The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 4, 1847.

ne mat, and the abolition of the power to
alsg land on unborn generations, in which the wet.
the egncoltunstaod the ommun ity is so
sto▪ gy a with thes
es isting practicec and pre-
ayp • prejudices of the owners of land. %lien
again have become moderate, the Lad-
oga', collectively and individually, will probably
,kteete heed to the suggiations of reason and com-
E Noe thanunder the influence of high prices
beet,inclined to do. These are questions
;Thleh eaght not to be lost sight of, or slurred over,
wag the coming elections.

soge,thoughtardy, justice is to be at last rendered
toil of the neglected officers and men who fought
edneul and tea during. the revolutionary war, the
gee of Tuesday having announced that it is the
ow 's pleasure that every one who was present in
...Oen for which the superior officers were at the
;;* waged with a medal, shall now (in some
;owes more than half a century after the event)
to rewarded with, we presume, a silver medal.
The propriety and justice of this measure have
borne indisputable, because the crown has thought
et to Isf.stnw a medal upon every officer and man who
greed is Chins and in India ; but this is only partial
keiie and from the plan being deficient in a gene-
pebs; rigit it will cause much heartburning amongst
say t veterans.
All rewards and distinctions are supposed to be
boast on services, tehererer and trhenerer they may
koe bees performed. Men are, however, now to
wain medals only because their commanders ob-
bud them; and nu doubt they richly deserve the
boss'. But every gallant exploit was not rewarded
with 'medal; some of the commanders on those oc-
cults having obtained a higher distinction—peerages,
knighthood of the order of the Bath, baroneteies, &c. ;
taiusuredly the men who sexed ander the officers
abs were thus highly remunerated, are deserving
d the new medal. For instance, there are b.)th the
battles of Copenhagen, for the first of which NELSON
was raised to a viscountcy, and his second in com-
mand mode a knight of the Bath ; yet for poll.
heal reasons no medals were given. • For the second
bombardment of Copenhagen, Admiral GAMBIER
us created a peer ; for the action of Algesiras Sir
Ismae SaCMARIZ was made a baronet; for his ser-
a,* it Basque Roads, Lord COCHRANE was made a
bight of the Bath ; for Algiers, Lord EXMOUTH was
able a viscount; for Navarino, the admiral and all
tie captains were rewarded with the order of the
Bath; for actions between frigates and sloops, and of
steal force, and for services on the enemy a coast in
the distraction of batteries and capture of gun-boats
sad coavoys, many captains have been knighted er
oilained the cross of the Bath, or both ; but on none
dam, nor on many similar brilliant occasions, were
melds conferred. Is it, therefore, now, just or proper
dist the medal should be withheld from the
racers and crews who served on those occasions,
soy of which were more sanguinary than the battles
kr which medals were given? Some of the most
ealbnt exploits ever performed have, to this hour,
firm unrewarded by any
.honour, and it cannot be
Mat to perpetnate the injustice.
One and only one practical and equitable plan can,
be adopted : as in Austria and Prussia, a war ernes
Amid be instituted and given to every officer and
asa who has endangered his life by haring been
attazitunder the enety'a fire during that tremendous
Much more peril was incurred on some of
these oteuions than in a general action ; for it often
happened, u at St. Vincent, that part only of the fleet
was engaged, so that not a man was killed on board
seven of the ships ; and one ship even at Trafalgar had
only ode slain, and in another none were killed.
frit be thought necessary to distinguish those who
were in the great battles or actions to which it is now
poposed to confine the decoration, a clasp with the
acne of the battle might be placed on the ribbon.
Should it, however, be determined to institute a
medal, and not a war-cross, it may be hoped. that the
me for the navy may be struck from the die of the
rid naval medal : and the one for the army from the
rid military medal, than which nothing can be more
chancel or beautiful, instead of such tasteless symbols
■ a tea tree, which, incredible as it must seem, has
teen chosen for the medal bestowed for services in
Mina.
The preceding observations apply with equal force
to the army • and we repeat that to exclude any man
who has been in action against the enemy, while
others who incurred no greater risk nor rendered
greater service are distinguished, is as unjust to in-
dividaals as it is anomalous, if not absurd, in principle.

Connlame is the life of England. Credit is the
life of commerce. Retail trade, it is true, runs in
great measure upon ready money • but much is done
even " over the counter," in which no other coin
pries than the demand of the customer, and the
bow and smirk of the sbopman, as " the article "
is rapidly selected, weighed, packed, and pushed
oars. If we pass front the bustling shops of Oxford-
street or the Strand to the more retired walks of
Mammon, those narrow and silent alleys of the City,
where files of clerks may be dimly seen through huge
windows, which yet only admit a twilight, perched
before mammoth folios on spindle-sharked stools,
apparently canting-up for ever endless sums is com-
pound addition, or going through mysterious processes
of double entry, we shall find that in such places the
use of coin seems to have passed away. The circu-
lating medium is no longer shillings and sovereigns,
ace even bank-notes. Thousands pass by an addition
on one page and a subtraction on another. The
kdm is all in all. Money is represented by strokes
of the pen.
The best answer to those theorists who hold that
all men are naturally rogues is to be found in such a
date of things. The more important proceedings of
commerce show that honesty has a real existence,
and that good faith is something more than a fancy.
Were it not so the great commercial machine would
40 go on for a day. But in proportion as
!mercantile dealings are carried on in this
belief, it becomes necessary to protect the
merchant against the rogue who swindles on the
strength of it That credit may continue to be given,
the dishonest debtor must be sharply and speedily
dolt with. It might naturally be expected that
English mercantile law, in relation to this subject,
solid be a model to the world. Her creditors should
have the surest and cheapest remedies ; her debtors
Mould lie under the most stringent obligations, if able
bet unwilling to pay their debts ; if unable, to make
aU the reparation in their power short of full payment;
if honest and unfortunate, to do all they can to dimi-
nish the loss to their creditor; if dishonest, to expiate
their offence by confinement and similar disabilities.
Is this the case ? Are the looses resulting from our
system of commercial dealings minimized in this
country, as the dealings themselves have been
maximized ? Is there a due proportion between the
activities of the seller and the legally enforceable re-
sponsibilities of the buyer ?
Facts and figures both prove that there is not such
a proportion. The losses by bankrapteies, composi-
tion'', assignments, and insolvencies for the United
Kingdom, amount on some computations to fifty, on
more moderate and trustworthy calculation to
twenty-five millions annually. This is more than the
whole expense of the army, navy, and civil govern-
ment of the country put together, and almost half as
much as the whole value of our exports. And this
estimate is taken rather under than over the mark.
The explanation of this anomaly is to be found
principally in the fact that our law is not made by
merchants and traders, but by landlords. This clam
is little liable to bad debts, unless they accrue in the
shape of rent. For this the law has provided a sum-
mary and anomalous remedy in distress, by which,
without writ, summons, or affidavit, with no court to
issue process, no jury to determine on the facts of the
anaaction, the landlord enters on the premises, and
then and there seizes the property of his tenant (and
sometimes property not belonging to his tenant) in
eatidaction of his claim.
To the class who have had the making of our
statute law, the creditor chiefly appears in the unlove-
able shape of "the dun," and there is small sympathy
with him, even among those who are not in the habit
of living upon credit Our bankrupt and insolvency
law exhibits a disregard to the interests of creditors,
which has long been felt and complained of; but the
effect of which has been indisputably aggravated by
the recent alterations abolishing arrest on maim pro-
cess in all cases, and arrest on judgment for debts
under 201. It is true that the effect of the latter pro-
vision is now modified by the Small Debts Act, but
other evils, attaching alike to large and small debts,
impair the efficiency of the relief afforded by this useful
measure, and go far to neutralise in more important

cases even the good which is attainable under the
existing statutes of bankruptcy and insolvency.
Measures of amendment have been promised,
and two are now pending: one brought forward
by the LORD CHANCELLOR, the other by Lord
BROUGHAM. But we hope to show that little
good is to be anticipated from either, unless it pro-
vides for mischiefs which, so far as we know (for
neither bill is yet before the public) have not been
touched upon by Lord CorrEBnm4 or Lord
BROUGHAM. Neither of these bills, however, having
yet paned into law, good use may be made of the
interval between the close of this and the beginning
of next session by the journalist to impress on the
public, who are not vet aware of them, the great de-
fects in our existing.law of debtor and creditor; and
by those who feel their effects and see their way to a
remedy, to organise opinion into that tangible form in
which only it can act upon the legislature. Let us
look first at the operation of the law on the property
of persons indebted, whether traders or not. First,
take the case of a wholesale dealer ; which has been
put in the following forcible dramatic way, by a
writer in the Law Bericto, for November, 1846 :
lie sells a parcel of goods on credit to the retail dealer,
and takes a hill of enhance payable on a day certain. On
the due payment of this bill he relies to enable him to pay
the manufacturer who supplied him. The bill of exchange
is not paid. He makes inquiries, and finds that his debtor
is selling his goods over the counter to ordinary customen
under prime cost, is sending away large parcels by carrier in
a manner quite inconsistent with the business of a retail
trader, and he learns other facts which convince him as a
man of business that his debtor is about to cheat his creditors.
Hs goes to his solicitor, and this conversation passes :
Client : What can I do ?
Solicitor: Nothing! At least nothing effectual.
Client. Cannot I arrest any. debtor?
Solicitor : No! The cry, for many years before 1838, was,
that arrest was unjust and cruel ; and in 1838 the legislature
abolished it, unless there was evidence that the debtor was
about to abscond; and debtors don't abscond now; they
don't sun away now, because there is nothing for them to
run away from. They used to run away from arrest, but
now there is no arrest for them to run away from. So that
they stay where they are.
Client: Had I not better, then, bring an action against
him ?
Solicitor : I don't think it will do you much good. As
soon as you bring your action, your debtor will get some
friend to sue him ; he will defend your action ; he will make
no defence to hie friend's action. His friend will get judg-
ment and execution fint • and when the sheriff goes in
under your execution, he willi find an officer in possession,
under another execution, and will be obliged to retire ; and
you will only be so much the more out of pocket. By
bringing an action you will only be throwing good money
alter bad.
Client : Can I not then make him a bankrupt ? He is a
trader.
Solicitor . No, you cannot ; for you cannot make a man
bankrupt without proving an act of bankruptcy ; and sines
the abolition of arrest, you cannot force a man to commit an
act of bankruptcy. Whilst the law of arrest continued,
you could; because, there you could obtain the writ of
copiers, and the debtor ran away to avoid being arrested. or
world not come out of bis house at all for fear he should be
arrested; and either running away, or shutting himsfif up
in his house, was an act of bankruptcy ; you issued your flat
and got a fair inquiry, and a fair distribution of your debtor's
property. But that cannot be done now, since arrest bas
been abolished.
Client But I thought that a new act of bankruptcy was
introduced to replace those which had been abolished by
the abolition of arrest ?
Solicitor: It is true that a new one was introduced by a
law of 1842, but it is quite useless against a knave, for all
that a knave has to do is to swear that he believes he has a
good defence to part of your demand, and the whole process
fall. to the ground, and you pay the costs.
Client. Am I then wholly remedyless ?
Solicitor : I fear you are, and as long as the law remains
as it is, my advice to you must be, if your debtor offers you
five shillings in the pound, take it; if he offers you one ,
shilling or oae penny, take it; and if nothing, leave him
alone, and rejoice that his next victim will be some one else.
There is, however, one thing you can do; agitate for an im.
provement of the law. Go to all traders like yourself, and
tell them what I have told you; • In them that the matter
is one in which every honest man is deeply interested ; tall
them that creditors are an outlawed class ; that the number
of debtors preying on the community is daily increasing ;
and that if imprisonment for debt be wholly abolished, as
has been proposed, not one debtor in a thousand will ever
suffer even a day's imprisonment; and ask them to reflect
what must be the consequence of such universal impunity to
,beating.
This view of the case is gloomy enough, it must be
sussed; but there is every reason to believe it
comes pretty near the truth. What, then, are the
'emedies to be agitated for ? This question must be
,wercd on a future occasion.

The great line of railway communication projected
between Pans and Marseilles being suspended in its
progress by the financial difficulties of the conces-
sionary companies, a project of law for their temporary
relief was brought before the bureaux of the Chamber
of Deputies by the Minister of Public Works on
Wednesday. The object of this law is strictly tem-
porary, postponing, but not surmounting, the existing
difficulty . It gains time and nothing else. The
Lyons and Avignon Company not having yet ex
pended a sows on the line, threaten to throw the
enterprise up, forfeiting. their deposits. The Pane
and Lyons Company having disbursed about twenty
per cent. of the entire cost of the enterprise, and con-
structed some of the works, threaten to adopt the
same course, incurring a still greater sacrifice. Both
companies demand in substance a revision of their
contracts with the state, on the ground of the erroneous
data on which these contracts were made, these
data having been supplied by the state. To avoid on
the one hand the inconvenient precedent of re-opening
a bargain already concluded, and on the other, post-
poning for several years the moat important line of
railway communication in France, the minister pro-
poses that the state shall guarantee the reimburse-
ment to the companies of all monies which they shall
expend on the works from the present time until a
definitive arrangement shall be made of the questions
caused by them, which questions it is proposed to
postpone till next session. In the meantime, it is
affirmed it will become apparent to what extent the '
government estimates, which formed the virtual basis'
of the contracts, were erroneous.
The report of the arrival of the Duke of Montebellol
is Paris was premature. The duke is travelling by
day steps towards Paris in consequence of the deli-
este date of health of the duchess. By the last
accounts he was at Lyons.
Marshal Grouchy died on Saturday last at St.
Etienne, on the Loire. This distinguished soldier
was born in 176.5, and has consequently completed
his 82nd year, being four years older than the Duke
of Wellington and Marshal Soult, and than Napoleon
would be were he still living.
It is announced that another French cardinal, the
Archbishop of Cambrai, will be nominated in the
course of a month.
Reports have been for some days current in Paris
a distressing indiscretion said to have bees
rceolliMet% by one of the eons of an augud personage,
in relation to the daughter of a military officer of
high rank.
Le Courrier Francais says that a report is cienest
that the Duke of Nemours is about to make a imp
to Algeria.

The Madrid journals of the 28th ult. have come to
hand. The queen continued at Madrid, and the
prince-consort at the Pardo. The latter personage
receives frequent visits from the Duke of Glucksburg,
the French ambassador ; and the journals of the
moderado party and of the late ministry adopt his
defence in the existing dissensions between him and
his royal sponse. The progressist and other sections
of the more liberal party, both in society and tro hugh
their organs of the press, openly charge Louis Philippe
with being the author of the present lamentable situ-
ation of Queen Labelle in her domestic relations.
They say that he alone has a direct and obvious inte-
rest in bringing *bout, by the intrigues of his agents,
the present state of things ; that through his ambas-
sador he foments the domestic quarrel ; that his agents
work upon the imbecility of the wretched young
man to whose arms the intrigues of his former ambas-
sador consigned the unfortunate queen ; and that all
his efforts are now directed to secure the Spanish
throne to the Duke of Montpensier, by rendering the
royal marriage unfraitfuL
M. Salamanca, who had been severely indisposed,
is recovering; so is Mr. Bulwer, who has returned
from Aranjuez to Madrid.
El Eeodel Consereio has the following :
It is evident that the cause of tke disunion between the
queen and her husband is not one of these summer clouds
easily dispelled by conjugal affection, but that some great
interest prevails to keep our sovere*ns asunder. Let us ask,
who are the persons mast interested in such estate of things ?
It would he too absurd to endeavour to persuade the Spa-
niards that Louis-Philippe's only object in seeking the hand
of the heir-presumptive to the throne of Spain for his son
was to procure him a young and handsome wife, without
the slightest taught of the eventuality of the house of
Orleans one day succeeding to the throne of Isabella. The
most natural means of attaining this result would be for
Isabella to remain childless. And we therefore arrive at the
very logical conclusion, that the person most interested in
this great evil for Spain is the King of the French, whose
• every wish tends to the aggrandisement of hie race, and

who will not regard his task accompliebed until be beholds
the Spaniards humbly beading to the feet of one of his sons
seated on the throne of the eldest daughter of Ferdinand.

BAVARIA.—MuNIcu, MAT 27.—The Nnrentburg
Correspondent, in a letter from this capital, says:—" A long
pending question was settled yesterday. The plan upon
which the future legislation is to be arranged, is settled.
The King had yesterday a craference of three hours with
the Minister of Justice, in which the separation of the ad-
ministration of justice from political government was decided
on. The organisation of the new tribunals and courts of
law was also considered. It is stated 221 provincial courts
of indication (kutdgeriehte) will be abolished, and a new
distribution made of the tribunals of each province. The
inhabitants are in a state of enthusiasm at the news."

42rourt.
WINDSOR, Ttwasnay.—The Queen anti Prince
Albert, accompanied by their illustrious foreign visitors, and
the ladies and gentlemen of the court, went to-day to Ascot
races. The royal cortege quitted the Castle at a quarter-past
twelve o'clock. Prince Albert, the Prince of Leiningen, the
Duke of Wellington, the Dukc of Norfolk, and the gentle • ,
men of the royal household, wore the Windsor uniform.,
The Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, the Muter of
the Household, and Lieut.• Col. the En. Col. Grey ( Equerry
to the Queen), in waiting on the Grand Duke Constantine,
preceded the royal party to the race course, and received her
Majesty at the royal stand. The Queen and Prince Albert,
and the illustrious party returned to the Castle at half-put
five o'clock,
H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent left her residence,
Frogmore-house, this morning, at ten o'clock, for town.
The Duke of Wellington took his departure from
the Castle this afternoon, for town.
The Queen gave a g:rand banquet in the evening
in St. George's-hall. The table was covered with the
splendid service of gold plate, with the magnificent St.
George candelabrum in the centre. Small vines, with thick
clusters of purple grapes; dwarf cherry-trees, leaded with
ripe fruit; and also strawberries, inserted in vans of
silver gilt, and intermixed with a variety of rare and beau-
tiful plants in flower, were placed in succession in the middle
of the table, throughout the entire I..ngth of the plateau.
The effect of the fruit and foliage among the gold cande-
labra, epergnes, wine coolers, and dishes, was exceedingly
beautiful. The buffets were brilliantly illuminated by wax-
lights, in candelabra and ancient 'conceit of silver gilt. The
company invited included H.I.H. the Grand Duke Con-
stantine of Russia, their HERE. the Hereditary Grand
Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, H.R.H. the
Prince of Lucca, H.R.H. Prince George, his Serene High-
ness Prince Edward of Sue Weimar, his Serene Highness
the Prince of Leiningen, his Serene Highness Prince
F. Lichstenstein, his Excellency Baron de Brunnow,
Count Revel, the Duchess of Sutherland, Lady
Caroline Leeeeon Gower, his Serene Highness Prince
Lowenstein, M. de Berg, the Duke of Norfolk, the
Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Marquis of Abercom,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, Lady Emily de
Burgh, Earl Fortescue, Earl Spencer, Earl of Jersey, the
Earl and Countess of Lincoln, Viscount CHl:len, Viscount
and Viscountess Villiers, Lord and Lady Blantyre, Lira and
Lady John Russell, Lord <Norge Lennot, lion. Frederick
and Lady Elizabeth Villiers, Lieut.-CoL the Hon. C. B.
Phipps, General and Lady Isabella Wemyas, Mr. G. E. and
the Hon. Mrs. Anson, Lady Harriet Anson, Vice-Admiral
Lutke, Rear-Admit...a Count Heyden, le Conseiller d'Etat
llaurowix, Baron Serge Freedericksz, Lieut.-Col. the Hon.
Charles Grey, Countess of Assenburg, Count de Benet, Baron
de Ziegesar, Marquis Provenzali, the Commanding Officer
of the Scots Fusilier Guards, Lord Rokeby, the Command-
ing Officer of the Ist Life Guards, Col. Hall, and Mr. Glover.
The band of the Ist Reg. of Life Guards attended and played
during dinner. Her Majesty had afterwards an evening
party. The following had the honour of receiving invita-
tions :—The Earl and Countess Granville, the Earl and
Countess Cowper, Viscount and Viscountess Canning, Earl
and Countess Bruce, Earl and Countess of Shelburne,
Viscount Jocelyn, Viscount and Viscountess Sydney, Lord
Arthur Lennox, Lord Walsingham, the Dean of Windsor,
and Lady Charlotte Neville Grenville, the Misses Neville,
Viscount and Lady Elizabeth Locales, Hon. Mr. and Mrs.
Barrington, Miss Barrington, Col. Hon. Sir Edward aid
Lady Cust, the Misses Cust, Mr. and Lady Blanche Balfour,
Mr. and Lady Elizabeth Lawley, Mr. and Mrs. lt. Neville,
Mr. Henry Oreville, and Capt. Francis Seymour. Her
Majesty's private band was in attendance during the evening.
THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—We understand it is the
intention of her Majesty the Queen Dowager, by the advice of
her physicians, to par the next winter at Madeira, for the
advantages of the climate. The Dowager Queen will be
accompanied by the principal members of her court and a
limited suite of domestics.

General Sir George Anson and Mr. Richard Hodg-
son had interviews yesterday with Earl Grey at the Colo-
Mal Office. A deputation from the Birmingham Waterworks
Company had an interview with Lord Morpeth yesterday at
the office of Woods and Forests, respecting the Health of
Towns Bill. A deputation from Oxford had also an inter-
view with his Lordship on the same subject. Mr. Wickham,
Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes and Mr. Higham,
Secretary and Comptroller-Genend to the Commis-
sioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, had
interviews yesterday with the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Marquis Camden had an interview with the
High; Hon. E. Strutt yesterday at the office of the Commis-
sioners of Railways. Sir C. Douglas and Mr. Swift had also
an interview with the right hon. gentleman.—Sir Thomas
Tattered and Sir Riche:di/yr-yen had interviews yesterday
with Sir George Grey at the Home Office.—The Solicitor-
General for Ireland had an interview with the Earl of Cla-

Tendon yesterday..
The Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements
had a meeting yesterday at their oftice, in Whitehall-place.
There were present Viscount Morpeth, Lord Lyttelton, Sir
Robert H. Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon, Mr. Hope, the Hon.
C. A. Gore, and Mr. Milne.
Despatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial Office to the Governor-General of Canada, and to
the Governors of the other North American provinces.

•
CALEDONIAN ASYLTJM.—A general court WBA held
yesterday in the hall of the Scottish Corporation, Crane-
court, Fie:et-street, for the election of 11 boys and 5 girls, out
of a list of 39 candidates. The names of the children elected
are as follows :—Boys • J. Mlßeath, R. J. Nisbet, A. M'Gre-
gor, J. F. Thompson, W. A. Denholm, J. Wilson, G. Peters,
W. F. Kirkwood J. A. Mennie,J. Pousty, and H.O. Gra-
ham. Girls: S. 'M'Griffle J. Haldon, A. Young, A. M.
Alexander, and J. S. Mlle.
WATERLOO BRIDGE CONPANY.—The half-yearly
pascal meeting of the directors and proprietors was held
ay, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Mr. Beadisell
ILaitered chair. The report stated that the tolls received for
I **half-year ending the 23rd of February last amounted to
11,0241.125. 84., and thew for the corresponding period of
last year to 7,1521. 158., showing an WOMBS of
3,8711. 17e. Bd. This great increase arose from the
of the carriage traffic of Westminster-bridge ,which
from the 23rd of August to 25th of December. At the last
meeting the committee reported that after paying the'
current expellees, and making a dividend of 3s. 2d. on annui-
ties in August last, there remained a balance of 4911.2 x. 105.
They had now the pleasure to report that after paying the
current expenses, and making a dividend of 3s. 6d.
,to annuitants in February last, there remained • tor-
plus of 2,4851. 4s. 6d. At the last general meeting
the committee reported that notice had been given
of an intended application to parliament to king
is a bill for making a bridge from Essex-street,
in the Strand, to Dawson's Wharf, and for making
• market on the south side of the proposed bridge ;
the committee reported that her Majesty's Commissioners
foe Metropolitan Improvements had given notice of en ap-
=ipt Oa•Merlaing a bridrutat Ir of Weatmineter-
roma Whi lament-street. As it was
obvious that withal. atehaltg:k objects could tend to benefit
the Wateeloo-bridge Company, the committee bad much
in informing the proprietors that both were elan-
tier At the last meeting the committee reported that the
Great Welters Railway Company had given the requisite no-
des of en application to parliament to make alumna line by
moans of thelVest London Railway, sad a bride across the
Thema, to join the South Western Railway Extension to
the Waterloo-road ; and the committee were glad to inform
tie Arm ietors, that an act for this desirable object has
Commons, and was now in progress through the
= -L or de . A bill had also passed the COMMIS to
WA& the South Western Railway Company to extend
thek metropolitan station to the Waterloo bridge-road, and
die sew company have now two acts in proems in the
MOM of Lords for making a railway from Richmond
be eadses, Egham, and Windsor, with a loop line through
11888 Mord and Hounslow, and also • line from Staines to
ANSI and Wokingham. Considerable progreu had been
mode In the railway extension from Nine Elms to the in-
tended Waterloo-bridge station. In conclusion, the com-
mittee alluded with pleasure to advantages which may be
satkipated from the completion of the lest mentioned de-
sirable extension, and of the several projected railways (now
propenstbrough parliament), all coming to the same point
!ado, =laity of ths bridge. The total receipts of the halyear
bed been 11,6421. Ile. ltd., andthe payments 9,6481.105. 3d.,
=ig a helms of 1,9941. la. Mr. S. H. Stedman
that the salary of Mr,. Powell, the secretarb
be raised 1001. per innate, width. Ow an amendment for
this portponesaget of the iimlntien bad been lost, was
agreed to with lob, two dkre=ge.and a vote of thanks
le the chairmen domad the
METROPOLITAN MAIM SCHool.s.—The anni-
versary nummethig et the alibis or the charity-schools of
Leiden NA the ineles:Fletedame, yesterday, at St. Peal's
There wens shoat 4,000 children, whose
sieglig excited gene sibmiratias. The sermon was
by the Lord Bided of
.Chtehister. The Doke of
reetledgi dge, among other Td lIMAIG ptomain, was pretest.
The leaser of the charity-66s* mot afterwards at dinner
at Elm Linden Tavern, whoa the eight hon. the Lord Mayor
melded. After the vassal Welts, the chairman pro-
tenAanyerity to the for Promoting Christian
The Rev. Mr. , in returning thanks,
meetsaNe scene which he *A day witnessed at St.
Peers, which was of so impressive a nature as to have
dramaleen on a former occasion from the late Emperor
Aksiassior of Russia, and which excited a similar exhibition
of ermiatity from the great Haydn. He considered that
the 'dual which had been that day celebrated deserved the
support of every ehristian country, and especially of every
supporter of the protestant religion, which it conduced SO
greatly to promote ; besides being a memento of the ef-
forts which the citizens of
Landed had been making for 150
years in the cause of christian education. The next toast
was the health of the Bishop of Chichester, proposed by the
chairman. His lordship, in acknowledging the compliment,

referred to thecelebntion which be had for the first time wit-
teemed that day, concluding by rejoicing at the onion of the ps-
trons of the metropolitan schools with t heS aciety forPromotang
Christian Knbwledge, and expressing his hopes that the union
might long continue to flourish. The chairman then pro-
posed the health of the president of the society, the Martinis
of Westminster, which his lordship acknowledged in terms of
congratulation upon the nooses which bad attended their
exertions. Other toasts followed, including the health of the
Lord Mayor, Sir George Lament, end Mr. Gilpin, the
treasurer. The latter gentleman announced the amount of
subscriptions towards the society to be 7501., of which 6701,
was collected at the cathedral during the morning, the re-
mainder consisting of donations from various quarters, in-
cluding 5/. from the Duke of Cambridge, 101. from the Lord
Mayor, and 201. respectively from the Marquis of Westmin-
ster and Henry Kemble, Req., M.P. The feature of the
evening was the admirable execution of various glees, ma-
drigals, &c., by a number of gentlemen whose services were
understood to be gratuitously rendered in support of the
occasion.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-WESTERN
RAlLWAY.—Yesterday' a fatal accident took place on the
line of the London and North-western Railway, near Chalk-
farm. A man named Michael Degherty, a mason employed
en the spacious offices and buildings in the course of erection
at the Camden station, was in the act of crossing the line
near the Chalk-farm bridge, when he wee knocked down by
an engine coming through the bridge on the up line. The
engine pas,ed over both thighs, crushing them in a frightful
manner. The unfortunate man was removed to University
College Hospital, when death pot a period to his sufferings
within a quarter of an hour after his admission.
DOUBLE SUICIDE IN THE SERPENTINE RIVER.—
Early yesterday morning, or late on the previous nigh+, a
man and woman drowned themselves together in the Ser-
pentine river, Hyde Park. A man employed in the winter
season by the Royal Humane Society was passing along the
south-shore of the Serpentine river, between 3 and 4 o'clock
yesterday morning, when he saw several articles of wearing
apparel close to the bridge, which separates Hyde Park
from Kensington Gardens ; suspecting a suicide, he ran to
the receiving-house, and, in a few minutes the boats were
put out, and several men employed in dragging the river.
They soon found the bodies of a man and woman, within
four leet of each other, and, though quite dead, it was evi-
dent that they had not been long in the water. They were
both taken to the dead-house, Knightsbridge, and examined;
the man appeared to about 36 years of age, and the woman
ten years younger ; the dress of the man consisted of a velvet
shooting-jacket, black trousers and waistcoat, and hat, and
fiom the fact that a measure, a thimble, some needles and
thread, were found in his pocket, it is supposed he was a
tailor. In his pockets were also found 13 pawnbrokers'
duplicates, for various articles pledged, the highest in nine
being 64. The woman was of fair complexion, with sandy
hair, and was dressed in a black merino gown with glue
buttons up the front, and a black velvet bonnet ; she wore
gold wire earrings, and her stockings were marked with the
letter " E." This description may, perhaps, lead to their
identity. The bodies will remain at the bone-house until
after the coroner's inquest.

FALLING OF THE DEE BRIDGE.
In our report of the inquest at Chester on the
bodies of the sufferers by the fall of the Dco Bridge,
we gave the evidence up to the hour of departure of
the late train. The following witnesses were subse-
quently examined : Mr. Watson, a contractor's agent,
described the quantity of ballast laid dowa on the bndge.
Eight or ten tons might have been set down over the broken
girder. The three o'clock train or the quarter-put six,
which both went over the bridge afterwards, made no
impression on the girder.—Mr. Broad here stated that he
bad tested the flange at the time of the construction of the
bridge, and proved it to be capasile of bearing two-thirdg
of the whole weight; he tested the beams independent of
the rods, and then two-thirds weight rested on the flanges.
—Sir B. Walker : Then in reality neither the flanges
nor the girders were properly tested.—Mr. LL a'ker, govern-
ment agent from Plymouth : There was no leverage in the
case ; and it mattered nut how far the girders were apart.—
Mr. Terry stated that it would be necessary to have Major
Gordon's testimony, who was an eye-witness ; he was in at-
tendance at the commencement or the proceedings—Some
one said Major Gordon was a mile away from the place at
the time of its occurrence.—The Coroner said they had
already had the testimony of parties not 15 yards away. Mr.
Stephenson, the engineer of the bridge, entered fully into
detes as to the plan and its completion. He flatly contra-
dicted nearly all Sir Charles Parley's statements, and said he
built several bridges during the last twenty years after the
same manner and never knew any break-down but
this. Ile said that Sir Charles Paaley'o statements were
wide of the truth.—Mr. Locke, engineer of the Grand Junc-
tion line, corroborated Mr. Stephenson's testimony ; he said the
bridge did not fall from any pressure downwards, but from
a side blow; this the examination of the fragments proved to
him ; he considered all manner of iron bridges objectionable
when brick and stone bridges could be hail, as was the case,
cheaper and better. " Mr. Coroner and gentlemen of the
jury," mid Mr. Locke, " I believe that much blame lies at
the doom of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Board
of Trade, and the Commissioners of Railways, who require
bridges built with too large a span, to answer their views
as to shipping and other matters, without at all consulting
the interest or safety of the public. I wish this to go forth
to the world. I wrote a letter to government on the subject,
and am sorry to say it was not attended to."—Thero was
nothing new elicited from Major Gordon's examination. The
coroner stated that he could not sum up the evidence until
the following day, and adjourned the court accordingly.

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.
BIBSONONAM.—SIR ROBERT PEEL'S REPLY TO THE
Itzuvieniox.—The Birmingham Advertiser of yesterday
says : " The requisition to Sir Robert Peel, which was put
in circulation last week, has been withdrawn at the express
request et the right hon. baronet. During the time that the
canvass was allowed to proceed, the sheets were signed by
upwards of 600 persons of all shades of politics, but no esti-
mate ate be formed of the probable results of a general cin-
ema. The following is a copy of the letter to the right hon.
bum* and appended to it is the letter which has led to the
withdrawal of the requisition :
To TICS WONT HON. SIR R. Yen, ODO Of the Ori-
ginstas at the enclosed remintion, I melees a copy of it to you
direct, gni which I am gladie sow in worse of signature throughout
the boraink,-lem, In., J. Musson.
ltarnor Tom's artsr.—Whitehall, May 26, 1817.-.thr,—l
thank yea ketheltheeththies of the paper whisk theonthanied your
letter ol . I het Immtbeat epee me to take the sminet
ppaet yea Sisk Mebb eel mesa 1460 111116ffaar-
w=tithe heap iiiilasMts et
whally set of wrote le meads to a nearimeanti'l
wombs • erilis he the repearmistbm el the berm. Is=
amt. I ma* seine. mimeo lIR SWIMS WWI thst
mgr aim to min warrsa.--lase, isfams Pat.
I. ft, la
nneembsieem blesabgbam.
Arrangements are is regime be gamely .th..e
liberals in various pern-Aliba borough, and a
meeting is to be haii at the pahlirofam this evee-
lag,, of the friends of MT. W. flebobtfiekL Tbs km=
man will not of himself Was Inward ISMS
entirely in the hands of the essearaerry,
BEWOLEY AND Srounronr.—Nebrithstandhig the smart
contest at the last election, the oromervatives will not, it is
believed, again risk the Maass of a defeat. Sir Thomas
Witnnington will most likely walk over the course.
DERHY.—Up to the present time the Tories have not suc-
ceeded in prevailing on any. person to put himself forward a
the champion of their principles. Mr. Lewis (a manufacturer)
was conlidently announced as a candidate on Friday last, but
in the evening of that day Mr. Lewis declined coming for-
ward, and the hopes of the Tories were again blighted. The
Chartist lecturer, Id‘Orath, who imnsd the address re-
ferred to in the Express yesterday, 'means, it is said,
to contest the borough. It is stated by a correspondent
that the munitions of war have been subscribedby the Tories.
LANCASHIRE, SOUTH.—MT. W. Brown ha netted an ad-
dress to the electors, in which he declares his intention of
again soliciting the support of the constituency.
NORTHAXPTONSHIRE.—Mr. Mammal has announced his
, intention of not again offering himself for the north division
of this county. It te arranged that Mr. Vernon Smith shall
appear in his stead, on liberal principles, and an effort is
cashing to get Mr. Jones Loyd, the banker, who is owner
of large estates in the neighbourhood of Fotheringhay, to
allow himself to be nominated in conjunction with Mr.
Smith. If this object should be accomplished, it will either
force Mr. Augustin Stafford O'Brien, one of the
members, into a contest (which it is not likely he wirstand
unless backed by the large landholders in the division), sr
drive him from the field.
PETERBOROUGH.—An arrangement has been made that
the Hon. Mr. Fitzwilliam (son of Earl Fitzwilliam), and
Mr. Cavendish (son of the Hon. Compton Cavendish), shall
be returned without opposition. Sir Robert Heron, who
has represented the place for a quarter of a century, with-
draws at his own particular desire.
ST. ALnana.—A new candidate for the representation of
this borough has appeared in the proton of the Hon.
Frederic Craven, brother of Earl Craven. The hon. can-
didate has not yet issued his address, bat a correspondent
states that " he has been in communication with some of the
leading liberals of the town during the last few days, and
has satisfied them that his political principles ere more
liberal than whig." The same writer further says,
_" family
ties existing between the houses of Craven and Yoram,
will, it is expected, induce the head of the Inter house to
abstain ftom throwing his influence into the conservative
scale, end the independent conservative electors having
thoroughly repented of the part they. took in securing the
return of Mr. B. B. Cabbell, there is good reason for be-
lieving that Mr. Craven will not meet with any effective
opposition from that party. The purchaseable voters have
disgusted and wearied all parties, and are likely to remain
unemployed at the cousin" eleotica."
WORCESTERSHIRE, MASS.—Mr. John RodgetU Foley
(liberal), is to succeed Mr. James Taylor (tory), who retires :
this will in all probability be the only change the county
representation.
WARWICKSHIRE, NORTH.-111r. Dugdale will, in all pro-
bability, be re-elected. It is understood that Mr. Charles
Holt Bracebridge, of Atherstone Hall, has been solicited to
come formed in opposition to Mr. Newdegate, but the hon.
gentlemen has not yet announced himself. It is to be feared
the odds would he strong against him.
WALSALL.—As was anticipated in the Express a fort-
night ago, Mr. W. H. Cooke, a banister on the Oxford Cir-
cuit, has offered himself on the conservative interest.

SCOTLAND.
OREENOCK.—The parties who invited Lord John Hay to
stand for this burgh have, upon his declining the honour,
turned their eyes towards Load Melgund, and got up a in-
quisition 238 strong. At last election Mr. Babies polled 360,
Mr. Dunlop, 344. To parties at a distance, this pertinacious
determination to run liberal against liberal is utterly un-
mountable. Mr. Dunlop is a firm and intelligent liberal;
yet first an attempt is made to bring against him Lord John
Hay, who was expected to oppose Mr. F. Scott in Berwick-
shire, and now Lord bielgund is brought down upon him,

who was expected to contest the liaddington burghs on the
liberal side. Provost Grieve and his party are not contented
with pitting liberal against liberal ; they must also wile away
liberals bound in duty to tight the battle of the cause in other
constituencies. All this may admit of an explanation, but
aseuredly it requires one. There is a good deal, too, of north
country caution shout those gentlemen : they have a pal-
pable liking for lords and °facial emusexions.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Ictta 2.
Two circumstances worthy of note appear in the
Nenagh journals of this day. One illustrates the
sanitary, the other the social, condition of North Tip-
perary. There are not fewer than 317 patients in the
fever hospital of Nenagh ; and, add to this, that fever
in private residences is rife, and we must admit the
condition of the people to be bad enough. The other
matter noticed by these journals is that a man named
Cleary, who, some time since, accused certain parties
of having cut off his cars because he was an advocate
for the supremacy of the law over Rockiam, has
just been committed to gaol for a robbery. A cow
stolen from a neighbour was found deposited in his
pickling tube.
An overseer of railway works was desperately
beaten, a few days since, near Thuries.

Ma. O'ConNeth.—lt is definitively settled that the body
of Mr. O'Connell will be deposited in the Glassnevin
Cemetery. His former colleague in the representation of
Dublin, Mr. Ruthven, sleeps in the same place, as well as the
ashes of Curran. The Freeman of this morning suggests the
chartering of a steamer to recei►e the body at one of the
French ports and convey it to Ireland.
Casa or CAPT. NORRIS. The Irish government has
made its fin►l decision in the case of Capt. Norris and the
Roman-catholic clergy of Cashel. Publicity was first given
to Capt. Norris's report through the columns of the Daily
News. The assertion was, that many of the Roman-catholic
clergy, being members of relief committees, put men upon
the relief lista with a view to swell their own tribute. Mr.
Labouehere, to whom the matter was referred, on account of
the indisposition of the late Lord Lieutenant, declined togrant
any public investigation ; and while acknowledging the assist-
ance government had received from the clergy of the Roman-
catholic church, he stated thatit must be admitted, "the con-
duct of some of them had been juitly liable to censure."—
The clergy reclaimed *stalest this sentiment as an aggrava.
don of the statement of Captain Norris, and repeated their
demand for an icquiry. But the chief secretary was firm,
and though be " regretted " the displeasure expressed, re•
fused to alter his determination. Whatever may he thought
of the truth of Captain Norris's amnion—there can only be
one opinion as to the discretion which prompted him to give
it currency in a report intended for publication.
&Taira Op THE CROPS IN CLSTEN.—The Messrs. Con-
niubant, of Belfast, say, in their last weekly circular:
e have had a few dips warm aid fine weather for the crops, and
we are informed, the country, generally, looks well. We calculate,
from obserration, and the farmers' statements, that in the best por-
tion of the North of Ireland, needy one-third eatra land is under'
grain, about one-fourth the average of potatoes are planted, arid
scarcely an averageof Bast besides a much greater extent than ordi.
nary• of cabbage', turnips, parsnips, carrots, beans, and such like;
whdlit we fear one-tenth or more of Ireland's population, almost all
the swine, and a great number of hard-wrought and ill-fed horses, and
badly-wintered mule, will be off the donsumption of food. The carri-
age of bread-stuffs has been immense, causing unusual labour; and
all kind of fodder has keen very dear.
COFFINS HT Avc-non.—A melancholy impression was
made at the May fair of Nenagh, held last week, and at
which, as usual, large numbers of the peasantry attended.
In the midst of the basilicas hours, a dray, laden with empty
coffins, drove into the most coaspicuous part of the fair, and
a man ascending the vehicle, commenced, in a loud voice, to
recommend those waive as cheap and good, proceeding to
knock them down by auction. Last year, had he done so,
he • ould probably lave been deposited in one of his own
coffins. The times have changed the temper of Tipperary
-en; they were shocked, indeed, but they purchased.

SCOTLADTD.
EDINBLRGH, JVNE 2.
No event of a public kind has for many years
excited so intense interest in Edinburgh, or through-
out Scotland, as the death of Dr. Chalmers. The free
church assembly met yesterday, after being adjourned
in consequence of the death of their great lftder, and
it was then announced that business would be ens-

pended for a week—an arrangement altogether un-
precedented in ecclesiastical bodies. The funeral
takes place on Friday, and will likely be a public one.
The body is to be interred in Dalry cemetery, one of
the numerous new places of sepulture that have of
late sprung up in the neighbourhood of the city ; and
on Sunday funeral sermons are to be preached in Tan-
field-hall, where the assembly holds its meetings.
Fever is still ravaging Edinburgh. At present the
hospital contains three times the number of patients
that it did in June last year, and nearly twelve times
the number of fever patients then under treatment.
A general meeting of teachers from all parts of
Scotland is to be held here on the 19th inst., for the
purpose of formally instituting an educational
association, which on being incorporated will grant
educational degrees, and otherwise organise the scho-
lastic /-

body.

POOR RELIEP.—From parliamentary returns, it appears I
that in the whole of Scotland, with the exception of the
Highland counties of Argyle, Inverness, Ross, Caithness,
and Sutherland, the population, in 1841, being 2,283,391,
the annual value of the property rated to the poer.rates
amounted to 8,640,6461. ; the expenditure for the relief and
maintenance of the poor to 278,2531. ; the rate in the pound
on the value of rated property of such expenditure, to lid. ;
the total number of paupers relieved (including casual poor),
to 85,080; the proportion to the population of the persons
relieved, 37 per cent.; and the rate per head of the expendi-
ture, on the total number of paupers relieved, to 31. ss. 411.
In the five Highland counties already mentioned, the popu-
lation is 339,793; the annual value of the rated property,
680,1371.; the expenditure for the relief and maintenance of
the poor 16,9781. ; the rate in the pound, on the value of
theraters property, sfd. ; the total number of paupers re-
lieved, 11,246; the proportion to the population, 3.3; and
the tete per head of the expenditure, on the total number of ,
wipers relieved, 11. 104. 21d.
PROJECTED STRIKE OP THE IRON AND COAL MINERS
OF LAWATIKSHIRII.—We (Glasgow Chronicle) are informed
that the iron-masters of Holytown, and a number of the
other mining districts of Lanarkshire, have intimated their
intention of reducing their workmen's wages one shilling
per day. Meetings of the men are this week being held over
the county, at which resolutions in favour of a strike, it is
mid, will be carried without opposition. The workmen
state that the stocks of coal and iron at present held by the
masters are not large, and on that account they expect to
have a summit/1 mutest.