The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-02 00:00:00

imperial Varlianirut, HOUSE OF LORDS.—Mo The Duke of WELLINGTON moved a bumble address of congratulation to her Majesty on the birth of another Princess. Lord MELBOURNE seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Earl of RIPON, in moving the second reading of the Corn Bill, said that he had always been of opinion that a corn law of any kind was an evil. In 1815, when be held a subordinate position in the government, h , .! had received a communication from the Earl of Liverpool, requiring him to move the second reading of the corn law of that day. It was with the greatest reluctance he ulti mately assented to do this. He had never believed a corn law to be justified on the ground of the high rental of land, or of the charges upon that land. He did not think such a law justified by mortgages or marriage settlement, and he believed such arguments in support of a corn law were altogether exploded. Neither could he advocate a corn-law upon the ground of its being part of a general system of protection to native industry, and he had no other ground upon which to justify it than the apprehen sion, which he really entertained, that this country might, without some such measure, become more dependent than she ought to be on foreign countries for her supply of the necessaries of life. There could, however, be no question but that this country had now outgrown the necessity for such a law, as was obviousfrom the fact that the invest ment of capital in agriculture was as great and as vigorous as it had ever been. The Duke of Cleveland and the Duke of Richmond spoke against the bill, and Earl Fitzwilliam and the Marquis of Londonderry in favour of it.. . Lord STANLEY then rose and delivered a most elaborate address, the report of which occupies no less than nine columns in the morning papers. His lordship began by expressing great distrust in his own powers, but he felt strong in a conviction of the truth of the cause he sup ported, when entering upon the defence of a system of law which had been designated by Earl Fitzwilliam an absurd system, and which had been vigorously assailed by those who had hitherto ably and strenuously defended it, and to whom it owed its yery existence. Upon the question of authority, he appealed from the authority of the living to that of the dead ; from statesmen of the present day to Lord Chatham, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Huskisson ; to Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning, and Lord Grey. The Earl of Ripon had denied that the Legislature had recognized the principle of protecting native industry as a reason for re gulating the importation of corn, whereas such a principle had been adopted so early as the reign of Edward IV., and it had been continued to be the rule of our legislation up to the present time, that it was expedient to secure the independence of this country upon foreign nations for corn, and to give encouragement and protection to the cultivation of its own soil. This had not only been our own policy, but at the very moment when we were ventu ring upon the bold experiment of leaving the supply of this nation's food to chance, every other country in the world of any eminence maintained a protection to its agriculture. He did justice to the motives of those who had brought forward this measure, and Sir Robert Peel in particular could not fail to have oreseen the dislocation and disruption of ties, the shock to pliblic confidence, and the distrust which it would occasion on the part of constituencies in public men and in parliament. But the Right Hon. Bart. had mistaken the emergency and the position in which he was placed ; -he .had con founded the brawling torrent of agitation with the deep, still current of public opinion. Ministers had been asked in another place what they expected would be the result of this measure, and they frankly said they did not know. This measure, therefore, was introduced without a know ledge of what its effects would be. The grounds assigned for the measure were the famine in Ireland and the suc cess of the tariff; but these reasons were mutually at va riance. If this bill relieved the famine in Ireland, it could only be by bringing down the price of corn to the means of the starving population of Ireland. Their lordships must distinguish between famine and great local scarcity. He spoke of famine in Ireland as a vision, a baseless vi sion ; he spoke in different terms of the amount of desti tution and distress through the partial failure of the pota toe crop. When the subject came before the cabinet of which he was a member, he yielded his own opinion, and consented to a suspension, and a suspension only, of the Corn Law ; a total abolition he considered unjustifiable in itself; but he was left alone. The noble lord then en tered into details respecting the course be had taken in these transactions, and then into statistical details appli cable to the policy and effects of the existing corn-law, and particularly to the operation of the sliding scale in check ing the tendency of a rise in the price of corn, and in pre venting the fluctuation of prices. This was a complete answer to those who said that fluctuation in prices was the peculiar vice of the sliding-scale; whereas never had prices so fluctuated as during the free trade in corn, when we were most dependent on a foreign supply. In the prices of articles not subject to any sliding scale, in which there was a free trade—potatoes and cotton, for example —the fluctuations were enormous. The present corn-law bad kept us independent of foreign nations, lowered, and maintained a steadiness in prices; and would any man contend that these advantages had been purchased by a sacrifice of any interest ? So far from it our exports had increased, our shipping had increased, the value of land bad augmented, why, then, was this hazardous experi ment to be made? The system of manufacturing pros perity was not without its danger ; it should not be checked, but it ought to be carefully watched ; the power of production was always overtaking that of absorption, and if manufactures were pampered to an unwholesome increase when the bubble burst the ruin would be exten sive. But it was not clear that the repeal of the corn-law ' would increase manufactures. If an argument was drawn from the effects of the tariff upon other articles, the price of corn would rise with the repeal of the duty, for that of wool bad risen. He however, contended that the price of corn would fall greatly ; that we should have an inunda tion of foreign corn at 40s. a quarter, making that about the price of corn in the British market. The large pro fits of the foreign corn-grower on the importation of the article into England would furnish him with capital, which be would apply to the raising of more corn. And how were the manufacturers to be benefitted by this measure? Only by the reduction of wages. The price of labour must fall with the price of corn. If the labourers's wages were to be reduced, they ought to have the balance of ad vantages fairly put before them. The noble lord then showed the fallacy of the notion that Russia, Prussia, and the United States would not take our manufactures be cause we did not take their corn, and that our exports to these countries would increase after the bill passed. But admitting that there would be a great increase in the ex ports of our manufactures, difficulties might arise and war intervene ; and when foreign markets were closed against ns, aid we had destroyed our home markets, then would be the period of bitter sufferiug to all, and especially to our artisans. And upon whom would the loss fall? Not merely on the landlords, but on tenant farmers, who must suspend improvements, discharge labourers, and reduce wages according to the cold and selfish maxims of the free-traders. But if this system could be carried into effect in England, could it be even tried in Ireland ? And to say that this measure was for the relief of Ireland was a proposition perfectly absurd. The noble lord then showed the injurious effects of the measure upon the colonies. Destroy the principle of protection, and he told them that they would destroy the whole basis on which our colonial system rested. If our colonies were taught commercial independence, they might learn political independence. With regard to Canada, we were going to break our pro mises to her, and more, we were about to destroy the communication by the St. Lawrence, and to make New York the channel of our communication with Upper Ca nada; whilst the United States saw our suicidal policy, and were taking advantage of it. In conclusion, his lord ship made a powerful appeal to those noble lords, who went with him in his argument, and disapproved of and were alarmed at this measure, and yet for various reasons, were prepared to vote for it, against a blind deference to the authority of the other house, which, according to its recorded votes, had repeatedly negatived this measure. Such a sudden conversion diminished confidence in the last vote. He warned them. likewise, against being de terred by the fear of being suspected of unworthy motives of self-interest. It was for their Lordships to check hasty and ill-considered legislation, and to pretect the people against the treachery of those whom they had chosen to represent their opinions. Lord BROUGHAM then spoke in favour of the bill, and the debate was adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY Lord JOFIN RUSSELL gave notice, that in committee on the sugar duties he would propose the reduction of duties upon all foreign sugar to the rate of duties proposed by her Majesty's Government upon free-labour sugar ' • and if the House consented to that resolution, he would then move the abolition of all differential duties on foreign and colonial sugar. Sir R. PEEL moved an address of congratulation to the Queen on the birth of a Princess. The motion was se conded by Lord Jous RUSSELL, and the address was agreed to unanimously. Mr. SHAW moved the discharge of Mr. Smith O'Brien, on the ground that he had been twenty-five days in prison, and the labours of the committee on which he had been appointed were almost closed. Sir R. PEEL acquiesced in the motion, as be considered the authority of the house had been fully vindicated. The house went into committee of supply, and some miscellaneous votes were taken, after the usual objections urged by Mr. Hums and Mr. WILLIAMS. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY The adjourned debate on the corn bill was resumed by The Earl of WILTON, who stated that he had for many years supported the principles which bad actuated her Majesty's Government, and be deeply regretted the pain ful necessity which now compelled him to oppose the pre sent measure. He would endeavour to confine his obser vations -to two points—the operation of the bill of 1842, and tbe • grounds which bad induced her Majesty's Minis ters to depait from the principles on which it was founded. He did 'not object to the principles of free trade, so far as they were compatible with the institutions and condition of the country, but relaxation must have its limits.— (Hear, bear.) He believed that no bill had ever so com pletely carried out the intention of its enactor as the bill of 1842. Under it an equalisation of prices had taken pl a ce, and commerce, trade, manufactures, and agriculture had flourished. Why, then, quarrel with that prosperity, and run the risk of new and dangerous prosperity ? The vork of the proposed change was the scarcity of .ne potato crop in Ireland, but he did not think that a statesmanlike reaso!n for making such an extensive change. ground (Henr, bear.) He E. bill would lower p same proportion as the hod. (Hear, hear.) I he had al Duke of CAmBRII ys acted on to in opposition to the mea and when he felt he ire, he had not voted Pd by the Sovere.i4n, cuuld not fully concur in any me gt all. Ile eras too old now 1.0 :e his sentimens, and wihed now to state that he did not mean to give a vote on the question. (Cheers.) He felt himself placed in a painful position, but considered his character et stake, and must decline giving a vote on the present occasion. Lord GRANVILLE said the sacrifice which had been made by the Government in the adoption of the principles of free-trade gave great weight to the arguments which had always been brought forward by its promoters. A great deal had been said about the unanimity of the farmers, but some parties said it existed more at the west end of the town than in the rural districts. (A. laugh.) How ever that might be, he thought -it almost impossible for them-as a body to take a correct view of the laws which ought to regulate the distribution of the national wealth. He'believed the alarm which existed amongst the ag:icul turists to be altogether unfounded, and trusted, if their Lordships did feel any alarm, it would be -at the prospect of the confusion into which the country would be thrown by the rejection of this bill. (Hear, hear.) The Marquis of NORMANBY thought the beneficial ad vantages likely to flow from this measure had been greatly exaggerated, but he was, notwithstanding, of opinion that the balance of advantages was in its favour, and should therefore support it. The. Earl of CARDIGAN denounced the extraordinary change in the whole policy of the Government, in which he could no longer place confidence, and he would, there fore, oppose the bill. The Earl of WINCHELSEA was equally strenuous in opposing a measure which he believed was alike opposed to the feelings as to the interests of the tenantry of Eng land. The Earl of CLARENDON strongly advocated the prin ciples of free trade, ridiculing the apprehensions enter tained by some parties, that the British farmer would be ruined, if this bill passed, by an overwhelming importation of foreign grain. The Earl of CAERNARVON was free to admit that the principles of free trade in the abstract might be true, but yet contended that they were wholly inapplicable to a country like this. The noble lord further contended that .Sir R. Peel had no right to change his policy without giv ing an opportunity to the constituency of the country of saying whether their feelings.coincided with the change which had obviously taken place in the sentiments of the ,Government. _ _ The Earl of HADDINGTON repudiated the idea that the Government was called upon to appeal to the people be• fore adopting the pr;nciples of free trade in corn. A great emergency had arisen, and the Ministry had no other course open than that which they had adopted. The Earl of HARDWICKE regretted to be obliged to oppose those whom he had long followed and supported. The Earl of WICKLOW moved the adjuurument of the debate until Thursday. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-TUESDAY, The house was counted out at an early hour. It bad been previously arranged, on the motion of Sir R, Peel, that the house at its rising should adjourn to Thursday. .e. HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY. A petition was presented by the Earl of Dalhousie, from the bankers, merchants, and other traders of the City of London, praying that the measures of the Go vernment might be as speedily as possible passed into law. Lord ASHBU.RTON admitted the respectability of the signatures to the petition, but believed that a petition just as respectably and numerously signed could be pre sented from the City on the oppcsite side of the question. Lord BROUGHAM was surprised that if such a petition could be got up, it had not, long ere this, been presented. Lord MONTBAGLE said that if such a petition could be got up, there was still sufficient time for it. The Duke of RICHMOND said he should like to be in formed whether the present petitioners were not the own ers of the corn now lying in bond. (Loud laughter, and cheers.) The adjourned debate on the second reading of the corn laws was resumed by Earl GREY, who conteuded that the effect of the corn law now in existence was to enhance the price of food, while at the same time depreciating the means of the mass of the people to procure it. It altogether overlooked the interests of the consumer, while endeavouring, by artifi cial means, to advance that of the producer. The corn law, in fact, operated as a tax of 10,000,000 annually upon the consumer; and this only for the imaginary advantage of one particular class of the community. In addition to this disadvantage to the consumer, it was an established fact that when corn was cheap labour was comparatively high, while on the other hand there was a scarcity of employment when food was dear. In every point of view, therefore, a protecting duty on corn operated severely on the industrial classes. The noble lord then proceeded to argue at great length, that the repeal of the corn-law could only operate as a proper and wholesome stimulus to agricultural improvement, while affording a larger supply of food to the artisan, whose increased con sumption would counterbalance the depressing tendency of price resulting from foreign importation. He subse quently replied to the arguments of Lord Stanley respect ing the injury which their free•trade measures would in flict upon our colonies, instancing the case of Canada, the legislature of which had agreed to the repeal of the 3s. duty on the importation of American corn, as a proof that the colonies themselves did not regard these measures with the same alarm as was evinced by his noble friend. The noble earl concluded by expressing his earnest prayer that the house would pass the second reading of the bill by a large majority. Lord ASHBURTON said the bill came before the house in a very humble form—that of a bill to regulate the trade in corn—but it was in reality a formidable measure calcu lated to alter the whole system, colonial, monetary, and commercial, of this great country. The bill was founded upan a case of distress in Ireland, which, it would be admitted, had been greatly exaggerated, and which, at all events, might have been relieved by the temporary open ing of the ports ; and it was sustained by the argument that, it being necessary to open the ports to relieve that distress, it would be impossible to close them again. He would ask why it should be impossible so to close when the cause of opening them was at an end ? They had been opened before when corn was extravagantly high, and closed again when the evil was remedied • and why that course should not have been again pursued, he was at a loss to imagine. The effect of the bill, if it should pass, would be to bring an overpowering supply into the market ; and if it should be followed by a good harvest, prices would fall as low, or perhaps lower, than they had ever been in this country. He was so convinced of this, that he had advised his own tenantry to send their produce to market as fast as they could. In that part of Europe beyond the Carpathian Mountains, and lying be tween the rivers of the Baltic and those which fell into the Black Sea, a sufficiency of corn was grown to supply France, Belgium, and every other country which might at any time require a supply. Those countries, however, as soon as they had obtained a requisite supply, closed their ports, whereas their lordships were now called upon to adopt a measure which proceeded upon a principle against which every other nation practically exclaimed. As to the capability of the farmer to sustain the compe tition to which this bill would expose him, he had heard but one argument—namely, that if you teased and worried him enough there was no telling what you might not get out of him, an argument equivalent to saying there was no knowing what you might get out of a bad horse with a good pair of spurs. Was this a principle upon which their lordships would consent to legislate ? The noble lord then pointed out the injurious way in which the bill would operate towards the clergy, if the price of corn should materially fall; and if it should not fall, he could not understand what the utility could be of passing the bill at all. Assuming, however, that the price would fall to 405., the consequence would be that the income of every clergyman would be reduced nearly one-third. Every clergyman with an income at present of £3OO per annum would find that he would be limited by the operation of this bill to an income of £2OO. The bill was, in fact, so mischievous in every point of view, so great a mistake in legislation, that he hoped it would be rejected by their lordships. _ _ _ The Marquis of LANSDOWNE contended that the deci sion of the House of Commons in this case was as much to be respected by their lordships as any to which it had ever come upon any former occasion ; and, althougn the Earl of Malrnesbury had said it was not a clean majority, yet he would say that it was not for their lordships to examine into the motives of individual members of the Commons, but to take the decision as it stood. The noble marquis strongly advocated the necessity of agree ing to the measure, repudiating the idea that it could lead to any alteration in the social system of the country. A singular scene occurred when the noble marquis re sumed his seat. Lord Eglintoun, Lord Beaumont, and the Earl of Essex, presented themselves to be heard. Each noble lord had q large number of supporters, and all three attempted to speak at the same moment. The Duke of RICHMOND moved that Lord Eglintoun be heard; while another noble lord moved that the Earl of Essex be heard. Great confusion ensued arising from the practice of the house, in which the Chancellor has not the power pos sessed by the Speaker in the House of Commons of call ing on the member who has been most fortunate in first catching his attention. A division was likely to have taken place, when the Earl of Eglintoun and Lord Beau mont gave way, and The Earl of ESSEX proceeded to address the house in support of the bill, advocating strenuously the principles of free trade, though he regretted that, in the preparation of the measure, greater consideration had not been shown towards the burdens on the land. The Earl of EGLINTOUN said he recognised the princi ple that members of either house of parliament should endeavour, as far as possible, to modify their views to those of the party to which they belonged. There was a point, however, beyond which this species of concession should not go, and to that point he had arrived in refe rence to the bill upon the table. He had been always a Conservative and hoped to continue one, and would have been happy to have still adhered to the Government ; but when be saw Sir Robert Peel overthrowing every princi ple which he had all his former life been advocating, he felt it necessary to act entirely u p on hi s own i n di v id ua l judgment, and in the exercise of that judgment he would give his decided opposition to the bill. It was said that the land was not skilfully worked, and he admitted that a great deal of it was neither sufficiently drained nor ma nured, but the inducement held out to the farmer to incur the expense of improvement was the reduction in the value of his produce. Lord BEAUMONT commented on the speech of the Earl of Ripon, who had occupied a great portion of the time of the house in enumerating the various times and ons on which he had voted against his own con- The noble lord strongly opposed the cealed of the bill of " protection " was unsound in itself, and was calcu lated to enhance prices to the consumer, without any ohi nate adyanh , — In holding this opinion istency, for it was in accord s. The noble lord then the chief points of Lord o the producer alley of no inc b all his• former opinior roceeded to an cech, quoting variety of dot unuuts in order THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. to establish thefact that the reductions hitherto 'elide in the amount of 'commercial protection had not been inju rious to the interests relative to which those reductions were made. `''With respect to our becoming independent of foreign cotntries, he contended that the constant in crease in the, quantity of foreign corn taken into our home consamptior was a sufficient proof that even under the existing law we were not independent Of foreign supply. The fact was, however, that we were dependent upon fo reigners fbr not only our food, but for the means even of clothing and existence, as was evident'from a mere glance at our cotton manufactures. What would become of our manufacturing population if we wereto exclude the cotton of America ? The same might be said of wool and other articles ; and it was absurd, therefore, to raise the ques tion in respect to food exclusively, when it was, in fact, equally applicable to the means of purchasing it. The noble earl also adverted to the averages, which he said gave a fictitious idea of price owing to the difference of quality, as was evident from a comparison between the price given by them and that at which you could really buy 'the best wheat in the market. In fact, the contract price at the Victualling-office, this year, was, for the best red wheat £3 I Is., although the price given by the ave • rages 'was only £2 10s. He concluded a lengthened speech by a defence of the course pursued by the Govern ment, every member of which regretted that the attempt of Lord John Russell to form an snlministration to carry the measure had proved a failure. They would, however, have been traitors to their Sovereign and to their own convictions if they hesitated after that failure to act pre cisely as they had done, and -although they might be doomed to bow before the indignation of their party, they could at least stand erect before a higher tribunal. The Duke of BEAUFORT next addressed the house in opposition to the bill, but owing to the noise in the body of the house he was but indistinctly heard in the gallery. The Duke of WELLINGTON said it was painful to him to have to force this measure upon the consideration of the house, in opposition to the feelings of those with whom he had been so long, and with such satisfaction to himself, united in ties of friendship. The course he had taken, however, he would be ready to take again to-morrow, if called upon by what he conceived to be his duty to the Crown. His own conscience was satisfied, and he could only regret it if others did not take the same view he did of his duty to his most gracious Sovereign. The house then divided, and the numbers were— Fox the second reading— Present ...... Proxies Total , For the amendment, - 211 Present Proxies - 164 Majority for the second reading. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. Sir R. PEEL stated, that on Friday after the recess he would move that the house proceed with the estimates in committee of supply. On the following Monday he would move the second reading of the Protection of Life (Ire land) Bill ; and if that should be disposed of by Friday, the 12th of June, he should then move the sugar duties. Mr. J. O'CONNELL said that he would move an amend ment to the Protection of Life (Ireland) Bill on every evening when the order of the day for its consideration should be moved. Mr. FIUME was surprised the right hon. baronet should suffer this bill to interfere with the important business of the country. He ought to postpone the measure until the matters more immediately pressing should have been disposed of. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then brought forward his financial statement for the ensuing year in a committee of ways and means, the chief points of which were to the following purport. Last year an income of £19,760,000 had been anticipated, but the amount realised was over £52,250,000, independent of the money from China, a strong proof of the beneficial policy of reducing protective duties. The only great source of income which had declined was that of the property and income tax, but even this declension was to be attributed to repay ments made to parties who were entitled to such returns of money previously paid into the Exchequer. He might take the receipts of the ensuing year at £52,090,000, and the expenditure at £49,400,000 in round numbers, leav ing a surplus of over £2,350,000. The Customs produced last year £19,760,000. A reduction of duties had, how. ever, taken place to the extent of £1,041,000. This re duction, however, he hoped would be counterbalanced by the increased consumption which might not unreasonably be expected. If, therefore, they to k the loss at two fifths of the whole sum repealed, the amount would be about £400,000, leaving the amount to be antici pated from the Customs at .£19,300,000. He thought, however, that the trade of the country was in such a progressive state of improvement, that they might calculate upon an increase which would leave the sum to be really anticipated from the customs, after these reductions, at £19,500,000. In the excise there had been also large reductions last year, leading to a certain amount of loss, but although some duties had been altogether re pealed, the duties fell only £lOO,OOO below what they had been in the previous year. He anticipated from the stamp duties about £7,400,000, being about £260,000 less than last year, the deduction being estimated to accrue owing to less transactions in railways. The assessed and land taxes he would take at £4,230,000, and the property tax at the same amount as last year, £5,100,000. In the post office department there had been a large increase of reve nue, but he would take it at £850,000 for the ensuing year, being an increase of only £60,000. Including the revenue from the crown lands the total receipts would be £50,955,000, to which might be added a further sum of over £700,000 from China. The total result would be that the estimated income of the country for the ensuing year would be, in round numbers, £51,650,000, while the expenditure would be only £49,400,000, leaving a dis posable surplus of nearly £2,200,000—a surplus nearly equal to that of last year, notwithstanding all the reduc tions in both customs and excise which had been carried out. There were, however, certain additions to the esta blishments of the country, and more particularly in the naval department and the armament of our shipping, which would appropriate a considerable portion of this sur plus. The charge for the debt last year was £28,200,000 ; this year it was only £28,10C,000; but this advan tage was counterbalanced by the increased charges on the Consolidated Fund, arising from the advances requisite to be made for the promotion of public works in Ireland. There was an increase in the estimates for the navy as compared with those of last year of between five and six hundred thousand pounds. In the ordnance estimates there was an increase of about £400,000, which, with the additional charges in the miscellaneous estimates, would make a total charge of about £20,198,000. This added to the charge for the public debt, &c., would give a total expenditure of over X 50,760,000. The result would be, that there would be a surplus of only £776,000., of which £700,000 was derived from China. The right hon. gentleman then proceeded to show the advantages derived by the country from the policy pursued by the present government, which had not only placed the finances of the country upon a firm and substantial basis, but which had, while reducing customs and excise duties, in every direction, actually reduced the expenditure by one million and a half ! In 1842, when they entered office, the charge on the consolidated fund for the interest of the debt, &c., was £29,567,000, while for this year it would not exceed the sum of £28,129,000, a difference of no less than £1,436,000. It was true that in the shape of property tax, &c., the government had imposed burdens to the extent of £5,600,000 ; but, on the other hand, they had reduced customs and excise duties to the extent of over £8,200,000, which left a balance of reduced taxation to the amount of over £2,500,000, and all these results, from which the country had derived such essential benefits, bad been brought about without the slightest derangement of any of the great interests of the country. The right hon. gentleman concluded by moving the usual resolutions. A desultory conversation ensued, in the course of which Mr. F. Baring, Mr. Hume, Lord G. Bentinck, Mr. Card well, Mr. C. Wood, &c., gave their opinions of the finan cial statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after which the resolutions were agreed to. FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. ARRIVAL OF THE_CAMBRIA..-WAR BETWEEN MEXICO ANDiTIIIi UNITED STATES. - The Cambria steamer arrived on Thursday in her usual style, thus silencing the many absurd rumours regarding her outward trip. She came up channel with extraordinary speed, her commander, Captain Judkins, passing tele gragh signals that war had been declared between Mexico and the United States. The most prominent item of news by the Cambria is the actual commencement of hostilities between the United Slates and Mexico. The justly•irritated state of public feeling in Mexico since she was despoiled by the " Model Republic" of her fairest province, has all along led us to suppose that war would be the final result, and that result is now brought about. We learn by this arrival that hostilities between the two countries have commenced. In the first action now re corded only a small number of troops were engaged, but the Americans suffered a defeat. It seems that a recon noitring party of United States soldiers approached the Mexican camp, and were suddenly surprised by the Mexi can advanced guard. Some 13 or 15 of the Americans were killed, six wounded, and about 50 taken prisoners. This has produced a War Message from the President, and a War Proclamation. Congress has backed the President, and passed bills for an increase of 7000 men to the regular army and volun teers to be enrolled, to a number not exceeding 50,000 additional. A sum of ten millions of dollars has also been appropriated. The vote for these bills was almost unani mous in the Senate, there being only two dissentients ; and the majority in the Representatives was also great. In order to convey a more correct knowledge of events we endeavour to give a narrative of events in order of occurrence from the date of our previous advices. By the last arrival we mentioned the fact that Colonel Cross, an American officer, was missing from his camp. Since that time his body has been found, and had apparently been pierced by a lance. It was supposed that he had been robbed and murdered. This, of course. the Mexicans disavowed ; but as no steps appeared to have been taken to discover and punish the murderer, the affair tended to increase the hostile feelings between the parties. The geographical position of General Taylor's camp, on the left bank of the Rio Grande, is 90 miles distant from the coast by the channel of the Rio Grande, but only 40 miles by the land route to Point Isabel. the mouth of the Rio Grande (10 miles south of Point Isabel) has only seven feet of water at the h gbest tide. In a heavy sea the navigation is very dangerous, vessels often taking four or five days to beat over the bar, and the Mexican shore commands the channel effectually. The current of this river runs at ten miles an hour in some places, and the water is fresh nearly to the bar. His supplies by this avenue would, therefore, be exposed to great delay, and to the interference of the Mexicans, unless protected by armed vessels. The entrance to Point Isabel, however, is accessible for ships of large draught, at all seasons. The coast in that vicinity is lined with small islands of sand, thrown up by the sea, between which and the main land are navigable sounds or bays called Lagunas. Point Isa bel is a high sand bluff projecting into the Laguna del Madre, the gulf entrance of the latter being at the south point of the Isla del Padre. The city of Mataaioras was commanded by American batteries on the side of the river opposite. _ _ We find, by reference to the official return of the Adju tant-General of the United States army. on the 26th of November last, that the troops then in Texas under the command of Brigadier-General Taylor consisted of the 2d Regiment of Dragoons, 10 companies, -16 companies of Artillery, consisting of four companies from each of the four Regiments,—and the 3d, 4th, sth, 7th, and Bth entire Regiments of Infantry. This force consisted of commis sioned officers 346, non-commissioned officers, musicians, artificers, and privates, 3733; total 4079. To make up the whole complement of the several corps, 3G6 recruits were required, showing the nominal force of this part of the army to be 4445, which number, deducted from the whole nominal force of the American army, leaves for the strength of the corps now in Texas 4171 men. It thus appears that more than half the army of the United States is now in Texas. The force there had not been augmented since the occupation of the country previous to the collision with the Mexican troops. The Mexican encampment at last accounts was in the vicinity of Meta moras, but the number of the army has been variously stated. Before the commencement of hostilities, it was estimated at about 4000 men, but since all accounts agree that it was underrated. The latest New Orleans papers furnish no accurate intelligence of its position or numbers : the dread evinced by the officers of the American army lest they should be cut off, would lead us to suppose the Mexican force greatly superior. For nearly a fortnight preceding the 24th April, the two armies lay entrenched in their camps, watching each other's movements. No open act of hostility was com mitted during that time. General Taylor is represented to have been lulled into a false security by representations that parties of lawless marauders, outlawed by Mexico, infested the woods in the vicinity of his camp ; and the disavowal of the murders committed upon several Ameri can officers, led him to neglect that watchfulness over the enemy's movements which reconnoitring parties alone can accomplish. Upon that day information reached him that a large body of Mexican troops, variously estimated at from one to four thousand, had crossed the Rio Grande at Camago, a place about 2.) miles up the river, and report instantly assigned their purpose to be that of intercepting General Taylor's communication with his supplies at Point Isabel. He therefore dispatched a detachment of dragoons for information. This detachment was fired upon, about sixteen were killed. and the remainder made prisoners, at a distance of about twenty-two miles from General Taylor's camp. With this statement our record of facts ends. We have no authentic accounts from the army of a later date than the above. By this it will he observed that the exact position of the Mexican troops had not been ascertained, or if ascertained, not stated, up to that date. It is not known in what force the Mexicans crossed the Rio Grande, their destination, or object in crossing, or whether it was merely a scouting party, an advanced guard, or the main body of the Mexican troops, with which the Americans had come in collision. All state ments of the position of the Mexicans going beyond the above are matters of conjecture merely. It appears that Brigadier Gen. Worth resigned his com mission in the army on account of some difference of opi nion on the score of rank. He has since been induced to withdraw his resignation, and return to the seat of war. The Mexican Government is said to have sold its two war steamers, the Montezuma and the Guadalupe, to Manning and Mlntosh, an English house. Ihe price is said to have been 640,000 dollars. Various speculations were indulged in as to the object of this sale. The steam ers were to proceed immediately to llavannah—some re ports say to bring over the Spanish prince destined to fill the throne of Mexico ; others as confidently predict that Santa Anna would return in one of them, and in a few weeks, too. Another report is to the effect that the sale is a mere sham, to protect them from the United States cruisers, and that they would soon reappear as privateers : at last accounts they atill remained at Vera Cruz. The important intelligence of the commencement of hostilities was received in New Orleans on the morning of May the 2d, and produced great excitement. The Governor of Louisiana soon issued his proclamation re quiring 2,500 volunteers, and many were soon in the streets making active preparations for their departure. But the ardour soon subsided, and at last accounts the requisite number had not enlisted, and it was supposed a draft would be made on the militia to supply the defi ciency. The cause of the hesitation appears to be the dread of the sickly season on the banks of the Rio Grande, and the tardiness of the government in paying the troops which enlisted some time since for the same service. With more than one-half of the available military force of the country under his command, he is still in a position which excites serious alarm all over the United States. The American squadron in the Gulf of Mexico consists of the flag-ship, Raritan (first class frigate), the frigates Potomac and Cumberland; the sloops of war John Adams and St. Mary's ; the brig Lawrence and schooner Flirt ; and the steam-frigate Mississippi. The steam propellor Princeton and other vessels were on their way to join the fleet. On the west, or Pacific side of Mexico, are the Constitution and Savannah, first-class frigates ; sloops of war Levant, Portsmouth, and Warren ; the schooner Shark, and store-ship Erie. The frigate Congress was expected there about May 1. A vigorous blockade was instituted off the port of Ma tamoras, on the 12th of April, by the United States brig Lawrence and schooner Flirt. A number of vessels of all nations have since been turned back, but we have the names of the Americans only. Formal protests have been made by British houses in New Orleans, before the Eng lish consul, as some of them bad shipped goods on board the schooners Equity and Florida, which were among the number excluded. It is confidently stated that the block ade was against all national law, and that claims for damage will hold. A Mexican prize was sent into Port Isabel, about the 26th of April. ASSOCIATION FOR CLEANLINESS. A notice appeared in the Times of the 15th ult., beaded, " Association for Cleanliness," in which, after stating the number of increasing daily averages of poor people who had availed themselves of the baths and wash-houses be longing to the association in Glasshouse.yard ; the fact is given that "nearly 300 persons inhabiting small tene ments and rooms have availed themselves of the gratui tous supply of whitewash given by the association." This is an excellent plan and obviously worthy of imi tation in the provincial towns. Such a step, if it could be extensively carried out, would be en inestimable benefit to the poor, and it is not an extravagant work of charity. Apart from the disinfecting properties of the lime, the scrubbing, and scouring, and ransacking, as processes in separably connected with the use of the whitewash, must be a highly useful practice and sanitary lesson. This and other collateral moral results are too obvious to dwell up on. Perhaps it is impossible to find a more powerful and manifold Sanitary agent than the brush of the white washer. It is a schoolmaster for lesser morals as well as an anti-contagion organ. _ . Jr the parish are vise in sending the whitewasher to every abode whence a fever patient has been brought to the fever-wards, and this is done always, to their credit, yet the converting an exception into a rule general would be of immense advantage to all classes of the community. Diseases of an infectious kind overleap classes and spread amongst all ranks when once intensely developed. Hence the interests of all the community are bound up in the one bundle of social life. All therefore are compelled to feel a keen interest in the poor man's mean abode, by the order of Providence. The formation of a Cholera Board on emergency is the witness to the conviction of this truth, but it is not only then that the half selfish, half charitable obligation is in force. It is not a riot act simply meant for any tumultuous emergency—it is a con stitutional magna charta of our social common weal, co equal with man's multiplication and never obsoleted, but under tremendous penalties for the re-cognition of its im perative majesty. We venture most respectfully to suggest to the " Health Committee" that the adoption of the above plan, viz., the gratuitous distribution of whitewash materials, would be even worthy of the second corporation in the kingdom. Funds there are and must be for all needful work of this kind, in which the question of life and health is at stake. Thus by a deliberate and most efficient measure one grand duty of a Cholera Board might be wisely forestalled and well done. Typhus fever would be reduced to a sur prising minimum, and other diseases mitigated in their severity. Even a gorgeous municipal temple might suffer a delay in its completion for the sake of the more vast t, triple of the whole town, being dedicated to the goddess llygeia. The hidden recesses of Liverpool proper might converter :co a Sfi ppers and enlivened by the ctrern, in exchange for filth and pollution. CANADA A very serious fire occured recently in the Saguenay, near Quebec. It seems that the settlers in that vicinity were clearing their lands and burning the brush; the weather had been very dry, and on the 4th, the wind coming on to blow furiously, the flames were carried along the settlement, destroying houses, barns, cattle, the seed grain, and implements of husbandry, and, reaching the village at the mouth of the river Chez Marge, destroyed the whole there, the church and the two mills at the mouth of the stream, and continuing a mile further, round the bay to the Grand Bay village, destroying all there, except the church and Wm. Price and Co.'s stores and houses, and a few houses south of them, leaving about 2060 souls, men, women, and children, without houses or the means of sowing their lands. The legislature of Canada is called upon to do something for their relief. There were also rumours of the progress of the fire to Stoneham, though nothing was known. The fire in the forests near Quebec has been most de structive in its course. Two houses at Lake St. Charles and more than 20 in the township of Stoneham have been destroyed ; but the most serious destruction has been at Grand Baie and the neighbourhood of Checoutimi, nearly the whole of the former village being in ashes, The church of St. Alexis, the priest's house, and the store of the Hud son's Bay Company, and a few small dwellings only, being saved. Three mills belaying to Messrs. Price, with a large quantity of timber and sawed lumber and the wharfs are consumed, as are the provisions in store and the sown grain. The steamer Pocahontas has been dispatched by Messrs. Price and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec with Supplies of food and clothing. NotiCe - Offive7e7solution;had been given in the House of Assembly, by Mr. Merritt, to be proposed in a com mittee of the whole on the 7th of this month. They all bear upon the policy recognised by the Corn Bill and modified Tariff now before the British parliament, and seek to establish equivalent advantages, founded upon eltenbion of .the same policy to Canada. The filth re lution appears to be the most important, and we therefore print it. It runs thus : " 5. Resolved,—That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be pleased to admit all articles, the growth and produce of Canada, into the markets of the Mother Country free from duty; also, that she will be pleased to recommend to the Imperial Parlia ment, that all imperial acts relating to duties on the im ports, revenue, and trade of Canada, may be repealed, and her commerce relieved from all restrictions, except what may be imposed by the provincial legislature ; also, that her Majesty may be pleased to open a negociation with the Government of the United States for the purpose of obtaining access for the produce of Canada into the mar kets of that country, on the same terms that American products are to be admitted into the markets of Britain and Canada; also, that the river St. Lawrence, from Lake Ontario to the ocean, may be opened to all nations, sub ject to no greater restrictions than now exist in passing through the well and canal round the falls of Niagara, in order that a revenue from tolls may be ensured to repay the cost of the constructions of the canals connecting those waters." Mr. Williams has given noiice of another series of re solutions in the form of an amendment. These are, of course, hostile to the free-trade policy of the home govern ment, but it is believed that Mr. Merritt will prevail. A Brussels journal of Saturday states that the accounts of the potato-crop in Belgium are generally good. There are large districts in which not the slightest symptoms of disease have been discovered. The following dreadful accident took place at the coal mine of Ougree, near Liege, on Thursday. Four miners were being let down into the mine, to resume their work, when the rope broke, and they were all dashed to pieces. The Prussian Universal Gazette, of the 23d ultimo, announces officially the approval, by the King of Prussia, of the nomination by the English government of Mr. Geobat, as Bishop of Jerusalem. On the 20th ultimo, two young girls, embroiderers at Berlin, committed suicide by lying down on the rails of the Berlin and Potsdam railway, late in the evening. A train passed over them and killed them on the spot. The Ami de la Religion contradicts an unfavourable report, which has been in circulation for some days past, respecting the Pope's health. It states that it has re ceived letters of a late date which speak in most satisfac tory terms of the health of his holiness. 0. STRANGE SUICIDE.—A singular suicide took place few days ago at Ligueil (Indre et Lore). A man named Mathurier, overcome by some domestic troubles, went into a vine ground, and, having made a pile of fagots, set it on fire, and, laying himself upon it, was consumed. His body, which was not discovered till morning, had be come a calcined mass.—Galignani. THE BOLDEST YET.—A lady went into a store in New York a few days since to purchase a shawl; just as she was handing the clerk two fifty dollar bills, she received a blow in the face from a well-dressed person, who ex claimed, " I forbade you buying a shawl." and snatching the money from her hand evaporated. The lady fainted, and on recovering the merchant expressed surprise that her husband should have acted so ungentlemanly, but his surprise was greatly increased when the lady informed him that it was not her husband, and that she had never seen him before ! The bold thief however had made good his escape.—American paper. ANTI-MACHINE RIOTS IN FRANCE.—Alarming riots took place on Saturday last at Elbeuf, a town situated on the Seine, a few miles from Rouen. A new machine to facilitate the picking of wool had been introduced into the factory of Mr. Droux ; and some old women and children having been, in consequence, thrown out of work, a feel ing of dissatisfaction arose among the whole of the work ing population ; and the excitement at length arrived at such a pitch that an attack was made upon the establish ment of M. Droux, for the purpose of destroying the ob noxious machine. The efforts of the national guard against the rioters were by no means efficacious, and bad not a detachment of troops of the line arrived timely from Rouen, the consequences might have been very serious. The mob was put to flight without loss of life, and seven teen of the ringleaders were arrested. ESCAPE OF PRINCE LOUIS BUONAPARTE.—On Mon day, the prince succeeded in effecting his escape from the fortress of Ham, after close imprisonment of some years. Having assumed the disguise of a workman, he contrived to elude the vigilance of the sentries ; to regain his free dom without any molestation from the battalion of in fantry that formed the garrison of the castle ; and to arrive safely in London, where, we believe, he is at pre sent. It is well known that for some time past Prince Louis has earnestly desired once more to see his aged father, whose precarious state of health leaves little hope that his life will be much further prolonged. His object, as we hear, is to obtain passports without delay, in order that he may at once hasten to share the retreat of his father at Florence. The Morning Herald says—As the prince escaped at seven o'clock of the morning of the 25th, and as the event was not discovered for ten hours after wards, he could easily have reached the Belgian frontiers, only 20 leagues distant, long before the telegraph itself could have been set to work. The papers say he em barked at St. Valery. UNIVERSITY 4- CLERICAL NEWS, The Venerable Archdeacon Lear has been appointed the successor of Dr. Pearson, in the Deanery of Salisbury. The Bishop of Calcutta will sail sail for his diocese on the 25th August. The Hon. and Rev. George Neville Grenville, Master of Magdalen College, Cambridge, and brother of Lord Braybrooke, has been gazetted Dean of Windsor. The prizes annually awarded by the Bishop of Durham, for Latin composition in Durham University, were awarded on Wednesday week as follows :—Latin verse, Bolland ; ditto, additional prize, R. R. Bradley. Latin prose, F. B Dickson. INTERESTING SERVICE. -On Wednesday, a new chapel in John-street, Edgeware-road, London, erected for the Rev. R. H. Herscbell, a Christian Israelite, well known as the author of " A Brief Sketch of the Jews," and " A Visit to My Fatherland," was set apart for the worship of God by an interesting series of services. Mr. Herschell is a Nonconformist, but he has never identified himself with any denomination of dissenters. In the afternoon two of Mr. Herachell's brothers, who also em braced Christianity, took part in the services, addresses being delivered by the Rev. Douglas, of the Established Church of Scotland, and the Rev. A. Edersheim, minis ter of the Free Church, on his way to Moldavia as a missionary, both he and Mr. Douglas being converted Jews. The entire service was conducted by Christian Israelites. From the financial statement made on each occasion it appeared that the chapel was erected at a cost of upwards of J.:4,000, of which nearly £2,000 are yet re quired. The contributions have been received from Christians of every denomination, and seldom, if ever, has a place of worship been erected under similar circum stances. Sir C. E. Smitb, Bart., the Rev. Dr. Dibdin, of the Church of England, the Rev. J. Bunting, and other ministers, expressed their sympathy in the object. CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.—The General Assembly of the Established Church was opened on Thursday week, the 21st instant, in the New Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, the Marquis of Bute presiding as Lord High Commissioner, Dr. James Paull, of Tullyneste, was appointed Moder ator. Grants from her Majesty of £2OOO, for education in the Highlands and Islands, and a similar sum towards the instruction of students for the ministry in the Gaelic language, were announced. There was nothing of parti cular interest in the proceedings of Thursday and Friday. The General Assembly of the Free Church met also on Thursday, in the Assembly Hall, Cannon Mills, Dr. Ro bert James Brown, Professor of Greek, at Aberdeen, presiding as Moderator. On Friday, the following finan cial statement was presented : Borne Missions... £6,081 12 0 Education Building Foreign Missions . Colonies J ems Supplementary Contributions 14,210 4 94 Total .. ........ £76,279 11 54 A letter was read from the Presbyterian Church of Ame rica, acknowledging the receipt of the letters of this As sembly, enclosing their deliverence on American slavery, which was, at the suggestion of Dr. Candlish, referred to the standing committee, to prepare an answer if they saw fit, and to report. At the meeting on Monday, an over ture on the better observance of the Sabbath, protesting against the running of trains on the Edinburgh and Glas gow Railway, and the carrying on of such work in the Post-office,--was adopted. ADDITIONAL CURATES SOCIETY.—Tbe annual meeting of this society was held last week. The sum received from particular districts had decreased nearly one-half from the sum received during the previous year, though the aggregate amount received was greater. The total sum received during the year amounts to £15,510. The report specified an annual subscription from the Queen Dowager of £lOO. Three annual subscriptions of £2OO each from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishop of London ; two of £lOO and upwards, and thirteen of £5O, with others from the bishops ; four sub scriptions of £lOO each ; one of £7O; and eight of £5O and upwards are still contributed by those noblemen and gentlemen who have enrolled their names as annual con tributors. In addition to which the committee acknow ledge the receipt of the following donations : Anonymous, Capt.W.J £6O I AFriend,perMrßurrellz€so Lord Eldon 100 Miss Champion The Misses Champion .. 2 2 00 00 J w . .. .......... Anonymous, E. 5....... 5 0 P. Cazenove, Esq lOO G. Daubeny, Esq. 5O E. C. F. 200 E. L ... ....... Anonymous Foster,R.Esq. (legacy) 1000 for Bethnal-green) .. 100 .- . . Grants were then voted to the following places, viz.:— Population. Grants. Glossop, parish 0f...... 61)00 £BO to meet £lO Thurgoland, district of.. 1333 .. £BO for one year. Dursley, parish of .. 3000 .. £3O to meet £3O Chippenham, Wilts.... 5354 .. £5O to meet £5O Leicester, St. Mary . 9000 .. £BO to meet £BO Birtley, P.Chester-le-st. 10,500 .. £5O to meet £4O Shadwell, St. Paul's.... 10,000 .. £5O to meet £5O High Wycombe, Bucks.. 7000 .. XBO for a2d curate Nottingham, St. Anne's 7695 .. £BO to meet £2O CHURCH OF ENGLAND SELF-SUPPORTING VILLAGE SOCIETY.—On Wednesday the first meeting of the mem bers and friends of this society, established, as its title indicates, for the purpose of founding a self-supporting village, in connexion with_ the Church of England, was held - in . Exeter Hall. The Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., pre eided, and was supported by the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Lord John Manners. M.P., the Rev. H. Hughes, the Rev. D. Kelly, the Rev. W. W. Ellis, the Rev. E. Monro, with other clergymen and gentlemen. The Chair man having offered some remarks on the constitution of the society, the fir m st e re p s r ol ov u i t s i i o o n n , w fo h r ic t l i r le affi la r b m ou ed ril te )ghel sity of tnakiog .yew tneo Lenmoral and spiritual i n t erests , was , moved by the Lord Bishop of Norwich. The undertaking, June 2, 18466 his lordship thought, was a feasible one. It was men tioned to him, in the first instance, by Mr. Morgan, the projector, who explained its details, and he was deterred from connecting himself with it in consequence of the similari y which he thought it bore to the plan which was some time since adopted, by Mr. Robert Owen, the soci• alist, in Hampshire ; but when he considered the subject. more fully, he became convinced of his error, and he was now persuaded that the scheme was eminently calculated to serve the interests of those for whom it was:designed. Mr. Morgan's calculation was, that £15,000 would Ibe expended on the purchase of 1,000 acres of land, and the outlay for providing the necessary accommodation for 100 families, of three persons each on an average, would, be £22,000. The returns would yield two-and-a-half , to three per cent., so that the object could not be considered a purely charitable one. Lord John Manners, M.P., in seconding the resolution, made reference to Freiderick sten, in Holland, which was formerly an entire morass, but it had been reclaimed through the combined exertions of a class of labourers placed there to try the experiment. He also cited a case of a similar character in Flintshire, and expressed a conviction that the proposed society would be serviceable in a similar manner. The resolution hav ing been adopted, Mr. Morgan and several other gentle men addressed the meeting, and subscribers to the new society were enrolled. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. IRELAND. Peter Purcell, Esq., a prominent public man in Dub lin, and a great government contractor, died on Friday. MURDER.—A man of the name of Stokes was waylaid near Oula, county Limerick, and killed on Friday, return ing from the fair of Emly. The average quantity of Indian meal sold daily to the poor at Limerick. on behalf of the relief committee, is four tons, at 2d per bottle. Allowing one pound per diem for the support of each person, four tons supply at least 8,960 individuals. AN husu GRIEVANCE.—The Limerick Chronicle states, that the East India Company have only voted an annuity of £2,000 to Lord Gough (an Irishman) ; while Lord Hardinge, " who acted in a subordinate and irres ponsible capacity," is to have £5,000. Really, the inge nuity of our neighbours at discovering a grievance is ex traordinary. OUTRAGE.—Mr. Arthur Irwin, on his return from the fair of French-park, in the county of Roscommon, on Wednesday week, was stopped on the public road, be tween one and two o'clock p.m., by a party of " Molly Maguires," who served him with a threatening notice, in the presence of a number of persons, who refused to interfere, or arrest any of the gang. Another outrage was committed by a large party of Molly Maguires, at Lissymulhere, near Ardcarne, in the same county. They amounted to nearly twenty, and visited three houses on the night of Tuesday last. We hear that they swore several of the parties. Two Molly Maguire notices were found posted on the walls in the town of Boyle, ordering no person to charge more than 2s. 6d. per cwt. for cup, and Is. 10d. for lumper potatoes. A large concourse of persons assembled last week near Clare, with intent to plunder the brig Hope, of Cardiff, laden with Indian meal. from Liverposil. The police, however, got timely notioe, and prevented the intended depredation. REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—The usual weekly meeting was held on Monday. Letters from Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Smith O'Brien were read, in which there was much about the necessity of mutual forbearance, for the sake of the common cause. A Captain Seaver, in moving the insertion of Mr. O'Connell's letter on the books, said that Mr. O'Brien had " most unqualified approbation in every thing he had done." This called up Mr. Steele, who, in an excited tone, said, " They all had a solemn duty to perform to their absent leader, O'Connell, and to Ireland. The son of O'Connell was there. His kins man, Captain Broderick, was there. They were all there but his friend, Mr. Ray, and in consequence of holding a sacred official responsibility, had a deep responsibility to O'Connell and to Ireland ; and he would tell his friend, Captain Seaver, that it would be deeply imperilling the safety of the association, if they were to identify them selves with everything their worthy friend Mr. O'Brien had choose to do, however much they admired the purity of his principles and the chivalry of his conduct. A. " pretty quarrel" was thus on the point of arising; but it was prevented by Capt. Seaver me re ly mov i ng th a t M r . O'Connell's lette r be inserted on the minutes. The re peal rent of the week was announced to be about .£llO. MURDER BY ITALIAN SAILORS.—The vicinity of this city has been the scene of a murder devoid of every cha racteristic that usually marks the crime in this countryl.. Here it seldom happens that a man falls by the stiletto or knife, and the fact that the murderers in this case are na tives of Genoa, belonging to one of the Austrian vessels now discharging Indian corn at our quays, has caused a vast excitement to prevail amongst all classes here. The victim in this case was the driver of a jaunting car, named Keane, and the circumstances connected with his un timely end are as follows. About one o'clock on Wed nesday morning, two sailors, natives of Genoa, accompa nied by two women of bad character, hired a car from the deceased in John-street, and drove along the quay to Mary-street, where they took up two other women named Keane and Power, and pnt down the two in whose com pany they originally were. They were then driven out the Cork-road, a little beyond the Manor Castle, where they alighted. The driver immediately demanded his fare, which was refused. He drove back again into town, and having informed the owner of the car what had hap pened, he put up the horse and car, and they both pro ceeded to the place where he had dropped his passengers. The fare was again demanded, but refused, and some blows were struck, and one of the sailors immediately . ' theplunged t a stiletto Th e ot hinertosaKiloera, a ne' p s o ts r o f m u w l nlratfhellel dead man, d attempted else to stab the owner of th e car , a m an named Elliott. but he warded the blow from off his breast, the knife passing through his arm. Elli o tt esca p e d as quickly as possible. and gave the alarm to th e p o li ce , w h o on pro ceeding to the spot found Keane dead. After a little de-• ti e ao n lay they arrested all the parties implicated in the affair. Elliott is severely wounded.— Waterford Chronicle. LAW INTELLIGENCE. At the Vice-Chancellor's Court, on Wednesday, an in junction was granted on behalf of Messrs. Tobias and Co., watchmakers, of this town, to restrain Mr. Lee, o f Coventry. from engraving their name on wa t c h es w hic h he manufactured. SUMMER A ssrz Es.—The following arrangement has been made for the ensuing summer assizes.—North Wales, Lord Chief Justice Denman ; South Wales, Mr. Baron Rolfe ; Home, Mr. Baron Parke and Mr. Justice Coltman; Midland, Mr. Justice Patteson and Mr. Justice Coleridge; Northern, Mr. Justice Whiteman and Mr. Justice Cress well; Western, Mr. Justice Erie and Mr. Baron Platt. In the Sheriff's Court, London, on Tbursday,it person who was sued by a tailor for the price of a suit of clothes, defended the action on the plea that the clothes:were il legal, because they had covered buttons instead of mew buttons, as required by the Birmingham Act, still mire' pealed. The question, after much argument and w a g learned opinions, went to the Jury, who decided for legality of the buttons by giving a verdict for the plain ° Richard Pennefather, under secretary at Dublin has written, by order of the Lord Lieutenant, to the Rev - A. T. Gilmer, Sligo, informing him that " a marriage by a Roman Catholic clergyman, of a Roman Ca th olic, anal who has been a Protestant at any time within twelve months before the marriage, is vo id by 19 Geo. 11, C. 13; and, consequently, a Roman C a tholic cler gyman marrying p ers ons under such cit cumstances, would be li a bl e t o the prov isions of the 7th and Bth Vic., c. 81." A case having lately been submitted to Messrs. Jarvis an d Bodkin, on the question of the le ga lit y o f compound ing for the poor -rates in parliamentary boroughs, those gentlemen have given it as th e i r op i n i on t h at there i s ne power to rate, or compo un d w i t h , t h e owner, not b e i ng the occupier in parliame t t ar y b oroug h s, an d that a ra te so constructed would be entirely ill ega l. If thi s op i n i o n be generally acted upon, th e num b er o f e l ectors i n somelio roughs will be grea tly i ncrease d, as at present part i es oc cupying houses the rates for w hi c h are compoun d e d for. are not placed on the ra t e b oo k s , an d are consequent l y n(4' eligible to vote for members of parli ament. Castle, SPO TLYG I N TELLIGENCE, EPSOM RACES WEDNESDAY—THE DERBY STAKES of 50 goys. each. be The race was a varied one throughout as regardsk to relative positions of the horses, until a distance and a from home, when Sir Tattoo Sykes went in advance, 1 16 lowed by Pyrrhus the First, Brocardo third, and Join,'" t , fourth, in which relation they neared the stand . Sr 1 6 o f ton's lead then began to diminish, and, at the centrtea the enclosure, Sam Day, calling upon his horse, reae' k , him in the last two or three strides, and won by a Di. „ ec v beating not the horse but hi s r id er , w h o was too macros hausted to finish. Broca r d o thi r d , a b out a l eng th the winner, beating Joi nv ill e no t more t h an a h ea d. `" race was run in two minutes fifty-five seconds FRIDAY—THE OAKS STAKES of 50 soya. each• r ats Chamois went off w ith the l ea d, w hi c h was afterva l d i e taken by Ohio and Laundry Maid, until about two it tances from home, when Mendicant went in front, lia r by all her own way, and passed the post a ga ll a nt viiwe e iro ns two lengths, the Emilia filly beaten the same distance oft Laundry Maid; Osprey fourth, and Mowerina 0 4 1 0 0. others tailed off. Run in two minutes fifty-three see" 291 P The great Thames regatta will take place on the and 30th of June, and the Ist of July next. f N ei" The great scullers' match between H. Clasper, of to castle, and R. Newell, of London, for £2OO, is 7:100e* come off at Newcastle, on Monday, the 22nd e^ The Londoner is the favourite at 6 to 5. On Saturday, llarris, th e pe d estr i an , who ntgiceei‘ bridges at lost his match in undertaki ng t o cover th e five brl d sue: London in one hour, made another attempt , Xi" ceeded in accomplishing the feat. His wager was and the time occupied was fifty-nine minutes. „ THE WINNER OF THE DERBY—A PnoPtlEc'ethe Era, in viewin g th e pro b a bl e i ssue o f the race ,or tho " Great Derby" Stakes of Wednesday, predicteo n Syke s Phyrrus would be se con d t o none , an d Sir Tattooli at " second to him o n ly !" Th e resu lt has been El, u 6t Asa , The Era foretold. 27 h orses s t ar t e d—Phyrrus Sir Tatton Sykes second ! bte w eels FOOT RACE AT KNUTSFORD• The raceid, to " ill Greenhalgh, of Bolton, and Manks, of Slieffis, o s ide : tri n ter vsi came ten ff on Tdy. e miles ov eK e s r unuats. Betting fo rd race-course, was - co u rs e, briskor 20, 6 to 5, and l 5 nntl no ,I.., ,tortinn 25 toisll4i o_s to 2 were successively offered o: Manks,ujijanel lo taking the lead about two yards, was done to a large sum. Both got off we" , continued for the first two mileF, when 1 "" 1" d yar dsf the distance in the next three miles two hundre filth end of th e his in which positi,,oido.kea . to • J cif to tn. , when he bolted ailing from the course and of the ezv~ous, flanks ous, leaving anks to finish the remainder 051; - - distanc did, cc forty seconds under the lwu