The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-09 00:00:00

t&tot amt.

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THIMSDA Y.—The Queen and Prince
Albert walked, this morning, in the grounds adjacent to the
Castle. M. Isturita, the Spanish Minister, left the Castle
today. LIS.II. Prince Lowenstein and Viscount Palmer-
ston, also took their departure to-day from the Castle. The
Royal family rode out on ponies and took walking exercise
this forenoon. Lord John Russell arrived at the Castle this
afternoon, on a visit to her Majesty. The Royal dinner
party at the Castle this evening will include his Excellency
M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, and Madame Van
de Weyer, and Lord John Russell. The band of tho lit
Life Guards attend during dinner. Her Majesty's pri-
me band will afterwards attend in the Castle.

The meeting at the Lord Chancellor's residence
will not take place, an usual, on the first day of Easter term.
ills Lordship will sit at Westminster, on Tuesday, the 13th
day of Ail., at 10 o'clock
His Majesty the King of Saxony has presented
Mrs. Colquhoun with a bracelet and ornaments en suite of
elegant workmanship.
Lord John Russell left his residence, in Chesham-
; place, yesterday afternoon, for Windsor Castle, on a visit to
her Majesty.
Despatches were received yesterday, at the Colo-
nial-office, from the Governors of the West India colonies.
Despatches were sent off, last evening, from the Colonial-
office, for the Governor of West Australia.
MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday morning,
at St. James's church, Lord Alfred Henry Paget, M. V.,
clerk marshal and chief equerry to her Majesty, led to the
hymeneal altar Miss Wyndham, youngest daughter of the
Countess of Listowell, by her find marriage with the late
George Thomas Wyndham, Emu, of Cromer Hall, Norfolk.
The ceremony was performed in the presence of Field
Marshal the Marquis of Ar.glesea (father of the noble and
pliant bridegroom), and Lady Adelaide Paget, Viscount and
Viscountess Sydney, the Earl of Uxbridge, Mr. and Lady
Eleanor Graham, the Esti and Countess of Listowell, Lord
and Lady Macdonald, &c. The party returned to the Earl
of Listowell's, Kingston House, and partook of a sumptuous
ri6etiner a la fourcheete, after which the happy couple set
off for the Duke et Devonshire's, at Chiswick.

DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM TEMPLER POLE, BART.—
We have to r: cord the demise of this baronet, who expired
on the 3rd inst.. at Shute House, his seat in Devonshire,
aged 6.1. 13c succeeded on the demise of his father in 1799,
and was twice married, vit., first in 1804.t0 the only daughter
of Georr Templer, Esq., of Shapswick, in Snmersetshire,
by whin I lie had issue one surviving son, George Reeve, born
in 1803, who succeeds to the title and etudes; and, secondly,
to the daughter of John Fraser, Esq., and neice of the late
J. Fsiquhu, Esq., of Fonthill Abbey, Wilts. By this union
he bad issue four children. This family have been seated
in Devonshire ever since the conquest. The deceased was
a deputy.lieutenant of the counties of Devon and Somerset.

ROYAL MAIL STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.

---
The general annual meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern, fur the purpose
of receiving the report of the directors ; for electing two
director., in the place of Mr. T. Baring, M.P. and Cap-
tain Mangles ; and an auditor in the place of Mr. A. B.
Roberts, all of whom retired by rotation, but were eligible
for re-election, for which they offered themselves. The chair
was taken by Mr. CoLytccs, who said he had to regret the
news which had arrived, by way of Mexico, of the loss of
the Tweed, the reports respecting which were mainly correct.
The annual report stated that the working account as con-
trasted with that of the preceding year, shows en increase in
the disbursements of 10,8901.35. 2d., partly accounted for by
the general rise in the rate of seamen's wages, and an addi-
tion to the pay of the officers, and partly by the establish-
ment of a new agency and other arrangements at Panama,
and by the expense incurred in increasing the coaling accom-
modation and general efficiency of the depdt at
St. Themu. The only charge upon the insurance
fund during 1846 is a sum of 2751. 2s. Bd., arising
oat of sundry small liabilities; and it will therefore be
seen that the investment under this head up to the end of
the year amounted to 49,2811. 55., which has since been
augmented by the annual appropriation of 25,0001. for the year
1847, making a total of 74,2811. 55., now invested in Three-
and.a-Quarter per Cent. Government Stock. On the other
side of the account the receipts from freight and passage-
money show an improvement on the year 1846 of
20,6971. 16s. 10d. It is, moreover, matter of congratulation
to notice that this steady advance (with the single exception
of outward freight) has occurred under every head of re-
ceipts front cargo and passengers, outward, intercolonial, and
homeward. The surplus upon the working account shows
an increase upon the year 1846 amounting to 9,8071. 13e. Sd ;
and, so far ss the transactions of the year 1847 can be
known at present, the receipts of the company ere still
steadily advancing. The arrangements for conveying pas-
sengers and treasure across the Isthmus of Panama are now
completed : and an agreement has been signed by the Royal
Mail Steam-Packet Company and the Pacific Steam Navi-
gation Company, fixing the rate of freight and all other
particulars, so that there shall be every encouragement for
parties to avail themselves of this line of com-
munication between the Atlantic and the Pacific °coins.
After detailing the repairs which the company's fleet have
undergone, the lose of the Tweed was alluded to in the fol.
lowing terms:
Since the above report was prepared, a confirmation of the low of
the Tweed has Men remised Ws morning. The tom of life, in addi-
tion to that of the ship, is deeply to be Lamented, but it is satisfactory
to find that the energy and limners of the passengers, as well as that
of the officers and erew, were most worthy, and tended mucb,
under providence, to the ultimate ra of the survirors who reached
the reef from the wreck. It would br premature to offer ony com-
ment on this unfortunate occident, but tbe circumstances shall be
strictly Inquired into.
The CHAIRMAN said that, before putting the report, it
was satisfactory to state that arrangements had been made
to prevent any deficiency in carrying on the service in the
West Indies. The vessel at present employed there had
proved insufficient for the purposes for which she was in-
tended, and the Conway would consequently shortly leave
Southampton for that duty. He had also great satisfaction
in drawing attention to the first fruits of the arrangement
for forming a communication across the Isthmus of Panama,
there having been au arrival this morning, both of passengers
and produce, from the western side of the isthmus. This
was the only point that required any particular remark, and
he would therefore put the adoption of the report to the
meeting.
On the report being put,
Mr. Rtnowavexpreseed some dissatisfaction at the manner
in whish the accounts were rendered. lie saw also that
there was to be a new ship purchased, and be wished to
know what was the name of that ship, as there were several
naval men present who knew the merits ands der
neriti of
every vessel on the coast, by whom the judicinem of pur-
chase might be estimated—(lt being miaseated that this
might be injurious to the company, the hon. proprietor re-
knowed from further remark)—At any rate he wished to
whether the Conway was to take out freight or a
letter bat; He saw aim that there was an outlay of some-
where • ut 56,0001. with the Bank of England, or else-
where.
The CHAIRMAN replied that with reaped to the Conway, as
it was dotimbla that she should reach her destination as

quickly as possible she would carry out neither freight nor a
mail. With regard to the 65,0001. now out upon loan,
he had to remark th►t is was deposited with the North.
Western Railway Company, tom whom ample security
is hell, and the cash is already yielding dividends to the
company. The low, of vessels since the establishment
of the company hail been the Medina, the Solway, the Ns,
and the Tweed, besides the Achoon, a small steamer, em-
ployed amongst the islands. By the general account it
appeared that, during the year, up to lkc. 21. the expenses
were 286,178/. Is. 7d., whsle the receipts were 407,116/. 18s. 2d.
showing a profit of 121,6781. 9s. 7d.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed a di•idend of 11. 15s. per
share, which was unar..rnously agreed to, as also that it
should be payable on Tuesday, the 13th inst. The retiring
director* and auditor n ore re-elected, and thaukr having
been voted to the chairman, the meeting was dirsolvcd, its
members evidently being well pleased with the proceedings
of the day,

PENSION LlST.—fly the death of Mr. Plante, a
saving of 1,5001. a year has been effeeted on the list.
ROYAL SE.t BATHING INFIRMARY.—The general
quarterly meeting of the promoters of this institution took
place yesterday at the lendno Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill
Alderman Gibbs preside Restated to the meeting that he
was happy to say that Vs n infirmary would be open for the
receptian of patients on the lOth of neat May ; and that the
state of the society was extremely prosperous. Ite•olutions,
re-appointing the directors and other effacers of the society,
were unanimously agreed to; nothing further worth notice
being done, except the refusal of the meeting to confirm the
appointment of three visiting surgeon..
ROYAL FREEMASONS' FEMALE SCIIOOL.—A quar-
terly general court of the governors of this charity was held
yesterday at the schoolhouse ; John Udall, Esq., in the
chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read over and
confirmed, and the following children were declared to have
been admitted (without poll) into the schools:—Humphries,
cooper, Mather (candidates at the last ballot); Williams,
Wilkinson, and Tucker. The other routine business was
disposed of, and the court adjourned to the last Thursday in
May.
ABOLITION OF SMITHFIELD.—Yesterday men were
stationed in different parts of the metropolis with tables and
sheets of pap?r and the necessary writing materials, for the
use of the public who might wish to sign the petition to
parliament for the abolition of Smithfield Market. About
live thousand signatures were appended during the day.
The graziers and others entrusted iu the maintenance of the
market are also actively bestirring themselves; they have
already petitioned the Court of Common Council for " pro
tection," and are preparing to oppose the passage of the bill
through the Houses of i'arliament.
INQUEST, YESTEEDAY.—I)EATFI IN THE MILL.
BANE PAlSON.—Before Mr. Bedford,inthe Millbank prison,
on the body of Henry Wood, aged 22. Mr. J. It. Groves,
the governor of the gaol, said that deceased was received on
the 15th September, 1516, he having been convicted at the
Old Bailey sessions of larceny. There having been a pre-
vious conviction, the deceased was sentenced to seven years
transportation. ILe died in the prison infirmary on Tuesday
last. He had never been punished, ►ut on one occasion he
attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself. Mr. Bailey,
the prison physician, said that deceased had died of pul-
monary consumption, the common disease of prisoners. More
prisoners died of that disease than any other persons. It was
frequently brought on front confinement.—Verdict, "Natural
Death from consumption."

ELECTORAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
GLOUCKSTERSIIIRE.
It has not happened to many counties, not even to the
five or six included within the 't Bedford Level," and which,
by that magnificent &theme of drainage, have been elevated
from the precarious and fluctuating condition of marsh
lands into the honourable and important rank of arable dis-
tricts—to undergo so organic a change as Gloucestershire has
sustained within these few years. The completion of the
Berkeley and Gloucester Canal, in 1820, has brought the
magnificent estuary of the Seven, so completely to her
westernmost boundary, and under the walls, as it were, of
her metropolis, that the county itself may be said to have
emerged, in coneequ nee, from the obscurity of an inland
into the notability of a maritime one. The success of
this bold enterprise has fully corresponded to the great
mas of its design ; and it would be difficult to
overestimate the extent to which the trade and
resources of the city of Gloucester have been enlarged and
multiplied by a contrivance that renders it effectively an
out-port The county itself, extensive as it is, has derived
advantages for its export—as well as for its import and local
trade—by reason of tlin establishment of its "port" One such
Gloucester has now become), scarcely less, though thy be
more indirect, than the immediate and visible ones which
lad been realised by its capital.
Gloucestershire, like most of the counties in the south-
west division of Greet Britain, le of a very irregular figure.
It has extensive outlying districts, stretching out,into tr her
shires. On the east it is bounded by Oxfordshire; on the
uorth, it has Warwickshire and Worcestershire; on the
south, Somersetshire and Wiltshire; on the wt st, Hereford-
shire and Monmouthshire. Its greatest length is found in a
line extending from S. W. to N. E. 69 miles. Its greatest
breadth, measured from east to west, is 43 miles. But
its actual area does not exceed 1,200 square miles, and,
indeed, recent measurements reduce it to about 804,000
statute acres, whereof it is calculated thst 751,000 are under
cultivation, 6,0110 are uncultivated, and 47,000 are unproduc-
tiee or incapable of being profitably cultivated. Within
this surface are included many fine rivers; among others
the Severn, one of the noblest of which Britain can boast ;
the Upper and Ln see Avon ; the Isis, which becomes, in
Oxfordshire, the r •nowued Thames ; the Wye, the Caine.
&e. Among its woodlands are the remains of the ancient
Forest of D.tan, which has supplied, in past ages, enormous
quantities of oak timber to our navy, and, even now, occa-
sionally contributes " a mast fit for some tall admiral,"
thanks to the better management which has, for some years
past, replaced the wasteful administration of this sylvan
treasury that disgraces the executive of our naval depart-
ment from a period at least coeval with the reign of the first
Stuart dowa ti the last administration of George the Second.

But its mineral wealth, its coal, iron, &c., seem to be, even
under the incessant mining processes which arc everywhere
being carried on, absolutely inexhaustible. And we regret to
add that, during the lest 60 years, the palpable influence which
has been exercised by the chief owners of that wealth on the
electoral returns f. r this great county appears to have been
almost inexhaustible, too, in some families. Gloucestershire
is divided into 28 hundreds, which include 280 parishes • it
comprises one city (Gloucester) and part of another (Bris-
tol), two parliamentary boroughs (Tewkesbury and Ciren-
cester), and 23 market towns. Among the principal
hundreds we may notice, Berkeley, Barrow, St. Briarell's
(including the Forest of bean), Deerhurst, Dudatone, Thorn-
bury, Westbury. &e. Of its market towns, Cheltenham,
Dean, Durslcy, Lechlade, Minchinhampton, Stowe, Stroud,
and Tetbury, are among the most important, after the city
and the borough towns. The trade chiefly maintained in
these places ia in minerals, live stock, pin-making, wool-
stapling, rope-making, and malting; but the pin-making is i
chiefly confined to Gloucester. It is valuable and flourish-
ing. Gloucestershire is famous for its fine pastures. the ma-
nagement of its cows, and the excellence of its dairies. Its
agriculture has scarcely attained so high a point of
excellence as its grazing. But the amount of its produeioa
of grain, turnips, and potatoes, is very considerable. It has
a few bop-gardens of superior character, and alto fine or-
chards, though it cannot compete in the production of cider
with the adjoining county of Herefoeishire. It ranks as the
thirty-third on the list of English counties. Its position, in
respect of density of population, it is not very easy to deter-
Wee. The increase of its population since 1801 has been
relearkable, not to say extraor finery. At each of the four
iiheeenial periods here noticed, it stood, respectively, thus,
We.: in 1801 at 250,809; in 1811, at 285,514 (increase, 131
par rent.); in 1821, at 33.5,843 (increase 34 per cent.); and
IS3I, at 387,019 (increase, 541 per cent.), as compared
with 1801. In the year 1841, the county population had
expanded itself t i 431,307, showing an increase on the ten
years only, elapsed since 1831, of 11l per cent, and on the
census of 1801, of no las than 72 per cent., • ratio exceeding
the average of very many counties of the united kingdom in
the same intend of forty yearn. The poor-rate for
this county, which in 1801, was 109,0451., in two
years only had so increased that the expenditure
under this head, for 1803, was no less than 144,5651. (!) In
the year lfill, it hod risen to 165,5761. In 1821 it fell down
to 162,0941. In 1831 it absorbed 168,2881. For the year
ended March 31, 1841, the whole sum expended for the
maintenance of the poor was 130,3211., so that whilst the
population had increased in the ratio of 72 per cent., the
poor rate had grown in amount only 191 per cent., not-
withstanding the immense advance of the population. But
this last element seems to have no certain influence on the
aggregate poor-rate, seeing that in 1803 this absolutely
amounted to 14,244/ stone than in 1841 (upwards of 11 per
cent.), whilst the population was (257,000) lees by 68 per
cent This is, per se, an indication of increasing prosperity;
but it is somewhat marred by the consideration of the last
returns we have been able to get at of the number of inha-
lifted houses, which, whilst it ranged between 77,000 and
178,000, was accompanied by • glimpse of about one-
nineteenth of the number uninhabited ; aud of nest
more than one-eighteenth of the number building. In
1831, there were reckoned in Gloucestershire, out of
83,445 families, so many as 33,178 employed in manure..
tares, trades, and handicrafts ; 21,185 engaged as occupiers,
owners, or labourers in agriculture ; 29,082 in all other
ways Now, here is a constituency precisely of that stuff—
of the mingled character and pursuits—which ought, on d
T it:t.dri reasoning, to return represen.atives of sound and
opinions, of enlarged end enlightened views of de.
mastic, foreign, and commercial policy, and good specimen
withal of the English national character. We shall devote a
word or two presently to the consideration of how far the
facts in this matter confirm or falsify the inference we should
so naturally draw.
And this consideration becomes of the more importance in
reference to the weight of Gloucestershire in ear scheme of
parliamentary representation. Its eastern and western dirt-
sious return four members ; its city, two ; Cirencester, two ;
Tewkesbury, two • Cheltenham, one ; if we include Bristol,
two more for that city ; for Stroud, two ; in all, fifteen
members. Let us inquire, for the present, who the
four representatives are, returned by the two divisions
of this shire, by their united constituencies of some
sixteen thousand registered electors (freeholders). The
eastern division returned, in the first instance, Mr. C. W.
Codrineton and the Hon. W. Charteris ; and they replaced
the latter, in February, 1846. on his accepting the chiltern
hundreds, by the Marquis of Worcester. This nobleman
and Mr. Codrington are both staunch conservatives, we ob-
serve; but so the latter is a large West India proprietor, as
well as a large landed proprietor in this couaty, we have
little doubt that the experience he must now have had, in
both characters, of the futility of all schemes for stab!ish-
ing what is called • protcetive system, either in respect of
colonial trade and the prods& that enter IoW it, or of home ,