The Sun. — London, England, 1847-02-25 00:00:00

Vinrb /51Titton CAMBRIDG Among some of the Nemo Royal Highness PRINCE ALBEE Duke of Rutland Bishop of Norwich Biskop of Lincoln Bishop of Hereford Lord Moi2teagle lion. C. S. Rice Sir J. Herschel Sir Stratford Canning Viscount Duncan Bishop of Ely Marquis of Exeter Right lien. IL Goulburn • Viscount Milton lion. H. It. Yorke Dr. Hawtrey (Eton) SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. E ELECTION . I who have already voted for his T are the following : Marquis of Lansdowne Earl Grey Lord Nerreys Viscount Per almston Lord Lyndhurst Marquis of Camden Earl Jermyn Lord Alfred Hervey Hon. W. H. Littleton Margins of Norbampton Lord Charles Wellesley Marquis of Douro Right Hon. Sir:J.C.Hobhouse J. G. S. Lefevre Rev. Lord _Arthur Hervey. ELECTION CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY. OF CAMBR IDGE. (THIS DAY-BY EXPRESS.) (Continued from our Afternoon Edition.) STATE OF THE POLL, BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. CAMBRIDGE, HALV.PAST FIVE O'CLOCK. THREE O'CLOCK Prince Albert Earl Powis Majority FOUR O'CLOCK. Prince Albert Earl Powis Majority FIVE O'CLOCK. Prince Albert 582 Earl Fowls Majority Adjourned till Eight. - 427 . 451 . -24 - 8 --- 10 THE GOVERNMENT LOAN OF EIGHT MILLIONS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE PRELIMINARY MEETING RESPECTING THE LOAN OF 8,000,000/. PROPOSED TO BE RAISED IN TIIE PRESENT YEAR. The following gentlemen attended the meeting this day, in consequence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's letter to the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England, of the 23d inst., to hear the terms proposed for the said loan: — Mr. Isaac L. Goldsmid, Mr. B. B. Williams, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. J. Wreford, Mr. Bates, Mr. Thomas Baring, Mr. George Webb, Mi. Thomson Alers Han key, Mr. James Ricardo, Mr. Humphrey John Mild may, Mr. Guilliam Scott, Mr. James Capel, Mr. John Norbury, Mr. B. S.:Lloyd, Mr. Burnand, Messrs. Roths child, Mr. Elward Satterwarthe. The measures proposed were 1. That the loan to be csintracted was for 8,000,0001 of money. 2. That the tenders should state the amount in money that the party will give for 1001 Stock in the Three per Cent. Conses. 3. No discount to be allowed. 4. The instalments to be paid on the days following:— Deposit 12 per cent. on Friday, the sth March. Payment of 12 per cent. on Friday, the 9th April. 7th May. 11th June. 9th .July. 6th August. 3d Sept. 13th October. 12 „ 5. The deposit to be retained as a security for mak ing the future payments on the days specified. and stock will be given for the money paid in at each instalment after the first, if required. C. The interest to commence from the sth January, 1847, and for whole payments, made on or before the 2d July, 1847, the contributors will meive the half year's dividend at the sth July, 1847. 7. No reserve for public companies. 8. A sealed paper will be laid upon the table pre viously to opening the tenders, containing the lowest amount of money that Lord John Russ, 11 and the Chan cellor of the Exchequer will feel themselves justified in accepting for every 1001. stock ; and in the event of a smal:er sum being tendered in the several proposals than that in the sealed piper, it will, in such case, be opened, and the amount in it declared. 9. The bidlings t) take place on Monday next, the 15th March, at the Treasury, at ten o'clock. TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING. SIX O'CLOCK. LIVERPOOL STEEPLE CHASE. 6 to 1 agst Brunette 8 to 1 agst The Roarer 16 to 1 agst Pioneer 16 to 1 agst Culvertliorpa 25 to 1 agst St. Ruth NEWMARKET lIANDICAP. 9 to 1 agst Footstool 15 to 1 agst Lynceus 20 to 1 agst Vanish DERRY. 28 to 1 agrA Horn of Chase 33 to 1 agst Allertonian 1000 to 15 at st Blaek Dwarf CIIESTIia CCP. Nothing done. QUEEN'S BENCH.-(THIS DAYS (Sittings at Guilcih4l, before Mr. Justice ERLE and a Brecial Jury.) NEWTON AND ANOTHER V. BEICIIEN.—THE OXFORD AND SALISBURY DIRECT RAILWAY. This was an action brought by Messrs. Newton and Co., the advertising agents, to recover upwards of 4,600/. for work and labour done in advertising the prospectuses, &c., of the Oxford and Salisbury Direct Railway Company, of which the deftwiant was a provisional director, and a member of the committee of management. Mr. Crowder and Mr. Ball were for the plaintiffs; Sir F. Theeiger and Mr. Brown for the defence. Mr. Ceolvta:a opened the case at some length, detailing the facts which h.e intended to prove in evidence. He said the case was different from the ordinary cases of provisional directors, inasmuch as he would prove that the defendant had taken an active part in the management of the concern, and had been a party to incurring the present debt. Robert Lucas, an attorney, deposed that in 1845 he was one of the promoters of a line from Oxford to Salisbury. The first project was proposed from Bicester through Hutt gerford to Salisbury, which was registered on the 3d of Sep tember. About the 10! h of September he called on Mr. Belcher, at .a.bingdon. The defendant was mayor of that town at the time. Witness explaine.l the project, and the defend ant objected to it, on the ground that the line did not touch Abingdon in its route. In consequence of the conversation that took place witness had the project re-registered so as to take in Abingdon. It then was to proceed from Oxford to Abingdon, and thence to Hungerford and Salisbury. It was brought out in this altered form. Afterwards witness called on the defendant at Abingdon, and was received very pc,. litely. The alteration was explained, and the defendant promised to give the scheme all the sup port in his power. Subsequently a m ee ti ng of the gentlemen favourable to the line was held on th e s t h of October. It w as a meeting, as witness understood, of the provisional directors. The means of carrying out the project were dis • cussed, and witness believed the publication of the project was mentioned. Mr.• Belcher took part in the dis cussion. A committee of management was a l so talked off. Mr. Belcher was named as one of the com mittee of management, and he accepted the appointment. Witness was present after this at several meetings of the committee of management at the offices in Moorgate-street, at which he' saw the defendant present. At the first meeting he was present at a number of prospectuses were produced, setting forth the advantages of the line. The prospectus wa., similar to the one produced iv court. Witness had often seen newspapers at the company's offices containing the pros pectuses of the company. Cross-exsmined—lie did not recollect the defendant say ing at the first meeting that he would only consent to act as a promoter of the litre on condition of not being put to any expense. 1, itnees had been concerned with several other schemes as well as this. With respect to the ad vertising, perhaps 500/. would do it well now, but at that time the papers, especially the country ones, charged much more than now. The present scheme was advertised in many papers that were now de funct—in the Railway Bell, the Railway Critic, the Share holder, the Railway Telegraph, the Railway King, the Railway Standard, the Railway Mail, and the Stock Exchange Gazette. All these had ceased to exist, and were papers, he believed, which did not circulate much. George Dean, from the Registration-office, produced the register of the company, with the names of the promoters attached. f.iliter - g — e Preston deposed tat he wa one of the solicitors of' the company. Ili had an h interview s with the defendant on I to h g 6 e B th tt r o . f l t . Co u b e e k r, i and in a conversation which they had as one of t he Belch er agreed to do all he could to promote it held at On the 15th of the same month a meeting prese a n t t the l London Coffee-house, at which Lir. Belcher was g commi ttee , eti . n ahnedla h t e ter eo g n e se nt i l i e t m ed a . n was on named am on e the actin was the afternoon a resolved to c t o o mm b i o t r te r e ow, too i k f place, at whi c h l i t 't . possible, 3,0001. from held on Satuarde the interests of the one cou o l f the banks to forward Another meeting . of the acting committee was Party. 18th. Mr. Belcher was put f at l ion . to the present 1 " e owl"g, the bank reported that the money N;oul be acting committee would give a guaradntbeee,mdvane"' if the as one of the committee , i; i i..i. not otieet to `ems, The defendant, With the others present signed the guaran and he along The guarantee was here produced and put i n si , ned among others b y the defendant. Af ter this . t i me Ras ~ B e l c h er attended sever al meetin p e of the managitr,' Zrn "l Ir j'e Mr. mittee, and took an active p art in the proceedings. iNT bad seen him at meetings a. 3 late as March or April last. Several orders given on behalf of the acting committee t o the 'plaintiff's to insert advertisements and in the London a wad country newspapers were next put in proved; as slao their reception by the plaintiff"' clerk. Gentlemen from the Times, Chronicle, Herald, Sun, Post, Adoertiser, Globe, Standard, and other newsparers proved the insertion of the advertisements claimed for, in the news- P 3 Pere thoY rePreeented, with the prices clargeti ig each case. Evidence was also given of the advertisements inserted in the country newspapers. This was the case for the plaintiffs. Sir F. TIIESIGErt having replied at some length, The jury returned a verdict that the defendant was liable for the debts since the 15th October, the time at which he consented to act as provisional committeeman. PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY.) (Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Satins.) UNOPPOSED LIST. Torbay and Brixham Deep Sea Harbour of Refuge and Docks. —Complied with. Agriculturist Cattle Life and Fire Insurance Company.—No appearance. Wexford and Valencia Railway (Killarney to Valencia). — No appearance. Belfast Improvement Acts Amendment.—Part heard, ad journed till to-morrow. Lough Neagh Drainage.—Not complied with. Harwich and Eastern Counties Junction Railway and Pier (from Harwich to the Eastern Union Railway at Ardleigh). —Not complied with. London Sewage Chemical Manure Company.—Complied with. Rathmines Improvement.—Not complied with. Tyne Docks.—Not complied with. OPPOSED LIST. Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's Railway (No. 4—Branch fr•)rn Stowmarket to Sudbury).—Opposition withdrawn. Complied with. Mold Railway (from Mold to join the Chester and Holy head Railway ).—Formal proofs taken. KILMARNOCK AND AYR DISTRICT RAILWAY. This adjourned opposed case occupied the rest of the day, but no allegations were sustained. Further ejourned. (Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.) UNOPPOSED LIST. Charing-arosa Bridge.—This Bill is withdrawn. In the following cases the customary formal proofs were completed : South Wales Railway (Deviations, Branches, and Amend ment). Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway (No. 2 Extension and Amendment). Staffordshire Potteries Waterworks. Edinburgh arid Glasgow, Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Ballochney and Slamannan Railways Amalgamation, or Sale or Lease. London and North-Western Railway (Lime-street, Liver pool, Station Extension and Branch Tunnel ; Crewe Station Extension and Amendment of Acts). Liverpool Guardian Gas Company. Great Indian Peninsula Railway - Company (for making a railway from Bombay to Alleh, with extensions to Mhure and the Para River, and branches or extensions to Sholapoor, Hyderabad, Kandeish, Indore, and Hoshurgabad, and else where). Swansea and Amman Junction Railway (lines from Yilisymond to Nantmelyn, and thence to Yuislomlyd and Guaun Cae Gurwen Colliery and Cwmannan). Wexford Free Bridge (building of new bridge and removal of present bridge across the River Slaney at Wexford). OPPOSED LIST. SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY EXTENSION AND AMENDMENT. The several allegations in this opposed case were sustained. Standing orders not complied with. Adjourned till to-morrow. CORK AND WATERFORD RAIL WAY.—(THIS DAY.) The first annual meeting of the proprietors in the Cork and Waterford Railway was held this day at the London Tavern, for the transaction of general business. Thomas Wyse, Esq., M.P., in the chair. After the advertisement, calling the meeting had been read, the Secretary proceeded to read the report, of which the fbllowing is a condensation : "This Act authorises the making of a railway from the borough or city of Cork, in the county of the same city, to the borough or city of Waterford, in the county of the same city, with branches from and out of the said railway to Fermoy, in the county of Cork, and to Tramore, in the county of IVaterfurd. " Iri obtaining the above Act there were at first two op posing companies, viz. :—The Cork and Youghal, and the Waterford and Tramore Railway. ' increasing materially the difficulties which were presented by the various alterations and requirements during the session of the several standing orders of both Houses of Parliament. „ After a lengthened negotiation one of them, the Cork and Youghal Company, the most influential and important, was amalgamated with this company; and the amalgamation received the approval of the shareholders, at a meeting held for that purpose at the Hall of Commerce, on the Ist February, 1846. " The other, the Wateriord and Tramore, after an un usually protracted opposition, was successfully resisted, though at a considerable cost; and hence, together with other causes, the serious and heavy outlay which it was absolutely necessary to incur to secure the very existence of the company, "Memorials were forwarded, after the passing of the Act, from the baronies of Imokilly and Barrymore, in the county of Cork, to Government, urging upon it the important advan tages that this railway would afford to that portion of Ire land. The barony of Barrymore includes Alidleton, and extends to Fermoy, which, in addition to its being a central po3ition for:all inland produce, is one of the principal military depots in Ireland; and the barony of Imokilly extends from Midleton to Youghal : the importauce of which it is unnecessary to dwell on. " In consequence of the foregoing memorials your chair• man had an interview with Lord John Russell, and your secretary, with the consent of the Treasury, was sent over to Ireland to communicate with the Board of Works, in accord ance with instructions forwarded by Government, and to en deavour to make such arrangements as might enable the works to be proceeded with on terms equally advantageous to the landowners and shareholders, at the same time afford ing sufficient security for the - repayment of any advances of public money. Your directors regret to state that, notwithstanding the evidence which those memorials bore of the disposition of the I landowners, to lend the most liberal co-operation, together with the cuusent of the rate payers to prebuntwenta rill.n the aforesaid baronies, as well as trom the baronies of Gaultier and Middle-third, after mature consideration and having consulted with your engineer, your directors were compelled to abandon the project of rtrer,gthening their resources through the medium of the baronial presentments, in conse quence of the terms under which advances would be Blade not affording adequate facilities. "Under these circumstances, and taking into considera tion the present state of Ireland, and of railway property in general, your directors are of opinion, that one of two courses should be recommended for adoption to the share- holders, to make a call of 14 per share in this year, and another call of 10s. per share, to be paid in 1848, and to proceed to the construction of a small portion of your rail way, viz.:—from Waterford to Tramore, a distance of or about seven miles ; which by ensuring a fair divided to those shareholders who paid up their calls would enable you. after it was finished, to commence a portion at the Cork end, viz.:—from Cork to Midleton, and so to go on constructing, by degrees, those portions of the line which are likely to afford the most certain and speedy return. " The other alternative is, that of everything remaining in abeyance until your next half-yearly meeting in August, no expences being incurred excepting such as may be ac tually necessary, and by which time the views of the Legis lature, relative to Irish railways, will be known; this latter course is the one recummend,d by your directors, and the directors of the Great Western and South Wales Railway Companies coincide therein. in "'They that interest be plid upon the deposits at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, from the passing of the Act of Parliament.' FINANCIAL ACCOUNT. To expenditure Balance 19,675 0 11 £75,378 10 0 By receipts ... £75,378 10 0 The CHAIRMAN said that the company had now heard the report read, and he begged to move that It be received and circulated among the shareholders. Mr. EMERY seconded the resolution. Mr. FIELD wished to know whither the South Wales and Great Western Railway Companies had registered for the shares which they held in the Cork and Waterford Railway Company. The CHAIRMAN said that they had. Mr. FIELD wished also to know whether the recommenda tion that interest at 4 per cent. be granted, should refer to only to such deposits as were properly paid up. The CHAIRMAN--Certainly. The report was then agreed to. Mr. FIELD moved, and Mr. GARRETT seconded, a resolu tion re-electing the fifteen directors who were, by the Act, obliged to retire. Mr. GARRET - r moved, and Mr. FnErr. seconded, a resolu tion granting the directors a sum of 8001. as a remuneration for their services for the year after the passing of the Act. These resolutions were carried unanimous!): Mr. Edward Charles Buxton, of Abchurcn-lane, and Mr. Thomas Bates, of Allsop-terrace, New-road, were elected auditors,_ with a salary of ten guineas each. L Mr. AYAItD was appointed secretary, with a salary of 6001. per annum. Atter some discussion as to the propriety of granting NO/. n eo o l t o d ti es on i:e t , h an oo d ee which . sereich to the direct ors f or past serv i ces, which these gentlemen did was votednot, t the o theref o re,chai r man,emlo:ltid e t d he raintoeeatiroeg broke up. NVHITEHAVEN AND FURNESS JUNCTION RAILWAY.—(TIIIS DAY.) The ordinary half-ye-11.1y meeting of the proprietors of this company was held this day, at the offices of the company, No. 1, Guildhall-chambers, Ba , inghall-street, the Earl of Lonsd:de in the chair. i t. The NiCRETAtcIr real theadvertisement calling the meeting, and the report, from which we make the following extracts: "It will be remembered that at the last half-yearly meeting the progress of the works was reported to have been impeded by the difficulties which were met with in obtaining possession of the land • these are now entirely removed, as the land required has been purchased from the whole of the proprietors (with one exception), and upon terms which it is believed are as advantageous to the company as could pos sibly be expected. "The whole quantity of land purchased is 370 acres, at a cost, including compensation for severance and tenant right, of 36,000/. ; this is exclusive of about twenty-two acres of sands, forming part of the Duddon Estuary, the various lute. rests in which have been purchased at nominal amounts. " This shows an average of about twelve acres and a quar ter to the mile, and an average cost per mile of about 1,100/., and from this will have to be deducted the proceeds of the sale of surplus lands, which have been purchased on account of their severance, and will be re-sold to the adjoining pro prietors, the company retaining such portions as are required fur stations. "The whole of the land which has been purchased has not given rise to one case of litigation or dispute, or of the exer cise of the compulsory powers of the Act of Parliament. "The contracts for the heaviest portions of the line, of those which may be called the measure of the time required for the openieg of the railway, are all let and in hand, and extend over rather more than fifteen miles and a half of the line. " To these portions the directors have purposely confined their present attention, inasmuch as the remaining sixteen miles and a half of the line may be completed in from six to eight months from their being commenced; and, forming as they do an unconnected link in the communicatim, present expenditure on this portion of the works would remain un necessarily unproductive for a period of several months. ,aa"Tou!tre aware that an Act of Parliament was obtained I hn t e taton for connecting your line with the Whitehaven are in a state't cb. of y f e o n rw . a The rdue ss , c o n andtrac i thedrawings e t own of a Nsi tilwllY, by means of a tunnel under a part of the that the contract m plated by the sprin ay wore is 25 0(10/ . . ~ which is atoll • nailie f e o r r this anticipatestunn tunnel be let almost immediately, and com. g.of next year. The estimate for this of new shares but rnay ill t 4 orised to be raised by an issue means of bOdoiced cavital e fir" instance be exerted by 1 "Of the fifteen miles and a half let i 'More than:six miles will be completed by September in the present year; and, as this portion will connect Whitehaven with St. Sees, the di rectors will have it in their power to consider the expediency of opening this communication in the ensuing autumn, al though they are at present by no means decided as to the policy of this step, looking to the very short further period at which their anticipations of the opening of the whole line are fixed. " The remaining nine miles, which are let, are con tracted to be finished in April, 1848 ; assuming the com pletion of the Duddon Crossing at the same period, the line may be opened throughout in the spring of the ensuing year. " The Whitehaven Junction Railway is at present open throughout to Whitehaven, for goods traffic • and the Government Inspector is expected on the let darch, when the line will be opened for passengers. On the ether band, the Furness Railway is in active working, both for passengers and minerals, and its extensions to Ulverstone and Broughton are expected to be completed at about the same time with your own line. The CHAIRMAN said that the report was so full and expla natory, that it was unnecessary for him to say anything fur ther. There was every prospect of their being able to open the line about spring twelvemonths. as the report stated; but it would be necessary to make a call of 41. per share between this and September, and he anticipated that it would be a long time ere an additional call should have to be made. lle would conclude by proposing that the report should be re ceived, adopted, and circulated. The motion was unanimously agreed to. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EV E NING, FEBRUARY 25, 1847. SPECIAL MEETING. The meeting was then made r pecial for the purpose of con firming resolutions of the board of directors, declaring cer tain shares in the company to be forfeited for non-payment of calls, and authorising the sale or other disposition of such shares. A resolution, confirmatory of the resolution of the direc tors, was then, on the motion of Mr. Kroax, seconded by Mr. ALEY, unanimously agreed to. It appeared that the total number of shares was 945, which stood in the names of 19 shareholders; 115 of these shares were the only ones on which would arise a lo .4 to the com pany of 21. per share on sale at the present market price. This having terminated the business of the meeting, a vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. Waley, seconded by Mr. Bowker, given to the Noble Chairman and directors. The meeting then separated. DIRECT LONDON AND PORTS MOUTH RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the direct London and Portsmouth Railway, was held this afternoon at the London Tavern, in Bit , hopsgate-street. Mr. W. A. Wilkinson. Chairman of the Board of Directors, in the chair. _ _ _ The report stated, that since the last meeting of the pro prietors, the line had been re-surveyed and the necessary plans prepared for serving the notices required for obtaining possession of the land over nearly the whole distance. These notices were now being served over a portion of the line, and the directors hoped soon to be in posses sion of the land between Dorking and Gomshall, where the railway was to be used by the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Railway Company. A short Bill authorizing a few amendments of the line, and a road ap proach to the proposed station at Dorking had been prepared and submitted to Parliament, principally with a view of im proving the junctions at Epsom with the Croydon and Ep • som line, and at Ilivant with the Portsmouth Extension of the Brighton and Chichester line. The Bill for securing the amal gamation with the London, Brighton, and South Coast Com pany, upon terms agreed upon by the respective proprietaries, had been read a second time, and would shortly be in Com mittee. In accordance with the arrangement with the Loudon, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company, the remainder of the shares to complete the capital for this undertaking had been subscribed for. A vacancy had occurred in the direction, which had been tilled up by the appointment of Juhn Meeson Parsons, Esq., one of the auditors. The receipts amounted to 108,4641. 15s. Id., and the expenditure to 53,7881. 4e. 3d., leaving a balance of 54,676/. 105. 10d. in hand. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, con tradicted a rumour which had gone abroad that the line was not to be made. The rumour, no doubt, had arisen from the fact of there being a Bill before Parliament which, it was supfrosed, was for enabling the South-Western Company to will over the line from Dorking to Portsmouth, but that pro vision had been withdrawn. A PROPRIETOR wished to know what the terms were that had been agreed upon between this company and the South- Western. The CHAIRMAN replied that no terms whatever had been come to, but the London, Brighton, and South Coast Com pany had come to terms with the South-Western. A PROPRIETOR hoped that whatever arrangement might be come to with the South Western, the shareholders of the Portsmouth direct would have a voice in it. The CHAIRMAN replied that when the Amalgamation Bill was passed, the Portsmouth Railway would become a Brighton line, and as the shareholders in the Portsmouth Company would then be Brighton proprietors, o f course they would have a voice in everything that could be done. The Reading, Guildford, and Reigate had power to brick over a portion of the line, but that company was seeking to annul that power. The proceeding. however, would be strenuously opposed by this company. A PPORRIRTOR wished to know when another call would be made? The CHAIRMAN replied not just yet. Ample notice would be given when one was to be made. The report was adopted, and the meeting separated with the customary vote of thanks to the ckairman. READING, GUILDFORD, AND REIGATE RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.) The half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders in this company, was held to-day, at the London Tavern, David Salemons!, Esq., president iu the chair. The Ciima.m.Arr said, it was with great pleasure he had to submit to the shareholders at their first half-yearly meeting the report of their' directors, which would inform them that an arrangement had been entered into with the South- Eastern CoMpany for leasing their line.—(Hear.) The SILCD.STAItY then read the report. which stated the terms of the arrangement that had been made with the South-Eastern Company, and which were to the effect that two directors of that Company should be added to the board of the Reading, Guiliford, and Reigate Railway Company; that the latter company should raise 600,0004 as their capi tal, in 40,000 shares of 154 each, guarauted at five and a half per cent. from the day that the agreement should be signed by the South-Eastern Company, who in the interim were to pay four and a half per cent. The report then stated that arrangements had been entered into with Mr. Robert Stephenson to act as their engineer, and that the directors had found it necessary in consequence of the change in their position with respect to the London and Portsmouth Railway Chnipany to amend their Act in cer tain particulars. A statement of the accounts was then read by the Secre tary, from which it appeared that the expenditure of the company was 41,4661. ss. 5d., and their present capital 121,708/. 18s. 4d. The CHAIRMAN said, that comment on the report must necessarily be short as it was sufficient to explain to the meeting all that it was necessary for them to know, namely, that their property was safe, and that the requirements of the Act of Parliament had been complied with. They (the directors) bad those precautions that would secure the in terests of the company in an efficient manner. He trusted that the arrangement would also prove satisfactory to the company with which they were associated. When there line was first. The directors entertained some doubts as to whether it was a line calculated to inspire confidence; but there could be no doubt at the present time that it was one of the most important lines in the country. They thought, however, that they were best consulting the interests of the company by concluding those arrangements 'with the South-Eastern Company. It would, perhaps, to follow parliamentary example, and not to refer to past debates or to what had taken place at former meetings, but he trusted that they would give the directors credit for a desire to promote the interests of the company that they did did not hu rr y on t h ese arrangements. —( Hear.) With these few observations he would beg to move the adoption of the report. There was one point in connection with that report with which they should be acquainted. By the terms of the arrangement two directors were to be added to their company. He was sorry that a pressure of business prevented the South-Eastern Company from naming these gentlemen, but he could understand from Mr. Small that Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Gregory were the parties vho had been selected, and he hoped that the meeting would elect these gentlemen. The CHAIRMAN, in reply to some questions as to the terms of the agreement, said that be regretted there was not a printed report, which would have prevented these categorical questions, but be could assure the meeting that every inte rest was satisfied. They would get 5% per cent., which was far beyond the ordinary interest at present. As t o the South-Eastern Company they had another important point in view, namely, to connect the north of England with the south ; but there could be no doubt that they would re ceive compensation far beyond 5% per cent. from the union with these companies. An expense beyond the sum stated in the report would be defrayed by the South-Eastern Com pany. He could assure the Hon. Proprietors that they need go to Parliament for the purpose of sanctioning the agree ment. The report was then adopted. Messrs. Gregory and Pritchard were elected directors, and Mr. Small was re-elected. The CHAIRMAN said—With regard to their secretary, his salary at the last meeting had been fixed at 3001. per annum, a sum that was far below the value of his services in a situa tion that required so much efficiency. He would therefore wish to ask the meeting to place in the hands of the board the power of increasing it to 40W. per ant.um. He did not wish to fix a higher sum, as the question would have to come before the other company. A motion to that effect was unanimously agreed to. Mr. CAPPEA moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman and the other Directors, for the zeal and efficiency with which they had discharged their duties. The motion was carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks said, " finis coronet opus." If e trusted that as the barometer of their affairs ruse they would give equal satisfaction. The meeting then separated. ENFIELD 'AND EDMONTON RAIL- WAY.—(THIS DAY.) A special general meeting of the shareholders of this Com pany was held this day at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate street, for the purpose of considering certain propos a l s made by the Eastern Counties' Company to purchase cr to work the line. The notice calling the meeting having been read, Captain OWEN, the chairman, said, that on the last occa. sion on which they had met there he bad mentioned to the shareholders some correspondence, which had taken place with reference to the purchase or working of this line. A preposition hsd been made by the Eastern Counties' C oin _ pany to work the present railway, and an inquiry hsd been made by this Company as to the working of th e Eastern Counties line. In answer it had been stated that their working expenses at 4] per cent. The question for the shareholders was simply as to whether toe line should be worked by them or purchased. Their interests ought to be joined, for nothing could take place for the be netit of their own line which would not benefit the Eastern Counties Railway. A Shareholder inquired what WAS the hone of contention between the two lines? Mr. LERCH, at the request of the Chairman, said that the difficulty was in the price of the land. The difference of the estimates and the claims made was 3,0001., and that was a very serious difference. There was no contention with the Eastern Counties Railway Company itself. A Shareholder said that the was in reality, whether they should have an independent line, or merge their line in the Eastern Counties Railway ? The CHAIRMAN said that that was the real question. Mr. WannutGrox said that the Eastern Counties had in a very kindly spirit offered either to take this line, to work it at their own rate of mileage, or to supply them with engines, &c.. at the usual price. The CUAIRMAti said that these propositions were the ouly ..... u. ones the shareholders had to consider. The Enfield and Ed monton line would of course regulate their fares according to the rate adopted by the Eastern Counties Company, as it would not do to let them both work the line and regulate the fares. Mr. WADDINGTON said that the Eastern Counties only desired to deal as fairly ai possible with the Enfield and Edmonton Railway. Some considerable discussion ensued here as to the rate of fare.,, which resulted in the adjournment of the m ee ti ng , i n order to make the proposition to the Eastern Counties Rail way Company. VALE OF NEATH RAILWAY. (THIS DAY.) The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of this com pany was held at the offices, 449, West Strand, Lord Villiers in the chair. The SICRETARY read the following report : "The directors have much satisfaction in submitting to the proprietors a statement of their proceedings to the present time, together with an account of receipts and expenditure, to the 31st of December last. " In accordance with the powers given to the directors at the last meeting of proprietors, a Bill has been brought into Parliament to authorise the construction of a second Branch to join the South Wales Railway to the west of the River Neath ; also a Branch to the Rhygos Collieries and to Aberdare, " The directors are also happy to state that they have en tered into an agreement with the directors of the South Wales Railway Company, by which they have secured the use of the line from the town of Neath to the port of Neath and Briton Ferry, and that a Bill is now before Parliament for the purpose of authorising the construction of this branch. " The proprietors were informed at tbeir last meeting, that negotiations were in progress for the purpose of disposing of the shares at that tune unsubseribed for. Your directors have much pleasure in stating, that the directors of the South Wales Railway Company have consented to take these shares ; the deposit has been paid upon them, and the whole of the capital is now subscribed for. " The other negotiations, which, as the proprietors are aware, have been commenced with the directors of the South %Vales Railway Company, have led to no result." The Cnalamax moved the adoption of the report, and then put the resolution to the meeting, which was passed unanimously. A resolution was then moved by the Chairman, autho rising the payment of interest at five per cent. on all pay ments made in anticipation of calls.—Carried. The CHAIRMAN moved the re-election of the following retiring directors : —H. A. Bruce, Esq.; Griffith Llewellyn, Esq. ; and H. Thomas, Esq., which was carried. Mr. Starting Benson, retiring auditor, was then re , appointed and the meeting adjourned. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, (THIS EVENING.) HOUSE OF LORDS. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo] sack at Five o'clock. The Earl of CLARENDON laid on the table copies of letters relating to presentments under the boards of works in Ireland. PUBLIC WORKS-COUNTY CLARE. Lard BROUGHAM wished to ask the Noble Earl if Captain Wynne's letter to the board of works, with re ference to the transactions which had recently taken place on the public works in the county of Clare, had been laid on the table ? The Earl of CLARENDON replied that ithad not. PUBLIC WORKS --SLIGO. Lord BROUGHAM would be glad to know if the statement made with respect to the sons of a clergyman and a landowner, iu the county Sligo, obtaining employ ment as inspectors on the public works in that county, were true, and if the Government had received any in formation on the subject. The Earl of CLARENDON replied that the Go vernment had received no information on the subject, but if such appointments had been made he saw nothing objectionable in them if the parties appointed were pro perly qualified to discharge the duties of the situation, and if no local prejudice existed against thier appoint ment. IRISH TENANTS AND THE LONDON COM FAMES. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY called the atten. tion of the House to the peculiar position in which many of the tenants in the north of Ireland were placed on account of the land being let by middlemen under the London companies. He considered that these companies ought to be made to contribute to the support to the people who were destitute, as well as the other Irish proprietors. At present they did not do, and the peculiar position in which they were placed had hitherto exempted them. He considered something ought to be done to remedy this state of things. Lord BROUGHAM said there could be no doubt that no distinction could be made between a company or any other private landlord. The one was just as liable as the other, and he apprehended the companies would be just as ready to contribute as a private landlord. The Marquis of LONDONDERRY asked the Noble and Learned Lord if he would guarantee his opinion. Lord BROUGHAM replied that it was nut usual in the legal profession to guarantee opinions. After a few words from Lord COWBELL and the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, the matter dropped. The Earl of FINGAL presented a petition from a Board of Guardians, praying Goverment to adopt mea sures fur providing ie.ed for the ensuing harvest. The Earl of CLANCARTY gave notice of his inten tion, to-morrow, to ask Government if they proposed in 'the present session to introduce any measure for the medical relief of the poor of Ireland. TAXES ON SiiIPPING. The Earl of ROD.EN presented a petition from'the merchants and shipowners of the port and harbour of Drogheda, praying for the abolition of the present sys tem of taxation on shipping. DAY OF H UMILIATION. The NOBLE EARL also presented a petition from a parish in the county Carlow, praying that a solemn day of humiliation be appointed to supplicate the Al mighty to avert the present awful calamity from Ire land. Also a petition from Newtowubarry, County Wexford, to the same effect. PROGRESS OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. Lord STANLEY ga‘e notice that to-morrow he would put a question to his Noble Friend the President that there w a s at pre of the C,uncil, as to the course which th e G overnment impiain week t of the ses s i on , ; an d it was aw in general le complaint intended to pursue with regard to. üblic business. They were now in sixth former sessions, but he never recollected so strong a case as the present one. At the meeting of the Rouse t hi s d a y, there was not a single Bill, nor any sort of business or notice before them, with the exception of one from his Noble Friend fixed for to-morrow. Farther than that, h e understood that the Government intended to postpone, till the 7th March, the Bills which they proposed with reference to Ireland. Ile should therefore ask the Noble Marquis tomorrow, what course her' Majesty's Government intended to pur sue with regard to the progress of public business. flu should also pat a question, with regard to the nature of the duties proposed to devolve upon a com mission recently appointed fur the discharge of business hitherto entrusted to Commissioners of the Duchy of L-smaster. LABOURING POOR (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON, th's Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Monday. Th e ir Lordships the n adjourned. ' • HOUSE OF COMMONS . The SPNAKE R took the Chair at Four o'clock. an T d hored f r SECOND READINGS. time, Birmingham, Wol verham p ton, and Sto ur Valley Rail way (No. 2) e ol e l o d w t i o n B ran ches. be li c a o i m liv tu a rt 13 ted : Bills we. e r ea d a second Corn wall Railway. Dublin and Belfast Junction and Navan Branch Railwat Dublin and Drogheda Railway (Branch from Nam to Kells). East of Fife Railway (Markinch Deviation). Eastern Counties Railway (Ilford to Tilbury Fort and Southend, with a Branch from Vange to Battle Bridge). Great Northern Railway (Branches to Sleaford). Great Northern Railway (Extension to Leeds and Wakefield, Deviation of Methley Branch of Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole Railway). Great Northern Railway (Purchase of Ambergate, Not tingham, and Boston ec add Eastern Junction Bail- way, &c.) Oldham Alliance Railway. Paisley and Renfrew Railway (Sale and Improvement). St. Helen's Canal and Railway (Warrington and Black. brook Branches, &c.) ' A number of Private fills were brought in and read a first time. THE CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY (EXTENSIONS AT CHESTER AND HOLY. HEA 1)) BILL. This Bill, which was on the paper to be read a second time this evening, was postponed till this day fortnight. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY BRANCHES BILL. Sit R. INGLIS presented a petition from the Cor poration of London, as trustees of St. Thomas's Hospital, against the branches and extension of the Great Western Railway Bill. NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFORD RAILWAY _ BILL. This Bill was read a second time. IRISH POOR-LAW. Petitions for the amendment of this law were pre sented by Mr. Collett, f r om Athlone ; by Mr. H. Hind, from places in the county of Cork ; an d by Mr. John O'Connell, from several places in different parts of the country. REPEAL OF THE RATE-PAYING CLAUSES OF THE REFORM BILL. Mr. W. COWPER presented a petition from Hertford in favour of the repaid of these clauses, amidst the laughter of Mr. Thomas Duncombe arid several Members near him, in which the Hon. Member heartily joined. TENANT RIGHIS (IRELAND). Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from Bel shone, praying for the protection of the rights of out- going tenants in Ireland. goods THE MUCK SYSTEM. Mr. THOMAS DUN C OMBE presented a petition, signed by nea r ly 40.000 members of the National ..fk,sxlsorliaTti. i) on fof Industry and or the Protection the -mnPloYment of L a b o u r; praying that the present Punishment b y pecuniary fine on mas ters who paid i n I might be exchanged for that of imp riso nment, a prayer in whi c h h e h eart i ly concur red. WILLOW WORKERS. UNCOMBE also presented a petition from the willow and straw manufacturers of London, swim-, i the distressed cohdition of their trial,., and pra . yi t , tit. , n ~ House to take measures for their relief. IRISH DISTRESS. Mr. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the 1 clergy of the district of New Ross. The petitioners stated that they were the clergy of half a million of ' people, and that unless some steps were promptly taken by the Government, that part of Ireland with which they were connected would be depopulated by famine. • MINISTERS' MONEY. Mr. J. O'CONNELL also presented petitions from the Corporations of Dublin and Kilkenny praying for the abolition of ministers' money. POOR LAW—IRELAND. Mr. J. O'CONNELL also presented a petition from the inhabitants of Kilkenny for an alteration of the pre sent extent of the unions of Ireland, and stating that they had paid 6s. in the pound, and were now paying 35., although other places were absolutely paying nothing. Sir CHARLES NAPIER. presented a petition from Marylebone, numerously signed, in favour of the claims of the Raja of Sattara. Sir CHARLES LEMAN presented a petition against the Poor Removal Act. Mr. C. VILLIERS presented a petition from Bilston. against the rate- paying clauses of the Reform Act. Captain CLIVE presented a petition, complaining of the operation of the Poor Removal Act. An HON. MEMBER presented a petition from a place in Cornwall against the Roman Catholic Relivf Act. Sir J. Y. BULLER presented a petition complaining of the law of settlement. Sir 1). NORREYS presented a petition from Mall,w praying the House to adopt en improved system of raising the rates for the relief of the poor in Ireland. Colonel T. WOOD presented a petition from Staines complaining of the law of settlement. Mr. M. GIBSON presented a petition fsom Man chester against the salt monopoly of the East India Company. alr. MACKINNON presented a petition against the Poor Removal Act. Mr. ALDAM presented a petition praying for the rw duction of the tea duties. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from Killarney against the present system of rating to the poor in Ireland. DUTY ON BUTTER AND CHEESE. Mr. B. ESCOTT gave notice that, on an early day, he would move for the repeal of the existing duties on butter and cheese. AFFAIRS OF SINDE. Mr. HUME postponed for a fortnight his motion re• specting the affairs of Sinde. MEDICAL OFFICERS IN THE ARMY. Sir H. DOUGLAS said that it was his intention to call the attention of the Government to the state of the medical officers in the army. REGULATION OF THE REVENUE. Dr• BOWRING gave notice that, in consequence o the indisposition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he would postpone his motion on the subject of the revenue for a fortnight. NATIONAL FAST AND HUMILIATION. Mr. PLUMYTRE gave notice that, upon an early day, it was his inteution to move that an humble addrias presented to her Majesty, praying her to appoint a day of national fast and humiliation. QUEEN'S PRINTERS' PATENT (IRELAND). Mr. HUME moved for copies of all correspondence since the Ist day of January, 1846, respecting the arrangement made by the Treasury, on the expiration of the Queen's Printers' patent in Ireland, for the several matters of business formerly done by them. — Agreed to. PORTLAND BREAKWATER. Mr. HUME moved tor a copy of the reports and plans submitted to the Board of Admiralty for a harbour of refuge and breakwater at the Isle of Portland, in the county of Dorset, and the minute of the Board of Admiralty and Treasury approving of the same; also a copy of the correspondence with the Treasury, and as estimate of the probable expense to be incurred for the purchase of land, and for the formation of the breakwater and harbour, as approved of.— Agreed to. CRACOW. Mr. HUME gave notice that he would to-morr ow move for returns of the amount of z o ods annually im ported into Cracow, and the tariff at present levied upon those goods. TENANT RIGHTS, (IRELAND). Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD rose, in pursuance of the notice he had given, to move for leave to bring in a Bill to secure the rights of occupying tenants in Ireland, and thereby to promote the improvement of the soil, and the empioyment of the labouring classes. He did not think it necessary to enter then into details which he had so fully laid before the House when the Labouring Poor Bill was under discussion. But he hoped that he would be able to show that security to the rights of the occupying ttnants would, in a great degree, forward the improvement of the soil and of the people. It had been said that small holdings had been the ruin of Ireland, but he would maintain that not the small holdings, but the insecurity on which the small holdings in Ireland were held, had been the ruin of that conntry. Ha had made a comparison be tween the counties of Down and Limerick, and he found that in the one, where the tenant right existed, there was comfort, and in the other, where it did not, there was nothing but misery. The Hon. Member then read from agents in Ireland factsconfirmatory of his statement, and proceeded to say that his object was to secure by law that which at present existed only by sufferance. To secure that simply was the object of the Bill he wished to introduce. Now, the farms in Ireland might be classed as follows:-306,915 of 5 acres, 251,158 of 15 acres. and 48,312 of 40 acres. If the occupiers of the second clans could be induced to vend to the value of 101. iu labour on the land, it would realise 2,514,0001.; and if the other classes would spend in the same proportion, 6,090.0001. would be realised. This expenditure would give employment to 3,822, and support to 900,000 families. From the official returns, it appeared that the better class of farmers invested their money in savings' banks. This they did, because, if they ex• panded it on land, they would have no security of a return. If they altered the present system, and made the farmer believe that he had security for what he laid out, you would make him expend. Give biro a tenant right to his land, and he would of course, wish to improve that land.—(Hear.) He believed that there was no intention to oppose his bringing in this Bill, and he should, therefore, move that the Bill be brought in and read a first time. Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL seconded the motion. Mr. LABOUCHERE had no intention to oppose the introduction of this Bill, for he thought that the opinions of one who had paid so much at tention to the subject, and especially as he was un Irish landlord, were worthy of all attention, and ought therefore to be embodied in a Bill, and thus be brought under the notice of the House. Ile had already stated on a previous occasion that it was the intention of the Government to bring in some measure for this object, and he thought, therefore, that the better plan would be to delay the consideration of this Bill until that was also before them. In the meantime he most cordially gave his assent for the introduction of this Bill. The Bill was then brought in and ordered to be printed. CAP rAIN WAliEli'S LONG RANGE. On the motion of Sir C. NAPIEIt, the report of the officers appointed to inspect the trial of Captain Warner's lung rango was ordered to he presented. EXPIRING LAWS. On the motion of Mr. PARKER, the following gentlemen were appointed the Committee on expiring laws:—Mr. Parker, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Greene, the Lord Advocate, the O'Connor Don, Viscount Ebringtnn, Mr. Gihson Mr. Hawes, Mr. Ward, Mr. Milner Gibson, the Soiiei tor-General, Mr. Shed, and the Secretary at War. COLLEC ['ION OF RATES, IRELAND. Mr. CRAWFORD rose to more the second reading of the Bill for the better collection of the poor rates in Ireland, and he might say that his first object in this Bill was to render the landlord, as well as the tenant, responsible for the poor-rates. His first principle was, to protect the poor tenant from his landlords rates as well as his own. He proposed after the Bill was read a second time, if the House should consent to read it a second time, not to press the further stages of the Bill until the whDle of the measures of the Government were brought before the attention of the House. Colonel CONNOLY vas sorry to be compelled to Nippose a measure introduced by the lion. Member for Rochdale; but he felt it his duty to do so on the present occasion. The Bill proposed to confer most unheard-of and most uncalled-for powers on the Government; he believed also that there would be great difficulty in carrying out the provisions of the Bill. lie had no objection to support the second reading, on condition that it was not proceeded with until atter the Government measures were laid upon the tables of the House. Sir G. GREY concurred in the opinion expressed by the Honourable and Gallant Member, that there would be considerable difficulty in the practical part of the measure ; the principle might be a sound one. Re would therefore recommend the House to consent to thy second reading, and postpone the fur ther consideration of the measure till the measures of her M.jestys Government had been brought before the 114 else. After a few words from Mr. I'. SCROPE and Mr. B. ESCOTT, the Bill was read a second time. FAIRS AND MARKETS CLAUSES (IRELAND) BI LL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. Mr. HUME, on asking whether the Government had any Bill under their attention for the object of town improve ments, was told that that was not the subject then before the Committee. The Ron. Member said he merely asked the questions, as several inquiries had been made at him on the subject. After some desultory observations from Mr. HUDSON, Mr. HUME, and several other Members, Mr. HANDLEY remarked that it was useless to adopt any general Bill for the direction of private Bilk, unless the clauses which were intended to apply gene rally were more carefully drawn than they had been hitherto. Lord G. BENTINCK thought that the practice of read ng f our Bills a second tirue, and passing them through Committee on the next day, was certainly something like acting with very great haste. He had no doubt that considerable opposition would be made to the Bills, when they were well considered by the House. Mr. GISBORNE was understood to approve of the principle of the Bill. The clauses of the Bill were gone through seriatim, and agreed to. Lord J. RUSSELL said there were certain clauses in the Bill, which would bare to come under the considera tion of the Select Committee on the Standing Orders, and if any aruen,:ments were deemed necessary, they could be made on bringing up the report. Lord GEORGE I3ENTINCK hoped that some time would be allowed to elapse before the report was con. sidered, in order to give the country time to examith the provisions of the OW. The House then ...,uined wie n t,.e Chili/man report,- progress. and the report wits ordered to be brought up Thursday next. Co til MISSIONERS CLAUSES BILL. The House then went into Committee on this Bill. The several clauses of this Bill passed through Com mittee without amendment. (LEFT SITTING.) - LEGISLATING IN THE DARK.—Some short-righted Member (Mr. Hume, we think) complained of the very bad lighting of the House. We should say that, considering how very obscure most of the public measures were, there wAs a sad deficiency of light in the House of Commons which prevented Members seeing things as clearly as people out of doors. The light seems to come all from one side—a kind of party light—which may account for such onesided views being always taken of the laws of the country by those who have been legislating in the dark. There appears to be the Tory light, the Whig light, and the Radical light, and that farthing rushlight, the Protectionist lig , :t. Now, the sooner these lights are merged into one, and a good central light in troduced, by which members shall be able to see the same on all sides of the House, the better it will be for those who have an antipathy to taxes. We do not know of a better one than the light of truth. It is cheap—requires no snuffing —trims itself—never goes Out, and L ives the light of we don't know hew many millien catiole, ? Will any tallow-chandler inform the House whkre it is to be had ?—Punch. UNIVERSITY REFORM. (From the forthcoming Oxford Maylitzine). "As water, whether it be the dew of heaven or the springs of the earth, (loth scatter and lose itself in the ground, ex cept it be collected into some receptacle, where it may by union comfort and sustain itself; and, for that cause, the in. dustry ot man hath trained and made spring.htatis. continuo, cisterns, and pools; which men have accustomed likewise to beautify and adorn with bccomphstiments of magnificence and state, as well as ot use and nectosity. So knowlede, whether it descend from • divine inspiration or spring from human sense, would soon perish and rmisii to oblivion, if it were not preserved in books, 'traditions, conferences, and places appointed, as Universities, Colleges, and Schools for the - receipt and comforting the same." The trusty squire of Don Quixote had no misgivings what ever, touching his capacity for governing the island, which the all-conquering knight of La Mancha was, in due course, to confer upon him. In this respect worthy Sancho is no bad representative of many hopeful and well-meaning men of these days. They think reform is "as easy as lying" to the liar. Th• best men are often most open to these delusions. Honest themselves, and desirous of conforming everything to the rule of right, they think, that it is only necessary to show that an evil exists, in order to secure the ►application of a remedy. Experience, however, has shown how visionary such plea sant expectations are. Wrongs are rarely, perhaps never, redressed by logic. Moral force is not yet so irresistible as amiable enthusiasts would have us hope and believe. If this be so in respect to the reform of glaring and notor►ous evils, much more is it so with the less obtrusive, but more dan gerous ills which affect the vitality of nations. Injustice and exactions, which press upon the millions, after being long endured and struggled against, are thrown off by convulsive throes and a dangerous crisis. Wrongs which affect the moneyed interests, the commer cial enterprise of weal.hs - classes, are comparatively short lived. But evils agaii;st which the excited passions of the wronged many, or the resentment of a powerful class cannot be pointedly directed, are long-lived. And of this class are the evils of our public schools and universities. Parliament may be reformed, and being re formed, may be argued and coerced into the repeal of a law hateful as the sanction tf a bread tax. University reform— public and grammar-school reform, is quite a different mat ter. Amidst all the talk of " education," the meaning of the word is not yet understood. What education can, and what it cannot do for the moral elevation of a people is by no means strictly defined. It is not yet felt, that the nation cannot live on bread alone, or what is required for its perfect development. It is not felt that both the heart and the brain of the nation require nutriment in order to give vital force to the body politic, and, that the mere husks of educational forms are insufficient. But though there is not a distinct appreciation of what education is, and what it is not, yet the continaed dis cussion of the subject renders the present time most favourable to a movement fur university reform ; and a well-constituted royal commis lion would be hailed with de light. The public ear is open to and• who shall address it in clear tones, with lofty aims, with an appreciation of the diffi culties to be overcome, as well as the glorious object to be attained. The difficulties are neither few nor small. The public miad is but partially enlightened on the subject. A large majority of our legislators view public school s an d univei sities, through a false medium. They see the school or university at which their youth was spent' through an at mosphere of poetry. To them it is scarcely less than irre verence to think of defect either in the constitution or the working of institutions which, by a mischievous delusive figure, is personified to them as a mother. Then there is little to be hoped for from within the universities. It is not surprising that with possession, a feeling of absolute, personal, exclusive right should grow up in the minds of the few who have, and the larger number who expect to have, wealth, honours, and social distinctions under this exclusive system. There is also the further disadvantage, that the sense of responsibility, political and religious (using the terms in their largest sense and as almost synonymous), is deadened, if rut lost, in men who are associated as a privileged body : so that it has come to be a proverb, that coruorations have neither bodies to be kicked, nor souls to be damned. Yet, as we have said, the times are favourable to the great and holy enterprise of making the universities and public schools national institutions in truth and reality, part of the national life, and working t• the mi r e perfect develop ment of the national mind. A great preparatory work has been done, and that uncon sciously. Within a recent period the heriditary, instinctive confidence of the nation in the universities has been broken by painful revelations. The nation his been compelled to believe, what once it would fain have rejected, as a mon strous libel. The nation has been compelled to accept as a fact, that for years the universities have been the seat of a dangerous, and too successful conspiracy against the faith of which they were supposed to be the bulwarks. Everywhere throughout the land a newly-ordained graduate is received with well-founded distrust; all the while no correcting or opposing influence is seen in operation; and the faithfulness and the power of academical rulers is alike doubted. The conviction has spread that there is not health enough left in the system to throw off the fatal and pervading taint. The public is prepared to hear, and to assent to the declaration, that the leprous house must be taken down. This on purely religious grounds: but the idea of univer sity reform must be both comprehensive and minute. Organic principles must be broadly laid down, and all details be worked out in accordance with them. It cannot be suffered that statutes of founders, which time may have repealed, should sometimes be held to be binding tiy fellows of societies, and other times at their ca price held to be naught, to the deadening of mural feeling. It cannot be, that instead of a university, we should have a mere collection of classical and mathematical schools, carried on for the advantage of the separate societies which hold these establishments. Profess .rial chairs cannot remain un tenanted, even by the ghosts of the past. Revealed religion and natural science cannot be for ever banished from Oxford. The universities wait for reform. The intellect and the piety, and the patriotism of the nation say, Reform an..; there must, there will be reform, and perhaps the larger and more complete for being deterred. We can afford to wait. There is a great work to be dote, and it cannot be that men will be wanting for the glorious labour. PROVISIONS FROM THII UNITED STATES.—The Oxford and Orphan, from New York, Richard Anderson front Baltimore, Defence and Radius from Charleston, and Larne trom NOV Orleans, which were reported at Liverpool on the 22d inst., bring 8,091 barrels of fl ,ur, 8,608 bags and and 36,471 bushels of Indian corn, 2,108 barrels of Indian corn meal, 657 tierces of rice, and 200 boxes of biscuit. STOCK OF CORN IN DUDLIN.—SO unusually large is the stock of corn at present in the Custom-house Stores in Dublin that no room exists for a further supply, nor can there be any more warehoused there until a new loft in one of the large stores, which is at prerent being erected, shall have been completed.--Pilot. SUDDEN AND AFFECTING DEATII—The sudden and affectieg death of Mr. Charles Thornton Cunningham, Lieutenant-Governor of St. Christopher's and of the Lee ward Islands, is announced in the West Indian papers which have just arrived. It appears that this gentleman had driven in from the country to Basseterre, the seat of Govern. ment, in apparently vigorous health and cheerful spirits, to open the newly-elected houses of Legislature. After trans acting. some business with his private secretary, and dispatching a note to invite some officers in a French ship of war just come into port to luncheon at Government. house, he rode down to the mail-office, to meet his let ters, and a box containing a picture of a much. beloved sister, recently deceased in England. lie had stated to more than one person, that his earnest desire to possess the picture was not unmixed with fear as to the effect the sight of 41.-... might produce upon him. So strongly had this apprehension fastened itself on his mind, that, on the arrival of the box at the Government- house, he sent a servant in quest of a friend who might be with him when the box was opened. Having failed in find. ing him, he proceeded to open the box His butler, who was present, reports that he looked at the countenance earnestly, turned pale, whispered a few words to himself, walked hastil) up to his own room, was heard almost instantly to fall as he entered it, and his servants following upstairs found him stretched on the floor a corpse. The St. Christo pher's Gazette, as well as many other public and private communications, bear the strongest testimony to the ability, vigour, and high moral character of this gentleman, and to the tenderness and munificence with which et all times, and (specially under a recent heavy visitation of Island fever, he had ministered to the wants and sorrows of the negro popula lion. The Houses of Assembly met immediately utter his death, and passed an unanimous vote for a funeral at the public expense, to testify, as they expressed it, at once their h e respect for his official rank and the high esteem in which was held by all classes of the community. On tee nextdav t ill h ie gu a i u s t h h e o d ritie in the colony, and by thousands of g rate f ul and per sons;thhe e w m a s e n f it el owed rs ol t thoe two r o a h v s e e bj h a e ll he had largely contri uted. ing i.egroes, to whose welfare o b s e t ( p h i s ' m b ourn- Mr. Cunningham assumed the Government of St. Kitts in May, 1639, and fell a victim , as his physician states, partly "to the exhausting inf luence of tropical climates on the nervous powers," and partly to the intensity of brotherly affection, in the 36th year of his age. MONEY MARKET.—The premium on go ld a t P ar i s i s 10 per mile, which, at the English Mint price of 31. 178. 10 1 4 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.40 ; and the exchange at Paris on London at short being 25.27, it follows that gold is 0.49 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advicesfront Hanaburgh the price of gold is 431 per mark, which, at the. English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 10 1 / 2 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 1:3.8; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at short being ainti h l r 3 g . h 6, t it h h l h o e i :s o h t d h o a n t . gold The f e e r x c e e h n a t. hg d e ea h r t e N r in i c s ou o r .9 s 3 e ( p ) York on London is 106 per cent., and the par of exchange between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is 3.33 per cent. against Eng land. But the quoted exchange at New York being for bills at 60 days' sight, tke interest must be deducted from the above difference. GREECE. —We find the ibllowing in a letter from Ancona, of the Bth, published by the Aucsburgh Gazette:— " The last courier from Greece brought letters which state ' that a misunderstanding had occurred between M. Mus,urus, Ambassador of the Ottoman Porte, and .11. Coletti, President of the Council. It is thought that M. Mussurus will be re placer; by another ambassador. It appears that the King had himself undertaken t.. be the I. ; uarantee of his Aide-de camP, Colonel Karatassos, whose passport for Constantinople M. Mussur us h a d re f use d to sign. At a Court ball, which took place shortly afterwards, the King approached M. Mus surus, and said Is I. t hits you treat Of , 101,0 OW ee ° L a t. ding?" at m immediately v, ithinew, withuutaiving M . tints atis%er. Soul, ‘nlys ,liter, Mussucuz , C4lled M. tOr all tXplailatiUll Kier'- uy received an evasive reply. M. Coletti, however, ad •ressed a note to the Greek Amb as s a d,r at Constantinople, , .hrecting him to inform the Woman Porte of what had oc curred. IRELAND. DUBLIN, FEB. 22.—Famine and pestilence are syreeP' ing off the population in several of the western and southern counties. The reports received this day are still more horrible than any that hive yet appeared. In the extent of mortality Sligo now appears to surpass • any other cAinty, and it is asserted that the police, finding the deaths from starvation so numerous, refuse t send for the coroners, probably because it would be physically impossible for those. functionaries to hold in quests in so many cases and in different localities. And yet, in this very county of Sligo, the local journal, the Sligo Champion, makes a most startling exposure of an system of jobbing on the public works by land" lot di, for the employment, it is alleged, of their relations and dependents at high salaries, to the exclusion of the • destitute and famishing labourers. The reports from the county of Coik describe the destitution as daily becoming more desolating, extend ing t the better class of farmers, who, it is stated, after paying their rents, are now consuming the grain they had rtoerved for seed, whilst the peasantry, all through that extensive county, are dying by hundreds. The police throughout the country have received in structions to furni:h returns of the deaths from starva tion and disease. The number reported, up to the doe of the last week, at the Constabulary office in Dublin, was FIFTY THOUSAND. But there are many deaths from want vial disease of which the police in the country, could have had no knowledge. The actual number er 'teat h. from starvation is probably much larger than the amount reported by the police. INFAMOUS JOBBING ON PUBLIC WORKS ® The Sliyo Champion contains the following cannot in decency, in conscience, refrain any longer from denouncing the gross and infamous system of job bing going on in this county, with reference to the man' ner in which the public works have been conduCted and managed. We have been silent too long. In the midst of the calamity which has fallen upon us, we find the l.ndlords tracing upon the miseries of the people. The - Board of Works is humbugged, the government cheated, , the por defrauded. We must speak out; a gigant ic • swindle is now carried on in the county of Sligo. The poor are not relieved by the vast grants of money given, , • by a liberal ministry, bat the sons of magistrates, , 01 grand jurors, of parsons, rich farmers well to do in tn° world, comfortable tradesmen, all these are quartere d upon the public. We saw, fi;r instance, two men over seeing seven labourers ; we have inspectors, paymasters,. overseers—officials of all ranks and grades in *very locality: not selected for their ability, but because they have interest—because they can command the voices of the landlords of the county. The jobbing that hereto' fore existed was but a joke, a mere trifle to what is now carried on. It exceeds all bounds and all It is monstrous ; we proclaim the fact to the world. We proclaim that here in Sligo--the- very: focus of miserr' where famine is the daily guest at the peasant's table; where pestilence and death bold their ghastly revels- -. we eroclaim, openly and- publicly, that in this doomed locality, a set of men, removed from want themselves,. possessed of means and resources beyond the reach of cheerless penury—are enjoying, and have been from the commencement enjoying, the fat of the spoil. They • get, and have been getting for months, the lion's share. The poor are neglected, plundered, robbed. In mail instances their miserable stipend of Bd. a day is so long' withheld that they sink down exhausted by the wayside and die government creditors, while the sons of grand jurors and of parsons with good livings, are drawing' their two or three pounds a week." REPRESENTATION OF NEW Ross.—The Weeorli Independent gives an authorised contradiction to the re' port that the Hon. Captain Glare is about to resign to. • representation of New Ross. REPEAL ASSOCIATION. The weekly meeting of the association was held this • day. Mr. J. H. Dunne in the chair. Mr. Steele Ole gratulatcd the association that the rumours regarding the state of Mr. O'Connell's health were extremely ex' aggerated. It was true Mr. O'Connell was slightly in' disposed, and he (Mr. Steele) regretted to be Obligetiln say that his illness was in a great degree increased bl the awful state to which the country was reduced. The rent for the week was announced to be 431. 21.21 RUSSIA. THE GRECO-RUSSIAN C HURCH . The Emperor Russia has recently issued a decr e e, the object of whi of e 0 is to prevent proselytism in favour of any other religiel; than the Greco-Russian. The first article declares, that any person abjuring the Greco-Russian religion shell be placed at the disposal of the ecclesiastical autheritieer .hall be disinherited by such of his relations as profes s that religion, shall have all his fortune placed under cel l. ' trul, slid shall not be allowed to reside in the district ill which his property is situated. If he returns within the' bosom ut the Established Church, these penalties are to - cease; but if he does not return within the time.fixed hl_ the ecclesiastical authorities; he is to be cited before 4 , criminal tribunal, which cannot inflict penalty less the n that of perpetual detention in a convent, with unceasing lets of penitence and contrition. The fourth article pr°: vides that whoever shall deliver discourses, or publish ; writings calculated to cause persons who belong to th e Greco-Russian Church to ab a ndon their faith, shall lose (.he prerogatives o f hi s ran k, a nd be coadem ee _ to from one to two years' impris o nment. If the sam e fence be committed twice, the delinquent is to be or demned to the loss of civil rights, and to hard labour?! a tortress for from four to six years ; if a third time, be iA to be exiled in Siberia, and, in addition to all this, he • is to receive the knout if he belongs to the classes sub' ject to corporal punishment. Article 5 declares that ,athers and mothers belonging to the Greco-Russian • Church, who shall cause their children to be baptised in. another form of faith,' shall be punished with two years' .• imprisonment, and shall have their children taken from them, and educated by other members of their family of . • the Greco-Russian religion ; and in case there be ne relations of that creed, then by persons nominated by (he Government. Any p erson preventing a m ember 'o f :another religion from embracing the Grece-Russian, . to be imprisoned for several months.—Galignani. . TEN PERSONS DROWNED IN AN OMNIBUS. BRIDPORT, FRIDAY EVENING.—A most melanc- h o occurrence took place in this town on Tuesday la° s (a brief account of which appeared in The San a few days since). On Tuesday evening last I3owden'a ore; nibus, which plies between Bideford and Torrington , W ll l designated the • 4 Safety," drew - up opposite the qua)' , At six o'clock started for the l a tter t o wn. The verol was full of passengers, eleven pe rso n s being inside, en_ one on the roof. It had not gone man y y a rds before e n ; of the horses became restive, and after making two °r three plunges the pole and splinter broke asunder frogs the carriage, which instantly went down the declivity °( the qua), and with the whole of its passengers was Pre c i iipitated over into the river. The night was dark, an there was upwards of 20 feet of water, the tide being el?: There. was a terrific shriek from the passengers, but 1 : was only momentary. A woman, who was on the fo ol fortunately got ashore, and Mr. Michael Chapple , glove•maker, of Torrington, by a desperate .effort, bored open the door of the omnibus and swam ashore, assist ; oy a soldier, who bravely jump(' in to his rescue. l i d was the only one of the inside passengers who escape ' , the remainder all perished. Grappling irons were ler tnediately procured, and every effort made to save sa le .1 them, but all in vain; it was nearly two hours before ,he omnibus was brought ashore. When raised on te l the quay the sight wus truly horrifying ; the sufferer/ were lying in a mass at the 'furthermost end from the entrance. It was evident they had struggled earnest -V to escape. The inquest on the bodies took place }este r: day, before Mr..Pridlan, the borough coroner. Thei r names were Oven out as follows:—Mrs. Fanny Frienr snip, aged 40 (left five children); Ann Norman (! widow), aged 65 ; Mrs. Elizabeth Friendship, aged 3 •", (left six children) ; M a ry A n n F r i en d s hi p (d aug hter 01 the last deceased), 'Tod 11 ; .Mrs. Ann Page, a ged 40 ; Mr. John Chapple, aged 60 (brother of the g entlerns, ll who escaped) ; J o h n Passmore, aged 30; Miss Elizabe th Griffey, aged 60 ; and two other females, names u h : known. The burden of the evidence went to prove thil' the melancholy aff a i r arose f rom acc id ent a l o ne, foS although the driver w as c h arge d w i t h b e i ng d run k, an - incapable of taking charge of his horses, the whole WI proved unfounded. After a lengthened inquiry, Whi c lasted several hours, the jury returned the subjoin ed l verdict:—" Accidental death, and the jury strop recommended an indictment - being laid against t" O authorities of the town for alloeing the quay side t remain in the dangerous state it was." A G REAT,young T e who r o R— re vices esin Thu rsday the looking 3ng l ad, James Henry Christopher Hunter, was brought before j impos in g last, a s titleri Sheriff Douglas at Cupar, on a charge of falsehood, frau d and wilful imposition—lst, By having taken lodgings fro ,' n u , lady in Kirkaldy, which he occupied for some d a y s on the or; pretence that he was a commission agent. 2d, With hay?' imposed on the managers of the Assembly-rooms of by engaging and taking poss e s s i on of these rooms on Ihi _4 false pretence that he w as go i ng to exhibit Gen Tom Thumb, the Ethiopian Serenaders of Virginia , the Indian chief, Tongo Mongoro. 3d, By imposing on Birrell, printer, Kirkaldy, and inducing him to print A ls n r & hand-bill, and five hundred admission cards. 4th, BY P e Ttl Haling this bill through the town of Kirkaldy, and Wr iter inducing the lieges to purchase tickets. And, lastly, Aft the Assembly-rooms were lighted up, and the peoßi e , 4 „d, partly assembled, by running off in a gig for Burnt l6 '"its and failing to pay any of the parties above mentioned . bees was caught at Edinburgh by the very officer who bad st engaged by him to take charge of the receipts of the doe r Kirkaldy. 11 e pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to days' imprisonment.—Edinburgh Advertiser. 81147E13. On the 15th inst., at the Highway, Enfield, the wife of Dr. Jt.l'u Jameson, of a daughter. A natt, On the lath : list., at Boulogne-sur-Mer, the lady of Dr ...— of a On the sou. the WV 22d inst., at Andover Lodge, New Finchley-road , of Barclay Greenhill, Esq., of a son. W. Rey On the 23d inst., at Hilltleld, Hampstead, the wife of the Darwin Fox, Rector of Delaraere, of a son. r y eel On the 24th inst. in Hereford-street, Park-lane, the wife 0 • Dawson, Esq., of a son. the On the 24th inst., in Westbourne-street, Hyde-park - aa—' — wife of J. Baker, Esq., of a daughter. JA nles On the 24th inst., In Upper Grosvenor-street, the lady of Sir Weir Hogg, Bart., M.P., of twin sons. On the 24th inst., at liornsey, lire. F. Robertson, of a MARRIED. On the 231 At the Old Church, Brighton, Walter Iticstdof Esq., late 7th llnssars, to Catharine Cecilia, younger daughter' Charles Joint Craven, Esq., of Kemp-town, raCe' G lED. On the 19th inst., Elizabeth, D widow of the late Thoragis - Esq., of Prince's Risboroegh, Bucks, a-ed 85. a ge d 83, On the 2114 inst., in Oxford-terrace, ' John Rawlins, Esq. , ~,,cst On the 22d inst., at Barford-bridge, near Dorking, Eliza, Yo" daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Carmichael, aged 15. ro. On the 22d inst., in Albion-road, Stoke lien ington, MarY 244 we bb On the 22d inst., in Charterhouse-square, the Rev. Fletcher Smith, aged 29. On the 23d inst., S kin,wn, Esq., of Bloomsbury- sq uare, aged 81. On the 2'lcl : nst., Mr. l rulbert, of Long-acre, aged 66. A of Grate' On the 441 n inst., Emma, daughter of Charles Ray. E g, ' , church-street. Lon Zn. rnnted 4t1,2 l'ublimtied by YOITYG. of 14. ' 115' traria, printer, At The .Sun ftc, No.ll2„ ,4 trbnd , F u - Of The oiivo‘'. to the County of Middlesex, Tlittrsditt brim"? 25, 1947. in the prec inct