The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-14 00:00:00

Imperial Varliament. HOUSE OF LORDS.—MosDAY. Lord MoNrEAGLEgave notice that he would move, on Thursday next, for a committee to inquire into the effect of protective duties on British commerce. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE again brought under the consideration of the house theappointment of Mr. O'Brien as a stipendiary magistrate in Ireland, which was, he con sidered, in every possible view most unjustifiable. The noble marquis moved a resolution to the effect that theap pointment was injudicious, and not calculated to maintain confidence in the i m p ar ti a l administration of justice. Lord WHARNCLIFFE said that tha motion was in effect a charge against the Lord Lieutenant and the Govern went, and he rose to meet it boldly, by stating that the Government wished to show those who joined with the Repeal Association, how thoroughly it disapproved of their proceedings by extending favour to a person who had abandoned the erroneous course he had previously pur sued. He defended this appointment, which, as far as the Irish Government had the means of judging, was a proper one ; and he should, therefore, meet the motion with a direct negative. Lord BROUGHAM did not think that any very strong case had been made out by the Marquis of Clanriearde, though he admitted the language used by Mr. O'Brien was very unjustifiable in his abuse of Mr. O'Connell, which was, however, to be palliated by the recollection of the school in which he had been previously educated— that of Mr. O'Connell and the Repeal Association. The motion was negatived without a division. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY. On the motion of Sir H. DOUGLAS, the report on the Liverpool Fire Prevention Bill was brought up and agreed to. DANK OF ENGLAND CHARTER. Mr. Greene in the chair. Sir R. PEEL then rose and addressed the house on the important subject of the Bank charter. In 1833 there had been a renewal of the charter to the period of 1855; but a power was reserved by parliament to reconsider the charter within ten years, which period would expire in August next, and if that time was passed by, the present charter would continue until 1855. It was therefore un der these circumstances that the government wished to lay their views and plans before the legislature, and he hoped the most impartial attention would be paid to this great subject. He did not ask the House of Commons to come to any decision then, he only asked members to hear the arguments which would be offered, and well consider the resolutions which would be proposed. He asked for no decision on the present occasion, but that the resolu tions might be considered pro forma and attentively in quired into (hear.) He hoped no hon. member would come to the discussion on this great question with preju- diced feelings (hear, hear.) He trusted that nothing which had taken place at public meetings would bias their judgment (hear.) His first proposition related to the issue of promissory notes, and he trusted that proposition would be fully and maturely discussed before any decision was pronounced (hear.) He courted discussion on the mea sure and value of the standard coin and the principle of paper currency. The right hon. bart. then took a review of the changes which bad been made in the currency from the time of William the Conqueror to the present period. He then proceeded to propose that the Bank of England should retain its present privileges, but that there should be a distinct seraration between its two departments of banking and issue, which are to be managed by different sets of officers and under different systems. The issue department is to be controlled by new powers of super vision and publication, but the banking department is to be left to free and unrestrained competition. The issue department is to be based on public securities to the ex tent of £14,000,000, with a weekly publication of ac counts, comprising the amount of notes in circulation, the quantity of bullion, and the extent of fluctuation. The same distinction between the business of issue and banking he proposed to extend to all other banks; and be also proposed that no new bank of issue should be congtitwed, but existing banks would be allowed to retain their privileges, though the amount of their circulation will be restricted to the averages of their previous issues, and they will be under the necessity of publishing a weekly account of their liabilities. He proposed to grant to joint-stock banks the privilege to sue and be sued in the name of their secretary or manager—the acts of the directors to bind the concerns; but the shareholders to be exempted from the responsibilities of the law of part nership. At present joint-stock banks were not allowed to accept bills under six months' date ; but in this respect be proposed that they should be placed on a level with other banks. If they should abuse this privilege, how ever, by the multiplication of small bills, he would cer tainly ask parliament for power to put a stop to such abuse. In addition to this he proposed that all banks of issue should be compelled to publish periodically the names of all partners in order to enable the public to judge of the responsibility of the parties. He should not require that existing banks should invest in the public securities a certain portion of their paid-up capital, but in the banks to be hereafter established they would be free to act ac cording to their pleasure. He further proposed that no new joint-stock bank shall be established without the consent of the government, and with a defined form of trust deed and a regular periodical audit of accounts. lie also proposed that the Bank of England might, with the consent of three members of the government, extend its issues beyond £14,000,000, but all profit on the in creased issue must be transferred to the state. The legal tender clause would be continued, end the charter thus altered should run for twenty-one ears, with liberty to Parliament to .interfere at the end of ten years upon a given notice. The amount paid by government for the management of the public debt is not to be increased, an arrangement which was cordially acquiesced in by the di rectors. He did not intend to meddle at present with the banking systems of Scotland and Ireland, and would say nothing about small notes lest he should raise a storm about his ears and encumber the present measure with details which might be equally as well taken into conside ration hereafter. He did purpose, however, to extend the restriction as to the new banks of issue to Ireland and Scotland, and to subject future joint-stock banks in those countries to the proposed regulations. After a short conversation, the resolutions were agreed to proforma, and are to be taken into consideration on Monday next. . The Lou , e then went into committee on the Factories Bill, the discussion of the clauses of which occupied the remainder of the evening. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY. The Marquis of NORMANBY asked Lord Ripon whe ther he had any objection to the production of the cor respondence with the Board of Directors of the East India Company relative to the recal of Lord Ellenborough. The Earl of RIPON objected to the production of the papers, on grounds similar to those stated by Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons. Earl FITZWILLIAM said he was desirous of ascertain ing from the noble earl opposite (the Earl of Dalhousie) whether her Majesty's government entertained any ob jection to the motion of which he had given notice for to-day, for an address to her Majesty for the appointment of a commission on the subject of railways, and whether they intended to meet it by a negative ? The Earl of DALHOUSIE said be would briefly state the reasons which induced the government not to give their consent at present to the motion of the noble earl. The question connected with railways was now, and had been during the present session of parliament, under the careful and laborious consideration of a committee of the other house. On an early day in this session the Presi dent of the Board of Trade brought the whole subject of railways under the notice of the other house ; and an in struction was given to the committee on this subject, to take into consideration all suggestions which might seem adapted to advance the public interest and convenience. The committee had laid three reports upon the table of the other house, two of them having reference to bills which had been proposed during the present session, and the third taking a much wider range. If the noble earl bad seen that report, he would be convinced that the committee had gone very deeply into the question, and be would be aware that they had proposed some impor tant alterations in the railroad system. The committee had taken into special consideration the facilities afforded for travelling by third-class trains. The inconveniences to which passengers by these trains were subject were most discreditable to the railway companies (hear, hear), and it would be a discredit to parliament to allow them to continue. The committee had therefore recommended that all future railway companies should be required to provide trains at convenient times every day, the car riages being " seated" and defended from the weather, for the conveyance of third-class passengers. It was de termined to prevent those shifts to which railway compa nies had had recourse, such as sending off the passengers by the third-class trains at nine o'clock at night, in car riages without seats, and occupying sixteen or seventeen hours in performing a journey which, by the ordinary trains, was performed in six or seven hours. Although he could not state the fact positively, he bad no doubt that some measures would be adopted to make it compul sory upon railway companies already in existence to ex tend the facilities for travelling by third-class trains. It was, of course, a matter of delicacy and difficulty to interfere with companies already established, because, granting that they inflicted hardship by demanding a high rate of fares, and by other means, still the powers and repulations under which they acted had been granted and confirmed by parliament, with its eyes open, within a comparatively recent period. It was proposed to place everything connected with railways under the strict su perintendence of a government board. The committee of the House of Commons bad also recommended that it should be made a condition in all future railway bills, that, at the expiration of fifteen years from the time of the passing of the bill, the companies should submit to this alternative—either that when their dividends amount ed to upwards of 10 per cent. they should consent to a revision of their fares, giving at the same time a guarantee that their profits should not sink below 10 per cent., or that the government should have the option of purchasing the line at 25 years' purchase upon the visible profit. He had referred to these points to satisfy their lordships that the committee of the other house was going to work on this subject in earnest. The question as to whether an examination of projected lines of railway by a government board should be required was now under the consitlera tion of the committee. He thought it might be advisable that, previous to the adoption of any line of railway, a reference should be made to the Board of Trade, and that the proposed bill should be submitted to them for the purpose of examination and inquiry—the inquiry relating to such questions as the amount of trifle that might be anticipated, the engineering difficulties to be overcome, and such other matters as a committee of the House of Commons might recommend. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TIIESDAY. Mr. Hindi& moved for copies of the correspondence \\V ' between the Court of Directors and the Government re specting the recal of Lord Ellenborough. Sir ROBERT PEEL said he should feel it his duty to offer to this motion the most decided resistance in his power. To a motion which involved a discussion of Lord Ellen borough's character and conduct, it might be a sufficient answer that such a discussion ought not to take place in Lord Ellenborough's ab-ence : but his present ground of resistance was a sal higher one—the welfare of the pub lic service. The government, looking at India as it was when Lord Ellenborough went thither, and as it was at this day, had certainly approved of his conduct. When the directors had resolved to recal him, the government, though not concurring in that measure, yet thought it desirable that the two ruling powers, the directors and the government, should act in concert with respect - to the appointment of the successor. He had himself seen the chairman and the deputy-chairman ; had told them that all recollections of what had passed ought. in his opinion, to merge in the consideration of what would thereafter be best for the public; and that he would name no successor who would not be favourably regarded by the directors. They concurred in these sentiments. He then inquired whether Sir H. Hardinge would be acceptable to them. They answered that they had already thought of Sir H. Hardinge as the fittest man in England for the office. Upon this he had proposed the appointment to his gallant friend, pressing him to allow no private consideration to withhold him from performing this great .service to his country. Sir H. Hard nge, without hesitation, had com plied with the request, and was to sail by the earliest conveyance. But it was not to be suffered that by that same conveyance a published correspondence, the history of past differences, should go out to India, raising the most inconvenient discussions in that country, and em barrassing the very commencement of Sir H. Hardinge's administration. He would appeal to the directors now present whether such a publication would not be highly injurious to the public? Mr. ASTELL declared that the directors had never de sired the publication of these papers ; and that, in his judgment, that publication would be injurious to the ge neral interests in India. The directors had thought it their duty to effect the recal of the Governor-General; but, this being now accomplished. they had no desire to raise any question implicating his proceedings, which, undoubtedly, had been taken with the most upright in tentions. _ Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know whether the government meant to make Lord Ellenborough's conduct the guide of the future governor? Whether Lord Ellenborough had not been removed for his private conduct rather than for his public policy? Sir R. PEEL said there had been nothing of compro mh;e between the government and the directors. As to the principles on which India was to be governed, Sir H. Hardinge would determine them for himself; and he was convinced that they would be principles of sound discre tion and high integrity. The house then divided— Against Mr. Hutne's motion 197 Font.... Majority against it • 176 Lord JOHN MANNERS moved for a select committee to inquire into the operation of the laws of mortmain and charitable bequest, and the expediency of revising them. Not only land, in the ordinary sense of the word, but every interest in land, even shares in railroads, were tied up by the existing law. He was not now proposing its actual repeal : he asked only a committee before whom he might adduce his proofs. Sir J. GRAHAM. though he had before opposed the immediate repeal of the laws in question, had no obj tion f e to the appointment of the select committee now pro ed. The report of the Factory Bill being brought up , was received, with some 'additions introduced by Sir J. Gra ham in points of detail. Some matters of routine were then disposed of, and the house adjourned. X c HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY. A discussion took place upon the third reading of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill, which was opposed by the Bishop of Exeter, the Earl of Winchelsea, Lord Kenyon, Lord Mountcashel, and Lord Teynbarn, but on a division the bill was passed by a majority of 44 to 9. The Duke of RICHMOND postponed until this day his motion respecting the wool duties. Some bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY. Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that he would move, when the sugar duties were under consideration, that all foreign sugars, without distinction, should be admitted at the proposed duty of 34F. Mr. H UM E moved that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to consider whether it would not be for the advan tage of Ireland and to the interest of the United Kingdom to abolish the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The hon. gentleman repeated many of the arguments which he has, on former occasions, used in support of the abroga tion of the office. _ _ _ Captain BERNAL seconded the motion. Lord ELIOT said there was a tacit understanding at the time of the union, that the seat of government should re main in Dublin, and intimated !hat there would be great difficulty in transferring all the duties of the Irish govern ment to a fourth Secretary of State in England. He be lieved the people of Ireland would regard the abolition of the office with the greatest dissatisfaction. Lord J. RUSSELL said the propriety of abolishing the office of Lord Lieutenant had been considered by the late government, and it was decided that it was not advisable to do so. He was, however, of opinion that the plan of governing Ireland by a separate establishment was not the most eligible, and there was not, he thought, much diffi culty, in assimilating the government of Ireland to that of Scotland. It was, however, a matter for the considera tion of the Executive, and he would not, therefore, sup port the motion. Mr. SHAW hoped, however anomalous the office of Lord Lieutenant might he, that Mr. Hume would not commit members by pressing his motion to a division. Sir R. PEEL said that Mr. Hume's motion ought not to be supported by any hon. member unless he were pre pared for an immediate abolition of the office, for its au thority would be paralysed if such a vote were carried. Though he was not prepared to say that the office should be permanently maintained, yet he saw great difficulty in transferring its duties to a second Home Secretary in England, to transact the affairs of Ireland. The two Home Secretaries would be likely to come into frequent collision. Besides all the inconvenience attending the abolition of the office, it would almost give a claim for compensation to the inhabitants of Dublin. Mr. ElumE withdrew his motion. Mr. BUTLER moved for a copy of an opinion and ad vice given by Mr. Pennefather, the present Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland, on the 28th of February, 1825, in a case of toll—namely, " Pembroke v. Kingsmill," the original of which is in possession of the present mayor and corporation of the city of Kilkenny. The advice was to the effect that the corporation should send a person to search the Record offices in the Tower and at Birmingham for a charter of James 11., so as to enable him to swear that he looked for and could not find it, and that care should be taken to keep the documents out of his way while searching. Lord ELIOT said that the document moved for was a private opinion given by a counsel to his clients, and could not, therefore, be produced. There was no reason to doubt the accuracy of the opinion as quoted, but the letter only referred to a charter of James 11., which was invalid, and which could only tend to embarrass a case which turned altogether upon anterior charters, which had not been repudiated. He would leave it to his hon. friend Mr. Shaw to enter more at length into the case, confining himself to bearing testimony to the unimpeach able honour and integrity of the Lord Chief Justice. Mr. F. SHAW entered into a defence of the Lord Chief Justice, treating the motion as a party one, to serve ulte rior purposes connected with the Irish trials, and assert ing, on the authority of a letter from the Chief Justice, that it was so considered by him, as it was but one of a series of annoyances and threats to which he had been exposed since the trials for conspiracy. Mr. FRENCH thought the explanation given by Lord Eliot and Mr. Shaw perfectly satisfactory. The motion was negatived without a division. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. A motion of the Duke of Richmond's for returns res pecting the importation of foreign wool led to a short dis cussion, the noble duke expressing his belief that the pro posed abrogation of the duly would prove injurious to our Australian colonies. 1-le declined, however, to ex press a positive opinion until he should be in possession of the information which he expected to derive from the returns. He was not favourable to the abrogation of the duty at the first view of the question, because of its ten dency to free trade. . . The Earl of DALIIOUSIE was prepared to prove that the proposed abolition of the wool duties was calculated to prove beneficial to the wool-growers rather than injuri ous ; but as the noble duke sought only for information at present, he would not enter into the case until it should come more regularly before the house, if the noble duke should think proper to make a motion on the subject after he should have read the returns. The returns were agreed to. Lord CLONCURRY moved the appointment of a select committee to inquire into public works in Ireland, with a view to the improvement of the soil of that country, and finding employment for the people, by promoting drainage and encouraging the construction of railroads. The Duke of WELLINGTON said he was not disposed to support a larger grant for the purposes referred to in Ireland than the £60,000 a year already voted, part of which had already been advanced at the rate of £15,000 a quarter. Under all thu circumstances he called upon their lordships to negative the motion. Lord CLONCURRY withdrew his motion, and their lordships soon after adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—FninAy. Sir J. GRAHAM moved the third reading of the Facto ries' Bill. Lord ASHLEY, in an able speech, canvassed the argu ments urged in former debates against his proposition for limiting the labour of women and children in f actories to ten hours, and concluded by moving the addition of the following clause to the bill, " And be it enacted, that from and after the first day of October in the present year, no young person shall be employed in any factory more than eleven hours in any one day, or more than sixty-four hours in any one week ; and that from and after the first day of October, 1847, no young person shall be employed in any factory more than ten hours in any one day, or more than fifty-eight hours in any one week ; and that any person who shall be convicted of em ploying a young person for any longer time than is in and by this clause permitted, shall for every such offence be adjudged to pay a penalty of not less than £3, and not more than £10." Sir J. GRAHAM stated his opinion that the clause, if adopted, would be dangerous to the interests of the state, and resorted to those arguments so often used against the proposition, and which must by this time be familiar to the oublie, concluding by a declarAtion that he would give to the motion of the noble lord his most uncompromising opposition. Lord HOWICK believed that the limitation to ten hours would compel this country to give a larger amount of its industry to exchange for foreign produce, but the loss would not fall upon either the workmen or the manufac turers, but would be sustained by the community at large. At all events, a system should not be continued which overtaxed the faculties of women and children. Mr. BERNAL said, that if the proposition were to be tried by the principles of sound common sense, there could be no doubt as to the result. A spirit prevailed upon the subject throughout the country which would not be quelled by the defeat of the proposition of Lord Ashley; on the contrary, its rejection would probably give rise to feelings of irritation which it would be difficult to allay. Mr. GAILY KNIGHT was of opinion that Lord Ashley's proposition, although he had formerly supported it, would be injurious to the interests of the operatives, and he would therefore oppose it. Mr. C. BtILLER excited considerable amusement at the expense of Mr." Knight, owing to the latter gentleman's change of opinion since the proposition was formerly discussed. Mr. FERRAND supported Lord Ashley's clause, and said that the,working classes would cease to work if Par liament would not concede to them the boon for which they were so anxious. A discussion arose upon the question of adjournment, which was eventually agreed to. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. AMERICA. Our accounts from New York are to the 17th ult. - The Tariff question occupied the attention of both branches of Congress ; in the Senate, on the resolution of the Committee of Finance to postpone, indefinitely, the bill introduced by Mr. M•Dufe for the reduction of the present tariff to the standard of the Compromise Act, and in the House of Representatives on the New Tariff Bill. On the 10th ult. two ineffectual attempts were made to take up the bill and assign a day for its consideration in a special order, and Mr. J. R. Ingersoll offered a resolution to postpone the further consideration of that question un- til the fast Tuesday in December next, equivalent to a vote that there shall be no change in the present tariff, which was also rejected, yeas 83, nays 100; being a majority of 17 against postponing the New Tariff Bill until next ses sion. Again, on the 15th, Mr. M`Kay's motion that the bill be taken up was rejected by a majority of 11. He was expected to renew his motion on the following day, and would consider the result as the final test of the intention of the house upon the subject. _ _ The next subject of interest is the Oregon negotiation. It is said that Mr. Calhoun hid proposed the parallel of forty-nine as the boundary, but that Mr. Pakenham's in structions did not allow him to accept it. The opinion seemed to be, that the negociatiOn would be too protracted to admit of the possibility of the formation of a treaty during the present session of Congress. Meanwhile, according to the New York Herald, the settlers in the territory from the United States had established a regular territorial government, consisting of judge, sheriffs, clerks. &c., excepting that no governor was appointed. At Williamette Falls, on a branch of the Columbia, there have been erected two flour mills, two saw mills, and be tween thirty and forty frame dwellings. The third subject of interest is the annexation of Texas to the Union. It is confidently affirmed that the treaty was signed on the 12th ult., and would be communicated to the Senate ina few days. The affirmation isstrengthened, also, by an address which has been issued by the Hon. Mr. Wilkins, the Secretary of 'War, to his constituents, commencing thus : "A treaty has hen signed for the annexation of Texas to the territories of the United States;" and he procee 's to set forth his views of the question. Some of the Washington correspondents of the New York papers go so far as to give outlines of the chief provisions of the treaty. The following was the condition of trade at New York. Liverpool Orrell Coal sold at 8.50; Newcastle at 7.50, and fine at 6.50. English Epsom Salts, 3, cash. Bees' Wax sold freely at 29t- to 301 cts. per lb. Pig iron had declined in price; pig lead sold at 3+ cts. per lb.; tin plate at 8 dollars per box. Sales of English Linseed Oil at 80 ets., 4 ms. A parcel spirits turpentine, on the wharf, sold at 331 cents. Pork dull. 200 brls. prime beef at 4 25. Flour would sell freely at 5 dollars, but could not be lvd at that, and some sales were made at 5.06 dollars, and perhaps some at 5.12 dollars ; 500 brls. Brandywine at something over 5.06 dollars, though it may still be quoted with Georgetown, at 5 to 5.12 dollars. There are buyers of rye at 70 cts. delivered, and this is all that can be had. Two cargoes of North Carolina corn sold at 54 cts. weight. Canal oats 32 to 34 cts. Business generally going on well. Money was plentiful, though in fair demand, at 5 to 6 per cent. Exchanges were quite firm. Sterling if pre mium ; Francs 5.271. Stocks were much advanced, _ _ Our intelligence from Mexico i 4 to the 28th March. On the 12th, Mr. Bankhead, our new Minister, arrived at Vera Cruz, and effected the release of such of the pri soners at Perote as were Englishmen. An armistice, to the following effect, has been concluded with Texas :—There is to be peace between the belligerents till the Ist of May next, previous to which a treaty for the pacification of that " department" is expected to be ratified by other commissioners, fully authorized for that purpose, and who are to meet in 'Mexico. In no way is the armistice to be prolonged, unless there be certainty that the difference can be amicably settled. Accounts from Havana to the 3d ult. state, that the ex citement caused in Matanzas by the recent plot among the negroes to rise and take possession of the island still continued, and arrests were daily made. THE - LIVERPOOL STANDARD. WEST INDIES. The papers received by the Tweed steamer from the West Indies reach to the 9th of April from Jamaica, and from the other islands to corresponding dates. The most important intelligence conveyed by this opportunity is the rising of the blacks in Hayti, and the sacrifice of life and property following the revolt. The Jamaica journals, re ferring to the condition of the weather, state that no satis factory change had taken p'ace. A few partial showers had fallen, but generally speaking the drought continued in the majority of the parishes. No improvement deserv ing notice could be reported in the trade of the island, nor was any, it appears, expected till agricultural operations had taken a brisker turn than had been the case for some months past. The bad weather, it is stated, leaves the labouring population without employment, and conse quently they were without the means which they would otherwise have of making purchases. St. Thomas's in the East, to which Lord Elgin had recently paid a visit, was one of the few parishes that had been favoured with genial weather, and where good crops were to be seen. With respect to politics, it is observed that the next ge neral election is looked forward to with much interest and even alarm by some persons, who imagine, but from what cause is not apparent, that the constitution of the House of Assembly will undergo considerable change. The accounts from the other islands afford little news of interest. The weather at Barbadoes had been seasona ble, and the plantations showed the benefit of the late rains. At Trinidad the Council were occupied with the promulgation of ordinances for the internal improvement of the island, but labour, it was feared, would be insuffi cient to carry the necessary works into execution. The Demerara papers allude to the absence of Mr. Bagot, the chief registrar, and the serious charge of fraud made against him. There appears to be no change in business affairs in this quarter of the West Indies ; and, generally speaking, matters seem to bear a smooth and quiet aspect throughout the several islands. The following melancholy particulars of the revolt at o f Gazette o o f f t t l b ) the French brig Adelina, Captain Tahe t, with 140 p assen g ers, 8 11 t h a 31 April, ti w e which take f from announces the ' T a t m h e a i a c r a r i v ß a o l y a a t t h G a a t z p e compelled to fly from their native land in consequence of this revolt. " Our readers remember that the new Pre sident, Herard, had marched with a large army for St. Domingo city, to quell the insurrection in the eastern portion of the island. Taking advantage of the absence of the General and troops, the black people rose en masse on Sunday, the 31st ultimo, and commenced an indiscrimi nate slaughter of the brown population. On Wednesday the National Guards, of the town of Aux Cayes, went out with two pieces of ordnance to suppress the rebellion and punish the rebels, but as we have learned, their own Ge neral Commandant delivered up the cannons to the blacks, and joined them himself. Thus strengthened, they drove the National Guard back to Aux Cayes, entered the town, and commenced a relentless butchery—murdering every brown person, without regard to sex or age. The wretched inhabitants had no means of defence, no refuge, save on board the few foreign ships lying in the harbour—French, American, and English. Into these they crowded in con fused and huddled batches, men, women, and children, literally covering the decks, and exhibiting a distressing spectacle of misery and sudden destitution. But the decked vessels were not sufficient to hold the numbers of wretched refugees; the port was dotted all over with small open boats, each containing as many human beings as it could hold, who dared not to remain on land to await certain massacre, and yet could have little hope of escape by sea. Captain Tahet was bound for France, and had but provisions sufficient for his crew. To Cuba or Porto Rico, which would have been on his route, be could not bring his poor protoges, for there they would not have been received. With disinterested generosity, therefore, he sailed for Jamaica, and here has safely landed his un happy freight. Most of these made their escape from the shore without any other property than their wearing appa rel —some, indeed, with scarcely that. At eight o'clock on Thursday evening last Captain Tahet set sail, and at that time the work of blood was going on, and the port crowded in the manner mentioned. We shall probably have some of the other vessels with the refugees arriving here to-day. When the Adelina left, her commander had just got his letters from St. Domingo ; and though ru mours were rife, there was no certain information of any encounter having taken place between Herard and the Spanish revolters. We learn through private sources from Hayti, that General Herard had succeeded in col lecting a force of 25,000 men to oppose the insurgents in the Spanish p ar t of the island—viz., 10,000 from Port-au- Prince and the arrondissement, 10,000 from Cape " 3 3" i and Plais ance , an d 5,000 from Gonaives and St. Marc. He has issued a decree, declaring all the ports on the eastern coast, from Anses-a-Pitre to Tapion de Monte Christi, in a stat e o f blockade.' PORTUGAL.—O n the 29th ult. Afrneida surrendered. The soldiers left their arms in the fortress, and marched before the besieging troops to the place appointed. Gen. Br mfin and a certain number of officers retired into Spain. This event, though purchased by conditions betraying the weakness of the government, is still important, as ter minating, at least for a time, the armed resistance to the present cabinet. In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, M. Guizot declared, on the presentation of a petition on the subject, that it was the intention of the guvernmeat to abolish negro slavery in the French colonies, and that in so doing they should be guided by the example and expe rience of Great Britain. The Duchess of Kent and Prince of Leiningen, accom. panied by the Queen of the French and several princes and princesses of the Royal family, visited on Sunday the palaces of Versailles and Trianon. The august party walked through - the park of Versailles whilst the water works were playing, and were everywhere cheered with lively acclamations. On Tuesday, at noon, the Duchess of Kent, the King and Queen of the French, and the rest of the Royal family left the Tuillelies for Fontaitibleau, where they were to remain until Thursday evening. IRE LAND. DUBLIN COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.-MAY 6. All the avenues to the Queen's Bench were- crowded from an early hour this morning; the listlessness which had so strongly characterized the public during the de livery of the long-winded and time. kill►ng hal angues of the traversers' counsel, having, now that there appeared some probability of judgment being pronounced this term, given way to an intense anxiety to ascertain the result. By eleven o'clock, the hour at which the full court usually sit, every disposable inch of room in every part of the Court was occupied. The front of the gallery was filled with ladies. None of the members of the Court appeared at the usual hour, which caused much disappointment to the Public curiosity. Twelve o'clock came, and still their Lordships remained absent. The ladies, the gentlemen of the bar, the press, and those liege subjects who are classed as the public at large, might be seen in little groups, en gaged in the most animated conversation on such topics as, what the Judges were now actually doing ? Wheth.er they were, or were not, arranging and discussing their judgment ? However, all the various and interesting speculations— and they were numerous—were put an end to by the crier shouting " Silence ! " a few moments after which Mr. Justice Burton entered the court and took his seat, and in a few minutes was followed by Mr. Justice Crampton, and at a quarter past twelve o'clock the Lord Chief Jus tice took his seat, but Mr. Justice Perrin did not appear. The Attorney-General and several of the Crown counsel were present, together with the Crown Solicitor and Mr. Hodges, the Government reporter. Some of the counsel and agents for the traversers were in attendance, as also I were Dr. Gray, the Rev. Mr. Tierney, and Mr. Steele, O'Connell's head pacificator. The CHIEF JUSTICE having inquired if Mr. Attorney- General wished to move any thing, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL bowed to the court, but had no motion to make, upon which The CHIEF JUSTICE made the same inquiry of Mr. BREWSTER, Q. C., who rose and said, that in the case of Stringer v. Mac Donald, he had been instructed to apply to their lordships for a new trial. ' The motion was destitute of any feature of public in terest. Mr. Brewster's motion having been disposed of, for the present, upon a preliminary objection, The Court proceeded to call upon the Queen's Counsel present to move, according to their seniority, some of whom having availed them of the opportunity, one or two cases were heard, during the last of which Mr. Justice Perrin, who, it was understood, had been engaged with the Grand Jury in chamber during the morning, entered the court, and took his seat amongst his learned brethren. After hearing two counsel on either side in support of the application, which was a renewal of a writ of habere, the Court refused to grant what the plaintiff required, and gave their opinion at some length on the subject, after which the Court asked Mr. M`Donough if he had any thing else to move, who was not at present prepared to move anything. The same question was put to Mr. Scott, Q.C., and to Sir Thomas Staples, Q.C., both of . whom similarly declined. The Chief-Justice then addressing Mr. French, Q.C., said, have you anything to move? upon which the learned gentleman, making a low bow to the bench, immediately rose from his seat, and moved himself out of Court, amidst peals of laughter at the learned counsel's mode of answering the question, in which the Bench heartily joined. The Court, with the most provoking indifference to the curiosity of the public, said nothing further during the day on the subject of the traversers' motion. The Court adjourned at half-past four. At half-past 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, the Judges having been in consultation together for about an hour previously, the Chief Justice entered the court having in his hand the thick volume so often referred to during the state trials, and, without sitting down, spoke as follows from the bench ; " Mr. Attorney-General, I am sorry to tell you that, in the case of Queen v. Daniel O'Connell and others, the court cannot give judgment this term.— The Attorney-General sat down, without saying a word, but bowed to his lordship. The court, which up to that moment was densely crowded, became instantly deserted. The rent received at the Repeal Association on Monday was £248. _ _ _ ALTAR DENUNCIATIONS.—Sif Samuel O'Malley, Bart., was denounced from the altar of the Castlebar Chapel, on Sunday week, for having an opinion on the New Registration Bill, and for daring to render it the support he thinks it merits. Sir Samuel exerted himself to get up a petition in favour of the bill. CONVERSION FROM POPERY.—The Rev. Solomon Frost, Roman Catholic priest, publicly conformed to the established religion, in the Church of St. Audeon, Dub lin, on Sunday week, where he read his recantation before the Rev. Thomas Scott, parochial minister, and received the holy communion. EXTRAORDINARY Romot n.—The Dublin correspon dent of tha Times of Friday, says that it is currently believed in the Irish metropolis that Mr. Daniel O'Con nell, M.P., is about to be married to the sister of a dis tinguished pro'es-or of Trinity College—a lady zealously attached to high charch doctrines. A very likely story, certainly. SERIOUS AFFRAY.—On Tuesday last, the Sub-Sheriff of Cork went to the lands of Gurranes, in Cecils town, accompanied by a party of sixty rank and file, taken as a matter of prudence, to take possession under habere of lands held by different tenants, evicted for the non payment of rent. On their arrival they found the doors and windows, with the exception of small apertures, built up with stone and mortar, and defended from inside by a number of men armed with pikes on poles of twelve feet long. Besides the number within the houses, there were large assemblages of people outside, who gave evidence of being ready to oppose the authorities. The Sub-Sheriff demanded possession, but the answer from within was, that they would never surrender, and that they would kill any one who attempted to force an entrance. The Sub- Sheriff then ordered the police to make a breach through one of the side walls, these being less defended than the front or rere. The police went efficiently to work, and in a few minutes the wall crumbled before them, and having made a breach they rushed forward, but on getting in some of them were stabbed with the pikes—one in the right side of the head—another under the left eye—ano ther in the thigh, and a fourth in the left arm, while se veral received bruises ; others of the police were severely scalded by two women who threw a large pot of boiling water on them. Six fellows, each armed with a pike, were then dragged out and firmly handcuffed, when two others outside called upon the mob to rescue them. These fel lows were also secured. The Sub-Sheriff and the party then proceeded to the owee houses, from which the in mates fled, having been informed of what had taken place. THE REPEAL RENT ALL GONE.—A correspondent of the Morning Herald of Friday, amongst other startling statements makes the following :—" Some have said that before October the repeal rent amounted to £60,000. Perhaps the safer way is to follow Lord Chesterfield'. authority, and to believe only half of what we hear. Then say £30,000 ; but whatever it was it was lodged in government securities in the sole name of Daniel O'Con nell. This fact is notorious, and can be proved by refer ence to the funds, and to the stock-broker who invested that sum, whatever it might have been, in the sole name of Daniel O'Connell. If there were one lione,t man in the Repeal Association whose fears had not completely prostrated his honesty, would he not have protested against the investment of the people's money in the natne of any one individual, however opulent, because on his death it would be the property of his executors : but sup pose such individual to have been long known to have been in embarrassed circumstances, it was in such case doubly criminal. If Mr. O'Connell died to-morrow—if general report speak true—he would die in debt, and the people's money would become the property of his credi tors. This one fact would be, in itself, abundant evi dence to prove the trustworthy fidelity with which the Repeal Association have answered the generous confidence so blindly placed in them by the poor Roman catholic peasantry of Ireland. This, in itself, would afford abundant matter for indignant commentary. But I am spared all this. The people's money is all drawn out. Whatever the thousands were, Daniel O'Connell has ex pended all : not one penny left in the till. I challenge the Repeal Association to ar.swer this charge. They are the self-constituted trustees of the poor people. Have the people been robbed, or have they not ?" WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES AND WOOL.—Accounts of the quantities of wool imported and exported in the year, 1813, also of the quantities and declared value of British woollen manufactures exported from the United Kingdom in that year, have been printed. It appears that the gross total quantities of sheep and lambs' wool imported into the United Kingdom in 1843 amounted to 47,785,0611 b. ; and that the net total quantity retained for home consumption amounted to 46,443,0321 b., of which 17,736,3881 b. were entered at a duty of Id. per lb. ; 7,804,9181 b at ;cl. duty per lb. ; and 20,901,7261 b, duty free. The total quantities re-exported from the United Kingdom in the year 1843 were 2,734,5411 b., and the quantities remaining warehoused in bond on the sth of January, 1844, 3,827,5831 b. By far the greatest quantity of the above wool, &c., comes from Germany and New South Wales. The total quantity of British sheep and lambs' wool and woollen yarn exported from the United Kingdom in 1843 amounted (the former) to 8,179,6391 b., and the latter to 7,410,3131 b. The total quantity of Al paca and Llama wool imported into this country last year was 1,558,0321 b., and that of mohair, or goats' wool, 575,5231 b. More than two-thirds of our exports of sheep and lambs' wool are taken by Belgium, and the remaining third (on a rough calculation) by France. We also find that the gross total declared value of British woollen ma nufactures exported from Great Britain and Ireland during the year 1843, amounted to X 9,799,231 ITIVIVERSI7Y it CLERICAL IVERT. CARBRIDGF, May 9.—At the Congregation just held, the following degrees were conterred:—B.D.: John Henry Howlett, St. John's College. L.L.8.: John George Middleton, St. John's College. M.A.: William Mason Dudley, St. Catherine's-hall; Wm. Huntingdon Pillans, Jesus College; Willoughby John Guthrie Loudon, Cor pus Christi College; and George Augustus Langdalet, St. John's College. Ad Eundem: John Harrison, M.A., Trinity College, Dublin ; and Thomas Page, M.A., Mag dalen-hall, Oxford. 8.A.: John Fearen,ide, St. John's College; Joseph Kay, Trinity College; Matthew Piers Watt Boulton, Trinity College; John Gorham, St. John's College; Alexander Edward Kelso Hamilton, Trinity College ; and Joseph Clarke, Corpus Christi College. OXFORD. May 9.—ln a Convocation holden this day, the Rev. Charles Maunder, M.A., of Queen's College, Cambtidge, was admitted ad eundem. In a Congregation holden at the same time the following degrees were con ferred :—Maslers of Arts: Rev. Edward Moore, Brase nose ; John Walker. Brasenose ; Rev. Lionel Carden, University; Rev. William Pet cival Walsh, Worcester; Rev. Thomas Hammond House, Worcester; and Rev. Samuel Hope Unwin, Worcester. Bachelors of Arts: Charles Hill, Lincoln; William Richards, New Inn Hall; John Tripp, New Inn Hall ; Amelius John Ter-Broeke, Magdalen-hall; James Dowland Haskins, Magdalen hall ; Ayscoghe Floyer, Wadham ; Edward Henry Qui c ke, Wadham; Wm. Mortimer Heath, Exeter: John Bargus Yonge, Exeter; William Vaughan Yarworth, St. John's ; William Green, Scholar of Pembroke ; Edward Henry Armitage, Trinity ; Charles Chapman, Trinity; Arthur William Breedon, Trinity ; Paul Augustus Dodson, Wor cester; William Grzeme Gibson, Worcester; and Henry Daniel Pearson, Worcester.—Mr. Macmullen presented himself on Thursday last for his degree for the second time, but it was refused by Dr. Hampden. The Rev. Dr. Scoresby, Vicar of Bradford, has recently sailed on a short trip to America and Canada. The Rev. Wm. Ellis, incumbent of Armin, near Goole, has been presented by James Lister, Esq., of S&ndon terrace, Liverpool, to the vicarage of Laddington, in the county of Lincoln. The Bishop of London has introduced a bill into the House of Lords, entitled " An act for better regulating the offices of lecturers and parish-clerks, and for encou raging the making better provision for the spiritual wants of parishes and districts." The Prince of Wales's donat'on of 100 guineas in aid of the subscription fund for the restoration of parts of the interior of Chester Cathedral beads the list of noble' 'do nors. The Marquis of Westminster and the Earl of Stam ford and Warrington, have respectively given donations of the same amount; the Bishop of Chester, £lOO ;. - the Bishop of Londqn £5O ; and Lord Robert Grosvenor, Sir 0. Mosley, Bart, &c., smaller amounts. The sub scription already reaches £1,500. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—The annual dis tribution of prizes in the medical department of this Col lege took place in the lecture-room a few days ago. Lord Brougham presided. A brief report was read, in which it was stated that the number of students attending the medical classes was the same as last year, viz., 300, of whom 93 had entered this year. The financial affairs of the institution were in a flourishing condition. The late Mr. Brindel, a barrister, had lately left them £20,000, and Mr. Bacon had left them, subject to the life of his widow, a sum which was expected to realise £28,000, making in all nearly £50,000, which is .now at the dispo sal of the council. LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.—The thirty-eighth anniversary meeting of this society (and the first since its amalgamation with the Church Education Society for Ire land) was held on Thursday, in the Queen's Concert room, Hanover-square. The Marquess of Cholmondeley presided. From the report read it appeared that at the union of the two societies there were 474 schools, of which 302 were forperly transferred to the Church Edu cation Society. There were at present 1694 schools, with 101,302 children, of whom 13,895 are Protestant Dissen ters, and 33,187 Roman Catholics. Total income £3876 ; expenditure, £3384. The contributions towards schools in connexion with the Church Education Society amounted to £29,535, making the gross receipts £33,402. PRAYER BOOK AND HOMILY SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of this society took place on Thursday, in the Lower Room of the Exeter Hall. The society has been now 31 years established. Its object is to circulate—at home, by members of the society, by agents, or otherwise, amongst landsmen, seam en , fi s h ermen and boatmen ; and abroad, by clergymen, missionaries, and others amongst our own countrymen or the inquiring heathen, the book of common prayer, and all other works of the church set forth by authority, at or about the time of the British re formation, in entire volumes, or in portions or parts in English and in foreign languages. The amount received was only £1753, being £BOO less than the previous year : but since the report has been prepared, their prospects has been assuming a better aspect. The Rev. Mr. Thel wall, Rev. Mr. Armstrong, Rev. Dr. Marsh, Mr. Chris tian, the Rev. Francis Cunningham, and some other gentlemen addressed the meeting. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. The event of last week in Parliamentary Railway Com mittees is the rejection, on Friday, of both the Harwich schemes. We believe that next session will see a better scheme than either. Among the railways which have for some time been suffering from undue depression, and into which the re viving spirit of the times is at last breathing the breath of life and healthfulness, we number the Preston and Wyre, the shares in which company, but the other day unsaleable at £8 or £lO, ate now, we perceive, verging close upon £2O. RATING OF RAILWAYS.—In the Queen's Bench, on Friday, the court gave judgment, on the appeal of the Grand Junction Railway against a poor-rate order on the com),any. The court held, that the facts which dis tinguished this case from the South Western Railway Company's case were not such as to alter the application of that case. That the rate is upon the occupier, in respect of his beneficial occupation, and not on any par ticular class of receipts, or particular holding. The com pany had admitted that a tenant would give a certain stun, as lessee, of what the company possessed, and by consent the court were to treat it as an entire line. The comp any also admitted cert a i n f ac t s , out o f w hi ch the court could not go. They thought the S ou th W estern d ec i sion good, and applicable to this case. They, therefore, disallowed the appeal, and confirmed the rate. SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY. —A meeting of gentlemen interested in the welfare of Sheffield was held at the Cutlers' Hall on Monday last, when it was unanimously resolved, " That the proposed Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway is an under taking highly advantageous to the town of Sheffield, and deserving the utmost support of its inhabitants, and that immediate means be adopted to obtain an act of Parlia ment for the construction of such a line of railway ; ' and a provisional committee was appointed to carry the above resolution into effect, with power to add to their number. This line of railway will proceed from the Sheffield and, Manchester Railway-station at Sheffield, cross and com municate with the North Midland Railway near Wood house Mill, and proceed by way of Worksop and Retford to Gainsburgh and Lincoln, at or near which latter . place it will also communicate with the intended line of railway from Cambridge or London towards York. A prospectus of the line will be issued in a few days. PUBLIC OPENING OF THE LIVERPOOL JUNCTION RAILWAY THROUGH SALFORD.—TiI;S line was publicly opened on Saturday week, since which time the whole of the passenger trains have run from the Victoria station, at Hunt's Bank, including the half-past three o'clock a. m. mail train, a circumstance which must be of great consequence to the post office. No stoppage is made to take up passengers at the junction with the old line, at Ordsall-lane, and the offices in Liverpool-road, so far as the passenger traffic is concerned, are entirely closed. The old station, however, is still the station for the Man chester goods traffic ; but goods coming from Liverpool to Yorkshire, or from Yorkshire to Liverpool, are taken to the Hunt's Bank Station. The new offices, waiting rooms, &c. of the Liverpool and Manchester Company, at the Victoria Station, adjoin those of the Manchester and Leeds Company, and are very neat and commodious. There is now, therefore, one continuous line of railway communication across the country from Hull to Liver pool. and the Irish Channel is thus brought into close neighbourhood with the German Ocean. NORTH WALES MINERAL RAILWAY, FROM CHES TER TO WREXHAM.—The bill for this line is in com mittee, and at present unopposed. The extent of the railway is eleven miles ; and the estimated cost, in cluding branches to several iron and coal works, is £120,000. The traffic returns exceed £20,000 a-year, in pretty equal proportions for passengers and general merchandise, and for minerals. Should the pro ject, emanating from Birkenhead, of a line from Chester to Shrewsbury, be carried out, it will branch Another i thei h i" , ' noea consequence 0 1 ete)gnhani wasslletateronltcchuaaeacr . s , cr: c eo l Enn 0 meetingf o P t h; from this line, and materially increase its returns. It promises to be one of our most productive mineral rail ways. Certainly no part of the kingdom stands in greater need of railway communication than the central district of North Wales, which this line opens up. It abounds in minerals, and is exceedingly populous. Of about twenty furnaces in blast within a few years, not more than four or five continue to work ; while the population, particu larly of two parishes, Wrexham and Ruabon, nearly 24,000 in number, are involved in the utmost poverty and distress. The cost of carriage was of itself sufficient, during the recent depression of the iron trade, to compel these works to " blow out."—Railway Record. GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY. A special general meeting of this company was held at the Cotton Sales room, on Tuesday, for the purpose of declaring a dividend . and creating new shares in the undertaking. The chair was occupied by John Moss, Esq.; and the meeting was very numerously attended. The chairman said that the understanding had been, that a quarterly dividend should be declared. He had merely to state, therefore, directors had not thought proper to make a report,. as the simply remaining which payment a surplus, including that up to the Ist of April, there was a sum of money in a ' ir . iing . at Christmas,. would be left. He hand sufficient to enable the directors to recommend that a dividend of £2 10s. per . share should be paid on the thebi I,Cofonrsaitlihiayer,essafnobireet between the eebne purpose ryapanobcslaees Lancaster that, considering this was the first and always the worst quarter of the year, they had every r'glit to be gratified with the result. A dividend of £2 10s. per accordingly declared, and after the 15th inst.—The new shares were not created, yet received the royal assent. and Carlisle, not having as creating the shares, was appointed to be held at the (Cot ton Salesroom on that day fortnight. In reply to the question of a proprieter, Captain Huish stated that it would be very convenient if those holding fractional parts May 1-1, IS-11. of shares could make np a whole share among themselves, and send a joint letter to the office stating in what name' they wished it to be entered. If this could not be done, then, he said, the office would endeavour to arrange it. with some other party who was in a similiar situation with respect to fractional shares. The chairman stated gener ally that nothing could be more satisfactory than the pre sent state of the Grand Junctiun line, and that the direc tors had made arrangements with gentlemen at Manches ter, who were engaged with others in making the Trent Valley Railway, which would be carried out in the most satisfactory manner, and on the best possible terms. He observed that a great many of the rumours afloat were without foundation, and that he had no apprehension as to any thre a t s o f rival lines. The meeting adjourned, after the proceedings had occupied about twenty minutes. LAW INTELLIGENCE. Mr. Erle, Q.C., has been appointed Standing Counsel , to the Directors of the Bank of England, in place of Si r Frederick Pollock, now Lord Chief Baron. LIBEL IN AN ELECTIONEERING SPEECH.—On Tufa day, in the Court of Queen's Bench, a motion for a Ctim:nal Information was made, at the instance of the 'Duke of Marlborough, against Mr. Humfrey, the bar rister, for various libels on the Duke, contained in Mr. El's speech at the late Woodstock election. The learned lord Chief Justice refused the rule, in which the other judges also concurred, and stated at some length the diffi culty under which the Court laboured in granting a Cri minal Information on words spoken. SAVINGS' BANKS.—This bill, which was issued on Thursday, contains sixteen clauses. After the 20th No vember next, deposits cf one depositor not to exceed £2O in any one year, or more than £l2O in the whole. When investments amount to £l5O the interest is to cease. The • Act is not to affect deposits of £2OO on the 28th of luly, or' deposits of £l4O or above in November, 1844. From and after the 20th of November next the interest payable to' trustees of savings' banks shall be at the rate of 2d. per cent. per diem, and the interest payable to depositors not to exceed Id. per cent. per diem. Depositors, on making first deposit, to sign a declaration, and a copy thereof to be annexed to the deposit-book and witnessed. AnT officer of the savings' bank misapplying any money en trusted to him to be guilty of misdemeanour. Depositor to produce his book at the institution; Annuities not ex ceeding £4O may be granted to husband and wife. Where deposits and interest dO not exceed £5O, and where wills, n 9 s t p h e c G t e b o o . o N c. 92 e examin e 92 , as to t h w e i t d n e e p le i s t . &c., are not p rove d w i t hi n three months,. the money may be paid to th e w id ow , or other party entitled to the effects of the deceased. Di sputes to be referred to barristers, witb Repeal of liberty part t o if of rules with Clerk of the Peace. Two copies of rules to be submitted to barrister for his Certificate ; one copy to be returned, the other to be transmitted to the Commis sioners of the National Debt. THE COURT. THE ROYAL FAMILY.—On Wednesday afternoon, the Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the Princess Royal, arrived in London soon after three o'clock, in carriage and four, escorted by a party of the Royal Horse Guards, from Claremont. '1 heir Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice followed in another royal carriage. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were received at Buckingham Palace by the Lord Steward, &c. In the evening, a dinner was given at Buckingham Palace, to the noble directors of the Concert of Ancient Music, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, being director for the evening. At eight o'clock his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wellington, left the palc.ce for the Hanover Square Rooms; and at a quartet past eight o'clock. the queen left the palace to honour the performance of the concert with her presence, accompa nied by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, and attended by the Duchess of Buccleuch. On Thurs day afternoon, the Queen and Prince Albert went to Marlborough House, to visit Her Majesty the Queen Dowager. The illustrious visitors remained with the Queen Dowager about an hour, and afterwards returned to Buckingham Palace. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice. were taken their usual daily airings on Thursday, in the royal gardens. It has been arranged for Her Ma jesty and his royal highness Prince Albert to honour the Montem, at Eton, with their presence on Whit Tuesday, the 28th instant; and it is expected that the court will remain at the castle during the whole of that week. A letter from Dresden states that it is the intention or the King of Saxony to pay, in the course of the present month, a visit to Queen Vi c t or i a i n E ng l an d . Hi s Ma jesty will, it is said, remain si x wee k s , d ur i ng w hi c h be will make tours in Wales a n d S co tl an d.— Galignani. BANKING AFFAIRS. (From the Times of Thursday.) and capitalists to form a judgment upon th e new Sufficient time has now elapsed to all ow th e c ity trader relative to banking affairs, which i, viewed as the mo st important measure of the kind since Si r Robert Peel's celebrated bill of 1819. Taken as a whole, it is pro nounced to be deserving of the greatest praise ; and it is freely admitted that all the previous recommendations and plans of the select and other banking committees sink into comparative insignificance, when compared with the change that is likely to take place when these views are fully carried out. The subj-ct naturally divides itself into two main branches—the country bankers, and the Bank cf England. project With retard to tho first, the irresponsible issue of paper by individuals or companies is from the present moment effectually checked,—unless by some evasion of the pro posed new law, amounting almost to fraud,—and becomes limited to about the present very restricted account which they have in circulation ; and there is every probability that within a few y , ars the power of issuing notes will be restricted to one source. Most people agree that the loss sustained by the public from country banks is not to be estimated solely by the amount of failures, but that a very large though indefinite item is to be added for the over trading occasioned by the injudicious over-issues of those who continued solvent. This was pointed out by Sir R. Peel from the examination of some of their own witnesses before the late committee. Hence the arrangements re specting them are regarded as wholesome and necessary checks to the issue of a doubtful and insecure currency; while those which relate to the Bank of England are viewed in the light of restrictions to the injudicious con traction and expansion of a currency, which, however safe as regerds the holders of the notes, have frequently operated injuriously on trade and commerce from sudden and unexpected variations in the amount. One main alteration is the division of the Bank of England into two branches; the first being simply a bank . of issue, and the second merely an establishment formed for the ordinary purposes of banking, but without anY power of creating notes, and which will therefore act as any private bank trading on its own capital. Th e issuing department will have two very distinct functions to per form, being authorized to create an amount of paper money to the extent of £11,000,000, based entirely on the debt due from the Government to the Bank, and £3,000,000 on Exchequer-bills arid other public securi ties, to which extent it will be a Government paper money, and incapable, except in particular and limited instances , of being increased. The other means by which it maY issue notes, in exchange for bullion, will supply what has long been wanted in this great commercial country—a bank of deposit, similar to that of Hamburgh, in so fat: as it offers the facilities of paper in large payments, joined with the absolute security of a metallic currency, bu t superior to it in deta 1, because it offers the same facill,tY and security to smaller transactions that is afforded by the Hamburgh bank, where, instead of notes issued, there are transfers made from one account to another, which limits its usefulness to the larger class of operations. it is clearly seen that the amount of notes which will thu s circulate will necessarily be fixed by the wants and con venience of the public, and form a Protection against any demand for gold on notes based on the other securities, as before they can be presented the notes issued against gold must have been paid in, and the paper circulation reduced to £14,000,000. The new measure appears to city observers not only judicious in itself, but remarkably well-timed. The amount of gold is now about £16,500,000, and notes to this extent are therefore already based upon th• precious metals, so that the transfsr of the stock of bullion to the issuing department will form a basis on which this amount will issue and be circulated ; to which amount also the currency will be really metallic, although possessing th e facilities, so far as easy transport and f ree d om fromw ea r are concerned, of a paper currency. The remainder of , the notes in circulation is about £4,500,000, and to tats must be added the deposits, amounting to ab out £13,000,000, and forming a total of about £17,5 00,000 liabilities which are based on securities of different kinds now in the hands of the Bank. Of this amount £11,000, 000 is now provided for by the new plan, against the Govern ment debt, and the Bank will have the power to issue £3,000,000 more against Exchequer-bills or other public securities they may now hold. This forms the total issue allowed of £14,000,000, which deducted from the total liabilities not covered by the bullion, leases £3.500, 00 which is about the amount of the " rest," or real s urplus capital. Hence nothing can be i mag i ne d more eas y tban the transition will be into the new state of things. s it follows, that whatever alteratio n ma y even t ua lly tak e place in the total circulation must proceed from the dei mands of the public. Th e s t a t e o f trade, therefore, an d the importation or exportation of the precious metals' will in future govern the amount of money, an d n ot, !I has too frequently h a pp ene d o f l a t e years, the artificial abundance or scarcity of money influence trade en' prices. THE COLLIERS' STRIKE.—The turn-out at Clay Cras! still continues, although a number of the men have o ° ' into work. For some time past, the men in the emPl o37- went of Mr. Barrow, at Staveley, have been under th e necessity of being protected by the constables, from the, crowds of women and lads by whom they have been as" sailed ; and the disturbance has at length ripened tat° uproar. On Thursday night, as the men were returni ng home, a mob of about 200 women and boys assa il e d the b na with hooting and annoying language. Mr. Alsop Smit the constable, immediately attempted to take the fore; most into custoiy ; and the mob immediately clos ed upo him, and beat him severely about the head with a s ton_e e - The constable is confined to bed from the effect of the injuries he has received. We understand that the Swoarn; wick, Pentrich, and Ripley collieries have got tg turn-out may be regarded as generally at an workmen or are happy to learn that the colliers and other_ NV wodshuts, to R. E. Heathcoate , Esq., at Apedale and ° d their h resume their full complement of hinds. In Staffordshcrew v h e e the number of about 800, have at length than Biz labours, after having discontinued them weeks.—Derby Mercury. more on 10. m. fOi