The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

FOREIGN 4- COLONIA 7 ALLIG.EIV CE. INDIA AND CHINA. (From the Times.) The Indian Mail his arrived, with letters and papers from Bombay to December 1. The principal items relate to the prevalence of great sickness in the two newly-ac quired possessions of Scinde in India, and of Hong Kong in China. Peace prevails throughout British India, al though the preprations for war were busy throughout the north-western districts. Au army of about 15,000 men was assembling on the banks of the Sot ledge, and another was collecting at Agra; the former to compel the Siekhs to adopt some regular fixed system of government, and the latter to force the government of Gwalior to make proper arrangements. The fall of the Indus, consequent on the cessation of the monsoon, has always produced a description of malaria in a country where no improvements have been carried on during centuries : and it was not to be expected that the British troops should not suffer in districts where every advantage was sacrificed to making hunting grounds for the Ameers. In Hong Kong the sickness has arisen, as the Chinese say, from the nature of the waters of the islands, which they pretend cannot be used for any time without the worst result. It was even asserted that the British autho rities contemplated the abandonment of that island since the death of the much-lamented Mr. Morrison. Much attention has been directed towurds the Punjaub. The chiefs are represented as disunited, the soldiers are mutinous, and the provinces are distracted by their fears, for they dread an invasion from the Affghans at Peshawur, and of the British at Lahore. Mooltun is described as highly disturbed ; the inhabitants, who do not profess the Siekh religion, are in dread of massacres and plundering. Many of the natives are seeking every opportunity of abandoning the Siekh districts, and of escaping with their property into Ilindostan. Even the French officers are quitting Lahore. General Ventura, the last of the foreign favourites of Runjeet Singh, has solicited leave to resign the service, and to retire to his own country. Two of the other junior officers have been dismissed. General Court had left, and General Avitabi!e was at Calcutta. It is difficult, even in India, to obtain correct intelli gence of what is going on at the Court of Lahore, and many of the rumours circulated have proved unfounded. Heera Singh, the young Minister, appears still to retain power; he is, at it is known, the son of Dhyara Singh, who was the all-powerful Minister of Runjeet, and of his suc cessors, until his death, in September last. Heera Singh, who has the puppet child, King Dhuleep, in his custody, is now said to have obtained the aid of Goolab Singh, his father's eldest brother, and a leading Hill chief, who, at the head of 22,000 men, came in the beginning of Novem ber to the capital. Goolab Sing is looked upon as hostile to the British, and will, it is thought, bring about a de cided conflict, by influencing his nephew and the Court not to assent to any proposals coming from the govern ment of India. A crisis was expected in Lahore, when the Governor General shall have reached the banks of the Sutledge. Several corps of the British troops were in movement in that directinn. The number of troops at Ferozepore, Lo siana. and Umballa, was estimetad at 14,000 men. Major General George Hunter commanded at the two former places, while Major General Sir Robert Dick had the com mand of the Sirhitid and Meerut divisions. The last intelligence from Lahore states that Heera Singh had entered into a combination with Futteh Jung, the son of Schah Shoojl, which had excited the jealousy of the Siekh soldiery, who threatened to attack and plun der both those young men. The news from Cahoot current during the month was that Dost Mahommed had been murdered? but, though, believed by many, it eventually turned out to be a fabri cation. He has named his son, the notorious Akhbar. to be the Governor of the Hill country, near Jellalabad, whence it is thought he will attempt, ere long. the inva sion of Peshawar. Peshawur is described as in a ticklish position, for there is no longer an European general to defend it. and all the plunderers around the Khyber Pass are anxious for an opportunity to sack it. In the central part of India the affairs of Gwalier are at present most interesting ; the Army of Exercise is assem bling at Agra. On Sunday, the 19th of November, a dis pute took place between some of the troops at Gwatior, which ended in their fighting with each other, when 400 were slain on both sides. Khasgeewalla, the usurper, who some months ago had endeavoured to oppose the influence of the British, had been taken prisoner, and nearly sacri ficed by the insubordinate and enraged soldiers. He was saved with difficulty, and the insurgents appeased merely by the promise that he should be given up to the Hon. Corn party. There appears to be a general acquiescence throughout India to the British taking final possession of the territo ries that once were Sindiah's. There is no lawful Sove reign, for the child now called to govern is but an adopted son; and the oppressions of that government have been such, that the whole population wish to become British subjects, in order to be saved from the continual pillage of the relentless and unpaid soldiery. Bundelkund, which is contiguous to Gwalior, also re quires the application of force to establish a regular system. At present there is a multitude of turbulent characters, who seek for an opportunity of confusion, in order to en rich themselves either by plunder or by conquest. There was a small insurrection in the Jeypore territory of Shekawatee, south of Delhi, when a chief raised 5000 or 6000 men, seized a fortress, and hurled defiance against the at thorities. Major Foster, at the head of the Slieka watee Brigade. pr , ceeded to attack him. After some resist ance, the insurgent was hemmed in Khetrie, where his followers made terms for themselves, while he escaped with a few attendants. The next point of interest in the north of India was the great enthualnaut raised for the liberation of Col. Stoddart from Bukhara. A considerable subscription was raised for the purpose of defraying the expense of sending a person thither to examineinto the truth of his confinement and of his safety. It is thought that nothing further will be done in India until the result of Dr. Wolff's mission is known. The accounts from Scinde are melancholy, from the ex traordinary sickness prevalent amongst the troops. Out of an army of about 13,000 men about one-third was in the hospital. The cause of the sickness is said to be the un healthiness of the climate after the subsiding of the Indus, when the exhalations produced by a glowing sun over an extensive muddy surface are exceedingly dangerous. For tunately, the mortality was comparatively but little, as most of them easily recover, although much debilitated from the fever and boils. There appears to be but little danger apprehended from any of the neighbouring tribes. Sir C. Napier was at Kurrachee, where his lad) had joined him. He purposed to go to Hyderabad in the beginning of December, and, with a considerable body of troops, to proceed to look out for healthful situations, at which the troops are to be sta tioned in future. There seems to be but little doubt that be will succeed, for one of the great causes of sickness bat been, that men have frequently been located in places where the natives had accumulated filth, which, under the influence of the rain and sun, produced the evil now so bitterly complained of. - Lord Ellenborough had become more popular than during the preceding twelve months. The newspapers which bad raised an outcry against him had been obliged to admit that his measures were successful. His lordship was to start about the 26th of November for the North Western provinces, invested with every power to make peace or war by a special act of the Legislative Council. CHINA. The news from China extends to the beginning of October. In the supplementary treaty between the Chinese and the British government, one clause is for the purpose of guaranteeing to all foreign nations the same privileges of trade as to the British themselves. This will have the effect of rendering unnecessary all negociations between the Chinese Emperor and the other Powers. The Chinese government is said to be sincere now in its deter mination to abide by the regulations of the treaty, which will prevent all discussions with other foreigners. The treaty is looked upon in the East as the most signal tri umph of the British plenipotentiary, for it renders nugatory all the attempts of the French and American diplomatic missions lately sent with such pomp to the Chinese coast. The state of trade at Canton was not satisfactory, owing to the tricks of the old Hong merahants, and their adher ents. the linguists. The state of trade along the coast is said to be satisfactory. Howqua, the celebrated Hong merchant, died at the age of 75, leaving 15,000,000 dol lars' worth of property. The Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff has been appointed Chinese Secretary, in the room of Mr. Morrison. Amongst the deaths in China are mentioned R. F. Foote, Deputy Commissary General, and Captain Haviland, of her Majesty's 55th Foot. TEETOTALISM IN INDIA.—The Madras Examiner, of which the files received extend to the 17th ult., contains the report of a great temperance meeting which had been held by a society called " Father Mathew's Society," at Secunderabad. Tea was served up at a new temperance hall to about 150 persons. CARISTIANITY.—" I cannot understand the Christian religion," observed an attache to the Turkish ambassy ; is it because their great apostle was born on a certain day, that they annually make themselves drunk for a week, in commemoration of that event? How different is the practice of Mussulmansl" The crevice on the west side'of Mount Etna is 400 yards long and 40 wide. The stream of lava issuing from it has spread to the width of 21 miles, and has run about 14 miles. By the last accounts, the lava had swept away several houses, and destroyed 67 persons. THE AMERICAN NAVY.—The government report of the war and navy departments of the United States gives as the naval force of that power a total number of 76 ves sels of various descriptions. Of these there is one three decker of 120 guns ; nine ships of the hne of 90 guns ach ; one razee of 62 guns ; twelve 52-gun frigates ; one 50-gun cif ; two 48-gun frigates ; eleven first-class sloops of war of 24-guns each; three 22-gun sloops; five 16-gun sloops; two sloops for storeships, 6 guns each. There are also f our f i rst-c l ass s l oops on t h e stocks nearly ready for launching, Eleven 10-gun brigs and schooners ; three ditto used as store-Ships, and one for a receiving vessel at Charlesfown. There are likewise four small schooners employed as packets or receiving vessels. The steam navy consists of the Mississippi, of 12 guns ; the Princeton, (Erickson' propeller) of 12 guns; the Fulton, of 8 guns; the Michigan, of 6 guns, an iron steamer, built and recen tl y launched on La ke Erie, can carry 14 guns, but her present armament is two 64 paixhan guns and the P o i nsett, of arid four 32-pou s r u rdc e a r r g r e onad h e e s e ; ls t ) l 7 li n.'on, of 4 guns a u t il t d he an rate of (with Hunters bni d w 2 guns. A contract has be en made to . b iron steamer at Pittsburg, of 1,0 00 ton s, to sa i l nine miles per hour, with steam, and to cost 150,000 dol.. lars. A small iron steamer of galvanised iron has been ordered to he built at Washington, but susi.ei,ded for want of means. SPAIN. Letters from Madrid of the 27th ult. convey the im portant information that Senor Gonzales Bravo had sus pended the Cortes on that ,day, with a view to its dissolu tion. The audacity of this measure on the part of a cha racterless adventurer—despised by his political oppone n t s , and distrusted even by those who have consented to act with him—appears to have fallen like a thunder-clap on the people of Madrid. It appears that the promulgation of this decree was agreed to at a council held on the 26th, but was kept a profound secret until it was communicated to both Chambers. The reading of the royal decree was listened to in silence, the audacity of the measure having taken every one completely by surprise. The fear that a change was working in the Cortes which would greatly strengthen the hands of the opposition, appears to have prompted this unconstitutional act. The plan of the go vernment, as announced to its friends, is-1. To collect the taxes necessary for the public services. 2. To pub lish a decree respecting the ayuntamientos and the pro visional deputations, and to organise in like manner the National Gtiard. 3. To re-assemble the Cortes, when these measures have been carried out, for the pur pose of procuring an inde mn i ty f rom that b ody for w h a t ministers shall have do ne . 4 . T o di ssolve the Cortes , s hould it re fuse to grant a bill of indemnity. The conduct of Narvaez and his tool Bravo has excited the deepest indignation, and dissentients of all parties are coalescing ag ainst them. The leading p ar ti sans o f E spartero an d t h e anti-Espartero liberals met on the 27th, when both Cortino and Cabal lero candidly acknowledged the error into which they had fallen in assisting in the overthrow of Espartero. General anxiety prevails as to the effect of the suspension of the sittings of the Cortes on the provinces. The Correeponsal of the 27th expresses its astonishment at the measure, whilst the remarks of the Eco and Especdator would lead to the inference that the news will excite the greatest irri tation among their party. The Eco states that a meeting bad been held by the Progresista electors of Madrid, at which they unanimously hoisted the banner of the Ist September, 1840. It is beginning to be pretty generally felt in Madrid that the ex-Regent is the only man capable of rescuing Spain from the difficulties in which it is now involved. THE DUKE OF BORDEAUX.—The Cologne Gazelle publishes a letter from Hanover of the 26th ult., stating that the King of Hanover had sent a special invitation to the Duke of Bordeaux to visit his Court. A letter from the island of Bourbon, of the Ist of Sep tember, which is published in the French papers, states that the English had taken possession of Diego Saurez, a magnificent port in the Island of Madagascar. SHOEMAKING BY MACHINERY.—The Journal de Paris states, that an operative in the Rue des Vielles Andriettes, who for some time attended a course of lee , tures on mechanics, has invented a machine to make shoes, by means of which any person possessing sufficient strength to turn a wheel can, in the course of a day, finish 50 pair of excellent shoes of every size. Sarah Gale, the companion of the notorious Green acre, and who, for the robbery on his unfortunate victim, was sentenced to transportation, is living at Port Philip, as assistant in a confectioner's- shop. She is described, by a person who recently saw her in that colony, as having regained her health, and looking very comely ; her hag gard appearance at her trial showing the relics of a coun tenance of considerable prior attractions. Madame Grisi has failed in a suit brought in the Tri bunal of the Seine against her late husband, 1 , 1. De Melcy, for a division of the common property, no marriage set tlement having been originally drawn up to fix the manner in which it should be disposed of; the defence set up was, that the civil code required such a claim to be made within five months after the separation, which had not been done in this case. VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.—The Sydney papers to the 26th of August represent the mercantile interest as suffer ing deeply from depression. In the legislature the mem bers were occupied with the finance minute of the governor, and the discussion of the estimates were ex pected to attract considerable notice. It appeared that in the year 1843 a deficiency of some £50,000 or £60,000 will occur in consequence of the excessive burthen of the land fund and emigration expenses. For 1844, the estimated expenditure was £330,493, while the revenue was expected to reach from £350,000 to £370,000. THE LAST MOMENTS OF A POET.—The Siecle gives the following account of the last moments of Casimir Delavigne :—" The invalid, accompanied by his wife and son, was obliged to stop at Lyons by the progress of his malady. A physician was called in, and from the moment he saw his patient he considered his illness fatal, and in formed Madame Delavigne that her husband had only a few hours to live. He succeeded, however, by his manner and assurances, of restoring calmness of mind to the pa tient, who had been at first alarmed. About eight o'clock the same evening, the poet, when lying in hed, and in full possessio❑ of his faculties, asked his wife, in order to amuse the son, to read aloud. She accordingly took up ' Guy Mannering,' and continued reading for about three quarters of an hour, at which time the patient asked for some drink. As she was taking some precaution when offering him the class, not to fatigue hint, be cried out, 0! give it me, I am strong enough !' He then raised himself up with some difficulty, and leaning his head on his right hand, asked his wire to continue. But his fea tures were already changed, for death was near. Madame Delavigne perceived the alteration, but, concealing her grief, she resumed her reading, which her emotion ren dered unintelligible. Why,' said the dying man, ' you are skipping whole sentences;' and, addressing his son, told him to go on himself. A moment after the head of Casimir Delavigne fell back on the pillow. He began to recite some verses of a tragedy at which he had been at work for some time, and which was to be called Melu sine.' In two minutes after life had fled. and the nearly concluded work which occupied his thoughts during his last moments perished with him, for it is well known that the deceased never wrote down his pieces until after hav ing completed them in his mind, and then recited theca from memory at the moments of preparing them for the theatre." THE EDINBURGH PROFESSORSHIP OF Music.—Seve ral candidates are in the field for the post vacated by Sir Henry Bishop ; but the chances of success are now entirely between two persons, namely, Mr. Donaldson, who ran so close a race with the ex-professor at the last election, and Dr. Gauntlett. Mr. Donaldson was formerly a music teacher at Glasgow, but, marrying a lady of fortune, stu died at the bar, and became a barrister. He is regarded as a good classical scholar, but is not known by his works on music. He is the popular candidate in Edinburgh. Dr. Gauntlett has been distinguished as a lecturer, and by his improvements in organ building. He is a profound theorist and practical musician, but has little local influ ence, being a resident of London. EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN MINES OR COAL-PITS. —lt will be in the recollection of our readers that Lord Ashley s bill, for the prohibition of women working in mines and pits, came into operation in March last, since which time nothing of the kind has been heard of. On Tuesday last, however, the first case of the infringement of that humane act that has bee❑ judicially brought for ward was heard before the magistrates at the Guildhall, Huddersfield. The following is the case :—Mr. J. W. Moorhouse, coalpit owner of Wooldale, was summoned by George Haigh, a constable of Almondbury, for having on the 15th of November last, employed or suffered to be employed in Lidget pit, as " hurriers," four girls, named Hannah Moss, aged 15 ; Elizabeth Moss, aged 12; Nancy Goldthorpe, aged 13 : and Mary Senior, aged 17 years. Haigh said, that on the above day he went to the mouth of the" day hole" of the pit, and saw four girls come out with coals; he should not have known them to be women but for their hair, their dress being like that of boys; he stopped and saw them come out three times, bringing coals each time. The poor unfortunate girls were examined but were fuund to be so deplorably ignorant, that they knew nothing of the month of November : they had given over working six peeks since last Saturday, but they did recollect seeing Haigh in the cabin ; they worked three days after that ; they were hurriers." The mag istrates convicted in the lowest penalty prescribed, by act of Parliament. viz., £5 in each case, making £2O, and the expenses. Haigh deserves the thanks of the commu nity for bringing this case to a public tribunal. THE NORTHERN COAL TRDAE.—Irr 1770 there were only 13 collieries on the Tyne, and in 1803 there were up wards of 30. In 1828 the number was increased to 4, on the Tyne, and to 18 on the Wear, making in all 59. The estimated powers of working possessed by these col lieries—that is, the quantity of coals they are able to raise in a year—are calculated by the late Mr. Buddle, the most accurate and experienced viewer ever known in the trade, at 5,887'522 tons. In 1836 the number of col lieries was again augmented on both rivers, and their pow ers of working extended to 8,123,922 tons yearly, being an increase in seven years of 2,236,400 tons, or nearly 38 per cent. In addition to this there were in that year new collieries already shipping coals, but not in the regu lation, capable of producing another million of tons, which swells the increase per cent. to nearly 55, or con siderably more than half. Still the Tees is not incla ed From the year 1826, when coals first began to be shipped on the Tees, up to 1835, the quantity increased, year by year, from 18,588 to 357,726 tons, conveyed along the Stockton and Darlington Railway alone. In 1836 the Clarence Railway was in operation, and we may fairly assume the powers on the Tees in that year to have ex ceeded 500,000 tons. Thus, then, from 1826 to 1836 the aggregate capabilities of the whole district has sprung from 5,941,812 (including the Tees) to 9,623,922, show ing an increase of 3,682,130 tons, or fully 624 per cent. Taking the next septennial period, from 1836 to 1843, the ratio is equally progressive. Hartlepool, in the interval, has become a great and flourishing port ; and all the col lieries shipping then., with the exception of Thornley, are creations belonging to this cycle. Lord Londonder ry's own snug little harbour of Seaham has grown into magnitude and tripled its trade within the time. Two joint-stock companies have, during the while, been formed, each with a capital of nearly £500,000 sterling, and which have sunk nearly the whole of their funds in exploring new coal fields. Moreover, on the Blyth e the Tyne, the Wear, and the Tees, multitudinous fresh winnings have been made by private individuals and companies, whilst an entirely new district around Warkworth has been called into existence. In the same period, or nearly so, seven additional public railways for the conveyance of coal have been opened in the county of Durham alone. The impulse has, in truth, been attended with amazing consequences. The region of developed coal fields has been extended in every direction, until it describes a vast circuit, stretch. ing from Coquet, in the remote north, to the sterile waste of Cockfield Fell in the far west, sweeping round Middle barn on the extreme south till stopped by the German Ocean on the east. We cannot estimate the increase of powers thus obtained at less than 3,000,000 of tons yearly, so that the aggregate capabilities of the district may be now assumed at upwards of 12,500,000 tons per annum, I h *: , : e ia; be n e u n e r b ais n e , d or i e n t l l, B a 2 , B l ._ do .N ul e lle the tomtit -17 that could wcastle Advertiser. I R E 1, A N D. REPEAL RENT.—The repeal rent for the past week was only £289 2s. 2d. The justices at Macroom, in the county Cork, have re fused licenses to carry arms to persons who avowedly belong to the Repeal Association. The Attorney-General has informed the Nenagh guar dians that all foundlings brought to the workhouse shall be reared in the religion of the state—that of the esta blished church. The Dublin correspondent of the Times copies an award given i❑ the Repealers' Arbritration Court at Mary borough, to which one of the amateur magistrates, Mr. Thomas Quinlon, had appended his mark! The half-yearly meeting of the Mining Company of Ire land was held, on Thursday, in the Company's-office, Lower Ormond-quay, Dublin, when a dividend of ten per cent. on the profits of the past half-year was struck. The Dublin Mail of Friday states that the authorities, by some extraordinary and mysterious means, have be come possessed of a list of persons marked out for assas sination, and have given warning to those intended vic tims of the Tipperary Thugs. A man named Thomas Walton, a clothier, who had originally been in the London police, was waylaid and brutally beaten by four men in the neighbourhood of the "Abbey," (county Cork,) on Tuesday evening. Walton was left for dead with 18 wounds on his head, and now lies in a precarious state. THE ARMS ACT. — According to the Dublin Evening Mail, the machines for marking fire-arms cannot execute more than seventy-three a day, while the notices to regis ter amount to so many thousands that the entire marking cannot be completed for months to come, unless a large supply of machines be sent to the counties. THE REPRESENTATION OF TIPPERARY.—WE are glad to find that Mr. Ponsonby Barker, a gentleman of un questionable and well-proved conservative principles, has manfully come forward to offer himself for the representa tion of the county of Tipperary, in the loom of Mr. V. Maher, lately deceased. A gentleman of the most extensive property in the county of Clare,. who through the year has afforded labour to one hundred and fifty of his neighbours, and also paid the poor rates of his tenants, has left that place in disgust, for England, in consequence of a portion of his haggard being twice maliciously consumed within a month.. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—It is with regret we an.;. nounce that Captain Bennett (formerly of this port), master of the Tamerlane, of Liverpool, was washed over board by a tremendous sea, whilst crossing the Newfound land bank, in long. 52. The mate was knocked down by the same sea, but unfortunately escaped the melancholy fate of the master. — Waterford Chronicle. MELANCHOLY DEATH.—On Wednesday great excite ment was caused through the sudden disappearance of the Rev. John Augustine Cronin, Prior of the Augustin ian Convent, Brunswick-street. It appeared that he at tended the dinner given to Mr. Beamish on Monday evening, and that he had not been seen or heard of after 10 o'clock, at which hour he left the dinner table, until the following morning, when a diligent search was made, but without effect, and casually his body was dis covered in a sewer running into the river on Merchant's Quay. It appeared at the inquest that the deceased was subject to vertigo and temporary loss of sight.—Cork Constitution. DREADFUL MURDER.--A T. im correspondent of the Dublin Evening Packet writes as follows :—" Saturday, Dec. 23.—This day a most inhuman murder was com mitted on John Shirlock, a respectable farmer, holding, in conjunction with his brother, 200 acres of land in Croalstown. a few miles from Trim, in the Athboy dis trict, co. Meath. This man came to Navan to consult Dr. Byron on the case of his wife, who was extremely ill. The doctor being absent on a medical call, the poor man waited his return. The doctor gave his advice, and me dicine being prepared agreeable thereto, the man pro ceeded home ; on his way beyond the village of Dun derry-bridge (a short distance), he was waylaid and fired at ; the shot took a sure effect ; he dropped, and survived only a few hours. MINISTERIAL WITNESSES FOR THE REPEAL DE FEN DANTS.—M r. Steele has given instructions to have Sir Robert Peel, Sir James Graham, the Duke of Welling ton, and Lord Lyndhurst immediately summoned to give evidence on his trial. Sir James Graham is his principal witness, we believe in consequence of the fact that Mr. Steele was a member of the Birmingham Political Uni, n when the Fres mit Secretary for the Home Department was a Whig. So decided is Mr. Steele's purpose of compel ling these four ministers of the crown to undergo his per sonal examination, defending himself as he did before without counsel, that, notwithstanding his perfect know ledge of the extent of English prejudice at present against O'Connelites and Repealers, he will, after examining Lord Plunket, offer to go to London and take his trial be fore a jury of Englishmen, if the Cabinet Ministers should try to deprive him of justice by evading coming to Dublin.—Dublin Evening Freeman. RECALL OF LORD DE GREY.—The recall of Lord de Grey from the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland is reported to have been decided on by the cabinet. The necessity of a more cordial union, a more perfect agreement in opinion, and consequent decision of purpose and act than have cha racterised the present executive of Ireland, in order to creating and maintaining confidence in the government, has been long since seen and felt. The return of Lord De Grey may not take place till early in the ensuing spring ; but that his lordship's recail has been determined on is— we are assured from a quaver on which we place full re liance—now settled, The Duke of Richmond is mentioned as the new viceroy. —Globe. There is no truth in the Globe's surmise, or rather his suggestion. Were it com plied with, the triumph of agitation would be complete, and the ruin of both countries would follow. Lord, De Grey will neither abandon Ireland—nor be recalled—till the erect work which has providentially fallen to his lot shall have been completed.—Evening Mail. CONSPIRACY TO MURDER THE REV.E.NANGLE.-111.• formation has been given of a horrible conspiracy to mur der the Rev. Edward Nangle, his family and others, and to set fire to the colony in Achill. The circumstances, as we understand, are these ;—A person who stated that he was solicited to become one of the conspirators, gave in formation to the Rev. Mr. Nangle that a number of per sons had combined for the purpose of executing the des perate and murderous purpose alluded to ; that they in tended to enter one of the upper windows in the Rev. gentleman's house, to murder himself and the other in mates, as well as the other persons connected with the colony, and then set it on fire. On receiving this alarm ing intelligence Mr. Nangle, brought his informant before Capt. Nugent, a magistrate, who took informations, and issued a warrant for the apprehension of two persons named by the informant as being of the conspirators. They have been arrested and admitted to bail.—. Mayo Constitution. SHIPWRECKS.—On the morning of the 24th ult., the French brig Alpet, of and from Charonte, for Liverpool, with a cargo of brandies, wines, &c., ran on shore in Ballyteigue bay, and in a short time went to pieces. The crew are saved, with the exception of the captain ; and the cargo, much of which was stove in on the breaking up of the vessel, is under charge of the French Vice_ Consul for this district. We regret to have to state that one death has ensued among the country people, from having made too free with the brandy.—On the morning of Christmas day, the Sicilian brig Salvadora, from Li verpool to Naples, with a general cargo, struck on Black water bank. She was soon after boarded by a boat from Cahore, belonging to Mr. Matthew Byrne. Mr. Byrne, finding his boat would not in the broken water approach sufficiently near the wreck, plunged into the waves, and succeeded, at the most imminent risk of his life, in gain ing the vessel, and rescued five men--the remainder, seven, having taken to the rigging. With the five he proceeded to the shore to bring with him a boat of lighter draft, but before assistance could be rendered, three of the unfortunate crew, including the captain, had p-rished. The vessel is a complete wreck.— Wexford Conservative. THE STATE PROSECUTIONS.—Wednesday last was the day appointed for striking the special jury panel, and counsel for both sides being present, Mr. Whiteside, on the part of the traversers, applied for a postponement, on the ground that they had been unable to obtain a copy of the jury panel. This was objected to by the prosecuting counsel, but ultimately it was arranged that an adjourn ment should take place until the following day. This concession on the part of the crown is much censured by the Dublin conservative journals, the Dublin Evening Mail alleging that they have been in possession of the list from the time it was struck, and that the traversers had the same means of obtaining it. On Thur,day and Friday the counsel for the crown and the traversers again at tended, when the list was finally reduced to the twenty four who are to be summoned as special jurors in this case; and the first twelve of whom, answering to their names, will constitute the jury to try Mr. O'Connell and his fellow-conspirators. The names stand in the follow ing order :- 1. James Hamilton, 14, Upper Ormond-quay, wine merchant. 2. J. C. Papworth, 106,Marlborough-street, architect. 3. Captain E. Roper, 15, Eccles-street, Esq. 4. Stephen Parker, 2. St. Andrew-street, pawnbroker. 5. Edward Clarke, 128, Stephen's-green, W. Esq. 6. Benjamin Eaton, 8. Prince's-street, builder. 7. James Hamilton, 15, Chamber-street, ironmonger. 8. Francis Faulkner, 78, Grafton-street, grocer. 9. John Croker, 36, North Great George's-street, merchant. 10. Henry Flinn, 25, William-street, piano-forte maker. 11. Henry Thompson, 28, Eustace.street,wine merchant. 12. Anson Floyd, 19, Wellington-quay, china warehouse. 13. John Rigby, 185, Great Brunswick-street,gunmaker. 14. Robert Hanna, 12, Henry-street, wine merchant. 15. John Holmes, 10, William-street, merchant. 16. William Longford, 19. Harcourt-street, Esq. 17. William Ord, 79 and 81, Cot k -street, tanner. 18. Robert S. Stubbs, 5, Dame-street, linen draper. 19. Joshua M'Cormick, jun., 16, Usher-street, whole sale merchant. 20. William Scott, 42, Staf f ord-street, cabinet maker. 21. William Morton Woodroofe, 50, Abbey-street, merchant. 22. George Mitchell, 20, Lower Sackville-street, to bacconist. 23. James Waller, 20, Suffolk-street, engraver. 24. George Fowler, 4, Anglesea-street, merchant. The whole are stated to be Protestants and conservatives, and, therefore, of course, the solicitors for the traversers indulged in no little petulance on such a result. Nothing, however, could be more impartial than the conduct of the officers of the court; and Mr. Mahony (Mr. O'Conne,l's solicitor), at the close of the proceedings, said he felt bound to return his thanks to the high sheriff and the clerk of the court for their fair and courteous conduct. The mode of proceedure adopted on such an oveasiot, as this we have detailed in another yntagt ark ard it certainly appears to us to be free from all reasonable objection. GENERAL AMNESTY FOR THE STATE CONSPIRATORS. —On Monday the inauguration of the new Lord Mayor of Dublin took place, when the late Lord Mayor, in re tiring from office, took occasion to make a long address, in which he alluded to the approaching state trials. He said they must produce excitement, agitation, and a mul titude of evils ; and he therefore hoped that " an expres sion of public feeling would be made, praying that her Majesty would condescend to take the question generally into her gracious consideration, to ascertain, if possible, the causes of the discontent which prevailed in that coun try. He did believe that if her Majesty would condescend to appoint any commission she pleased, perhaps a com mission of the whole House of Commons, to make an in quiry into the subject calmly and dispassionately, they would arrive at the causes of the discontent which pre vailed." H is lordship then alluded to the probable effects of the trials, whether the conspirators were acquitted or convicted; and then said, " he would humbly call upon her Majesty to grant an act of amnesty until she fully ascertained from the report of the commissioners what were the real wants of Ireland." Of course the speaker is a repealer, and his suggestions are only worth record ing as disproving the vaunted readiness of the prisoners to undergo the ordeal of the approaching state prosecu tions. THE STATE TRIALS—THE SPECIAL JURY.—The Dublin Freeman's Journal gives a long description of the mode to be adopted in striking the special jury panel in the approaching state prosecutions. It appears that the panel for the year 1844 contains about 700 names, nearly double the number of the preceding year. After stating the qualifications of the jurors, our contemporary pro ceeds—" A. special jury can be had on the application of either party in any suit, either civil or criminal, to the court in which the suit is carried on. Upon the order so had, the officer of the court appoints a time and place for striking the special jury. The sheriff and attorneys for the different parties are noticed to attend. The officer, then, if required, counts the cards, and replaces them in the box, and draws out from it 48 cards numbered as we have beforT mentioned, and reads aloud the several names opposite the numbers. Accordingly as the officer reads out each name, either party, if he has any objection to make to the person so named, then makes it, and the officer then hears the objection and the evidence to sustain it, and decides upon the validity or invalidity of such ob jection. If he considers the objection sustained, he sets aside that name and di aws another card instead of it from the box. The officer seems to be the final judge of the objection, and there is no appeal from his decision. As soon as he has thus got forty-eight names unobjected to, or with objections overruled, he ceases to draw any more. He then fives a list of such forty-eight names to each party, who have twenty-four hours to consider of these names. After a lapse of twenty four hours the parties come again before the officer, and each side strikes off twelve names. The crown strikes the first name it dis likes, the traversers the second ; the crown again the next, then the traversers, and so on till each has got rid of twelve • so that there remain then but twenty-four names. These are then to be placed in a list in the order they are drawn out of the box, and in that order are to be called on the day of trial. And the first twelve of these that, on the memorable fifteenth of this month, answer to their names, are destined to be the men to try Daniel O'Connell and his co. conspirators." BOASTED LOYALTY OF REPEALERS.—We hear much boasting of the affection borne towards the person of her Majesty by the prime movers in Irish agitation. The fulsome adulation—the loathsome lip-worship expressed, in days past, by the traitor O'Connell himself—are still fresh in the memory of the public. Repeaters are loyal, devoted, faithful subjects of the British crown, and fer vent admirers, and—were it required—would be stout defenders of the throne and its fair and youthful occupant. Indeed 1 We will take the liberty of testing these pro fessions, and, in so doing, shall not go further back than to the proceedings of the Repeal Association during the past week. In the report given in the London Times, from its own correspondent, of the weekly meeting of that body, on Tuesday last, we find it stated, that " Mr. O'Connell (John O'Connell) again spoke of the general prospects of England, which he concluded, from the lan guage of the American President, of the French King, and from the conduct of the Russian Emperor, were any thing but cheerful. Having alluded to the probable mis fortunes which would, in his opinion, soon threaten England, Mr. O'Connell said, that when they came, the Irish people would not, perhaps, signify outward joy at their arrival, still they would be more than men if they did not delight in that hour at the fall of their oppres sors.'—(Loud cheers.)" These very loyal (!) people, then, gloat over the prospect of " probable misfortunes which will soon threat en E ng l an d." Th e y w ill no t "sig nify outward joy at their arrival"—oh no !—their boasted affection for their youthful Queen—for that fair being, whose happiness has been so often the object of the hypocritical prayer of their ruffian leader—would not permit the exhibition of any " outward joy" at the pros pect of calamity to that realm whose crown she wears, and the happiness of whose people is the object of her ceaseless care ! No " outward joy," then, over Eng land's tribulation ; but " they would be more than men, they did not DELIGHT IN THAT HOUR AT THE FALL OF THEIR OPPRESSORS"—at the prostration of Great Britain beneath the feet of her foreign foes! Oh! this is loyalty ! such loyalty, however, as we trust may never have committed to its exclusive keeping the greatress of England. or the happiness, the liberty, the life even, of England's Queen ! WALES. THE REBECCA RIOTS-EXTRAORDINARY CASE. David Evans, a farmer, and James Evans, his servant, were charged at the Carnarvon assizes, with having, on the 30th of September, with others, riotously and unlaw fully assembling at Pantycerrig, in the parish of Llsnfi hangel, Rhosvcorn. _ _ Both prisoners pleaded not guilty. They were de fended by Messrs. N. Carne and E. C. H. Hall. The Attorney-General rose on behalf of the prosecu tion, and said that the prisoners were indicted for a mis demeanour and riot. The substantial charge was, that on the night of the 30th of September they, with others, de manded a sum of money from Thomas Thomas, of Pan tycerrig, a farmer. He then proceeded to detail the facts. The parties appeared to have intended not to remove any public grievance, real or imaginary, but to make the agi tated state of the country subservient to their private purposes, arid obtain a settlement of a claim or debt. Sinee the occurrence for which the prisoners were now arraigned, Mr. Thomas had been found dead. He did not, however, mean to hint that they were implicated thereby. The character of the county had been satisfac torily vindicated by a careful inquiry, which had given every reason for belief that Mr. Thomas's death had been the result of an accident. The Attorney-General then read the deposition of Thomas Thomas, as follows : " I live at Pantycerrig, in the parish of Lanfihangel Rhosycorn. lam a farmer. I remember, early o❑ Sa turday morning, the 30th of September, at about one or two o'clock, a number of people, about 15 or 20, came in disguise to my house, and called to me to come out with £5. They said they came on behalf of David Evans of Bergwm, to demand the £5 in satisfaction for a trespass ur on his corn by my cattle. I did not go down to the door, but my wife did. In consequence of the door not being opened immediately, I suppose they reduced the demand to 40s. I went out of the house among the crowd and was taken by the collar by a tall man in dis guise with his face i lackened. He called himself Becca.' I was dragged against my will to Bergwm, a distance of about three quarters of a mile. It is the house of the prisoner, David Evans. They all acted in concert. Some had gulls and others horns. I recognized James Evans; he behaved the worst to me, and shuffled me. 1 also re cognized David Evans. James had a short old gun, and was disguised by having his face blackened. His clothes were not changed. David Evans was not so much dis guised ; I knew him very well. They took me to a field near Bergwm, where we were desired to stop, while some went on, so as not to alarm the family. I saw David Evans go on first, and go into the house. They then took me into the yard, and afterwards into the house. I saw David Evans, and told him that I had made up with him for 10s. for the damage done to his corn. He said, 'The matter is now in these people's hands, and I cannot in terfere.' They further demanded money of me, but I said that I had none. I then asked David Evans to allow me to stop in his house, as I was afraid to go out. James Evans seized rne, arid dragged me out of the house in a different direction from my own house. He said he wished to kill me. ' Becca called out to him, Why he took me in that direction ?' Becca and the party then took me along the turnpike-road to my own home. They called to my wife, and told her they had brought me back as they promised. They then gave me nine days to pay the money in, and said, that flif I did not pay it by that time, they would come again, and would kill and burn." The death of Mr. Thomas was proved, and his deposi tions was formally read by the officer of the court. Two or three witnesses were then examined, but their evidence was so directly in contradiction to that given by them before the magistrates as to render their testimony of no value. Some other witnesses were also examined. The learned judge having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Sentence deferred. REBECCAITES.-At the Carmarthenshire assizes last week, John Jones was sentenced to be transported for life, and David Davies for twenty years, for having riot ously demolished a house. The former person was also convicted of shooting with intent, &c. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON " NAPPING." —At the conclusion of the banquet at Windsor Castle, on Tues day evening last, her Majesty and Prince Albert, with their distinguished guests, retired as usual to the green drawing room; the Queen's private band being stationed in the adjoining apartment (the crimson drawing-room), the folding-doors of which were thrown open. In the course of the evening her Majesty left the private apart ment, n h rw ..oc. e fsheeoha c o iotfshutatGrwodt Grace, raf n eoca t e e: i l a , ret r etnh: I t ra h aei 3ne e ftmu b oc l a ool n lavn:e d tpm . ao es, profoundi ni A )teti fdot whichen t r s l e i nt s i al t Dep e w n cl i anusge, Queen arm in arm with the Duke of Wellington, and seated herself with the Duke on her right hand, and mo f iu o n rb k l e ca l y e ll s owed by the whole party, with the exception sur roundedtcrof b oof Majesty, smiling, and evidently enjoying the involuntary his shoulder with her bouquet, which speedily brought him from a state of momentary oblivion to perfect con sciousness, when the Queen, with a gracious smile (amidst .uke ll o e n r the suppressed tittt rings of the illustrious guests,) made his aim in the most hind and affectionate manner, and laugh his Grace a low curtsey, and, taking the noble warrior s laugh irg the while, pi oreedt d htorn the crimson to the green drawing-room, where coffee was served. e r sut forgetfulness sfeet ert performance UNIVERSITY AND CLARICAL NEWS. OXFORD, JAN. 3. HAMPDEN, APPELLANT, V. MACMULLEN. The Delegates in Congregation met this day at one o'clock, when the Master of University College, the Chairman, pronoun ce d th e j u d gment of t h e Court. That the amended libel was wrongly admitted, the Delegates being of opinion that there were no allegations on the face of the libel on which any legal duty was grounded, for the breazh of which an action on the case for damages would lie ; they therefore reversed the judgment of the assessor in the court below, and ordered the amended libel to be dismissed, Mi. Macmullen paying the costs of both parties. Mr. Cary, on the part of Mr. Macmullen, gave notice of further proceedings, by an appeal to a higher court — that of the delegater in convocation. -- The decision of the Court has afforded the highest satis faction here, except to the Tractarian party. The Rev. John Owen Parr, vicar of Preston, qualified and took the oaths as a magistrate of the county palatine, at the Preston sessions, on Wednesday. CLERICAL DISINTERESTEDNESS.—A valuable living has been offered to the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Noel, vicar of the Abbey Church, by his brother, the Earl of Gains borough. The vicarage of Romsey is known to be far from lucrative ; indeed, it may be questioned it (the duties of the cure being efficiently discharged) it is any source of income to its possessor ; the disinterestedness of the present incumbent is therefore the more apparent in his non-acceptance of the proffered living—desiring, we are told, the noble patron to prefer some clergyman whom it might more temporally ben fit, and wishing for his own part to remain in a parish where the absence of an ade quate ecclesiastical revenue rendered the residence of one with private means the more desirable. Those who know the worthy vicar's character will be sure that the praise of men affects him but little; but, as an instance of the sincere and sole desire to do good, when the disinterested ness of the clergy has been, and is so clamorously dis puted, it is worthy of the knowledge and congratulation of Churchmen. THE SCOTCH CHURCH. Sc UMME ,FOR ERECTIN G FIVE HUNDRED OOLS.— In our last paper we gave some interesting information in regard to the progress of Mr. M'Donald's admirable scheme for the erection of 500 scho.,', , , in connexion with the Free Church. It has been resolved to raise £50,000 for this important purpose, and already £20,000 of this sum has been obtained. Greenock and Glasgow have been already visited, and the free churchmen there have come nobly forward in aid of the cause.—Edinburgh Witnese. THE COURT. In consequence of illness of an infectious character prevailing at Claremont, her Majesty's visit to that place has been postponed. 'WINDSOR, THURSDAY.—His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode this morning to Swinley, attended by Lord Rivers, Mr. G. E. Anson, Colonel Arbuthnot, and the Hon. Captain Duncombe, to enjoy the snort of shooting. The royal party, after excellent sport, returned to the castle to lunch. In the afternoon ber Mojest. and Prince Albert rode out in a pony phaeton, his royal highness driving, followed by another pony phaeton, driven by the Marchioness of Douro. A grand banquet was given on Tuesday evening by the Duchess of Kent to her Majesty, the Prince Consort, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimer, and a distinguished circle, in honour of the birth-day of his Serene Highness Ernest Antoine Charles Louis, the reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha (the father of his Royal High ness Prince Albert), who was born on the 2nd of January, 1784. Covers were laid for sixteen in the large dining room. The youthful family of her Majesty are taken out when ever the weather permits. The Princess Royal, who is a fine healthy child, sometimes walks in the grounds of Windsor Castle, %rid sometimes rides on the little pony provided for her. The Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice usually take their airings in a carriage with Lady Lyttleton. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager intends shortly to visit the Bishop of Worcester, at liartlebury Castle, the episcopal residence of the right rev. prelate. The accounts received from Newcastle on Saturday, as to the health of Earl Grey, were of a more cheering cha racter, and hopes are now entertained that the life of the venerable Peer may be spared for a while to his attached family. Sir Robert and Lady Peel have been entertaining at Drayton Manor, during the Christmas vacation. the Earls of Aberdeen and Lincoln, Viscount and Viscountess Villiers, Sir James Graham, and John Wilson Croker, Esq., Mr. George and Mrs. Dawson, Sir Alexander Grant, Bart., Dr. Buckland, &c. The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have been keeping open house, at Aln wick Castle, in the style of old English hospitality. The duchess has been indefatigable in distributing blankets and clothing to the poor in the surrounding hamlets, and attending to the wants of the infantine inmates of the national schools. During the past year, one prince of the blood, two dukes, one marquis, six earls, two viscounts, eight lords, twelve baronets, two kni tits, one bishop, two (Irish) judges, five generals, five major-generals, three l:eutenant generals, seven colonels, nine lieutenants-colonel, two admirals, two rear-admirals, one vice-admiral, one right honourable, five honourables. two members of parliament, seven late members of parliament, and two private secre taries, have died—making the total eighty-eight indivi duals, who, during their lives, were what are termed public men by their connexion with the government of the coon try.— Morning Post. SUDDEN CHANGE FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH.—A poor, honest, and worthy man, in this vicinity, is about to emerge into comparative affluence. Thomas Williams, known many years in this town as the " Llanderinio Po-t," and who has conveyed the Shrewsbury Chronicle half a century, lately received a letter from Liverpool in forming him that a brother had died in Jamaica, bequeath ing to him, as his °nearest relative, two estates there, and £l4OOO. Honest Tom Williams suspected this letter a hoax, thought nothing about it, and never named it to his family. At length a letter was received by the postmaster of this town, inquiring whether a person, such as we have stated as the Llanderinio postman, is in existence. And the result is, that the name of the accumulator of this wealth in the West Indies is Charles Lewis—that he kept an hotel in Jamaica, and was the brother of the wife of Thomas Williams, not his own brother.—Shrewsbury Chronicle. The great pressure of want on the poor in London, and the accumulated mud of the streets, have suggested plans for the relief of the destitute by employing a whole army of scavengers. Such a plan was promulgated by the Lord Mayor yesterday at the Mansion-house; reviving a proposition made in December, 1842. The project is this :—There are about 250,000 houses in London ; it is assumed that voluntary contributions could be obtained at each house, from the lowest sum up to £1 or more, and averaging 2s. 6d. ; which would produce £31,250: £29,250 would employ 5000 men for the thirteen weeks of the worst months in the year, at 9s. a week, to clean the streets ; or £39,600 perhaps might be raised, to employ 4000 men for the five months ending April 1. The Lord Mayor favours the project, and expects in a tew days to receive a deputation on the subject.—Spectator. We have learned with much regret, that the Marquis of Salisbury has res'gned all his masonic offices (not re tired from masonry, as some of the papers have ex pressed it, because that is what no mason can do) ; and to this step the noble marquis has been driven, we under stand, by the discourteous proceedings of the pro-grand master and the officers of the Grand Lodge of England, at their last meeting. We believe, however, we may ven ture to affirm without fear of contradiction, that every one, whatever may be his political creed, to whom the very existence of English freemasonry is dear, is well aware of what is going on, and prepared to act accord ingly, next April. One thing is certain, as we are assured, that the noble marquis will never enter the grand lodge again, except as grand master. The unworthy clique who wish to have the management of a phantom, in order that they may continue in possession of real authority, only to abuse it, will find, that they have aroused a spirit which will redeem the honour of the craft.—John Bull. THE BANK OF ENGLAND. —It has been remarked as somewhat extraordinary, that as the charter of the Bank of England is so nearly approximating to the period of its expiration (renewal upon its present conditions appear ing to many to be out of the question), its shares should have ao much enhanced in value. There were eager pur chasers on Saturday at 185, just about 14 per cent. above the lowest price paid twelve months since : and the ques tion is asked, does the value of Ministerial feeling point to the establishment of one bank of issue for the United Kingdom ? As the directors have so strong a command of the circulation of the country at the present moment, and as the absorption of the paper currency is still progressive, i when t he they bad wtrea money, there seems, in the opinion of practical men ,a certainty that one bank of issue will be established. The guards to be brought forward to protect the public, and to secure to the Exchequer a quid pro quo, are matters for deep reflection and most careful consideration. THE POST OFFICE AND THE MONEY ORDER OFFICE. —A dispute has arisen between the Post Office and a firm in Russel-street. Bermondsey, which is likely to be set tled only in one of the courts of law. The circumstan ces are these :—A. person at Sheffield wrote to the house amounted altogether to £5. As he was a stranger to fi ti ce firm he annexed to his letter an order on the Post t O the skins ordered, to the amount of £5. It required nearly a month o pre pare, t h e into y st a w t h et o dh s ,e yt hands a t werein at Sheffield. The order was then, and r n e snf e s o e rtr n et t di l t lt o hteil the eo: p ep a rr r te t o y_ htb o e ssvvould b h e a e d in pre sented at the Post Office, sa ying . ..... money .been it was placed tore it up. wbo sent it. Upon application drawn back by the party ,_ being made to the Sh cur the goods, or pay for them willing to return at three refused, as some 1 proof of their debt. months. ari d it is contended that the Post Office had no right red ; part w ith the money ; and further, that by d • to the order they have deprived the owners of the skins of principle, that a money order can be consequence of the de The Post Office refuse to pay the amount,and broad ground of at Bermondsey are determined to try another th c i h e of This i s : f,B and withdrawn t t iie that iy the , the question on the pre sented and must be •I • paid at any time, and that the Post (;t ice ! , 7 , 1 no wore riche letter when once in its possession. —} l: a e thwe when de nhttohuaest clerk RAILWAY INTA LL IGE IV CB. Glass windows have been introduced in the second. class carriages of the Glasgow and Greenock Railway, as is done on the Belgian lines. BLACKBURN AND PRESTON RAILWAY.—The share list of the proposed Blackburn and Preston Railway is rapidly filling up, numerous applications for shares having been received during the last week, amounting in the ag gregate, in round numbers, to £12,000. DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO CAUSE A RAILWAY ACCI DENT.—On Saturday morning last, a heavy bar of iron was placed across the rails on the North Midland Rail way, near to the Castleford Station, it was fortunately observed in that most dangerous position about seven o'clock, and in time to prevent the evil design of the villain who placed it there. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.—On New Year's-day the extension line of the Manchester and Leeds Railway, from Collyhurst to the New Victoria Station, at Hunt's Bank, was opened, the first train from the station starting at seven o'clock in the morning. There was no public celebration ; the train taking its de parture in the ordinary way, amidst the cheers of those assembled. RAILWAY TO THE NORTH.—Ground has literally been broken towards the commencement of the new railway to Carlisle from Lancaster. Travellers on the north road will find, on getting past Richmond house, near Lancaster, that on the hill upon the right, miners are engaged boring in anticipation of the general commencement of the work, which we presume will take place the moment the act is obtained. ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.—During the last fortnight quarter-hour trains have been running daily. Sundays excepted, on the Atmospheric Railway, at Dublin, from H in the morning to 4 in the afternoon, and not the slightest delay or accident bas occurred. Passengers are carried free of expense, as the line is not open for gene ral traffic, the negociations between the company and the Lords of the Treasury being still pending. BRADFORD AND LEEDS RAILWAY.—The Provisional Committee met on Saturday to allot the shares in this new undertaking. Their job was a difficult and delicate one—more than three times as many shares being applied for as there were to dispose of in all. The proposed ca pital of the Company being £320,000, furnished 6,400 fifty-pound shares, of which it was intended to reserve a portion ; but nearly 19,000 shares were applied for, and the committee was compelled to allot the whole. Of conese every applicant has to be satisfied with less than half what he asked for, and many applicants have been refused altogether. THE MILITARY AND THE RAILROADS.—An order has been issued from the War-office, intimating that ar rangements have been entered into by 'he government with the London and Birmingham, Great Western, Brighton, Dover, Grand Junction, North Midland, Mid land Counties, Birmingham and Derby, Manchester and Birmingham, Birmingham and Gloucester, Manchester and Leeds, York and North Midland, Lancaster and Preston, Nerca-tle and Carlisle, and Great North of England Railways, for the conveyance of the horses of field and staff officers, and infantry, when prcceeding by route with regiments and detachments on railways ; and likewise for the conveyance of sick horses of cavalry re giments. The rates of conveyance are fixed as follow : For any distance not exceeding 50 miles, 4d. per mile for each horse ; for beyond 50, and not exceeding 100 miles 34d ; and exceeding 100 miles, 3d. , IMPROVED VALUE OF RAILWAY PROPERTY".—MeSSrS. Sohmes and Tripp, of Bristol (brokers), in their circular of the Ist instant, give some statistics respecting railways which possess considerable interest for the holders of the stocks :—" It is an established fact, that each year's ex perience brings with it a diminished expenditure. Thus the railway proprietor has in prospect, not only an im proving income, but with it likewise a proportionate ac cession of capital. To illustrate our meaning, we will take a few railways for example. The increase of traffic for the current half-year, compared with the corresponding period of last year, upon the Great Western Railway is, in round numbers, £20,000; upon the London and Bir mingham, £15,000; upon the Manchester and Leeds, £13,000; upon the Brighton, £11,000; upon the South- Western, £7,000. The present value of the shares, com pared with the corresponding period of last year, shows an improvement in the capital of the Great Western Com pany of 10 per cent.; London and Birmingham of 42 per cent., which, added to the £27 premium on the new quer ters allotted last August, makes together 69 per cent.; the York and North Midland 25 per cent., which, added to the premium of £l6 upon the New Shares allotted last month, makes 41 per cent. ; the Manchester and Leeds, 26 per cent.; the Bristol and Exeter, 14 per cent.; the Brighton. 12 per cent. ; the Sou!h-Western, 11 per cent. These sufficiently testify the improving character of rail way property ; but, if our space permitted, we could ad duce many other railways, whose income and capital have improved in a corresponding ratio." BANK OF ENGLAND. The usual average return of the liabilities and assets of the Rank of England, embracing the period from the 7th of October to the 30th of December, both inclusive which appeared in Friday night's Gazette, gives th e fol., lowing results, viz.:— That the average of the thirteen weeks, ending the 30th of Decembe as compared with the average of the thirteen weeks ending the 7th of October, shows— decrease.in the circulation of .. 46i70c0- An increase in the deposits of .. 285,000 And an increase in the stock of bullion .. 777,000 Whereforeitaonears _that the decrease in the liabili ties is £178,000, and this represents the decrease in the total quantity of money in the thirteen weeks ending the 30th of December, as compared with the th , rteen weeks ending the 7th of October, in so far as regards the ad ministration of the currency by the Bank of England. The yearly comparison is as follows .—The average of the thirteen weeks ending the 30th of December, 1843, as compared with the average of the thirteen weeks ending the 31st of December, 1842, shows— 132,000 . .. 2.688.000 . .. .. 2,525,C00 A decrease in the circulation of .. .. .. .. .. An increase in the deposits of .. An increase in the stock pf Bullion of Wherefore it appears that the increase in the liabili ties is £2,556,000, and this represents the increase in the total quantity of money in the thirteen weeks ending the 30th of December, 1843, as compared with the thirteen weeks ending the 31st of December, 1842, in so far as regards the administration of the currency by the Bank of England. PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OF FIFTY-THREE FISHER MEN.—On the morning of the Ist instant, at five o'clock, nine fishing boats, and fifty-three men left Aberdeen for the fishing ground, with light winds from the south-west. Suon after sunrise, the wind suddenly increased to a heavy gale, right off the land, and by ten o'clock blew a hurri cane, rendering their position almost hopeless. Every exertion was made to pull in for the land, but their efforts were in vain, and they became quite exhausted. By a merciful interposition of Providence, her Majesty's re venue cruizer Greyhound, Lieutenant Dooley, R.N., commander, was running to the southward at the time, and fell in with the scattered boats, eight miles off the land, with their crews so exhausted that to reach the shore was impossible. This humane officer and his gal lant crew lost not a moment in affording them every re lief, and before noon had succeeded in getting every man on board, some of whom were upwards of seventy years of age, so weak from exertion that •they required to be " parbuncled" up the side of the cruizer. The boats were all taken in tow, and every effort made to preserve them and the property ; but the gale continuing, and the sea increasing, some of them already sinking or sunk, the last two were cut away about three in the afternoon.— Edinburgh Courant. ESCAPE OF Six CONVICTS FROM NOTTINGHAM GAOL. —On Sunday afternoon six convicts made their escape from the county gaol at Nottingham. Between four and five o'clock, on the second turnkey going down into the felons' yard, an attack was made upon him, the key taken out of his hand, and he was locked in the yard. Six con victs rushed up the steps and proceeded to the outer door, where, meeting with the head turnkey, they fell upon him, knocked him down with great violence, and forcing the key from his hand, which he resolutely held for some time, they unlocked the door, and ran out. An alarm was given, but the men all escaped. The names of the men are—J. Smith, aged 21 years ;J. Bowers, aged 30; J. Binns, aged 24: these three men were convicted of burglary at Sutton Bonnington, at the house of the Rfoery l ife R o a b t e r t t h e M l e a ek te , s a p n e d c i a w l e a r s e s i s z e e n . t e n T e e h o d m t o a s t rans portation d 36, under sentence of transportation for 15 years, for steal ing ten lamb hogs at Farnsfield, in the county of Notting ham ; William 'Thompson, aged 22, convicted at the late special assize of burglary, and sentenced to be transported for 10 years ; Thomas Green, aged 24, convicted of bur glary at Fiskerton, and sentenced at the late special as size to transportation for life. The convicts all had the prison dress on, and were without hats. A large reward is offered for their apprehension. Burton was taken, in taonwhno,unreaanr Col wick W aft o e o r d. wards, within two miles of the DISASTROUS ACCIDENT.—A melancholy catastrophe that aboutinasCollsioeryo,f n th e e ar m C e a n rd e i m ff, pl o o n ye Md in Monday. mine had partially set to wo r k, w h en a terr ibl e exp l os i on t oo k place. The eff ec t o f this was fortunately confined to what is technicall y termed a " head i ng, " where the deceased were emp l oyed. The custom, it appears, in order to guard aga i nst fire-damp in the pit, was for a man to descend, f or t h e purpose of securing the doors to the various he a di ngs, and exclude t h e d amp air that might have bee n generated in the i nterva l b etween the leaving off and th e resumption o f wor k b y t h e men. On Satur dayappears night the person to.whom this duty was entrusted entered the pit for that purpose, and, it is supposed, neg lected to secure the door to the heading where the explo sion took place. A quantity of foul air was in consequence generated in this particular part. On its contact with the candle used by the party there it immediately exploded. The rest of the men employed in the other headings im mediately took the alarm, and escaped to the mouth of the pit, whence they were drawn up. The only effect of the explosion on the machinery at the mouth of the pit was the displacing a few of the stakes on the shore which protects the machinery. Two lads were seriously hurt — one had both his legs broken, the other sustained a dig-. location of the arm. In the course of the day every effort was made to rescue the sufferers, but twelve individuals, consisting of eight men and four boys, were found missing on c lling over the list of uames. These, unfortunately. from the nature of the operations, cannot be token out withent a new boring, an operation of considerable time and labour. th( IV pal in II di Ye THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Jan. 9, IRII. lon