The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 8, 1848.

Mike of the British Wort India Colonies, and the slave roger-pro-
dueling countries, the former ought to be brought within the category
of free trade, or forced to compete with the latter, or there are any
peculiar circumstances which nurrant their being excepted from the
epersUonof the policy laid dawn by the government in reference to the
commerce of the nation, we contend that the period has arrived whea
her Majesty's subject. in the teem Indira may fan ly and remon.....uld
ebbs to be treated as her Majesty's auhjecui In Diehard rte.
with respect to the introduction of their products Into the mealWa
the mother country. The opportunity is now promoted terneesent
and the British public to declare the inhabitants at Wm la MY
Needs and colonies entitled le the same advantages as Oa WAWA-
eats at the counties of England, and we trust the repramlathis at
the farmer will not fail to press this matter with all the Iwo and
to which it is entitled, until the admission or asiiimalsa
earctatig and distinctly made. Leaving out of new every splodge
couneeted with the free-trade policy, and admitting the right of Oa
government and parliament to pan such laws, and declare sera Me-
Whom, with respect to the nude and commerce of the nailed, le NM
be deemed necessary or expedient for the public henetlt,we, of
and the inhabitants of the Went India colonies generally, put=
urge our claim to he treated AS English farmers, and to carry the
produce of our lards and labour into the English markets, un-
fettered by any Unmet whatever. The question which the British
parliament will have to decide, or ought to be coiled upon to deride,
is not whether the West Indies should have protection, or be exempt
from competition with foreigner., but shall be recognised and treated
ea Integral portiens of the gnat British empire. And the question is
an important one. It is worthy of a greet parliamentary struggle,
and if urged icon the broad basis of right and justice., cannot camera-
fully be resisted. The London journals and the West India committee
will compromise the character end interest of the colonies if they fail
to take up this high ground and to maintain it in parliament. And see
tell them that no revocation of protection—no exclu-ion from the
category of free trade—no expedient to preserve vitality in the
colonies for a short time, with a certainty of recurring prostration
nothing indeed short of the full and free admission of their right
to send their produce to the Br iUsh markets free of any impost what.
ever will satisfy their inhabitanta or insure their prosperity. Thu is
not the time to quibble ab cut distinctive sugar and coffee duties, or to
enter into lane and tircramo details to show the cost at obi& one or
the other am be produced, or to :measure the elect amount of duty
whieh is necessary to place to upon • fasting with the Cubans or Bra-
zilians. It forma no part of cur duty to explain m whet respects fo-
reign nations are superior to us, either In the quality of their land, the
nature of their machinery, or the command of labour; or what is
necessary towable us to compete with them in the markets, not of
their country, but of our own. We will institute no comparison
between ourselves and them. It is derogatory is us,
and discreditable to the, English governmel and na.
. .

dust b du ao.—Our duty m b poTi7;ihe eSnnfitlonei
agricul-
turists of the mother.country, sod to say, we claim to be treated as
they are. The comparison must be with them, and not with
!Spaniards or Brazilians. When we Mall have ceased to be British
subjects—to till Brittah sod--and invest British capital in the growth
mad manufacture of our products—and not till then ought we to be
compared with, or treated as, foreigners. It is our boast that we are
the former, and remaining such, and yielding to no pert.. of her
Ila}esty's subjects in loyalty and affection, we cannot doubt that our
claim to be relieved of all donee or imposts not levied (IND the pro-
ducts of English farms or land* will be admitted. This to what the
West India coloniee require, and it is what the British houses of
parliament moat grant, if they desire to preserve those dependencies
of the empire.

for there are always in London. as in Paris, enough
of dissolute and idle perms for the nonce to be
found to form Bach an assemblage, and the time for putting
it down having arrived, I think that object may be effected
without the interference of another force, but that of public
opinion, if thus expressed. I suggest that if every well-
disposed person will but eschew Charing. cross and its neigh-
bourhood as a means of thoroughfare, as they would a place
invested with the plague—if they will but go half a mile
round to avoid the locality, then in twelve hours it will be
deserted by those whose only object is a row, with a view to
the commissioa of breaches of the peace, either from mere
vanabondising wantonness, or to enable their confreres, the
pickpockets, to reap a rich harvest from a gazing multitude,
whose curiosity takes the place of their better reason. Leave
the locality to the pasession of the powers that be, and those
who go there for unlawful purposes. Taboo Charing-cross
and the circumferaice of a quarter of a mile round it, and
the result is certain.—:due A Loonait.os. —Tuesday night.

SANITARY ReeialtM.—A meeting of the clergy,
convened by circular, was held yesterday, at the house of the
National Philanthropic Asa-relation, 40, Leicester-square,
to take measures in furtherance of the above object. The
Rev. M. W. Lisignan having taken the chair, Mr. Charles I
Cochrane male a few observations, and the Rev. Mr.
Fletcher thee moved, and the Rev. Mr. Sprenger seconded, '
• reselutioa for the appointment of a committee, which was
compeed of a long lea of clergymen, the Bishop of London
being requested to name a chairman. The resolution was
carried, and it was intimated that Mr. Cochrane bad granted
the used the rooms in which they then met for the meet-
lags of the committee and the transaction of their general '
business. The proceedings then terminated.
RIGGED SCHOOLS.—Last evening the supporters '
of the Ragged School in George-street, Limon-grove, held
their annual general meeting in the theatre of the Literary
and Scientific Institution, Edwards-street, Portman-square.
Lord Ashley, M.P., was in the chair, supported by Lord
Sandon, M.P., and most of the neighbouring clergy. The
report stated that the district in which the school was situate
was inhabited by a dense and increasing population living in
a state of gross immorality. During the short period of ten
months 28 young persona in that district ware convicted, of
whom 14 were vents aced to various terms of imprisonment,
and the remainder were transported for seven years. Out of
50 persons, only five attended divine worship. Since the
establishment of the school there had been a marked ins.
prevenient in the behaviour of the children in the vicinity.
The average attendance during the year had been to the dee,
school, boyr 80, girl* 60; to the infant school, 281 ; and to
the Sunday evening school, 216. The annual subscriptions
for the support of the school amounted to oaly 901., and
there was a debt upon the institution of 1001. On the
motion of the Rev. J. Walpole, seconded by Lori Bandon,
the report was adopted. Several resolutions were then
I paned, and thanks having been voted to the noble lord in
the chair the meeting separated.
THE THAMES TUNNEL.—Yesterday the annual
Renee"' meeting of the proprietors in this undertaking was '
held at Bailey's Hotel, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, for the
purpose of receiving a report from the directors, the re-elee- '
tion of directors, &e. The chair was taken at 1 o'clock I
by Mr. Benjamin Hawes.—The Secretary, Mr. Mason, read
the advertisement by which the meeting was ronvened.—
The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called par.
suant to the act of parliament. A formal report was not
considered necessary. The tunnel was in excellent order.
As far as this grand work was concerned the
proprietors must be proud of it. There was no
dividend yet to be declared. The directors, after '
twenty-five years of anxiety and labour, would have
liked to give a dividend, but as some fought for glory, the
original subscribers to the tunnel had the right of saying ,
that they commenced and completed what was at first con-
eidered an impracticable work. The accounts for the past
year having been read, the Chairman, in reply to questions, '
stated that the number of persons who bad passed through
the tunnel in 1847 was 9513,347 against 1,010,573 in 1846.
The tolls, dtc., received in last year, were 3,9931.,
land in 1846 4,2101. A deficiency had been discovered
in the late clerk's accounts. The Guarantee So-
ciety had paid the amount claimed from them, and the
directors had made up the rent; so that the company
had lost nothing by the defalcations of the party referred to.
The re-election of the director' who have gone out by rota-
tien was proceeded with. Mr. J. Nolloth was elected in the
room of Mr. B. Hawes, jun., resigned. Thanks were re- ,
turned to the directors, and the meeting adjourned, the
Chairmen having previously remarked that there had been a
distinct offer made to the director. for the purchase of the
Tunnel for railway purposes. Should, as was anticipated,
the North Kent line be formed, the tunnel would be re-
quired, as the engineering difficulties were email. A divi-
' dead then might be expected.
REDUCTION OP POSTAGE ON LETTERS TO AND
Fklo,l NEW GRANADA.—Her Majesty's government having '
concluded a convention with the republic of New Granada
for the reduction of postage upon letters and newspapers
conveyed between this coantry and New Granada, on and
after the 16th instant the provisions of the convention will
come into operation, when the rates of postage will be as
follows : Upon letters passing between the United Kingdom
and any port in New Granada, whether in the Atlantic or
Pacific, an uniform rate of Is. the half ounce, 2a. the ounce,
and so on in proportion. Upon letters passing between the
United Kingdom and countries or places in the Pacific, via
New Granada, an uniform rate of 2s. the half ounce, 4s. the
onnee, and so on in proportion. The postage upon letters
despatched from the United Kingdom to New Granada, or
to countries or places in the Pacific via New Granada, must
be paid in advance. British newspapers duly stamped and
posted in the United Kingdom, addressed to New Granada,
and New ()median newspapers, printed in the language of
New Granada, and posted in that country, addressed to the
United Kingdom, when forwarded by packet direct, will not
be liable to postage. When such newspapers, however, are
transmitted by private ship, they will be subject to a postage
of Id. each, which must be paid in the United Kingdom,
both on their receipt and despatch.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN LONDON.—The regis-
trar's report for the week ending Saturday last, March 4,
conveys the satisfactory news that the mortality has at
length declined surly to its ordinary average. The deaths
daring the seven days numbered 1,114 ; the average of five
winters being 1,107. Typhus, scarlet-fever, and small-pox
are however still unusually prevalent. The number of
births during the week was 1,376. In addition to the usual
weekly table, the Register General yesterday issued a, sum-
mary for the year 1847. This presents, at one view, the re-
lative fatality of different diseases, and shows the number
of persons who fall victims every year to the various
maladies enumerated. One very prominent fact is the large
number who die from consumption and other diseases of
the respiratory organs. Every week 310 deaths are caused
by affections of the lungs—the bane of our island. It
may be regretted that the registrar has no means of as-
certaining, and of showing how many of these affections are
the inevitable result of our damp and changeable climate,
and how many are caused, aggravated, and ultimately
rendered fatal by neglect of sanitary regulations—how
many cases of consumption have arisen from deficient nu.
triment and scanty clothing amongst the poor, and
from tight lacing, aendentary habits, and late hours
amongst the rich. Next, after the chest, we find
the nerve. ranging as the seat of the greatest
amount of mortal disease. In this class convulsions and
water on-the-brain destroy the greatest number; and these,
it should be remembered find most of their chief victims
amongst the children of the poor. Apoplexy stands next in
power for evil. It kills on an average 23 persons a week.
Disease of the heart we find claiming 31 victims; dropsy,
22; debility, 22; atrophy, 18; cancer, 14; small-pox, 18
(and it should be noted that the persons who die othis
disease ere genendly returned as "not vaccinated ") ; =sales,
30; scarlet fever, 34, and hooping-cough, 35. The deaths
from violence—from hanging, drowning, poison, want, cold,
burns, scalds, and in other painful ways—each week in
London average 30, or more than four every day. After
carefully scanning this return,—this balance-sheet of death's
doings amongst two millionsof city people,—it scarcely causes
surprise to find that the Londoner, surrounded by so many
enemies to life, seldom dies placidly of length of days.
Under the heading of " old age," we find but 81 out of
1,031, the total average deaths front all causes.
A COOL COUNCIL.—At seven in the evening the
party repaired to the audience-chamber, leaving their arms
behind them • for they felt that any effort from five Euro-
peans [Mr. irooke and four others) to defend themselves
against so ninny hundreds, would be unavailing, and that
more would be gained by a show of indifference. They
landed at the platform ; and the barge, in which were Lieut.
Baugh (since dead) and myself, was ordered to lie on her
oars abreast of the audience-chamber, and to keep her six•
pounder, in which there was a fearful dose of grape and
canister, pointed at the Sultan himself during the whole of
the interview. It was an anxious time: the audience.
chamber was filled with hundreds of armed men, in the
midst of whom were five Europeans dictating to their Sultan.
The platform outside was crowded with the wild and
fearless bliunts : not a native in the city bat was
armed to the teeth and anxious for the fray. We,
on our parts, were well prepared for fearful vengeance ;
the barge was so placed that the assassination of Mr. Brooke
and the Europeans would have been revenged on the first
discharge of our gun by the slaughter of hundreds; and its
the main street lay the steamer, with a spring on her cable,
her half-ports up, and guns loaded to the muzzle, awaiting,
as by instruction, for the discharge of the gun from the
barge to follow up the work of death. The platform ad.
mated one of the steamer's guns to look into the audience-
chamber, the muzzle was pointed direct at the Sultan, a man
held the lighted tow in his hand. Every European on
board had his musket ready loaded, and matters assumed a
serious appearance. From where I was on the barge, all
appeared hushed in the audience-room. I could see the
prime minister, Muds, and Budruddeen, as they rose
in turns to speak. I could perceive by the motion of
their lips they were talking, but not a sound came to
our cars. This state of things lasted about half an hour;
and then there was a slight stir, and Mr. Brooke and his
party marched towards us through the crowd of warriors.
By dint of threats he had gained his point. The Sultan
had signed a treaty, by which he bound himself to respect
the British Rag, to make over to to the island of Libman,
to destroy the forts on Pulo-Cheremon, to discountenance
piracy, and to install Muda and Budruddcen into offices
becoming their birth and high rank. I have since heard
Mr. Brooke remark, that considering the natives were well
aware that our guns were directed against them, the self-
possession and coolness shared by every one of them were
worthy of admiration. They never showed the slightest
emotion ; their speeches were free from gesticulation, and
even their threats were conveyed in a quiet, subdued torte,
and everything was carried on with all the calmness and ,
deliberation that might be expected at a cabinet council at '
St. James's.—Mari_ Borneo
THE CASE OP WRIXON.—Sir,-011 the recent trial of
this prisoner at the Central Criminal Court for embezzling
moneys of the Society of British Artists, have forth. prosecu-
lion evidence which, I lament to say, was misunderstood, and
repered not merely to my own injury, but (which I feel the

more deeply) to the injury of my brother artiste 'enmity,
and particularly of the members of the Society. lam re-
ported to have admitted having copied one of my pictures at
she exhibition, and then sold the copy for the original ; and
that this was a customary practice with artists. It is to the
latter part of the mischief that I wish firstly and emphati-
cally to address myself. I beg to state most distinctly and
,solemnly that I dui not intend to convey any such impel*.
ken. What I meant, and what I believe I said, was, that it
was a customary practice with artists to repeat their pictures,
and I added that this was the practice of the old mestere as
well as the modern. But I deny entirely that I intended
to state it to be the customary practice of artists to copy a
picture and sell the copy for the original. It appears, how-
ever, that it was so understood and reported and therefore
I respectfully implore you to convey in your columns my
emphatic disclaimer of any such imputation, from which I
feel most anxious to relieve my brother artists. As to my
own solitary, and, as I admit, unfortunate case, I beg to
state the real facts, which, rather unfairly, I was prevented
from giving when under the extraordinary cross examin i-
kon of 'the prisoner's counsel. A gentleman purchased at the
exhibition a picture of mine for 17 guineas, through the
me:inns of the prisoner Wrixon. Subsequently another
gentleman wished for a repetition of the picture, which, at
Wrixon's suggestion, I consented to make for 10 guineas.
On completing it, the duplicate appeared ao much better
than the original that Wrixon observed to me that it would
be but fair to let the first and more munificent purchaser
have it in pr. Terence, and requested me to consent to his
(Wrixon's) making the substitution. In an evil moment,
and without reflection, I unluckily yielded. This is the
simple fact. I offer not a word in extenuation for my folly.
I should not, en my own account merely, have troubled you
even with this; but when it is made to appear that I alleged
this to be a practice with artists, I beg again to importune
your giving my solemn denial of having intentionally con-
veyed any such untrue imputation. And I distinctly declare
that I never knew anything of the kind done by any other
artist. I never was so silly as to commit myself, except in
this one instance, which would not have occurred but for the
suggestion of the prisoner, as being the fairest course. It is
plain that the substitution could bring no pecuniary or other
bent tit to me. Both purchasers were caualty strangers to
me ; and the whole affair was done through the medium of
the prisoner Wrizon. I could have had no interest in com-
mitting any fraud.—Geo. STEVINK—March 6.
Flee.—Tug CROWN TAVERN, KENSINGTON.—Yes-
heyday morning, at an early hour, a fire, resulting in the
total destruction of the Crown Tavern, and the partial demo-
lition of several other buildings, occurred in High-street,
Kensington, and which was nearly attended with a sacrifice
of life. Mr. White, the landlord of the tavern, was awoke '
br hearing the alarm in the street, and, upon opening his
bedroom door, he found flames mounting the staircase. He
immediately aroused his family and domestienbut so fiercely
was the fire burning, that none of the parties were able to
get down the stairs. Fortunately, Mr. White procured a
rope, by means of which he lowered his family and servants
out of one of the back windows, and, eventually, he sue.
ceeded in effecting his own escape, but not until the flames
had penetrated the nrom in which be was standing. Had the
parties remained five minutes longer, every one must have
been burned to death. Upon the arrival of the firemen they
found that it was useless to attempt to save any portion
of Mr. White's property, they therefore exerted themselves
to cut off the further progress of the flames. Whilst so
engaged several of the men nearly lost their lives, for all of a
sudden the front wall of the tavern fell into the road, com-
pletely stopping up the thoroughfare, and forcing in the
front of Mr. Boidings linen drapery warehouse on the oppo-
site side of the road. Tree side fronts of the houses adjoin-
ing the Crown, on either side, also fell into the street. The
firemen, however, nothing daunted kept to their posts, but
notwithstanding that every one exerted himself to the
utmost nearly three hours elapsed before the flames were
extinguished, by which time the tavern was totally de-
stroyed, and the premises severally occupied by Mr. Allen,
carpenter, Mr. Turpen, working cutler, Mr. Worthington,
Mr. King, and Mr. Bordon, were all partially demolished.
With two exceptions the sufferers were insured. The origin
of the outbreak is unknown.

IRELAND.
MCRLIN, MARCH 6.
The tenant•right agitation is assuming a formida-
ble character, and if not counteracted by satisfactory
legislation may lead to serious consequences. The only
movement which could " send the peasantry of Ireland
to the mountains," is this tenant-right excitement,
which agitates with greater or less force every county
In Ireland. A monster requisition appears in the local
papers convoking a meeting in Meath for the 15th. At
the head of the list appear Mr. Sharman Crawford and
Mr. Corbally, M.P., and a long file of baronial repre-
sentatives. In Belfast the influential farmers of
Down and Antrim held their meeting on Friday, but
the expression of opinion was interrupted by the con-
duct of a hot-headed idealist, named Rea, who im-
ported his views of tenant-right from the United
Irishman, and proposed the establishment of rifle
corps. The farmers retired in disgust, and left Mr.
Rea the enjoyment of his silly triumph over common

At the Repeal Association, to-day, there was a loud
burst of enthusiasm for the French revolution. Mr.
John O'Connell harangued at great length on the
events of which he had been a partial eye-witness,
and panegyrised the revolution in the highest style.
His reception was very warm, notwithstanding the
mistake committed in his late letter, " To the People
of Ireland," which brought him into temporary dis-
favour with the too ardent sympathisers. The main
business done was the adoption of the " address " is-
sued on Monday last by the committee. The rent for
the week rose to 100/.

The provinces still contribute their flow of sym-
pathy to the French revolution. The local papers
indulge in strong leaders, but none has gone so far as
to adopt Col. P. Roche Fermofs strategic prin-
ciples, or the rifle corps of Mr. Henn Reilly. In the
Freeman of this morning appears a letter from. Mr.
Morgan, solicitor to the corporation, whose name is
identified with the Clontarf meeting. He it was who
originated that terrible placard, denounced by Mr.
O'Connell, which suggested the distribution of the
populace into squadrons and sections—a movement
which so powerfully alarmed the government of the
day and led to the state prosecutions. In his last,
Mr. Morgan spurns the idea of petitions to parlia-
ment. He suggests, instead of that old delusion, the
immediate convocation of all the parishes in Ireland,
and addresses of congratulation to the Provisional
Government of France. "Are we afraid or ashamed
—or both?" is his portentous interrogatory. As to
the specific demonstration of the metropolis he goes
beyond the Clontarf movement, and suggests, as
follows, a gathering from both county and city of all
men between 16 and 63 on Patrick's-day, at some
central point ; thence a solemn procession to
the Rotondo, headed by the Lord Mayor and
corporation in their official robes, followed by
their constituents, according to their wards.
The trades of Dublin to form around Stephen's-
green with music and banners, and take up the line
of march after the rural and urban volunteers ; " the
corn and coal porters to keep order along the route."
After the Rotondo is reached, an address of " fra-
ternal greeting to the Provisional Government," and
then, if you will, a " memorial to parliament for im-
mediate repeal." The whole is to be wound up with
" a declaration of right to an independent legisla-
ture," to be inscribed with the name and residence of
every man determined to struggle for its attainment,
and to be enrolled as a national guard to defend the
soil and liberties of Ireland."

Lord Clarendon has just perfoinned an act of gene-
rosity and clemency, which, it is to be hoped, will be
fairly appreciated by the peasantry of Tipperary.
Forty persons, confined in the prisons of the north
and south riding for agrarian offences, have been dis-
charged, and suffered to return to their families and
occupations in the commencement of spring. The
Tipperary Ree Prey; acknowledges the kindness of
the noble earl, and augurs the best results from his
unexpected favour.
The Countess of Clarendon is untiring in her ex-
ertions to promote the Irish poplin trade. She has
given orders to our most celebrated manufacturer to
supply, from her own designs, a gold tissue dress, to
be worn on St. Patrick's irght, and to be called the
"Clarendon poplin." Her ladyship has also ex-
pressed an anxious wish that all of her sex, who
honour the festivities at the castle on that occasion,
should appear in the beautiful manufacture of their
own country.
A third candidate appears in the field for Kinsale,
on the repeal interest—Mr. :4.l.Namara Cantwell, an
intelligent and popular solicitor, who conducted the
defence for Dr. Gray, Richard Barrett, and Tom
Steele on the state prosecutions. The Kinsale fisher-
men, however, are not remarkable for the sacrifices
they ever make for country.