The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-24 00:00:00

THE FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

OLNLItti ORDER.-1101L3L GUARDS, MARCII 21,
111,jesty the Queen expressly desires to recog-
sio• Me steadmew Nod seal with which the detachment of
▪ hd 14e Wards sad Stmts Fusilier Ottards behssed cis
Whe swasom of the late Ire which broke out at Windsor
Cede. Het Majesty, in graciously expressing her royal
iffneatiod, has been pleased to declare that nothing could
dosed the gmod conduct of the officers and men.—By com-
ma of the Bight Hen. General Viscount Harding',
commitatharin•Chief. G. Bisowx, Adjutant-Goneral.

NEW Acr ON COUNTY

T. ere act to limit the time for taking the poll
ytksematirsof England and Wales has just been printed.
biarieseg diet at every contented election of a knight or
Wile le Mae ia any alinement after the let of October,
sis, le alp meaty. or for any riding, parts or division of
• sleety. the pilling shall matinee for owe day only, and
tb sew.' shell cesameage at eight o'clock in the sensing,
met i6O gin until die o'ebeek is the afternoon of each
glis pelt Alerts to be employed at the principal
sleref slestlian sad other plans &all, at the anal etas of
Woes sell, imam sad seal their several books sad &-
berth= go nonmed aoalsdl to the sheriff, endrr.elie-
Mg fa emirs deputy pmeidims at me poll. The books
mob be hopt empyreal well touneentbling of the
OW. whets the *rale are openly to be loeltoos and the state
of obi pil to be dreiared. and pedemallem of the member
deeinsabssi *MS sot later than I Wick Lthe afteraafter...
dep.

VENT XING.

no Neer lurk Herald gives the following sketch
Nat Sew, Vice-Precedent of the United States
"Vies-Presidient William Rufus King is a native of North
Combas, *here he was born in 1788 Ho is coneeqwently
Dyear4 of age ; and each is the precarious acre of Ins
Math that it is doubtful, if he should return to the United
Bates frets his present visit to the West Indies, whether
be will be able to perform the duties of vine-president.
Dins are limited to presiding in tne Senate; and, in his
neseee, thl president pro ten. of that body, who is gloated
by the senator,, takes his plate. Mr. Atchison, of Ma-
mei, is at peewee president pro tem. In ease of the death
N the Vico.President, Mr. Atchison would remain in the
amopesities as at present, without assuming the title, as
tat Niko tiould then be vacant ; but in case of the death
N both President and Vice-President, the President of
M &earl pro tem. becomes President of the United
Itstes, until an election eau be held. This is according to
he provisions of the Let of Congress of March 1, 1792.
We ore nos acquainted with the early life of Mr. King
regard,to his pursuits and studies, but we find that he
Mired pulslie life before he had attained his 21st year,
elm he was *beset' by the people of Sampson county to re-
past the* in the legi letup' of his native state. At the
tlo of 24, is 1810, he was elected by the people of the die-
ter et' his (esidenee to the Twelfth Congress, which bold
Mint sender in the autumn of 1811. It was that Cus-
ps' which declared war with Great Britain; and for
not seasons of the democratic or republican party Mr.
Leg voted/ as wells' for the various acts fur carr) log on the
ear with vigour. He was re-elected to Crogrese in 1819 and
131.1, remaining a member until a year after peace was re-
vved. In 1816 he resigned hie seat in Congress, in eosin-
maeLof geoeiving the appointment of Secretary of
MlTteak. William Pinkneyi Minister to both Naples
. 'Petersburg . During his two years' residency in
Iksepe Mr, King became well acquainted with the affairs
tithe coauneetal governments, and the condition and cha-
r/mod the people. Returning from Europe. Mr. King
INS after removed from North Carolina to the territory of
llabania, in 1818, sad assisted in the framing of the email-
Min of the same, previous to its admistion into the Unica
as Mats. Ile was chosen by the legislature one of the
Int 'futon from Alabama Vohs W. Walker being hit
" league), and took his mat
member ia the UMW States Senate
a 1919. lie oontisuod a of that buds for
est Miesty•foar consecutive yeas', having been reelected
1881, 1129, 1836, and 1541. He resigned his seat
the wing of ISM, Ise omsequenee of being offered
FesessA, by President Tyler; which ap-
pointing he aseepted mainly with a view of prevent-
ing
elmdm O m pellet of Francis and England spinet
psalm amnantion of Tons. He we the early
laddeihd hind of that great Stroke of policy which es-
lend to the 'eagle st this country the Matsui of all the
i sales iris net lying within the old boundaries o-
it senbesalloa or the pmeellems of Lowisiana. Os sof
5114 Ms wilisa Its= forthwith to lull Lids malleast with Mr. ILlag,
tailunlmaViriM lbet Ili
17 pretest would MK
am uneutlea. The ftsails }stmt
&Waved am
"he mold do. man hoer* Volta Mateo, sr
abet mold give bse Jest MOM d riihniSe." By the
emu of Mr. Klats • saissisa. instead was tinkled
he her plan of a protest whist the • annerstind
N Tam was abandoned. In November, 1845, Mr.
la& having obtamad. permission to resign his calm
!Labrador, returned to the United States. In
hi we. spite appointed United States senator
Ms Hamm, la Mom of Arthur Booby, sent to Rusin ;
at in 1849 he was sleeted hg,the legislature fee the fall
lemadz years. Is 1860, Mr. Fillmore, eke Viar.Preat-
"lN Idinntmaseedad to the Prosisimmy by the death of
snit Taylor Mr. ling was Mimes by the Senate their
fullest pre a place be bad held in former years,
blet 1336 to 41141. It is nasseemary to state the pankulan
If 6r. Lag's semiaatiem by the Democratic Con v.mtina is
11n last. sad his triumphal election to the Vice-Preni-
ußela, compelled to leave the country for the haf ltir health, he resigned his satin the Senate daring
In hie lesion. Mr. Lag entered political life sa a fol-
hew tif Mu Jamie, sad has always been opposed to the
tonne of implied powers by Congress. He was coml.
Mee me of the champions of southern state rights in the
mum controversies which have arisen in Coon sa on the
Irt 'livery, and internal improvements. Us has never
ma married. Ilia residence in Alabama for many years
bib's' at Selma, oa the Alabama rivet."

011:11C,E ANTIPATNIIIL-lii Majesty had
thelf perusal tiknis sad autipthies, and rather than
tint to Imo a ministry imposed upon him c.nisisting of
"mbit dented he would lave sall.red any amount of
Sits., at venienee. Ho prevailed mom Lord North
elks three years is die fee. of Milting cosj
• api %Matt his lordship's own wishes, f,r the sole
kieping out the whir, whom be 'exerted with
a
of the bitterest avenion. So deem was this
M▪ ollt rooted to his Majesty's mind, that when • jimmies
patty emmee to be all but inevitable in Much,
*O4 he nireatmed to abdicate rathur than be " trampled
ay LIS 'amain." Four years efterwards he explicitly
ad-
~ the sass threat ander the excitement of an ad-
""livisaa ; aad it was sap/need by those who were best
gretetai with the Armen, of his resolution that, had he
Somd to extremities, be would have carried his
"e"'" Late'. maim.— TAs Doke of BoorkisogAones" Cuwg
elorpo
iharn AL OP fleOL.—The late Lady Baird, of
""▪
ste.. 14 l'enhshire, told me that, every year at
(ht. the lee .f May), a number of men and
1.7.• assembled at an sadist druidical circle of stones on
444, CAM, They light • Ire In the centre
• pi
pits s bit of oatcake into a shepheril's bonnet ;
kii down and draw blindfold • piece of make from
in,',let One piece has been previously bleekened,
.7,"keeer nets that piece has to jump theme.% the An
sett, of the circle and to pay a forfeit. This is, in
•.'letrt ofthe ancient worship of Itsal, and the penoa
1.,.'"% the lot fell was fovmetly burnt as a ucritice ; now
;.▪ !
thmugh the Ire represent. dritt,Mbd the pay-
lAe forfeit redee.i s the victim. It is euri..uv that
sti Pre byterians, as the people of th a part of
re
owl are, should anknowning/y keep up the
e of • great heathen festival.—From .• Notes and

TILE BLACKBURN ELECTION.
The nomination of candidites took place yesterday
morning, at 9 o'clock. The election is for • new member
to serve in place of Mr. W. Eccles, who has Imes unseated
by a committee of the House of Commons, on • petition
from the cormervatives, for treating. Mr. Eccles we. re.
turned at the late general election against Mr. John Horn.
by, the conservative candidate, by a majoity of 483 to 609
votes. Mr. Pilkingtoa, the other member in the liberal
interest, retains his seat without dispute. Oa the present
occasion Mr. John Hornby does nut contest the vacant seat,
bat mires place to his brother, Mr. William Henry
Hereby, Chairman of the Bslton, Blackburn, and
Clithero• Railway Company, who was mayor of the
borough last year. The Irber.,l eandidam is Mr. Montague
Joseph Fieldea, son of the late Sir Wm. Fielden, Rem.
Sir William was one of the first membere in the reformed
parliament, and retained his seat up to 1847. The popula-
tion of the borough must now he nearly 60,000, but the
constituency is comparatively small, having been about
1,120 at the late general election, and having incro ised at
the present time under the new register to 1,325. It is cal-
culated at the present election that upwards of 1,100
electors will vote. With the experience of the la's elec-
tion committee fresh in their memories, it is said that
the candidates are chary of open treating, and the
tactics point more to the practice alluded tl by
Colonel Dickson, before the Norwich compromise erma•
matte, of conveying the electors away from Do scene of
action until the poll is over. If the publicans, however,
have not free license to treat, it is certain that a portion of
the electors and non electors are kept " in spirits" through
some other source, and violence and intimidation are not
unlikely to take the place of drunkenness. Some of the
factories are reported to have been stored with drink, when
armed bands of ruffling have been liberally supplied with
all they require to it them for their work. Staves and
bludgeons are said to have been provided in great numbers,
and some fesrtnl scenes are anticipated. Already
tiers have been some brutal attacks on the houses, where
the partisans of one or other of the candidates were as.
*enabled. On Monday night a public house was attacked,
the owner of which is supposed to be a Mend of the liberal.,
and the inmates in many eases thought it safe to decamp
through the windows, whilst the landlord and landlady
were beaten, and the house was set on fire, but the flames
were extinguished before much damage was effected An
old man, an elector, aged 73, was also attacked in
his own house by the same nary, and beaten ; but
he afterwards made his escape, and is concealed
in lodgings until he shall have been able to vote.
The nomination day has been ill chosen, this being
the mtrket day for Blackburn, when, besides the
people from the cotton factories (which have been closed to
the working people), great numbers of country people and
farmers are assembled in the town. Orrat numbers of
mummers are holding their carnival, too, every evening,
going through the performances called " pace-egging ;" in
other parts of the country peculiar to the Christmas holi-
days, but here as common, it appears, at Easter
also. It will be well if the disguises for such occasions
are not turned to purposes favourable to en election
riot. A party of this kind performing at one of the
inns en Tuesday evening, in the excitement arising
from • liberal supply of ietoxicetine drinks, gave
freeexpreesion to their designs. One of the party said,
We'll hold up both hands and legs at the nomination to-
1111111MW. We work at —'a foundry. Never mind, we'll
Iglu like socks to-morrow." Another exclaimed, •s The
boys treat Bersokhouse is the boys to light. I come out of
blend, and blood I'll light." The probabilities appeared,
however, from the state of drunkenness these wretched
orestares were in, that they would. nut he sufficiently re-
stored to appear on the scene next day at tie early hour for
which the nomination was fixed.

The nomination, however, passed off more quietly than
might have been expected, and, with the exception of a
missile 'About a pound weight, thrown at Mr. E. cies, thei
late member, when about to second Mr. Fieldea, but which '
struck on. of the reporters, no sctuil violence to k in
front of the hustings. This is atttibutable mainly to the
cum:lest arrangements of the authorities, who had erected
a strung double line of barriers, separating the supporters of
the two candidates, and having an avenue for the police
between them. Lines of posts and rails at right
eagles with these, also divided each of the two
parties into sections, and broke the pressure which
might otherwise have rendered the crowd irritable
' and impatient. The police are an insignificant
force of l l constables, who were sided by 200 specials, but
who could have done nothing with such a concourse of
people but for these barriers, which kept the two panics
from coming into collision, there beim; at lout 19,000 or
20,000 persons, nearly equally handed on either ride. The
busting. were at the back of the Masket-house, and front-
ing the open Market-plate. The market itself had been
postponed by the authorities until after the nomi-
nation. Mr. Robert Hopwood, the mayor, came
spot the pla•form, accompanied by Mr. Hargreaves,
the town clerk, and each of the candidates was
accompanied by large circles of infleential supporters.
The friends of each candidate in front of the hustings
dts-
pinyed large, handsome banners—those .f the conservatives
being 'male and blue, inscribed, " Free Trade and Good
Wages," " Hornby, tie Friend of the People," and " No
Slavery;" whiles the odours of the liherels were green,
pink, blue, and white, inscribed, " Extension of the Suf.
'rage," " Electoral Districts," " Freedom of Election," &c.
The conservatives had alto several caricatures, not con-
ceived very happily, but which provoked a good deal of
amusement. One was headed "The Scales of Justin," not
saying much for the orthography of the conservatives; and
another consisted of a baron of beef and a plum pudding,
with the inscription " Hornby's Feed," and a string of
red limit." with the inscription, Fielden's Feed."
Happily Via existence of the barriers prevented any collision
between the parties through the exhibition of such offensive
emblems.

The usual formalities having Nen gone through,
Mr. JANES PILLINOTON, M.P., proposed Mr. Joseph
Montague Fielders as a fit and proper person to represent
the borough in parliament. (Cheers and groans
Mr. Wm. RECESS (the unseated membie) seconded the
nomination of Mr. Field... He expressed his opinion that
the people could only obtain the franchise, arid continue to
have cheap bread, "by keeping down the tories." (Cheers
and groans.)
Mr. JOSEPH FIELDS?! proposed Mr. Wm. Henry Iloroby
u a tit and proper person to represent the borough.
(Cheers and tumult.)
Mr. Damn. Taw/Arne seconded the nomination of Mr.
Hornby. (Chun.)
There being DO Debi? candidate ,
Mr. J.M. Yuma= then to addrmothe electors.
genii he felt pswifeedreat led at the position in which be
Mend, and whielike distill Mid at the it of the poll,
When he lathed an Ids Win aided the }lore harm
his opposite proposed by two reatlemea,ef whose °Duthie',
daring diseases's, he had • min, eingisi*, for perhaps
no person in this bon:Ugh ' eftbegrewer bad used
it more energetiesUy ea/ systeamilimillysdahart hlal than
they had done ix order to iadiellnlis the eieeters sad
coerce them to: vote against their widiass. He had said
he believed bio relative, M. Fieldale, die proposer of Ir.
Hamby, never had made use of mods. Warne" with
his tesaate; bat he (Ht. J. M. l idN) found be was
asielathen, ter that menildinea bad 'dome so. (Cheers and
Ilwagigfj.) He amid brio( Weidenhe Ile show that
would m'.
oaks Mt beenveaeldied, and. M. neeintery, It be
pneineed after ibisseelt et this OIOSOINI wee known. What-
ever night be iseasek et the ebiew of Mid% he bad the
easidenies of kasebag that be *eyed it _.deter at the
we** Mlle klenutewileemee, theme' be bellessit
strp= there be pat tip 'Made is 'his itelni. )
nay were well swore es -*hot peels& fat their
enibeges, aid the Owe was a greet aillbrense el pilltind
=between biereelf end Ms eppenent.
tee elm Mot gen-
wield sin be i se b•pales wo
sob dillareatse op Wildellar. Eleldee's) own.
1 ;rears and peon) Ina west espeelal meetwer, he (Mr.
irides) piped Nissen before them as • supporter of Dee
' if tie nest esseatial topics of tbe present day, the vote
who
wen (Peen ), He would ask them, even those who
were opposed se him, Were they is favour of vote by hellos?
and if they answered is the affirmative, he claimed their
eeppert on that ground. If his opponent had been a sup.
of the vote by ballot, he had it from Mr.
Fieldea's own lips, that he could not support
ildi=daraby. (Mr. Horeb y: " No, no ; it I. not true.")
Ile gaol Wm again were they in favour of enemies of
Os Wimp . end on that ground he asked their support,
lite all lennen $4.101110 for • very considerable extension ;
and MINIM that the new Reform Bill which would be
Ineught late pasiimentt nest session would embrace that
enlgeet, and OM liesdeadd he there to give his vote in fa-
ll/OF of that Imalawnh (Cheers.) He bad on various osier
simile exoladeed the views and opinions he interacted to ad-
vocate if they seat him to parliament ; and be wished to
bold those views which were held by the majority in that
town of the electors and non electors—(chsers)—beeause
these opinions were truly and thoroughly liberal. He
felt bound to give • flat contradiction to two
statemeate which bad been made respecting him-
self in the swum of his canvass. One of them
accused him and the brother of their excellent
representative, Mr. Pilkington, of threatening and indad-
Miele • voter in that town, by going into his shop and
Ideclaring that they would withdraw their custom from him,
if he did cot vote according to their wishes. (Cheers and
growls.) Nothing of the kind ever occurred ; the man him-
self was ready to contradict it, and be (Mr. Fielden) could
not withdrew his custom from him, as he was sorry to say
he gave the man any. (Heir, hear.) The other
statement was, that he bad sent to a man named Swells,
whom Mr. Mosby had stated to be an elector, and who
bad spread iniurious reports concerning him (Mr. Fielders),
a letter, offering as an inducement to vote in his
favour, to pardon the insult. Now, this man
Ina not an elector for the borough of Blackburn.
sad he would only say further of this report. that it wu
one of the most diabolical nature. He concluded by saying
that if be were sent to parliament he should hope, by •
straightforward, consistent, and honest course, to merit
their approbation and confidence. They would find him a
supporter of those great financial sod commercial changes
which had done so much for the working classes of this
country ; which he would endeavour to ext. nd to the
utmost; and he should support all measures calculated to
add happiness, comfort, and prosperity to ail classes of this
great nati•in. (Cheers.)
Mr. W. U. ens iv then came forward, and was re-
ceived with mingled cheers and hooting. The hon. genCe-
man, aft-st energetically addressing one of his supporters on
the platform with, " I say, Watts, could not
you get some of those fellows more together
' for the show of hands, " proceeded to say,
I that it was souls what remsrkahle that Mr. Pilkington and
IMr. Fielden, after the harsh expressions they bed made
nee of towards Mr. Eccles, so lately se June last, should
' now b. an exceedingly toad of " that elderly grutleman."
IMr. Pilkington had voted in the majority against Mr.
Hume's motion, against the principle of taking off duties

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING. MARCH .24: i 853

which affected articles of consumption in this borough
and everywhere else. When he (Mr. Hornby) issued his
address to them, long before the so' ject was mooted in
the House of Commons, be specially alluded to the great
propriety and absolute necessity of carrying out free 'rads
in its integrity, particularly upon tea and soap. Toshow
the necessity of Mr. Ilums's motion he would read them
the following statement with respect to tea alone, from
• memorial of the merchants of London on the
subject:—" Your memorialists would farther men-
tion that during the last six years, while the ship-
meats of tea front China to Great Britain have only in-
creased from 57 million pounds to 84 million pounds,
lor something like 12 per cent., the export of tea to the
United States of America, where we compete in cotton ms-
nufactures, and where no duty is imposed, has increased
from 18 million pounds to 34 millions. An increase of two
million posiods more would have mads that increase 100
per cent., whilst we had increased only 12 per cent. in the
import. With respect t i the party which was now opposing
him, it was the union of two parties who were only
six months since at daggers drawn, to attempt to crush
another. La an a liken which he wrote them, long before
then free trade movements in London, he said that he
was the advocate of the strictest economy in every depart-
, aunt of the state, and so lie should he. Was it not
his interest to be so 1 Was it not his interest, as well as
theirs, to advocate economy ? Was it tint his interest to do
the bast in his power to advance those principles of free
trade which were only in tt.eir infancy? Must it not be in
accordance with his interest as a commercial man, that if he
had the honour of representing them, he should advocate
the great principles of tree trade ? It was easy for persons
to get up and say, " We don't believe it ; he Does not in-
tend to do it." Why not say the sans- of his hon. oppo-
nent, because he was only a new recruit in the Pilkington
army. lie had not been long enlisted, and it was because
he could not lead the party to which he (Mr. Ilurnhy) be-
longed,that he went to the other side; it was not from princi-
ple, hut from ba•red, envy, jealousy, aver- malice. Would they
not reasonably expect that they should have some guarantee
front a candidate that he had ability to fulfil the duties of •
member ? And ins-much as neither be nor his opponent
had been in parliarsent, they were so far on an equal foot-
ink, and the electors had only to look back to the acts of
each individual as they had transpired in this populous bo-
rough. Mutes? did so calmly, he bad no doubt of the re-
sult of their decision: he bad no doubt they would decide
that the works over which he (Mr. Hornsby) had had the
honour to preside had rendered more benefit to the work-
ing class in twelve months that, had been done by his oppo-
nent up to the present time. Mr. Hornby then dwelt at some
length on the subject of the Short Time Bill. Not many
years ago the masters in this town were almost to a man
opposed to the working man on this question. His honour-
able friends Mr. Yilkington, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, and
his hon. opponent hinuelt, were opposed to the hill, and his
(Mr. Hornby's) friends alone supported it. Had the electors
any faith in the step which his opponints had lately
taken ? Ilad they any faith in their seer-city ? At
any rate, if they taunted his friends with not be-
ing original free traders, he had • right to turn
back upon them and ask, " Were they original
short time men ?" (Cheers awl groans.) Therefore he had
clearly proved that be had made no charge against Mr.
Pilkiugton which was not true; that his views on free-
trade were honest, clear, and unmistakeable; and that he
and his supp triers were the friends of the working =noon
the short time question. Ho assured them that if he bad
the honour of representing them iu parliament he should on
all occasions advocate those measures which should of them-
selves distribute the largest amount of benefit to the largest
number of her Majesty's subjects. (Cheers.)
The Mayon then called for a show of hands, but the
numbers were so nearly balanced that be hesitated for some
minutes to decide which of the candidates had the advert-
Urge. He at length gave the decision in favour of Mr.
Hornby • and Mr. Pilkington, M.P., as the mover of Mr.
Fieldrn,.demanded a poll, which was fixed for this day.
Mr. Flexure protested against the decision of the
mayor.
The proceedings were adjourned, after a vote of thanks
to the mayor, until five o'clock this evening, when the de-
claration of the numben will be made.

FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT, STOCK-

PORT.

We regret to city that Stockport was on Tuesday
the scene of a boiler explosion, which was attended with
immediate fatal consequences ti one person ; and soother
now Les in a very precarious if not hopeless state. The setae
of the accident was at the T'.omu•stteet Mills, situated in
the Higher Mitigate. at present and for eight years past
worked by Messrs. Fernley and Bradley. The boiler in
question was a two•flue one, 3+Jit. or 321 t. long and 7ft. in
diameter, circular, with fist ends, and was built by Messrs.
Fairbaits, of this town.

The proximate cause of the accident was the collapse of
the left-hied flue, the second, and thtr t plate at the top of
the line being torn asunder to the extent of 23 rivets, and
forced inwards. Consequent on the giving way of the flue,
the water and steam in the boiler were forced upon the lire,
and out at the fire door. At the time of its occurrence, a
bricklayer and his assistant were preparing to lay the brick
floor of the fire-bole which had 'Jaen taken up for the pur-
pose of rewiring the front of the boiler; and they are the
chief sufferers. It is stated that a slight escape of steam
into one of the Hui s had just been noticed, and more par.
dealer attention was about being directed to it when the
explosion took place. We must premise that the boiler
itself (one of two which run below the level of the ground
alongside the main building, and having a mechanics'
shop, a blowing room, and a mixing room above them) has
neither been injured nor stirred ; neither did it appear that
• brick had been any ethers moved. When the steam
forced into t'ae firebole had a little cleared off, a ton of one
of the partners, Mr. Israel Bradley, descended into it,
and stepping into the yet hut water, seized the lifeless
body of the chief bricklayer in his arms, and both were
quickly raised to the level ground. The assistant
bricklayer was at the time of the accident at the foot
of the step used fee descending into the fireplace, and ma-
naged to escape in front of the second boiler, where be was
raised by means of ropes, but in such a dreadfully scalded
state that there are strong doubts of his recovery. lie now
lies at the Infirmary. Young Bradley, who first ventured
into the flrepl,ce, was for a short time insensible after gain-
ing the ground again.

THE REPRESENTATION OF MALDON.—Mr. Thomas
Barrett Leonard, who sat for this borough in the late par-
liament and was defeated at the general election by the
gesitlemen who have since bees uoseated, has announced
himself* candidate for the holoar of again representing
them. Ble Mates that his political principles are unchanged,
=Be 4 mill em advocate elute progress. It is un-
siggille. Q. Disk will also some forward with a
view a ptiresai his parliamentary emeezion with the
keseglo.
IIanMENTATION OF CHATIIAN.—THE BALLOT.—
A usaatior of the liberal elector, of this borough has been
=c whoa it was determined to support Admiral Sir S.
11011•111Millidato for the representation of the W-
..=olBMellef Sir F. Smith. A resolution was also
iat
Is the aillat—o, That it la the opinion of this meet-
ing that Ma aely, remedy for the present corrupt system of
*lssues almaben of parliament kr voting by ballot, and
very asesestly request Sir 8. Stirling, when elected our re-
onseitative, to mead his vote in the Home of Commies
for that memure."
._ _

EAST INDIA COMPANY.

'THE COST OP THE SOUTHAMPTON PETITION.—It
east Sir Alexander Cockburn and Mr. Willcox, the mem•
bare for Soathamptos, above 1001. a day for nearly a fort-
night to defend themselves from the petition that was pre-
sented to the House of Oommons against their return, and
the only witnesses is favour of that petition that placed
their seats in jeopardy, have bees ordered by_the House of
COIMICOS to be presented for perjury. The three tory
members of the committer—Mr. H. Herbert, Lord Hotham,
and Sir J. Walsh—were in favour of making the parties
who brought up these perjured witnesses, that is, the peti•
Menem, pay Sir Alexander's and Mt. Willath's expenses,
by declaring the petition frivolous and vexatiius; Mat the
two liberal members on the examinee over-ruled them, be-
cause they con.idined that the question of the legality of
paying the expenses of out-voters was submitted for eon-
sideretion by the presentation of the petition. To show
the frightful expense to which sitting members may be put
for the sake of deciding a simple point of law before an
election committee, it may be stated that there were about
sixty out-voters for Sir Alexander Cockburn sad Mr. Will.
so:, the liberal members, and nearly fifty of these were
brought up by the petitioners against the return of these
gentlemen, and the examination of whom took nearly a
week. livery one of these voters swore that he was not
paid • farthing more than his hare expenses, and many of
them swore that they were out of pocket by gulag to
Southampton to vote.
Nuw COMET.—Mr. Hind has published the follow-
ing particulars :—On the 6th of the present month a comet
was discovered at the Observatory of the Contain Romano.
at Rome, which presents strong indications of identity with
that of 1664, one of the most minutely described comets
recorded is history. Supposing these bodies identical, the
period of revolution will be 188 years, and the mean dis-
tance from the sun a little greater thee that of the planet
Neptune. In aphelion, however, the comet must recede to
*distance of more than 6,000 millions of miles. It will
have been rather conspicuous in the southern hemisphere
during the letter half of February, but is now moving away
from the earth and sun, and consequently growing less
distinct every evening. On the 19th of March, at 8 o'clock,
its right ascension was 4h. 36m., and its north declination
2 deg. 48 me.; the fernier changes very little at present,
the latter is increasing at the rate of from 20 to 30 minutes
of are daily. Full descriptions, with engravings, of the
comet of 1061, will be found in the "Cornetographia " of
llevelius, and in the " Theatrum Cometicum" of Lubieni-
etski. When beet seen it exhibited a bright nucleus with
a tail 20 deg. long, and curved towards the extremity. If
the comet lately discovered be the same, its appearance
would rather famine the idea that these bodies are gradually
dissipated ; yet Halley's comet may be traced backward in
history to the year 11 before the Christian era, or through
a period of nearly 2,000 years.
MR. ADAMS ASTRONOMICAL LECTI.7IIF.S.—This
gentleman, whose period of return to the metropolis may be
calculated aesecurstely as any of the planetary revolutions
which he so pleasing) y illustrates, commenced his twenty-
third annual series of Lenten lectures at the Auelphi on
Monday last, and will continuo them until the end of the
week. We paid him a visit last evening, and participated
in the pleasute derived by a numerous and attentive au-
dience from his intelligent and lucid explanations of the
heavenly phenomena. The lecture I. assisted by large and
beautiful traamparenciee, and the intervals tilled up with a
pleasing perthrsuance on the musical glasses, which, without
perhaps having an intimate connexion with astronomy,
agreeably relieves the mind from the rather punning study
of parallactic angles and sidereal motions.

Yesterday a Quarterly General Court of proprie-
: tors of the India Company was held at the India House,
Leadenhalbstreet, at which Sir J. W. Bono, pre-
sided.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been read
and confirmed, and some formal business transacted,
Mr. Lewis brought forward a motion of which he had
given notice, viz., that it is expedient at the general election
of directors, that the Court of Directors withhold their
support (by advertisement) from the directors who have
gone out of office by rotation; such unreflecting and Milk-
; criminate support being calculated to degrade the office, by
keeping in the direction men whose age and infirmities
i suggest retirement. The proprietors were the most gain-
dependent body of men he knew, and they would pass
any measure, good or bad, provided it was proposed from
the chair. (No, no.) He saw out of the court men palpably
superior to many of those in the court, but there was no
chance of their being elected unless recommended by the
; directors in office. Every care was taken to shut out new
men, and to elect oeer and over again those who were
already directors. The consequence of this system was that
the court exercised no influence on the public mind, and
that the representations of the directors on Wiwi off dro
received no respect from the ministry. If any independent
proprietor offered himself as a candidate, he had no chance
as against the house list, and m. .n like Holt 111'Kensie,
Sullivan, Sir C. Metcalfe, and Elphinstuue, whose great
knowledge and experience would be of essential service to
the company, were shut our, in order to keep in the direc-
tion men whose ago and infirmities rendered them unfit for
ther duties. The hon. proprietor proceeded to support his
motion by an address of considerable length, but, owing to
the low tone in which he spoke, his übservatiora were not
audible at the very inconvenient place allotted to the re-
, porters.
Mr. Serjeant OAZELES seconded the motion.
Mr. WLEDING opposed it, contending that the system to
which Mr. Lewin objected seenied for the company the
services of the moat experienced and able men.
A Pnoriatirroa held that the constituency had the power
of electing the men whom they thought best qoalified to
execute the trust ; and if they had not done so, the fault
was with themselves. But he had never before heard that
the directors were, either by age, infirmity, or any other
cause, unable to ful their duties efficiently, iind, as far as
he knew, no charge had been brought against them either
of neglect or abuse of their [unction,.
The CHAIRMAN repelled the attack made by the hon.
proprietor on the indepe-deece and integrity t f the court
of directors, over which he had the honour to preside; and
in doing so he wished to be understood as speaking in his
capacity of a proprietor, rather than in that of a director.
He believed tile court of proprietors had always shown, and
he hoped would always show, a disposition to support the
governing body, that was the executive, so long as that
executive honestly endeavoured to advance the interests of
the company. Tu that extent the Cool of Directors had
been honoured by the support of the proprietor,. If any
gentleman canvassing for a seat at the board should pro-
mist any patronage, and any proprietor should vote for him
on the faith of that promise, such conduct would he dis-
graceful to both parties, and could not be sufficiently
reprobated. (Hear.) And any gentleman who could
bring forward such a ease and failed to do so,
would foil in his duty. (Hear, heir.) He
fully admitted that the proprietors had a right, when a
vacancy occurred at the board, to have the fittest man
appointed, hut the hon. proprietor complained that such
men as hula Mackeasie, and Sullivan, and Metcalfe, Ind
Elphinstone had not been elected Did he mean that men
should be elected who were n candidates ? With re-
gard to Mr. Holt Mackenzie he had no hesitation in saying
that if he came forward as a candidate within a year, and
with regard to Sir C. Metcalfe and Mr. Elphinstoue, if
either of them had, before leaving England, signified his
wish to have a seat at the B card, there was no candidate
who would not hive instantly withdrawn is his favour.
(Hear, hear.) The hon. proprietor had alleged that the
Court of Directors did nut command the respect of the
ministry. So far from that being the case he could state,
that during the period he bad been a member of the Board
the greatest courtesy had been shown, and the utmost et-
teutiou had been paid by every ministry to the represents-
limn of the Court of Director!. That power and influence
which the conatitutina gave them they tai always
maintained, and would continue to maint sin. (Hear, hear.)
Another allegation made by the hen. proprietor was that
the government frequently sent out orders and despatches
to India without consulting the Cond. Not only had
they not done so, but they had no power to send
out orders of themselves. Except as to matters of peace,
war, and general policy, all despatches or orders relating to
the government or internal administration of India, every
thing connected with the we, fare of the people, the judicial
administration or the political administration of that
country, most initiate with the Court of Directors. The
object of the ordinary advertisement to which the hon. pro-
prietor objected, was merely to intimate to the proprietors
their opinion of the manner in which the retiring members
of their body had performed their duties ; and he was quite
confident there was sufficient independence in the court of
proprietors to prevent their adopting any recommendation
which they might consider not ful:y justified, or which in
any way interfered with their rights and privileges. (Cheers.)
Mr. Serjeant GAZILIII believed public opinion was
against them, and that the time was fast approaching when
the court of directors must be improved. It was a combi-
nation of influence by 24 gentlemen, lased for the purpose
of obtaining their own re-election in turn, and frightening
all opposition out of the firid. The system was in contra•
vention of the act of parliament, which never contemplated
the election of the directors for life but for a limited period,
in order that fresh bleed might be periodically infused into
the governing body. It would
the earns' and (mortices necessary to procure a seat in the
direction would he incurred if something beyons. the 3001.
or 4001. a year did not fall into the hands of the directors in
the shape of patronage.
Mr. MILL' (a director), denied that the act of parliament
intended that now men should be always elected. The in-
tention was, that if guilty of iniseondur, they might be re-
moved, and he could recollect instanees where the retiring
directors had not been recommended for reelection, because
they had misused their patronage. Looking at the diffi-
culty el obtaining qualified gentlemen to act at the present
time, the existing system was advantageous and beneficial,
and eondueed to the respectability of the board. (Hear.)
Mr. 3d Czausi opposed the motion, considering that it
would be most impolitic to reject the services of men, who
in the course of five years had gone through the routine and
, details of their °Moe and had acquired thatexperience which
was necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the company.
Mr. Joxas thought there was wisdom in • system which
ensured the company the services of experienced men on
the direction.

Captain lidacoanoos moved an amendment to Mr.
Lewin's resolution, for the purpose, as he mid, of reconcil-
ing opposite opinions. The system against which the trio-
lotion was directed could not, he thought, be approved of,
inasmuch as it was prejudicial to the interests of the pro-
prietor., by keeping from the management persons who
might be better qualified to serve than the retiring dire.-
tors. He did not altogether object to the directors recom-
mending candidates, but be wished to see it extended. His
amendment was, that the directors be required to submit
to the proprietors at each yearly general election a hoes.
corresponding in numbers with the vacancies, and in
which they shall recommend from among all the candi-
dates those who, on pablie grounds, they may think it de-
sirable to appoint to ono..
Captain Dovieros seconded the amendment.
Mr. Twang* believed the existing system worked sods-
factortly. The director did net exercise any undue in-
fluence over the proprietors, is rehrence to the election to
vacancies in the Weird ; on the contrary he had known
itistances of gentlemen in every way qualified losing their
election simply became they were taken up by the house-
list. The present wee not the time to attempt to lower the
Court of Directors in the mind of the public.
Mr. Hair opposed both the original resolgtion and the
amendment. He wm convinced that the power and in-
fluence of the Court of Directors had ever Imes exercised
for the advantage of the general body, and he for one
should be sorry t 3 we any alteration in the constitution of
that court.

The CHLIEMAX thought the amendment would rather
aggravate the oomplaint of the mover of the resolution than
meet it. The court could not give an opinion as to the
qualifications of every new candidate that was brought for-
ward, though they were enabled to speak as to those of the
gentlemen who had acted with them.
Mr. Serjaant OAZILII objected to the amendment, be-
cause it would tend to increase the evil.

After some further discussion Mr. Lewin replied, and the
resolution and the amendment were severally put, and both
were negatived by a large majority.

Col. DICKINSON submitted a resolution for the ;froths°.
tioa of all papers connected with the case of Ali Mound
and the affairs of Seinde.
The CKAI&MAN said all the information required, incept
the minute of Sir George Clerke, was already before the
court, and the minute having been refused by the Minister
of the Crown in the House of Commons, for pr.litical rea-
sons, it could not be produced. Lay papers iri the posses-
sion of the Court of Directors, subsequent to those already
on the table, there would be no objactior. to their pro-
duction.

After some conversation the motion was altered in se-
cordenre with the chairman's suggvstior , and *greed to.
Mr. Jorma moved that it be referees', to the committee of
bye-laws to consider whether some P.etter system of distri-
buting information amongst the p roprietors, as to Indian
affairs, than now existed, might not be adopted. They
ought to have the pa-.ers distritveid in the same way that
papers were distributed amonirst the members in other pub-
lic bodies and societies.
The CHAIRMAN said that the reports and documents
ware always on the prop ietors' table. The Court of Di-
rectors was most anxious to afford every facility to the pro-
prietors for obtaining information.
The motion was rut and negatived, and the court ad-
journed.

MAILS PIA NORWAY.—Oeneral Poat-office, March,
18.53.—0 n and from Tuesday, the 22nd inst , the mails
from the -United Kingdom for Norway will be conveyed
direct I 4 sea between Denma.k Naway, and will con-
tinue to be so forwarded until further notice. The rate of
Poe tego to be taken on letters addressed to Norway will be
s. 4d. the half ounce, and so on, according to the scale in
operation in the United Kingdom fat charging inland
letters This rate comprises both the ISrtti.h and foreign
postage on the letters to the place of their destination, and
it may either be paid in advance, or the letters may be for-
warded unpaid, at the owlets of the sender, except, how-
ever, as regards registered letters, the postage upon which,
as well as the registration fee, must be paid in advance.