The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-07 00:00:00

Emptr(ol Varliatrititt, HOUSE OF LORDS.--TuußsDAy •••• •• Lord HARDWIOKR gave notice, that on Tuesday, upon the motion for a committee upon the Canada government bill, he should move that it be committed that day six months. The timber ships' bill was read a second time, and the church discipline bill havinn. passed through committee, with some amendments, Lord BROUGHAM ~r esented a petition signed by 19,000 of the inhabitants of Edinb argh, praying for the separation of church and state, as the only means of in suring the independence of the former. Lord BRE A.DALBAN E, in reference to his motion for hearing counsel at the bar against Lord. Aberdeen's bill for regu lating the presentation to Scotch benefices, requested that the further consideration of the measure might be postponed until counsel might be properly instructed. Lord MELBOURNE thought that all legislation on the subject would be perniciou'i while the public mind was so much excited as at present. The proceedings on either side had sprung entirely out of the question of patronage, n which the Church of Scotland had been divided for upwards of a hundred years. If the bill were intended to put an end to this schism, it had come a century too late. Lord ABERDEEN thought it probable that another schism equally important would take place in the course of the next month. The General Assembly, in the exercise of their usurped power, bad ordered their commission to proceed against ertain -ministers, who were determined to obey the law as laid down by the house, instead of the instructions of the assembly ; and all who thought that the law should be would of course take part with them, although they iy so doing be guilty of contumacy, and run the risk of ueposnion. He thought that the bill would do much to void these and other evils, and he should move that it be obeyed committed immediately. Lord HADDINOTON remarked upon the tacit refusal of government to adopt any course whatever on the question ; and after a few words from Lord LONDONDERRY, the house went into committee, and the several clauses of the bill were agreed to. A conversation then ensued upon a motion brought forward by Lord WEsTmEATH, the consideration of which was ulti mately postponed, and Lord MONSON' having withdrawn his motion for the third reading of the payment of wages' bill, the house adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY. WEAVER CHURCHES. On the order of the day being moved for the third reading of the Weaver Churches Bill, Mr. THORNELY moved, as an amendment, that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the River Weaver and Weston Canal, and of the quantity and descrip tion of traffic thereon, also of the amount of tonnage col lected, and the application thereof, with a view to ascertain what reduction of toll could be made for the benefit of the public, and to report thereon to the house, and that the Weaver Churches Bill be not proceeded with until the com mittee had made its report. The hon. member, at some length, went into particulars connected with the navigation _. Weaver, and contended that further inquiry necessary before the house passed a bill authorising the ,uilding of new churches from the accumulated funds. He trusted the house would agree to the appointment of a corn- f the Rive mittee. Mr. T. EGERTON opposed the motion, the effect of which, reed to, would be, at this period of the session, to post- pone the bill for another year. Mr. HDIgE considered the principle of this bill applied to every county in the kingdom, and it was one of great im portance ; therefore he trusted the house would agree to the amendment of the hon. member for Wolverhampton. The bill was making a dangerous precedent for the misapplica tion of funds belonging to public bodies. Mr. HINDLEY said the public had a right to demand a diminution of the tolls, and therefore the house ought not to appropriate funds in the manner proposed. If a select committee were appointed, he should move a clause to lower the tonnage duty from ls. to 10d. Mr. J. JERVIS trusted the debate would he adjourned, as he had prepared some new clauses, but could not then use them, as he had not given the required technical notice in the Private Bill Office. He hoped, therefore, the hon. ba ronet who had charge of the bill would consent to postpone the debate to a future day. (Cries of " No, no, no.") If that course was not acceded to, he would avail himself of all the forms the house allowed, by moving adjournments, if necessary, until that time tomorrow. (Hear.) He should not be deterred from doing his duty , and therefore moved, that the debate be now adjourned until Monday next. Mr. WILBRA.IIAM seconded the motion for adjournment of the debate. Sir P. EGERTON said the course proposed by the hon. member for Chester wa s un p recedented. (Hear.) Mr. HOB/MUSE considered the bill before the house ought not to pass into a law. He cordially agreed with the hon. member for Wolverhampton that it ought to be re ferred to a select committee. He should support the motion for adjourning the debate ; and if that was lost, he should then vote for other amendments. (Hear.) It was abso lutely necessary that further time should be allowed to con sider the case. Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE considered it was a very reasonable request to ask for a postponement of the debate for a day or two. Mr. T. EGERTON thought the proper course for the house to pursue would be, first to dispose of the amendment of the hon. member for Wolverhampton, and then take the mo tion for an adjournment of the debate until Monday. Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the house di vided, when there appeared— For the adjournment of the debate until Monday 151 Against it On our re-admission, we found Mr. JERVIS moving that the house do now adjourn. He was determined to avail himself of all the forms the house al lowed, in order to obtain an opportunity of bringing forward the clauses he had proposed. Mr. T. EGERTON said there were two ways of defeating a bill. One was by straightforward opposition, and the other by factious and frivolous motions of adjournment. (Hear.) Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a debate took place with closed doors. After which the house divided, Majority against the adjournment of the house 201 gers 'were aumlteo, moveu nother adjournment. Sir G. GREY hoped the bill would be allowed a third read.. ng, and then, if the question that the bill do pass be post loned for a short time, the clauses might be brought up and Considered. After a few observations from Lord STANLEY, Mr. THORNELY, and Sir J. GRAHAM, Mr. J. JERVIS withdrew his amendment. Mr. THORNELY said he should take the sense of the house on the amendment he had proposed, for referring the bill to a select committee._ . . . . . Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but no division took place. After some time the gallery was re-opened ; and Mr. JERVIS in a very excited tone was complaining of a noble lord dealing in insinuations as to matters which he had not the courage to state openly. Mr. Hume and Lord Castlereagh rose together amid. t cries of " Chair, chair." loud The SPEAKER said, the noble lord had not made use of the expression in the sense which the hon. and learned mem ber seemed to understand it. If he had so used it, it would have been his duty to have called him to order. The house would bear with him when he said, that he was most careful to allow no personal allusions to pass unnoticed. (Cheers.) Mr. HUME : It was always painful to him to differ from the chair ; but, as far as expressions could bear a meaning, the noble lord most certainly attributed motives to the hon. and learned member for Chester, and charged him with hav ing made a speech in order to gain time. By the rules of the house, no member was warranted in doing so, and it was the duty of the speaker to prevent it. After some altercation between Viscount CASTEREAGH and Mr. J. JERVIS, explanations where given and received, and the house divided, the numbers being —ayes, 201 ; noes, 122 ; majority against Mr. Thornely's amendment, 79. Mr. G. WILBRAHAM earnestly protested against the third reading of the bill. . _ _ After some further conversation and discession, in which Mr. Wilbraham, Mr. Hume, and Mr. F. Hodgson took part, Mr. E. J. STANLEY said, that if the house would agree to 6tponernent until Monday, he would give a pledge that no other clauses than those that were now in the hands of hon. members should be brought up. He would not, how ever, trouble the house by dividing it. (Hear: hear.) The postponement of the further proceedings on this bill, until the next day, was then agreed to. the pos REGISTRATION OF VOTERS (IRELAND) BILL The motion for the committee "onlorcl i ataniey's bill called up Mr. O'CON N ELL. He contended that it was too late in the present session to pass the bill, even if its enact ments were less objectionable • but that at all even t s it was w h o lly unreasonable to provide for the registration of the franchise before the franchise itself was defined by law. Lord St a nley had deplored the condition of a country where the minority of the judges refused to he bound by the majority. Still more to be deplored was the condition of a country where men struggled to reach the bench by giving scope to every bad passion. The law had not referred the adjudication of the franchise to the twelve judges, and their opinion upon it was, therefore, so far extrajudicial, that several of the as sistant-barristers did not hold themselves concluded by it. Before the Reform Bill it was necessary that there should be a value, for which a solvent tenant would have given £lO a year. But words which, under the act of George IV, required the qualification as thus interpreted, were omitted in the Irish Reform Act. It had been often said the land should pay 3 rents ; for instance, £lO for the landlord, £lO to repay labour and capital, and £lO for the tenant's profit. But if beyond this it were now required that there should be a value for which a solvent tenant would give a further £lO, then four rents were requisite instead of three, and the tenant's profit, instead Of being £lO, must in order to give him the franchise, amount to £2O. The act of George IV had required a clear yearly value £lO, but the Reform Bill required only a bene ficial interest of not less than the annual sum of £lO ; nor could these acts be construed as in vari materia, for the whole system of registration were altered by the Reform Bill. The judges, however, had construed the beneficial interest under the Reform Act according to the solvent tenant test of the act of George IV., by a majority of 10 to 2. But Baron Richards, one of the two, expressed his opinion that this construction having been pronounced in private, was not a binding one, especially as there was no appeal from it, and he acted on that opinion with the sanction of the Irish Lord Chancellor and of Judge Perrin. It was enough for he argument that such a difference among the supreme dges was admitted to exist ; while that difference remained -;ettled, it was monstrous to enter into the details of regis- The legislature should settle the franchise ; and in his opinion it might properly be settled on the principle of beneficial interest : for that was matter of fact, and could be Droved by showing the amount which the land had produced beyond the rent and the amount necessary for replacing capt tal and labour. But if the test were to be the amount which a solvent tenant would be willing to pay, the whole was con jecture, and would vary with each man's imagination. H e concluded by moving that it be an instruction to the commit- tration tee to define the qualification. Dr. LEFROY argued that the law must be taken to be set tled. The judges bad the same power to decide this question as to decide a question of criminal law upon a case reserved. An appeal had been given to the judge of assize from the de cisiou of the assistant-barrister in civil cases under the civil bill act, and it was always the practice with every such judge to reserve for the decision of the twelve all points of difficulty in those civil bill cases. This practice had been adopted by Mr. Baron Richards himself. It was a practice now long 'abed, and it bad never been complained of. The juris diction of the barrister was the same, and the appeal to the judn was the same in the business of the registration as in that . of the civil bill. If, therefore, the reservation of points for the twelve judges was valid in the eases of civil bill, it Was equally valid in the registration cases. He trusted that Mr. Baron Richards would not persevere in the course he had taken, for it was a course which would render it impos sible ever to settle a disputed point of law. , The ArronNizy-GENERAL protested against the assertion that the law on this subject was certain and settled. Judges, committees, and assistant-barristers, all differed upon it. He would not venture , an opinion of his own, but the alteration introduced by the reform bill into the words of the act of George IV. was at least some argument that the legislature intended thereby to alter the law. Sir EDWARD SUGDEN said the house had the authority of Government itself that this was not the proper occasion for "scussing the qualification ; for there were now pending t wo srnment Registration Bills----one providing for England end the ether for Ireland, and in neither el those bilis was the qualification mentioned, but two separate bills were in troduced to regulate the qualification in the two respective countries. The reason why . the Attorney-General had de clined to state his own opinion was intelligent enough ; his opinion would not have suited the purpose of his speech. Sir E. Sugden then argued, from the wording of the Reform Bill, that the legislature did not mean thereby to alter the qualification. Sir D. NORREYS strongly feeling the importance of a set tlement on this disputed question, regretted that a proposal of this kind was brought forward on an occasion like the pre sent, when there was no chance of deciding the matter. He did not at all agree in Mr. O'Connell's construction of the act. Mr. SHAW quoted a passage from a speech of Mr. O'Con nell upon a former registration bill, in which that learned member had said his reason for supporting the Registration Bill of 1835 was, that it provided for annual registration and double appeal. Mr. LirroN observed, that the Attorney-General, and those who defended the dissentient judges, bad not been able to cite one single instance, or at all events only one, in which any English judge had declined to be bound by the opinion of the majority. Mr. GRATTAN vehemently declaimed against Lord Stanley and his bill, and against the corruptions of Ludlow and Cam bridge, which ought, he said. to have been reformed before Ireland was attacked. Lord Stanley ought to bear the name of Captain Rock, for his bill was but a Rockite notice. Lord STANLEY said, that in one of the former debates this very subject had been fully discussed ; a division had taken place upon it, and the house bad declined to entertain it. Lord J. Russell had concurred in the rejection, and would, no doubt, do the same thing that night ; but it would have been more convenient that the noble lord should have declared himself to that effect in an earlier part of the evening, before an additional night had been wasted by a course tending, if not actually intended, to delay the sub ject for another week. And this had been done, not upon the notice of Mr. O'Connell, as originally given, which related to cesses and taxes, but upon a new motion wholly varying from that notice. For himself, he would not aid the intended delay by entering into any debate upon the merits of this often mooted instruction. . Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it would have been, in his judgment, improper to interfere so early as to prevent his legal friends from explaining their views on this important subject, although he certainly intended to oppose the in struction. The debate of this evening had thrown a valuable light on the bill. The Attorney-General, a high authority, had declared the dissentient judges to be warranted in con travening the decisions of their colleagues ; and Sir E. Sugden, also a high authority, might, if his own test were applied to him, be considered, from his silence on the sub ject, as concurring in the doctrine of the Attorney-General. It was not expedient to leave these political questions to the judges. In any close contest they would be accused, how ever unjustly, of favouring their own partisans. If the appeal clauses were not struck of, he should think it is duty to make a further attempt at obtaining a distinct definition of the franchise. _ _ Sir R. PEEL said, that the course pursued on thi: unlike anything theretofore attempted. A notice c bill was an in !s and struction . had been given to define municipal c( taxes. That notice had been wholly abandoned, and a mo tion made of which no notice at all had been given. Lord J. Russell had allowed the debate to go on the whole evening, and at last, when he rose to declare his dissent from Mr. O'Connell's instruction, had spoken 20 minutes just in the most critical part of the evening, while yet there would have been a chance for going into the committee. It really was matter of surprise to him that the noble lord and his friends should submit to a humiliation like this, For his own part, he should not be disheartened even if the effect of all these proceedings should delay the bill too long for the present session ; satisfied, as he was, that the cause of truth would ultimately prevail, and that all these obstructions would but strengthen this measure amongst the thinking part of the people of Ireland. The motion of Mr. O'Connell was negatived by a majority of 311 against 162, and the further proceeding was fixed for Thursday next. The registration of voters (Ireland) bill, No. 2, was fixed for Thursday, and the qualification of voters (Ireland) bill for Monday. COUNTY CONSTABULARY BILL On the motion for the further consideration of the report on this bill being made by Mr. F. MAULE, Sir R. PEEL suggested that some improvement might be made which would secure the appointment of proper persons to serve the office of sheriff. In most cases the duties were very onerous, and a considerable part of the di ffi culty now felt in obtaining proper persons, arose from the charge of ap pointing a number of persons called javelin men, to preserve order during the sittings of the assizes. It would be a good arrangement if in counties where there was a good constabu lary force, the duties now performed by those javelin-men were transferred to that body. (Hear, hear.) Such an arrangement would remove the objection many persons had to serve as sheriffs.—Report received. The house adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock. HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY Lord RosEBERay having presented a petition on the non intrusion question, Lord ABERDEEN rose to reply to defend the course taken by the ministers who had been suspended by the General Assembly. _ _ Lord NORMANBY promised to make inquiry into the truth of the statements contained in a petition presented by Lord Brougham, complaining of the severe discipline in the Wake field House of Correction. The noble lord also said, in an swer to a question froth Lord HaddinTton, that an investi gation which was at present going on into the cause of fever and contagious disorders in Scotland had no reference to the introduction of a new Poor Law system into that country.. Lord PORTMAN having presented a petition praying for the establishment of a hurbour at Portland, Lord MINTO expressed his willingness to attend to any suggestion that might be made for the construction of a har bour of refuge. In the event of a war such a harbour would be of the greatest importance. The several clauses of the Admiralty Courts Bill having been agreed to, Lord WEST.MEATH rose to move for a select committee to inquire into several points relating to the working of the I Poor Law Act in Ireland. 7 i Lord No RAI AN B Y opposed the motion. _ The e Duke of WELLINGTON advised that it should for the present be withdrawn. After a short conversation the noble duke's suggestion was .„,, 4 t h e - . 1; - uiILII HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY The Farnham Rectory Bill was read a second time, after some discussion, and a division. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, no contract had yet been entered into for government steamers between Falmouth and Alexandria. The third reading of the Weaver Churches Bill was fixed for Monday. The house then went into committee on the Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues Bill. The discussion of its clauses in detail occupied the rest of the evening. The main point was, that Lord J. Russell proposes to give the deanery of Exeter to the Crown by the main force of an act of parliament, having been defeated in his attempt to bestow it on a poli tical ally by the decision of the Queen's Bench. Of course the act cannot have a retrospective effect. The conversation on the several clauses continued till one o'clock, when the house adjourned, Mr. Greene having previously obtained the appointment of a committee to inquire into the expenses of select committees. COURVOISIER (From the Times of yesterdag.) Yesterday the Rev. Mr. Carver, the ordinary of Newgate, preached what is called the condemned sermon in the chapel of Newgate. The sheriffs, in consequence of the innume rable applications made to them for admission to the chapel, determined to open once more the gallery which had been closed since the execution of Fauntleroy, and to issue cards. Although the service was not to commence till half-past 10 o'clock, the avenues to the common door of entrance to the prison, as well as to the door of the governor's house, were completely blocked up before 9 o'clock by those to whom the sheriffs had given the privilege. The arrangements were, however, so judicially made by the sheriffs, and the governor, that not the slightest inconvenience was sustained by the numerous congregation. We observed amongst the congregation Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Coventry, Lord Paget, Lord Bruce, seve ral members of the House of Commons, and a few ladies. Immediately before the service commenced, Courvoisier entered the chapel, attended by two of the turnkeys, and sat on a bench before the pulpit. He appeared to be quite aware of the situation in which was placed, and never once raised his eyes during the service. In fact, his looks denoted ex treme sorrow and contrition, and he seemed to suffer great inward agitation when the ordinary particularly alluded to the crime for the perpetration of which he stands condemned. He was as attentive as possible to the service, and held the prayer book with a steady hand. The ordinary took his text from Job, c. xxxiv. v. 21, 22 : —" For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." The following are the passages which referred to the wretched criminal more especially. The preceding portions of the sermon illustrated, from the Oldand New Testaments, the omniscience of God " How awfully true must the lessons and illustrations of our text appear to one amongst us this morning, and how fearfully and dreadfully appropriate the adaptation of its lan guage to his special and almost unparalleled case. ' The eyes of the Omniscient were indeed upon his ways, and he saw all his goings.' There was no darkness nor shadow of death where he could hide himself. " Yes, and that special deed of darkness which has sub jected you, the midnight assassin of an aged, amiable, and unoffending master, to prison and to death, has yet, and in a few hours too, to be judged of by Him whose eye is upon your heart (as well as upon your ways,) and who sees all your thoughts as H e saw all your goings. " In the solitude of your confinement, far more appropri ate for serious reflection on your part, and profitable minis tration on mine, than on this exciting occasion, before a large and public assembly—in that retired cell I have daily endea voured, in simplicity and fidelity, as the minister of God, to prepare you to meet Him, urging the duty and necessity of penitence, abiding, abject, abundant sorrow, godly sorrow for your dreadful sin, which ignominiously closes your earthly career, and ushers you to your eternal destiny. With other matters, in which 1 have sought to be faithful and serviceable, own and public satisfa c ti on , I h ave pressed upon you a ss : d maki n gpropriety, some small compe nsa tio n , of evi nc i ng th e s i ncer it y theaf for youriny, repentance, as well and small indeed i t is, to outra ged society, by a voluntary, Nell ample, and explicit confession of all the circumstances con nected with thisimprecedented deed of darkness. The enor mous crime itself has been by you tardily, though, I trust, penitentially, acknovnedgect; but the evasions, subterfuges, and inconsistencies, which have app eared in your re cor d e d verbal stateme n t s on minor details, have very naturally in duced the fear that your heart is not right in the sight of God.' You h a d a l mos t r eached the very verge of a triumph that would have included t h e deepest sorrow to the guiltless at almost the eleventh hour. So strong was the impression of your innocence, from your long-established character for mildness and probity, that a mortal stab was about to be in flicted up on t h e reputation of your f e ll o w-domestics and other innocent persons. You reposed in quiescen t securit y of acquittal. A t t h e critical juncture, God, in the Wonderful workings of His providence, by a marvellous chain of circum stantial evidence, with unerring certainty, fixed upon you the rality bound you to love, reverence, and respect, yea, to guilt of murdering one whom every tie of religion and mo your own life, if necessary, to save that of your master from the assassin's blow. All who reflect upon this wondrous r cannot as but a God exclaimad that — ju ' d V ge e t r h ily th t e hi verily event the vin dicated his attributes of omniscience, justice, and mercy, and with an eloquent tongue speaks to you, and to all who indulge in secret sin—' Be sure your sin will. fi nd you out.' The book before me, from which alone I derive authority to this fi G ng u e d r h o a f s God, Peri h glad tidings of a free and full P reac sa l vation to lo s t an d perishing sinners, through faith in the all- c l eans i ng b lood an ofLamb of God, righteousness the he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered ;' and, again, ' Blessed is the man andunto whom the Lord lin puteth not iniquity.' But a t dds Icannot , but press the important c9n • text on your mind—' and in whose spirit there is no guile." " In that charity which believeth all things, hopcth all things, I trust that your confessions (though I would they had been more explicit and faithful from the first, and less marred with at least apparent incongruities and inconsistencies) are now sincere and honest, that your professed repentance is heartfelt, and that with the eye of faith you are looking on that blessed Saviour whom you have pierced. If not, your blood, and the blood of your aged, helpless, injured, unoffend ing master, whom you hurried into the eternal world without amoment's warning, be upon your own head ! I have faith fully and affectionately warned you not to deceive yourself. But if, as I would yet believe and hope, you do feel the bur den of your sin, humbly confessing it, and keeping yourself humble, concealing no circumstance, however minute, in the horried and loathsome detail of it, it becomes me, as the minister of truth as it is in Jesus, as the ambassador of God. to announce even to you that there is a fountain opened for sin (all sin), for uncleanness (all uncleanness), and that though your sins be as scarlet, they may be made white as snow, though red like crimson, they may be as wool. _ "In recent performances of onerous and painful duties as minister of this prison, I have had reason to shrink from the distressing and overwhelming burden of anxieties, diffi culties, and responsibilities attached to it, and to exclaim when the departing spirit of convicted criminals seemed to hover over me—' Who is sufficient for these things?' But in cases where the offender has acknowledged his crime on its immediate commission, surrendering himself to justice, pleaded guilty on his trial, and prostrated himself in distress and despair on account of his direful guilt, it has been my privilege, and ever will be my duty, as a minister of the ever lasting gospel, upon the authority of God's word (the only authority I acknowledge), to proclaim pardon and peace to every truly repentant sinner, and to declare, according to the gospel of the day, that there is joy in heaven amongst the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth, whatever his former character may have been, more than over ninety and nine righteous—i.e., self-righteous persons, who, ignorant of the deceit of their own hearts, vainly imagine they need no repentance." After Courvoisier left the chapel he was visited in his cell by the Swiss Consul, who handed to him a letter from his mother, conveying her forgiveness, her blessing, and her farewell. He wrote with a steady hand a few lines in answer to the letter, and received a promise from the Consul that it should be delivered. The answer was an attempt to console the unhappy parent for the misery and disgrace which his crime had brought upon his family. He was subsequently visited by the Swiss clergyman, who has been frequently to see him since his conviction. Oxford sat behind Courvoisier, and between two turnkeys. He also seemed to pay attention to the service, and he some times joined in the responses. When the ordinary was ut tering the prayer for the Queen he looked up with a foolish grin, but immediately after resumed his attention to the ser vice and behaved with decent seriousness. COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, FRIDAY, JULY 3 ( Sittings at Nisi Prins, at Westminster, before Lord DEN MAN and a Special Jury.) —LONG V. THE CORPORATION OF EXTRAORDINARY CASE THE LONDON ASSURANCE COMPANY Mr. Platt, Mr. Richards, and Mr. Chambers, conducted the case of the plaintiff; and the Attorney-General, Sir W. Follett, and Mr. Hoggins, that of the defendants. This was an action upon a policy of assurance for £5OO, effected on household goods, &c., in the house of Mrs. Long, situate at Lincomb and Widcombe, near Bath. To this the defendants pleaded, first, that the plaintiff was not interested in the goods ; secondly, that the goods were not consumed by fire; thirdly, that the conditions of the policy, that the plaintiff should deliver in an accurate account of the loss, had not been complied with ; fourthly, that the alleged damage and loss were not duly proved ; fifthly, that the plaintiff wil fully and maliciously had set the dwelling house on fire. The evidence for the plaintiff went to prove that the furni ture, &c., were worth £3OO or £4OO, and that the dwelling house was not maliciously set on fire. After the plaintiff's witnesses had been examined, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then addressed the jury for the defendants, and observed that the tire-office had deemed it its duty to resist this claim, as it believed that the fire had been wilfully caused, and that the claim was fraudulent. Evidence to this eifect was then adduced Mr. PLATT then addressed the jury upon the whole evi dence, stating that he appeared before them for the widow and orphan, and to support her just claim against this office, and he implored them, as they respected their own charac ters as honest men, to throw their shield around her, and prevent the foul attempt which was made to render her infa mous for ever, by delivering their verdict upon all the pleas for the plaintiff for £5OO. The sum was very large, but the stake was greater than the money, because he would ask them, wes it possible that this lady could appear in society again if they should find a verdict against her ? The burden was not on him, but on the office ; they had to make out fraud. They said, " You have been guilty of fraud in the first place, of arson in the second." They must not act upon suspicion; but must have convincing proof of both one and the other before they could find a verdict in favour of the defendant. Lord DENMAN then proceeded to sum up the case to the jury. After stating the nature of the action, his lordship said that the important plea, and indeed the only issue, was the charge that the plaintiff had wilfully set fire to the house, and fraudulently caused the goods to be burnt. In consider ing the case a good deal would depend on the value of the goods in the house ; if they were of much less value than the sum for which they were insured, that would give a clear motive for the destruction. The question was whether the lady was guilty of the gross and infamous crime with which she was charged; if the facts made it perfectly convincing to them that she was morally responsible, they would give their verdict for the defendants. At seven o'clock the jury retired, and at five minutes past eight they came into court and said they wished to ask his Lordship this question—whether a less sum than that claimed would be receiVetl? Lord DENMAN said, it was competent for them to give any sum. 'ie Jury.—Then, my Lord, our verdict will be for the plaintiff—Damages £lOO. There were three special jurors, and nine talesmen. The case has excited universal interest. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY.—The important con iecting line of railway was opened throughout to the public rom Derby to Rugby on Tuesday. On Monday the directors nade an excursion on the line, but no celebration took place, hat having been done when the line from this town to Not tingham was first opened. OPENING OF THE HULL AND SELBY RAILWAY.—This •ailway, which is 30 miles in length, was formally opened by :he directors and their friends, on Wednesday last, prepara nry to itc heinff Queried to the. Imhbe nn. the fnllo..•nn g . 01. 7 . [t had been previously arranged, that the opening should be iignalised by a grand procession. Lord Wenlock (as lord ieutenant of the East Riding), Lord Wharncliffe, the Chair: man of the Board of Directors of the Manchester and Sheffield Railway, Sir T. Clifford Constable, High Sheriff of the county, the members of the borough of Hull and of other places, the Mayor, Recorder, and Sheriff of Hull, the Mayor of Beverley, the chairmen of the Hull Dock Company, Chamber of Com merce; Trinity House, and other corporations and institutions, were to go in procession through the town to the railway station. But all these intentions were abandoned in con sequence of the heavy rain that fell during the morning ; and the directors, shareholders, and their friends, instead of starting at ten o'clock, remained at the station till noon. Indeed it was twenty minutes past twelve when they started, in five trains (comprising 40 carriages, and about 1,000 passengers), the first of which reached Selby at a quarter past two. The Hull and Selby and Leeds and Selby lines run into each other, at the crossing of the road from Selby to Bawtry ; and we understand that passengers from Hull, for Leeds or York, go through in the same carriages. The numerous party remained there, inspecting the terminus, the station, &c. till half-past four, when they started on the return trip. They reached Hessle Cliff, about five miles from the Hull station, at half-past five, at the rate of twenty five miles an hour ; but between Hessle and Hull a slight hitch occurred to the engine of the first train, which delayed it and those in the rear for a short time. However, the whole distance was performed in less than an hour and three quarters. Great crowds were collected, both at Hull, Selby, and other populous places on the line. All went off well ; the railway police exerted themselves to keep order ; and, we believe, not one accident, causing the slightest personal injury, occurred during the whole day. The directors and their friends dined together on their return to Hull in the evening. The effect of this opening is beneficial on the shares, which, it is said, have consequently risen to par. OPENING OF THE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.— This railway having at length reached its terminus in Shore ditch, was on Wednesday thrown open through the entire line from that point to Brentwood, in Essex, a distance of 18 miles. The London portion of the work, between Mile end and Shoreditch, has been completed in a surprisingly short time, considering its magnitude, the roadway being formed at an elevation of upwards of 20 feet above the level of the street ; and was opened by the directors and their friends, who started from London in a train, about two o'clock, amidst the firing of cannon, and attended by a band of music. The whole neighbourhood presented a gay and animated appearance, many of the opposite houses in Shore ditch and the side streets displaying flags and banners, while every window and house-top from which the least glimpse could be obtained was crowded with spectators, and in the densely-crowded streets carts and vans were stationed, the owners of which made a considerable profit in pence col lected from the many cut ions persons, who were assured that amongst other illustrious personages, Prince Albert and the Duke of Wellington, if not the Queen herself, were ex pected ! Active measures are in progress for completing the approaches and the warehouses, &c., with a handsome front age, which is to form the finish of the great undertaking in Shoreditch. NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY -OPENING OF THE LINE THROUGHOUT.—On Tuesday last, the entire line of this railway was traversed by the directors and their friends, preparatory to its being opened to the public the following day. At eight o'clock precisely, a very numerous train of carriages started from the Leeds station, containing the directors, and those who had been fortunate enough to pro cure tickets, including a large portion of ladies. Amongst the directors present, we noticed James Hubbard, Esq., chairman of the Leeds' board ; William Beckett; Esq.; George Goodman, Esq. ; H. H. Stansfeld, Esq. &c. We also observed the Rev. Dr. Hook, vicar of Leeds ; Bland, Esq. of Kippax Park; the Hon. Mr. Saville; H. Houlds worth, Esq. chairman of the Manchester and Leeds Railway ; William Entwistle, Esq. the mayor of Leeds, &c. A few miles from Leeds, at the Junction of the York and North Midland Railway, the party was joined by the directors of that undertaking, in a separate train, accompanied by the Lord Mayor of York, Sir John Simpson, &c. At the Wake field station, and at Rotherham, further additions were re ceived. Through the prudent caution of Mr. Robert Stephenson, and in the desire that at all events the proceedings of this auspicious day might not be damped by the slightest accident, the train proceeded at a comparatively moderate speed over the ground not previously opened between Leeds and Masborough, a distance of 32 miles. From the latter station, the pace was accelerated to the ordinary rate of railway travelling. The party reached Derby, a distance of 72 miles, without, so far as we are aware, the slightest ac cident, at a few minutes past one. An excellent cold lunch was provided for the whole party, who must, at a moderate computation, have numbered from 400 to 500, in the Derby station, at the junction of the North Midland Counties, and Birmingham and Derby Railways. So great was the length of the train, that it extended through the entire of the splendid station, one shed belonging to which is, we believe, upwards of one thousand feet in length. Some idea may be formed of the extent of the accommodation afforded in this magnificent station, when we state, that the whole party partook of lunch at the same time, without the slightest crowding or inconvenience. The passengers forward from Leeds to Birmingham, notwithstanding a stoppage of half an hour at the Rotherham► station, reached Birmingham in six hours and a quarter. At half-past two, the train started f r om Derby on its return, and arrived at Leeds a little before STRAWBERRY DRESSING. — Many serve up strawberries with cream and sugar, but give us the Italian dressing for a strawberry before all others. It makes a splendid dish fo dessert, and is sure . to plei!se nine out of every ten perso r n a s lemon at table. The op is simple. Take off the stalks from as helped, many berries as will form one layer at the bottom of a dish, and sift some fine sugar over them ; then place another layer, and sift again ; each layer will be found smaller than the preceding. When there are five or six layers, cut a fresh and squeeze the juice all over them. Before they are benefit of the lemon juice and sugar. They may be eaten of heman l y et o t t h h e e i r n be gently disturbed, that they may have the heartily without danger, which is more than can be said of strawberries and cream ; and, generally speaking, those who t have eaten them with the Italian dressings will never eat way, if they can help it.---.Kil marn ock Jour nal. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE OVERLAND MAIL FROM INDIA CHINA. PREPARATIONS 'FOR WAR. MACAO, MARCH 26.—Governor Lin has enlisted about 3000 recruits, who are being drilled near. Canton, in the mili tary exercises of the bow, the spear, and the double sword. The latter is a weapon peculiar, we believe, to China. Each soldier is armed with two short and straight swords, one in each hand, which by being knocked against each other, pro duce a clangour, which it is thought will intimidate the enemy. LIN'S LETTER TO THE QUEEN The Governor Lin had no sooner despatched his letter to the Queen of England, of which we gave a translation on the 11th of January, and which was forwarded to England by the Thomas Coutts, the captain of that vessel giving a receipt for the same, than he had' it printed, published, and widely circulated, for the-edification of his countrymen. who no doubt will think more highly than before of the imperial com missioner, seeing him engaged in penning admonitions to foreign potentates,--Canton Press, March 21. (From the Pekin Gazette.) THE, PALACE,-The empress has died, and in consequence of this mournful event the whole nation is to go for one month into morning, whilst the mandarins are not to shave for 100 days. She was not long married to Taoukwang, and bore him, if we do not mistake, three children, the eldest of whom is seven or eight years old. She is allowed to have been a woman of singular beauty, who during the years 1835 and 1836 exercised great power over her husband, and exerted a paramount influence over public affairs. But though endowed with considerable intelligence and much admired, her sway was not of long duration. During the zenith of her glory she sent many of her creatures into the provinces, where they held the highest offices. Since that her servants have stood latterly alone, almost a nullity at the crowded court. It was generally believed that she was at the head of the party which we might' kyle' whigs, though they are very staunch con servativeslii their own way. Heu nae tsze and others be longed to her coterie. The choice of a new empress, if Ta oukwang in his declining years would hit upon the expedient, will give rise to numerous intrigues, we shall not wonder to see the present ministry, with Ke-shen to boot, replaced by another set of favourites. The Emperor himself is verging towards old age, and if he should make his exit from the world at this critical moment, we might certainly expect a great revolution at the capital. Though a Chinese monarch is by no means obliged to choose for his successor a child of his own, yet the Manchoo emperors have always done this. In that case a regency would be instituted, a rule which has been invaria bly fraught with great convulsions in the country. If, on the contrary, one of his brother's nephews is nominated to hold the reins of government, there is every probability of a contest between a number of ambitious men, who have either in reality an equal claim to the throne, or 'think themselves entitled to wear an imperial diadem, Great sacrifices had been prepared for one of the departed • • empresses, and the mandarins were all assembled to com mence the ceremonies, when all of a sudden the cry of fire was heard. On examining the cause of this disturbance, it was found that a coal fire had reached some rafter, at least such is the report, but with some exertion on the part of the overseer in the temple, it was extinguished. Old Taouk wang is very indignant at this want of caution, and has given orders that the attendants should meet with condign punish ment ; and they are likely to lose their heads. From the frequent repetition of the same occurrence in the very centre of the imperial palace, fears of the existence of some dan • gerous plot are entertained, of which the object does not ap pear to be very patriotic. This is already the fifth time that something was hinted of a deep laid plan for disturbing the public tranquillity, and that then such trifles as the burning of a few rafters, or the cutting down of a fir-tree, or a little fighting between the workmen employed in the building of the palace, were to be the signal to the conspirators. Time must show whether the fears of the court are real or pre tended. EDICT REOPENING THE PORTUGUESE TRADE. " Lin, viceroy of Kwangtung and Kwangse, &c, E. Fooy uen of Kwangtung, and Yu Hoppo of Canton, &c, hereby conjointly issue this proclamation that all men may know and understand : " Whereas on a previous occasion the English foreigners continued to reside at Macao, and would not submit to be expelled, and whereas the Portuguese foreigners dared of their own accord, to harbour the said English, against our express commands, therefore it was that at that time, we de clared the place shut, and stopped their trade. " But now it appears that the civil and military mandarins of Macao have petitioned us stating that the Portuguese foreigners, after receiving our previous proclamation, were filled with penitence and fear, and that even now all the English are already driven out of Macao. And it further appears that the Portuguese 'barbarian eye ' (or Weido, i.e. Procurador) has stated to the mandarin face to face that after this they will never to all eternity dare to permit the English to enter Macao or harbour them there, thus opposing the laws, &c. " Now this coming before us, the said Viceroy, Fooyuen, and Hoppo, and we having duly examined the same, find from what the civil and military native authorities have peti tioned us, that from the dispositions and circumstance of the Portuguese, these foteigners still cherish some fear of the laws at heart, for which reason we ought to permit them to resume their commercial intercourse as of old, thereby to manifest (celestial) compassion ; and for as much as we now conjointly issue this our proclamation, addressed to all the shopkeepers of Macao, to all the traders and people of the other provinces, and to all those employed in stowing and transporting cargo, &c, that they may thoroughly know and understand, all ye who are engaged in transporting up or down the cargo or merchandise of the Portuguese foreigners whether export or import, after the issuing of this proclamation it is permitted you to carry on your intercourse as heretofore in due submission to the fixed regulations by which the said merchandise must be sent to the Custom-house, there to be duly inspected and taxed forduty, after which it may be con veyed away for consumption ; but ye are not permitted clan destinely to convey any goods or merchandise belonging to the English foreigners, or illicitly rrix them up with others to go in or out, thereby trying to to deceive us, which will lead to a very severe investigation. " Let every one tremble and obey ! A special proclama tion ! " Taoukwang, 20th year, 2d moon, 14th day.-Irbid.” " Canton, March 9." CANTON, MARCH 24.—There- were some indications among the American residents at Canton of an intention to move to Macao, consequent upon the reports which had ica,Lcd of the impending bostnities—one ot, their firms had issued a circular intimating that they found themselves under the necessity of refusing further consignments of English property, or commissions of any description, and it was ex pected there would be a general withdrawal to Macao, as soon as they had managed to close their present business at Canton. It was expected that the retirement of the American firms from Canton, in conjunction with a new order prohibiting vessels from going down from Whampoe with deck cargo, and the prospect of hostilities Britain, would materially affect the export of tea, which some o f our correspondents do not expect to exceed 23,000,0001b5. for the season, should a force arrive, and a fall in the price of teas seemed to be confidently looked forward to on the Chinese finding that it was the intention of the Americans to quit Canton. The opium market was in a very unsettled state, some holders being willing to sell at 500 dollars; but the more ex tensive dealers were holding out for 650 dollars to 700 dollars for Patna. Freights still continue high, and first class ton nage was all engaged at £7 and £8 per ton.—Exchange on England is still 4s 10d 6 mos and few transactions—on Bengal at Rs. 222.—Singapore Free Press, April 9. OPIUM SMOKING.—A' high civilian in the metropolis of Keaugse was denounced for having smoked opium. He at first denied the charge, was tortured, and then confessed. When the cause was brought before the tribunal, the cus tomary punishment of one hundred blows and banishment was considered too light, and he was therefore sentenced to be transported to Ele, iu order to strike terror into evil doors of the same description. Several officers in Shautung have been delivered over to a court of justice on a similar charge. Soldiers belonging to the eight standards, who were found inhaling the noxious vapour, have been banished to Chekeang. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRlVED.—America, Surat, Pratt, from Manilla; British Sylph, Viall, from Calcutta, left Sandheads on the 18th of January, and Singapore on the 18th of February ; Red Rover, Wright, left Sandheads on the 27th of January, Singapore, the 18th of February, and arrived at Tongkoo on the 18th of March. Passenger.—Per Sylph, Captain Wallace. Sailed.—British Penang, for Liverpool; Caledonia, Burn, and Charles Forbes, Wills, for Singapore and Bombay ; Amer, Akhbar, for Manilla. Passengers.—Per Charles Forbes, Mr. R. H. Hunter, Capt. Dunbar. The Good Success is expected from Bombay. Arrived in England from China, Eliza, Lay, and Orwell, Collard, on the 12th and 14th of November.—Canton Press, March 21. April 24.—The Enterprise, steamer, has, we understand, received orders to proceed to China. INDIA.—BOMBAY. (From the Bombay Courier, May 23d.) A letter'from Jellalabad of the 3d'April confirms the re port of the Russians being at Khiva, and of their intention to march upon Bokhara, as well as the imprisonment of Dost Mahomed at the latter place. Every thing at Jellalabad was tranquil, and officers were in the habit of riding from Canda bar to Jellalabad attended only by three or four horsemen. Captain Conell in this way joined the envoy. We are informed that a despatch from Major Tood at Herat, enclosing another from Captain Abbott at Khiva reached this two days ago. The Russians, mustering 24 , 006 strong, and 72 pieces of ordnance, were met a few miles from Khiva by the Khan's army, when the latter was routed by one round of artillery. The Khan offered to give up all the prisoners (slaves) on condition of the withdrawal of the troops, but the Russian general at one announced his intention of making Khiva a permanent post. Tha Russians were met by an embassy from Persia, and another from Bokhara. Col. Stoddart was demanded by the Russian general, but refused to proceed to the camp, alleging that he must be given up to the agent of his own Sovereign. Captain Abbott, un furnished with either funds or credentials, was asked by the Russians what he was doing at Khiva, and the answer being unsatisfactory, he is meanwhile regarded as a spy. THE GREAT STORM IN ORISSA. (From a Correspondent at Poolee.) On Thursday, the 30th of April, one of the most violent storms ever remembered in Orissa visited the station of Pooree, and surrounding district. The wind blew very fresh from the north-east early in the morning, and to wards the middle of the day increased so much as to make everyone take precautions t o guard against its violence. The surf was unusually high and roaring, and approached the bungalows much nearer than was at all buried everything. About six o'clock in the evening, the wind lulled, when it was hoped that the worst was over, but the disasters of the day were as nothing in comparison with what the night brought. The wind suddenly shifted round to the west and south-west, and commenced in all its fury. Every one sat waiting for the worst, running from one room to another, as the house gave way, and when the general crush came, it was fearful, the wind and rain so boisterous that no one could stand erect exposed to them• Ladies then escaped to their palkees, and anxiously awaited the break of day. The darkness of the night totally prevented any communication with one house to another, and it was not until morning that the whole truth could be known. Alas ! every bungalow in the station has been destroyed—notone is there that can pos sibly be inhabited. One solitary pucka-house stood the buffeting of the storm, as it would appear, intended as a refuge for the destitute. Who is there that, in cases of severe trial and danger, has seen the coolness and kind soli citude of the female character, and has not admired it the more ? • It so happened, that the station at the time boasted of a great number of grass widows, whose lords were on duty in the district, and it is of the great kindness, added to the utmost coolness of the fair owner, of the pucka-house, that I allude. Whilst every other person was in distress and despondency she was all energy and attention to the wants of her numerous visitors. She it was who soothed their feelings and admi n i s t ere d to the i r wants . Although equally in need of comfort herself, owing to the absence of her own husband, she sought only to make her friends comic rtable. It was most providential that some families deserted their own houses during the afternoon, and took shelter in any secure place they could find, for had they remained they must have perished. Entire roofs and walls came to the ground, other houses went piece meal, rafters and thatch coming down, and some have disappeared altogether. Some ladies were obliged to desert their bungalows, and remain in their palkees on the sands the whole night. In fact, no oue has escaped, and many have lost every thing they possessed. The drift of the sand was so great that everything was buried several feet in it, and a most difficult task it has been to recover property so embedded. The ruins of the houses are almost unfit for repairs, except under a cost equal to the original expense of building, and the whole coast presents one scene of destruction._ Thp city has suffered to a great extent, indeed ; every house has been blown down, but the immortal remains of Juggernaut remain undisturbed in his celebrated temple. The surrounding villages have been equal sufferers, and a camp, belonging to the revenue surveyor, about 20 miles distant, was totally destroyed. Large trees strew the road, and many lives have been lost in consequence. One family, of eight persons, were crushed under one tree ; but the loss of life has been much less than would have been expected. I have not heard of more than 40 altogether, but accounts may be brought in hereafter. Altogether the scene has been one I never wish to witness again, for, independently of the great pecuniary loss, it has been an awful visitation, which those who have lived and experienced alone can com prehend.—Botnbay courier, Poolee, May 3, 1840. Our letters from Jellalabad to the 12th instant, confirm the intended movements of his Majesty Sha Soojah, the en voy, and the troops towards Cabul, which was to take place on the 20th instant ; a change is much required, as the Hin doostaniesttie getting very sickly. The Europen regiment and the 48t are to go to Kayjur, represented to be a most lovely spot at the foot of the Suffard Koh, 4,400 feet above the level of the sea, and only 25 miles from Jellalabad. One of our correspondents says—" The King of Bokhara, has liberated all the Russian slaves, and formed an alliance with the Russians, and it is asserted that he intends ad vancing with them to Bulleh. The chances are, therefore, that they may come in contact with them sooner than we expected, especially as the envoy talks of sending two or three of the Shah's regiment across the Hindookosh. Burnes writes that he had received numerous letters from Bokhara, Khiva, and the other places, and that his correspondents all agree on the subject of the strength of the Russians. The gallant knight places the utmost confidence on these state ments, and concludes a letter I have seen with these words : —" Is it to be believed that so large a force has merely come to Khiva to liberate some slaves and defend themselves against the attacks of a few bands of undiscipline Tookmans?" The indefatigable Dr. Lord made another successful chupao on a fort, within seven miles of Bameean. He battered down the golas with six-pounders. Our loss was trifling — one sergeant killed and a few sepoys. Few of the enemy escaped. Our ambassador at St. Petersburgh writes that the RuSsian force merely consist of 3,000 men. He appears to have been completely gulled by that old fox, Nesselrode. In the event of an unsuccessful attempt by General Petrouski to restore Dost • Mahomed, the whole transaction will, of course, be denied, and the denial received by my Lord Pal merston as an ample and stisfactory explanation.—Delhi Gazette, April 29. CALCUTTA By the arrivals of the Charles Forbes and Caledonia on the Bth and 9th instant, we have advices from Macao to 25th ult. The Red Rover, with the December overland mail, had arrived, and in consequence of the intelligence of war like preparations by the Bengal government, the Americans had all given notice that they would receive no more con signments of English goods, nor orders for produce, being desirous of winding up their affairs, and leaving Canton without delay. The Chinese were threatening to renew their attempt to destroy the English shipping at Toonkoo, by means of fire-rafts. H. M. S. Druid, from Sydney 18th January, arrived at Macao on the evening of the 24th ult. and sailed the following morning for Toonkoo. Reports had reached Macao that the Water Witch had been cut off on the coast, at Chimoo, by mandarin boats, but it was not generally believed at Macao, from which place it is said Chimoo is only two days' sail. A letter of the 25th ult. says—" No further accounts of the Water Witch ; the Chinese again report her being taken on the coast." She had little or no opium left, but a large amount of treasure on board. _ The export of teas to Great Britain from Ist October to 24th ult. only amounted to 15,000,0001b5, but were expected to reach 22,000,0001bs by the end of April. The following vessels were loading and engaged to load for Great Britain : The General Kyd, Royal Saxon, Mangalore, Frances Ann, Asia, Eliza Stewart, and Glenelg, for London, the Penang for Liverpool, the Tyrer for the Clyde, and the Susan, for Leith. Our latest dates from Batavia are to the 4th instant. The government sale of 1,185 tubs of Japan camphor took place on the 31st ult., and averaged 87f 81 per half tub. The last tin sale averaged 47f 32. Coffee was in great demand, and Padang had been bought as high as 29if and Java at 36f for shipment to England via Singapore. Exchange on London 13.}f, and not likely to decline. An arrival from Ternate, at Batavia, reports the total destruction of that island by an earthquake on the 14th of February. All descaiptions of property had been annihilated, and the island was to be totally abandoned.—Calcutta Courier, May 5. AGRAUKHBAR, The following extract from a letter from Cabul, dated 14th April, contains the latest intelligence from that quarter : " I have no items of interesting news to offer you. The king and minister return here at the end of the present month, and a cantonment is being laid out for three regiments of in fantry, one of cavalry, and a battery. Whether the regulars will occupy them or not is a matter of conjecture. Dost Mohamed has, no doubt, been handsomely treated at Bokhara, and the Russian envoy has arrived there, and will as certainly effect a treaty with the King in their favour. Their army is powerful, and as they advance every good position is un touched. What they acquire they secure, unlike ourselves who have done nothing to enable us to resist contingencies which may, but Ido not say will, happen. The best thing that could happen to our cause would be the death of the present king and the elevation of his son Timour. The former is thoroughly hated and despised ; the latter is, I have reason to think, liked, and is certainly a gentleman in address and behaviour. " The position of affairs at Herat is decidedly bad, and they have been mismanaged. Thousands have been thrown away, and no equivalent received. Indeed we pay first, and ask afterwards. If this system were revised, it might be conducive of good. Yar Mahomed, the minister, indeed king there, the man whose vigour defended the place against Persia, has no idea of tasting of Brit6h inutivrati.“ and forbearance.' We have had a noble season, and a full harvest moot ensue : but at present grain is dear, and much misery has been induced, which, of course, the people must have contrasted in his favour with the time of Dost Mahomed. That man was certainly a just, good ruler, and highly popular. A disgraceful event has taken place at Bamsean, in my idea.. A villager refused to sell grass, and after some altercation fired upon a political party. In consequence a detachment was ordered out, who stormed the place, put every man to death, thirteen in number, who killed and wounded eighteen of the assailants. Contrasted with the cool way in which Lieutenant Inverarity's murderers were treated this looks more like butchery at political shrines than fair play. They were his Majesty's subjects, and thus we render him popular indeed."—Enlliishman, May 7. MAY 9.—The following contains the latest intelligenee from Caboul, and may be relied on as the most authentic in formation there current : " The latest intelligence from Abbot reaches up to the sth of March, being less than two months, which may be con sidered quick, as owing to the hostility of the King of Bok hara, his letters come round by Herat. The Russians, in consequence of the great depth of snow upon the ground, were still in their entrenched camp, and were not expected to resume their march before April, so that we shall not hear of their arrival at Khiva till June. Some 30,000 Usbecks, who attempted to carry off camels and even attack the camp, were so severely handled, that Abbot thinks they will not attempt to offer further opposition to the Russian advance. The Russiam force, to be able to halt so long, must have a very large commissariat with them, as from Orenburgh to Khiva is a good two months' march, the distance being about 700 miles, and from Orenburgh to Bokhara is nearly the same distance as it is from Loodinah to Candahar. The British made a much longer march than that—cannot the Russians do the same ? And a Russian army of 12,000 men does not march with six times that num ber of camp. followers. Sir A. Burnes positively asserts, that the Russian army amounts to nearly 30,000 fighting men, and 72 guns, and that they will be at Bokhara before the summer is over. Shortly after our arrival at Caboul, this talented officer declared that a Russian army would be some where in Central. Asia, either at Herat or Bokhara, before a year was over. Lord A.'s account also tallies with Burnes, that besides Cossacks, there are 12,000 of the elite of their infantry." FASHIONS FOR JULY (From the London and Paris Ladies' Magazine of Fashion.) Pompadours watered, or satin, mousseline and batiste de barege with foulards, are favourite materials for summer wear : organdys broches, prairie, and marbre muslin are most suitable for bals champetre, dejeunees, &c. There is but little variation in the make of dresses ; the corsages cut en V, continue in favour, with the sleeves mode • rately full, though tight sleeves are not without their advo cates in Paris, and a kind of double sleeve has been intro duced ; flounces for demi-toilettes, evening, or negligees, but biais are often preferred to flounces or bouillons. Redingotes are made with crossing bodies and muslins, are often full— a la Vierge—trimmed with abroad lace, and ceinture of wide ribbon or taffetas scarf, with long fringed ends, encircling the waist, with mend in front, and ends reaching to the feet. Many new pelerines and cannezous have appeared this season in Paris, some buttoning up close to the throat ; the Beguines collerettes also button to the throat, terminating with a very small collar of square or rounded corners, which turns over a cravat or velvet ribbon ; the collar is a little open in front, and trimmed with lace, which descends ; the habit shirt, as a frill, being delicately embroidered above the lace. One of the new fichus is full behind, and with three folds in front, and is trimmed with a small double ruche ruches are much in favour. _ • For bonnets, the materials are always crape, organdy, straw, paille de riz, Leghorn, poult de soie, tulle, or lace ; the colours are green, lilac, paille, blue, and the trimmings of gauze, checked ribbons, lace voilettes, forming lappets on each side, shaded marabouts, flowers in bunches, wreaths, demi-guirlandes, and large feuillage and flowers of mixed colours. Many Leghorns are of close forms, with low crowns, the front sometimes ,a little turned up, trimmed with paille ribbons, or demi-guirlande of Parma violets or wreath of hawthorn, falling low at the ears. Capotes of tulle, particu larly if spotted, are pretty with pink or blue ribbon passing through the runners. Plaid scarfs are worn again, and shawls and scarfs of em broidered silk, with fringe to match the colours. The muslin bournous, lined with gauze in pale shades of pink or blue, trimmed all round with lace, and having hoods to place on at pleasure, form elegant out-door toilettes. Some organdy shawls are embroidered in coloured worsted, with fringes to match. Silk fringes are sometimes substituted for lace on the muslin bournous, in pink and white, blue and white, ac cording to the lining. Velvet spencers and bodies, also watered silk ones, are worn with white skirts. Very pretty little caps are made for neg lig& composed of half-handkerchiefs of tulle, trimmed with lace, supported on either side by small pompons of gauze, and nteuds of ribbon. RAILWAY ACCIDkNT.—EarIy yesterday morning, when the luggage trains were on their way from Liverpool to Man chester, a very serious accident, occasioning the loss of pro perty to the amount of nearly one thousand pounds, occurred. We understand that the train belonging to Mr. Hargreaves was following at a distance the train belonging to the Liver pool and Manchester Company, (which included some tim ber carriages,) and when proceeding up the Incline, a con necting rod broke belonging to the carriages in the first train, which being thus loosened ran back down the incline at a tremendous speed, and, as a matter of course, came in col lision with Mr. Hargreaves' train, smashing everything be fore them. Three casks of wine and a hogshead of spirits were stove in and soon emptied of their contents ; and we hear that one of the engineers could not resist the temptation of having some liquor free of expense, and took so much,. that a little time afterwards when attempting to step from the engine to the tender, (the train having started,) he fell upon the rail, the wheels of the carriage passing over him and killing him.—Preston Pilot. GAME.—Keepers inform us that there is every prospect of plenty of game of all kinds, the season hitherto having been remarkably favourable. It appears that the promise of hares. pheasants, moor game, and partridges is considerably above the averrge for some years past, and that, from the forward state of vegetation, and the genial weather experienced, all will be able to shy away cleverly from the deadly tube long before the periods when the law permits it to be levelled at them—Sta f fordshire Gazette. SECOND EDITION. Standard Office, Ten o'clock EXECUTION OF COURVOISIER, (From the Sun of Last Night.) This morning at eight o'clock, Francois Benjamin Cour voisier, the murderer of his venerable master, Lord William Russell, expiated his crime, as far as such crime as his can be expiated in this world. Long before midnight last even ing groups of persons began to assemble in front of New gate, anxious to secure good places to witness the appalling drama which was about to be enacted. These groups, as the morning approached. became more and more numerous, until at length they coalesced, and at 4 o'clock formed a dense mass of human beings, extending from St. Sepulchre's church to the gates of the Old Bailey. Shortly after two o'clock the workmen employed in the erection of the gallows commenced operations, and at half-past 4 had completed their horrid task. Persons now began to flock in great numbers. At live o'clock the street was crowded, and the windows of the houses of the prison were all occupied. In one was seen the fashionable exquisite with the opera-glass at his eye em ployed in attentively scrutinizing the preparations going on for depriving' a fellow-creature of his existence ; while at another a man of a lower grade, with tastes more vulgar, perhaps, but most assuredly not one whit less coarse and brutal, was whiling away the weary hours by having recourse to the solace of a pipe and a pot. The roofs of the houses were crowded with persons anxious to get a glance at the last moments of the murderer, and even the chimneys were made to afford an unsafe but eagerly converted resting-place to the more adventurous of these cravers after excitement.% I As the morning -advanced the crowd, which had been during the night tolerably quiet, began to wax noisy—prac tical jokes were played off, coarse and ribald jests were ut tered, and roars of laughter were elicited in consequence, not merely from the low vulgar who crowded the streets, but from the high vulgar at the windows and on the house-tops. It was the farce before the tragedy. Among the crowd were many well-dressed females. At the windows were lads, some apparently not more than twelve years of age ; but all were gay—all were merry in anticipation of human. suffering— merry at the thought of witnessing the agony of death. if another fact were wanting to prove the brutalising and de moralising tendency of public executions, we have it here. Would that those who conscientiously believe in their effi cacy as a prevention of crime had been present, to have beheld the disg usting spectacle which for four long hours we were unwillingy compelled to witness. The Rev. Mr. Car ver, the ordinary of the prison, arrived at six o'clock, and immediately proceeded to,the prisoner's cell, to7administer to him that spiritual consolation, of which in his awful situation he must have stood in so mu ch-need. :Shortly after we were admitted within the walls of the prison. On inquiry we found that Courvoisier, whose firmness, which bad never de serted him, astonished even those the most used to such scenes, had retired to rest last night at eleven o'clock, had slept soundly for an hour, when he awoke and inquired of Locke and Sargeant, the turnkeys in attendance on him, the hour of the night. On being informed'that it was only mid night, he desired to be called at four O'clock, and was soon again sleeping soundly. At tour o'clock, agreeably to his request, he was awoke by the turnkeys, and on his rising commenced writing. He was thus occupied, we understand, on the arrival of the Rev. Ordinary. At half-past six Mr. Newman, the principal turnkey, passed . through the ward of the prison in which we were; bearing the chalice towards the cell in which the prisoner was confined. After the sacra ment bad been administered to him by the Rev. Ordinary, breakfast was taken in, of which, we Understand, he par took but sparingly. At a quartet before eight o'clock we were conducted to the yard adjoining the condemned cell. The yard was crowded with well-dressed visitors, some of whom evidently_belonged to the upper classes of society. We are sorry to say that in some instances their anxiety to wit ness the preparations for the execution of the last sentence of the law on the criminal, led them to press and crowd noisily into the cell, utterly regardless of that decorum which all ought to observe in the chamber of death. The unhappy criminal, however, did not appear disturbed by this unseemly interruption, but seemed totally absorbed in attending to the exhortations of the reverend ordinary, repeating the prayers after him in a low tone. Shortly before he was pinioned, Mr. Sheriff Evans requested him, as we understood, to write some thing on a paper. Courvoisier immediately complied, and with firm and steady hand wrote what he was requested to write. This writing betrays nothing like agitation or nervousness in the writer, and cannot be distinguishd from his ordinary hand. At eight o'clock the knell of the prison bell was heard, and the funeral procession of the living dead commenced. Cour voisier looked pale but calm, and quite firm. He followed the. Rev. Ordinary with steady and unfaltering step. The limbs trembled not—the eye wandered not—the lip quivered not — beyond excessive paleness there was no outward appearbnce to betoken the agony within. Neither were there any visible signs of strong mental effort to suppress the outward work ings of inward anguish. The eye was not fixed, neither was the lip compressed. The countenance was calm as that of a child. As he entered the yard he seized the hand of the turnkey between his, and shaking it with great warmth, ex pressed by his looks the gratitude he felt for the kindness he had experienced. The procession then proceeded through the dark and gloomy passages of the prison to the place of execution. The appearance of Courvoisier on the scaffold was the signal for a terrific burst of execration from the as sembled thousands below ; he however appeared totally un moved by it, and stood firmly underneath the fatal beam while the executioner proceeded with his dreadful prepara tions. These were soon completed—the fatal bolt was with drawn, the drop fell, and after a few convulsive struggles the spirit of the murderer had left this world to meet the spirit of his victim before the judgment-seat of God. The crowd outside the prison was greater than was ever known on any former occasion, and there were present a vast number of livery servants of noblemen, &c. As early as six o'clock there were as many persons present as generally as semble on ordinary occasions, and before seven the spacious area was completely filled, so that it was impossible to pass one way or the other. Every window, as far as the eye could leach, had its numerous occupants, and the roofs of some of the houses were crowded. Soon after the platform fell, the assembled multitude sought egress by the two prin cipal entrances, but they were met by a rushing counter crowd, which caused a good deal of struggling and the loss of divers hats, shoes, &c. On. (31' the principal barrier.-gmre way, but nothing serious occurred in consequence; nor did we hear of any accident, excepting that of a well-dressed women falling from a first floor window - upon the shoulders of the persons below, but, as we understand, without any great damage or bodily harm being done to any party. During the hour the culprit was suspended there was a continual influx of new comers, so that the crowd lost but little of its density. Some of the spectators who had hired apartments, had occupied them from eleven o'clock on the previous evening, and they appeared to have been well sup plied with cigars and potations. There were several persons in a state of great exhaustion from having stood for five hours pressed against the barriers, but retreat was impossible. The police were on the alert, and it is due to them to state that they performed their duty in a :very efficient manner. When the clock 'struck nine, the body., was cut down and taken to the dead room, where some artists were in attend ance to take a cast preparatory to its interment, which will take place in the evening, in the usual burial-ground, within the walls of the prison. THE FINAL CONFESSION On Saturday the prisoner wrote a very long confession, and delivered it to Mr. Carver, the Ordinary, and Mr. Baud, the minister of the French Protestant chapel, in Threadneedle street, who afterwards read it over to him, and asked him whe ther it was all correct, to which he replied that it was. They then asked him if there was any thing he wished to add to it, and he replied nothing whatever, The confession is writ ten in the French language, with a slight admixture of Swiss, which made it somewhat difficult to translate. We, howe ver, have seen a translation of it, and which has been also read to the prisoner, and acknowledged by him to be correct. We were not allowed to take a copy of it, it being thought that it ought not to go forth to the public until after the ex ecution. The confession does not contain any fact with which the public are not already acquainted. It commences by stating, that he had planned the robbery several days be fore it was committed. It does not state (as in the first confession) that Lord William Russell came down stairs and caught him in the act of hiding some of his lordship's plate. This part is altogether omitted. After stating that he had resolved on the robbery, it says that he went up stairs to his lordship's bed-room, and finding him asleep, he went down and got a large carving knife, with which he returned, and having tucked up the sleeve of his coat, cut his throat. It then gives a very long account of his having hid the diffe rent articles he had stolen, and persists in the statement that he hid some of them while the police were present. It re peats the story of his having hid the ten sovereigns in the cell at Bow-street, and concludes by thanking the clergymen for the kind attention they had shown him. It is written in' a firm hand, all except the signature, and is attested by the or dinary and the Rev. Mr. Baud. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-LAST NIGHT IRISH RIGISTRATION BILL. Lord STANLEYWd perhaps he was not exactly in order, but he wished before public business commenced to state (under the circumstances of the case) the course he intended to pursue relative to the Irish Corporation Bill. (Hear.) He had introduced that bill in the month of March. Several circumstances occurred to postpone the consideration of it from time to time. Ten divisions had taken place, in five of which the whole power of her Majesty's govern ment was arrayed against the bill, but they had only partially succeeded in but one instance. (Hear.) In ?he other nine cases the bill had stood the test of discussion, but on well considering the opposition (which would be con tinued) he saw no reason to expect that it would be carried into a law during the present session. (Hear.) Enough had been done to establish the principle of the measure, but as government did not think that being repeatedly beaten on such a bill, sufficient to induce them to-give up their offices (hear, hear); and as it would be impossible, without inter ruption to other public business, to carry it through the house this session, he wished now to state that he should withdraw the bill for the present, but at the earliest possible moment next year, he should move for leave to introduce a similar measure. (Hear.) The noble lord then moved that the order of the day be read, for the purpose of discharging it. (Hear.) Lord J. RUSSELL said his opposition to the bill had not been vexatious, but bona fide (laughter). He should be ready to meet the noble lord in discussion on any similar measure he might introduce next session, as he considered it was an attempt virtually to repeal the reform act. The order of the day was then discharged. The bill is consequently postponed until next session. [Left sitting.] MISCELLANEOUS The Archimedes had trial trips in the Forth on Tuesday and Wednesday. Strange to record, London, the first mercantile city in the world, is still without a chamber of commerce ! It is computed that the French army at present in Algieria is little short of 60,000. The bank of Messrs. Langmead and Co. of Teignmouth, has suspended payment. " Of in the stilly night," as the vatchman said ven they asked asked him if he ever took a nap. A Roman Catholic Barrister was recently refused ad. mission to the bar mess of the Munster circuit. The Duke of Newcastle is said to be forming a library at Clumber, for the use of his large establishment there. An oak as been lately cut in Shropshire, the weight of the bark of which is 30 cwt., and that of the whole about 25 tons. By the ancient laws of Spain, if a woman could prove her husband to have been thrice drunk, she might plead for a divorce from him. It is understood that her Majesty will have another state ball at Buckingham Palace, on Monday the 20th of July. The booksellers of Glasgow have agreed to shut their shcps on Saturday, at five o'clock, during the months of June-, Julyjand August, in order to accommodate themselves and the young men in their employment. The Attorney General will have much work on hand dur ing the ensuing assizes in Ireland ; he has several Ribbonmen to prosecute, as well as to state the rights of the crown in some civil action s that are pending. The coffin in which the late King of Prussia has been bu ried was the same that served in 1810 for the remains f Queen Louisa his wife, and which was replaced afterwards by a marble sarcophagus. POTATOES.—Of this useful root we hear very favourable reports. The yield is expected to be abundant, and the quality good. HAMBURGH, JUNE 20.—Our post-office has received an intimation from the Post-office at London, that the postage of our letters would be reduced if reciprocity could be reckoned upon. The floating light at the entrance of the Tees was brought to Mr. Mellanby's building -yard to be coppered, and when hauled upon the patent slipway, upwards of seven tons of small muscles were found adhering to the bottom, and have been disposed of for manure.—Tyne Mercury. AN UNIMPEACHABLE WITNESS.—On Thursday week a man was charged before the magistrates at Monmouth with murdering his wife, but while the investigation was going on the woman herself appeared, and the prisoner who appeared to be insane, was of course immediately discharged. We are informed on good authority that Messrs. Hawes and D'Eyncourt, the present representatives for the borough of Lambeth, have received notice from a considerable portion of their most influential supporters that after the present parliament their services will be no longer required.—Times. The address from the city of Limerick to the Queen has been elegantly printed on pink satin, and encircled with a wreath of Limerick lace, beautifully figured, representing the rose, shamrock, and thistle, with the royal crown overhead. —Limerick Chronicle. The unfortunate Mr. Yarworth is not expected to recover from the murderous attack made upon him at Piff's Elm. The Worcester Herald states that he has risen from his bed but twice during the last six weeks, and his decease was hourly expected. We hear that a brevet will positively take place if Her Majesty gives birth to a son, but decidedly not should a daughter be born.—Naval and Military Gazette. The Sultan's favourite wife has had a daughter. Great rejoicings have consequently taken place in Constantinople, notwithstanding the disappointment that the child was not a son. THE HARVEST.—On heavy clay soils there is a general complaint of a deficiency of plant, and the ear is represented to be short. On light soils rather more than average crop is anticipated. Owing to the unfavourable rumours, there has been a rise in the price of corn generally throughout the country ; in a few more weeks we shall be better able to give an opinion, but we have every reason to believe that there will be a full average crop.—Bristol Standard. A pleasant typographical blunder appeared lately in one of the morning papers. A petition presented by Mr. E. Ten nent, from Belfast, in favour of Lord Stanley's bill, com plained of the present registration system in Ireland as " leading to immorality." By the addition of a singe letter, the system of corruption was described as " leading to iqa-„ mortality." A lady lately observing to one of her maid-servants, when she came in from the play, that her eyes looked red, as if she had been crying, the girl, by way of apology, said, " Well, ma'am, if I did, it was no harm ; a great many re spectable people cried too." On the arrival of the Dinan diligence at Nantes, on Mon day last, an Englishman alighted, who was about six feet in height, and, calling to the attendant at the office, desired he would take care of his little brother whom he had left inside. The worthy official mounted the steps, expecting to receive a child in his arms, but, to his astonishment, saw a " bit of a baby" come forth, measuring full seven feet ! BARLEY.—The transformation of oats into barley, it is said, may be accomplished at will in the following manner : —They are to be sown late, and cut twice in the way of grass before they come into ear—the following season they will be changed into barley.—Athenaurn. [A mode some what similar may be adopted with equal success towards many other cereals and vegetables—for instance, if a cucum ber be cut three or four times before fully ripe, the next year it will produce a boiled cabbage.] On Monday night a report was in circulation at Walsall that a large sum of money had been found by the workmen employed at the Walsall and South Staffordshire Bank, in taking down the counters, &c., for the purpose of removal to the new establishment. The fact, we are given to understand, is, that on removing one of the counters upwards of £3OO in notes was found concealed about an arm's length between the counter and the wall, but by whom this sum was secreted is at present unknown.— Wolverhampton Chronicle. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts has voted £l,OOO for each of the years 1840 and 1841, to be placed at the disposal of the Bishop of Australia, for the purpose of assisting in building churches in New outh Wales ; and £5OO for each of those years for a similar pur pose in Van Dieman's Land ; and William Leigh, Esq., of Aston-hall, Lichfield, has given the munificent donation of £2,000 for the purpose of building a church and parsonage house in South Australia, and has appropriated 400 acres of land as an endowment. He has also made over to the so ciety two town acres of land in the city of Adelaide, producing £l5O a-year. We understand that the Marquis of Saldanha has now finally settled the object of his special mission to the British government, and that he will return to Lisbon in the course of this week. The claims immediately adjusted are those of the Duke of Wellington, Marshal Beresford, and others, be sides the expenses of the expedition sent to Portugal in 1825. The civil claims are to be referred to a commission. It is also said that the basis of a commercial treaty has been agreed on between this country and Portugal.—Morning Chronicle. PUBLIC CHALLENGE.—Mr. Carpenter, of Hull Farm, near Chipping Norton, Oxton, challenges to show a fat long wooled ewe, bred and fed by him, and now the property of Mr. Robert Masters, of Weston, in Northamptonshire, against any man in England, for £5O at Cambridge on the 15th of July next ; age and time of feedinz to be taken into consideration. The judges to be chosen, one by each party, and those two to appoint a third, provided one resided in Oxfordshire, one in Leicestershire, and one in Gloucester shire. Mr. C. is the same person who exhibited a fat ewe at the Smithfield Show in 1832.—Lincoln Standard. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.—Mr. Marsh, chymist, con nected with the Royal Arsenal, recently discovered that it is an invariable rule with iron which has remained for a consi derable time under water, when reduced to small grains, or to an impalpable powder, to become red hot, and ignite any object with which it may come in contact. This he expe rienced by scraping some corroded metal A t om ima, which ignited the liaper%ontaining it, - and Vilna a 'tole - in his pocket. The knowledge of this fact may be useful in ac counting for spontaneous fires, the origin of which has never been traced.--Time:, SOCIALISM AS IT ts.—The community of Queenwood, near Titherley, are already falling " into the sear and yellow leaf." The public of the surrounding towns and villages have ceased to he excited by the blasphemous and seditious lectures, which only a few months since attracted hundreds, on every Sabbath-day, to this sink of sin and wickedness. Such is the apathy at the present time, that these worthies have been compelled for a time to abandon their Sunday lec turing for want of visitors, and such is their domestic so ciality, that their great man and head farmer, Mr. Aldan), has actually quitted through a general quarrel ! So much for the vaunted system, where all is peace, love, and kar•- mony.—Salisbury Herald. THE ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY.—A variety of experiments have within these last few days been tried on the railway re cently laid down between Shepherd's Bush and the Great Western Railroad, across Wormbolt, or, as it is more com monly called, Wormwood Scrubs, for the purpose of testing the efficacy of the atmospheric tubes, the working of the air pump, and the speed of the carriages propelled along the rails. It is gratifying to know that the results of these ex periments have all been satisfactory. Amongst those who were present at .the experiments on Monday last was his Royal Highness Prince Albert, who expressed himself fully satisfied with the result of the experiments. The mere rate of the carriage with its passengers, weighing 8 tons 3 cwt., was 30 miles an hour ; with the carriage and passengers of 5 tons 13 cwt. it traversed the rail at the rate of 36 miles an hour ; and during the time of the prince's inspection its ra pidity was still greater.—Standard. A return to an order of the House of Commons gives an account of the imports of foreign wine into the United Kingdom for the year ending the sth of January, 1840. The total quantity was 9,909,056 gallons. and the total quantity exported was 2,053,085 gallons. The quantity retained for home consumption, after deducting the amount exported subsequently to the payment of duty, was 7,000,486 gallons, and the quantity remaining in warehouse under bond, on the sth of January, 1840, was 11,233,744 gallons. It is worth remarking, that it is shown by the same return that the quantity of French wine retained for home consumption was no more than 378,636 gallons, while the quantity of Spanish wine was 2,578,997, and that of Portuguese 2,921,422. OPENING OF THE EASTERN COUNTIES' RAILWAY TO BRENTWOOD.—This railway having at length reached its terminus in Shoreditch, was on Thursday thrown open through the entire line from that point to Brentwood, a distance of eighteen miles. Crowds flocked at an early hour to the ter minus, and flags were flying from every steeple. A dejeuner a la fourchette was prepared on an extensive scale, and several elegant tents, which had been erected for the enter tainment, were crowded with ladies and gentlemen. Bands of music paraded the town, and the utmost hilarity pervaded all classes. The directors, with a view of inspiring the public with confidence, departed in one of the trains at twelve o'clock for Brentwood, amidst a numerous concourse of spectators, and they returned in time to see the two o'clock train off. Everything passed over in a satisfactory manner. The inhabitants of Brentwood have every reason to congra tulate themselves on the great increase to their trade and comfort which this railway must occasion. A NEW BRASS INSTRUMENT.—We have seen and heard a musical instrument newly invented by Mr. John Shaw, of Glossop, in Derbyshire ; an ingenious mechanic who has made the improvement of brass instruments an object of his attention for nearly 20 years. During his time he has pro duced five new kinds of valve for lengthening and shortening the tubes ; and has now constructed an instrument bearing a general resemblance to the Cornet-It-piston, but decidedly superior to that instrument in simplicity of mechanism, quality of tone, and facility of performance. It so iniall that it can be carried in the pocket without inconvenience ; yet, notwithstanding its diminutive size, its tone is superior in power and volume to that of the Cornet-a-pistons or the Cornopean ; and it has a clearness and brilliancy —a crisp ness—of which those instruments are destitute, The instru ment which we have examined has a perfect chromatic scale, extending from G below the lines of the treble staff to the double D in the hands of an ordinary player, hilt the scale may be carried still higher by a powerful lip. Its intonation is exceedingly true; and it seems capable of being played as easily as a German flute. Such an instrument must be an important addition to our orchestras, and to military bands be invaluable. Mr. Shaw has taken out a patent, for the invention ; though the instrument has not yet been brought into use, nor, we believe even christened.—Spectator. NORFOLK.—THE CROPS.—Upon the whole, it may be fairly asserted, that the county of Norfolk never exhibited so magnificent a prospect in its growing crops of grain as it does at the present moment. A bountiful and all-wise Pro vidence has scattered its blessings through the length and breadth of this highly favoured land, and the anti-corn law junta may now say with Balak of old, " I called thee to curse this people, and behold thou halt altogether blessed them !" The extreme folly of instituting any measure which should incur the risk of driving us to a foreign market for a supply of the first necessaries of life, can never be better ex emplified than at the present time. Let ally one examine the crop of grain in this county, and inquire how it has been produced ; he will learn that within the last few years the acreable yield of grain has increased nearly one-fifth over and above what was formerly considered an average produce, and it is not improbable that the forthcoming harvest may even surpass in productiveness that of any former years. If we inquire how this has been effected, we shall find that it arises out of a vast expenditure of capital.—Lincoln Stan dard. EXTRAORDINARY FANATICISM. — TIie villages of Coombe Florey, liaise, and adjoining pa rishes, in Somer se t, h ave fre quently of late been visited by field preacher s , whose preten sions to extraordinary manifestations of " the Spi r it, effect their followers with ' strong delusions,' by whi c h t h ey are l e d from the plain path of duty into all kinds of visionary fancies . and absurdities. They may be heard a t th e di stance o f halt a mile, crying out with stentorian voices, " Come in, come in, and let the Spirit take possession of you, and convert you, and drive the Devil out of y o u !" under stand, is this : A circle is formed o f T t h h e ei p r rocess. we deluded followers, within which, whoever has a m i n d to be conver t e d ( as t h ey call it,) is admitted ; he is then exhorted and beaten till the Devil is expelled, and the patient acknowledges himself to be a convert! After this, th e y ro ll . u p o n the ground, o r li e ap parently lifeless, or in fits of convulsion, for a while, and then assert that they have been favoured with visions and lights, and revelations from heaven !—Bristol Standard.