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

• THE PROSPECTS of the POTATO CROP.—GOVERNMENT INQUIRY. At the beginning of last month the Poor-law Com missioners announced to the Assistant Commis4oners and others, that Government was anxious to receive infor mation from leading gentlemen of practical experience, on the following point connected with the failure of the potato crop during the last a nd p resent year, viz., " whether any sorts of that root have not been more also or less than others injuriously a ffected ?" It was stated that the object of Government in directing an in quiry into this branch of the subject appears to be to collect such information as may serve as a guide to farmers who are making choice of sorts for planting ; and looking to the probability of future failures, it is a question of paramount importance, and to which atten tion does not hithert o appear to n sufficiently directed. In accordance with the wish above expressed, Mr. Hawley, the Assistant Poor-law Commissioner, ad dressed a letter fram Durham to Mr. Milburn, of Thorp- field, Thirsk, to which he received the following reply:— "Thorpfield, Thirsk, Jam 26, 1847. " Sir,—l beg to inclose replies to your queries in re ference to potatoes. I have paid a great deal of attention to the matter, and am quite convinced that no causes, such as I infer are thought of by the tone of queries, are so far in operation as to account for the disease. Both the old and the new kinds were equally affected, and those which escaped most in 1845 suffered most in 1846. " I am aware how very little value opinions are of in the matter ; but I think the following statements are justified by facts : " Ist. That in 184.5 the white varieties and late va rieties suffered most by the disease. 2d. The it mani fested itself most about the 12th of October, and pro gressed after they were removed from the ground most severely. 3rd. That all kinds were most tree from dis ease which were taken up early, say, before the Ist of October. 4th. That the disease was most in wet and clay districts, and least felt in dry and sand districts, as at Thirsk and Doncaster. sth. That very diseased sets still had vitality, and would produce plants, in some cases less tainted by disease than the sets free from dis ease would do. _ _ . " While, 6th, in 1846. the red varieties were the worst diseased. ith. That the disease manifested itself in one night, say, about the 23rd of August, all the tops being blackened as if by frost, though the night was thick and oppressively hot ; but no progress was made by the disease after the plants were removed from the soil. Bth. That the early kinds were the worst, and those the earliest removed from the ground suffered the most. I think it probable that this year they improved by laying in the soil. 9th. The districts most free from the disease in 1845 were the most affected in 1846, to wit, Thirsk and Doncaster, and sand districts. "My opinio n on the whole is, that it is owing to that mysterious lA , of nature, that bounds shall be set to the great increase of any species of animals or plants, and thus the balance of creation shall be duly kept. . . . " My impression is, also, that the disease will be less severe in this year than last, and by and by it will wear out as the "curl" in potatoes. and the dry rot have done before, but not before there is much misery and :uf ferinz " I trust her Majesty's Government, in carrying out their present judicious and merciful measures for Ire land, will provide seed corn, especially rye, which will grow on the poor soils of that country, and be a tran sition from a delicate exotic vegetable to a hardy one, less accustomed to suffer by variable influences. Better to pay the Irish for growing and tilling their own soil and find them seed, than have a nation of paupers.—l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, " MATTHEW MARMADUKE MILBURN. " To W. H. T. Hawley, Esq."— Leeds Mercury. PASSAGE OF THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. (From the Liverpool Mercury.) IMPORTANT TO SHIPMASTERS. The following letter well deserves the attention of those of the nautical world interested in voyages to the vast of South America : " TO THE EDITORS OF THE 'LIVERPOOL MERCURY.' " Gentlemen,—l shall feel obliged if you will give in sertion to the annexed remarks on the passage of the barque Cape Horn, of Glasgow, under my command, through the Straits of Magellan, on her last passage from Valparaiso to this port. " On Monday, November 16, 1846, at eight P.M., we made the Evangelists, bearing N.N.E. five miles, wind west, and tolerably clear ; at midnight Cape Pillar bore S.S.W. three miles, and by keeping the starboard shore on board, strangers will find no difficulty in finding Long Reach. On Tuesday, 17th, at noon, we entered Crooked Reach ; at ten P.M., were off Port Famine, which is a safe anchorage ground, and where there is a Chilian settlement, at which refreshments can be easily pro cured. On Wednesday, 18th, at 430 P.M., came to anchor in Gregory's Bay, in fifteen fathoms; good hold ing ground. On Thursday, the 19th, at 330 A.M., got under weigh; at 7 30 A.M., entered the First Narrows, with a strong flood tide against us, which we found no difficulty in stemming. At two P.M. we were clear of the Straits. At six P.M. we rounded Dungeness ; and, after the experience of four voyages round Cape Horn, in September, 1843, August, 1844, August, 1845, and the present voyage, I must say that the wear and tear, owing to the bad weather we encountered, with heavy cross sea so prevalent between the west entrance to the Straits and Cape Horn, contrasted with the passage through the Straits from the west caast is, in my opi nion, not to be compared; and had I another passage to make at the same season of the year, or in the winter season, with moonlight, I would take the Straits for my passage. The risk of life and property, and the wear and tear in the one, are not to be compared with the other.—Yours, &c., " JOHN LONGMUIER, Master. " Liverpool, 36, Upper Pitt-street. Feb. 11, 1847." FOREIGN RAILWAYS. The Journal des Chemins de Ter furnishes some fur ther interesting information relative to the progress of the railway system on the continent of Europe. The details in the present instance are chiefly confined to the undertakings opened or in course of construction in Belgium and Holland. The progress of railway construction in Belgium is thus described :—ln the year 1835 the line from Brussels to Malines was opened, being 20 kilometres in length. In the year 1836 the line from Malines to Antwerp was opened, being 26 kilometres in length. In the following year, 1837, the three lines, Malines to Louvain, 20 kilometres; Termonde to Wetterin, 10 kilo metres; and Louvain to Tirlemont, 25 kilometres, were opened. In 1838 the Tirlemont to Ans, 45 kilometres; the Wetterin to Gand, 23 kilometres; the Gand to Bruges, 30 kilometres; and the Bruges to Ostend, 36 kilometres, were opened. The lines from Gand to Courtray, 44 kilometres, and from Landes to St. Troud, 10 kilometres, were opened in 1839. In 1840 the Brus sels to Jubise line, 25 kilometres, was opened. In 1841 the Jubise to Jurbise, 25 kilometres, and the Turbise to Mons, 10 kilometres, were opened. The Ans to Liege, 3 kilometres ; the Mons (French frontier), 27 kilometres; and the Courtray (French frontier) lines, 7 kilometres, were opened in 1842. The lines opened in 1843 were, Liege to Chaudfontain:, 12 kilometres ; Chaudfontaine to Verviers, 16 kilometres; and Verviers to the frontier of Prussia, 12 kilometres. The line opened in 1844 was that from Mouscron to Tour ney, in length 19 kilometres. In 1845, the Braine-le Comte to Charleroy, 23 kilometres ; the Godardville to Gosselies, 21 kilometres, and the Charleroy to Namur, 37 kilometres, were the tbree lines opened. The lines opened is 1846 were the Antwerp to St. Nicholas, 18 kilometres ; aed the Bruges to Thourout, 32 kilometres ; thus making the total length of railway up to the end cf that year, including the interior branch of the Antwerp, 3 kilo metres, and the Junction Line of the Brussels, also 3 kilometres,. 609 kilometres. Among the lines specified, only those from Antwerp to St. Nicholas, and from Bruges to Thourout were constructed by private enter. prise, the whole of the others being carried out at the expense of the State. It, therefore, appears that the Government works include 559 kilometres, of which 362 kilometres are double rails, and 197 kilometres single rails. According to official accounts, the sum expended by the Belgian Government in these under takings amounted to 159,174,827 f., which is at the rate of 1,339,130 f. 85c. for the league of 5 kilometres. The lines in course of construction, and for which special concessions have been granted to particular companies, include the Liege and Namur, length 70 kilometres, estimated to cost 18,000,000 f. ; the At to Termonde, length about 50 kilometros, estimated expense about 12,000.000 f. ; Manage to Mons, length 25 kilometres, estimated expense 5,000.000 f. ; Lou vain to Jemmappes, length 55 kilometres, estimated cost 20,000,000 f - Jurbise to Tournay , length 4 8 kilo. metres, estimate d cost 8,000,0001. ; St. Trond to Has selt, length 15 kilometres, estimated cost 4,000,000 f. ; the lines of the Sambre-et-Meuse, length 94 kilometres, estimated cost 10,000,000 f. These concessions, granted in 1845, show works undertaken to the extent of 423 kilometres, which will require an outlay approach ing 101,000,0001. Independent of the railways already mentioned, others are projected, among which should be noticed the Erquelinnes and Charleroy, and the Great Luxembourg, both being regarded as exhibiting features of importance connected with the routes proposed to be opened by them. It is mentioned with reg ret that up to the present moment the want of cordial feeling between the Belgian and Dutch authorities has prevented the continuation of the Belgian Northern line from Antwerp to Northern Bra bant, the result of which would be the connexion of the railway network of Holland with the Belgian and French lines, and the opening of a direct communication be tween Amsterdam, the Hague, Rotterdam, and the whole of the Pays Bas with Paris. In H o ll an d the lines opened to . the pu b l i c to the end of the year 1846 were those of Amsterdam to Haarlem (opened in 1 839), 18 kilometres in length ; Haarlem to Leyde (opened in 1843), 23 kilometres in length ; Am sterdam to Ut rec h t (opened in 1843), 36 kilomet res in length ; Leyde to the Hague (opened in 1844) 15 kilometres in len g th ; and the Utrecht to Arnh eim' (02:-med in 1845), 129 k' (p length; . making the e ompleta extent of railway communication in active oricration in the Netherland kin o gdo no at that date 226 .72donaetres. The Government of the country are still occupied w ith arranging the necessary plans to perfect their system. At this moment th e li ne from the Iliwue is being carr ied forward to ltotterdain, and from Lii orTks To heim to the fron tier of Prussia; besides whic h th e w between Rotter dam and Utrec h t are in fu l l act ivi ty. sum up these arrangements two concessions have been recently made, one for a line in Dutch Brabant and t h e other for a line in the E as tern Netherland provin ces , borderinir on Hanover and Rhenish Prussia. MINCIIESTEN, FEB. 20.--BOROUGH 3 At a meeting of Lord Lincoln's committee, held yesterday, it was resolved that a deputation should proceed to London on Tuesday next, to present the requisition, asking his Lordship to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the borough.—Mpichester Guatclian. THE SUN, LONDON, MON DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 184? . THE WAR IN THE CAUCASUS. TREBISOND, JAN. 12.—The storms of the month of De cember bad interrupted our relations with the Circassian coast. Yesterday the arrival of several vessels from Kertch and Suckum-Kaleh brought us positive aews of great im portance relative to events of which Circass has been the theatre. The following details,' which are derived from the best source, are as well known at the R seism Consulate as at the Palace of Halii Pacha. 'After two years of the most perfect tranquillity, which permitted the R sians to direct their entire efforts against Schamyl, the famous chief of the Tschetschenses and tesgians, war has again commenced on the banks of the Black Sea and of the Kouban with the greatest ferocity. On the 7th of December the Governor o. the Fort Golowin, situate 30 leagues to the north of Suckum- Kaleh, was warned by his spies that the warlike tribe of the Übbikhs was planning a night attack against the fort, and that at the same time the Tschigetes, commanded by Hadj-Terike•Okow, one of the bravest chiefs amongst the Circassians, were collecting in the mountains, in order to surprise the fortress of Gagra. On the same day the Russian steam-boat, coming from Redut-Kaleh and proceed ing to Kertch touched at Fort Golowin. The Governor of that fort immediately dispatched it to Gagra, to apprize the garrison of the danger which threatened it. This circum stance saved the Russians, for during the same night 4,000 mountaineers attacked the retrenchments of the Gagra with the greatest fury. The fortress, which is surrounded on all sides by lofty rocks, would have been certainly captured by the Circassians, if the garrison, accustomed to peace during two years, should have been taken unawares. But, notwith stan,fing the brave resistance of the garrison, 800 men strong, protected by artillery, the loss of the Russians was consider • able. The mountaineers, not being able to scale the walls, well defended by the Russian infantry, possessed themselves of a great rock to the north of Gagra, upon which the Russians had established a post. Thence they directed a murderous fire against the interior of the fort, and their balls reached even the sleeping apartments of the officers. This position was held during two days, notwith standing several sorties made by the garrison, which were repulsed. The want of ammunition at length compelled the Tschigetes (the lost Circassian tribe to the south of the great chain) to retire to the mountains. The attack upon Fort Golowin took place two days afterwards. More than 5,000 mountaineers of the Übbikh territory had surrounded the fortress. Although all their attacks were repulsed, the Rus sians themselves admit that the enemy showed more courage, boldness, and fury than on any previous occasion, and that but for the information given by their spies, the fort would have incurred a great risk of being captured. With respect to the movement on the Kouban we have no accurate in formation. We are assured, however, that 4,000 Schap soukhes, commanded by Chora Beg, had passed the river near Ladoschskaje. The cause of all this commotion, after an uninterrupted tranquillity of two years, is owing to the following circumstances :—The Circassians are in want of corn and salt, which they ara compelled to purchase from the Russians. In order to accustom them to pacific relations, Prince Woronzow had accorded them considerable advantages, and he carried his complai sance towards the Circassian chiefs so far as to permit them to trade with Turkey, and to send their female Circassian slaves for sale. But by degrees the Russian generals be came more exacting. They demanded of the Circassian chiefs to surrender the Russian and Polish deserters, of whom several hundreds are dispersed through the mountains. They demanded hostages for their fidelity, and they required that the Circassians should deliver up Schamyl's emissaries. When the Circassian chiefs refused to consent to these con ditions, the Russians refused to supply the Übbikhs and other tribes with corn or salt. The Übbikhs were ever re markable for their antipathy to the Russians, and when at length the latter captured a Turkish vessel near Pitzounda, laden with 60 female Circassians, the mountaineers lost all patience and rei-olted on three different points, aided by the majority of the Works, the nobility of the country. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.—This first of our metropolitan aquatic clubs gave their anniversary ball on Thursday evening, the company mustering, with members and visitors, nearly four hundred. Dancing was kept up with unflagging ardour, to the music of Adam's orchestra, till an early hour of the morning, an elegant supper having been done ample justice to coon after midnight. The Noble Commodore, Lord Alfred Paget, in giving the health of her Majesty, which was enthusiastically received, alluded to the especial honour accorded in her graciously becoming the patroness of the Royal Thames Yacht Club ; and Mr. Joseph Wilkinson, in a very neatly-turned speech, expressed the de light which the club felt at the presence of so many of the fair sex, to whom the flag of every yachtsman rust strike, and whose smiles were his best guerdon either on the deck or in the ball room. The admirable arrangements of the stewards were the topic of general comment, whilst their courteous attention to their guests, throughout the entire even ing, was unremitting. Such was the demand for tickets that the supply was wholly incompetent to meet it, and how ever we may sympathise with the disappointed, yet the en joyment of the evening was greatly enhanced by the judi- cious restriction as to numbers, and the great care exercised in the distribution of the tickets of admission. SEIZURES OF ILLICIT DISTILLERIES.-OEI Friday appears to have been a busy day amongst the Excise officers, as no less than four illicit stills were seized by them in the course of the day. From the observations of Messrs. James and Frederick Pargeter, officers of Excise, of pre mises 27, St. Peter-street, Bethnal-green, and the delivery there of certain suspicious articles, they were convinced that something illegal was going on, and on obtaining a search-warrant they proceeded to the house, and having gained admission, they soon found that those suspicions were perfectly correct. On proceeding to the front kitchen,. they found a large copper still in full work, running off strong spirits. They then went to the back kitchen, when another still immediately met their view, also at work. In this room two men were engaged, and so busy were they, that for some time they were unaware of the presence of the officers. One of them was holding a bladder with a funnel in it, while the other was filling it with spirits from a tub. One gave the name of James Brown, and the other Alfred Crompton, but protested they were only servants. ,- There was a large quantity of fermented wash and spirits, and the usual distillery apparatus, which they seized. The next case was at 7, Scott-street, Bethnal-green, kept by a man named Joseph Adlington. The officers got over a gateway, and effected an entrance into the house, where they found a still at full work, running off spirits of wine, a quantity of spirit 50 per cent. over proof, fermented wash (which was de stroyed), and all the usual apparatus, which were seized and conveyed to the Excise warehouses. The third case was in Stoney-lane, Petticoat-lane. Messrs. Bayford and Lewins, the officers, from information received, went to a house in the above street, and after a good deal of trouble effected an entrance. In a back apartment they found a very large still in full work, and a man attending to it, with an immense quantity of fermented wash prepared for carrying on a large trade, with spirits ready for sending out. The apparatus was of a complete description, the whole of which was seized. NARROW ESCAPE FROM ADDITIONAL CALAMITY.— The mother of the unfortunate boy, George Beale, whose un timely end was recorded in our paper of the 4th inst., was herself on the point of perishing upon the Downs, between Cherhill and Yatesbury, on the night of the severe snow storm of Monday week last. It seems that on the receipt of the melancholy intelligence, which was communicated to her by the Rev. Dr. Money Kyrle, she had started from London on a sudden impulse, " to see her child's grave." He was her favourite son. When near Yatesbury ahe en countered the full force of the storm. Blinded by the drift she lost her track, and was overpowered by constantly sink ing in the snow, which in many places were several feet deep. A man who accompanied her was in little better plight. She was brought to the rectory at Yatesbury in an almost insensible state; but, by the administration of proper remedies, was happily so far restored in eight-and-forty hours as to be able to return by rail to London. We hear that a subscription, proposed to help her on ber journey, was readily responded to by all the principal farmers of the parish —Devizes Gazette. BURGLARY AND EXTENSIVE. ROBBERY.—On Friday morning it was discovered that the premises of Mr. Mar shall, in the Edgeware•road, had been entered, and watches of different descriptions, to the amount of 1001., stolen from the shop. THE ISLAND OF ASCENMON.-PORTSMOUTU, FEB. 19.—Letters from the Island of Ascension, up to the 29th of December, have been received. They furnish the gratifying intelligence that all the inhabitants were in good health; that the turtle had re-appeared in abundance, and been taken and the ponds filled with them ; and that the water tanks were also well supplied. Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, in the Devastation steamer, accompanied by her Majesty's ship Actmon, Captain Mansell, had put to sea on the 26th of De cember, intending to be absent for three months, and visit and inspect the different stations on the coast of Africa, and the men-of-war cruising off them. Sir Charles Hotham left her Majesty's steamer Hydra at Ascension, for her officers and crew to obtain refreshments and rest, after a long cruise on the coast. Commander Morell had heard that he was ap pointed to the Hydra, vice Young, promoted, and on the ar rival of Captain Hutton, who was to take command of the Tortoise and the Island of Ascension, will bring that steamer to England ; she was to sail on the Ist of February. The African squadron were all at sea, and, with the exception of her Majesty's brig Wanderer, had been tolerably healthy. She has lost about ten officers and men from fever. The Larne, 16, and Espoir, 10, are ordered home to be paid off, having been nearly four years in commission, and the greater part of the time employed on the coast of Africa. Letters from her Majesty's ship Fox, 36, Commodore Sir Henry Blackwood, Bart., dated the Ist of January, have arrived here, announcing her being about to sail for Trin comalee, and expected to leave the station for E ng l an d during the month of May. The officers and crew of the Fox were all well. TENURE or LAND IN IRELAND.-..A document possessing much interest at the present moment was on Fri day issued among the Parliamentary papers. It contains an abstract of returns from the clerks of unions throughout Ireland relative to the number of persons holding land, com parative size of the holdings, &c., and is reprinted from papers presented to the House in the session of 1845. The census of 1841 is taken as the basis cf the calculation. From this return it appears—" That in the year 1841, the total population of the 130 unions was 8,174,029; and the total area 19,146 502 statute acres. Of this population the num ber of persons holding land was 883,097 (representing with their families a gross number pi obably little short of four and a halt millions). The number of persons holding land, whose holdings do not exceed one acre of ground, is 124,407. Those holdings between one and two acres amounted to 50,233 ; between 2 and 3, 35,363 ; between 3 and 4, 43,135; between 4 and 5, 52,071; between 5 and 6, 86,463 ; between 6 and 7, 40,374 ; between 7 and 8, 35,549 ; between 8 and 9, 40,8 . 22; between 9 and 10, 34,792. The number of persons holding from 10 to 20 acres was 186,155; ' from 20 to 50, 120,681 ; from 50 to 100, 42,772 ; from 100 to 200, 15,458; from 200 to 500, 5,947; from 500 to 1,000, 1,127; front 1,000 to 2,000, 284 ; from 2,000 to 3,000, 46 ; from 3,000 to 4,000, 11; from 4,000 to 5,000, 3 ; and above 5,000, 6. The acres of land held in common or joint tenancy were 1,902,547 ac CS ; the number of holders not included in the foregoing classes, 30,316. In the notes, ap pended to the return, there is stated the amount of waste, bog, and otherwise unprofitable land, appertaining to many of the unions; but there is na estimate formed of the whole extent of such land, although it has been included in the return of the gross acres of land given above. FIFESHIRE, ST. MONANCE.—THE WEATHER AND FISIIING.—The weather has been particularly fine the whole of the week, and our fishermen hare been diligent. The herring fishing has been prosecuted with indefatigable and unfired earnestness. T.:lany of our crews have slept little during the weak.. The fishing being at the Zfay Island, seven miles from our place, in moderate weather it requires a considerable portion of the fishermen's time in malting their passage to and from the fishing-ground; that, combined with other labours which they have to perform during the day, prevents them from getting regular rest. The turbot fishing, which has been backward for some time, looks better, and - several of our crews have this week caught fourteen or fif teen at one haul. The cod-fish have almost entirely disap peared again; several boats having short lines caught only vmeurealit. of 'lo'uhre boatser r i a w v es e t ry few. The wind has been prevailing from the north with keen frost, which has pinched our fishermen very fishing has not been very general. Se that the-I(4'.duienelinur9littal: mane been singularly fortunate, but the ma joritylv We have ebarel understand e wage s . " d e, e ty i d if e e d po t i h le a r t . the Garter, vacant by the decease of th e l ate D u k e o f Nor thumberland, shall be conferred upon his grace the Duke of Bedford. HAMBURG IMPROVEMENTS. The following remarks upon the rebuilding and im provements of Hamburg, which have taken place ac cording to the plans and under the direction of an Eng lish engineer, Mr. W. Lindley, are abridged from a re cent number of the Allgemeine Zeitung They exhibit strongly the admiration with which the practical science of England is regarded by Germans. In the very im portant matter of sewerage, however, it is to be feared, that instead of pointing out the way to the burghers of Hamburg, most of our great towns will have only the credit of coping their example:— " The newly erected part of Hamburg offers a cheerful and elevating prospect to the eye. I have just returned from a walk round tho Binnen Alater. Gaslight and moonshine strive together to illuminate the basin—a lake in a town, and the rows of splendid palaces with which the calm water is on three sides surrounded. Nothing like it is to be seen in Germany. A large town, situated on a bay, and reflected in the sea, can alone surpass Hamburg. The fourth side of the Binnen is, however, still disfigured by a windmill. There should stand a colossal statue of Charles the Great, the founder of this rich commercial city. This is all we shall at present say upon architectural beauties or deformities. Much more admirable than the external appearance is the simplicity of the plan for transform ing the old into the new Hamburg, and the energy with which that simple plan has been carried out. The bandeputation,' or building committee, selected from the richest and most independent citizens, has won for itself in this position the most deserved honour. "Riches give power, and power gives confidence ; and thus has it come to pass that alterations, renovations, and changes have been carried out in the republic, in a manner seldom ventured upon even in the capitals of absolute monarchs. But a second fortunate circumstance was, that the gentlemen of the building committee were able to obtain and hold fast the services of a competent man, who deserved their entire confidence This man is the civil engineer, Mr. W. Lindley. His name is as worthy to be known and honoured by all Germans as that of a general who has gained a victory in an important engagement. The qualities which form a general may also find an employment in peace, in the conception and execution of great works. Lindley has shown that he possesses the coup crceil of a general and the perseverance of a soldier who is sure of the result. He is a man who ever keeps in view the end proposed, and this is, or ought to be, the great principle in war as in peace. Lindley calculates, and calculates correctly. Hence he is as sure and precise as Wellington. . . . If we had had a Baron von Kubeck in North Germany, and a Lindley by his side, many things would have been different, and better than they are, especially in the rail road department. " This may sound like mere panegyric, but my object is not that, but simply to invite attention. Come and see the new Hamburg. You find not here Roman aqueducts, nor cloacea, the antiquity of whesecolossal ruins is still the subject of wonder, but what is much better and of more practical utility. The dense population of England, its great wealth, and the practical character of the English intellect have raised the profession of the civil engineer in that island to a hitherto unattained perfection. Works have been executed there for the use and comfort of the public, that is to say, of densely crowded millions, of which the greater part of the inhabitants of the Con tinent have scarcely an idea. What does the German boy learn of comfort' within the house, or of practical utility abroad ? In Berlin he goes perhaps daily across a gutter full of decaying matter, without any outlet, to his school ; and when there what does h e learn ? The source o f the Rhine ; is he also taught its outlet ? No. He is told that the Maas is a Dutch river, and that the German Rhine loses itself in the sand. The boy does not know how to answer when asked Which port upon the German coast is nearest to your dwelling ?' But he can, perhaps, and indeed most likely, explain the project for cutting through the isthmus of Panama. Come and see in Hamburg the sewers, tin state water works ; compare the plan of the old town with the existing one ; this is essential for those on whom the task of legislation and government falls. At a time when the great fire had deprived many thousand families of shelter, courage was not wanting to expend millions upon sewers, bridges, in short, upon whatever was practically useful and enduring. The memorable example was followed by the citizens of Bremen, who, early foreseeing the future importance of an outer harbour for Bremen, directed their efforts to obtain one, Quite opposed in this respect to the opinion of a tailing man in Hamburg not long since, who said that the fortune of Hamburg was not dependent upon land communication, and declared himself opposed to turn pike roads. Since that time things have advanced with giant strides. The firs cleared the town of old buildings no longer useful, as the code of Napoleon freed the left bank of the Rhine of a thousand absurd regulations no longer in accordance with the age. And the " bandepu tation" of Hamburg went courageously to work at the rebuilding of the city, and had the great good fortune to have a Lindley at hand. "Lindley, Who had been called to Hamburg in the matter of the Hamburg-Bergedorf Railway, already knew the locale, and immediately set about a compre hensive plan for the new buildings, the boldness of which at first alarmed the multitude of common-place individuals, but found the most complete approbation and support among those in authority, who knew, from personal experience, what wonderful works were carried out in England. The Hamburg building committee went bravely to work, and Lindley's plan has been exactly carried out, because he calculated it exactly. Would that Berlin were as fortunate as Hamburg— would we bad a Lindley for Berlin 1 Sewers and water service by means of steam are as necessary for Berlin as bread for the hungry. That the railroads of England have been introduced on the Continent is excellent, has been already productive of great advan tage ; but there are other good and great things in England worthy of our emulation and of our imitation. Before all, we wish for our statesmen a clear enlarged view to the practical. Our acknowledgments as Ger mans are due to the burgomasters of Bremen, who opened the Bremen harbour, and to the Prussian minister who planned the Zollverein, for examples to be followed. Still, much work is necessary. To-day the Crown Prince of Sweden stands upon an eminence, whence he can look over the river Elbe. He sees four toll districts. Is that practical? It makes us blush before foreigners to be a German, and yet the sorrow is greater than the shame. " For Hamburg there still remains much without the walls to be done. Too narrow has the former view of what was necessary become for the present time. Which point of the Upper Elbe is the most convenient for communication between the two shores ? Ham burg is placed on the point on this side, still no direct street leads to it—hardly credible but true. The works on the left shore are still less to be praised. I asked a Hanoverian captain what success the Harburg harbour would have in his opinion. The work is about as good as if it bad been executed by heathens. The vessels must pass from Altuna, where they could conveniently unload, through a dangerous passage to unload at Harburg. What point would be most convenient for an outer harbour on the Lower Elbe during the many winter months for Hamburg vessels ? Is it Gluckstadt? as is the opinion in Copenhagen; or Brunsbuttel ? It was said during the time of Napoleon when Hamburg was une bonne erne, that the opinion of the French engineer was in favour of Brunsbuttel. That Cuxhaven will not be suffi cient for the future is certain. Upon these and a hun dred other equally important questions the opinion of experienced English civil engineers should be taken, for our Germans have in such things no experience, and the Dutch are not always to be trusted. " All this, however, is only a preface to what I wished to say. The proverb says republicans are un thankful. There has arisen in Hamburg envy and dander against Lindley. Lindley has worthily an swered the unworthy clamour. A civil engineer, with his drawings and calculations, has as diffi cult a task to stand peaceful and firm amidst the tu mult of the citizens as a Scipio or Wellington. How ever, it is true that the executive authorities in Ham burg were wrong when they gave out money for the public works before it had been granted in the legal way by the Burgerschaft. The Burgerschaft stand upon their rights ; it is desirable that they should, equally, whether the amount were a hundred or many hundred thousand polinds. However, when envy or hatred is allowed to mix itself with this just opposition, it becomes one of the most melancholy sights which a republic can offer. This, however, is but for a time ; but the works of the English engineer will be enduring." THE HORSE TRICK AGAIN.—THE BITER fir.- Mr. Samuel Greenwood, of Royton, near Oldham, came to Li t v t e e r cri p h, o ea o su l t ea y r ,a s e s o t h e i ed r duaa wa s yrn, ,w f aa o nl r kdi t n h tgh e eu p pb u uD r s p ai e s-ss t o wr f e he ti p c, h u h r e c h h w a ad s e i nbg ac c o s ts n e e Co d p ea u c rpe h t s o e Leifvhergonls. a T h h e e rs s e t , ra h n u g t e t r he sa e id ld hmeanhtawdhceollinhaed f r oe o nr u eo gi t oe t y a a n little man, wh o en t ere d i nto conversat i on w i th h i m about givet ha:t sell that would suit him, wanted thirty guineas for it, and d i tg get tt the ey horse,price and he because he had o ff ered him only thirty pounds, h would a s not e r l y e t ctouedl anxious t o . any man two sovereigns to buy it for him. Mr. Greenwood said lie knew nothing about horses, but if he could do him a good turn he had no objection. At this moment a tall man walked up, and the little man said to him he had found a friend who would purchase the horse for him. The tall man replied that he dare not sell the horse to him (thc little man), for fear of displeasing his master. After this conversation the three walked to a stable near at hand, and looked at a chesnut horse. They returned, and went into a public-house in Bloorfields ; but finding company in each room, they left without getting anything to drink, and walked on to another house, where they had three glasses of ale. They sat talking about the badness of trade until Mr. Greenwood told them he bad an appointment to meet a gen tleman, and must leave them. They left the public-house toge ther, and after they got into the street, they questioned Mr. Greenwood as to his method of doing business, whether with ready money or on credit. After satisfying themselves that his transactions were all in cash, and that he must have a considerable sum about him, the little man said to the tall one," Well, I'll hand the money over to this man. (Mr. Greenwood), and he will buy the horse for me." Ac cordingly the 311. 10s. were handed to Mr. Greenwood, and he passed the money to the pretended horse seller. Mr. Greenwood then asked for the' two pounds which were pro mised him by his first accual ,, tance for his trouble. "Oh," " d saying, said the man," I'll give you ens sovereign, and be handed him over the gold. So far matters appeared quite correct, but the man who sold the horse, not content with re ceiving the cash in the way already stated, said to Mr. Greenwood, " I'll tell you what we want you to do. We want you to pay your own money, so that I shall not have to tell my master a lie, and t hen we will give you this money 'back again." This bit of duplicity was urged with so much earnestness, that Mr. Greenwood began to suspect the honesty of his would-be friends, and told them lie would have nothing further to do with them, and walked ott with the sovereign. Ills first acquaintance followed him, and °trete!' him half-a•crown for his trouble, but Mr. Greenwood stoutly declared he would not part with the sovereign with out seeing further into it. The fellows, finding themselves trapped in their own net, walked off rather sheepishly, and Mr. Greenwood reflects with glee on his narrow escape from a heavy loss, and the admirable manner in which " the biter was bitten."—LiverpoolMercury. THE BANK OF FRANCE. The report of the operations of the Bank of France during the year 1846, read by Count d'Argout, the Regent, at the late annual meeting of the shareholders, has just been published. The extreme importance con nected at the present momen'with all that relates to this establishment, induces us to give textually the principal portions of the document. We commence with the statement of the circumstances which led to the loan incurred in England, and the advance in the rate of discount p— _ _ " Two principal facts first of all attract attention. Never did the discounts attain the same amount ; and next, an extraordinary diminution in the reserve has taken place during the last months of the past year. In 1839, 1840, and 1545, the operations of the Bank and its branch establishments reached the vast sum of 1,500,000,000 f. ; but in 1846 this milliard and a half were again exceeded by 226 millions. The mass of business was more considerable at the be ginning of the year than at the end. In fact the dis counts of the first half year of 1846 reached the sum of 818,000,000 f., whilst during the last six months they amounted only to 800,000,000 f. During the first half year the reserves of the Bank and the branch establish ments increased from 205,000,000 f. to 252,000,0001., whilst a contrary movement took place from the month of July. Each year, during the summer and autumn, from 50,000,000 f. to 60,000,000 f. in specie are drawn from the Bank and dispersed in the provinces, to pay for large purchases of silk, woollens, wines, and other produce. About the end of November and the begin ning of December they return to Paris, and again find their way to our cellars. For a great number of years this movement has taken place with the greatest regu larity. In 1846, the withdrawal of money commenced as usual, and continued, with more or less rapidity, and and without interruption, up to January 15, 1847. The following is an account of the sums drawn out from the month of July, 1848: _ _ July August 2,901,000 September October November December January 14 The causes of this movement are numerous and various, and it would be impossible for us to assign to each its just share of influence. The most active of all is, with out contradiction, the scarcity of food. This cause has acted in a double way on us ; for specie has been ex ported to the countries which sold us the surplus of their harvest, and to the countries which, being deficient alike in corn and money, are provided with funds at Paris, either by the aid of credit, or by the with. drawal of investments previously effected in Prance. The arrival of the precious metals, sent by Mexico to England, and thence dispersed over the Conti nent, has diminished in importance. From that circum stance it has been inferred, on the one hand, that the metallic circulation, exposed besides to permanent causes of reduction, had fallen off in a considerable por tion of Europe. On the other hand, it has been maintained that this circulation, without falling off, had ceased to be sufficient for the greater amount of transactions and new calls on it. However this may be, the increased demands for money is a fact which cannot be contested. What then has taken place ? From all quarters applications were made to the Bank, the great storehouse of specie, considered inexhaustible, and not long since deemed excessive in its magnitude. The interest rose in several places, and as the Bank continued to discount on the same conditions as before, the demands were redoubled. Thus, for four consecutive months, we beheld day by day millions issuing from our cellars, and either in the shape of ingots or 51. pieces, proceeding to Russia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switaerland, and even Spain. As to the specie thus removed from Paris, and retained in the departments, they could not return. to the Bank, as, when provisions become dear a .largesk:' amount of money is required, to pay for the clalll.ptir chases. This situation called for restrictive measures on the part of the Bank. In a neighbouring country, no hesitation is ever felt in such a case. A more severe legislation than ours imposes this painful duty on most institutions of credit. The Bank of Prance made it a point of honour to postpone for the time every decision of this kind until the end of the year—the period when accounts are settled, and when, in consequence, money is much required. In acting so se think that it rendered a great service to business. The bank had even indulged in the hope of being able to pass through that difficult period without changing its rate of discount. It neglected no means, spared no sacrifice to arrest the diminution of its reserves. It purchased from the Bank, and had ex• traded the silver contained in 5,000,000 of pieces that had been called in. It procured in Paris, and in the pro vinces, four or five millions' worth of gold and silver articles, and it borrowed from the English capitalists 25,000,000 of francs. The produce of that loan it employed in purchasing in London gold bullion and piastres, which are being at present coined in Paris. At last, the moment arrived when it was no longer allowable to put off taking a decisive step ; and on the 14th of January a decision of the Council raised the rate of discount on bills and advances to five per cent. Of all the measures that the Bank could adopt it was the least prejudicial which it had constantly supported with all its might. Will this measure suffice ? We hope so, but we dare not affirm it. Time will decide. Since the lath the reserves have ceased diminishing ; the securities in our portfolio remain at the same amount ; the average of -the length of the hills dis counted does not exceed 53 days. This is all that we can announce at present." The following shows the amount of discount operations during the past year 1 , -- " The increase in the discount of commercial paper has been 187,000,000 E, which divi,tes itself into two .very unequal parts; that of the first six months, amount ing to 72,000,000 E; and that of the second to only 15,000,0001. It is the same for the branch banks; their discounts in 1846 show an increase of 34,000,0001, which was almost entirely for the first six months, being for that period 31,148,000 E; whilst for the second six months it was only 2,928,000 f. The discounts of the Bank and the branches amounted together to 1.618,000,000 E • Theexceeding a thoseaverage of theof t a h m e oot p muos r n e 7l4t c :472 e oo d BfdB, aisnEgya securitiesy e r ti22t the Central 000 ,OO Bank rose also from 124,369 , 0001 . t sn o dT7. I h s ei 10, theirpt7 he 4 sar 7 iv , ot O eod O r ao4gfse, they value d a a lu a e h i y n ( g esi an increase of upwards of 27 . 000 ,000 f. The Bank has discounted at Paris 868,922 bills in 1845, and 926,39 0 i n th l o B a 4 d r u 6 risen. The v arfired from n increase only w fr as 1,155 f. n 9-10ths." The part referring to the running accounts and circu lation of notes is thus conceived:— " The different running accounts offered in 1845 a - maximum of 121,000,000 E, and a m i n i mum of 42.000,00 0 E; in 1846 the maximum was 108,000,000 f; and the minimum 45,000,000 E In 1845 th e running ac count of the Treasury varied from a minimum of 90,000,000 f. to a maximum of 1 64,000,00 a; in 1846 the maximum was ;38,000,000f. at the date of the 18th of March, and the minimum 3 4,000,0001. on the sth of December. This running account was at present 46,000,000 f. The whole amount of running accounts of every nature can be called for at any time. The 31 0 1 n ,000 the con trary, I. ltwas to be r emar k e d h a d r i sen from 800 minimum of the c irculation o f the central bank's not es h a d u ndergone little change in the last two ye ars . F rom 247,000 000 1 . the minimum had fallen to 243,000,000 f. The 9 m 0 that the disco unts, which a re effected th e l as t day but one of ever y month, temporarily aug ment the circulat ion b y about 20,000 , 0 001. The note s t'iat form tha t excess re-enter the bank the day 2, a o x o i O ul f. u t m o' after by the lodgments of the 30th and 31st. The best estimate the real importance way to • its annual average, not by a maximum indicating only an accidental state. The average 0f1845 was 259 , 0 00,0001. , and that of 1846, 261,000,000 E The difference o f the two averages was only 1,500,0001." The following refers to the general business of the bank:— , "The average of the reserve of the Central Bank in 1845 was 236,000,000 E ; in 1846 the average fell to 171,000,0001., being a reduction of 6 5,000,000 E This is explained by the exte nsive ex p ortati on of specie pre viously referred to , which took place at th e en d o f the year. The general m ovement of specie, of notes, and of transfers has been red,' ce-a from 15 , 0 96,000,000 f. to 14,868,0,00 01 • ,00 • the diminution being 228,000,000 f. The movement of notes and specie has increased the former by 259,000,000 E, the latter by 44.000,000 f.; but the mass of transfers has declined by 532,000,0001. The amount of bills not met was 94,0001., compensated for, however, to the amount of 47,000 f. by different sums afterwards recovered. The credit balance, which at the commencement of 1846 amounted to 37,576 f., was now 50,635 E" the branch banks are thus re- The operations of ferred to : " The branch banks together discounted, in 1846, 229,806 bills, of an average value of 1,862 E, and an average period to run of twenty-six days. The amount of the bills from branch bank on branch bank had in creased from 8,800,000 f. to 12,600,000 E, an augmenta tion equal to 40 per cent. - We see with pleasure the progress of these discounts, as they rendered easier the commercial relations between town and town, and de partment and department. The general average of the values held by the branch banls have risen from 54,000,000 f. to 68,000,000 E The sums in hand showed on an average the sum of 42.000.0001. The amount had varied from 59,000,000 E to 23,000,000 E The reserves of the branch bank are always very i n ferior to the sums that have to be paid on demand." The document concludes as follows Such, gentlemen, have been the principal events of the last year. The bank kas had to struggle against events of an extraordinary character, which it was im possible to withstand, and which have not occurred for the last twenty-eight years. It has made numerous efforts to resist the consequences of the insufficiency of the harvest, and of the exportation of specie. It has spared no pains to supply all want s , and it will always seek to conciliate the interests of commerce with tho prudence commanded by the rules of its institution. most severely w DEATH beea net d the IN w 'T I : 1 7 S IO countryle felt in the v i c i n ity of B a th ann. Bristol, which is composed of lw n .— ea r r h lr e , h sbeen of a hilly coun t r y, an d i n w hi c h ueighbourhoods the snow drifts have in many places been very deep and extensive. In snowstorm eb which c 4 many parts the drifts have been more than five or six feet in depth. On Thursday, as some persons were passing t i i , Brentree hill, in the neighbourhood of Westbury-on-Tryni, and within two wiles of the city of Bristol, they discovered the body of an aged man, an agricultural labourer residing in the neighbourhood, nearly buried in the snow. The body was quite cold and stiff, and he had evidently been dead 16r some hours. A loaf of bread was found under his arm, from which it is conjectured that on the previous night he must have been making his way up the hill, and having been pro bably overcome with fatigue, and lost his way, the unfortu nate man sank in the snow, and perished from the inclemency, of the weather.—Bristol paper. FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, FEB. 19.—We h ave had rather a quiet market for foreign wools during the past week. The London sales commenced last evening with a large attendance of buyers, and at full totem WATERFORD, WEXFORD, WICK. LOW, AND DUBLIN RAILWAY. The adjourned meeting of the shareholders of this com pany was held on Saturday, at the offices, 449, West Stand, Lord Courtoun in the shah. The CHAIRMA.N announced the result of the polling last evening for and against the report of the directors, which was, _ _ For the report 28,018 shares, being 5,944 votes. For fhe amendment, 12,477 „ ~ 44.4, Majority for the} original motion 1 5511 The CHAIRMAN moved that the snm of 1,0007. beaked as the yearly allowance of the directors. After some observations from Messrs. PARRY and Bot* and other gentlemen, the resolution was put and carried. The CHAIRMAN moved that the salary of the secretary should be fixed at 1,000/. a year. After observations Isom Mr. RIIYNOND and Mr. DICKSON, _ _ Dr. GRA" said he differed from those who wished to cut down the secretary's remuneration. He had found through out his experience of an establishment of which he had the control, that good and sufficient salaries were in the end the best way to economy; for the well-paid servant tooth gave better services, and effected a saving to his employer, much exceeding the amount of his salary. the resolution was put and carried. Messrs. Slade and Codd were then appointed the auditors of the company at a salary of 2171. The cordial thanks of the meeting to the Right Hon. Chairman, were moved by Mr. SLAVS, and seconded by Mr. RBISIDLD, and carried with acclamation. The Earl of Commit( courteously replied, and The meeting adjourned. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Feb. 20. BARKER C. TRAOUE. In this case Mr. Martin and Mr. Willis appeared for the plaintiff; Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Rowe for the defendant. This was action brought by the plaintiff, an advertising agent in the City, to recover from the defendant, a merchant, carrying on business at Penryn in Cornwall, the sum of 1,2001. for advertisements, inserted in several London and provincial journals, for the Falmouth, Helston, and Pen zance Railway, of which the defendant was a member of the provisional committee. On the part of the plaintiff, it was contended that the defendant had rendered himself liable by expressing his consent to have his name placed on the pro visional committee, and also, by altering one or more of the resolutions proposed at a meeting held in Penryn, and pro posed by Mr. Nash, the secretary to the company. For the defence it was contended, that the defendant did not attend the meeting.of the company as a provisional corn -mitteeman, but is a member of the Town Council and Cor poration of Penryn, for the purpose of watching over the in terests of the town of Penryn in connexion with the proposed railway. - It appeared, however, upon the evidence, that there was no authority Whatever given on the part of the defendant to incur any expenses, and also at the time of the expenses having been incurred the detendant had not consented to act upon the committee. Another ;Ant also came •ut upon evidence, which was that the name of the defendant appeared first on the list of the general committee, but had afterwards been removed from the list, and placed among that of the local committee without his knowledge. Under these circumstances, the LORD CHIEF BARON ruled that there was no evidence to go to the jury. The jury, by the direction of the Lord Chief Baron, ac cordingly returned a verdict for the defendant. Mr. MAIISIN then tendered a bill of exceptions to his Lord ship's ruling. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Feb. 20. (Before Mr. Commissioner Gonuntitx). NOVEL CASE.-BE THE BIRMINGHAM AND BOSTON DIRECT RAILWAY. On Saturday afternoon Mr. Ashurat, the eminent practitioner in bankruptcy, attended before the above Learned Commissioner for the purpose of opening a fiat in bankruptcy under the following novel circumstances:— It appeared that an undertaking, called the Birming ham and Boston Direct Railway Company, had been started ))37 Lork , lkleOd_chiehester, as chairman, and ieeectyltiote , priAracca4l . ,, committee-men. An ad vertiaing agent had been - engaged, whose debt amounted to Above 700 L, but no allotment of shares had taken place, and he therefore now appeared in the character of petitiOning creditor. The circumstance, however, of no shares having been taken led to a meeting of the direc tors, who, for, the pnrpose of compelling contributions by all parties I,F*liad applied as allottees, and with the e lo view of diViding sass in equitable and equal propor tionss, declared themselves bankrupts under the 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 111., intituled " An Act for facilitat ing and winding up the affairs of Joint-Stock Compa nies unable to meet their pecuniary engagements." The Learned COMMISSIONER having heard Mr. Ash urst at some length, adjudged the company to be bank rupts, and warrants of possession were forthwith issued, and placed in the hands of Mr. Blandell, the messenger.' POLICE INTELLIGENCE, GUILDHALL. George Smith, otherwise Jardine, was brought up before Sir Chapman Marshall and air. Alderman Fare brother, charged with stealing a cash box, containing 501., from the bar of the Plough . public-house, in Fore street, on the 2d of September, 1845. Mr. Robinson attended on behalf of the prisoner. It appeared that four men, on the day in question, drew up in a light cart, and called for some refreshment at the bar. While two of them kept the landlord in conversation, the other two walked up and down a passage leading to the kitchen, and - one of them stepped in behind the landlord and stole the cash-box. He was seen to leave with somethin g concealed under his coat, and the other three left directly afterwards in the cart. One of the men who was speaking with the landlord was cap tured next day, but was discharged, no proof being given that he either came or went away in the cart. The prisoner was looked after, but he went to Scotland, and was taken on his return recently, by Trew, a city policeman. Mr. Middleton, the landlord, who now keeps a public house in Soho, did not identify the prisoner, neither did the barmaid recollect him with certainty. On Robert Coutts, the potman—who deposed in Sep tember, in 1845, that he knew the man who left the house with something under his coat, but not his name —being called forward as a witness, Mr. Robinson pri vately handed to Mr. Teague, the chief clerk, a paper, purporting to be signed by Coutts, by which he agreed he would not appear, or give evidence in respect of the robbery. Mr. Teague showed it to the magistrate, and returned it to Mr. Robinson. Coutts then deposed that he was groom to a gentle , man at Dalston. He lived with Mr. Middleton in Sep. tember, 1845, but could not tell the contents of the cash-box, or who stole it. He certainly saw a man go out with something under his coat. The witness, in answer to questions by the magistrate, denied that he had seen an.) body, or signed anything, about the rob bery. Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL then called for the produc tion of the paper, but Mr. Robinson declined to produce it while his client was in jeopardy, as he was bound to keep his secrets. and his position' would not be altered by his showing it to the clerk in confidence. Sir C. MAIM:TALL agreed that Mr. Robinson ought not to bo prejudiced, but neither should a respectable solicitor be a party to defeating the ends of justice. Mr. Robinson said he had no wish to do so, but his hands were tied till his client was discharged. Mr. Alderman FAREBROTHER remarked that if he were discharged then for want of evidence, he might be re-apprehended when proof could be given. The prisoner was then discharged. Coutts called on Mr. Robinson to prove the paper was in his handwriting, and in answer to questions by Mr. Robinson, who tore the signature off before he he showed Coutts the paper, said it was in his hand writing, and admitted most reluctantly that he had been to the prisoner's house, but not twenty times. He fur ther said the paper might have been read over to him before s he signed it, but he did not know. He had been imposed upon by that document. Sir C. MARSHALL called for the production of the other part of the paper. Mr. Robinson claimed time to consider. Mr. Middleton said he did not believe the potman had been tampered with, a:though the man previously in custody had offered him 201.10 refrain from prosecution which he did not accept. The Magistrates consulted, and were of opinion that Coutts could not be efficiently prosecuted on the evidence obtainable there ; but Mr. Middleton might take pro ceedings hereafter if he found himself in a better position, The parties then retired. CITY POLICE COMMITTEE. A 'busman in the service of a Mr. Birch, in Horse• ferry-road, was fined 55., and costs, for loitering. Defendant said he could not pay•the fine. He had for some time paid a penny a day to his master's fund for the purpose of paying fines ; but having been dis charged he was unable to get the amount levied on him. The unlucky fellow here introduced a printed copy of the rules regulating the fund, and which states that, for the security of the master, as well as the protection of the men, the latter shall pay a penny to his employer, in addition to his day's work, for the purpose- of paying fines and other charges that might be made against them. Mr. Alderman Ginn thanked the defendant for the bill. They had often heard of such funds, but they never got any legal proof of their existence; this bill , however, had clear e d up the doubt. Greater penalties' could now be made, and, if those failed, imprisonment must be resorted to. The bill was impounded by the police authorities. BOW -STREET. Mr. Edward Whistler, a pawnbroker in the Strand, was summonei t o show cause why he detained a gold , hunting watch, the property of the Hon. Robert Arthur Arundell, which was pledged at his shop by a man named Alexander, who obtained it from the owner for the purpose of repairing it. Mr. Whistler admitted the possession of the watch, which he produced. Mr. Arundell stated that he resided at No. 17, Dover- Street. He identified the watch, which he valued at 301. He left it with a watchmaker named Alexander, in Par liament -street, about July last year, to be regulated. He applied for it several times, but never succeeded in ob taining possession of it. He never gave any one autho rity to pledge it. He ase,ertained from policeman Cooper about a week ago, that it was at Whistler's. An attorney who appeared for Mr. Whistler, took several objections to the jurisdiction of the Court; but , those were overruled by Mr. HENnit o who added, that if Mr. Arundell had brought an action - of mover, which was the only other course open, it would have been much more expensive to Mr. Whistler, and the complainant would certainly have recovered his property. - The Attorney - then said that magistrates had the power by Act of, Parliament to award compensation to parties who were compelled to deliver up property un lawfully pawned with-them. In this case there was not the slightest imputation on Mr. Whistler, for the watch was pawned by a person having a shop and carrying on business as a watchmaker, and therefore it was very im probable that he should suspect that the pr o p erty was illegally obtained. Mr. HENRY said, had it been proved that Mr. Arun dell had been guilty of any negligence in the matter, he might have been induced to award part of the money fur which the watch had been pledged (101.) to Mr. Whistler, but that gentleman had edited day after day at A'ex ander's shop, and had lane his utmost to recover his pro perty. The loss to Mr Whistler was one which was in cidental to his trade, which was very precarious. His principle had always been that when the complainant had beer. guilty of any lashes or neglig,ences be must bear either a whole or a part of the sum ; but where there was no negligence he thought it very unjust that he should be a loser. He, therefore, order€ d that the watch should be delivered up, free of any expense, to its original owner. Mr. Arundell said there was also a chain and s(sp which were not mentioned in tly :e summons. mamma Mr. HENRY off ere d to grant a f res h summons, but Mr. Whistler said, as the decision would no doubt be the same in that case, he would give up the chain at once. The parties then left the Court. MARYLEBONE. OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT ON A CAN-DRYTER.—James Fairchild, a cab•driver, was summoned by Charles Blount, Esq., 29, Albany-street, for furious driving, using abusive language, and not wearing his ba, dg e It appeared from the evidence, that Mr. Blount hired the defendant's cab i*Oxford street, to convey a lady and himself to his residence. He drove regular enough until he passed a particular omnibus, when he coin menced crossing the omnibus, and driving from one side of the street to the other, until the cab came in contact with the omnibus horses, and drove them on the foot way. The lady in the cab became seriously alarmed, and insisted on getting out; and though he (Mr. Blount) frequently called to the defendant to desist, he would not. The lady got out while the cab was in motion, and with great difficulty Mr. Blount prevented her from falling. The defendant demanded his fare, which Mr. Blount declined paying. He then followed him to his residence in Albany-street, and used very abusive language. Mr. LONG said it was one of the worst eases ever brought before him. He fined the defendant 31., and in default of payment he was to be committed for two months to the House of Correction. DEATH by POISONOUS MEDICINE. On Friday Mr. Wakley resumed the adjourned inquest on the body of Miss Sarah Ellen Collier. It appeared that the deceased died a few minutes after swallowing some medicine, and the proceedings were adjourned for a post mortem examination on Thursday. Mr. James Pound was examined. He said, deceased was his cousin, and they resided at the same house. She died on Monday evening last, about twenty or twenty-five minutes after she had taken part of a mixture prescribed for her by Dr. Cronin. She took less than two table spoonsful. She had taken some medicine before that Dr. Cronin's assistant had prepared from the same prescription. That medicine did not seem so strong as this, which he believed had been pre pared from the same prescription by Mr. Corfield, chemist, of 47, High-street, Camden town. As soon as she had taken the medicine she said, " How queer I feel !" she then walked out of the room, and he, seeing that something was the matter with her, followed her. When she got to the back garden door she fell. Mr. Corfield was sent for, who fetched Mr. Weathers, a neighbouring surgeon. She died about twenty minutes after his arrival. Deceased WAS not subject to tits; she was lively and cheerful just before she took the medicine. Mr. John Weathers, surgeon, of 41, High-street, said that when he was called in he found dec -a-•ed perfectly in sensible. The pulse was exceedingly tremulous, and she laboured under symptoms of having taken prussic acid. Finding the pulse rapidly sinking, he administered stimu lants internally and externally. He was assisted by Mr. funally, a surgeon, but their efforts were of no avail. The young lady died in about a quarter of an hour He did not use the stomach pump because he saw that the poison was making such rapid strides, and thought stimulants the only chance of saving her. He considered the case hopeless from the first.. The witness proceeded to state the results of the pest mortem examination, which had not left the slightest doubt on his mind but that prussic acid was the cause of death. The bitter almond water, which formed the chief in gredient of the mixture deceased had taken, was also tested, and found to contain a large quantity of prussic acid. Mr. Johnson, of 48, St. Martin's-lane, a friend of deceased, proved getting the medicine from Mr. Corfield. The pre scription had been sent to Mr. Corfield's about sev en o ' c l oc k on Monday evening, but not dispensed till about nine o'clock. He said also that the quantity of the mixture taken by de • ceased was a little more than one table spoonful, and the spoon being measured, was found to held hclf an ounce. The deceased, therefore, had taken more—probably three-quar ters of an ounce of the mixture. By direction of the Coroner, Mr. Corfield, the chemist, read the prescription, which Dr. Cronin acknowledged he had written. It was as follows :—" Compound spirits of am monia, two drachms ; tincture of opium, sixteen drops ; prussic acid, Scheele's strength, four drops ; compound strychnia powder, two grains; bitter almond water six oz., of which make a mixture, and take two spoonful three times a day." By the Coßorryt—There is no mark to signify whether the spoon is to be a large or a small one. Mr. Corfield said, that having never seen either of the medicines ordered, the compound powder of strychnia or bitter almond water, and knowing no formula for them in the Pharmacopeia, he sent his boy to Mr. Bell, of Oxford street, where he obtained the almond water, twelve ounces of it, for which he had sent in writing. The powder was not obtained, but Mr. Bell sent a private form for making it, and a message that he had not got it prepared. Witness dispensed the medicine according to the prescription, but without the powder, and put in nearly six ounces of the almond water. He gave this mixture to Mr. Johnson, who called first, but did not give. him any directions about it, nor tell him that it was deleterious. He followed the di rections for taking it that were on the prescription, and wrote them on the)able. By the CORONZII—I. do not find these medicines in either the London, Dublin, or Edinburgh Pharmacopeias. Dr. Cronin observed that there were two sorts of bitter almond water, one concentrated, the other diluted, of which any one may drink a pint with impunity. He had pre scribed the latter for Miss Collier. When made up at his house she had taken it with beneficial effect, and so had many of his other patients. The mixture produced was not of the same colour with those he dispensed from similar prescriptions. Mr. Bell, chemist, of Oxford street, said the almond water had been supplied to Mr. Corfield, because the latter ,ent for it with a written label and his own name and pro fession on it. The water is a saturated solution of bitter almonds. The CORONER—What quantity of it would it be safe to take? Mr. Bell—That is very difficult for me to say. A few drops, perhaps half a drachm. I would rather not give a positive opinion on the question. If such a prescription had been sent to my house, and I had seen it, 1 should have waited on the physician who had prescribed it, to know if he was aware of the strength of the ingredients. Dr. Cronin said the prescription in question, as dispensed by Mr. Corfield, was not his, for the strychnia had been left out. The iron in that powder would have counteracted or decomposed the other ingredients. The CORONER said, as there was no doubt as to the quantity of prussic acid dispensed by Mr. Corfield, and as Dr. Cronin seemed to raise that doubt, he should adjourn the inquiry to Wednesday next, that the mixture and the almond water should be analysed in order to prove the relative quantities of prussic acid they contained. CULTURE OF BUCKWHEAT. This grain having of late, as a make-shift, been much sought after, we, at the desire of several inquirers, beg to repeat the substance of some instructions regarding its culture, long since given by us in reply to a corres pondent. It has been used in England for feeding poultry and pigs, and has been extensively grown in woods, and places contiguous to them, for the support of partridge and other game birds. It has been long grown on the continent as bread stuff, nor did it escape being employed in parts of the county Wexford, over 200 years ago, for the same purpose, mixed and ground with equal quantities of wheat. We have grown it ourselves, on poor land to plough in as a manure, to be used green for feeding pigs and cattle, to be used by game, and to be given dry in grain to pigs, or crushed and mashed for mileh cows. It is useful for all these purposes; but its value is greatest when grown on land too poor to give any other grain crop, or green crop, without the aid of manure, or at a time too late in the year to grow any other grain crop. The best time to sow it is in May, when there is no danger of its being injured by frosts, the slightest of which would severely affect it. Three bushels of seed, per Irish acre, if to be used for soiling, will suffice to well-prepared land. If designed to produce ripe grain, a less quantity of seed will suffice. After the land is well ploughed, the seed can be harrowed in, the land rolled, and the stones completely picked off. It will, in good seasons, pro duce ripe seed the latter end of July ; but, although it will have the best of the seed ripe, then the tops of the stems will be seen, green and in blossom ; hence the necessity of using much caution in har • vesting it. It should be mowed off closely, allowed to lie on the swath a couple of days till well soaked, or dry, and then tied into small sheaves, and carefully stooked till perfectly dry, when it can be made into small stacks well ventilated and carefully thatched till wanted for use. The flour, when ground, is very white and sweet when made into bread. There is a prevalent notion that, when used alone, either as soiling for pi or cattle, or given as food to man or beast, that it is apt to produce what is termed vertigo, or a dizziness in the head. This we cannot say of our own knowledge, although we have used it in every way and for every purpose that we have ever heard it applied to. It i s believed by some that because it will grow upon poor land better than most other gain crops will, that it will not exhaust land very much for subsequent corn culture. This, we believe, is a mis take. We have tried it in various ways, one of which we will now record. We sowed it in a piece of poor land beside rape, neither manured, and beside a naked fallow sowed oats and clover the following year on the entire field, and by far the worst crop had been on the land previously occupied by the buckwheat, notwith standing that, from its thick and heavy foliage, it de stroyed all the annual weeds similar to which the other parts of the field were very pregnant. As it is easy of cultivation, it admits of being sown late, and ripens early, it is well worth a trial at this time; but, as we have alre.aly said, it will be but a make-shift, either for human food, the food of farm stock, or even as a fallow crop in poor land, that could be more profitably em- ployed growing turnips if the means were at hand.— Irish Farmers' Gazette. -- DEATH rßom ATTENDING A FUNERAL.—OD day, Mr. Bake:. hold an inquest at the Xing's Arms, Mill - wall, Poplar, on tho body of Ellen Mahony, aged forty years, of Paradise-row, Poplar, whose death was accelerated by attending a funeral. It appeared that the deceased had for soave time past been suffering from a cold and cough. On Sululay last she wasinvited to the funeral of her deceased cousin, who was to be interned in the Catholic chapel of Poplar. She was advised not to attend, but she persisted in doing so. After her return she appeared very unwell, and retired to rest. On the following morning she was found dead in bed. She was much affected by the dampness of -the chapel and the coldness of the weather, which no doubt accelerated her death. The jury returned an open verdict of "Found dead." MDLLE. RACIIEL.—The health of this distinguished artiste has been for some time in a very precarious state; she has just had another relapse, and she will not be able to appear at the 'DR . :Atte Francais till the beginning of next month. ea, ' FALLING OF TWO HOUSES 11 CORK, AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE ( THIR fI( INMATES. From an early hour this morning that part of Fis 0 - amb'e-lane immediately to the rear of the Courthou s was crowded by hundreds of gaping people, who VP wtth wonder upon two completely gutted wrecks e houses, and upon a huge pile of ruin that; nearly blocked up the thoroughfare, i n which stones, mortar, slates, pieces of furniture, shattered crockery,.. fragments of wearing apparel, were heoyed UP* in one indiscriminate wreck. As to the . I tou . sest. with the exception of the flooring of one lilt' closet still supporting a bed, not a single joist standing--the several floors and all they contained ba" ing fallen into the street with the front wall, not one stone of which stands unon another. At the first sight of this dismal ruin one would naturally suppose, that underneath that mass of rubbish there lay them angled bodies of a number of human victims ; but, haPP I A such was not the case—for although thirty hum an beings were hushed in sleep when the first rumble of the parting wall was heard, not a single person was billed . . or miure.l ! We understand that in one of the houses, a sailor slept with his wife and children; and he being more easily aroused than others, from the habits of his profession, was alarmed by a slight crash, and by perceiving.that part of the room in which he lay, was yielding in $ curious manner, he immediately discovered the danger, and gave the alarm. The confusion that followed can scarcely be imagined, as the inmates of the falling houses awoke to a full consciousness of their fearful positin-- the walls cracking, the floors crushing under their feet, and instant destruction seemingly inevitable! Some rat. to the back, while others actually slid, with the Nine& walls, into the street ; more were shielded by a chance beam, others by some of those marvellous means refill/ providential, but often attributed to chance. Ma n y re m ainedd in the ruins. The alarm was soon given ; in fa ct ° the thunder of the falling walls aroused the neigi,bour hood, the whole population of which were at once in 0$ street. On the first alarm, the clergymen of the Fran ciscan Chapel, which i 3 only divided by a narrow rivers or mill race, from the backs of the houses, were 011 the spot, and lent every assistance that humanity could dic tate. They provided clothes for the shivering creature* who thus, in an instant, were bereft of shelter and Pro" perty—all they had in the world. The Rev. Mr. 17.1 0111 of St. Peter and Paul's Chapel, was also foremost; in the good work. By the courage and intrepidity of .th! young lads of the neighbourhood, who boldly riskev their lives over and over again, those who still clung to the standing portion of the ruins were brought away in safety. The police also lent valuable assistance. The above sketch of an accident, that but for • miracle of Providence, would have produced a dreadful loss of life, will, we trust, be sufficient to enlist public) sympathy for the unhappy sufferers, whose houselesSt food!, ss, and deserted state indeed merits compassion:" Cork Examiner. OVERWHELMING IMMIGRATIO OF THE IRISH POOR TO NEWPORT. (From the Monmouthshire Merlin.) The streets of our town present an alarming $ 11 :1 1 lamentable appearance, being literally crowded with famishing and half nak: d strangers from the most dir tressed parts of Ire'and, several ship loads of whole; amounting to many hundreds, have either been inclue.,..eu by specious promises of work and good wages in UP' neighbourhood, to pay their passage to Newport, or the more destitute of whom have been huddled togetheF the holds of coal vessels, for this country, at the e xpense of local committees, to lessen the number of famishing creatures at home. We have been informed, on authority to which we attach full credit, that handbills, setting forth the temptations of constant work, with half-crown day on our railways, or as labourers about our iron works, are industriously circulated through seven' parts of the south of Ireland, and that the hellion° has been employed in many quarters, to tell th i e f Utopian tale, rounded with God save the Queen on market-days, in various towns in Cork countY• e l Hence it is. that hosts of squalid beings are indu e to embark on board fifty hulks, totally unstlic e , for a living freight, the miseries of whom, densel stowed upon damp ballast, suffering from famine ne t sickness during this tempestuous season, are alcir s beyond human expression. Cast, as most of te, ipeo have been, brutally on our shores, emaciated, an d s many instances diseased, they find the hope of emP lei i went an empty vision, and thus add to the multitudes (3,, their unfortunate country people, whom they find cryieb with hunger from door to door. • the We perceive that a Noble Lord has moved, 10 h ,r upper House of Parliament, for a return of the nureuj iig of Irish paupers that have reached Newport since the ' e• of January, and inquiries from the Home-office have be e received by the authorities of this town, in order to ," nish such a return. e find By the books of the Refuge for the Destitute , w that from the let of January to the 16th i n stant , 369 porary relief in lodging and food has been given s to as men, 360 women, and 402 children ; whilst a id enormous extent has been afforded at the I.lo ol3 ' st n ight The relieving officer has been engaged all° fe o f tke and day, and Sergeant Huxtable and his to H the ous p House of Refuge, have been indefatigable in theiirs'ervicei and This is a matter of lasting credit to our town, iVe_ , pray God that we may be enabled to keep life in . b o ut es:: miserable strangers, until better times arrive . cannot be disguised, that the poor of the place complain bitterly of the increased privations thus brought upon them ; and that many persons who have been sub' scribers to the very munificent relief fund of above 1,0001.—a larger sum, by the way. than the Irish laud.. lords of half-a• dozen counties of Ireland have coal+ buted during their people's extremest need—conside r that Newport has been very ungratefully treated by those committees in the sister kingdom who have in flicted upon it this visitation. CRUEL TREATMENT of a BO EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE. (From the .Devizes Gazette). e of At the Devizes petty sessions, held on Monday, one m. these little fellows, who (attended by his mother), came fr?_": Marden to tell his tale to the m a gistrates, particularly to terested us in his behalf. He was a bardy•looking b° 1 0 : scarcely, we should say, beyond ten or twelve years of erg, and had, it appeared, suffered severely fr o m the repeat' ill-usage of those under whom he had been put tolvork. v i; Saturday, the 30th of last month, he said he was at ploug,, with a man named Absal o m Hiscock, whom he displ eas e by striking a favourite horse, when the ploughman set pd from hint the whip with which he was salving, a ti t with the butt-end of it boat hi m in a b rut manner, not only upon his body, but over his head s3 a across his face, injuring one of his eyes so much that he c o afterwards scarcely see. Notwithstanding 'this, ~wir the 7 0 came to his work the next morning, when he was Pu t he clean the horses' legs in the stable, but, it would seem, t did not perform it to the satisfaction of his superinten"s (a fellow named Cleverlen, who also cruelly beat him ° l wo a whip. Naturally enough, on his return home, be told ed misfortunes, and the blood of an elder brother being O r gi r by hearing of the little fellow's ill. treatment, he went to P. cock and threatened to thrash him for his c o wardly ceadtle; He did not, however, lay hands upon him ; but this led further unhappiness for the boy. His master (Mr. Strattop on hearing what had been done, and of the interference of toil brother, now took the little unfortunate fellow in hand. e l l with a halter-rein beat him severely for having brought 1319 brother to kick up a row on his farm." t et The Magistrate asked Mr. Stratton whether he did no t A the time see that the boy had been ill-treated? Indeed , T A eyes appeared then to be swollen from the first boating hell received. Mr. Stratton said he did not observe it at the time; but had since seen that the boy's eye was contused and id°,° ° „; shot. He admitted that he had •' taxed him smartly" ; 7,1 5 the boy was an obstinate and con t rary yout h ; an d, in,";-.. , opinion, if masters and cart ers were not t o h ave the Pr" 1" lege of beating boys when th e y did am i ss w h y t h ey might well stop business at once ! Mr. SCHOMBERG, however, made some remarks in reP l 7!: this assumption of " privilege," not altogether in 1 101 " with Mr. Stratton's opinion. cas t Notwithstanding, th e mag i s t ra t es di sm i sse d the against Cleverl e y ; a l so , as regar d e d t h e l a d , t h a t agains t Hiscock (though he and the lad's brother were bound ofe to keep the peace) ; and in the latter case, Mr. Stratton 06.1 called upon to pay the expenses of the summons, &c. IPSWICH.—EFFECTS Or THE Hulll WIND 01( d FRlDAY.—Considerable damage appears to have been caus e by the high wind that prevailed early yesterday mornipti For some hours it blew with considerable fury, and frp.,, seven to half-past it reached a perfect hurricane, carrAT, away tiles, chimney pots, palings, and, in one instance, stroying a range of brick building, forming part of bles:7 Catt and Quadling's railway carriage factory, St. Matthew 4 * t e h w re o e rk oth of ers de The building in question was 130 feet long by 30 feet wide, and at the time of the catastrophe there were 15 men inside at work on some railway carriages. Five of the carriage i s n tru a c tio e n ry A we t r h e a c lf o - In pa p s le t te s d e ' ve a n nd th about a dozen tiles of the top row of the roof on the iviud vi t a d side being carried away and in a few minutes after, the wine gained admission into the building, asvsY the tore skylights on the opposite side and blew them into s the roof itself being forced b, off almost at the same moo heir The workmen, being alarmed, thought of making, t the escape, but before they had time to do so, both wahs , n o o f o o ln rw m a e r n d oe s d t at i . full length of the building, came down with a tremetril ie crash, smashing the windows, steps, and springs was carriages to a considerable extent. The body of one heo completely forced away ,from the frame, and the others were more or less damaged. The men crouched u l l _ u : rs; the vehicles, and with two excepti o n s escaped u one man was seriously injured by a brick striking hu n ie d. the back of the neck, the other was but slightly to As soon as the alarm had subsided, the men were cic l work to clear away the heap of ruins, and ascertai l y extent of the damage. The total loss is estintat e several hundred pounds. The gable wall of au binwo finished house in New-street, London-road, Was ,— e n down at the same time, but luckily there were no on the premises. A row of palings at Mr. Gower's, near., welt lifax, was torn up, and about thirty feet of the gard en was adjoining the melon-ground of Dykes Alexander, Es q' y rig blown doivn. A girl in the service of Mr. Quadhug , , o °o out after beeakfasr; had a narrow escape from a tile that blown from the roof above, and fell within two inches of b L ey head in front, striking her apron as it descended. It s Y o pected that considerable damage must have been cause the shipping at sea, and that intelligence from the coon_ will show that the work of devastation has not been cunt' to Irowich.—SuS:olk Chronicle. to tbst TRADE IN PAISLEY.—We are happy to .fi the improvement in the trade of Paisley, noticed in oar in continues gradually to increase. Our manufacturers are ss better spirits. The block-printing branch of busin e ert ' also considerably quickened of late, and good workm en Are longing to that trade are nearly all employed• houses are happy to learn that our p r i nc ipal manufacturing s __ vris for l ui at present engaged w ith a ne w description of of weavers the London market. A very large number sist of lig ht are now engaged with these goods. They c°l l very great woollen and silk shawls, checked in the loom , fo n r the poorer variety. The mountings are rather expensive manufacturers class of weavers ; yet in many cases the .... ,... if i ews hire have advanced money to assist the workmen. Alf , Advertiser. t the Colonia• Dispatches were received on Saturday a office from the Governors of the West Ltgdill