The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 24, 1846.

have been abandoned by the men and left to the women,
from whom some powder and ball were taken.
My march this day terminated at 9 o'clock at night. Daz-
ing the whole of it no opposition was shown us.
The behaviour Of the men was in every respect satisfac-
tory. The assistance I received from Field-Captain Melville,
whose qualities as an active and Intrepid officer are too well
established to require comment, merit my best acknow-
ledgements; and I would beg also to notice favourably
to his Excellency Captain Melville's brother officer in Com-
mandant Size's Levy,—Field-Captain Lange.
I have the honour,
M. C. J010;31'091, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cloete, K.H.
Depaty•Quartermaster General.

• Nora.—Muntur's KRANTE.—This remarkably strong
position was carried by a dismounted detachment of the
Cape Corps and a company of the Worcester Burghers on
, the morning of the 6th instant. These being the only infan-
try at the tune with Col. Somerset's detachment of cavalry,
which was moving along the foot of the mountains, were
ordered by his excellency to advance to the attack. As
they proceeded to scale the mountains a few Karlin only
were seen on the scarped ridge on the summit ; these retired
es the assailants approached the foot of the scarp, without
offering any opposition. On the preceding evening this po-
sition, in which a few resolute men might defy an army,
was occupied by a numerous body of the enemy.
CHARLES LENNOX MAITLAND,
Captain Grenadier Guards, Assistant Military
Secretary.

Eatttrum IN OUR LAST.—Under the head New
Zealand, the amount produced by wool to the North
British Australasian Company last year was 5,0001., not
3,0001., as printed ; and the number of tons of copper ore
received by them was 469, not 425.

gbt (tout.

WINDSOR, FRIDAY EVENING.—The Court will
arrive at the Castle, from Hatfield House, to morrow after-
noon, about five o'clock. Her Majesty's military escort, con-
sisting of a detachment of the Ist Life Guards, having been
commanded to be in waiting at Iver Heath, between Slough
and Uxbridge, at half-past three o'clock.
The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal took
equestrian exercise this morning upon their Shetland ponies,
in the Home Park. The Princess Alice and Prince Alfred
were taken out for walking exercise at the same time.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
the Royal Family at the Castle this morning.
The Royal Family were taken for a carriage airing
this afternoon in the Great Park, attended by the Dowager
Lady ;Lyttelton.
Te Duchess of Kent drove o4t for a carriage air-
ing this afternoon, attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson
and the Baroness de Speth.
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hesse, at-
tended by Baroness &heel, Sir Andrew Barnard, and Baron
Meysenbucla, left Cashiobury Park, Herta, the residence of
her Majesty the Queen Dowager, yesterday afternoon, and
travelled to town by the London and North-wester:Rail-
way. The Princess was visited at Marlborough-house, Pall-
mall, by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and
his Serene Highness Prince Frederic of Hesse.
Her Royal Highness went to the National Gallery,
and was conducted through the different rooms. Her Royal
Highness, attended by her suite, also visited and inspected
Westminster-hall. _ _ _

In the evening the Princess of Hesse, attended by
Baroness Scheel and Baron Meysenbuch, honoured the per-
formance at the Haymarket Theatre with her presence.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess
of Mecklenburg Strelitz (attended by Baron Rnesebeck),
and his Serene Highness Prince Frederic of Hesse, also
honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence yes-
terday evening.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
'by Lady Anna Maria Dawson, left her residence, Clarence-
house, St. James's, at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon,
on her return to Frogmore-house, Windsor.

Tho Earl of Clarendon arrived in town yesterday
from his seat, Grove Park, Ilerts. His lordship attended at
the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
ELECTION OF A TEMPORAL PEER.—Writs bearing
trite Tuesday have been issued from the Hanaper-office, for
electing a Temporal Peer of Ireland to succeed to the vacancy
made in the House of Lords by the demise of the Marquis of
Thomond.

[From last Night's Gazette.]
FOREIGN OFFICE, Ocr. 20.—The Queen has ap-
proved of J. P. Grenfell, Esq., a Rear-Admiral in the Bra-
zilian Navy, to be Consul-General in the United Kingdom
for his Majesty the Emperor of Brazil.

HER MAJESTY AND H.E.H. PRINCE
ALBERT'S VISIT TO HATFIELD HOUSE.
HATFIELD, FRIDAY NIOHT.—The banquet last night was
of the most sumptuous description, and comprised all the
luxuries that wealth could procure. The dessert was parti-
cularly excellent, and was placed under the able superin-
tendence of Ferdinand. When all the company had taken
their seats at the banquetting board, that ancient chamber
afforded a brilliant coup d'cril, the hall being illuminated by
a great number of lamps, in addition to more than twenty
Chinese lanthorns, suspended by an invisible wire from the
pendants in the roof. The table was lighted from superb
gold candelabra, alternately with which were costly vases,
containing natural flowers. All the attendants were
in full dress, and each wore a silver badge of the Salis-
bury arms on the left arm. The effect was truly
magnificent. The Marquis of Salisbury rose at the
conclusion of the repast, and proposed es • toast " The
Queen." The military band struck up " God save the Queen."
The health of her Majesty was then drunk, the whole
of the guests Tieing from their places. The noble host then
gave " His Royal Highness Prince Albert," when the band
performed the Coburg March.
At a quarter to ten o'clock her Majesty retired from the
banquetting ball, the ladies leaving at the same time. l'rince
Albert, and the noble host and the guests, subsequently ad-
journed to the splendid saloon, or King Jame:'s-room. where
She Queen and a select circle had assembled. Previous to
her Majesty and her Royal Consort leaving for their private
apartments, twelve of the German artists who Itave recently
been employed, under the direction of Mr. Sang, in the em-
bellishment of the interior, afforded the royal party much
pleasure by singing sonic popular vocal music of that country.
In the selection were " Die Capelle," " Das Schwertfied,"
"Der Vogel," and "Der Kohler-banerbube."
The Marquis of Salisbury, as Colonel of the South Here,
Yeomanry, gave the privates and non-comminioned ofliesse
of the four troops a substantial entertainment in the Riding
School, and, before the assemblage separated, the health of the
Queen and her illustrious husband was heartily drunk, as
well as the health of the noble Colonel. The officers dined
together at the Salisbury Arms Tavern.
This morning, long before noon, the park was thronged
by thousands of people, aho came in quick succession into
the town from all parts of the country. By the kind per-
mission of the noble marquis, not the slightest obstruction
was offered to the admission of the public, and no restriction
was placed over their movements, beyond that no one was
allowed to transgress further than the northern court, which
was amply sufficient to satisfy any moderate desire.
It was a most beautiful day, the sun shining with all the
warmth that could be expected in the autumn ssason. The
park, in the northern direction, presented an animated ap-
pearance, from the hundreds of strangers Rocking in parties
to witness the bullock that was being roasted whole, a short
distance down the north lawn.
The Queen and his Royal Highness did not go out in the
early part of the morning, nor did they attend prayers in
the chapel. The Duke of Wellington and the majority of
the guests staying in the mansion attended the service, which
was performed by the Rev. F. Faithfnll, waisted by the
Rev. A. B. Stsckey.
His Itoyal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Marquis of Salisbury, about half-past 10, went out to shoot
in the southern part of the park. The Duke of Wellington,
the Marquis of Exeter, Lord John Russell, Lord Charles
Wellesley. the Earl Spencer, Mr. J. M. Balfour, Mr. G. E.
Anson, Colonel Buckley, and Colonel Seymour, were in the
party. The bather was in what is called Coombes-wood.
Prince Albert killed nearly 1.50 head of game, and the
Duke of Wellington was successful, considering that the
noble and gallant Duke did not exert himself in the sport.
The Marquis of Exeter made some excellent shots. The
result of the morning's sport was, on quitting the plantations
at one o'clock, a return of killed-158 pheasants; 4 par-
tridges ; 152 rabbits ; and 4 hares, giving a total of 318 head.
Shortly after the shooting party returned to the mansion,
luncheon was served in the wint r dining room. The Queen
and Prince Albert, and the noble guests of the Marquis were
present.
The carriages were ordered at 3 o'clock to take the illus-
trious company a drive in the park. In the meantime the
populace had congregated in the park in large numbers,
and had mostly assembled in the northern court
and without its boundary in the park, where several
carriages of the neighbouring gentry were drawn up
by the read leading to the north avenue. As the
pony phaeton came by the western gateway, and
passed through the north court to the north avenue, the vast
body of spectators saluted her Majesty and the Royal Prince
by loud and long-protracted cheering, to which plaudit+ the
Queen and Prince condescendingly responded by repeatedly
inclining towards the multitude. The Queen and party
then proceeded to view the ancient tree, so carefully pre-
served at the turn of the northern and eastern avenues,
called "Queen Elizabeth's Oak," from that Queen having
been seated in the shade of its umhrageons branches when
the death of Mary was announced to her. We understand
that her Majesty expressed herself highly pleased by the
sight of the oak, and, ae a memento of her visit to the spot, had
a small branch lopped from the trunk tobe preserved. From
hence the carriages were conducted to the vineyard. to view
the beauties of that fairy retreat. Her Majesty and the Prince
alighted and entered the gardens, and walked to the lower-
terrace, which give: a gaol command of the grounds. It
may be as well to state that the vineyard is on a slope, at the
bottom of which runs the liver Lee. The p.trty next
drove round the park, and in the course of the road saw the
pollard oaks, for which the park is so famous. The illustri-
ous party returned to the mansion at half-past four, after an
agreeable drive.
While the royal party were absent in the park, the Mar-
quis of Salisbury's dependants were regaled on the lawn.
Mr. Farcbrother, the land-steward, was present to superin-
tend this entertainment, but it was far from interesting, the
bullock which was roasted whole at an enormotei fire, nearly
twenty hours, being greedily devoured. Strong ale was sup-
plied to these participating in the feast,

THE REGISTRATIONS.
MIDDLESEX.—The Revision of the lists for the dis-
trict comprising the parishes and townships of Hillingdon,
Uxbridge, Ruislip, Ickenham, West Drayton, Haretield,
Cowley, and Hayes, took place yesterday, at the White
Horse, Uxbridge. In the Hillingdon list, 48 of the League
40e. rent charge claims secured on property belonging to Mr.
James, the Liberal agent, were opposed b.e Mr. Payne; but
after proef of value and possession were allowed, the decision
in one case governing the whole.
CONTIUDICTORY DEctsioNs.—ln the Uxbridge list, a Mr.
Baily, who claimed for a freehold house and lend, was ob-
jected to by Mr. Payne, on the ground that the property was
not of sufficient value on the 31st of January to give a title
to the franchise, the house having been built since that time.
—Mr. Bontems, who supported the claim, urged that the
notice of objection had not been served ia time. It should
have been delivered on or before the 2.5 th of August, but it
bore the post-mark u having been posted in London on that
day, and in due course would, in that case, not have been
delivered in Uxbridge until the morning of the 26th. The
Barrister asked Mr. Boutems whether he appeared for the
claimant: and on being answered in the affirmative, remarked
that in that case he could not go into the question of the
informality of the notice,but must consider it as sufficient,and
he should, therefore, deal with the claim on its merits. The
question of value and time of possession was then
gone into, and it appearing that the land was not worth
40s. a year, and that the house not being completed until
the 31st of January there was not six months' possession
of sufficient value, the barrister expunged the name.—The
next case, in which R. Keep was the claimant, was one
of a similar nature in all respects, and the notice of
objection was opposed by Mr. James for the claimant, on
precisely the same ground.—Mr. Payne proved that he
posted the notices at Charing-cress on the 24th ; and that
the neglect was with the post-office. Mr. James insisted
that the Act required the notice to be delivered on or before
the 25th, and it was the duty of the objector to take care that
it was so.—The barrister, after consulting the act of parlia-
ment, and taking some time to consider, decided that the
notice of objection was informal, and retained the name.—
Mr. Bontema remarked that the other claimant, whose case
was precisely similar, had been unjustly treated.—The Bar-
rister : It is your own fault, Mr. Bontems ; but for your in-
terference the name would have been retained.—Mr. Payne
(to the Barrister) • f think, sir, you had better write " stet"
against the other name.—After some hesitation the barrister
consented.—Two other claims of aitimilar description, and
objected to in the some way, were also retained.

ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
A public meeting, numerously and respectably at-
tended, was held at the large room of the Royal British In-
stitution, Cowper-street, Finsbury, last evening, on the sub-
ject of the abolition of capital punishment. Charles Gilpin,
Esq., took the chair, at half-past seven o'clock, and stated at
some length the objects of the meeting. The legitimate ends
of punishment were the safety of society, the reformation of
the offender, and restitution, where it was possible, to the
individuals who had suffered by the criminal's offence. Two
of these objects were lost sight of by capital punishment. It
could be no satisfaction to the friends of a murdered man,
nor could it lead to the reformation of the offender to cut
short his thread of life, and send him, prepared or unpre-
pared, into the presence of his Judge. It also failed in the
third object--the security of society, as was clearly proved
by criminal statistics. If it was necessary that the criminal
should repent, why shorten the time which God would
give him—which infinite mercy would extend? (Hear,)
The punishment of death was also irrational ; profeasing
to teach a reverence for human life, it showed how
rapidly and how easily it could be taken away,—
it taught persons to do no violence, and perpetrated itself
the greatest violence, setting also an example of retaliation
and revenge which it condemned in theory. It raised a
blood-stained criminal into a hero, in a majority of cases. It
it were not for the punishment of death, where would be
the morbid sympathy which caused the words, the actions,
nay, the very looks, of the murderer to be regarded with
intense interest—which sent his portrait (through the me-
dium of the pictorial papers) throughout the country, and
made it familiar at the fire-side of thousands of virtuous fa-
milies? (Hear, hear.) He further objected to capital pu-
nishment on account of its Irrevocable character ; human
beings were all fallible, and who but his Creator could judge
of the guilt of a man who was launched into eternity pro-
testing his ianocence ? (Hear, hear.) His friend, Jonathan
Dywood, had amid, that at one assizes at Exeter he felt con-
vinced that six innocent men had been condemned to death ;
and there were numbers of similar cases familiar to every
one who to"k an interest in the subject. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman SIDNEY bore testimony to the bru-
tality which, as sheriff, he had witnessed at executions
at Newgate, and stated that in every instance where
'he had conversed with criminal condemned to die, he
found that they had been in the habit of attending pub-
lic executions. (Hear, hear.) He was convinced that
every spectacle of that kind hardened niimberless
human beings, and taught them to be familiar with the
spilling of blood. (Hear.)—Mr. EDWARD Mutt. contended
that although the punishment of death was recognised
under the blosiac economy, it was utterly incompatible with
the character and doctrines of the divine founter of Chris-
tianity. As t the sympathy with great criminals which the
press was constantly calling out against, he was convinced
that the public did not sympathise with the criminal, but
with the man. There would ever be greater sympathy with
a person whose life was about to become extinct—whose life
was, at the time of such sympathy, possessed, and shortly to
be extinguished by th s hangman—than with the unfortunate
man whose life had already been taken away. (Hear.)
It was the humanity of society which was constantly
protesting against death punishment. (Hear.) Abolish
capital punishment, and substitute anything, however
severe, for it, and the " morbid sympathy" complained of
would die away at once.—Mr. SINES contended that crime
had increased since the amelioration of the criminal code,
and quoted from the last return made Di the Heine-office
to show that the crime of rape had very greatly iuereased
since it had ceased to be a capital offence. The speaker pro-
ceeded to contend that it had not been sufficiently proved
that society would be safe if capital punishment was abo-
lished.—Mr. FRED. ROWTON went fully into statistics to
prove (which he did most triumphantly) that since the abo-
lition of capital punishment the offences for which it had for-
merly been inflicted had greatly diminished. It appeared
by recent returns that, in the five years preceding the aboli-
tion, 11,000 and odd offences, which then were capital, but
are not so now, were committed, and 242 persons were
executed. In the five years after the abolition of capital
punishment for certain offences, 10,854 such offences were
committed, showing a decrease of about 860, and not a
single human life was sacrificed during that period.
(Cheers.) As to the crime of rape, it appeared that in the
brat five years (before the abolition) 2,8 crimes of that
description were committed, and 16 of the criminals
were executed. It was true that in the next five I
years there were 319 such offences; that period, how-
ever, came down to 1814. In that year 127 crimes
of that character were committed, but in 181,5 they
had diminished to eighty-six, and continuing records
which had been carefully examined, showed that in the pre-
sent year the crime had decreased in a much greater degree.
(Hear, hear.) The statistics of all countries where execu-
tions had diminished, proved that murders also had decreased.
In Tuscany the punishment of death had been abolished for
twenty-three years, and the Grand Duke had recently de-
clared that all offences during that period had materially
lessened, and that crimes of an atrocious nature were now
extremely rare---(hear, hear)—whilst in the adjoining State
of Rome, where capital punishment existed, it had been
shown that in three months no less thou sixty murders had
been committed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Rowton then went
into the general question, and powerfully advocated the abo-
lition of capital punishments. Resolutions in favour of the
object of the meeting were carried,with only three dissentients
in a crowded room ; and after thanks had been voted to the
Chairman, the p oceedings terminated about ten o'clock.

LONDON INVENTORS' AND MECHANICS' SOCIETY.-
A full meeting of the members was held on Thursday even-
ing, at the rooms of the society in High Holborn, when the
chair was taken by Mr. Prest. The report of the secretary
announced that the society was making rapid progress in
the prosecution of its objects, which are to ensure to the
working and poor inventor the full benefit of his invention
or discovery, by patent or registration, the cost of obtaiuing
which is to be defrayed from the funds of the society. Se-
veral inventor. had enrolled themselves, and whilst many
objects of sterling interest had been received for sjudication,
the position of the society was such that they hoped to com-
mence active exertions for the registrations of designs in a
few days, to which they would confine themselves until the
funds were in an adequate state for taking out patents. The
meeting was addressed by several intelligent mechanics, who
expressed themselves in sanguine terms in favour of the
prospects of the society.
PARISH BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.-ST. MARTIN'S.
—Yesterday forenoon a full meet ing of they est ry of the parish
of St. Martin's-in-the-fields took place in the Vestry-room, the
Rev. Sir H. R. Dukinfield, Bart., the vicar, in the chair; " to
consider a proposal made by Her Majesty's Commissioners
of Woods and Forests, &c., to grant a lease of a part of the
Stone-yard in Orange-street to the Commissioners of Public
Baths and Wash-houses for this parish, and to approve of
such lease being accepted, if the vestry shall deem it ad-
visable ;" and also, " to make an order upon the overseers
to levy with, and as part of the poor-rate, such sum as the
vestry shall deem necessary for the preliminary expenses of
carrying ' the Act to eacourage the Establishment of Public
Baths and Wash-houses' into execution in this parish.—Mr.
Staunton, one of the commissioners of Baths and Wash-
houses, said, that from a rough calculation he had made of
the space in Orange-street, he would undertake to say that
3,000 persons might have a bath daily, which was quite
ample for the district. The area of the ground was nearly
5,000 square feet, and they were to have it on a lease of 99
years from the 10th inst., at a peppercorn rent for the first
year, and 801. a year afterwards, subject to all covenants as
in Crown leases of a like nature. would therefore pro-
pose the following resolution : " That this vestry do approve
of the proposal of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
in offering a lease of the premises called the Stone-yard, in
Orange-street, in this parish, MI the terms and conditions
mentioned in the letter which has been received from them :
and that the Commissioners of Public Baths and Wash-
houses be authorized to accept the same."—Mr. Hutchins
seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.
ALARMING ACCIDENT TO TIIESTEAM-SHIP "RIPON."

—The following is an extract of a letter from a passen-
ger on board, dated Torbay Harbour, October 21, 9 p.m. :
—"On the erening of the 20th, a few hours after we left
Southampton, a gale sprang up, and soon after the engines
were found not to work properly; we passed the night and
the morning very uncomfortably, the water coming into
many passengers' eshins. This morning the gale increased,
and the rudder, a, well as the engines, were found deficient.
After some con-attrition, and at the desire of the superin-
tendent of the Post.otfiee,we put about-ship, and determined
to run for the nearest harbour. Soon after the rudder broke,

and we were left at the merry of the waves, the sea making
a complete breach over ber, and the water pouring in :at
every direction, nearly every cabin !sting saturated. Provi-
dentially we managed to run in here with the loss of rudder,
one boat, paddle-box, and sundry other damage. It has
been a most providential escape. The passengers complain
with great reason that they have been embarked in a new
vessel that confessedly had not undergone en experimental
trip as customary, and also that so recent had been the
completion of the minor fittings up that the glue and paint
were scarcely dry yet. After the accident they received in-
formation that the " Oriental" was at Southampton waiting
to take the " next" monthly mail, and should be sent for.
Surely some public explanation is necessary from the direc-
tors : if there be no General Pealey to inquire why acci-
dents occur to chartered steam vessels on behalf of the pas-
sengers, government ought to institute an inquiry, as the
lives of some 120 passengers have been perilled in this
instance, coupled with theseeondary risk of the mails.—We
learn from another source that when the ship was rendered
unmanageable by the loss of the rudder-head giving way, she
remained in this state for between three and four hours, and
it was not until the boatswain of the ship, Jas. Grant, volun-
teered his services, and was lowered down to the rudder by
ropes, and mode fast two chains to the lower part of it,
that the ship wai again rendered manageable ; and then,
through the praiseworthy exertions of Lieut. Tancock, the
officer in charge of the snail, who deserves great credit for
his conduct, and the officers of the ship, she was brought
into this harbour. The ship does not appear to be sea-
worthy, as she took in great quantities of water, both at the
holes through which the shafts of the paddle wheels pass,
and at every porthole. The engines, also, seem to be of
too little power for the size of the ship, and for the enormous
quantity of bricks set in cement as ballast, together with the
quantity of water they abeol bed, and the large cargo, and
the number of passengers (about 170) she had on board.

FIRES.—AT A SHAWL WAREHOUSE IN CHEAPSIDE.
—Yesterday morning, at an early hour, as Constable Pape
was passing No. 137, Cheapside, he discovered smoke issuing
from the apertures in the door, and without delay he raised
the usual alarm, and sent for the engines. The building in
question is of considerable magnitude, extending backwards
to Gutter-lane, and is the property of Messrs. Ovington,
Warwick, and Ovington. The engines from Watling-street
station arrived in two or three minutes, and also the escape
of the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.
The firemen, upon entering the building, found that the
smoke was so dense that they were forced to crawl upon
their knees to get to the exact scene of the fire, which they
found at last to be the bock shop and counting-house. After
some time the fire was extinguished. The stock was not at
all damaged by water, but tt is doubtful whether it is not
injured by smoke and heat. Had it not been for the oppor-
tune discovery made by the police, and the early arrival et
the firemen, a must fearful conflagration would have beta
the result. After the fire was extinguished, an examination
was made to ascertain the cause of:its outbreak, and ;Mr.
Braidwood reports the following as the result of his invest'.
gation—the tire appeared to have begun in a wooden box
used for keeping web, instead of a scuttle. The coutents of
the premises were insured in the Sun, Ares, Norwich Union,
County, and West of England offices.—Ar Hotta' FLoon
Curtis Ferrostv, KENSINOTON-LANE.—Last night, shortly
before twelve o'clock, a tire that caused considerable alarm
broke out upon the extensive range of premises belonging to
Mr. Rolls, floor cloth manufacturer, situate in Kennington-
lane, immediately facing the Lambeth police court. The
flames, when first discovered, were raging in the varnish_
house, a brick and timber building, at the rear of the main
premises. The precise cause of the outbreak could not be
correctly ascertained, but from inquiries made on the spot,
there is little doubt that the diluter way occasioned by the
overflowing of one of the coppers of varnish. Owing to the
great quantity of varnish in the place, very few minutes
elapsed before upwards of 500 gallons of that combustible
article were one broad sheet of flame, and when the same
broke through the roof it completely illuminated the entire
district. The light being seen from the several metropolitan
bridges, it caused the intelligence to be quickly despatched to
the fire stations. With all promptitude the Brigade engines
of the Surrey district and City stations attended, with Mr.
Braidwood, the superintendent, and Mr. Henderson, the
foreman, and also the West of England engine, with Mr.
Connorton. An abundant supply of water was speedily ob-
tained from the Lambeth mains, and the firemen at ones set
to work, and by dint of great perseverance, they happily
succeeded in confining the flames to the premises in which
they began. From inquiries afterwards made on the spot
Mr. Rolls informed the reporter, that besides the damage
done to the building, upwards of 500 gallons of varnish were
consumed. Unfortunately the property destroyed was un•
insured.

INQUESTS.—A CHILD POISONED IN KENSINGTON
WotoutorsE.—By Mr. G. J. Mills, at the Gloucester Arms
Tavern, Gloucester-road, Kensington, on Henry Shepherd,
an infant child, fifteen weeks old, whose death, tt was
alleged, had been caused by a powder intended fur the
mother having been improperly administered to the deceased
child by the parish nurse, while the family were casual in-
mates of the workhouse of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington.
The facts were fully proved, after two lengthened inquiries
(one on Tuesday last), and the jury returned the following
vertlict—" The jury are unanimously of opinion that the
deceased child, Henry Shepherd, tied in convulsions,
occasioned be the administration of a narcotic powder by
mistake; an that they recommend that the parochial autho-
rities be requested to appoint competent persons to receive
and administer the medicines sent to the workhouse by the
parish surgeon, and that he be sequested to write the direc-
tions on the medicines in a more legible manner,"—
A CHAitOE or Mumma/a—Before W. Maker, EA., at the
Royal Pavilion, New-road, Whiteehapel, en Caroline Pooley,
the wife of a bricklayer, who left her husband to live with
another man, named Collins, and immediately afterward,
was taken ill, and removed to Guy's Hospital, where she
died. Her husband raised a report that this Collins had
been Ler murderer. To clear himself from this foul impu-
tation, Collins demanded an inquest. Mr. Stocker, a surges
of Guy's Hospital, proved that the woman died from in-
flammation of the peritonium. Collins said he became ac-
quainted with the woman through teaching her son the
violin, and hearing from her that she had been turned out of
doors, took her to live with Lim out of compassion, being
separated from his own wife, and three days after she went
to live with him she was seized with the complaint of which
she died. The jury could not restrain the expression of their
abhorrence of such a depraved character, this being the
third woman whom he had taken from her home. Verdict,
" Natural death."

THE GREAT BRITAIN.

The following later was addressed by the com-
mander of the ill-fated Great Britain to the directors of the
Great Western Steam-ship Company, in which he gives his
own account of the disaster :

"Great Britain Steamship, Oct, 1846.
" Gentletinea,—Captrdn Claxton's letter will have put you in pos-
. seecion of the leading facet relating to the id-rending of thin chip, but
1 feel called on to give you an account of the sad diaaster more in de-
tail, both for tour satisfaction and that of the proprietorri, a, well as
in my own juatifieation. It is possible you may have expected
this before, but from the 22nd ult. to middle of last week, say whole
time and energies were devoted, in the firm instance, to the attempt to
get the 'ship off, and then in trying to stop a heavy leak near the
stern, both, I grieve to nay, ineffectual. During that time my occupa-
tion was as mach in the water as out of it the few imam hours I had
I found absolutely necessary for rest, and Captain Claxton can tell you
how much I required it when he was here; 1 was, therefore, totally
unfitted to give you this etatement until now.
Our pilot left a little inside the Bell Busy, about one o'clock, and
it was about ten minutes past one when we were fairly under
weigh abreact it; all plain mil was set, with a fine breeze from the
hE., at times S.S.E. 1 determined to go by the North Channel
in consequence, as the wind was certain to be south-westerly
In the South Channel, after peeking lloirbegi ; and I have frequently
taken the North Channel before, and think it the beet under
those circumstances; indeed, 'I would take it in preference were
all equal. My reasons, are, in thick weather And I have gone out of
the North Channel in a fog', you meet one vessel in that Channel
to twenty in the South; indeed, with the first of a math-wester,
one to fifty. You cheat the tides, and have lent against and more
for you. You get clear of the land in much lea time. You
shorten the distance to New Turk a little, and you get a great
advantage by being north, as the set of the Atlantic generally
it to the southward, indeed a!most invariably, and a Mast of wind
sometimes, as the wind hangs more to the northward than it does
further smith ; on the whole, It Is my opinion that a day la nand In
the I...age by going through the North Channel, when the *canon
for meeting fielitiee le over, and the ice-bergs drift to the southward.
The log was hove regularly, and gave a speed of 101 to 11 knots per
hour, and I aneertaiued from the first officer, Mr. hedger, by diteet
inquiry, that the line and glass were oorrect : eleven knots, the
ship deep, is as much as could be fairly expected. At about hall-
oos; bee, I caught a glimpse of the Isle of Ilan, but what part of
the isiand exactly, or how far off, I could not decidedly say, no it
wan then getting dark, and the weather becoming thick. Imme-
diately after, or about Fix o'clock, it came on to rain and blow
harder, and the weather very thick, and it threatened to be,
as it proved, as vile a night as could be experienced. I have
no doubt taus would be corroborated by au y one at sea that
night. (The `ca Nymph would not start from Warren Point, a most
unusual thing.) About seven o'clock, I remarked to the ling and
second ofilieke., .f with neon the forecastle, looking
out, where I hole been, and continued there and at the class, t^ith
the exception of from fire to ten minutes, from half-past re to the
time the ship &trick), that we must be well up with the and that
I might solely allow her 104 knots per hour since leaving the Bell
Buoy; ienn after this, I told the first °Meer to shorten firil at eight
o'clock, take to top gallant sails, two reefs in foretop mil, one in the
main, and haul the foresail up, an I should alter the course to N. by E.
I (which is higher thanithe North Channel course), and go easy all nib!,
feeling aura the ship was the Inland. The course wan altered
at eight, and sail accordingly; at about a quarter-pan
eight I was stauding by the wheel, watching the steerage while
meting, when the officer looking out on the forecastle reported
a light on the port, or larboard bow ; I said, immediately, it must be
a vessel's light the light was lost sight of in the thick weather fur a
abort time, and again showed Itself as • revolving light. I imme-
diately kept the ship off hkr former course, N.W. by N., exclidming,
" 1l ft
is it poseible she has not run her dietance; what can have bell
her Gick?" taking the light for one of the Calf of Man lights, and
*optioning the other hidden by the thick weather which is often
the case, as many wrnen welt know. I hare been: (Tinning can that '
station in a man-of-war, sonic Tars since, and frequently have seen
but one light I then continued be the centimes watching the bearing
of the light, and trying with a gla's to make out the second light, but !
a glam on that night was useless, from the continued rain: I could
not help thinking we must be peat the island, and at the same
time there true a revolving light occasionally before my eyes to tell
me we were not pant it, and I did as I believe most sailors
In my situation would have done, (not knowing there was any other
'crating light in the dfrertion tee had been running from Bell
Buoy, us iny chart, new and dated lm(c, does not shin, cony I.Y4t
can Bt. Point), stood on until I got the right bearing for round-
ing the lien and Chicken rocks!, lying off the Calf of Man. I then
hauled the ship up to North gradually, and to N. 4 E, ultimatelr,
when I was surprised to find, on Inquiring the time, that It was a
quarter-past nine ; I ran down for a moment to look at my chart, and
buck again to the helm, when I heard a lout hail from the forecastle,
and at the same moment I saw what appeired and proved shoal water
alongside. I instantly sung out bard a port—slop her; this was
done. I ordered a hack turn, braesal the r...rd. by, and shifted the
helm, all without effect. The sea began to bleak over us, and the en-
giuper told me Le could not move the engines; this made our case for
the time hopeless, as it was neerhigh water on a spring tide. I then
ordered an anchor to be got bear; the Ste-lights, hatchways,, enm-
fte., to be secured; the baits to he looked to, to be rosily in
cane of need. I went below to aismtre the passengers Cott I believed
there was no danger of loss of life, provided they did as I wished them,
namely, remain quiet until daylight should chow or where we were,
and what was belt to be done; I alio consulted my chart, but could
nut make out to lay own satisfaction clearly where we were, but
believed we were not far from Antall/we, mar Gun leLnol, and that the
light in sight was that of the tooth Ito* and at daybreak. When the

Coon Guard people and others came oe,t maid art Molten! we were
in Dwidrum Bey, and that there was a light on St. John's Point,
for some time. 'The ship was forging ahead with the sea, and I
WAS afraid to let an arehoir go, lest it might go through her bot-
tom, and do more Moth than good—beaidea, the further the ship
went the greater the chance there was of easing everybody. Towards
daybreak it moderated, and I immediately lowered one of our life-
boats, and eommenced landing the passengers, the ladies not. The
tide soon ebbed out to the ship, and the passengers got on shore in a
variety of ways,—by ropes, by carts, ea men's shoulders, Sc. ,• and
then their luggage, only one on two packages of which have, 1 be-
lieve, been lost. There was a great rush among the poorer people
for jobs, for which they took care to be well paid, but no ill.treatment
to any of the has come to my knowledge. The Coast
Gliar with Capt. Yieper at their heed, gave emery possible aadatance.
Lieut. Morris, the officer in charge of the station, was early on booth
and did all he could do to help us. Also Hugh Purdy, chief boatman,
who was among the.** penmen on board, and answered the
signals we made in the course of the night very promptly. I cannot
say sufficient for the great anthem we ail experienced from lady
Matilda Montgomery, who no shelter under her own roof to several
of the wmengers, and shelter for many more in the
of the try aground. Captain Deemed, a magietrate, cottages
hero here 7. Nth of assistance in securing the passengers' luggage
in the Coast Guard Watchhouse, and outing disputes as to amount
for carriage., fee., the. The coastal:Mary force, nailer Mr. Janne,
were here as soon as posaible, and afforded valuable nosietAne,,,
which they have continued until very recently. There are
many others In the neighbourhood who have offered ae-
sistance, and I may say generally that all has been done for
us that could be done anywhere, wider our trying circum-
stance*. Our thanks are particularly due to Sir James Dom-
breme, the Inspector-General of Coast Guard, who, on hearing
of the disaster, sent two boats' crews (9 men), with the mate of the
Royal George," revenue cruiser, to war assistance. Mr. Brown, the
chief mate, proved a valuable and efficient officer, and we are in-
debted to him for good service, as well aa to his party of men, whose
assistance we found most valuable in the boats. I alao feel much gra-
tified in being able to say that Mr. Hedger, the chief, and the a hole
of the officers and crew, behaved themselves in the most exemplary
manner during alt their very herd work, and conducted themselves
with the same sptrit and obedience to orders that could be shown by
any men in the moat ordinary routine of duty.
I need not go into the failure of all our attempts to get the
ship afloat ; this you know from Captain Claxton, and my
letters. 1 must remark that it is clear there must have been
a Westerly art, which placed the ship more than Ai mile and
a-half an hour a-head of what the log gam; this Is clear from the
distance run from Liverpool (Coburg Dock Gate) to where we are;
about 120 miles In hours meth 121 knob. per hour; the leg gave
rather less than II knota, and this set also prevented our seeing the
Calf of Man Lights, ae we passed more to the S.W. than we ought to
have done by the course steer( d, ohich I tied to be the same (S.W.
by N.) as steered by the regular trading steamers between Liverpool
and the ports near this. I muat alao observe that I cannot attach any
blame to the corapasses or steer..ge. 1 tried the corn a day or
two after we gut here, and found them Carnet to a I of a point ; in fart
I take the whole blame, if there be any, to myself, for it is 1 alone who
had anything todo with the navigation ofthia ship, or any ether 1 hay,
ever coramindish Overwhelmed be the oecurrence, mortified at the
issue of our great effort, it in still not without confidence that I leave
my ease in your hands, first claiming permission to look back
on the occurrences of the past IS years, and more particularly to the
time I hose been connected with your company. la the year 1831 I
first commanded a ship, one of the Falmouth Poet-office l'aeketa, and
in 1932 1 commanded another Falmouth Packet. In both those 1
kept my own reckoning, although I had °Mores there for that expreta
purpose. From 1832 to 1637 1 commanded merchant sailing VelAtele in
a foreign trade, and a steamer in the coasting trade; those vends
1 navigated myself, of course. In 1837 1 took command of your
slop, the Great Western; and that good ship 1 navigated, entlrel.
myself, sixty-four times to and from New ]ark, for which 1 M.
tamed your high opinion, and the offer of the command of the
Great Britain, as well se a complimentary letter, and a valuable
pre sent fro-n the underwritere at Lloyd's, "for nautical skill and K.-
manship." During that time the numerous presents and (Mimi,
iliala from passenger's, 1 am atter, were given for the care with which
I nuriyhted your ship priscipully, and the whale credit formerly, or
disenakt now, is all nay own; but I feel a firm conviction that you,
gentlemen, will acquit me of blame in this important matter, and, if
so, I trust will publicly declare, yonr, I hope, unanimous opinion to
that effect. That will materially lessen the severe blow I have
received, more secere in every way to me than to any other perm.,
I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, JAW,. MSS

Mr. Patterson, who deigned and built the Great Western,
the Severn, and other large steamers, having joined Captain
llusken at Dundrum Bay, to surrey the Great Britain as
she now lies, reported to the directors on Wednesday last.
The nsture of the reports rendered by both these gentlemen
will he seen by the subjoined extracts from the minutes of
the board of directors:—

trey. 20. - Mr. Patterson attended the board on his return from the
'hip, and explained his view, an to getting her off, and reported that,
finding it neceoury to protect the skip until rote means be adopted
for her removal, he bad ordered • fender of wood work to be made to
secure the ohip'o quarter, at an expense of rit or 701., and having
ncommended that a small floating breakwater should be con-
otruetill for her protection generally, at a coot of about lOW. It was
resoived : That the temporary protection ordered for the ninth§ quarter
be confirmed, and that the breakwater be immediately proreeded with ;
also that the secretary will immediately communicate with Mears.
Gibbs, Bright, and Cu., of Liverpool, in reference to Mr. Puttemon's
views as to getting her off, fur the coneiderinort of the underwriters.
Captain Hosken's Report of the circumstances which preceded the
dhaster of the Great Britain" in Dumb urn Ray, and air the after
occurrence,: baring been read and considered, —lt wa., rewired, I.
That the report la circulated among the prprietoro.- 2. That while
the director* sympathise with Captain Iliuken upon an event, an
afflicting to him and so injurious to the Company, they nth*e with
him that the catastrophe was, by the blessing tie Providence, unat-
tended with bar of life or primal injury to any one.--3. They take •
this opportunity of recording their moot grateful thanks to Lady
Matilda Montgomery, the Mastotrateo, and the officers and men of
the cord Guard. Constabulary, and Revenue denims. mentioned !
in Captain Ileaken'e Report; and their perfect satisfaction with the
conduct of the unicero and ship's company, who, under circumstances
of great trial and fatigue, conducted tb•MArle(ll re admirably.-
4. With respect to the occurrence% which preceded the strand !
of the unfortunate chip, r explained now by Captain Hodson, and in
byg
the report of Captain Claxton to the weretary, the directors are of
opinion that the ship was stranded in COII....qUeOCC of an error in
judgment, into which It appears her captain was betrayed, through
the omission of a notice of bt. John's Light in the chart of thin year,
by which he was navigating, and of the want of knowledge on his
part of such a light being established, -- it being to the directory,
obviouo, that, had the light been laid, Captain llosken would
have known that the judgment which led him at eight
o'clock to pot hi. ship in the trier course for the North
Channel, ought to have been persevered in. The directors
cannot dismiss the subject at its present stage, without
considering is hetber any and what amount of ben tit to nit-
s h.-ation r to be deeded from tie melancholy circumstances
which they have so deeply to dephire, and they inform the
prcprietork that they mean to appeal to all luouranee Companies, all
Merchants, iShiporners, and Master, •if Ships, to aid them in urging
upon the legislature an enactment, with heavy johaltico, against all
Admiralty Agents who 'ball, after the paring of the name, nen
Charts without on ...awl certificate that they have lass examined
by a person or prroors in aujhority, either from the Ilydrographer'ii
Office, or the 1 rainy liowse or as may be appointed, and that they
contain all the knows Lights, Buoys. or Byrum, up to the date
of said certificate; also, upon Tendon% of charts not Admi-
ralty Agents, who shall not, in the first week of every January, have
obtained a oimilar reinitiate from the Custom-hour authorities of the
several seaports of the United Kingdom. The directors apprehend
that this may be accomplished without any sierifiee of property, as
nothing tan be more easy than dotting down, in red ink, and in writ-
ing, whatever may be new upon the oldest ( %arta, and the result would
be int•reard eimnslence in navigation, a snot owing of property, greater
security to underwriters, and tuncionitant surely to the travelling pub-
lic. The stranding of so noble a specimen of naval architecture,
and the oorequint check to the progress of naval science—
the narrow erape from a watery grave of nearly three hundred
perrons the probable Lan of so much property, and the
oneness or otherwise of experiments to Rave her—arc questicen of
interest, and while they are fresh in men's mind., or under drew-
oion, Is the time, the directors conceive, to add considerationaiif
modeo of improvement in the safiruardo of navigation, and they
would con:oder thernstlYes remits, if they neglected the eiuhrt
opportunity of chinning the support of the public in gibtaining
an Act of Parliament, embracing in some shape the foredoirg
object, as they cannot but conshicr that the primary cause of the
disaster, wan the omission of St. John's light in the chart usod by
Captain Boren.

IRELAND.
THE LABOUR-RATE ACT.

WEXFORD.--SHnItHORNC.—The extraordinary present-
ment sessions for this barony was held at Ballistown, on
Wednesday the 14th inst. William Madden Glascott took
the chair.—Mr. Glascott addressed the meeting for a consi-
derable time upon the utility and application of the act of
parliament under which the proceedings were carried on.—
Mr. Glascott resuming his seat, Captain Dyer, the officer of
the Board of Works, explained to the people the nature snd
working of the Act. He sat down amidst the murmurings
of the bystanders, who did not appear much pleased at his
promises of 10d. per day to support a large family. At this time
the small court-house was so densely crowded that scarcely a
word was audible. Mr. Glasoott proposed that the sum of
111,0001. should be levied off the barony, and devoted to
works for the employment of the poor for the next ensuing
three months, 4,000!. of which to be allocated to each parish,
four being included within the barony.—The amount was
voted accordingly.
THE WEATHER.—A STORM.—The weather has been ex-
tremely boisterous here for the last few days, and last night
it blew a perfect storm. There has been much casual
damage done to the shipping in harbour; but nothing
serious to any. However, it is feared that along the coast
damage to a very serious extent must have been suffered.
The storm visited the south-western parts of Ireland earlier,
and has there blown a whole hurricane.
DEATH BY STARVATION. —The Limerick and Mire
Examiner, on the authority of a medical gentleman, Dr.
Hill, resident near Kilrush, states that ten individuals have
recently died in that district of positive destitution. I have
myself been assured this morning by a gentleman just arrived
from Mayo, that a female, named Honer Tonra, who resided
near Errcw, within four miles of that town, had died of des-
itution within the last few days. I have been also assured
that scarcely a child attends the schools taught by the monks
at Errew, where from 240 to 300 attended daily. They are,
nay informant states, too weekend feeble to attend any longer.
PROPOSITION FOR A GENERAL FAST IN I RM. AND.
The liratertard Chronicle, a Repeal journal, contains the
following notice of a sermon preached by the Rev. Richard
Ryland, a clergyman of the Established Church, in Water-
ford, on Sunday last. Taking for his text a passage from
the Prophet Amos :
"I have amines you with blasting and mildew," the reverend
preachc r stowed how, in the case of Israel, when God wens forgotten,
sore vintaneas were sent upon the people; and unless they
humtlatl themselves before him, other calamities of a worse
nature followed. We have had pestilence within a few years,
and now we are threatened with famine. The prayer which
had been ordered to be used on this occasion WV% as far
m it went, good, but he wanted more—he wanted a whole
day to be set apart for humiliation before God--s day of prayer and
raglan ; by the latter he meant total abstinence from food—an PM-
eine which bed been found by souse r great aid in drawing the mind
to God. Let all consent to this -light deprivation, and give the yeti-
mated cost of a day's pmsisioa to the poor. Ile wanted all, without
exoeptinn, to feel the scarcity, and not the poor only. Ile heard of
distinctions- religious and political: 1,16 this a time to indulge in
such! He called upon all: Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Dia-
masters, :dl who worshipped the same God and Father of to all, to join
together before the throne of Mercy and beseech the Lord ha alleviate
their dialect*.
The preacher was listened to with the deepest attention.

THE PIM CI PLEA CH, St PPLT AND DEMAND.—The Cons-
missary-Ocueral for Ireland, a much-abused gentleman, has
addressel the f"llowing communication to Lord Sligo; upon
the true principles of supply and donand:
The esstle, Dublin, Oct 14.
My Lori—l have the honour to acknowledge the reetipt of your
lordship's letter of October the 6th, containing the resolutions of the
Westport committee, which reached me only yesterday, and I have
this morning )our letter of the 12th MM. I pay due attention to
your lordship's application foe government essistanco and for the
opening of the gsoerntuent depot, and I solicit your lordship's
patience whit -t I enter into some explanation ou this subject. We
have a crisis of a pet uliar nature to overrnme, and a sudden tninst-
' tion front pot-to t grain fond, for which the country is little
prepared. We have two great deficiencies to supply—mills
and inland corn dealers, and both are a work of tone.
Unfortunately a great, and, as I think, an Pt-considered
opprobrium boo beta t eowa upon dealers is cora and the farmer,

with scarcely any knowlede of the prineip; es of trade, Is exercising
the two professions, and with injury to Ixr.h. If they were, as they
onght to be, divided, the farmer would be ra lieved rfetel bad.
news that he does not under:intend, and would ta.."„ whole liargiven op to his own occupation, in which he WOK',. be materially
amieted by loans or au antes from the trader, who, " well as hie
landlord, would have en interest In hie stream. The de," "neat be
distant when the gentlemen of the country will see the ads .thtefte of
encouraging dealers of character and respectability, and det!ex.'Ze all
the advantage of the union of commerce and agriculture. With ta-
g.ual to the high prices which it is alleged the dealers exact, we mast
bear in mind that if an article is retiree it must be dear ; set a mallet
quantity of fiext moot be made to suilice for a longer period than is
usual, and that the high price Is the only criterion by which ran-
semption can be mono:Ili:rd. The interests of an intelligent
dealer will alwaye check the tendency to raise prime :Morn their
true level ; or, at all create, the attempt will carry its cure with it by
dieeppoipting him of hie market. The present Is rota local egareity,
but includes all Western Germany, Ilelland, Belgium, and France, as
well as the United Kingdom, and them powers are competing with it.
in the food maraca ; and if we decline to pay the tale velue we shall
lose our proportion of it. No merchant will bring his goods to our
market if he can obtain a :setter price elsewhere. I Mink we ehall
certainly mistake the object if we sell below the met price, for we giro
up all check upon the consumption, and abut out all mercantile ambit-
awe from us, and stead alone in our market, making ourselves respon.
table for the supply. Your lordship's information leads you to state
that the grain m the country In Only eir .ugh to eupply the seed tares.
soy far the seeing of the double crop to compensate for the loss
of the potato. I must not attempt to coined thy. impremion as
relates to your Imalship'e nsighbuurhood, but in the country gene..
rally, it is acknowledged that the barren ben abundant. anal
so great have been the expurtatiue to England that the price has actually
given way under it, awl the markets am lee advaritimivas than
in Ireland. Wheat has even horn re-shipped awl brought back
again. Mere is a pram? of the great In.. exwrieneill by the mutat?y
from the absence of respectable corn dealers, who,' bu,inero it would
be to watch the comer of trade, and keep their own markets supplied,
making the abundance of one part of the country applicable to the
demand of another. Your lordship in disposal to think that the open-
ing of the depot at Westport, which comaina about la° tans of en-
gem:id Malian corn, would afford to the people an effectual measure
of relief. The quantity which I have stated Is ohllunt all answer to
this solo itation; but I am iItiMOILI to explain to your lordship that
neither the trade new the government could adopt any .tea for in-
ereasinir the supply of food in the country until the failure of the po.
Coto crop was known in September. On the mum favourable view
that can be taken of the time neer/wary to introduce foreign 1111µ44.
rations, it cannot be uccoinplished as 4h any effect in kin than three
or four months. Until thou period, therefore, ham elapsed (from
let of December to the let of January), neither the [rage nor the cem-
missarhat can be in • petition to meet the exigency which your lord.
ship thinks is now impending. The only and the real remedy is the
abundance of the late grain harvest ; and your lordship wdi net fail
to observe the danger we incur in exporting this nierliulty, or in
?Mik: to apply it to our local wants, and transferring our expects.
tione to the importation of a foreign grain eolith has not had time to
reach our coasts. In consequence of the demand fur Indian corn meal
the price Mu risen to :Ms. per quarter—much beyond the price of
whole wheaten meal, the growth .of Ireland, or of barley meal,
whether grown here or imported. I earnestly recommend to your
lordship's committee the :Advantage which theme items of Amply otler.
I should elm° strongly- recommend the sowing of eve instead of onta,
at least in part, which is harvested weirdly six weeks or two
months before wheat. I trust that your lordship will perceive
the Motility of opening our depot, and of commencing our homes before
we are in to maintain them. It would be deceiving you, and
depriving us of the alfUlle of affording a Roma temporary euce air to
sonic of the worst parte of Connemara and .tehill Island, In cycelu-
ainit, I advert to your tont:Ml(3's application for a depit at lambhurg,
for the iliMeulty whirl, my prarious explanations will have prepared
you. In tart, lam obliged to withdraw for the moment the consta.
Wary denim now dependent on Westport, trusting to the exertanui of
thecommitters to supply their absence until we are able to renew them.
Ou this subject it awe be made ea ident to your lordship that these
eonatibulare dePots, If they become too numerous, MIMI the impar.
Balite of tie distribution ; fie all theme I:militias a: hirb have not thus ad-
s-entice are obliged to defray from their own funds the expenses of
transport, of custody, and isms; and I am sure your tordehip will con.
cur with me that there should be no distinction. I have received ap.
pbeations for Ito Ina a number than for In.; of these depots, with
which it will be elems to your lordship, that, even in the aggregate, no
one could anticipate that I should have the means of complying. I
beto critic your inniehip that it will give me great plemite e in assist.
roue committee es much um lice in my power; and I congratulate
the district on your lordehip'e having consented to act on their chair-
man at a moment when all rho influence and example In the country
are norm:eery to carry an through this greet crisis.—l have the honour
to he, dc., (Signed) K. J. Boum, C. 1.1.
The Most Noble the Marquis of Sligo, kw, Westport.

SCOTLAND.
OPENING or THE Pours.—The Provost of Polloksihaws
(Olnegow) has received the following letter, acknow Icslting
receipt of the memorial of the inhabitants of that burgh to
Lord J. Russell, praying fur the opening of the ports, and
prohibition of distillation from grain :
" Downing-street, Oct. 16.—Sir : I awn desired be Lord J. Russell
to atkibowledge the receipt of your hater of the 25tii ult., and or the
memori it of the Inhabitants of Pollokshaw. which iecontianird it.
Lord .1. Russell to deeply sensible of the calamity which now pram.%
AO sevetely on the poorer classes of the United Kingdom, owing la
the alt cot total tailure of the potato crop: but he truqs that the
toes., which the government will adapt, and the enertions of
props ii tors on their °a n es t disc will tend %cry greatly to mitigate
the di-trews. I have also been instructed to inform you, that it I. not
the intention of the government to prohibit the distiilition from
graln.—l have the honour to he, sir, yo,lr obedient servant,
(Signed) It. W. Gsr.r.
A ellen I Ite.—COSIMPRION fly THE. Loren-LIEUTENSST.
—Cornet W. C. Patrick to he Lieut., vice the Hon. J.
Kennedy, of Ayrshire Yeomanry Cavalry.—Ginefte.
Tut: GRAPE-YARD NVIsANCE.—On Tuesday, the 20th
instant, two soldiers belonging to the First Royals, were
buried in the Edinburgh °niftier' churchyard. the officer
in attendance complained of the shallowness of one of the
graves, which the Recorder alleged was of the usual depth,
three feet, eleven inches, although, to all appearance, it was
not more than three feet, and another coffin was understood
to be immediately underneath. The exact details may be
disputed, but the fircyfrittel churchyard ought to have been
shut up long ago, no a public pestilence. George Buchan. a,
the famous tutor of James 1., lies there, coil since bis time it
has constantly been used as a place of interment. The
ground is far above its original level, and on un atteunit being
made some years ago to reduce some of the more prondiwut
acclivities, no progress could be made, in consequence of the
masses of bones which were laid open by every succeeding
incision of the spade. In the midst of this field of corruption
there now stands one church, with the probability of anothi r
being erected, and it is bounded by the grounds of two public
hospitals and a street; the windows of the houses looking
directly on the graves, and heaving up to their sills without
sia inch of intermediate space. This would have been dis-
creditable at any time, but more so now that six public and
well-regulated cemeteries encircle the city at daft rent points.
If private persons will perpetuate the nuisance, certainly
Government should not do it; and, most likely, ifa commu-
nication were made to the Secretary-at-Wu, military lune
rals would be ordered to take place in the cemeteries.
FINE Allis is ScoTLAND.—For years past a bad feeling
has existed between the Royal Institution and th, Bela!
Scottish Academy, and lately it threaten?d to be the meant
of preventing the latter from holding their annual exhibition
of paintings in the premises of the institution, where they
have been held for a series of years, and where indeed, in the
absence of a special building, they can alone be held. The
breach was understood to be healed up, but it appears that it
is breaking out anew, as it is said that the directors of th e
institution have intimated that they will not allow the
Academy exhibitions after 1847. The dispute, like all pro-
tracted conflicts, has got complicated, and we have no desire
to enter on it; but certainly it is high time that it were
settled in some shape. Were it not that government com-
missions generally cost too much money, and cushion such
matters after all, the controversy should be disposed of in
that way; but probably, were government to make the
attempt, they would find a sufficient number of private
citizens of requisite honesty and intelligence who, for the
sake of Scottish Art, would be willing to adjudicate
gratuitously.
EDINSVROH TIME BALl..—Edinburgh, which exported
David Ramsey' to London, and now beasts of having David
Bain, the patentee of the electric clocks, as one of its denizens,
has hitherto had no comprehensive public method of
announcing apparent solar time. The scientific ship cap-
tains and watchmakers have had to trudge to the Calton-
hill, and examine the transit-house for themselves; while the
unscientific have been content with tLe mean time of pendu-
lums and mainsprings. To remedy this, government is, at
the suggestion of the Tidal Harbour Commissioners, to place
a time ball, six feet in diameter, on the top of Nelson's
monument, which is daily to be precipitated at one o'clock
true sidereal time. As Glasgow has an observatory as well
as Edinburgh, it should contend for a similar privilege.
THE POET BURNS.—The Elgin Courant says :—" A
very interesting document, relating to the excise services
of Burns, has been kindly handed to us by James Melville,
Esq., collector of excise in this district. It is the diary of
the Dumfries collection and district from 17th Jan. to sth
March,l796—the district in which Mr. Findlater, the friend
of Burns, was supervisor. The entries, which are very
numerous, relate to the routine duties of an excise officer,
in the performance of which Burns was always highly com-
mended by his supervisor. Indeed, from the humblest
officer to the head of the local department, in the Dumfries
collection, testimony is borne to his efficiency and mild de-
portment. Burns is recorded as being indefatigable in the
performance of his duties. The diary, however, reports
Burns on duty : but it appears that from October, 1795, to
the January following he was confined to his house. He is
shortly after (sth March) represented is declining health.
Rheumatism and loss of appetite, deprived of refreshing
sleep, and in dejected spirits, from a summary of the im-
prints of death on this neglected luminary. Writing under
this impression to Thomson, he States :--' I close my eyes
in misery, and open them without hope.' Only four months
from the date of Collector Melville's diary days and
night*, weeks of serious reflection—earth was restored to
earth— the eyes of Burns having closed on this world the
21st of July, 1795. ' A spirit of independence,' rays
' reigned alike in the genius and the character of
Burns, a meet finale to our brief relic of his laborious man-
hood."

AT GALAS/11EL% on Friday night, a DISGRACEFUL OUT-
FLAG P. was committed by some rzilwar labourer.. It appears
that a number of these men have bee:n in the habit of using
the ball-room of the Black Bull Inn, as a sort of regular
meeting place, and on the night in question some of them
had proceeded thither as usual, a hen they found it occupied
by another party, the young dyers, who were holding their
anniversary ball in it. These 'latter have had the room for
the same purpose for the last twelve years, and the " navies "
received due notice that the room was engaged. They per.
sisted, however in their attempt to enter, and, on being
civilly requeeted to go away by some of those present,
declared their determination to have the room themselves,
and proceeded to take possession by force. They broke up
some of the forms and stools in order to use the fragments as
bludgeons, and a dangerous scuffle ensued between them and
the townspeople. In the course of it, some of the windows
of the house were smashed, and the pannels of the doors
broken. The special police were sent for, but they refused to
act, on the plea that they had not received their ihstructiov..
Fortunately, the "tarns," baring gratified their o an of
destructiveness to their heart's content, or perba ... ,
ulterior conscquencra, withdrew from the field bef ei.. - -
had demolished everything in the house. Nome at•AttM
were cap tnred.—Seotatcon. 7.:, - ..
STIRLING lII:ROUS.—A new candidate has
this district, in the person of Mr. Spear, of mei.
From this gentleman's aldress to the electors, 5 1 .
zC
that he professe+ almost, if not altogether, the ea
'
!pinions as those entertained by the late Mr. ck. r.gt..
Wallhoese. ,
Si r" •