The Sun. — London, England, 1840-12-30 00:00:00

, 41 4 VF. lb< 1 N F. DIT 101 1 Z. •••••••0 51/11 41 , ti4xcite the discontent and disloyalty of the atisto tracy and episcopacy ? It is the actual mis , .try of the.ponr, and not the telling them they ate un ..ttstly tieated. which makes them disloyal and dis contented. It is not the hattshorn which restores the fainted patient to consciousness, and makes him sensible of his pain, while it enables him to take restoratives, which is the cause of his misery, but the disease which suspends the action of the t i vital powers. For twenty years, says the Times, there has been a warfare on tire rights anti comforts of the poor, If it had said for twenty-five years. which is the date of the Corn-law, it would have been within the mark. The beginning of the peace, when the aristocracy could no longer make war abroad, is about the commencement of their warfare on the poor at home. For a large portion of that time the Tories were in power, and they certainly strove, while they made this warfare on the people, to conceal from them the hand which crushed them. They practised one species of mercy. They drugged the poor with the opiates of ignorance and priesteraft, and so made them insensible to their fitters. They knew they could not tie their •: hands and draw their teeth as long as the poor pos .:, sesstd the faculties with which the ALMIGHTY • has endowed them ; and they made it their especial work to deaden the sensibility—to dull the intellect of those they intended to oppress. They could not plunder the people of their rights and comforts without degrading them, and they consistently did both. No person ever justly accused them of sharp ening the mental perceptions of the poor. But the Times does the " sharpening of their mental perceptions" an injustice, when it accused that of causing their discontent and disloyalty. On the contrary, their long submission is owing to their sharpened perception. They have take❑ lessons from experience, and have set even those who have made war on their rights and comforts a bright but unfollowcd example of for bearance. When before in the world did so nume rous a body of men—and a body of men conscious of their power—submit with so much patience to an,incessant ,warfare on their rights and comforts ? Their ancestors, ; the men of England prior to the French Revolution, -rude, ignorant, and impatient, would have broken their chains on the heads of those who made a warfare on their rights and com forts. The people bare now learnt that violence is not the way to redress injuries ; some few of them have sometimes broken into outrage, but the mass abide their time, knowing that there is a GOD who will take vengeance upon their oppressors. Never since the world began was there an almost entire nation of ill-used men who have been for 'tn9re than twenty years so contented and so loyal as the people on whose rights and comforts a small minority have, by means of laws, made an incessant warfare. Tile Times attributes part of the evil to manu facturing competition, which, it says, has taxed the industry of the people and reduced their wages. It is lamentably ignorant. The result of manu facturing competition is to produce commodities cheaply, and of course to supply the labourers as well as all other classes abundantly. It is not the produce of manufacturing skill which the people require, for that is abundant and cheap, but food, which, in opposition to all the course of nature, to all the struggles of genius, to all the useful inven tions of time-honoured skill, all of which tend to multiply and to cheapen the necessaries and co►►veniences of life, has been expressly made dear and scarce by the landlords' bread.tax. But if it were otherwise this ma nufactUring competition is unavoidable. It grows from time present circumstances of society, and as the law-makers cannot put an end, to that, why do they prevent a competition in the production of food, `which would go far to remedy all the imaginary evils of manufacturing competition ? One great part of society they admit their inability to control, and yet with a fool's hand they arrest another part of the machinery, and throw the whole into terrible disorder. Though the Radicals are extremely weak in Parliament, having in one House scarcely one re presentative, and in the other only very few, in the country their party embracing the majority of those who, from a good cause, are discontented with our present institutions, is extremely numerous. 'To be come powerful, however, they must be united ; and how to bring about the union of the greatest num her of them, is the problem which ought now to en g a g e the attention of liberal politicians. It is a fact, which admits not of the smallest .• doubt, that our political institutions require reform. They are stationary—society is progressive. Men can only learn their effects by considerable experience, which is summed up in physical and moral good and evil. Tine, however, is required before ex perience clearly informs the understanding of the source of good or evil. At present, evil, both moral and physical, predominates in our society to ', 4 4 ,4 - ?t,_ an alarming extent. Great mass es of the munitv' are in a sad condition of physical de privation, and crimes of various kinds are 4 1111 - and increasing. All pnrtics agree in '`~ r . ~.. merous this, for'there is a general demand for a more ex. tensive police or more repressive laws, and a gene ral and ostentatious show of contribution to relieve distress. But, institutions arc intended to extirpate both physical and morarevil, or reduce them to the minimum ; and consequently the existence of much physical a'ad moral evil in society, is a convincing proof that, our institutions do not answer the object intended., and therefore require reform. It will not do to shelter them under the assertion —whether based on the theory of Mr. MALTIIUS, or the biblical theory of the origin of sin—that evil • ia, natural to man, and is not therefore to be charged on institutions, because those who require society to support and obey institutions affirm that that they prevent moral and physical evil. To as sert that they cannot prevent it is to cut political . obedience up by the roots. All institutions are constraints, and they arc supported by taxes. In themselves they are evil, they are borne with for the sake of the greater good which is to accrue from them ; but if when great evils overtake society it is said that institutions arc not to blame, and that re forming institutions cannot amend the matter, that there is an overruling cause which sets at naught all legislation, then, as institutions on that assertion arc purely evil, not merely ought they to be re formed, but they ought to be wholly swept away. That conclusion, however, cannot be adopted, and to secure the foundation for political obedience even Conservatives must admit that our present social evils arc caused by our institutions, and that they require reform. Nor is there on this point any practical differ ence of opinion, though there is much difference as to what the reforms ought to be. The Conserva tives, alarmed at the growth of political knowledge amongst the people, conceive that they are not enough under constraint, that time press is too free, that the people are not burdened enough, that they require to be more closely watched ; and their re forms tend to extend the police, to place the press under more restrictions, to put down cheap publi cations, to build more churches and enlarge the power of the clergy, to restore the patriarchal • power of the feudal chieftains, and, if necessary, to burn down half our cities. All parties, in short, agree that our institutions are defective, and that to ,t ~; V 5 r,, -~:~. these defects, of one kind or another, the evils o society are to be traced, though each party would remedy the defects by opposite means. The fact being fully established, that our insti tutions are defective, the important question arises in what way are they to be reformed ? Where arc we to begin ? The proper answer to that question, can it be discovered, will serve to point out the means by which the Radicals may be united. We have just seen, however, that the most ultra Con servatives are also Reformers, and as Radical is a name which some persons dislike, it may be as well to begin by giving the party a more appropriate ap pellation. All Reformers are not Radicals, and to distinguish our party from the Aristocratic Re formers they might be called Democratic Reformers. We shall then have society divided into restrictionists and liberators ; into those who would bind faster, and those who would set free ; those who would fashion society by institutions, and those who would make institutions conformable to society. This distinction, of more value than a mere name, seems to us to point out the different duties ex pected from the Democratic and the Aristocratic Reformer. It supplies a guide to practical ex ertions and to a means of union. Those mea sures which remove restrictions and which set society free, are in our judgment to be promoted in preference to those which substitute one or ganisation for another. They are more in accord ance with general principles, more easily appreci able, more likely to unite most Reformers, and most certain to be immediately beneficial. Not depreciating for one moment those organic reforms which our friends at Leeds so justly and strenuously recommend, we, nevertheless, are in clined to think that it would be better to bend all our exertions in the first instance to procure a repeal of the Corn-laws rather than to engage in any other pursuit whatever. If it be objected that we cannot get this repeal, we reply that we can get it easier than we can get household suffrage and other elec toral and organic reforms, the propriety,of which we concede. Household suffrage will no more win over the Chartists than the repeal of the Corn-laws. In fact they are more opposed to the former than to the latter. Thousands of those who would readily set the corn trade free doubt the propriety of extending the suffrage, particularly as to Ireland. We de not ;but thousands of our friends ar.d party do. All those who demand household suffrage are the enemies of the bread-tax. Let them therefore first seek its abolition. To seek one thing at a time is good policy. The abolition has already enlisted in its favour a great number of Democratic Reformers in every part of the kingdom ; the aristocracy, we have good reason to know, dread the exertions of the League and its friends ; and we should say, let Corn-law abolition be the great practical measure which all Demo cratic Reformers out of Parliament should unite to obtain in the ensuing Session. Let our Leeds friends recollect that the abolition of the Corn-laws will place the landlords on the side of the further abolition of all protecting duties. They will then aid us in getting rid of the discriminating dories on sugar, coffee, timber, &e. To the Dissenters we say, that by abolishing the Corn-law the rent-charge for the Church will pro bably fall so heavily on the land that the landlords will more readily than now support them in re quiring that the Church be separated from the State. Let the Chartists remember that the land, lords would be wrathful against the masters from the abolition, and most likely would be ranged on the side of the labourers in all their further efforts to improve their condition. Mr. O'Cori- NELL complains of absentees; not that he wishes the Protestant landlords to dwell in Ireland, but he wishes the produce of Ireland to remain there. Lit him remember that by opening the English market freely to foreign corn, the temptation will be greatly lessened to export produce from Ireland, and that the abolition would greatly enrich and greatly benefit the bulk of the population—the Catholics of Ireland. To all the democratic classes that abolition would bring an accession of wealth, a gradual increase in their numbers, and an increase of power. To all classes of libe rators, to all those who would enlarge freedom, and give society power over institutions, the aboli tion of the Corn-law is now more recommended than any other single measure ; and we earnestly and seriously put it to all Democratic Reformers whether they will not now unite, heart and hand, and, laying as►de for the time, all other schemes and projects, zealously endeavour to carry the abolition. If they cannot achieve that they must be impotent, we are afraid, at present to effect any great good. Whatever they may resolve on it will be our business to give that our steady support ; but we pray them speedily to select some one object, to attain which all hearts may be united. The little general news in the French Journals of Monday will be found in another part of The Sun. The Journal des Debats, in publishing the news from Alexandria, which appeared in our co lumns of Monday, merely remarks upon the absence of the word hereditary in the Convention proposed by Lord PALMERSTON and accepted by the Paella of EGYPT. The Commerce states that Admiral STOPFORD, in disavowing Commodore NAPIER'S Convention, and substituting another, merely followed out the usual system of British policy. We anticipated charges of this sort from a blunder so unfortunate. But a part of the mischief may yet be repaired. MEHEMET ALI is certainly entitled to all the advan tages secured to him by Commodore NA PIER'S Treaty, and unless Lord PALMER STON substitute it for the one presented to the VICEROY by Captain FANSHAW, it will be im possible to deny that MEHEMET ALI has been treated very shamefully by England. The ratifica tion of NAPIER'S Convention can only wipe out the stain which the act of Admiral STOPFORD has fixed upon our national honour. The Constitutionnel glories in the perfect una !limit) of opinion which now prevails, and which from time immemorial has pervaded France, while the National professes to be unable to read the sentence of the Judge and Jury upon the Abbe de LAM ENNAIS without blushing. There is a great discrepancy between these expressions, and for once the National has certainly the best of it. In countries where unanimity of opinion prevails re volutions are necessarily unknown, nor could they comprehend the possibility of such events as wars of the Fronde and massacres of St. BA lITIIOLOMEW. In good truth there is not, and there never was, an unanimity of o pinion in France. When the sparks of dissent kindled by the Reformation was extinguished by the blood of martyrs and confessors, the Jansenists and the Jesuits filled the land with their conten tions. Infidelity followed upon the heels of fana ticism and hypocrisy, and, in the mad struggle to free themselves from an intolerable yoke, the altar and the throne fell together, and were for a time buried under the mins of social order. The unanimity of opinion which prevailed in France during the last half century, is known to all Europe. Even in hatred of England, France has never been unanimous—the peculiar virtue upon which France is congratulated by the Constitution net; for when we had the Republicans opposed to us, we hal the Royalists among the number of our grateful guests, and when the latter olkiined the ascendancy, we had refugees of the former THE SUN, LONDON, WE PECEN HER 30, 1810. class applauding our social institutions to the very echo. But without dwelling upon a subject which it was quite ridiculous in a Journal in the least ac quainted with the history of France, past and pre sent, to moot, we cordially agree with the National that the sentence pronounced upon the Abbe de LAMENNAIS is enough to crimson the cheek of any honest and patriotic Frenchman. The Abbe, poor man, is a harmless enthusiast, whose natural eloquence, more than the popularity of his senti ments, procures him numerous admirers, not one in an hundred of whom care a rush which side of the question he espouses. Like all enthusiasts, he is simple and unaffected in his manners, and though liable to change his opinions, he would lay down his life for those which he advocates, so long as they are really his. We have read his " Words of a Believer," and our con viction is, that no Government having a regard to its own safety ought to prosecute such a publication, as, the more such doctrines are bruited, the worse it must be for a system not founded on the basis of eternal justice. In that pamphlet the Abbe asserts that did CHRIST the Redeemer now ap pear in frame, having not where to lay his head, his sacred person would be profaned by the touch of a policeman, and a Magistrate would commit him to prison as a vagrant. Such assertions arc not to be made lightly the subjects of prosecution by men who have perverted the early Christian equality and the com►aunity of goods, and: the toils necessary to produce them—for :the system of grinding tyranny which now darkens the fair face of the Christian world. if the sacred armoury of reason and of truth supplies no weapons with which successfully to combat such theories, the wisest policy for a Go vernment to pursue is to take no notice of them. To prosecute is to give them notoriety, and to en list the sympathies of the young, the ardent, the dissatisfied with the existing order of things, in fa vour of their authors. There is in the human mind an inherent disposition to take the part of the weak against the strong, of the oppressed against the op pressor; and, in the case: of a generous people, to elevate any person prosecuted by a Government for speculative opinions in religion or politics into a martyr. The prosecution and the defence of the Abbe de LAMENNAIS, were conducted with an almost equal disregard of the character and the interests of the accused. The public prosecutor, M. PA RTA RIEU LAFOSSE, heaped epithets of abuse upon the head of the accused, a thousand times more disgraceful to the utterer than to the dauntless subject of them. Among other ridiculous charges, he sought to raise a prejudice against the Abbe by representing him as an infidel, and in this he succeeded ; although it is notorious that poor M. de LAMENN &IS is a firm believer in Christian Revelation, although no longer a stickler for papal supremacy, and the right of exalting the crozier above the sceptre. But M. de LAMENNAIS was not worse used by the prosecutor than he was defended by that now antiquated political abortion, M. MAuculN• This gentleman forgot his client in the mazes of the Eastern question, into which which he entered with as much ardour as if he ex pected the Jury to vote the eternal downfal of M. TRIERS, and his own exaltation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The poor Jurors might well look confounded when they found themselves drag- ged through Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt, and from the _ capital: of ICabool making a sudden bound to London to examine the opinions of Lord GREY and the Duke of WHI,LINGTON, and to resent with becoming indignation the silly taunts of the Globe and the John Bull. M. MAuGuIN professed himself at the outset no eulogist of the con duct of his client, and by way of proving this, he took care to forget him altogether before he had uttered a dozen sentences. The Jury had inet to decide upon a simple case of libel, and were of course driven half out of their wits, when the prisoner's counsel confounded the ravings of an old but well-meaning enthusiast with Belgian and Spanish revolutions ; changes of dy nasties ; Cabool ; naval :armaments in the Levant; an alliance with Russia ; and a war with England ! No wonder the Jury got bewildered, and while their wits were wool-gathering, gave a verdict un favourable to the prisoner. Since his condemnation, M. LAMENNAIS, has addressed a letter to the Commerce, in which he denies experiencing any other feeling than fatigue during his trial, that journal having previously stated that he appeared care , ororn and anxious. The old man bears his fate with th'e equanimity of a martyr, _ _ letter from the frontiers of Italy, of the 13th of December, says, " The works on the fortifications of Ancona, which were resumed since the circulation of the reports of war in the month of August, will, it is said, be continued. Want of money is the cause of the delay in the execution of these works. There is now a plan, as we hear, to contract a loan, which would enable the Government to proceed in the ex ecution of these measures of defence. This loan would also serve to place the military force on the war esta blishment, so far as the present state of things re quired. All this will lead to a series of negotiations between the Holy See and tle Cabinet of Vienna. We bear also that new armaments arc projected in the Duchies. We have heard people talk of the anger of foreign Powers at the project of fortifying Paris. This, at least, is not the opinion of the Journal de Frankjiwt. the organ of the Germanic Diet. We find in it the following passage, which we recommend to the Na tional :—" The more the Chamber shall vote complete means of defence, and an invincible orgabization in the interior, the more will the policy, which has openly de clared for peace, and which accepts the resposibility of it, he satisfied and confirmed, the more certainly will it enjoy the confidence which it has well deserved of the country.—Lc Commerce." BOURSE.—PAnts, MONDAY, DEC. 28. t irst Highest Lowest Vail Price Price. Prick. Price French 5 per Cents 4 per Cents 9O 75 ... 96 75 ... 96 75 ... 96 75 3 per (ruts 7 g 35 %0 6l ... 76 00 ... 711 60 flatt). 01 franee Lattitte t;Alk 5000 f. Stares 5137 50 ...5137 50 ...5132 50 ...51:1:2 50 is elgien /Sauk 5 per Cents 9744 ... V75( 2 ... 97 1 4 ... 9744 New Lean ,1,:in:1 - 1 Active 243i, ... 251., ... o.y, ... 2.10,4 Passive )1 ••• 5 31 ... 514 ... SS, New Deferred Portuguese 3 per Cents 2O ... 20 ... I li ... ;i , eaimit: an Roman RAILWAY SHARES. ..._. St. Germain — - t 35 ... 635 ... ( , 35. ... 635 Versailles,lt. 8 340 ... 141 ... 280 .... 3s o L.B. 295 ....A] 50 ... 21,5 ... V 5 Orleans .. StrasMiry; to Bale A UNI•LtIAN FUN DS.—N'lr.rou, Dice. 19 live per Cutts. Metalliques • 10 0 1,6 Foal per Gent A Three p,r Cent.. - Bank shares —..iftigemenic Zeitung. Dee. 21. We have received Madrid papers of the 20th instant. The REGENCY had ordered the suppres sion of nine convents in the province of Gm puseoa alone, and similar orders had been ad dressed to the authorities in several other provinces in Spain. The funds had risen in consequence. Front being at 26 the Fives rose to 30 for c;ish, and closed on the 19th at Ennons or TIIE " TimEs."—A month ago the Times was busily engaged day after day in proving to the satisfaction of the horrified public that accidents on railroads were much more frequent and dangerous than on common roads. Yesterday, however, it slyly slipped into an article the following recantation of its former error :—" There is no doubt, we believe, that travelling generally has been rendered in some degree more secure than heretofore by the adoption of railroads." The public must be at a loss which most to admire—the graceful ease with which our Contemporary changes his opinions, or the hardihood with which he propounds his last-adopted error as if it were eternal truth. The Duke of Wellington has had cards of in vitation issued for a grand banquet at Apsley House, on the 25th of the ensuing month, to the Noble and gallant Duke's supporters in the House of Lord►. THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. The arrivals of Grain since Monday have been very small. The frost continuing and the navigation being nearly closed, very little business has been done, as few buyers have attended to-day. LITERATURE. ELPHINSTONE, 3 Vo Ls. Bentley, London, 1840. Elphinstone is a story of homely, familiar life, whose incidents are put together with no great skill, but answer the purpose of entertainment well enough, inasmuch as they arc unexaggerated in their nature, and are touched off with a light and rapid pen. The author of the story, Mr. Butler, seems to have had Fielding often in his thoughts while he was writing it, for we perceive that he is very fond of commencing his different books and chapters with reflections, as though lie were ambitious of blending the character of moral essayist with that of novelist; but his reflections, where they do not bear upon the actual every(' ty business of life, arc destitute of that point and shrewdness, and vivacity which delight us so much in that fine prose epic, Torn Jones. Nevertheless, Elphinstone is a readable tale, and would have been still more so, had the author given freer vent to his unquestionable powers of humour; but an apprehension of degenerating into extrava gance appears to have kept his vivacity under con tinual restraint ; hence he more frequently under writes than overwrites a comic scene. Now this is not the way to succeed in literature, any more than in love. To dare—that is to say, to give full play to whatever faculties he may possess, is the one great secret of ian author's; success. In Mr. Butler's tale there is a well conceived sketch of a provincial shopkeeper, by name Hardman, but the sketch is feebly filled up, chiefly, we suspect, in consequence of the author's fears of being supposed to run into caricature. In his next tale—should he ever venture upon a second—we would advise him to take the strait-waistcoat off his fancy, and make a point of diligently forgetting that there are any such beings as cr►tics. THE CHILD'S LIBRARY. Thomas, London, 1840. A collection of fables and proverbs adapted to the understanding of children, and embellished with not less than eighty-five illustrative plates. The volume, which is neatly printed and bound, would make an appropriate Christmas present. POPULAR TRADITIONS OF ENGLAND, 3 VoLs. album, London. We noticed these volumes a few years ago, when they appeared in the octavo form, under the title of " Popular Traditions of Lancashire," and shall now merely add, that in the present edition, Mr. ltoby has condensed, and theteby improved, his matter, omitting much that was of an uninteresting nature, and enlarging his plan so as to appeal to the tastes of a mote numerous class of readers. The volumes, instead of exhibiting in every page " a rivulet of text murmuring through a meadow of margin," arc closcly printed, and are illustrated with several passable wood-engravings. The Earl and Countess of Ducie have beer passing the holidays at Woodchester Park, C'yloucestershire The Hon. William Bingham Baring, M.P., for warded his farewell address to the electors of North Staf fordshire on Thursday last. The Hon. Gentlen.an says that he retires from the representation of that county on grounds purely personal to himself. The anniversary dinner of the North Stafford shire Conservative Association is fixed for the 15th of next month, at Stowe,wben Viscount Sandon, M. P., will preside. SIR ANDREW AGNEW ItESUCITATED.— Sir Andrew Agnew, whose self-denying labours in the cause are well known, has recently addressed a sort of cireular letter to the clerks of the several " Presbyteries" in Scotland, recommending renewed agitation in the mat ter of Sunday travelling. From this document, which has been published in some of the northern newspapers, we gather the gratifying fact, that the Postmaster-General is determined to enforce the conveyance of the mails on Sunday, " however contrary (says Sir Andrew) to the statute and common law of Scotland." A further speci men of the profane familiarity with which some of these parties venture to rush into forbidden matter is supplied in the postcript to Sir Andrew's circular. It is as fol lows:—"P. S. Whether the numerous railway acci dents in England arc attributable to the denial of Sabbath rest to the people employed, may be fairly inquired into. Undoubtedly, those who require others to disobey the commands, cannot expect the blessing of God on their un dertakings." We recommend to the attention of Sir An drew and his friends the following passage, from a book with which they are, of course, well acquainted :—" Sup ose ye, that these Galileans were sinners above all the G - Weans, because they suffered such things? I tell you nay. Or of those eighteen upon whom the tower in Si loam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you nay." It would seem, indeed, as it Sir Andrew thought that the guiltless public have sutf , :red for the guilty proprietors of railways. THE LAW OF LIBEL.—We understand that an influential body of gentlemen are making arrangements for the purpose of bringing before Parliament a plan fur a thorough revision of the Law of Libel. There is not, we are of opinion, any gentleman engaged in literary pur suits ,who does not, in his honest pride, loathe and detest these envenomed enactments, which extend their baneful effects to those who are in nowise to be considered as the guilty parties—hence the perpetration of the grossest in justice, which we much hope to see one day or other abo lished.—Sussex Advertiser. The election for the vacant Bridgemastership is fixed for the 14th of January. LIMERICK, DEC. 23.--Monday evening last, at the early hour of seven o'clock, A strong band of armed men, with their faces blackened, having carefully recon noitred the premises, effseted an entrance into the mansion of John Joseph Bourchier, Esq., of Baggotatown, in this county. One of the party had seized a little boy in the yard outside, who ran into the kitchen from them, and . the fel lows immediately followed him, and asked one of the sec vaet girls where their master was, at the same time hold ing a bayonet to her side. She turned off in affright and bid them leave the house, when another of the gang struck her with a gun in the neck, and compelled the girl to show them up stairs to her master's room. Having found the old gentleman, who has been some time incapacitated by illness to make any defence, the foremost ruffian pre vented a gun at his head and swore he would have his if; its the same breath commanding Mr. Bourchier to deliver his money. Miss Bourchier, alarmed by the noise of the intrusion, rushed between her father and what she conceived impending death, exclaiming with true heroism and filial affection, they should have her own life befote they could injure her father, and intreated of them to spare him, and take what they wished for. One of the ruffians, more daring than his confederates, deprived the old gentle man of his gold watch and valuables, whilst another was engaged with a pickaxe or crowbar, with which he assailed the iron safe in Mr. Bourchier's roosts, and smashed the door to pieces. The robbers were not deceived in the booty they looked for, as they Hied the sum of 90(1. in bank notes and gold, and three bank receipts, viz, two of them for 2001. each, and one for 2091 They have not yet been apprehended. There arc two vacancies in the establishment of the Military Knights of Windsor. One was caused about three weeks since, by the death of Captain Strange; the second has been occasioned by the decease of Captain Holmes, who expired at his residents, in the Upper Foundation, at five o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the 71st year of his age. Captain Holmes entered the 11th Light Dragoons in 1786; in 1792, he accompanied Lord Macartncy in his embassy to China, and was one of the few surviving officers who accompanied that expedition, and crossed the " Great Wall " into Tar tary. He ,All 5 afterwards appointed adjutant in the 13th light dragoons, and nobly bore his share in all the fatigues and glories of the Peninsular war. At the battle of Talavera he received a sabre wound on the hand, in single combat with a French officer, which caused him the less of a finger. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of captain, and at the termination of the war was appointed adjutant in Lord Churchill's regiment of Oxford Yeo manry. Captain Holmes , who received the a pp ointment of military knight ~bout ten years ago, has left a widow and family of six children, one of whom (a son) is lahour ing under the painful affliction of being deaf and dumb, and the whole arc totally unprovided for. NOVEL CASE.-00 Monday John Balmer and James Balmer, skinners in Jedburgh, were charged before John Craigic, Sheriff-substitute, for having, on the night of the 4th December current, stolen the skin of a horse by open ing the grave in a field ne ar Bon g ate, Jedbur g h, w here, out of respect for past services, it had been depo sited by Mr. Spiers, road surveyor, Bongate, with the skin and shoes on. The pannels were assoilzied from the bar on the ground, as stated by the Sheriff, that as the relatives of a. deceased person had no property in the body after int:rment, the same rule must be held to apply in the case of a dead horse, and that therefore the act charged was not theft. THE FROST IN PARIS.—On Saturday night, at twelve o'clock, the thermometer indicated b 8-10.4 degrees below sero of the Centigrade scale, or 21i above zero of Fahrenheit; at four yesterday morning it was at 6 Centigrade, or 21i Fahrenheit ; at seven o'clock it was 4 Centigrade, or 25 Fahrenheit ; and at mid-day 3 2 10ths Centigrade, or 201 Fahrenheit. Dr. Johnson laughed at Lord Kaiincs' opinion, that war was a good thing occasionally, as so much valour and virtue were exhibited in it. " A fire," said he, " might as well be thought a good thing ; there is the brsvery and address of the firemen in extinguishing it; there is much humanity exerted in saving the lives and properties of the poor sufferers. Yet, after all this, who can say that a fire is a good thing ?" KINGLY JUSTICE.—An anecdote is related of Pedro the Cruel having killed a person in tire street, as lie thought unobserved, arid that the testimony of an old woman, who heard tire clashing Of the swords and the nurse Pedro made in walking, convicted him as the author of the murder. The King, always with justice on his lips, however muds he degraded it in his action , , replied— Well, if I am a murderer, fix up a stone likeness of my head, for you cannot take the real one," This was ac cordingly done, and placed in the spot where the deed was committed, namely, the " Calle del Candilrjo," as it is yet called, and where the head of Don Pedro is still seen. Viscount and Viscountess Combermere have arrived in Brussels front a tour of the German Spas. The Gallant Viscount and his Lady will remain ehout three weeks longer in that capital, and then return to this country. NENVGATE AND LEADENHALL. Game and Poultry were in rathes large supply, and the demand so moderate that prices were only nominal Eggs in demand at 6s to 81 per 120 for English, and 8i to 9s for other kinds. Meat was in large supply, trade very dull, and lower rates were accepted. Beef 3s 6d to 5s ; Mutton 3s 6d to 5s 2d; Veal 3s 10d to 6s; Pork 3i 8d to 5s per atone of 81bs. COLONIAL MARKET. There was little done, but prices underwent no varia ion. Holders of goods were not disposed to force sales. TEA MARKET. Buyers of Free Trade were on the alert, and a fair amount of business was transacted at rather high rates. For Company's Congou the demand was fair at 2s 11(1 per lb. cash. TALLOW MARKET. There w•as a fair demand for P. Y. C., and pricer were firm at 475.;6(1. on the spot, and 48s. for delivery in spring months. The stock is b,OOO casks larger than last year at this time. OIL MARKET. Prices on the advance fur Fish Oils, and the demand good. Pale Seal was not to be purchated under 341., and the supply was very small. LLO YD'S SHIPPIN G.-(THIS DAY ) LONDON, DEC. 30.—Iiind this day at noon, light westerly airs, and fine, with a hard frost. The sun shcnie with great splendour this morning. The river is partly frozen over. DEAL, DEC. .29. —Wind N. W., light breezes.--. Sailed the Princess Chai lotto, Nash, for Singapore ; Sophia, Pingelly, for Jamaica ; Lively, Martin, Grenada; Jane, Palmer, Africa. PORTSNIOUTI3, DEC. 29. —Wind N. N. W. to NI N. E.— Sailed the John Bartlett, Bartlett, for Sydney, New South Wales. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 29.—Wind N.—Arrived the Hope, Cockburn, from Lima sailed August 8, with part of cargo thrown overboard, and decks swept, having been struck by a sea during a heavy gale August 25, in lat. 32 ; site bore up for Valparaiso 27th, and sailed thence Sep tember 12. Norman, Wood, New Orleans. Sailed the Duncan, Robertson, for Savannah ; Caledonia, Camel, Bombay ; Devonport, Broadfoot, Mobile ; Alexander, Montreal. Off port, the Balfour, from Paraiba. The Osprey, which put back yesterday, must discharge. SHIELDS, DEC. 28.—Arrived Horn, Robertson, Quebec. VESSELS SPOKEN , WlTll.—llarkaway, from Quebec to London, 7th inst., lat. 49, lon. 23; Williath and Al fred, Havannah to Liverpool. 15th, lat. 51, lon. 9, by the Isabel, Cope, arrived at Crookhaven ; Caroline, Liverpool to Monte Video, 13th Oct., lat. 32 5,, lon. 47; Diana, Bocteher, Bremen to New York, 30th ult., lat. 37 N., lon. 24 ; Dorothea, Tideman, 13th inst., off the Lizard ; Saltwedel, Cape de Verds to Monte Video, 30th Oct., lat. 4 N., lon. 23 W. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NE W'S CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, TUESDAY.—The sales to-day are 4,000 bags, of which 1,000 bags have been taken on speculation ; full prices have been ob. wined. LIVERPOOL SHARE LIST, DEc.29.—Eastern Coun ties debentures, 99 ; Grand Junction, 2111 212 ; New, 281 ; Great Western, 90 ; Fifths, 10i ; Liver pool and Manchester, 185 ; Brighton United Company, 42/ ; Manchester and Leeds, half-shares, 27i ; New Shares, 94. THE FUNDS. The British market continues firm, with an improve ment this morning. Consols, which left off yesterday at 88} for the Account, may be quoted at present 88:1 ; Reduced 881 ; Exchequer Bills 2 4 prem. ; Bank Stock 1561 157} ; India Stock, 137 139. In the Foreign Market it appears that Spanish Active is again the favourite speculation, and in which the only business is doing at present ; it left off yester day at 241, and improved to 24,1 1, owing to a report that accounts have been received this morning that it has been done 1 per cent, higher after the express left Paris. Deferred, 121 ; Passive, 6 ; Portuguese same as they left off 32 ; Three p er e e nts.,2ol 21 ; Colombian same, 231 ;-Mexican improved, left off at 271 28. at present, 281 ; Brazilian 70f 7 1 1 ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., as they closed, 50i 51i ; Five per Cents., 971 4. SHARES.—Great Western, '25 26 preen., New, 10 11 prem. ; London and Brighton, 6f 6 dis. ; Black wall, 41 dis. ; Birmingham, 81 83 prem.; South ampton, 541 551 per share ; Croydon, 121 per share ; Greenwich, 81 per share ; Manchester and Birming ham; 15 13 per share ; South Eastern and Dover, 161 10 discount. PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE. RAILWAYS. Paid. Per Share. Great Western ~ - D itto New ... .... ...... 40 Ditto Fifths London and Birmingham DO :172 to Ditto New Shares London and Greenwich ..... .••••• 20 ...... .., to --- Ditto Scrip London and South Western 3B/...... 56 ..-: ... to , COURSE OF EXCHANGE—(YESTERDAY). Amsterdam C F. 12',Gibra1tar............:.... 46 Ditto, at sight Botterdam ...... U. 12 s'Genoa 23 b.) Antwerp l2 4} Milan Hamburgh... ....M.B. 13 9i Venice ............. Altona l3 10 Naples... . 311 Paris, 3 days' sight 25 40 ,ratermo, per oz 121 Ditto, 3 months 25 65 Lisbon . . 52 ; 1 . •••. 23 70 Oporto ....... . • . Ileordeaux... 27 Petersburgh, 3 Us. 37 ,Buenos Ayres Frankfort on Maine.... 149 Bahia Berlin Vienna, effec fl. Al. 10 3 'Phil a delphia Trieste, ditto Madrid ,Portugal Gold Coin£o 0 0 Cadiz 35 i New Doubloons 0 0 Barcelona Seville Silver in Bars 0 5 o,i HALF -PAST ONE The following is an extract of the commercial rela tions with:France in wines and silks, from an American paper recently received : " The packet ship for Havre, for some time past, has been taking quantities of wine from America to ply the American debt to France. It is asked %shy this amount of speci e i s thus drawn from America? The answer is, to pay for the French silks and wines, and other luxuries consumed by America. The cost of the silks imported into the United State s during the year ending Sept. 30, 1839, was 'nearly 23,000,000 dollars. Most of these come from France. There are two considerations which present themselves upon our commercial inter course with France ; one is the unequal position which the two countries relatively occupy, indicating a total want of reciprocity. French commodities are admitted into the American ports almost without duties. Under this system, the exports from France to America have increased with astonishing rapidity. There is no cor responding liberality on the part of France ; the reverse is the case. While the United States go to one extreme, France goes to another. We admit her commodities on the most fixvoarable terms ; she imposes on ours the most onerous restrictions. Her duties on American tobacco range from five hundred to eight hundred per cent., and, in addition to this, no com petition of buyers is allowed. The Government holds the monopoly, and is the exclusive purchaser. "The exports from Charleston and Savannah last year in cotton amount to 12,505,320 dollars ; from Savannah 10,208,348 dollars." The Lisbon mall has arrived, but nothing of conse quence has occurred as yet in respect to the commence ment of hostilities, the time allowed by the Spanish Government of 20 days for an answer, had not ex pired, but extensive warlike preparations were going in Portugal, anti the impressment for the army was curried ou with vigour. The Queen had appointed the Duke of Terceira to the; Command-in-Chief of the Army of Observation in the provinces of Tres os Montes and Minho. The next Session will commence on the 2d of January, 1841. We refer our readers for further particulars to another part of the paper. The above mail was brought by the Montrose steamer. Sailed from Lisbon the 21at inst., Gibraltcr the 20th, Cadia the 21st, Oporto and Vigo the 24th. Consols, which were in the early part of the morning at 88! for the 15th January, are not quite so good at present, 881- for Account; ( reduced, 8S; ; Ex chequer Bills, 4 2 prem. ; India B on d s, 15 di e . ; Bank Stock 157 i. In the Foreign Market Spani s h A ct i ve was d one a t 23, at present, 24g. ; Deferred, 101 ; P ass i ve, 61 Portuguese, 321 ; Three per Cents. 211 ; Brazilian, 711 ; Colombian, 24 ; Mexican,t2Ba Dutch Ttva-and a-Half per Cents. 51 - 1 ; Five per C ents, nothing d one . In the Share Market little doing, an d no material alteration in the prices. Great Western, 911 ; New, 5 ; Fifths, 11 101 ; London and Birmingham, 172 ; Ditto New Shares, 41)1 ; London South Wes tern, 56. ANOTHER SUPPOSED Al tiltnEll.—lll a former paper, we stated that a person had been rode user, on the hamilton-road, by the London mail, end taken up dead. The supposition at first was, that he had been killed by the coach ; but circumstances h ri , g , e i, t , tra n spired, which create some fears lest the unfortunate man may have been murdered. The guard and driver of the mail are confident that the wheels of the coach passed over his lower extremities; and yet, when they lifted him up, he was found bleeding at the head, which was severely cut, while it had not the appearance of being so very recent a wound es must have been caused by the coach passing over it. It has been discovered also, that before the above circumstance took place, he had 16s. or 19s. and some articles in his possession, which were not upon his person whets he was found. From these, and other circumstances, a supposition has gone abroad that the man has been murdered, and the authorities are making strict inquiry into the matter. Tilt: name of the deceased was Watson and he was a carter by business.—Glasgow Aryus, COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, TUESDAY.—His Ro ) al Highness Prince Albert skaited for some time this n orning, attended ►,y the gentlemen of the Royal Suite. Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, of the Ist Life .Gutrds, will have the honour of dining with the RAyal party this evening at the Castle. The Queen has not taken her usual drive to-day. We understand that her Majesty and the yolng Prin cess Royal are exceedingly well. The Duke of Cambridge, attended by B iron Knese beck, went on Monday to Coombe Wood, where his Royal Highness spent the day shooting. His Royal Highness in the afternoon returned to town. In the evening his Royal Highness honoured Covent Garden Theatre with his presence. The Chairman of the Excise had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his offi cial residence, in Downing-street. Lord and Lady Rivers have left Farrance's Hotel, Belgravc-street, for Brighton. PUSEYISM. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) It may interest you to know that the pernicious prin ciples denominated " Putcyism," are much more active and diffused here than is generally believed ; in fact, it is the only living principle in the University. The undergraduates are extensively corrupted ; the autho rity which it invests them with, as clergymen, is too attractive to human nature to be resisted. As there really is no antagonistic principle in the Church, Pro testantism (meaning freedom of thought—the sufficiency of the Scriptures—their sole authority)—this having been suffered to die out, nothing is left to check the growth of the new-old-spiritual despotism. What will the end be ? Oxford, Dcc. 20, 1840. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. DEC. !9. (Before Commissioner Sir C. F. Williams.) TIIE BANKRUPTCY OF SPARKS AND CO., OF TIIE GUILD- FORD BANK-IN THE ➢FATTER OF ANTHONY LEE. This was the day fixed for the last examination of the bankrupts. The amount proved by affidavit was 24,201/., and 5151. by deposition, which, added to the sums for which proofs have been already received, gives a total of 65,4951., 3s. 4d. Of that sum 60,3051. 1 7s. Gd. was upon deposits in the bank, and the remainder upon notes issued by the hank. Mr. Russell (the barrister) attended to watch the proofs on behalf of the assignees. The official assignee said that another adjournment would become absolutely necessiry, as, froli the multi plicity of the accounts, the balance sheet could not be got ready, with all the ability of the accountant (Mr. Coleman), for at least a month to come. The bank rupt was a consenting party to the application for an adjournment, the creditors were about twelve hundred, and the amount of their claims about 170,000/., as far as could be at present ascertained. The Learned COMMISSIONER said a strict investi gation should be made into many of the claims, in order to remove the clouds which burin- ' over them, for, if not, it might so happen that upon being hastily allowed, they would ultimately have to be expunged. No cre ditor whose debt was just could suffer either loss or in convenience by a trifling delay in his proof. The REGISTRAR. (Mr. Parry) observed that no di vidend could be legally made before feu months, and that would fall on Sunday, the 14th day of February next, and the audit and dividend could take place the following Monday. It was right that all the creditors should be made acquainted with that fact. The fur ther hearing was then deferred till the 15th of Fe bruary next. (Before Mr. Commissioner Evatis.) IN THE MATTER OF BURTON. This was the day fixed for the adjourned choice of assignees in the matter of this bankrupt, who as a corn factor had very extensive transactions with the Messrs. Johnson, of Mark-lane, whose case occupied such pro minent attention in the corn trade generally a few weeks ago. The liabilities of the bankrupt are very heavy, but hopes are entertained that a large amount of of property which the Messrs. Johnson obtained from him just before his bankruptcy may yet be made avail able to the general body of creditors. At the last hearing the debt of the petitioning credi tor (Mr. Herries), for .5,000/., was objected to, and has been since made the subject of rigorous investigation at the office of the official assgnee, and the bankrupt hav ing also been examined as to its bona fides in Court to day, the Learned Commissioner directed it to be ad mitted. A reduced claim of Messrs. Johnson for 34,000/. was not allowed, and the claim will become the subject of litigation in the Court of Review at the commencement of next term. "1 he other debts proved being very few, Mr. Lee, canvas-factor, of Fenchurch street, together with Mr. Herries, were then appointed assignees. The Earl of Desart, after visiting his estates in Ireland, embarked at Dunmore on board his new yacht Theresa, for Gibraltar, where his Lordship arrived ater a favourable voyage, in seven days. The Marquis and Marchioness of Downshire and Lady Charlotte Hill returned, last week, to Easthanip stead Park, 'Jerks, from a visit to the Marquis of Salis bury, at Hatfield House. The Noble Marquis and Mar chioness have entertained a party of friends during the holidays, including Lord Sandvs, Mr. Fulke and Lady Rosa Greville, Mr. Algernon Grey . 'lle, &e. There is to be a grand ball at Easthampstead Patk to-night. The Earl of Liverpool will leave Pitchford Hall, Salop, the second week in next month for Fife House. ------- His Excellency Baron Brunow has left Ash burnham House for Broadlands, Hants, on a visit to Vis count and Viscountess Palmerston. The Earl and Countess of Camperdown, accom panied by Lady Elizabeth Duncan, left Lundie House, Forfarshire, the week before last, with the intention of making a tour of visits en route to Bath, where they intend passing the winter. The Earl and Countess and Lady Elizabeth have been among the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, at Flours Castle, during the Christmas. The Earl of Clare, with the Dowager Countess of Clare and Lady Isabella Fitzgibbon, was to leave Mount Shannon, the family seat, in the county of Limerick, on Monday last. The Dowager Countess and Lady Eliza beth are expected shortly at their town mansion, in Bel grave-square, but the Noble Earl is going on a visiting tour, and will rot come to town until a few days before the meeting of Parliament. CHURCH RATES. A LDGATE CHURCH CLOSED —The churchwardens of the parish of St. Bo tolph, Aldgate, have issued a notice, stating that Mr. Colebach, a surveyor appointed for the purpose, having duly examined the condition of the sacred edifice, and pro nounced the roof and ceiling thereof to be in such a de cayed and dangerous state as to render it unsafe for con gregations to assemble, they arc under the necessity of announcing that the church must in consequence be closed for divine service. This church has for some time past been in a most dilapidated state owing to the inability of the churchwardens to make a rate to pay for the necessary repairs, tLe Radicals and Dissenters having succeeded in negativing the proposition ;or a rate as often as it has cen brought forward. DEATH OF MRS. KNOX.—It is our painful duty to record in our obituary of this week the decease of Mrs. Knox, the wife of Vicesimus Knox, Esq. As early as the month of February all hope was abandoned by her medical advisers, Sir Charles Clarke, Mr. Blegden, and Mr. Stone ; from that period till her dissolution on Thursday last, she was subjected to almost constant, and very frequently to extremely severe suffering, which she bore with admirable patience and meek submission, till she sunk, at length, under the effects of exhaustion. Few have lived more generally esteemed and beloved, or died more deeply re: rotted. The lamented lady was a sister of Sir Henry Meux, Bart., and a first cousin of Lord Brougham.—Essex Herald. A HINT TO LORD MELBOURNE AND LORD HILL.—" I alien not, whilst I have the honour to admi nister the government, bring a man into any office of con sequence knowingly, whose political tenets are adverse to the meastres which the general government are pursuing, fur this I hold to be a sort of political suicide.-- Vide Washington," by 111. Guizot, Secretary of State to Louis Philippe. If the outer garments of children and elderly people were made of stuff, or of any material of which wool made the greater part, we should not have occasion to lament so many deaths by burning. The aprons and pinbefores, even of boys, should be made of the same ma terial. Those who purchase clothes for the poor would do well to consider the utility, rather than the cheapness of the article purchased; and parents should reflect that, though a linen frock may cost less than a stuff, yet it is not half so durable ; besides its liability to take fire it may be the means of bringing a premature and painful death upon their uffapring, or a long life of lingerint , misery. A curious circumstance occurred at Cranbrook last week, which perhapa may end seriously. A lady and gentleman having made application to the Vicar to be per mitted to see the interior of the church, they were directed to call on the clerk to go with them ; the Vicar, it is said, saw them enter and withdrew. Whether the good lady had lately had some curious dreams, or was otherwise af fected in her head, is not yet ascertained, but she pre tended to have some documents that proved she had a legal claim by heirship to the esiate or farm called Ses singhurst, in Cranbrook, ard which formerly belonged to the ancient family of the Bakers, who were buried in a vault in the chancel of the church, where a beautiful marble monument is erected to their inem,ry. The good lady said there was an iron chest. buried with the last Mr. Baker, in which were the writings the obtaining of which won'd shot; , her right of claim to the estate of Sessingliurst, now th e property of the Esti Cornwallis . . She accordingly procured a stonemason and assistants to remove the slab that covered the entrance of the vault, who began to operate, hut had not precrcded far enough to obtain their object, before they were called to order by the Churchwarden, the Vicar, and others, and ordered to quit the church immediately. The lady re monstrated, and her " father " refused to go out : their ejection was, however, speedily accomplished, the whole party being threatened with a prosecution, and notice is given of a vestry to take the case into further considera tion. We understand the good lady had her fortune told before she left the place by a female adept in the science. —Canterbury Journal. EVENING EDITION. TRANSLATI N OF THE BIBL[• TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. confidently trust for the insertion of the fol. lowing to the candour I have both seen and felt. I troubled you with a very few temperate remarks, which have called forth some less appropriate to a .tine of socil I sympathy by " J. E.," whether another " Little Stone," or alter et idem I, of course, cannot know.* Allow me first to inform " J. E." that I neither am, nor ever shall be, one of those whom he seems to dis• like "as some men do a cat"—a Clergyman. 1110:e -over, that no one of this denounced class is privy to what I write. However, 1 do not like bitter vocral reflections or ascription of motives. "J. E." would take it very ill if I was to insinuate that he wanted to be the enriched founder of anew sect, or had any sel fish personal reason for wishing to disparage the present version. I am not a Hebrew scholar. I have known some very clever laymen that were ; one of whom had so little interest in upholding the Church Establish ment that he was a Quaker. From neither of these did I ever hear—though perfectly in coofidence—any thing at all resembling whet "J. E." says. Some few mistakes, a few things which might have been more clearly rendered—perhaps. But before " J. E.'s" long claim to a species of " Eleutinian " knowledge of He brew, they should be supported by something more than ipsc Alit. What do the Jews think of our version ? —a question, by the way, I never yet heard asked— but a very important one. "J. E." must be as well acquainted as myself with the names of eminent lie brcw scholars that we have had, of whom I suppose Dr. Kennicott and the present Professor Lee, of Cain.. bridge (whom I only speak of as an oriental scholar, without entering into theological questions) hays not been the least. Would not a person be thought a little bold who should condemn by wholesale classical ver sions which a Porson had approved ? I am not prepared to deny that the transiatori rdodted many things—most certainly for all—from former ver sions : but that they were so faulty, again rests o s the word of "J. E." Mr. Bellamy's translation, if I re collect right, has long been, in part, before th, p io.ie, without the wonder-working effects attributed to it. But if the office and ministration of the Clergy coul i be destroyed by persons knowing as much of the fun ,da tion as themselves, what does " J. E." thick it . the Greek Testament ? which I have known, and the fide lity of its translation, made at the seine time, gives me some analogy as to the other. I assure you, Sir, I am not at all a bigoted Church man, " Puseyite," or " Saint," in the popular accepta tion. But, with any errors which ought to he cor rected, I should be sorry that the place and fluencc of a clergy, in a s , ,cial body, should be destroyed ; nor should I, by any means, be opposed to a f .ir revision of the translation of the Bible by a " Special Jury" of able men impartially summoned. But until errors be proved, du not let us have such wholesale diatrilecs to puzzle plain men. As to ".I. E.'s" saying that the Bible, as at present, tends to infidelity, I know, and so do a good many of your readers, that it has formed a hope in life and death to thousands, infinitely superior to myself in the qualities of intellect and disposition, and, it will be no offence to say, equal to " J B." 1 am, Sir, your's respectfully, and obliged, A CONSTANT READER, Al A. London, Dec. 29, 1840. [* The communicationb came from two . dt,rent parties. On this subject we . have given both ,ides fair hearing, with which we hope they will be satitfit.d.] GERMANY. lIAMBUTGII, DEC. 16.—1 told you some months ego that the British General Post•oflice had entered into it negotiation with our Senate, through the Sccretiry of State for Foreign AfLirs, relative to a reduction of the rate of postage. These negotiations have now so far ad vanced that Dr. Banks, one of the Syndics, is gone to London to bring them to a conclusion. I: were to be wished that this example were followed on the Con tinent, as it. is now evident how much the correspond ence has. increased in England since the introduction of the penny po,tage, especially among the classes not connected with trade ; who, while the rate ot post age remains so high as at presetrt (on tbo Continent) must, if not rich, deny themselves the satisfaction of a regular cotrespondence with their dis:ant friends. TatEsTE, Dac. 17.—We learn by an estafette, that the Crown Prince of Bavaria is detained at Udina, the snow haviag rendered the roads impassable. Yester day and to-day's mails from Italy have not arrived, so that we hare no news from France and Western Germany. The letters and journals from Vienna, which should have coma yesterday forenoon, have been brought to day by messengers, the toads beyond Laibeek being blocked up by the snow. During the whole of last night such a quantity of sn''►v has fallen here, that we fancy ourselves transported to a port in the Northern Sea. The heaps of snow in our streets are to us a new and uncomfortable sight. His Excellency General Alava has returned to town from a visit to the Marquis and Marehioncoi of Au glescy, at Beaudescrt, Staffordshire. The Duke of Norfolk goes to. Arundel Castle, Sussex, this week. The Earl and Coun:A3ss of Surrey and the Ladies Howard, and Viscount find ViseOuntets Fax lnn intend also visiting the farnilyrseat for several weeks. CURRAGIIMORE.—The Marquis of Waterford will arrive this week at the above princely •eat iu Water ford. Viscount lngestre, and La j Ssrah lngestre have already arrived there from a tour of visits. DEATII FRuNI SWALLOWLNG A TEALSPOON. --An inquest was held on Monday, at the Royal Hotel, Cheltenham, before J. Barnett, E , q., Coroner, o inquire touching the death of a poor Irishman, named Jere;niah Daly, which was caused by his accidentally swilling a tea - - EpOOn, which he hr►d put into his mouth for the puTpose of mak►ng himself sick. While holding it in that position, he was seized with a violent retching, which drew the spoon out of his hind, and it slipped down his throat, pAsscd into his stomach, and death ensued iu consequence. Verdict—" Accidental death." Yesterday placards were posted tin oughout the metropolis, offering a reward of 501 fur the name of a col— lier-brig (supposed to be upward bound,) which ran down the Chance fishing smack of Barking, whilst riding at an chor in the East Swin on the night of the It:lth inst., by which she was totally lost. THE FALSE ALARM AT A CATHOLIC.CIIA-. I'ET. IN DUBLIN. -F 1 FITHICR PA RTIC MARS Some pet- sons who have been in custody since this melarcholy oc currence were on Saturday brought before the Magistrate& of the Head-office, but they declined entering upon the in vestigation until after the inquest, which will be held to morrow. The Very Rev. Dr. Flanagan, P. P., who, to gether with his clergy, feels deeply the sad affliction, has been unremitting in bis exertions f:inee Friday morning to ascertain the cause of the occurrence, and we trust that the evidence which will be brought before the coro ner will prove sufficient to allay even the suspicion which appears to gain credit with the public, that so dreadful a calamity derived its origin from some evil-designing per son who went there ler the purpose. That som e h o l m were broken, and an alarm raised, appears certain, and also that the laths broken were brought to. the place, for, on examining them closely they nere found to be quite different from those used. la point of fact, there were no laths at all recently in use about the building, nor wero there any discovered except thaw which were broken.— Pilot of Monday. The Courrier Francais says " Baron Mounier is arrived front London If our information be cotrc:.ct, and we have reason to think that it is, he has completel7 failed in the different objects of his mission." ATTEMPTEDSUICIDE , BY A .YouNC; LADE —About half-past eleven o'clock on Monday night as po lice constable W. Thornton, R 3, E division, watt On duty in South-crescent, Bedford-square, he saw, a young f, male sittine., with her head in her lap, on the step of the door of No. 7, in the above crescent. Thinking she VlBlll drowsy from intoxication he raised her head and endea voured to arouse her, when he discovered that she was in a state of stupor, and held firmly grasped in her right hand an ounce phial labelled " Laudanum, poison." The policeman, assisted by a gentleman retiding in the cres cent, immediately conveyed her to the North London Hospital, in Gower-street, and Dr. Taylor, after laving spellers the stomach pump, steed that the contents of the stomach were highli impregnated with opium. Every means was afterwards employed to counteract the effects of the poison, but with so little success that she was st ill speechless at six o'clock yesterday ev en i ng, and herre covery was considered to be extremely doubtful. No pa pers were found on her person ca l cu l ate d to lead to the discovery of her friends ; but from the app earance ad of her dress, whica consisted of a bl ac k silk oak a (nearly new), a red scarf, an d straw b onnet, and fromga the °fun ss of her hands, there is no doubt that. she is very espeetably connected. The y. u woman. who is rather hove the middle statur.:, of slender form, fair complexion, sncl about twteity years of age, is nctente. FUNERAL OF DR. EVEItARD." — • DOVER, DEC. '29.—Phis day, at half-past one o'clock, this young officer was interred in the new cemetery here, with mili tary honours. Last night the body was removed from the barracks on the Heights to the guardroom at the bottom of the grand shaft in a hearse, for the more convenient forma tion of the procession. Almost the entire corps of the 54th, his own regiment, and the 34th Rcpt. from the Castle. as well as the Artillery from the fortifications, joined in the procession. The coffin, borne by the brother officers of the deceased, was pruccded by the grenadiers, with their arms re. versed, and the bands of both regiments playing appropriate tunes, followed by the kody of the soldiers, and the rcar was brought up by Colonel Munro, Commandant of the garri son, and other efli2ers The shops of the trade'zenen in the whole line of procession from the shaft to the new bu • ry • r reeronnd were shut, and a mrlincholy glonin seemed to pervade the citizens; while the' belt tolling it,: melan choly pert bespoke a feeting of general sorrow and regret fer the unfortunate and untimely fate of the &ceased. On arriving at the grave, and the usual religious ceremonies havieg been gone through, the body was consigned to the tomb with the customary salut.r. The funeral train then dispersed, as did also the crowd of spectators, which could not I ave amounted to less than 7,000 or 8,000. NURSERY GOSSIP.—As soon as her ,Majesty gets down to breakfast the Baroness Lchzep lets her know how the baby is, ar.d when the Queen has had her breakfast she goes to the nursery and stops there. for half an hour. The Prince sometimes goes there too, Before going to bed her Majesty alwa%s visits the nursery again for the purpofe of " taking few" of the Royal Want. lio Intl of n/ lug, one 'first Ind ito alsr sad ri d 01 Icy ies icy l'i.