The Sun. — London, England, 1847-09-02 00:00:00

PLANDERS and lIAMBUR Gil MA;I. zatisseLs, Aru. 31.—Y esterki v his ajesty granted several audiences, and rd'iv"4 Gelle'3l I) risse, Military Governor of Brtn•stls. as Majesty 430 attended divine service in the palace chapel, and swards attended a council of ministers. TIM CHOLERA IN TRANSCA.UCASIA.—We have t "eived some interesting details respecting the spread of the choler a i n some o f t h e Tratiscau-asia Dr " i nces• It is said that, the cholera was brought • -rahe-bonde liadshis in September, 1845, from erat to Samarcand, and Braharia in November It e h....._ ztendd to Teheran, and after the 12'h June, 1846, aptts to rag,4 ther e with great vkl,ucet. mor- Zty reached to 300 pursoos a-day, who su l ilt° a stat e o f l et h al gy, and ex; .i red in two or th r . s e hours, without convulsions or vonlitihg, hut a o ugh an entire cessation of the circulation of bloist, F ieh e"nid not be restored by any means whateve% • • rehe rsi• the pe,tilelice: travelled to 1-paliao, F n t o i itaz, and Blestad, where it ra g ed 4ven us we fear pillY than in the fo, iner plaee, amt was carried by the ▪ rela, towards the end of 1.), cember, to Mscc,i, °TI the 29. h of September it first appeare d i n ris, and reached its climax at the erd of October. iilalnher of victims amounted to 6,000. In P' 1.44 been remarkedthat the direction of the wind bb & I ° influence whatever on its spread, which, on contrary,,i7tuttt was erreinely irregular, sometimes alta h r' s 'ng over large extents of country. The first efe' t na of the disease manifested itself on the 16th taira- b3b ert Salvan , in Transcaucasia, but it was der there than in other places. In the same year Utah e ; wis e appeared at Tiffiis, but in a milder form 60,0 0 6 11 any other place, for with a population of (ItA.„,• L se ala, and in the heat of summer, the number 4%47' amounted only, on average, to 15, and of 12t1: 1 .8 t p e 6 , per diem, vi;., from the 30th May to the deathB. June, were 164 cases of sickness, and 67 'tamscensequently only one death to 10, 000 in thlispl• Hitherto the c h o l e ra has selectedits vic- Sh4 - t asively f rom the lower c l asses; t hi s i s pro dagto the gr ea t i rregu l ar ity of their mode of Th tn Z their dislike of all preventive measures. th e to the wise measures of the local authorities, tity r iT a ni l e i which made all the inhabitants leave the °testa sattii;Berniihnause not been repeated ; business and re as usual, but great attention is paid for, to r ° j tten reg d ulations, and to immediately providing l ien th e s . ,Ing upon the sick. " l aen t o .. -11 ‘ of war in the Caucasus the measures s eeded ed r the cholera among the troops . has . suc h/4,f a d a — b ace nUnts of the 20th state that within the It l i lv ad -- "%i not one case has occurred, but symptoms %ha w a ppeared in th e lines of Kunigski and the 4 l t the e.,.." 11,0 ps of I sc h e tschenzi. On the right flank sqi e k 6 - measian li ne , an d on th e eas t coast of the see Pa all pto . i was quiet, and no apprehension of dis- A4 x , - b — suargh Gazelle. t ic , --I) ,RIA, AUG. 15.—We have had a shock of "gat e - l e aao on the 7th, but happily no accident telt j e r to o k tho ( irk than place, nor at Atfeh, where it was here, and lasted above a minute, in Tf reetl ea from east to west. At Cairo, however, 4° Wh it; 4 ve ry a 4 severe. Three mosques were thrown . th.. ." 4 1 1 1. - 1 11 , % ` .. a c hove fifty persons buried beneath the h i 4 =tar that our accounts from Syria will be as, th e earthquake travelled thence. s AUSTRIAN FUNDS.VIENNA, AUGUSITO62SI.:I6 Der Cen t . Metalli q uee • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • .} :Der Cent. ditt0...... 68 Nz t. ditto Leen, 1834 •• • • ••••• • • • • • ••• • ". 155 t 3 D k~. 1839 129 ;tt shares 1i96 , li t••rttry' s Lo an . •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • Th R AILWAYS. Th e Norther n , et Ferdinand .......... . 166 % ( W. uloaanitsVieti tia _ mu •• • • .. 108 Legho rn au • * 121 % ..........•••••••• 9914 p ro setto 97 5q 4Del9litenge.••• ••• :7 ' ll ••••• • • • • • • • 94% A RELMAN FUN DS.-11s.ussELs. AUGUST 31. • - b_ b Ctilkiecaohf• Loan, Five 214 i p l e i F ii C s "_ per t • Cent •. : : Four percent . Dittovs Thirtv!seven Millions, ditto ••• • • • V, tto •ditto • lB4o. ••••••• • • • • "• •• • • • • 99 ~lt te iditto• 1842 •••• A ••••• • • • • • • • •• 98% 4 , itte, 1844' ••• • • •••••• • • • • • • 93% 1 4 1 it t t t° 0: 1 1 818 6:• . • • 1: •.• • - 6; ultt o of the C • iiy • 1832 •••••• • • • • ' • 99 Mtr tittia t,..btlte. 11443 •• • • ••••• •• " 96 % PT' •••• • • •• • • Sept. 1. 11411 BURGH BORSENLIALLE, AUGUST 27. Bills. Money. urt,riam ......... 104% ili nk 4 5 Per Cents A„ all ... 1600 -41 0-$ .... 106% ittilai ussian Loan bitt o " 5 Per Cent., Hamb. Certificate. 101 b tu° let serieslnscription........... 1 02 % bltt,;?°Pe and C0.,3d and 4th series • • 97 lit tly • .13 Certificate • • • • • • • • ' • • • • • •• • • :0 v b wil i t . 4Petiezr C lit e:t..,. H . ops and Co. ••• • • • 9 14 Di ish N ew 5 per Cent _ Ati t i t , t l, 3 Per Cent ••••••••• • " ' • • • • • 23 bat e , - ' °r tilicuese Loan, 2% per Cent • . 25 . Actual Debt 2% per Cent .....56 )ouBDtto 3 per Cen't• ••••••••• • • • • • • • 4 12/0 , I•4. ew 4 per Cent. Ikan, 1844.... 80 ) i itt°-.anish Loan, 3 per Cent ••• • • • 82 % 7 ... tal Bank Shares •••••••• • • • • • • • • DUTCH FUNDS.•••••AXSTSIDASI, AUGU ST . 27. Mone). ftetus4 •,.. bi t ,uebt, 2% per cent•• •• •••• • ' 68% 69 bit h ,"" a Per Cent .. • . • • • • • • •• • • ' • " gg% 88 A bu) -. 4 per Cent... • • • • " • • • • • • • • • • Ce,...tt bYlldie. 3% per Cent ••••• • • • ' • - itZtinferclal Company, 4% per Cent .. 169% 169% _ tkch l ' ( lia oan, 4 per Cent ••••• • • • • • 12 05 -"neon London, at sight • • • • • • • • T wo months.• ••••••• • • • • • • ii 92 50 On Hamburgh, at sight •• • • 35 Two months..... 7_ On Paris • ••"•• • • • • • ••• •• 6 06 6 50 Two months. ••••••• • • • • • • • 6 .........._ A C HURCH STRUCK BY 4 t itqc LIGHTNING. l atisa_ °4 tra l eesnAy.—An event of the most appal ,t'er happened in this neighbourhood o o n . oi i'°' 3 n after two o'clock a dense mass I Ir it c ,rte ° , --3 to the southward of the city indicated 1 4 ,..: 4 44 0 : 441 at three o'clock the peals of thunder hts s ,lh,'Z o ni , c _ii• It occasioned no material injury in tae ` d and 'shortly after four o'clock a messenger t‘.ated that the electric fluid . . had struck had church at W Iton during divine service, % te and severely e injured several .. of the ‘—tdat rt t t , d , last ituti a-sistance and the fire -engines 'ls _Y dispatched to the spot, it a y n . d mane pin rPeAlred to the scene of the calam true. Onehat 1N,.. 13 had , red was found to be too . y k vve toti tY :t his lite,and eight others, five of wh,.. eh o tWeie shockingly hurt. ; whi h • sustained considerable t v , adi v c " • f Welton, to the ef .I,,ent to the village Carleton and eit,"l l tut, it ..", 1" north road betweyn from this the 41,7, 4 about five miles distant u lted itlr7a.is that while the congregation were th e ,; 44 ".1% r 'goig the hymn previous to the sermon froelpit, Wlliamson, the curate, having . ascended t ee — the "e lightning was seen to enter tae church hrr e d ill Wcr, L belfry, and instantly an explosion : f t road, the centr e of the edifice. All that . could th t tietil atei lor the door; the Rev. Mr. Williamson "gut to c a l m descended froin the pulpit, and implored ton f el 4 rs, Proselves, and endeavoured to allay e e t2treg ati „ . Attention was directed to those of . th e stn, u n who were 13 ing in different parts otth 11 PPare The;,,-ritf ffie,r e , dead, some of whom had their I ltra ft m:evr• F ive wo , i,en were found injured. 'the 41)1 1h a e `"` a rY Baldwin , Eliza Bald wilt (si . ste.rs i ): t he it fa ce , w tt, Sarah Taylor, and Ann Rippinga e. i4:!ute Ue blackened and burnt. A boy,. of the Scotbille3Y, living in the neighbouring 411444-eLLlthed,-4111dirgrevwe?3the' his discovered in another part .. 1 % clothes on fire and nearly ise - rted,„„, old . others suffered similar injury. batto,„t, nee, Mr. J. Brownlow, a Hera Ww, e i ß ea l Iva! ' discovered lying at the r i t s tlnd a quite tiediately beneath one of the . abrasion 'ad. There were no marks of fitos ik ' ttis vas t eoat towe l l e about the body. The buttons of Melted; the right leg of his ini:lre w as and his coat literally burnt off the 1: A u th e mui next gentlet:ann.* pew 'with him, but escaped Pew , named Frith, who occupied foh' was knocked down by the shock, t al We It a ly hurt • . 3 re, as a , • All the unfortunate. suf ‘l- wun • as possible, removed to their re shi,„,_ P ot ..."g B l and had every attention paid to rtico uss Lurae thne the church was filled with a t 4 1,,,h fire. rkel which led many to believe that it eitse'll4lll, how-ever, fortunately proved not o f effluvium merely arising from the 11 111it a l_ th a titu reh e ,_ e tric fluid, ItZlo tug Deing surveyed, it appeared that the sti ft 413 4 ,: r truck the south-eastern pinnacle of 4.“ q• It th e "Irew down a portion of the battle tot, con 2 Passed into the tower, and melted an k,-leetrieireted with the clock. Here the current *hiTt tied divided--one portion having Other the exterior and entered the earth, Fated Portion descended inside, and having tklettor of stone -work of the door into the 1,174.1001, dialPl church, and thrown down the 14 thisam inside, passed along the north all brass part of the church were suspended p e izrs to t h e chandeliers, which served as con the a % sta nd; ! electric fluid downwards, as all the h e goer of ti;:g underneath them were injured. On d,iror.te d pew being inspected, it was found to be neath wl th thirty or forty small holes imme to':_eat of where Mr. Brownlow stood; the th e ige ea rth "' ricity having passed through his body eits t e w h at, cel,.i t v !'i Passing from the north aisle into of lud ow ent out by five different holes in the 144 :0 and half pe fe r e f t or in at e d the stone wall, upwards thickness, in two different 'ice er in 7 a %ur e* of yesterday (Monday) afternoon, a ii,1 18 441, h e t f l e ll "t was held on the remains of'the r . e Mr. Hitching, the county coroner, Oiw as ;el accorclauce with the nature of his llenii24:,: iti ed• The other parties who were in -Ping favourably. TILE DESIRABLENESS OF A UNI ANDARD F ,lEASURE,IEN F. (From the Manchester Examiner of Tuesday.) For some years past great annoyances have ex isted in the home trade of this country, arising from the absence of a universally recognised legal standard of measure. The prevalence of a considerable diver sity in the measurement of goods, and the consequent irre,r;il:lrites ,rising from it, are now beginning to engage seriws attention. 'pertain houses have been tor some time in the habit of selling their goods by the legal standard of 36 inches, several allow 36g. while others have adhered to the old custom of allow big 37 inches to the yard. In some of the manufac turiiig districts great irregularities are to be found ,111 this In Hiel(terstield goods, 37 inches are .110 eo to the yard ; but besides this, a bounty is given to the buyer of about toree-quarters of a ard upon every end of 37 yards ; which altogether indc,, the yard equal to 38 inches. In Leeds, goods inea-nerd by the 37 inch standard, and 5 per cent. he-i lei i- all iwed for measurement, making the yard - q ual to about 381 iii hes. In Nottingham 36 inches the prevailing standard of measurement b.r lace gc•od. In Sp:tall - lelds, uniformly since the year 1845, and generally for some years previouslv,si ks have been so'd by the manufacturer by the legal measurement of 36 inches. In Manchester, 37 inches are allowed in most description of goods ; but in silks, ribbons, laces, and rolled jacconets, 36 inches is the rule. Again, a majority of houses in Manchester give only 36 inches to the yard in grey calicoes and the lowest kii;ds of white shirtings, while a few adopt the 37- inch standard. From this diversity of measure ment it is evident that serious inconveniences must be continually arising to all parties—manufcturers, warehousemen, retailers, and the p u bitc generally. Wherever an absence of uniformity exists in the standard by which the value of any description of goods is estimated, the results must of course be— perpetual irregularities—disagreeable misunderstand ings and disputei—erroneous calculations of profits —unjust comparisons of prices—and many other annoyances, which, though at first apparently in significant, are, nevertheless , serio us interruptions to that regularity and confidence which ought ever to exist between buyer and seller. Every error, irregularity, or misconception arising from the absence of a distinct understanding between persons transacting business is a positive loss to both parties, inasmuch as some portion of time and attention, which might have been otherwise profitably em ployed, is required for correspondence on the subject. A striking instance may be adduced. A declaration, was, not long since, publicly made by a London house largely engaged in the home trade, that the allowances made by it for deficiences in measure amounted to a sum varying from 8001. to 1 0001. per annum. Let any one for a moment consider the grievous waste of time rendered necessary in corres ponding about and adjusting the various claims making up tois amount, and he will at once acknowledge the importance of a distinct settlement of the question of measure. It will be admitted, we think, that a fixed and positive standard prevailing universally , in eery branch of our manufactures the value of which is estimated by measurement, would put an end at once and for ever to all the inconveniences we have alluded to, and bring about a degree of certainty and satisfaction in all transactions in such manu factures, whether wholesale or retail, which is in the highest degree desirable and necessary. The ques tion therefore is, whether the uniform rate of 36 or 37 inches to the yard, is to be the standard for the estshlishment of which all parties ought to contend. A brief account of the steps hitherto taken to effect this object will enable our readers to under stand the present position of the question. The me tropolitan and country retailers finding themselves losers by the irregularities alluded to, formed them selves into an association entitled "The Linen Drapers', Silk Mercers', and Carrt Dealers' Equi table Measure Association." The result of their meetings has been to resolve that they will insist upon all goods being measured by the 37 inch stan dard. The following resolutions were adopted at meetings held in London on 31st July and 10th August : " 1. That for the purpose of more speedily and effec tually obtaining the (eject in view, the members ot this committee do hereby determine to refrain, as much as possible, from the purchase of goods required for the approaching season until the question of measure is finally and satisfactorily settled ; and that all the metropolitan and country firms, whose signatures are attached to the declatation, be requested to adopt a similar course. " 2. That the members of this committee do hereby firmly pledge themselves to give a decided preference, in their purchases, to those houses which sell their goods at the rate of thirty-seven inches to the yard, and do hereby determine to give to such houses their cordial and united support." On the 19th of August, the same association issued the following circular : "Sir,—With a view to carry out to the fullest extent the resolutions passed by this association, and to bring the question of measuie to an early and satisfactory conclusion, I am desired to submit for your considera tion the following suggestions, an adoption of which has already induced one wholesale house to declare their in tention of selling their goods at the rate of thirty-seven inches to the yard, and of immediately issuing a circular to that effect. " The suggestions are these:—To return (of course with a note explaining the reasons for so doing) all cir culars received from wholesale houses who, not having signed the declaration, must be considered as opposed to the claims now urged by the retail trade; and to ask every traveller whether the house which he represents will, as a rule, sell its goods at the rate of thirty-seven inches to the yard, and whether such house is prepared to issue a circular to that effect. " By declining to purchase of every house refusing to comply with these requests you will materially increase the strength of the association, and greatly assist in effecting the object it has in view —I am, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) "H. H. BLACKMORE. Hon. Sec." Such are the resolutions and conclusions of the retail dealers. It may be proper to state that a number of the London wholesale houses, in conjunction with some houses in Manchester, endeavoured, in 1843, to comply with the wishes of the retail dealers then ex pressed, as to a uniform measure of thirty-seven inches to the y: rd. However, after considerable efforts to effect this object, they were compelled to abandon the idea, finding that they would be placed in an unsafe and anomalous psition by promising to give thirty-seven, while they could legally demand only thirty-Six inches. Since that time experience has proved that the only satisfactory way of settling he question is by making a combined and united effort to bring about the uniform standard of thirty six inches. The following are the proceedings with regard to this subject recently taken by the silk manufacturers wholesale warehousemen in London as well a- in Manchester. On the sth of the present month, at a meeting . of the Spitalfields silk manufactUrers, the following resolutions were passed unanimously : " That this meeting, finding au attempt is being made :o demand an increase of measure over the legitimate standard of thirty-six inches to the are!, view such a proceeding as oppressive and unfair to the manufac •urer, contrary to law, and unjust in prtuciple ; and, ndependently of any other trade or party, are deter mined to adhere to the following resolution, passed at a eeting of silk manufacturers, held the 3i of September, 1845. The manufacturers now present do there. ore resolve, that from and after the 20th inst. they will ,dept the imperial measure of thirty. six inches, in the sale of their goods, and recommend the same for the general adoption of the trade?" On the 7th of August the London Association of Wholesale Drapers and Warehousemen held a meet ing at the Guildhall Coffee-house, and unanimously passed the following resolutions :- 1. " That in the opinion of this meeting, it is not ex pedient to introduce into their transaction- , uncertainty of measure, by engaging that the various articles in which they deal shall run thirty-seven inches in the im perial yard, instead of the fixed and legal measure of thirty-six inches." 2d. " That the objection to uncertainty of measure is much aggravated by the great number of measured arti cles in which they deal—by the number of manufactories and markets throughout the whole ot Great Britain, which would be effected—by the necessity of altering machinery, in order to alter the length of many articles in piece-goods —and by the strong objection to any de viation from the legal measure manifested in many branches by the manufacturers." On the 21st August the silk manufacturers in Manchester met at the Clarence Hotel, when it was resolved unanimously— " That this meeting is desirous to support the pro ceedings adopted by the meeting of silk manufacturers, held in Spital-square, on the sth of August, 1847, in re ference to the number of inches to be given to the yard in the measure of silk goods. " That the manufacturers now present do therefore determine that they will adhere to the imperial measure of thirty-six inches to the yard in the sale of their goods, and recommend the same for the general adoption of the trade." A meeting was also held at Manchester, on Thurs day, the 26th instant, when it was agreed that a report of the proceedings taken by the London As sociation and the Equitable Measure Company, in reference to a proposed change of the legal standard measure of thirty-six inches to the yard, be drawn up and printed for the information of those houses in Manchester who are chiefly engaged in the home trade; and that a committee be appointed to carry the above resolution into effect, and to convene a meeting, te to be held in Manch es t e r, to consider what spsshioeurTtabaed that a teken in preliminary thet matter therein m ther eVsng alluded held yesterday, We understand yesterday, of twelve of the principal houses in Man chester, t o cons id er w i At steps -ought to be done to athtatthetheq wards the settlement of this impracticable, unanimouso p a in n i d on th ' 37 - inchquestion. It way their w on a ly e course left for a final iooptio arrange u m ol e.n ii24l4s ,the standard was tt r was tle universal Waa also decided' WWI a meeting, by circular, of the houses in the home trade, on Friday next, at eleven o'clock, at the Cla rence El I. We would urge upon the wholesale houses of Man cheater the importance of a speedy and unanimous de cision of this question. Unanimity of opinion can alone bring about a permanent settlement of it. Let the subject be discussed calmly and dispassionately, and the reason for adhering to the legal standard be ex pressed in a series of concise and clearly-worded resolutions. Let the matter be treated as one affecting the interests of the public at large, and not merely the .upposed interests of wholesale and retail dealers. Let it be regarded with reference to the principles of plain, straightforward, and honest dealing, which assuredly can never be fully carried out so long as uncertainty and indefinite terms in measurement prevail. Let it be shown that the greatest obstacle to fair competition in trade is in distinctness or want of precision and accuracy as re regards any win of the conditions on which commo dities are bought or sold. Let it be argued that, as the chief object of the Metropolitan Drapers' Asso ciation is " to restore an equitable uni'orm system of measurement," no better or more effectual means can be adopted to secure so desirable an end th +n to co operate with the manufacturers and wholesale houses in bringing ah.,ut a universal adhesion to a standard recognised as legal. For our own Dart, we look upon the question as already virtually settled by the reso lutions passed unanimously by the silk manufacturers of London and Manchester, " to adopt the imperial measure of 36 inches; for it is impos.ible to sup pose that the wholesale houses can give, or will give, 37 inches to the retailer, while they themselves only receive 36 . inches from the manufacturer. If they do it, they must, of course, charge a higher price per yard, and this only causes confusion and irregu larity, and leads to an unfair comparison of prices, while the retailer does not obtain the slightest advan tage. AW this is so obvious, that it seems almost superfluous to state it. We trust -that the meeting which is to take place on Friday will be a numerous one. If the subject be met with that clear-sightedness, practical intelligence, and promptitude of action, which are the character istics of the merchants of Manchester, the matter will undoubtedly be set at rest for ever, and a lasting benefit of no mean value conferred on the whole trading community. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 —Though there was no sensible increase of general demand, the market to -day has exhibited more firmness than for some days previously; and buyers, who were enabled to supply their wants, last week, at prices below those generally asked, have found great difficulty in getting on, except at current rates. There was, perhaps, a little more inquiry for good domestics, suitable to the home trade, as well as for some counts of water twist; but the improved feeling observable was apparently founded more upon the condition of the London money market, than upon any actual increase of business here. The tendency to shorter hours of labour still eon • finites. The following, we believe, is a tolerably correct account of the state of the mills at Preston. The following firms have entirely ceased working : Mr. Oxendale, Messrs. T. Grundy and Co, Mr. Pos. tlethwaite, ,alr. Cooper, Mr. Richard Riley, Mr. Harris, Mr. Richard Bashall, Mr. Bashall, jun., Mr. T. ton, Mr. Corrie, Messrs. Shaw and Co. Ot the above, seven are spinners only ; two spin and weave ; and two weave only. In addition to these, Mr. Calvert's is to stop at the end of this week. The foil •wing firms are working short time :—Messrs. Caterall, Son, and Co., Messrs Swainson, Birley, and Co., Mes-rs. .1. and A. Lee, Mes-rs Bashall and Boardman (of Farrington), and Mr. J. Paley,—all four days per week. Messrs. H. Dawson and C.e, Mr. W. Taylor, and Mr. R. Threlfall,—three days per week. ROCHDALE, MONDAY, AUGUST 30.—There has been a rather still market to-day, and the sales have been upon a limited scale. There is very little change in the wool market to report, either as regards prices or the quantity sold. H ALIFAX, SATURDAY, AUG. 28.—The trade in our piece hail is duller to-day than usual; scarcely any goods having found purchasers. The yarn market, also, has been decidedly flatter through the week ; though the low rates so long current, not being equal to the cost, prevent any giving way in price. As to long wool, the staplers are anxious sellers, at old prices ; and short wool remains without alteration. HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY, AnG. 31.—There has been considerable improvement to-day in the business of our cloth hall, and several heavy parcels of goods have been made up. All parties anticipate the com mencement of a more healthy state of business. LEEDS, TUESDAY, AUG. 31.—This being the last day anti market in the month, and account day be sides, very few goods changed hands at our cloth halls; in such times as these, every little advantage is looked to, and most probably next Saturday's market, as being the first in the new month; will show so much more activity. Prices remain uncom monly steady for every description of woollens.— Manchester Guardian. MANCHESTER, AUG. 31.—A month of extreme de pression, apprehension, and gloom is about to pass away, to be succeeded by one we would fain hope of a more satisfactory character. The improved feel ing which at the end of July had begun to manifest itself, became soon dissipated by an announcement from the Bank of England that the minimum rate of discount would be 5 per cent., for short dated paper. This intimation and the excessive charges demanded out of doors, coupled with some conflicting rumours as to the reappearance of disease in the potato crop, which we fear will to a certain extent prove to have been too well foundel, had the effect of immediately putting a stop to all operations susceptible of delay. Upon this principle have buyers been acting through out the month ; and notwithstanding the difficulties which had to be contended with, it is pleasing to re port that the transactions have neither been so few nor unimportant as might have been anticipated. On several former occasions, when comparatively free from such depressing causes as those to which we have alluded, the actual business of the month has been to a much smaller extent. Prices, though irre gular, have been sustained under all the circum stances remarkably well. A slight decline upon nearly all descriptions of both cloth and twist has taken place upon the rates demanded at the com mencement of the month. Stocks also, excepting of such as are adapted for India and China, which are very heavy, of both cloth and twist, are compara tively light. The absence of improving accounts from the markets of India and China continue, as they naturally do from the character and magnitude of operations connected with them, to tel powerfully, wrihout any other drawback against the wide of this district. Until better tidings arrive, money become easier aid cheaper, and the continued disproportien between the price of cotton and that of the manu factured article- shall have become adjusted, no gene ral nor permanent amelioration need be expected. The nosiOoli of spinners and manufacturers does not improve. The continued impossibility of realising the cost of praduction has induced several spinners and manufacturers either to return again to short hours or to stop their mills entirely. The country trade is improving slightly. Beneficial as the harvest may prove to this branch of trade also, we hardly expect any important improvement before the spring of next year. The feeling in the market to-day has been upon the whole of a more cheerful character, founded upon an apprehended relaxation in the money market: eery little inisiness howeVer has been done. For yarns there was more inquiry at lower rates ; but in cloth, neither as regards price or demand, was there any change.—(From Messrs. M•Nair, Greenhow, and Ir viny's Circular.) BOILER EXPLOSION.—The boiler of the Firebrand, one of the steam-tugs employed on the river Tyne, burst one day last week, as the vessel was running into Shields harbour. One of the tubes gave way, and the steam rushed forward underneath the deck, and de stroyed the fore cabin, shattering the bulkhead and the entire wooden partitions to pieces. Fortunately, no one was below at the time, but the steam rushed up one of the hatchways and scalded a boy, named Foreman, in res,ppia,et:e.ta2Eboalses..tinly, dome the face. Deficiency of water is said to have been the immediate cause of the accident. ACCIDENT TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR, ESQ., M.P.— On Monday afternoon, as Mr. O'Connor was driving his gig down Dowdeswell-hill, the horse stumbled and fell, by which he was thrown out with much violence. On his arrival at the George Hotel medical assistance was procured, and it was fund that although severely bruised, nn material injury had been sustained. An Order in Council, published in Tuesday night's Ga2ette, arranges the .boundaries of a Lew district for Leeds,spiritual the purposes , di o,e 3 e constituted ot Ripon. _ ,o,tnhot oTneTlls o bhdythse u eiies t rs:paeortsuoio o thciici pd f .tabhavee; t bu h en:ri e d, nce parish trhefseeht echina named" elielTea shbtnii in cumbent d att i i ni s itFi t ::e r hA i at c eib t d, o c.uat t imß * , stmliA;:tinu commissioners l siclstbNoes S eririo a Lsi i ine n :eta t rrt s :aso „ tß L erapsed e (o)) e ,,Oef d itsaLv, s r,r . e.) been three failures in Liverpool during the last two days; two in the corn and one in the East India trade. They are not for large amounts, although hichly The house of Messrs. Fitzpatrick and C.,. is aeon! 60,000/ , and that of Messrs. Gregg, 30,0001. house is for 60,0001., and will, it is said, pound. WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.—The first battalion of the Ist tiegiment of Grenadier Guards came down by railway this morning to the Sh.ugh station of the Great Western Railway, under the command of Colon, I Las ',lies, to replace the first battalion of the Royal Sets Fusilier Guards, which left Windsor about an hour v reviously, e" route for the Tower, under the command ot Colonel Knowles. The Royal H rse Guards (Blue) did gay rison duty at the Castle pending the exchange. T. L. HoDGEs, FAQ., M.P.—We have much plea -nre in stating that Mr. I - 1 ages ia better, and that there As every hope that the honourable gentlem ,n will shortly the restored to the enjoyuseut of his usual health.- 7 4.Vaid., tom Journal, -' . ' - Bills TrIE - v SON. LONDON, 1 4 11U1SD RitENING, gEPTEMBER 2, 1847. HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE HIGHLANDS. (From the North British Mail.) LOCH LAGGAN, SATURDAY NIGHT. I stated in a letter dispatched to-day at noon that Prince Albert and Prince Leiningen had gone out to shoot in Strath-Paatoek. The shooting party extended their walk from the moor to the woods along the margin of the Loch, having beaters to start the game from the c , vers. Considerable execution was committed. Prince Albert bagged six brace of grouse, six brace of black cocks, one brace of gray hens, one snipe, and three hares. Prince Leiningen shot about the same quantity of game, and two roe deer were included in his spoils. The weather was very pleasant in the afternoon, and at four o'clock her Majesty and Prince Albert drove out in a phaeton, attended by General Wemyss and two out-riders. The Royal party proceeded in the direction of Laggan village, and returned to the Lodge a little before six. Half-a-dozen sailors, belonging to the crew of the Royal yacht, arrived to day from Fort William for the purpose of rowing the Queen on the lake in a beautiful barge, presented to her Nisjesty, it is said, by the Marquis of Abercorn. The weather has hitherto been rather unfavourable for aquatic excur sions, but should the atmosphere become more settled, her Majesty will derive much enjoyment from boat ing on the Loch. MONDAY MORNING. The weather yesterday was favourable, but the Queen did not attend worship in the parish church. Arrangements, I understand, were made for the English service in the Lodge. Mr. Sutherland, of the Established Church, officiated alternately in Gaelic and English. That is also the case in the commodious Free Church, situated about half a mile from th , . village. There is also a Roman Catholic chapel about two miles from this place. COURT CIRCULAR. AuDvaamE, Atm. 30.—The Earl of Aberdeen left Ardverekie to-day, for Gordon Castle. Her Majesty and the Prince walked out in the grounds. His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out deer stalking in the forest. His Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen went out grouse-shooting►. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, attended by Miss Halyard, took an airing on their ponies on the hills. General Castelcicala, the Neapolitan Minister, had yesterday an interview with Viscount Palmerston, at the Foreign-office. General Cavendish had an interview with Lori John Russell yesterday, at his official residence in Downing street. Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial office, from the Governor of Sierra Leone. REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. It is with sincere regret we have to announce several further failures. In the early part of the week the intelligence was received in London that Messrs. Dickson and Co., of Belfast, had suspended payment ; the liabilities of this firm are to a heavy amount, and a portion of the losses falls on Lon don houses. On Wednesday Messrs. Lyons and Finny, of Liverpool, stopped ; and on Friday the firm of Mr. John Woodly, of this city. These continued disasters have added to the depression previously existing in the trade; and confidence is so completely shaken, that it will require time before it can be re-established. The losses sustained on the imports of Indian corn have been frightful; and when we consider that the price of wheat is now fully 50s. per quarter lower than it was at the time when many of the cargoes now arriving were pur chased, no surprise can be felt at the difficulties in which so many r espectable houses had been involved. Under these circumstances no immediate improve ment in the tone of business can be expected, as all parties are likely to conduct their operations with ex treme caution. The weather has throughout the week been highly favourable for the harvest operations, and a vast quantity of corn has been carried; we learn, however, that the rain which fell about the middle of the month did more or less injury, the grain having in some instances sprouted in the ear. In regard to the yield to the acre the reports are generally of a satisfactory character; and it is now the prevailing opinion that the produce of wheat will be fully equal to that of average seasons, whilst barley and oats are described as very abundant crops. The accounts in respect to the late planted potatoes have, on the other hand, become less favourable, more particularly those received within the last few days from Scotland and Ireland ; but, owing to the belief that there will b an abundan :e of grain, the partial failure of potatoes is lo ;Iced upon with less alarm than formerly, and prices of all articles have continued to decline at all the leading provincial markets held during the week. The Liverpool market was, however, numerously attended by buyers from distant parts of the country on Tuesday, but the inquiry was directed more to flour than to wheat, and whilst the latter article re ceded 3d. per 701b5., the former rose 6d. to is. per brl. Late in the week the advance on flour could not be maintained ; still a large amount of business was done on Friday, the best brands of Western Canal bringing 265. 6d., and secondary sorts 243. to 265. per barrel. Owing to the unfavour able reports from Ireland relative to potatoes, Indian corn excited a good deal of attention at Liverpool on Friday, but it was necessary to accept low terms to effect sales. Farmers being still busily occupied in the fields, little time has been afforded to thrash or bri ng n e w corn to market, and the sup plies at the leading towns in the agricultural dis tricts have been quite moderate ; the quantity brought forward has, nevertheless, proved more than equal to the demand, and prices have undergone a further depression as well at the different shipping ports on the east coast as at the principal markets in the interior. 'The quality of the new wheat is stated to be inferior to the growth of last year, but judging by the weight per bushel, which is allowed to average from 60Ibs. to 641b5., we are inclined to think that there is not much reason for complaint. Our letters from Scotland and Ireland inform us that the weather had been fully as favourable in those countries as with us; and, with the exception of po tatoes (which, as already intimated, were believed to have been extensively attacked by the disease of last year), the crops promised uncommonly well. A small parcel o r t wo o f new Irish Wheat have already arrived at Liverpool, of fine quality and in good con dition. Though the arrivals of Wheat coastwise into London have not been by any means large, only 3,148 quarters having been received up to this (Sa turday) evening, the supply has proved amply suffi cient to satisfy the demand, and business at Mark lane has remained in a very dull state.—Mark-lane Express. REGISTRY of BIRTHS and DEATHS DURING THE WEEK ENDING AUG 28. 1 Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week. Males ... ... ... 571 Males ... ... ... 613 Females ... ... 513 Females ... ..• 609 Total ... 1,222 Total . . 1,084 DEATH or MR. TURNER, THE GOVERNOR OP THE BRANCH BANK oF ENGLAND.—Into lligencereached Liver pool onTuesday of the death of Mr.Turner,the:Governor of the Branch Bank of England. Mr. Turner's death was not sudden; he had been confined several weeks of fever, at the residence of his sister, Chalfont, St. Gilees, Buckinghamshire, where he was paying a visit. The deceased gentleman, who was much respected, was in his seventy-first year.— Liverpool Courier. The number of failures in Paris during the last year was 1,139. and the aggregate amount of the deficit 68,474,8031. Eight of these failures were to the amount Of 40,0001. and upwards. As compared with the pre rhei sc before who. las t ed ho I are e. vious year, there is an enormous increase , both in the number and amount of the failures. In the previous year the number of failures was 931 , and the amount 48,342,529 f. E —y straggling A w A n s inquiry, on creatures rei an tt w uo lateL o o toufr or t on no F se ILTH. ld Carter, as to the death of a woman named Elizabeth u M n e Tt u ilH ri a B tt , n e found about the streets wandering about the kennels fer their daily subsistence. The woman lived in Jacob street, Bermondsey, close to the island Mr. Dickens has made memorable as the dwelling of " Quilp." She would never allow any one to enter her r. , om. Sbe gloated in filth and avoided all cleanliness. About eleven weeks ago she fell, whilst in a fit, on the grate, in which there was a large fire. She was most sertously injured, but she would have no medical advice. At last the noxious smells from the burns induced the neighbours to interfere, and they insisted she should go the workhouse. It wit-i found necessary to force hsr into a parish chair, as she declared she would sooner die than go the poor-house. Her place was then ex• mined, and found to be void of all furniture. She hail slept upon old straw. No furniture was there, and the whole place was crowded with the most noxious vermin. Upon her admission into the hospital she was attended by Dr. Paul, who found her flash clotted in masses with insects. She lingered until Wednesday, when death removed her from the world and all her wretched filth. In answer to the Coroner, Dr. Paul said the burns were the chief cause of death. The Coroner remarked how deplorable it was ; human nature seemed to have been lost in all its better feelings in this case. It was a rare occurrence, and he hoped he should never have to pre side over such another inquiry. FREE•TRADE CONGRESS or ALL NATIONS.—DELE• , GATE /ROM LANCASHIRE. -A meeting of free traders was held on Saturday evening last, in the Council-room of the Anti-Corn -law League, Newall's.buildings, G. Wilson, Esq., in the chair, when it was moved by J. Bright, Esq., seconded , by S. P. Robinson, E-q., and carried unanimously, that William Brown, El., %IT., be requested to represent the free trad - rs of Lance-- Aire at the free-trade congrt-ss of all nations, held at.Bruseels on the 16th September.—Manchester foomixer. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. WILTS, SOMERSET._ AND WEYMOUTH RAILWAY. The half-yearly general meeting of the share holders of this company was held at Bath on Tuesday. Sir J. W. Audley, Bart., deputy chairman of the company, presided. The SECRETARY (Mr. O'Brien) read the report, which stated that— " One of the Bills promoted by the company bad re ceived the royal assent for deviations and improvements of the main line, near Bruton, and of the Batharopton branch, near Bradford, by which the character of the line will be improved, and the ci.sts of the works dimi nished. That a Bill tor the extension of the Berks and Hants Railway to Devizes and Westbury has passed the House of Comm( ns. By it these towns will be placed on main lines to London, and considerable additional accommodation given to Wiltshire and the northern part of Somerst [shire. An Act has passed for a railway trim this company's line at Radstock to the Great Western Railway at Twerton; by which a direct com• munication will be established from Frome to 3ristol, and the markets of Bath and Bristol opened to the sup ply of the coals from the whole of the Radstock district. That the directors have affixed the seal of the company to the supplementary agreement with the Gri-at Western Company; and take this opportunity of stating that the whole of the arrangement between the companies, as ori ginally, announced, have been finally embodied in agree ments which have rt ceived the legal approval and confir mation of both companies. The change which took place in the monetary condition of the country, soon after the passing of the Act of this company, has, of course, had an effect upon the company's financial condition. But the directors are enabled to report that there are not more than 3,273 shares on which they have no hope of turthet payments being made. These shares the directors have declared forfeited ; and as the money paid upon them amounts to alerve 11.0001., the ultimate loss to the c .inpany will not be of material consequence. Toy have not intentionally released any individual from engagements which he was able to fulfil ; and they have equally, in the exercise of that discretion which they believe the proprietors wish th em t o e xercise, avoided the immediate and rigorous e x ac ti ons o f claims which, without being urgently ne cessary to the company's welfare, would have brought ruin upon individuals, and might, in the result have been injurious to the company, and even have tended tp defeat the ob• jrct in view. The directors, bung anxious to relieve the pressure of calls uporr, the proprietors, by resorting as early as possible to the power of borrow ing. propose to obtain authority to accept loans on the company's debenture bonds, so soon as they shall be in a condition to do so legally, which will be when half the company's share capital, amounting to 750,0001., shall have been paid up. The accounts now before the pro prietors, being made up to the 30th of June last, show only a receipt of 557,935/. ; but since then another call has become due, and considerable payments have been made, so that the additional sum now wanted amounts to about 75,0002 This, it is hoped, will shortly be realised by the disposal of the forfeited shares, the col lection of arrears, and the receipt of advances in antici- pation of calls. As an inducemvnt to the shareholders to adopt the latter mode of investment, the directors intend that the rate of interest all:>v•ed on payments in advance of calls shall, for the future, be five per cent . This alteration will extend not only to sums hereafter to be advanced, but to the amount already received. The general progress of the works is necessarily regu lated by tt:e means placedb) the proprietors in the hands of the directors, and, in common with all other railway companies, they have judged it prudent, especially since the beginning of this year, to proceed with caution, and to avoid anticipatieg their resources. The engineer's report states, " That the progress of this railway during the last half year has not been so r..pid as might have hren desired. The. have endea you ed to uxpedre the wnik• between Thingley and 'fro% bridge and Bradbrd, and thence to Westbury and Frome. In order to open the line to Tr( abridge and li:adtord before winter, it will be necessary to take de cisive steps, unless the contractor immediately improve his rate of progress. With proper exertion on his part, the line ought to be ready to rec:ave the last portion of the permanent way in a month or six weeks, which would enable us, within two or three weeks more, to open to Trowbridge. Tile Devises branch is com menced. All the working drawings and other prelimi naries are prepared for the Itadstock branches. South of Frome, the new line to Bruton has been set oat, and all the preparations made for its immediate execution, ao as not to delay the opening to Yeovil. Between Yeo vil, Dorchester, and Weymouth the works are proceed ing ; and between Bradford and Bath the works are also in progress. The balence•aheet showed that the rtceipta up to the 30th of June amounted to 557,9351., and the expenditure to 543,4651., leaving a balance in hand of 1 , 1,4701." the CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be adopted, observed that the moat important part of the proceedings that day would be the shareholders' authority for the sale of certain forfeited shares. The directors had ordered 3,273 shares to be forfeited, in consequence of the owners not having paid up their calls. Five pound per share had been paid on ac count ; and the directors now required the share holders' authority for the sale of those shares. They would then be offered to the shareholders at a consi derable reduction. The directors had made arrange ments for allowing 5/. per cent. on all calls paid in advance for the future, instead of 4/. per cent. He was happy to say that they would soon have sufficient capital paid up to enable them to go into the market as borrowers; and if they could burrow on reasonable terms he thought it was better than making any fur ther calls at present. The report was passed, and a resolution empower ing the directors to sell the forfeited shares adopted, as was also another, resolution, authorising the directors to borrow 500,000/, after the"next call had been pail up. A PROPRIETOR said he presumed, if the directors bad to borrow money, that they must , pay five per cent. for 'it;' and he should like to.know how that was to be done, when, the company were only al lowed 41. by the Great Western, to whom they were leased. The CBAIRMAN, in reply, said that the Great Western Company were responsible for all ►.xcess expenditure; and he presumed the interest on bor. rowed money would have to be paid. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meet• ing terminated. BRISTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY. BRISTOL, SEPT. I.—The twenty-second half-yearly meeting of this company was held at the White Lion Lintel, in this city, this day, James Wentworth Bul ler, E-q ,in the chair. J. B. BADHAM, Esq., secretary, read the report of the dißctors, which stated that— t he amount of rent and s h are toll due from the Great Western Railway Company, f o r the half year end ng on the 13th of June l ss t, i s as follows, viz.: — Fixed rent of the line from 13rtstol to Exeter from the 14th of December, 1846, to the 13 t h of June, 1847 . at 71,9571 a y ear, 35.978/. 10, ; share of toll on 274,9061 pss , engers, conveyed 8.493,5491 miles . a' l • Per mile , 8 8471. Bs. lid. Ditto on merchandise, 63,569 tons 4 ewt. 3 qrs 4 lbs , rquwl to 1 ton conveyed 2 522,089 miles, at .d. per mit., 2,6271 3,. 61.; total 47,4531. 2. responding half of the year 1846, arising ' rom an in -54., showing an inerestie of 689/. 16s. 10d• over the cor crease ot 15.192 passengers, and 12,426 tons of goo ds. The dispo , sl balance 4'f the ri venue account , includi n g the surplu' of 2 . 0551 . 15 s. s d. •,n the former hal f- y ear, is 26.219/. 9.. Id.. which enables the directors to declare the same dividend ot 1/. 13s. 9.1. per 1001. share. as in the lad half-year, free of income-tax. This dividend is equal to 41 per cent. on the 7 51. paid up, and leaves a surplus of 906/. 19s. id. to be carried to the credit of the next halt-year." The report was unanimously adopted, and a reso lution was afterwards proposed, requesting the direc tors to enter into a negotiation wit h the directors of etleas e, Great Western amalgamation o som e f other the Bristol ciP andanY for the ale, Exeter line. After a long discussion the motion was withdrawn, and a vote of thanks having been passed to the Chair man, the meeting separated. ORKNEY ELECTION. FINAL CLOSE OF THE POLL. Dun4as . ••• ••• 145 Anderson ••• • • 140 State of the poll in Zetland not known as yet. The o ffi cial declaration takes place on Saturday, g heut.thiplistrict in securing have en the whole been CORN EXCHANGE, BULL, TVESDA . Y : —Considerable ' e;inw?ohanentrien continued de and dttevre very yas sever e ben "'l e g s : w e h w ic e h ek A w m e er h i a c e n a t t g o he o t h d t e r d a e e d x a e 1 .. p th r e og b r a e r s y s e h s a t s , b a e n eT f m ew ade se th as ro o u ns paying anything like tested this remark has proved correct , but we still think m bo o t r h e i f n avo q u u r a a li b ty le andThysiewbghiheat crospnbwdr:tilnlacvdhadrey.: it will prove a good avertig?• isohw il p L : had Th e d t next distrust u to s t nothing created d b o y i n t failures in London is excessive, treme fine weather, leads some persona to act as though we had all at once got a double crop of sew gra i n , and a complete panic has s eis, trebled du t p h o e n bstockuye buyers, andold ;thien old and new, shown at our like late prices for wheat. There was again flq,lituarntiistyselolifngwhqeusitet. both old millers market to-day. The remark ma de above respecti ng t h e new was tully borne ou t. Condition was excellent, and a good deal sold at about ss. per quarter decline. Foreign wheat almost unsaleable' The condition of the new crop is so good as just now to need little m i xture , and old has consequent l y to be put i nto granary. It may not be quite such a drug in a few months' time. preference for its offering'—grind ing arle y f 0 r malting request , irhnrievsaulsupp l ied elited b t at u n t tuei none t:b utth the saleable at 10d. to 11d. per been The sale of rye Present relatively meal durii,g the netsisttorine:ukr3haascon.tinuevderpyregfer excellent feeding qualities have no w . been so well and article is extensively tried, moderate it.slonr partici:. canA net breed off; parties preferring to land and take their ' turn in selling.—From Mtssrs. Taylor and Bright's Circular. INTERESTING SHIP RAC E. COV E , MONDAY MORNING.—The b.rque Glanmire, of Cork, C a pt a i n Barlett, and the Simeon Hardy. of Cork (brig), Gore arrived this morning. both having left Barbadoesloge: they; they were forty days coming, and th e * neon Hardy got in first. It is tlpotted that- tinge .shahs vv!ve sported by the Bactiadiaus oil the rem i tv . i .c or k k,,zasstmer. • _ ~. '. ,-• THE CASE OF THE DUKE DE PRASLIN. COURT OF PEERS. PARIS, AuG. 31. The Court met yesterday at two o'clock. The Chancellor commenced the proceedings of the day by reading the following report : " Report made by the Chancellor of France, Presi dent of the Court of Peers, at its sitting of Mon day, Aug. 30, on the present state of the previous examinations in the case before the Court, made in execution of the tecree of the 21st of this month:— " Gentlemen,—An account is due to you of the exercise of the powers you placed in my hands at the moment when you were charged with the duty of in quiring into and judging the author or authors of the execrable crime committed on Wednesday, Aug. 18, upon the Duchess de Praslin. You were charged with the investigation of this attempt, on the pre sumption, unhappily too well founded, that it was committed by her husband, the Duke de Praslin. No thing had been neglected for the accomplishment of your intentions, and for the discovery of the truth on every point. The time which has elapsed since the Duke de Praslin was placed under your jurisdiction has not been of long duration. Brought into the prison of the Luxembourg on Saturday at five in the morn ing, in virtue of the warrant which I issued in the morn ing of Friday, and which could not have been executed ooner for the reasons I have given to the Court, his life was not prolonged beyond the fourth day of his en trance into that prison. Judged and condemned by himself a few hours after the perpetration of the crime, he took a dose of arsenic too considerable for his existence not to be quickly destroyed by this cor rosive poison. He expired on Tuesday, the 24th, at half-past four in the afternoon, seven days and a halt after the moment when, with an atrocious barbarity, he immolated the most innocent, most pure, and most interesting of victims. These few days, however, were sufficient for the examinations commenced by the ordinary magistrates, and afterwards followed up in the name of the Court of Peers, to expose, in all its nakedness, his culpability and the accumulation of horrible circumstances, which at every instant more clearly demonstrated it. As it is important that the Court should have a full conviction that its President . and such of the Peers as were joined with him have done all that was in their power to attain this end, and also to prevent as far as possible the consequences of the resolution which the Duke de Praslin has exe cuted himself, I have thought it necessary to have printed and distributed to the Peers a collection of all the proceedings on the examination, from the mo 'tient it was commenced till that of the death of the Duke de Praslin, followed by the proofs of his death, and, as regularly as it could be acquired, the cause of that death. Among all the numerous proces verbaux and the numerous interrogatories of which this collection is compsed, there is not one document that does not come to the same point—that does not with greater or less evidence prove to a demonstra tion the real author of one of the most horrible acts to he found in the annals of crime. The Duchess de Praslin was murdered by her husband, to whom she had given ten children, of whom nine are still living —to whom she had brought, with all the gifts of nature, those of the most cultivated mind, elevated soul, and affectionate heart. Her illustrious origin was equal to that of her husband. Ido not speak of the magnificent fortune which she had added to his, and of which she was worthy in every way by the use that she knew how to make use of it when she had the means, and by the acts of charity inspired by the principles of the holy religion with which she was penetrated. This angel of goodness has fallen. Words would be wanting if I were to attempt to describe to the Court the feelings inspired by the discoveries which I made during the afflicting researches which it had ordered me to make. It appeared to me, and my colleagues shared my opinion, that the best mode of conveying to you the ideas which I have been able only very feebly to express in this short statement, would be to place under your eyes at least a portion of the letters written by Mdme. de Praslin to the very person who was so unworthy to receive them, and some 'of the reflections and meditations, the expression of which is contained in a small num ber of writings, the precious remains of the emana tions of one of the purest minds ever created by God for the honour of all times and all ages. These do cuments form part of the collection of which I have just spoken, and which has been distributed to you. If the Dnke bad not been his own judge, this collec tion would give to_ those who should take the pains to read it the means and the right of judging in their o wn consciences with the equitable severity from which the remembrance of him will not escape; and if this collection is to remain an eternal monument of the perversity of one of the greatest criminals that ever lived, there will arise from it, at the same time, the consolatory reflection, that by the side of the most Curious passions of the most perverse men Providence has frequenly placed in all ranks and all classes the most angelic virtues, wishing thus to grant to humanity a sort of right sometimes to turn away the eye from the perversities which afflict it, and per haps also to solicit for them a little mercy. Who, in fact, can doubt, after having read the letters and writings of the Duchess de Praslin, that her soul is at this very time entirely engaged in appeasing, if it be possible, the anger of Heaven against the man who was her assassin, but who had also been the father or her children ? I turn, gentlemen, from these natural reflections to enter on the recital of some facts which I must fix your attention. I have not to give you a report of the prosecution of a criminal, who is n o longer before you for judgment, as regards what principally concerns you. The death of even the most guilty man puts an end to all the proceedings of justice ; hut there is an important point which cannot he too deeply entered upon. The rank, the fortune, the position of M. de Praslin in the world, placed him In a sphere where the perpetration of a crime, such as that which has been c,antiiitted on the person of his wife, seemed more incomprehensible; but on that ac count the example of such a crime in so high a sphere has something in it frightful to society at large. We cannot, therefore, help thinking that it was to have been wished that the reparation should have been as striking as the crime. sever could the prin ciple of equality, in the eye of the law, have been more justly called for, and you would not have failed, in your judgment on M. de Praslin, to act on this principle. There are, however, persons disposed to think that the desire that such a criminal should not be subjected to the ignominy of the punishment which awaited him—as if ignominy depended upon the pu nishment, as if it were not the inevitable consequence of the crime itself as soon as it is proved—that the desire, I say, of sparing him this ignominy had in spired the idea of furnishing him with the means of escaping it by self-destruction, and thus avoid the in fliction of death by the hands of the public execu tioner. On this point the following are the results of the most thorough investigations, confirmed by the report of the medical men, of whose capacity and sincerity there can be no doubt. M. de Praslin (if we are to believe the words addressed to him by the Grand Referendary on the morning of the 24th, atter the visit of the physicians who bad predicted his death, had brought arsenic from Praslin, where he always had some, for the destruction of vermin, and had used it on his pers on in the course of the 18th, when he saw that he was the ob ject of the investigations of justice. The plans which he had conceived, and on which reposed without doubt his hope of sufficiently concealing the crime upon which he had resolved, were all defeated by cir cumstances which it will be easy to perceive in the collection under your eyes. Finding himself over whelmed by the appearances of a conviction from which he could not escape, he immediately, without doubt, adopted the determination to use the poison with which he was provided. He thought, according to all appearance, that the effect would be more prompt than it was. He certainly took this poison iu the course, of the Wednesday,. either a little earlier, or a little later, but in such a way that the evacuations which it would produce, considering the dose that he had swallowed, began at 10 at night in a way night and the following day were very h!_l_d evacuations had ceased at the end of Th A urs p d h a y y : but were succeeded by grea t sician of great ability for who but, did not arrive w ha e d naTnded him and his family, was . sent da y Notwithstanding the till the morning of d ll:h inquies enter! intuor,sand.w.which appeared to be veryserious, he did not recognise the symptoms of poison, but thought he discovered in the the patient remedies those o f an attack of cholera. us ually prescribed in such cases. The rest of that day and the following night were passed most pain. f u lly, but in the morning of Friday his condition see med to be ame liorated. Having already invested myself with the power conferred by the royal onion nae rendered the day before, and which had just reached me, I thought myself bound, al out the middle of Friday, to call in Dr. Andral officially, to examine most minutely the state of M. de Praslin. Dr. Andral immediately came to him and examined him with the greatest care. hut from the improve meat which had taken place he was not ab!e to discover the true cause of the evil. At my desire he went again to the bedside of the patient, and on his return assured me that his removal to the prison of the Luxembourg might be effected without inconvenience. It took place, in fact, on Saturday at five in the morning, and in the course of the day I was able to interrogate him in the presence of the Peers, who had accept ed the charge of aidin g me in so laborious a tack. That examination will be found in the papers bef ore Y? 4 , 11 , 3 " Although a complete avowal did not, during t t e whole length of it, pass the lip s the i, absence of all formal denegati of the accused,on, even w en option between a yes and a no was formally given tune estate him, might well pass for an av owal. This examina tion could not continue any oth of time • Wilikileed it4i1 614 O le I"llatta , "a 6 414 r"t "......--• W,.......... permit it to be prolonged. He was immedle ten' car ried back to his bed, which he did no t a f ter ; y w ards quit. The same evening th,e. symptom s b ecare IP finaely more grave, and all the appearanc es o f pc '. In. ing became mas ore evident. From that p er i o d h e : is"- treated as was proper in such a case, by M. A i idral , w M. Rouget, the physician of the Luxembourg , and M. Louis, his usual medical attendant; it wars the latter who saw him from the Thursday. On Sunday morning I ordered chymical experiments to be made on the evacuations of the accused of every kind... M. Chevalier, who was charged with this operatioi I , per ceived very clearly the eresense of arsenic in this mat ters submitted to him. He also discovered the- pre sence of arsenic in a little phial seized on J I. de Praslin whilst still at his hotel, and which prce bably had contained that which be had taken. Afters yards he ascertained the presence of arsenic in the evt tcua tions which remained on an arm-chair where I a. de Praslin had been placed on the Thursday on getting out of a bath, and which had been removed t J the garden in consequence of the stench proceeding from it. From Sunday morning. the aggravation o f the illness, the alternatives of pain and weakness v ;tech it caused, did not permit a new examination of 14. de Praslin to be attempted. Only some detached ph erases were drawn from him, but it was impossible to sub ject him to a regular examination. I attempted it once, but without success. His death took place on Tuesday, and the autopsy of the body was effected srs.Orfilaandl'a et. rin presence of Drs. die , A b y Mes sr s. n dr i al s , Louis , and Roug u That iwoceeding,and the experiments which were afterwards instituted by Messrs. Orfila and T ar dieu i. t e fu ll y confirmed the as sertions of M. Chevalier.pcisohnin c onclusions cf come to tend to show that the effected by himself; must havge tak M en pdel ce on Praslin, Wednesday, in the middle of the day, soiree hours only after the murder had been perpetrated. The proces-verbaux, which sues before you, show that all the incidents which took place afterwards, the in tervals which elapsed between them, in fine, the duration of the state which terminated in deatlb, are the natural and usual consequences of this k ind of poisoning. Relative to M. de Praslin, therefom'e, all is clear, all is finished, and the justice of man has no further claim on him ; but from the beginning of the judicial inquiry the ordinary law authorities had not hesitated to have arrested, under suspicion of com plicity, Mdlle. De Luzy, who bad been for six sears the governess of M. ;le Praslin's children, and who left her situation on the 18th of last July. I main tained that arrest, and she is at present confit red in the Conciergerie. On Monday I caused her to be interrogated at some length in presence of the mem bers of the Court, whose assistance I had demanded. That examination will be found amongst. the printed documents. Will the Court deem it proper to continue the judicial proceedings in this port of the affair, which were given over to it by the royal ordonnance of August 18, or will it think it right to give them up? Whatever decision it may cisme to on this point, it cannot deliberate without having heard the requisitory of the Procureur-Generale who will be introduced when it pleases." After the reading of this report, M. Delangle , the Procureur- General, assisted by M. Boucly, acting as Advocate-General to the Court, was introduced., and he read the following requisitory. (See below' the text of this document.) The law officers of the Crown having withdrawn, the Court proceeded Vs de liberate. At three o'clock the Procureur-Geileral was again introduced, and the President read its his presence the following decision of the Court:— " The Court of Peers, " Considering the King's ordonnance of the 19th of this month, which sends before the Court Charles Laure Hugues Theobald, Duke de Choiseul-Praslin, Peer of France, for trial, in consequence of grave in dications which appeared against him of being the perpetrator of the murder committed on the night of the 17th of the present moth, on the person ed the Duchess de Praslin, or an accomplice in it s : " Considering the decision of the Court of the 21st of the present month, ordering that a judicial inquiry shall be forthwith proceeded to, both with respect to the Duke de Praslin and his accomplices: " Considering the decease of the said Charles Laure Hugues Theobald, Duke de Choiseul-Praslin : " Considering Article 2 of the Code of Criminal Instruction, thus worded :—The public action for the application of punishment ceases with the death of the accused. The civil action for reparation or damage may be exercised against the accused and his 1 representatives. Both actions cease by prescription, as is regulated in book 11, tit. 7, chap. 5, on ' Pre scription' : " Having heard the Chancellor of France, President of the Court, in his report : " Having heard the King's Procureur-General in his requisitory, which is couched in the following language " ' We, the King's Procureur-General to the Court of Peers, " 'Considering that the examination on the mur der of the Duelles de Po slip involve—first. Charles Laure Hugues Theobald, Duke de Choiseul rraslin, Peer of I ranee ; secondly, Henrietta De Luzy Desportes ; considering that the Duke de Praslin bsints dead on the 24th of August, the public pro ceedings as against hi it are extinct, conformably to Article 2 of the Code d'lnstruction Criminel, and that, as regards Henriette de Luzy Desportes, there is reason in the present state of the proceed ings to send the affair b-f ore the julges who ought to take cognizance of it ; we move that it shall please the Court to send the said Henriette De Luzy Desportes, all warrants issued s ubsisting, before the Tributtel de Premiere Instance of Paris, for the con tinuation of the preceedings commenced—and to order that all the acts of the process with the docu ments and material pieces of evidence shall be depo sited in the regi-try of the said tribunal. "' Done at the office of the Procureue-General of the Court of Peers, this 30th August, 1847. "'Le Procureur-..e.ieral du Itei, DELANGLE: "Basing deliberstcl, in the ab-ence of the King's Procureur General, so tar as regards Charles Laure Hugues Theobald, Duke of Choiseul-Praslin, the public proceedings ter. the Application of the punish ment are extinct as regards bun. Declares that there is no ground for pronouncing as regards Henriette De Luzy- Desportes, inculpated on a charge of com plicity. Considering that in the state of the proceed ings there is ground for the Court to desist, sends the said De Luzy- Desportes before the competent tribu nal ; all warrants already issued to remain in force. Ordains that the present decree shall be G enera l under the direction of the King's Procureur-General d. _ Done at Paris in the Chamber of Council, tile 30th of Aueust, 1847." By order of the Chancel lor there to all the Peers copies of the i collecten o min ations et wit of the Duchess de Praslin, the exit nesses,i w n e a h ll av to e m re ; c ir e e iv t e h d an co 3 p O ic e s, qu ir a o r m to pages. which we make the following extracts ScOe.ft amounting thi rp ort : LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS TO HER HUSBLND (WRITTEN IN JUNE, 1841). "Wherefore, my beloved, do you refuse to let me share your afflictions? You deprive our life of alt the charms of affection! Do you then believe, or rather do you wish to persuade yourself, that indee pendence consists in solitude ? You say that I era exigeante, because I desire to share your sorrows. Y.'u do not like me to remark that you have any. Do you then wish to become quite a stranger to we, and for that, would it not be requisite for me told: ' e come entirely indifferent to you P And how co I become indifferent to the person I love best on eltrthr Do you think it possible ?—would not m y heart b rea k long before ? You yourself are sorrowful to eee me sad, and you know the reason of my sadness; you t kno o w how it is in your power to console me, and ye y u feel within my heart a source of that you are sad; I withhold those consolations. I, on the contrary, see the deepest love, sufficient to calm and soothe all y our s orrows, and you d is card me !Am I not your Wife, the partner of your life, she whose duty it is your pleasures and your sorrows ? not my hand that should soothe I t o f share you w equally erwere ill, i it thy pillow? And are not sorrows the diseases of the s mind—of the spirit ? Wherefore, then, reject me ? . , . You have a heart to appreciate the joys, the wants of a loving heart, in which to place full con fiieuce and find relief for your sorrows. It is the violence of my manners that prevents you from placing that confidence in me. Believe me, Theobald, four months of sorrow and repentance have chastened me; it is to love and console you, and not to torment you, that I seek your confidence. I give you my word never to try to gain an ascendancy over you; lam fully aware of y our super i or c haracter and mind; I only wish to share your life, to embellish it, and pour balm upon your wounds. You left my room because you thought that I wished to gain an ascendancy over you. My friend, I swear unto you, in the name of my love, in the na me of yours, by all that I hold most sacred and west dear, I only seek your love and your confidence as you have mine. I will blindly obey you. I will no longer tortnentyou by jealousy; I shall never give you a s wo r d of reproach or of counsel. My repentance is t si cere ; I have suffered too much to return to my past faults. We are both very young, Theobald. Do not condemn us both to solitude. Hoe l 'We love each other, we are both of us pure, and shall we live apart from each other both in body and in mind? Do not let your heart be a sufferer from a little feeling of amour propre ; I swear unto you that I only seek your affection and your confidence ; I shall be the loving and obedient partner of your life. My friend, confidence is the marriage of souls—their mutual confessions are their caresses and union, happiness, and virtue are. their fruits. Believe me, I shall never abuse your confidence; your confessions will be received in my bosom with the same mystery and. affection as thy caresses. Take again your own Fanny. Try her but for a short time with love and affection, and you will find that you will be much happier than ,living in solitude. You seek a change ; iAlt are art . really happy? CM no, you -are not L•