The Sun. — London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

Yo lea had at all the Libraries. POPULAR NEW NOVELS. MST Pt7BLIVRED BY MR. COLBURN. rho STORY OF LILLY DAWSON. By Mrs. CROWE, author of " Sagan Hoploy," Ste. 3 vols.: IT. TEMPTATION and ATONEMENT. By Mrs. GORE. 3 Yobs, 111. FITIIER ETISTACZ ; a Tale of the Jesuits. By Mrs. TBOL LOPI. aTO . IV. BMILLL WYNDHAM. By the Author of " Two Old Mons' Tale', ,, " Motat Sorel," &C. 3 Toll. STRAVVIRERY HILL ; an Historical Novel. By the author of " Stuitir 4 )eare assd his Friends," &c. 3 vols. VI. CALS.tUt BORGIA. By the author of " Wiaitefriars." Second Adition, revfsed, with a new Preface. 3 vols. VII. MARSTON, By the Rev. G. CROLY, L.L.D. Author of " Sala. %WI." ke. lieeond Edition. 3 vols. V 111. The ROMASCR OF WAR ; or, The Highlanders in Spain. By JAMES GRANT, Rsq., late G2d Regiment. 3 role. Hergy Colburu, publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. WCULLOCH'S COMMERCIAL DICTIONARY. Just published, in One large Bvo. Volume, of above 1,400 closely printed pages, with daps aad Plans, price 50s. ; or 555. strongly half-bound in russia, a New Edition of a D ICTIONARY, PRACTICAL, THEORETI CAL, and HISTORICAL, of COMMERCE and COM MERCIAL NAVIGATION. By J. R. M'CULLOCII, Esq. New Edition, corrected to March 1847. . A STIPPLE:4IEN I' to the Editions published In 1844 and 1846, may be had separately, price 4s. 6d. sewed. London : Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman, HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. LAST NIGHT BEFORE EASTER. On SATURDAY EVENING, March 27, will be revived (first .• . time this season) Verdi's Opera, ERNANI. Elvira, Mdme. Castellan ; Clipvanna, Mdme. Solari ; Don Carlos, Rig. Superchi ; Ruy-Gomez, Sig. Bosche ; Ernani, Sig. Fraschini. Between the acts of the Opera, a Divertisement from the Ballet of CORALIA, in which will be introduced the admired Pas de la Pmelere, by Mdlle. Marie Taglioni. Te eouelnde with a new Ballet, in Two Tableaux, by M. Paul Tag- Held, the music by Signor Pugni, entitled THiA COLT, LA FEE AUX FLEURS. Principal eharacters by Mdlie. C. Rosati, hidlle. Marie Taglioni, M Pawl Taglioni, &c. The doors span at Half-past Seven. The Opera to commence at Eight e'elock. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, established for the purpose of rendering a more perfect performance 'Rho Lyric Drama than has hitherto been attained in this country. Under the Direction and Management of Mr. BEALE. The Nobility Gentry, and Patrons of Music, are respectfully in tbrreed that the Royal Italian Opera will open the first week in April. It is proposed to 'produce, in the course of the Season, some of the istabUshed works of Cimarosa, Mozart, Rossini, Meyerbeer, and others of the mere modern Italian School, including Operas by Bellini, Dont sett!. Idereadante, and Verdi. ou a scale of the utmost perfection in 'very department ; to which intent the management has assembled a Company embracing the greatest and most varied talent in Europe. PRIMI SOPRANI.—Madams Grist and Madame Persian! (her Irst appearance in London for three years), Madame Ronconi and Mdlle. Steffanonl (of the Theatre La Scala, in Milan, her first ap• pearanco in this couutry). CONTRALTI.—Signora Alboni (of the Theatre La Scala, Milan, Ind of the Imperial Theatre in Vienna, her first appearance in this Country), and Mademoiselle Corbari. TEltOßl.—Signor Mario, Signor Salvator Lavia (of the Imperial theatre of St. Petersburgh, his first appearance in this country), Signer Tulli (of the Theatre San Carlo, in Naples, his first appear ense in this country), and Signor Salvi (ot the Theatre La Scala, in Milan, and of the Imperial Theatres in Vienna and St. Petersburgh, his first appearance on the Italian stage in England). PRIMI BASSI BARITONI—Signor Tamburini and Signor Giorgio Ronconi. PRIMI BASSI PROFONDI—Signor Marini (of the Theatres San Carlo, Naples, La Scala, Milan, and the Imperial Theatre, Vienna, his first appearance in this country), Signor Angelo Alba (of the Theatre Royal, Madrid, his first appearance in this country), and Signor Polonint (of the Imperial Theatre, Vienna, his first appear ance in this country.) PRIMI BASSI &SMICI —Signor Pietro Ley (of the Theatre Royal Madrid, his first appearance in this country), and Signor Agostino Revere (of the Theatres Royal, Naples, Milan, Vienna, and St. Pe torsburgh. his first appearance in this country). Bsoonde Donne—Madame Antoinette Mollidori (of the Theatre La Seals. in Milan), Mademoiselle Amelia Liner', Mademoiselle Luigina Bellini. Seconds Tenore—Signor Emmanuele Slano (of the Theatre San Carlo In Naples). Director or the Music, Composer, and Conductor—Mr. Costa. ♦ powerful and numerous CHORUS of chosen and experienced Singers will complete the Vocal Department. Chorus Master— Signor Bonconsiglio. Prompter—Signor Monterasl. The ORCHESTRA, lornied of Artistes possessing the highest executive powers, will comprise among its members Eighty distin guished professors. The Military Band of the Coldstream Guards will be under the direction of Mr. Godfrey. An ORGAN, of extensive compass, has been expressly erected is the theatre by Messrs. Flight and Son. Organist—Mr. V. Novell°. The BALLET, of a brilliant and costly character, will close the performance of the evening, and no Divertissement will be suffered between the acts of the Opera. The Director has the pleasure to . umetuice that he has concluded an engagement with Mademoiselle Fanny Elssler ; and, during the season, the following eminent Danseuses will appear : —Premieres Dansense—Mademoiselle Dumi tatre (ef the Grand Opera, Paris), and Mademoiselle Plunkett (of the Grand Opera, Paris), Mademoiselle Bertin (of the Imperial Theatre, - Vienna, her first appearance in this country), Mademoiselle Neodot (of the Theatre Royal, Madrid), Mademoiselle Marietta Baderna (of the Theatre La Scala, Milan), and Mademoiselle F'uoco (of the Academie Royale de Paris). Monsieur Petipa (of tb. Grand Opera, Paris), Monsieur Gontie (of the Theatre Royal, Madrid), Monsieur Ferdinand. Croce, Monsieur Delferier (of the Grand Opera, Paris), and Monsieur Auguste Mabllle (of the Grand Opera, Taiga). Maitres des Ballets—Monsieur Albert (of the Grand Opera, Parts), and Monsieur Blasts (of the Theatre LA Scala, Milan). Leader of the Ballet—Mr. Alfred Mellon. lieglasenr de la Danse— O'Bryan. Compeser—Signor Alessandrg Curmi (of the San Carlo Theatre, Naples). . _ _ THE THEATRE.—To render the Interior at once commodious, elegant, and comfortable, It has beer entirely reconstructed and decorated, under the immediate direction and after designs of B. Albano, Esq., C.E., with every attention directed to its proper ventilation. The Decorations have been executed by Mr. Ponsoitby. The Management has happily secured the artistic skill of Signori Ferri and Verardi (of the Theatre Italien, in Paris), to embellish the selling and to prepare a New Drop Scene. The approaches to the Theatre will be found improved, by a carriage way being Permed Immediately under the Portico in Bow-street, whereby parties can leave or enter their carriages without exposure to the weather ; and by increased flteilitles for ingress and egress. The Refreshment Room will be under the superintendence of Mr. J. G. Watson. Tickets, Stalls, and Boxes, for the night or season, to be obtained at the Box Office, Bow-street ; and at Messrs. Cramer, Beale, and CO.* EH, Regent-street. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. W. HARRISON. TO-MORROW EVENING Witt be performed the Opera-Seria, entitled THE DAUGHTER OF ST. MARK, Lusignano, Mr. Burclini ; Cornaro, Mr. Borrani ; Moneeulgo, Mr. Weiss ; De Courcy, Mr. liarrlso► l ; Catarina Cor ium, Miss Rainforth. ♦fter which, A VOCAL AND INSTRUM2NTAL CONCERT. To conclude with the First and Second Acts of MASANIELLO. Maeanieho, Mr. Harrison ; Alptionso, Mr. Rafter ; Elvira, 36.93 Attrput ; /tuella, Mdcae. Giubilei. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Under the Management of Mr. B. Webster, sole Lessee. TO-MORROW EVF.NING Will be performed the Comedy of SIIE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Principal characters by Messrs. Farren, Tilbury, Hell, Buckstone, Brindal, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Buckingham, and Mss Bennett. After which, Planche's new Comic Drama, called WHO'S YOUR FRIEND? or, The Queensberry Fete. Viscount Leatherhead, Mr. Tilbury; Sir Felix Lovel, Mr. 1101 l ; Giles Fairland, Mr. Webster ; The Countess of Rosendale, Miss Bennett ; Lady Bab Blazon, Mrs. Glover ; Mittens, Miss Carre. To conclude with the Comic Drama, called THE LIGHT TROOPS OF ST. JAMES'S. Master Thomas Smailbones, Mr. Buckstone ; Maids of Honour to the Queen, Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Tarnold, Miss Carre, Miss Teibin, and Mrs. Buckingham ; Jane itoberts, Miss Reynolds. THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM. Under the Management of Mrs. Keeley. TO-MORROW EVENING Will be performed the Drama of MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. Young Bailey, Mrs. Keeley; Sairey Gamp, Mr. Keeley; Pecksniff, Mr. Matthews ; Tigg, Mr. Wigan ; Chuzziewit, Mr. Emery ; Pinch, Mr. Meade After wh the splendid new Fairy Extravaganza, entitled THE EC STED FOREST; or, Bear, Eagle, and Dolphin. Principal characters by Mrs. Keeley, Miss Villars, Miss Bromley, Alm E. Daly, Mrs. Woollidge, Miss Laidlaw, Miss Howard, Mr. Keeley, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Bender, Mr. Kinloch, Mr. Bellingham, aad Mr. Wigan. To °exclude with MRS. WHITE. Characters by Messrs. Oxberry Turner, Kinloch, Miss Viliars, Miss Arden, and Miss Turner. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. ' nder the direction of Madame Celeste FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. WRIGIIT. TO-MORROW EVENING Will be performed the original Drama, called THE FLOWERS 0? THE FOREST ; a Gipsy Story. Cheap John, Mr. Wright ; Ishmael, Mr. 0. Smith ; the Kinchin, Mr. P. Bedford ; Leybourne, Ur. Worrell ; Cynthia, Madame Celeste ; Lemuel, Miss Woolgar ; Starlight Bess, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ; Lady Agnes, Miss Harding. After which the Farce, called THE MOTHER AND CHILD ARE DOING WELL. Characters by Messrs. Lambert, Paul Bedford Worrell, Wright, Mrs. Laws, and Miss Harding. To conclude with the Farce of THE MUMMY. In which Messrs. Lambert, Worrell, Wright, Waye, Ryan, Cullenford, Miss Ilarding, and Mrs. Matthews will perform. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. J. M. Maddox, sole Lessee and Manager. TOMORROW EVENING Will be performed Bellini's Opera Seria, entitled NORMA. Pollio, Mr. Barker ; Oroveso, Mr. Leffler ; Flavius, Mr. Wynn ; Adelgisa, Miss A. Romer; Clotilda, Miss Rourke ; Norma, Miss Bassano. After which, a Concert by the New Orleans ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS. To 'exclude with the Comedy of TIIE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Principal characters by Messrs. Granby, Ryder, Yin fag, Cowell, Walton, Compton, Miss Flower, Mrs. Stirling, Miss Rornir, and Mrs. Fosbroke. ?BENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S TUEATRE. Lessee, Mr. John Mitchell. THURSDAY EVENING Wlll be perforrasi the Vaudeville. entitled MARIAGE7AU TAMBOUR. Lambert, M. Latont ; Fleur des Pois, M. A. Tousez ; Louise d'Obernay, Mdlle. Fargueil. To conel with the comic Vaudeville, entitled LE ROI DHS FRO INS. Thomas, M. A. Tousez ; Marinette. Mdlle. Fouquet. Boxes, 68., Pit, 3s. Cd. , Stalls, 38.; Gallery, 2s. Doors opened at half-past Seven, and the performances commence at Eight. Private Boxes, Stalls, and Places may be engaged at Mitchell's Library, 33, Bond-street; and at the Box-office. ETNIONAN SERENADERS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. The celebrated ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS, Pell, Harrington, White, Stanwood, and Germon, will give their Inimitable ENTER TAINMENTS, at the above Theatre, on SATURDAY, Warch 27 (being their last appearance before Easter). Boxes, ds. ; Pit, 2s. ; Amphitheatre,:2s. I'HE WEATHER.—StrN OFFICB, MARCH 24. TUERMOMETRU, Lowest, 38 ; Highest, 53 ; Noon, 55. B kROMETER, 29.87.—Wind W., fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY. Kerning .. 12 minutes after 7. I Evening .. 42 minutes after 7. SECOND EDITION .. - ;`,.(4f , fro' • , , s 4• • . z a, Tarr ' • ftl Ittning e4'oun4 LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24 Tho Lords met at Five o'clock. Earl GRET stated that the House of Assembly Brunswick had voted 1,2501 . for the relief of the of New dis trassed population in Ireland and Scotland. Tho ITOBLE EARL then gate notice that he should on Tuesday next move the adjournment of the House to the I3th of April. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the ere ditoias of the Spanish Government praying that the House would take measures to enforce the payment of the debt due to them from Spain. The Earl of CLARENDON said that the Government was making representations to Spain on the subject, and he knew that the Spaniards were an honourable people, and that they cad not unction the proceedings of their Government. THE. NUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 24 , WV. The Drainage of Lands Bill passed through Com mittee, after a short conversation, Earl WICKLOW suggested that the adjournment for the Easter recess should be to the Thursday, instead of to the Tuesday. Earl GREY would consult his colleagues on the subject. Their Lordships then adjourned. The Commons met at Four. Mr. SPoorrnit said that he was requested by his col league, Mr. MIINTZ, to postpone his motion respecting the brewers of the midland counties to the 13th April. Mr. ROMILLY brought in a Bill for the better ad ministration of the charitable trusts of Roman Catholics, which was read a first time. On the motion of Viscount SANDON, a Select Com mittee was ordered to be appointed for the purpose of considering the present state of our commercial relations with China. Mr. C. O'BRIEN moved for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the conduct of Capt. Wynn during his employment in the county of Clare in No vember and December, 1846, and January, 1847. Mr. LABOUCHERE suggested that the motion should be withdrawn until the papers relating to Capt. Wynn should be before the House. He did not only object to the inquiry, but he did object to the introduction into the motion, of any words prejudging the case and criminatory of a public officer, who had a very arduous duty to perform under circumstances of difficulty. A desultory conversation followed, and, ultimately, the original motion was withdrawn, and an amended one, in conformity with the suggestions of Sir R. PEEL, agreed to. Various returns, on the motion of several Hon. Mem hers, were then ordered. Mr. BRIGHT protested against the national fast ap pointed for this day, he knew that it would not be at tended to by nine-tenths of the population, and would therefore be of no effect. He thought instead of the proclamation doing honour to the DEITY, it only showed the utter want of wisdom in those who framed it, and pas rather calculated to cheri s h p as t su p ers titi ons , an d courage infidelity, than to advance the cause of Christianity. Mr. LABOUCRERH obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend and continue an Act of the last session of Par liament for making provision, until the Ist day of September, 1847, for the treatment of poor persons afflicted with fever in Ireland. The House then went into Committee on the Poor-law (Ireland) Bill, Clause 9, after a slight discussion, was agreed to. Oa clause 10 being proposed, Mr. M. J. O'CoNNELL moved the amendment of which he had given notice, the object of which was to place the rating of the poor not upon the electoral, or other union divisions of parishes, but upon unions generally. A discussion took place on this clause, eventually the Committee divided, when there appeared— For the amendment 25 Against it Majority —95 _ .. The amendment w as consequent l y l ost. vv Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN then moved the omission of the clause as unnecessary. Mr. LADOUCRERE defended the clause. On a division the numbers were— For the clause Against it Majority for the clause —6l The other orders of the day being disposed of, the House, at a few minutes before Twelve o'clock, ad journed till Thursday at noon. Whatever may be thought of the morality or utility of ordaining certain days of national humiliation, it is impossible to deny that they originate in a meritorious motive, and that they are calculated to impress the million with the advantages of mutual dependence . In accordance with a venerable custom, a custom sanctioned by the Mosaic Revelation, and practised in all the ages and principalities of Christendom, our most Gracious Sovereign VICTORIA has proclaimed such a period of humiliation. When the Asiatic cholera was depopulating the empire, a similar act of homage and intercession with OMNIPOTENCE was re quired from the country and the Legislature. If we examine all history, whether profane or ecclesiastical, we find the tribulations of a community, a city, or even of an individual family, have been invariably marked by some such testimonies of anguish. We have not the presumption to discuss the advisability of this ceremony, seeing that such a discus sion would compel us to drag 'into the columns of a newspaper the holiest names and the sublimest principles of the Great Religion. The duties of a journalist are altogether apart from polemical disputation and ethical commentaries. Besides which it would be indecorous to cast derision upon a proceeding which has been elicited by circum stances of an appalling character, and originated in sentiments at once solemn and affecting. 'Was there a necessity to impress upon the multitude the extre mity of the national distress, the soreness of Irish affliction, or the vastness of our insular wretchedness ? The Public Fast enjoined upon this day, Wednesday, the 24th of March, 1847, will convey that knowledge to the least reflective mind in language the most im pressive. Was there a necesssity to prepare those who have escaped the visitation for the unmurmuring disbursement of monies for the relief of the real sufferers ? This Public Fast will convey to them a beneficial conviction that their aid is not required on any exaggerated pretext. Was there a necessity to remind the Members of this magnificent and flourishing empire of the mutual reliance and fra ternal sympathy which are absolutely and perpetually requisite to preserve the vigour and insure the happi ness of the body corporate ?—This Public Fast will enforce the principles comprised in that necessity. A spectacle of woe only paralleled by the scenes depicted by DEFOG in his " Diary of the Plague," or by those of the Pestilence in Italy, as conceived in the imagination of Sir BULWER LYTTON and delineated in his "Rienzi," a spectacle of sorrow and disease such as makes the heart sicken, has continued before us with little intermission from the autumnal season of 1845. Some emphatic expression of our sympathies with the starving pea santry of Ireland, some expression of sympathy more consolatory than pecuniary assistance, because asso ciated with their spiritual predilections, was required. We are now giving voice to that expression ; we are now averring our humble credence in the mutability of things terrestrial ; we are now showing that the warnings of moralists, and even of hilarious poets, such as HORACE, in their moods of pensiveness, are not forgotten or despised. " Pallida mors equo pulsat pede Pauperum taberuas reguemque turres." Although the accounts given by Commander CAFFIN as to the destitution of the Irish peasantry are even now being corroborated, there is little reason to acticipate that the sorrows of Ireland are to remain undiminished in spite of a more genial season, and a more active benevolence. We would hope that from the quarter, dating from this day of national humilia tion, the assuagement of the miseries of that peasantry will commence. We are fain to believe that the gulph in the forum has been for ever closed for Ireland by the deplorable immolation of so many of her chil- dren by famine, and that out of the very profundity of her present calamities will emerge the guarantee for her future redemption. It is indisputable that the potato-murrain and its consequences have at tracted to the sister island more of the serious consideration of Parliament and of the entire Le gislature, than all the gaudy and brilliant demonstrations of her populace. More has been ac complished towards rendering her condition equal to that of England, and more has been done thereby towards the fulfilment of the articles of the Legislative Union than had been effected during the preceding half century for the improvement of her social and especially of her agricultural system. Her proprietary have found themselves tottering upon the brink of a bankruptcy to which they had been driven by their own atrocious selfishness. Let them profit by that terrible warning, and in gratitude for the cordiality with which the Government has advanced for their salvation, let them follow the injunctions of the Supreme People by acting towards their tenantry with hon es ty _ _ _ and justice. Otherwise the hour of retribution wilt have been only procrastinated, otherwise the famine and the mortality will return with in-. creased horrors, otherwise the whole nation may in vam sprinkle dust upon its head like Jon, and grove/ down in sackcloth and ashes like the men of Nineveh, However much the follies of public men intrusted with the highest political functions may tend to pre vent the formation of that good understanding whicl should subsist between different states of the civi lised world, or, what is worse, to disturb the harmony which way have happily prevailed amonget them for a considerable period; yet is it gratifying to know that there are frequently under currents at work which legitimately serve to soften national asperities, engendered by the selfishness, ambition, or reckless conduct of statesmen, and ultimately to heal up the breaches which they have untowardly provoked. The interruption of the entente cordiale between Eng land and France has, we know, been occasioned not by differences which have been largely or seriously entertained by the great masses of the population in either one country or the other. International amity was wantonly sacrificed in consequence of LOUIS-PHILIPPE'S determination to consult the private interests of his family, and to pursue a purely dy nastic policy, regardless of the faith of treaties, and the general welfare of France. Without underrating the grave inconveniences attendant upon the mutual distrust existing between the Cabinets of the Tui leries and St. James's by reason of recent events, we firmly believe, that beyond the immediate pre cincts of the respective Courts, the affair of the Spanish marriages has made no serious inroad upon the improved feeling which a thirty years' peace has begotten in the national minds of England and France towards each other. Commerce has been vigorously prosecuted by both countries according to their respective means; and, as is invariably the case, whenever its pursuits have been liberally followed, a rational intercourse has been established. The en terprise and honourable vocation of the merchant exercises indirectly a passive and no inconsiderable influence over the turbulent instincts of men in power. To the extension of the reciprocities of com merce are we indebted beyond any other cause for the blessings of peace which we have almost uninterruptedly enjoyed since 1815; and the vast facilities which the introduction of steam power has of late years given to inland and transmarine intercourse with distant parts of the globe, affords us the fairest promise that every year will render the chances of war more and more remote. The freedom with which our countrymen have invested large amounts of capital in various public works, undertaken in foreign countries, and particularly in France, is a strong proof of the reliance which they place in the continued mainte nance of peace in Europe. On Saturday last the Paris and Havre Railway was opened. This important line of traffic owes its accomplishment, in a great measure, to the contributions of our wealth and mechanical skill. Mr. Locicn was the head engineer, and Messrs. MACKENZIE and BRASSY the contractors. The railway has been formed through a line of coun try in which the greatest difficul ties had to be over come. The distance between the capital and Havre is now travelled in six hours and a half. Two years since, it required six-and-thirty hours to make the same journey. With the excep tion of Rouen, where a strong local jealousy existed against the scheme, the directors were re ceived, during the progress of their inaugural trip, with, the liveliest demonstrations of public approba tion, at every town along the railway. The civil and military authorities greeted them with enthusiasm. It seems that the Government engineers subjected the extraordinary works to the severest tests, which have established the fact that the railway is as solidly constructed as any in existence. When men of different races are thus found uniting their energies for the completion of undertakings such as these, it augurs favourably for the progress of civilisation. In the observations which we yesterday offered on the Indian intelligence that had just been received, we alluded briefly to the general order, or manifesto, which had just emanated from Sir C. NAPIER, on the occasion of the diminution of the army of Sinde. This singularly able document affords the clearest and most comprehensive view of the civil and political advantages realized by the acquisition of that pro vince and its incorporation with the Anglo-Indian dominions, but Sir CHARLES goes something further ; he establishes, in a manner intelligible to the dullest comprehension, that these benefits have been attained not only without the expenditure of a single rupee, but that in fact a considerable increase of income, has been thereby secured to the coffers of the company over and above every charge or item with which it could fairly be debited. It also furnishes the most satisfactory answer to those who, led away by the senseless and absurd outcry raised on insufficient data, and with a necessarily imperfect knowledge of the premises on which the arguments were based, were induced to take a superficial view of the subject, ;0 join the ranks of the malcontents, and to demand, the surrender of the territory, and the withdrawal of our troops therefrom, on the mere question of finance, as a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence, and to those others who, actuated by more unworthy motives, anxious to disparage the policy, the char acter, and the motives of that distinguished officer, tought to attain the same result, and who with that object made use of the most unworthy pretexts and palpable fallacies —in some of which they were, to a certain extent, apparently corroborated by the manner in which the accoants of the revenue and charges of the province were calculated and made up in the official returns. It will be in the recollection of our readers that we stood alone as advocates of the policy adopted by Sir CHARLES NAPIER in the acquisition and reten tion of Sinde, and that we exposed the folly of those who were clamourous for the results of the enterprise, even at the moment of its inception, who demanded the abundance of the harvest even during the tillage of the soil, and looked for autumnal fruits while scattering the seed in the early spring. We rebuked the impatience of those unreasonable ex pectants, and refused credence to the statements os tentatiously paraded, and dogmatically asserted, of the necessity of a large annual outlay, to enable us to continue our occupation. We were honoured with a letter from the distinguished historian of " the Peninsular War," who pointed out the incorrect manner in which the returns were made up, and the impropriety of debiting Sinde with the whole of the military expenses for the support of the army, rendered necessary by the disturbed state of the Punjaub, and the doubtful character and unset tled state of the Lahore Government. The accuracy and substantial justice of these views are now established beyond the possibility of cavil or dispute. It is now manifest that we have not even to wait to a future day for the enjoyment of the beneficial effects of our triumphs and victories. Twenty-five lacs of rupees, or 250,0001. sterling in round numbers has been the net produce of the last financial year, after every fair deduction; and calculating the rupee at 25., the aggregate sum of 423,7431. 103., which has been collected in excess of the expences of the civil government and police force, from the date of the battle of Hyderabad to the pre sent time, has gone in diminution of the previous ex pences of the Sindian army. The revenue for the past year has been 41 lac' 42,912 rupees, and the expenditure of the civil government, both ordinary and extraordinary, including the expense of a police force of 2,400 horse and foot, 15 lacs 1,754 rupees, showing a clear surplus of 26 lacs 41,158 rupees, or 264,1151. 16s. The military charges belong to the Indian empire generally, and not exclusively to Sinde ; there was not the increase of a single soldier in the army of occupation in consequence of that conquest ; and if the Ameers still retained their supremacy, there would not now be the possibility of any reduction, and the Indus would still be closed to our com merce, notwithstanding the opening of the Punjaub. There has also been a great increase of revenue in Bombay, in consequence of the prevention of opium smuggling, which had formerly been carried on to an enormous extent. We learn from Berlin that the treaty under which the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg was admitted into :he Zollverein has been extended for several years. A letter from Bucharest of the 25th ult. says, that the General Assembly of Wallachia had adopted, in its sitting of the 23d, a law by which 14,000 families and 60,000 Bohemians, all serfs belonging to the state, the clergy, and the public establish ments, are made free. Prince BIBESCO took the initiative of this noble measure, and was warmly seconded by the metropolitan bishop, notwithstand ing the opposition of his clergy. In an address to the Boyards the latter engaged them to set at liberty the 10,000 families, amounting to 48,000 persons, who are still in a state of servitude to private indivi duals. By the new law the Bohemians who are emancipated will only pay a personal tax of 33 piss tres (about 12 francs) which will be employed in the purchase of Bohemian serfs belonging to private per sons. Prince BruEsco immediately sanctioned the new law, and thanked the General Assembly for having adopted a measure in accordance with the progress of civilisation, and which will shine in the history of Wallachia. The Austrian Lloyds gives the following compara tive statement of the Austrian mercantile marine. Her trading vessels number 556, amounting to 153,985 tons. At the end of 1845 the number was 538, and the tonnage 145,823, being an in crease in 1846 of 18 vessels, and 8,157 tons. Austria has besides 20 steamers belonging to the Lloyds' company, measuring together 6,981 tons, and amounting to 2,110 horse-power. There are now on the stocks, at Trieste, five new steamers, amounting to 3,000 tons, and 1,200 horse-power. Air Madrid papers of the 17th have arrived. In consequence of the rumours circulated on the subject of the formation of a new Ministry under Senor PACHECO. The Sotomayer Cabinet determined to procure a vote of confidence for the Chamber. This motion was proposed by the French man-of-all work MARTINEZ DE LA Rosa, and seconded by the notorious GONZALES BRAVO. In the course of the debate it was admitted by many of the supporters of the Ministry that it did not possess the confidence of the Queen of SPAIN, but that is a matter of small importance; it possesses the confidence of the present ruler of Spain, Louis PHILIPPE, and, therefore, we are not surprised to find that the modal was carried by a majority of 144 to 60. General Suititerio had, it was said, applied at the palace for an interview with her MAJESTY, but had not been admitted. He is still at large, his place of retreat not having yet been discovered. The exportation of grain from Spain has been prohibited. MADRID BOLSA, MARCH 17.—The Three per Cents. were done at 301 for rash; the Five per Cents. at 19i; the Debt without interest at 5 ; and the Coupons at 17. We have received the Paris papers of Monday. The Presse has an article of nearly three columns in favour of an alliance with Russia. " The alliance with England," says the Presse, " is the abnegation of France ; the alliance with the secondary states is war, for it is revolution ; the alliance with Russia is progress, for it is peace." This latter sentence is, we presume, intended as a pendant to the somewhat too celebrated " Order reigns in Warsaw," of a former French Minister of Foreign Affairs. How comes it that M. GUIZOT has not yet announced to the Chamber " Order reigns in Cracow ?" In the meantime, it is amusing to see the dynasty of the Barricades repudiating revolutions. Poor LAYFATETTE has been somewhat unfortunate in his pupils ; Pennsylvania repudiates its debts, and La meillieure des republiques its origin. The Russian alliance is, however, indignantly spurned by the Liberal party. " The republican must be insane," says the National, " who would make any approach to the CZAR, who is the incarnation of despotism, whilst the fundamental dogma of revolu tionary France is the sovereignty of the people." We find in the same journal, which is in general exceedingly well informed as to Spanish affairs, the following account of the Serrano complication : " Serrano is to be prosecuted and Madrid is in com motion. The political publications address their lamen tations to the palace itself, which does not appear to be insensible to the appeal. Serrano represents the Con- Aitution, and the Queen, who adores the Constitution, will not permit it to be attacked. Hence spring rumours of all kinds ; the Cabinet forces her Majesty, and the Ministerial crisis recommences ; Pacheco, the friend of Serrano, is sent for, and is asked to form a new Ministry. As a pre dminary step, he requires that Sotomayor and his colleagues shall send in their resignation ; they re fuse. Let the Queen insist on it I' cry the jour nals. The Queen had not replied at the departure of the courier. But Serrano has escaped from his per secutors. He is convinced that if he had gone to Na varre an order to arrest him would have followed, and he should have been thrown into an obscure prison. He therefore resisted ; a superior force supports and en courages him, and it is not yet known if the man who was persecuted yesterday, may not enter the Ministry in triumph to-morrow. Spain, it will be seen, returns to her ancient literature ; complicated dramas, strange intrigues, mysteries, surprises, unexpected changes ; such is the policy whioh at present governs this na tion since we have meddled with it. M. Guizot prays to God that Isabella may have an heir • M. Thiers has jlined his fervent devotion to that of his rival. The Queen is not ungrateful ; she knows what she owes to France ; she is anxious to pay her debt ; if she can be agreeable to us she will." MARIA CHRISTINA it appears divides her time equally between the Church and the Stock Exchange, praying and jobbing alternately. The &mine says : " Maria Christina, since her arrival in Paris, appears to apply herself closely to devotion. She scarcely ever quits her house, attends Divine scrvice every morning to her apartments, and keeps religiously all the observ ances of Lent. She receives but little company, and has as yet been visited by only two of the diplomatic body —the Minister of Portugal, and the Belgian Ambassa dor. Nevertheless, she occupies herself much with her private interests, and transacts business every day with her stockbroker, her notary, and her judicial council, composed of three persons, a magistrate of the Court of Cessation, an advocate of the Royal Court, and a mem ber of the Council of State. It is even said that the Queen has submitted to her council several questions relative to her rights to the succession of Ferdinand VII., as well as the famous guardianship accounts, which have given rise to so much discussion in the Cortes." According to the Courrier Francais, M. GUIZOT is going to Hombourg during the stay of Prince METTERNICH at Johannisberg. The Courrier asks, " Where is to be placed the camp of the cloth of gold ? The indiscretions which are sometimes com mitted at the Foreign-office have not informed us whether the interview between these two worthy personages is not to take place at Johannisberg itself." The journey to Johannisberg will be equal in interest to the journey to the Ghent, and will not improbably be attended with similar results, as far as systems are concerned. The Chamber of Deputies, on Monday, pro ceeded to elect a new Vice-President in the room of M. HEBERT, appointed Minister of Justice. There were three candidates—M. DUPRAT on the side of the Conservatives, M. DE MALLEVILLE on the side of the Opposition, and M. DE BELLEYINIE on the part of the section of the Conservatives, which does not support the present Cabinet at all times, but which i 5 still more opposed to the Thiers party. At the first ballot M. DUPRAT had 121 votes, M. DE MAL LEVILLE 101, and M. DE BELLEYME 33. At the second ballot the result was nearly the same. At the third ballot M. DE MALLEVILLE was elected by a majority of one over N. DUPRAT, the ministerial candidate, the numbers being, for M. DE MALLE VILLE 179, for M. Durrtar 178. This is a severe check to the Ministry, as M. DE MALLEVILLE was formerly Secretary of State in the Cabinet of M. TIIIERS. Corn riots still continue in the South and Western Departments. The Messager du Loiret of the 20th inst. states that the following placard was posted on the gates of the Town Hall of Saint-Ay on the 18th inst. : " The day of vengeance is arrived—we must have bread, pillage, or death. You have no want of rich men —kill them if they refuse to give you their money. Burn their houses, and murder their wives. You know the inhabitants who have sold their wine. You must go to their houses. Pillage the cellars of the others—fear not the gendarmes, you shall be supported. Moreover, as a choice of deaths, it is better to die in killing than to die of hunger. Courage—forward—pillage, blood, and death for ever I" A slight diminution in the price of flour and corn has taken place in the markets in the neighbourhood of Paris. M. DELANGLE has been appointed Attorney- General in the room of M. HEBERT. The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse, on Monday, at 78f. 80c ; the Five per Cents., 1161. 80c. °cleans Railroad Shares, 1,270 E; Rouen, 863 f. Mc.; Havre, 670 E ; Great Northern, 623 f. 75c. ; Avignon, 800 f. ; Vierzon, 565 f. ; Bordeaux, 517 f. 50c.; Boulogne, 400 E ; Troy - es and Montereau, 295 f. ; Basle, 205 f.; Paris and Strasburg, 443 f. 75c. ; Nantes, 433 f. 75c.; Paris and Lyons, 448 f. 75c.; Lyons and Avignon, 4751.; Cette, 4501. LYONS, MARen 20.—Paris and Rouen, 863 f. 75c.; Avig_ non and Marseilles, 797 f. 5Uc. ; Northern, 621 f. tic. ; Paris and Lyons, 465 f. BUSI NESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Meacu 23 . Boulogne and A m i ens , 16%—Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette (Constituted), Paris and Lyo ns , 6% —Rouen and Havre, 27 IN —Dutch Rhenish, 4}{—Namur and Liege, 43( Miss VENABLE& CONCERT.—A correspondent in forms us of the progress of musical taste, and the conse quent appreci a ti on o f w h at i s exce ll ent , i n Liverpool. Miss Venables, (he says) whom Welshmen in conse quence delight to praise, and have praised, both in prose and poetry, gave a concert on St. David's day. The young lady's singing was excellent ; and Mr. Mor riss's performances on the harp were much applauded. Miss Venables' style is said to possess a good deal of that rare thing--origiasdity. THE GENERAL FAST (THIS DAY.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The House was summoned for a quarter past ten o'clock, and about a quarter before eleven the Lord Chancellor entered the House and took his seat on the Woolsack, when the following Peers were present : The Right Reverend the Lord Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Worcester, and St. Asaph ; the Duke of Wel lington ; the Marquises of Clanricarde, Northampton, Bute; the Earls of Clarendon, Grey, Somers, Wicklow, Waldegrave, Devon; and Lords Auckland and Foley. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph read prayers in the House. The Peers then, in the order of seniority, preceded by Sir Augustus Clifford, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and attended by the servants of the House, proceeded to Westminster Abbey. The Peers entered the Abbey by Poet's Corner, and the public were ad mitted by the north door, where a very large crowd had assembled long before the time of service, and many more than would have twice filled the choir were obliged to leave from the want of accommodation. The Rev. Dr. Wordsworth read the prayers, which were not accompanied by any aid of the choristers or the organ, thore being no choral service in the Abbey this morning. The Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph afterwards preached a most eloquent sermon from Jeremiah, ch. x, v. 24. " 0 Lord correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing." After the service in the Abbey the Peers re-assembled in the House, and then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House met to-day at half-past ten o'clock. There were present the Speaker, Lord John Russell, Sir Ro bert Peel, Sir George Grey, Sir James Graham, Sir R. I-I. Inglis, Sir George Clarke, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. So merville, Lord Lincoln, Captain Plumridge, Mr. Escott, Hon. W. Cowper, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Goul bourn, Sir F. Egerton, and about forty more Hon. Members. The House adjourned immediately after prayers, and the Members attended divine service at St. Margaret's, Westminster, when the Rev. Dr. Dealtry, Archdeacon of Surrey, delivered an eloquent and impressive sermon. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. The Fast being observed here as a holiday, there is nothing to report. The quotations of Railway Shares, at Messrs. Lamond and Co.'s sale yesterday, show a slight improvement upon last prices. The following are a few of the principal sales : London and Manchester (Remington's) £0 5 6 Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire 0 8 0 East Indian Manchester and Southampton 1 7 6 Great Northern Louvain hla Sambre Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate 0 12 6 Shrewsbury and Hereford Vale of Neath 0 13 0 Northern Counties Union 0 18 0 North British Extension Northern and Southern Connecting Eastern Counties .... . 19 18 0 Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 4 18 6 Shropshire Union and Canal 1 2 0 Paris and Lyons 6 8 0 COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—(YESTERDAY.) Amsterdam .... C.F. 12 53{, Gibraltar.. .... .... Ditto, at sight ..... . 12 1 Leghorn Rotterdam .... 2U. 12 4 Genoa • ... 28 85 Antwerp • • ............ 25 80 Milan .. • . 11,unburgh .... —N.B. 13 1034 Venice ..... Naples ........ • • • • 40% Paris, 3 days' sight .... 25 45 Palermo, per oz.. Ditto, 3 months Marseilles • • .•.. • Bourdeaux 25 80 Rio Janeiro ........ • • 26 Frankfort on Maine l2l Petersburgh, 3 Us.. Buenos Ayres ........ Berlin ..... •• • • New York, 21 days' sight Vienna, effec. flo ••.. . • 10 3 Philadelphia .......... Trieste, ditto.... • • . 10 3 PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. Madrid ••..•• . • • • • Cadiz .• •.. : 8i1ba0................ Portugal Gold Coin Barcelona ..... Spanish Doubloons Seville.. • • •••• • • • . Silver in bars ...... ••0 4 0% MARKET NEWS.-(T HIS DAY.) Owing to the Fast, no markets were held in the metro polis to-day. IMPROVEMENT OF TOWNS. TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Viscount Morpeth having introduced into the House of Commons the subject of a Bill for consolidating into one Act certain provisions usually contained in Acts for paving, draining, cleansing, lighting, and improving towns, I trust the Bill will contain a clause authorising the rate-payers in such towns to elect the Commissioners. The want of this power in local Acts hitherto obtained is the cause of much just dissatisfaction, the Commissioners being virtually self-elected.--Your obedient servant, March 23, 1847. FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT BURRADON COLLIERY. On Saturday morning, about nine o'clock, a fatal acci dent occurred at the above colliery, by the bursting of one of the boilers used in working the engine of the pit, by which three persons were killed, viz., a man, a woman ; and a boy. The colliery is situated about six miles north of Newcastle, and belongs to Lord Ravensworth and partners. The engine attached to the pit is of 90-horse power, and three boilers of large dimensions and of an oval shape are used to work it ; but on the morning of the accident only two were in operation. A few minutes previous to the occurrence, the engineman, on examining the float, found the water more than a foot above the working mark, but as the steam was low he gave directions to the. stoker, Robert Thompson, to raise the fires ; soon after which the boiler sud denly burst with a tremendous noiae, carrying away part of the engine-house and chimney, killieg three persons, and injuring, more or less, several of the workmen at the shaft. The boiler was torn into three pieces, and parts of it were blown a considerable dis tance into an adjoining field. On examining the place, the stoker was found almost buried in the ruins, dread fully scalded and bruised, but quite dead ; and a female, named Margaret Proctor, wife of one of the miners, who was at the place getting water, was lying a few yards from him. The other sufferer was a boy, about eleven years of age, named Thomas Gordon, employed at the bank. The engineman escaped, though much scalded in the face, and injured in the head. Several of the workmen were also seriously injured by the flying bricks, &c., but are all exp, cted to recover. On Monday an inquest was held on the bodies, before Stephen Reed, Esq., Coroner. The jury, at the conclu sion of the evidence, signified to the coroner that they were satisfied the explosion was an accident ; their minds were made up ; upon which they returned a ver dict of "Accidental death." CEYLON. We learn from Ceylon that " the weather during the latter part of the past month, has been on the whole favourable for the curing and transport of crop—but duripg the last few days a decided change has occurred, and bright sunny days, with a dry hot wind, have given place to heavy rains, accompanied by thick mists and a sharp cold easterly wind, which have entirely put a stop to anything in the shape of drying coffee, and have been equally unfavourable for its transport, more especially from hill estates, whose only means of getting their crop into Kandy is on the heads of Coolies. We are gratified to learn that estates generally are healthy, and now that the pressure of gathering crop is past, labour is more abundant, and weeding and pruning are being actively carried on. Estates which bore heavily, and were looking a little yellow in consequence, are be ginning to assume their wonted green appearance, to which the late rains have not a little contributed; and should the coming season prove as favourable as the last, we may anticipate a considerable increase in the quan tity of plantation coffee on that of any preceding year. Already we have beard of some estates being out in strong blossom, but this is of course not general. In the low country agriculture has progressed most favour ably, and it is expected that large tracts of land will be brought under fine-grain cultivation during the next few months. The weather has been unusually showery, aecompanied with a good deal of thunder; this has proved unfavourable to the curing and shipment of crops. The health of the maritime provinces is represented to be good, scarcely any cases of sickness occurring during the past two or three weeks. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—Every department of this establishment is thronged with artistes, of all descrip tions, actively engaged in making preparations for the new Oriental spectacle, and to give effect to the extraordinary conceptions of the popular music of " the Desert," by that celebrated composer Felician David, which has never been illustrated with dramatic truthfulness in this, or any other country, and to carry out which bold design, the depth of Drury-lane stage is peculiarly adapted. To give some idea of the vastness of the attempt, forty train carriages are engaged at the expense of 2001. to convey the animals, con sisting of stupendous elephants, and twelve camels, to London, on their way to the theatre; a troop of sixty horse is also to assist, and a chorus of one hundred voices, The Leicester Mercury gives a startling account of the magnifi cent Mammoth carriages, built in that town for the recep tion of the enormous equestrian establishment, and in which they are to be escorted from the terminus to old Drury on Monday. RAGGED SCHOOLS.—KING'S- CROSS.—Last night the second annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the King's-cross Ragged Schools took place at the Music Mall, Store -street. Lord Ashley'presided, and, in open ing the business, observed that they had met on a most appropriate occasion, being on the eve preceding the day appointed for the general fast; and he thought, amongst all our nation a l s i ns , none were greater than that o the long neglect we had exhibited towards such poor children as those who attended their Ragged Schools. The report congratulated the meeting at the successful results of their labours ; the boys attending now amounted to 35, and the girls to 75, most of whom had made considerable progress, the girls particularly. There was, however, at present a great want of teachers, and it was desirable that they should have some paid teachers. The receipts of the past year had been 78l 4s. 4d. ; and, after defraying the necessary expenses, a balance of 71. 2s. 2id. remained in the hands of the trea surer. The usual routine business was then gone through. FATAL EFFECTS OF INTOXICATION.—MF. Wakley, M.P., resumed an adjourned inquest at the Bricklayers' Arms, Grease-street, Oxford-street, on the illegitimate infant of Mrs. Read, a dressmaker, living with a man named Allen, at 32, Gresse-street. From the evidence it appeared that on last Monday and Tuesday week the mother was so drunk that a fellow-lodger took the child away and fed it. Shortly after nine o'clock she gave the child to the mother, who was lying in bed insensibly drunk. Shortly afterwards Allen returned home quite drunk, and went to bed in the dark. Between ten and eleven o'clock the wretched mother awoke, and found her infant dead at the foot of the bed. Mr. Peplow, surgeon, who performed a post mortem examination, could not find the cause of death, as all the organs presented a healthy appearance, but from the evidence he was in duced to think that the child had been overlaid and smothered. The jury retired, and, after some delibera tion, returned the verdict, " That the deceased died while its parents were in a state of intoxication, but there was no evidence to prove whether its death was natural or otherwise." TIIE MASONS' STRIKE AT SUNDERLAND. —This strike terminated on Monday last, in consequence of the whole of the masters having acceded to the full demands of the join neymen. viz., twenty-seven shillings per week wages, and to be allowed to leave work at four o'clock on Saturday afternoons, instead of five o'clock, which has been the hour for almost time out of memory.— -- , ewcastle Guardian. ARTILLERY.—Another company of the Royal Ar tillery arrived yesterday from Woolwich, and took up their quarters in this garrison. This will increase that force to three companies of 80 men each, instead of one as heretofore (a second company having landed here a few weeks s i nce ) . A detachment marched into Plymouth Citadel on Monday last, where, from the crowded state of the barracks, they are quartered in the bomb proofs under the ramparts. Two de tachments of the Royal Artillery have likewise gone to Drake's Island, and one to Bovisarid.—Dixonport pexclent. DREADFUL FIRE. LEAMINGTON, MARCH 21.—The pretty and romantic looking village of Hunningbury, near Leamington, pre sented a scene of dreadful consternation on Saturday evening, in consequence of a fire breaking out at the dwelling-house of a person who carried on business as a baker. The house where the fire originated, as well as a number of those adjoining, being built in the style that was prevalent in the time of Elizabeth, gave every faci lity for the flames to spread, and the result was, that although there was an abundant supply of water, and the engines from Leamington, &c. were speedily on the spot, fifteen houses fell a sacrifice before the fire could be got under, besides others that have sustained con siderable damage, from the flames and other causes Ind:. dental to the fire. Fortunately no lives were lost, but the escapes of several inmates of the houses were almost miraculous, particularly in one instance, where the occu pant was an aged female. She bad left her house at the first alarm, but afterwards recollecting that she had left her box, containing a sum of money, the savings of many years, behind, she returned to her cottage in spite of the remonstrances of her neighbours, and succeeded in securing her treasure, but not without being severely burnt. We regret to state that the rapidity with which the flames spread afforded very little opportunity to the occupants of the burning tenements to save their furni ture, and as the principal portion of them are in the humble walk of life, the consequences will be serious in the extreme to them. That portion of the inhabitants whose houses escaped injury offered shelter and every other assistance in their power to the unfortunate people who have thus suddenly been deprived of their houses and furniture. The gentry, &c. in the neighbourhood have expressed their intention to raise a subscription for the relief of the sufferers. ATROCIOUS MURDER. This district (Wick, Caithness) has, this week, been thrown into a state of great excitememt, by the commis sion of one of those diabolical crimes which are fortu nately of extremely rare occurrence in this county, and indeed in the north of Scotland. Isabella Gunn, an old woman, apparently about 60 years of age, living in Achow of Swiney, in the parish of Latheron, has been made the victim of a most atrocious, yet evidently deli berate murder. Her residence is at the end of the free school of Achow, situated about 200 yards from any other dwelling. On the mornings of Sabbath, a school is taught, and it is customary on that, as on other morn ings, for some of the children to go to her room for fuel to kindle the school fire. Accordingly, on the morning of Sabbath last, one of the scholars went for that pur pose, and was surprised to find no reply given to the customary salutation. Another of his school-mates speedily followed, and discovered the body of the un fortunate creature lying under a quantity of straw which had been spread over her. She was dead ! The alarm was immediately raised, and forthwith, a number of the neighbours assembled. They found that the crime of murder had been that morning committed upon the lonely woman, and judged that - it could not have been of very late occurrence, as the body was yet warm. The foul deed had evidently been committed by means of strangling, as a piece of rope was found round the neck of the deceased. There were marks of violence on other parts of the face, one in particular on the chin, where, to all appearance, an iron instrument had been applied. On one of the hands there was also a blue mark. Several small sums of money, amounting in all to upwards of two pounds, were found on different parts of the deceased's person, and lying between the body and the chest. A considerable time ago, a forcible at tt mpt was made to break into the house of the unfortu nate woman, who has of late been livinc , very retired, having refused to domicil e w ith an y other individual. In the district she was reputed to have been worth a little money; but, as she was of very penurious habits, and, to all outward appearance, in poverty, she was admitted lately upon the poor's roll. It is said that, since the attempt was made to rub her, she generally slept throughout the day, and sat up during the night. A young man has been apprehended and lodged in jail, under suspicion of being connected with the murder.-- John o'Groat Journal. SAINT PANCRAS AND THE POOR-LAW COMMISSIONERS. Yesterday, at the meeting of the directors and guar dians of the poor of St. Pancras, held at the Workhouse, King's-road, Camden-town, B. I. E. Wright, Esq., in the chair, Mr. M`GALIET (the secretary) laid before the board the following communication from the Poor-law Com missioners:— " Poor-law Commission-office, Somerset House, March 16, 1847. " Sir,—l am directed by the Poor-law Commissioners to refer the board of directors of the poor of St. Pancras parish to article 11 of the rules and regulations for the government of the workhouse of the parish, which were issued on the 9th of December, 1846, and which article requires the directors, within fourteen days after the order shall come into force, after consulting with the medical officer, to report to the Poor-law Commissioners the greatest number of paupers which ought to be ad mitted into the workhouse. " The Commissioners have it in contemplation to take steps for fixing the maximum number of inmates of the workhouse. But before they adopt any measure for this purpose, they request to be informed whether the directors are desirous of making any communication to the Commissioners on the subject. " W. G. LUMLEY, Assistant-Secretary. " John M'Gahey, Esq., clerk to the directors of the parish of St. Pancras." The matter was referred to a committee. EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.—On Friday even. ng last, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, a remarkable appearance was observed in the atmo sphere in our neighbourhood. It was a transparent stream of light, extending from east to west. At the west end it inclined somewhat to the south—the extent was about 180 degrees, and the breadth between two and three degrees. The centre, it is supposed was 50 miles from the earth, and it moved 10 or 12 degrees towards the south, whilst the ends remained stationary. It was distinctly visible at all parts of our town for about an hour. During the afternoon and evening the air was heavily charged with electricity, so much so, that the magnetic needles, wires, &c., could not be worked at the Telegraph-office.—lpswich Express. DISCOVERY OF SKELETONS.—On Thursday last, whilst some men were sinking a well in the Priory Gar dens, about six feet below the surface of the earth, they discovered two human skeletons, male and female, lying side by side. The bones of the legs, thighs, and scapula, particularly those of the male, were amazingly large, and both cr a ni ums we ll developed. The jaws, with the teeth, are nearly perfect ; and what is singular . the Dens sapientia of th e man , on th e r i g ht side of the lower jaw. grew horizontally. From the appearance of the remains, they must have been buried about 400 years, —lpswich Express. STATE OF TRADE,--MANCHESTER, i TUESDAY.-- There has been no particular animation n this market to-day, but prices remain tolerably firm for both cloth and yarn, and upon the whole the feelingis better. The decline in the grain markets, .the easier p os i t i on of money matters, and the causesextrao elf. this rdna yfisnoemneeswshaotf im proved the weather, are the prime feeling. Some even think we are on the point of a gradual turn towards a permanently better state of things. The country trade is mending, owing, no doubt, to the seasonable weather. DEATH OF LORD JAMES BROVINE• — This gallant young nobleman expired on board the P recursor, from Calcutta, shortly before her arrival at Suez. He had left India on his return to England, having for some months suffered from dysentery, and other complaints peculiar to the climate. The d ecease d was born April 20th, 1823, being the second surviving son of the late Marquis o f Sligo, by the Lady He s t er C aroline de Burgh, sister to the Marquis of Clanricarde. He was brother and heir presumptive to the present holder of the title. He en tered the army as cornet i n the 9th Lancers (which were particularly engaged in the war of the Punjaub, July 7th, 1843. In May, 1846, he succeeded to a lieu tenantcy, and exchanged into the 10th Hussars. Lord Gough subsequently appointed him one of his aides de-camp. MONEY MARKET.--The premium on gold at Paris is 10 per milk, which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10id. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of !25.40 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at short being 25.35, it follows that gold is 0.20 per cent, dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburgh the price of gold is 4321 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/.175. 10Id. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13.81; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being 13.61, it follows that gold is 1.05 per cent. dearer in Hamburgh than in London. Mr. Cobden is at present in Naples, where Baron de Rothschild, the h ea d o f th e ho u se in that city, has given him a banquet, which Prince Oscar of Sweden ho noured with his presence. THE BRITISH MUSEUM , The annual accounts and statistics of this great national ‘"t 11 institution have app ea r. d i n p r i n t. I n ac cordance the plan pursued of l a te y ears , tl :e f o ll o wing precis l°OOA this Parliamentary paper i s su bj o i ne d f o r the inform s of the public. The total receipts of the British Muse in the year 1846, amounted to the suns of 49,129 1 .' an the concurrent payments to 45,911/., leaving a balance of cash in hand amounting to 3,217/. The estimated eve penditure for the year 1846 wa s 49,0421. or 3,131/. In° r a than the actual expense. Of the gross total expe nd , e o last year the sum of 19,470/. was appropriated t 0 t 9l ' payment of salaries; 1,693/. to house e xpenses; 15,1 9 - 9 to purchases and acquisitions ; 5,507/. to bookbinding, cabinets, &c. ; and 9571. to the printing of catalogues, making of casts, &c. The total estimated charge fr e ,, r ! Lauy-day, 18.:17, to Litily•cl;7; 1848, is stated to 50,6661. The amount of grant required from the 1 10°. the House of Commons to meet the estimated otr elv dituro of the year ending Lady-day, 1848, is 48,5 181 • f Thus much for financial matters. The return ° f visitors, &c., shows us that 750,601 persons visited the general collections of the Mu s e u m last year, against 685,614 in 1845, 575,758 in 1844, 517.440 in 184 3' 547,718 in 1842, and 319,374 in 1841. The number of visits made to the reading-roo ms , f ur the purposes ° r f study or research, which were about 1,950 in the y ea 1810, at present amount to 66,7i4 (in 1846). Fr° s some cause, not perhaps explainable, there has been late years a decided falling off in the number of por!' t literary" visitors to the Museu ; for it appears O the number of students that ran m sacked the booksl ielfa, of the library amounted to 67,542 in 1840, to 69,303 l ° 1841, to 71,706 in 1842, to 70,931 in 1843, an d t° 67,511 in 1844-all exhibiting a numerical superioriiitie over last year. In 1545 the number was 64,427. number of visits by artists and students to the sculptor galleries " for the purpose of study" was 4,124 last year' 4,256 in 1845, 3,436 in 1844, 4,907 in 1843, 5,627 !o II 1842, 5,655 in 1341, and 6,354 i n 1840- a decline s till more remarkable than that observable in the number 01 literary frequenters. The number of visits to the prin.it' room was 4,390 is 1846, 5,904 in 1845, 8,998 in 1 84 „' 8,162 in 1843, 8,781 in 1842, 7,744 in 1841, and 6,7 171 ' 1840. The public are admitted to the Museum on M° l2 ; days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 10 and o'clock. Students are admitted to the reading-roof:05 every day from 9 till 4 ; and in summer from 9 till 7. The return from the secretary's department sh° Wi that the printed books registered and stamped amount t° , 30,550 volumes, exclusive of 5,117 volumes of the Earl Of Aberdeen's Chinese books ; and that 884 specimens a minerals and fossils have been regi s t ere d, t oge ther Wit i / 16,060 zoological specimens. The antiquisimegjalAr e s amount to 210 different objects ; and the coins W I :, medals to 2,150 ; 730 manuscripts have been added the general collection since the last report, and 38 original charters. We subjoin some of the recent sc . cessions more particularly deserving of notice, for the edification of our literary readers:--1, A valuable car' tulary of the alien priory of New e nt, in Gloucesters hire, of the 13th century ; 2, a very beautiful book of hours, executed in France at the commencement of the 16th r! century, and remarkable for it s preservation 3, a ac count of the Mediterranean i s l an d s , o n vellum, illus trated with maps, compiled, a b ou t th e year 1470, by Henricus Mertellus Germanus (no other copy known); 4, two missals and a lectionary of the Epistles, 01 :" namented with miniatures of goo d It a li an a rt of the 151 n century; 5, a volume containing a ser i es of painting s on the leaves of the Ficus Religiosa, illustrative of the tenets of Buddha, presented by the ex-Governor-General °coo, India, the present Earl of Ellenbor oug h ; 6, about volumes, purchased at Mr. Upcott's sale, chiefly co n ' listing of the official papers and l e tt ers o f Sir C. (1577.1607); of Sir R. Browne, Ambassador at - 011 1, (1624-1650); of Sir William Curtius (1643-1647)1° 1 , in and S. Dayrolles (1706-1786) ; o f L awr ence /IY u " Earl of Rochester, and Henry Hyde, Earl of Clarendon (1675-1705); of Sir P. Sydney, J. Evelyn, Lord An s ,., ° , A T3 ' and others; 7, a collection of 74 Ethiopic MSS , on ve"" -- and paper, kindly prese n t e d by th e Ch urc h blissiomiq Society; and a large collection of Chinese MSS. maps, sent to the Museum by th e l a t e Secretary ° State for Foreign Affairs. In the library, it appears that there were 328 L' 1 , 1 6 volumes consulted in the c our se o f l as t year , or n u° , ll - 0 1,120 per day. The numb e r o f rea d ers wa s, on average, 238 per day. of The most valuable acquisitions in the departme n " entiquities" appear to h a v e b een some i nteres ting b - ' reliefs and other sculptures from the fortress or l3° : drum, originally decorations of the celebrated nia tis a li leum; a marble bust of Apollo; a sarcophagus discorer'„, at Beyrout ; a valuable collection of bronzes and te rra' cottas, chiefly from the Basilicata; a large collection °0 Babylonian cylinders and Oriental engraved stones ; i d wry interesting collection of bronze, iron, and Anglo-Roman antiquities, discovered at Stanwie'' - 8 the North Riding ; a c o ll e cti on o f o bj ec t s from ' l , Darnley Islands and New Guinea; an interesting . c o f lection of Peruvian relics ; an Affghan cloak; a SC` t ile armour made of a crocodile' s s ki n; sever al crocould, mummies and sepulchral vases ; 1.559 c oins (16 1 g ° i ' llo 76 silver, and 622 copper) ; and 52 m e dals. The c° f il o . include a " septem" shilling of Henry VII., and a pr o . „ faced shilling of Edward VI., b o th i n fine preservatl° Want of space precludes us f r o m noticing the nat ure historical department. , NEW MOD E OF T HIEF -C ATCHING .—Mr. 130 T ton, of Sutton F arm , h av i ng l ate l y lost a quantitY, Of „/ potatoes, gave inf ormat i on to t h e police, an d on Tiles l 7 night he bad a h ea p o f straw p l aced at' a short distar; from his potat o b ur y, an d po li ce-c onstable Tandy concealed in the straw. Ab out one o'clock he saw ward Blount (who is well k nown to the police), an Mary Blount, his daughter, c ome t o the bury - a nd un" cover it. The male prisoner saw tho straw, and think' ing it something fresh, he threw a swede at it, and th en discovered the policeman. Both prisoners ran 11 " 3 ' but the policeman captured them, and the next m orning, took them before J. W o rthington, Esq., who committ ea them to the assizes. Would it not be an excellent plan to improve upon this new mode of thief-catching, by taking a lesson from the system adopted by some of the American Indians, who in their raids simulate various animals ? What would be easier, for instance, than to obtain a supply of asses ' s ki n s, in which policemen might dress in character, and while the donkey W as looking as stupid as the real-animal, the thief might be watched and captured ?—Shropshire Conservative. THE NAVIGATION Laws.—Yesterday evening, pursuant to a public requisiti o n of the chu rchwardens and overseers of the poor of the parish of A ll Sam ts, Poplar, a public meeting of the trastees and inhabitant of that parish was held in the Town Hall, to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parl iamen against the abolition of these laws. Jonathan Pickering, Esq., the churchwarden, presided. Mr. Fuller proposed_ and Mr. Robinson seconded the first resolution , to t". effect that the British merca n til e mar i ne , while it cre ate ! and maintains a body of seamen at all times available f o ` the maintenance of our nation a l secu rity, most mu, Eij i rially contributes towards the prosperity of this by affording employ men t t o s hi pwr i g h ts , caulkers, bitter. smiths, joiners, ropemak ers , r i ggers , sa il ma kers, anc h .j a r smiths, mastmakers, and p ersona engage d in sig a shipping trad e s, t oge th er w i t h t h e l arge por tion of t' t working population empl o y e d i n th e E as t and W e e s , India Docks, and of the t ra d esmen an d s h o pkeepe r re , ceiving profitable e m pl o y men t f rom th e i r ex pend iltil- f The second resolution mo ve d was , th a t t h e abolitioi,t e , the navigation laws would, in the opinion of the Inet l i ri h compel the British shipo w n er t o man hi s sbiPs in foreign seamen, and build, repair, and equip t„b e- p iaa foreign ports, to enable him to compete with ~,,t') l.l - 1 0 ships, and, thereby, render nugatory every en °r „, - r' man our navy with British seamen in case of an e— ce e n. gency, whilst it would, certainly, at the same time e s 'i a g tially destroy the prosperity of this parish by lessen.o the sources of employment for the industrious Cla ss t i.. before mentioned. And a third to the effect that P m e t e• tions be presented to the Legislature founded on the ' - t he going resolutions, having been unanimously carried, ' l ., cordial thanks of the meeting were voted to the eh, tli l man for the able and impartial manner in which h ee d.' conducted the proceedings, and the meeting se parao FATAL CAB ACClDENT.—Yesterday an inquest l d , held at the Plough, Carey-street, Lincoln's liin-fle : 1 before Mr. Bedford, on the body of Jeremiah Ciin ce r pti p a: ham, aged 67, a pauper in the Strand Union. On ", nesday last the deceased was crossing Long-acre A' j o g moment when one of Ransom's cabs drove past, tn r° bat down James-street. The deceased was called Lc ) ; the instead of running back, h e ran di rec tly a gainst - ,;re wheel, which knocked him do wn . F our o f hi s ribs sr " a broken, and he died of the injuries in King's Hospital. Verdict—" Accidental death." A CLIPPER.—The American papers make rne nt l of a model steam-boat which is to be seen on the Ch, e ° , -. peake, invented and constructed by Cyrus William , ',„ 5 ,1 4 .. which is in the usual form of a boat, but mere flat % a tomed, and much longer in proportion to its width w ho the boats now in use, giving it a greater surface to water, and of course a lighter draught. The imP r°: ,-s ment consists in applying the bridge principle of bore', in supporting the length of the boat. Mr. Williant. offers to build a boat on this model, furnishing °L e e third of the stock, and if it does not make twenty - miles to the hour, he will forfeit his share.—Mech anic C Magazine. PROPOSAL EXTRAORDINART.—The inhabitants °r Windsor and Eton wer e cons id era bl y to startled a few dfls ago by the app e ar ance o f a pamphlet, purporti n g have been printed for private circulation only, and j s a riously proposing to take do wn th e t ow ns of Willi' s ; and Eton, and rebuild th em a t a grea t er distance fro the Castle; in order, as th e pamphlet says, that he! Majesty may have a residence worthy of the Sovereign of the British empire." Th e p am phl e t containing t ll ,l bold and sweeping project is add res sed " To the B A P:, Honourable the Commissioners of her Majesty's W ooa, and Forests, the Provost and F e llows of Eton Colle g e, and the Mayor and Corporation of Windsor , " and the projectors sign themselves " D av id D. Kyle and lienq Kerl, 8, Carlton Chambers, Regent-street, London- They state that having been five years contemplatil this project, they are convinced of its practicability an of its propriety, as the best and only mode of settling f the question which has so long agitated the towns ,_°„, Windsor and Eton, as to the seclusion necessary to r court and royal family. In proof of its practicabili t y they give maps, plans, and estimates, from which to would apr ear that in somewhere about five years th: project may bo completely carried out, for little mo !.. than the exceedingly small charge of a quarter of a lion." That her Majesty is desirous of a little more se' elusion there cannot be a doubt, for at present there is scarcely any portion of the royal domain which is not quite as open to any of her subjects as to the Sovereign herself. But there can be as little doubt that her Bin' jesty would never sanction the acquisition of more pri yap), at the cost of the removal of two entire towns.-- Chronicle. All the inhabitants of the small town of Egelsback, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, about 1,400 in number, including the bourgmestre, the justice of the peace, the echevins, &c., &c., have demanded permis sion from the Government to be allowed to emigrate to Amerios. PUBLIC GOOD. A deputa P a nY, consi and accomi J ohn Chict Mr. Br den had an inter in Downing Sir Richa George Gre 4 ai a stWi Yenning, di s u n t a t r gn ColoniColonial-offsll. Buckle , headed by N Mr. R. Sp hew, on Mc office. The Marc an indifferen Well yesterd SPOI !it Davis's 41 r. Cra us t ( M r. Wesley 6 to 4 on Non Tits.: AQ omitted ,Watehdog'F. time" in t 4 to 1 agst G to 1 agst 7 to 1 agst 2 0 to 1 agst 2 .,, 1) to 1 agst uu to 1 agst LAT 6 to 1 agst 1 0 to 1 oast 12 to I WI to 1a a agst - gst 2 2 to 1 st 45 to lestg 40 to 1 agst