The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-26 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 26.

THERE cannot be a doubt that the establishment of
a anion settlement would be a very great boon to the
labourer, and that it is the greatest of absurdities to
go about preaching and acting upon the principles it
free trade, when free trade in that precious comma-
Mr, labour, is denied to the large mass of our pore-
lataon. At the same time, we are very far from gong
the length of those who seek to detach altogether the
labouring classes from the soil, from fixed residenoe,
and from local ties, and organising them as a band of
gipsies or nomado class, never settled in any habita-
, non more fixed than encampment, and always ready
' to move about in search of employ, as gipsies do in
search of provender.
We do not at all admire this ideal of an industrious
population, which is highly demoralising and de-
grading, and which has a strong tendency to pro-
duce that vicious state of labour and employ, which
gives spurts of work at two seasons a year, sending
thousands long journeys to seek it, and leaving
them to find a home where they can, and veg.
tate in the chimney-corner during the dead seasons.
We may not be enamoured of small holdings, eir
peasant proprietors, nor prepared to insist that ea{
rood should maintain its man. But each tract IP
land should, if not by law, at least in fact, maintain
a certain proportion of labouring population, ma
the more fixed a certain number of families, or hest I
of families, were thereon, the more comfort, the mess
morality, the more link would exist between the
and the soil, the peasant and the landlords. Defend
us from a nation of navvies, wandering from plus Is
place, herding in the suburbs of towns, or e
in the vicinities of desultory work ; what=
thing, were the principles of Chartism,communins, or
systematic anarchy, instilled into the minds, and
fostered by the wants, of such a wandering and reels.
less population !
These very evils, to be sure, which we dread u the
effects of a too extended settlement, have been found
to be the results of a too limited one. Proprietors
have been induced by the selfish economy of parish
rating to detach the peasant from cottage and from
garden. Would union rating act as an efficient
remedy? In some degree it might, but, we fear, not
at all in the degree which Mr. CHADWICK so fully
depicted is his speech to the farmers not long since.
The wish and the interest will still remain to rid
the union of trupeynumcrary hands. Indeed, the
. .

entire scheme would fail, vales such a wish and
power did survive. And were both effective, 111110 M
exclusiveness might tell as hardly on the poor a, ever
pariah exclusiveness has don..
One of the probable results of union settlements,
which most recommends the idea, is, that they would
remove a great cause of rivality and struggle be-
tween town and country, would level the walls
which rise around the former, and sever the ideas
and interests of squires and burgesses. In soon
places, indeed, the agricultural spirit and interests
would predominate, but in others the municipal in-
fluence would prevaiL And the amalgamation would
be productive of mutual benefit. If towns, however,
were taught to make common cause with landed
proprietors, in the effort to clear unions of supernu-
merary hands, in obstructing the building of new
habitations and the extending facilities of location
and employ to the labouring class, the latter would
find its difficulties more augmented than diminished
by the alteration of the law.
Notwithstanding these fears, the project of a union
settlement cannot but be universally recommended,
and indeed cannot be delayed, except by the diffi-
culties of proportionate rating. Should such a law
be found to produce the same or similar evils, and
to create serious obstacles still, in the way of proem.'
ing or allowing fit locations for the labourer, the rta-
medy in a national rate is at hand, and may even ast
as a salutary check upon union, displaying an 011111►
rigid or exclusive spirit.
Bat though strong advocates for the union, the
workhouse, and its test, as applied to the able-
bodied, we are still strongly impressed with the
necerrity of district or parochial boards for succour-
ing the distress and sickness of the aged and lama
of the known and deserving poor. We are not anew's,
of the host of objections which instantly start up; wit
ellsidesene of them on Saturday. Bat it is quite evident
fiat Oar present poor-law, if worked up to its avowed
sample, is too severe, eapecially towards the abed
!Ed
sad infirm, and grates on the feelings of the
ties in a degree toooffensive to be durably toteurfeti7.
And the proof is, that it is not executed, ex ,ftsit
certain union. and districts, where rigour infathW
side by creating obloquy, and, bursting forth in souse
exposure or scandal, bringing disgrace on the whole
system.
To reconcile the population to the Poor-law, it
will not do for each pariah to depute one guar-
dian to the same board, that one guardian
being the arbiter of life and death, happiness and
misery, to the poor of his locality ; not indeed arbiter,
for his utmost favour by the poor-law can be but
prison and provision, with separation, esolusion,
and all their concomitants. To establish a union
rate, and at the same time allow parish expenditure,
would indeed necessitate a potent cheek, not impos-
sible in the power of a parish overseer deputed by the
union. However desirable may be union settlements
and anion rates, we are confident that parochial
boards ought not to be altogether done away with.

In a military point of view, the news from Ame-
rica, which we published on Saturday, presents the
forces of the United States in Mexico pretty mach
"as they were " when the intelligence previously re-
oeived by the Hibernia left them. General Scorr, in
the south, with a land army of some 12,000, and a
naval squadron carrying some 350 guns, had invested
Vera Cruz and San Juan d'Ullos, which he expected
to take in a month at furthest. General TAYLOR, in
I the north, with an army of 5,000 men: bad beaten off
SANTA ANNA'S attack, and was about to fall back
14.4 l *or the purpose of re-openin&his line
of communication with the Rio Grande. The time
' required for effecting this task is not specified. Taking
into account the garrisons at Matamoru, Camargo,
and Tampico, and the reinforcements arriving, some
20,000 United States troops, backed by a strong
squadron, were dispersed over a tract of country which
extendsfrom the 19th to the 26th degree of north lati-
tude, and which is from April to November the seat
of the romito prielo. In the middle of March,
these forces had a good month's work before them
ere they could "et about ascending the rugged and
abrupt acclivity over which only two roads prac-
ticable for wheeled carriers lead to Mexico Proper.
But if the military attitude of the United States
in relation to Mexico had undergone little alteration,
a marked change was in progress in the poitical.
The government at Washington was preparing to
carry into act a scheme of which the first not very
obscure hint is to be found in a letter addressed by
the Secretary of War to Ostleral TAYLOR 00 long ego
I.as the 22nd of geptember last.
I The scheme alluded to is briefly v, follows: It is
provawd at Washington that the United States
" army tad Pan' ahoahl seise every important
op et and place upon the Gulf of Mexico, or
California,er the Pacific, and open the way through
the interior for the free transit of imports and
expects." The " ports and places" thus occupied are
to be " opened, while our military occupation may
continue, to the commerce of all neutral nations, as
well as our own, in articles sot contraband of war,
upon the
_payment of prescribed rates of duties." It
is only the foreign trade to the ports, however, in
which neutral nations are to be allowed to participate
—" It is recommended, for reasons of obvious safety,
that the Mexican coasting trade should be confined to
our own vessels, as well as the interior trade, above

any pert of entry in our possession." The duties
are to be collected by " the commandant of the post,
wheibst naval or military, aided by the paymaster or
parser r sad the moneys are to be accounted for,
not to the treasury but to the secretaries of war or
of the navy respectively."
This scheme is so far matured and advanced towards
being carried into operation, that on the 23rd ult.
Mr. President POLK addressed a formal official letter
to the Secretary of the Treasury, requiring him to
prepare schedules of duties and regulations for their
enforcement The requisition was complied with on
the 30th of the same month ; and in the letter which
accompanies the documents the Secretary of the Trea-
sury explicitly declares, that the object of the govern-
ment in collecting these duties is " for the benefit of
our own government and people, to sustain the war
and prevent to that extent new loans and increased
taxation." Ile adds ; "In view of the fact that
government is thrown upon the ordinary revenues of
peace, with no other additional resources but loans to
carry on the war, the income to be derived from the
new system, which it is believed will be large, if these
regulations are adopted, would be highly important to
sustain the credit of the government, to prevent
the embarrassment of the Treasury, and to save the
country from such ruinous sacrifices as occurred
during last year."
This colossal scheme of commercial and finan-
cial regulation sounds like a man talking in his
sleep. Where are the men and ships to come
from which are to occupy all the ports of
Mexico from San Francisco to Tehuantepec, and from
Campeachy to Metamoras ? Assuming, for argument's
sake, that the productive industry of the United States
could bear such a drain upon the adult population,
and the pockets of the citizens the coat of outfit,
what is the anomalous position in which the govern-
ment at 'Washington would be placed by executing
this project? It would occupy the ports of Mexico
in order to maintain in each of them corporations of
smugglers to carry on a contraband trade with the Mates
of the interior of Mexico. American citizens alone are
to be allowed to participate in this smuggling traf-
fic, but citizens of all nations are to be permitted to
carry supplies to the smugglers,on the payment of cer-
tain customs and tonnage dues. The revenue collected
is to form a treasury apart—or rather two treasuries,
one naval and the other military—over which the
constitutional finance minister of the United States is
to have no control. The officers of the American
army and navy are to collect the moneys and pay
their men, and account only to the secretaries of war'
and the navy. The American commandants at the
ports, and the American citizens in exclusive enjoy-
ment of the coasting and inland trade of Mexico, will
have an interest in perpetuating this state of affairs.
The citizens of the Mexican confederation and the
traders of Europe, Asia, and South America will be
placed at the mercy of a holy alliance of American
smugglers and military and naval tax-gatherers.
It does not appear by what process Mr. President
POLK contemplates communicating a legal appearance
to such a monstrous arrangement. From the con-
cluding paragraph of his letter to the Secretary of
the Treasury, it would almost appear that he intend'
forthwith to give directions to the war and navy de-
partments to carry his project into operation. If so,
it will be for the citizens of the United States to con-
sider whether their president does not thereby exceed
his constitutional powers. The secretary of the
treasury says that the measure is calculated to " sus-
tain the credit of government," and not obscurely
hints that it has become n thus to bolster
up " the credit of government," use " govern-
ment ie thrown upon the ordivary resources of peace,
with no other additional resources but loans to carry
on the war." In other words, because the cabinet
proposal to impose a war-tax on tea and coffee was re-
jected—because congress standing upon their constitu-
tional right, refused the head of the executivegovern-
ment the supplies he asked—he, by an extra-constitu-
tional (ifuot a contra-constitutional) act, bas determined
to procure the supplies in defiance of them. The chief
magistrate of the union is about to raise money for
governmental purposes without the consent and co-
operation of that body in conjunction with which
alone he can legally raise it. And he is leaving cons
peas out of his councils, not because there is no time
to consult it, but with premeditation. The scheme
for collecting a revenue at the Mexican ports was
matured in the council at Washington in September
last : why was the assent of the congress, whisk has
since met and separated, not asked ?
On the assumption that President POLK intends to
postpone his taxation and regulation of Mexican com-
merce, until:he has got leave from congress to impose
it, the question will still remain whether foreign
states are to submit to such an infringement
of their neutral rights ? President Pout's scheme
would confer a monopoly of the coasting and inland
trade of Mexico upon the citizens of the United
States. The occupation of the Mexican porta with the
view, and in the way he proposes, would be, de
facto, a blockade of the whole line of coast, not for
the legitimate purpose of bringing the war to a dose,
bat for the purpose of converting the interior of
Mexico into one vast Paraguay, for the emolument of
United States volunteers and retail dealers.

The impracticability of the scheme, and its incon-
sistency with the constitution of the United States,
and with the principles of international law—
are no security against its being tried. It is,
in fact, not new, but only a new reading of the
old declaration that no European state has any right
to interfere in American politics. Hitherto the
government at Washington has advocated the
adoption of this maxim as a means of ensuring inde-
pendence to all American states: now it confesses
that it is meant to prevent European powers from
protecting other American states when attempts are
made to subject them to the Union. The scheme,
though impossible to its full extent, may be attempted
so far as to cause much hardship and injustice.

WE have more than once adverted to the extreme
importance of a regular and abundant supply of cot-
ton, to insure the permanent prosperity of eur great
manufacture. In corroboration, we have only to refer
to the statistics of the cotton trade by Mr. J. BAYNEB,
republished a short time since in the Express.
By these it appears that the consumption of cotton in
England for the last thirty years has increased at the
compound ratio of 6 per cent. each year, thereby
doubling itself every twelve years; and that the con-
sumption for the year 1848 was estimated at
612,000,000 lbs. The consumption has also increased
at a similar rate on the continent, and in the United
States at the rate of 7 per cent. The supply, how-
ever, from various causes is not expected to increase
in proportion, or to be greater in 1847 than it has
been during 1848, when there were consumed in Oteat
Britain

Of United Stake sodas 1,611,440 baked =an. each.
Bread
19
FAA Win 115,730
11,600 .4
re it
indica .„
”

maid 1,594,100 Lab, or 30,SSS heir.
per week.
This enormous import must be increased to quanti-
ties still more proffigious if the manufacture is to
advance in anything like the ratio it has hitherto done.
But the cultivation, it is supposed, will not in-
crease in America at the rate which is required to
meet the expected demand, partly owing to the low
price of cotton, and partly to the greater attention
likely to be given to the cultivation of bread stuffs,
and to the production of sugar. It is possible, also,
that the rich lands of the Mississippi and of Alabama
may become less productive from continued cultiva-
tion, and if production thus becomes more ex-
pensive, the price of the raw material will be still
further enhanced. Brazil might greatly increase
the supply of cotton, but than a fresh impetus
has been given to the production of sugar,
while that of cotton has for many years made but
small progress. Egypt has advanced rapidly in the
cultivation an% of superior kinds of cotton, and will '
nhably, with judicious
.rnanagement, produce still
larger quantities. But India ,ialked to of
the country most capable of supplying the expected de-
ficiencieeof America. The supply, however, has hitherto
been deficient in quantity and inferior in quality,
tat=some conceive that the country is not only
of producing greatly increased quantities,
but also at such a price, and of so good a quality, as
to assist in keeping down the price even of American
cotton, which now controls that of all others.
The grounds, it is true, of this expectation are not
made sufficiently clear; for if we look to the results
of experience we do not find a steady increase in the
imports of Indian cotton, neither can we say, as has
been stated, that there has been a gradually diminish-
ing supply. But we observe from the lately pub-
lished returns that the characteristic feature of this
supply is its irregularity—moderate at first, then

suddenly increasing, and again as rapidly dietinish-
ing, as if the country had become exhausted by a
sodden effort. During the last two cc three years
the supply has certainly been less than it was
ten years ago, and much smaller than it was
from the years 1816 to 1820. Various causes
have been assigned for this diminished import.
Some ascribe it to the land-tax of India, and others
to the want of roads in India. A few think that un-
suitableness of soil, or unfitness of climate. may pre-
vest a regular increase of cultivation. The gradual
extension of opium culture iu the interior, co-operatiog
with the extended cultivation of sugar and of the
areal grains near the more populous coasts, has been
thought to explain the anomaly. Others have been of
opinion that the badness of particular seasons renders
the produce too uncertairfor the supply to be regularly
depended upon. Thus, too much or too little rain in
the season of cultivation may equally prevent the
production of cotton, and either a good or a
short crop may be followed by so much drought
during the season of transport, as to afford
insufficient pasturage for the millions of bullock& re-
quired to convey the cotton to the coast. The damage
caused by the mode of transit on bullocks, as well as
the plunder by boatmen when at the coast, have all
been stated to conspire in producing an irregular
trade, and hence a deficient supply. We almost
wonder that SCHONBEIN has not been accused of con-
suming the cotton, and that

Eibibuit viva carbeuus alba foam.

Without denying in Colo the influence of the above
and other assigned causes, we cannot perceive that
they sufficiently explain the marked peculiarity of the
imports of Indian cotton, that is, their great irregu-
larity. Of the causes enumerated, some are fiscal,
others physical ; • few are permanent, others occa-
sional ; but the irregularity of supply, as far as this
country is concerned, is constant. After an attentive
consideration of the subject, we find that the ryot has
but small encouragement to increase his cultivation.

ITiie expected produce of his field is often sold before
even the seed has been put into the ground, and he
usually pays usurious interest—that is, from 24 to 30
per cent —until his crop is gathered, or until the
advance has been repaid. The village banker, a
capitalist usually of but small means, either sells his
cotton to brokers, or contracts with brinjarries, or
carriers, to convey it on their bullocks to the coast.
The merchants at Bombay, whether European or
native, purchase their cotton for export either to
Canton or Liverpool, but the quantities purchased
will depend entirely on the prices likely to be obtained
at either place. However low may be the prices
at Liverpool, the cotton of India has still a value of its
own, and will therefore be retained either for con-
sumpdon in the country of its growth, or for export
to China : hence we shall have a diminished supply
when prices are low, and an increase when they rise.
In comparing the prices of cotton at Liverpool with
the exports from India, we observe that the latter
have been large whenever the former have been high,
and that a fall in the value of cotton in England has
been immediately followed by a diminution in the
quantity exported from India. Though the fall in
price has been, upon the whole, gradual, yet it has
also been very irregular, so as, in a great measure, if
not entirely, to explain the irregularities of the imports
into this country. This we shall endeavour afterwards
to prove, and also inquire whether it be susceptible of
a remedy.

Our Madrid letters of the IRth are occupied, like
the press and people of that capital, with the
dissension existing between the Queen and her
husband. Her Majesty's ceasing to appear in
public with her consort, and only with his father, the
Infant, led to such disagreeable rumours that Queen
Isabella besought her husband to give them a tacit
contradiction, by going with her publicly to mass at
the church of the Mocha, in order to silence these
injurious and discreditable rumours. Don Francisco
at first reluctantly promised to do so ; but, when the
hour of departure came, he withdrew to his private
apartments at the remote end of the palace, from which
no persuasion could draw him. The Patriarch of the
Indies, the highest ecclesiastical dignitary in Madrid,
presented himseltand used the strongest remonstrances.
His efforts, however, were fruitless, and the Queen
was compelled to leave the palace as usual with her
sister-in-law and father-in-law. The origin of these
fatal dissensions is variously stated ; but we have rea-
son to affirm that they date from the very morrow of
the marriage. They have, nevertheless, been recently
aggravated by the peremptory dismissal of the Chris-
tina-CamarWa and French agents from the palaoe and
the cabinet. Don Francisco chose to identify himself
with these, and opposed their removal. It was reli-
ance on their relations with him which produced the
unbecoming manifestations reported on the occasion of
their dismissal. We mentioned on a former day that
M. (Homage, when honoured by the gracious and kind
personal reception given to him by the Queen, craved
the honour of an audience of the king. This favour
was peremptorily refused. The complications of the
palace spread their ramifications into the cabinet and
the chamber; Don Francisco openly supports the op-
position. Mean while,the Moderado party have not aban-
doned the hope of recovering office ; they push their in-
trigues in every quarter : they menace the Queen
with deposition, and desire to retain Don Francisco
as a substitute for her. Every movement of Isabella
is spied into ; her most unguarded words are noted,
and made the sabaect of malignant comment. The
position of the cabinet is admitted on all hands to be
one beset with difficulties. Further reports of a
ministerial change are also stated. It appears
that M. Salamanca insists on the necessity of pro-
pitied gg the liberal party in the chamber by re-
calling , and restoring him to his rank and
honours. To such a measure the other members of
the cabinet are opposed, fearing to exasperate,uithe
conservative party. The resignation of M. set ea
was accordingly spoken of ; and it was said that he
would be replaced by M. Reynoso, who had been
recently elected to the vice-presidency of the chamber
by the combination of the ministerial and progressista
party.
The present cabinet can only command the neces-
sary majority by conciliating a certain portion of both
progressistas and moderados. Of the latter they can
have no hope ; and the liberals, therefore, feeling their
power, cannot be expected to refrain from its exer-
cise. They have made, it is said, a sine gnei now of
the recall and restoration of Espartero. There is one
point, however, on which the puritan ministerial
party and the progressistas are in complete accordance,
and which may keep the moderadoe out of offioe—it
is, the cordial hatred which they bear to French in-
fluence. It is said that General Narvaez had re-
nounced his intention of accepting the French em-
bassy. This decision is ascribed to the pressing soli-
citations of MM. Mon, Fidel, and Martinez de la
Rosa, who declared that his departure would be re-
garded as the signal for the complete dissolution
of the conservative party, at the very moment
when this party are making the most energetic
efforts to recover their place in the government. The
King Consort, it was said, intethred personally in
this negotiation, pledging himself, if Oen. Narvaez
would consent to remain and take the active direction
of the party, that he would spare no exertions to pro-
mote its influence.

The Paris journals of Friday have reached us. As
was fully expected, the project of M. de Remusat, for
the exclusion of placemen from the French representa-
tive chamber, was lost on a division, which took place
on Thursday evening, the general result of which was
stated in our Paris correspondence on Saturday. The
opposition journals of that day give the following
analysis of the vote :—Majority : placemen, 129; inde-
pendent deputies, 90—total, 219. Minority: pkcemen,
34 • independent deputies, 136—total, 170. Absent:
placemen, 29; independent deputies, 41—total, 70.
Untill92 placemen can be induced to vote themselves
out of the chamber, there is little hope of this reform
being realised. The present result justifies the ob-
servation of M. Tillers, that " the majority
consists of government functionaries." We no-
ticed on Saturday the complaints produced by the
slow transmissiot of the London mails to Paris. This
has, however, in another point of view, given round
for serious remonstrance. It appears that individual
banking houses and financial speculators avail them-
selves daily of the facility with which they can anti-
cipate the mails and carry on operations on the
Bourse, to the detriment of those who are compelled
to await the regular despatches arriving through
the post-office. The direction of the Northern
railway having been chanted with permit-
ting express engines to be used for this purpose,
have disavowed the practice, declaring that the only
express engine ever expedited on the northern road
was that which brought to London the king's speed,.
on the opening of the chambers. It appears, how.

ever, that individuals who choose to incur the expense
of a courier may receive the London papers of the
preceding day at half-past two, and sometimes even
at a quarter before twelve, whereas the letters and
despatches are not delivered by the Post-office until
the next b:grtting but one, and even then as
late as ten o'clock. Le 3 iirk says that M. Duchatel
has induced his colleague, M. Guizot, to confer the
embassy at Madrid on his brother, M. 'Finnerty
Duchatel, at present the prefect of Toulouse.
The circumstances attending the admission of Gen.
Munoz, husband of Queen Christina, to the modern
noblesse of France, are reported to have produced
some feeling of dissatisfaction on the part of the Queen
Dowager, who thinks that the Muntperusier dower
should have given her a claim to greater concessions
than those which have marked the granting of the
dukedom of Montmorot. The following is the ver-
sion of the affair given by L' Union Atonal-Algae, a
journal which is generally well informed on the
movements of the c6terie of the Hotel de Courcelles.

It is not on the other side of the channel alone that the en-
(era. cordiate kas been so roughly shaken. The touching friend-
ship which has so long existed between us and Maria Chris-
tina has seemingly lost some of its cordiality. In support of
this opinion we quote information we have received from an
authentic source, and which explains the sudden coolness
which has sprung up between the Tuileries and the Hotel de
Coureelles. When about six weeks since political circum-
stances compelled the widow of Ferdinand VII. to seek an
asylum in France, her first care on arriving at Paris was to
solicit from the French government some high mark ot dis-
tinction for her second husband the Duke of itianzares,
which would sound well in Spain, and counterbalance
the bad effect produced by certain malicisAis rumours.
The demand was most gallantly met by the im-
mediate offer of some noble title, the heraldic rank of
which was left to her frea choice. A dukedom was in conse-
quence selected, and the choice graciously assented to, but
here the concessions stopped. Maria Christina having
expressed a great desire that the new dukedom should bear
the historical, and, in France, popular, name of Malmaison,
she was mortified on receiving the reply, though expressed
in the most courteous terms, but so clear as not to be misin-
terpreted, that her request could not be granted, as bring
likely to rufile the susceptibility of the French nation.
Other, more or less plausible, reasons were given for not
selecting the names of Saint Philippe, and Saint Amelie,
proposed for the unhappy dukedom, which was dually obliged
to put up with the name of Montmorot, a vulgar name
enough, and which has no other signification than to point
out the vicinity of a French estate bought with good Spanish
crowns out of the royal privy puree of Spain.
Our Paris correspondent writes, in a postscript, that
he has just learnt that advioes were received on Satur-
day afternoon at Paris of the debercation, at Lisbon, of
English, Spanish, and French troops. He has been
unable, however, to obtain further details. A consi-
derable fall took place in the fonds on Saturday. The
impression we have so often mentioned, of a loan, there
is every reason to believe correct; indeed, that mea-
sure has become inevitable.

BERLIN, Aram 19.
The Allgemeine Preustische Zeitung has at last pub-
lished the debates on the project of address in reply to the
King's speech, and the official report of the proceedings fully
confirms ray statements respecting the independent and
forcible language of several speakers. At the very commence-
ment of the adjourned discussion, some skirmishing ensued
between the marshal of the diet on one side, and a (remit num-
ber of members on toe other, respecting the precise terms in
which the motion for a reply to the royal discourse was
worded—the former asserting that the motion on the previ-
sus day was to the effect that an " address of thanke" be
presented, and the latter insisting that ne mention was made
of this weed " thanks." One of the deputies ( Herr
Von Bockum-Dolffs) asserted that it was the marshal
himself who introduced the word " thanks " into the mo-
hon. The marshal attempted peremptorily to put a stop to
further remarks on the 'object, by stating that, according to
the rules or the diet, no discussion on the minutes of •
sitting could take place in the suoccediog one. He then de-
dared, automat much confusion, that the minutes were
approved of. This decision, however, of his highness, did
not prevent further allusion to the subject. Herr Von
Saacken accused the Allgemeine l'reussieche Zeitung of
luring inserted, in its official department, a statement
which would give the public • false idea of the
nature of the proceedings ia that assembly, inas-
much as it was asserted that the diet had resolved
to vote as address of thanks. " The Diet," observed
the speaker, " had certainly resolved to thank his Majesty
for having convoked here all the representatives of the
people ; but had mot agreed to a vote of thanks without at
the same time expressing the opinions which prevail amongst
the public. He (Herr von Sucker) would beg that either
the official report should be given faithfully, in order to
avoid misunderstanding, or not at all." Herr Hansemaos
(the deputy for Aix-la-Chapelle) remarked, that he had not
hoard the word " thanks" mentioned in the motion, and
expressed the hope that for the future the official reports of
the proceedings would be more correct. After some mem-
bers had stated that in their opinion the word " thanks "
was really mentioned, the discussion on the incident in ques-
tion terminated.

The project of address, which was drawn up by the com-
mittee of the diet, waa then read. A long and interesting
debate ensued. The royal commissioner (the Minister of
the Interior) contended that no rights, as guaranteed by for-
mer laws, had been violated in the patent of the 3rd of Feb.
He enured the members of the United Diet, however, that
if they could devise better modes than existing ones, (of ren-
dering the law of January 17, 1820, and the patent of
February the 3rd, more conformable one with the other) the
government would gladly agree to them, provided the modes
devised were in unison with the institutions and welfare of
the oountry. (Cries of " Bravo.") The royal commissioner
' begged that members would not cheer him. He had not
got up to excite cries of " bravo," but to give expression to
his innate convictions. His excellency then proceeded to
combat the draft of the address, on the ground that it laid
claim to rights which were not Fuarautted, by existing laws.
He amerted that the patent of 1. ch. 3 granted privileges to
the diet, ouch ea the power of voting or refusing taxes, and
the right of petition, which were not mentioned in former
statutes, and that the King had the full right to confer on
a committee of the diet all the powers which were guaranteed
to the general body itself.
- . _ _

Mere Von Beckerath, in reply, alluded to that portion of
the law of Jan. 17, 1820, which was left unfulfilled in the
patent of Feb. 3, and contended that, according to the
*sprees declaration of hie late Majesty, the provisions
of the former law were irrevocable. He differed alto
gether from the preceding speaker, with respect to
the interpretation to be given to certain portions
of the law of 1820, and asserted that the acts of the
Germanic confederation itself guaranteed to all German
states a representative government, to which the right of pe-
tition was necemeuil attached. The speaker proceeded to
say that the law of Jan. 17, 1820, pointed to an imperial
assembly of the States---an assembly giving the idea of unity
and indivisibility—whereas the patent of Feb. 8 held out
the possibility of the division of the present assembly into
three separate bodies, the diet proper, the united committee
of the diet, and the provincial diets. He contended that the
nailed eommittee could not be considered as an imperial
assembly, and, in corroboration of his assertion, quoted a
royal ordonnance of Dec., 1843, addressed to the Rhenish
provincial diet. " The committee that drew up the draft of
the address," continued tho speaker, "deemed it n
to wepress in it not only the thanks of the diet, temmomg
Majesty, for having convoked it, bat also to set forth in
it those rights which have been granted in former laws,
laws with which the patent of Feb. 3is not in unison. The
righte which previous statutes have conferred on the nation
form its noblest pomesaion, and it is a duty imposed on us
not only by written laws, but by high principles of morality
to preserve those rights inviolate." The speaker who con-
cluded his address by an eloquent appeal in favour of Ger-
man unity and brotherhoed, was warmly cheered. The offi-
cial organ of the government does not state so, but such well
the PIN.

The Royal Commissioner again addressed the diet, in
order to peeve that, although the government were bound
to lay a yearly account of the finances before the United
Assembly of the States, it did not at all follow that the diet
should be eenvoked every year. _ _

Herr Carophausen expressed the opinion that Prussia re-
quired • strong-and powerful monarchy, and that his pre-
sent Majesty had dens mask towards the development of
the Premien nation. He contended, however, that a yearly
account of the finances could not be laid before the diet,
unites that diet were assembled every year; for (such are
Ids own words) "an assembly that is not assembled is no
assembly." It certainly requires " no ghost from the grave "
to tell us that—but MUM claque. He then proceeded le
slate that there were not only three bat five subdivisions of
the representative system, as eat forth in the patent—the
united diet, the unites committee of provincial states, the
deputation from the states, the provincial states, and the
separation of the states and the provinces. Those sub-
divisions (be added) weakened the government. He strongly
objected to the remaining restrictions imposed on the
diet, and after asserting that the majority of the meal-
times of the diet sat in it by virtue of en elec-
tion, and that the electors had a clear right
to demand from their representatives the maintenance of all
existing rights, concluded by giving in his adhesion to the
draft of the address.
Prince Lychnowski (a member of the upper house) stated
he could not vote for a mere address of thanks any more
than for en address of mere complaints, for the former would
induce the king and the public in general to believe that all
the wishes of the nation had been fulfilled, and that it had
attained the very height of human felicity, " And,"
added the prince, ' such is not the cam " (Doi Goa ! dos
ist eicAt as). Whilst the latter would be a crime,
inas-
much as grateful thanks assuredly ere due to the royal
legislator for having laid the foundation stone of •
lasting constitution. The diet, however, was 'bound to
speak the truth to the king—(cheer)—for the highest
loyalty wee involved in the greatest truth. "The further
we advance in parliamentary existence," continued the
noble speaker. " the greater our duty becomes to draw
near to the forms of the parliamentary nations which, in the
legal exercise of tnsir rights and privileges, have preserved
and strengthened their liberty, and promoted the grandrur
of their people. A glance at • long tree and kindred nation,
which unfolds its victorious banner on every sea, will serve
to confirm my assertion." (Cheers.)
The Count Von Arnim (Minister of State), objected to
portions of the draft of the address, and moved the amend-
ment as stated in my conispoadeftot of yesterday.

BOMB, anis It.
The Hon. Mr. Temple had a long private biter*,
with Pius IX. on Monday, and appzently hue,'
transacted business to his satisfaction, return" 4 yews;
day to his post at Naples.. Whether he inearre', tit
penalties of prcernueare I know not, but his broth,
Lord Palmerston has, no doubt, a bill of indemnity ea'
and dry in his portfolio. He was introduced by old
lieW ner, the Hanoverian envoy. What a farce
King Cumberland, of orange-lodge renown, ahosbil
the channel through which the Pope is to be
communication with the representatives of s C 0.,;
who reigns, at home and abroad, over ungise„
Roman catholic subjects.
If our intercourse with Rome is in favourable pr.
geese, a recent step on the part of your Brita
" vicars apostolic " nei crtheless likely to „evi
an awkward impediment. You arc aware thd ear,
functionaries, originally four, were doubled d
the last years of Gregor:, and England is 14
divided into eight quasi-epic opal districts, viz., /err,.
politan, York, Lancaster, northern, WesteeD,
en
midland, and Wales. Not siiiisfied with this a
tation of their numbers, the vicarial body is just , ter
in the attitude of Oliver Twist "asking for more
Their new demand is, to hive their Gees standi
England no longer vicarial —i. e., removable et the
simple will of the Vatican—hut eloces3e, with pr.
manent, "ordinary," and irresponsible jarisdictioa
If this were a mere matter of honorific title, sad
approximation on the part of the Euglish Hook
catholic prelates to the plenit 3de of hierarchy exist,
ing for the brotherhood in Inland, it would be oden.
sive only in the nostrils of jea!ous bigotry. The kw*
olfactones of Dr. Philpotts night snuff the latest
brimstone, and the steadier hlomfield might object,
according to his never-to-be-e-irgotten axiom, the
" wax candles might be placed on the altar provide/
they were not lit up!" but the proceeding is dee*
objectionable on other grounds ; u seriously affeetts,
the Roman catholic body, clergy as well as laity, a
England.
'I he " vicars " have not had the grace, in seeking
to better their own condition, to raise up by one com-
mon effort their " beloved clergy," who are et present
dismissible at caprice like themselves. They seek not
the salutary control of a diocese a dean and chapter,
according to the canonical arra: gemeuta of catholic
christendom : they do not relish the assistance of
irremorable rural deans appointai for length of ser-
vice, learning and piety ; no claims of porochi,l au-
thority, as in Ireland, enter into their project for the
" good of the church."
So far in spirituals; but here's the rub! in tempo-
ralities they want to " carry the bag," and to get
transferred to their single separre names the pure
and simple proprietorship of all thi landed and funded
property now vested in lay or clerical trustees for
Roman catholic purposes throughout Great Britain.
These accumulated funds, the legacy of by-gone piety,
have long been coveted ; and as the law of England
not sweep away these solemn trusts at the biddim
the vicars, it is sought to carry the object into dm
by the spiritual weapon of excommunication and
ghostly terror, should Propaganda give powers is
wield such questionable thunder for such still man
questionable PurposesConeiderable and rents are held by lame"
in various countries in:trust for Benedictine and ]emit
missions, but as these corporations are powerful at
Rome, no attempt is made just now at usurpation in
that quarter. The other lay patrons of Roman catho-
lic living', holding such patronage according to the
canonical usage of all catholic countries (in right of
original grants from the pockets of their ancestors) us
all about to be despoiled of their immemorial rights,
unless, being made aware of what is brewing in
Rome, they instruct Roman lawyers and agents to
resist the palpable spoliation.
The system by which the vicars themselves are
created, is an anomaly unknown to c etholic christen-
dom. There is no election by a pa' °chid synod, es
in Ireland: no principle of dello- rkiniori. Caprice
and cabal influence is the result,andr. snot mediocrity
and cunning will be sure to rise ever the heeds cl
such men as 'ASGARD, under the ihrseat Gramm
ment In feet, anderstrappers at
.P. opsganda settle
justthe saapirithtuseilyarliakir:: onforGreais titßnuntamder,lodd her colonies
thus
I subaltern functionaries (who have the power of sup.
pressing or distorting correspondence) are Macon.
sible to persuasions of an arithmetical character.
Brunetti, long secretary for British and colonial
affairs, has been at last noticed to quit, and goes to
some foreign post. Monaig. Corboli, whose uprightnew
and integrity are unimpeachable, is spoken of as his
successor in Propaganda.
I regret to announce that Gibson's statue of the
11 Queen, which left our quay, in a barckoa,for
Civita-
Vecchia, to meet the Peninsular and Oriental Coy-
pany's steamer for Southampton, missed arriving.
oak casing, stuck in the mud at Ostia, and lies thee
aThend tosmtallilebirregaet,owweiignght
tooftthheelomarw waterwiniththitse Tizeiberbi;
still. Such are the inconveniences of greixtues, u
Boileau curiously observes, speaking of Louis XIV,
on the Rhine banks, while his army was forcing the
Painfle•
Le grand rods adadreat War C011r•r.
Se plaint de au grand., caw rallaeae 'war'

FRANCE.—PARIS, APRIL 24.—The return of the
customs revenue of France for the first quarter of the pm-
sent year wee published in the Moniteur of Friday. It
appears from this document that there is a serious
tion in the tenths as compared with those of the last two
years. The total receipts of the first quarter. of the tlues
years areas follows
First Quarter of 1845
1646
, 1847 ~ ~
Deficits of 1647 as compared with MD • 1.7004447L
.... 3.131,442.
A portion of this diminution of revenue, as mowed with
1846, is of course ascribable to the admission of gnu ID the
prawn t year free of duty; but this does not apply to 1845.
In the latter year, the duty received on gram was only
216,501 f.; whereas, in the present year, its amount we.
699,814 r., being more than three times the former moat.
The falling of, therefore, in the cucoms of 1817, as compared
with 1845, is not, as the French journals infer, to hi 66'
cribed to the discontinuance of the duty on grain. In 144,
however, five millions of francs were received for ditty 55
grain, an amount greater than the comparative dad-
mency. The articles upon which an incrents of maw is
observable in the preseutquarter are, cast iron, owl, win
coffee, copper, and oleaginous grains. On 000011 sad wont
there is a considerable falling off, indicating the proms
under which industry suffers in the present aim.
A review took place in Paris on Friday. The
ctrgwere ranged in the Court of the Tail/ries, the Plain
rrouael, and the quay from the Poet Royal to
Pont du Carrousel. The Kim attended by the Doke do
Nemours, d'Aumale, and de ILontpeasier, Disko Mark,
of Wurtamberg, Primes Frederick of Sale/wig Histale,
the Minister of War, and (knouts Sebastiani and nipien,
rode along each line, receiving the cheers of the an is hs
posed each regiment. Returning from the quay, Yin Ma-
jesty took his station in front of the centre pavilile of the
palace, where the whole of the troops filed off Wow WIN
after the Ring bad conferred numerous crams oa di s!t
officers and non-contraimioned officers of the wend me'

agents.
The Osiris, French post-ofhoe demur, seeded•
Frioul on the 19th, (men Malta. Among the
Sir Thos. Whtabon, late commander.in-chid at tiesm..
army of Bombay, and his family.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—An accident *pod 41.
Friday on the Northern Railroad. At half-past fear la e•
morning, while the Goode carriages were being placed
ststYtr
the shed at the St. Juat station, the Brussels train came
and though, being warned by the signal., it had s
speed, rata on to the waggoos, enisbed one, and dram lee
others off the rail; but, as the pace had become merrily,
the shock was scarcely felt b the train itself. TVs, YIP
ever, occasioned a delay of two hours. At the moment Ibis
all was cleared, and the train was again starting, a MAW
ployed by the Post-office haring officiously interfrallit
spite of the opposition of the railway men, was sial.
tween two buffers, and was seriously injured by the on'
pression ; indeed it was reported shortly after the WOO
that he was dead.
THE BEAUVALLON DUEL.—The appeal of 3
d'Hcqneville) to the Court of Caseation, against the dernios
of the Cour Royale, sending him for trial before the Cart
of Asusea, for perjury in the trial of M. Beauvallon for
M. Dejarrier in a duel, was heard on Friday, and re
SPAIN.—The Foment°, of Barcelona, announce
the arrest of the celebrated colecilla, Joie Bosch y Musk
called the Penitent of Finestras," and chief of one ofd's
Carlin bands of 20 men. He is to be oonveyed to Gwen, hi
be judged by a court-martial His arrest was effected by 1118
inhabitants of Lampeardan, aided by the authorities.
GERMANY.—Paussu, Beaux APRIL 20.—A
Bodelschwingh will shortly be appointed Chancaller of thi
kingdom. Phis dignity has not been conferred on as]) Pr*
man minister since the death of M. Voa Hardeabargr
Aligemeine Prelate. Zeitssng.
HUNGARY.—The Allgemeine Zeitung, under do
data of Vienna, April 16, says that disturbances have adm
plum at Prague, owing to the number of hands throws eat
of employment. The military was called out, and it is laws
that blood was shed.
RUSSIA.—ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL.
German J0141,14i of Brussels has the following from Bet
dated the 18th The Russian embassy has just rests
despatches from St. Petersburg, to the following efface
The Emperor Nicholas is to arrive at Warsaw on the 2301
inst., to make a stay of three days; Poland i• ta WI!
viceroy, in the Freon of the Orand Duke Micheal

--------
Grand Dubose Helen, his wife, sister of the King of Wur-
ternherg, is removing her household to Warsaw, where she
mast at this moment have arrived from Vienna. The
grand Bake, the Emperor's eldest son, remain' at St. Peters-
burg; hie brother Constantine, the Emperor's favourite, ao.
(enigmas his father to Stutgardt, where the Czar will pro-
org en the 26th Crum Warsaw. The voyage of the auto-
crat to Paris is a matter resolved on. It has an im-
annul: political object the emperor mounts on oozing to
understanding with the King of the Preach on the
aurcaioca of sun usw..., of Graven, and, above au, of
Poland; he wined to be :at liberty as to the East. Tt is the
Duke de Mositpemis'e who is to receive the Emperor at
Strasburg the Grand Duke Constantine will accompany his
father to Paris : autograph letters have already given the
court positive Romances on this subject. A grand review is
to take plum in the Champ de Mars on this occasion. A
roe& amnesty is to be accorded to the Poles it will bo
signed by the Emperor at Paris. The confiscated property
will be restored. It is intended to re-establish the Uni-
versity of Warsaw, and two legions, altogether Polish,
via be organised there. At this moment, on the contrary,
the Poles are disseminated throughout the Russian army."
The Cnion ilonare)ique, Paris paper, gives the following
account of the ressoas which induce the Emperor to come
to Stutgardt .—" M. de Sigur has just arrived in Paris from
St. Petersburg, with despatches from Count de Rayneval,
ambassador there. On the departure of M. de Si4ur, news
had been received at St. Petersburg, that the Prbaerss
Royal of Wurtemberg t the Grand Duchess Olga) wee dan-
gerously ill at Stutgardt. This intelligence had caused the
liveliest emotion to the Emperor, whose tender affection for
his daughter is well known ; and it was not doubted that,
although suffering himself, he would immediately proceed
to visit her. The French journal adds, what would seem to
be &contradiction of the account stated above, that there was
ao talk, in any way, of a projected voyage of the Emperor, of
which the correspondence of the German journals has lately
sPoken."
SERVIA.—BCCHARFST, APRIL Mk—The fol.
Rowing are some additional details relative to the cala-
mitous tire which took place at this place on the 4th
Nearly a fourth part of the town, which contains
110.000 inhabitanti, has been destroyed, and fully 20,000
persons have now no shelter from the cold and still
inclement erases. The fire broke out in the house of a
boyard, owing to a boy firing off a pistol. the wedding 'of
which eommanicated to the house, and initial than two hours
the dames had spread over the whole of the quarter inhabited
by the dealer' and industrious classes being Sunday, all the
warehoused were closed, so that the contents could not be
'poi; the wind blew a perfect hurricane from the west, and the
fists of flame were carried over the who's extent of the town
Mae sisterly direction, and as most of the houses are covered
with shingle, and each house has its hay-stack in the court,
the devouring element spread with fearful rapidity. The
Mire of the town is very densely peopled, and here is con-
gregated all the wealth of the city ; the warehouses are en-
closed in large spaces called khans, and these being once
ignited the fire gained ground, and no resistance could be
offered. Eight of these khans, each containing to the value
of many millions of piastres, are now (the 6th km.)
smouldering ruins; 13 churches having but yesterday their
bright tinned domes glistening in the sun, are no longer
to be wen. The fire having taken place in the day com-
paratively few lives bare been lost as yet only 30
are spokes of, but 4,000 how's are laid low. Among
the churches burnt is the catholic, whose bishop and
priests are left boucle's; the residence of the Greek
on-sal-general was among the first that fell ; the
consul himself was just preparing to go and pay his
visit of ceremony to the prince, when suddenly the flames
from an opposite house rushed through his room, and he had
only time to escape with his wife, each bolding a child in
their arms. The residence of the British consul-general
was for some hours in imminent danger, the fire extending
to within 300 yards of the house ; all valuables and the ar-
chives were removed; the other consulates are safe. The
wind continued its violence until past midnight, and fearful
was the view offered by the lurid flames of fire that rushed
from such an extent of burning mass! None of the nobles
or of the prince's family have suffered ; all the loss his fallen
on the dealers and industrious cluese--almost all the Jews,

rich and poor, and the smeller boyards holding property in
the Faubourg. The fire extended upwards of three miles in
length, and wee only stopped by itsreaching the barriers of
the city, where so more buildings existed to feed it."

ALGERIA.—La Petrie, Paris journal, says, " M.
Bichanwil, in command of the Algerian squadron, has left
today, to take command during the expedition against the
Sabyles, which has been lividly decided upon.
•

-
UNITED STATES.—An arrival in the Channel,
from Charleston, brings papers from that city to the 25th of
March, four days later than we have received via New
York. The Mexican news in these journals has been anti-
cipated by that which we published on Saturday. The local
news is unimportant. The Charleston Mercury of the 24th of
March, reprints the acts passed by the Carolina legislature
of 1844, " for the punishment of croons disturbing the
peace of this state, in relation to slaves and free persons of co-
and to amend the act (passed is 1835) " more effec-
taally to prevent free negroes and other pawns of colour
from entering into this state, and for other purposes." The
south is rallying itself for a battle on the slavery question.
A New York correspoadeot observes, with reference to
the despatches of (ha. Taylor, which we published on
Saturday .—" Gen. Taylor, it will be seen, enter, into no
details, and clearly suppreeses some facts stated in private
communications received from his army, as well as in Santa
Anna's reports; such as the loss of three guts on the 20th
Feb., the capture of two flags by the Mexicans, &c. Re, how.
ever, effectually repulsed the desperate attack made upon
him, and has, so far, rendered his present position compa.
ratively safe. Whether he will venture to resume the °am-
iss remains to be seen ; but I rather think not,
and, in that case, Santa Anna will have ob-
tained a great advantage, as he can now march
the Slits of his army to the relief of Vera Cruz
without any apprehensions that General Taylor will attempt
to advance apon the city of Mexico by the route of San Luis
de Potosi. The report of the disbanding of a portion of the
Mexican troops, in consequence of their want of supplies, is
probably true, as far as regards the Ranchero, and other
irregulars,' but that is nothing new in the Spanish system
of warfare, and they will soon reassemble, and rejoin the
army." The writer of the above also states that "It is re-
ported that Mr. Pakenhans, the British minister at Wash-
ington, has again offered the mediation of his government
to bring about a peace with Mexico, which has been de-
clined. It Is also said that he has declared that any attempt
to establish a Franco-Spanish monarchy in Mexico would
not only be looked upon with disfavour by England, but be
deemed a sufficient ground for war. In the last of those
statements I have no faith whatever.

71Lbt (Court.
The Queen held a Privy Council at three o'clock on
Saturday afternoon at Buckingham Palace. It was attended
by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Marquis of Lans-
downe, Lord President; Lord Cottenham, Lord Chancellor;
Lord Jobs Russell, First Lord of the Treasury ; Sir George
Grey, Secretary of State for the Home Department; Vm-
OOLIZA Palmerston, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;
Earl Grey, Secretary of State for the Colonial Department;
Sir Charles Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer ; the Earl of
Auckland, First Lord of the Admiralty; the Earl of Claren-
don President of the Board of Trade ; the Marquis of Clan-
MUM, Postmaster-General ; Lord Campbell, Chancellor of
the Duchy of Lancaster; Earl Spencer, bird Chamberlain;
sad the Duke of Norfolk, Master of the Horse. The Hor..
William Bathurst was the Clerk of the Council in waiting.
The Queen gave audiences to Earl Spencer, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, and Lord John Russell.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back on Saturday.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by the
Countess of Chulemont, Hon. Miss Kerr, Hon. Miss Caven-
dish, Earl of Morton, and Major-General Wimps, honoured
the performance of the Royal Italian Opera with their pre-
sence on Saturday evening.
Yesterday was the birthday of H.R.H. the Princess
Alice. H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent arrived early at Buck-
ingham Palace, to pay a visit of congratulation to the Queen
and Prince Albert. H.R.H. the Doke of Cambridge also
paid a congratulatory visit to her Majesty and her royal
consort.
The Queen and Prince Albert, the ladies and gen-
tlemen of the court, and the domestic household, attended
divine service yesterday in the private chapel at Bucking.
ham Palace. The Hon. and Rev. C. L. Courtenay officiated.
Yesterday was the birthday of H.R.H. the Duchess
of Gloucester. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied
by the Princess Alice, paid a visit of congratulatioa to
H.R.H. at Gloucester House. The royal duchess also re-
ceived visits of congratulation from her Majesty the
Queen-Dowager, H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, their
HAMEL the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and
H.S.H. Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar.
The arrival of H.R.H. the reigning Duke of Saxe-
Meiningen, who was expected yesterday at Marlborough-
house, has been delayed for a few days.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and H.R.H. the
Duchess of Kent, attended divine service yesterday in the
Chapel Royal, St. James's.
The Duke of Wellington attended the early service
in the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday. The Rev. DT.
Wesleofficiated, and preached the sermon.
H.KH. the Duchess of Rent visited the Queen
Dowager yesterday at Marlborough-house.
Their R.H. the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary, attended by Baroness Hammer-
stein Baron Knesebeck, and Mr. Edmond Madmay,
honoured her Majesty's Theatre with their presence on

A cabinet council was held on Saturday afternoon
at the Foreign.o4Sce. It wee attended by Lord J. Russell,
the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto. Sir G. Grey,
Viscount Palmereton, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Earl of Auckland, Lord Campbell, Sir J. Hob-
house, Viscount Morpeth, the Earl of Clarendon, the Right
Ron. T. B. Macaulay, and the Right Hon. H. Labouchae.
The council let two hours.
A deputation from Rochdale had an interview with
Sir G. Grey on Saturday at the Home-office. A deputation
ershipowners of Liverpool.headed by Viscount Sendon, M.P.,
Sir EL Douglas, M.P., and Mr. W. Brown, M.P., had an
interview on Saturday with Viscount Palmerston on the
subject of en act lately passed by the Congreee of the United
States of America, with reference to the conveyance of pas-
sengers to the United States. Mr. Higham, secretary and
comptroller general to the commissioners for the Induction
of the national debt, had an interview with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer on Saturday at hie official residence in
Downing street. Mr. Greg and a deputation had an inter-
view with Sir G. Grey on Saturday. The Earl of Devon
bad also an interview with the right hon. baronet.

PIM-PAYMENT OF POST LErrltitt.—We undettdand
that it is the decision of the Postmaster-General to render
the pro-payment of letters to be compulsory for the future.
Until we are acquainted with the motives for this change,
we shall suspend our judgment on it. It is certainly for the
convenience of the post office, but we are not quite sure
that it is so for the public—especially tor the more simple
and ignorant portion of it.

' TEETOTAL MErfllo ON KENNINGTON COMMON.
—Yesterday, an aggregate meeting of the metropolitan tee-
total societies, to make a collectiou for the relief of the dis-
tressed Irish and Scotch, was held on Kennington-common.
About 8,000 persons assembled. Dr. Oxley was called to the
chair ; and in addressing the meeting, urged the claims of
the starving Irish and Scotch. He was followed by several
other speakers, the collection being made during the ad-
dressee.

CAPTAIN WAHNEB:I3 .4 LONG RANGF.."—On Friday,
a parliamentary document wax imued respecting the public
money, placed at the disposal of government to obtain a trial
of Captain Warner's " Long Range." It appears that 1,3001.
was set aside for the purpose mentioned, and Mr. Warner
and Lord Ingestre entered into a bond to make the experi-
ment, and gave a promissory note to secure payment of the
money. The government, after the failure of the experi-
ment, cancelled the note given for the repayment of the
money. Captain Warner had declared that the money had
been expended, and there was no reason to doubt that it wee
as stated.

REDUCTION OF DUTY ON FRENCH WtNEB.—A
letter has been addressed by the Free-trade Association of
Bordeaux to Lord John Russell urging the British govern-
ment to reduce the duties on French wines to 101. per tun,
or about Is. per gallon. The excess of consumption which
they anticipate from such a measure would increase the re-
venue of this country by two millions sterling. In proof
that were French wines within the reach of the bulk of the
population, the revenue of the country would be thereby ma-
terially increased, they state that towards the middle of the
17th cantor' the consumption of French wines in England in
the British isleitwae many times greater than it is now, because
the duties were then moderate. This reasoning is strength-
ened by the editor of the ECOPIOMiI i (in whose paper the
letter appears), who odds that, in 1753, when the population
was nearly one-half what it is now, and when the duty was
46. 10d. on French wine, and 3s. lid. on all other sorts, the
revenue derived from the import of wines was 1,430,0001. ;
while in the following year, when the duty was raised to
10s Old. on French, and Os. 11d. on all other wines, the re-
venue fell to 1,159,000/. The advantages likely to be the
result of the reduction now proposed, are thus set forth by
the Bordeaux merchants :
. . . .

•.
I. To piece an article, healthful when wed moderately, .Atkin the
reach of all classes in England.-2. T. check the excessive use of
spirituous liquor., it being well known (as it hue been observed, espe-
cially in France) that drunkenness is less general in those places
where wine, being abundant and cheap, become. an object of usual
consumption.-3. To obtain • new mane of abroad British
produce and manufactures, whirl might be exchanged for our
either directly with France, or, though the metll'lnt
other countries.--4. To give a freight to the English .easels that come
to our ports loaded with coals, but have almost nothing to take beck
with them, and are thus prevented from owning in much greater
numbers.
- - -

---- —.—
Were the reduction of duty, 101. per hogshead, to take
place on the ordinary sorts of claret, the different prices
would then be thus, respectively, duty included :—Common
sorts, 40. perbottle; ordinary sorts, 6d. ; superior sorts, Bd.:
best sorts, 101. to 4s. 244. The writers of the letter calculate
that at the above prices the consumption of French wines in
England could not fail to become so great that the present
consumption, compared with it, would appear quite meg-
niBcant.

MYSTERIOUS STORY.—OR Saturday, information
was received by the Marylebone division of police, that a
day or two before, at noon, a Frenchman, fashionably
dressed, drove up in a cab to the door of a mansion in Port-
man-square, during the absence from home of some of the
family, and by representing to the servant who towered
him that he came from a friend of the occupier of the
house, residing in Eaton-square, succeeded in ob-
taining an interview with the lady, to whom he
said he could communicate his message as well as
to her husband. What his object in doing so was, or
what took place at the interview, has not been made known,
beyofid the fact that he by some means induced the lady to
deliver to him two gold watches, a gold guard-chain, a gold
watch-key, and a shawl of the value of upwards of 501., and
151. in money, the lady receiving ham him in exchange an
enamelled gold watch, warranted perfect, and a gold chain
and key, very inferior articles and of trifling value, when he
!cockily very politely bowed himself out of the house.-1 he
Frenchman is described as being about five feet seven to
eight inches high, from 35 to 40 yeah of age, of florid com-
plexion, can speak several languages, and is very plausible
in his manner. He gave the name of " Manley "to the
servant when he entered the house, but to the lady. he signed
it "F. Dylan." The police are aware that an individual
answering the description recently obtained, from a Spanish
gentleman, 201. by a similar trick. The name of the lady,
his last dupe, has not been allowed to transpire.—Sunday
THE GREAT BRITAIN.—There are din strong
hopes that this maritime monster may yet be got off. On
I Saturday week she floated with the rise of the tide for
neea.7 two hours, and, when high water, appeared from the
shale to be nearly level. Her stores are to be sold by public
auction in Liverpool, by Means. Winstanley and Son, in the
course of a few days.
NORTH POLAR EXPEDITION.—The plan of an
overland expedition to the North Pcle, under the direction
of Dr. Sir John Richardson, of Hasler-hospital, has been
submitted by him to the government and approved of, and
directions have been issued to commence providing the neces-
sary supplies of stores and provisions for the party who are
to form the members —Standard.

SUPPOSE AN ARCHITECT WERE RANGED.—What
is wanted in architecture, as in so many things, is—a man.
Shall' we find a refuge in a committee of taste ? Escape
from the mediocrity of one to the mediocrity of many? We
only multiply our feebleness, and sggravate our deficiencies.
But one suggestion might be made. No profession in
England has dense its duty until it has furnished its victim.
The pure administration of justice dates from the deposition
of Macclesfield. Even our boasted navy never achieved a
great victory until we shot as admiral. Suppose an srchitect
were banged ? Terror has its inspiration as well as comp.).
tition. —Disraeles Tanned.