The Sun. — London, England, 1847-05-26 00:00:00

THE SEN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEN G, MAY 26 i 1847, NATIONAL BANK OF IRELAND. (TIES DXY.) The twelfth anntai general meeting of the pro prietors of the National Bank of Ireland was hell this day, at No. 13, Old Broad-street, fur the elec tion of directors in room of those who, in pursuance of the deed of settlement, retire from office. Some interest in the proceedings was evinced, as it was expected that reference would be made to the late Governor of the Institution, Daniel O'Connell, Esq., m.p., who, during a long and active life Sustained such a conspicuous part in the history of Europe. The meeting was, therefore, more than ordinarily crowded. J. C. Ruding, Esq., occupied the chair. among the directors present we observed T. Lamie M urray, Esq J. C. Ruding, E-q., Fowler Nowsam, Esq., Robert Sutton, j un., E s q., Charl.:s Bianconi, Esq., B. Renshaw, Esq., A. P. Johnsoe, Esq., L. W. Wheeler, Esq., J. L. Wheeler, Esq., John Ransom, Esq., W. L. Wheeler, Esq , Joseph Wheeler, Esq. , Charles ttule, E sq., Thomas Shewell, Esq., H. M. Jones, Esq. Francis O'Neill, Esq., Captain Sir Burton Macnamara, Joshua B. Bacon, Esq., John Robins, Esq., George Coxhead, Esq., Jacob Stanley, jun., Esq., John Pitman, Joseph Barber, Esq. , E. J. D of Cork. aniel, Esq., A. K. Rutchi son , Es q ., G. F. lardy. Esq., The CHAlRMAN—Gentlernen, I am happy to have the pleasure of meeting you at our twelfth annual meeting, and I trust that the report which we have to lay before you will meet with your approbation. I shall now call upon the Secretary to read the notice convening the meeting. The SECRETARY, having read the advertisement, then, by order of the Chairman, read the following "REPORT Of the Directors of the National Bank of Ireland, made to the Proprietors at the Twelfth Annual Ge neral Meeting, held at the office of the Company, No, 13, Old Broad-street, London, on Wednesday, the 26th of May, 1847. 11l presenting to the proprieto rs the Twelfth An foal Report of the operations the bank, the direc tors deem it right to call their attention to the several ci rcumstances that have occurred in the eventful period 3i nce their last meeting, and which were calculated, more or less, to affect the property of the establishment. "In August last year, the B ank of England, influenced b the favourable course of the exchanges, lowered its late of interest to 3 per cent.; but, subsequently, owing to their re-action, and the consequent drain of bullion, it Wised the rate to 4 per cent., and , rec entl y , to 5 p er cent. i The failure of the potato crop in Ireland, for the a s econd time, caused much consternation, and from being 4. 1 exorting country, f l lreand ecame a large importer the p necessaries oife, l thus, b not only disturbing the anal courz,e of things, but adding considerably to the d 14 eiency experienced in countrie s similarl y situated. :Under these difficult circumstanc es, new to Banking, businesst herefr om in Ireland, a nd the s peculation likely to result the directors have preserved one uniform co u r B e, discouraging, as much as in their power, all im port operations, but affording facilities for the of provisions intended to su pp l y the growing w ants th of th e co untry. One of the immed iate results of .policy has been already visible, in the increased and Increasing confidence in the bank, and its abilit y to : 1 1 ; 4 ,13 accommodation to the legitimate d emands of trade u agriculture. "The long discussed question of the abolition of the co rn -laws, became in the past year , a final measure; but the circumstances already noticed , have s'.]spended their actio n e r , so far as the agricultural intere st of Ireland is — ne'rued. 1 1 " The pr o p r i e t ors will be gratified to learn, that the o n has be e n i ns trumental in facilitating the o p erations 11 4 ,,.overnment, conn ected with the Commiss ioners of pur uile Work s , and which have been i n force for the P o se of relieving th unparallel, d distress and destitu tionwhich prevails in Ireland. Jelint was-man previous meeting of the proprietors a strong , fested, that the Bank should further Which An alliiviating the wide spread" and deep distress ef !xisted. The directors have now th e satisfaction ait ting that they have carried out t he views of the o f proprietors(),,t, by contributing in various localities upwards ie h thousand pounds. laid be ; Proprietors will observe, from the accounts now ° re them, that tho past year has been one of prosperity Yea. to the Bank, as, in addition to the two halt 2250Ywnividenda which have b( en paid, amounting to 0,6 12 i, the directors have remaining a surplus of credi t 1 0s. 2d., which has been carried to the 50,1 08 r the Reserve-tend, whereby it is increased to " Th e 1 55.3 d. te 184 r undivided profits at December, were et p r we re fits fur the year ending De -1846 ti D ~ it)l3 Midsunamta 72,608 15 3 e Ct hal r's dividend 1846 ...... ... .£11,250 " (I° '' do to Christmas, 1 846 " ........................... 11,250 ,22 500 0 0 --. " Leafing amount of undivided profits, at De cem b er , 1846 £50,108 15 3 " There are now to be elected three directors, in the room of Nicholas Maher, Es q ., M.P., Maurice O'Con tell, Esq., M.P., and Robert Sutton, jun., Esq., whose teats at the board are vacated by rotation, all of whom are candidates for the office, and eligible to be re-elected. " Approved by the Court, (Signed) "T. LAMIE MURRAY, Chairman." The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, before I put the ques tion of the adoption of this report, I beg to know if a nY Hon. Proprietor has any question to ask ? Mr. JONES—Sir, it is from no wish to ask any question that the board may not be ready to answer, but being a proprietor, and presuming that there are others who, like me, feel anxious on this subject, 1i tnamely,h t e Bank k the account of our late Govern or stands at the same time that I am persuaded, b oth from th e c h arac t e r of the illustrious indivi dual eea 'ed, as well as from the care a nd attention of th e directors, I may anticipate a favourable answer— certainlyb an ans we r different from that prognosticat ed raan y of those who are not so well acqu ainted with the you 1,4115:1" of the Bank as myself. Therefor e, Sir, if th e nt-ae:tin eno objection, I should wish you t o inform whether the account of the late G overnor ‘41143 as it ought to do. The CHAl RMAN —G en tl em en, I have much plea sure In Itncl ar r ierin g the question of the Hon. Proprietor, th at the the utmost satisfaction in telling you raor 'no balance due from the late Governor is not s ore t thax l 4,o ool., and we hold life policies to the ba t Z- of 7 ,500/. besides other securities, so that the um b a can lose nothing by the late Governor. I re ct r P PY to be thus able to put at rest all the incor of e Ports th at h ave been circulated, that the debt the late Governor to this Bank amounted to 0,000 /. or 70,0001. Mr. J0 NE5 ....4 am happy to hear so satisfactory an a nswer, although it was only what I expected from the honourable conduct and business character of the directors of this bank. The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, before moving the adoption of the report, i e t ei i a s u painfulymythe dutydeath of our to announcet andmeetingothe i distinguished much-lamented Governor. It is with extreme regret that after the presen ce of that most distinguishedfor many so g entleman at the annual m eetin g s Of this companyyears, that we should be depri ve d of his valuable services, and that upon this occasion so humble an individual as myself should be called upon to occupy the place so ably filled by that lamented gentleman. To Mr. O'Conne ll we ewe a debt of profound gratitude for the Valuable and gratuitous assistance which he afforded in his lifetime in the establishment of this Bank. The readiness with which, upon all occasions, he lent the aid of his Powerful talents for its a d v ancement, and the abl e and i m p ar ti a l manner with which • he dis charged t h e of: the • arduous duties of a g overnor Bank, won for h im the esteem of his colleagues, and entitled him to the warmest thanks of all interested in this society. The heart of Mr. O'Connell, I may say, was centered in this Bank ; he believed that this was an institution which, after paying a beneficial return to its proprietors, was calculated to contribute largely to the so cial improvement of Ireland, particularly the Poorer c l asses, whose we lf are was his constant ca re, and it was a source of the greatest satisfaction to that distinguished gentleman to know, previous to his decease, that all his endeavours towards this end had been crowned with success, and that his fond and a r d ent h opes for i ts succes s had been fully realised. (Hear, hear.) By the death of Mr. O'Connell his children have been bereft of a kind and aff ect i onate parent, the directors of an am i a bl e and val ua bl e colleague, and the proprietors at l ar g e of a highly i n fl uential and distinguished patron .— (Cheers.) -H aving paid this tribute to the memory of our departed friend, I think that it is now right to allude to the a ff a i rs o f the Bank its.2lf.—(l-lear, hear.) of since the maki ng up of these account=, i n th e month December last, which have been already laid before T,:s,, ~i have the h a p p i ness of stating that the Bank Our en prog ress i ng most satisfactorily.—(Bear.)a po reintserve fund h as i ncreased to upwar d s o f 50,0001., which, I hop e which, in th e op i n i on o f t h e di rec t ors , and IS e ) will be c oncurre d i n b y y ou rselves, aufficintly large to enable the directors to increase the amount of dividend.—(Hear, hear.) The utmoqt his been exercised by your directors, and will be continued; and, unless any unforseen circumstances should take place, we have a confident hope and expectation that before we have the pleasure of meeting you again we shall be able to increase the dividends upon the capi tal of the Bank.—(Hear, hear.) I will now move the adoption of the report. Mr. THOMAS SHEWELL wished to inquire, whether proper provision had been made for any outstanding bad debts. He wished also to state, that he hoped great care would be exercised by the directors in in creasing the amount of the dividends, because he felt it to be essential to the security of the concern that the reserve fund should be kept upon a sound foundation. The CHAIRMAN—The amount of bad debts has been written off, as far as could be ascertained, and provision has also been made for those debts silich may be considered as of a doubtful character. Mr. WHEELER seconded the adoption of the report, which was put by the Chairman, and carried unani- mously. The CHAIRMAN said the business of the day had been brought to a close, and all that remained for him to do was to thank them for their kind attendance. ...... ..._ .......__ ______ ___ 111 r. BACON said he thought it was their duty to pass a vote of thanks to the Chairman and di rectors for their labours during the past year. — (Cheers.) The report which they had just heard read must have been exceedingly sa- tisfactory to those who had watched the pro gress of the Bank as he had, and, therefore, he considered that it was their duty to pass a cordial vote of thanks to them for their labours. He held in his hand a list of the profits realised by the Bank during the last eight years, and he found that they were much greater than in any previous years ; and this, they must bear in mind, had occurred during a period of unexampled suffering in Ireland, when they might have expected that the profits would have been reduced, instead of increased. With re spect to the increased dividend he wished to make an observation, namely, that it vas a matter which might be safely left in the hands of the directors.— (Hear, hear.) Before they had a reserve fund of 50,000/. he should have thought it inexpedient to raise the dividend ; but when they had a reserve fund of 50,0001. (Cheers) —and when the interest of money was much higher than it had been for some time past, he thought that they might make the proposed increase ; but as he had said, he thought this was a question which the directors were quite competent to settl,.— (Cheers.) He had, therefore, great pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to the Chairman and other directors for their exertions in behalf of the institution. Sir BURTON MACNAMARA begged to second the motion. He did so as a person who had lived in Ireland during the crisis which had come upon her ; he had consequently witnessed the operations of the banks in that country, and could therefore, confirm the statement of the Honour able Proprietor, that by good management the profits of the Bank had increased during a period of almost unexampled suffering. He had watched the operations of the Bank, and be was, therefore, in a position to state (and it gave him grew` pleasure to do so) that none could have discharged their duties better than the officers of the Bank in Ireland. He hoped the directors would take into account the inferior officers of the Bank, and, con sidering the high price of provisions, increase their salaries. The motion was then carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, we are much obliged to you for the vote of thanks you have proposed to us. It is a source of the ut most satisfaction to us to learn that the report has met with your approbation ; we trust that by exercising the same diligence as during the past, we shall deserve a similar mark of your approbation in the future. We beg to thank you very cordially for the kindness which we have experienced from you at this meeting. In reply to the observation of the gentleman who spoke last, with respect to raising the salaries of some of the inferior officers, owing to the high price of provisions, I have to state that the subject has been already under the consi deration of the directors, and the recommendation of the llon. Proprietor has been already anticipated by them. The meeting then terminated. PRINCESS'Saena Piper,t3 ,astwo T as ii t, b E al A iid T o ß per E a: Last ev • rv o e o d u, , ,o tier © with completer l a a n i d d , in w G e r m ee a n y w a i d e d h , , in most e deserved p the King nantpitil,etd, art Su rh B e s. r d e . i r ' r gn he oJames s I.; the hero is a Scotch bagpiper,° tSawn with Macaulay G l o r v a e n b (Miss Emma Stanley), who is in y i ) athe publican, pretty daughter (Rosa) of old Spillpeg ( who refuses his consent unless Sandie can raiso 50L; and Sandie writes to the King, asking his Majesty to ad vance the sum to a countryman in distress. Some En glish Lords, who have been plotting to seize the King at Blackheath, hire Sandie, who they imagine has over heard their plot, to play a tune on his bagpipes within the King's hearing, so as to entice forth the King, who is passionately fond of his national music, when they in tend to; seize him. One of their number, Devereux (Mr. Barker), warns the King of his danger by an anonymous epistle, and poor Sandie, who has been left waiting on the heath some hours, strolls towards the palace, strikes up a tune, and is sent for by the King, who breakfasts heartily off some bannocks and Dumfries ale, which Sandie has in his pouch, and gives him in exchange for the dainties which had been provided for his own breakfast. Sandie mentions the note, and the King imagining that he is the author of the anonymous epistle, heaps all sorts of favours on him. The rebel lords believing Sandie knows their secrets, lest he shoul3 betray them. also reward him, and Sandie takes all as a homage justly paid to his superior skill as a piper. Several amusing contretemps arise, and we are carried pleasantly through two acts before the marriage of the lovers, the end of all comedies, takes place. The acting of Miss Emma Stanley as Sandie was admirable, and in fact secured the success of the piece. She was called for at the conclusion, and enthusias tically applauded. The music by Mr. Joseph Duggan. a.though it has no claims to originality, is light and elegant —a cento of pleasant reminiscences. The piece, which was announced for repetition every evening, will doubtless have a run. GENERAL FALL IN Padvrsiosis.--Yesterday morn . ing the price of bread was reduced in several places in the metropolis a halfpenny in the 41b. loaf ; many of the under-priced bakers announced the gratifying tact by l ar ge placards. having the words "Glorious news, down again to 10p.," inscribed. The general price of seconds bread is from lOid. to I lid., and the L. ague Company are selling at 10d. the 41b. loaf ; interior can be obtained a penny less. and the best bread sells at Is. Id.; flour has been reduced in proportion. A reduction of a penny in the pound has taken place in the prices of butcher's meat of all descriptions, and in consequence bacon and other cured provisions have been reduced. The fine Ntather has caused a large supply of fish, which is sold remarkably cheap; small soles can be had from 2d. to 3d. per pair, and mackerel five for Is. Vegetables, particu krly greens and cabbages, are very plentiful; the firmer, which about a week ago sold at 7d a bunch, can now be had at 2d., and early York cabbages at lid. each; early foreign potatoes sell at 3d. per lb. NEW GOOD CONDUCT WARRANT. —Yesterday the New Good Conduct Warrant, founded on . the recent pro ceedings of the Right Hon. F. Maule for bettering the condition of the soldier, was issued from the . Horse Guards. It is of considerable length, and . authoriss an increase in the amount of pensions, which holds out prospects of a most brightening nature to non-commis sioned officers and privates of good character. The boon it is thought will be followed by many beneficial effects, and will, no doubt, in a great measure allay that discon tent which has lately prevailed amongst the non-com missioned officers as well as privates. NUMEROUS FlRES.—Yesterday afternoon, shortly before five o'clock, police-constable Mackwick, whilst proceeding along his beat in Tudor-street, Bridewell Precinct, discovered that the premises occupied by R. G. Price, Esq , as coach-house and stables were on fire. The officer immediately sounded an alarm, and in a very brief period the engines belonging to the Bridewell Hospital, parish, London Brigade, and West of England offices attended, when the firemen found that the hay and straw in the lofts over the stables were enveloped in flames. After some trouble the firemen and about 30 hired auxiliaries, who were assisted with a plentiful supply of water, got th e mas t er y over the flames, but not before the contents of the loft were consumed, the roof burned off, and the ceiling of the coach-house severely damaged by water. The origin of the fire could not be learned. About noon yesterday a fire that caused considerable alarm brok e ou t a t 110, Fleet street , occupied by Mr. Mecham, trunk-maker. It originated from some unknown cause in the first floor back, used as the kitchen Engines quickly attended, and by setting one machine to work the flames were soon extinguished, the damage, considering the extent of the premises, not being very great.o'clock, io'chk, a fire,esame morning, about ten minutes pastthree which had it not been so opportunely discovered would doubtless have proved of a most disastrous character, was found burning at 13eala's-wharf, Mill•lane, Tooley-street, Southwark, the :)roperty of Messrs. C. and G. Griffin. It was caused gas pipe, w hi c h se t fire to the from some defect . in the un der part of the flooring in the B w are h ouse . Owing t.) the timely assistance afforded the damage done was comparatively inconsiderable. The fir m i s i nsure d i n the 4 Sun, Alliguce, .sod Zinnia offices. AMERICA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY. By the packet- ship Columbia, Captain Fenton, ar rived in the Mersey this morning, we have New York accounts of the Ist inst. Politically, they are entirely unimportant. The Washington Union reports the position of affairs on the Rio Grande as follows : " The last letter from General Taylor, of the 28th of March, reports that our communications with the rear are now measurably secure, no interruption having taken place since that reported on the 20th ult. A train ar rived on the 24th, under escort of the Ist Indiana Regi ment, and another was daily expected. It is understood that the regular cavalry of Urrea had retired from that qulrter across the mountains; a natural result of the retreat of the main army towards San Luis and of our precaution to secure the trains. All was quiet at Sal- Alio; the troops in good health, and the wounded ra pidly recovering. The inhabitants, both at Saltillo and Monterey, were generally returning to their homes, and, in the country, are engaged in planting their crops." The commercial accounts by this arrival are but - - • - little later than those received by the Cambria. Ex change, after the steamer's departure, was quoted at 6 to 64 per cent. premium, a little higher being paid, in some cases, for favourite signatures. The cotton market was quiet. The flour trade was unsettled, several holders, in anticipation of the opening of the canal navigation, having evinced an anxiety to realize. Freights also were unsettled, and several vessels were about to leave for the St. Lawrence to trade. We annex the usual report from the New York Shipping List of the Ist instant. Dates from the southern markets are not later than those last received : f MR. O'CONNELL - . FP( "iin The Paris Notional publishes the following elo quAa, tuid in itiaoy laapeots just., ti o ~riilcal el Lc i 1 of O'Connell : " We should write an entire book, comprising tle history of Ireland for the last fifty years, it we would give a complete idea of the life of O'Connell. In writing those lines, in which we shall unite some personal im pressions with recollections s eit known to everybody, we desire to appreciate thut great character without dimi nishing its proportions, and to pass judgment on the politician without giving to his acts a sense or a mean ing contrary to his own. Daniel O'Connell entered upon public life at 22 years of age; death alone with drew him from it at the moment when he was about to attain his 74th year. The admirers of his glory may consider that his death arrived at too late a period. Had ' he fallen five years since under the last persecution of the Tories, and in that prison to which he was accom panied by an entire nation, he would have been, to use the language of Bossuet, entombed in his triumph.' His destiny did nut permit that; it struck him in a foreign land, far from that green Erin which he adored, and during latter years, whilst his powerful constitution was declining gradually and Ireland was beingdecimated by famine—lreland, a victim full of resignation, had no longer the force to cause her groans to be beard. At that period every eye was directed towards that man who held the nation suspended at his will ; he was re minded of so many speeches full of' hope, so many illusions maintained by his eloquence—he was accused of having by a compromise paralysed every burst of courage, and crushed in the bud every real attempt at emancipation. Tee inclemency of the weather and the unproductiveness of the season were attributed to him. In what were we deficient at that moment,' exclaimed lately a patriot of the Young Ireland school, neither hands, heart, or intellect. We are possessed of all those advantages in the name of our eternal rights. At pre sent we possess none of those—and the violence of con quest, and the culpable weakness of those who have made a treaty with our enemies, have caused the continuation of that impious and homicide rule which converts 8,000,000 of Irishmen into a type of the most miserable amongst civiiized nations!' The bitterness of those com plaints fell drop by drop on the heart of O'Connell, whose blood was congealed and no longer felt that ener getic excitement by means of which he governed so long. He himself felt that the stamina of his best days could scarcely suffice to make head against so desperate a situation. That aspect of Ireland, whose wounds were gaping —those accusations, which appeared to impute to him a part of the most perilous responsibility—the bold plans of the Young Ireland party, which filled him with terror—the feeling of his own declining health—all com bined to hasten his last moments. We are not so unjust as to refuse to acknowledge the great services which he has rendered. He, it is true, did not accomplish a work apportioned to the power which be enjoyed, but what we wished of him he did not wish. Ho has been frequently honoured with the title of tribune ; he never possessed more than its exterior qualities— the lofty stature—the athletic force—the exterior pas sion, and perhaps the language; but he neither possessed the instincts nor the resolution of a tribune. There is nothing more common than to be deceived by ap pearances ; genius possesses the i rare privilege of com prehending everything, and we imagine that we expe rience profound sensations when we merely reflect those of others. It was thus that O'Connell became the indefatigable echo of grief which he did not feel, and passed for a tribune of the people whilst ho was merely the powerful advocate of the middle classes. Daniel O'Connell had seen in his youth the efforts of the mul titude, the ardent impatience of that oppressed nation— the mysterious insurrection—the frequently sanguinary violence of the Irish perishing of hunger—those appeals of the secret societies to arm ~ succeeded by those terrible executions of which the traces w..:re to be found on the high road or at tha gates of the rich—the entire his tory of a people reduced to despair, which feels the weight of invasion on its breast, and which contends with fire and sword against the foreigner. Well ! he execrated that history ; he came not to organize that army, but to destroy it ; he ch dared so in the first speech by which he established his reputation ; he wished to ,übstitute a straggle in the face of the sun for a midnight hattle,—legal means for violent conduct,—for the vongeance of despair he substituted that activity which affords hope. From the commencement be spoke with respect of le ,alitv ; he declaimed vehemently against the oppressed, who by their crimes appeared to wish to justify their oppressors ; and in the 3 ear 1811 he pronounced those words, co often repeated by him, that the greatest progress of the human mind was not worth a sing drop of human blood. It was easy to see from that moment in what circle he had enclosed himself. The sight of the mas sacres, the political trials, and the sentences of death passed in the year 1798 struck his mind with an invin cible horror fur the Saturnalia of force. At a later period, having [wen insulted by one of his countrymen, he fought and killed his adversary in a duel. Af:er this affair he ran to a Catholic church in a state of distrac- tion, and vowed that he would never again touch an in- 1 strument of destruction. That double impression decided 1 his political career. Thus oppression might stretch its springs and double the number of its victims. O'Connell ' tabut end to Cato words, analogous am tildetermined to combat and pursue it without any cessa tion, but he had preciously traced the line beyond which i he would not pass. It was in legality he placed his 1 hopes—it was legality which was his only flag — that was the calm of his feebleness and latterly of his impotence —it was likewise his force as an agitator and as an orator. He said, like others, ' Peace everywhere, and for ever ;' 1 but that peace was neither idle nor disgraceful — it was neither sterile, corrupt, inert, nor sleepy. He was able to make that peace formidable to England, and he derived from it all the conquests which it was possible to extract. From the population of Irish peasants, enrolled under the banner of the Whiteboys, he wished to form an immens e Catholic legion, the clergy was his staff. It was n o t th roug h calculation that he t, og e o v u e s r (i tot the those religion wghioinch of Lucan the at sought that auxiliary, which offered itself so naturally to him. Lord Byron ma k es one o f hi s h e roes speck thesei per secuted.' O'Connell h a d a li vely f a i t h i n t h at re li gion faith which never wavered. The persecution of Catholicity in Ireland prolonged the fanaticism of the middle age to modern times. We can scarcely believe when reading the last memoir of O'Connell that such sanguinary laws could have been applied at the com mencement of the present century. The title of Ca tholic proscribed that of citizen—he possessed no right, no property, no asylum. We do not wish to stir that pool of blood, but an idea may be formed of the civil position of the Catholics, when it is known that a Pro testant meeting a Catholic on horseback had a right to make the Catholic alight and take possession of his horse. Such was Ireland when O'Connell entered on public life. It was the period when Pitt by force and seduction, menaces, and bribery destroyed the Irish , Parliament and proclaimed the Act of Union. The patriotism of the Irish was roused, and the following passage from the speech of an orator who had opposed the union was placarded on the walls of Dublin: ' Ire land is no I, nger anything but a colony of slaves fur England.' O'Connell had soon an opportunity of ex plaining his principles on this subject during a political trial, and his language was so persuasive, his appeal to the country so pathetic, that when leaving the court-house be was hailed as the chief of a new party. Nevertheless, his success at the bar restrained him. From the year 1809 to the peace his reputation and his practice so much increased that it produced him 20,000/. sterling a year. Still, however, he did not neglect his general interests—there was not a public meeting at which his voice was not heard—not a banquet at which he was not the popular orator—not a petition nor an address which was not prepared by this accomplished lawyer ;—he thus converted the laws pre pared to crush him into an arm. Nevertheless England, which had made so trte) , promises in order to obtain the Act of Union, proved herself implacable. ' She _ . . grants us nothing,' exclaimed O'Connell in 18'20, ' be- cause we do not stir. Let us agitate ! Let us unite I Let the weight of our petitions crush the table ot the House ot Commons, so that by the noise made in breaking the table, the House may at length be warned that we are n3i.lions of men crushed by iniquitous laws.' Vain hopes I There are periods when nations appear to lose every principle of life through torpidity. In the year 1823 two men, equal in eloquence, met at V. icklow at the house of a common frieod ; both patriots and both young, they shed tears on the fate ot Ireland. The-e were Shell and O'Connell. Supported one by the other they determined to rouse the population from its apathy by founding a vast Catholic Asociation. The founda tion was soon laid, and they agree d t o me et in the tern of a bookseller in Dublin. Ten members were consuiered sufficient to found the assoc i a ti o n. F o ur meetings were held , but notwithstanding co e not mo b s e t Pl when Mr. O'Con nell heard voices i n the booksel ler's shop. They were those of three stude nts in divinit y who came to purchase found.tei ng hours Th th e ey N4t.e draey a books. according to t h e statutes of the association in invitations las the tbiole tti embryo every ec clesiastic was ipso facto a member. Mr. O'Connell invited the students to take their places—they hesitated —he forced them into the room, and closing the door he exclaimed with a thundering voice, " We are constituted—Mr. Shed, I call on you to speak.' This feeble nucleus soon became larger —the acorn assumed he proportions of an immense oak---all the priests were appoinCed officers of the association—within two years i, extended over the entire territory —it presented itself everywhere, and if any act of violence was committed against an Irishman a lawyer was employed to prosecute btbeuilaaiseig,Ti en d L i iti7l' 1. a i ~i n 0 t he affair—the act was denounced in the newspapers and at the meetieg,s of the association. At the close of the year, 1,201,000 signatures were attached to the Catholic a ppeared to exceed the powers of a human )petition, and the following year more than 2,000,000. Ireland appeared to be roused, and the feeling of nationality inspired her population. The activity of seven or eight hours a day —harangued e verybody—at one moment in the public streets, the next at a meeting ; the same day at a public dinner, and the following day appeared a ()'Gunn ed b,ig. H e spo ke during letter signed by him in the journals of the association, or some p a mphlet, or denunciation of an abomi nable law or an act of oppressive Government. He ex cited agitation with all the strength of his powerful the sublime and descending to the gro lungs. It was then that he developed all the resources of his unparalleled eloquence—little careful of his style, Pleasure the laughter or the tears an eloquence spontaneous, multiplied, varied, affecting every chord of the human and calming storms—sometimes of the auditory, according to circumstances — inflaming sometimes picturesque, but ever animated the passions — heart with that spirit of inspiration drawn from the love of his wi n hatred of oppression. He found pleasure country in queting old patriotic adages, even when they were opposed to his principles. How many times did he not repat those celebrated lines— ' —exciting 'Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not Who would be free himself must strike the blow!' Anct again ho invoiced all the beauties of - his dear Ire . landandher verdanthills,and r her picturesque sites, and ( devoted, ireellectual. and so war:l:y ' to be' happy, se e . cil d!=posed to become so, and w ;rich the brutal heed of the Saxon crushed like a flower of which you break the stem. ' Ireland, first flower of the earth and first gem of the sea l' And with this enthusiasm he isinglcd the traditional history, the remarkable deeds of arms, the ancient glory of his country, which gave masters to all Europe, and which was learned when other n at i ons were pl unge d iu ignorance and bar barism. This was the inexhaustible theme of his spe ,s ech o e r 3 o and,anditm was bsh:ad popularity re-animating he that love of coun try 0 more unbounded svas able everto ceeonjqouyeed b conquer the m any man. The history of that first association is similar to that of all the others, and the talent, as well as the power of O'Connell, preserved since then the same character. The English, seeing that new struggle in the name of the law, wished to terminate it by the law. The Bill of 1825, presented by Goulburn, afforded Sir R. Peel an occasion to pronounce a remarkable speech, which subequently caused him embarrassments, and perhaps excited in his breast the remorse attending a bad action. It summed up the whole English constitu tion in these words:—` Hatred of Catholicism, distrust towards Irish idolaters!' The Bill adopted prohibited all meetings, all associations, during more than four ! teen days! This was sufficient for O'Connell to con tinue to develop his work. The law was promulgated in the month of March. On the 13th of July the Catholic Association was re-modelled on a new legal basis. It no longer had a centre nor a constant duration. It had as many centres as there were towns, as many meetings as there were villages; the principal orators, and O'Connell at their head, traversed Ireland in every direction, and innumerable assemblies hailed them with transports of enthusiasm. It was on the 13th of July, in the church of Waterford, amidst the prelates and crowd which thronged the edifice, that the new associa tion was inaugurated. The Catholics, not satisfied with speaking, resolved to act. They were excluded from Parliament, and determined to force their way into it. Fitzgerald, the representative of Clare, had become Cabinet Minister, and again solicited the suffrages of his former constituents. An order was given to elect O'Connell in his place, although O'Connell was not eligible. The particulars of that solemn demonstration are known to everybody. During three days the Irish electors, escorted by a multitude of peasants, repaired to the hustings, and openly voted for O'Connell. During three days the people, in a mass, kept watching, and, strange to say, no act of disorder, no sign of intemper ance, disturbed that immense reunion. A solemn cir cumstance imparted a dramatic colour to the event. At nightfal, when the result of the poll was about to be proclaimed, a Catholic clergyman made his way through the crowd, ascended the hustings, and com manding silence with his hand, slowly pronounced these words—' Irishmen ! brethren ! an impious Catholic had the misfortune to vote for Fitz gsrald.'—(' Shame! shame!' exclaimed the indignant people.) ' Silence,' replied the speaker, in a severe tone; the indignation of man is feeble compared with the wrath of God! The hand of the Almighty has punished him. I inform you that he has just been struck with apoplexy. A prayer for his soul!' And in an instant the whole multitude fell on its knees, when some stentorian voices shouted out. ' O'Connell is re turned! O'Connell for ever! O'Connell and Ireland free!' The crowd then dispersed in every direction, carrying to the extremity of the island the glorious tidings which made every heart rejoice. He proceeded to London, presented himself in the House of Commons, and when tendered an oath he could not take he protested and retired. The electors of Clare refused to elect another deputy, and the agitation of Ireland becoming more and more menacing, the English eri,tocracy was compelled to yield, and the emancipation of the Catho• lies was proclaimed by that same Sir Robert Peel, whose fortune was always magnifi, d by the strange circum stsnce that he was obliged to carry the measures most violently opposed by himself and his party. We shall not continue the biography of O'Connell any further. The events are too near us, and the traces of his passage though Parliament cannot be so soon effaced. When the Whigs resumed the direction of affairs O'Connell, confiding in their good intentions, extinguished the fire he had kindled, and which he was able to rekindle during the Tory Administration. His influence over the masses still en dured, but his action over the enlightened and resolute e t atriots had long been on the wane. The Cabinet of Sir Robert Peel renewed the popularity of the Agitator by instituting against him judiciary proceedings, similar to those already directed against him, at another period, to the discomfiture of his persecutors. But on the re turn of Lord John Russell, all those angers, those pro mises of r-peal, all that movement imparted to a popu lation which he was certain to restrain, all that ardent and sarcastic eloquence, which preserved in his old age all the power and vivacity of his youth, suddenly vanished like a phantom. Then an opposition formed it.elf round him, and ultimately against him. This was his deathblow." The National then concludes with an extract from one of O'Connell's speeches, delivered at Waterford, in which he pr‘dicted that the rising generation would not be so patient under suffering us those that preceded it. MIRSTNO. Mr. F. Grote, merchant, Gresford ; and it is doubtful whether there are not more still in the river. A highly respectable jury were summoned to-day, and met at half-past ten and sat until hall.past three, when it was nAjourned to Friday morning at ten. Previous to their being sworn they took a minute survey of the bridge, &c. I omitted to state that had not the engine been de tached, and tender thrown against the wall, from the carriages, not a soul would have escaped, as their pon derous weight must have crushed everything to atoms. As it is, people wonder how a single individual did so. (From the Liverpool Times.) Immediately' upon hearing of this dreadful calamity, we dispatehed a reporter to the spot, who returned this morning, after witnessing the scene of the melancholy occurrence. The scene of the accident is the noble bridge over the river Dee, close to the race-course. The river is there crossed by an iron bridge of three spans, each 100 feet in width. Each span is composed of massive iron girders, supported by stone of the most firm and durable construction. There are four of these girders in each span, one on each side of the nre and down lines of rails, Strong wooden beams were fixed across the girders, and along these the lines were laid. The girders themselves were formed of two pieces of iron firmly rivetted in the centre, and seemed well adapted to sustain an immense weight. The train which left Chester at a quarter past six last evening consisted of one first-class carriage, two second class carriages, and a luggage van; but it is stated that there were not more than two dozen passengers. The train was proceeding as usual along the line, had already crossed two of the arches, and was in the act of crossing the third, when, without one moment's warning, all the carriages were precipitated into the river, a depth of about 120 feet; the engine and tender, which had crossed the bridge, pursuing their course along the line. The consternation of the passengers at this time must have been frightful; and some individuals who witnessed the accident from the Rhoodee, describe their shrieks as being of the most heartrending description. But even this terror was merely momentary; for the sudden shock and concussion rendered almost all the persons in the carriages totally insensible to their situation. One man, indeed, named Proud, recovered himself almost imme diately; he found himself in a carriage turned upide down in the river, and being fully sensible of the horrors of his situation, he exerted himself to the utmost, and succeeded in getting through the carriage window, whence be precipitated himself into the river, and swam ashore. The crash was heard at a great distance, ami assistance was promptly on the spot, Mr. Jones, the holm-surgeon of the Infirmary, being very active in rendering every aid to the unfortunate sufferers. In a brief space of time four dead bodies were taken ant of the river, and twelve or thirteen of the passengers, who were more or less wounded, were extricated from their perilous situation and conveyed to the Infirmary. As soon as the agi scion conteq Lent upon such dreadful occurrence had subs►ded, attention was oireetee to the fallen arch; but, strange to say, only one of tin girders, that on the outside, had given way, while the other temained perfectly firm sod entire. Of tours , the weight of the carriages bore doe n the rails and the horizontal beams, w hich with the girder, new broken into several pieces, fell into the river. It also tore with it a no: Lion of the stonework in which it was fixed on the Welsb side of the river. Very fortunately, how ever, nothing seemed to have fallen upon the carriage•, and though. they were crushed one against the otht 1, they did not appear so completely smashed as would have been the case had the arch been built of stone. Any conjecture as to the cause of the accident would be idle or misplaced; but doubtless that w ill be sufficiently investigated before the coroner. 01 those who escaped unhurt —comparatively few con sidering the number in the train—the fullowing are the only names we have yet learned, and we believe it cow. priscs all, with one or two exceptions:—Mr. of Liverpool, who was proceeding to Llangollen; a youLg man named Proud, connected with one of the railway offices; Mr. Lloyd Wynne, of Mount Zion, near Os• westry, and his son, also escaped almost without bruise. There seems to be one man still missing, for a hat has been found, marked with the name of Ashelford, for which there is no owner, but this is supposed to be the only body that has not been recovered. Mr. Jones, the house surgeon, seemed to think the heads of most of the sufferers had come in contact with the stone wall, as the wounds were filled with sand; bill this might be caused by the quantity of sand which would be disturbed as the carriages fell. We have spoken to one or two gentlemen who heard the crash of the falling mass, which was heard at a great distance, and who were on the spot immediately after the accident, but the relief of the wounded absorbed their whole attention, and they were almost unable to form the slightest idea of the cause of this dreadful calamity. It was stated that the engineer was so horrified at the occurrence that he went on his engine in an almost in sensible state for a distance of about two miles. One of the coachmen who was killed had 1501. in his pocket, which was taken charge of by Mr, su perintendent hurried details whi c h we have Hill, the I this accident, • • e the record s of lraialwia;tThese,then, o a f r e p o t l i h c e e . nmabolreedftroigchotlfluelc than sp h r a e na eo n tyin i ng n be a e tu n r e e history. The inquest, however, will unfold information, and, in all probability, that . some further to-morrow. take place DEATH 01' WILLIAM B. HARcourr, Esq.—We re gret to have to announce the demise of the above much respected gentleman, which took pbce suddenly at S' Leonard's Hill, near Windsor, yesterday morning earl). Mr. Harcourt was seized with an attack of apoplexy on Monday night, from which he never rallied, and ex pined at five o'clock yesterday morning. The d e ceased was eldest son o f t h e l ate M arquis D'Harcourt, daughteri of Major-General the Hon. 1-1,-nry Cavendish. A Supplement to the Gazette of last n i ght her c ont ains mr: a notification from Downing-street, that her sub , had issued letters patent under the Grea t _ b ~ i ß n a g tb 3 . 7 orders for the governme nt subjoin of the Order of the ETON MOIiTEM. WINDSOR, C 1 S,):.‘" teing 0-e.(lAy , - , tq • - u3 ela he •, • n;: ,r t ,a; Licit 4 , 1 i - tAI - brßif_d tie Ett,ri .fi allot been the Fievost an' Lie cuilloi :lies of Eton, considerallle excitement pnerailcd in vieinizY ct the leoliege from an early hour this rnornine, in consequence (from rumours which had been in circulation for some tune past) of its being apprehended that acme " demon "ration" would be made by the boys, assisted by sev. red old Etonians fro m Oxford and Caiabridx,e (ielo are strongly oppesed to the abolition of the , ceremony), which might led v.) a breech et the pence. Up to the 1 ; hour, however, of sendn g off this ch4el:tela• evtry thing hes passed off pretty quietly. With the exception of about a thousand small squares of glass being demo ( lished in the vicinity of the lower seheol, and similar breakages, but to a much smaller extent, at the houses of parties who were supposed to be in favour -cf the detertnipation which has been come to by the Pro vost, we have heard of no demonstration of a rietous character on the part of the boYs. This b e ing a " whole holiday," several of the head boys had permission to proceed in boats up the Thames for the day as far as Cliefden. Between 100 and 200 have also left for the Whitsun holidayi, thus thinning the numbers remaining at College to a considerable extent. As soon as " absence " had been called by th. Rev. Dr. Hawtrey, the head master, shortly after twelve o'clock, the boys, numbering between 200 and 300, formed in procession in the playing fields, and marched across the fields, preceded by a black flag, to the cele brated mount, at Salt-hill. They were joined by a great many of the old Etonians from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, who arrived at Eton this morning. Each wore en his left arm a band and rosette of black crape, and many had white hatbands and scarfs. As they were seen wending their way towards Salt-hill, they had till the appearance of mourners (merry though they might be) in a funeral procession. Upon their arrival at the Mount, the black flag was waved in solemn silence, and afterwards placed on the summit, drooping on the ground, typical of the lost glories of Montem. The large party then proceeded to Botham's, at the Windmill Hotel, whence, after partaking of a luncheon, they again returned to the Mount, and with the flag retraced their steps back to Col lege. A match at cricket was played during the day, between the Oxonians and the present Etonians, in the shooting fields attached to the College. A splendid cold collation was provided in the evening for the players by Mr. Clarke, of the Christopher Inn. The waiters who attended upon the guests were compelled to wear black crape around their arms, " in keeping," as it was ob served, " with the solemnity of the occasion." Such were the fears entertained by some of the college autho rities that a disturbance might take place in the course of the day, that a strong body of the metropolitan A di vision of police was stationed at Slough, in plain clothes (as we are informed), to be in reaniness to assist the local authorities in the event of their services being re quired, it being expected that a mob, composed of the idle and lazy of the two towns, might in the course of the evening show some disposition to create a disturb :ince. The abolition of Montem is not only considered to be a most unpopular proceeding on the part of the old and present Etonians, but also by the tradesmen of Windsor and Eton, amongst the latter of whom a large sum of money was triennially circulated both before and during the festival. ALARMING FIRE in MANCHESTER MANCHESTER, MONDAY.—Great alarm was excited about tbn o'c7ock on Sunday evening in the neighbour hood of Oxford -street, Chorlton-npon-Medleck, and Oxford-road, liulme (townships immediately adjoin ing Manche:4er), by the cries of "Fire, fire ;" uor was that alarm decreased when it wt.s to e that th , y pt vet Eded from the elte 1- :ive premises of Messrs. arley and Co. the ex tensive r' spinnerscotte who, though n o w willing short rime, employ bctwven 1,400 sad 1,500 bands. It ap twars the, like many firms in an exteesive way of bu siness. Messrs. Birley aid Co. not only meuutacture their own gas, but they have also a small foundry fur soaking their o , bn castings. Immediately adjoining the feuildiy was a long shed, over %ilk!) was aninln-r story, used tartly as a workshop, end containit g a large quan tity of Hondura- mah , gan), or be wood, as it is called. l lie leathern pipes or hose, toe, k-pt in cape of fire, were unfortueately in this room. The shed underneath, which was arched, was tr.ed for ariens Purposes, hut the :Tat* under the arch at the extreme end was appro priated to the reeeptb,n of the v, ante cote •n from tte which was the cause of the fire for, it appears, that owing to its inflammable nature, assisted by the oil :teed in the sparring, acid the emtn-tre heat of the day, the waste ignited, and the flames, penetrating the floor ing, caught the wood lying upon it before they were dis covered by one of the private watchmen (of whom there are four) employed on the premises. The first attempt of the watchmen was to reecne the pipes from the room above he shed; but the fire had already obtained too great mastery to render this practicable. They then procured two or three main pipes from the factory, and, by means of these coromunieteing with the force-pumps, were en abled to play upon the flames. Three or the town an e ' ines were also speedily on the spot. In tL e meant i me the flames, rushing as from a flue through a doorway opening from the shed into the foundry, and ascending its roof, speedily caught the rafters; and by this time the first floor of the shed, with the mahogany, having been consumed, the roof of ,that also was in flames, which rose up cintinuously the whole length of the building, about 25 yards. By the exertions of the fire men, however, the fire was prevented from extending itself further; for, though no fears were ent er t a i ne d after the first alarm for the factory itself, which was separated from the burning building by the river Med lock, it was with some difficulty that a lot of small tene ments in Little Ireland, immediately adjoining, were pre served from destruction. Thus this wretched district, inhabited chiefly by It ish, having lately been visited by an inundation, caused by the overflowing of the Medlock (and the inhabitants of which are now suffering from extreme destitution and its attendant, fever) but nar rowly escaped bein g pertly consumed by flames were eventually su bd ue d by twelve o' fire. The clock, and it is hoped that the damage does not exceed 500 L or 6001. The property, we understand, was not insured. Being Whitson week, the mill would have bean closed this week for repairs, even if the fire had not occurred. We learn, however, that the works will not be further re tarded by the accident. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. (From the New York Shipping List, May 1.) Exchange.—Since our last the business in foreign, for the steamer, has continued to a lair extent, but with some alterations in prices, and we now quote bills on London at 6 to 6i per cent. premium, a little higher in tome cases being paid for favourite signatures; Paris, sf. 36ic. to st. 35c.; Amsterdam, 39k, and sales of sou thern bills at lower rates; Antwerp, 39i to 39i; Ham burgh 351 to 35i; and Bremen, 78 to 78i. Cotton.—The business in this market, since our last, has not been as large as for the previous three days, but prices have been fully maintained; the market, however, closes with a quiet aspect. The transactions reach 3,600 bales, thus Upland and Flor. Mobile and N. Or. Transactions ... 2,500 bales. 1,100 bales. Ord. to good ord. ... 11 to 114 c. 11 to 11ac. Mid, to good mid. ... 11/ to 12 4 - 1 -c. 11 1 to 12tc. Mid. fair to fair ... 121 to 131 c. 121 to 13? c. Fully fair to good fair 13 to 14c. 14 to 14c. Making a total for the week of 9,850 bales. The arrivals have been, from Bales. :Florida ... ... ... 1.236 Georgia ... ... ... 1,049 South Carolina ... ... 409 North Carolina ... ... 84 Total ... 2,778 Total import from the Ist to the 30th ult. 21,431 bales. Export from the Ist to the 27th of April 4,726 „ Export from the United States. Since the Ist of September last ... 806,703 „ Same time last year •... 960,635 „ dour-The market here for western flour since our last' has been dull, and, although the stock is reduced very low, some holders, in view of the opening of canal navigation, have evinced an anxiety to readse, and prices have become unsettled, and lower rates accepted. Genessee and Troy cannot be quoted over 7 dolls. 75c., end some has been sold for 12i cants less; Michigan a n d Ohio command, in small lots, 7 dolls. 50c. to 7 dolls. 62 ; 800 barrels New Orleans sold at these rates; and 800 Oleo, via Philadelphia, 7 dolls. 37ic. to 7 dells. 50c. ro arrive, there has been a good demand, and we notice sales of 4,000 bat reds, in May, at 6 dolls. 371 e. to 6 dolls. 50e., the lower rate for mixed Michigan; 4,000 in June, 6 dolls. to 6 dolls. 25c.; 3,000 in July, 6 dohs.; 1,000 in August, 5 dolls. 75c.•, and 1,000 on or before September 1, at the option of the seller, at the same price. Southern is inactive, and pt ices gradually recede -the sales are 3,000 to 3,500 barrels of Alexandria, Georgetown, and Richmond County, at 7 dolls. 37ie. to 7 dolls. 50c.; and 500 Richmond City Mills, about 8 dolls. 50c. Rye flour sells slowly at 5 dolls. to 5 dolls. 12e. Higher raves being demanded for corn meal, the market is quiet-3,000 barrels of Jersey, part to arrive soon, sold at 4 dolls. 50c. to 4 dulls. 561 e.; 1,000, in all May, 4 dolls. 25c.; 3,000 Western, in June and July, on private terms ; and 100 puncheons of brandywine, 22 dulls. cash. Export from the Ist to the 27th of April :- Wheat flour ... . . 90,379 barrels. Grain-There is no wheat here. To arrive in May, 12,000 bushels of Genessee, sold at 1 dull. 50e. to I doll. 55c.; and 10,000 of White Ohio, 1 doll. 40c., cash. Northern rye has been dull, but the market is now, perhaps, a little firmer ; 5,000 bushels sold in lots at 92c. to 95c. A small lot of barley brought 72c. ; the last sale to arrive was for early in May at 70c., cash. Northern oats are in less request, and the stock accumu lates ; the quotation at the close is 50c. to 52c., at which 5,000 bushels have been disposed of; and 2,300 Southern at 47c. The supply of corn here is not large, but about equal to the demand, the market retaining its firmness ; the sales are 35,000 bushels Northern and Jersey yellow at 95c. to 97c., with 1,000 Jersey from store, at 1 doll. ; 10,000 Southern yellow, at 95c. to 96e. ; and 16,000 white and mixed ditto, 92c. to 94c. To arrive the sales have been large, say 150,000 bushels, partly on terms not made public, including in part the May delivery at 80e. to 85c., and June and July at 75c. to 76i. Beans are in good demand, and considerable sales have been been made within our range. 500 bags of black-eyed peas sold part at 2 dolls. 37c. per bag of two bushels. Exports from the Ist to the 27th of April. Corn ... 1,052,042 bushels. Wheat ..• ••• ... 55,490 - Rye 44,284 - Barley ... 8,183 - Oats 89,118 - Provisions-Old Ohio pork since our last has been very quiet, and yesterday the market was dull. We know of no sales worth reporting ; about 1,000 barrels sour prime brought 11 dolls. 371 c. to 11 dolls. 50e. ; and 250 new mess, to arrive, 16 dolls. 37ic. to 16 dolls. 50c. Beef is inactive ; 100 barrels city prime sold at 9 dolls. 25c. ; 200 mess, 12 dolls. ; and 175 tierces prime mess, a few days since, 20 dolls. Onio lard is in good demand, and prime in barrels readily commands 10e., and in kegs lOie. ; at these rates, with some No. 2 in barrels, at 9ic. to 9,1 c., the sales are 1,500 kegs, and 600 to 700 barrels since our last. Pickled meats are firm ; 100 tierces western"hams sold at Sic., and 60 hogsheads, shoulders, in dry salt, eic. New butter sells on arrival at 20c. to 22c. for Western dairy, and 25c. to 26c. for Orange county. Export from April 1 to 27. Beef 2,681 barrels. Pork Lard Rice-The transactions have been to a very fair ex tent since our last Ssturday's report, and prices are fully maintained. The sales amount to about 800 tierces of all descriptions at 3 dulls. 50c, for ordinary, to 4 dolls. 621 e. for good. The *tuck having been consid e ra bl y rt tweed, holders ate firm at our quotations, which we do not vary. it, T eke u y. b ,o ti au c tr e 2 o lia.. - es.t7t o e o 6f e o l. t 7; i s e i e sh a o,: p gm r ss e h* tt y good demand, and sales, cticutginia aanndd Ken- :s u o d f s. Co V nn il : Penn sylvania seed leat., part 84e. to 10Ic.; 27 Florida, at 6e. to 15c.; and 20U Connecticut, for export, on terms not made public. Iron-We have no new feature to notice in the arlet, except th a t h o ld ers o f Sc o t c h pi g are muc h firmer, and some are now asking advanced rates. 200 tons common Swedish sold on private terms. Freights-The market remains very unsettled, and rather lower rates have been accepted. Some eight or ten British vessels have left or are about to leave for Quebec to engage in the timber trade. To Ireland, London, and the continent there is hut little going for ward, and quotations arc nominal. To Liverpool we notice small engagements in American and British ves sels of flour and meal at 3s. per barrel; rosin, 3e. to 3s. 3d.; tar, 45. 6d.; leather, Fl. per lb.; 300 casks spirits of turpentine, at 2d. per gallon, &c. A British ship was taken up to load heavy goods at Boston for London, at 15s. per ton. To London-Flour, 4s. to 4s. 6d. per barrel; turpentine (North country). 4s. 6d. per barrel; spirits of turpen tine (252 gollons), 50s. per barrel; measurement goods, 40s. to 455. per ton; heavy goods, 50s. per ton; cheese, 50s. per ton; beef (304 lbs. to 336 lbs.), 10s. per tierce; beef and pork, 6s. per barrel; corn and wheat, 16d. per bushel; oats and barley, 13d. to 16d. per bushel. To Havre-Cotton (square and round bales), 4c. to ic. per lb.; flour, 1 doll per barrel; ashes, 8 to 10 dolls. per ton; rice, 12 dolls. per ton; whalebone, c. per lb.; tal low, lard, &c., lc. per lb.; grain, iu bags, 30c. to 35c. per bushel. PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 30, P.I. Cotton is firm, with sales of 300 bales of Uplands and New Orleans, at 13 to 131-. Flour is in moderate re quest, and holders demand 7 dolls. per barrel for good brands; some extra brands sold at that. 1,000 barrels of corn meal sold at 4 dolls. 37ic. ; and 300 barrels at 4 dolls. 25c. Rye flour sold at 4 dolls. 87ic. ; 7,000 bushels of good red wheat sold at 157, and white at 162 ; 3,000 bushels of corn sold at 93c., and 2.500 bushels of oats at 514. 23,700 barrels of flour, 59,362 bushels of wheat, 35,527 bushels of corn, and 18,177 barrels of corn meal, were exported from Philadelphia last week, princi pally to Europe. BALTIMORE, APRIL 30, r..x. The flour market continues dull and unsettled. I note a sale yesterday morning in two lots of 200 barrels each, at 6 dolls. 72c , and about 500 barrels, Susquehanna brands, at 6 dolls. 75c. There are buyers only to a mo derate extent of ur at 6 dolls. 75c. Some are unwil ling to offer more than 6 dolls. 621 e. Holders are rather anxious to operate at 6 dolls. 75c. Nothing of moment doi;lg in City Mills. Small sales of some 400 barrels at 6 coils. 87ic., and 100 barrels yesterday at 6 dolls. 75c. Corn meal is very dull, and can be had at 4 dulls. 37i. THE CHELSEA PENSIONERS.—Yesterday the dif ferent metropolitan divisions of the enrolled out-pen sioners of Chelsea Hospital, including that from Wool wich, had a grand field-d 4 in Hyde- park, preparatory to their review by the Commander •in•Chiet, in that park, to morrow. COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Helena, and the Prince of Leiningen, and attended by the Viscountess Canning, the Marquis of Ormonde, Major-General Bowles, Lieutenant. Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, Captain the Hon. A. H. Gordon, and Dr. Meyer, left Claremont at three o'clock yesterday afternoon, for town. The Royal party occupied five carriages and four, and was escorted by a detachment of the 12th Lancers. Her Majesty and her Royal Consort, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Prince of Leiningen, occupied an open carriage and four. The Equerries in Waiting followed in a chariot and four. The rest of the Royal Harty occupied three open carriages and four. The august party arrived at Buckingham Palace at half-past four o'clock. The Queen and Prince Albert were received by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, Hon. Misses Stanley and Dawson, Sir Frederick Stovin, and Captain Francis Seymour. His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine, of Russia, was presented to the Queen, at an audience yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, by Viscount Pal merston, G.C.8., her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. His Imperial Highness was attended by Baron de Brunnow, the Russian Minister, Vice-Admiral F. B. Lutke, (Aide-de -Camp General de S. M. l'Empereur de toutes les Russies,) and Lieut.- Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, Equerry to the Queen. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, and their Serene Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, visited the Queen and Prince Albert yesterday at Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Albert honoured the Officers of the Scotch Fusileer Guards, of which regi ment his Royal Highness is Colonel, with his company at dinner last evening, in Willis's rooms. The Prince arrived at half-past seven o'clock, attended by Lieu tenant-Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Lieutenant- Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Band of the regiment attended during dinner, and performed the following pieces, under the direction of Mr. C. Boose : Overture--" Semiramide"—Rossini. Edinburgh Wall zes—Labietzki. Selection—" Robert le Diable"—Meyerbeer. Matilda Quadrilles—C. Coote. Duetto—•` Bondman"—Balfe. Overture—" Oberon"—C. M. von Weber. Prince Albert afterwards joined the Queen at Her Majesty's Theatre. _ _ The Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Leiningen, honoured her Majesty's Theatre with her presence last evening. The Royal Suite consisted of the Viscount Canning, lien. Miss Stanley, Marquis of Ormonde, and Captain the Hon. A. H. Gordon. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager. her lt,,yal Highness the Duchess et Kent, and their Royal Highn , :sses the Hereanar) Grand Duke and Grand Due, ess of Saxe Weimar, also honoured the performance with their presence yester day evening. It i u s sja m , P a7t r e ia b i d li ed ig h h y n h e i s s s Vice-Admiral Lutke, and Lieutenant-Colonel the 1 - lon. E t x h Grand, BaronD u d Constantine B r u of ( Caarle,, Grey, paid visits yesterday to he-r Majesty the Queen DvAager at Marlborough flouse, and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent at Clarence House, St. James's. fler Majesty the Queen Dowager, accompanied by \ by their Roytl Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke , and Grand Duchess of Saxe-Weimar, took an airing yesterday in a pony phaeton. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived at 11+-r residence, Clarence House, St. James's, yesterday 1 morning, from Claremont. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, ♦isited her Majesty the Queen Dowager yesterday at Marlborough House. The Earl of Clarendon (Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) left his residence in Grosvenor-crescent, at nine o'clock, yesterday morning, for Dublin. Mr. Selby had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday at the Home Office. Viscount Palmerston arrived in town yesterday from his seat, Broadlands, Hants. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SETTLING FOR THE DERBY AND OAKS. The winners of the above races, having at the time been generally supposed to be " harmless" horses, we fully expected to have to speak of an easy settling. We re gret to say that it has turned out quite the reverse—not me rely a bad one, but one of the worst that has been known since Cotberstone's year. Two parties were non cst, whose losses cannot be stated at less than 20,0002 ; one of them, who is connected with the highest families in the kingdom, is a loser of about 12,0002, of which there is no immediate prospect of payment ;—the other is a Mr. P * * • * *, of whom there is no hope whatever. It appears that this worthy, not satisfied with drawing all he could on Monday without disbursing a farthing, enclosed a list of debts due to him on the race, to one of the parties from whom he had received, beg ,Ting him to " collect all he could; and retain the half for hi s trouble," adding that he was" utterly ruined," and c oncluding by g raciousl y per acing his victim to make any excuse he might think fit▪ for collecting for him !" Of course, this impudent,,attempt at swindling was im mediately, made publ . m. It i s almost needless to add that these heavy defalcations seri ously embarrassed the set tling, and that many parties who entered the r oom w i t h balances in t heir favour, qui▪ tted it l ose rs. Si r J osep h H a wley, Mr. Pe dle y and their hi,- nds are good winners. Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial offi ce , from the Governors of the Mauritius and Sierra jeoae. 'HE ,LATE FRIGHTFUL ACCI DENT ON THE SHREWSBUPY AND CHE;;TEP. LAIL FROM A. CuLRESPONDENT CHESTER, MAY 25, 4 P,141.- 7 -411_ My last corarnunica tion, which was written in a hurried manner to save th , post, I ,omitted to state that the Chester and Shrews bury is ' a double line; and is complete asfer as Rhuabor, and which was opened a few months ago to the public under the inspection of General Pasley, who pronounced it safe. I ought here to explain that all the carriages were not literally smashed, but at the time I visited the srct, from the tide coming in very strong, they were not very distinct to be seen ; however, two or three were actually so, and a first-class carriage which was floated in pieces on to the race-course, bore evidence of what an awful crash it must have been. It was fortunate it was such light train, otherwise the consequences must have been terrible in the extreme. I should also state that the bridge is a horizontal one, and hence the greater pres sure. It is certainly a neat affair, and that is all that can be said about the structure, which required a vast deal more strength to support heavy trucks carrying iron and ballast, one of which, with ten to twelve carriages, only two hours before . passed over, and no doubt had caused the girders to give way. This seems to be the general opinion, that the girders had snapped asunder, as evidenced from a boy who was fishing close by and witnessed its opening and the falL The part that fell. as I stated in my last, is on the opposite side of the river from the race-course, and on the south side. The northern part of the line still remains perfect. The engineer showed the greatest presence of mind and courage, for on finding the engine sinking, he in an instant put the steam in full force, which caused the engine to spring forward like an arrow, clearing herself from the tender in a most miraculous manner, the chains and bars of iron attaehed to the tender snap. ping like glass; this caused the tender to twist against the buttress of the bridge, pitching the poor stoker (who bad one foot on the tender and the other on the engine) on his back, and the engineer saw that be was killed in stanter! The engine, of course, broke away for some distance, and on the engineer having at length stopped its further progress, he with great forethought turned on to the down-line, went over the other part of the bridge (which none but a courageous man would have attempted after such an occurrence), and down to the station to give information to the officials. The poor fellow could hardly give utterance to a word, but said— " My mate is killed, and all the carriages in the Dee !" It is reported that Mr. Stephenson, the engineer to the Holyhead Company (to whom the bridge belongs), was on the bridge yesterday, and pronounced it safe. From Mr. Hill, the able and active superintendent of police (who is always at his post when required) I have gleaned the following particulars:— KILLED. Mr. J. Matthews, coachman. Mr. Nevitt, ditto, of Chester. Thomas Anderson, stoker. George Roberts, guard. PERSONS IN THE INFIRMARY. David Evans, of Llangollen, labourer, thi g h brok e n. Mr. J. Edward Town, of rexham, concussion of the brain. Miss Town, his sister, slightly injured. Mrs. Ibbotson (or Iveson), of Eyton, near Wrexham, dislocation of the hip. A boy named Stephens, from Gresford, eight miles from hence, concussion of the brain. Mr. Isaac Jones, tailor, Wrexham, ditto, not expected to survive. Mrs. Jones, supposed to be his wife, fractured thigh, and collar-bone broken. Mr. J. B. Ford, Bridge-street, Manchester, contusion on the bead. Mr. J. Jones, farmer, Llangollen, ditto. Mr. A. M‘Gregor, engineer, ditto.—(This gentlercan had a miraculous escape, being in the luggage-van with Matthews, Nevitt, and the guard, all three killed; he was pitched on to the bridge !) Ann Roberts, servant to Captain Hopkins, R.N., frac tured thigh. A woman (supposed name Roberts), fractured skull. NOT HURT. Chapman, the engine drsver.—(This man deserves reward, as he hits three times before cleared himself with the engine from difficulties like the present.) ESCAPED WITH SLIGHT INJURIES. C. Walmsley, Eaq., Chester. Mr. Warburton, Chester, tailor and draper. Mr. Tomkinson, of Liverpool. Miss Worthington, of Manchester. W. W. Wynne, Esq., Wrexham. Mr. Proud, Chester. Z,• • , to t i all " I/ITV ab THE BAZAAR for the DISTRESSED IRISH.—(THIS DAY.) This bazaar, which will be held on Friday and Satur• day, was opened to-day in the Barrack-yard, in the Regent's-park, under the auspices of her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, and the members of the Roya I Family. The riding house, a very large building, was beautifully decorated, and fitted up with stalls, not for the horses of the Life Guards, but for the noble ladies who attended to tell the various articles to the numerous fashionable vi,itors. Seven trophies of British flags adorned the centre, anti on either side were the flags of France, Belgium, America, and Ireland. There were shields with the royal arms, the arms of the Prince of 'Wales, Prince Albert, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. H.lmets. shields, swords, pistols. &e., weim displayed on the walls. Th.- draperit-s of the stags were crimson . loth, estooned and embroidr red in silver, with the names of the !Relies who pr. sided. viz., the Ma,r..hi , )nepe.s of AiNsbury, Cianricarde. ami Luniunderry; the Countevsses of Mouut Ed ge cuinbe, Desart. Longford,•Limertek , t : r. German , s, and ; Granville; at r the B n Ladies Conibermere, S,,aha to, and B. au vale; ssa L. de Bothschild,and Mrat. M. Mart ti. v Tnese appropriate clee , ,tarions. and the tents ereetelin the grounds, were arranged by Mr. B. E licington, of the Borongh, whotie reputation tOr such things is well known. The hiinds of the three regiments of the household bri gade of cavalry played by turns sure uppropriate music, and greatly increased the gaiety of the scene. tier Isj.h.ty and the Prince Consort, with, their suite, tit-rived shortly after eleven o'clock, and after prome nading round the stalk, retired at twcive. Th e D u k e o f Cambridge, Prince George of Catuhrike, the Duchess of Gloucester, and an unmenie concourse t if the nobility And fashiot ales also visiti , :i the bnzaar in the donne of the day. it is to be hoped the sale of the fancy articles and the receipts for the cards of admission I will realise a large sum for the relief of the distress of our suffering Itelow-subjects. . REGISTRY of BIRTHS, and .DEATHS DURING THE WEEK ENDING MAY 12. I D ea ths r egistered in the wek. Births registered in the we e k. M a l es _ ... ... 437 Males ... .... .. 653 Females .. . ... 424 Females ... ... 614 Total . 911 'rout •• • 1,267 HOP IN TELLIGEN C.E. ITAIDSTONE.—Our hop bine generally has made Nonclerful progress since last week; in many grounds it is six f..et up the poles. The grounds at tpresent we may almost call clan and healthy, . STAPLEIICIV,T.—Th e bi ne has grown amazingly this w,.ek. Tying is new nearly finished. Many of the plants are above the middle of the poles.—Maidstone Journal of yesterday. CRANBROOK.—The bine in this wighbourbood has made considerable progress during the last few days, and is generally looking well. • IGIITHA.M AND SEAL.—Thy bino minds, corning away well, except in some fe w goldingf e r. y 0 _,. ; where the flea has eaten the first bhnes copltthie lustu but owing to the warm showery weather during in this district IS fortnight they are fast recovej o in u g z;Txr planners, Ma FARNHAM, ALTON, 2 0 4 u . t — , wereh e i r growth 'by the flea, but they AND rather Lackward in coming carded plantations change t in the weather, and premnt have iallieu since the nce. From cerb.in indications we a O nd ur re pl ta a r n d t , a luxuriant appe . ar b s ie quantity of fly in o.:vut a fcat . I expect a con ,, idtrii it. I night or three weeks: ...... E XT RAORDINARY CASE.— Yesterday Ilfternoon, a wo man named Mary Ilu•s( I, di* the advanced age of 94 years, was kte•cked down by a waggon in the neigh bourhood of Portpua-lanc, U.Lti in eunsequerCe t Intuit-Jed a compound fracture of the riat arm. Th.A per old lady was immediately convevocl to the Royal Free Hes pita!, in the Gray's Inn read, and. notwi , listasiciing her age, is yet doing exceediegty well. In ans.,wer to a question from one or th, attendant surgeons, she said that she felt quite sure she would live to reach stahundred years. • this of ler oils, alra and nd• ad. Ire. een Sig • WI sad air• ir.) of ilty, ails' Y.) 2d the ). 4, like bad r3,lr. 209., Lion. icert bing sLtY, the in- a, . 7a in. aft cnS cc•