The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-28 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS. LIVERPOOL, MONDAY. By the packet•ship Mary Ann, Captain H. Patten, arrived in the Mersey this morning, we have accounts from New York to the 4th, and from Boston to the 6th instant. She brings no specie on freight. El Republicano, published at the capital on the 4th, says—" That a sufficient number of Members had arrived at Queretaro on the Ist of November for the transaction of business. A letter from Queretaro direct announces that Congress had organized on the 2d of November, and that Senor L. Jos Marial Eody, a deputy from Guenaxuato, had been selected presi dent, and Senor D. Jos Marial Hernandes, a deputy from Durango, was elected vice-president." Santa Anna was believed to be secreted at Vera Cruz waiting to escape. There had been a political emeute at Guadalaxara. There had been little doing in foreign exchanges at New York on the 4th. The rates were 9to 1 COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 3. The markets since the Ist have continued very dull, and the business now going forward is extremely light, even for this period of the season, in which there is usually but little doing. The recurrence, too, of mild and rainy weather has suspended the activity in domestic produce noticed in our last. The Erie Canal at last accounts was navigable from Buffalo o Albany. The weather again proved very inclement, and a steady rain fell during the greater part of the day, which interrupted all out-door business. Flour was steady at yesterday's quotations, with a fair amount of sales. Wheat remained about the same, without sales of moment. Corn sold to a moderate extent, at previous rates. Meal continued steady, with considerable sales. Rye sold at yesterday's prices. Oats were somewhat less firm, and sales made on terms slightly in favour of purchasers. Provisions were inactive. Pork was nominally the same, while sales of all kinds were very limited. There was nothing new in groceries. The rain storm prevented sales by auction in the streets. Cotton—The market remains dull, and sales were effected with difficulty. Freights-800 brls. of flour , were engaged for Glasgow, and 500 ditto for Liverpool, at ls. 6d. to each port. It was said 9d. was offered for corn in bulk to Ireland. To London, previous rates con tinued to be demanded. To Antwerp, ashes were taken at 305., while to Havre there was no change. New ORLEANS, Nov. 25.—The 'cotton market is quiet ; prices rule in favour of the buyer. Sugar is without change. Molasses—Sales at 18f to 18i cents, with but little in first hands for sale. Flour is dull at previous prices. Corn—Sales at 44 and 46 cents. In freights we have no new engagements to report. Exchanges—No alteration in previous rates. WEST INDIA MAIL. The Royal Mail steam-ship Trent, Captain Stur dee, arrived at Southampton yesterday, at 9 A.M., and landed her mails, under the charge of the Ad miralty agent, Lieut. Strover, R.N. A telegraphic announcement of her arrival appeared in our edition of yesterday. The Trent was detained three days and a half at St. Thomas's. The delay inher arrival at Southampton—which caused some apprehension —was occasioned by the new route, performed by the Teviot, which left Southampton on the 2d of Nov. The inter-colonial steamer, Conway, was obliged to perform extra service in consequence, and her late arrival prevented the departure of the Trent. The Tay put into Corunna, having been obliged to go direct to St. Thomas's instead of to Bermuda. The mails for Halifax, sent out in the Tay, will be de layed considerably, as there is a steamer waiting at Bermuda to convey the Halifax mails. The dates by the Trent are :—Jamaica, 23d Nov.; Guiana, 17th Nov. ; Trinidad, 20th Nov. ; Barbadoes, 27th Nov.; Grenada, 28th Nov.; St. Lucia, 28th Nov. ; La Guayra, Ist Nov. ; Port-au-Prince, 18th Nov. ; Santiago de Cuba, 17th Nov. ; St. Thomas's, 4th Nov. ; Fayal, 19th Dec. The Trent brings thirty-five passengers, among whom are Colonel Torrens, Major Mackintosh, Cap tain Lord Chewton, Captain Beauclerk, Captain Le Forrestier, &c. The freight consists of 17,000 dollars in bullion and specie ; 1,9701. in British coin ; 451 five-franc pieces ; 11 tierces and 35 casks of coffee ; 26 barrels and 389 bales of pimento ; 177 bales of sarsaparilla ; 5 cases of tortoiseshell; and 53 packages of sundries. JAMAICA.—In this colony the money market was, at the time the mail was dispatched, even more tight than it had previously been. One of the banks had advanced its rate of discount / above its usual rate of 6 per cent., and refused to negotiate bills having more than 60 days to arrive at maturity. Much difficulty was experienced in procuring bills of exchange for remittance by the packet. The Com missary-General, who accepted tenders for f and 1 per cent. premium, was unable to supply more than half the amount tendered for. The Colonial Bank drew at per cent. discount for 90 days, and -I per cent. premium for 60 days, but even from this source the demand for bills was unsatisfied. The Jamaica Bank drew for a very limited sum at 1 per cent. premium for 30 days, and k per cent. premium for 60 days, while the Planters' Bank refused to operate. In the produce market no change had oc curred since the departure of the previous mail. The Legislature was in session, but no business of importance had been transacted during the fortnight which intervened between the sailing of the mail packets. Jamaica had been honoured by a visit from " a crowned head"—the King of the Musquito coast as he is called. His Majesty is a stripling carried about by a Mr. Walker, ex- everything in Honduras, and now an agent of some kind or another for the British Government on the Musquito shore, who has under taken to educate and civilise the young man. The court newsman of the Jamaica press (extemporised for the occasion) chronicled his Majesty's proceedings with due gravity; told how he received and answered addresses from the Legislative Council and House of Assembly ; how he reviewed the militia; how he rode out to take the air and kept his seat, though a run away horse came against him ; how he was present at a performance of the amateur Thespians of King ston, the play being "Rolla," (we presume Pizarro is meant). His Majesty, we regret to state, was ta ken unwell about the time fixed for his departure. " We are happy," says the Dispatch, "however, to be en abled to say that the indisposition is not of a ver y serious nature." It was enough, however, to oblige him to postpone receiving the address of the Council from the 22d of November to the evening of the 23d. Her Majesty's ship Alarm was at Jamaica, destined to convey "his Musquitian Majesty" to Bluefields. The Cornwall Chronicle narrates a piece of inter ference with the coolie labourers on the part of the magistrates of Montego Bay, which looks very like unnecessary and vexatious meddling, and which has the further objectionable feature of appearing to be experimental with a view to similar interference with the negro festivities at Christmas :—" The magistrates having been apprised yesterday that it was the inten tion of the coolies belonging to some properties nigh this town to celebrate some religious festival by pro cession through the streets of the town, a special ses sion of the peace was im mediatel y called and holden at the Court-house at two o'clock, which was nume rously attenced. We are glad to learn that the ma gistrates, one and all, have set their face against the proceeding, and one of the magistrates interested in the properties to which they belong, undertook to in timate the same to these people, and at the same time to advise them to confine their orgies to the pro perties upon which they are located. We trust the same restrictions will be quite as applicable to the Christmas holidays." E. A. Harrison,tEsq., son of the United States Consul at Kingston, died there on the 18th of No vember. He was in his 28th year. He had arrived a few weeks before from New Orleans, in the hope of regaining his health, which had been much im paired. The British and American ensigns were hoisted half-mast on the occasion, and the American vessels in the harbour paid the same mark of respect to their young countryman. The office of provost marshal is, in all our West Indian colonies, one on which devolves duties of great importance, and which appears in all of them to re quire a complete overhauling and ;reform. The pro vost marshal's office in Guiana has been an annual source of Jeremiads ever since we can recollect, and that the Jamaica one is not immaculate will appear from the following comments of the Dispatch, on a petition recently presented to the Legislature by one of the deputy marshals : " The condition of the provost marshal's office has been often made the subject of reprehension ; but no one has ventured as yet to propose any measure which could fairly be considered to strike at the root of those evils of which so much, and often such ex-. aggerated, complaint has been made. Other offices have been inquired into, and their emoluments and their duties have been regulated by judicious enact ments ; but this, the most responsible of them all, retains its primitive condition, and all that Hon. Members have done has been to denounce it. It has been constantly declared, both in and out of the House, that the deputies of the provost-marshal, or the majority of them, are systematically guilty of extortion and every possible form of corruption. It is no part of our duty to relieve them from this charge; that rests upon themselves; but it may be asked, have just and rational means been adopted by the Legislature to keep them honest? Heavy responsi bilities and arduous and expensive duties must be coun terbalanced by a corresponding emolument, or the strong probability is, that recourse will be had to illicit means of making the office support the officer. And if this be the case with the deputies of the provost marshal, as their offices are at present regu lated, how, we ask, can any one be surprised ? We have been generally adverse to the placing of judi cial officers, heretofore paid by fees at the cost of the private suitor, upon the public for remunera tion ; but there are considerations beyond the mere question of economy. The provost-marshal is an indispensable officer, whose responsibilities are of an incalculable nature. His staff of deputies must be maintained under all circumstances, and in all times ; and the safety of the public as well as his own security requires that those deputies should, so far as they can be obtained, be men of character, respectability, and probity. It has been said that one great source of the dishonesty of certain of these deputies has been the rent extracted from them by the provost marshal ; but there is some misconception on this point. The provost-marshal's revenue (inconsiderable as we believe it to be at the present moment) is derived from those rents, which to a much larger amount, were formerly paid by the depu • ties, together with a bonus varying from 5001. to 1,0001., according to the value of particular districts. Business, however, now scarcely yields this revenue to the provost-marshal from the legitimate perquisites of the deputy, and as it were to render the latter still less able to make his office honestly equal to his rent and to his own reasonable subsistence, the house has done its best to reduce his just dues for arduous and costly duties necessarily performed in the discharge of his office, and under heavy penalty in case of default. We have been led to these observations by the perusal of the petition of Mr. A. S. Lyon, which we this day extract from the Votes; and it really seems very difficult to consider the alle gations of this document without arriving at the conclusion that fair play is not done to these officers. We take it to be an universal principle that no public servant should be required to per form duties without remuneration. Now, in what light is the warning of jurors to be held ? It is beyond doubt a public duty, performed by an officer who is unremunerated. If the provost-marshal were a salaried servant of the 'public, pail a given sum, no matter what its amount, for the discharge of the duties which belong to his office, the claim of his deputies for the discharge of a public duty which necessarily devolves on their principal virtute o cif, would be untenable. But the provost-marshal re ceives nothing from the public. He is paid by specific fees for the discharge of specific duties, those fees being payable by private individuals on the exe cution of process issuing at the instance of those indi viduals. The warning of jurors is a public duty not exacted by suitors, but demanded by the exigency of public polity. Why should the officer do that for the public gratuitously which, in the case of ,a private indi vidual, he would be entitled to be paid for ? Nor is this duty a trivial one. Take the petition of Mr. Lyon as an example. Here we find one officer engaged within a district extending over the parishes of Port Royal, St. Andrew, and Kingston, compelled by law to summon various juries for public jurisprudence in these parishes in the course of the year to the number of 1,200. It is not the duty merely, but there is necessarily heavy expenses attending it. Is it com monly just to ask a man to do this—to fine him if he does not do it—and then to refuse to pay him a shil ling from the public revenue, whilst you prohibit the vestries from making him just remuneration ? Why, surely this is holding out a premium for the extortion and the corruption of which so much complaint is made. In some districts the country to be traversed in the service of jury notices cannot fall short offrom four to five hundred square miles. Horses and runners are to be kept for the duty, and the duty is compul sory, but gratuitous. There is real injustice here, and no one can fail to see it. It does not do to throw the blame on the provost-marshal. His office must be kept up, and that can only be done, as things are at present regulated, by the district rents. Whether it would be advisable at once to place the whole estab lishment on a permanent or certain footing ought to, and will no doubt, ere long, become a matter of grave consideration; but, in the meantime, fairness demands a just regard to claims which cannot be denied, and we hope that in taking up Mr. Lyons petition the House will see fit to carry out with respect to the deputies of the provost-marshal generally, the prin ciple that no public officer ought to be required to dis charge public duties without remuneration!' COLONIAL MARKETS. JA M AIC A .—KINGsTosr, Nov. 23.—Tobacco—The market is abundantly supplied with Cavendish, which cannot now command over 7d. per lb. for a large quantity. Some few boxes have changed hands at 71d. per lb. Leaf is worth 625. to 645. per 100 lbs. We have been told of sales of a few hogsheads at the latter quotation. Rum-4s. 10d. per gallon may be considered the full value of this article. The stock is light. Sugar—Continues to sell at 18s. to 21s. per 100 lb. according to quality. Soap— Further additions have been made since our last to the previously excessive stock, but holders do not seem disposed to submit to any reduction of prices. In fact, and notwithstanding the heavy supply on hand, it is anticipated that better rates will be maintained in consequence of recent events in England, and the improbability that future receipts will keep pace with the demand. The sales since the 6th inst. have been 300 boxes Steele's 601bs. double crown 175., and about 2,000 boxes SS 561bs. at 12s. 9d. The latter description is now, however, held for 135., at which price several small parcels have been disposed of. Some parcels of inferior Irish are ineffectually offered at much lower rates than have been previously quoted for that de scription. Candles -600 boxes Cook's and Dourdoure's 6's and 12's to 16's were moved at Sid, with about 130 boxes 10's at 71d. The latter size is not in good re pute. Favourite brands are becoming scarce. Butter—The arrivals of Cork since our last extend to nearly 1,000 firkins, and the market is conse quently affected by the heavy quantity now on hand. The trade refuse to operate at our last quotation (130), but holders appear firm at that rate. No transactions, therefore, of any moment have occurred. Several parcels of American were moved at 10d, but this figure is now unobtainable, in consequence of the heavy supply. For a small lot of Quebec lid per lb. has been obtained. Hams—Prime Lancashire in canvas have been sel ling readily at 100, and out of canvas at Bcl to 90. Inferior in canvas are being moved at very low rates. American may be quoted at 5d to 8d per lb., accord ing to quality. Lumber—The only sale of white pine since our last was that of a cargo from New Brunswick, which was taken from an outport at a figure not permitted to transpire, but which it is supposed was something over 10s. Pitch pine is becoming scarce, and shingles and staves are rather wanted. Codfish—Four cargoes from Halifax and one from Ragged Island have come in since our last, and prices have consequently declined. One of the former car goes, consisting of dry fish alone, was parcelled out at 14s. for casks and 18s. for boxes, but, on the receipts occurring so quickly one after the other, the holder of the Ragged Island cargo submitted to 13s. 6d. for casks and (the quality not being as good as usual) 16s. for boxes. Part of another of the Halifax cargo was then disposed of at 14s. and 18s. for casks and boxes respectively ; while for the entire of the third cargo 12s. 6d. for casks and 17s. for boxes was ac cepted. There is one cargo and part of another yet unsold, for which higher rates than those last quoted are asked. Another vessel from Halifax was tele graphed just as we were going to press. Rice—The 500 bags East India alluded to in our last were parted with (previously to the arrival of another lot of 540 bags) at 235. per 1001bs.—the quality being prime. Of the latter parcel, 100 bags had been engaged before arrival at 205., and the re mainder is now commanding 235. The market con nues bare of Carolina. HAMBURGH. and BRUSSELS MAIL. BRUSSELS, DEC. 26.—The Journal du Commerce contains an official table of the number of emigrants who sailed from the port of Antwerp in the year 1846, the majority of whom went to settle at New York. The number of emigrants in 1843 was 3,179 ; in 1844, 2,861 ; in 1845, 5,223; and in 1846, 13,178. The increase has not been so great this year ; but this ma y partly be attributed to the changes in the legislation of America, and which have greatly aug mented the price of transport. The Moniteur con tains the law which grants to the department of Justice a supplemental credit of 1,219,360 f. 53c. for the expenses of the army in 1846 and 1847. COMMERCIAL IMTELLIGENCE.—BRUSSELS, DEC. 26.—Very little business of any kind was done in the course of last week. About 2,300 bales of coffee were sold, chiefly from the Brazils, St. Domingo, and Java. The corn trade has been rather brisk, about 66 sacks of wheat, and 108 of rye, were brought to market yesterday. The wheat sold quickly at 18 10 to 2l , and rye at 10 15 to 11 15: The prices were almost the same as last week ; the few arrivals of foreign wheat have kept up the prices, and very little has been done in it. Rye, on the con trary, has been much in demand. At the market of Namur, yesterday, the price fell 15 centimes per hectolitre. Barley, on the other hand, was the same price as last week. DORDRECUT, DEC. 23.—1 n consequence of the in terruption in the navigation, there have been scarcely any arrivals of gra in to-da y . Very little business, therefore, was done, and the bargains were chiefly for home consumption. The prices have not varied The weather is now extremely cold. We have had several very heavy falls of Snow. The moats round the fortifications are frozen. BERLIN, DEC. 23.—The Russian Gazette, of this date, contains the principal depositions of the Postal i convention recently concluded between France and Russia. By virtue of this convention prepayment will be permitted in both countries. The postal charges both for letters and journals from one country to the other are considerably reduced. The treaty will come into force on the Ist of January, 1841. , HAMBURGII, DEC. 25.—The frost has now set in in good earnest, and there is a good deal of floating ice. The weather is intensely cold. Provisions from Harburgh are brought over in sledges. The state of our money market is unchanged, and very little was done in foreign securities. Accounts from Stettin, Bremen, Cuxhaven, Gluck stadt, &c., say that there are immense quantities of floating ice, and in some places the rivers are firmly frozen over. NAVIGATION OF THE SLESWIG-HOLSTEIN CANAL IN 1847 TO DEC. 22.—Within the last year 4,172 ships passed through the Sleswig-Holsteen Canal, under the following flags :—Danish, 2,329; Dutch, 681 ; Hanoverian, 840; Oldenburgh, 109 ; Prussian, 31 ; Hamburgh, 35; English, 9; Bremen, 14; Swedish, 94; Russian, 2; French, 12; Meiklenburg, 4; Bel gian, 2 ; Finland, 10—total, 4,172. During the same period 29,140 tons of linseed have been trans ported by the canal ; for England, 3,890 tons; Hol land, 20,143 ; Belgium, 3,305 ; Bremen, 902 ; Altona, 900—total, 29,140. STETTIN, DEC. 22.—Tnn CHOLERA.—Letters just received from Tilsit state that several cases of cholera have appeared there. The disease has assumed a mild form. It is to be hoped that the frost which has since set in may not only prevent its further spread, but may have already arrested its progress. The Archduke Stephen is lying ill at Presburg with the measles. Muracri, Dec. 13.—A report is in very general circulation that it is the intention of his Majesty to associate with himself in the Government the Crown Prince as co-Regent. The departure of Prince Wal lerstein for Warzburg is said to be in connexion with this change.—ficrinburgh Papers, Dec. 24. lIAMBURGII BORSENHALLE, DEC. 21. Bills. Money. kustrian 5 per Cents .• • • lO4 Bank Shares •••. • • . ••••.•.• •• • • • • 1600 Anglo-Russian Loan ••.••••• • • • • • • • • 104% Russian 5 per Cent., Hamb. Certificate. 101% 101 Ditto let series Inscription. • • - • • • • • • • • 101% Ditto, Hope and Co., 3d and 4th ivies • . 95 Ditto, in Certificate • • • • . • • • 95 New 4 per Cent., Hope and Co. ...... 86% Ditto Stieglitz ••••••••.• • • • • • • • • • • 86% 86 Spanish New 5 per Cent •••• • • • • ...... 13 12% Ditte 3 per Cent . • • • • • • • • • 24 23% Anglo-Portuguese Loan, 2% per Cent.• 22 Dutch Actual Debt, 2% per Cent. ••• • • 55 Ditto 3 per Cent. •••• • • • ••• •• • • Polish New 4 per Cent. Loan, 1844.. 79 Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent • • • • 82 81% National Bank 5hare5.......... ••• • • • BELGIAN FUNDS.—Bacsms, Dao. 23. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent ••.• • • ... Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent •• • . . Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent •• • • Ditto Three per Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto • • .. Ditto,clitto,lB46.• ••••• . • . • •• • • 97% Ditto,ditto,lB42.. •. • ................• 97% Ditto, 1844......... •. •• ••• •• 91)i Ditto, 1836... ••..• • • • • • • 89 Ditto, 1838 .. • • .......... ..... Ditto of the City, 1832 •••••• •• • • • • • 99% Bank of Belgium ••.••••••• • • - .• • • • .. 80% Himmel. Papers. Dec. 23. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BiRLIrr, Dzc. 23. Bills. Money. St•Schuld Sch., 3% per Cent •• • 923 £l% Pruss. English Bonds, 1830, 4 per Cent...... — Foreign Exchanges • • • • • • • • • • • • .• • • • • • • • • • • Exchange on London, £1 Sterling, 3 Months 6 27% AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Ymini, Dac. 21. 5 per Cent. Metalliques.• •••••••• • • • • • • • • 104% 4 per Cent.ditto ••• • • • •••••••• • • • • • • • • 92% 3 per Cent. ditto ••.•.-••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • 63 Loan, 1834 ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • 158 Ditto, 1839 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 114% Bank Shares • • • • • • • • • • .. Esterhazy's Loan .... .••• • • . •• •• 62 RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand .......... 158 Gloggnitz • • • • • • ••• • • • •.••••• • • • • • • 114 Vienna—Milan • • • • ...... ••••• • • • • 96% Leghorn ..............................91...• Grosetto •••• • • • • •••• • • • • • •••••• • • • • • • Pesth Bridge .. • • ...... • • • • Apeunineu ••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • .• •• 94% DUTCH FUNDS.—AUSTIEDAN, Die. 24. Money. Bills Actual Debt, 2% per Cent.• ••••• • • • • 551,E 6534 Ditto, 3 per Cent ••••••••• • • • • • • • • • 66% 67% Ditto, 4 per Cent.• ••••••••• • • • • • • • • 85% 86 Amort Syndic, 3% per Cent.. •• • • ..• Commercial Company, 4% per Cent • • 163 163% East India Loan, 4 per Cent • .. Exchange on London, at sight .• ••• • • • 12 10 Two months.• ••••• • • • • • • • 11 97 On Hamburgh, at sight •• .• 35 12 Two months.• ••••••• • • • • •• 34 37 On Paris • .•••••• • • • • • . 56 62 Two months. • • • • • • 56 12 6 27% MURDEROUS ATTACK AT BLACKWELL, SOMERSET. The inhabitants of the usually peaceful villages of Blackwell and West Town were thrown into a state of much excitement, yesterday week, by a report that John Wall, a labouring man, and of most inoffensive character, residing in Blackwell, had been shot whilst standing by his fire-side. Upon inquiries being instituted the intelligence proved to be substan tialy correct. It appears that on the afternoon of Friday, Wall, whose cottage adjoins the main road, was in the act of cooking his dinner (his wife being from home), when his attention was attracted by the breaking of a pane of glass in the window. Upon looking up to discover the cause of this unexpected circumstance he was:horror-stricken to perceive the muzzle of a gun deliberately introduced through the aperture. The contents of the gun were almost instan taneously discharged, and loiged in the poor tnan's thigh. Wall then noticed a fellow coolly looking through the window, evidently in expectation that the shot had taken a fatal effect; but upon being hailed by the wounded man, the ruffian became aware that his mur derous act was not completed, and hastily decamped. Upon the event being made known, proceedings were set on foot for the capture of the party engaged in this infamous transaction, and a lad of about 16 years of age, who, in company with two others, had been seen running in a direction from the cottage with a gun in his hand, was, by the active exertions ofMr. Thomas Day, constable, of Nailsea, taken on the following Monday morning. Upon being confronted with the wounded man, Wall, he identified the prisoner as the person whom he had seen standing at his window after the gun had been discharged. The prisoner, whose name is Charles Manfield, a resident at Nailsea, was subsequently taken before William Coun sell, Esq., a magistrate of the county, when a lad deposed to having seen three young men run ning on the road leading from the cottage, who told him that they had been stealing Christmas boughs from an adjoining orchard, and were fearful of being overtaken by the owner. Manfield admitted to have been one of the parties'present, but said the other two must be caught, as he did not fire the gun. The depositions of Wall and the other witness having been read over, the prisoner was committed to Shepton Mallett gaol to take his trial at the next assizes. We regret to hear that the wounded man still lies in a a Hadi.lous t s h t e a t e s h , o though e n t o r a t d i t h theou n h n o e p r e s s i o d f e h is w rl th eec e roy t v h Pe i rr g ye h e. , there is but little do u bt that the result have proved fatal. T he other bo y s are known to be bad characters, and it is to be hoped they will not escape from justice. It is supposed that had the shot taken a fatal effect, the cottage would have been plundered by these juvenile assassins. We heard yes terday that poor Wall was somewhat better, and that Mr. Massey, his medical attendant, gave hopes of his recovery.—Bristol Mirror. ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITY Socrcrr.—Yesterday the annual general meeting of the subscribers to the above institution was held at the London Tavern, Mr, J. P. Hayward in the chair. The secretary having read the report of the society during the past year, it was unanimously received. It appeared that the society had progressed exceedingly well daring the past year, and the directors had been enabled to increase the amount of the annuities to the full extent allowed by the rules, besides making a considerable addition to the funded stock. It was proposed, at the next election of an nuitants, to make the number to be elected six instead of three, as heretofore. The chairman then stated, that during the past year the directors had thought fit to re vise the rules, and they would then be submitted, in the altered state, to the meeting, subject, of course, to the approbation of the larger meeting, which was to be held in January next. Mr. Heeles said, that before submit ting the altered rules to the meeting he should suggest the (formation of ladies' committees, an auxiliary society, and juvenile committees, for he found that the ladies and the younger branches of families collected more money than any of the committees of men. The Chairman and several other gentlemen objected to the proposal, as it had not been found to answer in those cases where it had been tried; and, besides, ladies of sense would see that it would be more fitting for them to attend to their domestic affairs than to go about begging for a public body. Several alterations in the rules were then read and agreed to. The alterations extended the operations of the society to tradesmen and manufacturers, increased the amount of annuity from 11. 12s. for men to 21. ss. per month, and for women from 11. 4s. to 11. 10s. per month. Various alterations were made as to the number of votes to be allowed, and as to the circumstances which rendered candidates eligible. These alterations were then put generally and carried, subject to confirmation at the next meeting. The officers of the society were then re-elected for the coming year, and a vote of thanks having been given to the chairman, the meeting ad journed. ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS. -- The Liverpool Albion of yesterday says:—" An address to the Queen, praying for the remission of the capital sen tence recently passed in this town on two individuals left for execution, is now in course of signature. In the case of Speed, the memorialists point to the absence of malice, and to the fact of his being a sober and industri ous man, who was impelled to the act by the desire to save his children from misery. The case of the other culprit, for the murder of his wife, is not alluded to. The memorialists say, ' That to the depraved portion of the witnesses of the execution (and it is to be feared that this class is particularly attracted to such scenes) your petitioners feel that the sacredness of human life is rather denied than affirmed by its deliberate public ex tinction, and that familiarity with violent death feeds the brutality which would lead to the commission of murder." TIIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1847. FINE ARTS. FINDEN'S ROYAL GALLERY OF BRITISH AR7. Part XIII. In the part just published of this laudable and beautiful serial there are three engravings of very superior excellence, an excellence attributable at once to the engravers themselves, and to the original paintings from which they have copied so effectively. The first engraving is entitled "The Day after the Wreck," from the brush of Clarkson Stanfield, and the graver of J. Cousin. It is one of the master pieces of our great marine painter ; the whole hue of the composition s p ea k s o f t ur b u l ence an d death ; it is dismal and ominous; the hull of the Dutch East Indiaman with all its masts and its bowsprit gone by the board, the boat in the fore ground and Zierikzee in the distance, the wild and gloomy disorder, seen both in the heavens and on the ocean, are all in character with the spec tacle, and add to the inspiration perceptible in the incident which is p our t raye d . Th e secon d engraving, called " The Ferry," taken by E. Goodall, from:the original by F. R. Lee, is an exquisite landscape, half sylvan and half pastoral, such as may be seen to per fection in summer time in almost any corner of England. The accessories are introduced with artistic skill, and the sunlight pervades the whole picture, and bathes with its impartial splendour both the river and the meadow land. The third engraving, taken by J. Outrim from the noble production of T. Uwins, known as " Behold the Lamb of God " is superbly delineated. It is instinct with majesty—a majesty that rises into the sublime. It pourtrays that memo rable incident recorded by St. John (ch. 1, v. 35.6), when St. John the Baptist going forth one day with two of his disciples, lo Jesus passed by, and his pre cursor seeing him, cried out in a loud voice, " Be hold the Lamb of God ! " The incident is august, and there is an air of awe and magnificence over the whole group, over the naked figure of the neophyte, with his head bowed down in reverence, over the colossal form of the Baptist, over:his other disciple, and over the incarnate divinity Himself. Engravings such as these cannot but enhance the celebrity already ac quired in the art by Finden. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, MONDAY. - The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning on the slopes. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, took walking and pony exercise in the Little Park. Her Royal Highness the Princess Helena was taken for an airing. Prince Albert enjoyed the sport of shooting this morning. His Royal Highness was accompanied by Viscount Canning, and was attended by Lord Water park, Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. N. Hood, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, General Bowles, and Colonel Bouverie. His Excellency the Duke de Broglie, the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn, and Viscount Palmers ton, are expected to arrive at the Castle this evening on a visit to the Queen. _ _ The royal dinner party this evening will at the Castle include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Excellency the Duke de Broglie, the Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Kent, Baroness de Speth, the Mar quis and Marchioness of Abercorn, Lady Mary Howard, Mrs. Everard Bouverie, Viscount Canning, and Viscount Palmerston. The band of the Grenadier Guards will attend during dinner. Her Majesty's private band will afterwards attend in the Castle. His Royal Highness Prince George has arrived in town, from Dublin. His Royal Highness went yes terday to the residence of the Duke of Cambridge, at Kew. The Bishop of Llandaff had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday. The Marquis of Queens berry had also an interview yesterday with the Right Hon. Baronet, at the Home-office. Lord Campbell and Lady Stratheden left town yesterday, on a visit to Lord and Lady Abinger, at Abinger Hall, Surrey. DEATH OF THE EARL OF HARROWBY. We regret to learn of the sudden death of the Earl of Harrowby. The melancholy event took place on Sunday, about four A.M., at Sandon-hall, Staf fordshire. From a private communication received in town yesterday from Sandon-hall, we gather that the venerable nobleman had, up to Friday last, appeared in his usual health, and had passed over his birth-day on Wednesday, the 22d instant, in cheerful spirits. On Friday morning he was assailed by alarming symptoms, and by noon that day his illness assumed the most dangerous aspect, so much so, that letters were dispatched to the different members of the family apprising them of the precarious condition of his Lordship. He continued to decline rapidly up to to hour of his dissolution, without any favourable change. Viscount and Lady Frances Sandon, the Hon. G. Dudley and Lady Georgiana Ryder, and several other members of his family, were at the time sta) ing at Sandon-hall, and were consequently present at his death. The late Dudley Ryder, Earl of Harrowby, county Lincoln, Viscount Sandon, of Sandon, county Staf ford, and Baron Harrowby, of county Lincoln, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, was eldest son of Nathaniel first Lord Harrowby, and Elizabeth, co heir of the Right Rev. Richard Terrick, Lord Bishop of London. He was born 22d Dec., 1762, and had therefore completed his 85th year on Wednesday last. In July, 1795, he married Lady Susan Leveson Gower, sixth daughter of Granville, first Marquis of Stafford, and aunt of the Duke of Sutherland. By that estimable lady, who died in 1838, be had a large family, four sons and five daughters, namely, the late Viscountess Ebrington, Viscount Sandon (now Earl of Harrowby), the Honourable Granville Dudley Ryder ; Lady Mary Saurin, Lady Wharncliffe, the Hon. Frederick D u dl ey R yder, th e H on . Edward (died in infancy), Lady Harriet Hervey, and Lady Louisa Fortescue. The deceased Earl entered public life soon after he attained his majority. H e represen t e d f or sev eral years, prior to his elevation to the Peerage, by the death of his father, Tiverton, in the House of Com mons. In 1800 he was appointed Treasurer to the Navy, by Pitt. He held that appointment up to Viscount Sidmouth's advent to power, an d after Pitt's return to take the helm o f th e Government,' in 1804, he was appointed Secretary of St a t e f or F ore ign Affairs, but only presided over that department for little more than twelve months. On the Earl of Liverpool's accession to office, in 1812, the Noble Lord (who had been created Viscount and Earl in 1809), was appointed Lord President of the Council, which place he held up to the formation of the Right Hon. George Canning's Administration in 1827, a case unparalleled on record. It was during the time he occupied that positi on i n the King ' s C ounc il th a t his Lordship's name became mixed up with the notorious Cato-street conspiracy, SEIZURE OF AN ILLICIT DISTILLERY.—Yesterday morning, about eleven o'clock, Messrs. J. Lewins and John lientnall, officers of Excise, from information they received, proceeded to No. 6, Lion-street, New Kent road, where they discovered a private still in fall opera tion, running off strong spirits, about tw'enty gallons of spirits ready for sale, and 400 gallons of molasses wash in a state of fermentation, ready to continue the working of the still. The place was fitted up with the usual apparatus and utensils used in distillation. A man and woman were in the house attending to the still, who were arrested by the officers. The trade of distillation, illicitly carried on, has been on the increase for some months. A van having been procured by the officers, they conveyed their prize to the Excise warehouses in Broad-street. BIRDCAGE-WALE.—Among the many improve ments lately effected in various parts of the metropolis, with regard to the paving of footpaths and other additions of a like description, few are more worthy of commendation and likely to meet with more general approbation than the paving with fla g - stone o f t h e foot path the entire distance from Storey's..l4ate, at the west end of George - street , Westminster, to Buckingham gate, in immediate proximity to the Palace, a n d long known by the name of the Birdcage-walk. Until now it of the year, from n softness the ee e at this so soil and stehaea accumulation of mud, which was suffered to collect and remain on the path, the was almost Impassable which was the more surprising considering that it is the highway from the Palace, and the improved neighbour hood of Pimlico, to the Houses of Parliament, and the law courts at Westminster. This walk is perhaps nearly half a mile in length, and the expense incurred in thus laying .it with pavement along the entire distance must have been very considerable. Although on the outside of the St. James's Park, it is strictly speaking a portion of that enclosure, and therefore the sole cost must have been borne, we presume, by the department of Woods and Forests, to which branch of the Executive the public are lately indebted for many improvements and additions lately in the parks of the metropolis. FIRE IN THE LONDON DocKs. - --Yesterday, be tween the hours of twelve and one, considerable alarm was occasioned by the discovery of a fire on board the barque Tamar, 556 tons, lying at the Jetty, London Docks, about to sail for Hobart Town, with a miscella neous cargo. The dock engines were speedily in attend ance, and with great exertions the flames were subdued, but not before the rigging had suffered considerable damage, the wizen • and gaff topsail being much burnt. ' The entire escape of other ships, key which she was sur rounded, is matter of astonishment. The fire is sup posed to have been caused by sparks from the funnel of the cabin stove. THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.—This important do cument, which is expected to be brought by the packet ship Ashburton, is now anxiously looked for every tide. Should the ship have left New York on the Bth instant, she is now fully 19 days on the passage. She is, proba bly, very near this port, as a number of vessels, inward bound, have been passed, between Tuskar and Holyhead, during the last few days, which are kept back by the ' prevailing light easterly winds.—Liverpool 4Thion. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS ORPHAN SCHOOLS. F The first anniversary dinner of this truly excellent society, the object of which is to clothe, maintain, and educate the orphans of deceased, and the children of necessitous commercial travellers, was celebrated last evening, at the London Tavern, under the auspices of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor. Con siderably more than 400 sat down to dinner, which, notwithstanding the unusual number who congre gated to do honour to the institution, was served in Messrs. Bathe and Breach's best style; in fact, the large room—large enough one would imagine to ac commodate any number of persons who might feel disposed to congregate on one occasion within its walls—was insufficient for the entertainment of so vast a number, and an adjoining room was called into requisition, and afforded accommodation to up wards of 60 gentlemen, who, we may add, subse quently found seats in the large room. Amongst those present we observed Mr. Sherill Cubitt, John Masterman, M.P. ; Moffatt, M.P.; Thomas Sidney, Alderman, M.P.; David Wad dington, M.P.; Alderman Challis ; George Mo , : , re (Treasurer) ; R. Clarke; R. Groucock, Esq. ; R. Clarke, Esq.; J. Mercer, jun., Esq.; William Ni cholson, R. M. Phillips, James Wnlsh, Esq.; M. Wicking, Robert Wilcoxon, J. R. Cufll-y, J. D. Carter, Thomas Roberts, S. B )othe. and the Rev. Pelham Dale. Non Nobis Domine having been chanted, and the usual loyal toasts responded to with the customary enthusiasm, The LORD MAYOR rose to propose the toast of the evening. In doing so he said—Gentlemen, you are requested to charge your glasses, in order that you may drink a bumper toast; for the toast I am about to give you is deservedly the toast of the evening. It is one, I am sure, that cannot fail to afford the greatest gratification to all who have assembled here to-night. —(Hear.) I shall not, gentlemen, detain you for one moment—l shall not take up your time in entering at length into my own opinion of the institution which we have met to do honour to. - (Hear.) Such a task would be useless, because I see assembled around me so numerous, so respectable a company— a company who have come here prepared, I am satis fied, to do honour to the purpose for which we have met, and who, from the zeal ' which they have manifested in support of the institution, must be well acquainted with its history and its wants.—(Hear.) So well are you acquainted with these matters, that however eloquently I might enlarge upon them, my influence, I feel, would not weigh one iota in the scale, because as it is poised it inclines towards the institu tion.—(Hear.) I have been within the last few hours looking at a little treatise which heralds the rise and progress of the institution; and I confess I have been greatly surprised in my own mind at the efforts which have been made by its supporters— efforts of so great, so good, so Christian a character— so well directed, and appeals so enthusiastically responded to, that their result has perfectly surprised the ; for let it be borne in mind that they were begun, continued, and carried out to the extent you now behold, within the short space of two years.— (Cheers.). I confess that my surprise was great that so much had been done; but, gentlemen, when I look round this room and behold the vast numbers as sembled—and further, when I know that there is a very large company outside this room unable to get admittance, merely because it is not sufficiently large —(Cheers)—l repeat, that I am not surprised.— (Continued cheering.) My surprise no longer exists, and, though its progress has been great and steady in the past, I am convinced that nothing can stop the progress of any institution—more especially an insti tution like this—when I know it has so many warm and enthusiastic supporters.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, allow me to say that you could not, by any possibility, have assembled to promote a more praiseworthy cause—(Renewed cheering)—as it embraces in every point of view charity of the highest and holiest kind. If you look, gentlemen, at the necessity of such an institution, and consider for a moment the condition of those whom it nurtures, if it had not extended them a helping hand—if you look at the comforts which it bestows, you cannot fail, I am persuaded, to feel the utmost consolation at being instrumental in promoting so good a work.—(Loud cheers.) I am quite satisfied, therefore, that it needs no eloquence—it needs no rhetoric—it needs no power of language to advocate with success the benefits of this institution, the anniversary of whose establishment we have congregated to celebrate.— (Hear, hear.) It needs, I may say further, nothing on my part to recommend it to your warmest sym pathies and your cordial support.—(Hear.) The institution, gentlemen, is but in its second year, and already thirty children are clothed, educated, and maintained, and before sunset tomorrow the society will have earned the proud boast—and a proud one it is—of having provided in the) same way for 35 children. Thirty. five children, you may say, have already been fostered by the institution !—(Loud cheers.) What a stimulus this is fur you to continue your exertions in its behalf, and let me trust that that feeling of charity which is truly said to expand the more it is indulged in—that that charity which begets charity, and leads us, the more we do, to feel disposed to do still more, may be, ex emplified to the letter in this institution.—(Applause.) Some extensive donations have already been given and it is my duty to tell you that these subscriptions' will be devoted to a particular purpose, and I wish especially to impress this fact upon your minds, because I feel that it cannot fail to be a great induce ment to you to promote this great cause among your friends. It is very desirable, gentlemen, that the building which has been engaged for the reception of the children should be purchased—(Loud cheers) — and therefore it is very necessary to raise a fund to effect that object. It is also most desirable to still further augment the means of the institution, in order that it may afford an asylum for ell the orphans of commercial travellers who may be driven to need its aid. Your enthusiasm in the cause amply demon strate that your zeal in such good service will not cool, and that you will lose no opportunity of induc ing your friends and others to aid your labours, so that the school may be placed on a secure and broad foot• ing.—(Hear.) The support which you have given it, and the zeal which you have evinced, convinces me that in promoting the objects Of the institution you feel as you do after obtaining a good customer who has given you a large order.—(Laughter and cheers). Gentlemen, I want you to consider this institution an order of the right sort—an order that shall be registered in that ledger in which we are all solicitous to have a good place.—(Loud cheers.) I think I have said enough to win your sympathies towards this institution.—(Cries of " No, no.") I am persuaded that I have done so. Let us, in conclu sion, gentlemen, put our shoulders to the wheel, and by our united efforts this evening and elsewhere accomplish a great work, the effects of which will be felt in ages yet to come.—(Cheers.) I call upon you to drink " Prosperity and long life to the Commercial Travellers' School." Long may it pros per; may it increase in power year after year, and thereby be enabled to afford the children of the necessitous commercial traveller succour in the hour of their distress. The toast was drank with the utmost enthusiasm, and the children who had been introduced into the gallery, and who looked extremely well, sang some pretty lines, written for the occasion by Mr. J. B. IValker. Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., proposed the health of the Lord Mayor. His Lordship had received at the hands of his fellow-citizens the highest honours which it was in their power to give. That fact alone was sufficient to commend him to them ; but the way in which he had proposed the toast of the evening, and the charitable sentiments he had enunciated must have endeared him still more to them. It gave him the greatest gratification to see the chair so well filled, and he felt, therefore, the most unfeigned pleasure in proposing his Lordship's health. The toast was warmly responded to, like the last. The LORD MAYOR returned thanks. He trusted that the proceedings of the evening would stimulate those who had taken a part in them to increased exertions. He should, in that case, feel the utmost happiness at having presided at the first anniversary, and contri buted, in however small a degree, to that prosperity which he confidently looked forward to.—(Cheers.) Glee—" The chough and crow." The LORD MAYOR proposed the health of the president, John Masterinan, Esq., M.P. If he were disposed to envy any man, he should envy the repu tation of his Hon. Friend. Few, whether resident in or out of the City had not heard of his good name ; and it was a source of much gratification to be enabled there to state that his fellow citizens esteemed him as the best of men.—(Cheers.) He might differ with him in political matters, but he could not with hold from him his meed of praise.—(hear.) The toast was well received. Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., returned thanks. He had not accepted the onerous office of president without reluctance, as he considered there were many men in the City more eligible for the post than he was, but he yielded to the solicitations of the fri en d s of the institution, and did not regret now that ha had done so, when he looked at the almost unexam pled success of the institution. He should leave nothing undone to:promote the prosperity of the in• stitution. A GENTLEMAN at the end of the room here rose and said he had been intrusted with the sum of 2001. for presentation to the institution. The late Mrs. Beau foy had intended to present that amount, but she did not live to accomplish her benevolent intentions. Her husband felt bound to carry out her intention, and had instructed him to present the sum he had named.—(Loud cheers, and cries of " Long life to him.") Mr. DAYID WA.ADltiCtioli i W. ) proposed " The r corporation and the sheriffs." The sight he had be held—the sight of orphan children whom they be friended returning their heartfelt thanks—was most gratifying, and had awakened in him, as he was sure it had in all present, the most delightful sym pathy towards them. It was a source of great gra tification to him that the Lord Mayor, the President, the greatest banker of the day, and the sheriffs had that day identified themselves with the commercial travellers. The institution owed them a deep debt of gratitude. Tho se present would return to their homes and say, "We have attended the anniversary under • the presidency of the Lord Mayor and sheriffs—we have enlisted their sympathies in favour of the Commercial Travellers' School, and it will rise under their auspices greater than any other institution in the land before it. Mr. Sheriff CUBITT returned thanks. Mr. GROUCOCK proposed "The Vice Presidents." Mr. R. CLARKE returned thanks. Mr. MOITATT, M.P., next spoke. He said it was delightful to witness such a scene, when the recent disasters in trade were borne in mind—it showed that such disasters ought to be looked upon as nothing more than passing storms.—(Cheers.) He concluded by proposing the health of Mr. George Moore ,the treasurer. Mr. MOORE returned thanks. In doing so, he said the commercial travellers must not depend upon the Lord Mayor, upon the Vice Presidents, or upon their distinguished visitors. He wished to im press upon them the necessity of depending upon themselves.—(Loud cheers.) From the best data he had ken able to collect it appeared that there were no less than 30,000 commercial travellers, whose expenses could not be less than 11,000,0001. a year. —(hear, hear.) Now, what he wished to impress upon them was this—supposing they were engaged forty-two weeks out of the fifty-two weeks, and saved sixpence a week, they might raise a fund of 30,0001. a year.—(Loud cheers.) He confidently looked forward to a great increase in the means of the institution ; but if they even had a tithe part of this sum—say 25 per cent.—it would be sufficient to dis charge the expenses of the largest institution in the United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) His great am bition was to add six children every six months to the asylum.—(Cheers.) Mr. LAWRENCE announced a subscription of 100/. from the National Mercantile Life Assurance Com pany, which institution, he said, offered eligible ad vantage to commercial travellers, who assured early in life. He proposed "Th e National Mercantile Society." _ _ Mr. WlLcoxos (the Chairman), returned thanks, and said he felt great pleasure in being present, and of presenting the donation just announced by the Secretary. Mr. WALKER then proposed the health of Mr. Lawrence, the Hon. Secretary. Mr. G. LAWRENCE returned thanks. Several other toasts followed, and the company did not separate until a late hour. The dinner and wines Were - Well served and good. The musical arrangements were under the direction of Mr. Sporle, assisted by Mr. Kenney, Mr. Edney Mr. J. Kench, Mr. Bruton, and. Mr. G. Genge. Mr. Harker was the toastmaster. The donations and subscriptions announced in the course of the evening amounted to nearly 2,0001. FLOODS IN THE TAY, &c.—SHIP- WRECKS IN THE NORTH. We regret to say that Perth was again inundated by a rise in the Tay, on Saturday last, nearly to an equal extent as by the flood in ,October, and exceed ing that of the preceeding week by several feet. The weather was very rainy and boisterous on Thurs day and Friday last, accompanied by violent gales from the westward ; and in the course of forty eight hours nearly for inches of rain fell. In the Highlands the fall was still greater, and as a strong westerly wind always increases the flood in rivers whose sources are in lochs lying east and west, which is the case with all those in the Perthshire Highlands, the Tay on Friday evening began to rise rapidly, and towards morning it overflowed both Inches, and made considerable inroads into the lower streets of the town. The North Port, as usual, was the first to be laid under water, and by nine o'clock it reached to the window soles of the shops. The inmates had previously removed most of their goods and furniture, but :'great confusion nevertheless prevailed. At Whitehouse, Athole-place, and Rose-terrace, and Barossa-place, the sunk areas were in most cases two or three feet under water. The Muirton farms were nearly all inundated, the Tay being about a mile broad opposite Scone Palace. Along the banks of the Tuy and the Earn, large quantities of f a r m pro duce were observed ding down both streams all Friday and Saturday, and many stack-yards were under water both days. The Ericht and Isla were again fooled to an equal extent as at the great inundation in October. At lilairgowrie, the bridge, which was in the course of rebuilding, having been carried off on the last occa sion, was considerably injured; the wooden centre upon which the main arch was to rest was entirely swept away, although composed of the heaviest material. The temporary wooden bridges over the Isla, Ardle, and Keith, were also demolished in most cases; and various bleaching fields covered with the debris from the river. The flax spinning mills have sustained little damage, the injury being chiefly confined to watercourses. Along Strathtay, Strathtummell, and Strathgarry, the respective haughs are much flooded, an d at Ba!- lechin a scare or two of sheep were drowned. A good many sheep were drawn out of the Tay at Dunkeld, and it is feared there will be few restored to the owners. The bridges in the Highlands, along the principal roads, have fortunately all stood. In Strathtay the river rose higher than in the memory of the oldest inhabitant, and at the confluence of the Lyon and Tay the valley extending from Weem Rock to Aberfeldy had the appearance of an immense lake.—Perth Courier. ABERDEEN, DEC. 22.—Our coast has again been visited by a violent and, protracted hurricane, which, we regret to say, has been attended with ship wreck and lamentable loss of life. Towards the afternoon of Friday last, rain began to fall, and the wind to blow rather heavily from south by east. By midnight, the wind had increased to a perfect hurricane, with torrents of rain, and a raging surf. In this state the weather continued throughout the whole of Saturday, the fury of the elements not subsiding until the afternoon of Sunday. In the evening of that day there was again some rain, but towards midnight the atmosphere again cleared up, with bright monlight. The rivers Dee and Don were very much flooded, the " speat" in the former being reported to have risen to between two and three feet of its greatest height in the memorable flood of 1829. A great deal of timber was swept down the Dee, but did no material damage about the harbour. The piers of the intended railway bridge at Polmuir, we are glad to observe, were left unseated by th e t orren t, th oug h i n an unfinished state. We regret deeply to learn, that several vessels have been wrecked along this coast, and that e - Rontho brig, Captain Main, belonging to this port, was totally wrecked in the South Bay of Peter head, early in the morning of Saturday, when all on board perished, to the number, we believe. of fifteen souls. Reports were current on Sunday of the wreck of the Agenoria, also belonging to this port, with the loss of part of her crew, about Collieston, but we are happy in being able to state that there are accounts of this vessel not having left her. port. It was supposed she had sailed in company with the fil leted Rontho. There are rumours of the wreck of another vessel, off Rattray Head, but the particulars are not given, and we trust the rumour is also in correct.—Aberdeen Journal. PETERHEAD, Dar. 20.—During the night of Fri day last, the gale, which had previously lulled a little, sprung up with redoubled fury, and on the morning of Saturday those who were first abroad found the shore of the Kirktoun strewed with wreck. Anxiety and dismay became generally prevalent. Parties were engaged to collect the materials, and look after those that were floating about as they came ashore, but for a considerable time nothing was cast up whereby the name of the ill-fated vessel, or to what port she belonged, could be known. During the forenoon, however, doubt was set at rest—the stern-board drifted ashore, and the vessel was found to be the schooner Rontho, of Aberdeen. It turned out, besides, that there were passengers belonging to Peterhead upon this 'vessel, and yesterday three bodies were washed ashore. Two of them were of in dividuals belonging to Peterhead, who were at once identified ; the other was that of a stranger. Nothing can be known as to how the fatal catastrophe took place ; but it is too certain that all hands have pe rished, almost, it might be said, " In sight of home and friends that throng'd to save." Wicu, DEC. 24.—We continue to be visited with strong gales of wind from the south, and with occa sional showers of rain. On Sabbath morning, about, four o'clock, there commenced one of the most vio lent gales which have swept across these coasts for many years. The wind blue with terrific fury from the south• east, raising a most fearful sea, which drove everything before it. Over the parapet wall of Pulteneytown south quay the billows made a clean breach, although the building was more than suf. ficient to resist their attacks, and suffered no injury. Upwards of twenty barrels of herrings were swept from off the quays, and lost; and three herring boats were taken off the beach, and much injured; and great difficulty was experienced in saving others, as it was highly da n gerous to appro ach them. At Duncansbay, the Pomona, of Thurso , previously stranded there, and till then expected to 'be got off, was made a total wreck. All the places of worship were but thinly attended, not more from the attacks of influenza than the danger of venturing out of doors on such a day. Since then tile weather [ has moderated, although it continues to be exceedingly blustering. The barometer, however, seems to indi cate a favourable change.—John o' Groat Journal: GARMOUTEI, DEC. 21.—The speat came on in 'the Spey on Saturday night, and has continued ever since, accompanied with- a very heavy sea. A great deal of harm has been done in Kingston, and a good many families have been rendered houseless. Sab bath presented a scene such as pen cannot describe. Recent encroachments of the river had swept away thirty or forty houses, and several others have fol lowed on this occasion. Men and horses were w6rk ing the whole day, and women, with children in their arms, exposed to the wrath of the elements, sought a shelter where they could find one. To-day, however, the storm has somewhat abated ; but it will be many a day before this event will be forgotten, as it will also be ere its effects are recovered. DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD AT SUNDERLAND.—FOr several days prior to Sunday last there were heavy rains. About five o'clock on Sunday morning the ebb tide became so strong that great apprehension was entertained for the safety of vessels moored in the river. Every effort that time permitted to be made was called into requisition to ensure the safety of the moorings ; but two or three ships at 'the end of the ferry- baot tier, next the bridge, snapped their mooring chains, and went adrift amid the tier, crushing and carrying away all that lay in their way. The fresh was so great, and the impetus given the unmoored ships consequently so strong, that tier after tier of the shipping gave way, and drifting upon others, carried them away also, and thus much serious damage was done. When daylight arrived, the har bour, from the ferry-boat landing to the pier end, presented a most disastrous appearance. In various places whole groups of ships ware entangled toge ther, and were only prevented being driven out to sea either by the obstruction of a sunken vessel, or laden ships aground. Almost every vessel had re ceived more or less damage, some having suffered very seriously. We regret to say that loss of life has ensued. The smack Brothers, of Shorehem, we n t d own, and the mate has been drowned. His body was found yesterday morning in his bed. He is said to have left a wife and five children. In endeavouring to get one vessel into a place of safely, an accident occurred which was attended with fatal consequences, one man having lost his life, and other three or four being seriously injured. The vessel was the brig Virgil, which had arrived that morning, and which bad been driven down the harbour nearly to the pier end. For some time she remained bound to the south pier, after which a rope was placed round the high cap stan on the pier, and she was ultimately got round on to the sand, within the new part of the pier, which is of a semicircular form. During the process of heaving, the vessel pitched very much with the vio lence of the waves. By this means she was occa sionally much higher than the capstan, and the purchase of the rope drew up the capstan, so that the palls lost their power of check. The rope being at that moment violent jerked •by the heaving of the ship, the capstan ran round .on the spindle with great violence, and the bars being shipped, struck the persons who were near. Several were driven over the edge of the pier into the river, but all were got out again with great exertion. One man named John Bolton, ship carpenter, aged 55, was struck so violently over the forehead that he was killed by the blow. A sawyer, named Robert Lajburn, had his leg broken, and was otherwise seriously injured. Joseph Arkle, a mason, and two or three others, are also seriously injured. The de struction of property has been immense—some say 15,0001„ others less. There is no doubt, however, that the damage will very nearly include that sum.— Sunderland Herald. DISASTER AT SEA. We have this week to place on record one of those melancholy disasters at sea, which unfortunately are but of too frequent occurrence during the full voy ages of the timber-laden vessels trading to our northern colonies. The following are the particulars : —The barque Lord Canterbury, of Bridgewater, from Quebec, bound to Bristol, on the night of,Sun day, the sth inst., encountered a tremendous gale from N.W.W., which caused her to make sufficient water to keep one pump constantly going. At 9 a.m. the following morning it was discovered that the after part of the rudder had separated from the main piece. As one pump was found insufficient to keep the leak under, at 4 p.m. both pumps were set going. Things went on in this manner till midnight, when a heavy sea broke on board, carrying away stanchions, bulwarks, boat, and everything moveable on ihe deck. The leak gradually increased until 8 a.m., when the barque became full of water. The topmasts, yards, and. all the light spars were now cut away, and the crew, twenty in number, took to the tops, where they remained, subsisting on half a pint of water per day, and little bread, until 13 of them were rescued by the barque John, of Bideford. This vessel fell in with the wreck on the 16th instant, when it was blowing a double-reefed-topsail breeze, and the wind W.S.W., Cape Clear bearing N.E., distant about thirty. five miles. It was at 6 30 when they were first discovered, during an interval of moonlight. Never was there a more melancholy sight. From the stern, when the vessel would rise to the sea, was issuing a perfect cascade, some of the planks in the side and stern gone, the vessel breaking up, and the sea making a fair breach over her. On hailing, those on board the John were informed that the ship was water-logged, that they were short of prov isions and water, and that one of their number (the cook) had died from ex haustion, and they asked if the John would lay by them for the night, it never entered their minds, from the sea which was running, that an attempt would be made at least that night. They were answered that their request should be complied with if possible. The master of the John fearing, however, that unless immediate measures were adopted to get them off the wreck the weather might come on again squally and prevent him from carrying out his humane in tention, called for volunteers. - The appeal was responded to instanter, and Mr. W. M. Hallman, the chief officer (a most skilful and intrepid young man) accompanied by three brave tars, jumped into a little boat only 14 feet long and pulled for the wreck. Here a formidable obstacle presented itself. In addition to the ordinary difficulty of bringing a boat alongside under such circumstances, there was escap ing from the stern a stream of water sufficient to overwhelm the boat. How true it is that we cannot tell what we can accomplish until we try! The tiny boat approaches the wreck, six jump in, and are safely brought to the bark. Another trip is made— seven are now taken, but, unfortunately, one of the apprentices falls short in his leap, is sucked under the counter of the wreck and disappeared. These trips occupied an hour and a half. The apprehensions of the master were now ful filled. The weather became worse, and the sea began to " top," consequently any further attempts would to all human appearance, have only involved the loss of life ; the rescuers were therefore reluc- tantly compelled to forego their generous exertions. At 9.15 the weather became so bad, that the barque was obliged to be, placed close•reefed foretopsail and treble-reefed main, and to leave the wreck for safety. She arrived at Milford on Sunday afternoon last. A few days previous to their being taken off, a barque, apparently British or American, outward-bound, shortened sail and remained for a short time, but went away without making any attempt to save their lives. She was under - topgallant sails, and the at tempt would have been practicable. A brigantine passed by them in the daytime, also outward-bound, only four or five miles from them ; but did not even alter her course, although she was so close to them that the poor fellows could perceive a small flag at her mast head. She tad the cut of a Mediterranean trader. We should have added, that those left on the wreck were the master, two seamen, and two apprentices. Relief has been afforded from the Shipwrecked Mari. ners and Fishermen's Society, and the Merchant Seamen's Fund.—Cambrian, of Saturday. DISCOVIEY or A NEWLY BORN Irma fo rtt e O a t RAILWAY CARRlAol..—Yesterday Mr. W. P ay ne, the Coroner, opened an inquiry at the Vestry Hall,rr street, Borough, on the body of a newly-bo rn child, discovered under the following extraord ina ry mysterious circumstances :—Charles Banniste r, and Dean-street, Southwark, deposed that h e of 20, quarter before one o'clock on afternoo n Chris at the Joint Railway Station, thLeondon- b a. London-br i d ge. a a t o t :: eve, the Dover train came in, and he d wen ri t g to e. c fo a u rr n i d ag n es bre a w ft n er pa th pe e r p p a a r s n s e e l n u g n er d a er h t a he saelalt seaArchmtht: alighted, and of are second-class carriages, which he delivered to the head porter, who, izhnon,d udpieoenevtearkedingitsit into the property-room, By the Coron er —Th ere contents vieretwo piecesto be ef the bre w d n e ceased. paper, but the deceased was quite naked. Witness, as well as every one throw else at the stati on , was w h o lly una bl e t o any light upon the subject. The train came from Dover and Folkstone, and stopped at Croydon, but it ... was impossible t o say h ow t h e p arce l h a d b een p u t th e re. John Hudgell, head porter at the station, corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and added, that his suspicions were aroused' the moment he took the parcel in hand. Mr. W. Pettigrew, surgeon, of 200, Tooley street, stated that he had seen and examined the child. The navel string had been divided by a sharp instru ment, which process had not, in his opinion, been performed by a medical man. There was a mark of violence passing very firmly across the mouth, as if the jaw had been broken. It wits found on a post mortem examination that death was the result of asphysia or suffocation, there being congestion under the scalp, and other appearances which showed that respiration had been slightly performed. After some further evidence, the Coroner remarked on the extraordinary nature of the case, and suggested the propriety of an adjourninent, and the jury agreeing with him, the inquiry was ad journed for a week, in the hope that in the interim something might transpire that would lead to the appre hension of the inhuman parent. RYE ELECTION. -- The election of a Member to serve in the place of the late Mr. H. B. Curteis took place in the Town-hall on Thursday last, when the de ceased's son, Mr. H. M. Curteis, was elected without opposition.