The Sun. — London, England, 1847-12-13 00:00:00

5s 6d to 5s 8d per 81bs, indeed 5s 10d per Sibs was realised in some cases; and the value of all other breeds] had an upward tendency. From the north, we reeeived about 1,600 short horns ; from the eastern, western, and midland counties, 1,800 ; Herefords, runts, Devons, &c. ; from other parts of England, 700 of vari ous breeds; and, from Scotland, 250 horned and polled Scots. With Sheep, we were scantily supplied for the time of year, owing to which the Mutton trade was firm, at an improvement in currencies obtained on this day se'nnight of 2d per 81bs ; the primest old Downs selling readily at 5s 4d per Blbs. The supply of Calves was tolerably extensive, yet the Veal trade was steady at last week's prices. In Pigs comparatively little business, but late rates were well supported. IMPORTS or FOREIGN STOCR.—During the past week the following imports of live stock from abroad have taken place into London:— From whence. Beasts. Sheep. Calves. Hamburgh Harlingen Rotterdam _ . 258 Total 1,584 71 The supply on sale, to-day, from abroad was small, and of very inferior quality ; while the arrivals at the out ports have been trifling. At the close of business, nearly, or quite,:the whole of the stock—both English and foreign—bad found buyers. Per albs. to sink the offal. s. d. to s. d. Inferior Beasts—. 4 0 4 4 Second quality -. .. 4 6 4 10 Prime large Oxen.. 5 0 6 4 Prime Scots ...• 5 6 5 8 s. d. to s. Second quality ditto 4 2 4 6 Coarse-woolled ditto 4 8 5 0 Southdown Nether 5 2 5 4 Ditto out of the wool Large coarse Calves 3 8 4 6 Large Hogs •••• • • 4 0 4 6 Prime small ditto .. 4 8 410 Small Porkers ••. • 4 5 2 Suckling Calves —2O 0 28 0 Quarter old Pigs • •18 0 25 0 Inferior Sheep .. 3 8 4 0 Lambs •••••• • • • • 0 0 0 0 SUPPLY AT MARKET. B eas 28 I 2 I ts. 18170 . I Calve 109 s. I gs. 3204, NEWMILTZI AND LEADENHALL. Since Monday last these markets have been mode. rately supplied with meat slaughtered in the country; but the supply on offer killed in the metropolis has been somewhat extensive, and of very middling quality. Prime Beef has commanded a ready sale, at an advance in the quotations of 2d per 81bs. In all other kinds of Meat only a moderate business has been doing, at barely stationary prices. About 400 carcases of foreign Meat, killed in London, have been on sale, and about 20 packages of Beef from Hamburgh. At per stone by the Carcase. a. d. to 5. d. 1 I. d. to s. d. Beetinferior— .• •. 2 $ 210 ' Mutton, inferior •• 3 2 3 4 --- middling .... 3 0 3 4 middling•• 3 6 3 8 --- prime large 3 6 3 8 prime .. ••3 10 4 6 --- prime email —3 10 4 0, Pork, large— —•• • • 3 8 4 6 Veal• • • • • • • • • • • • • • 3 . 8 4 : 8_ L small .•• • 4 8 5 2 Lamb. Os Od to Os Od. BOROUGH AND SPITALPIELDS. On the whole, a fair average quantity of potatoes has arrived at the waterside coastwise ; and the supplies by railway have been somewhat on the increase. Prime !reifies have sold somewhat freely, at a further advance in the quotations of from 5s to lOs per ton, while the value of other kinds is well supported. The following are the present rates:—York Regent's, 120 s to 140 s; ditto, Shaw's, 110 s to 120 s; Scotch Reds, 1105 to 120 s; ditto, Whites, 90s to 110 s ; Kent and Essex Regents, 120 s to 130 s ; ditto, Shaw's, 90s to 120 s; ditto, Blues, 1102 to 120 s; ditto Kidneys, 100 s to 130 s; Wisbeach Regent's, 100 s to 110 s; Dutch, $Oll to 90s. BOROUGH HOP MILICHET. We hare still to notico a fair demand for the best new Bops, at full rates of currency. In all other kinds next to nothing is doing, and, to effect large sales, lower rates must be submitted to. On speculation scarcely a transaction has taken place. New Hops—Sussex pockets, 2/ 14s to 3135; Weald of Kent ditto, 21. 16s to 31 10s; Mid and East Kent ditto, 3/ to 5l 5s per cwt. WOOL. Scarcely any imports of Wool have taken place into London during the past week. For all kinds of Wool, in the private contract market, the demand is in a very dull state; yet, as a better demand is shortly expected, the holders are firm, and will not submit to any reduc tion in value. TALLOW. Owing to the small arrivals thi market is vary firm, and prices have advanced is per cwt. This improve ment, however, is not expected to be suppurted, as a larger quantity of Tallow is between here and St. Petersburgh. P. Y. C., on the spot, is 46s 3d to 46s 6d, and for delivery in the spring, 45s per cwt. Town Tal low steady, at from 47s 3d to 48s net cash. Rough Fat, 2$ aid per Blbs. BANKRUPTCY.—(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Commissioner SHEPHERD.) IN RE MEYER AND BROWNSMITII. These bankrupts had carried on b us i ness as lace and fringe merchants, in Bedford street, Covent-garden, and a dividend meeting was held a few days since, when a case arose as to the right of persons holding goods of a bankrupt as a security to sell them, and pursue for the difference. Mr. REED, solicitor, of Friday-street, now appeared on behalf of the assignees for his Honour's judgment on the point, and submitted that should his Honour be of opinion that goods pawned or held as security could be sold without allowing the pawner or his representatives to redeem them, then by the 108th sec . 6 G eo . IV., no p ro of should be admitted for any balance; for, by that section, persons holding securities, must, before they could prove, give up those securities. He, however, contended there was no mort gage, but a mere pledge or deposit of goods. His HoNona expressed his opinion that the parties had a right to dispose of the property held by them as security. That was his present opinion, but he would farther consider the point as it was affected by the 6th Geo. IV. Mr. REED said the point was one of very great im- Portance, for if his Honour should decide that the proof could be admitted, no security would ever be given up. The declaration and payment of dividend was then adjourned. CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. The December session was opened this morning, at the Usual hour, before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, Aldermen Wilson and Farncombe, and the Sheriffs. The grand jury having been sworn, and elected their foreman, The RECORDER proceeded to deliver his charge. He laid the number of prisoners set down in the calendar for trial was 144, 98 of whom had been committed from Middlesex, 23 from Surrey, and 5 from Kent. Neither the Admiralty nor the county of Essex had sent any Persons for trial during the present session. The short tune which had elapsed since the termination of the last session—not more than 11 days—accounted for the Paucity of numbers to which he had referred. The number, however, was about the usual average of prisoners waiting for trial during those sessions which quickly followed upon each other in this court; but before the termination of their labours the number would, no doubt, be considerably augmented by the committal of Persons now undergoing investigation at the various Police-courts. The number, however, comprised some of the most serious offences. A youth, aged fifteen, was Charged with the commission of a criminal offence upon It girl under ten years of age;_ it would be for them t o Consider whether or not the offence was committed with the consent of the child, but it was his duty to tell them that the offence was equally criminal and equally Punishable, if the child had given her consent, as it Would be if she bad resisted the perpetration of the out tage. There were a vast number of charges of robbery, of Cutting and wounding with the intention of doing the Persons attacked some grievous bodily harm, but they ,Were not of a natur e to require any specific allusion fpm him. It was for them to consider those cases which ought and which ought not to be seat for further inves tigation before the Court. One person was charged with tt droinistering poison to another. It appeared he had t aken poison himself with a view to destroy life, which We 4 an offence for which he might be tried. Unhappily ei ght individuals were charged with , the high crime of murder and robbery. No less than five persons had been eo, Inchittecl on one charge, namely, the murder and rob uery of i'person, the instrument by which the crime of murder 'etas inflicted being a large iron bolt. The depo • 1 1,itions s 6 jet forth, but it was in the testimony of one of the parties implicated that the deadly blow was struck by °De of the fife; it would, therefore, be for them to consider Whether they could place credence in the statement; and !Luther, supposing they believed the statement, whether .she oth ers were accessorie s b e f ore or a f ter t h e f act . There was a charge of child murder, and in that case they would have to consider wether the evidence led to the conclusion that death resulted from violence, or simply from an attempt to conceal the birth of the child. One case had caused' the most painful interest in the public mind —namely, a charge of murder committed by poison administered by the accused to the deceased, who was his own mother. The medical testimony would prove, no doubt, the presence of arsenic in the body of the de ceased. tt app eare d f rom 'did depositions that the de eeaaed had a violent attack of illness, and had liken in consequence a considerable quantity of brandy. It was right that he should state that the evidence which would be adduced would De principally that of relatives, between whom and the P r isoner it 'appeared g r ea t r a nco u r h a d ex i s t e d f or som e ti me, and consequently it wou ld b e f or th em t o sa y how f ar they could rely upon such testimony. If they were satisfied that the deceased did not die from natural causes, and th e y h a d su ffi cient evidence to cast suspicion 'Pon the prisoner, it would be their duty to put the cli _ 3 e into a further train of inquiry ; in fact, the prisoner m ust, irrespective of their decision, be put upon his trial on the finding of the coroner's jury. It was a burce of deep regret that so many cases of murder Y Poison had recently taken place. After some further Zularks explanatory of the duties which they would have discharge, the Learned Gentleman remitted the jury , their duties. WORSRIP-STREET.-(THIS DAY.) I m Hammill requests us to acknowledge the receipt ?La, sent to him by a humane individual, with the — wahl " D. W.," for the poor-box; as also a similar donation of 5/. from " H. V. }, Mr. I nspector G ravestoc k , o f t h e G di v i s i on , b roug ht " ef c're Mr. Hammill a female named June Gough, Charged under the following horrifying circumstances:— in The insp ec t or s t ate d th at th e p r i soner w as brought c to the stat i on -h ouse, at a b out h a lf past twe l ve on ? ftt u rday night, in a state of in e briety. She had an t t e r ant at l her breast about four weeks old. Witness sent atter to he workhouse, but had it brought back to the e dmother at ten o'clock in the morning, when, as she ad in a great measure recovered, he permitted her to a part on her own bail. At two o'clock this morning t °' 3 Was rolling a b ou t G o ld en -l ane i n a state o f i ntox i ca - I Vn but subs equen tly wen t t o h er l o d g i ngs at N o. 17, th at the S t . L u k e ' s, an d t hi s morn i ng he learnt Lae woman, on her awakening at about six o'clock ,a_glva the inf ant m ilk, s h e di scovere d t h at t h e c hil d was 'ld.. and cold. Qte defenda n t mid that the bad three children by a gentleman, and that in consequence of her having been so repeatedly locked up her money had been stopped, and it had very much discomposed her mind. •She was very sorry that so lamentable an occurrence as the one she was brought there for had taken place. Mr. HAMMILL directed the defendant to te taken care of until the inquest should be holden upon the body of her infant. MARLBRO'-STREET-(THIS DAY.) Mr. Robert Wilson, a gentleman of independent pro perty', residing at the Colonnade Hotel, Haymarket, ' was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged on suspicion of attempting to commit suicide, by having two loaded pistols in his possession. William Webb, waiter at the Colonnade Hotel, said the defendant had been staying at the hotel for about a week. On Saturday night the defendant who was very much excited, came to him and said, " Waiter, I am going out, and you will never see me again." He noticed at the time that the defendant had a pair of pistols in his hand, and thought that he premeditated suicide. He therefore followed him, and gave him in charge, for his (defendant's) own safety. Mr. BINGHAM said he could not :let defendant go without he provided bail for his future behaviour. He siduld therefore order him to find two respectable house keepers to be sureties for his keeping the peace. Bail was subsequently offered and accepted, and de fendant left the office with his friends. NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. The following report of Mr. Barry, the architect, on the New Houses of Parliament at Christmas last, ap pears in the report of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, printed on Saturday :—" The whole of the car case works of the north, the east, and the south fronts of the buildings are completed. A suite of nineteen rooms on the second floor of the River front has been tempo rarily, and in part permanently fitted up for use as corn inittee•roonis. The Victoria Tower is above 80 feet in height, and the ground floor over the state entrance within it is completed, with the exception of the carvings. The Clock Tower is 84 feet in height. The central hall, together with the whole of the buildings adjacent to it, are carried up to their full height. The groining of the ground hall, of the central hall, and adjoining cor ridors, is in a forward state of preparation. The walls of St. Stephen's porch, with the adjoining entrances from Westminster-hall and St. Margaret's•street, are 20 feet above the ground. St. Stephens'-hall is upon an average two-thirds of its full height. The internal fronts of all the inner courts of the building, as far as it is now in band, and the whole of the carcase works of the new buildings around them, are completed. The front towards New Palace-yard is completed, with the excep tion of a few of the stone pinnacles and the terminals on the parapet, and the iron roof above it over the Commons' residences is fixed. The second floor of this portion of building has been temporarily fitted up as offices for the use of the House of Commons. The iron roofing of the House of Commons is completed, and the public library adjoining is ready to receive its ceiling beams. The works of this portion of the building are at present suspended, and will so remain until the warm ing and ventilating arrangements to be applided to it are finally decided upon. The House of Lords, together with the Victoria Hall and public lobby, are nearly , completed in all their details, and will be ready for oc cupation during the ensuing (the present) session. The ventilating and warming arrangements for this portion of the building are nearly completed. Separate tempo retry approaches to the new House of Lords have been provided both for the use of Peers and of the public. Temporary communications have also been formed from the Victoria Hall to the Peers' temporary committee. rooms in the river front. The . joiners' works and the finishings for the completion of the committee-rooms, libraries, and refreshment rooms belonging to each of the Houses are in a state of great forwardness • a con siderable portion of them ar e a l rea d y fi xe d , and fit ting of the remainder is in hand. There are at present 1,470 men employed upon the works of the new Palace, of which number 859 men are e m pl o y e d at t h e building, 100 at the quarries, 260 at the Government workshops at Thames-bank, upon the joiners' finishings and wood carvings, and 251 upon miscellaneous work both at the building and elsewhere." THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND The half-yearly general meeting of society was held on Saturday, at the society's house, Hanover square. The Earl of Yarborough, president, in the chair. Mr. J. Hudson, secretary, read the report of the council. The Rev. J. LINTON, in moving that the report be received and adopted, took occasion to congratulate the members on the flourishing condition of the society. He could not deny himself the gratification of ex pressing an opinion in which he was sure all present would concur—namely, that the members of the council had entitled themselves in an eminent degree to the thanks of the society.—(Cheers.) Mr. ASTBURY seconded the motion, which was car ried unanimously. Mr. R. BARKER submitted a statement of accounts drawn up by the finance committee, and certified as correct by the auditors, from which it appeared that the gross income up to June 30 was 7,4371. ss. Bd., of which sum there had been expended 5,5321.55. 3d., leaving a balance in hand at that date of 1,9051. _ _ Mr. EMERY moved that the thanks of the society be presented to the members of the finance committee, and the auditors, and in so doing took occasion to ex press the satisfaction with which he observed the rapid progress not only of that society, but another similar in its object—the Farmers' Club. That club had been instituted a few years since ; but recent though its origin was, it had already conferred very great benefit on the agricultural interests of the country. It only needed to be more generally known to have its claims on the support and sympathy of all who had those interests at heart universally appreciated and acknowledged. No less than 100 new members had been admitted during the past year, and amongst them he was happy to say, there were to be found not only tenant-f mners, but some of the best landlords in England and Scotland. It was to be hoped that ere long the club would also number amongst its mem bers some of the Irish landlords, for though hard things had been said of them, he w.as convinced there were many excellent men amongst them. Mr. R. W. BAKER seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Colonel CHALLONER bore testimony to the zeal and intelligence of the present auditors, and proposed their re-appointment. Mr. KINDER seconded the motion.—Carried. The Duke of RICHMOND moved that the thanks of the society be presented to the two Learned Gentle men who lectured before the members on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The members, as practical ,farmers, could not but feel obliged to such scientific gentlemen as came forward to inform them of the result of their experiences. A more interesting lecture he had never attended than that which was delivered a few days since by Professor Simmons, on the diseases of cattle. No more instructive discourse had been delivered since the institution of the society. One of the primary objects of that asso ciation should be to elevate the position of the veterinary surgeons throughout the country. There were, no doubt, many gentlemen of ability and education exercising that profession in various parts of the country ; but the members must also be aware that many of their most valuable cattle and sheep were not unfrequently committed to the care of men who had had no professional educa tion whatever, or whose education had not been such as to qualify them to associate with the respectable tenantry of the country.—(Hear, hear.) If men of education and talent were more frequently to establish themselves as professors of the veterinary art through out the provincial districts of England, they would associate with the owners of the land as well as with the occupiers, their profession would be made more remunerative, and many of the diseases which now carried off so much of the farmer's stock would be treated with a degree of skill which would prevent their terminating fatally.—(Hear, hear.) He was decidedly of opinion that the society should devote their best attention to the object of elevating the state and position of the professors of the veterinary art throughout the country.—(Cheers.) Mr. C. HILLYARD seconded the motion, which wait carried unanimously. Professor SEwEli, on the part of the governors of the Veterinary College, acknowledged the compli ment, and expressed his concurrence in the observa tions of the Noble Duke. Those observations were applicable to England, but they were still more so to Ireland. The members of the veterinary profes sion in that country settled usually in towns where there were horses to practise on, but there were not more than half-a-dozen veterinary surgeons scattered throughout the country parts. Mr. SHAW, lest it should be supposed that the society was indifferent on a matter of such impor tance, wished that it should be generally known that (luring the last six or seven years they had contri buted no less a sum than 2001. a year to a veterinary college for promoting the veterinary art, as applied to cattle, sheep, and pigs, as contradistinguished from horses.—(Hear.) After some routine businese the proceedings ter dnated. Mr. Edward Page is appointed Assistant-Surveyor in the colony of Sierra Leone. Mr. Robert Armstrong is to be police magistrate in the same place. Mr. W. M`Cartney is to be chief superintendent of police at Co lombo, in the island of Ceylon. Mr. Henry Crewe is to be a stipendiary magistrate in Jamaica.—Observer. A Cabinet Council was held at the Hotel des Affaires Etrang'res at Paris, on Friday, where, in addition to the discussion of the affairs of Switzerland, the question of the royal speech was brought forward. The Minister of Finance is said to have declared on this occasion that the budget was quite ready, and rendered a satisfactory account of the state of the finances, which will permit him to satisfy the wishes of the Chamber on the two questions of postal reform and a diminution of the salt duties. M. Dumon is reported to have assured the Council that, far from having experienced a de crease, as had been hinted at by the ex-Minister of Finance, M. Lacave Laplagne, on the contrary, the receipts had been constantly on the increase.—Chronicle. Mr. Fearon is to be the new solicitor to the chuity comrdesion. LONDON, FLANDERS MAIL. BRUSSI LB.--COMM ERC IA L INTELLIGENCE.—From the Ist to the sth December three vessels, laden wholly or in part with corn, entered the port of An were. The importations were— Wheat Rye Rice ... 224,000 kil ... 186,000 ... 348,625 758,625 BRUSSELS, DEC. 9.—ln the sitting of yesterday the Chamber heard the reports of the petitions of MM. de Den terghem and Simons, and other matters of private interest, and gave an order for twenty-five de mands for ordinary naturalisation. M. Gohlet made a report on the demand for a sup plementary credit for the War Department, which is to be discussed to-morrow. BERLIN, DEC. B.—The Committee of the Diet is convoked at Berlin for the 17th of January. M. Beckerath, of Crefeld, one of the most distinguished representatives of Westphalia, has tendered his resig nation as member of the committee. M. Muller, who was nominated in his stead, has likewise sent in his resignation. The Prussian Government strenuously continues its efforts to centralise and settle the affairs of the Pro 71,stant Church, and so give it uniformity and unity. A supreme consistory is to take place at Berlin, com posed of all the provincial consistories. M. De Goetze, who is well known by his strict religious orthodoxy, has been nominated president of this supreme authority of the Ecclesiastical Administration of Prussia. The Gazette de Cologne states that the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Berlin received a dispatch from Warsaw on the 4th annivesary, that by special order of the Emperor, addressed to the Prince of Warsaw, the measures already taken to abolish the line of Customs between Poland and Russia and which had been officially announced to the Prussian Go vernment some time since, had been abandoned, and that consequently the Reunion Douaniare of Poland with Russia will not take place at the new I year, as it had been at first intended. RUSSIA AND POLAND. —Letters from Presburg say the news from Galicia is terrific. Famine and disease are committing such awful ravages among the pea santry, that in almost every village a third part, and even the half of the population, is dead. MI the misery of Ireland is being reacted in this wretched country, and, at the same time, we want -specially a second England, rich, powerful, and benevolent, to come to its aid, for all that is done by the Austrian Government (is utterly insufficient. ST. PETERSDURGH, Nov. 26.—0 n the 20th of this month a large number of vessels, which had been kept in port a long time, left the road of Cronstadt with a favourable wind, and the thermometer at 8 deg. Reaumer. On the 22d a storm arose, which made us very apprehensive for the fleet. At Newsky the rain was frozen even, when an impetuous wind and a mild temperature broke the ice, and submerged a large number of barges and small craft, which were laden with a cargo of 85,000 to 90,000 chetworts of grain, flour, and linseed. The loss is very great. MUNICH, DEC. 4.—The report which was circulated that a loan had been concluded with the house of Rothschild, is quite groundless. Baron Rothschild has again left Munich. STUTTGARD, DEC. 3.—The Swabian Mercury of to-day contains an ordinance of the Minister o f th e . _ Interior respecting the insurance of the effects of emigrants, through the medium of persons duly au thorised to effect the transport. The effects may also be insured against damages by sea.—Flanders Mail, Dec. 10. BELGIAN FITNDS.—BEYSSELS, DEC. 9. Actual Debt, 2% per Cent •.•.••• • . • .. .. Rothschild's Loan, Five per Cent • . • • .. Loan of Thirty Millions, Four per Cent— .. Ditto Three per Cent •••• • • • • • •• • • • • Ditto Thirty-seven Millions, ditto Ditt0,ditt0,1840............ ••. • • • .• • 98% Ditto,ditto,lB42 •• • • • • .• • • • • • • • • Ditto, 1844............... •••• • • • • ... 92 Ditto, 1838 • .. — Ditto of the City, 1632 • • • • • • • • • • • • Ditto, 1843 .............. •••••• • • • • • • 93% Bank of Belgium ...... •.•• • • • • 80 russets Papers, Dec. 9. PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—BERLIN, DEc. 7. tills. Money . St•Seliuld Sch., 3% per Cent .••• • • • 92 Uhl Pruss. English Bonds, 1830, 4 per Cent •••• • • Foreign Exchanges..•• •••••• .. •• •• •• •• Exchange on London. £1 Sterling, 3 Months 6 27% 627 AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vmszta, Dxc. 2. 5 per Cent. Metalliques • • • • • • • • •••••• .• .• 105% 4 per Cent. ditto• ••••• • • • • •• •• •••• •• •• 93 3 per Cent. ditto• ••••••••••• •• •• •• •••• •• 65 Loan, 1834 • • • • •• • • • • ••••.• • . Ditto, 1839 • • • • • 116 Bank Shaves • • ................1624 Estsrhazv's Loan .• •• . • 62 RAILWAYS. The Northern, or Ferdinand - • 155 Gloggnita .• . ............. 110% Vienna—Milan • • • •••••••• • • • • • • • • 97% Leghorn •••• • • •• ••••••••• • • • •• • • 81 ••• •• 933( Sienna .... • • • • 66 crosetto •• •• •• .• .• 94% Oldenburg ................ Pc5t0ja...................•••....••.... ACCIDENT ON THE BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.— SPLTCHLEY, FRIDAY.—An accident hap pened on this hne last night which occasioned at the time the greatest alarm amongst the passengers of the train to which it occurred. The particulars aro briefly as follow : —The third class down Parliamentary even ing train left Birmingham at half-past six o'clock, heavily laden, arid nothing occurred until about half past seven o'clock. The train had left Dunhampstead, and was proceeding towards the Spetchley and Wor cester station, when suddenly a severe concussion was felt throughout the train, and the first impression amongst the passengers, who were much shaken, was that the carriages had got off the line. The engine driver, perceiving that something had gone wrong, turned off the steam, and applied the break, but the train had proceeded fully half a mile before it was stopped. A guard then proceeded back to the spot where the con cussion was first felt, and found upon the rails a piece of thick chain, over which the engine and train had passed, happily without being thrown off the rails. The engine-tender was at the first shock thrown off, but sub sequently, before the train was stopped, got on the rails again. The ballast was torn up for a considerable dis tance by the tender before it got upon the rails again. Had the passenger carriages or engine been thrown off the line, the consequences might have been most disas trous. The train was a long and heavy one, and it need scarcely be added that the greatest consternation was excited amongst the passengers until the engine -driver had stopped the train: The result has happily n6t been attended with any serious consequences, but the night being exceedingly dark added greatly to the terrors of those whose lot was cast in the unlucky train. It is sup posed that the chain which caused the mischief had been dropped by some previous train passing along the line. The last passenger down-train before the Parliamentary passed the spot at about five o'clock, leaving abundance o!! time for an examination of the rails by the policeman on duty. Had the train been a light one, it is feared the whole of the carriages would have been thrown off the rails, in which case the consequences must have been frightful._ _ _ _ THE EDINBURGH ELECTION. ^ The Caledonian Mercury says—" The re-election of Mr. Charles Cowan will shortly take place. We hope it will be unopposed and uncomplained of. We openly and heartily sup ported Mr. Macaulay so long as he was in the field ; but he is so, we understand, no longer ; and Mr. Cowan possesses such qualifications in point of character, busi ness habits, amiable dispositions, and sound Liberal opinions, that we shall rejoice in his unopposed return. We are not aware that opposition from any quarter is to be expected—certainly not from Mr. Macaulay or bis friends, and we are decidedly of opinion, that any oppo sition would be vain and injurious. As we can no longer have what we consider the distinguished honour of being represented by Mr. Macaulay, we cannot elect in.his place a more worthy citizen and more estimable man than Mr. Charles Cowan. His unanimous re-election will tend, we hope, to obliterate all irritating recollec tions, and to restore and cement the union of all classes of constituticsal reformers. ALARMING FlRE.—This morning, shortly before one o'clock, an alarming fire broke out upon the pre mises of Mr. Stebbings, linendraper, No. 3, Capel•street, St. George's-in-the-East, which was attended with the destruction of considerable property, and nearly accom panied by loss of life. It appears that as a police con stable of the H. division was going his rounds, he had his attention drawn to some smoke issuing from the fanlight over the door. Ile at once endeavoured to arouse the inmates, but before they could be awakened the flames forced their way through the upper part of the shutters. Two powerful engines were speedily brought to the spot, and the firemen having an abundant supply of water succeeded in confining the flames to the premises of Mr. Stebbings. EXTRICATION OE FOUR BODIES FROM AN IRON STONE PlT.—The four persons confined in the iron-stone pit, near Dysart, were got out on the morning of the 7th of December, all dead, and fearfully crushed. We un eerstand three of them have left wives and children. Mr. Watt, of Dysart Colliery, sent all his men to assist as soon as heard of the accident, and it should be no ticed, to their credit, that they exerted themselves to the utmost, and without intermission, till they aFeertained the melancholy result. The iron -stone is worked by the Carron Company, and several other persons made a nar row escape when the fall took place. One was close be side Mackenzie, whose expiring groan ho di►tinctly heard.—Scotch Paper. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—We learn from the best authority that Mr. Beale, in consequence of a deli cate state of health, which disinclines him from very arduous duties, joined to his numerous avocations con nected with the great establishment in Regent. street, has withdrawn from the management of this theatre. Mr. Beale's loss, as a manager, will be universally re gretted, but his influence and interest will continue to be exerted in behalf of the new Italian Opera.—Musical World. MORTALITY IN PERTH.—There were 40 funerals k last week and 39 the week before, an amount of mor tality far exceeding that of any previous two weeks in the records of the city. We may state, however, that the town is assuming a much more healthy tone of late. —Perthshire Courier. COAST GUARD.—Acts of piracy have become so frequent on the western coast of Ireland, that Govern ment have determined to strengthen the Coast Guard force in that quarter, which has been reinforced already by three revenue cruizers, placed under the orders of Lieutenant Broad, commanding the Dolphin.—Dublin Papa: MONDA Y E-VENING, DECEMBER 13, 1847. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAT.—Thp Fairy royal yacht em barked the Duchess ofKent yesterday at Trinity Wharf, on her Royal Highness's return to town. The Ia ry entered this harbour, under the usual ceremonies, at Live minutes past twelve, and her RoYal Highness disem barked, together with the royal suite, comprising Lady Fanny Howard, Colonel Grey, and Sir G. Couper, at ten minutes past twelve. Sir Charles Ogle, Flag-Lieutenant Cochran, Captain Sir Edward P arr y, an d th e usua l sta ff and guard of honour, were present to receive the Royal Duchess, who left by express train, under the superin tendence of Mr. R W. Stevens, of the South-Western Railway, at half past twelve, from the Clarence-yard. The Blenheim steam guard-ship, Captain Yates, was docked yesterday after a great deal of labour, a leak having been discovered in her bread-room, occasioned, it is supposed, by the working of thescrew propeller. From her great draught of water, owing to all her heavy weights being on board, it was upwards of three hours after the basin was closed before she could be got into the dock, during which time the steam-engine was kept incessantly pumping. The Cockatric e , tender to the Ad s , 84, i n di s t ress a t Plymouth, is ordered away to join the latter at Ply mouth without delay; so urgent is the order for her to "move on," that she is not to be allowed the customary embellishment of painting at this port. The Cormorant steam-sloop, Commander Seymour, is totally dismantled, and will be paid off to-morrow. One of her midshipmen (Mr. Farringdon) was perempt,rily dismissed her Majesty's service by order of the Lords of the Admiralty on Thursday last. Wind south, fresh breezes, and fine weather-5 P.M., Sunday. ENGINEERS' PAT. —The King of Naples has given orders to increase the pay of all the engineers in his steam fleet. his Majesty has also ordered the engineers (who are Englishmen) to wear the cocked hats and swords.—Nautical Standard. Extract of a letter from the Electra, 14, Commander F. W. P. Bouverie, dated Gaspi, at the entrance of the river St. Lawrence, Oct 30:—" All well. The potato crop here is a total failure, but flour and other provisions are abundant and cheap; flour, 325. per barrel currency. An immense number of emigrants have arrived during the summer, but sickness has prevailed to such an alarming extent that Government has been compelled to erect several h ospitals."—Nautical Standard. PROMOTIONS. Commander—Charles Conrad Grey (1E42), of the Columbine, to the rank of Captain. Mates—J. J. Barnard, W. David Lock, and George Don Murray, to the rank of Lieutenant. APPuINTMENTS. Rear-Admiral—Henry Prescott, C. 8., to be Superin tendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, vice Shirreff, deceased. Captains—J. Shepherd, to the Inconstant, vice Bruns wick Popham, whose appointment is cancelled ; William Fanshawe Martin, to the Prince Regent ; Bartholomew J. Sulivan, additional, to the Victory, for special service; Charles Eden, to be Flag-Captain to Admiral Sir C. Ogle, vice Milne (in the event of the latter officer accept ing the offered seat at the Admiralty Board, in the room of Rear-Admiral Prescott). Commander—John Charles Dalrymple Hay, to the Columbine, vice Grey, promoted ; W. F. Fead, to the Prince Regent. Lieutenants—H. F. M'Kellop, to the Hydra ;J. P. Branch to the Inconstant ; R. J. J. G. Macdonald, Flag- Lieutenant to Sir G. Seymour, to the acting command of the Modeste ; E. E. Morgan, to the Cygnet ; J. C. Bailey, to study at the Steam Factory ; H. Caldwell, Frederick A. Egerton, Francis B. Porteous, Alexander C . m G a o s r t d e o rs n — , T. B and G o e w o e g , e Murray,tothe George to the Prince Regent. Hydra ; R. R e ad, addi tional, to th e Bl en h e i m ; Rob ert F ulton, to command the Hercules, 72, on a voyage t o B om b ay w i th troops Bowen, and stores, and to bring home a cargo of teak from Moulmein. THEATRE -ROYAL, DUBLIN. That most beautiful of the plays of our gifted countryman, Knowles, The Hunchback, was per formed on Saturday evening, and never was the vola tile and wayward, but true-hearted Julia, represented with more consummate grace or more exquisite feel ing. It is a character in which all Mrs. Kean's best powers can be most effectively displayed, and as a perfect piece of acting it cannot be surpassed. In the earlier scenes, when the petted and wilful country girl is transformed into the dashing and sprightly city belle, her voice, her air, her carriage, her every gesture, told of the proud and triumphant beauty enjoying to their utmost those scenes so full to her of novel excitement and varied attraction. And then when, even in the midst of her anticipations of new conquests in the race of fashion, the truths intended to chasten and correct are poured into her unwilling ear by her betrothed, her sudden anger and impe tuous pride spurning at all restraint —scornfully rejecting the smallest curb, were admirably deli neated. Her acceptance of the Earl of Rochdale, while this passion, overwhelming all reflection, yet had sway, and then her after-remorse and agony, awakened by the sight of Clifford, stripped of his lands and title, the poor secretary of the Noble Earl she was about to wed, were true to life—her ex pression of the latter feeling being indeed painfully real. In the interview with her lover, reduced from a lofty to a lowly state, the struggles between pride and passion were finely rendered. It is evident that a lofty feeling of duty and a fine sense of honour joined to haughtiness not yet subdued, impel her to observe the contract into which she has entered. But the love, the first awakened love of a young, warm heart, irresistible in its impulses, pleads for the poor and humbled Clifford; and her half-frantic exclama tion of Clifford, " Why don't you speak to me ?" and the thrilling tones of blended hope and joy in which she asks if " these hated nuptials" can be shunned " with honour ?" were rife with the most impas sioned tenderness. In this scene, too, the acting of Mr. Kean was worthy of all praise. We are aware that he undertook the comparatively insignificant part of Sir Thomas Clifford, as Charles Kemble did when his daughter first appeared, in order to give the public an opportunity of beholding the character of Julia developed in all its beauty; as other actors, in their endeavour to draw down applause for themselves, mar the completeness of her representation. He, there fore, while he threw enough of feeling and earnest.- ness into the part to render it sufficiently effective, never attempted to divide the attention of the audience, or to turn their view for a single instant from the vivid picture presented to them by Mrs. Kean. During the entire of this trying scene, there fore, the interest was centered in Julia; and thus one of the finest portions of the finest of Knowles's dramas was given as it rarely is, but ever should be. In the after-interview with Master 'Walter, when love has trampled pride beneath her feet, Mrs. Kean's acting was superb; and the following grand passage, so trying to the powers of the actress, was delivered with a passionate emphasis, positively sublime : " Beware how you abandon me To myself ! I'm young, rash, inexperienced, tempted By most insufferable misery ! Bold, desperate, and reckless ! Thou hast age, Experience, wisdom, and collectedness ; Power, freedom, everything that I have not, Yet want, as none e'er wanted ! Thou canst save me Thou oughtst !—thou must I I tell thee at his feet I'll fall a corse, e'er mount his bridal bed So, choose betwixt my rescue and my grave— A...d quickly, too ! The hour of sacrifice Is near! Anon the immolating priest Will summon me I Devise some speedy means To cheat the altar of its victim. Do it, Nor leave the task to me'!" Chaplains—R. Thompson, to the Victory ; W. M. Dyne, to the Inconstant. Na; , al Instructors—R. M. Inskip, to the Victory ; A Turmine, to the Inconstant. Paymasters and Pursers—T. S. Heywood, to the Hydra ; J. Goldsmith and J. Williamson have been placed on the retired list ; Charles E. Cottrell, to the Prince Regent. Surgeons—Thomas H. Keown, to be superintendent Hof the Mountetewart Elphinstone convict ship; D. G. Miller, to the Blenheim; T. M. Jew e ll, to t h e Vi ctory; J. W:Bowler, superintendent to the John Calvin con vict ship; H. Morris, superintendent to the Bangalore convict ship; W. F. Carter, to the Inconstant; W. H. Brent, to the Pantaloon, vice Dr. Graham, deceased.: Acting Masters—G. Allen and J. Scarlett, to the Victory; Erancis L e e, to the Plov er . Clerks—E. J. Forster, in charge, to the Firefly ; Arthur A. Davis, to the Prince Regent; J. E. Stiles, to the Acheron. Second Master—H. B. Akaster, to the In constant. Acting Second-Master—J. Walker to the Victory. Assistant-Surgeons—J. Simpson (b), to the Plover; W. Smith, M.D., to the Meander; H. W. Horsell, to the Bonetta • W. M. Ogilvie, to the Inconstant. Midshipmen—T. J. Young, to the Stromboli ; R. H. Burton, to the Excellent; S. W. H. Thompson, to the Cygnet. Naval Cadets—A. Wigney, H. C. Mayne, and H. Parke, to the Inconstant; J. Page and William R. Shine, to the Hydra; Philip Brock, to the Mutine; G. D. Panter, to the Acorn; Thomas B. Pratt, to the St. Vincent. Masters' Assistants—J. H. Harvey, to the Cockatrice; E. Spry, S. Libby, and P. C. Moss, to the San Josef ; D. Spear, to the Seagull. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 10.—In addition to the damage received in the late gale, her Majesty's ship Asia, 84, sprung her mainmast, and will be some time detained here under repairs. Admiral Phipps Hornby and family have landed from her. The merchant ship Chapman, C:iptairi Brooks, be longing to Messrs. James King and Co., arrived here yesterday, with timber, from Quebec, for her Majesty's dockyard. On the 6th inst. she encountered a heavy gale from W.N.W., which drove her towards the coast of France, when a sea struck her, broke her bulwarks, swept her decks, and bruised her cook, John Williams, of Devonport, who died from his injuries the same evening. This morning came in the American ship Lady Eli sabeth, Captain Hasty, from Liverpool, for Philadelphia, out sixteen days, bore up from long. 12 W., with loss of boats, roundhouse, &c., and the chief officer's leg broken. Also the Danish schooner Maria, of Apen nade, Captain Ipland, from Rio Janeiro, for Christi ania, in Norway, l ea k y, with lossof bulwarks, rails, stanchions, &c., and will have to discharge her cargo of hides and coffee. Mr. Kean's Sir Thomas Clifford, subdued as it was, was a perfectly gentlemanly and most correct portraiture; and though one of our morning contem poraries has stated that he appeared to him " to be too self-collected—too much a master of his own feelings," we are of opinion that if he were not self possessed, he would not have truly interpreted the meaning of his author. Why, in the scene where he appears as secretary, the bitterest reproach of Julia's yet unconquered prid e i s , th at h e is " all himself,' while she cannot but betray the deepest emotion. In conjunction with Master Walter, he, in fact, throughout all the latter scenes is but acting a part, to the perfect performance of which, a com plete control over his own feelings is necessary. Our critical contemporary further observes—" To judge from the cheers of the house, his interpretation would seem to have been regarded as the truest to the text of his author." And in the judgment so pronounced we altogether agree. The Master Walter of Mr. Calcraft was marked by his usual ability. Mrs. Ternan was a pleasing and animated Helen, and was very deservedly ap plauded in the wooing scene with - Modus, well sus tained by Mr. Kin g . Th e o th er p ar t s were effectively cast, and on the falling of the curtain Mc. and Mrs. Kean were enthusiastically called for. The entertainments concluded with a new farce, called the Follies of a Night, in the annexed notice of which, from the Saunders of yesterday, we entirely concur : THE SUBMERGED PROPELLERS. On Saturday last, an additional series of experiments were made on board the Albion steamer, in the presence of Captain Smith, R.N., commander of her Majesty's ship the Rattler steam-frigate; Captain Chappel, RN of the West India Mail Packet Company; Professor Rowcroft, of the London University, and several other scientific gentlemen, in order more fully to test the powers of the s u b merged propellers with which the vessel is furnished, and to hear the explanations of his inventions and patents given by Mr. Simpson, the patentee. The propellers, as it has been before stated, consist of wheels acting horizontally or verdeally in closed in cases affixed to the sides of the vessel, and placed beneath the water, so as to be invisible. A column of water is eject e d i n a l i ne para ll e l wit h the vessel's motion, which colum n acts against the water outside the vessel. There is no swell occasioned by the operation of these propellers, and there is none of that vibration by which the s crew propeller is acco mpanied, which must occasion Very great wear and tear. The diameter of the submerged propeller wheels, fitted to the Albion, are only two f eet, indeed the whole apparatus i s so small in comparison with the cumbrous machinery of common paddle wheels and propellers hitherto used, that the speed and aptitude of the Albion appears almost a miracle. The :party on board the Albion left Blackwell about twelve o'clock, and steamed down the river several mile s aga i nst a strong tide and a contrary wind. She howev er made way at a great speed, and satisfied those on bo ar d of her capabilities. Mr. Simp son explained, by the a id of models and diagrams, the principle of his inventio n . The vessel, after her per formances, returned to Greenwich, whore the gentlemen on board left her at her moorings. " The afterpiece of Follies of a Night proved quite a gem in miniature. The Duke de Chartres of Mr. Kean was a gay, easy, and most successful perform ance; and the Duchess found in Mrs. Kean a truly charming representative. This vaudeville is one which never grows dull for an instant; it has been adapted to the stage in a kindred spirit, and bears a person back to the days of a brilliant period, when the most serious part of life was a comedy, and the business of existence to learn to be amused. The mistakes at the masquerade—the innocent accident by which the Duchess finds herself in the sixth pair back room of the rustic Pierre Palliot—the entry of the Duke, who makes love to his own wife, unconscious of who the lady in the pink domino is—the difficulties of Pierre—all these are very happily treated, and the afterpiece passed off admirably. Mr. Smythson did justice to his part, and was humorous without appa rent effort. There was some excellent dancing during the evening, and the performances were such as to eminently merit what they received, the plaudits of a crowded and fashionable house."—Dublin Evening Packet, Dec. 7. , atovvcohniNtlTeyEscsoulirtryvp.a—rwTic_hkis, agedlady D EATH OF THE VI E lll B e ci ' sec ° second Viscount Hood , died on the sth inst. 93. Her Ladyship was the Whitley Court, and was i i s n W l7 l7 7 e , le t r o , f only . daughter and heiress who died in 1836. Her ladyship was mother of the late Lord Bridport. • o m f a r r married, THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT TO :THE COEN.- TESS OF ZETLAND.—A gentleman who was seated in a carriage at a short distance from the Countess of Zet land in the same train, states that hi s _ attention was at tracted by the screams of the Countess and her atten dant, and by the smell of something burning. He en deavoured in vain to convey an alarm to the guard or engine driver. He then opened the door of his carriage, and succeeded in reaching the truck o n w hi ch her Lady ship's carriage was placed, and found her clinging to the wheel in a terrible state of alarm. The lady's maid had fallen off. On the train arriving at Rugby an en gine was sent along the line to look fo r h er; she had tallen in a state of insensibility, w i th her hands across the rails, and before the engine-driv er di scovered her, the wheels of the engine cut off her hands. She has been conveyed to the Leicester Infirmary, but fears of lockjaw are entertained. DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-GENEIRAL CARNCROss.— ' It is our painful duty to announce the death of Lieute nant-General Sir Joseph Hugh Carncross, K.C.8., of the Rayal Artillery, wh ich .sa d event occurred at his seat, Rosclawn, Celbridge, at five o'clock 4..a5. on Tues day last. The Gallant General wa s in the 78th year of his age, the 55th year of his service, and was the oldest Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Artillery but one. He served in the West I ndie s from 1797 to 1801. at Walcheren in 1809, and in the Peninsula and France from 1811 to 1814, during which time he was engaged in the battles of Salamanca, Siege of Burgos, Nive, Vittoria, T Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes , and „ louse. For the last named victory he rece ived a pension of 2001. a " for Salaman ca medal year " for good ser vices , and cross, and for other actions two cl asps. By his death Colonel F. Campbell succeeds to the vacant Bth battalion of Artillery. MA.DLLE. DELUZY.—We read in the Droit : " Madlle. Deluzy-DesPortes has just presented a demand against Marshal Sebastiani for the delivery of the legacy of 3,000 f. in Rentea which the Duke de Praslin made her, as governess of his daughters, by his will of 1843. Madlle. Deluzy further demands that different objects which were given to her by h er pupils, and which are at present un d er seal, shall be restored to her ; and finally, she demands the restit u ti on of a sum of money w hi c h, she says, She confided to M. de ,j Frllsllll $0 invest," ABOLITION OF CHRISTMAS GRATVITIES.—OB Satur day afternoon, a meeting of several tradesmen was held at Mr. Nevill's, baker, Sidmouth-street, Gray's-inn-road, for the purpose of promoting the movement for the abolition of Christmas-boxes. The chair was taken by the proprietor of the establishment, and several resolu tions were unanimously passed, urging upon the body of tradesmen the necessity of meeting at once for the pur pose of doing away with the system. Preliminary arrangements were entered into for the purpose of form ing district committees throughout the north and north west parts of the metropolis in aid of the object, after which the meeting separated. On Friday afternoon proceedings to the above effect took place in the Sub scription room, Mark-lane, amongst several of the large factors and mealtnen. A subscription in aid of the steps now being taken for the abolition of the Christmas boxing impost was entered into, and arrangements were made for a future meeting on a larger scale for the same purpose. The proposition was very cordially received by all present. THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE Strow.—This exhibition closed on Saturday evening. No less than 60,000 persons, including some of the noblest in the land, visited it during the four days it was open. The sales of the cattle and other stock exhibited at the sho;v have exceeded in number those of any preceding year since the establishment of the club, and the animals have generally obtained unusually good prices. Another unfortunate fracas has recently taken place at the Royal Military College, Woolwich. The Master-General of the Ordnance, the moment the intel ligence reached him, proceeded to Woolwich, and insti tuted an investigation into the affair, which has termi- 4 nated in the dismissal of one of the students and the suspension of three others. The offence of the young men was their extreme ill-usage of another of their body. —United Service Gazette. Of the 170,000 weavers in Lancashire, there are only 48,000 employed, FRENCH PLAYS. ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Le Chef d'CEuvre Inconnu is the title of an inte resting drama of art which was produced here on Friday last, and which afforded M. Pechter an op portunity of completely establishing himself in the favour of the audience of the St. James's. Rolla, the hero of the piece (M. Pechter) is a young Genoese sculptor, who is deeply enamoured of the daughter of a senator. A reward is offered by the Grand Duke of Florence for the best statue of St. Cecilia; and the young sculptor, taking his lady love as the ideal of beauty, produces a statue which, in the opinion of Michael Angelo, far surpasses any of the works offered for competition. The hand of his lady lore has, however, been promised by her father to a a Florentine noble as the price of his pardon, and the father, in an agony, beseeches Rolla to hide the statue. The likeness is unmistakeable, and the ho nour of the lady would be compromised by its dis covery. The nobleman to whom his mistress has been promised comes to Rolla to award to him the prize, and to demand the statue in the name of the Duke. The young artist seizes his mallet and de stroys the statue, and then, overcome by his feelings, falls dead, and a lifeless corpse is all that is left to be adorned by the golden laurel. The acting of M. Pechter was most pathetic. He was a true child of the " sunny south " in his enthusiasm for art and in his intensely impassioned emotions. His Rolla is indeed a chef d'a'uvre, but which will riot be long in connu. The new vaudeville Le Reviel du Lion, which is well known to the English public from the trans lation of it (Th e R ouse d Lion), now performing at the Haymarket, was likewise produced here on Friday, Castigny sustaining the part sustained by Webster, and Madame Valmy that sustained by Mrs. Keeley. They were both admirable, as was also M. Montaland, who made a most amusing character o the fop. A public meeting of the Health of Towns Associa tion was held on Saturday, in the Hanover-square Rooms. There was a numerous attendance. The Marquis of Normanby, President of the Association, was in the chair, supported by Lord Ashley, M.l'. ; Lord Ingestre, M.P. ; Earl Fortescue ; the Earl of Mulgrave ; Lord Ebrington, M.P.; Mr. W. Mackin non, M.P. • Mr. Ewart, M.P. ; M r . R. Ad a i r , M.P.; Mr. E. Ellice, M.P. ; Mr. C a rd we ll, M.P. ; Mr. R. A. Slaney, M.P.; Mr. H. Tufnell, M.P.; General Turner; Mr. J. Heywood, M.P; Mr. W. S. Craig, M.P. ; Mr. W. Baines, M.P.; Mr. C. Fortescue, AI P. ; Mr. H. Suffield ; the Hon. E. P. Bouverie, M.P. ; Mr. R. Palmer, M.P. ; Dr. Bowring, M.P. ; Mr. Parker, M.P.; Mr. C. P. Grenfell, M.P.; Sir J. Birch, M.P. ; the Hon. F. Byng; Mr. R. D. Granger, F.R.S. ; Mr. C. W. Grenfell ; Sir I. L. Goldsmid, Bart.; Dr. Southwood Smith, Dr. Guy, Dr. Aldis, Dr. Hall, Dr. Moseley, Rev. Dr. Warren, Rev. Mr. Lusignan, Mr. Tottie, Mr. F. L. Goldsmid, Mr. C. Cochrane, Mr. D. Salmons, &c. Deputa tions attended from Bradford, Derby, Notting ham, Sheffield, Halifax, Wolverhampt on , Stafford, East Retford, Li verpoo l , N ewcas tle-upon-Tyne, and other places. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Lord J. Russell, M.P. ; the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Shelburne, the Bishop of Norwich, Lord Morpeth, M.P.; Sir B. Hall, M.P. ; Sir W. Clay, M.P. ; Mr. H. G. Ward, M.P. ; Mr. John Walter, M.P. ; Mr. C. Lushington, M.P. ; Mr. John Bright, M.P. ; Mr. J. L. Bramstone. M.P. ; Mr. R. W. Grey, M.P. ; Mr. J. Greene, M.P.; Mr. G. Thompson, M.P. • Hon. W. F. Cowper, M.P. ; M r. H. Currie, M.P. ; Mr. W. Brown, M.P.; Mr. W. Marshall, M.P. ; Mr. H. Broadley, M.P., &c. The Marquis of NORMANBY, on taking the chair, was received with great cheering. He had been summoned to this country at the commencement of a new Parliament, and it gave him great pleasure to have an opportunity, before he returned to his usual duties, of attending a meeting of the association over whom he had the honour to preside, acting in con cert with other advocates of sanitary reform. He had therefore readily agreed to take the chair on the present occasion. --(Cheers.) It had so often been his lot to address detailed statements showing the paramount importance of the subject which had brought the meeting together to public assemblages, as well as to that branch of the Legislature of which be was a member, that he might well forbear from entering upon it, and leave it to its own merits. But at this moment there were certainly some peculiar circum stances. A not unnatural alarm for the future which certain indications connected with public health had presented could not, he was afraid, be entirely un mingled with some feeling of self .reproach for past neglect.—(Cheers.) But, at the same time, the pre sent afforded hopes of a more substantial character than the past. Within the last few days a report had been presented of a Commission appointed since he had last had the honour of addressing the Health of Towns Association. That report embodied a precise and definite recommendation, to which the Executive had promptly and vigorously responded ; and, in re ference to the sewerage of the metropolis, it contained information of a scientific and practical character which could not fail to be of the greatest advantage. Connected with this subject there was another of very painful interest. At this moment, when they were threatened with a more than possible visitation of the great pestilential scourge of the age, it came upon them as utterly unprepared as when fifteen years ago it burst upon Europe with all its unknown terrors.—(Loud cheers.) Information had been col lected only to be thrown aside. The most obvious precautions bad been entirely neglected. Wherever endemic disease was found prevalent the recur rence of cases was most to be dreaded. Filling a public situation at the time, he had felt that no time should be lost in directing the attention of the Go vernment and the Legislature to the subject. Though he had to address a Parliament which was not friendly, in a political sense, he was able in the last days of Lord Melbourne's Administration to pass a measure which obtained support on all sides, including that of the Duke of Wellington, who then command e d th e suffrages of a large and influential party. In dealing with this question different persons bad pronounced different modes by which they hoped to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. He had objected at the time to the appointment of a commission, which delayed any practical measure ; but it was impossible to overstate the amount and value of the information collected. But how came it that, on a question that appealed to every man's home and family, there had been no po pular agitation ? Agitation had gone on for years, shocking many prejudices, and advancing many in terests which conflicted with those prejudices. But never during all that time had popular agitation mingled its cries with the feeble moans that issued from the fever wards of the crowded hospitals.— (Hear, hear, and cheers.) The Health of Towns Asso ciation had pursued its own career, independent of po litical parties, during the past, as he trusted it would be for the future. But he recollected that when the association was established they were told that the public asked for bread, and they offered them a stone. The taunt was not very just, as the figure of speech was not very correct. What they did desire was to save a struggling population from being entirely crushed under a shapeless aggregation of stone and brick, which had grown up over the length and breadth of the land.—(Cheers.) They wished the population not to suffer an entire deprivation of ac cess to that first universal gift of a bounteous Provi dence—the pure air of heaven. When masses of men were congregated together for the purposes of labour some sacrifice must be made ; all they asked was that the same care should be taken in preserving the living machinery as was taken in upholding the inanimate machinery.—(Cheers.) The question had made great progress. Within the last few days, since it had been announced that he would be able to take the chair, he had received letters, not only from individuals, but from local bodies, in reference to inquiries which they had instituted. From the mass of information before him he wished to draw forth one or two particulars which seemed to merit consi deration. A few days ago he had received a report published under the authority of the town of Sheffield. It was; in many respects, a very valuable report. Putting sentiment and sympathy aside for the mo ment, it was interesting to see how men of business, such as had drawn up that report, looked at the sub ject in a pecuniary point of view. The annual loss by preventible disease in the West Riding of York shire, from death, sickness, and loss of productive labour, skilled and unskilled, was estimated in round numbers at 1,500,0001. sterling, in a population of less than 1,000,000, being at the rate of from 275. to 28s. per head yearly. This was the report of men of business.—(Cheers.) It was published under the authority of the Health Committee of the Town council of the borough of Sheffield. One word on burial clubs. He had received a letter on the subject from Mr. Clay, of Preston, in which that gentleman, well known to the advocates of sanitary reform, ex pressed his regret at not being able to attend that meeting, and stated some interesting facts which he (the Marquis of Normanby) wished to com municate to the meeting. A Bill had been passed during his absence from the country which was intended to diminish the great evils arising from the insurance of infantile life. It provided that in surance should not be legally effected on the lives of children under six years of age. Mr. Clay stated that in the quarter with which he was connected the Act was entirely inoperative. Frightful examples were well known to have occurred of the evils to which the custom had given rise. —(Hear, hear.) At the last assizes at York a father was tried for the murder of his child, on whose death the father ex pected to receive 50s. from a burial club. It was proved that the father had said he had another child who would bring him 505., and two others who would bring him Si. a piece. At Lincoln a woman had been tried for the murder of three of her children ; and it was impossible to assign any other motive for the crime than the desire to appropriate the money for burial. At Warrington a coroner's jury brought in a verdict of " wilful murder" against a woman whose husband was the victim, and for whose burial she re ceived 201. from the burial societies. In Preston, with a population of 60,000, there were no fewer than 49,000 insurances effected in such clubs. Mr. Clay also stated that while the deaths under five years of age in Preston were 59 per cent., the medical at tendance on children under that age was only 13 per cent. So lon g h a d th e su bj ec t o f sanitary im provement been discu sse d, th a t ce rtain truisms were established, one of whi c h w a s that a town population as compared with a cou n try populationthe w unfavour ably situated, the average deaths in the laies s countryB. The average being e lin 25, while those in towns were:46. In Rutland shire life was twice the average for all England was I l of life in Manchester. Regiments raised in agriculturaldistrictswns 0 large lasted recruits coming as long as those raised in to coming from manufacturi n g d istricts twice as many were rejected as of those coming from agricultural districts. These facts had been long impressed on his memory ; but others h adrecently come to his know ledge which further illustrated the subject. I n St . Saviour's, Southwark (the most unhealthy o f a ll parts of the metropolis), the average duration of life among the.gentry was 47, tradesmen 25, ar ti zans 22, whilst amongst the lowest class it did not exceed 15. lie would not, however, enlarge. He could, for example, have said much upon the water monopolies —(Greatcheering)—upon the necessity of considering water at least as great a necessary of life as bread or any other article of food. — (Cheers.) Referring again to the report from Sheffield to which he had alluded, he found it stated that great as was the improvement in that town, compared with the time when people had to carry water into their houses with the hand, yet even now the difference between the price of water as fur nished by the company and what it might be, was as 6d. , HEALTH of TOWNS ASSOCIATION to Id. for every thousand gallons.—(Bear - ^He felt all the difficulty that at present existed ha *dealing . with any question in the least connected orith the public revenue or taxation ; but he must express the hope that some arrangement might be made wA'tir reference to the window-tax—(Loud cheers)—so that with regard to the lowest class at least, they might not be deprived of the solace, amid their sad hours, of a glimmering of light.—(Cheers.) Any one who ; had paid attention to this subject could mark the dif -1 ference between the countenances of those who were habitually huddled together in their dark dens, be yond the reach of day, and of those who, even in comparatively dark courts, still expanded beneath the influence of the sun.—(Cheers.) He trusted that the greatly increased public interest in this whole ques tion would be further proved by the repetition, if necessary, of meetings like the present in different parts of the country, and that they would be able to give that effective support to a willing Government - (Loud cheering)—i n passing a comp re h ens i ve l eg i s lative measure, which might at length overbear all that opposition which really, in its nature and amount, was utterly contemptible.---(Cheers.) lf they were suc cessful in their efforts, then they would have the great satisfaction of looking back to an improved state of things throughout the country ; and, viewing the question practically and comprehensively, they would increase that which was the best foundation of a nation's strength—the vigour of a thriving popula tion.— (Cheers.) They would be able to hold out to the working classes some prospect of that which used to be the boast of this country—the modest comforts of an English home.—(Great cheering.) They would. also, as far as depended on the removal or counter action of all those noxious influences that now existed, secure to the rich and extend to the poor that first of worldly blessings —a sound condition of body and I mind, the mens sana in corpore sano, without which no luxury could be enjoyed, and with which there was hardly any privation that might not be endured.—(Cheers.) Apologizing to the meeting for having been drawn further into the subject by sense of its overpowering importance than he hadl intended, the Noble Marquis, amid loud cheering,. resumed his seat. Lord ASHLEY (who, on rising, was loudly cheered) said, it was very gratifying to him, as it must be to the Noble Lord in the chair, and to all present, to see the numbers and respectability of those who thronged the room and the platform on that occasion, because it showed the great and increasing interest felt in this mighty question, while it held out a well grounded hope of effective support being given to her Majesty's Government in the excellent course they hed determined to pursue.— (Cheers.) His gratitude to them in this matter would be shown by his making the shortest possible speech, so as not to detain them more than one minute; and for this reason—because there were many present who ought to be heard on this question —many new labourers in the vineyard, men of " mark and substance," whose sentiments were worth hearing, and who, if they delivered not their sentiments, would at least benefit the cause by re cording their names in favour of the great and im portant movement in which they were embarked:— The resolution he had to propose would, without any explanation of his, tell its own story. It was— " That the vast amount ef disease always prevailing —greatly augmented during the past and present years, and likely to be still further increased by the visitation of the cholera—and proved by successive Government commissions, as well as by recent local investigations, to exist in every part of the empire, in connexion with causes admitting of removal—renders it imperative that sanitary legislation should he imme diate and as universal as the evil it seeks to remedy." Now, they would observe that their attention was particularly directed to the apprehended visitation of cholera. The resolution went on to say, that disease at all times existed in all parts of the country ; but it added this, and it was to this point he wished to direct their most anxious attention—that the evils which ex isted were " in connexion with causes admitting of re moval."—(Hear, hear.) They might depend upon it that not one single truth had been more firmly established of late years in this country than that the condition of our great towns and of the people in habiting those towns was not a natural, necessary, and inevitable evil.—(Cheers.) It was not in the order of a merciful Providence that millions on mil lions should be left in that dreadful and neglected condition.— (Cheers.) It was the consequence of our own neglect, of our own wicked and sinful neglect;. and, from the bottom of his heart, he thanked God that He had brought this country to a better sense of its duty ; and he prayed and believed that He would bless all the efforts now directed to the tem poral, aye, and to the spiritual benefit of so many millions of His created and responsible beings (Cheers.) Now, let the meeting bear this in mind, that the evils complshed of were capable of removal ; and, if capable of removal, it was clearly not only our interest, but it was manifestly our duty to bestir ourselves for the adoption of those measures that were necessary for their removal.—(llear, hear.) Perhaps they would permit him very shortly to point out other benefits that would follow in the train of those great physical improvements which they hoped to accomplish. He would read a letter which had been stint to the association by the Rev. Charles Girdlestone, a man whose opinions on such a tAihject could not fail to have the greatest weight with all present. The Noble Lord here read the letter, which was to the effect that the writer, "in visiting the people of his populous pariah (Dudley), saw daily illustration of the truth and importance of those prin ciples which the meeting was summoned to uphold —that the clergy ought to be the first to come for ward in this great cause.—(Cheers.) None knew so well as they that the state of the dwellings of the labouring classes—to a great extent beyond their own control—was not only incompatible with sound health of body, but also such as to render all but ab solutely impracticable some of the most essential graces of the Christian character."—(Hear, hear.) If he might be allowed to add his feeble experience to that of this eminent clergyman, he did not hesitate to say that their pulpits and their school-rooms, their daily and their nightly visitations, their exhortation* and their example, were pretty nearly fruitless so long as they left the great mass of the people filthy, and schooled under all those noxious influences which led to indulgence in those very vices which they were labouring to uproot.—(Cheers.) Now, let them Set+ themselves to remove those noxious influences, which, if there were time, he could prove were th e cause o f much of the frightful intoxication that was the be setting evil of the working people, and a more fruit ful cause of poverty, degradation, and the workhouse.: than any others that he was aware of in the whole. catalogue of those sins and mischiefs that charac-• terised the working population of this realm.— (Cheers.) Let them set themselves to place the people in such a condition as decency required—to place them, he would not say in circumstances peen , * liarly favourable, but in such a condition to it would be possible for them, which it was not now. So practice the lessons of virtuewhilfh they t w the teachers for ward religion inculcated.—(Cheer s. ) ward and did that, then the ministers of religion, of all denominations ; then the scripture readers, and that admirable man, the city missionary, might go forth to their work with fruit and acceptance ; and let them doubt not that in a short space of time, by the blessing of God on their endeavours, they would see a prosperous population gathering around them, and then would they bless God for the enjoyments they themselves possessed, and for the good things which Lie had put into their hearts to perform for others. Dr. GUY, in seconding the resolution, would lay before the meeting a very few facts to show that disease, which was always prevalent, had been increas ing among us of late years. Without entering in to minute details, he trusted he would b: on, ba le toand, in so do prove thei doing wouldi t ions laid take dowel th e most in ,the moderatere sol u standard i as the amount of mortality, namely , 2 per cent., one very in his reports from week week. by thitle' Registrar-General s t s r y a s r te G m e ne Ta o f a l much below that employed by stak,„2ehad in his calculations, th been in force for nine e h e althiest of those ye years, registration an d of f e death s , would The total number of deaths ar . in England thea and moderate d Wales standard he had taken, was a r l a es in th e healthiest of tho se years, above 25,000; in the whole bo the same,U n i the e d eaths K ingdom, w e re supposing 43ooo. the mortality to Take the average of seven years, of which 1841, the year of the census, was the middle year, and they found the total deaths over and above the reason able standard he had taken to be 30,000 in Eng land and Wales, and in the United Kingdom 51,000.—(Hear, hear.) It had been estimated that for every necessary death there were twenty-eight cases of unnecessary sickness ; that might be too, high an estimate, and he would take it at twenty. There were, therefore, in England and Wales, during the healthiest year, 500,000 cases of unnecessary sickness; and, taking the average of seven years, the numbers in the United Kingdom exceeded 1,000,000. —(Hear, hear.) In the case of the metropolis the annual waste of life was in the healthiest year 8,000, and 160,000 cases of unnecessary sickness ; taking the average of seven years the deaths were 11,000, and the cases of unnecessary sickness 250,000.—(Hear.) These facts fully justified the first clans 9 of the reso lution.—(Hear, hear). The next clauie of the resolu tion was to the effect that this disease had been s greatly augmented during past years, andor point he would give the figures of the England and Registrar-Ge neral. Taking the 117 districts o year ending September, . 8 Wales included in his reports, 1 4 t 3 hey th f f o e un d d ea t t h h a s t in the ; bet l w B e 4 e 6 u , 178,000; 1847, 210,000; bein g 161,000 ; 1844, 167,000 , 184 a 5 1847, of 50,00 , 3 1845, 171,000 They were beginning to deaths.---(Hear, hear.) of sickness I and September, 1843, and September, decrease; but three weeks, ago, mortality was on the T con gratulate themselves that this amo unt above the : average seven hundred deal in consequence of the preva ili ng ing epi de mic, there were .