The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-29 00:00:00

DUTCH MAIL.

AMSTERDAM, MARCH 26.—A Brussels Paper of the 25th
has a private letter from the Hague, which states that the
Grand Duchy of Baden has caused a declaration to be
made to Prussia, to the effect that they protest against the
ratification of the commercial treaty concluded with Hol-
land, because it would prove extremely injurious to their
manufacturers of sugar from beet-root. The Editor of the
Journal is inclined to believe that the ratification will not
take place, and that fresh negociations must be commenced
between Prussia and Holland.

THE HAGUE, MARCH 25. —We bear that Count Maltitz,
Russian Ambassador at the Court of the Netherlands, will
go at the cnd of the week to Nimeguen, to meet his Im-
perial Highness the Grand Duke Alexander, who is ex-
pected bore on Monday next.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange, as a proof
of his wish to encourage the invention of Mr. Dietr, has
to-day given him an order for five of his carriages with six
wheels, and one with ten wheels. It is said that the latter
will convey thirty persons.
FRANKFORT, MARCH 22.—Notwithstanding the news of
the acceptance of the Treaty by the Belgian Chamber of
Representatives the Stock Exchange was very dull to-day.
Various reasons were assigned for this—one of which may
be the scarcity of money, caused by the transmission of
large quantities of ready cash to the Rhenish provinces, in
order to defray the expence incident on the assemblage of
the troops there. Our approaching fair, too, requires
large sums. The chief cause of the depression of the
funds seems to be the apprehension that loans to a large
amount will shortly be contracted, to which some States,
especially Belgium, may be obliged to have recourse.
The resolution of the Belgian Chamber has given great
satisfaction in our political circles. It is believed that in
less than two months the points relative to the final sepa-
ration between Holland and Belgium will be settled.

The journey of the Russian Grand Duke through Ger-
many has resembled a triumph. The most brilliant fetes
acre every where prepared for him.

DEVIZES.-WEDNESDAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-With reference to a paragraph in last night's
Sun, respecting circumstances connected with the pro-
ceedings at a Petty Sessions, held at Devizes, on the
12th instant, you will, I trust, think it just to give pub-
licity to the following statement :

Nearly 100 pool: persons, most of them renting
houses from 10s. to 2/. per annum, were summoned to
appear at the Petty Sessions to show cause why they
refused to pay their poor-rates which, FOR TIIF FIRST
TIME, they were called upon to do.
The Churchwarden and Overseer, as well as two or
three of the principal paymasters of the parish, were
present, at whose recommendation (backed by their
own opinion with regard to the indigent circumstances
in which the applicants appeared to be), the Magistrates
exempted many of them from paying their rates.
No precise line was drawn with regard to the number
of children each person had, for, in some instances,
persons with large families, and even a widow, were
from their circumstances considered competent, and
were directed to pay. Each case was taken separately.
I believe it will be found that, throughout the coun-
try, it has been considered right by the Magistracy, to
exempt some of the poorest persons from paying rates.
In the parish of Allcannings, referred to above,
labourer's wages have been very generally raised of
late. Nearly the whole of the land and cottages
belong to Lord Ashburton, and if the cottagers are
exempt from paying rates, it follows that the deficiency
must be made up from the land, and consequently it
would fall upon these very paymasters who kindly in-
terested themselves in getting the poor people ex-
empted from paying.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
HENRY S. OLIVIER,
Justice of the Peace of the County of Wilts.

-- -
At a meeting of shipmasters, and other seamen
belonging to this port, held on the 7th instant, in the
house of Mrs. Mitchell, South Quay, a petition nume-
rously signed, praying for a redress of the grievances con-
tained in the Act 4th and sth William, 4th chap. 52, was
agreed to, and has been transmitted to J. D. Gillon, Esq.
M. P., that the subject may be brought under the conside-
ration of the House of Commons. Petitions to the same
effect are in course of preparation by the seamen of Troon,
Irvine, Saltcoats, and Ardrossan, and it is hoped that the
seamen in all other ports in the kingdom, who stand af-
fected by the provisions of said Act, and have as yet done
nothing in this matter, will come forward and aid in pro-
curing a removal of the grievances complained of.—Cor-
respondent of the Ayr Observer.—[This is Sir James
Graham's fine Act.]
LECTURING IN MANCHESTER.--.-NO fewer
than seven courses of lectures are now in progress of deli-
very at Manchester, on every variety of subject, from that
of the Poor-laws to the beauties of Hebrew poetry._.
Hal Guardian.

NOVEL MATCH.—Some time ago a match had
been taken in the shape of a bet of considerable amount
between Alexander Aird, Esq., of Crossflatt, and George
Rankine, Efq., an extensive landed proprietor from Aus-
tralia. The time fixed for this trial of skill was the same
day on which a general ploughing match came off, but
the gentlemen having to plough with a pair of ploughs
and the horses then ir contest for the prizes, the day would
not have afforded time for a second match, it was therefore
deferred till next day. The spectators, my informant says,
were quite surprised at the gentleman's excellent work-
manship. The prize, it seems, had been keenly contested
for, and the twa lairds turned out to have been a wed
matched pair—so well matched that the judges, (Mr. John
Richard Muirkirk, and Fleming, Esq., of Barro-
chan), after;, the most careful inspection, found it neces-
sary to call in a thirds-man (Mr. Murray, farm overseer to
the Iron Company) to help them to a decision. The prize
was finally adjudged to Alexander Aird, Esq., of Cross-
flatt. This last is probably the finest ploughing match of
the kind that has hitherto occurred. Is it likely, Mr.
Editor, that such matches will, in our day, become fashion-
able ? I presume that it will not • perhaps, however, it
may, and if so, we may yet have the pleasure of witness-
ing the prize or a pair of the best ploughed riggs, con-
tested for by the three Members of Parliament for the
county and burghs. But what wad ye think man, to send
the County Member to Parliament through that test rather
than by election. Is there onie chance that we would be
waur saired ?—Ayr Observer.

—There are no less than eight Roman Catholic
chapels in this county, not including the unfinished building
at Hastings.—Brighton Gazette.