The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-11 00:00:00

impel:tat parliament. HOUSE OF LORDS. The House of Lards sat on Monday, Tuesday, Thurs day, and Friday, but nothing of public interest was trans acted. On Thursday evening the bill to enclose Hampstead Heath and build thereon, was rejected. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY. Mr. Entw•isle was introduced by Mr. W. Patten and Mr. J. Blackburne, and taok the oaths and his seat for South Lancashire. On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, the Liverpool Docks Bill was read a third time and passed. The report on the Birkenhead Dock Bill was further considered and agreed to. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER brought for ward the following resolutions on the sugar duties— " 1. That towards raising the supply granted to her Majesty, the several duties now payable on sugar be fur ther continued for a time to be limited, save and except that from and after the 10th day of November next, there shall be charged on Brown, Muscovado, or Clayed sugar, certified to be the growth of China, Java, or Manilla, or of any other foreign country the sugar of which her Ma jesty in Council shall have declared to be admissible, as not being the produce of slave labour, " The hundred weight, £1 14s. " Together with an additional duty of £5 per centum on the aforementioned rate. " 2. That, from and after the 10th day of November next, her Majesty be authorised, by Order in Council, to give effect to the provisions of any treaty now in force, which binds her Majesty to admit sugar, the produce of a foreign country, at the same duties as are imposed on sugar the produce of the most favoured nation." Lord J. RUSSELL advocated the necessity of approach ing as nearly as possible the principles of free trade, and concluded by moving, as an amendment, that the differ ential duty of 345. should admit all foreign sugars, whether free-grown or otherwise. Mr. GLADSTONE argued at great length in support of the resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and combatted those advanced by Lord John Russell, whose amendment, he urged, would operate as a direct incentive to slave labour, by throwing open the markets of Great Britain to slave-grown produce. He thought they might claim credit for the sincerity of their anti-slavery declara tions when they brought in a measure like this, which combined the greatest amount of good with the least pos sible amount of injury. . . Mr. LABOUCHERR contended that the measure was unsound and mischievous in principle, and would not in its operation carry out the expectations of its framers. Mr. T. BARING was of opiniun that importation under fraudulent certificates could not be successfully carried into effect. With respect to the measure itself, he agreed in its principle, though he did not think it well timed in reference to existing interests. After some observations from Dr. Bowring, Sir C. Hanmer, and Mr. Ewart, the committee divided, and the resolutions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were car ried by a majority of 197 to 128. The house adjourned soon after. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY. Lord H. VANE moved for a committee of the whole house to consider the expediency of repealing the export duty on coal. He argued the question on its details. MR. GOULBURN resisted the motion on grounds of revenue. Mr. WARBURTON thought the tax an eligible one independently on any grounds of revenue. The commo dity was not capable of reproduction, and was accessible to the sea only in alimited quantity ; and it was, therefore, justifiable to secure to your own people a preference in its enjoyment. Of the inferior coal the northern coun tries contained a supply which would last for some hundreds of years; but of the best coal there was not more than would last about 60 years. He complained of a combination among the coal owners, keeping up prices, and excluding British consumers of access to certain kinds of coal, which, however, they permitted foreigners to purchase. After considerable discussion the motion was rejected by a majority of 100 to 74. Mr LYALL handed in, without any speech, a motion for a select committee to inquire into the state of our commercial marine. _ Dr. BOWRING wished the inquiry to embrace all the topics of taxation, restriction, and foreign competition connected with the subject. Mr. GLADSTONE, in agreeing to the committee, desired that this proceeding might not be regarded as a precedent for similar inquiry on every case where a deep interest was depressed. Such a committee could properly be proposed only where there was a reasonable hope that such remedy or alleviation might be found for the depression. He begged that it might not be understood that the govern ment conceded this motion with the remotest idea of rescinding the treaties of reciprocity, to which some persons were apt to attribute the present distress of the shipping interests. He could not accede to the suggestion of Dr. Bowring. Mr HAWES wished that the inquiry should embrace also the cause of this distress, which he believed to have their foundation in commercial restriction and exclusion ; and he moved the addition of the words, " into the cause of the distress." Mr. GLADSTONE disapproved of this addition, as likely to countenance the notion that the causes of the distress -,.... 4i,...........;,-...:1, 4........,:c,..... . _ Lord PALMERSiON thought that an inquiry into the cause of the distress was necessarily involved in the ori ginal motion ; and that the question of adding these words was one of language only, and not of substance. He inquired whether the negotiation respecting the Stade duties was at an end. Mr. GLADSTONE answered, that a treaty upon this subject, was in such a state of forwardness as to be virtu ally complete. . . _ Mr. HAvvEs amendment having been negatived without a division, Dr. BOWRING moved the addition of words embodying his own suggestion, but subsequently withdrew it. _ Mr. H via brought on a complaint about the conviction and imprisonment of one Alfred Moore, a hawker, at Shrewsbury. Sir J. GRAHAM gave an explanation that the man was found to have obtained money on false pretences, and for that offence was convicted as a rogue and vagabond. A good deal more conversation followed, several gentle men taking technical objections, and imputing oppression and hardship, while Sir. J. GRAHAM demurred to their attempt at trying the question by way of appeal. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY. On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, the Birkenhead Docks Bill was read a third time and passed. A vast number of petitions against the Dissenters Cha pels Bill were presented. Mr. ELPH IN STONE withdrew the Marriage and Divorce Bill. After considerable discussion, during which the mea sure was strenuously opposed by Col. Sibthorp and others, the House went into committee pro forma on Lord Worsley's Inclosure Bill, with a view to making material alterations at the suggestion of government. The County Coroners Bill went through committee, and the House adjourned at a quarter-past seven. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY. The second reading of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill was moved by The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, who began by observing that great numbers of the petitions presented against the bill were founded upon misapprehension. There was no thins in it to affect injuriously the property of the Wes leyan Methodists, and the Church had no interest at all in the subject-matter. The necessity of the bill was shown by the state of the Hewley charity cause. The House of Lords had decided that neither the Unitarians nor the Church had any claim to any part of Lady Hewley endow ment ; but they had not decided who had such claim : and now the Presbyterians and Independents were con suming the funds in a litigation between themselves. The spirit of the legislature had tended in late years to as complete a toleration of the Unitarians as of any other Dissenters; and the present bill, conceived in the same temper, came now to the House of Commons with the general consent of all the legal authorities in the House of Lords. Before the Toleration Act, any gift of foundation, for whatever class of Dissenters, would have been illegal. The Toleration Act itself excluded from its benefits the Roman Catholics and the Protestants who were not Tri nitarian. To relieve these two classes of Dissenters enactments were from time to time introduced into the legislature. The proposition against which the present bill directed itself was, that where no particular sect was designated by the founder, the founder should be deemed to have intended the charity for the sect he himself be longed to. But this bill, while it combated that proposi tion, would not interfere with any case where the founda tion deed designated any particular sect. It was a mis take, therefore, to treat this as a bill enabling trustees to violate their trusts. The trustees of a foundation chapel bad generally no power over the doctrine to be taught there; that was regulated by the congregation, who ap pointed, who paid, and who could remove the minister. In the cases now in question, the congregations, for the last 50 years, had been chiefly Unitarian ; these Unita rians had borne all the expenses ; had built, rebuilt, re paired : and was it reasonable that all the existing edifices should be taken away from those who had thus, from ge neration to generation, maintained them, and regarded them as their own, and that strangers should be placed in possession? Lord Chief Justice Tindal had laid it down that the language of the founder was not to be construed by evidence given aliunde of the founder's religious or political opinions. It was not fitting that the highest questions of divinity should be discussed in court, and re ferred to the Master's-office. This bill gave weight to usage, and, as usage was allowed to have weight in all matters of private right, it was no unfit guide for inter preting , the muniments of a religious foundation. But, wherever a trust for a particular faith appeared on the face of the deeds, there the usage would have no place, and the present bill no application. Sir R. INGLis denied that the Church of England was unconcerned in this question that church, h e con tend, had a strong intere s t i n the princip le s wiiTh u t s l t ie3 con travened. He admitt e d t h e effect, o r as he desig nated it, the prestige , produced by the support of th e l aw lords and of the government; but the question now was not what the l aw is, but what the law is to be made. He complained of the alteration which, in the last stage of the bill, the House of Lords had introduced int o t h e last clause, and which authorised that any pending suit might, on the defendant's application, be settled in accordance with the principle of this bill, upon payment of costs. After adverting in terms of disapprobation to . Sir Edwa r d S ug d en ' s postponement of a decision in the Ih . Court of Chancery, with a view to let in the ope ration of this clause, he concluded by moving that the bill should be read a second time on that day six months. Mr. PLusneraE seconded this amendment. To proceed with such a bill would, he thought, inflict a severe wound on those feelings of the country which ought to have been respected by the government. He protested against the doctrine which alleged that the church had no interest in this question, merely because she could claim no benefit from the funds connected with it. He regarded this bill as an insult to Christianity, and to the christian feelings of the country; and he must, therefore, oppose it. Mr. MACAULAY declared his approval of the bill, and gave full credit to the ministers for the purity of their mo tives in supporting it. The petitioners against it had proved their misunderstanding of it by treating what was really a question of property as if it were a question of divinity. The main principle of this bill was that which its second clause set forth—that prescription was to be proof of title. He maintained the validity of that prin ciple, and appealed to its prevalence in all ages and in all countries. He vindicated the third clause, on the ground that all statutes of limitation had been, and necessarily must be, to some extent, retrospective. Besides, this kind of property could not be taken from the Unitarians, who had possessed it, perhaps, for a century, without thereby taking from them also the large sums which they had laid out upon buildings and improvements, and violating the associations of the living with the pulpits of their illustri ous preachers now no more, and with the monuments of beloved relatives interred in those precincts. It had been urged that the Unitarians must have got possession of such chapels dishonestly, because such chapels, for the most part, were originally given to Trinitarian Dissenters ; but the fact was, that as there was no stringent obligation to subscribe any specific articles, the preachers and the congregations had naturally and gradually glided into different opinions from those of the founders. He cited other cases where the same transition had taken place with the most perfect and undoubted fairness. He in veighed against the intolerance of those Methodists who were opposed to this measure. He could have understood such conduct in Churchmen, but he was really scandalized to see it among men who had themselves had occasion so often to invoke the principles of toleration. Mr. COLCLUtiouN argued, that if a change of religious opinion was so natural and gradual a matter as it had been now represented, it was likely to occur again as it had occurred before, and to occasion as much litigation as if this bill bad not been introduced. If the Unitarians were likely to be shocked at the violation of their asso ciations with the pulpits of their recent preachers, might not the Presbyterians feel equal or greater pain at the transfer of those pulpits from such men as Matthew Henry to the modern disciples of Socinus? I _ Mr. BERNAL suggested that the modern Wesleyans themselves might not, perhaps, he in all respects of the same opinion with their own John Wesley. any more than the modern chapel-holders with the Trinitarian Dissenters of the last century. He insisted upon the state of confusion in which the Hewley funds are left under the existing law. The printed forms of prayer used in the dissenting chapels would always be good evi dence what the doctrine in each chapel had been for any period of five-and-twenty years. He vindicated the course taken in the Irish case by Sir E. Sugden, ob serving that in that case the possessors had been Unita rians for SO years. Mr. M. M ILNES felt himself compelled, notwithstanding the adverse impressions of his own constituents, to sup port the present bill. When the dissenters in general should understand that they were as much interested in it as the Unitarians themselves, and that the question in volved the great principles of civil liberty, he trusted that their opposition, or at least the tone of it, would be miti gated. Mr. F. MAULE opposed the measure, as a tampering with law which might form a dangerous precedent. He complained of the alteration of the last clause, as affecting ex post facto rights already under legal investigation, and commented upon, though he professed not to censure, the conduct of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland in hanging up his judgment on the beforementioned case until this bill should have been passed. He believed that the measure, so far from preventing litigation, would be introductory of interminable discords. _ Mr. GLADSTONE treated this as a great question of justice • and declared that, in his opinion, it was a duty incumbent npon the house to pass this bill, which he believed was opposed not so much from theological ani mosity, as from misapprehension. So far from thinking the Christian feelings of the people insulted by the bill, he conceived that Christian feeling required this act of jus tice. It must not be supposed that the generality of the cases would be found to resemble that of Lady Hewley. She was a foundress; but the generality of the persons who had associated in congregations to build chape!s were not in the nature of founders ; there was no obligation what ever to perpetuate the opinions of those original sub scribers, no intention on their part to bind their own successors. Besides, through several generations, dur ing which the Presbyterians had been making common cause with the Unitarians, no steps had been taken at law by the former to assert these supposed trusts, though the state of them was as notorious all along as now He then entered into some historical deductions, for the pur pose of showing that the leading Dissenters, towards the close of the lith century, considered their creeds as open to the progressive modifications with the increasing light of the time, and that, in fact, progressive modification s of those creeds did take place, almost from year to year, at the end of the lith and beginning of the 18th centuries. He trusted that reflection would allay the feeling now adverse to this bill and adapt law to justice. He was sure that Mr. Pluunptre himself, if he had to decide as a itulzo tia. L... catt,te between a pious and an infidel claimant, would not be deterred from adjudging the property to the latter, if rightfully entitled, by the appre hension lest by doing strict justice he should encourage a profligate. Mr. SHEIL declared that the Roman Catholic body, to a man, were favourable to this bill. The object of it was to establish toleration—to quiet possession ; it was a spiritual act of settlement, much needed in Ireland. If this bill did not pass, hundreds of clergymen and their families would be reduced to misery. There was now a cry against Unitarians, as formerly against Papists, and therefore this bill was unpopular ; but it was a mistake to suppose that this bill was for them alone : it was applica ble to a 25 years' possession, of whatever sect. He then made a ludicrous attack upon Sir R. Inglis, by which he produced much laughter. He was surprised that the Presbyterians, who asked so much liberty for themselves should extend so little toleration to others. Sir R. PEEL said, that notwithstanding a preponderance of argument on one side unexampled in his parliamentary experience, he was desirous to state the grounds upon which he and his colleagues had determined to give their most persevering support to this bill. Its pru6pects were now much brighter than when that support had first been resolved on by them. When the foundation deeds were express this bill did not propose to disturb the intention of the founder, but when the words were merely " for Protestant Dissenters of the Protestant denomination," it was too much to say that a specific trust existed. The precise object was probably omitted by the Unitarian founders on purpose ; because until very modern times their faith was not recognised by law. In the town he himself represented there was a bequest of an Unitarian's daughter to an Unitarian chapel, not legal, because given before the act of 1813. There was now religious hat mony in that town ; but how if a speculative attorney were let in upon this little endowment? The decision in Lady Hewley's case had brought litigation upon places always peaceable before ; and not even for the purpose of benefitting the Church of England. The Unitarians of Ireland had been willing that the case of the English Uni tarians should be taken before their own,—content that their own should wait ; but the Government thought this unjust, and resolved to include both cases in one bill; and this bill they bad not adopted until every attempt at private and voluntary arrangement bad failed. He did not believe that they were inflicting any wound upon re ligious feeling ; on the contrary, be thought it was an ad vantage to the church to place her in the favourable posi tion of a considerate, kind, and disinterested arbitress. Our faith was different from that of the parties connected with these chapels—our faith was great—our hope was great—he trusted our charity would be great in propor tion. Lord J. RUSSELL thought it unnecessary to add to the argument, which was already of an overwhelming weight ; but he could not refrain from giving his testimony to the merits of the bill and to the motives of the Government. He regretted that the feeling out of doors bad been less tolerant and kindly than the tone taken in the house. If the resistance to this bill would be, as he thought it would, an injury to justice, it could not be a benefit to the esta blished church. Lord SANDON said a few words in favour of the bill amid a general cry for the division, which took place as follows : For the second reading 307 Against it.. Majority . . 190 HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. The house was almost completely occupied with a dis cussion on the motion that the Division of Parishes (Scotland) Bill should go into committee. The motion was eventually carried by a large majority. During the debate, the King of Saxony entered the house, accom panied by Sir W. Gorset ; and Sir Robert Peel immedi ately went to him and conversed with him, evidently directing his Majesty's attention to the leading members and those engaged in addressing the house. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. INDIA AND CHINA. -- - The Indian mail of the Ist of May does not contain any very remarkable intelligence. The dissatisfaction which prevailed, at the departure of the April mail, amongst the native troops had ceased. Ths Supreme Government had by the adoption of judicious, and at the same time severe, measures, brought the Sepoys to a full sense of duty. One regiment, the 34th Bengal Regiment, was disbanded in the most impressive manner. The Commander-in- Chief, who was allowed a carte blanche on the occasion, used his powers with considerable leniency. The dis banding of the 34th Regiment was a painful sight. The men had always been quiet and peaceable, but they had mingled themselves with the mutineers of other corps and they were ordered to be paid up and discharged from the service. Thay seemed to feel their disgrace most acutely. The 6th Irregular Cavalry, which behaved so nobly in resisting all the attempts to mutiny, has had considerable advantages conferred on it by the Governor-General. The mutinous spirit of those five regiments has had the effect of calling forth the most decided proofs of a con trary disposition from the 27th Bengal Regiment, and from the Bundelkund Lesion, both which volunteered to to about find t employment, m t p h l e o pr,o ih e e ed i i l nstantly to the banks of the Indus. Scinde are likely e r v egiments that have gone to Northern a revolt brought ikl 317oretnht,otipschoinksaercii3uoreencbeyoaf THE LI V ERPO chief natted Bejee Khan, who, having placed himself at the head of some cavalry, attempted to plunder the coun try. A party of horse, under the command of Captain Taite, was sent to take him prisoner; but he repulsed them, and cut down 10 and wounded 20 of the British troops. This event had taken place near Poolagee, and had awakened all the energies of Sir C. Napier, who was determined to put down the disturbance in the bud. There was to be a general assembly in May of the Beloo chee chiefs at Hydrabad, when a conference was to take place between them and the governor of Scinde. ' This measure is calculated to remove any dissatisfaction which may still have existed in that country. The news from the Punjaub represents that country in as disturbed a state as ever. Another member ot the Dogra family has fallen the victim of his own nephew. Two of Runjeet Singh's reputed sons, named Cash meera and Peshora, had raised a party and endeavoured - to oppose the iule of H errs Singh and his puppet king. They stationed themselves at Sealcote, a fortress about 80 miles north of Lahore. Heera Singh sent troops to attack them, but they defended themselves with bravery. Amongst the chiefs disposed to support their cause was the uncle of Heera Singh, Suchet Singh, a brave but rash soldier. The army of Lahore, who now hold the reins of power, and who are ruled by Sheer Singh, because helas the disposal of the treasury, invited Suchet Singh to come to Lahore, and promised to put him at their head. He came with about 500 followers and took up a position. Heera Singh, in great alarm, made all sorts of promises to the army, and led them to attack bis uncle. Suchet Singh made promises also, but the army knew who had the money, and adhered to Heera. Sachet attempted to retreat with his small band, got into a faqueer's house, and fortified it. Heera caused the artillery to play upon it, and soon forced the party to come out. They attacked their assailants sword in hand. Suchet and his minister, and some of his most attached adherents, were slain. Heera is described as weeping over his uncle's body, and caused every honour to be paid to the remains. The fall of Suchet was a death-blow to the hopes of the pretenders at Sealkote ; they fled, and their partisans dispersed. Heera Singh is master at Lahore as long as the troops, who receive from him double the pay they used to receive from old Runjeet, will allow him. He is possessed of talents, but he is not a favourite with the old Siekh fami lies, many of whom are intriguing against him. The Alf ghans appear to be awaiting the acts of Heera Singh, as if in expectation of a bloody termination to his life. The notorious Akhbar Khan was at Jellalabad, watching rand intriguing with the Mahomedans in Peshawar, and on the west bank of the Indus. The British residents seem to await a revolution in Lahore. Lord Ellenborough was to go for some time to Allahabad. Intrigues were in full operation at Gwalior, where the minister chosen to go vern the country during the minority of the young rajah, Jyajee Sindeah, was unpopular; and it was even said that plots were laid to assassinate him. The residence of Lord Ellenborough in the neighbourhood of this state will have the effect of s : neutralizing many of these intrigue _ _ The news from Chimiexterids to the 10th of March. A ship was seized with opium on board in the port of Shang hai, and sent down to Victoria, where she was subse quently liberated on payment of a fine of 500 dollars. This seizure appears to have been brought about by a British merchant, who compelled both the Chinese autho rities and the British Consul to take official notice of the opium being on board. Several chests were thrown into the sea, and others injured. This step has brought the question of the treaty and of the opium smuggling into discussion. The cholera was ravaging the three Presidencies, but not to any great extent. The post-office arrangements through India had enabled the express from Bombay, with the news from Europe, to reach Madras four hours, and Calcutta 46 hours, before the Hindostan steamer had arrived at either of those ports. WEST INDIES. Papers have been received from the West Indies by the Teviot steam ship. The dates from Jamaica are to the 9th ult., and from the other islands to corresponding dates. The chief news is that plenteous rains had fallen, and though for a while stopped the manufacture of sugar, the young canes had greatly revived, and the aspect of the plantations was much improved. After so long a drought, the abundance of water was hailed as seasonable; and notwithstanding in Trinidad and Tobago regret is ex pressed that it has impeded the progress of the mills; there appears to be in all other places no fear that this delay will be of serious importance. The rains had been very general. The exports of sugar from Trinidad for the fir,t four months of the present year had increased 2,000 hhds., compared with the same period last year. Cocoa had oubled, and coffee trebled, previous exports— a satisfactory symptom of the improvement of the affairs of this island. From Barbadoes the shipment of sugar for the first four months of the year had decreased by 2,400hd5., but nevertheless a full average crop was ex pected, the estimate being that it would reach 25,000 W-ids. The advices from Demerara state that a loan act for immigration purposes had been hurried through the Le gislature, the sum sought to be raised being £500,000., at the rate of 5 per cent. interest. However, as the sanc tion of Her Majesty must be obtained before it can be come law, the Guiana Times says, " it is not too late for representation to be made on the subject to the Home Government." The rate of 5 per cent. in the present plethora of capital in the London markets is urged by the opponents of the measure as an extravagant remunera tion for the employment of the money, especially when the loan will, should it receive the sanction of the British Par liament, he, to a certain extent, under the guarantee of this Government. The plan is to raise £lOO,OOO a year for five successive years ; and a commission, if the mea sure is carried out, will be sent to London to administer the affairs connected with it. Emigration from Sierra Leone had proved a perfect failure, which is said to be the cause of the speedy passage of this loan act. The revolutionary movements in Hayti and Cuba re mained unquelled, and the sacrifice of life and pro perty in the former republi' is referred to at much length in the Jamaica journals. The new manure, guano, had found its way to the West Indies, and was being used on a great number of the plantations. At Barbadoes cargoes had been received from the African coast. - The Pope has addressed a letter to the Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops, calling their attention to the efforts which are being made by various Bible societies to produce religious dissent in Italy. THE DIAMOND NECKLACE.—We are assured that the celebrated Madame Lamotte, who acted so deplorable a part in the affair of the diamond necklace of Queen Marie Antoinette, and was sentenced to be branded on both shoulders, flogged through the streets of Paris, and to be confined for life in the Salpetriere, from which place she made her escape, lately died in one of the hotels of the Faubourg St. Germain, in the 80th year of her age. Dur ing upwards of 30 years the Countess de Lamotte con trived to escape unnoticed, and was only recognised after her death.—Courrier Francais. .JAMAICA.—The Lord Bishop and clergy continue zea lously to perform the duties of their respective offices. The public peace, however (so far as the ignorant and weak-minded are concerned) is being somewhat disturbed by parties of religious changelings and needy adventurers, through an agitation of the question of " Voluntary Prin ciple," which the poor people know nothing about, except that they are led to believe that they have it in their power to do what they please. With this single excep tion, harmony and good feeling seem to subsist among our various classes of society.—Jamaica Times, May 9. The firm of Laing, Brothers, and Co., of Berbice, do credit to the colony. There is no measure for the general benefit proposed, requiring the assistance of time, credit, and capital, but we find them in the foremost ranks of its supporters, and almost solely to their individual exertions and individual risk does this country especially owe what little advantage it has already reaped from immigration. A few days ago a little brigantine, the Bezin K. Reece, left the river. chartered by them, on an expedition after emigrants. She calls first at the Havana to pick up, if possible, a few of the Africans recently liberated by the Mixed Commission Court there, and failing success in that quarter, she proceeds to the Bahamas. Good speed to her! We are glad to have it in our power to mention that his Excellency the Governor enters heartily into the views of the Messrs. Laing, and forwards despatches with the brigantine strongly recommending its objects.—Ber bice Gazette. EXTRAORDINARY STORY.—The Bombay Courier of Tuesday, April 9, in a letter from a credited correspon dent at Kaira, details a sad event which happened to a gentleman who lived at Kaira. He went out tiger-shoot ing and shot himself by accident through the heart.. On the body being taken to Kaira for interment, the officer commanding the station proceeded to discharge the last offices to the departed by reading over the grave the fune ral service. No sooner was the service commenced than there issued from a hive in the corner of the church, out side, a swarm of bees, which flew at the congregation and stung them in all directions. Every one of the congre gation, including the acting parson, decamped, l eav i ng the body exposed to the heat of the sun. The writer of letter proceeded to the spot, and found that the bees had abandoned their hive and taken possession of the coffin ; their attack upon him and his horse compelled a retreat. What eventually became of the corpse has not transpired. THE MORMONITES IN AMERICA.—The St. Louie Re publican of a late date contains an account of a disturb ance which took place at Nauvoo, on the 26th ult. :—" It seems that Joe Smith having ordered his police to arrest a man by the name of Spencer, for an assault on his bro ther in his own house—the residence of his mother also-- the accused refused to become prisoner, alleging that it was illegal to arrest without a writ from the Mayor. All the parties, however, collected round the Masonic-hall, or Court-house. Joe Smith, mayor, being present, ordered the police and the people to take the said Spencer into custody. The constable having placed hands on him, Spencer put himself in a fighting position, and was as sisted by Dr. Foster, and his brother, younger Foster, and also James Higby, who said they would not submit to the. Prophet. Joe Smith put bands to assist in taking him, when the younger Foster took out a pistol, presented it, and said, he would shoot the Prophet. The Prophet got hold of the pistol and held firmly round the breech, until by the assistance of Rockwell, a second, the Prophet succeeded in getting the pistol from Foster.. The doctOr and Lasner at this time took up stands, and vociferated they would kill the Prophet—said he was a villain and an impostor, and that he knew it; that they would be doing a meritorious act to rid the world of such a villain, an im postor and tyrant. Higby said he would certainly shoot him —at any rate told him he remembered by-gone times —knew of blood being shed on the island opposite; that he, the Prophet, was the rig& man. He (Higby) be longed to his band ; had sustained him by money and force; and he knew the Mormon Prophet. Joe Smith was the author of murders, and it was high time he should (lie, and he would kill him. The Prophet got his hand cut, and his nervous system shook. Finally, the authori ties succeeded in bringing up the three traversers before the Court. They were all fined, but took appeals." I STANDARD. IRELAND. THE STATE TRIALS. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. On Monday Mr. Whiteside applied to the full court that the traversers should be at liberty to inspect the indorsement on the back of the indictment, and for a list of the witnesses' names. The application was grounded on an affidavit of Mr. Ford, that such an in spection was necessary in order to the preparation and speeding of the writ of error. The Attorney-General said he believed that there was a concealed object in everptine of there applications, and according to the practice of the court it should have been stated specially what the errors were that were assigned. Let the traversers assign any just reason why they should inspect the indorsement, and their application would not be resisted. After a number of remarks between the Court and the counsel for the Crown and the traversers, the Attorney- General suggested to the Court themselves to have the record sent for, let them examine it, and if their lordships, on looking at the endorsement as it appeared on the back of the indictment, considered it necessary that the traver sers should inspect it, or if they thought the application on the reasons now, for the first time, truly assign6d, reasonable and good, he would not object to its being granted. The Court intimated that they considered this course the most advisable, and desired Mr. Bourne to procure the record for their inspection. The recorA was soon after brought into court and handed to the bench—their Lordships perused it carefully for some minutes, and after a short consultation The Chief Justice said that he did not think any good reason had been made out for establishing this as a pre cedent, and in this case no reason had been assigned why the record was wanted. The application could not there fore be granted. Judge Burton differed from the Chief Justice, and said that the record being for the benefit of the prisoner as well as the crown, the application was perfectly fair and reasonable. Judge Crampton said "This application is grounded on an assertion made in the notice and affidavit, that in formation is required by the traverser's counsel on certain points. Now the notice states only that they wish to in spect the back of the indictment, while the affidavit sets forth that they desire a perusal of the record; this is a very different thing—the record is a history of the whole proceedings, from beginning to end ; and it is necessary for a party to have a fair and full inspection of this prior to his instituting ulterior inquiries, and for alleging error; a copy of the record, therefore, he is entitled to see. Now, this is offered to the traversers' counsel by the crown; but they are not content, they demand an inspec tion of the indictment itself, and especially of the endorse. ments on the back of the indictment. The court would not be warranted in granting the application." Judge Perrin saw no substantial objection to grant the application. The Attorney-General—As two members of the Court are of opinion that the application should be granted, I shall offer no further objection. The record was accordingly handed by Mr. Bourne to Mr. Ford ; Mr. Whiteside, after cursorily glancing over it, asked the Attorney- General if he would not also give tbem a copy of the names, which, being answered in the affirmative by that gentleman, the different parties left the Court. THE STATE TRIALS.-Sir Thos. Wilde, Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Q.C., and Mr. Austen, Q.C., bare been retained by Mr. O'Connell and the other traversers to conduct .heir case on the writ of error in the House of Lords. Two men, the proprietors of a swinging machine, the breaking of which, at Morricetown fair, last week, caused the death of a boy, have been committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. BAPTISM OF A BELL.—A bell, the first Angelus bell tolled in Dublin for three centuries, was baptized and fixed in its place in the Roman Catholic metropolitan chapel on the 23d ult. AGRARIAN OUTRAGE.—On Saturday weak, a man named Stapleton was brutally murdered at Balloughmur ragh, within five miles of Parsonstown. He was shot first, and his brains beat out afterwards. His only of fence appears to have been the taking of four acres of unoccupied land, from which the last tenant had been expelled for non-payment of rent. His parish priest had repeatedly warned him from the altar that such would be his fate. REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—The usual weekly meeting took place on Monday in the Conciliation-hall, which was very much crowded in every part. Mr. W. S. O'Brien and Mr. D. O'Connell entered the meeting about one o'clock, and were received with long-continued cheering. The chair usually occupied by Mr. O'Connell remained vacant during the proceedings. An address of condolence and sympathy to Mr. O'Connell, on his incarceration. was agreed to. The rent for the week, including large sums received from America, was about £lBOO. MR. O'CONNELL'S PRISON.—The Richmond Peni tentiary, in which Mr. O'Connell and his fellow-prisoners are confined, was built in 1813, for the reformation of offenders of both sexes. It is situated on the Circular road, on the south side of the city of Dublin, and occu pies a space of about five acres, including the garden. The building is of stone, and is entered by a massive gate, flanked by walls and towers. The interior is divided into courts, surrounded by buildings. The only thing that militates against its salubrity is its proximity to the grand canal, which runs close to its walls. DUBLIN UNLVERSITY.—The election for three vacant fellowships and fourteen scholarships in this university took place on Monday. The following are the new fel lows in order of their standing on the books :—Mr. Gal braith, Mr. M'lvor, and Mr. Houghton. Madden's premium and £BO added by the board was adjudged to Mr. Stubbs, but we are sorry to learn that this year the whole will only amount to about £2OO instead of £4OO. The successful candidates for scholarships we give in the order of merit :—Evans, Sinclair (11. S.), Doyle, Mayne, M`Donnell, White, (Finch,) Kirkpatrick, Skekelton, M`Devitte, Beaurepaire, Pooler, Harrison, Bell, Henry. GIVE—GIVE—GIVE !—Mr. O'Connell, ever watchful of the money market, has set himself at once at work to make the highest penny of himself and his incarceration. The Compensation Fund (of course to be accompanied by the Repeal Rent, and succeeded by the Annual Tri bute) is already set on foot, and Doctor Mac Hale " comes down with the dust," in order to set the good example, in the following letter, dated St. Jarlath's, May 31, 1844 :—" In forwarding the O'Connell Compensation Fund no time should be lost. I beg to send you five pounds towards indemnifying that great benefactor of his country, whose services no money can requite, and whose energies no persecution can subdue. His temporary con finement will, no doubt, be a source of temporary triumph to his enemies; but, in the hands of a gracious Provi dence, it will become the instrument of accelerating, peacefully and without crime, the legislative emancipa tion of our country, which it was intended to crush or retard." ARSON, AND DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO BURN A WHOLE FAMILY.—On the night of Tuesday, the 21st ult., a most diabolical attempt was made to burn the premises of Mr. Thomas Duffy, of Crieve, barony of Clonlonan, by an incendiary, who set fire to a large rick of turf adjoining his residence; and had it not been most providentially discovered, and the neighbours alarmed in time to render assistance, nothing could have saved his house, offices, and the corn in his haggard, from being entirely consumed, for the turf was to the east of his pre mises, and the wind blowing strong in that direction. He escaped with the loss of the turf stack, and some injury to his furniture while removing it. This dreadful act was, it is supposed, the work of an isolated villain, and not connected with the agrarian outrages of the neigh bourhood ; for we are informed that a servant boy who had absented himself from Mr. Duffy's service, and whose wages he had withheld until he would complete his ser vice, had been heard to vow vengeance against him, was seen lurking about the place late that evening, and has since fled the country.—TVestmeath Guardian. THE WRIT OF ERROR.—Our firm belief and conviction —and we are ready " to back our own opinion by a wager"—is, notwithstanding all the bluster and bragga docio—notwithstanding the notable points relied upon, the important discoveries made, and the certainty of suc cess boasted of—that the writ of error will never be pro secuted at all ! We firmly believe that it does not contain a single ground arguable, and there are considerable doubts whether it can even be entertained in its present shape by the House of Lords ! At all events, it cannot occupy more than an hour in discussion, and the decision of the Irish Queen's Bench, which has been treated with such impertinent superciliousness, will be confirmed by the House of Peers. What will the "people" say to this new humbug practised upon their credulity ? Another application has been made to the Court, for permission to correct " clerical errors," committed, of course, inten tionally. The object now clearly is to keep the matter alive before the public, in order that money may be col lected for the supposed prosecution of the writ. It is now discovered that the writ must be decided by the Court pro forma. The-Attorney-General has expressed a decided opinion that the assignments of error, as they are drawn by the prisoners' counsel, cannot be argued anywhere else than in the Court of Queen's Bench here—and that they are not framed for argument in the Lords. The Court refused to enter upon the subject to-morrow, as the Judges sit in Error. Monday has been fixed for the hearing— and Wednesday will be the last day of term ! Here's a game of long bowls.—Dublin Mail of Friday. THE LIBERATOR AT MASS IN HIS PRISON CELL.— Mr. O'Connell's chaplain has published an account of the agitator's first prayers in prison, from which we extract the following :—" I have just returned from celebrating the divine mysteries for O'Connell in his prison cell. Yob will not be surprised that my heart is overflowing with emotion with emotion, however, in which there is not blended the slightest tincture of sadness or despon dency. Never have I beheld the Liberator in a sublimer attitude than this morning, as be knelt, I may say in fet ters, before the altar he himself bad freed. It was a spectacle of much grander import than even that of a ' just man contending with adversity ;' and if those who have been labouring so long, per fa: aut nefas,' to afflict his spirit, to embitter and disgrace his declining years, could have beheld the joyous serenity of his coun tenance in receiving the divine communion, I will not say they would have been sorely disappointed ; but, for the honour of human nature, I shall per suade myself that it would have repented them of their intent in seeking to fix the brand of a felonious con spirator on such a man. No, O'Connell is not sick: ; he is not sad; let no one believe it. l was beside him In the court—l accompanied him to the prison ; v i e t d is i n sc his ; an hour since this hand that writes was anti I aver upon this knowledge that he is when be unshaken in in his purpose, and undismayed as st, serene in nounced the Union on Tara or Mulla hm vigour. the spirit of his mind, and full of buoyant.sk back upon the proud of his present position, and too were his hopes of the future past with triumph, and never . hi to t t " u eel y. brighter than this moment, or more a grasped s rude health, UNIVERSITY 4- CLERICAL NEW.s. OXFORD.—In a congregation held on Thursday the following degrees were conferred :=-Masters of Arts — William Long, Balliol, Grand Compounder ; Nicholas Darnell, Fellow of New College; Rev. Henry Mellish Stowers, St. Edmund's Hall; Rev. George Frederic Morgan, Christchurch ; Thomas Henry Roper, St. John's College; John Brimble Riddle, Wadham ; Rev. Robert Twyford Mills, Magdalene; Rev. James Philip Bi em ridge, Exeter; Rev. John Collingwood, Pembroke ; Rev. William John Groves, Trinity ; Rev. William Archibald Paxton, Trinity ; John Turner and Wm. Fox, Balliol. Bachelors of Arts—Lord Viscount Lewisham, Thomas P. Rogers, and Francis Lagier Lamotte, Christ Church ; John Thomas Aikin Swan, Lincoln ; George Henry Egerton, Brasenose ; John Rigaud, Demy of Magdalene ; Henry Nicholas Ellacombe, Oriel ; Win. James Farrer and John Charles Keate, Balliol. CAMBRIDGE.—The Chancellor's medal for the best English poem has been awarded to Edward Henry Bicikersteth, Trinity College. Subject—" The Tower of London ;" and the Camden medal, for the best exercise in Latin hexameter verse, to William Johnson, King's College. Subject—" Archimedes." OXFORD.—THE VICE-CHANCELLOR'S DECISION ON THE REV. MR. GARBETT'S SERMON.—" The Vice- Chancellor begs to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the sermon which, in consequence of a formal allegation of complaint, he requested Mr. Garbett to deliver to him, un der the provisions of the statute, tit. xvi. sec. 11. The Vice- Chancellor having had before him, since Friday, the 24th instant, the sermon which has thus been called in question, and having carefully considered what steps it might be his duty to take on the occasion, informs Mr. Garbett, without delay, that, in the exercise of the discretion re served to him by the statute, he deems it unnecessary to institute any further proceedings.—St. John's College, May 29, 1844." A supplement to the London Gazette contains an order in Council constituting Stockport, Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton-le-Moors, and Bury, in this county, and several other places, separate districts for spiritual purposes. THE EDINBURGH MUSICAL CHAIR.—TiIe election for the vacant professorship of music in the Edinburgh University took place on Saturday week. Since the meeting in April Dr. Wesley had resigned, and on Sa turday the candidates were reduced to three—Mr. Pear son, the son of the Dean of Salisbury ; Mr. Donaldson, the advocate ; and Mr. Bennett, the pianist. The Senate divided thus :-14 voting for Mr. Pearson, and II for Mr. Donaldson. Mr. Bennett had no vote. WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF THE CLERGY FUND.—The report of the institution for the relief of the widows and orphans of clergymen who have officiated within the arch deaconry of Chester, has just been published, together with a statement relative to the school lately established at Warrington, and united with the Chester Diocesan Board of Education, for the daughters of clergymen who have officiated and are officiating in the same archdeaconry. We heartily commend so excellent an institution to the benevolence of our readers, for it is not a charity to be supported merely by clergymen, the laity are also called upon to contribute to its funds. We perceive, by a recent regulation, that all parishes not contributing to the charity before the next anniversary, will be prevented from deriv ing any benefit from the institution, it is therefore desirable that as little delay as possible should take place in for warding donations, as the subscriptions for the present year are now due. The Bisbop of the Diocese is the patron of the charity, and of the officers annually ap pointed, Sir Stephen R. Glynne, Bart, M.P., is president, and the Rev. Geo. Heron, Incumbent of Carrington, in this county, preacher for the year. The anniversary will be held this year at Liverpool, on the Ist of August, and sermons are requested to be preached, and collections made in aid of the funds of this charity, previously to the annual meeting. METROPOLIS CHURCHES FUNDS. —On Sunday last sermons were preached in all the churches in the diocese of London in aid of this fund. The Bishop originally contemplated the erection of fifty new churches in the metropolis, thirty-six of which were completed, two were nearly erected, and twelve would be proceeded with so soon as sites could be obtained. These churches would contain altogether about 57,000 persons, and would there fore afford the means of attending divine worship to 114,000. His lordship, however, contended that this supply would be inadequate, as supposing one-third only of the population attended public worship at one time, there ought to have been church room for more than 400,000 in the parishes containing an aggregate population of more than 1,380,000, whereas in fact there was only room for 140,000, leaving a deficiency of 260,00'J to be supplied. Supposing 57,000 to be accommodated in the new churches, there would still remain 213,000 wholly unprovided for. The subscriptions which have been re ceived since hislordship's first announcement of his scheme amounted to no less a sum than £158,173. A separate fund was long afterwards formed for the erection and en dowment of ten additional churches, with parsonage houses and schools, in the single parish of Bethnal-green, containing more than 70,000 inhabitants. To this fund the contributions amounted to £59,694, so that altogether a sum of X 217,867 had been subscribed. VALIDITY OF LAY BAPTISM.—In the Court of Arches, on Friday week, Sir Herber Jenner Fust, the Dean of Arches, gave judgment for the rejection of an allegation by the defendant in the case of " Titmarsh v. Chapman." It is a proceeding in the form of articles under the Church Discipline Act, against the Rev. H. Chapman, Vicar of Basingbourne, in the county of Essex, fo r re f us i ng to bury - the body of a child, named Jane Rumbold, the daughter of parents belonging to the sect known as Inde pendents, and the present allegation assigned the grounds upon which the rev. defendant had so refused. The main points upon which the defendant rested, are that the child had been baptised by a minister belonging to the sect of Independents; that the baptism is an heretical baptism, affording none of the privileges of a valid baptism ; that burial in a churchyard of the parish is one of those privi leges to which, therefore, this child was not entitled ; and betides this, that the parties promoting the present pro ceedings deny that the Church of England is a true and apostolical church, and are consequently, by the canons of that church, excommunicate, and not able to promote the office of the judge against a member of the church. The learned Judge considered that these articles did not contain any sufficient answer to the charge brought against the rev. defendant. As to the heretical baptism pleaded, the question was whether the baptism performed upon the child was or was not a valid baptism ? and the Court was unable to distinguish the present case from that of " Mar tin v. Escott," in which the Privy Council had held that the baptism performed by a Dissenting minister was valid. As to the objection which was founded upon the incom petency of the present parties to promote the offic e o f th e judge, it could not b e up h e ld, as th e civil law authorities all held that excommunication, even ipso facto, required a declaratory sentence, and here no sentence of excom munication had passed. THE COURT. THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.—For some time past a series of reports have been circulated respecting certain changes that have recently taken place in the royal household, and in anticipation of further alterations which it is alleged are about to take place. It has been studiously repre sented, that the persons dismissed from . the royal house hold have been discharged without sufficient reason; that the saving produced by their removal is to be applied un fairlya n and that to t purposes nepgns i unconnected nna t to which w t i i i t e h s e the di s r n o n y a a r l g l e i o d u s s e e r l l io a l n d t s are entitled are not only of lower amount than they ought to be, but that they are derived from a fund which will increase the burdens of the people. These repor t s have been circulated with so much industry and apparent can dour, that, we regret to say, we were in o ne i nstance de ceived by them. We have since ascertained, that they are all, without exception, destitute of any foundation. Amongst the number of attendants that it has been found necessary to place upon the retired list, there are some whose conduct, so far from entitling them to complain of the amount of pension awarded to them, has not entitled them to any retiring allowance. There are others still retained in the royal service whose conduct has not been satisfactory, and from those sources may be traced those misrepresentations which have been forced into public notice.— Times. THE QUEEN DOWAGER'S DEPARTURE FOR THE CON TINENT.—At half-past eleven o'clock, on Monday, her Majesty the Queen Dowager, with a numerous suite, among whom were Lords Howe and Denbigh, arrived at Dover in the state carriage of the South Eastern Rail way, by special train, on her way to the continent. Her majesty halted a few minutes in the waiting room, and affably acknowledged the attentions paid her by the au thorities ; after which, she proceeded in a carriage and four to the Admiralty yard, where the Princess Alice steamer, Captain Smithett, was in waiting to receive her. The castle, the heights, the vessels in harbour, &c. dis played their gayest colours, and the inhabitants greeted the illustrious visitor with hearty cheers, as she passed along. Exactly at twelve o'clock all was ready, and the vessel glided out of the harbour on her way to Calais, un der a parting salute, amid reiterated cheering and waving of hats and handkerchiefs. THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.—We noticed in our last the arrival in this country of his Imperial Highness the Emperor of Russia, and the round of visits paid by his Majesty up to Sunday night. On Monday morning the Emperor rose at seven, and, after breakfasting, Bond-street.proceeded where he made large purchases. He then proceeded to the unexpected. to Storr and Mortimer's, the jewellers, in e the Zoological Gardens, where be was Th e Emperoro h l d: d Clanricarde, Pembroke, Sir Robert and Lady Peel,t.Lea y uished persons. He afterwards visited Lady Heytesbur the Marquis of Anglesea, and other dis g ' of Devonshire, at At three o'clock he received the Duke Guards was sent on as luncheon. A detachment of Life edto avoid parade, and escort, but the Emperor wished attendance. At six, he dis pensed altogether with militarytation, on his route to Windsor. proceeded to the railway t e s en h unjustly termed " the hand no° e t , and on every occasion was well he attended AscYgo'utti33l-tleeeeat°hu somest man in f E n ur e l o ' dlially cheered, by crowds of spec in-Chief, and other royal and distinguished received, andTouet tutors. n and on -NN edn at Park, attended y Field Marshal p ' Gr the Windsor e Commander personag •attended Ascot Races. Q ue en, again turned to London, from Windsor, on Friday morning. At eleven o'clock, the Queen and Prince Albert, accompa nied by the Emperor of Russia and the King of Saxony. es. On Th r u ev rs ie d w a left the Castle, the suit following in four carriages, and, Thursday d the a l byer royal y a l b body party, o f t w r o i nß . tothea Countess s t e hsi of ' travelling from Slough to Paddington, by the Great Western Railway, arrived at Buckingham Palace about noon. In the afternoon the emperor went out to pay a round of visits, beginning with Lady Londonderry; and, after calling at the Embassy, returned to the palace. The King of Saxony also issued forth to see Stafford house, the Parliament Palace, and other public buildings. The Queen gave a state dinner and evening party to two June 11, 1841. hundred guests, including the diplomatic corps, who were' alt introduced to their Russian and Saxon Majesties , Soon after ten o'clock, on Saturday morning, the Empe ror, attended by Baron Brunow, the Russian Ambassa dor, passed along Pall-mall in an open carriage and pair, and was not recognized by the people. The Baron was' busily occupied in pointing out to the Emperor the various club-houses, &c. At half-past ten the royal party arrived at the Senior United Service Club, and were received by a select party of general officers. The Emperor, the Kiac of Saxony, and Prince Albert visited the new Houses ot Parliament shortly after eleven o'clock. As the visit was unexpected, there was no crowd. The Emperor, on his return to Buckingham Palace, paid a visit to the Duchess of Buccleuch. The two monarchs were, in the afternoon , entertained by the Duke of Devonshire at his villa at„ Chiswick. Her Majesty the Queen, the Emperor el Russia, the King of Saxony, Prince Albert, and a large and distinguished party were to attend the opera in the evening, when a most brilliant auditory would be assem bled. The Emperor of Russia was to take his departure yesterday, from Woolwich, in the Black Eagle steamer- RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. ENORMOUS PASSENGER TRAFFIC.—The number of passengers conveyed on the line of the Manchester and Leeds Railway, during Whitson week, exceeded 110,000- On Thursday, the royal assent was given, by commis: sion, to the Lancaster and Carlisle, the Blackburn and Preston, the Catlisle and Maryport, and the Northern and Eastern (Newport deviations) Railway Bills. YORK AND SCARBOROUGH RAILWAY BILL.—TbiS Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords on Tues day evening, and passed. The length of the line is about 42 miles, with a branch of rather more than six miles ; the estimated cost is £260,000. LANCASTER AND CARLISLE RAILWAY.—The Earl of Lonsdale takes a deep interest in the success of the Lan caster and Carlisle Railway, a considerable length of the line of which runs through his estates, both in Cumber land and Westmorland. It is understood that his lord. ship will cut the first sod in the projected line, in the neighbourhood of Shap. A small line of railway in the North of England bad an arbitration as to a contractors' accounts. An action bad been brought, and 77 issues raised. The arbitration lasted nine months of almost continuous sittings, the claim being a balance of about £1,600. The arbitrators awarded about £BOO, besides a proportion of the costs of I the reference, which were taxed at £7,400. The arbitra tors' fees alone were £1,200. The successful claimant had to pay one-fourth of the expenses. EDINBURGH, LEITH, AND GRANDON RAILWAY.-- This bill was read a third time on Friday, in the House of Commons, and on the same day carried to the House of Lords and read a first time. To-day it will go before the standing orders, and, there being no opposition, it is expected to be passed through the forms of that house fill.. mediately. We perceive, by the Edinburgh papers, that the tunnel will be contracted for on the 20th instant ; and, when these works are completed, this railway will become an object of great interest. The House of Commons has, during the past week, passed the Stratford (Eastern Counties) and Thames Junction, the Slamannan Junction, the Croydon and Epsom, and the Taff Vale Railway Bills, the Ashton, Staley-bridge, and Liverpool, the Sheffield, Ashton under.Lyne, and Manchester, the Edinburgh, Leith and Granton ; and the House of Lords has passed the York and Scarborough Railway Bill. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Bill, which stood for a third reading in the Commons, on Thursday, was, for some irregularityr referred back to the standing Committee. EXTENSION TO THE TRENT VALLEY RAILWAY.—WS learn with great pleasure, that in connection with the line of railway from Shrewsbury to this town, surveys are now making, with the sanction of the Grand Junction Com pany, by their engineer, (Mr. Locke) with a view to con tinue the line rid Rugby, Northampton, and Bedford, di rect to London. The original Stafford and Rugby line (Trent Valley) will become part of this great scheme ; and the line through Bedford to London will be made in com mon with a company already existing to make a railway from London to York.—Staffordshire Advertiser. NEW LINE OF RAILWAY.—On Tuesday morning, some of the North Union Directors arrived at Blackburn, and proceeded, in company with some of the Blackburn and Preston Directors, towards Burnley, for the purpose of viewing the intermediate country over which it is intended to form a new line of railway. The line is being surveyed, and men are placed upon the road to take an account of the traffic, preparatory to publishing a prospectus. There will thus be, with the Blackburn and Accrington extension line, the Yorkshire and Lancashire, and the Blackburn, and Todmorden, four railroads p ro j ec t e d eas t war d 01 Blackburn. The surveyor for the Blackburn and Tod morden line has been surveying the country in the vicinity of Accrington. SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, AND MANCHES TER RAILWAY.—During the three last days of the Peet week, the various stations on this line of railway have been literally besieged by pleasure parties and other tra vellers, for greater or less distances along the line. The following is a statement of the number of passen gers booked on Saturday last. Manchester station. 3,783 , Ardwick, 5,485; Gorton, 902; Fairfield, 951 ; Ashton, 6,279 ; Duck infield, 1,818 ; Newton, 1,028 ; Broodbot tom, 481; Glossop, 388 ; making a total of 21,091 pas sengers in one day. A serious accident occurred at the Ashton station, during Saturday afternoon, which proved fatal to an old woman, who h a d come f rom M anc hester by the three o'clock train. THE RAILWAYS.—New railway projects are being started every week, and the variety of lines proposed to be constructed in ccnnection with the city of Worcester, and in the alrr cst immediate locality, is sufficient to puzzle anybody. After having been hitherto altogether cut off from direct railway communication, we have now no less than five different lines proposed to be brought actaally into the city of 'Worcester, viz., the Birmingham and Gloucester branch, the Oxford and Wolverhampton line, supported by the Great Western Company, the Worcester and Warwick—or rather now we believe we must call it the Worcester and Weedon—line, proposed by the Bir mingham and London Railway Company. the Grand Connection line, and a line to Cardiff, which was talked about some few months ago, and which has now been re vived. rhiA last mentioned line is the only one of the five which has not been fully before the public.—Wor cester Herald. GIGANTIC RAILWAY.-A metropolitan paper announces a railway project drawn up by the Emperor of Russia, for connecting St. Petersburg, by means of a gigantic railway: with Odessa and the Black Sea. The line, which would extend to the astounding length of 1,000 miles, has to pass over Ostrow, Witepsk, Nogatshef, Kiew, and Baits —an undertaking unparelleled in ancient and modern history. It has often been argued that the extent of the Russian empire is too great, that its capital lies too far, north, and that even the northern and sou th ern p ar ts of the empire are of too heterogenous a nature, preventing any real political or social amalgamation. These asser tions are incontrovertible, and may have suggested to the monarch the great idea to connect the opposite poles of his great empire by this endless, as it were, line of road. It is stated, in fine, that the immense sums required for such an undertaking are to be raised by a foreign loan, the guaranteed interest of which, however, is to be less than 5 per cent. LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.—A general meeting of the provisional committee for the construction of this new line of railway was held, on Friday, at the Hall o Commerce, London. The Earl of Winchilsea occupied the chair. Mr, J. H. Astell, the chairman of the acting committee, stated, that that committee having been ap pointed for the purpose of adopting measures for amalga mating the two companies then before the public ; namely , the great northern Company and the London and York, vid Lincoln, Company, each having in view the connect ing the metropolis with the city of York, and ultimately with Edinburgh, by means of a railroad, had so far sac" ceeded in their object, that henceforward the two CO panies would act together in an harmoni ous spirit. rib committee had also appointed Mr. Locke, the enginee i. r ; to decide upon the me r it s o f th e respect i ve lines. ir'''' noble chairman said he fully concurred in all that the re' port contained. Upon the motion of Viscount Howie% M.P., seconded by Si r G . S tr i ckland, M.P., the rep o'. was then agreed to ; as was a motion appointing a cn vi ,,,; mittee of twenty.four gent l emen, w i t h f ull power to to all necessary measures to carry out the undertaking. „,. --A MANCIIESTRR . AND BIRMINGHAM BAILWA • , special meeting of the shareholders of this line of railway was held, on Thursday last, in Manchester, at which t following resolutions were agreed to with but ten dis sentients : "Thatand three quar company shall be divided into one share of £4O of shads w ho ter shares of .elO each, and that every proprietory July next, shall be shall be registered as such on the Ist day of har j e u then standing iti every existing share of £7O in the capital of the sai_d_ considered as entitled in respect of ea ch s_ lieuor his present share of his name Ito one share of .e4O, ( in _eio shall be issued and offered to " That one quarter share be r egistered as such on the first du/ every proprietor who may be or iginal share then held by hini,.?, of July, in respect of _e2 e per share shall become due and paY au 'i which a deposit ( of August next, and on which quarter shar e the the first day of the capital represented thereby shall be millet. 4700 upon which no further f cati the remainder times That the remaining quarter shares bari b s e h es a ms ll ha b ad e lle i b. ss e las may be deemed at such a time or ~ That the holder of such quarter s time to time to receive dividends thereon in proportion to, t . b ,,h a mount paid up at the close of the period in respect to wh in such dividend may be declared ; and, in all other respects , ";, proprietors of such quarter share shall participate in an Po' leges and advantages in the like proportion. tile powers and provisions of the company ' s such times 'be act at on such terms hall and conditions and in such manner as s_ . considered most conducive to the interests of the comPaDY" d r The Chairman (Mr. D. Waddington,) brought forW il ,- two resolutions, in which the directors sought to be em. two powered to take such measures as they may deem %oft advisable for the purpose of promoting the constro,f,, o t of any line extending into, through, or heyond the v t ber Valley, in the direetion of London, and also of anY °" id line of railway extending from the intended MacelesiP.nle Branch of the company to or near Buxton, and for I its lo take the necessary steps for applying to parliaosen;ith the next session, for powers to connect this railway ;di. the Liverpool and Manchester in such manner as ti l rectors may deem wisest. ued entitledun de under id, Gunwo.—The demand for African has been if - L . " 1 11w and advanced rates paid . . At auction 290 tons of A c id j boe were sold at £lO 7s. Gd. to £lO 10s. for dark g re/ 6;l: and 160 tons from Angrapiquena at £lO to £lO 120.• _ p. per ton for bright brown, to be delivered in bags- Pe vian has been fetching £l2 10s. to £l3 10s. per to- der private contract, but for arrival there are sellers Ila these rates ; and many ships are near at hand. A . t a tion, yesterday, the cargo of the Anne, from le u r sold at £9 ss. to £9 15s. per ton, to be delivered one u before the 3d of July next.—Journal of Conam erc Saturday.