Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-24 00:00:00

gonuntrclat Ls altS.—EbliS Man. ♦t twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, 9, Rumford-street, 10,818 bags Rice.—Whitaker, Whitehead and Co. At twelve o'clock at the brokers' office, 16. Exchange-bnild'ngs, 2,000 barrels Ro'in, 650 barrels Tar, and 83 casks Cocoa Nut Oil.—J. H. Rayner and Co. ♦t twelve o'clock, 70 bales Mexican Fibre.—Francis J. Exton. At twelve o'clock, a' the brokers' office, 4, Lancaster-buildings, 90 tons Bones.—John Davies and Co. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' saleroom. 18, Chapel-stret, about 1,000 bundles Coir yarn.—Dan'el C. Buchanan and Co. At twelve o'clock, at the broker's office, Exchange-street West, 90 tons Barwood.—Macgregor Laird, Jan. At twelve o'clock, 214 casks Cocoa Nnt Oil, and 5 barrels American Bees' Wax.—Cox Brothers. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, 2, Date-street, 80 bales Gam bier, and 450 bales heated Ditto.—Browne, Hunter and Co. At twelve o'clock, 5 tons Coir Yarn, and 2.0 bales Mexcan Fibre.— Finlay, Lawrence, and Lance. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Apsley-buildings, Oldhall street, 165 tons Rio Hache Divi Divi.—Rooke, Okell. and spence. At twelve o'clock, at the broker's ofFce, 1, Royal Bank-buildings, 71 bales and 427 cwt. Bombay Hemp.—J. Bencke. For partleularg aee advertisements. AMUSEAENT.3, PUBLIC MEETINGS, Scc. THIS PAY. FATAL A MPEITFIEATRE—DramItI2 Performance-7 p.m. CoLoss Err m—General Entertainment-8.30 p.m. ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN;—Grand And Varied Entertainments. gi.Arrow HALL, Claytcn-square—GJrdon Cumming -8 p.m. LUMP'S CRYSTAL PALACE, LiMet•Street-•10 a.m. to 10 p.m. tEff• For particulars see advertisements. qe T . urn FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1857 THE DAY'S NEWS. Ia the House of Commons last night, Mr. Wil son, Secretary of the Treasury made a strenuous opposition to the second reading of the Superanua tion Act Amendment Bill. He acknowledged the merits of the class of gentlemen referred to, but he felt it a public duty to resist the bill. He said that this department of the public service had no cause for complaints. Their salaries had been greatly increased during the last five years, and intimated that they were better paid than the servants in the Bank of England. Mueh difference of opinion seemed to prevail in the House, as the debate was carried on till ten minutes to four, when (it being a morning sitting) by the rules of House it was adjourned. At the evening sitting, Mr. La bouchere said that many strong petitions had been received from Moreton Bay to the effect that . the separation of that part of the Australian colonies from New South Wales was desirable, and he had conceived it right to exercise the power given for the purpose by the constitution of the colony, and advise the separation. As the colonists do not wish a supply of convicts, none need be sent out. Mr. V. Smith, stated that no news had been received from India by the Aus tralian mail steamer arrived at Suez. The house afterwards went into committee of supply, and a supplementary estimate of £lOO,OOO for the Persian war was agreed to. The Chancellor of the Exchequer intimated that the total expense of the expedition to Persia, would be about £1,865,000. In the House of Lords, .the Marquis of Brea dalbane brought up the answer of Her Majesty to the address of the house, respecting the emi gration of negroes from the African continent. Her Majesty assured their lordships of her most earnest desire to discourage all schemes for the emigration of negroes from the African continent, that could have a tendency to promote the renewal of the slave trade. that the plot in question was known to the Go vernment more than a month ago. "As much as two or three months back representations relating to this very affair were made to the English cabi net, with a view to procure the extradition of Ledru Rollin and Mazzini, to answer a criminal charge, and the evidence was not then regarded as sufficient. The three Italians, Tibaldi, Bartolotti, and Grilli, alias Saro, whose names are now given as those of the persons employed to murder the Emperor, were not the only persons originally ar rested on the charge. There were four more, who are at this moment, or at least very lately were, in Mazas. Of these one is a woman, whe, it has been already said, made very startling re velations, and another is a spy. Should the French Government make out the case it now alleges there will be no occasion for any alteration in the law of England to comply with its wishes with regard to the individuals implicated. There can be no difficulty in giving up murderers to justice." " But, as the matter stands at present," he adds, " No one ought to think the worse of either Ledru Rollin or Mazzini on account of the company with which their names are associated by the Monitsur. Madrid accounts to the 21st instant, informs us that the Captain-General and the Civil Governor of the Province of Seville will be brought before a council cf war on account of the late troubles. The law relative to constitutional reform had been signed by the Queen. We have later news from Constantinople. The police have succeeded in arresting the person who assassinated the relation of Prince Danilo. He is a Montenegrin priest, and was hired, it is said, to commit the crime for a political motive. The annual meeting of the Dutch Rhenish Railway Company was held at Amsterdam on Monday The Report stated that 224,688 florins had been paid to M. Brassey, in full discharge of all demands. A dividend of is 31 per share was declared. At a public meeting on the Oaths Bill, in Lon don, Baron Rothschild announced that it was his intention to at once resign his seat, and he now stood before them as a candidate for the fifth time. Resolutions were adopted in furtherance of the object of promoting the return of the Baron, and the immediate settlement of a question indispen sable to the complete accomplishment of civil and religious liberty. THE coolness and equanimity with which this nation has received the calamitous news from India is at least very noticeable, if we may not call it heroic. No doubt anxiety must be felt in many quarters, but still there is no weak and flurried alarm, nothing like dismay, consterna tion, or undignified haste; we are calmly confi dent of our resources and our power, and while we feel the crisis is sufficiently grave, we feel also that we are adequate to it. Some are already talk ing of our having to reconquer India. This is an exaggeration which our present knowledge of the facts does not justify. At the same time it would not surprise us to hear that the military insurrection had spread more widely than was lately announced, when about thirty thousand men of the Bengal army were said to be in revolt. Mr. Muntz, the member for Birmingham, is so ill as to necessitate his retirement altogether from FAA liamou L. It, nuts s LULeU yrbLeruay, in an authentic way, that the honourable gentleman would apply in a day or two for the Chiltern Hundreds. Mr. Cardwell has issued an address to the elec tors of Oxford, thanking them for having again returned him to Parliament as their representa tive. He makes no reference whatever to Mr. Thackeray. There is a rumour afloat that the present ses sion will be brought to a close on or about Thursday, the 20th of August, Lord John Rus sell's Oath Bill, the Divorce Bill, and the debate an receent events in India, will each occupy seve ral days, and it is doubted whether the Parlia memary business can terminate so soon as many anticipate. The Earl of Cardigan inspected the Life Guards on yesterday, in Wormwood Scrubs, in the presence, of course, of a crowd of distinguished on-lookers. The miscellaneous civil service estimates were issued yesterday, comprising also special and tem porary objects. As a matter of course they show a large increase on the preceding year ; the totals being, for 1856, 5 . 34,993; 1857, £682,118; increase £147,125. The site for public offices figures as a new item, h,)wever, for £130,000 The Globe says that Major-General Sir Frederick Love, will, in all probability, succeed Sir Colin Campbell as Inspector -general of Infantry, and that Major-General Spink, is very likely' to have the eolonelcy of the 55th regiment. The same journal does not believe there is any foundation for the report that her Majesty will visit France this autumn. It also remarks that persons in the posi tion of Mazzini must be made to perceive how impossible it is that they should be permitted to avail themselves of residence in this country, for purposes which are alien to our policy and interests. Prince Albert will embark on Saturday for Ant werp, to be present at the marriage of Princess Charlotte of Belgium. Michael Craeley was executed yesterday morn ing at Chelmsford for the murder of his wife. He appears to have died penitent. The woman Jemmison, who cruelly murdered her illegitimate child, of between two and three years of are, and was left for execution at York, has been reprieved. The Home Office makes it a rule to commute capital sentences of women for child murder ; if it be a wholesome rule, why should it be left to the determination of a Secretary of State instead of being embodied in law ? The trial of the two prisoners charged with the great jewellery robbery in the Edinburgh High Court of Justiciary, has ended in their conviction. They were sentenced to twenty- one years' penal servitude. There is no local news tc-day calling for the least attention. The first general meeting of the newly formed Board of Guardians for the Parish of Toxteth Park, was held yesterday. The usual weekly meeting of the Dick and Health Committees were also held, but the proceedings were of no importance. The health of the town continues a fair average. The deaths last week were 214. In yesterday's publicatio n we announced the arrival of the Australian mail at Suez. We now learn that the new ministry, in lieu of the departed O'Shanassey Cabinet, had been appointed by the governor of Victoria. Mr. Haines is again Chief Secretary; Mr. M'Culloch Is Commissioner o f i Customs; Mr. David More s Presulent of the Board of Land and Works; Mr. Edden is Trea surer; Mr. Massie i s Attornty-General; Fellows, Soli c it or -G enera l ; an d Mr. Mitchell, Postmaster General. The news from the United States is of no in terest or importance. Kansas was peaceable. Nearly one thousand slaves had been landed in Cuba. On Monday evening, Mr. ROEBUCK put a question to the government, in consequence o f a rumour which had appeared in one of the daily papers, to the effect that the revolt had spread to some portion of the army of Bombay. In reply, Sir CHARLES WOOD stated that no such intelligence had reached the government, that it could hardly, by any known means of communi cation, have reached this country at all, and that probably, therefore, it was, for the present at least, groundless. It is obvious that such reports, unless well founded, are apt to cause needless alarm, and to be exceedingly injurious to the public interests. They tend to disarrange the plans of government; they agitate the public mind, and they cause indefinite fear and appre neusion in Lae DOSOM of private ramifies who may have fathers or brothers in India. The authentic information is sufficientiy disastrous without adding to it the gratuitous inventions of fancy, or the cruel fabrications of intentional falsehood. The purpose of all good citizens should be at present to strengthen the hands of our rulers, and urge them to act wisely and vigorously; and those who direct the press of the country should be scrupulously anxious to give currency to no baseless reports calculated to aggravate the public anxiety, We must restrain our curiosity and wait a little longer. Meantime preparation should go forward without pause, the utmost energy and despatch should be. used by the Government to provide the means of speedily and effectually quelling the insurrection. Euro pean soldiers are forwarded from Madras and Bombay to the disturbed districts, and six thousand men that were on their way to China have been intercepted and diverted to India, by order of the Governor-general. This is . all quite right. But in addition, men should be sent with out delay, from England, by the quickest convey• ance to India. Why should not our transports and war steamers that survived the blockade of the Baltic, and were just ready to attack Cronstadt, when the war was ended—why should not these be turned to use now in conveying our brave fellows with utmost celerity to the scene of danger. Bombay, we understand, has only a single European regiment, the rest having been sent on towards Bengal,—that is, some eight or nine hundred British—to rule over and keep in order millions of men with the sounds of rebellion in the distance. This is a most perilous state of things and should not be permitted to continue a single day longer than is absolutely necessary. Surely the vast maritime resources of England could soon transport the twenty five thousand men now demanded for the security of our Indian empire. To say that the service would be below the dignity of the British army, and unworthy of the Royal rilberts, Agamemnons, and Duke of Wellingtons is mere trifling and imbecillity, and should not be listened to for a moment. A starving man has not time to waste in discussing whether he shall dine off silver plate or be satisfied with plain pewter. When the greatest and richest of our foreign posses sessions is at stake we must dispense with useless formalities, and gr) direct to our ob ject, like those valiant soldiers who overthrew multitudinous armies of Asiatics and built up for us our Indian empire. We hope it will not turn out that Lord CANNING, the Governor eneral, has b een dawdlin and that the Our intelligence f rom F rance this mining adds I g in little to that concerningalready in th e possession of our g, surrntion has been allow e d to gat h er strength re aders the pl ot to assassinate the Emperor Napoleon. A Paris correspondent states through that indecision. Sir HENRY LAW- FENCE appears to have acted with a prompt ness, vigour, and a determination worthy of a successor of the CLIVES, WELLINGTONS', and NAPIERS What is Lord LYONS doing with his squadron ? Taking a pleasure trip through the Mediterranean, touching at Malta to dine with the officers, or calling at Genoa to ban quet with the king of Sardinia. Every ship, and sailor, and soldier that can be spared, should now be made available for India. It is the part of genius that oftentimes it can turn losses and unforeseen accidents to advantage. The same events that would disarrange and prostrate imbecillity or mere childish routine, are, to genius and real talent, only a challenge to put forth their power, and rise equal to the occa sion. Rightly managed and boldly dealt with, this unfortunate outbreak may be made to con tribute to the strengthening, of our power, and elevating our national character in India. Let it be seen that though a few thousand English may be surprised, and unresisting women and children brutally massacred, yet the insurgents are no nearer their object. The supremacy of England cannot be shaken; though hand join in hand— though finatical BRAHMIN may join with rebel lious Mahommedan, and both be aided by wily, slippery, perfidious Russian agent--yet England can stretch forth an arm of strength, and con fouud the confederacy of conspirators. The fear, even the involuntary respect for England, is strong upon the Indian mind, as was exemplified in the reported circumstance that certain prisoners, who were liberated by the insurgents, did not choose to accept this lawless freedom, but begged to be restored to confinement. They anticipated that they could not escape British justice, and that in the end the rebels must be put down. If we are wise, prompt, decided, and worthy of our imme morial reputation, this presentiment will be fulfilled; this calculation will be verified ; and a blow, which was meant to tell against us, shall tell for us. It will commence the better organi sation of our Indian army, and will expedite the improved government of India. Out of evil cometh good'; and if the rebels thought to shake our rule, it is for us to make them find their mistake, to tighten our hold and improve our tenure—like our own native oak, which the more it is assailed by rude winds and beating storms, only rises to heaven more proudly, and strikes its roots deeper, and throws its branches wider to the sweep of the tempest, or the sighing of the breeze. with Mr. CARDWELL'S election to which we would refer. His rejection in March last was the result of a momentary indignation of the electors because he voted against Lord PALMER STON'S Chinese policy, and condemned the attack upon Canton as uncalled-for and inhuman. Like the vast majority of the people of England, L)rd PALMERSTON was the beau ideal of a Premier, particularly in time of war, and any vote which tended to thwart his projects, past, present, or to come, was execrated by Oxford. Hence, Mr. CARDWELL was ousted, not, however, before undue means had been used to return his opponent. Other statesmen met a similar punish ment. Mr. COBDEN at Leeds, Messrs. BRIGHT and GthsoN at Manchester, as well as other cities and boroughs which we could name. We have already given expression to our opinions on the Chinese war, and subsequent events have not elicited any new fact calculated to shake that opinion. Under these circumstances we believe they gave a proper vote when they censured the PALMERSTON Administration for interfering and practising such atrocities as they did upon the City of Canton. As far as the elections are concerned, the matter has passed away ; but the City of Oxford is the first to repent of her rash and purblind policy in supporting a War Govern ment through thick and thin. It has done the amende honorable to Mr. CARDWELL, and reversed its March verdict by declaring that gentleman their future representative. We want Messrs. COBDEN, BRIGHT, and GIBSON again sent back to the House of Commons. And we are glad to find that the leading journal has been compelled to declare that their continued absence from Parliament is a matter of injury to the country at large. THERE is not any question more entitled to public attention, nor one which addresses tself to every grade and condition of society , than that of Life Assurance. Every scheme which habituates the people to forethought and providence is worthy of universal countenance and support. We go still farther than this, and contend that such institutions as aim at promoting Life Assurance among the masses should be fostered and promoted as the foremost agents of civilisation and the social happiness of the entire community. Collectively and individually we discountenance indolence and intemperance. He who will not work must either starve or become a burden on his fellow men ; and he who is intemperate and improvident has nothing else before him than the uninviting comforts and inconveniences of the workhouse. It is for the purpose of obviating these sure but lamentable consequences, that Assurance Societies have been called into existence. They enable all classes, rich or poor, young or old, to make provision for a rainy day. The father can, by the payment of a small premium, annually, secure to his wife and family a certain sum at death ; or he can WE need hardly say that we are exceedingly pleased to find that our old representative, the Right Hon. E. CARDWELL, has been once more returned to the House of Commons, and that the electors of the city of Oxford have been true to themselves, and stamped with the mark of rejection the nominee of Mr. NEATE, who was unseated for bribery by his agents. Mr. CARD WELL possesses abilities of statesmanship in no ROBERT PEEL, and by many far-seeing politicians he is looked upon as destined to play a great part in the future Government of the British Empire. On all matters relating to trade, com merce, and finance, he is regarded as the first authority of the day. He has made these matters the subject of lengthened and continued study. Such a man could not be spared from the public service, in times like the present. It was impossible that his talent could be allowed to lie dormant in the retirement of private life. With respect to the present return of Mr. CARDWELL, no one could suppose that the electors would act otherwise than they did, considering the other gentleman who offered his services as a candidate for the representation of the city. Mr. TEIACKERAY, is, without question, a great man as an author. His works have also advantaged society, sown the seeds of morality broadcast amongst the entire community, and exposed, denounced, and held up to reprobation everything approaching vice or immorality. This is all very useful, and highly important, in its way, but it by no means follows that the personage to whom it applies is, therefore, fitted to become a statesman. The representative of a constituency such as the city of Oxford should be one of the foremost politicians of the day. A man may be an able romance and novel writer; he may be an excellent essayist on moral topics, and a splendid lecturer on the past history of the country, or the comi calities of the present age, and yet be utterly 'deficient in all those qualities which go to make up the really useful and efficient member of Parliament. We certainly question the good taste of such a gentleman as Mr. THACKERAY presenting himself for Parliamentary honours, for the simple reason that he has not been trained in the school of politics, without which it is impossible for any man, be his literary attain ments what they may, to rise in the House of Commons, or be really useful to his constituents. With Mr. THACKERAY'S political creed we have nothing to do. It is Liberal in the main, and, as such, meets our approval. His lot in life has been cast in another sphere than the congre gation of politicians, each section of which is contending for the mastery. In such an assembly he would be out of his native element. He would do more good to society at large by his writings and his lectures than ever he could expect to result from his senatorial labours. He tells the electors of Oxford that he will return to his desk. This is a wise resolve. Indeed, it would have been well had he borne in mind the old, but pithy proverb—t , Ne sutor ultra crepidam." But there are ()the:. considerations connected .o his daughters a marriage dowry. Further-• more, he can secure to himself an annuity, a certain sum, on attaining a given age ; or an allowance during sickness. Every man, according to the principles and practices of Assu rance Societies, can also become proprietor of his own house and independent of a rack landlord. These are only a few of the many modes in which assurance can be applied. We could write col umns on the same topic. Enough, however, has been stated to show, as we have already observed, that it is the duty of every man to support and countenance societies of the kind. We hail, with satisfaction, every institution for promoting Life Assurance, when started under legitimate auspi ces ; consequently, we are pleased to see that just now an effort is being made to establish a company, entitled, " The Queen Life Assurance and Annuity Company." It may be obj°cted at the outset that such a, society is uncalled for, inasmuch as two companies already belong to Liverpool ; that Manchester has several, and that London swarms with projects of the kind. To this we reply, that were the insurance societies of the three kingdoms multiplied twenty-fold, and conducted upon proper and economical principles, there would be "room enough and to spare," for all. Each would do a fair and paying business. The truth of this remark will be apparent if we reflect that the merest fraction of the population have availed themselves of assurance advantages. Besides, we are every day extending the modes of application ad infinitum. Not only is life assured, but character and trustworthiness, bad debts, accidents against life and limb, redemption of property, &c.. can all be secured by means of a policy of assurance. Moreover, we do not see that the assurance business of Liverpool and its surrounding districts should be confined to two companies. Nor will we acquiesce in the opinion that such societies should originate and have their head quarters in London. Had many of the modern companies been scattered throughout the provinces they would have been much more suc cessful, and many of the late " winding-up " schemes would never have been chronicled. For these reasons we consider that there is " ample room and verge enough" for the " Queen Life Assurance and Annuity Company" to occupy and cultivate. There is another objection, and it is certainly a serious one, namely—that, as so many of the modern Life Assurance Companies have turned out such failures, projects of the kind are unsafe. This, however, we deny. Whenever an Insurance Company has been started under proper auspices and with bona fide intentions it has prospered, and both share and policy holders satisfied and renutnerated for their investments. We do not deny that many of the modern offices have been nothing but names without the means to meet their liabi lities. This we expect the Government Bill now b:fore Parliament will remedy—so that public confidence will be restored. But, apart from these considerations, let us turn to the Company projected in Liverpool— " The Queen." Almost everything connected with the prosperity of an Insurance Company depends upon its Board of Management. Now, if we turn to its list of Directors, we find that every name among them is known, honoured, and respected. They are all gentlemen of sub • I stance, standing and position, in the borough, who would not connect themselves with, or countenance any project of an unstable character. They are gentlemen more or less employed in business pursuits. Without giving the names of all the Trustees and Directors, which will be found in the prospectus contained in our advertising columns, we have no hesitation in saying that a better or more trustworthy Board could not be formed. We have made some en quiries as to the Manager Mr. CLIREHUGH, and are gratified to learn that he is well " posted up " on all matters relating to assurance, and has made the subject one of lengthened study. Next to, aye and before a good Board is an active and energetic manager. In this respect we be lieve it will be found that Mr. CLIREHUGH is the " right man in the right place." So far then as the .'constitution of the Board is concerned, every thing is encouraging and satisfactory. The last item to be considered is the distinctive features of the Company. These are of the usual character. They embrace every form of life assurance, marriage settlements, &c., &c. The directors pledge themselves to strict economy and careful management, the guaran tee of an ample paid-up capital and safe invest ment, and an open audit. Should all this be done, and we do not doubt it, great and beneficial re sults will accrue to the district. It should be remembered too, that the company only proposes dealing with Life Assurance alone, so that the manager and directors will be more at liberty to advance the practice of provident habits among the working classes. With these remarks we feel it a duty to recommend to public notice "The Queen Life Assurance and Annuity Company." THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY - , JULY 24, 1857. THE COURT, &c. OSBORNE, TUESDAY. —The Queen and the Prince Con sort drove out yesterday afternoon in an open carraige. His Royal Highness left Osborne this morning, attended by Captain the Hon. Dudley de Ros, for Salisbury, to be present at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Associa tion. THE PROGRESS Or CANADA.—The Toronto Colonist observes, in speaking of the pressnt condition of Canadian securities in England :—There never was a time in our commercial and monetary history, when there was a greater necessity for a good and reliable pamphlet in England on Canadian res iurces and Canadian property, as compared with Canadian indebtedness• For the last certainly unparalleled prices for every product of our industry. Some ten or twelve million pounds have also been spent in the country, over and above what the people have made by their legitimate occupations. The seasons, too, have been generally healthy, and the people have undeniably worked hard. Neither can we discover that they have been more extravagant than usual in their mode of living ; nor that, beyond speculating perhaps too wildly in lands—which, however, are all here—they have been indiscreet in their business transactions. Hence we state it as a fact, susceptible of the clearest proof, that the entire assessable property of Upper Canada has doubled in value since 0354. It was £50,000,000 then; it is £100,000,000 now. And this unparalleled increase has arisen from the construction of railroads ; from the opening up of a new country, in many cases by the labourers employed upon them, who used the little capital they made on the roads in the purchase and clearing of lands : and from the greatly increased value imparted to the improved properties by the facili ties the railways afforded for getting to markets and for selling a number of things which the farmer previously had no means of disposing of. Besides all this, the expen diture of £10,000,000 or £12,000,000 had of itself an im mense effect upon a country where £lOO spent on a com mon road often imparts .4300 additional value to the adjacent lands ; and where a gravel road through a township frequently makes a difference of a pound an acre to 60,000 or 80,000 acres, and where a railroad changes the whole face of the country in a few years, making villages spring up—like Angus and Collingwood, for example—in the densest forests, and farms make an appearance where a white man never trod before the chain-bearer for the engineer first made his appearance. Mr. Hincks, some years ago, raised the credit of Canada immensely by a well written pamphlet upon our resources, in which he pointed out that we had not only wherewithal to meet our liabilities, but that:greater advances would actually make u's richer. He was right at the time. The capitalists saw he was so; and provincial credit rose 50 per cent in a few months. But does Mr. Cayley, iu the face of our very best debentures being almost unsaleable in the English money market, make a single move to show what we are worth; or that these very debentures are one of the causes of our increased prosperity ? WEEK-DAY PREACHERS.—ReIeased from the election.. eering excitement of the recent struggle at Oxford, bear ing with him the respect and sympathy of all who knew him in his capacity of candidate for the suffrages of the constituents, Mr. Thackeray, almost immediately on his return to the Metropolis, on Wednesday night delivered a lecture, called " Week-Day Preachers," for the benefit of the "Jerrold Fund." On similar occasions, both in Scotland and America, Mr. Thackeray has presented portions of the above-named discourse, which, from beginning to end, is strongly characterised by the peculiar genius and temperament of the great novelist ; which, in all its passages, abundantly breaks forth the open, honest, independent spirit of kwriter and of:„a thinker who holds it as a sacred duty to unmask the wickedness and the perfidy which come in his way, but who, nevertheless, has at all times ready a word of praise for the good, of loving tenderness for the weak and suffering, and of a pious con solation for the fallen. The audience present seemed bent upon welcoming, with all possible ardour, the return of Mr. Thackoray to the arena in which he has earned so many triumphs. He was received with deafening acclama• tions, and the first sentence of his lecture was the signal for their instant renewal. It was to the effect that, as he was yesterday walking in the High•street of a certain anoient city, he saw a placard announcing manuscript sermons for sale; he did not believe that the gentlemen who purchased them and delivered them always told the true history of their orations, but that, not imitating their example, he would tell the audience that portions of his present lecture had been previously heard in public. After an eloquent description, of the true/duties of a clergyman, Mr. Thackeray explained the term of "week day preachers " to mean the poets, philosophers, essay ists, and social writers, whoge exertions were productive of so much good—the men of the world, who uttered com ments on the world they rived, in. 7 Addison was the first writer who attracted the eulogy of the lecturer, who saluted his memory with gratitude and honour; there was no better praise than to call him a great gentleman ; he was high-bred, urbane, :and humane ; and there was an exquisite sense of religion always with him. An extract from the Spectator was offered by Mr. Thackeray in corroboration of his opinion. The character of " Dick Steele" was next drawn with an indulgent hand, the speaker declaring his conviction that the sermon may be good, thoughihe preacher nought; he was the founder of sentimental writing, and the cause had derived great benefit in that others had built upon his ground, just as the Foundling Hospital derived great revenues from the the edifices which had been erected on the lands left to the charity by the respected Captain Coram. In due succession followed Fielding and Sterne, of whom the latter was mentioned by Mr. Thackeray as a clever, surprising fellow, but he would sooner sit under an honester preacher ; he ridiculed the false senZimentality of I the " Sentimental Journey," the outpouring over ludicrous'objects of those tears that are the mites which souls: drop into the collection for God's poor and unhappy. A; tribute to Goldsmith was suc ceeded by a charming picture of the influence produced by such men as Beranger and Burns--of the humour which has refreshed myriads more, from her natural spring, than ever tragedy has from her pompous old urn. In connection with!the dramatists, Mr. Thackeray spoke a word in favour of " Black-eyed Susan," and of " The Lady of Lyons," the principal points of which were briefly but happily recorded, and at the climax of which the speaker said he always took refuge in his pocket handkerchief. A most humorous description of a visit to twopenny theatres and of their performances created a perfect roar of laughter; in the principal dramas of both establishments there :was a wicked lord thrown out of window—there"always is a wicked lord thrown out of window—and in the second - piece which was nautical, there were matters of thrilling 'interest, chiefly horn pipes. At the People's Theatre, Baltimore, much the same kind of thing 'prevailed. The kindly nature of Lamb was the next theme for the lecturer ; he wished he had been as fortunate as some of his friends, to have shaken him by the hand. Thomas Hood—a portion of whose " Bridge of sighs " was read with touching pathos —came in for his richly-merited meed of approval; and " Punch" subsequently earned a well-deserved tribute. From a number of no very ancient date, Mr. Thackeray rend an extract from an article written, we believe, by himself; he then paid an elaborate compliment to Mr. Charles Dickens and his works, the readers of which—as a vroof of public appreciation —were always increasing. The same agreeable fact he could record of another author, although described as a dreary misanthrope. The popularity of Mr. Dickens with the youth of the nation was proved to Mr. Thackeray in his own family ; he had a daughter who read the books of the former ten times to one perusal of the dismal preachings of her father. In her almost childhood she had told him she liked Mr. Dickens' works much better than her papa's, and asked him why he did not write so good a book. The deaths of Mr. A'Beckett and Mr. Douglas Jerrold were dwelt on with becoming earnestness ; and Mr. Thackeray's lecture —of which the above is the briefest summary—terminated with a solemn aad imposing tribute to the memory of the late deceased wit and author. NEWSPAPER LIBEL Law.—Newspapers, it seems, are to labour, for another year at least, under the same disabili ties with regard to reports of public meetings as those to which they are at present subject. As the law now stands, we publish accurate reports of parliamentary business, town council meetings, commissioners of supply meetings, and, indeed, the proceedings of any kind asd of all meetings whatsoever, except those before a court of justice, at our peril. Any sensitive member of parliament, town coun cillor, commissioner or any other person who may deem himself wronged or insulted by what may have been said at one of the meetings we have named, or in any other public assembly, can raise an action of damages against the newspaper publishing a faithful report of that speech in which the alleged libel is contained. The onus of the speaker's assertions rests not with him, but with the newspaper publisher. Nor does it matter that the report is a true one, that it has been published without malice no the part of the newsp a p er , and l , I.IIZIGL ab b lleV ea teas .• suffered no damage whatever, the mere fact of publication obliges the jury by law to fled a verdict for the plaintiff. It is not to be expected, surely, that every newspaper should number amongst its staff a lawyer, just as it has its reporter, to decide what is and is not libellous in the report of a public speech. Besides, the process of winnowing that must necessarily take place ere th e legal censor was satisfied th a t h e had expurgated all actionale matter would, in many cases, be most prejudicial to the public weal. Directors of " Royal British Banks," were newspapers to abide strictly by the letter of the law, might go on prosporously swindling, as we all run the risk of heavy damages by giving publicity to the indignant remonstrances of suspicious shareholders at half-yearly meetings. That this is a grievance, and a very great one, has been seen by the highest legal function ary in the land—Lord Chief Justice Campbell. At his instance, a select committee was appoin'ed to consider the subject, and to report how far the privilege given to law reports in newspapers might be extended with safety to the reports of proceedings in other public assem blies. The committee, however, while declining not to grant perfect immunity, have come to the conclusion that true reports of the proceedings of both Houses of Parlia ment, of meetings lawfu'ly called by the sheriff of a county, or the mayor of a borough, for the purpose of petitioning the Queen of either Houses of Parliament, meetings of a town council, or a board of health, or of any body acting under the authority of an Act of Parliament met to impose a rate, or to consider the local affairs of any district, should be protected, and that in the case of an action being brought, the jury, if the plaintiff had sustained no damag e , should find a verdict for the defendant, and the plaintiff b e compelled to pay all costs. This would be a decided im provement upon the present law, but it is by no means satisfactory. The committee's definition of a public meet ing is a very limited one. It excludes all those meetings in which the highest intellect is not unfrequently engaged, and the most vital interests are always involved. We may report without fear, if the committee's suggestions become law, a town council squabble about the exact dimensions of a sewer, ur a parochial board fracas concerning the precise elasticity of a pauper's stomach ; but it is at our peril we venture on reporting a meeting for the extension of the franchise, a speech on parliamentary reform, the proceedings during an election, a ragged school meeting, a Bible society meeting, a railway meeting, a bank meeting, or, indeed, of almost any important finan cial, social, political, scientific, or religious assembly. Of course, the reporting of such meetings might not, in all probability would not, in any one in stance occasion an action of damages ; still, the journal publishing them would have no legal security against litigation. We c inaot understand why, unless it be on the supposition that the committee are composed of individuals desirous to figure in print, and anxious to find freo vent for their own libels, newspapers should run a risk in giving publicity to such rneeeings as these, while they are to be permitted to publish with safety the proceedings in Parliamont. Noble Lords and M.P.'s are quite as capable of libelling each other and outsiders as any stump orator who ever stood on a barrel head. Upon the resolutions arrived at by the committtee Lord Campbell has declared his intention of founding ti bill next session; and we trust that, on consideration, he wi'l see reason to define a public meeting much mor e liberally than the committee have defined it. To our thinking, the simplest and most effectual mode of settling the difficulty would ba to make the speaker responsible for his speech. The committee object to this on the ground that it would make an important change in the law of England, which recognises considerable difference between spoken and printed slander. A man, it seems, may call another a liar and a scoundrel, and the law can take no hold of him ; but so soon as he commits such language to paper it becomes actionable. Now, it seems to us that a ch ange i n th e l aw, making the speaker responsible for his words, instead of the jour nal that prints them, so far from " being wholly unnes cessarv," as Lord Campbell affirms, is as necessary and desirable as it is just. It would oblige speakers carefully to weigh their words, to be cautious in imputing motives and in slandering a neighbour. This, surely, would be a great good gained, for slanders uttered at a public meeting, whether they be printed or no, cannot fail to have a wide dissemination ; and we all know that they will lose none of their piquancy by word-of-mouth trans mission. Make the speaker responsible for his speech, and this great wrong of allowing one man publicly to villify another would be done away with, the honest jour: nalist would be relieved of the great disability under avtich he now labours, and we venture to predict that no mischief will arise in consequence of the speeches of that frightful " mob" and still more terrible " man cif etmw..—Edin burgh Express,