The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-04-02 00:00:00

Empatat 3darliamtnt. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY Sir JAMES GRAHAM s a id th e go y ernme , t fully considered the course which it ought to Factories Bill, and found that it had three mode- of pi ceeding ; the first acceding: to the compromise of el:ven hours ; the second, to adopt the present bill and Lave the law as it now stood ; and the third, to drop th, present and introduce a new bill, embodying those provisions a!- ready agreed to in committee, and which might theret:.re be presumed to be likely to meet with general concur rence. He did not think that the adoption of the eleven hours system would be either a safe or an expedient com promise, because the limitation of the operations of ma chinery would be productive of the most serious .conse quences. It would be better at once to fix the minuntun of wages rather then the maximum of labour. The right honourable baronet argued at considerable length against the ten hours' proposition, which he designated a Jack Cade system of legislation ; and adverting to the second mode of proceeding—that of dropping the bill altogether —said he could not bring himself to forego the provisions which appeared to meet with general assent. He would therefore adopt the third course, intimating, however, the intention of the Government, with respect to the declared opinion of the house, to oppose all limitation of the hours of labour to less than twelve hours. He, therefore, moved the postponement of the committee until Friday, when he would move to rescind the order for resuming the committee, and ask for leave to bring in a new bill. A somewhat spirited debate followed, in which Lord Howick, Captain Rous, Mr. Brotherton, and Mr. Ver non Smith took part. After some further discussion the committee was post poned until Friday. 1:2,..1 can HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY. On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR. the house resolved itself into a committee on the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill. On the first clause, which repeals several statutes, and abolishes the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts in matters of tithes and defamation, a conversation took place between Lord COTTEN H AM, the LORD CHANCELLOR, and the Bishop of EXETER. No amendment was proposed, and the clause was agreed to. On clause 5, (enacting that " all donative rectories and vicarages shall become benefices presentative, and all do native stipendiary preacherships or curacies shall become perpetual cures and benefices,") Lord COTTEN HAM objected to what appeared an inter ference with private rights of patrons, as donatives to which they presented without the intervention of the bishop were more valuable than presentatives. The . LORD CHANCELLOR said, the clause but carried out the recommendation of the commissioners ; and it seemed very reasonable that all those who had the right of appointing preachers or curates should be subject to the salutary control of the ordinary, and to the provisions respecting lapse, which applied to other cases of church patronage. The right of the patron surely was not pre cisely in the nature of absolute private title, utterly un connected with any public trust. Ultimately the clause was passed, the LORD CHANCEL LOR undertaking to reconsider (before the report) the propriety of its precise phraseology. Clauses 82 to 90, inclusive, were struck out. The remaining clauses of the bill were then agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY. The first business was the motion of Colonel kv oon (Brecon) for a bill to exempt from toll all lime conveyed on any turnpike-road in Wales. He explained the general purport of the acts of parliament that regulate this subject in Wales, and the great hardship with which this toll, an impost on manure, is found to bear upon the small agri culturists in Wales ; indeed, he believed it to have been really the primary cause of all the late disturbances there. While lime bore the heavy toll he thus complained of, the artificial manures in general, such as guano and bone dust, paid no duty at all. After some conversation, in the course of which Mr. DARBY objected to the bill, as tending to diminish the security of creditors having made advances upon tolls, the house divided :—For the introduction of the bill, 68 ; against it, 42. Majority for it, 26. Mr. HUTT then moved for a committee of the whole house upon the expediency of allowing corn to be imported from the British possessions in South Africa, India, and .Australasia, at the same duty as from Canada. Those possessions had a stronger claim to this relief than Canada, because, being at a greater distance, they were more exposed to the disadvantages of the sliding scale. They were all of them corn-producing and corn-exporting countries : Van Diemen's Land, in particular, produced wheat of most excellent quality, and there was a proba bility that freights would not, in future, be too high to leave a profit upon corn brought hither from those coun tries. He called upon the government to carry out their own principles, and deal equally with all these posses sions. Mr. MANGLES seconded the motion, with a view espe cially to Indian interests. Having ruined the manufac tures of India, we were bound to make some compensation to her in her agriculture. Mr. GLADSTONE reminded the house, that in the debates respecting the admission of Canadian corn, it was dis tinctly announced by the government that it was not their intention lightly to extend the relaxation to other colo nies. The colonies specified in this motion were not properly and habitually corn-exporting countries to n.u ropean markets, though they might occasionally bring over a little corn. There were peculiar circumstances in the Canadian case, which distinguished it from the case of the other colonies ; in particular, the Canadian measure was accompanied with a condition that the Legislature of the Canadas should impose a duty on corn imported into them. He would not consent to entertain a motion of which the tendency was to produce, whether with more or with less reason, a panic among the agriculturists of England. Lord STANLEY, though he confessed that he did not himself apprehend any real danger to English agriculture from such an alteration as this ; yet, being persuaded that great alarm, rightly or wrongly, would be sure to arise from it among the agricultural interests, he would resist a proposal which would produce so great an uneasiness, and disturb the whole arrangement of the corn-laws, and for no substantial purpose. The house divided—Against the motion, 117 ; for it, 47. Majority against it, 70. Sir G. STAUNTON moved for a committee of the whole louse, to consider of an address to the crown in favour of the widow and family of the late Dr. Morrison, on the ground of his eminent public services in China, eulogised in a proclamation of Sir Henry Pottinger. Sir J. C. H onfro USE seconded the motion. Sir R. PEEL, while be praised in the highest terms the services of Dr. and Mr. Morrison, lamented the difficulty of acceding to a proposal which would constitute a pre cedent of the most embarrassing description. As com pared with the surviving families of other eminent public servants, this family had been fairly dealt with ; but still, if he had not been restrained by his sense of public duty, he would have had great personal gratification in acceding to a further provision. Sir G. STAUNTON withdrew the motion. -. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY. The Birmingham Corporation Bill was rejected on the second reading by the majority of ten. The Bolton and Preston Railway Bill was read a third time, and passed. Sir R. PEEL stated that the commission on the subject of Harbours of Refuge would be issued in three or four days. In reply to a question from Lord Sandon to Lord Ash ley as to the course which his Lordship would pursue on the Factories Bill, Lord Ashley said that his first impres sion, which had since been confirmed by the opinions of several of his friends on both sides of the House, was not to offer any oposition to the Government proposition to withdraw the Bill. (Hear, and oh, oh.) It was, there fore, not his intention to oppose the Government on Fri day, in their motion for the withdrawal of the Bill. He was aware that he surrendered many advantages which he now possessed by adopting that course, but he thought it his duty on all occasions, when he could do so without conceding principle, to consult the wishes and conveni ence of the House and the Government. I take this course (said the Noble Lord) on the understanding that the Government will immediately introduce another Bill, and will take the discussion upon it on an early day after Easter. Sir J, GRAHAM.—Perhaps I may be permitted to say —having given a notice which now stands for Friday evening with respect to the Bill lately discussed—that if such a proposal meets with the general assent of the House, I shall on Friday move to bring in a Bill to alter the exist ing law as to labour in factories. if the present Bill should be withdrawn, and leave to introduce a new Bill should be obtained, I shall move that it be read a first time on Friday, and printed, and shall fix the secondread ing for an early day after Easter. The house soon after adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY. The Mutiny Bill, the Marine Mutiny Bill, and several other Bills, were brought up from the Commons, and read a first time. The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that, on Tues day next, he should move that the house do adjourn till Tuesday, the 16th of April. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY moved the bringing up of the report of the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill. Lord BROUGHAM asked if his Noble and Learned Friend on the woolsack had any objection to make the term of years five years' standing at the bar instead of seven? The LORD CHANCELLOR had no objection. Lord BROUGHAM took notice of a statement which had been made, to the effect that he took a large sum of money out of the taxes for doing nothing. He did a great deal ; be worked very hard ; and he would willingly give up what he received from the country if he were permitted to go back, and practise at the bar. (Hear.) The report was then received.—Bill to be read a third time on 'Monday. Adjourned at six o'clock._ HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRID AY . On the motion of the LORD CHANCELLOR, the com mittee of last session on Presbyterian marriages in Ireland was re-appointed. A discussion was raised by the Marquis of NORMAN DY on the appointment of Mr. Thomas O'Brien as a stipen diary magistrate in Ireland, which be contended to be improper, as did also the Marquis of CLANRICARDE, who asserted that he would, if the appointcnent were perse vered in, bring the matter before their lordships in a tangible shape. The Duke of WELLINGTON and Lord WHARNCLIFFE strongly complained of such an attack , not onl y on the government, but on the character of Mr. O'Brien, with out any notice whatever on the part of the noble marquis that he intended to impugn Mr. O'Brien's eligibility for the station to which lie had been appointed. v apers moved for by the :\.iari l uis of LANSDOWNE, challeni;es in common jury cases in Ireland, granted. Tire Marquis of NORMANBV intimated his intention of cabin: to their lordships' attention the recent occurrences Gwalior soon after Easter. Some bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY. On toe motion for discharging the order of the day for the committee on the Factories Bill, Mr. B. COCHRANE regretted that Lord Ashley should give the government an advantage over him, by allowing the bill to be withdrawn—an advantage not only as re garded success, but also as to apparent sincerity and ear nestness. The object of bringing in a new bill was to gain time, for there could be little chance after Easter of carrying a ten hours' bill. Assenting to such a course was " keeping the word of promise to the ear, but break ing it to the hope;" but he believed it was not the result of any insincerity on the part of the noble lord, being rather attributable to want of decision. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, in order, as he said, to prevent the house from stultifying itself, moved an amendment to the effect of pledging it to adhere to the ten hours principle. Lord ASHLEY said that he had acted upon the advice received from hon. members on both sides of the houee. The alterations in the bill had rendered it such a mass of confusion that it must have been ultimately defeated upon mere technicalities, and the defeat would have been liable to misinterpretation. The noble lord declared his de termination to maintain the ten hours principle, without the slightest reference to the feelings or fate of any go vernment whatever. _ _ . ..... Lord HOWICK said the course pursued by government was most extraordinary, but was of opinion that it was not advisable to oppose the withdrawal of the bill, in order to bring in a new one. Sir R. INGLis hoped that the postponement of the ten hours proposition would not abate the earnestness and determination of its supporters. Mr. ACKLAND was not ready to support the ten hours \principle, if such support implied the loss of the present government without the prespect of putting in its place a government which could carry it. Lord J. RUSSELL thought Lord Ashley was right in the course he adopted, as by any other course he would have prejudiced his cause. Sir R. PEEL defended the course pursued by the go ; veruznent, and said that if they had adopted the um"- promise of "eleven hours" they would most likely have had a majority ; but it was not a safe policy to j escape from present difficulties by adopting a principle I which they believed to be injurious to the country. Lord Ashley had sacrificed office because the government would not assent to the ten hours principle; a proof, not only of the sincerity of the noble lord, but that the question had been maturely considered by the government. He hoped that further consideration would convince' the house that the alteration to ten hours would fling all the loss upon the labouring population. Mr, C. Woon was convinced that such would be the case. Lord PALMERSTON supported the amendment. After some observations from Mr. WILLIAMS and Mr. FIELDEN, the amendment was negatived without a division, and the order of the day for proceeding with the bill was discharged. On the motion for the house resolving itself into a com mittee of supply, Mr. EWART moved a resolution to the effect that it was indispansable to the trade of this country that those duties be repealed which press on the raw materials of manufac ture, especially on woollens and cotton ; also that it was expedient to reduce those duties which press on articles of interchange in return for our manufactures, such as tea, sugar, coffee, bacon. butter, and cheese : and that any temporary deficiency in the revenue arising from these re ductions ought to be sustained by the property and not by the trade and labour of the country. Mr. HUME seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER contended that the increased imports of raw sotton proved that the duties did not operate injuriously. The proposition of the hon. member professed to deal with nearly 30,000,001) of re venue, and would throw our whole financial arrangements into confusion, and therefore, on the ground of expediency, he must oppose the motion. After a short discussion, in which Mr. Williams, Mr. Baring, and Mr. P. Howard took part, the motion was negatived by 88 to 24. The house then went into committee on the British Museum and commissariat estimates, and several votes were taken. Sir JAMES GRAHAM moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the laws for regulating labour in factories, which, after a few observations from Mr. T. Duncombe, Mr. Hume, and Sir C. Napier, was agreed to, and the house adjourned. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. HANOVER, March 17.—Caroline Herschel', the sister and faithful assistant of the celebrated astronomer, com pleted yesterday the 85th year of her age. His Matesty the King, as well as the Crown Prince and Princess, ho noured the venerable lady with a visit. THE KING OF SWEDEN.—Oscar the First, the present king of Sweden, is aged 44 years and six months. By his marriage with the daughter of Prince Eugene de Beau- Inuruuls, r,uu,u hno cr.nc and one daughter. The new prince royal is 18 years of age. By the death of the King of Sweden, Marshal Soult has become the sole survivor of all the eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon in 1801, at the camp of Boulogne. The great subject of conversation in the offices of the Minister of Marine, says the Commerce, is a magnificent steamer, now being built at Brest, and finishing in a style of splendour, as to accommodations, gilding, and paint ing, for the 'purpose of conveying the Royal Family to Englund. IRELAND. A monk has been convicted, at the Cork Assizes, of a criminal assault on the person of a female child, nine years of age, who was brought to him to be cured of epilepsy. He has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The Kilkenny Moderator says that should Mr. O'Con nell pay a debt of nature while in the performance of the penance imposed upon him for a violation of the law of the land, the Papal Court have ;it in contemplation to canonize him. FALL IN THE CORN EXCHANGE FUNDS.—The amount of the repeal rent acknowledged at the last meet ing of the Repeal Association was £376 lls., upwards of £l2O of which was American money, leaving the home weekly contributions at something under £250. WHOLESALE MURDEP.—At the Cork Assizes, on Tuesday last, Timothy Mahony was found guilty of having murdered the wife, the child, and the servant of his bro ther by beating out their brains with a mallet. Sentence of death was passed on him, which he heard with indiffer ence. DESPERATE OUTRAGE—THREE HORSES KILLED. — An outrage of a most desperate nature took place near the town of Tipperary a few days back. Mr. Navin, who keeps a hotel in the town, took some land, out of which the former tenants were ejected, on the property of Mr. Stafford O'Brien, and six armed men came on the lands, in search of Mr. Navin, who had proceeded thither. However, not finding the object of their vengeance, who, fortunately, had returned home by a different road from that by which he came, the ruffians were so exasperated that they shot two of his horses dead, and wounded ano ther so desperately that he cannot recover. No doubt, had Mr. Navin met with those blood-thirsty legislators, another assassination would be added to the blood-stained records of our county.—Tipperary Constitution. DESPERATE OUTRAGE.—On Saturday week some ruf fian fired a gun into the parlour of William Revel, Esq., of Ardoyne, Carlow. There were seated in the room, Mr. Revell, his lady, and daughter, his mother and two other ladies, and a gentleman, within two yards of the window. The assassin placed the gun so close to the window, that every pane of glass in it, from the top to the bottom, was shivered to atoms. About thirteen slugs entered. One of them slightly cut the ear and cheek of the elder Mrs. Revell, and three others cut through the lace border of the cap she wore; three others struck her in the back. but did not enter, and only inflicted painful bruises. Provi dentially she was much wrapped up. having a large shawl trebly folded, and underneath a pelerine, through which the balls did not penetrate. The remainder of the charge passed over the head of Mrs. Revell, jun., and lodged in the wall. This outrage is thought to be connected with some proceedings which Mr. Revell was about to take to dispossess a family who had squatted on a part of his land, and towards whom he had acted with the greatest kind ness and liberality. CLERICAL NETIT,s. The Rev. Miles Atkinson, head master of St. Bees School, in a letter addressed to the governors, hgs offered to present them with £6OO for the purpose of building a chapel to be attached to the school, which most liberal offer the governors have thought proper to decline, deem ing it preferable that the boys should attend the parish church.— Carlisle Patriot. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN.—It is with sincere regret we announce the death of the Rev. Christo pher Bush, incumbent of Weston Point Church, ere c t e d by the trustees of the Werver Navigation. It appears th e rev. gentleman performed duty , a t Warrington, on Sun day week, and being too late for the boat, he over-exerted himself in walking; and being very warm when he entered the church, was soon taken with a cold shivering. H e treated his complaint as a cold, until Friday last, whcn the worst symptoms appeared in erysipelas, and he died on Sunday night week delirious. What makes the event more melancholy, Mrs. Bush was confined on Monday with her fifth child, and is at present in a dangerous state. REBECCA AGAIN.—CARDIGAN, MARCH 27.—About four o'clock this morning Rebecca and her daughters paid us another visit, and entirely demolished the turnpike -gate in the upper part of the town on the Aberystwith-road. The gate and posts were sawn off, taken away, and are no where to be found, though an active search is making for them by the police. This gate was destroyed on the night of the 23d of June last, and it was lately replaced in a very firm and substantial manner, notwithstanding which it was again, this morning, removed without the least noise. Even the persons in the toll-house adjoining were not aware of the wor k o f destruction going on. This gate is situated within 200 yards of the barracks of the Royal Marines. The detachment of Royal Marines, under the command of Capt a i n G r iff on , are remove d f rom here to Ah era) ron, and are relieved by that of the Plymouth di vision, under Captain Dawes. Correspondent of the Shipping Gazette. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. GLASGOWT, DUMFRIES, AND CARLISLE RAILWAY. On Saturday week, a very important meeting was held in the Clarendon-rooms, South John-street, in compli ance with the following circular:— " 7, India-buildings, Liverpool. 21st March, 1841. " Sir,—l beg leave respectfully to request your attend ance as a shareholder in the Edinburgh and Glasgow, or Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Company, at a meeting to be held at th e Cl aren d on - rooms , o n - Saturday , next, at twelve o'clock, of parties friendly to the proposed rail way from Glasgow to Carlisle, by Dumfries, to meet the chairman and a deputation from Glasgow of the promo ters of the proposed line. " I am, sir, your most obedient servant, " M. WOTHERSPOON." The attendance was numerous and highly influential. JOHN CROSSFIELD, Esq., was requested to take the chair. The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by observing, that any person who had travelled by the old coach route from Dumfries, by Sanquhar up to Kilmarnock, must have observed how nicely it went by the river Nith, and how admirably nature seemed to have adapted it for the construction of a railway. If the engineers could make the line according to the plan laid down, it would be an admirable line; and he understood it was open whether to make the branch which went on to Monkton. The chairman concluded by requesting Mr. Leadbetter to lay the details of the projected line before the meeting. Mr. LEADBETTER said he attended the present meet ing as chairman of the provisional committee appointed by the company now forming for carrying a line of rail way from Glasgow to Carlisle rid Dumfries; and as that undertaking was very much identified with the interests, both positive and negative, of the Ayrshire Company and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company, it had been thought desirable that the friends of those companies should be called together, along with some gentlemen not interested in any of them, but who, at the same time, might be de sirous of promoting this line of railway communication between Glasgow and Carlisle. Perhaps he should be able to make the subject better understood if he addressed himself, in the first instance, to the gentlemen interested in those two companies, and afterwards to the gentlemen who only felt an interest in the present proposed line. First, with regard to the Ayrshire company, of whom he was happy to see so many present. To them he would take the liberty of saying, that in his opinion it would admit of very little doubt that the proposed line must be a very beneficial undertaking in respect of their company. It was proposed that the line from Carlisle should termi nate either at Kilmarnock or Monk ton ; and by so termi nating, the whole of the English traffic, before reaching Glasgow, would have to pass over from 33 to 36 miles of their railway. (Hear, hear.) The plans had been laid down alternately—for the terminus to be either at Kil marnock or Monkton ; because it was a question of con siderable interest to the company that the line should reach the seaports as early as possible, for a considerable revenue was expected to be derived from the large mine ral district round Cumnock, in the conveyance of its coal and ironstone, which were of the most valuable kinds, but which had never been wrought, owing to the want of proper means of transit to a profitable market. (Cries of " Hear, hear.") The gentlemen in that district of coun try were therefore most desirous that the railway should be the means of reaching the seaports as soon as possible. (Hear.) The engineer had suggested, and indeed it had been under the consideration of the parliamentary com missioners, that the line might go down from Cumnock to Monkton, or that it might go straight on to Kilmar nock ; but he (Mr. Leadbetter) thought the probabilities were that there would be a main line to Kilmarnock with a branch to Monkton, because it was a very important element in the question, that the main line to Kilmarnock shortened the distance to Glasgow two miles and a half— (hear, hear, hear)—a point not to be lost sight of when the advantages of this line came to be considered in rela tion to the Caledonian line, of which he should speak hereafter. Under all the circumstances, therefore, he thought there could be no doubt. as regarded the Ayrshire interest, that this was an undertaking which deserved their most strenuous support. (Hear.) The directors of the Glasgow and Ayr Company, indeed, feeling the impor tance of the undertaking to their company, called a meet ing of their shareholders last Wednesday (March 20), who approved of a resolution, recommended by them, to subscribe the sum of £200,000 towards this undertaking. (Applause.) He had also the pleasure of stating that the public of Glasgow had come forward independently, and subscribed towards it a sum of no less than £120,000 more, in the course of two or three days; therefore so far as the Ayrshire Company and the public generally of Glasgow were concerned, the undertaking received their support. Then, with regard to the Edinburgh and Glas gow Company, upon whose account their shareholders in Liverpool had been invited to the meeting. It was per haps known to nearly the whole of the meeting, that the Caledonian line proposed to go through rather a moun tainous country to reach Lanark, and there diverge by branches, one to Glasgow and another to Edinburgh. It happened, by that divergence, and by taking the line fur ther than the parliamentary commissioners report, that they were enabled to shorten the distance between Edin burgh and Glasgow, and to form thereby a competing line between those two cities. Perhaps some of the gentlemen the blab of the caledonian line would wish to look at it. (The plan was here submitted.) The distance by the Edinburgh line was 46 miles, at pre sent, and with a mile more arising out of its extension into the heart of the city, it would be 47 miles in length. Now this line, forming the two branches of the fork, would, he was satisfied, be under 60 miles; consequently, it would afford, with a little reduction of fares, the great est facilities for carrying on the trade between the two cities, anti therefore the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway interest would be very materially affected. (Hear.) He should mention that there was a part of the Caledonian plan to push the line so as to intersect the Edinburgh and Glasgow line, for the purpose of carrying it to Stirling and Perth, thus making a great line to the North. Ac cording to the views of the Edinburgh and Glasgow board, it would appear that they had had it in contemplation to carry their line to Stirling, thereby giving them the ad vantage of the traffic from Edinburgh and Glasgow going on their line before it diverged to Stirling. By this pro posed plan of the Glasgow and Carlisle line. and the last line, all the traffic going to the north of Scotland must necessarily, according to their views and wishes,—and they were now about to realise them,—go along the Edin burgh and Glasgow railway from each of these lines. By the Caledonian plan all this interest was cut off, so that, as regarded the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway interest, it was obvious that the Caledonian scheme, if carried into effect, would very materially injure their undertaking. It was upon that account that the board of directors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow line had taken it upon themselves to pass the resolutions, which he presumed were in the possession of every gentleman present, expressing the views which he (Mr. Leadbetter) had now been unfolding in a summary manner, and calling upon the shareholders to support the west line via Dumfries. (Hear.) With regard to the undertaking as affecting the interests of Scotland, and those of gentlemen who took an interest in it, he begged to say that the parliamentary commissioners appointed by government to examine the various lines projected into Scotland four years ago had reported upon the best line of railway communication with Edinburgh and Glasgow ; they were not directed to inquire whether the east line, or the west line, or the central line, or the Caledonian line, was the best relatively to each other ; but their instructions were specifically to report which was the best line of railway communication with Edin burgh and Glasgow. To that duty they were tied down, and consequently, as to the evidence that came before them, there might be three lines in motion—the east line, the central line, and line by Dumfries, which he (Mr. Leadbetter) advocated. These three lines were submitted to the engineers and to Sir Frederick Smith, but the com missioners could not make their report otherwise than they bad, which was for the central line proposing to unite Edinburgh and Glasgow with Carlisle ; and presu ming that only one line would be carried into Scotland, the commissioners came, necessarily, to that conclusion, because their instructions were only to point out the best communication with those towns. (Hear, bear.) But since that period very considerable advances had been made in the railway system throughout the country, and the opinion had been growing in Scotland, and among the railway public generally, that the interests of Scotland required two lines of communication with England, which were naturally pointed out by the great trunk lines pass ing through England, one upon the east coast and the other upon the west coast. (Hear, hear.) The meeting knew that an act was being carried through parliament for a line to Carlisle upon the west coast, and they knew also that a line would be opened to Newcastle upon the east coast in May or June next, so that the east coast line into Scotland, and the west coast line, would be elonga tions of those two great trunks down to Edinburgh and Glasgow. (Hear, hear.) With reg ar d t o th e character and nature of the country through which the two lines passed, he need hardly say that they run through the very finest parts of the south of Scotland. (Hear.) The present line passed through Dumfries-shire, up the Nith, a fine fertile district, and through Ayrshire, one of the finest counties in Scotland ; and upon both lines the po pulation was very considerable. Upon the line through Dumfries the population was dense, and the county abounded in agricultural and mineral wealth, thereby offering a considerable revenue from intermediate or local traffic. Those who had travelled by the mail coach along the Caledonian line must well remember the character of the country through which they passed : it was sterile, thinly populated, and offered great engineering difficulties. (Hear, hear.) The expense of making the Caledonian line, too, would greatly exceed that of making the line by Dumfries ; and so much was this point apparent to the parliamentary commissioners, that they stated that the line by the Nith and Ayrshire was superior in this respect to the central. The only advantage, indeed, which the central line held out was that it shortened the distance to Glasgow, according to the commissioners' report, twenty four mile s; b u t the west line by Dumfries had much more favourable gradients, and the engineer stated that the journey could he accomplished in the same time as by the central line without additional expense, so that, as re garded public convenience, the one was equally as favour ably placed as the other; whilst• the line by Dumfries promised those who took an interest in it a much greater beneficial result. (Hear, hear.) It had happene d, un fortunately for this undertaking, that it was late in being brought forward. The Caledonian line, on the other hand, had been in the field for two or three years, and in communication with the Grand Junction, the North Union, and other lines going northward, whose support it had obtained, in the hope of getting their share of the Edinburgh traffic. By means of the proposed branch to Ed nburgh, these companies expected a great portion of the traffic which would otherwise go along the east line ; and in that hope gentlemen connected with them had been in London doing all they could to get the North THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. British railway bill sent to a committee. Now he (Mr. Leadbetter) could not see how the Grand Junction. Co mpany, the North Union, or the Prtston and Lancaster, could have any interest in favour of one line over the other, unless they hoped to get a share of the Edinburgh trade. If the North British line was carried through, of which there was no doubt, as their capital was ready and everything arranged to go next session for a bill to con nect Berwick and Newcastle, it was obvious that the peo ple of Glasgow would not be satisfied with having all their intercourse with England carried on by way of Edin burgh. The question then was, which was the line to pay those taking an interest in it, and he was disposed upon every consideration to say that the line by Dumfries and Ayrshire was the one; and if the capital to make it was subscribed, which he hoped it would be, and if the Caledonian succeeded in raising theirs, which he hoped they would not, parliament would be called upon to de cide which was the line that ought to be executed. Upon that point perhaps there might be a question of some im portance, namely, the nature of the contest between the two companies. He would mention, then, that any diffi culty of this sort would in some degree be obviated by the adoption of a standing order this session, by which all competing lines were sent to a select committee—thereby keeping free from all local bias and feeling in the deter mination of the question. There could not, therefore, be any very great expense, whilst there would be an impar tial tribunal. He hoped the result of this meeting would be a feeling favourable towards this undertaking, as one that would strengthen more and more the commercial re lations already existing between the two cities of Liver pool and Glasgow, and that it would lead to the public taking an interest in a line which promised so well to those who might engage in it, and so well for the interests of the country at large. (Hear.) The CHAIRMAN expressed the obligations he felt to Mr. Leadbetter for the information he had afforded ; and remarked that he had not spoken upon the short distance of railway there would be to make—only 92 miles, which was a very important feature in the case. Mr. LEADBETTER was much obliged to the Chairman for being reminded of this point. The line to be made was only 92 miles long; and upon the authority of the engi neer he could state that the expense would amount to only £13,000 per mile, which would require £1,200,000. But it had been thought desirable, as the condition of subscription, that interest at the rate of 4 per cent. should be paid to the shareholders from the passing of the bill to the opening of the line ; and with the view of meeting that £lOO,OOO was added, which would make the total capital required £1,300,000. The Caledonian line was 112 miles long; for its completion there was required a capital of £1,800,000. (Hear.) In their prospectus the directors of that company stated that they had £600,000 subscribed ; he (Mr. Leadbetter) did not know in what proportions that sum was subscribed. He then impressed upon the meeting the necessity of contributing their subscriptions as early as possible ' • and he described the gradients upon the line in detail, spewing how much more favourable they were than those upon the Caledonian line. With regard to the revenue to be derived no estimate had as yet been framed ; but relying upon the statements published by the Parliamentary Commissioners, it would yield a return of £8 per cent. Mr. Locur said the statements of the Commissioners were contained in the appendix to their report, and were as follows : The Port of Dumfries extends from Sarkmouth to Carsethorn, along the coast, included Annan ; and its im ports are soft goods, timber, slates, coals, swine, lime. iron, dry-saltery, foreign produce, sheet lead, herrings, whiskey, salt, tallow, hemp, wine, and other goods ; and its exports are grain, potatoes and other farm produce, bacon, wool, house timbers, and general goods to Liver pool and America. Annan has at present 31 vessels, in all 1,540 tons, exclusive of its share in steamers ; and its manufactures are mule spinning, weaving for the manu facturers of Carlisle, ship-building, rope-works, cooper age, and the manufactures of flour, &c, &c.. fisheries, &c. The landward parishes are agricultural and pastoral, and their general manufactures are weaving for Carlisle. Dum fries has at present 54 vessels, in all 3,421 tons, evclusive of the steamers; and its manufactures are tanning, ho siery, weaving, cabinet-making, ship building, curing ba con to a great extent, the manufacture of flour, barley, breweries, salmon fishing, and basket-making extensively. Closeburn, the property of Sir C. Monteath, abounds in extensive lime-works, and in the use of coal for these works, and are brought from Mansfield, a distance of 28 miles, in common carts; there is also a woollen manufac tory for spinning. Kier has also lime-works, and•the coal for them is conveyed 20 miles in the same manner. Lead Hills, and its neighbour Wanlock Head, manufacture from the ore 1,200 tons lead annually, and require 20,000 carts of coals annually, which, at 10 cwt. to each cart, makes 19,000 tons in all. Sanquhar and Kirkconnell abound in coal, and their manufactures are extensive in carpets, tartans, weaving and flowering muslin, and nearly the whole of which are carried to Glasgow and Ayr. Port of Urr has 27 vessels, in all 1,384 tons, besides coasters and foreigners. As the gradients Mr. Louie read the following : " From the table of gradients you will observe that the Line by Beattock is about 24 miles shorter than the Line by Cummuck ; in this respect, the Beattock Line is de cidedly preferable, and were there no other elements for consideration, the question would be easily settled. On the other hand, the summit to be surmounted on the Cummock Line is 597 feet (which is the natural summit of the country), while the summit on the Beattock Line is 965 feet (which is obtained by cutting upwards of 40 feet below the natural summit), making a difference in fa vour of the Cumnnek Line of 368 feet; and if the natu ral summits of the country are looked to, of 400 feet. Looking again to the table of gradients, you will observe that on the Beattock Line the ruling gradient is 1 in 113, and it is in length nearly seven miles. On the Cumnock Line the ruling gradient is 1 in 130, and it is in length 5i miles. As to population, Mr. Louse read " As to the population and wealth of the country tra versed, you will observe from the map that the Line by Beattock, passes near to no town of consequence except Lanark and Hamilton, The popul tion in its route from Glasgow to Gretna, is about 58,000. Then as to the line by Cumnock you will observe that it passes through Paisley, Kilmarnock, Dumfries and Annan, besides the populous districts of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. The population on this route is about 167,000, or about three times the amount of that by the Beattock route, and that is of the parishes actually passed through. These numbers are from the census of 1831. Since that time I have no doubt that the population on the Cumnock route has in creased to a much greater extent than on the Beattock route." He concluded by reading the following from Mr. Miller's report : " My own conviction rather is, however, that two coast lines will ultimately be required for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing population of Scotland : and I can not divest myself of the feeling, that the public hereafter would have great cause to regret the adoption of any infe rior central line, although it might present in the first in stance the apparent advantage of affording an immediate connexion to both sides of the island. " Looking, therefore, to the question of which of the two lines now surveyed affords the greatest facilities for railway communication between Glasgow and Carlisle, and the country generally, between these two places, I have no hesitation, for the reasons brought out in the com parisons already made, in giving the preference to the line by Cumnock. The reasons in favour of it are-Ist. The line to be made is shorter : 2d. The summit to be overcome is lower : 3d. The gradients are superior : 4th. The capital required less : sth. The expense of formation less 6th. The population accommodated greater : 7th. The districts traversed wealthier. " The reason against it is, that the total length between Glasgow and Carlisle is much greater." Mr. A. F. JONES alluded to the statement of the Cale donian line being 24 miles shorter to Edinburgh, and asked whether the commissioners had not allowed a cer tain portion of ascent to be equal to a given distance — being so much in favour of the line by Dumfries ? Mr. LEADBETTER replied that the difference was in the distance only ; and the gradients in the line via Dumfries were so much more favourable that the journey would be accomplished within the same time. Mr. JONES asked whether the commissioners did not allow a certain amount of distance to be equivelent to a specific rise? Mr. LEADBETTER replied that they did, bait he could scarcely explain the principle upon which the Commis sioners made the calculation. It was founded, however, upon an average of the actual distance and the equivalent distance. He ought to mention, perhaps, that the parlia mentary survey, which was what the Commissioners had gone upon, was what engineers called a " flying survey," and he had no doubt that a more careful examination of the line which would take place in the summer would cause a very considerable improvement in it. With re gard to the landed proprietors upon it, the company stood favourably. Lord Eglinton had consented to act as pre sident, and Lord James Stuart brother to the Marquis of Bute, and a large proprietor of land in Ayrshire, had con sented to act as deputy-governor ; the directors had also had an interview with the Portland family, and expected their concurrence and support, The Duke of Buccleuch had given permission to go over his estate with the view of finding a pass for the line not so near his residence at Drumlanrig as the Parliamentary line, by which his ob jections would probably be overcome. Some conversation followed with respect to the several landed proprietors who had taken an interest in the line, in the course of which it was stated that Mr. Dennistoun, brother to the member for Glasgow, had subscribed for 100 shares ; and that altogether 17,000 shares had been subscribed for, making in the whole one-third of the ca pital.—lt was then agreed that when any further informa tion had to be communicated, Mr. Wotherspoon should convene another meeting.—The proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks to Mr. Leadbetter for his able exposi tion, and to Mr. Crossfield for his courteous conduct in the chair. ULSTER RAILWAY.—A prospectus will be issued forth with, for continuation of the Dublin and Drogheda Rail way to join the Ulster Railway at Portadown. The in creasing receipts of the latter company, together with the above intelligence, has caused a buoyancy in the stock of the company, and shares were on Friday sold at £3l. — Banner of Ulster. THE LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY. — On Monday last, the surveyors commenced marking out th e line which, in all probability, will be that adopted for the continuation of the railway from Lancaster to Carlisle. They started from the engine -house; and the route sta k ed out is directly across the turnpike-road, thence behind Greenfield, and above the Bath Houses. The canal will be crossed at some distance from the aqueduct bridge; and a slanting bridge is to be built over the Lune, com mencing about the Ladies' Walk, and to come out near Skerton Mill. It will then be carried through a portion of Slyne, and will be about half a mile from Kendal. The statement, that it was intended to take the line through the Kentbii Ficids, and then - to cross the Lone near the Ford. is whoily without f , :umiaticit. The bill has passed the flon,e of Comn,ens, end the sanction of the Lords w ill be obti,ined after the Easter recess, when the works will be pi - cc:ceded with.— Lancaster Guardn. AWFUL DE ATII.—M r. T. Hutchinson, the eminent railway coniractor, met his death last week on his way from the Sedgefield station of the Stockton and Darling ton Railway to the village of Morden, where he lived. He had a Jew Jisses of whisky at the Sedgefield station, which is a public-house, and in less than half-an-hour after he had It ft to walk home he was found with his head just within the rails, and an engine with a train of 35 waggons had gone over his neck, right shoulder, and arm, which killed him in a moment. He has left a widow and six children. SHEFFIELD AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.—A half yearly meeting of this company was held at the Cutler's Hall, Sheffield, on Wednesday last—John Parker, M.P. in the chair. The Chairman said that the Directors con fidently anticipate that the whole of the line will be ready for opening to the public in the early part of next year. The Directors also expressed a hope that a junction will be made between their Station and that of the Manchester and Birmingham Company, also connecting them with the Manchester and Liverpool Station. The prospect of the Ashton br inch was favourable ; and though the bill for the formation of a branch from Penistone to Barnsley had been thrown out in the standing orders committee of the House of Commons, the Directors felt assured that it would pass the house next year. The report of the Di rectors was agreed to. THE BANK CHARTER. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—Experience seems to have decided that the exist ing law which regulates the currency, restricting the paper circulation to notes of the value of £5 and upwards, making those of the Bank of England convertible into cash at the will of the holders, and those of all other bank ing establishments so convertible either into cash or the notes of the Bank of England, is the most safe and conve nient system that has as yet been acted upon ; yet, not. withstanding, the charge of conducting the pecuniary in terests of the kingdom through the medium of the Bank of England has, at periods of excitement, produced by po litical events, as well as from overtrading, proved to be attended with considerable difficulty in the transactions of commercial men, threatening convulsion and the destruc tion of mercantile confidence. These results may in a great measure be imputed to the nature and objects of the conflicting interests which are intrusted to the care and management of the Bank Direc tors—viz., the public interests on the one hand, and.those of the Bank on the other. To preserve public confidence, and to regulate the currency of the country, as well as our foreign commercial intercourse, it is necessary that a con siderable stock of bullion should at all times be held by the Bank, sufficient to meet any exigency that might arise either from panic at home, or excessive speculative im portations from abroad, the last exceeding our ordinary means for payment, and requiring provision to be made for the deficitticy in the precious metals. These impor tations have at times been rendered necessary by the par tial failure of our home corn crops, increasing the neces sity for the exportation of bullion, which, carried to ex cess, has caused general derangement in the trade of this country and serious injury to the parties embarked in such undertakings. To check or to regulate such proceedings no effectual provision for the protection of the public at present exists. For that important object it is requisite that the Bank should at all times possess a stock of bullion bearing a re lative proportion to their paper circulation ; whilst it is evidently for their interest that their stock of bullion should be kept low, and their issues in proportion large, to enable them to support their dividends. Thus, when periods of panic have arisen, they have been nearly drained of their bullion, and left with only limited or other unconvertible resources to meet or provide for the large balance of their paper circulation that remained in the hands of the public, exposed to the risk of depreciation in value, attended with great public inconvenience and derangement, to which it might be found impossible to place bounds, and thus in volve the country in consequences to be deprecated, and, if possible, provided against—of whi,th, no doubt, the Bank Directors are well aware,—whilst they must feel themselves so circumstanced in the charge of such con flicting interests as to disable them from effectually pro viding against. Remedies for such difficulties have been suggested, such as the issuing of small notes, and the pay ment for large amounts being made only in bullion, at the market price, in place of corn ; but such would only act as palliatives, producing both delay and inconvenience, without striking at the root of the evil. These conflicting difficulties become every day more important and formidable from the progressive extension of the trade of the country, caused by the growing wealth, incited enterprise, and increasing intelligence, stimulated by the extended beneficial markets for the consumption and sale of our manufactures, found in our immense India possessions, and growing facilities of our intercourse with China ; whilst our exports to the markets of Europe, and means for the payment of heavy supplies required for them, are yearly becoming more narrowed by the extension of home manufacture in these countries, rendered necessary for the employment of their people and protection of their general interests, leaving us at times with consideraVe balances to pay to them and to the United States, either in bullion or through the medium of our transactions with India and China, or both. Thus existing causes collec tively, as the scale extends, appe ar . p regnan t w ith h azar d at periods of panic, and therefore to call for efficient and effectual means for either protection or remedy. To renew the character of the Bank of England, and consent to leave the practical charge of regulating the pe cuniary interests of the country in their hands, do appear to me both unsafe and unsatisfactory, that it has now be come necessary that the whole system should be recast. For the accomplishment of so important a national object, the charge of their interest requires to be placed in other hands. To withdraw them from the Bank might be complained of as an injury inflicted on that body. I would therefore humbly venture to propose in justice to them, that their capital, now lent to the public at a low rate of interest, should be repaid, for which the present period is certainly fortunately favourable ; and their charter for all their banking purposes renewed, as conduct ed by other similar bodies, possessing, as they do, pro portionally large paid-up capitals, such as the Royal Bank and Bank of Scotland, acting as banks of deposit, issuing their notes and employing them in temporary loans, dis counts, and other banking transactions; their capitals affording ample protection to the public for the safety of their paper circulation. To meet the exigences of the times, to strengthen con fidence, to regulate our monetary system, and to afford given means of control over our transactions and pay ments to foreign countries, as ascertaked by the state of the exchanges, and afford a check to unwholesome specu lation and overtrading, I propose the creation of a national bank, to be established with the authority and under the guarantee of Parliament, authorised to issue their promis sory notes of the value of £5 and upwards ; these notes to be payable in cash at the will of the holders, and em ployed in the purchase of bullion to the extent of perhaps one-half, and the remaining haif invested in Exchequer bills and other public securities ; the profits arising there from to be applied to defray the expenses of conducting the establishment. I propose that the amount of the issues should always be strictly applied and preserved in that proportion—that is, one-half to the purchase of bul lion and one-half to the purchase of Exchequer-bills and other public securities ; and when it happened thatan excessive call for bullion arose to supply outward objects, that in promotion to the extent of the call , for which pay ment would be received in their notes, the directors, in the exercise of their discretion, should be authorised to withdraw a similar sum from circulation by the sale of securities to that extent. Thus, if 1,000,000 or more in bullion was withdrawn from them for foreign purposes in excess beyond the ordinary demand, they should, if they deemed it expedient, to dispose of securities to a similar amount, thus withdrawing 2,000,000 or more, as the case might be, of their notes from circulation, by which the proportions between the stock of bullion and their notes in circulation would thus be preserved. The extent of their purchases of bullion would be governed by that of the supply being paid for in notes, whilst the circulation would be provided fur in the most safe and satisfactory manner, the stock of bullion would be held without ex pense to the public, whilst the object of the national es tablishment would not be profit, but protection to the in terests of the country, and those of the trading community in particular. The effect of such a process would be to narrow the circulation, creating a scarcity of money, and making more difficult all operations connected with overtrading, checking excessive supply by enhancing the value of mo ney, restoring the exchanges to the natural relative value of money here and elsewhere in the ordinary transactions of business, thus arresting the excessive exportation of the precious metals, and replacing the trade of the coun try in a sound and beneficial state. I would propose that the directors of the bank should be few in number , appointed by the crown, and not re omfo i v o a o b a l e p a b o u i t t y by o t r h e o a t h u o t r h o r s i a t t y i s o fa f o p t a o r r l y i a m o a e o n s t e , s up ; o n t h g a r t oi t i h n o d y s should be men known to possess an intimate practical knowledge of the trading, manufacturing, and commercial interests of the country, and in all respects unconnected with trade, manufacture, or commerce, with ample remu neration for their services, which would require to be en tirely devoted to the duties attached to trusts of such high responsibility. With such an effective national establishment banking houses or companies would be left in possession of all their ordinary and existing channels for the beneficial statedem ol;m g e i n vi t og o , f in ca t p h i e ta e l x , e i r n ois t e he of manner ther .ju judgment ol h e a n y t e a a o l d re d a i dy sy. interests of general accommodation to the tra ding of the country. This system has been found to be pro ductive of great and general advantage, affording accom modation to the trading interests of all classes in every part of the country, which, from long-established usage, is more or less dependent on the support afforded by b an king establishments , proving highly beneficial to the productive interests of the country; therefore, any mea sure calculated to de ran ge the existing system must be expected to be followed by dangerous results. In the exercise of these measures of accommod a ti on , th e practice of issuing promissory notes h as b een carr i e d to a considerable, lindin various instances to a d angerous ex tent, againstwhich it has been necessary to prov i de a guard, so as that theevils causedby excessive issues on theone hand, and undue or unbounded confidenceon theother might bele strained and kept within prudent bounds. To effect so important an object, it seems to b e d es i ra bl e th at a ll banking concerns issuing promissory notes payable on de mand should be required to register, with an authorised party, the amount of capital e mp l oye d i n th a t b us i ness , a certain proportion of which, suppose a fifth or sixth, should he at all times kept invested by them in the pub lic funds, and perhaps it might also he desirable, for their own credit and safety, well as the public's, that they should likewise be required to keep, in proportion to the Avril 2, 1844. e c N oi t i e l n i t n o t r he a i ' r " co u ri l e t r ° s t to tbe b ir might occur, that the reg i s t rar o f ca pital might beau t rised occasionally to check an d a scertain by such inqu ir y as might be considered necessary for him to make, an d with c nnpetent a ss i s t an t s p rov id e d for that purpose: Such a system might be expected to product bene fi c ial .. consequences ; it would prevent or repress the creation o e notes ready for or eiracnuylation, emergency a stock t,h_ of speculative establishments with inadequate capital; ;.• would confine the banki ng b us i ness t o tho s e of real capi i! ta' and respectability, and thus give an assurance to the pub lic that their issues would be restricted to safe and pru dent limits, such as would be found to be consistent with the accommodation of the public and the safety of t h e bankers, without causing any m a t er i a l di s t u rbance in th e existing ordinary channels of business. By such a national establishment as I have suggested, the Bank of England would he immediately relieved from the weight of their stock of bullion, and left in the pos session and control of their capital and note circulation , though necessarily on a more limited scale, to be ow' ployed in beneficial banking business, for which London , with her country connection, affords so ample a field. , The conducting of the pecuniary p u bli c b u siness an d the payment of the dividends it would be desirable to con tinue in the bands of the Bank of England, under a stipu lation that a given proportion of the notes of the National Bank should be used in these payments, such as would • be previously arranged. If changes in this department should on experience be found desirable, the Governmen t would possess the power of making such as the public in terest might be considered to require. I think it would be found necessary and desirable to continue the exclusion of all promissory notes except those of the National Bank and the Bank of England from the circulation of London and the immediate neighbourhood; but of this the London bankers would be the most com petent judges. The reasons for such a measure seem to be many and obvious ; National Bank notes with those of the Bank of England would be everywhere, in and out of London, a legal tender ; those of country banks would be payable in these or in cash, as at present ; whilst the notes of the National Bank and of the Bank of England a w mn o eld u n d l would be tshuamtnot dsmi payable bdeeayn in mean that beyond tdi hs c a,a o ut in ale egthi promissory onommn amounteias a ss ttheuo r re y measures n ont will of the t he Soldsa vp e. payable anebn ventur e d ingotsor holders , end dett o s th u e gg ik e l s i t n t s h p o r i u c l e d . be applied to p r i va t e banking establish ments that did not is-ue promissory notes payable on de mand ; the banking confidence they were entitled to wo uld remain subject to the judgment and discretion of their customer. From what I have stated it follows that no capital would be required for the National Bank ; the national guaran tee of parliament, and the regulated restrictions for the management of the business, the objects of which would be few in number, and clearly defined, though in them selves of vital importance, would afford the most clear and satisfactory security to the public, and demand their en tire satisfaction. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN GLADSTONE. Carlton-gardens, Feb. 22. THE COURT. Her Majesty the Queen-Dowager visited the Queett on Wednesday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace. Her Royal Highness the Duche.,s of Kent arrived soon after wards at Buckingham Palace, and joined the illustrious circle. DEPARTURE OF PRINCE ALBERT FOR GERMANY. Prince Albert left town on Thursday morning, about tell o'clock, by a special train, on the Dover railway, to em bark for the Continent, on his wav to Saxe Cobours, ta pay a visit of condolence to his relatives. ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS. —Op Tuesday afternoon her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians arrived at Woolwich. On landing, she was warmly wel comed by the Duchess of hest. His Majesty the King of the Belgians accompanied the Queen to Ostend, and on board the packet, but his departure for England was delayed for a few days, or probably until after Prince Al bert has landed at Ostend, where he was expected oa Thursday last. The Queen of the Belgians and her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent were dressed in deep mourning. PRESENTATION OF GENERAL Tom TITUMB TO THE QUEEN.—General Tom Thumb, whose appearance elz" cited so much interest in Liverpool a few weeks back , was presented to the Queen, at Buckingham Palace, on Saturday last. Her Majesty, Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and all the royal circle, expressed themselves highly pleased with his diminutive yet pleasing and inter esting appearance, his imitations of Napoleon, the statues, songs, &c. The Queen asked him many questions, which he answered without diffidence and with much shrewd ness. Her Majesty enjoyed her surprise with smiles• She took him by the hand and gave him some beautiful specimens of confectionery. Prince Albert was also de lighted with this wee specimen of humanity ; he took hul l on his knee, and caressed him a good deal. FASHIONS FOR APRIL. 'From the " London and Paris Ladies' Magazine Fashion." The make of the new Spring redingotes and dresses is with tight bodies, open in a lengthened ewer, some thing resembling the straight waistcoat ; they are either pr, without lacing or revers, or have a narrow revers fo r ked euuatt. chdle ; or are with sma ll co ll ar f orm i ng le n g. k t other V, with Anylaises, which should .et re. style is not quite so high on the sho u ld er s, but stilt pre serving the opening in front to the wa i s t ; thi s st yle used for demi-toilettes, concerts, and soc i a l parties, an d a fiche adapted to it is mad e i n th e ou i mpe sty le, with Brus sels lace fulled round the top ; th e f ron t formed of in lets of lace and work, wide at the top, and narrower to wards the bottom; different styles of ornament are u sed on these dresses, but the newest is the embroid er y carne'leon, which is produced by working with the fo ur shades of silk, matching those of which the most beauti ful pros de Naples Cameleons are composed ; but this , 01 course, is confined to the shot silks. A new and high t description of gimp is the passementerie byrinthie, an c ! also Venetian gimp. In walki ng d ress e s , corsages a l'Atnazone are fashionable, with th e littl e j ac kets falling over the waist. In dinner an d even i ng d ress es many of the skirts are made open a t th e s id es , on revers o f satin, closing with ornaments of ribbon or guipure 0 1 .,P,' or trimmed with Atenron l ace; th e corsages a c&ur, revers open to the waist. The loose sleeves al' Orientals , a la bonne scour, &c., with the under ones more or les s ornamented, will, it is expected, be the prevailing style, with puffings of muslin or pros de Naples, and fasten them with brides, weds, or gimps. Ball dresses will stile be with double and triple skirts ; a novel style or oroa' menting them is with small scarfs of tulle illusion, sus; pended from the waist to the bottom of the skirt, vih g they are attached by bunches of flowers. The Spr!„l bonnet are of pros de Naples, in pale lilac, lapis, Pr a t, and blue ; some are made of white or light colo a ,us t crapes, ornamented by long boguets of flowers or wrea' flowering shrubs, half lilac, field daises, with leaves 8„ a blades of grass. Capotes of paille de riz are ornanseSe with ruches, and fancy straws with boltillonde's• The bonnets continue small, and with deep bavotets- , heatn or caps worn inside are of chiffonne, with sprigs of small flowers. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. BETTING AT MANCHESTER. FRlDAY wabac k On Tuesday the Post-office Hotel subscription room s was strongly attended ; Pagan Pharaoh at 12, and lastly at 11 to 1, it becoming a lmosi a " point of law" which of the two had the c all. Cattonite at 15 to 1, and Red Deer at ten points mor e ' both in fashion. Sir Robert's friends again displaYe: fight, and supported him from 25 to 20 to 1 t o d. solo° money." Bramble at 30 and 33 to 1, was invented 1 1 1 ) , °11 ,, to about £7O; What, likewise, at 40 and 50 to 1. ‘'" Wednesday it required the gift of second sight to cb s i cover the leader, 10 to 1 being taken on Pagan; 14, 9 , 11 , EVENING. d vE a N t INIOG.to 1, afterwards 12 to 1, laid in ponies agst Pharaoh, the I s ,. fluential layer accepting 250 to 200 between him and 31 ' 6 Collet's horse, in strong force at 100's to 7. HootoD a A _ backed for a pony at 20 to 1. Yesterday a few " returrwo`i birds" gave character to the room, but there was Sit much done. Pagan stood at 10 to 1 (offered) ; r Robert at 100 to 6 (offered). Cattonite we did not be, named; Tacita frequently, but 20 to 1 did rot exar tai 3 b " fit." Haitoe at 33 to 1, and Young Lochinvar at to and 34 to one were in request. 24 to 1 agst Alice, 3u. , ~" to 1 agst General Pollock. and 50's to 1 " like wink u !ffe, av,st the Broken Down ; 16 to 1 agst Vin OrdinVo Emma, and Best Bower, in a " lot," may be quoted a fashionable offer al=o ; 6 to 1 agst Kent's lot. DOINGS TO-DAY. There was but a medium attendance, and few engag e ments made to insignificant figures. ------- - - TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. 6 to 4 was laid agst the Ugly Buck on WednesdaY• THE CUP. bo .o 1 was offered freely on the field ; 12 to 1 was, believe, offered once agst Pagan ; but out of the roo°?. e 'o was asked for in a leading Li ver p oo l quar t er . C a ttotw A opponents were shy, that we consider him all but 0 40 par with Pagan. Sir Robert again fell back; 1000 to offered in the best of quarters. 11 to 1 agst Pharaoh (12 wanted) 114 1 Pagan (offered) 124 1 Cattonite (offered) 17 1 Jamie Forest (offered freely) 20 1 Alice Hawthorn (offered, 25 take 20 1 Red Deer (offered freely) 20 1 Hooton (offered, 25 wanted) 22 1 25 1 Merry Andrew 25 1 Prior (offered freely) 20 1 Sir Robert (offered) 25 1 Scalteen (nominal) 27 1 Tacita (offered, 30 taken) 27 1 Freedom (nominal) 27 1 Everton (30 taken) 27 1 Hooton (offered) 33 1 Young Lochinvar (taken) 35 1 General Pollock (offered) 40 1 Naworth (offered) 30 1 Newcourt (offered) 30 1 Glogsy (offered) 50 1 Xanthus (nominal) 66 1 Quebec (nominal) ~, 1000 1 What (wanted.) 1 O W ha f ' Yesterday 300 to 10 agst Leander, and „ e st it accepted on the Modern Antique. To -day 8 _ 'Wel' l o g for Rattan, and we think 54 would hare been iton_ was booked agst " Scott's lot" also 15 to 1 agst 33 33 to Rein, and 500 to 10 twice laid agst Mallow ' Voltri (taken). 10 t 0 is, OAKS. A " dead letter.",