The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-26 00:00:00

OF THE BATH.

At an investiture of the order of the Bath, held on
Saturday afternoon, at Buckingham Palace, Lieut.-General
Sr J. L. Caldwell was invested with ths ham, of Koleht
Grand Cross; Mr. Gems Russell Clerk, Mr. Henry Light,
Major. General Archibald Galloway, Co',eel Duncan M'Gre-
gor, and Colonel Charles Rowan, severally with the honour
of Knight Commander.

Prince Albert, attended by CoL Seymour, in-
sp.:And, on Saturday, the manufactory of Mediated pave-
ment, at Messrs. Minton and Co., in Albion-place,
Blackfriars. His royal highness was oonducted over the
establishment by the members of the firm, and was pleased
to express his gratification with the manufacture of
encaustic tiles and porcelain.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the per-
formance at Drury-lane Theatre with their presence on
Saturday eveniag. The royal suite consisted of the Hon.
Mils Cavendish, Hon. Miss -Macdonald, Lord Cullom ca.
the Hen. Charles Grey, and Col. Seymour.
The Queen and Prince Albert, the ladies and gen-
tlemen of the court and domestic household, attended
divine meek* yesterday, in the private chapel in Buckineham
Palace. The Hon. and Rev. C. Leslin Courfenay officiated.
Cabouly Effendi, First Secretary to the Turkish
Embassy, Sad& Bey, Second Secretary, and Rise B.y,
Attache te the Embassy, had the honour of being presented
to the Queen by the Turkish ambassador at her Majesty's
lest levee. _ _ _

--Saturday was the birthday of the Duke of Cam-
bridge. Bonn of the foreign ministen and many of the
nobility called end left their names for his royal highness du-
ring the day at Cambridge-house, The Duchess of Gloucester
received the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the
Princess Mary at dinner at Gloucester house. Their
Major
highnesses were attended by Baron Knembeek and Major
Stephens. In the evening the tradesmen of the royal duke
illuminated their houses..

The Duke of Cambridge attended divine service
yesterday morning is Be.Gloorgs's church. Hie royal WO-
nem attended &Maisano in Grosvenor chapel In the after-

A Cabinet Council wu held on Saturday afternoon
at the Foreign-eMee. It was attended by Lord John Rua.
sell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Viscount
Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of tho Exchequer,
Bit Francis Baring, Sir John Hobbes's., the Right Hon.
H. Labouchere, the Marquis of Clanricarde, and the Earl of
Carlisle,

trelawny and Mr. Randle had an interview
with Sir George Grey, on Saturday, at the Home.ofilee.
Mr. John Wood had an interview with the Chan-
cellor of the Ischeguer, on Satarday.
Despatches for the governors of Hoag-Kong and
Ceylon were Nat off from the Colostial-offlot, on Saturday
evening.
Mr. G. H. Cavendish and Mr. Evans had an inter-
view on Saturday with Sir George Grey. Kr. Blaney also
had an interview with the right hoe. baronet.

The Duke of Wellington attended the early service
in the ChepidMoyal, Bt. James's, yesterday. The prayers
were read by the Rev. Dr. Wesley, earl the sermon wee
preached by the Bev. Mr. Curston. At the daily service the
asnnon was preached by the Bishop of Hanford.

FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.—The negotia-
tims between Lord Palmlike and M. Mon for a restore
tien of good relations between this country and Spain are,
we hear, so far advanced as to lead to the expectation of a sa-
tisfactory concludon in the course of a few days. Ltml Hoe-
den will, it is stated, be the new representative of the British
government at Madrid ; but whether his departure for that
capital will be preceded by a special mission from Madrid
this court is, we believe, one of the points still awaiting so.
lution.

The SPEAKER had his third parliamentary din-
ner, on Saturday evening, at his Wiesel residence in Eaton-
square.
LORD STARLIT entertained a numerous circle of the
members of the House of Commons at i.inaer, on Siturday
evening, at his private residence in St. James's•ssqquare. The
noble lord has minim parliamentary dinner onlVednesday
next.

SIR ROBERT AND LADY PEEL entertained the
Bail of Aberdeen, Viscount and Viseountess Hard-
Inge and the Hon. Hite Harding., frad and Lady
Ashburton, the Right Hon. Sir Junes and Lady Graham,
Sir Henry Lytton and Lady Bul ser, M. Guisot, Mr. and
Mts. Cardwell, and a select party to dinner at the family
MIIIIIIOII. in Whitehall-gardens, on Saturday. Covers we-re
laid for twenty persons. His En:el:amp Count Colleredo
was unavoidably prevented from joining the circle.

PROPRIETORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OP BANES.—
On Saturday a aupplemeut to the Gazette, co:rating of
eighty pages, was issued, and containing ratans of the name
and address of the shareholders in every joint-stock, and
the partners in every private, bank in the kingdom. nu se
returns are made in panne= of the 7 & 8 Vic., cap. 32.
....

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL HAS ISSUED ORDERS
To Cournx POSIVAIMIKII that on and after the lit of March
no letter posted after the letter box is closed for the purpose
of despstching any particular mail, will be sent by such mail
unless the postage and late letter fee are prepaid by stamps;
that the late letter fee will be an uniform one of one pen y ;
that no letters under any circumstances must be sent by any
particular mail if they are posted during the ten minutes im-
mediately precedingthe despatch of such mall ; that late let-
ters must be received by the deputy postmasters et the office
window where paid letters are received, or they must be
posted in a letter box immediately under the paid office
window, according as it suits the convenience of the post.
masters. Placards mud be constantly exhibited st the
paid-office window and oe the ordinary letter boxes when
them tits are making up by th' deputy postmasters, in order
that the public may not suffer any inconvenience from these
new andimportant resulalions.
CHOLERA.—The following fresh eases were re-
ported to the Board of Health on Saturday :—St. George's-
in Workhouse, 3; Hexham, 1 fatal; Edinburgh,
1; Giallow, 23, 8 fatal; Kdmarnock, 4, 3 fatal; Riccarton,
4; Large, Ayr, 1; Loudon, from 19th inst., 24, 11 fatal;
Lecrolt, by Stirling, 1 fatal ; Nswton, Dalkeith, 1 fats! ;
Stow, 3, Vaud; Greenock, 1 ; liamiltov, 2 fatal; Auchin-
leek, 4 ; Masten, 2 fatal.—Total, 75 new cases ; 31 deaths.

FINANCIAL REFORM.

MALT-TAX REPEAL MEETING IN
DERBYSHIRE.
_

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On Saturday a meeting of agriculturists was held
at Chesterfield, "to take into consideration the condition of
the agricultural interest, with a view to the more equitable
adjustmeat of the taxation to which they are subjected."
J. T. ROWLEY, Esq., of Rowthorue, was voted to t'se
chair, and in opening the proceedings said they were called
together in consequence of some observations which appeared
in the local papers relative to the present condition of the
farmer, and the necessity of relieving him from the pressure
of the malt-tax. He was glad that the farmers of that neigh-
bourhood had at length been roused to their duty, and
that they had come forward to assist the Anti-
Malt-tax Association in relieving themselves from a burden
which was not only injurious to the farmer hut to the coun-
try at large. (Hear.) Some years ago he (the chairmen),
in conjunction with some others favourable to the object,
assembled in London to commence an agitation for repeal of
the malt duties. They received very little support from the
farmers at large ; they were, in fact, under a cloud, and they
felt that although they themselves were willing tii undergo
any labour in arousing farmers to a sense of their duty and
their iuterests, they could not proceed effectually in the work
without receiving a response. He (the chairman) under
took to collect subscriptions, a secretary wee employed,
rooms were hired—expenses that had gone on to
this day but oompara•ively few persons aA-
scribed. Hopes were entertained that the Protec-
tionist Society would come forward and support the sac-
ciation' but they did not render them the leen aid. He cow
learnt, however, from a letter he had received from the Anti
Malt-tax Association, that the society in Bond-street was
likely to reconsider the matter, and that there was every
hope that at the meeting to be held on the 7th March they
would decide on promoting repeal of the malt tax. Th-
Protectionist Society had funds that had not been appro-
priated to any purpose whatever ; and he did, ttereftre,
hope that those funds would be made available for the car-
rying out the object which that meeting had more pbi
articu-
larly in view. Hoer.)
Mr. HOLLA D said the farmers were in a very depressed
condition as regarded profits arising from their occupation,
and they had a right to look to the legislature for the removal
of sonic of those burdens which pressed heavily upon them.
They had assembled together to give expression to their
feeling., in order that government might know their views.
The corn and provision laws having been repealed,
what ought the farmers to do? In the first place, he
considered that they ought to petition parliament for
a repeal of the malt tax and the hop duty,
and also to carry out free trade principles in
everything. (Hear, hear.) They said nothing now of a
fixed duty on corn : it was considered better not to agitate
that point, as then was a general desire that free trade
should have a fair trial, and therefore they would not climate
that point. (Hear.) He concluded by proposing that a
committee be appointed to prepare a petition to both houses
of parliament in favour of a repeal of the malt tax and the
hop duties. (Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN—How do you feel, Mr. Heywood,
with respect to the malt tax ?
Mr. HEYWOOD—I farm more than I malt; and I am
decidedly in favour of a repeal.
The CHAIRMAN said the =haters in Mansfield were
very indifferent on the subject(: and be had heard some
farmers say, that se government must have money, they
could not do without the malt duties. _ _ _

Mr. MIDDLETON.—I am afraid they cannot do without
the tax.

HEYWOOD,—They must reduce the expenditure.
(Hear, hear.) That will be the last thine they will do if
they can help it; but they must reduce. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MIDDLETON would rather have a axed duty of 81.

Mr. F. BROWNB, after alluding to the advantage which
the foreigner has, contended that corn might be conveyed
from America to Liverpool at a less cost than from Liver-
pool to Derby. But it wag of no use their sighing for
a fixed duty. Free trade would be tried, and farmers must
submit in patience to it. It might ruin them, or it might
not; at any rate let them give it a fair trial ; let them pass
another harvest before they kicked up a hubbub, and learn
first whether it would bear them down or raise them up.
But then if the foreigner wag allowed to send his corn free
into this country, surely the farmers ought to be relieved
from the tax on malt. (Hear.) Ale was a most health-
ful beverage, adapted to the constitution of Englishman, and
gave stamina to the labourer; and malt was also well
adapted for isedlng cattle. Let them then get rid of this
most unjust, tax- (Hear, hear.)
After some fuller dicussion, a committee was appointed to
carry out the objects of the meeting, and the petition will lie
open for signature at the fair on Wednesday next. Other
meetings are expected to be held in the county.