The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-18 00:00:00

THE suN, LONDON, MON'DAY,--V,ENING EDITION,—FEBRUARY Is, I

IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

DUBLIN, VEB. 15.
THE LORD LIEUTENANT'S DEPARTURE.
Nearly every parish in Dublin has had its meeting to
address the Lord Lieutenant. In addition to these the
Trades' Union had a meeting last night, at which an
address to his Excellency was adopted. The address of
the Union of SS. Michael's and John's, which I subjoin
(along with Lord Normanby's reply), is a fair specimen
of the spirit and style of these documents :
" To his Excellency Constantine Henry Marquis of
Normanby, Lord Lieutenant-General and General
Governor of Ireland.
" The Address of the Inhabitants of the Union of SS.

Michael and John.

" May it please your Excellency—We, the inhabi-
tants of SS. Michael and John, the parish in which
your Excellency resides, cannot permit you to leave our
shores without taking leave to approach your Excellency
with the expression of our feelings of thanks and grati-
tude for the uniform support and patronage extended
by your Excellency and your amiable and benevolent
consort to all our charities, admiration of your adminis-
tration of the government of Ireland, and heartfelt
sorrow at your removal from amongst us.
" Under your Excellency's paternal and benign rule
justice, order, and peace have prevailed in Ireland to
an extent previously unknown—and whilst you asserted
the supremacy of the laws, checked the progress of
crime, and upheld the dignity of the Crown, you won
the affections of the people by maintaining the princi-
ples of rational freedom and just equality.
" In the untiring discharge of your great duties you
traversed the country, studied the genius and character
of the Irish people, and saw with your own eyes their
wants, and heard with your own ears their wishes.

" And, though we deeply deplore the' close of the ad-
ministration of (beyond all comparison) the best Governor
Ireland ever had, we are in some degree consoled by the
reflection that in losing the Governor we have not lost the
friend, hut that in your Excellency, as a Member of the Ca-
binet, Ireland will still have an organ and an advocate, that
the accurate knowledge of her condition, you have so
laboriously acquired, will be applied to her social, moral,
and political improvement, and that your Excellency
will add another to the already many great claims you have
on the gratitude of your country, by binding to the
crown, and the connexion with England, this fair por-
tion of the British empire in the adamantine link of an
affectionate equality.

"Confident that wisdom will guide, and philanthropy
influence your courae, we have only to pray that suc-
cess may attend you in the arduous undertaking to which
you have been called.
" Under your sway the Negro felt not his chains—
your influence mainly contributed to strike the fetters
from his limbs ; under your sway there was peace' in
Ireland. Be your's the still higher glory of bidding
civil war to cease, of sheathing the sword of vengeance,
and restoring order and contentment to the colonies
committed to your care, by the application of the same
firm, moderate, and impartial policy which characterised
your government here—above all, by the exercise of
that quality twice blessed, which is mightiest in the
mightiest, and becomes the throned monarch, better
than his crown'—mercy.
" Signed, on behalf of the meeting,
LUKE DILLON, Chairman."
To which his Excellency returned ;.the following
reply :

" Gentlemen—ln offering to you my grateful thanks
for this address, for your approval of the past, and your
good wishes for the future, I would refer to the address
presented by your parish after my arrival—in answer to
which I stated that the sympathies I had felt, and the
principles on which I had acted in your cause, had dated
from a period long antecedent to my arrival amongst
you. I trust that the knowledge I have since acquired
may still be available for your service, long after this
abrupt and unwelcome termination of our immediate
connection.

" Trust me I shall ever consider myself bound by the
ties of gratitude to active exertions in the cause of Ire-
and."

The other parish addresses will be presented to-mor-
row morning, at the undress levee, before his Excel.
lency's departure.

. .
A. levee was held at the Castle to-day, which was
numerously and respectably attended ; afterwards his
Excellency received deputations with, addresses. The
first was from the City of Dublin, deputed by the great
meeting of yesterday. His Excellency, in replying to it,
appeared deeply affected, and the Marchioness and somo
of his suite who were present were almost ;-
answer contained a brief review lear4' ltlis
here,
• Government
and a promise to be ,i
next receive-1 -.ways the friend of Ireland. He
u an address from the town of Belfast,
whip' though at such a distance from the metropolis,
was thus prompt in expressing its gratitude and affec-
tion towards Lord Normanby. 700 parish deputations
were subsequently received, and presented their ad-
dresses. At the undress levee on Saturday a great
many further addresses will be received up to twelve
o'clock, at which hour the Marquis and Marchioness,
with their suite, leave the Castle for Kingstown. _ -
DEPARTURE OF THE MARQUIS OF NORMANDY.—
The Marquis of Normanby left this country to day for
England, and it may be truly said that he carried with
him the heartfelt good wishes of every independent man
and friend of good Government in this country. Previous
to his departure he held an undress levee at the Castle,
which was numerously and fashionably attended. Ad-
dresses from various parishes in the City, from
Kingstown, and other parts of the country, were
presented to him, to all of which he returned appro-
priate answers, containing the most warm and ardent
expressions of gratitude for the kindness ex-
tended towards him by the Irish people. His
Lordship, accompanied by a numerous suite,
several of the Nobility and Gentry, and attended
by a guard of honour, composed of a troop of the 7th
Lancers, proceeded at twelve o'clock from the Castle to
Kingstown, where he arrived at a quarter past two.
Nothing could equal the enthusiastic demonstrations of
the dense multitudes by which the streets, through
which he passed, were thronged as he passed by them.
The procession by which he was followed, ex-
tended for three miles along the road to Kings-
town. His entry into Kingstown was announced
by the loud shouts of the people, and on his arrival on
the Quay, at which place the vessel was moored, he was
received by a guard of honour, of the 60th Rifles, under
the command of the Hon. Captain Spencer. When his
Lordship and the Marchioness were proceeding on board,
the cheering was resumed with increased ardour. They
both seemed deeply affected, and frequently acknow-
ledged the compliments thus showered on them. Se-
veral Nobleman and Gentlemen paid their respects to
his Lordship on board the steamer, and shortly after
their return on shore the vessel sailed for Holyhead.

MARQUIS OF WATERFORD.—Tfic report which has
been for some time going the round of the papers that
this eccentric Nobleman was unwell, is contradicted by
the IVateiford Chronicle, which states he is in excellent
health and spirits, and about purchasing a new racer,
which is said to be of considerable pretensions.

THE ORANGE INsTiTunoNs.—The revival of this
Society is going on through the North. On Wednes-
day last, a meeting took place in Enniskillen, at which
the Fermanagh Lodges were re-organized ; it is, how-
ever, confined to the lowest, most illiterate, and disre-
putable classes in the country.
The Clonmel election will take place on Monday.
Mr. Pigot, the Solicitor-General, will be returned with-
out opposition.
RAILWAYS.—A deputation of the Committee ap-
pointed at the late Railway Meeting in Dublin, had
an interview with the Lord Lieutenant and pre-
sented an address to him, putting forward in the
strongest shape the necessity for railways in this country,
and of the Government undertaking the management
of them. It is hoped that Lord Normanby will repre-
sent their views favourably to the Cabinet,

A young man, who went to Musard's last
masked ball in the disguise of a female, was accor'ted in the course
of the evening almost simultaneously by two cavaliers, one in the
costume of the renowned Robert Macaire, and the other in that of a
porter. The I allants, strange to say, manifested not the slightest
jealousy of each other, and the pretended lady fair finding it
pleasant to mystify both, accepted their invitation towards five
o'clock in the morning t• a supper at the Trots Freres Provencaux.
She kept on her mask during the whole time of supper—a proceed.
ing to which, however unusual, her male companions made not the
slightest objection. After the discussion of several bottles of cham-
pagne, the bill was called for and paid by the two cavaliers, and at
this moment the pretended belle dropped the mask both literally
and figuratively, and, addressing one of her admirers—" You are
an egregious ninny," said the mystificator, "for I am not . . . ."
"You are another," retorted the immortal Robert hlacaire, " for I
have the honour to be a Sheriff's officer, and have accompanied you
hither, along with my deputy, to arrest you for debt at the suit of
M. P." Having so:said, Robertus and his coadjutor handed the
stupefied ex-lady into a fiaere which was waiting at the door, and
the trio were immediately striven to the well.known hotel for the.
accommodation of debtors in Rue de Clichy.—Galignani's Messenger
The interment of the remains of the late Duchess-
Countess of Sutherland takes place at Dornoch, in Sutherland,
this day. Her Grace will be laid by the side of her husband,
the late Duke, in the family mausoleum. The Hon. William
Howard, brother to Lor 1 Carlisle, Mr. Egerton. son of Lord
Francis and Lord Edward Howard, grandsons to her Grace, will
officiate as chief mourners at the mekincholy ceremony. Mr. Loch,
the Member for the Wick district of burghs, auditor of the Duke
of Sutherland's estates, and agent to the late Duchess, is in the
administration of the affairs of her Grace until the return of the
Duke from Rome, whence he is expected in ten days.
PORTRAIT OF A CONIPOSER, BY HIMSELF.--
Dalayrac, an artist of the school of Gatery, has left the following
description of his own character among his papers; " I am of a
sensitive but easy nature; extreme!), susceptible of pleasure and
Pain; I easily exaggerate fear and hope; I do not know how to
wait ; I give my confidence blindly ; I sometimes suspect on very
slight appearances ; I am soon transported with rage; injustice,
wherever I see it, revolts and maddens me." Dalayrac supplied
the French opera with ?tout fifty-six works. Besides being a
composer of high talent, he was a man of severe principles and
rigid probity.-- Musical World.
SineWe mentions a cat which, being confined in
a room, in order to get out and meet its mate of the other sex
earned of itself to open the latch of a door; and I knew a pony in
the stable here, that used both to open the latch of the stable, and
raise the lid of the corn-chest—things which must have been learned
by himself from his own observation, for no one is likely to have
taught them to him. Nay, it was only the other day that I ob-
served one of the horses taken in here to grass, in a field through
whiel 0, a, mile runs, open one of the wickets by pressing down
the upright 'ha of the latch, and open it exactly as you or I do.—
Lord Brougham's Dissertation on Subjects of Science.

MEETING AT TRURO AGAINST
THE CORN-LAWS.-DEFEAT Tyg
CHARTISTS.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Saturday, Feb. 16, 1839.
The other day a few farmers, at the instigation of a met%
chant residing in this town, assembled privately at the
Red Lion Hotel, and agreed to petition Parliament in
favour of continuance of the present Corn. laws. In con-
sequence of this underhanded movement several of the
Anti-Corn law inhabitants, who had before rested supine, had
their feelings roused, and they determined to send a requisi-
tion to the Mayor to call a public meeting to take into
consideration the propriety of petitioning, for a revisal
or repeal of the Corn. laws. His Worship immediately
acceded to the call of the requisionists, and called a meet.
ing for last evening. At seven o'clock, the appointed
hour, there was a good attendaece, and before the com-
mencement of the business, the Town Hall was crammed in
every part, and many persons were unable to get in. There
was evidence of a very strong feeling on the subject, and
it was soon seen that there are a lame body of Cornishmen
deoidedly opposed to the present Corn-laws, although this
is the first meeting that has been held in the county during
the present agitation, called for the express purpose of pe-
titioning for their repeal.
JOSEPH Hobos, Esq., the Mayor, on taking the chair,
briefly expressed his opinion of the importance of the sub-
ject which they were called upon to discuss, and desired
that every one, whatever might be his opinions, should have
a free and impartial hearing.
11- 8. STOKES, Esq., one of the Town Council, then
came forward, and in a speech of great eloquence, as well
as of minute detail, laid Lane many of the fallacies used in
the support of the prescnt system. He thought it impera-
tive on the population of all parts of this kingdom to come
forward and say what they thought of the existing Corn-
lawa, and to declare themselves either for or against them.
The Learned Gentleman then read a petition which ho
proposed for their adoption, praying for inquiry at the bar
of the Houses of Parliament, and for a revision of the
Corn-laws ; after which he proceeded to remark, that he
was anxious to express his equal interest, as far as his
wishes went, in agriculture as in commerce, and that
the interests of the two should never be separated ;
that the farmer and the manufacturer, the tradesman and
the labourer should go hand in hand together, each labour-
ing in his separate vocation for the benefit of the whole.
Those who sought to set up one interest against the other
did a great and permanent injury to the State. Mr. Stokes
then contended that both the agricultural and manufactur-
ing interests %hire allied, after which he gave a detail of the
history of the Corn-laws down to 1815, when a scale of
duties like the present were laid on corn, and continued

with occasional alterations down to the present time. He
would now ask of what advantage had these Corn-laws
been to any class in the community—of what advantage
had they been to the agriculturists themselves? Did the
alteration which took place in 1815 insure to the farmtr
high'prices for corn? Did they prevent agricultural distress?
were they not indeed, in their effect, positively the reverse?
Did not agricultural distress continue to increase after that
period ? Did not the farmer at that time, under the foolish
expectation which the alteration encouraged them to
main. ain, take their farms at higher rents, and become in-
volved, through the gambling of the speculators in foreign
corn, until they had that extraordinary outcry about
agricultural distress in 1822, which led to an inquiry
in the House of Commons ? Mr. Stokes then referred to
the recommendation of the Agricultural Committee ap-
pointed by the House of Commons in that year for inquiry
into the subject, who, in their report, urged what many now
prayed for. He thought that a free trade in corn, or a very low
import duty, would be infinitely better than the system of
1815, which was precisely like the present system in princi-
ple. He then referred to the statements of Mr. Greg, Air.
Smith, and others in the Chamber of Commerce at Man-
chester, to show the injurious effects of the laws on manufac-
tures. It was said that if the Corn- laws were repelled, a
vast body of agricultural labourers would be thrown out of
employ—but what had been their effects already ? Had
not pauperism continued to increase? Had not paupers
most frightfully multiplied in the land, and had not the
condition of the agriculturalists been made constantly worse
and worse ? Had they not been compelled to adopt a poor-
law of the most coercive kind to keep down this system ?
and he asked whether it was fair that the farmer should
coerce the labourer, to reduce his wages, to drive
him to the Union, to separate him from his wife and
children, and at the same to make him pay
double the pr ice for his bread r- (Loud cheers.)
They said to the labourer, " You shall earn your bread by
the sweat of your brow;" but their Parliament and the
landed interest stepped in and said, " You shall pay double
for it," One effect of these Corn-laws was, that pauperism
bad been goaded until it had become thspetate, till at one
time they had seen on every hill ih the land the fire of the
midnight incendiary, and crime had increased till it made
the heart of every man of sensitive feeling bleed for his
country. Let them continue the present system—let
them
I.`.;',uvr down the gauntlet to foreign relations, and
compel them to compete with us, till our trade was utterly
destroyed, and then tell him what would be the burden upon
the land ?—(Loud cheers. The poor would be thrown
by thousands, and by hundreds of thousands, upon the land,
and then the British farmer would be utterly crushed, and
unable to make way. The farmers themselves would then
have most deeply to rue their own folly. Mr. Stokes con-
tinued at great length to point out the ruinous effects that
foreign competition had had upon our own commerce, and
noticed many other matters intimate') connected with the
subject, and concluded by proposing the adoption of the
petition, which he had already read.

Mr. SPUR, an operative, then rose to propose as an
amendment, a resolution declaratory of the inutility of
petitioning Parliament for the repeal of the Corn-laws,
and urging the people present to pray for nothing but the
Charter—the grand panacea for all their woes. He had
no confidence in the present House of Commons, and he
believed that the agitation of the Corn• laws was first com-
menced, and was now continued, in order to upset the
agitation in favour of the National Petition. Else, why
this sudden ebullition in favour of a repeal of the Corn-
laws—of laws which bad existed for five and twenty
years, and against which no measures had before been
taken? He believed that the middle classes having
obtained their rights wished to leave the working-men
in the lurch, and although he had ever been opposed
to the Corn-laws, yet he thought this was an im-
proper time for the agitation of their repeal. Such being
his opinion, t e declared " by the God who made him, and
by the Redeemer who he hoped would save him," he
would not now sign any petition for their repeal. Mr. Spur
continued to urge, in the strong language which characte-
rizes the proceedings of the Chartists everywhere, the
claims that they haze to public support, and concluded by
proposing, amidst great uproar, his resolution for the
adoption of the meeting.
Mr. 11 EATII, another operative, seconded the amend-
ment.

G. CONCANEN, Esq., combated the resolution in an
able manner, and pointed out the impolicy there was in
pressing a resolution of the kind now proposed as en
amendment on the 15th of the mouth, when they might
have another meeting for the consideration of the sub-
ject on which it touched, on the 25th. He would go
as far as any man in seeking for Reform. He would
support any measure that would go to give the working-
man his rights in the choice of those who were to make
the laws ; but he did not like to see their hopes wrecked,
or their prospects blasted, by such madness as that which
now marked the proceedings of the Chartists. lie, there-
fore, implored the working men not to press their amend-
ment, and he would agree to any motion at a future time,
or sign any requisition, and render any assistance in get-
ting up a meeting to assist them in the objects that they
had in yicw.

Mr. SPUR continued to press his amendment, amidst
loud and repeated calls on the part of some for him to with-
draw it, and still louder vociferatious by others that he
would tot do so. At first he seemed undecided, but he
again wormed, and determined he would have the sense of
the meeting. After much uproar and confusion,
The MAYOR put the amendment, and then the original
motion. There were a few hands held up for the amend.
meat, hitt the petition was carried by an immense majority.
JOHN PADnoN, Esq., then proposed that the petition
to the Lords should be forwarded to the Earl of Falmouth
for presentation, and that to the Commons to the Borough
Members.
Mr. UoLow seconded the motion.

Mr. TEALOR begged to propose that the petition be sent
to Lord Brougham.----( Tremendous cheering, which was
again and again renewed. )
Mr. W. Rowe seconded the amendment, which was
carried by acclamation.

A vote of thanks was then given to the Mayor, after
which the meeting gave three cheers for Sir Hussey Vivian
for his letter, in favour of a repeal of the Corn-laws ;
three cheers to Mr. Stokes, and three cheers to Mr. Tooke,
one of cur late representatives ; after which the Mayor
returned thanks.
Mr. Sruft then asked his Worship, whether they might
have the use of the Hall on Monday night, for a Charter
meeting.
The MAY OR--Certainly.—( Loud cheers.)
The meeting then quietly separated.
The petition has been very fully signed during the day,
and will be forwarded by the mail this evening.

THE NAVY:
•
;PO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—From the very great attention you have
always paid to the affairs of the Navy, I am led to
request von will be pleased to insert the following re.
marks on the debate in the House of Lords, on the
evening of the 13th inst., respecting the Naval College,
which establishment was wisely abolished by the present
Government. _ . .

In the debate on Naval Education, brought forward
by a Captain in the Navy (Lord Hardwicke) in the
House of Lords, and replied to by Lord Minto, in
which Lord Melville and Lord Colchester joined, the
latter also a Naval Captain, the former for many years
at the head of the Tory Admiralty, I was surprised that
these Noble Lords should have displayed such total
ignorance on the subject, which they ought to have had
at their fingers' ends, and I felt regret that Lord
Minto let them off so easily. After such great boast-
ing of what was to be expected by the motion on the
State of the Navy, and which motion was to have sunk
the present Admiralty, to find it finish with a flash in the
van, by a question as to what Lord Minto intended
doing with respect to the education of young naval
officers, is really absurd. As an old war Captain, and
one who has been much employed, I have no hesitation
in saying that the best service Lord Minto ever per-
formed for the good of the Navy, was doing away with
this useless Establishment, the Naval College ; and I
will chall,mge Lord Melville, or either of the two
Naval Lord Captains, to point out one single instance
of a bright character as a sailor or a navigator, who re-
ceived his instruction at the College. The school was
founded on wrong principles, and I appeal to every Cap-
tain in the Navy, who will give a candid and unbiassed
opinion, whether these Collegians were not the most
useless lads in their ships, and those who had re-
ceived medals, could, at the end of four years at
sea, claim their Lieutenants Commission without re-
gaid to character as sailors ; in fact, I once had one of
these gold medal boys, highly connected, on board with
me, who cared as little about his ship or profession
as if he were only on a voyage of pleasure, whenever
he was found fault with, which was nearly every day, he
always consoled himself by opening his writing-case
when he went below, and, taking out his gold medal,
stated that was his commission.

The only inducement parents had for sending their
sons to the Naval College, vas the circumstance of
their getting entered in the Navy, also of skulking
out of two years' service by remaining on shore ; and I
blush to read that a Naval Captain in the House of
Lords should have talked of the poor little fellows re-
quiring parental care, and being preserved the first two
years from wet jackets, night watches, and other dread-
ful I should like to know how many wet
jackets Lords Nelson, Collingwood, Exmouth, &c.
&C., bad before they were fifteen years of age ? It is
such sprigs of nobility who have entered the service
at the cabin windows with a silver spoon in their
mouths, that alone require this parental protection, the
lust two }ears, in a snug retreat like the late Naval Col-
lege, and then go to sea with two years time into the
bargain, whilst the sons of many old veteran sailors
have been keeping their watch and braving the battle
and the breeze, without having, at the end of six years'
standing, the most distant chance of promotion.
Surely the sage Lord will discover the longitude from
his remarks, for he also mentioned the wonderful ad-
vantage the Collegians had in seeing ships docked—
that alone was enough to make sailors of them all!
forgetting, at the same time, the disadvantage they la-
houred under from being left entirely under the pa-
rental care of Sergeants of Marines during their leisure
hours. I will ask, who can deny this? as the different
Professors lived in the town. I shall pass over all
the nonsense about officers not knowing any thing of
ship-building when called en to survey a ship.
Wlsat has an Admiral or a Captain to do with
shop-building? I trust, Mr. Editor, we shall never
see the College opened again ; let every boy enter the
service, and get on by his own merit, and let Lord
Minto follow up the plan of appointing scientific
men as schoolmasters to ships, when the Mids will be
firing out of a double-sbotted gun, and hitting two ob-
jects at once—seamanship and mathematics, notwith-
standing Lord Hardwicke's absurd notion of the pretty
pastime of seeing novel sights in foreign ports, shorten-
ing sail, and getting wet jackets. When the Noble
Lord made these observations he forgot that most Mids
now-a-days wear a Mackintosh ; and it appears from
that old naval paper the Hants Telegraph, that they
are occasionally seen on the quarterdeck with an um-
brella up in a shower! What would old Benbow say
to all this ? Let us look to our sailors—find out a
strong inducement for them to enter, and we shall yet do
well. However, I must mind what lam about, or I pro-
bably may get the giant pen of the Admiralty scribe
adrift at me, although it had not courage enough to
break a lance with the conqueror of Miguel's fleet.
I am, Mr. Editor, your Constant Reader,
NEPTUNE.
United Service Club, Pall-Mall, Feb. 16, 1839.

A letter from Toulon, dated Feb. 9, mentions
—" The English squadron is daily receiving reinforcements in the
Mediterranean, but is not yet sufficiently strong to lot ce, in
case of necessity, the passage of the Dardanelles. Russia, on
the other hand, continues unremitting in her preparations, and
a pacific solution of the grand question of the East, is looked on as
impracticable

Ashburnham House is still filled with workmen
beautifying the edifice, preparatory to the commencement of the sea-
son. The visit of the hereditary Grand Duke Alexander of Russia
is still uncertain. His Highness has arrived at Naples on a visit to
the King and Queen of the Two Sicilies, whence he will return to
Rome.

SIR ROBERT WALPOLE.—It appears that in
the summer of 1739, Thomas Carte the historian, being then about
to undertake a journey to Rome, was entrusted with a message from
Walpole to the Pretender. declaring his secret attachment, and pro-
mising his zealous services, but desiring to have s, me assurances
of James's intentions as to the Church of England, and as to the
Princes of the House of Hanover. In reply, James wrote, and {Alt
into the hands of Carte a ♦ery judicious letter, in which he expresses
great doubts as to the sincerity of Walpole's good wishes, but pro.
raises that if they shall be real and effective, they shall be duly re-
warded at his restoration. " I have no difficulty," he adds, "in
putting it in your power to satisfy him authentically on the two
articles about which he is solicitous, since, independent of his de.
sires, I am fully resolved to protect and secure the Church of Eng.
land, according to my reiterated promises As for the Princes of
the House of Hanover, I thank God I have no resentment against
them, nor against any one living. I shall never repine at their
living happily in their own country after I am in possession of my
kingdoms; and should they fall into my power, upon any attempt
for my restoration, I shall certainly not touch a hair of their
heads.' "—Lord Mahon's History of England.

A CASE OF GREAT DISTRESS.—At the Cri-
minal Court, Henry Cook, formerly stage manager of the Clarence
Theatre, was found guilty of forging and disposing of certain papers,
partly printed and partly written, purporting to be admis-
sions to the Adelphi Theatre, with intent to defraud the
proprietors thereof. There were also two other indictments,
which imputed to the prisoner similar misdemeanors.
Mr. Ballantine addressed the Jury. He said that puring his
short experience he had never known a case equally distressing
with the present. The prisoner had been in respectable circum-
stances, and maintained his family in respectability. Some
time since he became afflicted with a dangerous rupture,
which rendered him incapable of pursuing his usual avo-
cations; hence he was obliged from day, to day, and from '
week to week, to dispose of his property until all was gone, and
he, as well as his sorrowing partner, and a large family of small
children were reduced to the direst penury—in fact, to starva-
tion. He would alto state the fact, that during this state of
destitution two of his children were afflicted with the small.
pox, which, of course, added to the physical as well as mental
affliction of the prisoner. It was at a period like this that he
disposed of the document produced for the trifling sum of four-
pence in order to buy bread for his children, who had not tasted
food for two days previously. It might be said that he had
better have applied to the parish. No; he knew well that
had he done so he would have been s, parated from his wife and
children, whom he tenderly loved—in fact, he preferred throw-
ing himself upon the mercy of the officers of justice, to that
of those who dole out a reluctant and scanty pittance. He was no
wrong in his calculation, for the ministers of justice, in whose cus-
tody he at present was, had listened to his statement, and upon in-
vestigating they had found it true—literally and deplorably true,
he (Mr. B.) should prove from the lips of a gentleman whose charac-
ter and station the court and jury well knew and appreciat ad.
INCLEDON AND THE QUAKER.—One night
when Mathews and Incledon joined the Leicester company, on
passing through, they agreed to perform in the musical piece of the
Quaker, Incledon to play " Steady." It was not until alter the name
was its the playbills that he discovered the bareness of his wardrobe.
It did not contain a fragment of the Quaker costume. Incledon, al-
ways exciteable, was now wretched ; an attempt to patch up a dress
made him more miserable still. At last, as be and Mathews were
lounging up the principal street, Incledon caught sight of a portly
Quaker standing at the door of a chemist's shop. "Charles,
my dear boy," said Incledon, winking his eyes, (his habit
when peculiarly pleased,) do you sae that Quaker there ?
What a dress he has got on! just my size. I've a good
mind, Charles, to ask him to lead it to me for to-night."
" Absurd! " said Matthews, " you could not think of such a
thing." " My dear boy," replied Incledon, " only consider
what a comfort it would be to me, instead of that trumpery
suit from the wardrobe. I'll go in and ask him; he looks
like a good-natured creature." Accordingly, in lie walked, in-
quiring of Obadiah for some quack medicines, and after
some small purchases began in his blandest manner and
voice to address the quaker upon the real object which he
had in view. "My dear and respectad sir,"—the man
stared,—" allow me to explain to you how I am situated, and
grant me a patient hearing." The Quaker looked patience
itself; and Mathews, curious to hear the result, took his seat
in the shop. " My dear sir," continued Incledon, " I am
one of a class of men, of whom, of course, your peculiar tenets can-
not allow you to know much. In fact, lam of the theatrical profes-
sion—Charles Incledon, of the Theatre Royal, Covent-garden, first
ballad-singer in England." This was uttered with great emphasis
and volubility, in his peculiar dialect, that of Cornwall. The Quaker
started back, and looked at Mathews, as if doubting the sanity of
the person addressing him. Incledon resumed, " Pray, sir, lam an
actor. lam this night advertised at your—no, not at your theatre
—at the theatre in Leicester, for Steady, the Quaker, and it so hap.
pens that there is no proper dress for the character, which is highly
complimentary to your people. Independently of the want of effect,
from a bad dress, I am truly mortified to do discredit to so respectable
a body as yours. In fact, part of my own family were originally
of your profession, my dear sir; and this is an additional rea.
son why I am anxious to do all possible honour to the revered So-
ciety of Friends. In short, my worthy Sir, without your humane
assistance, I shall come before all the gentry of Leicester in a dress
very degrading to the proverbial neatness of your sea. Will you lend
me one of your suits ? You and I are pf a size. And, in so doing you
will at show the liberality of your character, and keep up the respect-
ability of the admirable body of people, so deservedly es.
teemed by all the world, and by none more than Charles
le"soft sawder " and
human .
natter"m Sli
could knot have himself,
with is
surprise
better,
itheMathews,
eff,e, effect
Incledon."
Sa
was proportionate. The chemist, to done
th eit
melted by this eloquent appeal to the honour of his sect, not
i h
only lent a suit of clothes, but yielded to the persuasions of the
singer, to be put into a private corner ! to be an unseen witness
of the manner in which the stage upheld his persuasion. That he
was charmed with Steady, there was no doubt, for he readily cone
fessed this to Incledon, on his returning the suit of clothes.—L(f.
QfMathcws.

SEIZURE FOR CHURCH-RATES.

PUBLIC SALE.

FROM A (:.oßitg3PON;)gNii.

The town of Chesterfield has now become as notorious
for neitation on the Church-rate question, as any town in
her Majesty's dominions. The first indication of the rising
storm was in 183'7, when Mr. &lot-, a gentleman very
extensively engaged in the drapery business, and several
other respectable tradesmen, made a stand against the
conscience-tat party, and in speeches of considerable
ability, exhibited the lit:policy and injustice of taxing
Dissenters far the support of a Church whose tenets
and practices they disapprove. There was a large
attendance of rate payers from the surrounding
Hamlets as well as from the town, who raised their voices
against the grievance, consequently the proposition for a
rate was negatived by show of hands. The Church
party did not demand, a poll, but commenced a voluntary
subscription, which was responded to Very liberally by Dis-
senters. In 18:A, the Church party, the more bigotted
of whom carry their raiicottr into private circles, re-
solved to try their strength. They were sick of volun-
taryism, because it inflicted a little humility. Mr. Sayer,
Mr. Bingham ( Quaker), and other respectable trades-
men, again came forward to oppose the rate, which was
again negatived by a show of hands, but lost in the poll,
in consequence of intimidation, and the use of' undue in-
fluence on the part of their opponents. Messrs. Elurst,
Sayer, and Cantrell resolved to allow the law to take its '
course ; they refused to pay the tax, theft' goods were
seized, and advertised for sale on Saturday last, the
16th instant. At the hour appointed an immense con-
course of people assembled in the Market-place, some
of them evidently anxious to have a clita9 bargain,
and others as positively determined that no bargain should
be made. The auctioneer (Mr. Nicholson) had no sooner
mounted the rottrum, than he was sainted by a volley of
yells and groans, which rather disturbed the usual serenity
and good nature of the worthy gentleman's countenance.
He shortly recovered himself, and jocularly proceeded to do
his duty by offering some of the articles for a " bidding;"
but as well might he have asked for twenty thousand
guineas, as for a " bid" in that vast crowd. The offer
was received with the most horrid yells and hisses, and
every succeeding attempt on his part was utterly hope•
less, for the noise drowned the sounds of his voice, and
prevented anything in the shape of words being heard.
No attempt at violence or rioting was made ; the sole ob-
ject of the populace appeared to be to shout the auctioneer
down, and frustrate the intentions of the High Church
party ( I say High Church party, for there are many Libe-
ral churchmen in Chesterfield who look upon the conduct
of their bigoted brethren with pity and disgust). 15eving
the utter hopelessness of his situation, Mr. Nicholson
moved off towards the Angel Inn, whither the crowd fol-
lowed him, under the idea that his object was to baffle
them. The shouting and groaning was kept up, as they
followed him from place to place ; until at length he pru-
dently took refuge in the Angel Inn, and awaited the dis-
persion of the crowd.
Never, perhaps, does the oldest inhabitant recollect
scene half so uproarious in the ancient borough of Chester
field ; and it will be well if the High Church party take
warning from this popular outburst of feeling, and never
again satiate their bigotry and intolerance by seizing the
goods of peaceable citizens. The struggle has commenced
in earnest in Chesterfield, and there will be ne more peace
for Mother Church until the iniquitous law is blotted out.
Only three dissentients opposed the tax this year—we ven-
ture to say that next year there will be three times twenty-
three.

The goods were disposed of in the evening by private
contract.

PAPERS ON EDUCATION.

(PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT BY TIER MAJESTY'S COMMAND.)

Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, Feb. 12, 1x39,
My Lord, Whitehall, Feb. 4, 11139.

I have received her Majesty's commands to make a communica-
tion to your Lordship on a subject of the greatest importance.
Her Majesty has observed with deep concern the want of instruction
which is still observable among the poorer classes of her subjects.
All the inquiries wbich have been made show a deficiency
in the general education of the people which is not in
accordance with the character of a civilized and Christian nation.

The Reports of tho Chaplains of gaols show that to a large number
of unfortunate prisoners a kowledge of the fundamental truths of
nature' and revealed religion has never been imparted.
It is some consolation to her Majesty to perceive that of late years
the zeal fir popular education has increased, that the Established
Church has made great efforts to promote the building of schools,
and that the National and British and Foreign School Societies have
actively endeavoured to stimulate the liberality of the benevolent
and enlightened friends of general education.
Still much remains to be done ; and among the chief defects yet
subsisting may be reckoned the insufficient number of qualified
schoolni:.sters, the imperfect mode of teaching which prevails in,
perhaps, the greater number of the schools, the absence of any suf-
ficient inspection of the schools, and examination of the nature of
the instruction given, the want of a Model-school which might
serve for the example of those Societies and Committees which
anxiously seek to improve their own methods of teaching, and,
finally, the neglect of this great subject among the enactments of
our voluminous legislation.
Some of these defects appear to admit of an immediate remedy,
and I am directed by her Majesty to desire, in the first place, that
your Lordship, with four other of tke Queen's servants, should form
a Board or Committee, for the consideration of all matters affecting
the Education of the People.

For the present it is thought advisable that this Board should con.
fist of:

The Lord President of the Council.
The Lord Privy Seal.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, and
The Master of the Mint.

It is proposed that the Board should be entrusted with the ap-
plication of any sums which may be voted by Parliament for the
purposes of Education in England and Wales.
Among the first objects to which any grant may be applied, will
be the establishment of a Normal SohooL

In such a school a body of schoolmasters may be formed, compe-
tent to assume the management of similar institutions in all parts
of the country. In such a school likewise the best modes of teach.
ing may be introduced, and those who wish to improve the schools
of their neighbourhood may have an opportunity of observing their
results.

The Board will consider whether it may not be advisable, for some
years, to apply a sum of money annually in aid of the Normal
Schools of the National, and of the British and Foriegn School
Societies.

They will likewise determine whether their mea.ures will allow
them to afford gratuities to deserving schoolmasters; there is no
class of men whose rewards are so disproportionate to their useful.
ness to the community.

In any Normal or Model School to be established by the Board,
four principal objects should be kept in view, viz.,—

1. Religious Instruction.
2. Genend Instruction.
3. Moral Training.
4. Habits of Industry.

Of these four I need only allude to the first; with respect to Re-
ligious Instruction there is, your Lordship is aware, a wide or
apparently wide difference of opinion among those who have been
most forward in promoting education. .

The National Society, supported by the Established Church, con.
tend that the schoolmaster should be invariably a Churchman ; that
the Church Catechism should be taught in the school to all the
scholars that all should be required to attend church on Sundays,
and that the schools should be in every case under the superintend.
ence of the clergyman of the parish.
The British and Foreign School Society, on the other hand, admit
Churchmen and Dissenters equally as schoolmasters, require that
the Bible should be taught in their schools, but insist that no Cate-
chism should be admitted.

Others again contend that secular instruction should be the bud-
nest of the school, and that the ministers of different persuasions
should each instruct separately the children of their own followers.
In the midst of these conflicting opinions there is not practically
that exclusiveness among the Church Societies, nor that indifference
to religion among those who exclude dogmatic instruction from the
school, which their mutual accusations would lead bystanders to
suppose.
Much therefore may be effected by a temperate attention to the
fair claims of the Established Church, and the religious freedom
sanctioned by law.
On this subject I need only say that it is her Majesty's wish that
the youth of this kingdom should be religiously brought up, and that
the right of conscience should be respected.
Moreover, there is a large class of children who may be fitted to
be good members of society without injury or offence to any party --
I mean pauper orphans, children deserted by their parents, and the
offspring of criminals and their associates.
It is from this class that the thieves and housebreakers of society are
continually recruited. It is this class likewise which has filled the
workhouses with ignorant and idle inmates.
The Poor Law Commissioners have very properly undertaken to
amend the vicious system which has hitherto prevailed, and in the
neighhourhood of the metropolis much has been already done under
their auspices.
It is in this direction likewise that certain good can be accom-
plished. It sometimes happens that the training which a child
of poor but virtuous parents receives at home, is but ill exchanged
for the imperfect or faulty instruction which he receives at school,
debased by vicious association; but for those whose parents are
dead, or who have no home but one of habitual vice, there can be
no such danger.
In all such instances, by combining moral training with general
instruction, the young may be saved from the temptations to crime,
and the whole community receive Indisputable benefit.
These and other considerations will, I am persuaded, receive from
your Lordship the must careful attention. I need not enter, at
present, into any further plans in contemplation for the extension of
the blessings of sound and religious education.
- I have, Sic.
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.
The Lord President of the Connell, &c.
Berkeley-square, Feb. 6, 1639.
My Lord—l have had the honour to receive your Lordship's
letter, conveying to me her Majesty's desire that I, as President of
the Council, together with certain other of her Majesty's servants,
should compose a Board, or Committee, to consider the state of edu-
cation, and direct the application of any sums which may be ap-
propriated by Parliament for promoting its improvement.
I hasten to express my readiness, whilst I continue to fill that
situation, to discharge my share of such a duty, convinced as I am
of the importance of the objects proposed, and the improbability of
their being satisfactorily accomplished without the countenance and
superintendence of her Majesty's Government.
I at the same time beg leave, at the outset, to state my opinion,
that the establishment of a Normal School, for training masters in
the most perfect methods of communicating literary and industrial,
as well as moral and religious instruction,
is the most pressing and
important of these objects, both in itself and as being a necessary
step to the attainment of the rest; and also the strong conviction which
I entertain that it should be a positive condition of such an establish.
ment, that it should be so regulated and provided with sufficient meats
to enable the teachers,Who are trained there, to acquire and to give
such religious instruction as may be required at all ordinary schools,
in the principles of the Church of England, without any exclusion of
those who may be connected with such other religious persuasions
as are known to prevail amongst a considerable portion of the po-
pulation of the country, who may be desirous of and should be
enabled to receive similar instruction from their own Ministers,
subject to the control and superintendence of the authority under
tvhi.h theschool will be placed.
That such a regulation should be distinctly promulgated and un-
derstood, appears to me indispensable for its success, in diffusing
widely those benefits which all are alike entitled to receive, and
combining with the most approved methods of education the most
solid foundation on which it can be placed.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) LANSDOWNE..
The Lord John Russell, &c.

Whitehall, Feb. 9, 1835.
My Lord,—l have had the honour to lay before the Queen your
Lordship's letter to me of the Gth instant, and I am commanded to
inform you that her Majesty is pleased to approve of the course your
Lordship proposes to pursue.-_I have. &c ,
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.
The President of the Council

Earl Bathurst left town on Friday for Abingdon
Abbey, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, who
are entertaining the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and a distin-
guished party.

HADDING". ON COUNTY
MEETING.

Last Friday, a public meeting of the nobility, gentry,
farmers, and others interested in agriculture in the county
of East Lothian, was held in the Assembly Rooms, Had
dington, pursuant to requisition, to consider the propriety
of petitioning Parliament in favour of the present system of
Corn-laws. There were present Lord Maitland ; Hon,
Gen. P. Stewart: Sir John Hall of Dunglass, Bart. ; Sir
G. Grant Suttie, Bart. ;.` Sir David Kinloch, Bart. ; Sir
George Warrender, Bart. ; Sir Robert Houstoun, Bart. ;
Captain Walker Drummond, yr. of llawthornden ; Capt.
Hay of Hopes; Mr. Burn Callender; Mr. Anderson of
St. Germains ; Mr. Fletcher of Saltoun ; Captain Hay
of Belton; Mr. Aitchison of Alderston ; Mr. Hamilton of
Ninewalls ; Mr. Sheriff Substitute Riddell ; Rev. Mr,
Cook of Haddington ; Mr. Hay Newton of Newtonhall ;
Mr. Charles Stewart ; Mr. Hay of Linplum ; Mr. Hal-
dane of Haddington ; Mr. Sprott of Spott, &c.
Lord MAITLAND having been called to the Chair, said
Mr. Villiers having given notice of a motion to beer evi-
dence at the bar of the House of Commons on the subject
of the Corn-laws, it was thought fit that the county of East
Lo..hian should -come forward and set an example to the
other counties of Scotland. As to the subject itself, it
would not, perhaps, be becoming in him to enter upon the
snbject at at any length, as that task would be more befit-
ting those gentlemen who are to move the resolutions.—
( Cheers.) '
Sir GEORGE WARRENDER then rose and said—My name
was not nffized to the requisition which called you together,
because I have had the misfortune, on many occasions, to
differ from the almost unanimous opinion of the county ou
the import‘nt subject wi;cla has called us together ; and as
I was suffering from indisposition, I was afraid I should
be prevented from addressing ycu. But I afterwards de-
tertnined, at all hazards, to be present to-day, that I might
wi'ness the triumph of these enlightened commercial
principles which I learned from a lamented statesman,
whose confidence and friendship I enjoyed up to the hour
which eklmsed his irreparable loss to his county. You must
all perceive that I allude to Mr. Huskisson. Since I have
tome here a series of resolutions has been put into my
hands, in the conceeting of which I had no share, but I am
free to confess that I concur entirely in the sentiments of
those resolutions ; and I must also own, that if I had beitia
at the greatest pains for severe! weeks together,' I am
sure I could have produced noth;ng more satisfactsory
to my own mind than those that have !-,con put into my
hands by the gentlemen who prepared them. It so
happens that these resolutions concur in and applaud
that system of Corn-laws which was prepared !)), .Mr•
Huskisson, and laid before Parliament, in the year 2827,
which at that time this country did not condor la.
--(cheers.) It is unnecessary for me to enter into the
details of this question, especially before a meeting of
agricultural men, many of whom understand the ques-
tion much better than I can be supposed to do ; but I may
observe, that the great advantage of these laws was to
afford protection to agriculture. During four years of the
period that they have been in operation, the prices of grain
have been low, but that has not prevented agrienleure froru
being eminently improved throughout the counter', and
nowhere more than in this county where we are now !net.
But all the:' improvements were effected under the sanc-
tion and by means of the command which the present laws
give the agriculturis:e of the home market; so that though
the agriculturist to meet the
of land brought under
the price of grain did net exceed 465. per quarter, yet
these improvements enabled
deficiency by increasing the qua:nitY
cnitivatlon. These improvements have all been effected
under the present system of lean-law:
but if you abolish
them, and admit corn duty free, these impeovements will bo
put an end to ; and then how are you to avei;t the calamities
which a had harvest would bring upon the, country
( Hear.) During the first ten years that the sy:stem has
been in operation.—that is from 1827 to 1837—.1 find
that there had been an active, sound, progressive ineee..-se
in the manufactures of the country, rising gradually front
year to year till they arrived in 1837 at a sum exceed-
ing by upwards of twenty millions sterling, the exports
of manufactured goods in 1827. Vie average exports
of the three last years of this period, that is, of 1834.
1835, and 1836, above that of the three first years of
the operation of them laws was 10,851,118/. 'f bat in-
crease and prosperity has not been confined to any one
branch of our manufactures. It was spread over the cotton,
cotton twist, hardware, linens, woollens, &c. The cotton
manufacture alone shows an increase of more than three
millions in that period. I may also allude to the shipping
interest ; and to give you an idea of the prosperity exist-
ing in that interest, the increase of the year 1836 over that
of 1835, was 164,648 tons inwards; crud 241,476 tons
outwards ; which last item necessarily shows what a vast
exportation there has been from this country in manufac-
tured goods. I ought not to omit to state, that these facts
are all taken from Parliamentary documents, from the offi-
cialooff highthe rcpt;
fatten returns. But besides this documentary ev:fienc.., I ant
NwSo7orOldd:
tahegpenret
sleicreannt
able to refer to oral evidence of equally high testimoiv ;eith
ttahteiosen dinoctuhme
ecnotm ere ira.l
Cham-
ber of Commerce at Manchester, stated lately in his Pla
in Parliament that the improvements of 1838 had exceeded
the average of the preceding four years by upwards of three
millions. For these reasons it is clear to me that the manufec.
curers are prospering under the present system of the Corn-
laws ; and on that ground I at present adhere to them.
Here Sir George referred to some of
the speeches at Man-
chester as taking this view of the subject ; he also referred
to Mr. M'Larcn's speech in Edinburgh, as stating that one
effect of the abolition of the Corn-laws would be to reduce
the price of labour to some extent. The Hon. Baronet
concluded by proposing a series of resolutions, expressing
the satisfaction of the meeting with the present system of
Corn-laws, and deprecating the attempts now making to
repeal them.
Mr. Bacons, of Amisfield Mains, seconded the resolution. I

Sir GEORGE GRANT SUTTIE concurred in the resolutions
to a certain extent—that was to say, in the first place, that
protection was necessary to agriculture; and, in the second
place, that a graduated scale of duty was best fitted for the
purpose. At the same time he did not concur in all the rea-
sons advanced to support those principles. An argument ad-
vanced on behalf of protecting native agriculturewas,that the
overwhelming majority of the population were engaged in it.
Now, it appeared to him that the strongest argument for
protecting agriculture was the smallness of the population
engaged in it, as compared with that portion of the popu-
lation engaged in manufactures and commerce. It ought
also to be remembered, as a reason for protection, that
manual labour was employed in agriculture to a far greater
extent than in manufactures ; the farmer could not employ
the steam-engine nearly to the same extent as the manu-
facturer could. But though there were portions of the
resolutions which were not so distinctly expressed as he
cculd wish, yet as he concurred in their sentiments gene-
rally, he a ould not oppose them.—( Hear. )
Captain WALKER DRUMAIOYD, Jutl., of Hawthornden,
said, on this occasion it becomes the duty of every person
connected with the landed interest to come forward, to ex-
press his strong dissent from the attempts that are now
making to disturb the existing system of the Corn-laws.
After referring at some length to the operation of the pre:-
sent system of Corn-laws, Captain Drummond proceeded
I do not mean to enter into any political argument at
this meeting, where it is desirable that unanimity should
prevail ; but as we are about to present a petition to the
Legis!ature, praying for protection, it is essentially neces-
sary that we should look forward to see what reception we
may meet with from the Government ; and, looking to
Lord Melbourne, I think we have not much to expect
from him. The fact appears to me that almost every iT,_
portant question is made open, except one—the question
of retaining their places ; and God knows that is close
enough.
Sir GEORGE GRANT SUTTIE rose to order. If Mr.
Drummond was allowed to introduce politics into the die,
cussion, he must beg to be heard in reply.
The resolutions were then unanimously agreed to.
Mr. B. CALLENDER moved that a petition, founded on
the resolutions, should be prepared, and, after receiving
signatures, be presented to the House of Lords by the
Marquis of Tvveeddale, and to the House of Commons by
Sir J. Buchan Hepburn.
On the motion of Sir DAVID KINLOCII thanks were voted
to Lord Maitland for his conduct in the chair, after whic::
the meeting separated.

NUMBER and TONNAGE of STEAM
VESSELS in GREAT BRITAIN and the
UNITED STATES.

The Secretary of the Navy at Washington has just
issued (Jan. 16.) an interesting document of statistics
on this subject, from which we may gather materials fur
settling a question mooted some time since in your co-
lumns about the comparative steamboat force of your
country and ours. In 1836 you had 600 at home and
abroad. Doubtless the number has increased since
then. Our number is rated at 800 now hi
, of which 600
belong to the western waters—where, i? 1834, th,ere
were but 254 ; so that you may get a glimpse of what
will be a few years hence. About 140 belong to the
state of New York. In tonnage iyo are more in advance
of you, the total here being estimated at 155,000 to
about 68,000 on your side, two years ago. At the
same time we have no boats equal in
_size to some of
yours ; our largest runs between New. Y ork and I
Natchez, and is of 860 tons ; the next in size are on
Lake Erie, and along the New England coast. The
average is 200 tons.—Correspondent of the Athenceum,
The number of steam vessels belonging to Great
Britain, exclusive of those belonging to the British
Plantations, in 1837, was 696, and the tonnage 80,714,
but this does not include steam vessels employed.
exclusively in river traffic, which are very numerous •
139 that if we take these into account, with the number
built since 1837, and the different modes of admeasure-
ment here and in America (in Great Britain the space
occupied by the machinery being excluded), the steam-
boat force (as Jonathan writes) of the two countries
may be reckoned nearly equal. France has not more
than 200 steam vessels, and probably this country and
the United States have twice as many as all the other
States in the world together.

Considerable talk and laughter has been created
amongst the inhabitants of the parishes of St. Peter at Gowts, and
St. Botolph's, in consequence of the
circumstance of a female who
resides in the last-named parish having in disguise (being dressed
in man's clothes), and under pretence
. of love, induced Miss B
a young lady of the first-named. parish, to
.accompany her round the
banks, ta.,by Moonl i g h t . It is said tha.t this affair has been going
(sit for the last three months, but that Miss B--- was totally u
quainted with the hoax till last week, whan she was told by some
one who had heard of the circumstance.—Lincoln Gazette. "1-

Died on Friday last, the Bth inst, at Kirby Loris.
dale, Mr. Geoffrey Metcalfe, aged 76 years ; he was a carrier be.
tween Kirkby Lonsdale and Manchester for the long period of 36
years, performing that journey twice and often three times a weck,
calculating 129 journeys in each year, at 30 miles each, he must
have travelled the enormous distance of 129,600 miles.—Lancaster
Guardian.

The Nottingham hosiery trade is now in a more
healthy and active state, at least there is a considerable demand for
wide frames. Mr. Parker sold 200 frames last week, the average
price of which was 91. ss, each, a larger sum than they would have
fetched at any time within the last twenty years.

Mr. G. A. YOUNG was anxious to state on this occa-
sion that some misapprehension existed as to the object
of the motion of which his Noble Friend Lord Nugent
had given notice. He felt assured that his Noble Friend
did not by that notice of motion intend at all to com-
promise the cause-of total and immediate repeal. He
gave that notice of motion because he thought he should
thereby be enabled to convince the agricultural interest
how erroneous were the views which they entertained on
this subject. He thought it was an act of justice to
the Noble Lord to make this statement, had he enter
tained any other views than these, he would not repro-
sent the feeling which was general throughout the parish
of Marylebose on this subject; in proof of which he would
state, that a Committee of the Vestry had been
appointed to assist in circulating the questions which the
Delegates had drawn up, they had endeavoured also to
convince their Tory Member, although he (Mr. Young)
feared Lord Teignmouth would vote against them ;
however, they had represented to him that Mr. Villiers's
motion being for inquiry merely, it was not at all incon-
sistent for gentlemen who were favourable to a continu-
ance of the existing system to vote in favour of that
motion. Mr. Villier's motion was merely preliminary,
and might be acceded to by all who were open to argu-
ment on the question of the Corn-laws. Indeed, he
(Mr. Young) could not understand how any Members
of Parliament who were anxious for the cause of truth
esuld object to inquiry.
Mr. STURGE wished to say a few words in support of
what had fallen from his friend Walmsley, and in refer-
ence to a report that it is probable a majority of the
Commons of Eogland would decide that they should not
be heard at the bar'of their House, and that it was still
more probable, should Lord Brougham press a similar
motion in the House of Lords, he would be left in a mi-
nority. In the interview with Lord Melbourne last week,
he ventured to state that the advocates for the repeal of
the Corn-laws would be satisfied with havir°r their
evidence taken at the bar of either House. Should
there be a plea set up that it would obstruct public
business in the Commons, this excuse can hardly
be made in the House of Lords. He should not be
convinced that a request so reasonable on a question
admitted to be so momentous even by those who op-
posed their views, would be refused by a majority of the
British Senate, till it should be proved by the division
itself:—(Hear, hear.) If, however, this should be the
case, they (the Delegates) of course could be no parties
to the production of evidence before any inferior tribu-
nal.—(Hear, hear.) He had had a little experience of
what was to be expected from the examinations of Par-
liamentary Committees, and he had no hesiaation in
saving that it might be taken for granted those who
vote against their being heard at the Bar of the House
hive made up their minds also to vote against the
aboli:ion of the Corn-laws, however strong may
he the evidence of the evils they inflict upon the
country. He took a deep interest in this question, not
because he wished to support manufactures and com-
merce at the expense of agriculture, tor he believed
they must stand or fall together, but because a deli-
Lerate examination of the subject had led him to the
conviction that if the Corn-laws were not shortly
abolished, all these great interests must be irreparably
injured, and the result would be an extent of suffering
to our labouring population which it is fearful to con-
template. If the motion on Tuesday night should be
lost he (Mr. Sturge) hoped a division would be taken
in the House upon the total repeal of these, laws, this
and every succeeding Session, till they are swept away
At a great meeting at Birmingham, for the purpose of
petitioning for the abolition of the Corn-laws, the fol-
lowing was the first resolution proposed :—" That this
meeting views with alarm the successful competition of
the continental manufacturers in the productions of the
Cenntry, and more especially in the articles made in
tins town and neighbourhood ; being convinced, that
notwithstanding the peculiar faculties possessed by Great 1
cD'itain, the absurd and unjust laws, prohibiting the
importation of the food of the people,
" tending towards the destruction of the manu-
•=acturing interests of this country, a result which must
Involve every class ofthe community in one common ruin;'
to which the following addition was moved and carried
by the Chartists :
_",And at the same time that we are perrectly aware
of tae dire effects of the food laws, and fully alive to
the dreadful consequences which would be the result of
continuation of them we feel it incumbent on ourselves
!illoi,scat,,e, that, taking into' consideration the preponderat-
41yttnence in both Houses of Parliament, of what is
o,jrnonulY termed the landed interest—the general
entirelyn of. the agriculturists, that property is almost
Independent of trade and manufactures, not.
')r)Parently understanding that the destruction of one of
the'threc would inevitably be the ruin of all—taking
also into consideration the very small minorities that
have hitherto votesl for the abolition or even the modi-
n rif the food laws, and more than all, that t'
Band Jury by 'whom the questioo-4-uld betrieT,
are personally interested in the decision.. the opinion

Sir GEORGE STRICKLA 'ND could not help rising to
address the meeting on account of something that had
fallen from the preceding speak( r. He agreed with him
that there was nothing more unwise:than our considering
there was any possible advantage to be derived from send-
ing this most important subject to a Committee above
stairs, because our experience was that, although most
questions mightbe decided fairly, and useful results might
be produced by a Committee above stairs, that questions
of megoitude like these, when sent up stairs, were
always Burked—(a laugh)—till some great event com-
pelled the Legislature to bring them forwetd. He was
one of those who was for putting on a bold front in
their application to the House of Commons, if lie
thought it possible to abolish those laws through
that medium ; but he %e: as one of those who thought
they had better spread their net wider, for the purpose
of getting an increased majority of supporters. This
was, however. what we ought to guard against, His
friend Mr. Sturge had sail. if he was defeated on this
occasion he should truly despair of ever obtaining his
object, but would go home and go to sleep. He (Sir
George) was of a very different opinion. He might
meet with a check, but he would try again, and if the
cause was a good one he ought never to despair of suc-
cess. He put it to Mr. Sturge's own experience whe-
ther we ought to dsspdr of this great qtsesion.
How long had that gentleman himself worked in
attempting to suppress the slave trade ? How
many times had that question come before the
House of Commons? Mr. Sturge, however, with
others, virtuously and energetically persevered, and
had now, at length, gained the cause. He knew he
had a good case, and persevered till he carried it
through, He (Sir George) was certain they had very
many lamicreners amongst the friends of this great
and important question. He would make this ob-
servation, that, in consequence of letters which had been
received, it was thought to be of no use to put into the
petition the expression that they should despair if its
prayer were not granted. The Government of Eng-
land might fear to interfere with these laws, but they
might not feel in the same way a few years hence.
Like Reform in Parliament, although_ it had not satis-
fied all, yet they could not forget that it bad been
effected by the prayers and petitions of the people.
Let them take the example of that dreadful abomi-
nation, Negro Slavery, and there was no occasion
to despair. He thought, in the main, there was
a majority of the House of Commons in favour
of the question. Many landowners, he was cer-
tain, were coming round to the opinion of
this meeting ; many who were opposing their en-
deavours were themselves in favour of a fixed duty.
His own opinion of a fixed duty was this, that it would
eventually promote a total repeal, and that the esta-
blishing of such a duty would be the road to the total
abrogation of the Corn-laws in a few years, but still his
opinion was that they ought to go on struggling for a to-
tal repeal. His course in the House of Commons would
he this ; he should vote for the total repeal of the Corn-
laws, and if he could not get that he should vote for a fair
inquiry by evidence before the bar of the House ; if he
faded in all that then he would vote for a fixed duty. He
was one of those who, if he could not get all he wanted,
would take what he could get ; and if they did this they
would eventually, in his opinion, abolish all those laws
and imposts which pressed against the good of the peo-
ple, in order to fill the pockets of the rich.
Mr. STURGE explained, and expressed a dis-
inclination to pursue the course pointed out by
Sir George Strickland, on account of being pledged
to total repeal. He agreed with all that had
fallen from the Hon. Member, with the exception of
what he had said about a fixed duty. He had rather
remain as they were that consent to a fixed duty, on
the ground that it would be no check to the decay
of manufactures.
Mr. BOULTBEE, after stating his conviction that Lord
Nugent was one of the firmest friends to the repeal of the
Corn-laws, doubted if sufficient pains had been taken by
framing a document in such a shape as to bring over
many agriculturists to their side. Many of them appeared
to be favourable to a repeal, and amongst them Lord
Breadalbane, who was brought over to us. The peti-
tion read to-day wished for a total repeal, but wished
to give them as much time as possible. The immediate
abolition of the Corn-laws would not have the sudden effect
expected. No man would be able at once to double his
produce, which would be a work of time, attended with
the employment of many additional labourers, and the
expenditure of much money. If, on the motion on
Tuesday, the House decided in favour of hearing
evidence, they would be prepared to prove, beyond
contradiction, that the Corn-laws were more mis-
chievous to the landlord, than any other bur-
then whatever, and that repeal would be of the
utmost benefit to that interest. They were any-
thing but an advantage to the landlord, and if they
-could once be made to understand this, they would be
brought over to the opinions maintained by this meeting.
Mr. HALL entirely concurred with what had fal-
len from Mr. Young, respecting the intentions of
Lord Nugent. He was sure no person was more
sincere an anxious than himself for the repeal
of those laws. Looking at the present constitu-
tion of the House of Commons, and their course
on this question, he thought they would come to no
satisfactory result on Tuesday evening, but he
thought they had put the question in the best shape in
which it would be put. He agreed with Sir G. Strick-
land, and was by means anxious for its being
referred to a Committee up stairs. If defeated as
they might be on Tuesday, all they could do, was
to exert themselves in their respective counties, and
bring on the question Session after Session till their
objects were in the end obtained. As for a fixed duty
they had only to ask themselves whether it was most
likely to lead to a repeal. It was a bad state of things,
and he was not sure whether he would not be a suf-
ferer by such arrangement. He bad presented peti-
tions against the Corn-laws, from the borough be repre-
sented, one signed by twenty-three thousand inhabitants,
another by threethousand, and another by two thousand,
a pretty decisive proof of the opinions entertained there;
and ssas fully enabled to say, that in the county of
Monmouth where he resided,the same feeling prevailed.
Mr. EWART said that when first the question came
before them how they should proceed, he felt no hesita-
tion whatever that the best course was the boldest
course—that they should bring the matter to a crisis ;
and instead of being deluded by any inducement to lay
their cause before a Select Conn-ranee, where it woull
shortly hat e expired under that stifling - process which
was so easy of application in the House of Commons,
they should demand nothing less than full inquiry.
To that resolution he still most sincerely adhered.
He believed that several gentlemen who had doubt-
ed whether they ought not to proceed by more
dilatory marches, would not come round to the
conviction that the best course was boldly to
mount the breach and assail their enemies in
their stronghold. In the course of these proceedings
the conduct of the delegates, while it had been firm and
resolute, had yet been resollute and conciliatory. He de-
fied any one to lay to their charge anything like hastiness
or rashness, while it was impossible to charge them
with imbecility or pusilanimity.—(Hear.) The people
could not understand why the Legislature should re-
sist this inquiry—an inquiry the most obvious antece-
dent to justice. They heard, on one side, that it would
take up the time of the House of Commons, but he
should like to know whether the time of the House of
Commons ought not to be devoted to questions of
national importance—whether the time of the House of
Commons was to be measured by the House of
Commons' clock, or the wants of the people.
If the question of time was of importance,
might not the House meet at regular hours, and devote
two or three hours a-day to hearing and receiving the '
most irrefutable documents and evidences on this great
national question. The House had met at early hours
on less important subjects for the public, on mere per-
sonal m there, such as that of the Duke of York for.
instance.—( Hear.) This involved a more mighty
principle. If they refused an inquiry on this question
in the House of Commons, did not the House trench
on the great question of refusing attention_ to the
national grievances at all ; for what grievance would
be entertained if this should be rejected ? If justice
was refused, the result must be thai a vast number of
persons who were now moderate in politics would be-
come infinitely more ultra ; and many persons would
feel themselves precipitated towards Chartism by the
refusal of the Legislature to listen to the voice of the
people and the justice of their cause. These things de-
served to be seriously considered by those who assumed
the awful responsibility of refusing the prayers of the
people ; those Members would be held up to the re-
spectful veneration of their constituents, even though
they did not entirely agree with all the points that were
urged for the total repeal of the Corn-laws, who did not
withstand inquiry ; while those who did Would invade a
great principle of our Parliarnentaiy Constitution, and
would be deservedly held up as not only injuring the