The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-10 00:00:00

imprrial t 3 ar lianunt. HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY. The Earl of RIPON, having taken a review of the state of affairs in the Kingdom of Lahore previous to in the inva sion of our territory in India, and having previously de tailed the military operations of our army the late bril liant contest with the Siks, moved a series of resolutions Noting the thanks of their lordships' house to the com manders, officers, and men of the British and East India service engaged in these gloriously fought operations. The motion was warmly seconded by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE. The Duke of WELLINGTON eulogised the conduct of Sir Henry Hardinge as eminently gallant and chivalric; and in vindication of the 62d Regiment, his grace said : " I really must say that I have not, for some time, heard of an action which has given me such unqualified satisfac tion, except in one case—l allude to that of the regiment to which the word panic' is attached. My lords, I have minutely examined the circumstances att-nding that regi ment, and I find by the returns that it has lost 5-12ths of its numbers, a great many non-commissioned officers, and 1 hear that in the first quarter of an hour of the firing one third of its officers fell. 3ly lards, I cannot question the report of the operations, but I wish the officer who had written it had sat down and written a more elaborate re port, and referred to the extent of the killed and wounded. The loss in that regiment must have been very great, for it is said that as they were moving on they were mowed down in great numbers by the severity of the fire. My lords, I have made inquiries respecting the state of the regiment, and I find that it has been fifteen years in the East Indies, and that in the course of forty years it has served abroad thirty-three years, and seven years in vari ous parts of the United Kingdom. I also find that dur ing the fifteen years which it has served in the East In dies, it has been in all parts of India, and that it has been recruited twice since it has been in that country. I like wise find that three-fourths of the men who made the at tack and suffered the loss, had not been seven years in the service." After an interesting discussion, in which the Marquis of Londonderry, the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Ellen borough, and Viscount Auckland took part, the resolu tions were agreed to unanimously. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY. Mr. C. BFRKELEY called the attention of the house to a petition that he had received, purporting to come from Cheltenham, though in fact it came from Manchester, and moved that it be referred to a Select Committee, to in quire into the manner in which the petition was gest up and the signatures attached to it. The motion was agreed to. Sir ROBERT PEEL WBS about to proceed with his mo tion of thanks to the Indian army, when be was inter rupted by Mr. Baroror, who said he had a petition to present from 560 inhabitants of the town of Reading, expressing great regret that war had broken out in India, and remon strating against the award of thanks to the army engaged in what they believed a very impolitic and unchf stian war. Sir R. PEEL then said, that until he was interrupted by the member for Durham, he was not prepared to be lieve that it could be possible that any body of Englishmen could be found, who, seeing what were the circumstances of unprovoked aggression which called forth the exertions of these men—who, seeing what in a just cause was their devotion to the interests of their country—he said, he could hardly have believed it possible that, in this country, any body of men could be found to sign a petition grudg ing such an acknowledgment of courage and devotion as that which he propose to offer. (Loud cheers.) The right hon. baronet then took a review of the state of the Punjaub since the death of Runjcet Singh, and of the aggressions that forced the Governor-General of India into hostile operations, and moved a seriesof resolutions, similar to those voted in the Lords , granting the thanks of the House of Commons to the commanding officers and men engaged in the late brilliant achievements on the banks of the Sutlej. The right hon. baronet stated that he proposed the vote simply for the military services per formed, totally irrespective of the policy of the Governor- General, and lie intimated that he should propose an al dress to the crown, praying her Majesty to have a suitable monument erected to the memory of Sir Robert Sale. The motion was seconded by Lord John Russell, and supported by Sir R. Inglis and other members. Sir 110 WARD DOUGLAS said, he would make some pro fessional observations on that victory for which the house was now to return thanks. It was a consolatory conside ration to the nation and to surviving friends that the serious sacrifice of life which was made—and many most valuable lives were sacrificed—that they fell in defence of their country, and that they bled to uphold the honour of the British name. They fell not in the violation of the rights of others, either personal or territorial. On the contrary, they exercised so much forbearance and patience as to expose Sir Henry Hardinge to the surmise that his extreme indulgence allowed that advantage which was in consistent with the science of a good tactician, or with those strategetical manoeuvres which ought to have been observed. But the wish of the Governor-General was, and he enjoined the instructions, that the most scrupulous forbearance should be observed, and that they were not to provoke aggression—his policy was decidedly pacific. But he would show that professionally with the greatest for bearance, no error was committed. Here the gallant member entered into a military statement as to the pro gress of the army, the principle of the passage of rivers, and the concentration of forces, which be illustrated by reference to a map, and from the whole he concluded that Sir Henry Hardinge adopted the wisest course—a course which was in accordance with the best rules of military science. (Cheers.) There was no doubt but gallant offi cers were placed •in great difficulty on that important occasion ; the troops were brought up under peculiar cir cumstances', but they advanced under the guidance of a man whose mind was well stored with that energy and with those intellectual resources which that crisis de manded. Those difficulties which he had to encounter were all surmounted, the movement was conducted with great military skill, and the result had been a victory of vast consequence to the British name, British character, and British interests. There never were military opera tions conducted with more intelligence—with more energy or with more vigour—and which were well displayed under severe privet ons. And that distinguished regiment, the Sixty-second, although greatly inferior in numbers, having eone into the action with only 21 officers and 700 men, faced the foe—exposed to their tremendous fire—to their iron storm moved on with unexampled steadiness, not shrinking, although at one time seventeen out of the twenty-one officers and half their men were struck down. Yet they attacked the enemy with the greatest confidence, and stood their ground until the most dreadful havoc was made in their ranks. But if there were any error com mitted as regarded that distinguished regiment he thought with the right hon. baronet, the gallant deeds and success of that day should obliterate the recollection of any tem porary casualty. Not wishing to occupy more of the time of the house, he would express his entire concurrence in the vote of thanks and his deep sympathy for the loss of those brave men who fell in the midst of a victory so brilliant and so glorious. The resolutions were then agreed to unanimously. The house went into committee on customs and corn importation, and the resolution re,pectiug corn was moved by Sir R. PEEL. Mr. VILLIERS moved as an amendment that the duties on corn should immediately and totally cease. Colonel SIBTIIORP, in a humorous and spirited speech, met the amendment with a direct negative. The debate finally merged in an angry discussion, full of personalities, in which Lord J. RUSSELL, Mr. PER RAND, Lord C. H.AMILTO , , and several other members took a part. It was at last terminated by Lord ,loner RUSSELL'S observing that in the then temper of the com mittee, the best thing that could be done was to move that the chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again next day. This proposition was acceded to. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY. The Earl of HARDWICKE presented several petitions praying for the rejection of the measure proposed by her Majesty's ministers, and for the continuance of agricul tural imp , ovements which have taken place within the last few years. The noble earl observed that the conduct of the Government was not calculated to give any great weight to the measure; and he thought the recommenda tion of the other House undeserving of any serious con sideration, inasmuch as it had lost the good opinion and confidence of the country. He therefore trusted that their Lordships would reject the propositions of her Ma jesty's Government. After a few remarks from Lord Kinnaird, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the Marquis of Salisbury, The Duke of RICHMOND said he was not at all sur prised at the largeness of the majority in the oth:r House. All the pb , cernen voted of course. A great many offices vacant, and a great many men were looking for those offices —(laughter)—and, under the circumstances, he was rather surprised to find the majority so small. The agricultu rists wished to go to the country in order to turn t•ut the 110 deserters who had abandoned their colours and fol lowed Sir R. Peel. The people of England liked honesty, and would do their duty in the event of a dissolution. He trusted their Lordships would come forward and check the measure ; and he believed that if an appeal were made to the country, the principle of protection would find a very large number of friends. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE presented a petition from Van Diemen's Land, deprecating the importation of con victs. The Bishop of Oxford strongly urged the neces sity of amending our penal system. The reformation of criminals should take place at home; they ought not to be transported till they were fit for social life. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TussnaT. Mr. NEwDLGATE moved that it be made an instruction to the committee on the Cheltenham petition to inquire into the alleged organized and extensive system of fraudu lent and vexatious objectious to voters in Warwick, Staf ford, and other counties. A long and angry discussion ensued, the charge being bandied from one side to the other without eliciting any thing material, till Mr. Newdegate consented to with draw his motion. The House then went into committee on the Customs and Corn Import a ti on A c t s , and a debate took place, in which a number of members joined. Mr. Banks, Mr. Finch, Mr. Liddell, Mr. P. Borth wick, Lord March, and Mr. Iludson, though adverse to the Government measure, would vote against Mr. Villier's amendment. Lord G. Bentinck and Sir T. Acland spoke on the same side. Mr. C. Howard, Sir J. Hanmer, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Wakley, would divide with ministers to facilitate the pas sing of the measure in any shape. Mr. Moffatt supported the amendment, and Mr. Cobden likewise, who said that, though the tenure of office by tl,e present Government might not be worth two months' P urchase, the measure was safe with the country. On a division ti:ere appeared—For the amendment, 78 ; against it, 265 ; majoriq against it, 187. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY. Lord J. MANNERS moved the second reading of the Bequests for Pious and Charitable Purposes Bill, the ob ject of which was to remedy the present detective state of the law, which rendered it in many instances impossible for the Church to avail itself of the pious wishes of those who felt for the destitute condition, as regarded religious instruction, in which many places in various parts of the country were plunged, and who bequeathed property for the purpose of remedying the evil. Sir J. GRAHAM said, he had reconsidered this subject since he had formerly given his opinion upon it, and he must say, that that reconsideration had led him to the conclusion that it was not desirable to alter the existing state of the law, and he could not, therefore, give his support to the bill of the noble lord, which called upon them to legislate in a spirit decidedly opposed to that which had for centuries governed the parliament of this country. He, therefore, moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Sir R. INGLIS was opposed to the Charitable Bequests Act for Ireland, and was also strongly opposed to the measure of the noble lord, which would neutralize the cei-e proceedings of our forefathers, which had felt it re quisite to adopt stringent precautions to prevent a vast accumulation of property in the hands of religious com munities. _ _ Lerd J. MANNERS replied, when the bill was thrown out by a majority of 60 to 24. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY. To a question put by Mr. V. Smith, Sir Robert Peel st3ted that he would lay on the table the bills relative to the Law of Settlement and Local Taxation before the ter mination of the debates on the Corn Laws. _ _ _ An attempt was made by governmeut to get rid of the notices of motions on the paper, but without success. DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY. Mr. ETWALL moved for a select committee to enquire into the administration of the Poor-laws in the Andover Union, and into the management of the union work house. Sir J. GRAHAM opposed the motion, and moved as an amendment that Mr. Parker's report and the evidence taken before him be laid on the table. The Home Se cretary denounced the whole matter as a mere " poor house squabble," and said that instructions had been is sued for the discontinuance of bone-crushing in all the unions. The grounds of Mr. Parker's resignation were not merely his indiscretion, but his insubordination to the Poor•law Commissioners. Mr. Wakley, Mr. Christie, Mr. Ferrand, Captain Pe chell, Sir R. Inglis, Mr. Borthwick, Lord Pollington, Mr. Fielden, and other bon. members, having all ex pressed their opinion that an investigation was necessary, Sir J. GRAHAM again rose, and, amidst the derisive cheering of the whole house, confessed " that he should yield to the expression of the opinion of the whole house." He would withdraw his amendment, and bring it forward as a substantive motion, and agree to the appointment of the committee moved by Mr. Etwell. But the Home Secretary sophistically added that he would not consent to the amendment which Mr. Christie had on the paper, to extend the enquiry into the conduct of the Poor-law Commissioners in reference to the investigations at An dover, and to the resignation of Mr. Parker. The amendment moved by Sir James Graham having been withdrawn, and the original motion of Mr. Etwell baying been put, Mr. CHRISTIE moved the addition of the words—" And into the conduct of the Poor-law Commissioners and their late assistant commissioner, Mr. Parker, in refe rence to the two investigations held at Andover, and into all the circumstances under which the Poor-law Commis sioners called upcn Mr. Parker to resign his assistant commissionership." Mr. W. MILES supported the amendment. When he consented to grant power to the Poor Law Commission ers, it was with the direct understanding that they were to he strictly responsible to Parliament. Mr. WAKLEY said, as the Government were made of squeezable materials, and had yielded a point, they had better yield more, and save themselves from the very dis agreeable catastrophe of being beaten in a division. The Ministers resisted the amendment, and the House divided : For the amendment.. Against it 69 Majority against Ministers —23 The most tremendous cheering announced this first de feat of the Government. As Lord J. Russell, Lord Mor psth, and the other leaders of the Whigs gave their votes to the Mini•-ters, successive peals of laughter and derision were heard outside the house. Mr. W. COWPER moved for copies of despatches re ceived by the Secretary of State for Foreign! Affairs, containing information about the persecution inflicted upon the Basilian nuns of Minsk. Sir R. PEEL said the only information he had on the subject was from the British Consul at Warsaw, who, having made inquity, had reported that the atrocities which appeared in the French newspapers were either wholly unfounded, or were grostly exaggerated. The Premier condemned in the strongest terms such barbar ities, if they had been committed; but expressed his entire belief that the Russian Government were ignorant of them. He strongly advised the house to suspend their judgment, and not to set the example of interfering with the acts of other Governments. Mr. COWPER withdrew his motion. HOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. The house resolved itself into committee on the Irish Coercion Bill, after the Earl of St. Germans had ex. plained the amendments intended by the government, and stated his opinion of those proposed by different noble lords. The consideration of the several clauses gave rise to much discussion, in the course of which Earl GREY at tacked the Irish landlords as being the cause of the state of the country, through neglect of their duties. The landlords were warmly defended by the Earl of Roden and Lord Farnham. When clause 16 was read, making it a misdemeanor, punishable with transpo►tation of 15 years, for any person in a proclaimed district to be out of his abode between one hour after sunset and sunrise. Lord GREY inveighed at length against the unnecessary severity of the penalty, and moved as an amendment one year's imprisonment, with or without hard labour. This amendment brought on a long debate in which Lord Campbell, Lord Cottenbam, and Lord Langdale sided with Lord Grey in considering the penalty as quite out of proportion to the " venial offence ' of being out after dark ; while Lord Brougham, the Marquis of Clan ricarde, and Lord Monteagle defended the severity f the measure as an extraordinary remedy for an extraordinary evil. Their lordships at last divided on: the amendment, when the numbers were— Content Non-content Majority —3l The remaining clauses Were then agreed to, and it was determined by an amendment, moved by the Mai quis of Lansdowne, that the bill should be in force for three years from October Lest. HOUSE OF COMMO NS.-FRIDAY. In the House of Commons public business commenced by the House resolving itself into a committee to consider the Customs and Corn Importation Acts. Mr. W. 40 STANLEY said that he concurred with Lord J. Russell, in thinking that the interests of the country were deeply involved in the immediate, complete, and tran quil settlement of the Corn-law question. The proposition of Government was neither an immediate, nor a complete. nor a tranquil settlement of it. He then proposed, as an amendment to Sir R. Peel's plan, that " in lieu of the duties now payable on the importation of corn, grain, meal, or flour, the product of foreign countries, there shall be paid a fixed duty of ss. per quarter upon wheat ; 2s. Gd. on barley ; and 2s. ou oats ; meal and flour in proportion. Colonel Woon. of Brecon, observed that the agri cultural interest was now suff,ring most severely owing to the delay in adopting the proposition of Government The corn trade was completely paralyzed by it. He was op posed to the amendment now proposed, for he was con scientiously of opinion that the time had at last arrived when the Corn-laws ought to be entirely and immediately repealed. Mr. S. O'BRIEN denied that there had been any repre hensible delay in the discussion of this question. It would have been possible for a powerful minority t' have clogged the notice book with amendments on the Government plan, and yet not one notice had been given by any member of that minority. It was better that an im portant change of this nature should be doggedly and pertinaciously discussed rather than be passed rashiy without inquiry. He should not vote at all upon this amendment. After a conversational debate, in which Lord John Russell, Mr. Collett, Sir J. Tyrell, and others, took part, the amendment was negatived without a division. Mr. M. MILNES then moved the omission of all words in the resolution respecting the importation of corn, refer ring to the cessation or alteration of duties to be paid in the year 1849. He did not expect to obtain much support to his amendment ; but he was so convinced that, by giv ing up all duties on foreign corn we were placing in the hands of foreigners a large amount of revenue which we had hitherto enjoyed, that he could not refrain from put ting his opinions on this subject on record. Mr. AGLIONBY urged upon the notice of government the case,of a class of small proprietors in Cumberland and Westmoreland, who had not capital to improve their land, and who, being chiefly copyholders, would have, in case of such improvement being made, heavier tines levied upon them. He thought it would be a boon to such per sons if their copyholds could be enfranchised. Sir R. PEEL thought the subject could be considered by the committee sitting upon agricultural burthens. Mr. MILES, remarking that he could not concur in any of the amendments then on the paper, was replied to by Sir ROBERT PEEL, who observed that the resolutions then being passel were proforma', and no member would be compromised by allowing them to pass without a division. After some remarks from a number of members, Mr. Miles withdrew his amendment. Mr. P. HOWARD and Sir W. JourrE spoke against the bill, after which Lord G. BENTINCR enquired of Sir R. Peel what he expected would be the price of wheat under the new sys tem, and what effect that price would have upon the tithe and the tithe-owner. Sir R. PEEL was not prepared to answer the question, although reminded that he felt no difficulty in 1842. Mr. FINCH asked the question of Mr. Cobden, and re ceived an evasive reply from Mr. Villiers. Colonel SII3THORPE again asked Sir R. Peel when he intended to fill up the vacancies in the Government of fices, and also when certain Cab inet Ministers were likely to take their seats in that house ; and was told by Sir Ro t bert that the office o f Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests was now held by Lord Canning, and that if he himself would vacate Lincoln the Earl of Lincoln should contest it with him. Colonel Sibthorpe demurred to this course; but if Sir Robert• Peel would dissolve Parliament and appear himself as a candidate, he would meet him. After a few words from Mr. D'lsraeli, the resolution was agreed to, as were those respecting barley, oats, and flour. On the resolution relative to the reduction of the duties on buck wheat, maize, and rice, Mr. MILES objected to proceeding with this resolution at present. Mr. O'CoNtronn implored the committee, on account of the famine impending over Ireland, to discharge these articles of duty as soon as possible. Mr. MILES expressed his readiness, if Sir R. Peel would introduce a short bill for the introduction of these articles into Ireland free of duty, to support it. But he must object to this resolution, if it were attempted to hurry it that evening through the house. A long conversation then took place on the question whether the debate on this question should take place now, or on the report being produced on Monday next. Sir R. Peel, Mr. 'Bright, Mr. Miles, Lord G. Bentinck, Lord J. Ru,sell, the Earl of March, and Mr. D'lsraeli took part in that discussion, which, after some angry ap pearances at one period of it, was terminated by Mr. Miles agreeing to withdraw his opposition to the resolution to night, and to .renew it on Monday night on the presenta tion of the report. In the course of the conversation, Sir It. PEEL informed the committee that the govern ment had already expended £lOO,OOO in the purchase of maize and rice for the relief of the people of Ireland. The resolutions were then agreed to, and were ordered to be reported to the house. The committee was then proceeding to consider the articles in the tariff, when an objection to that course was taken by Mr. P. Miles and Lord G. Bentinck. Sir R. Peel gave way to their objec tion amid ironical cheers from the opposition benches, which induced him to say to them with great warmth, " I wish you had to conduct public business." The chairman then reported progress. The house resumed. Report to be received on Monday next. The Joint-Stock Banks (Scotland and Ireland) Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day fortnight. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned. 'CIE LIVERPOOL STANDARD FOREIGN AND COLONIAL,. INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SEAT OF WAR. The London papers of Friday anticipated the Overland Mail. The despatch brings important news from the theatre of war on the banks of the Sutlej. The British army, of about 43,000 men, is thus described in the Delhi Gazette of the 233 of January :-11 troops of Horse Ar tillery. say 1.000; 8 companies of Foot Artillery, about 600; 7 companies of Sappers and Miners, 800; 3 regi ments of European Cavalry, at 450, 1,350 ; 7 regime As of Native Light Cavalry, at 400, 2,800; 5 regiments of Ir regular Cavalry, at 700, 3,500; 9 regiments of European Infantry, at 750, 6,750 ; 26 regiments of Native Infantry, at 800, 20,800 ; 2 regiments of Local Infantry, at 800, 1,600 ;—forming a total of about 39,800. Besides which, the following corps are on their way, or under orders : The 4th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, from Scinde; the 7th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, from Delhi ; the 67th Regiment of Bengal Infantry, Bundelkund. and the Kumson Local Battalion : as also Captain Smith's Light Field Battery, from Scinde, which, when they have joined the force, will make " the suet of Sutlej " of the follow ing estimated strength •—Artillery. 1.680; sappers and miners, 890. Cavalry—European, 1,350 ; native, 2,800 ; irregular, 3,500-7,65,0. Infantry— European, 6,750; na tive, 23,200; irregular, 2,400-32,350. Ordnance—heavy 24-pounders, 12 ; howitzers, 10-inch, 6 ; howitzers, 8 inch, 6 ; iron 12-pounders (elephant battery), 12 ; already with the force, siege guns taken from Umballah, where they were sent for practice from Delhi, 8; 11 troops Horse Artillery, 66 ; 5 Light Field Batteries, 30—making the proposed army to consist of 42,480 men, with 140 pieces of ordnance of all sizes. There are also 21 mortars, of various sizes, under despatch from Delhi to-day. The army is formed into five divisions of infantry and four brigades of cavalry, with a large brigade staff. The cavalry is commanded by Major-General Sir J. Thack well, and the infantry divisions by Major-Generals Sir H. G. Smith, W. R. Gilbert, Sir R. H. Dick, Sir J. H. Lit tler, and Sir J. Grey. From the 223 of December, when the victory was won by the British at Ferozeshali, up to the middle of Janu ary, both parties appeared to be ma paring for the ap proaching struggle on the right bank of the Sutlej. The Governor-General remained at Ferozepore, engaged in raising the bridge of boats, and in making preparations for the crossing of the liver by the British army. The boats, which had been sunk, were found to be somewhat in jured, and time was required for their repair. The cross ing of the river was expected about the 4th or 6th of Feb ruary, when the heavy guns which had left Delhi on the 10th of January were expected to have reached the camp. Sir J. Littler 's division was stationed at Attaree, about seven miles from Ferozepore; the head-quarters of the Commander-in-Chief were at Arufkee, twelve miles thence ; and Sir Harry Smith's force was in advance of the others. not far from Hurreeke Puttun, which is one of the great fords of the Sutlej. In the mean time the Lahore Government was making every effort to reorganize the army. Several attempts had been made in different places to cross the river. A strong force was collected at Phulloor, opposite to Loodi anah. This force was independent of the grand Sikh army stationed on the way from Hurreeke ghat to Lahore and its neighbourhood, with the object of protecting the capital. Some skirmishing took place near the Sikh bridge of boats on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of January, without any remarkable effect. On the 15th the Sikhs came over he river at Phulloor, plundered the neighbourhood, and pitched a camp on the left bank, in the British territory. On the following days they made some further advances, and intrenched themselves near a nulla. Sir H. Smith moved his brigade up the Sutlej, driving the enemy before him until the 21st, in the morning, when he came upon one of the fortified positions of the enemy, which fired grape shot amongst the British troops. Some of the native troops are said to have thrown down their arms, and to have fled, leaving the Europeans to bear the brunt of the battle. Her Majesty's 53d and 31st were engaged, and are said to have suffered severely, but they demanded to he led anew to the fight, which Sir H. Smith did not deem it prudent to do, and therefore withdrew the troops. The Agra Ukhbar construes the retirement into a defeat; while the Delhi Gazette states that heavy firing was heard in the direction of Loodianah during the whole of the afternoon of that day. Nothing positive appears to have been known as to the results of that day when the mails were leaving Bombay. The preparations of the Governor-General at Foroze pore appear to be of an efficient kind, and it was supposed that the British army would move over the Sutlej, and before the hot weather set in, in April, take possession of Lahore, the Sikh capital, which is not fifty miles distant from the Sutlej. There is said to be considerable disunion amongst the Sikh chiefs, many of whom have made pro positions to the British authorities, declaring their wil lingness to join the British standard as soon as it appeared on the right bank of that river. It was supposed that the Sikh troops would try another battle before they would allow their capital to be taken. The gallant conqueror of Scinde, Sir Charles Napier, was again in the field, and, at the head of about 15,000 Bombay and 5,000 Bengal troops, was expected to cause a powerful diversion, by proceeding to attack and to con quer Moultan and the southern provinces of the Sikh dominions. The very name of Sir Charles Napier in fuses dread among the the native inhab.tants of the banks of the Indus and of the five rivers of the Punjab ; he is called by them Sheilanka beaee, " the Devil's brother." His troops expected to he in movement towards the enemy's frontiers on the 16th of February. The latest intelligence from the Bombay troops in this exhibition describes them as in the highest spirits, for they look forward to victory for themselves, and even to a coronet for their experienced leader. It is undeniable that the Sikhs are a brave enemy, whom the discipline they have learned from European officers renders far more formidable than the other inha bitants of India. The necessity of the most strenuous efforts to subdue the troops and the fanatics of Lahore is evident. Their emissaries have attempted to tamper with the Bengal sepoys, but, as yet, they have gained nothing. The British troops have abundant supplies of all kinds, and it remains to be known if anything of a decided nature will occur before the hot season. The late attempts to produce sedition amongst the troops and inhabitants of Dinepore, Patna, &c., have failed, and the ringleaders have been seized and punished. The latest intelligence from Upper f•icinde states, that r Majesty's 86th regiment had reached Roree on the 23d of January. A circumstance bad occurred in the Sikh territory, near Bhawulpore, which it may be useful to explain. Captain Brow, the chief of the Scinde mounted police, went about ten miles into the Sikh dis trict in pursuit of a robber. The head of the village promised to surrender the robber; but, instead of doing so, he collected a number of horsemen (said to be 300) and proceeded to attack the Scinde police. The first vol ley killed three men. This proves the spirit of the Sikh authorities to the southward. Moulton was quiet, but great efforts were made to restore the fortifications, as a siege was expected. An augmentation has been ordered of five regiments of irregular cavalry to the Bengal army, and of three regi ments of infantry to that of Bombay. The Bombay Railway, or, as it is called, the Great Pe ninsular Railway, has been most successful. The engi neers who have examined the districts through which it is to pass into the interior, have found more facilities for the undertaking than they ever expected. The utmost tranquillity prevails in the interior of India. AMERICA. Advices have been received from New York to the 12th ult. On the 9th the House of Representatives passed a resolution, by a majority of 163 to 54 (o6ly three members being absent) authorising the President to give notice to Great Britain of the termination of the joint occupancy of the Oregon territory. Another resolution was passed, at the same time, declaring that nothing in the previous resolution should interfere " with the right of the proper authorities to pursue negotiations for an amicable settle ment." The debate was closed by a speech from Mr. Adams, who persisted in the view that there was no doubt but England would in the end concede peaceably all they required. On F►iday the packet-ship Virginian arrived at this port from New York, with intelligence to the 14th ult. Great confidence was entertained at Washington, that the Oregon controversy would be amicably settled. As the notice has been qualified by the expression, that it was not meant nor desired thereby to interfere with or preclude negotiation, it was supposed that it had been stripped of its raise' ievous tendency, and could not be justly objected to by Great Britain. The senate was about to commence their debates upon this intermini.Me question, but there was a probability of its postponement till after the arrival of the steamer. It was expected also, that the bill for ex tending the protection of the American laws to the citi zens settled in the Oregon, -would be called up by the house without offence to England. The duties on iron, sugar, molasses, and clothing, are to be placed at 30 per cent. ; on woollens at 25 per cent. ; on cotton goods 20 per cent., and spirits 75 per cent. The latest news from Vera Cruz was to the 25th of Ja nuary. The government of Paredes was consolidating it self. It was said that Arista had arrived at San Luis de Potore, that he had declared against Paredes, taken Tam pico, and levied a duty of 62 cents. to pay his troops. President Polk's message had given great satisfaction to the Americans resident in Mexico. Mr. Slidell had left for Jalapa, and was to go to Vera Cruz. The papers say there can be no doubt that Ucatan has declared her inde pendence of Mexico. Since these advices we have received New York papers , of the 16th ult., brought by the Duchess of Orlear , s, Captain Richardson, which arrived at Havre on Thursday. These journals put us in possession of the important cor respondence alluded to on Tuesday, respecting the joint occupancy of the Oregon territory. The Oregon resolu tions, which had passed the house of representatives, were under discussion in the senate on the 12th February; and at the close of the sitting the house eras adjourned until the 16th, when the subject was to be resumed. Mr. J. M. Clayton spoke at great length in favour of giving the twelve months' notice to Great Britain. England was no common foe. The United States were not prepared for war. But he did not apprehend any war if the notice were given. Respecting the report in circulation at Wa-hing ton, on the 10th February, that Mexico had declared war against the United States, we find no confirmation of it in the papers before us. Santa Anna, however, was busily engaged in making arrangements to return to Mexico, in the hopes of resuming the dictatorship. Since the above was in type the packet-ship Cambridge, Captain Barstow, has arrived in the Mersey from New York, whence she sailed on the 17th ultimo, bringing three cabin passengers, Alexander Muir, Esq., and Dr. Stewart, of Aberdeen, and Mr. A. R. Montgonnerie, of Montreal. On the 24th ultimo, in lat. 39 30, lon. 48 8, the Cambridge exchanged colours with the packet-ship John R. Skiddy, hence for New York. The advices received by this arrival add little to our previous accounts. The Washington correspondent of the Courier and Inquirer, under date the 14th ultimo, states emphatically, that negotiations had not been re sumed by Mr. Pakenham. The new tariff had become the topic of general discus sion. The cholera is spreading from Caboul to Teheran. The Governor of Sierra Leone (Mr. Ferguson), died at Funchal. on the 9th ult. THE WAR IN INDIA.—The 4th Hussars, and the Bth, 21th, and 32nd Foot are ordered to India. On Sunday week eight persons were killed and fourteen wounded on the Lyons railway, by a collision between a locomotive and the train. THE GERMAN MOVEMENT.—Czerski, we regret to say, has, with some other men of less note, joined the pseudo-Christian community established by Ronge. The finance minister of Greece has announced that he can make no budget—that he has no money—that the revenue books have disappeared—and that the public ac counts are in a state of chaos ! PROGRESS.—The Bey of Tunis has decreed the total and immediate abolition of slavery within his dori.)ions. He has even declared that if a slave from other countries should land on the territory of Tunis he should, from that moment, be free! The editor of the Gazelle de France was sentenced on Thursday, by the Court of Assizes of Pat is, to one year's imprisonment and 3,000 f. fine, for An article containing attacks against the rights which the King derives from the choice of the nation. _ _ PROMPT EXECUTION OF A RAJAH. — It was stated in our last accounts from India that the Rajah of Putteealah had been hanged, but there was some doubt as to the cause. A private letter removes all doubt, by stating that the Putteealah Rajah was discovered intriguing against the British Government, and was hanged upon the first tree found suitable.—Calcutta Englishman. The addenda to the Indian despatches, published by authority, narrate the circumstances which led to the late conflict. They depict a licentious army and an ir,compe tent government they show us the chiefs (women and men) of a powerful nation sunk in the grossest debauch ery—the ministers not only joining with dancing girls, but dressing like them, and dancing in public ; and the government, including the Ranee. so continually drunk, or so continually sick from being drunk, as to be incapa ble of attending to the important business which the English government endeavoured to transact with them. The whole Sikh army were possessed of a drunken idea that they could conquer the English in the first battle. SWITZERLAND.—The Swiss journals publish various documents. Among them are two despatches from Lord Aberdeen to M. Morier, dated the 13th and 30th of Ja nuary last, expressing the British Government's deco re gret at the conduct pursued by the Government of Vaud towards the clergy of that canton. The same prints con tain a manifesto, whereby the clergy of Vaud vindicate their conduct, and also a circular letter of the seven Ro man Catholic and Conservative cantons, addressed to all the states of the confederacy. In this document the agi tation into which the Radical party have thrown Swit zerland, is exhibited in strong terms, and an immediate return to a lawful state of things is urged as the only means of saving the confederacy from anarchy. PROTESTANTISM IN SPAIN. (From the Continental Echo.) When in Madrid, in 1842, the Rey. R. H. Rule, who has recently published the particulars of his mission to Gibraltar and Spain, anticipated the pleasure of joining in Protestant worship at the chapel of the British Ambas sador. _ _ _ He says, "to obtain the necessary information of time and place, I called at the residence of the national representa tive. The porter did not understand my inquiries, and I %%Ts sent up stairs to try if I could be understood there. I found a steward, or upper servant, who said that he had been in that service eight years, but had never seen any thing of the kind, nor, indeed, any observance of Sunday, nor was there any chaplain. Several English gentlemen had called from time to time, to make a similar inquiry ; bu' ' of course, had been disappointed. It is easy enough to talk about the intolerance of the Spaniards, and about the danger of meddling with their religion, while our country, or our government, has kept it out of their power to be to lerant, by affording them no object for toleration ; and the Protestant religion has been despised in Spain with some show of reason, whenever the representative of our Sove reign, whatever be his private thoughts, (and these he is not allowed an opportunity of manifesting,) seems to be ashamed of it, and when travelling clergymen, either through fear or shame, or for greater liberty, go through the country in disguise, while yet they are known by their own consuls, and by others, too, to be frequenting bull fights and comedies on the Lord's Day." After enduring much persecution, the mission establish ment at Cadiz was suppressed. But had Mr. Rule been supported by his Government—had not official pusillani mity dissipated the security which encompassed him on account of his being a British subject, the Cadiz estab lishment might even now have been prospering. The following circular, addressed to the vice-consuls, will explain our meaning :—" I am directed by Viscount Palmerston to instruct you to warn any British subjects who may attempt, by preaching or by distributing books in Spain, to assail the Roman Catholic religion, that they will render themselves liable to a state prosecution, or their expulsion from the country ; and that her Majesty's mission in Madrid cannot be expected to protect them from the consequences of such an open violation of the laws of Spain.' Mr. Rule subsequently remarl:s :—" We had formerly been dealt with cautiously, as being Englishmen ; for it was taken for granted we might not be oppressed. But Lord Palmerston dissolved that charm." Further on, the author exposes the unsoundness of the policy of asking permis ion fur the exercise, by British residents abroad, of religious worship, and shows that if such petitions are volunteered by a British Government, acting en false principles, or from an unworthy fear, a de nial must naturally be expected. The substance of the remedies suggested by Mr. Rule is as follows :- 1. The observance of Protestant worship in the habita tion of the British envoy at the court of Madrid. 2. Stationing Protestant ministers in the larger Spanish seaport towns ; to which, says Mr. Rule, " I will venture to state that there does not exist any legal hindrance." 3. Strengthening the bands of the Protestants at Gib ralter, and thence extending written correspondence with Spain. IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE FROM ST. PETERSBURG. EXTENSION OF FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES TO THE NORTH OF EUROPE. The Hull Packet, of Friday, (whose information from the north of Europe is, from local position, earlier than our own,) states, from "a confidential authority, entitled to implicit confidence," that, notwithstanding what has been stated from hi g h quarters, nothing was to be done with the Russian tariff this season, it is " more than probable that, in a few days, an announcement of consi derable reductions in the duties on the leading exports, and on many itnporti, will be made," and certainly " this season." This is assumed to be the effect of the working abroad of the development of the future commercial policy of the British Government. The merchants of St. Peters burg had for some time thought that the example of Eng land would be followed ; bat they did not expect the move mtnt to occur so soon. Sir R. Peel himself declared that he expected the example of England would be followed gradually by foreign powers, but scarcely anticipated the change at so early a period. The determination of Russia to advance on the ground of " free trade," will direct public attention to her financial and commercial laws. The taxation in Russia is nearly all direct, the mass of the population being serfs, whom only a capitation tax can affect. The direct taxes are those on corn, brandy, salt, and stamped paper, which as the country is almost wholly agricultural, press more heavily on the poor than the rich. Our cotemporary refers the inquiring reader on this subject to an intelligent work, published in Paris, entitled "The System of Legislation, Administration, and Policy of Russia, in 1844 ; by a Russian Statesman." From this it appears, that after twenty-three years' adop tion of the system, " Russian manufacturers are enabled to furnish articles for consumption, which, apart from their inferior quality, are fifty per cent. dearer than those im ported from England (and no cheaper than the Freed) or Belgian), although the charges for labour, buildings, food, and fuel, as well as the taxes, are five times higher in England than in Russia. Hence it becomes improbable that goods of Russian manufacture will ever compete with those of England." The interests of that country would therefore be forwarded, were the monopolising sys tem on nearly 1.000 different fabrics considerably modi fied, if not altogether abrogated. From statistics fur nished, it is shown that the manufactures of Russia are still iu their infancy. There was, in 1813, a deficiency of nearly eight millions of roubles to cover expenses of im ports from abroad for the yearly consumption of the po pulation—the imports being that amount over the exports. As regards commercial industry, Russia, compared with with other countries of Europe and with America, ranks but as a sevtnth state. The ratio of annual industry in each of the seven following states may be thus stated in francs per bead :—England 198, France 66, United States 72, German Confederation 56, Netherlands 150, Austria 19, Russia only 13. " The causes," says the writer of the work alluded to, " to which America, as well as Eng land and France, is indebted for these marvellous results, are to be found in nothing else than the liberty of each in dividual, the power of civilization, the protection of pri vate property and public credit ; and, above all, in the wisdom of the national institutions and government." IRELAND. On Saturday night, a gentleman, named 111`Donnell, fell from the top of the Rock Ferry and Belfast mail coach, and was killed. Sir David Roche, whilst returning on Tuesday, from Limerick Assizes, where he had been a grand juror, was fired at, but not injured. The assassin escaped. Archbishop M'Hale has published a pastoral address, which appears in the Freeman's Journal. Its object is to represent the potato pestilence as a punishment inflicted by Providence for the national sin committed in estab lishing liberal colleges. CONVERSIONS PROM ROMANISNI.—Gn Sunday week, the Rev. William Davock. a Romish Priest, and ten ether respectable persons, formally abjured the errors of Popery, in St. Audoen's Church Dublin. The first Sun day in May is fixed for receiving another company of converts. SAVAGE ATTACK.—On Monday night, John Westley, steward to George Fosbery, Esq., was walking the avenua of Curragh Bridge, when a party of seven ruffians fired a shot at him, after which they apologised, and said that it was intended for his young master, whom they thought they would have met near the gate. The shot passed close to his head, but the poor man gladly admitted their exc use. POVERTY AND ILLEGITIMACY IN IRELAND. The to tal number of unions in Ireland is 130, in 11 of which the workhouses were not open in the half year ended Sept. 29, 1845. In the other unions there are 119 workhouses which were open in the period mentioned. It seems that in the six months ending Sept. 1845, as many as 2,091 women, having illegitimate children, were relieved, and the number of illegitimate children relieved was 3,688. THE POOR.—The accounts from the Work House are worse and worse. Every week adds to the number of applicants to the board and of patients in the hospital. Two thousand five hundred paupers in a house not in tended for 2,000 ! Of these only 717 in hospital, 57 in the Fever Hospital, with 28 lunatics ; Where is it to end ? And with the price of potatoes rising and the quantity di minishing, how are those poor who have heretofore con tinued to maintain themselves outside, to command food sufficient for the support of life ?—Cork Constitution, The repeaters are still demanding an account of the expenditure of the " rent." Their organ, the Nation, now openly avows that the account ought no longer to be withheld. These repeated calls are making an impression on the public mind, and are creating alarm in the repeal camp. A " Roman Catholic Priest" unequivocally, though not very wisely, claims for O'Connell, personally, the exclusive and unquestioned right of disposing, to his own purposes. or to any other which he may please, the whole sum of £127,869, subscribed to the repeal fund within the last five years. DESTRUCTIVE STORM.—In Limerick and the King's County there was a perfect hurricane on Wednesday morn ing, equal to that on the memorable 6th of January, 1839. Several houses were injured. The inhabitants fled in ter ror from their abodes. The Dublin mail coach was de layed two hours by the obstruction of prostrate trees. A Scotch brig was driven on store at Kilrush ; and the Leader, of Bristol, was supposed to be lost off Sloop-head, with all hands. At Corli, in consequence of the heavy rains, the water was so deep that the inhabitants went about in boats, at Mallow, the river Blackwater, rose eighteen feet above its level. The water in the streets was four feet deep, and the roofs of several houses fell in. FATAL RIOT.—On Tuesday, the election of a member of parliament for the county of Mayo commenced, and several awful riots took place, owing to the outrageous conduct of the repeal party. A party of freeholders— supposed to be in favour of the anti-repeal candidate— were approaching the county town node/ the escort of a party of the 30th regiment. That the protection of this escort was absolutely necessary to the freedom of election, is obvious from the fact, that ere the freeholders reached the hustings, they were attacked by a waylaying party from behind a wall, and violently assailed with stones and other missiles, with the intent of keeping them away from the poll. This attack was of such violance and continu ance that the stipendiary magistrate at last found both the necessity and the time for reading the Riot Act; and —the assailants not desisting during the lengthened period which must elapse between reading the act and the forcible dispersion of the mob—the military escort, as a measure of self-defence, and with the sanction of the stipendiary magistrate, was obliged to fire upon the assailants. The immediate consequence was that a woman (for, by the in structions of Mr. O'Connell, women are always present up , n such occasions to spit upon the opponents) was shot dead, as was also a boy, twelve years old. One of the ringleaders was dangerously wounded in the thigh, and several others were much hurt. THE POTATO.—The Morning Chronicle, now that the majority has been obtained, candidly, but we think not wisely, admits that tine factious cry of famine raised in Ireland, and the casufil, though partial, disease in the po tato crop, have been powerful auxiliaries in effecting the Repeal of the Corn-laws. Our contemporary does not express himself in these precise words—on the contrary, as in duty bound, he fondly ascribes the triumph to the League; but. truth like murder " will out ;" and we think the real conviction on the writer's mind may be gathered from the following sentence.—" The potato famine in Ireland would never have brought us (England) Repeal of the Corn-law, but for Mr. Cobden, and the mighty League he had organized to take advantage of every grow ing circumstance." Just so. Here is a solution of the whole case and cry. This journal was the first to detect and expose the motive of those who devised and got up the uproar. It was got up as a means towards an end—that end being to bring back the Whigs into power :—one of " those growing circumstances of which Mr. Cobden and the League might take advantage." Peel saw this; and being a greater schemer that any of them, counter-plotted the party and check mated the'Leaguers. He appropria ted the " growing circumstances" to his own purposes ; and robbed the Whigs even of the " thunder" they had set rolling for the attainment of their own objects : and he is still—Prime Minister.—Dublin Mail. MORE " MARTYRS."—On Wednesday four men were arraigned at the Longford Assizes, for the wilful murder of Henry Bergin, at a place called Gowlan, on the night of the Ist of November. Two of the prisoners only, John Buchanan and Bernard M'Goey, were put upon their trial, and after a long and patient investigation, the jury brought in a verdict of " guilty against both prisoners. On the day following the two convicts were again put to the bar, for the purpose of receiving sentence, when the following frightful scene ensued :—" The Clerk of the Crown, in the usual manner, asked the prisoners what they bad to say why sentence of death and execution should not be passed on them. Both of them knelt down in the front of the dock, and Buchanan, who appeared to speak for both of them, said, ' In the sight of God, this Court, and the Jury, I protest I had not hand, act, nor part in the murder of Henry Bergin, and may I never see God, or his angels in heaven, if I murdered him. I for give my prosecutors, judge, and jury.' He then entered into an explanation of how he was occupied in Longford the day of the murder, and closed with an imprecation which shocked and made the hair of every person in court stand on end, that ' Hell may be my doom, and the devil my angel, if 1 murdered you, Henry Bergin.' After this he rose, and the Judge in a most feeling manner, in which he said that no person that bad beard the evidence could doubt the justness of the verdict, called on them both to repent, and said he could bold out no hope of clemency to them, and sentenced them to be hanged. The day named is Saturday, the 21st of March.'. Such is the horrifying narrative furnished by the local paper. It will hereafter excite no surprise if it should turn out that this same Mr. John Buchanan had been awarded a niche in the temple of " saints " and "martyrs." FAMINE-FEVER! POTATO DISEASE! STARVATION-MISERY-WANT! These are alternatetly the texts, says the Dublin Mail, upon which Mr. O'Connell speaks—these the themes up on which his necNspapers write. Mark the sympathy evinced ! Mark the manner in which the alleged (falsely, we ad mit) allegations are met! "C UNDAY, MARCH THE 15T11, HAS 'BEEN ADOPTED FOR THE COLLECTION OF 7'11 . E O'CONNELL TRIBUTE in all the parishes of the Kingdom, whose contributions for the year 1845 have not yet been made up. " It is respectfully hoped that the Friends of Ireland in every outstanding District will avail themselves of that appropriate day for liquidating the National Debt for the past year. " The several Parochial Contributions acquire an addi tional value by being sent in at an early period, and this will, no doubt, be held in active recollection on the pre sent occasion by the patriotic supporters of the Compen sation Fund. " Office. 35, Upper Sackville-street, Dublin." UNIVERSITY 4. CLERICAL NEWS. Dr. Buist has been elected Lord Rector of Edinburgh University, for the ensuing year. The Rev. William Heffill has been appointed to the in cumbency of Saint Mark's Duckinfield. The Rev.W. H. Cox, of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, has been anpointed Examiner, under the statute "De Disci plina Theologictt." The late Rev. Henry Campbell, of Cowley, near Ux bridge, has begot wiled the munificent sum of £2,000 to the Hospital for Consumption, Chelsea. A synod of the Scottish bishops will be held on Wed nesday, the 11th inst., at Aberdeen, for the purpose of determining whether the Scotch or English communion office is to be used in Trinity College. MUNIFICENT BEQUESTS.—By the will of the late Rev. Henry Campbell, of Coulee, near Uxbridge, the fohowing charities will, upon the derilise of his widow, become en titled to an equal participation of the sum of £15,000, viz. :--The Hospital for Consumption and Disease of the Chest, the Ch urc h Mi ss i onar y S oc iety, the Bible Society, the Society for the Conversion of the Jews, the London Missionary Society, the Religious Tract Society, and the S.ocit.ty for the Suppression of Cruelty to Animals. March 10, 184 G. THE C,URT 4- FASHIONABLE IVORLD. Colonel Bowater succeeds Captain Duncombe as groom in waiting to her Majesty. Lord Canning, and C. A. Grove, Esq., have been gazetted Commibioners of Woods and Forests. Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the Yacht Club-house, at Ryde. on Monday. The Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and fa mily are not expected at Grosvenor House, from Eaton Hall, until the first week in April. The Duchess of Kent will pass the greater part of the ensuing summer with the King of the Belgians, at the palace of Laeken. On Saturday week, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar arrived at Witley Court, on a visit to the Queen Dowager- On Thursday, the Duchess of Kent also arrived to pay 8 visit to her Majesty. FASHIONS FOR MARCH. (From the "London and Paris Ladies' Magazint of Fashion.") White damas is much worn for evening or bridal dresses ; lace dresses are also very fashionable, either with flounces or forming tun , cs ; organdy embroidered, or tarlantane over coloured skirts, is also worn, particularly by young ladies ; gimp trimmings are as much used in dress as eta ne - ylige", for the latter in silk, and for the former in gold, silver, steel, silk or beads; shaded fringes are very fa shionable for carriage dresses, as many as three, four, and five rows are placed on the skirt to within a small distance . of the body ; the trimmings of ball dress e s ar e r ather bonffante.—if flounces they are made very full, and bouil lons of tulle or gauze have frequently nteuds of ribbon in side ; flounces are headed by narrow gimp, in gold or sil ver ; embroideries of velvet are very pretty on morning dresses. Coiffures of hair ere wont higher and always ra ther wide; some young ladies adopt light ringlets resem bling those a la neige. but all ringlets are shorter than they were last year ; bandeaux bombes are also fashionable, and short enough to allow the earings to be teen ; wreaths and detached flowers are equally worn ; diamonds are frequently mixed with flowers particularly with foliage; the llayde wreath is quite the rage in Paris ; feathers are very fashionable ; some coiffures are entirely composed of feathers mixed with foliage. The Pamela form of bonnet is being replaced by eapofet with bavolets ; velours ipingle has much deplaced the plain velvet. Satin capotes are ornamented with feiullage of velvet; pale primrose is a favourite colour. Dress bon nets are mostly of crape. LAW INTELLIGENCE. THE COMMISSIONERS OF BANKRUPTCY.—It is stated upon very excellent authority that very speedily the whole insolvency business, at present engating so much of the • time of the Commissioners of the Bankrupt's Court, will be transferred to the Insolvent Debtors' Court. A bill to the above effect will be shortly introduced to the Legisla ture by the Government. — Times. In the Court of Common Pleas, a few days since, 9 gentleman, named Ilderton,7obtained a verdict of £lOO damages against the London and Birmingham Railway Company, for having, on the 15th September last, refused to grant him a ticket for York, in consequence of which he was unable to transact important business; and, also for losing his carpet bag, containing money and other pro perty to the value of £54. The company's counsel stated in their plea to the declaration, that the plaintiff was so drunk at the time that the railway rfficers had refused the ticket in consequerxe. That the jury were not convinced on this point is proved by the verdict. RAILWAY INTELLIGEA CE. The first- class fare from London to Birmingham is novi the same as the second-class was i❑ 1844. Tire Direct London and Manchester Railway Bill has • been rejected on standing orders. On Friday the Standing Order s Committee resolved to' dispense with compliance with the standing orders in the case of the Runcorn and Preston Brook Line, and the bill will therefore be proceeded with. The YORKSHIRE AN-. GLASGOW UNION RAILWAYS, with which the Leeds and Carlisle line is now amalga mated, was read a second time on the 11th instant, and referred to the committee of selection. On Friday the Standing Orders' Committee of the 1-louse of Commons decided that in the case of the Bcs ton, Newark, and Slit ffield Railway these orders ought• not to be dispensed with. THE GAUGE COMMISSION.—From a conversation which took place on Friday night in the House of Com mons, it appears likely that the whole of the evidence taken by the Gauge Commissioners will be laid before the house in the coarse of a few dai s.—Railway Record. We are informed, upon good authority, that some of the most influential men of Liverpool are exerting themselves to effect a settlement of at least a moiety of the differences between the Great Western and London and Birmingham Co mpa nies.—.Railteate Standard. BRISTOL AND EXETER Ratewave—The half-yearlY meeting of this company was held at Bristol on Wednes day. The half-year's earnings stated by the Great Wes tern Railway Company to be due the 13th December last, was £18,538 12-. A dividend of XI Ss. per share was de clared on the 15,000 whole shares, free of income-tax, for the half-year ending on the 6th of April next. EDINBURGH, LEITH, AND GRANTON Last week a special meeting of the Edinburgh, Leith, and Grauton Railway Company was held at Edinburgh, when, thr agreement for amalgamation with the Edinburgh an d- Northern Company was unanimously confirmed. We arecAsoLlrs.y—thuatpwwaerdcs of anno x t 2 fi t z , d so r o oo . m i for t, e called th the -- ll d e t a ils. Railway Record. month, in connexion wi-h seven lines only. Their u i p la mthei: and the total amount for each are as follow : —Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction, £24,000; Leeds and Dr-wsbury, - 410,000 ; Dublin and Belfast Junction. £32,000; Chester and Birkenhead, £12,500; Lynn and Derehain, £65,000 ; Lynn and Ely, £40,000; Bristol and and Exeter, £75,000. DISCOVERY OF IRON-STONE AT PATRICROFT._ - Ia sinking the deep pit for coal at Patricroft, near Man chester, a bed of iron-stone, three feet in thickness, has teen found, at a depth of 800 yards, which has since been analyzed, and found to contain no less than 80 per cent. of pure iron. Large iron works will be commenced immediately.-I%lining Journal. [lf there be really a bed • of iron -stone, such as described above, at Patricroft, there will be more in that district, and it will prose the most important discovery for this county since the introduction of power-looms.—E.L.S.] FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY. ‘‘AKEFIELD, HURSDAY AFTBRNoOI q r MARCH 5.—A fatal accident occurred on the Manchester and Leeds Railway this afternoon, in the Summit Tunnel. It appears that the train which leaves Manchester at twelve at noon reached Littleborough station immediately after the departure of a luggage train. The t assenger train left Littleborough at the usual time, although a pas senger who got in there called the attention of the station master to the danger of starting a train so soon after a luggage train. The passenger train proceeded, and whilst passing threugh a long tunnel called Summit Tunnel, a tremendous crash was felt by the passengers, and as soon as the screams and shouting consequent onethe accident had subsided, it was ascertained that the break and two carriages (in one of which was the guard of the traia) had by some means got detached from the luggage trainr and had been left behind in the tunnel. The luggage train had gone on, and the guard, apprehending danger , had left the carriage in which he Lad been riding, an d was standing on the up line of rails when the mail trails to Manchester came up, and killed him on the spot. For tunately none of the passengers were much injured. GREAT WESFERN.—On the 3rd inst. a collision 0. cured near Swindon, between 2 and 3 o'clock a.m. The fireman was precipitated from the engine by the shoal escaped uninjured. An inquiry is to be instituted. MIDLAND.—On the 28th ulr., a collision took place 0. 13 the railway at the Syston station, between a luggage-te at a_ from Leicester, which had stopped at the station to h ave some waggons attached, and an express train. The stoke r was knocked down and severly injured. The guard of the express train had seen the luggage train, and immediately put on the break, while the driver let off the steam, b 0 owing to the slipperiness of the rails, these prccauti.,o* proved unavailing. Seeing a collision inevitable , t ° , l guard threw himself off; he received severe fractures and was for some time insensible. The stoker was throvv'_', off, but, we are happy to say not seriously hurt. The dr ive : escaped unhurt. The front of the express engine w% much broken, but the carriages attached to it we' scarcely injured, and the gentleman travelling exPr eBo escaped unhurt, and resumed his journey in bell a 0 hour. THE QUEEN'S THEATRE, MANCHESTER was op-- pne a yesterday wec:k be Mr. Sloan and a very talented cocoPs°'; The house has been almost entirely rebuilt—the stag lowered, and the pit greatly increased in size. The deo % rations are of so splendid and classical a character as h a ,a created quite a sensation. Tut y are designed and exe cu '..4 by Mr. G. Jackson, whose excellent taste as an arti.t spar a designer is also shewn in the relieved ername . l l 4 ° O l amphitheatre, and by the numerous splimdid s u e.3inion s be r Cortepier manufactures displayed at the recent Mani bes"„ t Exhibition for the expositiiin of arts. There is little d)0 " but that the season will be a successful one. societies TEETOTAL/SM.—The success of the temperance les is truly astonishing and truly gratifying. as the baPP.,ts effects must result from the abandonment of internl ol „ r a h bits by all classes of society. The inveterate drunk",t, will soon stand alone, an object of scorn and c.intenno no longer countenanced as a good fellow, nor telerate?tir the score of conviviality, he will p iss his life of vice ° l ol a out friendship, pointed at as a thing to be avo ided, s o despised, and stagger into a premature grave unpitieu the unwept. Although the health must be benefitte d brA be adoption of temperate habits, yet great caution shon:roes observed, as a sudden absence from stimulants sorne",nd produces so altered an action in the stomach, liven,. P ie biliary secretions, that constipation may ensue ,_• to se e to ,Pl earnestly recommend that excellent aperient Foal, Pill of ealth. PAINTI H NG.—During the past week we have ba. a ng t at pleasure (through Mr. Revell, the owner) of insee etz she Miss Knibb's, Duke-street, a number of palntingo7,ol, principle of which are the works of living arti,ts'of eft s bers of the Royal Academy, and which, in po int oder 4 cellence, will equal any private collection o f °i s tbs ° paintings we have hitherto seen. There are no le ote ss five from the pencil of Etty (now undoubtedly tbe living artist), in ail of which are exhibited th at 1 ;4,0 effect usually characteristic of his style. T he ; ea 55 , Judah is a surprising production, and may be cirkollgb• ' one of It's best : it is accurate in dray ins, iffectivelourif4 and shatie, and poetical in conception, while the c°,.,„bens is such as with which only the works of Titian or t_'''' no of would not suffer by comparison. There are a 19° _,. 0 801 fine specimens by Creswick, Goodall, and othe,r:: esteemed masters worthy the attention of collec,o Ya out boa the rie( Mg : 4na g i in via aged "a r `` , su it , bish e melee exPla if his