Cap. H. J. M. Briet—Mediterranean. Perla, 16, Cap. E. Segretier—Brazils. BRIGS. Alacrity, 20, Cap. A. N. Hanet-Blery—Brazi!s. Palimire, 20, Cap. A. Guneo-d'Ornamo—Tunis. Grenadier, 20, Cap. 11. J. Rolland—Coast of Italy. Alerte, 20, Cap. B. L. Olivier—Brazil. Nisus, 20, Cap. J. B. M. de la Roque—Coast of Africa, Adonis, 20, Cap. J. M. P. Delecluise—Brazils. Hussard, 20, Cap. M. J. F. Layrle ; Bisson, Cap. L. M. A. Danguillecourt—Antilles. Moleagre, 29, Cap. P. H. Belveza—Barcelona. D'Assas, 20, Cap. .1. A. Deschamps—Brazils. Cassard, 20, Cap. F. L. Danthon—Cadiz, ord. home. Pylade, 20, Cap. H. Bernard—South Seas. Dragon, 18, Cap. F. A. d'Assigny—Algiers. Lancier, 18, Cap. A. J. C. la Rocque—lsle of Bourbon. Inconstant, 16, Cap. E. 11. de la Vicardiere—Marti nique, for local service. Euryalc, 16, Cap. Sandfort—Algiers. BRIGS AVISOS, OR FOR DRSPATCII. Volage, 10, Lieut. L. A. Bonard—Toulon. Surprise,lo, Lieut. E. Rigault de Genoully—Barcelona Fleche, 10, Lieut. G. L. E. Larricu—Toulon. Alcyone, 10, Lieut. J. M. A. 13audais_Brest. Comae, 10, Lieut. J. P. E. J. Lagraviere—Mediter. Cigogne, 10, Lieut. C. J. H. Paquet—Malag a . Badine, 16. E. N. Corbet—Brazils. Dunois, 10, Lieut. L. H. de Gueydon—Gulf of Mex. Sylphe, 10, Lieut. C. C. du Couedie do Kergoualcr— Brazils. Du Petit Thouars, 10, Lieut. L. A. H. de la Bedoyere —Barcelona. Laurier, 10, Cap. H. Garnier—Antilles. Bougainville, 10, Lieut. M. J. Delaage ; Argus, 10, Lieut. F. L. Lejune—Mediterranean. Observateur, 10, Licut. L. Raillard—Stationary at Isle d'Aix. Lutin, 10, Licut. J. J. B. C. Duperier—Brazils. Fabert, 10, Lieut. J. Pardheilaa Mezin—On mission to Antilles. Cerf, 10, Lieut. L. M. Warnier de Wailly—Brazils. GUN BRIGS. Malouine, 4, Lieut L. E. Bouet—Coast of Africa. Alsacienne, 4, Lieut. H. Lopeltier—Local service uadaloupe. Bordelaise, 4, Lieut. H. M. de Lalande de Cahn ; Eg lantine, 4, Lieut. A. V. L. Blaizot ; Boulonnaise, 4, Lieut. J. P. E. J. Rolland de Chabert ; Tactique, 4, Lieut. P. B. D. Cte Pouget ; Vigie, 4, Lieut. M. F. Socbet ; Vidette, 4, Lieut. A. M. F. Maison de Cande ; Alouette, 4, Lieut. J. B. A. Collet—Brazils. SCHOONERS, CUTTERS, A DVICE -BOATS, . • &C. &C. Etoile, schooner, 6, Lieut. P. V. E. de Lagarde de Chambonas—Local service Corsica Mesange, schooner, 5 , Lieut. F. A. Carpentin—Me diterranean Toulonnaise, schooner, 6, Lieut. C. C. F. Malmanche ; Daphne, schooner, 6, Lieut. J. J. Collier.—Local service Martinique Fine, schooner , Lieut. J. Querret—Coast of Africa Dorris, schooner, 6, Lieut .—Local service Guadeloupe Furer, cutter, 6, Lieut. .1. R. Escaudc—Toulon Renard, cutter, 8, Cap. H. Depanis ; Moustique, cut ter, 6, Lieut. P. J. L. Dubreul ; Espiegle, cutter, 6, Lieut. F. Jourdan—Protecting Fisheries Liamone, gun-boat, 4, Lieut. H. F'. 011ivier—Algiers Biche, packet, 4, Lieut. C. H. Noury ; Colombe, packet, 4, Lieut. L. Bigeault--Cayenne Eperrier, packet, 4, Lieut. G. D. Delorisse ; Antelope, packet, Lieut. A. L. F. Baudin—Local service Marti nique Levrier, cutter, 4, Lieut. G. Avril ; Pluvier, cutter, 4, Lieut. L. A. Delporte_Protecting Fisheries Chamois, xebec, 2, Lieut. E. B. Lyon—Toulon Ecureul, cutter, 8, Lieut J. J. L. Dulaurens—Protect ing Fisheries Jacinthe, 2, schooner, Lieut.... ; Rose, schooner, 2, Lieut. L. P. G. Durand ; Mutine, schooner, 2, Lieut. J. M. J. T. Saisset—Local service Guadeloupe Legere, schooner, 2, Lieut. J. F. M. Lefraper—Toulon Joubert, chasseur, Lieut. E. Bizien—Particular service Boberach, xebec, Lieut. P. A. Bonfils—Algiers Aigle d' Or, schooner, Lieut. ... —Local service Senegal Eperlan, cutter, 6, Lieut. A. A. A. D . Estremont de Maucroic ; Passe-Partout, cutter, 6, Lieut. P. M. T. Bernard de la Gatinais--Protecting Fisheries Vigilante, schooner, 1, Lieut. P. P. M. de la Gran dicre—Brazils Rodeur, cutter, 6, Lieut. A. P. Dutaillis—Protecting Fisheries San Martin, schooner., Lieut. L. M. Bougrenet de La tocnaye—Brazils CORVETTE HP, CHARGE OU TRANSPORTS. Bonnill, 800 tons, Cap. A. F. Chas. de Forget--On mission to Antilles Tarn, 800, Cap. P. C. A. Rang—Toulon Adour, 800, Cap. B. Foruier Duplau—On mission to Brazils Oise, 800, Cap. J. D. Coudein—On mission to Antilles Marne, 800, Bap. P. Gatiez—Mediterran , an Caravane, 800•, Cap. J. A, Lespert—On mission to Antilles Dordogne, 800, Cap. E.J. 13. Filhot.Camas—lsle of Borbon . Agate, 800. Cap. J. H. Vienne—Toulon Fortune, 800, Cap. F. Leconte—Brazils Isere, 800. Cap. M. C. A. Brindyone Treglode ; Aube, 800, Cap. F. F. Lavaud—Brest Egerie, 800, Cap. A. E. Herail—Toulon GOBARRES (VESSELS OF BURDEN). Robuste, 550 tons, Lieut. A. Petit_ Stationary in Brest Rcads Girafe, 550, Lieut. A. A. Borius—On miss. to Senegal Chandernagor, 550,:14ieut. A. L. J. Villard—Station ary at Chcrburg Lionne, 380, Lieut. F. de Parnajon—On mission to Isle of Bourbon Emulation, 3 80 , Lieut. J. B. J. Jeang eran d — A lgiera Lamprioe, 380, Lieut. C. Fourteu-Naut , n—Ba eares Indienne, 380, Lieut. V. Leceinte—South Seas. Prevovante, 380, Lieut. A. C. Jehenne Isle of Bourbon Expeditive, 380, Lieut. E. M. Halley_B raz il s •.• Recherche, 380, Lieut.J. J. L. Fabv re—Cherburg Dore, 300., Lieut.... _Stationed at T oulon Sandi, 300, Lieut. P. E. Guilbert--On mission to Antilles Lezard, 262, Lieut. P. J. M. Bivaux—Stationed at L'Orient Saumon, Transport, Lieut. C.. M. Bassett—Cherburg STEAM-VE SSELS. In the Mediterranean. 6 guns, C ap . H . Foucli;er Lavoissier, 220 horse power, D'Aubigney Veloce, 220, 6, Cap.. J. F. 17., Seli ßeeltanaeil Sphinx, 160, 6, Lieut. J. P. Crocodile, 160, 6, Lieut. C. M. P. Simon Fulton, 160, 6, Lieut. P. G. Poudra Chimore, 160, 6, L:eut. A. A. Tongue Styx, 160, 6, Lieut. G. de. Champuaux La Boulaye Vautour, 160, 6, Lieut. A. Marceau Phare, 160, 6, Lieut. L. P. A. de Gasquet Acheron, 160, 6, Lieut. J. 13. E. Brunet Papin, 160, 6, Licut G. B. V. Delestangs Carbare, 160, 6, Lieut. A. A. Roux Tartare, 160, 6, Lieut. J. M. L. Guiehon de Grandpa' Etna, 160, 5, Lieut. L. N. M Legallic Rerisouet Cocyte, 160, 5, Lieut. E . A.C. de Cheffontaines Phaeton, 160, 5, Lieut. C. Goubin Tonnerre, 160, 5, Lieut. A. Dulertre Euphrate, 160, 5, Lieut. A. C. Bournisicn de Valmont Grondeur. 160, 5, Lieut. A. P. Danged D'Orsay Eallier, 250, 5, Lieut. J. L. Fournier FRENCH RAILWAY BILL. " Art. 1. The Miuister of Public Works is to be authorized to take, in the name of the State, any amount of shares in the Paris and Orleans railroad, not exceeding two-fifths, but no money is to be paid until the other three-fifths have been paid up and employed. Art. 2. The State is to receive no dividend until the other shareholders shall have received 4 per cent. Arter this, the State is to have 4 per cent. for its capital ; of the surplus, after this in terest, the state is to have one-fourth, and the share holders three-fourths. The reserve, which may even tually be distributed, is:to be divided between the State and the shareholders, in proportion to their investments. Articles 3 to 6 are merely the ordinary details of execution. Article 7 authorises the Minister to take three-tenths of the capital of the railroad from Strasburg to Bale. Article S. No pay ment is to be made by the State until M. Kcechlin shall have expended a sum proportioned to the amount paid into his hands by the other shareholders. Articles 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, arc of the same nature as 2,3, 4,5, and 6. Art. 14 authorises the minister to lend four millions of francs at 4 per cent. interest to the railway company of Andrezieux to Roanne, as soon as it shall have been legally constituted. The other articles stipulate the mode and periods for advancing th• money. " Art. 21 authorises the Minister, in the name of the State, to expend fourteen millions of francs for the construction of a railway from Montpellier to Nismes, in communication with the railroad from Montpellier to Cette, and with that from Alaix to Nismes and Beaucaire.—By Article 22 the State is authorised to expend six millions for the construction of a railroad from Lille to the Belgian frontiers, and four millions for a railway from Va lenciennes to the Belgian frontiers. The other articles to 26 are details of execution.—Art. 26 authorises 23 millions of the total amount of 56 millions for the dif ferent enterprises to be taken on the estimates of 1840 and 1841, as follows : 1 840. Strasburg to Bala Andrezieux to Roanne 2,000,000 Montpellier to Nismes 1,000,000 Lille and Valenciennes to tha frontier of Belgium Total 1841. Paris to Orleans Strasburg to Bal© Andrezieux to Roanue Montpelier to Nismes 3,000,000 Lille and Valenciennes to the liNgian frontier 6,000,00 e Tot al The Courrier Franpais objects that succour is prof fered by the Minister, not in proportion to the wants of the Companies, but to the importance of the line, and considers Strasburg not so fairly treated as Or leans. It also objects to giving fourteen millions to a new railroad between Montpellier and Nismes, when a railroad is so much more wanted between Mar seilles and the Rhone. The road between Nismes and Montpelier is intended to give the coal-mines of Allis free communication with the ocean ; and M. Jaubert has announced himself as the representative of the min ing interest. BURIED ALIVE. The monotony of our camp life was broken this morn by the arrival of a very celebrated character in the Punjab, and a person we had all expressed great anxiety to see, and whom the Maharajah had ordered over from Umritsir on purpose. He is a Faqueer by name, and is held in extt am Binary respect by the Sihks, from his alleged capacity of being able to bury himself alive for any period of time. Capt. Wade, political agent at Loodhiana, told me that he was present at his resurrection after an inter ment of some months, General Ventura having buried him in the presence of the Maharajah and many of his principal Skiers : and, as far as I can recollect, these were the particulars as witnessed by General Ven tura :—After going through a regular course of pre paration, which occupied him some days, and the de tails of which are too disgusting to dilate upon, the Faqueer reported himself ready for interment, in a vault which had been prepared for the purpose byorder of the Maharajah. On the appearance of Ru .jeet and his Court, he proceeded to the final preparations that were necessary, in their presence, and after stopping with wax his ears, nostrils, and every other orifice through which it was possible for air to enter his body, except his mouth, he was stripped and placed in a linen bag ; and the last preparation concluded by turning his tongue bacK, and thus, closing the gullet, he immediately died away into a sort of lethargy. The bag was then closed, and sealed with Runjeet's own seal, and afterwards placed in a small deal box, which was also locked and sealed. The box was then placed in a vault, the earth thrown in and trod down, and a crop of barley sown over the spot, and sentries placed round it. The Ma harajah was, however, very sceptical on the subject, and twice in the course of the ten months he remained underground sent people to dig him up, when he was found to be in exactly the same position, and in a state of perfectly suspended animation. At the ter mination of the ten months, Captain Wade, ac companied the Maharajah to see him disinterred, and states that he examined him personally and minutely, and was convinced that all animation was perfectly suspended. He saw the locks opened, and the seals broken by the Maharajah, and the box brought into the open air. The man was then taken out, and on feeling his wrist and heart, not the slight est pulsation was perceptible. The first thing towards restoring him to life was the forcing his tongue back to its proper position, which was done with some little difficulty by a person inserting his finger and forcibly pulling it back, and continuing to hold it until it gra dually resumed its natural place. Captain Wade de scribed the top of his head to have been considerably heated ; but all other parts of the body cool and healthy in appearance. Pouring a quantity of warm water over him constitutes the only further measure for his restora tion, and in two hours' time he is as well as ever.—Os burne's Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing. The following is the letter addressed to Viscount Palmerston by the merchants of London, engaged in the China trade, and which conveys the strongest censure on the conduct of Sir James Graham and his factious supporters : "TO TIIE ♦ISCOUNT PALMERSTON. " MY LORD,—We, the undersigned British merchants con nected with China, cannot but view with the greatest alarm and apprehension the probable effect of the expression of any public opinions with respect to the justice and policy of the measures understood to be taken by her Majesty's Government to obtain redress for the insults and injuries inflicted on British subjects by the Chinese Government, and for the future pro tection of the legal trade with that country. We disclaim all pretensions of dictating to the Chinese the mode in which the British trade with China shall be carried on; but we cannot refrain from expressing our deliberate opinion that unless the measures of the Government be followed up with firmness and energy, the trade with China can no longer be conducted with security to life and property, or with credit or advantage to the British nation. " We have the honour to be, your Lordship's most obedient humble servants, (Signed) G. G. De Larpent, Chairman Lyall, Brothers, and Co. of the East India and China Walkinshaw and Co. Association Gardiner , Urquhart, and Co. J. Horsley Palmer John Hine J. Mackillop W. J. Hall and Co. Briggs, Thorburn, Acramin, Alexander Matheson and Co. James W. Smith Gladstanes, Kerr, and Co. Walkinshaw, Skinner, and Co. Alexander George Milne and Magniac, Smiths, and Co. Co. Dallas and Coles Small, Colquhoun, and Co. Wm. Drayner John S. Rigge, of the firm of Hunter, Gouger, and Co. Sanderson, Frys, Fox, & Co. C. S. Cover H. H. Lincl‘ay Robert Eglinton and Co. Gregson and Co. Scott, Bell, and Co. Daniel Dickinson and Co. John Brightman Crawford, Colvin, and Co. C. R. Read and Co. Larkins and Co. " London, April 9, 1840." The first locomotive engine on the line of the Eastern Counties Railway reached Brentwood on Tuesday last, and we learn there is every fair probability of the Company being enabled in about six weeks to open the line from thence to Shoreditch. " NOW'S THE DAY AND NOW'S THE HOUR." _Who does not see that until the Corn-laws are repealed, the great question of wages can never be settled in Engl an d ?— t h at erance and want o f gluts must alternate with scarcities ?—gluts of ord ers w i t h g l uts of goods?—that the feasts of to-day must be follow e d by the famine of to-morrow ?—msolance by humiliation, hu m ili at i on ? and that, m w t i h t t e a h b e sen i n e t e e :onf a steady d eman d fa r p forethought oi insolence?—and ro ln u e gh c t e result ing goods, the conflicts and heartburnings of the employers and the employed must continue ? But how long will such a state of things yet last? Can we compete for ever with un-bread-t axe d rivals ? No! capital will go where it will pay ; skill will follow capital; and our manufactories will at length stop, simultaneously, and for ever ! The immense camp of London will then be without pay ; the immense camp of Glas gow will be without pay; the immense camp of the West Hid.. ing of Yorkshire will be without pay, and almost within shout of a still more multitudinous camp—that of Lancashire-- without pay ! And all this may happen ; and, if the Co-,-„.l" a.‘ :_ s remain much longer on the Statute-book, will In iven, hops in one and the same week, day, or holy! If t am ca i ll :: (1 upon to produce from history a record of simila r catastrophes, I shall answer, that history can furnish no recor,l of a s i m il ar state state of things. The British Government is the only one that ever legislated against the bread of th 9, people, by i mpe di ng the exchange of manufactured goods for food, at the very moment when such exchange aught to have b een facilitated by a ll possi hle or conceivable means. — Eb eitezer Elliot . SIR ROBERT PEEL'S PRGSPERITY I !—ollr readers' will recollect that in 'Ole discussion on Mr. Villiers's motion last year, the V,iglkt Honourable Baronet then entlea i voured to that thetrade and manufactures o f th e country two rn:OE,t prosperous. Now it so happens, that at Radcliffe. Eridge, near Ary, B thou is a cotton mill, the property of Sir Ito : bort Peers brother, and strange to say that m a fortnight after the speech was delivered, it was literally stopped, and the ma chinery has remained idle to this day !—Aottingkant Review. Castor, 120, 5, Lieut. F. F. G. Serval Brasier, 100, 5, Lieut. J. G. Cazy G'reegois, 160, 5, Lieut. L. A. Laurencin—E. Indies Coursier, 60, 3, Lieut. C. A. C. de Villemarcst ; and Ebreo, 460, Lieu. Lt. Papillault—Senegal, LAUNCH OF FRENCH SHIPS OF WAR. (From Gatgnanes Messenger.) A correspondent at Cherbourg gives the following de tails of the launch of the Friedland, on the 4th instant, which we have already mentioned : " At 8 in the morning the Cure of Cherbourg per formed the ceremony of baptizing the ship, and with the rest of the clergy of the town walked in procession round her. Booths were erected on each side for the accommodation of the ladies, who came in great num bers from all parts to view this imposing sight, and all of whom were in their best attire. The Maritime Pre f,?ct was present, with the whole of his staff, and assist- / ud in the operations, which were ably conducted by M. Besuchet, the marine engineer, under the orders of M. Lefebvre, director-general of ship building. Not even when the King came to Cher bourg, in 1833, was there such an immense influx of visitors. Upwards of 20,000 people surrounded the outer port. Four steamers arrived early in the morn ing from Havre filled with passengers, many of whom came from Paris. The spectacle is described as having been very majestic. The following are the dimensions of this vessel, the largest in the French navy :—Length from stern to stern, 67.3 metres. Depth of hold, 1:3.615 metres. Breadth of beam, 13.46 metres. Entire length of mainmast, 81.19 metres ; of the foremast, 74.79 metres ; of the mizenmast, 57.37 metres ; and of the bowsprit, 59.73 metres. She contains 38,000 cubic metres of timber, which, at 90 kilogrammes the cubic metre, makes a total of 342,000 kilogrammes. She will carry :32 long 30-pounders, 30 short 30-pounders, four 80 pound shell guns, thirty-four 30-pound shell guns, sixteen 30-pound carronades, and four 30-pound howit zers. Her magazine will be stored with 8,860 balls of 30 pounds each, and 32,800 kilogrammes of gun powder. She will have six cables of 37 centimetres cir cumference, and 10 anchors, weighing together 34,000 kilogrammes. The aggregate weight of her rigging and ropes will be 124,000 kilogrammes. In her con struction there are 67,000 kilogrammes of iron, and 28,000 kilogrammes of copper. For her sheathing there will be required 2,525 sheets, weighing 15,412 kiloffram nies, and in nails 2,480 kilogrammes. For her ballast she will require 700 tons of iron in pigs. When com pletely manned, stored, and provisioned for war, she will have an actual burden of 5,200 tons of 1,000 kilo grammes each. Her complement, when upon the war establishment, will be 1,087 men, and on the peace establishment 851 men, including 21 officers and 13 naval pupils. " Two vessels of the Royal Yacht Club were at Cherbourg when the Friedland was launched. They were the Owen Glendower, with the owner, Lord Dysart, on board, and the St. Margaret of Mr. Delme. _ _ The former saluted the port with 13 guns, and the batteries returned the salute. " The Gemappes of 100 guns was launched at L'Oricnt on the 2d inst. without the slightest accident, in the presence of an immense concourse of spectators." THE PROVOSTSHIP OF ETON. On Tuesday last the Fellows of Eton held a " Col lege" for the election of Provost, in the room of the late Dr. Goodall, who held the Provostship during a period of upwards of thirty years. The " individual" recommended by the Queen was the Rev. Francis Hodgson, the Archdeacon of Derby, and the son-in-law of Lord Chief Justice Denman ; but in consequence, as it was alleged by the Fellows, of this gentleman not being (at the least) a bachelor of divinity, he was con sidered by them to be disqualified from holding the ap pointment, and therefore, they decided upon throwing overboard her Majesty's " recommendation," and elect ing another Reverend Gentleman instead. The indi vidual thus selected was the Rev. Mr. Lonsdale, the Principal of King's College, London, and who was, about eight or nine years ago, one of the Fellows of Eton. This gentleman was, therefore, " returned" by the Fellows as the new Provost. Some communications, we have been informed, have since passed between the Vice- Provost and the Home-office ; and, on Friday last, that gentleman, accom p an i e d b y two o f the . Fellows, proceeded to London, and had an interview with one of the Members of her Majesty's Government. The nature of that interview may be guessed from the fact, that upon the return to Eton of the Rev. Mr. Grove, the Vice-Provost, and his two colleagues, another " College" was that afternoon convened, and the Fellows proceeded to a second election, when the Rev. Mr. Hodgson, the gentleman originally nominated by the Sovereign, hut rejected by the Fellows, was unani mously elected Provost. It is stated that the Rev. Mr. Lonsdale, as soon as he was informed that he had been elected in opposition to the desire of her Majesty, ex pressed, not only his !egret that he had been so elected, but a most anxious desire that the Fellows of Eton I should proceed to another election. Thus it will be per t ceived that, notwithstanding the disposition which was at first manifested by the Fellows to thwart the wish of the Sovereign, they were induced—and without much delay—to retrace their steps, as, under the circum stances, the wisest plan they could adopt. The Pro vostship of Eton is supposed to be wor:.h upwards of 3,0001. a year. The circumstance of the Fellows having, in the first instance, elected as Provost an individual not recommended by the Sovereign, is the only case of the kind that has occurred since the foundation of the Collego.—Observer. POSTAGE (PUBLIC DEPART- MENTS.) GREAT BRITAIN. An account of all sums charged to or paid by each Public Department, on account of Postage, from the 10th of January to the 20th day of February 1840 : £. s. d. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 567 13 5 Adjutant-General's Office Audit Office , 585 10 7 460 6 10 Colonial Office 976 13 Commander-in-Chief's Office 82 14 3 Council Office 23 - 7 Commissioners of Customs The Lord Chancellor. 167 13 10 2 5 9 Commissioner of Excise 259 9 11 Foreign Office 5,851 16 8 Home Office Irish Office l3 6 Ordnance Offiee BO6 5 11 Paymaster-General's Office Post Office 950 5 3 Quartermaster-General's Office 3O 18 2 Registrar-General's Office 325 10 6 Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes 2B 8 10 Commissioners of Tithes 484 3 The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury 425 16 1 War Office Commissioners of Woods and Forests 2O 4 4 Greenwich Pension Office... .../1 --- Poor Law Commissioners 272 5 10 £14,387 5 8 647 2 - East India Company Total . General Pog-offiee, Z 1 April, 1840. .E 15,034 7 8 C. T. COURT, Acct. Genl. W. L. WABERLEY. IRELAND. An Account of all sums charged to or paid by each Public Department in Dublin, on account of Postage, from the 10th of January, to the 20th February, 1840. The Lord Lieutenant and Private Secre- tary Chief and Under Secretary General Host-office Commander of the Forces Paymaster of Civil Forces lO 12 11 Adjutant-General Quarter-master General Grdnance Survey Poor-law Commissioners Customs .. 5 19 8 Constabulary Stamps Toral ANTHONY LYSTER. AUG. GODBY. Accountant-General's Office, General Post-} office, Dublin, Feb. 28, 1840. GREAT BRITAIN. An account of all sums charged to or paid by each Public Department, on account of Postage, from the 10th day of January to the 20th day of February, 1839 : Commissioners of Customs .... 3,143 1 1 Commissioners of Excise Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes 524 7 6 Total £5,41 16 6 General Post-office, Z C. T. COURT, Acct. Gun]. 1 April, 1840. S DISTRESS OF THE WORKING CLASSES.—A manufacturer of Lancaster writes to us—" The opponents of the contemplated improvements alleged the inability of the greatest portion of the rate-payers to comply with the demands upon them. Now I should like to know what is the cause that has plunged them into this deplorable condition. For if it be the beneful effect of th e Corn-laws, why . do they not, one and all, come forward and petition for their immediate repeal? I, for one, solemnly declare it as my opinion, that those ac cursed laws are the main and almost the only cause. For have we not a population in Lancaster almost wholly and bene ficially employed, so that there is scarcely one head of a family who is un able to obtain a day's work ? The high price of food which the Corn-laws have caused, then, is the reason why the improvements in the town that are so much required will be with difficulty a ccomplished. These laws for the last ‘ , 4 years have entailed an average loss to the community of .10,600,0001. a-year, and within the last nine months a loss of, it is computed, near a hundred millions. Give the labourers and artisans of this mighty empire a fair chance, and they would be enabled to pay, riot only the police, but ail local and 6overn ; T ient taxes. With respect to the projected improvement, it is el'dent that it is incumbent upon the inhabitants of Lancaster to make every prepa ration and accommodatio n for the increased and increasing traffic which will pass through the town, brouKlit here, be it remembered, by the laudable exertions and sacrifices made by the directors and shareholders of the Lancas ter and Preston Railway. —Lancaster Guardian. PRINTED PAPERS BILL. (From the Times.) The effect of this Bill, as amended by the Lords, is as Fellows It enables any person who is now, or hereafter shall be, a defendant in any civil or criminal proceeding commenced or prosecuted on account of the publication of any report, .I.iper, votes, or proceedings of either House of Parliament, to obtain an order of the Court or Judge for staying such proceeding, by producing to such Court or Judge (after '24 hours' notice of his intention to do so to the plahitiff or prosecutor) a certificate under the hand of the Lord 'Chancellor or Speaker of the House of Lords, or of the Clerk of the Parliaments, or of the Speaker of the House of Commons, or of the Clerk of that House, .stating that the report, paper, votes, or proceedings, as the case may be, in respect of which such civil or criminal proceeding shall have been commenced or prosecuted, was published by such person, or by his servant or servants, by order or under the authority of the House of Lords or Commons, as the case may be; the certificate to be ac companied by to affidavit verifying it. it enables also any person who shall hereafter be a defendant in any civil or criminal proceeding to be com menced or prosecuted on account of the publication of any copy of such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, to lay before the Court or Judge such report, paper, &c., and such copy, with an affidavit verifying the report, paper, &c., and the correctness of the copy, and the Court or Judge is thereupon to stay such civil or criminal pxc:eding. It make; also the publication of any extract or abstract of such report, paper, &c., bona fide, and without malice, a good defence to any action for such publication. It provides, as was provided by the Commons' Bill, that nothing in the Act shall be taken, " directly or indirectly, by implication or otherwise, to affect the privileges of Par liament in any manner whatsoever." " A Bill entitled An Act to give Summary Protection. to Persons employed in the Publication of Parliamen tary Papers.' " 1. Whereas it is essential to the due and effectual exercise and discharge of the functions and duties of Parliament, and to the promotion of wise legislation, that no obstructions or impediments should exist to the pub lication of such of the reports, papers, votes, or pro ceedings of either House of Parliament as such House of Parliament may deem fit or necessary to be published ; and whereas obstructions or impediments to such publication have arisen, and hereafter may arise, by means of civil or criminal proceedings being taken against persons employed by, or acting under the authority of, the Houses of Parliament, or one of them, in the pub. lication of such reports, papers, votes, or proceedings; by reason and for remedy whereof, it is expedient that more speedy protection should be offered to all persons acting under the authority aforesaid, and that all such civil or criminal proceedings should be summarily put an end to and determined in manner hereinafter mentioned ; be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons who now is or are, or hereafter shall be, a defendant or defendants in any civil or criminal proceeding commenced or prosecuted in any manner soever, for or on account or in respect of the pub lication of any such report, paper, votes, or proceedings by such person or persons, or by his, her, or their servant or servants, by or under the authority of either House of Parliament, to bring before the Court in which such pro ceeding shall have been, or shall be, so commenced or pro secuted, or before any Judge of the same (if one of the Superior Courts at Westminster), first giving twenty_ four hours' notice of his intention so to do to the pro secutor or plaintiff in such proceeding, a certificate under the hand of the Lord High Chancellor of Great Bri tain, or the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, or of the Speaker of the House of Lords for the time being, er of the Clerk of the Parliaments, or of the Speaker of the House of Commons, or of the clerk of the same House, stating that the report, paper, votes, or proceed ing, as the case may be, in respect whereof such civil or criminal proceeding shall have been commenced or prose cuted, was published by such person or persons, or by his, her, or their servant or servants, by order or under the authority of the House of Lords or of the House of Com mons, as the case may be, together with an affidavit veri fying such certificate ; and such Court or Judge shall there upon immediately stay such civil or criminal proceeding, and the same, and every writ or process issued therein, shall be, and shall be deemed and taken to be, finally put an end to, determined, and superseded, by virtue of this Act. " 2. And be it enacted, that in case of any civil or cri minal proceeding hereafter to be commeneed or prosecuted for or on account or in respect of the publication of any copy of such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, it shall be lawful for the defendant or defendants, at any stage of the proceedings, to lay before the Court or Judg e suc h report, paper, votes, or proceedings, and such copy, with an affidavit verifying such report, paper, votes, or proceed ings, and the correctness of such copy, and the Court or Judge shall immediately stay such civil or criminal pro ceeding,:and the same and every writ or process issued therein shall be, and shall be deemed and taken to be, finally put an end to, determined, and superseded by virtue of this Act: " 3. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful in any civil or criminal proceeding to be commenced or prosecuted for printing any extract from or abstract of such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, to give in evidence under the general issue such report, paper, votes, or proceedings, and to show that such extract or abstract was published bona _fide and without malice ; and if such shall be the opinion of the jury, a verdict of not guilty shall be entered for the defendant or defendants. " 4. Provided always, and it is hereby expressly declared and enacted, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed or taken, or held or construed, directly or indirectly, by implication or otherwise, to affect the privileges of Parlia ment in any manner whatsoever." SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. (From the Morning Herald.) If the question of upholding or repealing the present Corn-laws were any other than a question of vital, all-ab sorbing importance to the welfare of this country, we should not deem ourselves warranted in solemnly entreating the most earnest attention of our readers to its bearings. It is, however, a question of which, in the abstract, every man who is averse to the hazard of wanton experiments on the greatness and happiness of Britain, should anxiously watch, from day to day, the progress. It involves results that (if in the meantime public opinion be not fully awak ened to the necessity of repudiating the further agitation of the schemes of the Anti-Corn-law Association) will come fearfully home to the business of all classes in the community but three. To these three, indeed, they will ultimately come, if that course of legislation upon the Corn-laws,which is being now vigorously pushed for, should be taken; because it is a course which we shall demonstrate must terminate in the extinction of our political greatness. The three classes whose present interests the repeal of these laws would undoubtedly serve, but whose future destruction they would eventually effect,and just as surely, are-1. The annuitants, having fixed incomes. 2. The great capitalists, having money at their disposal in such masses as to be enabled to lie out of the return of large portions of it for periods of time proportioned to the magnitude of their investments. 3. The master manufacturers, men also of large vested capitals, but as to which their object is to effect rapid, rather than proportionately large returns. (From the Morning Post.) The organs of the Government, with their accustomed reckless disregard of truth and honesty, are doing their utmost to misrepresent the proceedings in the House of Lords on Friday evening, relative to the Clergy Re serves in Canada. In a strain of sneering congratula tion upon the amendment of their conduct, they represent the prelates of Canterbury and London as having aban doned the course they at first seemed determined to pur sue—as haviug, in fact, practically admitted that they had been wrong and the Government right. Regard to common veracity compels us to say that this re. presentation is quite false ; and without having any wish to retort in this affair upon her Majesty's Govern ment, the same regard to fair and honest statements of matters which concern the public obliges us to assert that the practice of the Viscount Melbourne on Friday even ing appears to have been lamentably deficient in that can dour and distinctness which best become a Minister and a Legislator. He shuffled in the most shameful manner about a point which, when at last submitted to the Lord Chancellor, was instantly decided by that Noble and Learned Lord, whose mind i 3 happily not in that state of doubt which proceeds from careless ignorance, and whose manner is not tinctured with that insolence which springs from indulged habits of careless effrontery. (From the Times.) Although we have waited long for the fruits of our la bours in exposing the enormous land thefts which, affect ing to assume the forms of honest purchase and legal con veyance, have for some years been practised or upon raga_ the a- New Zealanders, both by individual advertisement,and cporate nume rously we are gratified to see, from an rously and respectably sign ed, that the higher class o f merchants, bankers, and s hi p-owners in the city are at length bestirring themselves to shame the Governm ent cut of their connivance in these depredations, and to co mpe l the, purloiners to disgorge their fraudulent spoils. The conr.,!tuct of the Whigs in this affair has been uttetl y disgraedul B y r(;:emd,antotteocnl(); tthhaet. nHuomuseerooufs Lwoirtdnesstsheesy were distinctly e xamined before a a pp the New Zealand savages had no more conception of u bargain alienating their lands in perp e t u i ty, than had the Hill Coolies in reference to their inveigled servitude in British Guiana, but that the incommensurate baubles, such as knives, beads, and hatchets, in consideration of which they are entrapped into the negotiations alluded to, can be viewed no otherwis . e than as despicable frauds played off upon a credulous race, whose ignorance of' real and rela tive values is on a par with that of childhood. The Whigs had further learned from the same unexceptionable tes timony, cerroborated by the previous intimations of Mr. Busby, the British resident at the Bay of Islands, that this lawless system of cheating the New Zealanders out of their lands had been practised to a great extent by Lose and predatory adventurers who had squatted them• selves upon large portions of territory, upon the most no minal and gratuitous pretensions. ( From the Morning Chronicle.) If any one had ventured to predict, when the intelli gence arrived that an armed insurrection had bro r k t e out simultaneou s ly i n b o th th e C a nadas, that the short which has since e l a p se d would have sufficed not onlyi period to ffi extingush every spark of open rebellion, tranquillity, restore the illity, but province to the blessings of peacean d to accomplish the far more arduous and bitter party spirit,d i m portant task of composing the animosities, allaying the , and rooting out the rankling causes trust in which those unhappy disturbancesof dissension and di - originated, such a prediction might, with refere nce to all past history and experience, have been looke d upo n as in the last d e - That i t gree visionary and . extra vagant. proved so u a circumstan ce honourable i n t h e highest degree to t he civilization of th e age E VENING EDI noN and the English character. The friends of hu manity have every reason to congratulate theni selves on the signal success of the mild, merciful, an I conciliatory policy which the mother country has, under the auspices of a Whig Government, steadily pursued towards her rebellious colony. Much also must be attri buted to the good feeling of the Canadians themselves, and to the genuine, manly, English character, which bears no malice towards an opponent, and is always ready to shake hands and forgive. The great instrument, however, in bringing about the present improved state of public feeling in Canada, and especially in the Upper Province, has been, according to the concurrent testimony of men of 311 parties connected with the colony, the presence of a Governor- General, whose prudent,coneiliatory, and impartial policy, enlightened views, and firm and decided character, enabled him to stand as a mediator between the different parties and interests into which the province was divided, allied to none, but respected and esteemed by all. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN ClRCUl7'—LivEnrooL, Arnn 8. The flonourable Henry Sidney Plunket and Than y Gash, officers in the e6th Regiment of Foot, and John Berger, a drummer in the same regiment, were indicted for an assault on Henry Farnwcrtb, a Sheriff's officer, and rescuing from his custody one Adolphus Frazer. The facts out of which this indictment grew have been published so frequently, under the designation of " Military o utrage, Le.," as to supersede the use or interest of all de sail. The Sheriff's officer, it will be recollected, captured ,31r. Plunket in mistake, intending to take Mr. Adolphus Fraser. A row followed by' a rescue, in which some soldiers, as well as the officers indicted, assisted. 'The law, in the person of the Sheriff's officer, was broken, and the civil power Eet at defiance. The trial began on , Thursday, and was resumed the following day, w h en , The Jury found the Hon. Mr. Plunket guilty of part;- c:pating in the rescue, and of an assault on Mrs. Burgoyne, but under circumstances of great provocation. They ac quitted Mr. Cash of participating in the rescue, and found • him guilty of the assault on Burgoyne, under circum stances of gross provocation. The drummer Berger was ' acquitted. On Saturday his LORDSHIP passed sentence on Edward Zydnev Plunket and Henry Cash. He always regretted 'when the punishment for an infraction of the law carried with it any collateral effect prejudicial to the parties, and so far as any influence he possessed went he would exert :it, that in this case no further consequences should ensue : -than those which followed the due execution of the law. The defendants were then sentenced :—Mr. Plunket to ' twelve months' imprisonment in Lancaster Castle ; to enter ' iinto bis own recognizanees in 500/., with two sureties iu 2001 each, to keep the peace for two years. Mr. Henry Cash to be imprisoned in Lancaster Castle for three Inionths, and to enter into his own recognizances in 3001. "with two sureties in 1001. each, to keep the peace for the same period. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. LATEST BETTING AT MANCHESTER. We have not seen any speculation carried on since Tuesday; tit , 2refore, the prices of that day may be considered nominal. THE CHESTER CUP. 7 to 1 on the field (offered). THE DERBY. 9 to 1 on the field (offered). NEWMARKET—FRIDAY NIGHT The following horses have arrived in the course of the week: —At S. Chifney's :—Mr. Bowes's Epirus, Hetman Platoff, and Accelerator ; Lord Chesterfield's Molineux and Sister to industry; Col. Anson's Black Bess; Marquis of Normanby's Gipsy ; Mr. Nevill's Christinetta. At S. Rogers's :—Krem lin, Theon, Brother to Melbourne, and c. by Emilius, out of Farce, all belonging to the Duke of Cleveland. Kremlin, and Lord Lichfield's The Feather, have broken down. WALTHAM ABBEY STEEPLE CHASE—ThumpAr. Sa eepstakes of 10 sov. each, with Cup given by Mr. Alger, sand 20 sov. added, 12st., the winner to be sold for 5001. and 'the second to save his stake. Four miles. (7 subs.) Elmore's Jerry (Mr. Mason) Sandiford's Thought 111. 1112sors's Terror Isis. Price's Old Billy 41ir. Worley's Ringleader ... . Hr. Dawson's Winchester 0 captain Partridge's Orangeman A fine race. The stakes have been given up to Mr. El more, but his right to them is disputed on the ground that his horse did not take the proper side of the flag. FLANDERS AND DUTCH MAIL. BRUSSELS, APRIL 9.—The average prices of wheat alluring the last week was 22f. 62c., and of Rye 14f. 29c. The ex portation of both, as well as of potatoes and of sour remain prohibited. Wheat is exempt from im port duty, and rye pays 21f..50c. per 1,000 kilogrammes. Yesterday the king gave an audience 'to M. de Mk clenaire. The King set out this morning for Ardenne. his :Majesty will return to Brussels at the end of next week. The King has received a cabinet letter by which the reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha annotrdeos the marriage of his second son to the Queer. of Great Britain. M. I)evaux alone, as we have stated, was received by the King the day before yesterday. M. d'Huart, who was also to have been sent for to the palace, had set out in the morning for his country seat, having re ceived news that his eldest son was dangerously ill. M. Cl'Huart's country scat being at a short distance from Ardenne, his Majesty has sent him an invitation to come and confer with him there on Friday, so that the definitive composition of the Ministry cannot be settled before the middle or the end of next week. The Observateur says, " It is expected that Baron de Viron, the Governor of Brabant, will resign. He accepted this post very unwillingly in June last year, and he has repeatedly declared that lie would retire without hesitation if M. de Theux ceased to be Minister of the Interior." BRUSSELS, APRIL 10.--Count Demidoff, Russian Counsellor of State, died on the .sth of April, in con sequence of a stroke of apoplexy at Mr.yence, on his way from Brussels to Frankfort. THE HAGUE, APRIL B.—The &oars Courant, of this day, contains a Rnyal resolution of the 7th inst., by which the capital of th• Netherlands Bank, sLmounting to 10 mil lions of florins, in 10,000 shares, is increased to 16 millions in 15,000 shares. These new shares are to be had at the price of 1,150 florins, or 15 per cent. agio from the reserved fund. FRANKFORT, APRIL 6.—The accounts from St. Petersburgh confirm the statement that General Pc nowsky has been compelled, by is rrible snow -storms, to make a retrograde movement, ward that he has eacamped in a good position, waiting for better werithez. This report says nothing of the total. failure of t'ae expedition, and of the retreat of the corps to Russia. This news is evi dently false, or a great exaggerr.tion of th e partial retreat of General Penowsky. These Ltst accour is are very satis factory with respect to the intentions r if Russia in this expedition, which is by no means in tended to make conquests, but only to prevent, in fut ure, the interrup tions which the Rhivans have ear.tsed to the commerce of Russia. gr;•atly regret here flu, death of Count Paul Demidoff, who was on his way to wait on the Grand Duke of Russia. UTRECHT, APRIL 9.—n c Belgian Members of the Mixed Commission, and their secretari ies, left us, yester day, and the Dutch Meuibers to-da 3. ; but they were expected back in a few days, to contin u e the liquidation of the Belgian debt. MUNICH, APRIL s.—The As semb?..v of the States will, it is said, sit a few days long er thaw] was proposed. The accounts from, St. Petersb urgh, 22d March, say nothing of the journey of the Empress to Italy or Germany. DUTCH FUNDS.—AmirrEramm, APRIL; 10 Moner. Bale. Actual Debt, per Cent Ditto, ditto 5 per cent. ............. •,•-• not Amu! t Sirmlic,4%i percent Ditto, ditto, 3.3 l per cent 75Y4 76 `4 Commercial Corapany, 44_ per cen t lBO4, 181 Ditto (18312 and 18:..5. - 3) 5 per cent. 101 10/c 4 Ditto 1837, 5 per cent. Loan 1837, 5 •.er cent. Exchange :,u London, One m0nth........„ , 11 97f4 Twomont as , 11 8716 `Dutch Papers, April 1.1. AELGI AN 14 UNDS—Firtt7gse Le, APRIL 10. Actual Debt, 2l(, per Cent, 1-I,4iischild'i, Loan, 5 per ..7.ent.,„. • Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per - C( ,t, -----3 per Ctir:t. Loan of City, P-312, 4 per Cent r 94% Society of Commerce, .4.iper Cent llO Bank of Belgium, 5 per Ccil,t „„„„, ... % National Society . ...... . Exchange on London (5h00 ... . ITN. , —Brussels Papers, April 10. • HAMBURG EUIU%'N HALLE, AP/MI.II. - - .INills. Money. Austrian To per Cents. I tk t ' u t i 1 1: ' .:19 , S ,.. . i l ii:t r i e , s. s e i , a , i Cent.. , c lf t a . ti s t s es i c ~ (34. r t . i . ~ . ION 106% It11:if 1815 1 1 1 , 1 , u s' s ..: i r i i .. i t, i , t i i asiii,,,TSer Cent. it.' , H . I, , 0 and - : Mg' ius% Co: 37a e nd 4th 11?;1:41i4 "—°4 So. ies Ditto in Certificates Dutch ~ctual Debt, t 1 per Cent. 52 Ditto :) per Cent.. US • Poi i,h Boil& Now iicket Anglo- tianisii Loan, 3 per Cent 75 14% Norwegian Linn, 1;:i-1, 4 per Cent... Si.aiiis.h. New 3 per Cents. 213,i EXCHANGES O.; LONDON. 11 Amotiao, APRIL 10.-13. :%—Two months, 13 4. :: iv c months, d a) 412.1066.. c , l ii .i ii ic i a s t r ix .. t, .AAERpl.Lira. 1—C.5.....51rt: it,, E mEN, A , iti L 3. --T o 0 months, 610. Poreasmincia, Miiacit 31. —Two months, 387 r, pen ce. AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—VIENNA, APRIL .1,, live per Cants. Mata lli q ues lnuv 1161% For per Cents. w Three pas Cent , Bank shares ... .................. .... 1 ... ..................... —4lllenic ine Zellung, Apri 6 PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BERLIN, APRIL 7. Bills. St. Schuld. Sc h . , 4 ..., por cent. - 104 limey. 10?1, Prusitin English Loan, 1839, 4 per cent 1031.4 b;it,hange on London, three months 503‘ 10k — P r ussian State Gazeti r , April 8, • OXFORD AND CANIBRIDGE.---The grand eight oared cutter match between these two rival boats is fixed fort Wednesday next, and will be rowed from Westminster-bridge to Putney. Last week the Cantab's crew were selected ; Croker, Camas ; Shadwell, St. John's; Taylor, Trinity ; Rid ley, Jesus; Cobbold, St. Peter's ; Penrose, Magdalene Warne, St. John' s ; Vi a ll s ( stro k e ) , T r i n i ty ; Egan (steerer), Caius. But since then, Croker, Cubbold, and Warne have been obliged to resign their oars ; one of these will, however, be filled up by Mr. Stanley, of Jesus, who pulled stroke last y ear. The Oxford crew will be as follows ;-111ounton and. Pocock, Merton College ; Maberley, Christ Church; Rogers., Baling ; Walls, Rods, sleyneil, and Cocks (stroke), Brasenos:s; Garnet (steerer), Brasenose. The new cutter built for Car bridge by Searle is 51 feet 7 inches in length. The Qs' .ord cutter is built by Hall and Co. of this city, and is .51. i 'feet 2 m inches in leth. The betting is 7 to five on Carats,' idge.-- Ox ford Herald, RN