The Sun. — London, England, 1840-05-16 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT• LOSS OF EIGHT LIVES. (Abridged from the Syd — ney Gazelle of January.) • One of the most melancholy accidents on record Le -I.irred here on Sunday last. Six gentlemen, known as h aving much practice in the management of sailing boots, Proceeded on a pleasure trip down the harbour in the Iliddee, a boat celebrated for her sailing qualities. The PrysY consisted of Messrs. John and Charles Rogers, nrapers, of George-street ; Mr. Samuel Thornton, money tither at the Box.office of the Theatre, and brother to the owner of the boat; Mr. Williams, a saddler, lately (tom &need business in Bridge-street ; Mr. Fligg, lately from New Zealand, a Clerk in the employ of Messrs. M'Gua, Surd, and Co. ; and Mr. Johnson, foreman in the service of Mr. Mitchell, linen-draper, Waterloo-place, King street. The accident which terminated Fo fatally occurred t about half-p a st five in the afternoon. The boat was then between Shark Island and Bottle and Glass Bay ; a sudden Neal' carried away the jib sheets, and a sea striking the 'at at the same time, threw her on her beam ends. She 'lined, but a second sea striking her on her quarter, she Lank stern foremost. Williams, Johnson, Thornton, and nlgg, sunk with the boat, leaving John and Charles Ro. eel's struggling with the waves. Beth were good sw;in !nen, and made for the shore, Charles first and John follow mg. When almost at the shore, John, observing his bro ther's strength failing, called to him to keep up his spirits, for a few strokes more would place them in safety. Charles nlade no reply, and a moment after his brother observed him, with his head drooping on his breast, sink to rise no more. John, now the only survivor, was washed ashore by the waves in a state of insensiblity. The friends of the unfortunate sufferers went down on the following morning to search for the bodies, but with- Out success. But on Tuesday three expert divers, with 41n earnest desire to recover them proceeded to the spot, and having made necessary arrangements, stripped, and dived down at the spot where, in their opinion, the bodies !mad most probably be found. But the will of Divine rrovidence decreed that three more lives should be added tt , this most lamentable occurrence. The divers remain ing below for an unusual length of time, fears were en tertaired that they had been devoured by sharks, which doubtless was the case, and they never returned above Water, thus making a total of eight lives lost. LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.) DEAL, MARCH 15.—AriTved the Dement, Harper' from Antigua ; Fingalt-on, St. John's, New Brunswick ; Victoria, Street, Cape of Good Hope ; Jane, Cumming; Africa; Golden Spring, ditto; and Elizabeth, Heird, Villanora. LIVERPOOL, MAY 15.—Wind N. W.—Arrived the Co.. romando, Pearce, from Charleston ; and Maria, Weeder], Savannah. Off port the Helen Stewart, from China ; Georgina, Valparaiso; Union, Demerara ; Grace, An tigua ; Adirondack, New Orleans ; Cyrus, St. Joseph's; Portsmouth, Mobile; John Baring, ditto; Shawe, ditto ; Alexander Edmond, Savannah ; Washington, ditto ; and Linnets, Nassau. Sailed the Madourna, Miller, for Bombay ; Champion, Stetle, Bahia ; Eliza Scotland, Smith, Rio Janeiro ; Robert Peelsferd, Price, New Orleans ; Cot:dor, Churchill, BaHmore ; Roscius, Col lings, New York ; Sarah Sheafe, Grey, ditto ; Courte- Uy, Brown, Halifax ; Anna Leffey, Dody, Quebec ; Ellen, Gill, Demerara. Off port the Lowell, Beqon ; T. P. Cope, Philadelphia ; Grace Brown, Duff, Savan nah ; and Watt. Africa. ,PLvtaoliTH, MAY 15.—Sailed the Fly, Gibbs, for New foundland. FALMOUTH, MAY 14. —Wind S. to S. W., fresh breeze. Arrived the Fras Mire!, Black, from Port-au- Prince ; Name, Tulloch, Odessa. Off port, the Auguste and Meline, Meyer, from Port-au-Prince; Marianne and Pauline, Wilkin, St. Thomas ; Theodore, Port-au- Prince ; Proteus, Druling, Passaranang ; Francois Honore, Godefray, Batavia ; Dulcinca, Havanna. COWES, MAY 15. Arrived Burmah, Hord, Havanna. POOLE, MAY 15.—Sailed the Nymph, Brown, for New foundland. CHURCH-RATE§. YAkiIOUTH, MAY 15. —At the quarterly meeting of the Town Council of Great Yarmouth, held on Thursday last, Mr. E. N. Clowes moved " That a petition be presented from this Council to the House of Commons, praying for the eutire abolition of Church-rates," which was seconded IV G. D. Palmer, and supported by S. Cobb, Esqrs., two of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace ; and on a division there appeared seventeen for the motion and ONE against it COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.—The revived comedy of Twelfth Night attracted a numerous audience to this house on Friday evening. It was followed, for the 22d time, by the fairy extravaganza of the Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, which went off with its accustomed eclat. Among the numerous fashionables who have visited this theatre during the past week we have noticed his Excellency Baron Billow, and several foreigners of distinction, Duke Charles of Brunswick and his equerry Baron Audlan Lord Chesterfield , Lord Alfred Paget, Lord John Manners, Sir George Cayley, Mrs. and the Misses Backhouse, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord S eg rave, lion. Captain Forester, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, and a Party of officers of the Ist Life Guards. The house is expected to close for the season in the middle of next month. OLYMPIC THEATRE.—In our advertising co 'watts it will be seen that on Monday Mr. Butler will close his eery successful season with an author's night for Mark Lemon. it is not necessary to remind the patrons of this favoured and a ttractive little theatre, of how much they are indebted, even in season now (we regret) so near a close, to the chaste and d el lghtful pen of this author. The brilliant success of the Ladies' Club, the House of Ladies, and Gwynneth Vaughan, sufficiently attests their appreciation of his merits. We hope on Monday they will return him thanks with a bumper. He produces for the.occasion anew farce, to be called A Captain pro tem., in which our old friend T. Lee (late of Drury -lane) will appear as Darby O'Reilly. Some fun may be anticipated when the part has been written for this genuine Irishman by Mark Lemon himself. We perceive also that Compton lends his as • sistance for the night, in his excellent part of Joseph Raby, in Self Accusation. LORD STANLEY'S BILL.—The Dublin EreniAg Post has published in a Supplement a list of the signatures to the Leinster and Charlemont Address to the people of Great Britain, denouncing this Bill. Such a list of signatures, it states, never was before presented to the British public. Among them we find the names of 70 Peers and sons of Peers, all deeply interested in the welfare of this country. IVO less than 30 Baronets, 56 members of the Lower House, exclusive of those in office and absent from the country-65 Lieut(ntrits and Deputy-Lieutenants—upwards o' 330 magis trates, and more than 450 members of the learned professions, besides 1000 merchants, 26 dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church, and a large body of clergymen of all religious persua !iotta, including in all between 3,000 and 4,000 names of the highest rank, the greatest influence, and the most extensive Wealth and property in Ireland. NEW WAY OF CATCHING MULLETS.—On oar return from the White Strand to Waterville, a new kind of !port had presented itself. The mullet, which at this season of the year congregate around the entrance of the raver, had formed a black mass at the embouchement of the lake. It was impossible to use a net, the shore being cosered with rocks. Neither bait nor fly had the least attraction for them; and al though they might be seen in the sun as shoals of myriads, and as closely packed together as was consistent with their power of !motion, no means had yet been devised of securing this excel lent fish. Their annual visits, therefore, were always paid with impunity. I was angry at this, and spent some hours in endea vouring to allure them with flies, worms, bait, all to no pur pose. An idea struck me ; and stringing together about twenty stout pilsC hooks, I awaited the bubbling which indicated the presenee of the shoal. I threw over them with a long rod, and Jagged the line after it had sunk amidst them. This plan was comparatively simple, and I had the pleasure of adding to my comp ara ti ve ly simple, and I had the pleasure of adding to my a h dinner, in which my friend, the surgeon, was generally joined, the e xquisite mullet.— Spotsman in Ireland. AN AQUATIC STAG HUNT.—A hundred bugles from all directions of the lake now summoned each party to their boats, which crowded the shores IS the island, and.ludicrous were the scenes of apprehension, screaming, and splashing, as the lake, now wild with storm, dashed its angry spray over the dignified segregators. Many boats put back to the lee of the island ; but the Major, relying on the skill of his little crew and his own steady hand at the helm, set forth, and we arrived at the opposite shore just as the hounds were de scending to the strand. Splash went the affrighted animal into the lake, amid the shouts of the hundred boatmen who were immediately at utmost stretch to follow him. Each crew was now put to the test of strength, and I must record the fact, that the Major was not last ; the shores were crowded with spectators—the mountains reverberated the sounds in continued echoes—the clamping of a thousand oars—the resounding bugles from the boats—the cries of cargoes upset in the melee —the alarm of the drowning, and the shouts of the foremost, raised altogether a din that must fail in description.— Sports man in Ireland WILD FOWL.—My gun was now in:requisition— so unaccustomed were these animals to any annoyance from man, perhaps even to his sight, that I found no difficulty in approach ing a flock, thus settled, and senditr , the contents of both bar rels amongst them—they flew upwards, and, in a few moments, again assembled on the same spot. The screams of every class of seabird, which followedthe report of my gun, conveyed the idea of our being amongst an interminable flock. As we passed down the rocks, following the course of the river, new coveys met us at every turn. It was hard work to load—my powder Was becoming exhausted—and I regretted I Lad not a better supply, as one of the flat pools of the stream exhibited a dark Mas sof ducks, widgeon, and teal.— Sportsman in Ireland. On Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr. Higgs, at the Penitentiary, Milbank, on the body of Henry Alitward, aged 18. The deceased was admitted on the 4th inst., having been sentenced by a Court-martial at Chatham to twenty days' imprisonment for being absent without leave. On the Bth he was taken to the infirmary, being attacked with erysip e l as , arising from a small scratch under the right ear. The inflammation increased, and produced suffusion on the brain, which caused his death on Tuesday. He was attended by Mr. Wade, the surgeon, Dr. Bailey, and Staff-Surgeon koe, He was in perfect health when admitted, but the surgeon said er y s ip e l as was prevalent at this time, especially in Chelsea. The deceased's father, who is apatient in Charing-cross Hospi tal, had obtained leave to b rin g a letter for his son, and though oc was in the inquest-room, was not aware of his death till he heard the name. Verdict--Natural death from erysipelas. The revolution effected by the opening of the Southampton Railway, is already most sensibly felt in Ports mouth. Instead of the swarms of passengers from Ryde, by our steam-packets, they now come with two or three. In fact, Cowes will in future be the principal entree instead of Ttyde. Notwithstanding the tine pier, &c., a great deal of this mischief doubtless arises from the avarice of the select few of the Steam Packet Company, who, although they have been receiving fifteen per cent on their outlay, pertinaciously refuse to lower their exorbitant fares. The Brighton Company must extend their line to this fine harbour, and the sooner they begin the better, if they intend to secure an immense revenue, which otherwise must pass by the Southampton route. The puny efforts of the local company here must be thrown overboard. One of high character and professional experience must suc ceed—some Sir Arthur Wellesley be called upon to carry on the Railway campaign which has languished, and is likely so to do for years, if not resuscitated by a Brunel, a Stevenson, or a Dastick, and then with the finest roadstead in the world, the most capacious harbour, and a dense and swarming Population success and ample remuneration must be the result of the speculation. THE FIRST POET LAUREATE.—The reign of Henry the Thiid affords the first Poet Laureate, and the per son then appointed to that office was styled Master Henry ' alias the " versificator," to whom the King ordered 100 shil lings to be paid . out of the Exchequer, in discharge of the ar rears due to him. It is stated to be very probable that this officer was introduced by the then Queen Consort, Eleanor of Provence, who was herself a poetess and instructed in litera ture from her youth. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held a Court yesterday afternoon at Buck ing hun Palace for the reception of some of the Foreign Ministers. M. Guizot, tLe French Ambassador, had an audience of her Majesty. Count Pollon, the Envoy Extraordivary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the King of Sardinia, and also from the Duke of Lucca, had an audience cf the Queen to deliver a letter. Prince Mavrocordato, the Grecian Minister, had an au dience of her Majesty. Their Excellencies were respec tively introduced by Viscount Palmerston, G C. 8., her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Af fairs, and conducted by Sir Robert Chester, Muster of the Ceremonies. The Royal dinner party at the Pakee on Thursday evening included her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Earl of Errnl, Earl and Countess of Sandwich, Earl of Uxbridge, Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt, Viscount and Viscountess' Torrington, Lord and Lady Barham, Lady Anne Maria Dawson, Lard and Lady Portman, Lord Robert Grosvenor, and Colonel Couper. The band of the Grenadier Guards attended and per formed in the course of the evening the following pieces : —Overture (Fairy Lake), Auber and Lee ; Walzer (Bon net), Lanner ; Melange (Fairy Lake), Auber and Lee; Quadrille, Dufrene and Musard ; Aria (Torquato Tasso), th.n:zetti ; Walzer (Cavalier), Huensel ; Selection (Nor- ma), Beliini ; March, Rudolph Sibbold. The Queen, attended by Lady Portman and the Hon. Colonel Grey, visited the Duchess of Sutherland yesterday at Stafford House. Viscount Melbourne had an audience of her Majesty yesterday. Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured Covent-gar den Theatre with their presence last evening. The Royal Suite included Lady Portman, Viscount Torrington, Hon. Major Keppel, Hon. Colonel Grey, Colonel Wylde, and Mr. Francis Seymour. Addresses of Congratulation were presented to his Royal Highness Prince Albert yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, by the fellowing Noblemen and Gentlemen : The Earl of Powis, from the town and county of Mein:- gomery. Mr. Heywood, the High Sheriff, Lord Eutnor, and Mr. Edward Foley, M.P., from Herefordshire. Earl of Mount Cashell, from the Colonial Society. The Bishop of Leinster, from the Archdeacon and Clergy of Nottingham. Duke of Argyll, from the county of Argyll. Mr. Banks, and Mr. John Strangwayes, Irorn the Ma gistrates of Dorset. The Dean of Chester, from the Dean and Chapter of Chester. Mr. Cooke, High Sheriff, from Northamptonshire. =Captain Bryan, M. P., from the county of Kilkenny, Lord Bexley, from the Kent Dispensary. His Royal Highness Prince Albert was attended by the following Officers of his Household :—Lord Robert Gros venor, Groom of the Stole, Mr. George Edward Anson, Treasurer, Earl of Morley, and Mr. Francis Seymour, Gentlemen and Groom in Waiting, and Col Wylde, Equerry in Waiting. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent receved Ad dresses of Congratulation yesterday at Ingestre House, Belgrave-square, on the marriage of her Majesty with Prince Albert, from the following places and public bo dies : From tie loyal men of Ross, presented by Sir Robert Price, Mr. Edward Foley, M. P., and Mr. K. Hoskins, M. P. From the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and other Freehol ders of the county of Hereford, presented by Mr. T. Hey wood, the High Sheriff; Viscount Eastnor, Sir Robert Pike, Bart, Mr. Edward Foley, M. P., and Mr. Hoskins M. P. From the Governors of the Royal Kent Dispensary, presented by Lord Bexley and Sir T. M. Wilson. From the High Sheriff, Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and other inhabitants of the county of Northampton, presented by Mr. Thomas Alderson Cooke, High Sheriff. From the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and other inhabi tants of the county of Montgomery; also from the Bailiffs, Burgesses, and other inhabitants of the ancient borough of Montgomery—presented by the Earl of Powis. From the Members of the Colonial Society—presented by the Earl of Mount Cashel!, Mr. Charles E. Layard, late Paymaster-General of Ceylon, Couat Giovanni Salo -17109, aed Mr. Radiger. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent was attended by Lady Anne Maria Dawson, Lady in Waiting; and Col. Cooper. First Equerry and Comptroller of her Royal High ness's Household. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and the Duchess Ida, with the Prince and Princesses of Saxe Weimar, visited and inspected the British Museum on Thursday. Her Majesty paid visits to the Princess Augusta at Clarence House, St. James's, yesterday, and the Duchess of Glou cester, at Gloucester House. The Duke of Cambridge left town yesterday morning for the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Duchess of Glou cester yesterday. Prince George of Cambridge left town on Wednesday for Brighton. The Drawings made in the Holy Land by Mr. D. Ro berts, A.R. A., were yesterday morning submitted to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, by Mr. Moon, at Buck ingham Palace. M. Dedel, the Minister of the Netherlands, returned early on Thursday morning from the Hague. Mr. Parker, and a Deputation from the Hull Dock Company, had an interview with Mr. Labouchere, on Thursday, at the Board of Trade. The Earl of Powis, Lord Segrave, the Bishop of Derry, Mr. Baron Rolfe, and Mr. George Nichols, had interviews with the Marquis of Normanby yesterday at the Home Office. Mr. A. Stewart had an interview with Lord John Rus sell, on Thursday, at the Colonial Office, to take leave. Mr. Edward Rice had an interview with Mr. Labou chere, at the Board of Trade yesterday. LITERATURE. THE SPORTSMAN IN IRELAND, 2 Vols. Culburn, London, 1840, The idea of this work seems to have been suggested by Mr. Maxwell's " Wild Sports of the West"—a sporting publication which, on its first appearance some few years ago, attained at once great and merited popu larity, by the vigour of its descriptions, the point and terseness of its style, and the free and easy play of its humour. Much of this may be traced in the volumes before us ; and both, for aught we know to the con trary, may be the production of the same gentleman. At any rate it is impossible to read the one, without the other being instantly recalled to one's mind. The " Cosmopolite"—so the author before us designates him self—entertains us with a variety of minute, graphic details of his fishing excursions in the western dis tricts of Ireland, especially along the line of the Kerry coast, and among the vast lakes in the neighbourhood of Connemara, which he emphatically describes as the most sterile spot to be met with on the broad surface of the globe. In these excursions he was accompanied by an old Irish major of infantry, whom he pourtrays in very lively colours, as telling the most incredible ro mances from a mere frolicsome love of exaggeration. Same of this veteran's marvellous tales are full of racy humour, and would have delighted the congenial spirit of the lean P.inurge, or the adipose Falstaff. Bat to us, the most entertaining portions of the " Cosmopo lite's" work, are—not the particulars of his adventures among the• Connemara mountains, or the wild charac teristic legends which he tells of them, but—the cursory reflections, which he throws off from time to time, on the present state of Ireland, the causes of the universal distress prevailing among the peasantry in the southern and western districts, and the most likely means of ameliorating their condition. Here our author shows himself a man of good common sense, and—what is better still—of sterling humanity. In ail his remarks upon absenteeism, one of the great curses of the country, we beg to offer our most cordial concurrence. THREE YEARS IN CANADA. Two Vol.. Bentley, London, 1840. The chief recommendation of this work is the spirit of uniform impartiality that pervades it. Mr. Preston, the author, who was for some time resident in Canada, and chanced to be on the spot when the late disastrous disturbances broke forth, furnishes us with very minute particulars respecting them, and, so far as we are able to farm an opinion, traces them to their proper source, and suggests remedies for, what he calls in his preface, " their radical cure." His first volume is the most en tertaining ; and in it we find some just observations on the subject of Mackenzie's outbreak, which, observes the author, "it is 6ffieult to identify with the people's cause," adding that " its object could not have been what it professed to be, the redress of grievances, or it must have proved more popular." SIGNS OF THE TIMES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Strt,—Perhaps the following hint to those whom it may concern may not be unacceptable to the truly libe ral spirit of your widely-circulated Journal : Last Sunday it was my good fortune to pass as plea sant a day as ever I did in my life. It was at a com mercial room in the populous town of —. At dinner we mustered sixteen intelligent and agree able men. After the cloth was removed, among other topics the fate of Mr. Thorogood was brought up, and commented on with much good sense. One sentiment, however, from the chairman, struck me particularly, and thich was heartily responded to by all the party : " I have made it a rule for twenty years of my life to go to Church of a forenoon, whether at hone or on a journey. But hang me," added he, " if the shop ever sees me again if this poor devil dies in gaol." From your constant reader, MERCATOR. May 14, 1840. SPOTS ON THE SUN.—The opinion suggested by Sir William Herschell, that the spots on the sun might pos. , s ibly diminish the temperature of the air, by preventing the pa ssage of heat from that part of the disc occupied by them, has not been confirmed during the present spring; for it is well known to those persons who are in the practice of looking at the sun with telescopes, that there have been very many spots obser ved on its disk for some time past, yet the temperature of the air has been higher than for many years at this period. The spots during the last two weeks have been numerou s, and some of them of considerable magnitude, Gem-- yinq a portion of s p ace many times larger than the earth. v ying are no less than half a dozen clusters of dark spots tra versing the solar disk, two or three of which are large and nu merous, but they cannot be seen without the assistance of a small telescope. he candidates for Ludlow are Mr. Larpent, the well-known City merchant, on the Liberal side, and Mr. Bot field, an iron -master, on the Tory. THE SEMI, LONDON, SATURDAY , MAY 16, 1840. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. PLYMOUTH AND DEVONPORT SPRING RACES. SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY. (From the Globe.) The Tories are naturally angry at the notoriety given to their prcee.tdings at Ludlow and Cambridge. They would have it supposed that because the writs for those places have been allowed to issue, the debates in the House of Commons, which took place respecting them, were only so much waste of valuable time—an injury to the country, by the interruption thus occasioned to public business ! Never were they more mistaken. The object was to draw public attention to the system of bribery and corruption by which the pretended " re.action" in the public mind in favour of Tory ism has been procured, that the worth of " Conservative triumphs" may be cor rectly estimated; and also, that the necessity for checking the demoralizing process may be felt, and the legislative remedy proposed by Lord J. Russell be supported by public opinion, in order to its success. It is of comparatively little moment whether the writs for Ludlow and Cambridge be issued or withheld ; although to judge from the exultation of the Tory Press, it would appear that, because the bo roughs are not dlsfranchised, the iniquitous practices, shorn beyond all question to have extensively prevailed at the last and former elections, had been disproved. To every well regulated mind it must af f ord far higher gratification, that increased obstacles are about to be placed in the way of crime, than that foram criminals have been even justly punished. (From the Standard.) The House of Lords was last night occupied during the greater part of its sitting in hearing the argu ment of Sir Charles Wetherell, as counsel for the City of Dublin, against the Irish Municipal Corpora_ ;ions Bill. Before the counsel were called in the Marquis of Lansdowne made an attempt to limit the counsel to a particular line of argument, which he said was the consideration of the details of the Bill; the attempt was unjust, but it was el3o happily absurd. It is as unjust to limit a counsel to a particular line of argument, as it would be to dictate for him the only arguments which he shall employ, and the order in which he shall employ them ; both indeed come to the same thing in the end ; but in a Bill like that before the House, consisting of a conger ies of minute details, and,. nogliug else, the details are in fact the principle. When the Corporation of Dublin claims to be spared from the operation of the mea sure, it demands no more than an amendment done detail; but the objections to all the clauses of the Bill are surely reasons in support of that demand. Lord Lansdowne's attempt was, of course, unsuccessful; and Sir Charles We therell used the freedom to which he was entitled in corn batting the whole of the iniquitous, hateful, and most dan gerous measure. . (From tho Courier.) It is the peculiar singularity of all Lord John Russell's attempts in legislation and administration, that he has never yet, that we remember, passed an Act which has not had to be revised, amended, or repealed, generally in the neat but always in some ensuing Session of Parliament; and so it is with the Manchester Charter. But the ease being in the Courts of Law, and pending for trial and judgment, why does Mr. Philips bring it before the House of Com mons, where it is as much out of place as his own power looms and small wares would be ? Although of great local interest, it is not a matter that concerns the nation or the House delegated solely to perform the business of the nation. Why, with equal propriety the Honourable Member might question his Learned Friend in the House, when the proceedings in some action of his own for tapes, galloons, or other goods sold and delivered to a debtor, would come on for argument, or how it stood on the list of untried causes. There is no seeing, indeed, where the new practice would stop. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 15. Their Lordships met at a Quarter before Five o'Clock. Lord RA YL Eft; H presented petitions from Walvvortb, in favour of Church Extension, and for the exclusion of Roman Catholics from Parliament. The Earl of ROSEBERY presented a petition, nu merously signed, from inhabitants of the Royal Burgh of Selkirk, complaining of the additional duties imposed upon the post-masters under the new Post-office regulations. The Tithes Commutation Bill ( Ireland) then passed I through Committee, and was reported. The Insolvent Debtors Act Continuation Bill (Ireland) also went through Committee, and was reported. The Marquis of WESTMEATH begged leave to put a question to the Noble Viscount opposite respecting the persecution of the Jews at Damascus. He wished to know whether her Majesty's Government had exerted its influ ence to pat a stop to the barbarities of which those people had been the objects ? Lord MELBOURNE'S answer was not heard in the gallery. The Earl of WINCHILSEA presented a pcti• tion from Northampton against the grant to the College of Maynooth. Lord STR ANG FORD begged to call the attention of the Noble Viscount, to the papers laid on the table re specting the piracies of the Albanians on the shores of the Adriatic. It . appeared that application had been made to her Majesty's Government on the part of the King of Naples, requesting her Majesty's good offices in procuring the suppression of the piracies. But on the '?7th of February, 183 s, Lord Palmerston replied to Count Rudolph to the effect that her Majesty could not attend to any request from the Neapolitan Government until the Sulphur question was settled ; whereupon the Count wrote to Lord Palmerston expressing his surprise at receiving such an answer after the promise of assistance which her Majesty's Government had previously given to the Government of the King of Naples. That note of Count Rodolpla was not included in the papers laid upon the table. He would be glad to have a return of it. Lord MELBOURNE —Vert well. The Marquis of WESTMEATH presented a petition from 113 inhabitants of Bath, complaining that whilst nu merous prosecutions for seditious language had taken place in England, the law officers of the Crown took no notice whatever of more seditious and mischievous language which was indulged in in Ireland, and praying that the parties alluded to in Ireland should be prosecuted forthwith. In answer to a question from Lord GLENG AL ref Peet leg certain correspondence relating to appointments under the Poor law Commissioners in Ireland, The Marquis of NORM ANBY said that if the corres pondence was in existence, it should be laid on the table. Lord EL LENBOROUG H said, he found in the papers laid on the table that the proceedings of the Commis sioners in respect to valuations were illegal. The Marquis of NORMA NB Y said he should certainly call the attention of the Commissioners to the subject re ferred to by the Noble Lord. The Noble Marquis then laid on the table of the House returns from the Poor-law Commissioners in Ireland. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY presented a peti tion from South Shields, praying for medical reform. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND). Lord KENYON moved that Counsel should again be called in and heard on the Irish Corporation Bill. Sir C. WETHSRELL and Mr. BuTr then advanced to the bar of the House. Mr. BUTT, in addressing their Lordships, commenced by stating that it then became his duty to follow up the statements which had been made to their Lord ships on behalf of the Corporation of Dublin by his Learned Friend on last evening, He would endeavour to show their Lordships that the Bill then before the House for regulat'ng the Corporations of Ireland would tend to confiscate the rights of the city of Dublin, and should not be adopted by their Lordships. In the observations he would address to the House he would confine himself strictly to the subject, and as be was aware that their Lordships were of opinion that the Municipal Corporations of Ireland required the interference of the Legislature, he felt that against that principle lie had no right to contend. Tile Dublin corpoiatiou had stated that they would cheerfully acquiesce in any mea sure of reform which their Lordships might propose and which would not lead to the overthrow of Protestant institutions and of ancient charters. He would proceed to show their Lordships that the proposed measure was not warranted by any acts of the Irish Corporations—that as regarded individuals it was unjust, and that as regarded the public it would lead to the most mischievous results. (The Learned Gentleman then read petitions from several of the Guilds of Dublin, containing petitions against the Bill before the House, and challenging investigation into every part of the corporate management of the City of Dublin.) He would divide the Bill into two parts. It was a Bill of enfranchisement and a Bill of dis franchisement. It began by sweeping away every ex isting right of the Corporation of Dublin. But no thing could justify that first part of the Bill, unless some charges were established against the Corporation, or unless it could be shown that their rights were inconsistent with the welfare of the community. Neither of these points had been established, and yet their Lordships were called on degrade the members of the Corporation—for to punish was to degrade. The rights of the Dublin Cor poration were founded on ancient and repeatedly-renewed charters. Those rights had been granted them for the purpose of serving as a stronghold for the English and afterwards for the Protestant patty in Ireland, and he would say that the Corporation had completely fulfilled their trust. The case attempted to be made out against them was to be found in the Re port of the Commissioners. That Commission, however, he had no hesitation in saying, was a partial and a preju diced one. The chief member of that Commission was Mr. Perrin, and such an appointment alone would show how unfair a tribunal the Commission must have been. Mr. Perrin had been in the year 1831 a candidate for the City o f Dublin, with Sir Robert Harty on the Reform interest, but a Committee of the House of Commons decided that they had been guilty of bribery, and they b a d thus been incapac itated from sitting in the House of Commons. Mr. Perrin, however, who had in the year 1831 been declared guilty of bribery, was appointed, in the year 1833, the Chief Judge of a Commission instituted to investigate the proceedings of the Dublin Corporation. It should also be recollected that Mr. Hudson, another member of the Commission, had been also found guilty of bribery by the House of Commons, while aiding in the election of Mr. Perrin. There mere other charges against the Commission. It was stated in the evidence taken before them, that no Catholics ever served as Grand Jurors in Dublin, while three Catholics had served on that Grand Jury. The fact was, that it could not be a matter of surprise to any one that the evidence of the Commis sioners was filled with the falsest accusations. Every man who wished was invited by the Commission to come for ward and slander the members of the Corporation at his pleasure. There was another circumstance to which he wished to call their Loalships' attention. The Corporation had expressed a wish to produce witnesses who might refute the previous evidence taken before the Commissioners, hut the granting of that request had at first been deferred, and had afterwards never taken place. ( The L earne d G ent l ema n then went into some of the charges against , Corpora , the orpora , tion contained in the Rep ort of the Commissioners.) One of those charges was that the Corporation was in debt, r and that that debt had existed before the memory of man. But what was the truth upon that subject? The Corpo ration had first contracted the debt in question by levying soldiers and seamen for the defence of the country, and another part of it was incurred by the unexpected fail ure of their treasurer. The principal charge, however, against the Corporation of Dublin was its exclusiveness. He admitted that exclusiveness ; but until the passing of the Catholic Relief Bill in 1829 that exclusiveness was sanctioned by the British laws, and he thought that since that period much should be allowed for ancient habits and prejudices. But whatever might have been the faults of the Dublin Corporation, their Lordships could not inflict a greater curse on Ireland, than by establishing such Corporations as the Bill proposed. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to make various objections to the Bill —to the partisan spirit of the valuators—to the want of a bona fide interest on the part of voters, and to the inevitable consequence which would follow from it, of swamping property by numbers. He concluded by imploring their Lordships, in the name of the gentry, the Protestants, and a large portion of the Catholics themselves, to reject the measure. (The Learned Gentleman then retired, having_ been throughout his address listened to with the profoundest attention and at its close some Peers offered him their congratulations.) Lord MELBOURNE then moved that the House should go into Committee on the Bill, if there was no objection. The Duke of WELLINGTON, warmly—There is every objection. For my part, I will not consent to go into Committee on the Bill without being able to discuss it in a full Ilcuse. There are several most important points to be considered before the House can go into Committee, according to my opinion. I will tell the Noble Lord that I will not consent to go on with the consideration of the subject until we have another Bill (the Poor-law Amend ment Ireland Bill, we believe) before the House, and until can see what is really the intention of Government with re spect to the future arrangements to be made on the subject. Lord MELBOURNE said that their Lordships would soon have the Bill referred to by the Noble Duke from the House of Commons. The Earl -of GLE NG ALL also expressed his convic tion of the necessity for further delay. Lord MELBOURNE then moved that the. House should go into ComMittee on that day week. The proposal was agreed to. The Marquis of WE ST,O EATH could not allow the adjournment of the - 116;14C to, take place without exprels ing his gratific a ti on at finding than the Bill was not to be hastily proceeded with. He was convinced that the per manence of the connexion between Great Britain and Ireland depended on n cool, calm, and deliberate consi deration of the question. Lord MELBOURNE said that from what he could perceive there was very little chance that the Bill would meet then with the cool, calm, and deliberate considers ' tion to which the Noble Marquis had referred. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, M4r I. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'Clock. The Reports on the Roxburgh and Selkirk Roads Bill was laid on the table, as was also the Report on the Stoke Brunen (Northampton) Enclosure Bill. On the motion of Colonel CONOLLY, the Dublin and Drogheda Railway Bill was read a second time. On the motion of Lord EUSTON, the Kircudbright Road Bill was read a second time. Mr. I3ARNEBY moved the Order of the Day for the second reading of the St. Harman (Radnor) Enclosure Bill. Mr. W. A. WILLIAMS (Monmouth) took that opportunity of presenting a petition from a ma jority of the landowners and other parishioners against the Bill. The petitioners stated that the principal part of the lands proposed to be enclosed consisted of peat bog and moss, from which the poor of the adjoining four parishes derived their only supply of fuel, there being no coal within twenty miles. The remainder of the land was better fitted for the pasture of shceo and cattle than it could be made for cultivation. The Bill would be a grievous injury to the poor of those parishes. BARN EB Y said that all the parishes except one had been struck out of the Bill. Mr. WlLLlAMShaiialight to complain of the unfair nets and irregularity of the manner in which the . Bill was dealt with, without notice to the persons whose interests were to be affected by it. Hear, hear.) He com plained also of the practice of gentlemen unconnected ;tith the locality going round to Members on both sides of the House canvassing for votes. It was a practice which was calculated to add to the disrepute of Private Bills. The petitioners were at first favourable to the Bill, until they found that the rights of the poor were dis regarded, and that they were to be deprived of their sup ply of peat and moss. Mr. BARNEBY denied that he had asked for a single vote upon this Bill. This Bill, so far from damaging the poor, would benefit them, for Mr. Watts now, according to the decision of a Court of Law, had the power to eject the whole of the parties; he did not wish to do so, but wanted to pass the Bill, which would secure to the poor privileges for obtaining fuel which they did not now possess. Mr. J. JONES supported the Bill upon its own merits. He did not know Mr. Watts even by sight. Mr. WARBURTON suggested to the Hon. Member to delay the second reading of the Bill, in order that the 11-inse might ascertain what were the feelings and wishes of the parties interested. Lord G. SOMERSET supported the Bill. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL was anxious that the Bill should be read a second time. Mr. BARN EBY could not consent to the postpone ment of the W.ll. Mr. WIL LIA NIS thought the least the House could do was to agree to the suggestion of the Hon. Member for Bridport, and afford time to ascertain the wishes of :Al pasties resident in the parish. He believed the Bill would promote solely the interests of Mr. Watt to the great prejudice and detriment of the poor of the parish. Sir E. WILMOT said, these persons fancying they bad certain rights, had been guilty of great violations of the law, lie maintained this Bill instead of being a benefit to the rich to the prejudice of the poor, was solely for the benefit of the latter. Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but the House did not divide, the amendment being withdrawn. The Bill was then read a second time. _ _ Lord J. STUART brc;l;t up the Report of the Committee on the Ayr Water Works. Mr. HOSKINS presented a petition from the Great Western Railway Company, praying to be heard by coun sel against the Birmingham and Thames Junction Railway. On the motion of Capt. BOLDER 3, Kolman's Patents' Bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed. Mr. A. BROOKE presented petitions from Roscom mon in favour of the Irish Registration Bill. Mr. WYNN ELLIS presented a petition from a parish in Leicester against any grant of public money for Church Extension. Colonel CONOLLY presented petitions from the county of Down against the importation of foreign flour into Ireland. Sir R. B ATE SON preLented a petition from the county of Londonderry in favour of the Irish Registration Bill. Mr. F. FRENCH presented a petition from the county of Roscommon against the Irish Registration Bill ; also a petition from the Guardians of the Poor-law Union of Roscommon, unanimously agreed to by the Board, praying for an amendment of that part of the Irish Poor-law Act which gave the Commissioners absolute and unlimited power over the Board of Guardians, and praying that the Commissioners may not have the power of imposing and levying rates in opposition to the wishes of the Board of Guardians, and also that all disputes between the Board of Guardians and the Commissioners might be settled by the Judges of Assize, and that the proceedings of the Board of Guardians might be made public if the Board thought fit. Mr. VIGORS presented a petition from Carlow against the opium trade: also a petition from Surrey in favour of a total repeal of the Corn-laws, (as we understood. ) Sir R. INGLIS presented several petitioners praying for Church Extension ; also a petition from some place in the county of Gloucester, against any further grant to the College of Maynooth% also a petition from the Dean and Chapter of Chichester, against any reduction in the estab blishment of their Cathedral. Mr. BETHELL gave notice that when the Huwe went into Committee on the Poor-law Amendment Act, he would move certain clauses by way of amendment. THE MILLION FUND. Mr. SHAW wished to ask the Noble Lord the Secre tary for Ireland a question which related to the Irish clergy. The Noble Lord was aware that in the year 1833 the Million Act was passed in favour of that body. About 640,0001. of the sum had been drawn by the Irish Clergy ; and in the year 1836, by the 6th and 7th of King William the Fourth, 100,000/. out of the million was advanced to the Board of Works in Ireland. In 1838, when the Act had passed regulating the payment in Ireland, a balance of 260,000/. was directed to be applied to the payment of the arrears due on the Irish tithes; and at the same time it was stated that the Irish tithe-owners might expect a payment of 70 per cent. on the arrears due to them. Thirty per cent. was all they received; and he would ask the Noble Lord whether there was any reasonable prospect of the arrears being paid over. He also wished to ask the Noble ' Lord whether he was aware that a sum of 100,0001. lent to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in Ireland might be expected to be paid, or whether there was any pros pect of its being restored to its original purpose. Lord MO RPET H said 640,0001. had been applied under the Million Act for the payment of the incomes of the Irish Clergy in 1831, 1832, 1833. In 1836, 100,0001. was applied by the House for the promotion of public works in Ireland, theßoard having previously lent 100,000/. to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to meet the deficiency in the vestry cess, at the passing of the Church Tetnporalities Act. 260,0001. had been applied to the further relief of the clergy in 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837; but it would not be in the power of the Government to apply any more without fresh Parliamentary powers; for which the Government did not mean to ask, though they would be glad if they now possessed them. As to the 100,000/. lent to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, it had not yet, though re peated applications had been made, been repaid. POSTAGE. Lord NO RRE YS asked, if it were true that there was an intention of issuing a new Treasury minute as to postage stamps ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had not heard of it, and be supposed he should have heard of it had such an intention been BUDGET entertained. THE . The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having d the order of the day f or the House resolvin g itself into Triove a Committee, of the w hole House, of Whys and 111eans, the House accordingly resolved into the said Committee, Mr. Bernal in the chair. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then said,—Sir, in laying before the House the financial state ment, which it is my duty to give, I propose to foll ow the course which has been usual upon these occa sions, and which is dictated not less by the nature of the subject than by custom, first to state to the House the income and expenditure of the past year, and then lay before the House the estimated expenditure for the current year, and detail the expectation I entertain as to the product of the revenue as it now stands Having compared the estimate of the expenses with the estimate of the income as it now stands, it will then be ni) duty WEDNESDAY, Match, once round. Mr. Braun's Black Bess, 9st (Jarman, jun. ), beat Mr. Snodgrass's Devonshire Lass, I Ist 71b (bolted). The Lyneham Stakes of 5 sous. each, 2 ft. Once round and a distance. Gents riders. Fifty-two subs. Mr. E. Scobell's b c Cracksman, 4 yrs, I Ist 71b (Owner) 1 2 1 Sir W. Carew'a hr g, by Eden, dam by Rubens, 5 3 rs, 12st llb Mr. John Hex's bl g, The Moor (h b), aged, 12st 61b '2 4 3 Sir W. Trelawney's b g Chartist, aged, Ilst 91b Mr. I'. W. Parrott's eh g St. Patrick, 5 yrs, I2st 11b 3 5 dr The first heat was well contested by the Moor, the second was won cleverly, and the third easily. Handicap Plate of 501. Heats once round. Gen. Gilbert's ch h Passport, 5 yrs, lOst 111 b (Kingslard) 1 1 Mr. Taunton's bk f, by Actaeon out of Peri, 3 yrs, Sst 131 b Mr. Parrott's St. Patrick, 5 yrs, 9st 121 b Mr. C. Trelawney's bf by Hindostan, out of Frederica, _ . 3 yrs, 7st 21b Mr. Read's ch f Parazade, 3 yrs, 7st 9:b.. Won by a neck. The Hurdle Race Stakes of 3 sous. each, and 15 added. Mile heats. 3 dr. 4 dr. Mr. Kennedy's ch g, aged, 12st (Owner) 3 3 1 1 Mr. Down's Rory O'Nfore, 12st 91b Capt. Weir's Olympic, aged, 12st 31b Three others started. A good race. BEVERLEY RACES.—WEDNEsnay. The Produce Stakes of 13 sovs, each, h ft, for three-yr-old colts, Bst 51b ; fillies and geldings, Bst 21b ; those by un tried horses or out of untried mares allowed Sib. One mile. (5 Subs. ) Mr. Catton's b c The Genius, by Falcon Wetherell 1 Mr. Simpson's ch f Insane Mr. Oxley's br c, by the Grand Duke Michael Won easy. The Two-yr-old Stakes of 20 sovs. each, li ft, T. Y. C. (5 Subs.) Wormald's ch c Millepede, Bst 51b S. King's eh f Artful, Bst 2113 Simpson's ch f The Chaldean Princess, Sst 21b G. G. Richardson's b e Silstron, Sst 51b 4 ' Won by two lengths. The Beverley Stakes of 7 sovs. each, 5 ft, with 25 added. Once round and a distance:, Gents riders. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Ileslet int) 1 Col; Thompson's b h Hamlo,6 yrs, -1 Ist 71b Owner 1 Mr. J. Sitnpson's ch h Tormentor, 5 yrs, 1 Ist 31b 2 Mr. J. Peck's b h Tilworth, 5 yrs, 1 Ist 31b Mischief and three oiheis started. A good race. A Plate of 501. given by S. L. Fox, Esq., M.P., for horses, &c., that never won 501. at any time ; three-yr-olds, Sst ; four, 9st; five, six, and aged, 9st 71b ; mares and geklino 6 s allowed 31b, and half-bred horses, 71b. Heats, one mile and a quarter. Mr. Richardson's ch cby Robin Hood, 3 yrs ... 2 0 1 1 Mr. J. Catton's b c The Genius, 3 yrs .. 1 0 2 2 Mr. J. Hobson's b c Fitzwilliam (11 b), 4 yrs ... 0 1 3 dr Mr. Harker's gr c Colchicum, 4 yrs Mr. Marfleet's b c May Boy, 3 yrs SHIFNAL RACES.-THURSDAY. Sweepstakes of 5 sows. each, with 40 added from the fund. Twice round and a dis. Three subs. Mr. Mr. Mr. The Collett's The Dean, 4 yrs, Bst 21b ...(Whitehouse) 1 L.cey's b c Adbolton, 3 yrs, 7st Mb 2 Collins's b g Catamaran, aged, Bst 111 b South Shropshire Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added. Mile and half heats. Mr. Collett's b m Tivy, 4 yrs, 9st (Whitehouse) 1 1 Mr. Moss's bin Frailty, 5 yrs, 9st 3 2 Mr. Lacey's b c Adbolton, 3 yrs, ist 121 b 2 3 Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added ; twice round. Mr. Wadlow's Woodbine, 5 yrs, 9st 131 b (owner), came in first for the 2d and 3d heats ; but having " run out," the race was given to ,11r. Jones's Gorse-bush, 6 yrs, lOst 31b (Marlow). THE CUCKOO AND SPARROW. TO THE EDITOR OF TH.ESUN. your paper of the Bth inst., I perceive that you have copied a paragraph from the Aylesbury News on the utility of the cuckoo as a destroyer of sparrows; and as I deem it a very erroneous one, allow me to request the insertion of a correction of it. The cuckoo is no doubt a harmless if not a useful bird —it destroys great quantities of caterpillars—but certainly this is the first time I ever heard it was a destroyer of the young of the house sparrow, and I assert that a cuckoo's egg was never found in the nest of a house-sparrow by anybody living; and, therefore, if I am correct, the calcu lation (on what data it is founded I don't know) that it destroys 3,479,325 young sparrows every year, falls to the ground. The fact is that it occasionally lays its egg in the nest of the hedge-sparrow —acceptor modularis of Cuvier—but it is a warbler, and no more a true sparrow than a woodcock is a cock or a moorhen is a her, ; and so far is it from being► a destructive bird, that it does not de stroy either grain, fruit, or flowers; and there is not in reality a more harmless bird in the country. Then again, supposing the writer to be correct in the number of young birds destroyed annually by the cuckoo, he is very much wrong when he supposes them all to be sparrows—even hedge-sparrows—for as far as this neighbourhood may be taken as a proof, I will venture to say, that for one cuckoo's egg found in the nests of the hedge-sparrow, half a dozen are found in those of the titlark ; and they are also °cc:, sionally found in that of the pied wagtail ; but certainly never in that of the house-sparrow or any other hard-billed or grain-eating bird. The Sun is not a Magazine of Natural History. The whole paragraph is perhaps too absurd to require contra diction through any medium ; but es a knowledge of the truth is desirable even in small matters, and as the hedge sparrow, from its inoffensive habits, is a favourite of mine, I did not like it to be falsely slandered without saying a word in its behalf.—l am, Sir, Clitheroe, May 12. A LOVER OF BIRDS. [ As we have been made the innocent means of slander ing a favourite of our correspondent, we think it only fair to insert the defence.] AMERICAN SCULPTORS in ITALY. For the following interesting intelligence in regard to American sculptors and sculpture in Italy, we are in debted to a private letter from an American gentleman now travelling in Europe, whose opinion on works of art and taste we highly estimate, from a personal know ledge of its value. " Our friend Greenough will have his great work, the statue of Washington, finished by summer. It is an immense work, eight times larger than life. The block of marble originally weighed 130,000 pounds ; and the statue when completed will weigh some 25 or 30 tons. Greenough is doing many pretty things for his countrymen. A head of Clay for his son-in-law, Mr. Irwin, is nearly finished ; the likeness of it pe!fect, and tile sculpture superb. One of these he has made before. A Venus that he is executing for Mr. Lowell, of Bos ton, is exquisite, and two pieces cf great beauty he is engaged upon for a lady in New Haven. Greenough now deservedly ranks among the first—if not at the very head of modern sculptors, who, in my opinion, in beauty of execution at least, equal, if they do not sur pass, the ancients Powers, from Cincinnati, has astonished all Italy with his heads, and Italians of the best and most prac tised taste have declared to a friend of mine, that they have never seen any equal to them. He has heads, finished or finishing, of several of our distinguished men—Baldwin, the engineer, M'Duffie, Calhoun, Web ster, and others ; the likenesses true to the smallest wrinkles, and beautifully sculptured. Indeed, this Powers has aroused all the sculptors of Italy, or, as a distinguished friend of mine remarked the other day— waked them up to put forth all their might and skill to keep within calling distance of him. This strife for perfection in this noble art is producing the happiest re sults."—Ameriean Paper. FRENCH AND ENGLISH CUSTOMS' DUTIES. —The French Ministerial Evening Journal, the Messager, states that the French and English Commissioners for the re duction of the customs' duties between the two countries are occupying themselves with activity in the accomplishment of their important mission ; and that in a short time the result of their labours will be made public. The Presse asserts that the following are among some of the po:nts already agreed upon by the Commissioners :—The duty on linen cloths and yarns im ported into France from England to be increased, but the pro hibition against English cutlery, and the finer kinds of hard ware, the coarser kinds of English pottery, various woollen articles, and several minor objects of ordinary consumption to he taken off. England, on the other hand, is to admit of a duty of 25 per cent., instead of 30 per cent., all toys, articles of what is commonlyt, called Parisian manufacture, watches and clocks, and paper-hangings : she is also to reduce the duty on French wines from ss. 6d. per gallon to 25., and that on brandies from 225. to 14s. "If this be effected," adds the Presse," the import duty on wine paid in England will be only 6 or 8 sous a bottle, and good yin ordinaire may then be pur chased in England at If. 25c., or If. 50c. the bottle." Last evening an :Inquest was held before Mr. Higgs, at the Exeter Arms, Burleigh-street, Strand, on the body of the Rev. William Lowfield Fancourt, ,D. D., Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester, aged seventy-five, who died suddenly on Wednesday, in Exeter Hall, at a meeting of the Protestant As sociaticn. Mr. Brooke, a surgeon, was of opinion that de ceased died of affection of the heart, to which, from external appearances, he judged him predisposed, and the atmosphere of a crowded room would augment any such predisposition. A juror said that he had heard many persons complain of the de fective ventilation of the great room, Exeter Hall. Verdict, " Died by the visitation of God." ALMACK'S.—A grand re-union of the beau monde took place at the Almack's ball on Wednesday evening, it being the third or last of the first series. Her Majesty's ball being full late on Monday, the Duchess of Argyll also having had a ball en the Tuesday, and the knoWledge that many fair ones were determined to rest for the Drawing-room, caused us an agreeable surprise to :find so brilliant an assemblage. By an old rule, the doors of Almack's are closed at midnight • this is rarely infringed upon, but . so fine is it d rawn tha t you may enter the room at hall-past eleven and find not a score of souls assembled, all and every one arriving between this hour and twelve , to effect which there are two doors of entrance. By the resignation of Lady Eust on t h e number of Ladies Patronesses is incomplete. ; the Alarchioness of Abercorn and Countess of Jersey were of course a b sent, being closely connected with the house of B e df ord ; but the Noble Marchioness of Londonderry, glittering in brilliants, and the Viscountess Palmerston were present, as was the Countess of Lichfield. The Countess of Brownlow, who has been absent from town these two seasons from ill he a l t h, is, we hear, expected back shortly ; !here will then be four Ladies Patronesses who are constantly in attendance, th e young Mar chioness of Abercorn and L ad y 11 illoughby d'Eresby never having been in the habit of o ften honouring the balls with their presence. We observed among the dancers several who could say it w as their first Almack s—several of the fair debutantes of the season. The ball was kept up with much animation until three in the morning. FOREIGN THEATRES. The Legislative Chambers of Saxony have voted a large sum for the building of a new theatre at Dresden. In Hungary the opera is at tended with great success. There are six theatres at Pesth and Baden ; at Taufkirchen a theatre has been built which can contain 1,500 persons ; at Temeswar a second theatre has been erected, in which only operas and ballets are to b e per f ormed ; at Miscoley, a small town near .Tokay, the right w i ng o f the Town House has been converted into a theatre, and is to be • ! used as such until the town shall vote a sum for the erection of • . one ; even the little town of Agram, in Croatia, has a fine theatre, in which both operas and dramas are performed. to explain to the House those measures which her Ma jesty's Government are prepared to recommend for the adcption of the House. lam well aware, Sir, that I may have to appeal to the ind u l gence o f the House, as in order, to elucidate my subject I shall have to refer to figures which will render a subject, naturally intricate, still more tedious and uninteresting. With a view of as much as possible saving the time of the House, I have had printed and laid on the table of the House such figures as I shall have to refer to with reference to the past year ; and if Honourable Members will refer to the papers which have been delivered this morning, they will see the details of the income and expenditure of the past year. It will not, therefore, be necessary for me to go into minute details of the produce of the Customs and Excise ; but I will .Mate the ordinary income for the year ending 6th April 1840, which amounts to 47.685,0001., and if we add to that the payment by the East India Company of 1e1,0001., the total income will be 47,836,0001., the expenditure stands thus. Indeed, this appears upon the printed returns, and, therefore, I shall not trouble the House with it. The sum total under the different beads for the charge of the debt was 29,439,0001. The other charges in the conso lidated fund amounted to 2,410,000/., making a total charge upon the consolidated fund of 31,849,0001. The whole grants, with one or two trifles which it is not necessary to detail to the House, amount to 17,451,000/ n making the total expenditure of the year 49,300,0001, leaving nut the small figures. There is therefare in the income, as compared with the expen diture as it appears by these returns, a deficiency of 1,457,000/. This is, undoubtedly, evidence of a defi ciency of income, as compared with the actual expendi ture, but I should hardly have thought it necessary to explain that this is not the actual deficiency in the income as compared to the expenditure had not a different opinion been entertained in some quer ers. But there was a case when my Noble Friend opened his Budget last year, and, as the House is aware, provision was made for the deficiency that was then contemplated. There was a vote of Exchequer Bills, amounting to 1,000,0001., and in looking at the actual sum pro vided for, this vote of Exchequer Bills must be deducted; that reduces the balance to 457.000/. ; but that is not en tirely all—there appears in the miscellaneous charges a charge whiCh is very properly inserted asareiexpenditure— itrelates to aSubject which the Hon. Member for Dublin has asked a question upon from the Noble Lord the Secretary ' for Ireland. In the course of last year there was a sum of 260,0001., within thirty-eight or so, which it was deter mined should be applied to the payment of the clergy in Ireland, and which was issued in Exchequer bills ; and together with those other Exchequer bills, 5,000,000/. in amount, which were funded under an Act passed by my Noble Friend who was then Chancellor of the Ex chequer, that sum of 260,000/. was provided for by the funding of those Exchequer Bills, and which, being de ducted, leaves a balance unprovidcd for daring the year of 197,000/. I have thought it necessary to make these explanations, because I have seen that these balances have been much misunderstood in other quarters, but that sum is all that remains un provided for, and which the House must meet. Now, Sir, having very shortly, and without going into the de tails, put the House in possession of the whole of the expenditure, I think it will be but just both to the House, and to my Noble Friend, my predecessor, that I should compare the estimates made by him when he opened his financial statement last year, and the results as they now appear in the paper which is in the hands of the Honourable Members. That statement was made in July 1839, and the estimate then made was not made by him, but was called for and printed. The in come was then estimated at 48,128,0001. and the expenditure, including the million estimated as the extra expense for Canada, was 48,988,000/., and the deficiency at that time calculated upon was 860,000/. There was afterwards in the course of the Session, a further supplemental vote for the army of 75,000/., making the whole estimated deficiency amount to 935,0001. The actual amount of the defici ency. however, was not 935,000/ , but 1,447,000/., but deducting front that deficiency the sum of 260,000/., to which I have already alluded, which was not properly charged upon the I ear, reduces that deficiency to the sum of 1,197.000/., but it must be borne in mind that my Noble Friend made no calculation as to the deficiency in the postage, the reduction upon which was 947,000/., so that the only difference between my Noble Friend's calculation was 12,000/. Now, Sir, having made this statement of the expenditure and income of last year, and compared the calculation of my Noble Friend with the result of the year, I now proceed to deal with the more immediate subject of consideration— the expectations of expenditure and income of the cur. era year. I shall first state those sums for which provision must be made for expenditure. The interest on the debt charged on the Consolidated Fund amounts to 29 443,0004, the other charges on the Consolidated Fund amount to 2,434,000/., making the total charge on the Consolidated Fund amount to 31,877,000/. The vote for the army, which has already received the sanction of the House, is 6,600,0001. ; for the Navy, 5,659,000/. ; for the Ordnance, 1,885,000/ ; for the miscella neous estimates, some part of which have been voted, 2,736,000/. The grans for the year, therefore, so far as appears before the House, amount to 70,055,0001. Of those su:ns, those which have already appeared, and are voted by the House, amount to 48,757,000/. There are, however, some items of expenditure which it will be tie ucssary for me to state to the I louse, end make allowance for in the calculation I am about to submit. The House will remember that in the early part of the Session,when my Hon. Friend the Secretary of the Admiralty moved the Navy Estimates, a question was asked respecting the discrepancy which existed between the number of men and the sum stated, and my Noble Friend the Secretary for the Colonies stated there was some discrepancy, and stated it was not impossible that a further sum might be required to make the force amount to that which the House had voted. and in that view it will be necessary for my Honourable Friend to submit to the House a vote for that purpose to the amount of 100,000/.—( Hear.) There is another expenditure for which the House mu.,t be prepared. The House is aware that the Commission which was appointed, and which, in consequence of re peated motions in this House, her Majesty was advised to issue, the Military and Naval Commission, has made its Report, and it is the intention of her Majesty's Govere ment to advise her Majesty to adopt the suggestions of that Commission ( Hear, hear.) To meet that, it will be necessary to le,ve a vote of this House. I have placed the amount in one sum, and the amount I shall take this year to meet additional expenses is 75,000/. The vote for Canada I shall also have to submit this year to the House. I have brought forward the estimates earlier than my Noble friend in a former year. I did so very soon after the sth of April. I have some difficulty in making myself sale upon this vote, but I have been desirous to name a sum which I think might be voted by the House, and which. at the same time, would fairly meet the expen diture of the Canades.—( lieu-, hear.) I have endeavoured to take care not to name too large a sum nor ' to attempt to reduce the estimate below what I thought would be required.—( Hear, hear.) The sum I shall take for Canada will amount to 350,0001. The vote of last year was 1,000,000/., and the former vote was 500,000/ This year I propose to take 350,000/,—( Hear.) The Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Cambridge (and this is the last item I shall have to make to the House), put to me on a former occasion a question with regard to the expenses of the China Com mission. The House is quite aware of the arrangement, but which is not a new arrangement, that has been made between her Majesty's Government and the Government of India. The extra expenditure which may be necessary for this expedition will be charged on her Majesty's Go vernment. The sum will be advanced by the Govern ment in India, and repayments will take place of that, which on examination of accounts, shall be shown to be the extra expenditure occasioned by the expedition. Upon former occasions, I believe, a vote was not taken specifically ; and in the case of Java and the Mauritius, where that course was pursued, the sums were repaid after a certain time, and no specific vote was taken. But, Sir, I admit that both for the satisfaction of the House and in a constitutional point of view, it is much better that the subject should come in the shape of an estimate before the House, and that a sum should be taken in order to show that at any rate the subject has been under the considera tion of the House.—( Hoar.) It does not appear to me to be a regular mode of proceeding, that we should employ an army in China, without the subject ever having been men tioned in the House of Commons. I therefore propose to take an estimate on that account—to take a vote on ac count of the expedition. To make an estimate of the expedition is not so easy—( Loud cries of " Hear, hear," from the Opposition benches)—because it is is not possible for me to calculate the length of time during which that expedition may continue. 1 have the means of laying on the table of the House, so far as I am able to ascertain from India, the rate of expenditure at which that expedition will be charged to this country, but I have not estimated, nor can any human wisdom estimate, whether that expedition will last for one period or another. I have made an estimate of the expense in India. Ido not mean to impute anything like unfairness to the East 1 India Company, but we are all aware of the great ex penses attending any expedition in India. I will, however, state what was the amount estimated as the expense of the preparation of the expedition up to Ist May, 1840, Th e amount was up to Ist May 54,000/.; taking this as the rate of expenditure of the expedition, it will appear that if the expedition should last six months from May 1, the expen diture, in addition, will amount to 162,000/., making the total cost of the expedition amount to 216,000/. Sup posing it should last eight months, the amount would be 216,000/. But as in the estimate presented bq the East India Company I see some items charged, which it seems to me will not be increased by the expedition, even if it should last that time, as certain items are charged which it appears to me wilrnot be needed by the expendi ture. Ido not propose to a s k t h at sum of the Hous, but to ask for a vote of 150,0001. on account of the expedition to China—J, Hear, hear, hear)—which will defray all the expenses incurred by the expedition up to the Ist of May, 1840, leaving a balance of 100,0001. to meet the current expenses of the expedition, to be paid after the accounts of the East India Company shall have undergone an examination.—( Cheers.) I will now re state the estimated expenses of the current amount of the interest o n y ea r :—The the debt, and the other charges on the Consolidated Fund, will amount to 31,849,000/. The expenses of the Army, Navy, and Ordnance, will amount to 16,908,000/. The additional estimate for the Navy amounts to 100,000/. ; the Naval and Military Cons - mission, 75,000/. ; the expenses in Canada, 350,000/. ; the expenses of the China expedition, 150,0001, mak ing ~ the estimated expenditure of the current y ear 49,4.'2,000/. Sir, I now come to the expectation which I entertain of the revenue at this moment at the disposal of the House. I mean that which we may expect to receive at the present moment supposing the taxation was altered. And here, I must admit, that 1 labour un der a difficulty which nobody ever laboured under before in the office which I have the honour to fill.._ (Hear, hear, hear.) I sec, from the smile upon the coun t tenance of the Right lion. Gentleman opposite, th e Member for Harwich, (Mr. iferries), that he well knows to what I allude.—( Hear.) What the value of that vote has been—what good the country has derived from it,— I EVENING EDITION. am as yet unacquainted with it.--( Hear, hear, hear.) The personal inconvenience it has occasioned to myself, of. course I should regard with indifference; but as respects the public service, it places me in this inconvenient pool tition that it is my duty to discuss now--not in my own office—not as ought to be the cave, the Chancellor of the Exchequer discussing with the heads of the various depart ments the estimate of the Revenue—but I have to come be fore you in this public manner and state what I consider the amount upon estimates which I, as Chancellor of the Exche quer, did not see.--( Hear.) This is a most inconvenient proceeding.—.( Hear, hear)—at the same time I trust the House will bear with me patiently in struggling with this difficulty, which is not of my seeking—( Hear)—but it is my duty to lay before you that estimate which I am pre pared to be responsible for, and I cannot feel myself jus tified in shrinking from that duty by any return which has been laid upon the table, I think most improperly.— ( Loud cries of " Hear.") Sir,'l beg to he understood. In the fist place, it is well known that the parties at the head of the revenue departments naturally feel a satisfac tion if in course of making the estimate for the next year they find that they have understated it.— But I would beg of the House to consider that when you have the estimates from four different departments, each department calculates the risk, hut not the expecta tion. Take one case. It is an old Treasary rule, which I heard first from a Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, that, as regards the Corn-duty and the Malt-duty, they were looked on as balancing one another ; that if there is a bad corn year, you receive the revenue in the shape of the corn, which falls off in your malt.---( Hear. ) But if it were a good corn year you cease to receive a re venue in the shape of a corn-tax, but if the malt duty in creased, it naturally followed that you would not receive the same amount of duty as in the former yeer. But, on the other hand, the Excise by no means estimates what sort of season you might have, but finding a certain amount to have been received in the last year, they take no account of the addition which might arise in the malt duty. Aed. betweru these two stools I lose that part of the income, which is a fluctuating income between the duties on corn and malt. lamby no means complaining of these gentlemen; I know how painful the task was which was imposed on them by their office.—( Hear, hear, hear.) We have already passed a quarter of a year for which they estimated. The Right Hon. Gentleman opposite called for estimates from the sth of January, 1840, to the sth of January, 1841, as compared with the former leas—. re:.t the financial year,, but the actual year, which would be from the sth of April. 1 have now the means of guessing whether the impression which I enter tained—not impression, but, in fact, conviction, of a cal culatiori more favourable than that which was estimated by the departments. I have now the means of guessing whether the impression on my mind is not justified by the actual result. I hold in my hand the return of the last quarter ending the sth of April, 1840, - iss compared well the corresponding quarter of the last year. In the quarter ending the sth of April, 1830, the Cup tems, Excise, Stamps, and Taxes, amount to 8,069,0013/. In the same sources of revenue in the quarter ending sth of April, 1840, 'the returns show 8,339,0004 ( Cheers)—being an increase in these tour sources of revenue—not as calculated of 400,000/. on the year, but of 270,000/. or. the quarter.—( Hear.) And it includes the whole of the Revenue, Post-office and all.—( Hear.) In the estimate which goes by the name of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, as a memorial of his exertious, there is calculated a loss of 1,470,0001. ; but in the first quarter instead of the deficiency being at that rate, in cluding the Post-Office and ail, it amounts to the enormous loss of 2631.—( Cheers and loud laughter.) I know the Right lion. Gentleman did not calculate upon that result.—( Hear, and a laugh.) I admit that it was difficult, if not impossible, at the time to make an accurate calculation; bit theme are other reasons which induce me to take a more favourable view of the income than that laid ups , n the table in answer to the motion of the Right Honourable Gentleman. I am now about, Si -, to place before the House a deficient reve nue, and I ant about to call upon the House to take thoio measures which I consider absolutely neces sary to give stability to the revenue of this country, and to its financial position. In so doing, I feel it my duty not to take undoubtedly an unsanguine view of our re sources ; but, on the other hand, when I am about to in crease the l.urdens of the people, it is not to be framed upon ate estimate which may have been laid upon the table, uor is it because I may have been frightened by any set of figures from whatever quarter it come, that I should be justified in asking that more burdens shoul-J be laid upon the country than I consider are absolutely neces sary. Therefore, I do not conceal from the House that if it were possible that this was a case where I had to take off a duty, it might be that, as a measure of caution, I might take these estimates, and act upon them, being perfectly sure that if the reduction did not take place this year, it would in the next, and that there would be a mere postponement of the boon. But when I come to deal with it the other way, and levy burd e ns on th e peop l e , I t hi n k t hi s House and the Minister of the Crown is bound to bring before it, not what he considers the probable revenge but that which is a fair estimate, and which might be considered such as a practical man would go upon. Ou the , c grounds, Sir, I shall be prepared to take the amount of the revenue for the future year from the four great sources of revenue, Customs. Excise, Stamps, and Testes, at the same amount as it was during the last year. Looking at the conditioa of the country, and having communicated with the various departments. I do not see sufficient grounds which would juntify me in supposing that in the course of the next year the sources of revenue are likely to exceed the amount of last year.--( Hear, hear.) With regard to the Post-office, I propose to take the estimate given in by the Post-office authorities. I consider that now e c have had some experience in the working of the new system, I may take a more sanguine view of the subject tits', the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite, who told me the Post -o ffice was not paying its way. I say, Sir, that I take a more sanguine view than that; at the same time I do no see any sufficient reasons to alter the statements sent in by the Post-office authorities for the current year. My expectation always has been that at the first commencement there would be a con siderable temporary increase of the correspondence, but that when the honey-moon was over--( Hear, hear, and a laugh)—it would drop back to the common practical habit of ;ffe, and that afterwards there would be a turn, and a steady and continued increase. Ido not believe that the estimate of the Post-office authorities was at all overrated. I believe, therefore, as far as we have hitherto gone, it is not to be considered as an unfavourable result, and that the estimate of 530,0001., wh!ch has been checked by others more sanguine than myself, is a fair esti mate to lay before the Huse, for I think I see already the turn which I expected. The amount, therefore, taking the Customs, Excise, Stamps., and Taxes, I think we may put at the amount received last year. The Post-office, as I have said, 530,000/. ; Crown Lat,ds,l07,000/. ; whole amount of our estimated income is 47,034,0001. I think, however, I am here bound in justice not to conceal from the House that there may be a deduction arising from circumstances with which the House is acquainted The House is aware that so late as the psriod when Earl Grey was at the head of the Govern ment, negotiations were making for a commercial treaty wi!li France, and that my Honourable Friend the President of the Board of Trade arrived in Paris, hoping to carry that treaty into effect, but that negotiation failed ; but negotiations are now go. ing forward, which are likely to be attended with a more favourable result titan those which have been hitherto attempted.—( Hear, hear.) The House must not expect that we can obtain markets for the products of our own industry without en the other hand giving foreign countries a corresponding advantage.--( Hear. ) It is not my duty, but on the contrary it is right I should avoid going into details of negotiations now going forward; but at the same tin c, when laying before the House what income is expected during a future year, I think it would not be fair if I deceived them with an expectation that the Commercial Treaty, if carried into effect, would not produce an effect on the revenue. It is impossible accurately to state what deficiency that might cause, but I have taker, it in my calculations at 300,0001. There is another point, Sir, of a very small character, but but it one which if the House will suriction a measure which I intend tr. recommend, although little, a ill amount to some thing, it is vary small, but it relates to a class of persons who through no fault of their own are placed in a situation of considerable difficulty and distress. I allude to the pest masters.—( Cheers.) I ant afraid that when lion. Gen tlemen are made aware how small the boon I intend to give is they will not receive it with such acclama tion. These gentlemen have represented to me that they are in this state. They are obliged for the accom modation of the public to keep post-chaises ar.d carriages, for which they receive little remuneration, but for which, they are heavily taxed, and they represented to me, that by a reduction of the duties imposed upon them, they might look to the opening of fresh lines of communication for compensa tion. le that sense only, Sir, I have been enabled to propose that in place of those duties-51. 3s. upon Hackney ear ' ri iges, 41. 10, , . upon four-wheeled carriages, and 3/. upon those with two wheels, let cut for hire, I intend to pro pose that in future the duty should he 3/. upon each class. I am aware, Sir, that is a very small re duction, but it is as much as I in the present cir cumstances dare propose. Deducting the 300,000 1 - and making allowance for the proposed reduction, that will re duce the expected income to 46,700,000/. upon whicb'the Muse may rely in the course of the present year. The expenditure which I have already at stated It, at t 40,43 4 000/ , and the income, as . l have now VI, - 00, 000/ leaves a deficiency of 2,73.2,0001. estimated a o r t ed pre t; ) a pre pared—her h expenditure er M o a s i T e r sty i , n s con G ie o . vermu N e o n w t , ar S e i rl am n not prep re commend to Parliament to provide for this deficiency by are new system of loan. So far as that expenditure merelyi of a temporary characte r, i t m i ght be a I s übj ct let your consideration how far it might be temporary means. I admit that you may nedeallt by w ith the question of China, and consider that of Canada as of a temporary character, and it might be proper to meet them by temporary means; but when you find that, after the deduction of the vote of eOO,OOO/. taken for those services, you still lease a deficit of the income on the expen diture of 2,732,000/., I ant not prepared, however disa greeable and unpopular the duty otherwise will be—l am not prepsred to advise Parliament to attempt to make provision for that deficiency, which we must equally ex pect in future years, by temporary means, which would be no other than staving off the evil day. I therefore must now proceed to recommend those mea sures which her Majesty'; Government have decided upon with a view of making up the income of the country fairly equal to the expenditure. la doing so I beg to be understo( d. I sin inclined to think the expense both in Canada and China, is an expenditure of a tempo rary character, and I can place that expenditure, by _the t: proposal I have to make, on a fair footing with rbefrisled, the other items of expenditure ; but I am that if the public affairs continue to go that ont a h s ey l t w ru il. et l there is every reason to expec t in a future year we may not havetich I shall have to pro. In dealing with the measure o call for that expedient. h pose to meet ties deficisney,wl shall begin with stating I t I