The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-27 00:00:00

m anufacturer, when they receive the aid of a cheaper loaf and cheaper labour; but, now, let us ask what most be the position of the remaining branches of nativ e industry ? We remember the outcry with which the recent modification of the tariff was assailed by many of our local tradesmen. We believe that some o f those tradesmen have suffered, in consequence of t hat modification—we trust temporarily suffered ; but ea rl they contemplate with equanimity the withdrawal of all protection, even though accompanied with a re duced price of food. ?hey, or some of them at least, are never likely—as in the case of the manufacturer of cotton goods—to become exporters. The delusive vision of an opening of the markets of the world to the Products of British industry is not before their eyes. How can they sustain the ruinous competition with the labour of Europe—which supports itself upon an averag e per head of four or five shillings per week— unless they are prepared to exist upon garbage which would be spurned by them, as food unfit for the brute ,sesl I creation ? The League orators and their lady-canvassers may, Ne have no doubt, attempt to persuade our operative friends, that no such step as the withdrawal of protec tion from any other than agricultural industry is in contemplation. Again we say to them, " exercise your own judgment and common sense." If the principle be conceded, which is sought to be established by free traders, that protection to the native agriculturist is unjust towards the remaining portion of the com munity. And more than that ; the abolition of the Protecting duties in all cases must follow, and ought to follow, such abolition in any one case ! It will follow as surely as the night follows the day; and it is the bounden duty of every working man to contemplate and prepare for its consequences ! We return to the subject of legislation, having for ite object an improvement in the condition of the labourer, at which we briefly glanced in our last publi cation. We are told by the free traders that this is not a direction in which a government ought to legis late. The labourer should have the free power to sell, and the capitalist to buy, labour in the best market, unrestricted by any conditions. We think, however, We can show that such a doctrine is neither consonant With justice to our working population, or with the real interests of the manufacturing employer; and we know that it cannot, with consistency, be maintained by the gentry of the Anti-Corn-Law League, for the fact is notorious that they have recognized the princi- Pie that a government can and ought to interfere to regulate the price of labour. What, let us ask, would be the result of the absence of all regulations respecting the contracts between em- Ployers and employed ;—if the former was permitted to buy their labour and the latter to sell it, where and how they chose ? It would be, in effect, the reduction of vast masses of the population of Great Britain to a state of virtual slavery. The factories, the workshops, the mines of the country would be filled with infant la bour, sold to the capitalist—as effectually sold, as the African was ever sold to the West India planter. They Would contain, instead of healthy adults, bodies of Itindless, soulless human beings, worn down almost to idiocy, by an indefinite extension of the hours of la bour. Need we point to the horrors which, during the last session of parliament, were shewn to exist in the thin-seam coal mines of England ? Need we remind Then conversant with the factory system, as it existed before laws for its regulation were enacted, of the atro- Cities with which it was rife ? We need not; for we are certain that by all candid men the principle that such interference is wise and salutary is already as el, ith conceded But, further, the manufacturer has, within the last few years, himself distinctly and practically admitted the right of the executive to regulate, not only the hours of labour, and the age at which it is to become a marketable commodity, but also the price of labour. The archives of Somerset House contain abundant evidence of this admission, to which we hare, on for mer occasions, called the attention of our readers. A temporary increase of the demand for labour in the Manufacturing districts, with a consequent increase in the rate of wages, took place in the years 1835 to 1 836. What did the Liberals, par excellence, who are now agitating, professedly for the benefit of the work ing classes, and who decry all legislative interference with the market for labour, do in that emergency? Did they recognise the right of the working classes to the benefit within their reach from the increased de mand for their labour? Did they even suffer the labour Market to recover itself, as other markets do, when thrown out of balance by over demand or over supply? They did no such thing; but, on the contrary, they forthwith petitioned the poor-law commissioners to aid them in swamping the existing body of labourers, by drafts of pauper labour from the southern counties of England! Yes! the Ashworths and Gregs—the poli tico-economical philosophers—the exclusive friends of the working man—resorted to the powers invested in the poor-law commissioners to reduce wages, on the very first occasion when the state of the labour market favoured the labourer and was against themselves ! And it is to the consequences of that Act that we would now direct attention, with a view to prevent their recurrence. We cannot recognise it as expe dient and wise, that such a power of regulating the Price of labour in any branch of industry should exist In the hands of a body constituted as is the poor-law commission. We know that to the large drafts of labour introduced in 1835 and 1836 is owing a vast amount of the over production of those years, and of the sub sequent misery which has been rife throughout the Manufacturing districts. How many wretched beings, seduced in those years from his native fields by the Prospect of an Arcadia, to be found in the busy streets o f our manufacturing towns, have since wandered in the streets foodless and hopeless, cursing the Malthusian wiles which brought them to the midst of the vice and squalid misery with which they are peopled, instead of the plenty and comfort which they were painted as Possessing ? How many have since strayed or begged their way, broken-hearted, homewards, leaving behind t hem, and mourning, children engulphed in the tide of immorality, which is but too prevalent amidst a factory population ? Hundreds there are of such ; hundreds more who toil on in hopelessness—duped, betrayed, and abandoned—the ties of kindred and as sociation broken, and no alternative before them but to cling to the paltry pittance, earned by a life of semi slavery, or embrace the darker and direr wretchedness of a union workhouse. And certain we are that, if some member would, on the meeting of Parliament, move for a return of the families removed to the ma nufacturing districts under the migration system of the Poor-law commissioners, and their subsequent fate, such return would present a picture of suffering and cruelty which has rarely been witnessed in a Christian country. We are satisfied that it is in the power of the legis lature, and it is its duty to correct the evils, if not to Put down altogether this system of pauper migration. We would not restrict the efforts of the poor them selves to benefit their condition by removing in the di rection of the demand for their labour; but is it just, we ask, that the manufacturers of Lancashire, or York shire, should he able to wield over the heads of their working population the enormous powers at the dis- l)osal of the Somerset-house triumvirate; and that When their object—the swamping of the labour market -- has been effected, or the activity of demand been Converted into inactivity, they should be able to close their factories, and leave the deluded immigrants to die In the streets or wander back to their native parishes U naided ? Surely this should not be ; and the only r emedy which we can discover is such an alteration of t he law of settlement as would bind the labourers, thus e clueed from their homes, to the soil and the wealth wi tch they have aided to create. At present this does n ot occur. Nnt one labourer in a hundred of those 80 brought into the manufacturing districts acquires a him th e re ; and the capitalist who has tempted ir n to those districts can thus hold over him, as an Ir resistible inducement to accept insufficient wages, in Period s of dullness, the prospect of removal, as a pau- Per, to the dreaded bastile of his distant parish, and of se Paration from those branches of his family who may h ave become c onnec t e d w ith the scene of his suffering, by ties or affections which cannot be broken. In conclusion—for the present, at least—we recom til end this subject to the earnest attention of the legis lature, and of those of our contemporaries who have at heart the real welfare of the working population of the "nntry. That population must he relieved from the pressure of that heartless philosophy which shines out in this favourite measure—the migration system—of the triumvirate of Somerset-house, and is the object of a worship, almost religious, by the spurious "liberal ism" of the present age. LOCAL NEWS. LIVER THEATRE.—Mrs. Honey is engaged at this theatre or a short period. THEATRE-ROYAL.—The pantomime at the theatre is one of the most splendid and amusing productions ever pro duced on the provincial or other boards. Mr. and Mrs. Kean were warmly received. Knowles last new play will be performed to-night—a treat may be expected. - - • The Cheshire Foxhounds meet to-morrow (Wednesday), at Sabesford Hall ; on Thursday, at Kinderton's Guidepost ; and on Saturday, at Twamble Hall. GREAT FAILURE AT WAKEFIELD.—We regret to state that Mr. Dunn, the great corn-dealer, at Wakefield, has failed. The liabilities are said to be about £300,000. This will be severely felt by thousands. THE LATE ALBION BANK.—Thisbank, it will be remem bered, discontinued business in the month of May last. After paying half-yearly dividends at the rate of first eight and then six per cent. per annum up to the end of last year, the shareholders received back their whole capital £25 per share. Since the return of the capital, they have received two bonuses, amounting to £3los. There will, it is expected, be a third bonus, amounting, probably, to £1 10s. ; and making, with the capital, a total payment of £3O per share. - - - SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday last a little boy, aged two years and a half old, son of Mr. James Clarke, keeper of the Frederick-treet wash-houses and baths, accidentally slipped into one of the cisterns and was drowned. The whole of the water in the upper cistern had, it appears, been exhausted by the great quantity used at the late fire. The covering of the whole which communicated with a cistern, beneath the floor was, therefore, taken up. The child, not being aware of the orifice, fell through it into the water. An inquest was - held on Saturday to inquire into the circum stances. Verdict, "Accidental death." THE FUNDS—SATURDAY EVENING.—The public secu rities were not active to-day. This is, in fact, the season of the year when there is, to a certain extent, a suspension of business. On the whole, however, the market appears to present a more favourable appearance, and quotations are rather on the advance. Consols for the account were quoted at the close of the day, 931 to a ; Bank Stock, 171 to 172 ; Three per Cents. Reduced, 94* ; Exchequer Bills, 50s. to 525. pm. ; Three-and-a-half per Cents. Reduced, 101 to i k ; Long Annuities, 12 9-16 to ; and India Bonds, 455. to 465. pm. Canada Debentures were quoted 14- pm. In the foreign market, Spanish Actives closed mg to and the New Three per Cents., 242 to t, the dealers appearing more inclined to do business than hitherto. Portuguese Five per Cents. left off 38 to 2 ; Ditto Three per Cents., 231 to ; Dutch Two and-a-half per Cents., 521 to a ; Ditto Five per Cenis., 1001- to ; Danish, 84 to 85 ; Brazilian, 7 0 to 71; Belgian, 1011 to 1021-; Mexican, 31i to ti ; and Colombian, 21 1 1 to t. THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—We believe the follow ing statement will be found a correct list of the sums insured on the property in the different Fire Offices West of England Liverpool Manchester Phoenix Globe Imperial and York and London Norwich Union Atlas Alliance Royal Exchange London Union North British Norwich Equitable London Assurance £12,500 10,000 5,800 3,600 3,000 3,000 4,000 2,500 2,000 1,200 1,000 1,000 100 180 500 £50,880 EXPLOSION AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE IN HILL-STREET. — On Saturday morning last, about half-past six o'clock, a violent explosion took place at Mr. Holgrave's resin-works, Hill-street, Toxteth-park. The shock was so violent as to break every pane of glass on the premises, while most of the windows in the neighbourhood were more or less damaged, several of them having their frames broken. Nought was heard for some seconds but the jingling of broken glass. Happily, no lives were lost by the explosion, the workmen having left that part of the premises some minutes before it took place. It was quickly found, however, that the flash had set the premises on fire. The building was quickly closed in so as to prevent, as much as possible, the access of air. Messengers were despatched to the fire-police station, and an engine was procured from Gregson's saw-mills and immediately got into play. By these energetic and judicious measures, the fire was extinguished before the arrival of the fire-police. It is said that the accident occurred in conse quence of the bursting of one of the pipes connected with a boiler containing turpentine. Another belief expressed is, that an escape of gas had taken place in the celler, which, on the bursting of the pipe above-mentioned, was ignited, and exploded. AN INCORRIGIBLE. — EIizabeth Holden, a pretty girl, aged about seventeen, was placed before Mr. Rushton on Friday last charged with having assaulted several of the turnkeys in the Borough Gaol. As a sort of excuse for her violent con duct, the prisoner accused Mr. Highton, the governor, of having improperly confined her in the solitary cell. Mr. Rushton remanded her till Saturday, when the case was re heard. The girl has been an inmate of the Workhouse, where her conduct was so violent that she kept all in that establishment in awe. At length, her frequent fits of fury became insupportable, and she was taken before Mr. Rush ton, who visited her with small measures of punishment. She was afterwards committed to the Borough Gaol for three months, in default of fine and bail. On the 12th instant she was ordered into solitary confinement for forty-eight hours, for insubordination. At the expiration of that period, Mr. Highton ordered the matron to restore her to her class, but she proved so refractory that the latter threatened to call a male officer to her. This threat was treated with derision, and the male officer was called. He was entering the cell, when the girl, who had prepared herself for his reception, threw the urinal all over him, and then dashed the vessel it self at his head. Finding that it would be dangerous to ad mit her to her class, she was placed in a room which was only half lighted, in the hope that she would promise better behaviour. She had since thrown down one of the female turnkeys, and abused her; assaulted another, and beaten one of the male officers. Mr. Rushton, after setting before her her previous conduct, fined her £5, and, in default, com mitted her to gaol for two months. She was further ordered to find bail that she would keep the peace, or be imprisoned three months more. She cast a look of ineffable contempt at Mr. Rushton, and quitted the dock, exclaiming, " Keep your heart up ! five months more ; never mind." - - • SUPPOSED CASE OF POISONING.—An inquest was held, on Friday. before P. C. Currie, Esq., on the body of Eliza beth Taylor, regarding whose death there existed some sus picion of foul play on the part of her husband, Joseph Taylor, who appeared before the coroner in custody.' Evi dence was adduced of considerable length, from which the following facts were elicited :—The husband is a joiner, and married the deceased only seven weeks ago. They occupied a room in a house in Bispham-street, and were continually quarrelling with each other to the annoyance of the neigh bours. On Wednesday evening last the prisoner and his wife returned home together—the deceased being apparently sober, and had nothing unusual in her appearance. The pri soner, however, had had some liquor, and went to sleep on the floor of the room, having previously removed their goods. On that evening, however, about seven o'clock, she went out for the avowed object of purchasing a candle, and returned in about a quarter of an hour. About half-past the female in whose house they were was called up by the prisoner, who stated that his wife was dying. She went up, and found the deceased on the floor, supported by her husband. She was frothing at the mouth, and the prisoner was wiping it away. The prisoner went for a surgeon, and returned with Mr. Ward, who found the deceased in a state of insensibility. He examined her, and thinking she was labouring under the effects of liquor, told the prisoner if he would go with him he would give him some medicine. The prisoner, however, did not procure it ; having no money to pay for it, he was directed to go to the dispensary. The deceased remained in the same state until about half-past nine the following morn ing, when she died. Several witnesses, relatives and friends of the deceased, deposed to the bad terms on which they had lived since their marriage—that he had frequently beaten her, had disposed of her property, and had threatened that he " would do for her." A postmortem examination was made of the body by Dr. Arnott, who stated that the appearance of the stomach indicated that the deceased had died from the effects of opium, saying it was for another female, but she was not served. The inquest was, therefore, adjourned until to-day, in order that the contents of the stomach might be analysed. THE BRINDLE WILL CAUSE.—Our readers will recollect that a short time ago we gave extracts from a petition signed by 194 members of the Roman Catholic congregation of Brindle, addressed to their bishop, requesting him to prevent confessors from making the wills of their penitents in their own favour, and to oblige the Rev. Thomas Sherburne to restore the Brindle property to the natural and legal heirs. This petition having met with no attention from the bishop, a copy of it, we hear, has been sent to the Pope, and the petitioners are determined to be heard. From what we learn, on good authority, a person high in office may be ex pected in these parts from the Court of Rome, to investigate the accusations which have been so perseveringly brought against certain members of the Roman Catholic clergy, and which have created so great a noise in this part of the country. —Preston Chronicle. THE CONDITION-OF-IRELAND QUESTlON.—Aggravated as the evils of Ireland have been by centuries of mismanage ment, to attribute them to the neutral policy of the govern ment is even more flagrantly foolish than it was to accuse Lord Normanby's leniency. They lie in the social state of Ireland itself, and are beyond the influence of mere changes of ministry here, or transitions from political principles to others so slightly different as those of Peel and Russell prac tically are. The agrarian outrage itself is but a symptom of the morbid state : so is the ejectment. The Dublin Evening Mail even roundly asserts, that " the supposed drivings' and forcible ejectments of tenants have no existence" ; another among the many indications of the degree to which politicians in Ireland are at issue, and at sea, as to the most glaring operations of the evils which surround them. A sensible view of Ireland's actual condition would regard chiefly the country itself, apart from English politics. The seat of the disease lies there, though the remedy may be sought without. Ireland is a smaller island lying near to a larger one, of overwhelming predominance, and necessarily the site of the common government : it was for centuries neglected by its powerful neighbour as to all purposes of good, tormented for corrupt purposes : oppression has ceased, and there is a dis position quietly to extend to Ireland benefits enjoyed by Eng land, as fast as their reception can be prepared. Such a dispo sition we believe to animate all influential parties in this coun try. It now matters little, therefore, to Ireland—far less than to England—which party shall be in power, so long as it can but summon determination to be tranquil, and to be the passive recipient of services which it cannot compel. True patriots in Ireland will seek to devise means of using for their province, in every possible mode, and to the fullest ex tent, the whole power and riches of England. They have to bethink them. not of sweeping charges against parties and persons in this part of the country—charges which are only not thought insane because we have been accustomed to them ever since they had a show of reason—but of what Ire land's internal condition demands. This disclaimer of party asperities is a good beginning; and so anxious are we for the process to be at work of making England do all it can for Ireland, that we are fain to recognise, even in this little negative improvement, the first glimmering dawn of a better day, when local politicians will co-operate with practical English statesmen for the benefit of their own country, and no longer furnish a Swiss contingent on either side in the battles of English politics, paid with the license to fight on their own internal fueds—as our traders pay savage allies with fire-arms to destroy each other.—Spectator. Epigram on the Duke of Wellington's life having been saved by the use of the " Probang :" The manner in which the Duke's life was preserved Is matter deserving of note, Since his Grace is the very last man in the world To have any thing " thrust down his throat." Exeter. OCTOSENARIVS. TOXTETH•PARK PROTESTANT OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION Last night a meeting of the Protestant operatives of Tox teth-park was held, for the purpose of forwarding the Testi monial to the Rev. H. M'Neile, and moving a vote of thanks to the thirty-nine Tories who voted for sound scriptural education in the Town Council. The chair was take❑ by Mr. Harbord, who briefly stated the first objects of the meeting. Mr. ROBERT M'CLAY, in moving the first resolution, stated that his acquaintance with the Rev. Hugh M`Neile was now of twenty years' standing, and during the whole of that time he had invariably been the sound and uncompro mising advocate of pure protestant principles, both in church and state. Mr. BLEASDALE seconded the resolution in a short but very pointed and interesting speech, spewing the continued usefulness of the Rev. Mr. M'Neiles labours, both in the pulpit and on the platform. The second resolution was moved by Mr. LANGwonnt and seconded by Mr. KING, who also bore their willing tes timony to the value of the rev. gentleman's services. Mr. CRISP, in rising to move the third resolution, said he was sure his friend Mr. Harbord would excuse him for voting him out of the chair, and the Rev. Mr. Nolan into it, while he proposed the next resolution. This being done, he ex pressed the pleasure it gave him to move a resolution so much in accordance with his own feelings, and one which would meet with such a ready response from his friends be fore him. The resolution was ably seconded by Mr. SANSON. After a collection had been made, the Rev. CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting, and Mr. R. HARBORD returned thanks on behalf of himself and his 38 colleagues. The meeting then closed with the posology. The following are the resolutions which were passed : " Ist. That this meeting rejoices in the opportunity of contributing to the 111 4 Neile Testimonial,' that no clergy man of the united church has rendered, under God, more signal service to the cause of truth than the Rev. Hugh Al`Neile ; his untiring zeal as a minister of the Gospel of the grace of God ; his able and effective vindication of our national church ; his powerful advocacy of sound scriptural national education; his readiness at all times, through good report and evil, to occupy the post of danger at the cal of duty; and, above all, the high consistency of his Christian character, for so many years seen and known amongst us, make it matter no less of duty towards themselves than of debt to him, that the friends of the Bible and the Church, in Liverpool, should make some worthy and lasting acknow ledgement, as well of their sense of his services, as of their respect and affection personally towards himself. That the members of the Toxteth Park Protestant Operative Associa tion feel especially happy in adding their mite towards so deserved a tribute, inasmuch as his labours in defence and in support of everything dear to us as Englishmen and Chris tians, together with his personal kindness to ourselves, as the beloved and respected president of this association, leave us his debtors, in gratitude, to ana mount which we feel ourselves as unable to payas to forget." "2d. That Richard Harbord, Esq. be the treasurer, and Mr. Hunton be the secretary, to the M`Neile testimonial fund. and that the amount collected be added to the general fund." "3d. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the thirty-nine members of the town-council who voted on the 14th instant in favour of scriptural education, and in oppo sition to Mr. G. H. Lawrence's amendment to the report of the Education Committee. BIRTH.—On the 26th instant, Mrs. W. Horne, Windsor street, of a daughter. The Russian Commercial Gazelle states, that a lump of native gold, of the enormous weight of 2 poods and 71b. (about 951 b. English), was found on the 7th inst. in the sands of Miass, near the mines of Zlatooust, and placed in the museum of the Institute of Mines at St. Petersburgh.— Globe. A COMICAL CDSTOMER.-1 facetious gentleman, tra velling in pursuit of pleasure, on arriving at his lodging in the evening, was met by his hostler, whom he thus ad dressed :—" Boy, extricate that quadruped from the vehicle —stabulate him—denote him an adequate supply of nutri tious aliment ; and when the awora of morn shall again illuminate the oriental horizon, I shall award you a pecuniary . compensation for your amiable hospitality." The boy, not understanding a word, ran into the house, saying, " Master, here's a Dutchman wants to see you." SUSPICIOUS ?—We have just been informed, upon autho rity on which we can place the most implicit reliance, that there are at the present moment being built at Blackwall five large steam frigates for the Russian Government, which are intended to be used in the Black Sea, for the prosecution of the war against the Circassians. One of these steam frigates is just completed. Is the British Government aware of this most important fact? We repeat, that we place implicit con fidence in the truth of the above statement, which we hasten, as in duty bound, to lay before the public. Comment at present would be superfluous.—John Bull. LlSBON.—During the late stormy weather several boats laden with wheat, and bound for Oporto, were wrecked on the Duro. They were driven with violence against the various mill-dams which are permitted illegally to obstruct the course of this fine river, and dashed to pieces. There are no fewer than seven of these within a short distance, and all of them most perilous to the navigation. With the custo mary administrative vigour of the Peninsula, the Govern ment has repeatedly issued " the most decisive orders" to have this flagrant nuisance abated. But the dams are still there, and the river will most likely continue to plunge over them in rainy weather, and dribble over them in dry. " Volvitur, et volvetur in omue volubilis wvum." A punster might say that it is "a dam shame." THE FLAG OF ENGLAND.—Not a port have I visited since I left America, that I did not see the flag of England. It was the first flag I saw on entering the waters of France ; it was the only one floating in the ancient harbour of Rome, at Civita Vecchia. Again I saw it in the deserted harbour of the Pincus, where once rode the fleets of Themistocles. I first saw the dome and minarets of Constantinople from be • neath a cloud of cannon smoke that issued from British line of-battle ships, saluting the Mahommedan ally of Britain. The first object that met my eye on scaling the summit of the Pyramids was the cross of St. George, which some Eng lish traveller had planted there. Beyond the cataracts, on the borders of the Dessert of Nubia, the only sign of civili zation that I saw was the English cross flying from the masts of a traveller's boat. Here, on the extreme verge of civili zation, I stood before this emblem of the universal presence of that nation ; and in the lawless regions it gave me a pleasing sense of security to find myself so near a represen tation of that Power beneath whose broad aegis there is pro tection abroad for the most humble fugitive from violence and oppression.—American Traveller's Journal. ANOTHER CALUMNY. — The National, under the an nouncement of "New attacks by England against the French flag," publishes a letter from M. Ernest d'lluviller, a merchant at Goree, complaining that all French vessels sailing up the river Gambia, in Senegal, in order to arrive at the French settlement of Albreda, are compelled to pay to England an annual tribute of £1 per ton. "Is it not humi liating," writes M. d'Huvillier, " that French vessels cannot reach Albreda, where the national flag floats, without depo siting their papers at Bathurst, and purchasing from stran gers the right to proceed to their own settlement ?" "No doubt," " observes the National, " when M. Guizot is questioned on this fact, he will, as he did during last session on the debata relating to the right of serach, declare that the English had a right to act as they did. It is the universal right of nations, admitted by all writers on national law, that the navigation of rivers is free to all those residing on their banks, and consequently the French, having an establish ment at Albreda, have a right to the free navigation of the Gambia. But it may be said that the English, having erected works at the mouth of the river, are entitled to levy this task. On this point Vattel declares, that if a river be longs to one nation, and another has a right to navigate it, the former cannot erect works to interrupt its navigation. Ve,Therefore, - eXpect that M. Guizot will exhibit some firmness on this occasion ; and we possess Albreda by vir tue of the treaties of 1815, if those treaties are sacred for us in Europe, they may be held sacred by the English in Africa." WHIG LANDLORD RAISING HIS RENTS. - At a time like :he present it appears most extraordinary that any great .anded proprietor should raise the rents of his tenants, and it was for a liberal earl to set the noble example : Earl Fitz- william has intimated to his tenantry in Yorkshire that it is his intention to raise their rents from 12 to 25 per cent. This may hereafter show as a proof of his lordship's pene tration into the benefits to agriculturists that will arise from the operations of the new tariff; and we hope and trust that in his lordship's prospective view of the matter he may be right ; but at the same time it is much to be regretted that his lordship should just at this period have thus notified his intention, thereby adding to the weight of the temporary inconveniences that have occurred to the agricultural inte rest. We do not envy Earl Fitzwilliam his taste for fishing in troubled waters ; and when the farmers of Yorkshire compare his conduct with that of Lord Wharncliffe, a mem ber of the present cabinet, we do not think it will tend to increase the popularity of the whig peer. Lord Wharncliffe, who also has extensive estates in Yorkshire, has intimated to his tenants that he shall lower their rents. " Look here upon this picture, and on this." " But," says Earl Fitz william, " I intend to give my tenants a quid pro quo, for I will drain the whole of their farms, and only charge them 31 per cent. on the outlay." We have no doubt that his lordship will do the work well, for the whigs have ever been clever hands at draining ; and if he applied the process to the land only, the farmers of Yorkshire would gratefully acknowledge the boon ; but, unfortunately, he wants to drain the farmers as well as their fields.—Essex Standard. NOVEL TREATMENT OF A FRACTURE.—In the course of a forenoon ramble along the north beach, lately, we came upon the cottage of as original a pair of ancients as it was ever our lot to " forgather" with. The patriarch, about four-score, stands as erect as a bulrush, with a hale healthy look and unbroken set of ivory, such as our forefathers used to sport, who could lift a goodly sized keg of whiskey by seizing it with their teeth. " David," for such is the name of our hero, had missed his footing and fallen on the Black Rock, by which two of his ribs were broken ; the following narrative of his treatment was delivered with great anima tion, in query whether he had not sent for a doctor ? Doc tor !—deevil ! na, na, I ne'er tried doctors a' my life, an' ice no gaun to begin now wi' them and their trash o drogs ! Na, na, I just wars'it my ways hame, thou sees, and the wife and me fan' out that the twa bits o' ribs was broken, and Sarah gied me a wee soup o'whisky, thou sees, and that warmed a' my inside ; and then we got heaps o'flannen and sweelt it about my breast, and that keepit tewarm outside ; and then Sarah gied another glass o'whisky, and that men't me up like, and keepit a' warm ; and than, as I thocht ma ribs were bent in, I filled myself fine and fou o' meat—heaps o'grand warm meat—and that keepit a'straucht in the inside ; and then I tied a cord about me, and that keepit the banes fine an' ticht outside ; and we just workit on that way, keep ing a' things fine and warm and straucht outside and inside, till the ribs gat time to mend, and now they're as weel as ever they were." The funny old fellow finished his narrative with a smile of triumph, as he added, " Na, na, they'll no torture me wi' their bondages and their physic ; I'm as auld's the maist o'them, in mair ways than ane.”—Ayr Advertiser. WANTED A WlFE.—Much meriment was created at the exhibition of the Society of Artists, Birmingham, on Tuesday evening last, by the public and appropriate punishment of the author of a most seductive advertisement, which appeared in the Birmingham Herald some weeks since, apparently emanating from a young man, who professed great anxiety to assume the cares of matrimonial life, but whose engage ments precluded the possibility of winning the heart of one of the fair sex by the usual routine of assiduous and per severing courtship. A correspondence has since been carried on by some wag, evidently a champion of the fair sex, the result of which was an appointment at the Society of Artists on, the evening in question. Punctual to his tryst, the enamoured swain made his appearance in the large room, evidently in a fever of excitement, closely followed by his gentle correspondent. He had scarcely assumed one of those seducing attitudes as peculiarly belonging to himself, when the following announcement was seen pending from the col lar of his taglioni :—" 'Wanted, a Wife.—My age is 21. I am considered personable. James Henry Minors.—Address 104, Herald-office." The exhibition'soon attracted universal attention, and the unconscious object of so much remark sufficiently demonstrated to all present the real and stable nature of his attachment. We question whether Cerito her self would, in her movement round the room, have created a greater sensation than did our hero, whose innocent expres sion of countenance induced many of the more antiquated of the single ladies present to sympathise with him in his pe culiarly preplexing predicament, from which be was at length released by some officious individual, who evidently had not a capacity to understand a joke.---Birmingham Advertiser. CHRISTMAS TIMES,-THE MARKETS " The good old town " of Liverpool (as it is called) still maintains its high character for the preservation, in defiance of " modern instances" of the " good old fashion" of keeping up Christmas times in all that appertains to the aubstantialB that, after all, form one of the prime enjoyments of life, and in their liberal dispensation, being with them delightful re miniscences of old English feeling, hospitality, and kindness. We know not whether to attribute, in the greatest degree, the almost superabundance of the supply of the good things of this world in our several markets on Saturday last to the general excellent harvest of the outgoing year, or to the provision tariff of Sir R. Peel. Much may be said in favour of both sides of the question ; and we incline to believe that Sir " Bobby's " relaxation of the impost duties, notwith standing the abundance of our crops, and the facilities for breeding and fattening " all animals that men digest", been mainly conducive to this happy effect. Be that as it may, certain it is that our markets have not, within our recollec tion, been so abundantly and cheaply supplied ; and we must do justice to the several tenants by stating that we never be fore observed the several stalls to be so beautifully and taste fully decorated. St. John's Market, which is 185 yards long by 45 yards in width, presented one of those sights which few persons who are strangers can ever witness " as Christmas comes but oncela year," and which presented many novelties even to our townsmen, and—we must be as polite as possible at such a season—our fair townswomen. Even to attempt a description in detail would weary our readers and perplex ourseives. Suffice it to say, that the whole of this large area, lighted by innumerable gas lamps, was beautifully decorated in almost every stall from end to end, and in every avenue, with devices in evergreens, flowers, &c., rendering it a complete palace of Flora. The fruit stands in particular, displaying mountains of home and foreign productions of the garden and the vinery, were beautifully adorned in devices, from the sombre evergreen to the delicate white rose; while the butchers' stalls, also ornamented with Christmas bushes, presented a display of rosy beef which was more than enough to make an alderman's mouth water. There was not only a fair, but an admirable display of fowl, in game, turkeys, and " birds of lower degree." Rabbits were also abundant, though scarcer. _ _ Amongst the prime beef was that of Mr. Tomlinson, at the top of the market, both buffalo and native ox and heifer. The buffalo was greatly admired, and was speedily sold off. This highly-respected tradesman had also other fine speci mens of beef ; also, a prime lamb, which was sold at 255. a quarter. He also showed an opossum, sent by Mr. Radley, of the Adelphi, who afterwards bad it baked for the gratifi cation of his friends. Mr. Hinton had some beautiful Here ford ox and heifer beef, the former quite equal, if not supe rior, to any in the market ; also some prime Southdown sheep. His finest bullock was bred and fed by Mr. Myers, and was own brother to that which recently took the prize at Smithfield market, in London. Messrs. Clough, Dentith, Tate, Chaddock, Derby, Dodd, and others, had also prime stuff. Mr. Tomlinson's prime bullock was from the Duke of Buccleugh's. It weighed 18 stone 5 lb. a quarter. Ano ther from the same place weighed 16 stone 15 lb. a quarter. These were fed at Drumlanrigg Castle, Dumfriesshire. The price of the primest cuts of beef was only 'id. per lb., and of even capital 61d. The prices of game were about — Pheasants, 6s. a brace ; Hares, 3s. to 3s. 6d. each; Par tridges, 3s. to. 3s. 3d. a brace ; Geese (according to size and quality), from ls. 10d. to 4s. and ss. Great praise is due to Mr. Graham, the superintendent of the market, for his exertions in his department on the pre sent occasion, Christmas eve having happened this year on a Saturday, which rendered it more difficult to preserve order and regularity. Though yesterday was a general holiday, the market was open during the forenoon for the accommo dation of those who could not supply themselves for Christ. mas week on Saturday, and it still presented a beautiful and full appearance, much of the decorations being still preserved or renewed, including abundance of evergreens, and no small quantity even of the much-sought-for and almost sacred " misteltoe bough." ST. JAMES'S MARKET.—Though the decorative depart ment of this market did not, in point of ornamental beauty, equal that of its contemporary St. John's, it was well supplied with the choicest productions of the land. The beef in par ticular, (on which, doubtless, the sensitive lips of many an epicure has since smacked,) was on the whole the finest dis play we ever remember to have seen within its walls. One carcas displayed at the stall of Mr. B. Crowther exceeded 6 cwt., and had been a splendidly-fed animal. It was bred on the estate of Earl Fitzwilliam, and it may be worthy of remark was, after being killed, saved from the fire in Parlia ment-street, where it was in danger of being roasted from the intense heat. The stalls and shops of Mr. Meesom, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Sillitoe, and others, all exhibited meat of the finest description, severally bred by the Duke of Hamilton, Earl Spencer, and Lord Stanley. The market had an ex ceedingly neat and clean appearance, which was greatly en hanced by the effect of the uniform gas introduced to each stand a short time since by the active superintendent, Mr. Luya. This gentleman, by his excellent management of St. James's and Cleveland-square Markets (both under his care), and the civility, attention, and good feeling which he has introduced amongst the tenants, has gained himself the good wishes and respect of all who frequent them. CASE OF URGENT DISTRESS A mother and two daughters are left in the most indigent circumstances, by the long illness and death of a son, upon whom rested their sole dependence for support. He had just completed his apprenticeship with one of the most re spectable mercantile houses in the town, when the hand of affliction arrested his usual earnings, and entailed upon his family expenses they had no power of meeting. One daugh ter is desiring a situation as governess ; the other is keeping a school, with every prospect of being enabled to support her mother; but unless a few pounds can be raised, the school must be broken up, and the furniture disposed of, as the sum already kindly contributed is insufficient to meet the liabilities unavoidably incurred during the illness of the young man, and for the funeral expenses. The case is fully known to the Rev. Dr. Tattershall, the Rev. W. W. Ewbank, and the Rev. D. James. Any contributions will be thank fully received by the above, or by Mr. Crisp, 20, Slater street, and at the Standard-office. W. Dixon, Esq. £lO 0 0 Messrs. Graham and Taylor 1 0 0 Messrs. W. and .1. Tyrer Rev. Dr. Tattershall.. Rev. W. W. Ewbank Mr. H. Thornton Mr. J. H. Mather 0 10 0 Messrs. Crisp and Healey THE BRAZILIAN TREATY.—We understand, by letters from Rio de Janeiro, via Pernambuco and Liverpool, that the question of the duration of the existing treaty between this country and the empire has been decided in favour of the interpretation put on the clause by our Government ; consequently, no new duties nn British merchandise can be levied till November, 1844. It remains to be seen what bonus this Government has given to that of Brazil for its acquiescence.—Mornina Chronicle. On the ICth inst. a man named Bourdin was tried at the assizes of La Bourbon Vendee for the murder of his wife, by whom he had a family of four children. He had been living for some time unhappily with her, and had criminal relations with their female servant. The evidence was so strong that it was impossible for the criminal to escape punishment, and he had also confessed his crime. From the day of his arrest to his trial he bad simulated insanity, but when before the tribunal he abandoned this course, and defended himself with great coolness. He was found guilty, and condemned to death. SPECIMENS OF FRENCH ADVERTISING. - A dealer in hams advertises that his hams are so well cured that the longer they are kept the better they are; and of such an ex cellent quality, that if eaten constantly by women of the worst temper imaginable they will render them gentle and tractable as lambs. They are particularly recommended as diet for children, to give them a quiet disposition. Another person advertises pommade for promoting the growth of hair, and states that he is so certain of its efficacy, that he makes a rule of never accepting any payment of a purchaser, how ever bald, until he have his head covered with hair.—Literary Gazette. SAD, IF TRVE. — The following story is from Galignani : " A short time ago, a melancholy event took place in the theatre at Leghorn. A player on the bass, named &emmini nani, wishing to make his talent known to the public, an nounced that he was to play a piece between the acts of the opera. The connoiseurs, however, thought but lightly of his talent, and assembled to laugh at the performance. When the poor artist was playing the rondeau of Lucia on a single string, conversation, laughter, and noise drowned the sound of the instrument. He exhibited marks of extreme emotion, and at last his agitation became so great, that he could no longer do justice to his powers. When be arrived at the phrase—Tu delle gioje in seno, io della morte, (Thou hast joy in thy heart, and I death,) he let the instrument drop, remained a moment motionless, and then fell heavily on the stage ! The people of the theatre rushed from the side scenes, and bore him off. Medical aid was applied, but in vain : he was dead V, FRANCE AND BELGIUM.--The Courrier Francais pub lishes a memorial, addressed by the Commercial Chamber of Marseilles to the Minister of Commerce, in which it declares itself in favour of the proj ec t e d Customs' union between F r ance and Belgium. The memorialists expose, in support of their opinion, the advantages that must accrue to France, but particularly to her sout h ern provinces, from the free importationinto Belgium of their wines, salt, soaps, olive oil, silk, &c. Marseilles would soon become the general entrepot where that country would supply itself with the productions of the south, not only of France, but of Italy, the Levant, Barbary, &e., eve n of British India and China, when a direct commercial intercourse shall have been opened with those two countries, via" Alexandria. The Chamber of Commerce, moreover, considers that the association would not only increase the maritime and commercial importance of France, but also her political influence, by extending the circle of her territorial defence, now compromised and en dangered by the existence of onerous treaties, and concludes that the Customs' union, advantageous to the two contracting parties, would be peculiarly profitable to France. FRENCH CONQUESTS.—The Presse, of Friday, replies to several of its contemporaries who depreciated the value of the Marquesas Islands because of their being small and thinly inhabited, and reminds them that, in England, the establish ment of Singapore, when formed by Sir Thomas Raffles, had also been ridiculed by the beau esprits of the British press, " which," it says, " did not prevent its becoming in very short time one of the most splendid commercial entrepots, and the rival of the noblest harbours in India." According to that journal the Marquesas Islands may yet acquire the same degree of importance, and must infallibly become, at no distant period, the entrepot and the market of the entire of Polynesia. It accordingly urges the government to con solidate the power of France in that Archipelago, and highly commends another project, said to be entertained by M. Guizot, for reducing Madagascar under French dominion. " If it be true, as we have been assured," adds the Presse, " that seven men of war, of which two sailed from the island of Bourbon, are now laying the foundation of an extensive establishment in Madagascar, we loudly approve such a pro ject. Madagascar may become an admirable colony. The resources it offers are immense. The island is 400 leagues long by 150 wide, and contains a population of 6,000,000 souls. It is separated from the African continent by an arm of the sea, the Mozambique Channel, little more than 100 leagues in width. It is certainly one of the most important points of the globe. Now that the road to India vid Suez is generally preferred to that of the Cape of Good Hope, the communication between Europe and Madagascar would be easy and prompt. The island possesses the finest harbour perhaps in the world—that of Diego Suarez, which is spacious enough to contain thousands of vessels, and whose entrance can be as readily defended as that of Brest. If we were masters of that point, Bourbon would no longer be for us an island lost in the Indian Ocean, and our merchantmen who frequent that colony would not be compelled to go and seek, during five or six months of the year, in the English posses sion of Mauritius, a refuge against the storms that visit the rock on which Bourbon stands. We have heard with plea- sure that a company for the colonization of Madagascar on a grand scale is now in progress of organization at Nantes, un der the auspices of a number of respectable citizens who lately visited the island and studied its resources. Should the co-operation of the government and chambers be required for the accomplishment of this project it will no doubt be liberally granted. France is beginning to be aware of the means by which she can alone become a great maritime power. It now behoves her to carry them into effect, and this the go vernment can easily achieve in a country distinguished, like ours, by the vivacity, and, we might even say, by the impe tuous genius of its people• OORRESPONDRIVCR, TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD , Sia,—A few of the subscribers to the Lyceum News room are annoyed that the committee have placed bras guards round the fire-place, which, by extending the circle, enable a greater number f gentlemen to enjoy the luxury of the fires. The objectors, however, are a few old gentle.. men who for some years have monopolized the whole fires, one of them spending many hours a day there, and with a newspaper on his knee, goes quietly to sleep, with his legs sprawling across the grate ; and few, indeed, of the subscri bers venture to approach the fire or encounter his eructa— tions. Nine-tenths of the subscribers are favourable to these guards, which will now permit twenty or thirty gentlemen to enjoy the fires foamerly monopolised by six fixtures ; and I for one shall feel grievously disappointed if the committee make eny alteration in the guards, which are most admira ble, and generally approved ot. . I am, Sir, yours obediently, FAIR PLAY Rodney-street THE CHURCH The Rev. William Kemble. M.A., formerly o; Lincoln College, Perpetual Curate of Billington, Beds, and Curate of Slapton, Bucks, has been presented to the Consolidated Rectories of South and West Hanningfield, Essex, vacant by the death of the Rev. T. Brooksby ; patron, E. B. Kem ble, Esq. The Rev. Granville Sykes Howard Vyse, 8.A., of Christ Church, has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Peter borough to the Rectory of Boughton, Northamptonshire; patron, R. W. H. Vyse, Esq. _ _ _ . The 'Rev. Arthur Rainey Ludlow, M.A., formerly of Oriel College, Perpetual Curate of Aust, has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol to the Rectory of Compton Greenfield, Gloucestershire, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. Ward ; patron, R. C. Lippincott, Esq. . . The Rev. Arthur Hyde Hulton, foiMerly of Brasenose College, has been presented to the Curacy of St. Peter, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. The Rev. John Carr, M.A., of Balliol College, Rector of Brattleby, in the county of Lincoln, has been collated by the Lord Bishop of Linesln, to the unendowed Prebend or Ca nonry of Carlton-cum-Thurlby, in Lincoln Cathedral, va cant by the death of the Rev. James Cullum. The Rev. E. J. Burrow, D.D., formerly of Magdalene College, has been appointed Archdeacon of Gibraltar. — Morning Herald. The Rev. John Knight Field, 8.A., formerly of St. Ed mund Hall, has been appointed Perpetual Curate of St. Stephen's, Manchester. _ _ The Rev. Edward Greene, M.A., Fellow of Magdalene College, has been appointed officiating Minister of Tusclith Chapel, Liphook, Hants. The Rev. W. H. Stokes, 8.A., of Wadbam College, has been appointed Chaplain to Sherburn Hospital, Durham, in the room of the late Rev. William Richardson ; patron, the Rev. G. S. Faber, Master of the Hospital. _ _ Rev. Charles Day. 8.C.L., formerly of St. John's Col lege, Cambridge, Curate of Odiham, Hants, to the Vicarage of Mucking, Essex, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. J. W. Vivian ; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. Rev. George Chas. Hoste, M.A., of Caius College, Cam bridge, to the Vicarage of Barwick, Norfolk, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. Hoste; patron, D. Hoste, Esq. Rev. Henry Samuel Livius, M.A., formerly of Trinity College, Cambridge, Rector of Yaxham, Norfolk, to the Chaplaincy of the Orphan Asylum, Bristol, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. br. Swete. Rev. John Lonsdale, 8.D., of King's College, Cambridge, Principal of King's College, London, and Preacher at Lin coln's Inn, to the Archdeaconry of Middlesex. Rev. William Adey, Curate of Little Baddow, Essex, to that Vicarage, vacant by the death of the Rev. A. Johnson ; patron, Colonel Strutt. Rev. Henry Cottingham, 8.A., of Magdalene College, Cambridge, to the Vicarage of Weston-on-Trent, Stafford. Rev. Howell Wooster Powell, Rector of Heapham, Lin colnshire, and for upwards of forty-six years the Curate, has been appointed Rector of Ripley, Yorkshire, vacant by the death of the Rev. J. Cracrott; and the Rev. Henry Wm. Powell, Curate of Ashby-cum-Fenby and Newton-le-Wold, to the Rectory of Heapham, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. H. W. Powell; patron, Sir W. A. Ingilby, Bart. Rev. James Akroyd Beaumont, 8.A., F.C.P.S., of Tri nity College, Cambridge. Curate of Hunslet , Leeds, to be Domestic Chaplain to Earl Fitzwilliam. Rev. Thomas Holme, Master of the Grammar School, Kirkby Ravensworth, to the Vicarage of East Cowton, York shire, vacant by the death of the Rev. T. Jackson ; patrons, the Wardens and Brethren of St. John's Hospital, Kirkby Ravensworth. Hon. and Rev. Thomas Unwin Cavendish, Vicar of Doveridge. Lerbyshire, to the Honorary Prebend of Hans acre and Freeford, in the Cathedral of Lichfield. Rev. Thomas Hill, Vicar of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, to the Honorary Prebend of Gaia Minor, in the Cathedral of Lichfield. _ _ Rev. William Edward Coldwell, Rector of Stafford, to the Honorary Prebend of Pipa Parva, in the Cathedral of Lichfield. _ Rev. A. Townsend, to be Assistant Curate of St. John's, Weston, near Bath. Rev. Alfred Hanbury, to be Curate of Hawkedown, Suffolk. Rev. Henry Stambury, S.C.L., formerly of Trinity Hall, late Curate of Phillach and Gwithian, Cornwall, to the Curacy of the District Church of the Holy Trinity, in St Philip and Jacob, Bristol. Rev. John Glencross, 8.A., formerly of Queen's College, Cambridge, Curate of Helland, Cornwall, to that Rectory; vacant by the death of the Rev. F. J. Hext ; patron. W. Morshead, Esq. Rev. Thos. Bull, 8.A., formerly of Catharine Hall, Cam bridge, to the Curacy of Cosby, Northamptonshire. Rev. Edward K. Maddock, M.A., of Catharine Hall, Cambridge, Curate of Streatham, Surrey, to be one of the Chaplains of the H. E. I. C. at Bengal. THK WELSH BISHOPRICS.—The net value of the diocese of St. Asaph is £6,301 ; the net value of the diocese of Bangor is £4,464. In the former diocese are 143 parishes ; in the latter 131 parishes—making together 274 parishes, which is far below the average number of parishes in any English diocese, while in respect of population, the inferi ority is yet more striking. In the diocese of St. Asaph there are 52 livings under £2OO ; in the diocese of Bangor there arc 61 livings under £2OO ;—of the former, 38, and in the latter, 26 are in the gift of the respective bishops, who are in many cases the impropriators of the great tithes. In the diocese of St. Asaph the bishop is the impropriator of 13 livings, the total revenue of which is £1,668; and in the diocese of Bangor the bishop is the impropriator of seven livings, the total revenue of which is £1,120. From the former see, therefore, is required £932, and from the latter £2BO, to raise the value of these livings to £2OO each. CHURCH PASTORAL Ain SOCIETY.—We extract the fol lowing from an "Occasional Paper" just issued by the above society :—The Society's grants are now in aid of 243 incum bents, having under their care an aggregate population of 1,832,552, or each, on an average, the charge of 7,500 souls, while the average amount of their incomes is only £161; and 129 of these incumbents are without parsonage-house. These grants are to provide stipends for 242 clergymen and 32 lay assistants, at a charge to the Society, when all the appoint ments shall be made by the incumbents, of £21,110. At the present time, 194 clergymen, and 31 lay assistants, are sup ported in their labours by the Soaiety, at.a charge of £17,705 per annum. After the ordinations to be held during the pre sent and ensuing months, it is expected that, at least, fifteen more curates will be appointed to occupy grants now vacant, requiring a further sum of not less than £1,300 per annum. The Society will then be paying at the rate of above £19,000 per annum for its grants only, an amount which exceeds their present income; and which it will, therefore, be impossible for them to continue, except the liberality of the Christian public shall immediately place larger 'Bens at their disposal. WESLEYAN STATISTICS.—The following account of the number of members in the Wesleyan Societies in Great Britain is extracted from the Monthly Magazine for Decem ber . . — Members (or communicants) in Increase during 1772 31,983 ten years. 1782 46,331 14,548 1792 73,342 29,011 1802 119,651.... 1812 155,124 35,472 1822 211,392.. 1832.. 1842 326,747 From this statement it will appear that the aggregate increase of the last ten years has been larger than that of any corres ponding period during the preceding seventy. THE BLASPHEMOUS PUBLICATION WAREHOUSE.—AII other gentleman, following the example of Mr. Lewis Knight Bruce, has made an attack on Patterson's den of blasphemy in Holywell-street, London. On Friday last, Mr. Phillip James Green, a respectable merchant, was placed at the bar before Mr. Jardine, the Bow-street magistrate, on a charge of theft, the subject of his alleged robbery being a copy of the identical piece of awful blasphemy which Mr. Bruce had torn down from the same window the week before. Mr. Green's exploit, though meritorious, wants the unpremidi tated and spontaneous character of Mr. Bruce's act; for he had seen the placard on his way to his office, had consulted with his son on the matter, and with him had returned to the spot for the express purpose of forcibly taking down the offensive bill, if the people in the shop refused to comply with his demand for its removal. The complainant, Patter son, appeared on this occasion to have mustered up sufficient confidence to demand from the magistrate the protection of the police in his wicked course of businees, as also to claim the Ss. paid by Mr. Bruce for the broken panes. He even applied for a warrant against that gentleman. In this, how ever, the fellow failed; as well as in his charge against Mr. Green, it being quite plain that the alleged robbery was no robbery at all. DREADFUL AND MYSTERIOUS MURDER.—The pretty and retired watering place of Ilkeley, about fourteen miles from Bradford, has been, during the past week, the scene of a murder, which, from the appearance of the body of the murdered man, seems to have been perpetrated in a barba rous manner. The first discovery of the matter took place in the following manner :—A person named Hardwick, a house watcher, employed by Mr. Myddleton to watch his house and that of his steward, Mr. Burgess, at a little past twelve o'clock on Friday night, heard a noise which he could not liken to any thing but a thumping, and a human voice crying out, " Help me," or " Help me up," or words similar to that. When the gamekeeper and his watchers joined him at the lodge, some time after one o'clock, he informed them of what he had beard : and the whole of them, six in num ber, went to the spot as nearly as Hardwick could direct. After some search, they found the deceased laid on his side, and not quite dead. His hat was slouched over his face in such a manner as to conceal the fact that he was at all in jured, and at first they thought that he was merely intoxi cated ; but, on removing the hat to see who it was and assist him up, one of the watchers put his hands upon the head of the unfortunate man, and discovered what was his real state, by the startling and horrible circumstance, that his fingers were instantly covered with gore, and sunk into tha head ! It was discovered to be the body of a labourer named Wil liam Hustwick, who resided at Beamsley, and had been at Ilkley the previous night, in company with a person named Hey, a wheelwright, also of Beamsley, and with whom he had gone home at a late period of the evening. The first thought which struck those who found the body was, that probably Hey also had been murdered ; and they sent off some of their party to ascertain whether he had reached his residence or not, who, on going to his house, found that he was in bed. Some conversation passed between them, in which he stated that he accompanied Hustwick on his way home as far as the lime-kilns, where the latter became stupid, or very drunk, and refusing to go any further, laid down upon the ground. He then left him laid, and proceeded home, which place he did not reach before two o'clock. In consequence of this, suspicion fell upon him, and he was ap prehended on the charge of having murdered Hustwick. stout hazel stick, which the deceased had had with him when last seen, was found beside his body, within reach of his hand, and in such a position as that no blood from his head could reach it without a change of position ; and still this, on examination, proved to be covered with soft blood, and had at the end some flesh and skin, and human hairs. The hat had covered the wounds on the head, and had re ceived the blood which flowed from them ; and, when taken off, was found to have a large quantity in it, which the keepers poured out on the ground. There was no appear ance of struggling that could be discovered, though the na ture of the ground (springy pasture land) would tend to oh iiterate any effectually, in a very short time. A CHANGE IN THE ECLIPTIC or THE EARTH. iTATE OF TRADE MANCHESTER.—During the week very little business has been done, as the buyers of printing cloths appear determined not to give the current rates, although 27-inch power-loom printers have receded full 3d. per piece in the last two or three weeks. Wide cloths still maintain their price, and makers are working to order. Very large orders have been given in anticipation of good news from the east by the next overland mail. Domestic cloth is still in good demand ; in deed it is better to sell than for several years previously, and most of the manufacturers of this article are working to order. Water twist has been sold at -Id. to 4cl. per lb. less, but this th cannot be quoted as the average price. Things are, upon the any whole, considering the season of the year, rather improving Mill than otherwise. The country trade continues flat, as very days s few buyers have visited us this month. 27-inch power-loom brated. printers may be quoted as follows :-27-inch 66's 4s. 3d. to c)vepesp 4s. 9d. ; and 72's, 4s. 9d. to ss. 3d.—Manchester Advertiser, sc. of Saturday. toe ecliptic is ..-.Ming - ,1111 BLACKBURN.—There is a decided improvement in thr cite inten " It is ev trade of this town, and it is with pleasure working class have begun to reap the advantage of the the earth change in t night. We take the following article from the New York Daily Mail of the 30th ult. It is stated to be the production of an eminent scientific gentleman connected with Yale College. The statements are made with all seriousness and gravity : " There is certainly some extraordinary change going on in the solar system. Whether the result will be a speedy dissolution of the present harmonious arrangement, is of course known only to Him who instituted the laws which govern the courses of the stars. For some time my atten tion has been directed to the rapidly developing phenomena, and I have been assisted in my observations by gentlemen eminent for their scientific attainments. And within a few lays I have had placed in my bands a paper from the cele rated astronomer, Hanff, of Berlin, detailing his own dis veries, and indicating that the subject is beginning to es - noiong the scientific of Europe. of the earth's axis with ent that the incur Ther is now a neater approach to a coincidence of the equator and ecliptic than has ever before been known. Since the autumnal equinox the obliquity in curse has sensibly dimini,hed ; and if no counte atervenes, there will soon be a perceptible and in the relative lengths of day and The change is so great already, that many intricate calcu lations for the present year will be found inaccurate. Some of the important calculations of the Nautical Almanac will be soon found perplexing to the mariner as he takes hii obser vations. And some of these heretofore highly useful tables in the American Almanac, founded on the bearings of some of the fixed stars as well as planets, will prove entirely un safe, if the progress of the change continue. An experienced and intelligent shipmaster, a day or two since, casually ob served to me, that on a recent voyage from the East Indies, when he had sailed about six degrees to the north of the equator—the region from which the North Star is usually first seen after crossing the line, the haze rendering it invisi ble while nearer the horizon—he was astonished and per plexed in his observations. The unusual variation of his chronometer from the time indicated by stellar observation led him to doubt the accuracy of his former faithful guide. Should these changes continue, a variation in the latitude of the North Star will soon be apparent to the most casual observer ; at these points of time, April 15, June 16, August 28, and December 24, when all true timekeepers should agree with the sun, the chronometer will be found essentially va rying ; and many other very important results will be deve loped. An attentive and accurate observer in the high latitudes, even at the next solstice, cannot fail to recognise various astonishing phenomena. But the changes going on in regard to the earth are less remarkable perhaps than those which are affecting some of the other planets. The poles of Venus, to all appearance, are now elevated full 35 degrees, and she seems to be chang ing from her former clear radiance to a colour approaching that of Mars ; the change in this particular, however, is as yet slight, barely perceptible, under close observation, to the naked eye. By the aid of a powerful glass there may be perceived what appear to be waves of fire rolling over her disc. This appearance 1 have watched with much interest; it commenced some months since, on the southern limb, and gradually advanced over the whole breadth, till the pla net was completely enveloped. The motion of this planet in her orbit, too, seems to be retarded, as though she were under the influence of some new power of attraction. Herschel has the appearance of having greatly diminished in size, and has failed to reach a given point of its orbit at the usual time ; and in short, seems to have broken the bonds which have connected it to the solar system, and commenced its course as a member of some remote celestial retinue Saturn also is assuming an unwonted aspect. To all ap pearance, there is a mighty conflagration going on in the hitherto dark line which divides her rings. To such an ex tent has it already attained, that in one or two places the whole breadth has assumed the appearance of ragged ranges, glowing as if they were red hot iron, and throwing a lurid re flection upon the adjacent portions of the ring. The changes seem also to extend beyond our system. The beautiful star Betelgnese, in the constellation Orion, has va ried to such an extent: from the vernal to the autumnal equi nox of the present year; gat its distance may be ascertained. It seems to be approaching the solar bounds." ERUPTION OF MOUNT ETNA. (Extract of a letter, dated Palermo, December 1.) The day before yesterday, passing along the Marina, or public walk that skirts the exquisitely beautiful bay of Pa lermo, and casting my eye over the range of the Madonian mountains, and beyond the picturesque hills of Termini, I saw testing above the snowy ridge of hoary-headed old Etna (which lies literally east of sunrise from here) a long line of feathery whitish cloud, which, from its peculiar tree-like shape, I knew at once to be smoke from the volcano. Ac cordingly, towards night, when the sun had dropped down into the bay of Mondello, a deep-red lurid glare became dis tinctly visible at the foot of the column of smoke, and all the world was then aware that the volcano was in active opera tion. This has continued ever since, dimly discernible by day in a pillar of cloud of that peculiar form which an eye, expe rienced in eruptions, instantly perceives to be the vapour from a crater—and more conspicuous by night in a body of deep red fire, of the apparent size of an ordinary haycock, but brightening and lessening fitfully with the swells and lulls of the blast of the fiery furnace. Telescopes have been much in requisition of nights, since Tuesday, and many persons say they see the showers of red hot rocks rising and falling in the air above the crater, but I myself have as yet seen nothing more than what I have de scribed above, and this much is as clearly visible to the naked eye as is the outline of the Surrey hills from the cockney mountain of Highgate. The air-line distance of Mount Etna from Palermo (which in the vulgar vernacular is commonly called the distance as the crow flies) is above ninety English miles, and to any one unfamiliar with the marvellous translucency of the Sicilian atmosphere it might seem almost incredible that a mere smoke in the air could be discerned a hundred miles off, yet true it is that never when on board a steamer have I seen the smoke out of its own chimney more plainly when the smut was falling on my own very nose than I see from hence the column rising out of old Vulcan's chimney on Mount Etna. To-day I watched it, from the rocky heights of Belmonte, for an hour or more before sunrise. At first, while quite dark, only the fire was visible, like a great bonfire, or furze burning on a mountain top, save that it was in colour of a deeper red. But with the first faint touches or coming day the smoke became gradually visible, and more and more dis ' tinctly marked, streaming along due north, till it stood over the islets of Volcano and Lipari, where it brought up with a round turn. as we tell the marines, and thence swept away eastward towards the further Calabria. As the rosy tints of the rising sun came up behind the smoke or vapour (which, by the way, is much more steam than smoke), it was illumi nated with the ruddy light, and assumed the gorgeous ap pearance of a prodigious blazing cloud, flaming in the fore head of the eastern sky, until it gradually faded into the light of common day. At this time, too, the delicately pencilled crescent of the waning moon became undistinguisbable from the brightened light of the surrounding sky ; but the volcanic vapour soon again became visible, stretching its fantastic but exquisitely picturesque form along the horizon, iu the tamer character of cloud-like smoke, and much resembling the cloud vomited forth from the funnel of a gigantic steamer. As you may not be aware of the precise shape of a crater, I think it is as well to tell you that it is exactly like the wash hand basin in the dressing cabin of the said steamer, when the stopple at the bottom is pulled out to let off the water you have used in washing. The basin itself resembles the crater, oommonly so called, at the very bottom of which is the huge funnel-shaped bottomless-pit, that spouts forth smoke and steam, with hot stones, black mud, grey ashes, and streams of many-coloured lava. The outer basin, com monly called the crater. or cup, as aforesaid, varies in differ ent volcanoes, from a hundred yards to a quarter of a mile deep. The depth of the fiery funnel itself, Empedocles (of mortals) only knows, and he, though he threw back his slip per, by way of wishing the world good luck, never returned to tell. The height of Etna is the best ascertained of any lofty mountain in the world. Cacciatore, the present Astronomer Royal at Palermo, and our countrymen, Sir John Herschell and Captain Smyth, the celebrated trigonometrical surveyor, by processes entirely independent of and unknown to each other, all fixed it at 10,874 feet English, not differing a fathom in the three computations. So exact a coincidence, in a case in which several compensations had to be allowed for, must necessarily have been partly accidental ; but, as Dr. Wollas ton said of it, the accident was one upon which no three fools could by any possibility have stumbled. It is worth ob serving that Etna, which is more than twice as high as Vesu vius (about twice and a half), has not half so large a cone of clinkers and ashes at the top, nor is its crater any thing like so large or deep as that of Vesuvius, which latter is in fact quite a model volcano, as if made for show. Generally, in volcanos, the height of the cone and depth of the crater are in the inrerse ratio of the whole height of the mountains to which they belong. It would seem as if the expansive forces within the volcano, having a greater vertical height to work through before they reach the surface, either do not eject the scoriae and ashes so far, or in so great quantity, or perhaps both these circumstances combine to render the hollow co nial cup at the top small in diameter and shallow in depth in proportion as the general elevation of each volcanic mountain is greater. V The present great eruption of Etna (it is at this moment darning away with undiminished brilliancy and grandeur) i s the first that has been visible at Palermo since 1822. In telligence travels slowly in Sicily, and we have not had any authentic advices from the scene of action. The weather is indescribably delicious, like a May of the best quality in England. Sitting on the rocks, the cold hour before sunrise this morning was perfectly pleasant. The flowers and many fruit trees are in full blom, and the newly-dropped lambkins are frisking in the fields. E. J. P.S. I have just seen a letter from Riposto, within fifteen miles of the crater. The hurly-burly began its pother on Sunday night. The smoke that afternoon, and the drying up of the springs, betokened that Enceladus was getting tidgetty ; and in the dead of the night the mountain heaved and quivered like the midships of a three-decker, when she pours her first broadside into the ribs of the enemy. A roar succeeded louder than a thousand train of artillery, and myriads of red rocky fragments shot up to the heavens. No lava had yet begun to flow. Many persons here saw, or thought they saw, it floating down the flanks of the mountain to-day ,• but, as I do not tax my imagination for my facts, on this head I can at present tell nothing. But you may-- With fancy speed on golden wing, To sunny climes of classic lore ; Where poets touched the trembling string, And still delighted shepherds sing On Italy's enchanted s h ore ! Sicilia's vales shall greet thine eyes Where Etna's fires sublimely rise, Tinging the evening skies with flame! Or midnight glories widely shed In grand —yet soul-subduing dread — Or hide in c l ou d s hi s tower i n g head From yo ung A urora ' s purple shame! FERTILITY OP Olllo.—From Piketon onward to Ports mouth, w e h a d t h e S c i o t o river frequently in sight on our right, having crossed it in a ferry-boat, which took over the the stage, by a line suspended high across the stream, and a frame-w or k with two s heaves and two running ropes, which, under the guidance of the boatman, caused the boat to be carried across withou t oars or stea m , but merely by the force as at Wheeling, though by a more s i mple an d pr ocess even than th a t. N ot hi ng could exceed ol t e h fs e sti ; e : x r c ri ue lit 'r y sei'n o .e t t: the country, or the beauty of the landscape. The bottom lands of the valley were completely overflowed, plain, as we looked down upon it from the overhanging hills along which we passed, looked l it 'le i j o oo n lev of Egypt, during the inundation of the Nile. portion of Egypt, during the inundation of the Nile. 1 s in that country, so in thi s , n ksd dee sides h otp e fl the river leaves, when it sub sides, a rich layer of alluvial soil, which renders manure wholly unnecessary, and none is therefore used. Yet, such is its fertility, that in no part even of the new states of the west, does corn ever grow to such a height, and in such exuberance, as here. Fields of corn, with the stalks rising to a height of 18 feet, are common all over the valley • and in some particular sp o t s , it h as b een k nown t o reac h the extra ordinary height of 25 feet ! A single gallon of corn is deemed sufficient to plant an acre ; and an hundred bushels is the usual return ! Wheat also, in the drier lands, produces 30, 40, and 50 bushels per acre ; the average in England being only 26; and as this is the great corn and timber country of the west, the logs and cabins of settlers, and saw mills worked by water, for grinding corn and sawing timber, are here abundant. Certainly, except on the banks of the Nile, Ido not remember ever to have seen such appearances of extreme fertility as here in this lovely valley of Scioto:---ditieking. ACM'S Aatter;ca, Third ories. proved de loom weaver have, within the last fortnight, been advanced from 7to 10 per cent. The factory hands are much better employed. Yarns are a shade higher than they were a fort night ago. Large orders at present prices have been offered, and in many cases refused by the spinners, who are expect- ing still hig of goods, and in many cases better prices have been obtained. Moulders and mechanics have more work, but block-print ing is almost extinct. The calico block printing at Accring ton, Churchparish, Oswaldwistle, &c., has a better appear ance, yet hands have not half-employment.—Manchester Advertiser of Saturday. MIDDLETON.—The silk weavers of this town and neigh bourhood are in most wretched and miserable circumstances, more so than they have been for the last 30 years past; there are .cores of whole families entirely without work. It is calculated that not one-third of the weavers are employed, and the others have not half work. The Rev. Mr. Lawler, minister of Tonge Church, has very properly been going round to the weavers in his township, and he is intending to lay the distressed state of the operatives before the committee of the Londo❑ Relief Fund. It is a dreadful fact that whole families are starving for want of food. It is high time some thing be done for the hand-loom silk weavers of this town and neighbourhood.—Manchester Advertiser of Saturday. LEEDS. — It is satisfactory to be able to report, at this usually dull season of the year, that there is a continued improvement in the tone of our merchants and traders, and a tolerably steady demand for goods suitable to the Eastern markets. In other descriptions of cloths suitable for the spring trade in the domestic markets, extensive purchases have been made, considering the season, but the clothiers still complain that the prices realized are not sufficiently remunerative.—Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday. HALIFAX MARKET. — The demand for manufactured goods at this market on Saturday was chiefly confined to plain pieces, and the transactions were by no means extensive, though perhaps fully as large as might have been expected for the season. The wool market was rather brisk, particu larly for half bred hog fleeces, which have been for some time dull of sale, but for which the demand on Saturday led to the realization of better prices.—Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday. HUDDERSFIELD-MARKET.—There was an improved de mand for fancy goods and plain cloths at this market on Wed nesday last ; and more business might have been transacted, if the manufacturers could have taken the prices offered by the merchants, of whom there was a large number present. This circumstance leads many of the clothiers to expect a brisk demand for goods immediately after the close of the year.—Leeds Intelligence). of Saturday. BRADFORD MARKET.—As is generally the case at the closing markets of the year, there was less than an average attendance of merchants at this market on Thursday last. Their purchases were proportionately small, being chiefly for assortment in plain cloths. The yarn-market was dull, and the transactions present no feature for remark, prices re maining as last week. The wool-market was also inactive, the demand which sprang up during the London wool sales having again subsided, the staplers being unable to obtain improved rates.—Leeds Intelligencer of Saturday. RAILWAY TRAFFIC.—The following calculation of the last weekly returns of 42 railways, 1,487 miles in length, will he of interest :—Number of passengers on 28 railways, 218,546, consequently the total for the week must he about 500,000. The receipts for passengers on 41 railways, 54,181/. 6s; ditto for goods on 36 railways, 21,1571155. 10d; total, 76,039/. Is. 11d. This is an average of 51/. per mile per week. The traffic, therefore, is certainly at the rate of about four millions a year, carrying fifteen millions of passengers THE COLLIERS' STRIKE.—The trial of the individuals implicated in the affray in which Dawson lost his life, is to take place before the High Court of Justiciary on Friday, the 30th current. Their names are William Gibson, oncast or putter ; Robert Wood, collier ; James Graham, oncast or labourer. The officers despatched to Iseland in search of three of the principal ringleaders in the riot—one of whom is strongly suspected to have fired the pistol at Dawson— have returned without the smallest clue to their whereabouts ; although they traversed nearly a dozen counties. It is not improbable, therefore, that they may be still in Scotland ; as the different police establishments throughout the country have been furnished with a very accurate description of their persons, it will be strange if they elude detection.—Ayr Observer. Mr. Dickenson, an extensive paper-maker, living near Watford, and having paper-mills on the river Collie, resorts to the following expedient to ascertain with what quantity of paper he may contract to supply his customers. On the hills in the neighbourhood of his mills he has fixed a guage, buried in the ground a little depth below the surface. By consulting this gunge, he is enabled to compute the amount of rain which finds its way into the earth during the winter season, and which must be again emitted before it can be decreased by evaporation. Experience has proved to him, that, with this index, he can precisely ascertain the influx of tributary water which the river Colne, whereby his mills are worked, will receive. This statement was made at the In stitution of Civil Engineers by Mr. Clutterbuck, and sub stantiated by Mr. Dickenson himself. THE DUKE OF RUTLAND ON THE CORN LAW.—The Duke of Rutland has addressed a letter to the Leicester Journal, in explanation of the observations his grace made at the late anniversary of the Leicestershire Agricultural Association ; " upon which, " to use the duke's words, " whole pages of fictitious arguments and inferences have been based." The following are the material passages of the Duke of Rutland's letter:—" In alluding to the new corn duties, lam reported to have said that I had several letters in my possession written by intelligent farmers, and showing that even the present modified scale might be reduced by some shillings a quarter.' Now what 1 did say, or, at least, what I intended to say, and what I firmly believe I was un derstood to say by the very numerous company on that day assembled, was 1 that while the measures now in operation were in progress through parliament I had received several letters from intelligent farmers, containing scales of duties of their own, each of which was several shillings a quarter under the former duties ; which gave me the impression that the growers themselves were prepared for some alteration.' This is widely different from several shillings per quarter lower than the present modified scale.' * * * * * With regard to any intention on the part of the executive to reduce still further the duties which protect agricultural pro duce, of which intention my misrepresented expressions are said to have been ominous,' I can only assert, that lam as ignorant as lam utterly incredulous of it. My object at the Leicester Agricultural meeting was to give all the information which I have been able to collect, for the purpose of prevent ing and of allaying any unfounded alarms. I stated my in- ability to give an opinio❑ as to the results of the new tariff in these early days of its operation, and I expressed an ear nest hope that the occupiers of land would continue to give employment, and to afford protection and kindness to their labourers, rather than make any change in the condition of the latter class, under circumstances of depression, which hsve every reason to hope would prove temporary and fleet ing. To these sentiments I most conscientiously adhere; and I am convinced that those, at least, who know me, will give me credit for an anxious disposition to share in all the difficulties which may be brought unexpectedly upon my tenantry, if I should be deceived as to the fleeting nature of that depression." RAILWAYS. — We take the following statement regarding the length of railways in this country, and the capital ex pended in their formation, from a pamphlet recently published by Pelham Richardson, entitled, Railways, their Uses and Managements :—The number of miles of railroad amount to 1,860, at a cost of .E 55,149,159, being, on an average, about £31,246 per mile. With 12 acres of land to a mile, there will be 22,332 acres of land formed into new roads, which, at £4OO an acre, would have paid £8,932,500. If we suppose 100,000 cubic yards of earthwork per mile, this would give 156,100 cubic yards of earth moved in their construction, and if we allow the cost per mile to he Is., £9,305,000 will have been expended in manual labour ; hut the probability is, that the earthwork averages nearer 150,000 cubic yards a mile, and at ls. per cubic yard for moving it, would give 273,150,000 cubic yards, and £13,957,500. Suppose the weight of the rails to average 261bs. per yard, some being lighter and some heavier, reaching to 751b5., and, taking off sets and stations, to make all the lines as having a double set of rails, and al low the average cost to be £lolos. per ton, 13,105,440 yards of railway would give 327,536 tons of rails, costing £3,439,218, besides sleepers, blocks, chairs and pins, turnplates, &c. There are also the viaducts, bridges, stations, and works of all descriptions, warehouses, inclined planes, &c. All these materials and labour are, with the exception of some of the timber, home produce. The number of locomotive engines may equal in number. perhaps, 970, which, with their tenders, must have cost at least £145,500 ; and when we look at this beautiful piece of machinery, and see that power, equal to 70 and SO horses, is embowelled in so small a compass, fitted with a delicacy and neatness more resembling a watch than could have been expected from a draft of such power, we must admit that some capital may fairly have been sulk in the invention, construction, and perfection of such a piece of mechanism. Again, there are the carriages of all classes, giving employment to an immense variety of persons, and which must have cost not less than £2,000,000, besides trucks, horse carriages, sheep and cattle pens, &c. These machines carry yearly upwards of 15,000,000 persons, besides goods, coals, stock, horses, carriages, letters, and parcels; and through these means, whatever railway exists, distance is re duced at least one-half, the cost of travelling much reduced, and the comfort increased a thousand fold." BLASPHEMOUS PUBLICATIONS.—The case of the man Patterson came on before Mr. Twyford, the police magis trate at Bow-street, on Saturday, when a considerable show of prosecution was apparent. Mr. Chambers the barrister was there, and to aid him in his severe task he had the assis tance of the clerk to the solicitor to the Treasury, for the principal, Mr. Maule, was of course too busy to attend to the conservation of public morals, being, doubtlessly, en gaged to spend his Christmas in the country. However, " the lawyers were ranged, a terrible show," and a heap of summonses were read, on both sides of the court (as it is understood in Ireiand, the inside and the out), but no de fendant appeared to respond to the invitation. Mr. Cham bers therefore rose, and, without the slightest reference to his brief, proceeded to reply seriatim to the observations which we felt it our duty tc make in the course of last week. He answered these as in duty bound—that is to say, he pro fessed a great deal of anxiety on the part of government to repress the nuisance of which we have so loudly complained; he said " he was very anxious the law should be put in force," and that " it was not the intention of government to extend any leniency towards the parties," as government was " determined to suppress anything which might be in jurious to the feelings of society." The public, as well as ourselves, will be gratified to learn that . these are the senti ments of the Home-office, however late in the day may b e their expression. But, setting aside i ntentions (whose merit is proverbially recorded), we are better pleased to recognise the admission of certain facts—viz., that the offences alleged against the man Patterson arc punishable by two separate acts, and we are only sorry, first, that the law authorities should have been so long in finding them out ; and, second ly, that they should be so ineffective in their application ; for it seems that a 40s. penalty is the on ly res ponsibility in curred by the commission of the offence with which the man Patterson stands charged, repeated so many times over as the objectionable placards happen to vary in terms. But Mr. Chambers's speech shed a ray of light upon the future. He said :—" It might become the consideration of those who made laws on a future occasion, to extend the limits of the power of magistrates." W e trust that this hypothetical ob servation of the government prosecutor is tantamount to an assurance that a law is in preparation for the more effectual suppression of offences of this nature than has hitherto been the case. Of one thing we can assure him, that whatever steps are taken towards this end must be taken in earnest.— Morn ing Herald.