The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-13 00:00:00

'-.lttratttrr. POETRY. LOVE'S SNARE. (For the Liverpool Standard.) As o'er the lawn , tie lovely morn I strayed, Within a snare I caught two linnets grey; The captive Son ,tens oft in vain essayed To burst their treach'rous bonds, and By away. " Poor birds ! why throb your plumy breasts with fear ? Or why against the wires your pinions beat? At home a guardian will ye fondly rear, And all your little wants with kindness treat." Beside a grove of elms, where lay concealed My rustic cot beneath the sylvan shade, A heay'nly form before me stood revealed, And JAne her charms unconscion ly displayed, Persuasion's mildest tones were all in vain, To soothe the fair to lend a gracious ear; She turned aside, and tripped across the plain, Nor even deigned my luckless suit to hear. Repulsed with scorn, and smarting with the pain, Which cruel love had darted through my breast; I thus, in sympathy's soft melting strain, With accents sad the feathered pair addressed : " Ye spotted warblers I now exult with glee, Nor dream ye ever wantoned through the air; Fur my poor heart which I had thought so free, Is worse than you entrapped in Cupid's snare ! " CARDINAL DE RETZ, THE COUR IER'S PLOT. BY PETER. POPJOY, Esq: (For the Liverpool Standard. CHAPTER XII. Contains a description of what is called "a scene." • IN spite of the presence of the Regent, Fabien could no longer restrain his anger —" Infamous spy and eaves db ropper, to betray the conve rsa ti on o f a gen tl e l a d y ! ut' Suddenly recollecting where and before whom he stood, he stopped short, making a bow of submission to the Queen, colouring deeply. Albert de Croissi replied to his brother but by a dis dainful gesture, and quietly withdrew, mingling with the courtiers, who awaited half terrified the conflict of pas sion that appeared to be warring in the mind of the Queen. The Coadjutor seemed about to speak; but such was the wrath with which the Queen was excited, that he dared not throw himself before his Royal mistress in defence of the helpless girl who stood half dead with fright before him, like some dove awaiting the pounce of the eagle fluttering over-head. " Come hither—come hither," said Anne of Austria, her words but half intelligible from rage; " I—l am willing to doubt what has been but now revealed to me. Tell me it is false, and that I have been deceived ; tell me that those whom I love—have trusted—in whom I have placed so much contidence—have not betrayed me ; tell me, miserable girl, the truth," stormed the Queen, stamping her foot, " or I will crush thee—like this paltry vase." The Regent seized one of the splendid ornaments which stood in the room, dashing it to the earth in a paroxysm of passion. This excess of anger appeared to give Elizabeth the calm courage of despair. She again threw herself at the Regent's feet, and addressed her in a firm but respectful manner— " I will not aggravate by a lie a fault of which I sin cerely repent, my gracious mistress. What Mons. de Croissi has just said is true." All the baneful passions that held a tenancy in the heart, of Anne of Austria were at once revealed. " barest thou to avow it ?" cried she, in a voice of thunder, " darest thou to tell me this—here, in my presence ? Away ! away ! or 1 will"— The Regent raised her hand as if to strike the pros trate tr,:,iden before her, but suddenly her arm fell as if powerl to her side, and she sank on the seat near her, sobbing bitterly, hiding her face in her handkerchief; exclaiming— " Oh, unhappy--unhappy queen, that I am ! betrayed by those nearest and dearest to me ; by my friends, my servants, my followers—by all." This scene appeared to have a strong effect upon the conspirators. Some seemed struck with terror; others shrunk back, daring scarcely to breathe. For several minutes the sobs of the Queen were alone heard in the oratory. The plaintive voice of Elizabeth at length mingled its sweet tones with the royal grief. " Madame !" said she, still kneeling, "my crime is so great that I cannot hope nor expect for pardon, never theless I trust I may be allowed to explain if not to ex cuse the treason of which I have been accused before you. Deprived of my aunt—my only relation—alone in the world, I had no help to look for but in the noble lady who placed me near your majesty. I owed her a debt of gratitude without limit ; 1 was nothing without her ; and what must have become of me Heaven only knows, if she had withdrawn from me the fostering hand that so kindly upheld me. She was imperious, haughty, and at the same time crafty and skilful, besides being profoundly versed in the art e.f seeking the truth from the inmost re cesses of the heart. Was it then difficult for her to de ceive a poor simple inexperienced girl like myself, who could not comprehend for the most part the words or the actions of which she compelled me to give her an account? I always believed her to be devotedly attached to your Majesty, and I saw no crime in making her acquainted with that which perhaps your Majesty would make her acquainted yourself. For a long time my protectress thus abused my candour, before I was warned of my fault by a vague whisper of conscience which the excitement of a life at court made me slow to hea: and understand. My eyes were not opened until that day when Mons. de Croissi, by listening at my chamber door, heard a con versation which took place between Mlle. de Chevreuse and myself • this circumstance at once revealed to me the frightful part I had been made to play. I was ashamed of myself; then fear took possession of every faculty, and that man, who now comes to accuse me, did not blush to propose to me a horrid bargain ' which I could not refuse to ratify : he threatened to tell all to your Majesty, if I did not consent to assist him in a project which he then meditated, and in which a young cavalier over whom I was supposed to have some influence, he wished to induce, to take a part. What could I do, without a friend to give advice, without one to look to for support? I would rather have died than forfeited your Majesty's regard, and I feared perhaps that I might be degraded at court, and banished your presence, should my folly become known. At length I was requested to write to M. Fabien de Croissi. In this I saw no great harm, since your Ma jesty, I was led to believe, gave your concurrence in what was going forward. But when the whole truth was revealed to me, oh ! what bitter tears did I not shed for this odious bargain. This is the truth, madame ; and now I am ready to submit to the chastisement which your most just indignation has reserved for me. My life alone can expiate the mischief which it seems I have uncon sciously done, and I shall smile at death if it can atone for my crime." This recital, emprinted with the glowing beauty of truth—the touching tones of that low soft voice, so pre cious in woman—made a deep impression upon many of the courtiers. The Coadjutor turned away, to hide his emotion. Fabien approached Elizabeth, and raising her from the ground, said in a whisper--- This, then, dearest, is your secret—one villain has betrayed us both Oh ! Elizabeth, the court has been a fatal place to us ; would that we had remained poor and obscure at Montglat !" While the Countess was speaking the Queen became calmer, and perhaps had not heard one word of Eliza beth's justification. Suddenly she rose up and said, with an abstracted air, as if but just aroused from a deep sleep— " What think you, gentlemen, of an evening so well employed for the good of the state ? In truth, we have lost our time in occupying ourselves with the love affairs of a gallant and his mistress. But we have had enough, and perhaps too much of this. Gentlemen, I will detain you no longer; we must for the present—l say for the present —abandon our enterprise. You, Mons. le Coad jutor, remain here, I pray ; I. wish to speak with you." At the same time the Regent made a courteous sign to those assembled, signifying her wish to be left alone with the ecclesiastic, without recollecting that she had not decided the fate of the two unhappy young people who had incurred her anger. Such was the character of Anne of Austria ; , thus changing and inconstant was her temper. This forgetfulness might have saved the cul prits, but there were too many persons interested in their safe custody and future disposition not to remind the Queen of the strange error she was committing. They therefore remained. De Croissi undertook to express their wishes. " Madame," said he, bowing low, " these gentlemen, before they depart from the royal presence, await your Majesty's orders respecting this young man upon whom their future peace of mind depends." " Well thought of," said the Queen, colouring as she spoke ; " I had nearly forgotten. But go in peace, gen tlemen ; I will take care that M. de Croissi shall be a hostage for your safety as well as his own. Be sure," she continued, with an air c,f contempt, as she looked at the Baron, " that it will not be to him I shall confide the sate keeping of his hold pupil." The courtiers one by one saluted the Queen, and de parted in silence. Hocquincourt would have still made an attempt to save Fabien, but Anne closed his mouth by a dry refusal, and the kind-hearted marechal departed, casting upon Fabien and Elizabeth a glance full of re gret. The Queen then called the Baron de Croissi to her, and spoke to him in a low voice. . While the noblemen were taking their leave, the Co adjutor gradually drew near the two young people, who now occupied an obscure corner of the oratory, near the altar. At the moment he found no one was observing him, he approached Fabien, and quickly whispered— " They are about to convey you to the Bastille. Re- tire now that you are unnoticed ; in the anti-chaml er you will find friends. Quick : a minute more, and you are lost." Fabien drooped his head sadly, as if to ask of what use it would be. 4 4 Fly, fly, Fabien," quickly whispered Elizabeth, who had heard the pressing invitation of Paul de Gondi. The Coadjutor at once guessed the cause of his hesi tation, and added— " The Queen will pardon the Countess—l will pledge my word to that. Away, if you would be safe." Fabien pressed the hand of Elizabeth to his lips, made a sign of gratitude to the Coadjutor, and glided in silence from the antechamber, now in complete darkness either by chance or design. Hardly had he placed his foot in the apartment when he felt a hand take his— " Are you M. Fabien de Croissi ?" " I am," replied Fabien. " Follow me." And he was immediately led through the secret panel, which suddenly closed upon him. And his escape was but just in time. The conversa tion which the Queen held with Albert, the moment after Fabien left the room, concluded. De Croissi turned about, and not perceiving his brother, an expression of surprise lit up his cadaverous countenance. " What has become of him ?" cried he ; " where is my unhappy brother ?" " Sir," said the Queen angrily, "would you arrest him in my presence? The young man is no doubt in the ad joining apartment. Go, and remember that I wish to put my secret out of the power of being betrayed by his indiscretions. I expect, at the same time, that you will not treat him harshly." The Baron bowed low, and quitted the room with an air of disquietude. The Queen heaved a deep sigh, as if the moment had arrived when a painful sacrifice vias about to be accomplished. Looking round her, her eyes rested on Elizabeth de Montglat. " What is it not all completed?" said she, with impa tience. " Elizabeth de Montglat, come hither." Elizabeth approached her. " From this moment you are no longer in my service," said the Queen, coldly ; "your name will be erased from the list of maids of honour, and you will announce this to Mlle. de Motteville. To-morrow you shall be shut up for the rest of your life in the Carmelites. Elizabeth made no sign of emotion in listening to this dreadful sentence. She asked for no pardon, no remis sion of punishment. It appeared as if one absorbing sub ject took up her attention. This apparent indifference I brought frowns upon the face of the Queen, who antici pated some proof of repentance —some excuse for grant ing forgiveness. " Leave the chamber," she said, " her passion again rising. I want you not again to-night ; neither your services, nor your company." In spite of this rigorous and harsh' injunction, the maiden remained motionless in the same place, her head bent forward, and listening attentively, as if she had not heard the order which hid been so discourteously given. Anne of Austria was about to speak, when Albert de Croissi entered the oratory, pale and agitated, exclaiming Madame, there is some one here who betrays you. The young man has disappeared, since M. Gabouri as sures me that he h• s not departed with the noblemen who have just quitted the palace." " Cau this be possible ?" exclaimed the Queen. A person clad in black, who was no other than Ga• bouri, the mysterious introducer of the conspirators, pre sented himself at the door, and confirmed the assertion of De Croissi. " No end to wonders," said the Queen, with a thought ful air. " Unless he is a magician, he cannot have va nished altogether, without being seen." " He is then saved," cried Elizabeth, whose distrac tion of thought this singular event explained. " Oh ! madame, my noble sovereign, the rest is just, and I will suffer now, without complaint, whatever pu nishment you may inflict upon me !" At the same time Elizabeth made a profound reve rence and retired, without the Queen showing the least sign of attention. After her departure the most profound silence reigned throughout the oratory. " Gabouri," said the Queen, at length, to her cheva lier d'honneur, " the more I reflect upon this matter, the more impossible does it seem that this young man can have left the palace. We cannot sound an alarm at this moment without causing some commotion, which will ex cite suspic ons I would rather were not generated ; hut take care that all the doors are closed, and allow no one to leave the palace till to-morrow. Do you hear ?" Gabouri bowed in silence. " You, Mons. de Creissi," she continued, " must this night remain with Gabouri, and to-morrow you shall take back your prisoner as soon as he is found. Leave us." At the moment that De Croissi was retiring with the chevalier, the Queen remarked a slight smile upon the mocking lips of the Coadjutor. " You smile," said she ; " what am Ito learn by that significant look ?" I smile, Madame," said Gondi, " with the thought how unlucky poor De Croissi is; for, if I do not deceive myself, this is the second bird that has slipped through his fingers to-day. The Baron cast a look of suspicion and irritation upon the reverend jester. " Nevertheless, Monsieur le Coadjutor," said he, " if I were permitted to search for the author of the treasons of which I have just cause of complaint, I should not perhaps be long in finding him." " What would this model of brothers—this tender re lation—this kind friend of poor Fabien de Croissi, insi nuate ?" said Paul de Got.di, in a quiet sneering tone. " I would insinuate nothing, but say that a perfidious priest is the sole cause—" " Silence—silence, Sir," said the Queen, in an autho ritative voice ; " do you dare to raise your voice in anger in my presence, and thus rudely assail with speech a per sonage so high in dignity and merit as M. le Coadjutor. Your insolence goes rather too far this evening, Mons. de Croiszi. Do you think, because I have condescended to admit you upon one occasion into my confidence, that you have any right to speak thus loud in my presence. Go, sir, go, and understand well that when men like your self become no longer necessary, we discard them with disgust." _ De Cruissi retired seemingly annihilated as if by a thunderbolt. When the Queen found herself alone with De Gondi, she seated herself in the nearest chair, and said with pro found dejection— " They drive me mad," Monsieur de Gondi ; " I re quire more than ever your good counsels and services. They all betray me !" (To be continued.) NOTICES. THE MAGAZINES. Dublin University. Curry and Son, Dublin ; W. S. Orr and CO. London. The number for this month is more than usually diver sified in the character of its contents, which, with the ex ception of one poem, entitled " Gossip among the Infer nals," are of a high order of merit. " The mishaps of Mr. Latitat Nabhim" promises us some amusement, and although the evident imitation of Dickens' style provokes a comparison to which few writers ought voluntarily to submit themselves, they are narrated very racily. " Arrah Neil," by Mr. James, increases in interest. We have in this number arrived at th- 23d chapter. The most valua ble article in the number is one upon the subject of the proposal to fo m, or rather to re-form, an ecclesiastical legislature. The writer's opinion is decidedly hostile to a convocation of the clergy at present; and his views are ably supported by reasoning and historical facts. The Life of the Author of " The Collegians," " Gisippus," &c., is ably sketched from the biography just published by his brother. Tait's Magazine. Wm. Tait, Edinburgh ; Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., London. Our northern friend has furnished us with a very inte resting number. The review of Tytler's History of Scot land, of which we have this month the first part, pro mises, in itself, to be as good an abridgement of the work as if it had been intended for separate publication. We have frequently remarked upon the care with which the reviews in this magazine are done but we really question whether it is quite fair to an author to gut a book so completely, and give its whole spirit and story, as in this number the editor of Tait has done with the new novel of " The Belle of the Season." Few people, after read ing this review, would feel any great interest to read the book itself. Fraser's Magazine. London : G. W. Nickisson. The present number is a very excellent one—its li g ht literature, politics, and criticism being of a high order of merit. To some of the articles we shall probably return next week, when our space and time are a little l ess occu pied. We must, however, direct the attention of our readers to the " Reminiscences of Men and Things," in which the career and opinions of a man scarcely under stood in the present day in this country—Prince Metter pich—are sketched by " One who has a good Memory," in his peculiarly graphic style. Marlin Chuzzlewit. Pocr Tom Pinch—a character mos t to our likin g of an y Introduced i n t hi s t a l e — occupies a considerable portion of the present number. We have him now released from his worship of Pecksniff, and about to begin a struggle for subsistence in London. The Anglo-Bengalee Disin terested Loan Company promises, we suspect, to become a dangerous affair for Mr. Jonas and the other honest gentry engaged in it. Mr. Dickens is rather au fait to the exposure of such concerns, and we should not die of regret if he were some day to resolve upon depicting the working of some similar bubbles which have been blown within little more than thirty miles of our own town. Tom Burke of Ours. No. 14. Dublin : Curry and Co. ; London : W. S. Orr and Co. In the present number, the hero, with the whole im perial army, are brought to Paris. and the latter reviewed by the Emperor in the Champs Elysees, to welcome the return of the wounded from Austerlitz. This scene is described in Mr. Lever's most stirring manner. We are also introduced to som e o f t h e l ea di ng c h aracters of this splendid period of the French empire, Lover's Lires of Eminen' Pemnles. Nos. 1 and 2. F Lover, Paternoster-row. The present serial work promises to be one of a very useful and int+resting character. The first number con tains a portioA of a memoi r of Lady Rachel Russell, the wife of , the celThrated Lord William Russell, with a very fine engravin g f rom an orig i nal painting by Cooper. The second number concludes the lite of Lady Rachel, and commences that of the Empress Josephine, of whom also we have an engraving from an original painting by Isahey. The numbers thus far are well written, and the work it self very creditably got up. Abbotsford Edition of the Waverley Novels. No. 47. Robert Cadell, Edinburgh ; lioulston and Stoneman, London. The number before us contains as its frontispiece a fine engraved portrait of the Regent Murray. The woodcuts throughout are good, and fully support the high character which this splendid edition has deservedly acquired. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD espended in the purchase of new stock, leaving a balance of £2,111 17s. Bd. The directors congratulate the pro prietors on the proposed railway from Hai rogate and the Leeds and Bradfo:d line. PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY FROM LEEDS TO BRAD FORD.—Last week a meeting was held at Leeds, for the promotion of a more direct and shorter line of railway than that which has been projected in connection with the North Midland Railway Company. It was resolved that a company should be formed for the establishment of a new line, which, for distinction sake, we may call the southern line; the capital to consist of 12,000 shares of £25 each. We understand that the southern line will commence at or near the end of Aire-street, Wellington street, in Leeds, cross the river Aire near the Upper Weir, and the Leeds and Liverpool canal between Holmefield lane end and Holbeck Town end ; and skirting the hill side towards Low Wortley, will pass close to Butterbowl Mill, Farnley. on the north side of Beulah farm house, and from thence along the Pudsey and Tong Valley, by Holme Green, to the south of, and near to the Court house in Bradford. On Friday morning 5,000 shares had been subscribed for at Leeds, independent of those taken up at Bradford and elsewhere. NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON JUNCTION RAILWAY• COMPANY.—The fourth half-yearly meeting of this com pany was held at York, on Thursday last. The report stated the works of the line had been carried on with the utmost rigour during the past half-year, and that the di rectors have entered into contracts for the erection of eight stations at different points of the line, including one for the city of Durham. The latter station is to be completed on the Ist of March, and those on the south of Durham on the Ist of May next. The directors had concluded an agreement with the Great North of England Railway Company, to work the whole of the traffic between Dar lington and Newcastle; and all the guaranteeing compa nies have unanimously concurred in relieving this company from their engagement to grant a lease of the line : there was a good prospect of a railway being made from Berwick upon-Tweed to Edinburgh by the North British Railway Company. The directors strongly recommended the share holders to give them authority to take prompt measures for the effecting of a railway communication from New castle to Edinburgh. The cash account represented a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £42,497 17s. BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—The meeting of this company was held on Wednesday : a dividend of £1 per share was declared ; and it was resolved to conclude contracts for leasing the Hastings and Lewes branch at a rate of 4 per cent, upon the cost of construction, not exceeding £475,000, and the Shoreham and Chichester branch at a rate of 4 per cent. upon cost of construction, not exceed ing £300,000. A resolution was passed giving the direc tors power to enter into negociations with the South- Eastern Company for a final settlement of the large out standing claim of £360,000 on fair and reasonable terms. Unless such power was delegated, it was stated that no hope of arrangement could be expected for the present generation of shareholders. Whatever sum is found due to the Brighton Company will, it appears, be applied to the payment of the mortgage bonds, in condition with the terms of the act of Parliament. The traffic increased during the half. year £9,885, while the expenses have been reduced £7,500, making a gross increase in net revenue of £17,300. The Brighton Company has at last joined the South-Eastern and Croyden Companies in an amalga mation of working expenses, which arrangements come into operation from the I s t of M arc h. Aft er paving this dividend, which absorbs £35,156, a surplus of £2,510 is left to the credit of the current half-year. LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.-011 Friday the Half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors took place at the London terminus, Euston-grove. Mr. G. C. Glyn, the chairman of the company, presided, and con gratulated the shareholders on the prospect that was opened for their connecting the London and Birmingham line with Lancaster and Carlisle, and in another direction with Holyhead, where a spacious harbour was about to be formed by government. The revenue account for the last half-year, as compared with the corresponding half-year of 1842. showed an increase in the traffic of £11.393 and a decrease of £6,221 i n th e wor ki ng c h arges. The direc tors had to report that the net profits of the year 1843 being £502,484 Os. 5d., and the dividend declared at the last half-yearly meeting £242,732 145., there remained a disposable balance of £259,751 6s. 5d., from which they recommended that a dividend of 5 per cent. be deducted, leaving £17,006 18s. sd. to the credit of the current half year. The directors had to apply to the proprietors for powers to carry out the line from Chester to Holyhead, where the government was about to erect a new harbour, and thus make it the great raedium of intercourse with Ireland. Every endeavour had been made tc accommo date the public, and, in order to do so, they had given to all passengers going and returning by the railway on the same day the benefit of a reduction of one-third in their fares, and they allowed them to compound for two months' fares at half-price. They had also modified their rates to first-class passengers riding in the company's carriages, but travelling with their own carriages on the train, by charging them second-class fares. The report was adopted, a dividend of 5 percent. declared, and 17s. on each of the £32 shares of the company. A resolution was adopted giving powers to the directors to provide capital for making the proposed railway between Chester and Holyhead, not exceeding in the whole £1,000,000 sterling, and to take any other measures foi the interest of the company. MARTYRS TO £30,000 A-YEAR. (From the Dublin Evening Mail.) The lay traversers, or demagogues of the platform, are Daniel O'Connell, John O'Connell, Thomas Ray, and Thomas Steele. We know not what income either of the two first may derive from the funds paid into. the Repeal - Exchequer. But, independently of that, Mr. Daniel O'Connell ex tracts from the agitation of the country his annual Tri bute, amounting on an average to £20,000 a-year. We cannot separate the interest of the son from that of the father; we, therefore, include Mr. John O'Connell in this lucrative speculation. Mr. Ray is Secretary of the Repeal Association, and, in that capacity, draws, in the shape of salary and other emoluments, an annual income of (we understand) £l,OOO. Mr. Thomas Steele is an agent, bearing the indefinite character of Head Pacificator, and, besides travelling ex penses on special occasions, draws an allowance of five pounds a-week (at the least) out of the Repeal Rent. Having disposed of the tonguesmen, or demagogues of the platform, we now come to the pensmen, or dema gogues of the press. They are by name and occupation— Charles Gavan Duffy, proprietor of the Nation; John Gray, proprietor of the Freeman's Journa , and the Even ing Freeman ; and Richard Barrett, proprietor of the Pilot. The profits which _ those literary demagogues derive . _ from the agitation of the country, may 6e ascertained with sufficient accuracy on data of the simplest and surest kind. It is a law of the Association (see rule 9 of the book of instructions to Repeal Wardens, rent-collectors, &c.), that—" The sum of ten pounds collected and forwarded to the Association, entitles the repeaters of the district whence it comes to a weekly paper for the entire year, gratis; and the sum of twenty pounds entitles them to the Pilot or Evening Freeman newspaper for the same period, if they prefer either to two weekly newspapers." Now, the price of a weekly newspaper for the year is £1 10s. ; of a three-day evening paper, £3. One pound ten shillings are to ten pounds, just as three pounds are to twenty—that is to say, each is 15 per cent. on every hundred pounds transmitted to the Repeal Association. Had we an exact account of the income of the Corn- Exchange, we should be able to tell to a shilling the an nual profits of this incendiarism. But, supposing the Rent to amount, one week with another, to £l,OOO (and it has sometimes trebled that amount), we have an income of £52,000 per annum, out of which the literary traver sers abovementioned divide among them (at 15 per cent.) about one-sixth of the entire amount—namely, the sum of £7,800 per annum ; being at the moderate rate of £2,600 to each and every of them. All this, be it ob served, is over and above the fair ordinary profit made by their newspapers in the usual way, as the exponents of party opinion, or as payment for Repeal advertisements, &c. Let us now tot the items : Lay: 1. Mr. O'Connell 2. Mr. John O'Connell I £20,000 3. Mr. T. M. Ray 4. Mr. Thomas Steele 260 Literary :- 5. Mr. Richard Barrett 2,600 6. Mr. Charles Gavan Duffy 7. Doctor Gray 2,000 2,600 £29,060 Thus, of the eight traversers now on trial, seven draw from the funds derived from the agitation they have raised, very nearly thirty thousand pounds a-year. To them, at least, agitation is, and has been, a profitable traffic. Let agitation die, and what would be the consequence to those disinterested patriots? Would they not lose this £29.000 per annum ? On the other hand, let the agita tion.be increased—let it be doubled, or trebled—and, in proportion as those blow-coals are enabled to infuriate the flame, will their profits on the ruin and misery of their country be swelled. Is this, gentlemen traversers, a true bill or not ? We tell you that you must render an account to the people of the money you have induced them to pay into your hands. You must tell them how much or how little you admit of the charge : for, unless your own documents be false, this bill must be true. You cannot be silent. We repeat our statement, that of the nine traversers originally indicted, but two could come into court with clean hands, and we owe it is justice to the Roman Catholic priesthood to say, that those two are priests of the Church of Rome. The lay traversers, whether of the press or of the platform, are making money on the mischiefs they are able to cre ate. They have, in the disturbance of their country, the deep interest of pecuniary profit. MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE. —About eleven o'clock on Monday forenoon, the long boat of The schooner Ann, of Ardrossan,—Jas. Craw ford, toaster,—was discovered lying on Brest Rock, keel up, with her four oars under her. At noon, the jolly boat was seen drifting in towards the shore ; which, on coming within reach, was found to contain the cold and lifeless corpse of the mate, John Henderson, son of Mr. Matthew Henderson, ship-builder, Ardrossan. Several pieces of wreck have since come ashore, such as rails, bulwarks, &c., and there is every reason to fear she has been run down by some vessel on Sunday night, some where near Ailsa Craig. The Ann, of A, drossan, was a fine new Schooner. built only eight months ago, by Mr. Henderson, of Ardrossan. She had made one voyage to and from Malta, and was on her passage from Cork to the Clyde, with a cargo of flour. There is too much reason to fear that all the crew have perished. The captain had a wife and six children.—Ayr Advertiser. GENERAL MISCELLANY. On the y abinstant Sir Robert Peel entered on his 57th year. The Essex Stano - ,,;"d records three very serious incen diary fires i n th a t county - _last week. Dickens's " Ch r i s t mas C alO C' has been dramatised, and its first representation at the 2'\.delphi Theatre on Monday night was eminently successful. It may be useful to some timid railway travellers to state that the furious puffing of the c,,ogine shows the safety valve is open, and explosion irnpossle. On Saturday morning last, Elizabeth Kilsligw, a child seven days old, died suddenly from the effects of L'pa.ins in the windpipe. Seven convicts, from Edinburgh and Kirkdale, made their escape, on Friday morning, from the Milibank Pe nitentiary. Their retreat has not been discovered. THE LATE TRAGEDY AT DEPTFORD.—The unhappy woman Dickenson, who murdered her two children, and afterwards attempted self-destruction, is sufficiently reco vered to be removed to Newgate. THE ANIMUS OF REPEAL.—A new candidate for popu lar favour announces, in its prospectus, that "Foreign parliamentary reports will be given until the "Irish par liament is restored." At an inquest held the other day, on a newly-born in fant in London, who had received a quarter of a tea spoonful of gin, the surgeon gave evidence that gin given to one so young is sufficient to cause death. Two men, employed at the brewery of Messrs. Barclay and Perkins, in Park-street, Southwark, were suffocated last Wednesday afternoon, by descending one of the vats which contained a large volume of carbonic acid gas. The representatives for the county of Durham, of whom three are "liberals" and one conservative, are all agreed upon supporting the agricultural interest and maintaining that protection to which it is entitled. LAUGHABLE MISTAKE.—The wife of Mr. Edward Hudson, of Ulverstone, was brought to bed on Thurs day morning, and the infant being sickly, was baptized Richard, rather hastily it would seem, as it turned out to be a female. VALUABLE COINS.—We are informed that, the collec• tion of coins, &c. made by the late Mr. Thomas, a Lou. don grocer, and about to be sold, is estimated to he 01 the value of from £16,000 to £lB,ooo,—Literary Ga. zette. MANSLAUGHTER.—A young man named Lawrence Hawksworth, died at Bolton, on Thursday last, from in juries inflicted upon him by another man. The jury on the inquest returned a verdict of aggravated manslaugter against the latter. DORMOUSE BY POST.—A few days ago, a letter was received by post by a person in this town, containing a live dormouse. It had come a distance of nearly 200 miles, and reached its destination perfectly safe.—Don caster Gazette. SERIOUS FIRE AT SHEFFIELD.—At an early hour on Thursday morning week, the cutlery works known as the Soho-wheel, Sheffield, were destroyed by fire. The esti mated loss is £BOO, and there is too much reason to fear that it has been caused by an incendiary. The Rev. James Brogden bas been committed for trial at the Hertford Assizes, charged with shooting and wounding a police constable, named Wintel, whom he ob served about his premises, near Hemel Hempstead, and mistook for one of a party of burglars. CHILD STEALING.—At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Elizabeth Mary Jones, a well dressed and good looking widow was sentenced to be transported for seven years, for having stolen an infant child named Selina Helling, four months old, in the month of Novem ber last. The enquiry before Lord Slideley, and the other trus tees of Winchomb Grammar-school, into the conduct of Mr. Lapworth, the master, respecting the punishment of a lad named Carter, has terminated in the complete ex oneration of Mr. Lapworth. The case appears to have been gone into at great length. Mr. George Wilbraham, of Delamere House, in a let ter to the Secretary of the Stockport Committee, has repudiated the League, as an irresponsible body, and says he cannot understand how the large sum which thee pro pose to raise can be required in order to elicit a full, fair, and unbiassed demonstration from the nation. LORD MORPETH.—It is now said, that in consequence of the sudden indisposition of the Earl of Carlisle, the arrangements for Lord Morpeth entering the lower house of parliament have been postponed. It is now considered more likely that Lord Morpeth will be called to the upper branch of the legislature, as the ill"ess of the noble earl is said to be alarming, and his lordship is in his 71st year. FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE ICE.—Yesterday week, about one o'clock in the afternoon, as a boy named Thos. Gaskell, 17 years of age, was sliding on a piece of water called Smith's Lodge, at Pemberton, near Wigan, the ice broke, and he fell into the water. Assistance was promptly rendered, but the boy could not be got out of the water until life was extinct. The select committee to- consider the laws affecting gaming, &c., and to report thereon to the House of Lords, are the Lord Chancellor, the Lord President, the Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Winchester, the Marquis of Normanby, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Foley, Lord Brougham, Lord Strafford, Lord Monteagle, and Lord Campbell. A trial of speed took place in Long Reach, in the Thames, on Friday and Saturday last, between her Ma jesty's steam ship Rattler, and her sister ship Prometheus. The result was in favour of the Rattler, to the extent of neatly half a knot per hour, their relative speed being as follows :—Prometheus, 8757 knots;. Rattler, 9240 knots, or within a fraction of 101 statute miles per hour. On Thursday, John Fowden Hindle, Esq., Woodfold park, near Blackburn, was sworn in before William Shawe and John Gorst, gentlemen, high sheriff of this county. At the same time, and before the same commissioners, Mr. Christopher Bland Walker, of Preston, was sworn in under sheriff. The business will be transacted at Mr. Walker's office. An adjourned meeting of the carpet manufacturers of Kidderminster and its neighbourhood was held on Wednes day last at the Black Horse Inn, when a second advance in the price of carpeting was agreed upon; and in conse quence of the heavy and increasing rise in the wool mar kets, it was determined that another meeting should be held on Wednesday, the 21st of February, to decide on what further advance shall then be necessary. At a meeting of the Oxford Parish Burial Ground Committee, held at the archdeacon's rooms at Christ Church, on Monday, it was resolved to procure three burial grounds on different sides of Oxford, for the use respectively of the parishes nearest them; to be open to all persons, being placed precisely on the same footing as the existing church-yards,.such burial grounds to be pur chased by subscription. YORKSHIRE BANKING COMPANY.—The first meeting of this company (which was raised from the ruins of the Yorkshire District Bank) was held at the Bank-office, on Wednesday last. The nett profit for the time the bank had been in business was £7,721 12s. 3d., out of which they recommended the payment of a dividend of As. 6d. per share, being rather more than five per cent., and leaving a reserve fund in hand of £4,463 17s. 3d. THE LATE FATAL DUEL AT CAMDEN TOWN.—In the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Mr. Waddington, on behalf of the crown, applied to the bench to fix a day for the trial of Lieut. Grant, who had given notice of his intention to surrender and take his trial, for being acces sory to the murder of Lieut. Col. Fawcett, in the duel at Camden Town. The judges refused to fix any day for the trial while the accused should be at large. THE DEAD -LETTER OFFICE. —On the 25th of May, 1788, a five-guinea bill, of the firm of Sir John Duntze, was sent in a letter to Exeter, by a tradesman of Hole worthy. The letter miscarried, and did not reach its pro per destination, and• the money of course was considered as lost, when to the surprise of the person that sent it, thirty-eight years afterwards. he again received it from the dead-letter office, inclosing the bill.—Plymouth Journal. Lord Granville Somerset, Sir George Grey, Lord San don, Mr. James Loch, Mr. John Wilson Patten, and the O'Connor Don have been appointed by the speaker of the House of Commons to be members of the general com mittee of elections for the present session. Their duty is to prepare the panels from which the members of election committees are chosen, and to select the chairmen of those committees. The high sheriff of Gloucestershire has very properly refused to convene a county meeting, to afford Messrs. Cobden, Bright, and Co. an opportunity of agitating under official sanction. Mr. Holford hits the requisi tionists hard. The array of country gentlemen is scanty. Nearly half the names attached to the requisition are those of Gloucester citizens, although this circumstance will not appear visible to distant readers.—Gloucester Chronicle. PARDON OF A REFORM RILL RIOTER.—Her Ma jesty's government has issued a free pardon to Valentine Marshall, one of the rioters who was transported for life by Mr. Justice Gaselee, at the special reform riot com mission at Nottingham, in 1831, for setting fire to Col wick-hall, the seat of Mr. John Musters, Nottingham shire, and from the effects of which Mrs. Musters, the famous " Mary" of Lord Byron, met with her death in the shrubbery. INCREASE IN THE COAL TRADE.—It Will surprise those interested in this important branch of our trade to learn that the quantity delivered last month is nearly double that delivered in the corresponding month of 1843. In January, 1843, 118;618 tons were imported, whilst the quantity for January, 1844, appears to be 220,603. Of these, 96,917 tons were from the Tyne, 54,583 from the Wear, 47,707 from the Tees, and the residue from York shire, Wales, and Scotland.—Tyne Mercury. DEVIZES ELECTION.—The nomination of a member to represent this borough, (vacated by the resignation of r A o l o r m . S o o f th t e h r e o I n a ,h t Sire o is a c F ra n a c nd i s Bur d u a r t f d e et o t r o Nh took ort place e lt o s in the room eMon day. The candidates were Mr. Bruges and Mr. C. Tem o m n r. behalf ßr u g e o s f was Mr. Tem ple, Q.C., a radical , put forward by the Anti - Corn - Law- League. The shew of hands was declared to be in favour ofe MOrl? or demandedlorwais42. C Tuesday, when Temple, B returned b and Bruges. sfi.A xedmajorityf STRIKE.—On Monday, a report was gen eral in the neighbourhood of Mold, that the colliers who had turned out for wages (and are now standing out) at Bagilt and Holywell, were coming to Mold to stop the works. The magistrates very promptly met, and on Tuesday a number of soldiers arrived from Chester, and are now stationed in Mold, Hawarden, Northop, and the neighbourhood, no breach of the peace has yet occurred. On Tuesday, a body of some 200 men came to Northop Hall Coal Works ; but they were ordered off by the mag istrates, and at the sight of the red coats. made their C exit.— hesler Courant. Feb. 13. 1814. CHILLINGHAM PARK, NORTHUMBER LAN D,—The ani tieipated spoliation of this tii , ble park has torturat , lY taken place Th e wi ld cattle have la en successfully claimed by Lord o.sulston. as heirlooms of the estate, and consequently inalienable property of the Caris o Tankerville. 'The deer only w ere t h ere f ore o ff e red i t ° r sale, and on Thursday last were put np at the folloul prices :—the r e i n d eer , i n one lot, at £B9, and the fal l ow deer at £5O. The re was not, h owever, a single of f er e made, and the sale did not proceed.— Tyne Mercury. COTTON SPINNERS' STRIKE.—In a former paper We stated that the cotton spinners of this city and neighbour' hood had made a demand upon their employers for as advance of 10 per cent upon their wages. This demurnd has been refused, the masters, at a meeting held on Wer nesday, H. Dunlop, Esq., in the chair, having come t ;, s • following resolution : " That wages forspinning Pa l i n thi s jistrict are generally high .T than those in Lance . shire, and t.'..`at the present state of trade is not such au l y warrant any an . ;'ance." In con s e quence o f th i s te full the men in eight or - I;ne of the mills stopped work, at about an equal num b er l ; Y e given in thei r warning. T he strike, however, is no t lik e l y he either ge n e ra l o r 1 041 continued. Already numbers of the workmen have re' turned to their work ; and it is doubtful whether those who have given in their warning will tallow out their threats.—Glasgow .Argus. AN ECCENTRIC AND WEALTHY BEGGAR.-.-I 0 _e. P e parish church o f R o th er hi t h e, a tablet has been ereeta, " the memory of Jame s S m i t h, w h o i s designated Esquir.' The career of this man has been a very extraordinary oar and it shows how wealth is amassed by strict econonl. He was a beggar of no usual description, and, though ad' vanced in years, was one of the most active of his ciao& His continued round of employment was through 210 Pa' rishes, and his industry was well rewarded. He left an immense deal of property, the chief part for charitable purposes. None out of the 210 parishes have been for gotten where he was kindly treated. To almost all he hal left funds, but has carefully excluded from his will all pa' rochial authorities, in whose district he fancied he had been neglected. To the parish of Rotherhithe, which was al ways a favourite resting-place of his, he has left property which produces £4O a year, arid the interest of this m oney" is thus disposed of : Upon each Sunday after the sermon in the church, 120 loaves of the value of 6cl. each are dis tributed among the poor old people of the parish, who thus profit by a beggar's wealth and gratitude, for no doubt many of the recipients of his bounty have often given their mite to the rich and eccentric mendicant. RELIEF OF SEAMEN IN THE MERCHANT SERVICEP' A return, ordered by the House of Commons, on the mo' tion of Mr. Gladstone in May last, has recently been printed. It contains an account of theincome and expert• diture of the corporation for the relief of seamen in the merchant service, for the year 1842. The duty, for this purpose, on London vessels was £8,948 4s. 7d. ; on out port vessels under the management of the corporation, £5,372105. 3d. The net income is £18,968 9s. Bd., which were expended as follows :—To London pensioners, £10,260 155., out-port pensioners, £3,199155. 10d., tem porary relief in London, £1,464, at the out-ports, £638, seamen's hospital, £455, and expense of management, £2,085. The " corporation" manage forty ports in allr but, by the 4th and sth William IV. c. 52, all other portfi are made to contribute. Among these Liverpool contri butes £5,177 16s. 2d., from duty ; dead men's wages, £339 18s.; interest on capital, £1,91635. 7d. ; benefac tions and forfeitures, £180; which, added to a former balance, amounts to £10,970 10s. 7d. This has been ex pended as follows:—Pensions, £6,816 IZs., temporary re lief, £5O 195., expenses of managem en t, £505 17 s. 9d. Invested £3,00. A considerable sum according to these returns is thus annually raised, and, if properly applied could not fail to produce much good. INCOME AND EXPENDITCRE.—The balance of the public income and expenditure for the year 184'3 has been printed by order of the House of Commons. The nett income and expenditure of the year are given as follows: Income .. Expenditure Balance in favour of Increase.. £1,443,302 18 8k We shall be told, however, as we have been told one hundred times, that all this balance is China money. Let us see bow that matter stands—the receipts from Chinn are considerable, but so are the demands upon the-an% count of China, viz.:— Total from China . .. .. £1,315,209' On the other hand the China expedition costs .. £ 416,056 Opium compensation paid 1,245,283 N ---- 1,661,8 79 40w, dedu c i ng th e w h ole of the China money received' row the China expenditure, we have thus a balance of loss of £346,670 ; so that if both sides of the China ac count were struck from the balance -sheet we should have a surplus of £1,789,972. But this is not all—we have another extraordinary item to deal with—viz., £262,000 on account of the Exchequer-bill forgeries, raising the bona fide surplus to £2,051,972—a surplus of two milli ons sterling on the commencement of the third year of Sir Robert Peel's administration. Would any one have believed this possible in February. 1841 ? Ma. OASTLER.—The time for the release of this gen tleman has now arrived. On Monday next the bolts and bars of the Queen's Prison will be withdrawn, arid the victim of cruelty, avarice, and despotism will be free. On Monday next, " Richard will be himself again," and his voice will speedily be heard in this county in defence of the poor, and in awful denunciation against the cruelties of the oppressor. On Monday last, the Central Coro. mittee decided upon this step, on account of the precari ous state of Mr. Oastler's health, which for some time has been sinking, and which has laterly exhibited syrur toms- to cause alarm to his friends and relations. Tit first Committee rst set out. theip hutirmgua under the impression that the sum required for the r 6 lease was about £2,000. This was stated at the earlier meetings to be the sum wanted. On this being raised, the committee were astonished to find that law expenses and interest swelled the £2,000 to more than £3,300 or a £1.0)0 more than had ever been contemplated. About £2,300 has been raised, and the committee have made ar rangements with the bankers for the advance of the re mainder. The friends of Mr. Oastler must not therefore relax in their efforts- A sum of money is yet required to c p r a n y ei the i debt t e n t' d m c r o . s o t s a t s o t e ll r l r t . o T h h e o r s n e t h i l f l r , e a e n i d n h i t i s would g h e e , without providing him with the means of subsistence. Let then a further rally be made on the old " King's behalf. There are many places in Yorkshire and Lanca shire in which local committees have not been formed. Let every man he up and doing. — Manchester Courier. MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.-011 Thursday last, the Rev. Francis Close, of Cheltenham, received a hamper. by the Birmingham coach, addressed to " the Grange which is the p arsonage-house. The hamper was packed in the most careful mariner. When the rev. gentleman returned home he proceeded to open the hamper, in which he discovered a small box securely fastened. With some difficulty this box was opened, when he was both aston ished and alarmed to find that it contained a very hand some child's coffin. The parish authorities were instantlY sent for,, and on the coffin being opened it was found to contain the dead body of a remarkably fine new-born male infant, apparently about a fortnight old. The parish au thorities and police were acquainted with the circumstance, and the rev, gentleman. who is beloved and respected by all classes of his parishioners, have also offered a reward for the discovery of the offender. A medical gentleman has been called in to make a post mortem examination, but there is no reason to apprehend that the child has come by its death by unfair treatment. Indeed it would appear, from the very handsome coffin in which the bodY was placeJ, that the parties forwarding this extraordinarl present to the vicarage moved in a respectable sphere in society. The rev. incumbent is a married man with large family, and it is not long ago that a base attempt was made to affiliate a child upon him, which turned oat upon conjectured emost that rigi th din e m q s uairyetonabreties,who h utterly gr a o v u e si ndl n es c s e . It is Cheltenham, have a hand in this affair.—Tinges. FUNERAL OF SIR FRANCIS AND LADY BURDETT.'" This mournful ceremony took place at Ramsbury, in Wiltshire, on Wednesday week. The body of the de cesed baronet left town in a hearse drawn by six horses, on Monday morning, and rested the same night at Read' ing, proceeding on to Hungerford on Tuesday, where lC was joined on Wednesday morning by the different mem bers of the deceased's family, and some few friends who were permitted to pay the last tribute of respect to the memory of the lamented baronet by following his remains to the grave. The cavalcade left Hungerford on Wed,' nesday morning. Th e roa d b etween Hungerford 801 Ramsbury (five m il es ) was thronged with spectators; an " at a short distance from the former town, the processioq was met and preceded by about thirty of the deceased baronet't tenantry on horseback, and attired in dee? , mourning. The procession reac h e d R ams b ury a t half: friend. past twelve. While the mourners were alighting, %- p e t. r o oo ffi smi t n etdh e sincecontainingves vestry yhe room,Lady vved iiwe hrdi ß erri aeri u eyedh r aa d irfpdter e orst come hado s mi erubesett previous, nati temporarily w rebo a xer s parr. b eih r sl yard, and preceded by that of Sir Francis. The serve,' • wHaaswrke Hawkins. in mosta Th o this manner, by a btohyoent,fhowenheßircoehly bbd been so numerous, that the family decided on confining from c p o a n y i i i n e g t t io h n e s 'last Among " a sly : s n t icsaaißsle h tthtuotrtgoh e ß4optlieiyedcei npeoyrsart i oadsnl Royal strictly rvArhetit, deali soahs t rgi c,pmie a t rrt t ,elAief i ccGro,c onineaaf: d upon, eo s tvroipurlrecagor t hsuati one: this ,siebsT t sdnui h ovnedet e cßbcea i wl debarred deceased AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. — The following IS $ t ry o eocef A i l vE r e . ndg ß ylao o nu n d n r er, honorary se c. ( retarY of the Spalding Association for the protection Agriculture, in answer to one officially addressed to hi': by that gentleman, calling on his lordship, in the ma" a request to me from certain inhabitants of the society, to resign his office as President of the ing to prodw:e in Wisetan, Jan. 27. its neighbourhood, to resign the office which I hold O P ' this year, of president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Believing, as I do, that the society is dolelf n oo th d e , by og vtiluef letter, Spaldingc o t a ,t O 4 ing therefore, most earnestly, to do all in my power : 0 I improvementtu reo of theco un t whichy, andit is v v teas' iStl; fficepeorsfon itsal consideration would w o o n u e ld m in o t e ce nt il f l! thought that my resignation of that office would be etc vanta geous to the society. As, howe ver , upon the be st co nsideration I c an g i ve the subje c t, I am conv i nce d t l my resignation of that office, for the reasons stated in the paper which you have enclosed to me, would be extrenq dretrimental t o i ts i n t eres ts, I must d ec li ne to comply $llll the request of the gentlmen for whom you are acting. „ " I beg to say, that the opinion which I have lately a", pressed it,u upon the st perfectly corn-laws, l is no known, long g opinionbefore tohfereAl.:tetii. Corn,law League, with which k have no connection vvb s l r , ever, was in existence.—l have the honour to be, your most obedient, humble servant, SPENCSA 4 "Charles T. Bonner, Esq.. Svalding." UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL NEWS. OXFORD, FEB. S.—ln a congregation held at the same time the following degrees were conferred :—Masters of Arts.—Frederick Parr Phillips, Christ Church, Grand Compounder; John Henry Acton Harries, Trinity • Rev. Arthur Geor g e B ax t er , W orcester ; Rev. Alfred Trinity; Magdalene Hall; Rev. Alfred James Lowth, Exeter; Rev. Thomas Knapp Cluttenden, Fellow of St. John's. Bachelors of Arts.—Robert Wildbore, Brasenose, Grand Compounder; Frederick Howlett, Worcester ; Charles Baker Teesdale, Christ Church ; William Price Jones, Christ Church; William Clarke Welsford, Exeter; George Andrew Wright, Exeter ; John George Wenham, Derry of Magdalen ; Arthur De Butt, Scholar of Trinity ; James Haydock Reibey, Trinity ; Ernest Richard Sey mour, Oriel ; He nr y Willi am Hodgson, Balliol; John Charles Hulme, Balliol. CAMBRIDGE, FEB 9.—At a congregation just held, the following degrees were conferred :—Bachelors of Arts.— Chilcott, St. John's College ; Hodgson, St. Peter's Col lege; Mills, Queen's College. The contested election to the Mastership of Pembroke College, Oxford, has been decided by the appointment of the Rev. E. J. Parker, to that dignity. NEW Brstior OF NEWFOUNDLAND.—We believe we may announce, as a fact, that the Rev. E. Field, M.A., Rector of English Bicknor, Gloucestershire, has been ap. pointed Bishop of Newfoundland, in the room of Dr. Spencer, translated to the see of Jamaica. The Rev. gentleman was formeriy a Mitchel Fellow of Queen's col lege, Oxford, and for some time an Inspector of Schools on behalf of the National Society.—Monmouth Beacon. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN.—The Rev. Jeffrey Davis, curate of Cadoxton in Wales, met his death on the 25th ult., by falling into a pit, newly made for the purpose of inserting a post. The hole, in which the body was found, was only two feet and a half diameter at the surface, two feet at the bottom, and six feet in depth. The body, when discovered, was in a sitting posture, but from the narrowness of the hole, nearly doubled up; the feet were elevated above the level of the head, which was pressed down on the chest. From the sandy nature of the soil, the heels could get no purchase, although his efforts to extricate himself appeared to have been most violent, from the quantity of loose sand which he had displaced from the sides of the hole and deposited in his lap, and which partially filled his mouth and eyes. The deceased has left a widow and six children to lament their sad and sudden bereavement. THE COURT. Orders were issued for the Court's going into mourning on Thursday last, for his late Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha, father of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and uncle and father-in-law of her Majesty. - - The Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert have continued in the strictest privacy at Windsor Castle, during the week, in consequence of the death of his Royal Highness's father, the Duke of Saxe Coburg Gotha. Her Majesty the Queen was very near meeting with an accident on Monday morning, when leaving the Castle to take a private walk in the Home Park, which, in the pre sent extremely delicate and interesting situation of the So vereign, might have been attended with serious and pain ful consequences. We greatly rejoice, however, to be enabled to state that these were providentially avoided. The Queen, on proceeding from the Castle down the steep declivity leading from the south terrace to the outer en trance to George the Fourth's gateway, between the York and Lancaster Towers, would have fallen backwards, and with considerable violence, in consequence of the slippery state of the pathway, which was entirely frozen over, had it not been for the presence of mind of the Countess cf Dunmore, who fortunately caught her Majesty in her arms, and thus preserved the Queen from sustaining any injury. The Hon. Spencer Cooper has lately given his sisters, Lady Ashley and Lady Jocelyn, £20,000 each.—Court Journal. The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland left Stafford House on Thursday for the Earl of Carlisle's seat, Castle Howard, Yorkshire, in consequence of the noble earl, her grace's father, having experienced a relapse, and being alarmingly indisposed, which prevented the family from coming to town. The Marquis of Stafford and Lord Frederick Leveson Gower left town on Friday for Eastern terrace, Brighton, where a mansion has been taken by their graces for a limited term, and the Ladies Elizabeth Constance and Caroline proceed to the same destination to-morrow. The christening of the infant son of the duke and duchess, to whom Prince Albert is to stand sponsor, is postponed sine die, in consequence of the Duke of Saxe Coburg's death and Lord Carlisle's ill ness.—Globe. LAIV INTELLIGENCE. NORTH WALES AND CHESTER CIRCIIIT.—Before Mr. Justice Williams, who will he joined at Chester by Mr. Baron Maule, from the South Wales Circuit; Mont gomeryshire, Welshpool, Saturday, March 9th • Merion ethshire, Bala, Th urs d a y M arc h 14 ; Canarvonshire, Car narvon, Saturday, March 16; Anglesey, Beaumaris, Wednesday, March 20; Denh;glishire, Ruthin, Saturday, March 23; Flintshire, Mold, Thursday, March 28; Che shire, Chester, Saturday, March 30. HARRIS V. REV. W. SMITH.—In the Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday, Lord Denman delivered judgment in this case. It will be remembered that a mandamus had been issued calling on the defendant, to restore the prose cutor to the office of parish clerk, of which he had de prived him. The return to the mandamus set forth vari ous acts of misconduct on the part of the prosecutor in the execution of the duties of his office, which, as the de fendant alleged, justified him in dismissing the prosecutor. On the other side it was contendd that the dismissal was illegal, inasmuch as defendant had never called upon the prosecutor to make his defence. but had proceeded at once to dismiss him • the prosecutor contended, therefore, th a t the return to the mandamus was invalid. Lord Denman in delivering judgment said, that the court held that re moval from a freehold office ought to be preceded by some inquiry. It might have happened that the procecutor might, had he been heard in his defence, have convinced the defendant that he was not deserving of dismissal. It mattered not that the misconduct of the prosecutor had come under the personal observation of the defendant; inquiry ought in all cases to precede dismissal. The re turn, therefore, could not be supported, and a peremptory mandamus must issue. Harris will, therefore, be restored to his office of parish clerk. EXTRAORDINARY CASE.—In the Court of Queen's Bench ou Tuesday, a case was heard of the Queen V. King and others. It was a criminal indictment against William Henry King, Emily Ann Birch, and Augusta Ann Birch, " for combining and conspiring to cheat and defraud cer tain of her Majesty's subjects, being tradesmen, of divers large quantities of goods." King is a solicitor, and Mrs. Emily A. Birch, a widow lady, who for some years kept a lodging-house in Bedford-place, Russell-square. The transaction from which this prosecution arose was the ordering, by Mrs. Bireh, from tradesmen in all parts of the town, of a large quantity of the most elegant and ex pensive furniture, to the amount of nearly th r ee thou sand pounds. When it was lodged in the premises at Bedford-place, King put in an execution for a pretended debt, and seized the property, which was sold. He was restrained, however, from appropriating the money, by the creditors making Mrs. Birch a bankrupt in the mean time. The case was complicated by a labyrinth of legal proceenings, real and feigned, which have taken place be tween the parties. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against King and Mrs. Birch, and acquitted Miss Augusta Birch, expressing at the same time their surprise at the extreme want of caution exhibited by the tradesmen who supplied the goods. King was sentenced to be imprisoned in the Queen's prison for eighteen calendar months ; and, with respect to Emily Ann Birch, her sentence was, that she be confined in the Queen's prison for nine months. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. The present marketable value of the London and Bir mingham railway is £9,693,750. We understand, on good authority, that the Grand Junction Company have declined to take any share in the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company. LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY. — The contract for rails and chairs for this line has been taken by Messrs. Bagnell and Co., of Staffordshire, at a price which leaves a difference in favour of the company of £35,000 between the estimated and actual cost. NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—The fifteenth half yearly meeting of this company was held on Friday last at Leeds. The receipts for the half-year were £121,66315. Bd. and the expenditure amounted to £56,940 9s. 3d., leaving £61,722 13s. sd. available for a dividend. There was an increase, during the half-year, of £6,463 19s. 2d. in the revenue, and a diminution of £6,230 13s. ld. in the ex penditure, as compared with the corresponding period of 1842. A dividend was adopted of £2 on every whole share, of £l. on every half-share, and of 13s. 4d. on every third-share, payable on the 23rd instant, clear of property tax, and the balance of £4,956 3s. 4d, was carried to the next half-year's account. YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY. — On Thurs day last, the half -yearly meeting was held at York. The receipts for the half year amounted to £47,504 Bs. A dividend of £2 10s. on each whole share, and £1 3s. on each half share, was declared. The amount required for payment of the dividends is £24,455, which being de ducted from the profits of the half year wilt leave a sur plus of £1,752 3s. 10d. to be added to the reserve fund. Out of that fund the sum of £3,790 -10 s. 10d. has been