The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

Varliamentary prorerb ings, HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY. Lord STANLEY brought under the notice of their lord slaps the recent correspondence which took place between Mr. Bulwer and the Duke de Sotomayer, in Spain. Of course the blame was laid upon Lord Palmerston. Lord LANSDOWNE defended the noble secretary for fo reign affairs, and upon the suggestion of Lord Brougham the matter dropped. The Encumbegd Trish Estates Bill was then recom mitted, and the House adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MoNDAY. Lord J. RUSSELL stated that in the clause of the Public Health Bill, which constituted the superintending board, the Govet nment intended to introduce an important alteration. Instead of a paid commission, he proposed that the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests should be the Pre sident of the Board, and that there should be only two others, and those unpaid commissioners. Mr. SPOONER admitted that this was a great improve ment in the bill, but regretted that Lord John Russell had left the obnoxious centralization principle in full force ; and to that principle he had the most decided objection. The Board of Health would still retain its control over the rights - of towns ; and he protested against the interference of Government in the local administration of our corpo rate and municipal 'boroughs. Mr. SLANEY said that drainage could never be effectual until there was a good supply of water; and in many of the large towns such a supply of water was absolutely de nied to the poor at present. This bill would give them that supply of water., and was, therefore, deserving of sup port. He was convinced that if the llouse consented to go into committee, it would be able to render this bill an efficient instrument for improving the condition of hun dreds of thou: ands of our fellow-men. Mr. C. PEARSON objected to this bill, because it placed the time-honoured institutions of this country, like ricketty children, in the go-cart of 'Government superin tendence. It was an extraordinary circumstance that Scotland, Ireland, fhe metropolitan 'boroughs, and the city of London, were exempt from its-regulations; and he suspected that they were exempted now to be sacrificed hereafter, when isolated. Lord ASHLEY gave Government credit for the boldness with which it Itzti faced the difficulties of their case ; but he also told Ministers that their measure was susceptible of improvement. After some further discussion, in which several hon. members took part, the {douse then went into committee, and the rest of the evening was spent in discussing the clauses of the bill. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TURSDAY. After a di , cus,ion on the merits of free trade and pro tection, to which Lord G. BENTINCR gave rise, by putting a question to Lord J. Russell respecting her Majesty's commands to the ladies of England, that in attending court they should appear attired in dresses exclusively the product of native industry, Mr. MACGREGOR called the attention of the .House to the management and expenditure of our naval dockyards, the former of which he characterised as defective and the latter as extravagant, and concluded by moving-for a se lect committee to inquire into the whole subject. • HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNEsDAY. A number of bills were postponed to various periods, amongst which were Parliament (Ireland) Bill, the Roman Catholic Trust Bill, Appeals in Criminal Cases Bill, and the Horsham Borough Bill. The house then went into committee on the Joint Stock Companies Bill, when Mr. Hudson protested against a clause in the bill, which ren dered it necessary for the shareholders of a company wish ing to wind up its affairs to go before a Master in Chan cery in London, in order to get the accounts audited. This would lead to great inconvenience, and, instead•of such a process, they might allow them to go before any of the local commissioners of bankruptcy, or before a Mas ter in Chancery, at their own option. The suggestion gave rise to considerable discussion, and eventually Mr. M. Gibson, on the part of the government, conceded the alteration. The clause was then postponed for the purpose of inserting the contemplated alteration, and the remain ing were agreed to. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY. After the presentation of petitions on the subjects before or likely soon to be brought under the consideration of Parliament, the bill for the improvement of pauper luna tics in Scotland •vas read a second time, with the under standing that it should be referred to a select committee. Sir G. GREY Bat moved the third reading of the Alien Bill. Mr. MOWATT moved an amendment—that it be read a third time that day six months. The motion was supported by Sir G. Grey, Mr. Bro therton, and Lord J. Russell; the amendment by Mr. Hume, Lord D. Stuart, Mr. Muntz, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Bright. On a division, the original motion was carried by 146 to 29—mrsjority 117. The bill was then read a third time and passed. The house then went into committee on the Health of Towns Bill, when Lord Morpeth stated that the Govern ment would consent to make some alterations in the mea sure, as suggested by Mr. Henley, after which an irregu lar discussion was kept up for some time, but no progress of any moment was made with the bill. HOUSE OF LORDS.—FnanAr„ Lord BROUGHAM brought under the consideration of their lordships the state of the law, legislatively as well as judiciously, in a speech of great length, in the course of which he referred to his exposition of the subject some twenty years ago. At that time a commission was formed with a view to its improvement ; and the noble and learned lord now stated all that had been done since that period, and much that Still remained to be effected in order to cure the extraordinary anomalies inits operation. The noble and learned lord concluded by laying on the table a bill to amend and consolidate the criminal law of England so far as related to indictable offences and the punishment thereof. The bill was read a first time. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY. Mr. HUME stated the nature of the motion which he in tended to make on the 23d of the present month. It would be to the effect that the present House of Com mons did not fairly represent the property and industry of the country, and that it was necessary to enlarge the fran chise to the extent of household suffraze, to adopt the sys tem of vote by ballot, and to limit the duration of parlia ment to three years. Mr. WooD moved for a select committee to inquire into the allegations contained in the petition of certain electors and inhabitants of the borough of Stamford, which was presented upon the 14th day of March last, complaining of the interference of the Marquis of Exeter, a peer of the realm, and lord lieutenant of the county of Northampton, at the late and former elections of members to serve for the said borough. Mr. T. D'EYNCOURT seconded the motion. Lord J. RUSSELL said he had so much doubt in coming to a decision on this subject. that he would not seek to influence the vote of any hon. gentleman who might have formed a different judgment on the matter. He thought it would be well to have some further inquiry, in order to set the public mind at rest, if the allegations could be dis proved. Under all the circumstances he would support the appointment of a select committee. Sir R. PEEL said the petitioners had put forward direct allegations of bribery and intimidation, and the proper tribunal to have gone before would have been an election committee, where the facts could have been thoroughly sifted. Not having done this, they had no right now to come to Par liament and ask it to appoint a new tribunal to investigate the matter. Under these considerations he should vote against the appointment of the committee. The llouse then divided, and the motion was carried by a majority of 178 to 177. The announcement of the numbers was received with loud cheering from both sides of the house. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. AMERICA. The Washington steam ship, Captain Johnston, arrived at Cowes on Wednesday, after a good passage of fourteen and a half days from New York. She left on the evening of the 25th, having been detained from the 20th. The Acadia had arrived out. The Washington brings 60 passengers and 350,000 dollars in specie. A fire had broken out at Albany, in the rear of the resi dence of N. Starks on the south-west corner of Westero and Church-streets. The entire block, bounded by Church, Westerlo, John, and Dallius streets, was burned to the grour.d, including the church on Westerlo-street. One or two houses on Dallius-street escaped. Almost all the houses on the south side of John-street, between Dallius and Church, were burned. The Sarah Sands, 18 days from Liverpool, arrived at New York on the 21st ult., and the Acadia, 161 days from Liverpool, reached Boston on the 23d. The Euro ran intelligence conveyed byl those vessels had caused great excitement and uneasiness in New York, and a gene ral European war was considered inevitable. The Acadia's advices had the effect of lowering the price of cotton about lc. to *c. per lb. Bread stuffs of all sorts remained firm. The orders from the continent to sell American State Stocks had made the market for Pennsylvanians and Ohios heavy. The money market generally was not so tight, and loans and advances on good security were more easily abtaina'Jle ; the banks were in a strong position, and specie gradually flowing in from the interior. The a amount of coin shipped for the week ending 15th of April was 686,275 dol. ; and from January Ist to April 15th inclusive, 3,809,554 dol. The receipts of the American Customs for the fiscal year were estimated by the secre tary of the Treasury to amount to 31,000,000 dol., of which 28,000,000 dol. had already been realized. Ex change on London was firm at 1101 to 111. FRANCE. The National Assembly met on Wednesday at eleven, and commenced the ballot for the members of the Exe cutive Committee. The voting concluded at five, and the following were the votes recorded for the successful can didates :—Arago, 725 ; Garnier Pages, 715 ; Marie, 702 ; Lamartine, 683 ; Ledru Rollin, 458. These five are the Government, with power to appoint the members of the Ministry. On Thursday the French ministry was declared as fol lows :—Foreign Affairs, Bastide; War, Charras ; Finance, Duclerc ; Justice, Cremieux ; Instruction, Carnet; Com merce, Flocon ; Religion, Bethmont ; Public Works, Tre lat ; Marine, Casey; Interior, Recurt. The proceedings of the National Assembly were of a desultory and trifling character. An order has reached Boulogne from Paris to put the whole line of coast in a state of defence, and to mount guns on the detached forts, which are built a little way out at sea. The gates of th upper town are also to be re paired and fortified, This looks like a preparatioa for war. ITALY. DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST AUSTRIA BY THE POPE. Letters from Civita Vecchia, dated the 2nd instant, an nounced that the Pope had confided to his modified ad ministration the power of making war if they thought right, and that ministers had accordingly decided upon making war against Austria. The conditions conceded by the Pope are—l. No priest to be called into public em ployment; 2. Formal declaration of war ; 3. Pius IX. to he the head of the government 4. Official bulletin to be published daily of the war ; 5. 'Encouragement to young men that they arm themselves. and assist in driving from Italy the Austrians. Some arrests have taken place, among the rest is that of the commandant of the fort of Ancona. The Roman people are perfectly united. The cardinals, seeing that their escape is impossible, are gathering around the Pope ; it is reported that everything is prepared for the Pope's departure. The ministry have determined to push the war most actively, and will co operate with all the forces of the state to drive out the Austrians. The ambassador from the latter power is to be compelled to return home. THE POPE IN PRISON. MARSEILLES, MAY G.—l had hardly posted my letter this morning when I was credibly informed of the follow ing startling intelligence—if any news now-a-days may be so qualified. The Pope has been confined to prison until he shall have consented to abdicate his temporal principality. The Roman people are determined not to forego their part in the Austrian war, and will take no excuse to relinquish it that the Pope may adduce. They told him—" Since your holiness feels embarrassed in the exercise of your two-fold duties, as a spiritual prince and a temporal, forego the latter, and we will elect a king who shall act for us in temporal matters with freedom and independanoe." His holiness hesitated to abdicate his temporal Government, and was consequently put under restraint in the Castle of St. Angelo. I cannot guarantee the exactitude of this news, although it is credibly repor ted. Howevel ,as n'est que le premier pas qui co/ate— the Civic Guard having occupied the gates of the city and the people taken the law into their own hands, what is reported to have followed is most probable. The position of the Pope has caused profound interest, only equalled by delight. It is seen that Pius IX., in reviving Guelph against Ghibeline, has committed an anachronism in the 19th century, for which the penalty will be the loss of sovereign power to the Pope, henceforth a simple bishop. —Post. It is confidently stated that a treaty, offensive and de fensive, has been entered into between the Emperor of Austria and the Czar. MILITARY INSURRECTION IN SPAIN.—A military in surrection took place at :Madrid on the 7th inst., at four o'clock in the morning, which was suppressed after a san guinary conflict which lasted several hours. The number of the dead was not known, but it was considerably greater than in the insurrection of the 26th of March. Among the killed was the Captain-General Fulgosio, brother-in-law of Maria Christina. Thirty-four of the prisoners taken—one half of them civilians, the other half military men—were tried and sentenced to death by a court s -martial, and were about to be shot when the post left. It appears from subsequent athlices that only thir teen persons were shot—eight military and five civilians. Eighty soldiers had been sentenced to imprisonment for life. Some of the men who had deserted had surrendered themselves. THE DANISH DISPUTE.—The kingdom of Denmark allows succession to the crown in the female line. The present King of Denmark is also Duke of Schleswig and Duke of Holstein. Of these he is reigning Duke, not sovereign King. These Duchies do not _admit of suc cession in the female line. They claim male succession alone; and they declare that when the male line is in terrupted in Denmark by the accession of a Queen, they must look for a Duke in the next male heir. Just as when William IV. died, in England, without male heirs, England passed under female dominion ; but Hanover was yielded to the nearest male inheritor and divided from England. To this the King of Denmark accedes as far as the Duchy of Holstein is concerned. lie acknow ledges that Duchy to belong to the German Confedera tion, and that it passes to the male heir. He contends, however, that Schleswig is Danish, and as such adruite of female inheritance. To this Schleswig and Holstein reply—that is, the German faction in both Duchies make answer—that whatever Schleswig may be, she is by her constitution indissolubly united to Holstein ; that no se paration can take place ; and that when a Queen ascends the throne of Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein cease to be united with that country, and pass to the next male heir who, being a German, will carry both Duchies into the Germanic Confederation, of which even now they are declared by Germany to be a part. AUSTRIA.—DREADFUL MASSACRES.—A communica tion from Sclut Ilicklos, of the 27th April, contains fear ful accounts of the cruelties committed at Barote. The Illyrians and Christians revolted the same day at Kirkin da. They repaired in great numbers to the district stadt houses, released 110 men under arrest, and then went to the Roman Catholic cburch, where they pillaged and de stroyed everything. Thence they went to a former as sessor, who fled, and endeavoured to conceal himself with property amounting to 6000 florius. He was discovered, and though he offered to deliver up all that he bad if they would spare his life, they cut off his head, stuck it on a pole, and caused his dead body to he dragged through the city fastened to a horse's tail. They then went to the present assessor, and while he wrs attempting to effect his escape they hot him dead upon the spot. Magazines and houses were entered and plundered, - Everything was destroyed. Beds and furniture were thrown into the streets ; and the city treasury, together with the docu ments, were destroyed by fire. Fifty-one hussars, who were in the stadt-haul, fired upon them, but they were too few in number. The rebels were furnished with long poles, to the ends of which scythes were attached, and with these they attacked the military. The riding-master had his arm cut off, and Lieut. Count Zichy had a scythe run through his body, and two privates were killed and many disarmed. The revolt commenced at Neusatz, where the Hungarian flag was destroyed, and a red one hoisted in its stead. Emissaries from Servia are said to .have instigated the revolt. UNUSUAL CONNECTIONS.—The quartering of Prussian troops in Christianfield, a village of the peculiar sect of Hernhutters, is described as having astonished the prim and peaceful brotherhood not a little. But they made a virtue of necessity, and did their best to lodge the men of battle. General Wrangel and his staff took possession of the meeting-house, the ground-floor of which forms the the only inn of the place; the house of the " sisters," and the " widow sisters," were appropriated to other depart ments of the administration. As the community is only 600 in number, on whom 1,400 men are billeted, both brothers and sisters are thrown into affliction and diffi culties by the sudden pressure of numbers upon space. But war respects no opinions, and takes no account of in conveniences ; so the eagles were lodged in the dovecot, as much out of place as a pile of muskets in the midst of a gathering of " Friends." The troops appear to have en joyed the contrasts of place and people amazingly. The costume of the men was a perfect rebuke to the gaudy display of military uniforms, which they regarded with the wondering pity of a philosopher looking at the war paint of a savage. The peculiar head-dress of the women, and the unmistakeable type "of countenance of all the community, were equally matters of observation for their guests, more especially the supernatural gravity of the children, who are supposed to be some 40 years of age at the day of their birth, and are never young at all. But the brotherhood are prosperous and well to do, and for the great essentials of " provant " and supplies there are much worse quarters than a Hernhutter's UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL NEWS. -4- The confirmation of Dr. Graham as Bishop of Chester, took place at St James's Church, Piccadilly, London, on Saturday. _ _ The bishop of Manchester has announced that he is averse to granting letters dimissory under any circum stances, and that he will require candidates fur orders in his diocese to be ordained by himself. The Rev. Richard Mitchell, B. D., public orator, przelector in logic, and vice-principal of Magdalene Hall, has been appointed by tae hebdomadal board of Oxford university to preach the lecturefounded by Canon Bampton for the year ensuing. Mr. Mitchell is a sound theologian and free from the tractarian leaven. . The Gazette of Tuesday contained an order in council, ratifying a scheme of the ecclesiastical commissioners, for compensating certain clergymen whose emoluments have been diminished in consequence of the establishment, by authority, of new parishes adjoining their incumbencies. Among the rev. gentlemen so compensated are Mr. W. Hutchinson, incumbent of All Saints, Newton Heath, Lancashire, who accepts £l6, and Mr. J. Henderson, incumbent of Colne, Whalley, Lancashire, who rcjoices in the bonus of £24. CHURCH PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.—On Tuesday morn ing the annual general meeting of the supporters of the above society was held at Exeter-hall. Lord Ashley, was in the chair ; and amongst the persons on the platform were the Earl of Waldegrave, the Bishop of Nor wich, the Bishop of Manchester, the Rev. Hugh Stowell, the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, and other friends of the society. The chairman read letters from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Winchester, and the Bishop of Ripon, expressing themselves favourable to the princi ples of clerical aid upon which the society was founded. The receipts of the society amounted to £25,767 N. 6d., and the disbursements to the larger sum of X 29,537 14s. 3d. The sum received from auxiliaries was £2,697. In May, 1845. there were 77 grants vacant out of 320, while there were at present only 24 out of 360. The outlay had in creased in a corresponding degree, viz., by about £5,000. The Bishop of Norwich moved, the Bishop of Manchester seconded, and the Rev. J. Harding supported, aresolution for the adoption of the report. THE BISHOP OF EXETER AND THE REV. G. C. GOR HAM.—Five commissioners (W. W. Wingfield, chief commissioner), appointed by the Bishop of Exeter, met at Penzance on the 2nd inst. to inquire into a charge against the Rev. G. C. Gorham, of having on several occa sions, and, on the 19th or 26th of J u ly i n part i cu l ar, omit ted to read the Lord's Prayer in a part of the service where it ought properly to be read. A witness named William Addy deposed to the fact on one of those two days, he was not quite sure which, and on several other occasions generally. The gen er al omission was also de posed to by another witness, who could not point to any particular day. It was, however, distinctly shown in the evidence of the Rev. H. Comyn, that on the 6th. 19th, and 26th of July, Mr. Gorham was p erform ing service for him (Mr. Comyn) at Sancreed, at the times sworn to by Eddy as those when he was omitting passages of the ser i ice in his own parish church. His evidence was on the handwriting in the Sancreed register, but it was confirmed by Mrs. Conlin and Miss H. Comyn, who saw the service performed, Mr. Comyn being absent. Mr. Kitson, how Ever, for the prosecution, urged that the general evidence a 1 not been contradicted ; and the five commissioners, after a lengthened absence, declared a prima facie case against Mr. Gorham to have been established. The bishop ens since, very wisely, abandoned further proceedings. IRELAND. The United Irishman newspaper is taken in and read by the paupers of the Limerick workhouse ! The trial of Smith O'Brien was to commence yesterday (Monday). The " Protestant Repealers" have held their first meeting, and a sorry affair it seems to have been. Mr. Butt has been retained for the defence of Mr. Smith O'Brien. So fur Mr. Mitchel perseveres in his determination to conduct his own defence. Extensive failures have taken place in the potatoe crop in the West of Ireland, but as yet no failure has been as certained which cannot be traced to ignorance or mis management in committing the seed to the earth. THE QUEEN v. MITCHELL.—The Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, has decided that Mr. Mitchel's plea of abatement is bad, and he therefore has had to put in the usual pleas to two indictments against him for sedition. Mr. O'Brien has received a letter from the Chancellor, informing the bon. member for Limerick that his Lord ship has felt constrained to remove his name from the roll of magistrates. A PRIEST DOING PENANCE.—Father Bermingham, of Borrisokane, the author of the celebrated letter preaching blood and slaughter, and who was very properly suspended by his bishop, has mounted the stool of repentance, and in abject communication addressed to the Evening Post, the organ of the Irish Government, retracts his letter, and deplores his having uttered sentiments " so much at variance with the preaching of our Divine Redeemer and his blessed Apostles." THE EARL OF ENNISKILLEN.— In his capacity of Grand Master of the Orangemen of the United Kingdom, the Earl of Enniskillen has published a long and sensible address to the Orangemen of Ireland, calling on them, and upon all the Protestants ,of.lrelnnd, to " come for ward as one man, to pronounce one stern declaration from every Protestant hearth and home, to assure her most gracious majesty the Queen that they look upon the Act of Union as indispensable to their existence as Protestants and to the true welfare of Ireland:" COURT AND FASHION. z The Court remains at Buckingham Palace. On Thurs day her Majesty held, at St. J.‘mes's, the first drawing room of the season. It was most numerously and bril liantly attended, the Queen and the ladies wearing dresses of British manufacture. On Tuesday, her Majesty and:Prince Albert, accom panied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, visited the illustrious exiles at present residing at Clare mont, returning to dinner at Buckingham Palace. The Queen, by her own all-commanding example, car ried into effect the object which she pressed upon the ob servance of others, for we observe it is stated that she wore a petticoat of black crape of British manufacture, trimmed with crape flounces and bugles. The train was of black silk, also of British manufacture, and was trim med with black crape and bugles. Again, we observe in the notice of the dress worn by her Majesty's Royal Mo ther, the Duchess of Kent, it is said that the dress, trains, and petticoat, were all of British maw lacture. VISIT OF THE QUEEN TO IRELAND.—We are enabled to state, on authority, that it is her Majesty's intention to visit Ireland within two months of the present time, and probably to remain a considerable .portion of the autumn. Arrangements for the Queen's reception have already been commenced.—Dublin Mail.--Llt is said that her Majesty will proceed to the sister isle via Liverpool and Birkenhead, whither the royal yachts will be ordered to meet her, and it is her Majesty's intention to spend eight or ten days in the Emerald Isle, proeeeding from Dublin northward, when she will embark for the High lands of Scotland.] BAPTISM OF THE INFANT PRINCESS.—The ceremony of christening the infant princess was performed with great pomp on Saturday evening, in the private chapel of Buck ingham Palace. The babe was christened by the Arch bishop of Canterbury, and received the names of Louisa Carolina Alberta; the sponsors being the Queen Dowager, proxy for the reigning Duchess of Saxe Meiningen ; Prince Albert, proxy for the Duke Gustavus of Meoklenburgh Schwerin ; and the Duchess of Cam ridge, proxy for the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz. The chapel was brilliantly illuminated, the communion service and font were of gold, and the chapel and altar were richly hung and covered with crimson velvet and gold. The foreign ministers were present, the officers of state, the heralds, the cabinet ministers, and others in rich uni forms. Her Majesty entered the chapel, leaning on the arm of the Prince of Prussia, leading Prince Alfred, the Prince of Prussia leading the Princess Alice by the hand. The Prince of Wales and the-Princess Royal immediately followed. Then came the Count of Syracuse and the Duchess of Gloucester, the Grand Duke Bernard of Saxe Weimar and the Duchess of Kent, Prince' Frederick William of Hesse and the Princess Mary of Cambridge, &c. Her Majesty wore the riband of the Order of the Garter, with a magnificent George suspended, with a superb suit of diamonds, necklace, and ear-rings. The head-dress was a beautiful wreath of white accacias, as sisted with brilliants. The dress was white and silver. and was an excellent specimen of the perfection of British manufacture. It was ornamented with accacias. The Prince of Wales was dressed in a very elegant light blue velvet jacket, beautifully embroidered. Prince Alfred wore a white tunic, embroidered with silver. Prince Albert wore a field-marshal's uniform, with the ineignia of the Orders of the Garter and the Golden Fleece in brilliants. The robe of the infant Princess Louisa was of Honiton lace. Her Majesty afterwards gave a grand banquet in honour of the occasion, and a party in the evening. It is said that the Duke of Athol intends to visit St. Petersburgh shortly, taking with him the pick of his Highlanders. THE LI'V'ERPOOL STANDARI. RAILWAY AFFAIRS. _._ A vessel, arrived in the Thrmes from Boulogne, has brought an entire cargo of railway stores of British ma nufacture, consisting of 190 waggons in pieces, 49 cross ings, and 380 wheels and axletrees. The Railway Record mentions a rumour that Mr. Austin, Mr. Talbot, and other eminent counsel have given up their briefs for the Great Western Railway in conse quence of the company being in arrear for fees. It is said that the company owe under this head, some £30,000. _ From offidial returns it appears that the amount of traffic for the last week, on 3,658 miles of railway, was £186,436, thus accounted for :—.£93,365 for the convey ance of passengers only, £46,594 for the carriage of goods, and a remainder of £46,477 for passengers and goods together, not respectively apportioned ; being an increase of £20,364 over the corresponding week of last year, when the mileage was 2,845. The average earnings per mile last week were £5l, whilst in 1847 they were £5B. CARBONIC ACID AS A MOTIVE POWER ON RAILWAYS. —At the Paris Academy of Sciences a paper was read, "On the Application of Carbonic Acid as a Motive Power," by M. Jagu, C.E., in which the author notices the recognised fact, that the force of carbonate acid has no limit ; and that, to show that steam is as nothing to it, carbonic acid may be condensed with the heat of boiling water, to 75 atmospheres. The ordinary locomotive en gine takes a power of six atmospheres ; and Mr. Jagu proposes an engine to be worked with carbonic acid, the principle of which is not to lose the gas, but, after it has served to work the pistons, be made to return, without loss, into a vessel similar to a portable gas holder, to be placed in the hinder part of the locomotive; and us an apparatus so charged at the station, might be made to work for years, until required to be repaired. Common chalk or other ordinary carbonate of lime, will yield 220 quarts of gas from 24-, by the application of sulphuric acid diluted with ten times its weight of water. LAMENTABLE AND FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—At the Paddington Station (Great Western Railway), on Wednesday evening, great anxiety prevailed, in conse quence of the non-arrival of the express half-past twelve train from Exeter, which should have reached the station at half-past - four o'clock. At six a telegraphic communi cation was forwarded from Slough announcing that the train had met with a disastrous collision at the Shriven ham station. It appeared that the train consisted of two first-class carriages and four second-class car riages, also a luggage-van, followed by another se cond-class carriage full of passengers. The train started five minutes after the usual time. No signal of obstruction or required stoppage being shown at the Shri venham station, the high speed (about 50 miles an hour) was maintained. At this place there is a branch railway for turning off the carriages. At the angle of divergence of the off-line was an empty horse-box, with a truck attached, on which was a gentleman's carriage, which, it is supposed, just overlapped the main up line, as a collision took place, the effect of which was that the engine struck the horse-box, when owing to the velocity with which the train was progressing, the horse-box, with the truck, were swung round. In a moment, the second - class carriage, which was connected with the luggage-van, in the rear of the engine was dashed to pieces, and the unfortunate passen gers were flung out in every direction. The driver of the engine, who was unable to avoid the collision, used the utmost exertions to arrest the progress of the train, and promptly reversed the engine. Upon returning to the Shrivenham station a most appalling spectacle presented itself. The line was strewed with the wreck of the car riage, while a number of the passengers, wounded and dying, were lying in different parts, to whom every assist ance was being afforded by the servants of the company, and by others who had arrived at the station, having heard of the disastrous occurrence. Four of the passengers ex hibited no signs of life, and two others were so seriously injured that they are stated to have died shortly after their removal. There was but ono passenger who received no injury. The greatest alarm prevailed in the other car riages. The engine was so much injured that another had to be provided to convey the train to Paddington, and which arrived there two hours and a half beyond its usual time. Every possible assistance was given by the gentle men and servants connected with the railway to the suf ferers. It appears that there was negligence in leaving the horse-box at the point where the accident occurred. Gen. Sir Alexander had a fortunate escape, the carriage in front and that immediately behind being smashed to pieces. His servant was killed. From the accounts yet received, it appears that amongst the killed were the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of Penzance ; the Rev. Mr. Sandys of Stroud ; Mr. Wilshere, of Bath; a servant, name unknown. Amongst the injured were Captain Blair, R.N., (supposed fatal) ; four others seriously hurt, and nine bruised or contused. The last account we have yet received says that the accident occurred thus :—The up express train was 25 minutes late, and two of the porters at the Shrivenham station, supposing that it had passed up the line, pushed two carriages from the good's shed on to the main line, without either acquainting the policeman or turning the signal on. The driver of the express engine says, it would have been impossible to have avoided the accident even .with an ordinary train. The coroner's jury have returned a verdict of manslaughter against the porter and assistant porter who moved the trucks. POLITICAL MISCELLANY. The parliamentary commi t tee recently appointed to en quire into the recent election at Lancaster will sit during the present week. DEATH OF MR. CRIPPS, 111. P. FOR CIRENCESTER. — This gentleman, whose recent dispute with Mr. Feargus O'Connor in the House of Commons will be fresh in the recollection of our readers, expired on Thursday morning at his residence in St. James's-place. The malady which has brought the lion. and learned gentleman unto a pre mature grave was an attack of brain fever. THE SPANISH CORRESPONDENCE —ln the House of Lords, an important debate has been provoked by a motion of Lord Stanley. respecting Lord Palmerston's extra ordinary Spanish lecture. Lord Lansdowne was fairly obliged to throw Mr. Bulwer over, and that in the face of the very awkward fact now made public, that Lord Palmerston has, on behalf of the cabinet, ratified and ap proved of Mr. Bulwer's conduct. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE NOT UNIVERSAL REPRESEN TATION.—Let our Chartist friends take warning by the results of the late French elections, that Universal Suf frage is not Universal. Representation. If combined with the vicious principle of a plurality of votes given to each elector, it seems but to rivet the despotism of the majority. Large and energetic minorities in the French nation will either not be represented, or will be insufficiently repre sented in the French Constituent Assembly, although elected by universal suffrage ; and many leading men amongst those of socialist, communist, and other extreme or peculiar opinions, will not have a seat there. REPRESENTATION OF NORTH CHESHIRE.—Mr. E. J. Stanley, member for North Cheshire, has been called to the upper house, by the title of Baron Eddisbury of Win nington, in the county of Chester. A knot of radicals in Manchester, have brought forward Mr. F. Dukinfield Astley, as a candidate to succeed him ; but we are glad to find that the conservatives have succeeded in inducing Mr. Cornwall Legh, of Iligh Legh, to become a candidate, and on Friday last a meeting was held at Knutsford to promote his return. The meeting was numerously atten ded by the most influential gentry of the division. Sir Richard Brooke, of Norton Priory, hart., was called to the chair. After considerable discussion, it was resolved that Mr. Cornwall Legh, of High Legh, be requested to come forward to represent the uivision in parliament on the conservative interest. A deputation was then appoin ted to wait upon Mr. Legh, and the meeting adjourned until two o'clock. Shortly after two o'clock, the meeting re-assembled, when the deputation were present, along with Mr. Legh, who accepted the invitation to stand as the conservative candidate for the division, and issued his address. TEMPERANCE.—A SCENE.—On Friday, Mr. Brother ton, in moving that the House of Commons do adjourn, adverting to the conversation on the introduction of the new Borough Elections Bill, said that as his name had been frequently mentioned by the hen. member for Sun derland, he (Mr. Brotherton) must complain, that be cause the hon. member did not choOse to be in his place when the discussion took place early in the evening, he should come down at that hour and attempt to re-open a debate which bad been disposed of. lie (Mr. Brotherton) should strongly advise the hon. member to join a tem perance society. ( Laughter, and cries of " Order.") — Mr. Hudson, with great warmth, said the imputation thrown out by the hon. member for Salford was most gratuitous, but he returned it with all the scorn and con tempt which one individual could exhibit to another. What did the hon. member mean by the charge? The hon. member seemed to be as careless of character as he was of principle. Would it be right, however, in him ( Mr. Hudson) to charge the hon. member with being a perfect drunkard ? 'Would it—an hon. member here in terrupted the scene by observing that there were not forty members in the house.—The house was accordingly counted out. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BILL.—We suppose that this bill may now be allowed to die in peace. As to " his Holiness," with whom it seemed so desirable to establish relations, he is, it would seem, to use a familiar phrase, " neither here nor there." Whether he is to become " Prince of Italy," or simply " Bishop of Rome," or whatever other fate is reserved to him, it appears very improbable that he will ever again claim the title of " Sovereign of the Roman States." The only thing, therefore, that remains to he done is, quietly to put the bill behind the fire, and to let us hear no more about it. By the way, the last news which reached Dublin from Italy, stated the " Holy Father's" great indignation against this very bill. " England had insulted him ; she refu-ed to recognise him as `head of the Catholic Church;' and consequently he could not consent to receive an am bassador from a government which thus treated him." Such was the gratitude of this old usurper, for England's foolish offer to receive him, after an exclusion of 300 years, into the fraternity of European sovereigns. Like the Papacy of former ages, he will have " all or none." England must not only exchange ambassadors with the " Sovereign of the Roman States," out she must acknow ledge the Pope to be the " head of the Catholic Church." As if he could overlook the evident fact, that to acknow ledge him as " head of the Catholic Church," would be, to admit ourselves to be out of the Catholic Church ; or, in other words, in a state of open and avowed heresy ! THE NEW POLITICAL MOVEMENT.—The mere Whigs appear no little annoyed at the treachery of the Free traders, who have converted the Anti-Corn Law League into an association for furthering the new radical move ment, by which we are to be blessed with household suf frage, vote by ballot, triennial parliaments, and electoral districts. The Globe thus complains of the breach of faith :—" Again and again the leading members of the - Anti-Corn Law Council declared the League was not a political association. That it had not nor would it ever connect itself with politics. They pledged themselves that when the Corn Law was repealed the League sjiould be immediately and for ever abolished. Money was sub scribed and co-operation by thousands of persons upon this express condition. Is it not, then, a public breach of faith to use the machinery constructed under such circum stances for the purpose of political agitation ? That it is intended so to use it is evident, for the circular of the late chairman of the League is not addressed to parties known to be favourable to organic changes; or who have ex pressed a willingness to join a movement to obtain such changes. The initiative is taken by the members of the late Council of the League ; the circular comes from the old address, with the old signature, and is forwarded to parties in the character of principal supporters of the free trade movement throughout the kingdom."—The wonder is that any one could be so very green as to imagine that the Manchester League would ever be permitted to expire so long as it could be made available for promoting the interests of the manufacturing districts at the expense of the nation at large, especially when the pecuniary interests of Mr. Cobden and Mr. Wilson were so sedulously pro vided for, the former netting a clear £70,000, and the lat ter finding himself richer by £lO,OOO, which was coolly transferred from the League fund into his own pocket, on the passing of the Corn Law Relief Bill. The prospect of another such harvest may be distant—but, at all events nothing will be lost by the trial, and therefore the League is now to come forward and bid for popular favour against Feargus O'Connor and his Chartist Convention. THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of this society was held on Wed nesday at twelve o'clock, at Exeter-hall. The audience assembled on the occasion was respectable, but by no means crowded. Mr. G. 130 C H. FORT CLARKE presided, and in opening the proceedings, said, he conceived there was no one pre sent who did not feel that at present there was more need for the Protestant Association than at any period since the association was formed. They were living at a peculiar period, when Popery appeared to be assuming a new type. The Pope seemed to wish to settle his power on a new basis, that basis being the form of democracy. He had said, "My subjects are but 3,000,000, but we have 300,000,000 of brethren scattered through the world." Scarcely, however, had that appeal been made when an earthquake shook to their foundations the thrones of Eu rope. The Infidel throne of France vanished. He called it Infidel, because Louis Philippe consented that, instead of being called King of France " by the grace of God," be should be called King of the French by the will of the people." They all knew what a day the 10th of April was to the people of this country—a day, the morning of which was one of gloom and anxiety to all but the igno rant or the vain, but the evening of which was one of thanksgiving to God for a great deliverance to all but the vainglorious. Instead of the British throne being shaken, it stood firmer than ever in the affections of the people. Now, if it was asked on what the stability of that throne de pended, he answered that it was a throne unlike any other, because it was a Christian throne in the highest sense, one which was antagonistic to the false system of Rome. and which adopted the Christian faith in such plain, palpable, and distinct language, that there could be no mistake about it. The Liturgy and Articles of the Church of England, and the Word of Truth, as contained in the Bible, stood against the blasphemy of the Socinian, and the idolatry of the Papist. The Chairman then proceeded to denounce the Pope as anti-Christ, and his so-called liberal policy as a scheme to entrap the true believer. He denounced the bill for establishing diplomatic relations with Rome and the Jewish Disabilities Bill, and concluded a long address by calling upon the meeting to remain true to their Protestant principles. Mr. LORD, the secretary, then read the report, which reviewed the operations of the society during the past year. It referred particularly to the steps which had been taken to secure a Protestant party in the House of Com mons at the last election, and to oppose the two bills re ferred to by the chairman in his opening address. From the financial statement it appears that the funds of the society are in a prosperous condition. The receipts dur ing the past year amounted to £1,554, and the expendi ture to £1,503, leaving a balance of £5l in hand, with outstanding liabilities to the extent of £4OO. Mr. W. Peters moved, and the Rev. D. WILSON se conded, the first resolution, which was that the report be adopted and printed, and which was unanimously carried. The following resolutions, which were supported by the Rev. H. Stowell, and other clergymen and gentlemen, were also agreed to : "That the solemn warnings of history and of Scripture ad monish this and other nations a-ainst making any alliance with Rome ; that the alarming aspect of the present times calls for prayerful and united efforts amongst Protestants, in order that the evils which Popery has brought upon other countries may not be brought upon our own; and that the subtle policy of the Romish see ought, instead of beguiling the people of this coun try into confidence, rather to make them increasingly watchful against its stratagems, and more zealous than ever in opposing its usurpations and encroachments." " That considering the progress and attitude of Popery in the present day, and the manner in which some statesmen and theologians are anxious to conciliate its favour, it is imperative upon all true Protestants to exert themselves in vindication of the cause of true religion and the maintenance of our civil in stitutions against the efforts of Romanism, whether wielding the weapons of despotism or democracy, and especially to op pose any measure for establishing diplomatic relations with the Onirt or (lintel' of Rome, as unconstitutional and fraught with danger to the safety and independence of this kingdom." After the u nal vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. LAW INTELLIGENCE. lIIGGINSON v. SHAND.—An appeal in this case came before the Lord Chancellor last week. It was against a judgment of the Vice-Chancellor, who had refused to dissolve an injunction that had been obtained ex parte by the plaintiff, restraining the defendants, the Royal Bank of Liverpool, from proceeding against him to recover the sum of nearly £lOO,OOO. The plaintiffs were the late firm of Barton, Irlam and Higginson, and the transaction out of which the action arose was of a complicated cha racter. The Lord Chancellor allowed the filing of a sup plemental bill. NECESSARIES FOR AN OXFORD STUDENT.—ID the Bail Court on Saturday, an Oxford tradesman brought an action against an undegraduate to recover £2 14s. for a veal pie, a fowl, dessert, cakes, and ice. It was conten ded that these articles were necessaries, because a gentle man might be too late for dinner at his hall, and would have to send to a tavern for his dinner. Mr. Justice Coleridge thought the veal pie might be for breakfast instead of dinner. Of course, if a gentleman was out all day he might be too late for dinner, but still he might obtain what lie wanted from the butlery ; and the same with regard to having friends to dine. Cake, dessert, and moulds of ice, prima facie, were not necessaries. The plaintiff was therefore nonsuited. THE LABOURING CLASSES. We are rejoiced to perceive, by an announcement in the Morning Herald, of Thursday, that his Royal Highness the Prince Consort has consented to take the chair, on Thursday next, at the annual meeting of a very useful association of which he has long been president—the Society for the Improvement of the Condition of the Labouring Classes. It is pleasant to see his Royal High ness mingling, whenever the absence of political and religious principles permits him to do so, with all classes of the people, for the promotion of objects of general utility and benevolence. It is satisfactory also to know that the society in support of which he now comes for ward is one which has already effected much, and gives promise of effecting still more, in the improvement of the state and circumstances of the working classes. In all parts of the country its influence and usefulness have long- been steadily increasing. In Dorsetshire, Someretshire, Kent, and Worcestershire, kindred or branch associations are now actively engaged, both in providing for the poor allotments of land, and also in improving the state and condition of their dwellings. Several admirable plans of commodious and economical cottages have been put forth by the committee, and many such dwellings are now erecting, in various parts of the country, from these plans. We heard of a pair of cot tages, of three rooms each, and of exceedingly neat exte rior, being erected, within these few weeks, near Grantham, after one of these designs, and at a cost of only £l4O for the pair. In a Hampshire parish, one benevolent landowner has recently erected twenty-five good cottages, to each of which he attaches one acre of land, and lets them at a rent, for the cottage and land, of £5 per annum. The society's chief efforts, however, have naturally been put f.rth in the metropolis. Here it has built a double row of excellent little houses near Bagnigge-wells ; it has fully repaired and furnished three old houses in Charles street, Drury-lane, for working men as nightly lodgers ; and it has built from the ground the new Model Lodging house, in George-street, St. Giles's. In these various houses, between two and three hundred persons are raised to circumstances of comparative comfort, who would otherwise be sunk in filth and wretchedness ; and all this without any loss of property; for these dwellings all yield a fair return for the capital employed. The society now desires to build a Model Lodging-house for families ; Lnd also one for the poor workmen of London. But to carry either of these plans into full effect would require a stnil of about £5OOO or £6OOO. Meanwhile, however, the influence of these efforts and their success is beginning to be felt in many quarters. Several benevolent persons possessed of wealth have recently entertained plans of building houses for the poor, and are now occupied with the consideration of the subject. But there is ample room for all, and more than all, such efforts. Half a million might be admirably employed, and well expended, before the end of 1850, in projects of this kind. Well expended, both for the capitalists and for those benefitted by the operation. MESSRS. OFFLEY, WEBBER, FORRESTER, AND CRAMP'S SALE OF THE 15TH, 16TH, AND 17TH INSTANT. (From the London Wine Trade Circular.) Agreeably to our promise we proceeded to Liverpool for the purpose of tasting the whole of the above-named par cels of ports. In giving our valuations, it is often our painful duty to animadvert upon the character of the wines offered, but it is seldom that we are enabled to speak in terms of unqua lified praise of a whole shipment, but here we feel that we should not be doing justice either to ourselves or to the house by whom these wines are offered, if we refrained from giving them the credit of bringing them here in most superior condition ; and further, that after tasting every cask, we can safely assert that there is not one single one in any way faulty. While upon this subject we must also bear witness to the excellence of the arrangements adopted by the Dock Committee at Liverpool, as instead of the filthy smelling oil lamps and the vast accumulation of dirt that we find in the London and Saint Katharine Docks, the whole are well lighted with gas, and the most scrupulous cleanliness observed. The coopers have not, however, acquired the expertness in showing the wines which ours in London possess; but we cannot expect perfection at once, and we must say that they have commenced in the proper way, and regularly give the lie to the objections urged against the use of gas, as by it a regular temperature is kept up. and much dirt and unpleasantness avoided. With respect to the wine themselves, we find them di vided into the following marks, viz.:— Double triangle, double grape. Four grapes, 1834. • Three grapes, S. S. Feathers. and, therefore, our valuations will not occupy much space. The first mark, therefore (double triangle, double grape,) consists of good coloured Ports, in splendid con dition. These are dry fine old wines, free from brandy, roncao flavour, well-matured, and fit for immediate bot tling. They are a description that will turn out uncom monly well, and would soon give a very marked bottle character. From the age and character of these wines, they are such as we can recommend to the notice of our subscribers, and we value them at from £34 to £35, at which we should consider them worthy attention from any house. _ _ The second mark (four grapes, 1834) consists of wines of much the same colou r an d condition. These are very superior descriptions of old wines, very dry, and of exces sively fine character. They possess much purity and ele gance of style, and would also turn out extremely well in bottle. They are perfectly free from spirit, and, in fact, are highly flavoured old wines, and well calculated to go into bottle, when we have no hesitation in saying they will turn out as well as the previous lots. Value, £35 to £37. These prices, may, perhaps, appe,..r low, when compared with their probable cost when purchased in the Alto Douro, as we recollect giving for the first growths of that vintage as high as 240 mil reis the pipe ; but the average price of really fine wines, which these must have been, was at least 120 mil reis, to which, after adding in terest of money and expenses, would bring such wines to at least £7O per pipe. But although they may not have cost this rate, still we must recollect the old adage— " The value of a thing Is just whatever it will bring," and as we cannot see how more than the above prices can be paid with any prospect of obtaining a remunerating price, we do not place a higher value upon them. The third mark to which we shall allude (three grapes, S 5) are also of equal colour and condition. This is cer tainly as fine a parcel of old wines as we ever had the pleesure of tasting. They are of equal character with the above, and in every way as valuable, but if anything they are more racy, and would give even a higher charac ter in bottle. The fourth and last mark (feathers) are of higher co lour, and in equally good condition. These wines are younger than the preceding lots, have much colour and body, possess a deal of character and a very fine bouquet, and as they are nearer the style of wines sought after by the trade, they bear a higher value, in our opinion, to bottling houses, say from £3B to £4O. The whole of the above are perfectly free from brandy, and every cask is sound and without any fault from de fective staves. Still we could not help observing that a few casks were a little superior to the others, but as room will not allow us to particularize, we must request that application be made at our office, when we shall be happy to point out those casks we consider to possess the best qualities. CORRESPONDENCE. THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUGH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—If you can, in these times of superabundant ex citing political news, spare room in your valuable journal for the insertion of the following rather lengthy observa tions, you will oblige "An Old Subscriber." I observe that the Duke of Buccleugh has again been the object of the vituperative abuse of the ministers of the Free Church, at their meeting in this town on the 4th inst. As there has been a great deal of gross misrepre sentation respecting his refusal of a site for a church in Canobie, allow me, in justice to a most worthy nobleman, to lay a true statement of the circumstances before the public. At the time the disruption took place in the Church, scarcely any district in the kingdom took less in terest in the movement than Canobie, and the adjoining parishes. The people are blessed with faithful and zea lous pastors, enjoying and reciprocating their esteem. The Rev. Mr. Donaldson, parish minister of Canobie, holds opinions, however, at variance with the Free Church, and on the schism taking place, agitators were sent into the parish, ivithout any invitation ; meetings were called, at which the most inflammatory language was used ; tracts were distributed, and every means taken to stir up the people against the Established Church, its ministers, and supporters. A few restless spirits were drawn together, and much family dissension and ill feeling was produced as the certain result of teaching which maintains that the Established Church forms no part of the visible Church of Christ.* An attempt was made to form a congregation ; and without leave asked or obtained, a tent was erected near to the Parish Church. on land be longing to the Duke of Buccleugh. Owing, however, to the violent conduct of those inciting the movement, the agent of the Duke obtained an injunction against this free and easy mode of location. The tent was then pitched upon the road side, upon land belonging to the road trustees ; but here the sacred services were subject to many unseemly interruptions, and his Grace of Buccleugh Hay 16, 1848. fi gu e v ld e w permission as to s t i h nc e e m s to too e d r . ect ln it i r n ef t e h r e en w c e e ll to sh t e h l e te l r a t Mr. Innes, who became the pastor of this congregation , whose death is openly charged upon the Duke :—At a meeting held in Edinburgh, the Rev. Dr. Beg stated that "he recollected the Rev. Mr. Innes as one of their most robust vigorous ministers." be it observed the Rev. Doctor had frequent opportunities of witnessing the state of Mr. Innes' health, as they were for some time members of the same presbytry. Now, as to "robust, vigorous health," it was well known to every acquaintance of the Rev. Mr. Innes that for some time previous to, and ever after he became a licentiate of the Free Church, his health was very delic ,te, and that he frequently incurred the censure of his friends for his imprudent exertions when at Portnockie, (the charge he held before he came to Cano bie,) and which he was understood to have resigned on ac. count of its exposed situation being injurious to his health. When he came to Canobie it was evident to the most casual observer that he was in a declining state of health, and bad not the slightest appearance of ever having been robust. The Rev. Dr. Candlish stated bis conviction " that the life of their departed brother had fallen a sacrifice to the persecution which the congregation had been made to hear, but urged upon his hearers to return good for evil, by striving to keep an evangelical minister in the parish to endeavour to save the nobility from the fruit of their own' persecution by aiming at giving them a good population instead of one allowed to sink into the dregs of heathen ism." The Rev. Doctor, by implication, asserts that the Rev. Mr. Donaldson, parish minister, is not evangelical? and that he utterly neglects his sacred trust. The con duct of his parishioners towards him powerfully attests their dissent to such a charge.t The statement also im plies that the people were previous to the labours of the Free Church ministers steeped in the dregs of heathenism? and would, on his withdrawal, return to that state. Such an imputation is, however, far from being warranted. The people were, till disturbed by these very men now traduc ing them, a contented, industrious, religious communitY, living in harmony with each other, and entertaining the warmest feeling of attachment to their old and faithful pastor, and to their kind-hearted amiable landlord, the Duke of Buccleugh, and with few exceptions they continue to bear that character and to entertain those feelings, not withstanding the efforts made to alienate them. That very concentration of all the Christian virtues, the, Rev. Mr. Tweedie, " declared that he kn ew o f no para llel to the persecution which they had just heard related, ex cept in Tahiti or Madagascar." Fortunately, the parallel for which he requires to travel so far exists only in the relation, not the fact. In the evidence taken before the sites committee of the House of Commons, the late Rev- Mr. Innes stated that nearly all the adherents of the Free Church in Canobie were tenants of the Duke of Buccleugh, and many of them in his employment as colliers, &c., but that he did not know of a single instance of any party be ing dismissed such service or in any way persecuted for belonging to that church. Who better able or more wil ling to have exposed the fact than this witness, had there been cause of complaint? This evidence must have been known to Mr. Tweedie. There is in reality no necessity for a Free Church in Ca noble, the distances to Langholm anti Half Morton, where they alraady have weak and languishing congregations, with a super; bundance of church accommodation, is not such as , to cause the people any inconvenience. If they are deter mined, however, to have a church of their own, can they explain why, on the Duke of Buccleugh refusing a site, they did not apply to G. Maxwell, Esq., of Broomholint whose estate lies within a short distan ce o f t h e i r t en t, and who is favourable to their views ? The preceding is an unvarnished statement of the case, which I dare them to bring one proof to contradict. What, then, becomes of the oft repeated charge of persecution ? Perhaps they imagine that this perversion of truth, this bearing of false witness, is justified by the end sought to be obtained, viz., an act to compel the granting of sites for free churches. A spirit of persecution is utterly foreign, to the nature of the Duke of Buccleugh. not one act of his life justifying such a charge. He is, of course, aware of the whole circumstances of this case, and must feel, and with justice, that it is not for the advantage of his nume rous tenantry to encourage the location amongst them of men so utterly devoid of the graces that most adorn the Christian character—truth and charity. There is no doubt - that there are many devoted, pious ministers in the Free Church who must deeply deplore the conduct of their in temperate brethren. LIDDESDALE. * One of the Free Church Ministers wished to refuse to admit ministers of the Established Church of Scotland to the Evangelical Alliance meeting held in this town, on the Piet • . that he could not recognise them as forming any part 0 1 ' the visible Church of Christ. t A short while before the split in the church a valuable piece of plate was presented to him by his parishioners, as a mark of their esteem, to which scarcely a lawny in the parish, having the means, neglected to contribute. TO ALL WHO ATTEND THE MAY MEETINGS• At a time when the generous sympathies and kindly feelings of the religious world are exercised and indulged in various efforts to assist the needy, instruct the ignorant, and free the benighted heathen from the degrading tram mels of superstition and idolatry, it may not be amiss to call attention to the thousands in our own town who by the mammon-worshipping spirit of the age arc sacrificed body, soul, and spirit upon the altar of our commercial system by the injurious and unnecessary protraction of the hours of business which, absorbing all the time not absolutely required for eating and sleeping, leave no opportunity for participating in those se rv i c es and under' takings which are calculated. to keep a li ve t h a t zeal d God and love to man which so eminently b e l on g to adorn the Christian character, anti mark a human being,.. as destined for some higher and holie r p ur p o se Or merely to work that he may eat and eat that he may oa able to work. And surely it is an inquiry worthy of the Christian public how far the condition of the young people engaged in business is favourable or unfavourable to their eternal interests, and what can be done to place them in a posi tion suitable to rational and responsible beings. And when we find that by the present evil habit of " late shopping" the masters are induced to keep open their shops, and that the assistants are of necessity vim tyt e o n f d u , i a e n n d t a l t l o ni r t in t o h r u a c b u o l t t u h re a , r e e x d e l e u p d r e i v d e d fr o o m f a a l services of religion, and s u bj ecte d to t h e t o n po t the oedr weeklytut o n it a successful temptation to devote the Sabbath-day to the recreation which cannot be got at any other time, we can readily perceive what a train of evil consequences are inflicted upon society by a thoughtless habit, without the slightest real necessity : for could the public be persuaded to make all their purchases before six o'clock all business might be terminated at such an hour as would Or' tradespeople opportunities for healthful recreation, social enjoyment, and intellectual improvement, and give to hundreds the privilege they sigh for of labouring w ith their brethren in the benevolent undertakings of the day, and who would give new life and vigour to our Sabbath Schools and other institutions by bringing to them the fervent zeal of youthful piety which is now repressed? deadened, and quenched under the withering influence of long hours of business. _ Let not this be considered an ever-heated fancy or an exaggerated idea; for although the Tradesmen? Assist tants have been virtually excluded from the pale of Christianity and treated as beasts of burden, having neither souls nor sensibility, there are to be found amongst those who have shared in the partial improvement already effected some whose pursuits and capacities give sufficient earnest of what might be expected to throw a heavy responsibility upon all—who neglect to make themselves acquainted with this question, while there are also con tinual examples of hopeful and promising youths brought by the demand of business from the homestead of anxious prayerful parents, and cast solitary and alone upon our. large towns, who find their energies so taxed and their time so completely absorbed in business that one by one their early habits are abandoned and dissoluteones adopted, till they gradually fall into snare after snare to their own eternal ruin, the disappointment of the parent's fondest hopes, and the condemnation of all who have either done what they ought not to have done, or left undone wha t they ought to have done in this matter. Should this meet the eye of any of the speakers at the forthcoming meetings who will t a k e th e oppor t un ity o f urging upon their audiences the Christian duty fans eaFlit looking upon the things of others they may greatly i s a good movement, and will abundantly repay the sug gestions Of AN ASSISTANT TRADESMAN. Liverpool, May 12, 1848. DREADFUL MURDERS NEAR SWANSEA.—At an earl,' hour on Tuesday morning, the inhabitants of Svvail s e e were alarmed by a report that a murder of a most diail° - Beal character, and under most aggravated circumstanc es, had been perpetrated on the persons of two unoffendia men, who resided with their families in the neighbourho od of the Marquis's Arms, on the road from Swansea to Loughor. The facts of the case are briefly these Monday night, a person named William Davies Nelda " cwrw bach" in a small cottage adjoinin g the roa and within a few yards of the public-hous e called P n e Marquis's Arms, kept by David Evan, the son of Jecq d `' Evan, one of the murdered men. A company, co nsisting of about twenty persons, remained at the cottage drink i n g until about one o'clock. About half-past twelve, a party of Irish "navvies" entered the house. They remelt' there for about half an hour, during which time did drank several pints of beer. They entered into converse; sation with the deceased John Williams, and some ° the ( parties, saying that they had been discharged by one f the contractors at Loughor, and were then in search ; work. It is said that Williams had promised them viclj ; and asked them to visit next morning the part of the lr t • where his contract lay. Soon afterwards it appeared tha t some words, arising probably from the feeling of jealony.. and antipathy existing between the Irish and Welsh, e e l 'a sued between one of the " navvies" and a man nen', Edward Morgan, who was eventually knocked doi!... One or two other men, who interfered on behalf of ny c,.. gan, received blows about the head from specie s ' • us However, the injuries they sustained were not of a serip character. The scuffle then appears to have eon clude°,, , and they left the house ; some say they were turned ou others that they went voluntarily. A considerable Tgli_ ber of those who were in the house, including John tim e; Hams, deceased, seem to have gone out at the same I li but the majority immediately returned to the house, J ite Williams and one or two other persons—it was not 4:lude_ clear how many—being out. A little noise, ha rd l Y „teli serving the' name of a scuffle, was tben made, itnltte" l- the after which a loud cry of " Murder" was heard. . people rushing from the house, John Williams and o e n cl e o f Evan were found lying on the road lifeless, wh i l e ° the " navvies" was observed to strike Evan's bod y w nso ; spade. The murderers then made off towards bcca_ rs ue one or two of the other men made faint efforts to P; ih i e r th es e u m lt , ü b f u t t h w e i t t r h au n s o set e i ff e e n c a t. ppe T a h re e d s t u e d i d i r e n p es s s ru ar y d se i neu „ ace th e The policemen were making every exertion to Lori , murderers, who ure severally name d Patric . o d Michael Leary, Thomas Martin, William Isi°r ri9 John Norris.