The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1853.

and thereupon reimbursing itself for the outlay
required in the expedition by adding one or other
of the conquered provinces to the bulk of what
constituted already its dominions. Upon a re-
petition of hostilities from the same quarter the
Governor-General in Council has adopted a similar
course for the indemnification of his Government.
Therefrom—out of this very rational, and, all
things considered, very just and reasonable policy
—has grown up the vast system of our Oriental
dominions. Among the secrets of our successes in
its extension, as we have intimated, have been the
energy and promptitude which the Anglo-Saxon
authorities at Calcutta have repelled their eastern
antagonists. Unhappily, in the instance before
us, but little regard seems to have been had either
to this energy or to this promptitude. Through-
out the whole of the Burmese War we have shown
ourselves anything rather than prompt or ener-
getic. Having placed our forces, both naval and
military, under the command of officers who ought
in reason to have been long- ago regarded as super-
annuated, we have looked on complacently while
they have been throwing away, one after another,
the most golden opportunities. Dilatory to the
last degree in their movements, they have
sacrificed time, and in sacrificing time have squan-
dered the lives of those placed under their authority,
exposing them at one moment to the dangers of un-
equal conflict, and at another to the decimating perils
of pestilence. As a natural consequence the old
Admiral in command died—while the old General
in command found himself crushed under the
weight of a by no means undeserved unpopularity.
After continuing the struggle against the Burmese
during several weary months, General GODWIN at
last drags the campaign to a tardy conclusion, and
the event is celebrated, as we have shown, by the
annexation of Pegu to the British territories.
Every sensible observer in the United Kingdom
must, of course, regard that annexation as merely
a preliminary step to the seizure of the whole of
the dominions of the • King of AvA, by the a]l-
conquering
arms of the Anglo-Indian Government.
An alternative--(the usual alternative).—has been
held out to the Burmese MONARCH by the
Governor-General in Council : the alternative of
the ruin and exile of himself and his race, by the
total subversion of his Sovereignty, or of his ac •
ceptance by the renewal of his former relations of
friendship with the British Government. In all
human likelihood, the Court of Ava will recoil
from the mere notion of renewing any such rela-
tions of friendship, and striving by every imagin-
able means to dispute the British occupation of
Pegu, will drive the Government of Calcutta to
fulfil its threat by advancing upon the re-
maining provinces of the Burmese Empire,
and quietly adding them en masse to the
rest of our Oriental possessions. In speaking
thus we are only taking the Past as a guide to the
Future—we are only threading the maze of pro-
babilities by the clue of experience. Hitherto
our quarrel with the Court of Ara has been its
refusal " to make amends for the injuries and in-
sults which British subjects have suffered at the
hands of its servants," and for which refusal the
Governor-General of India, in Council, resolved,
by force of arms, to exact reparation. This, re-
member, is the explicit avowal of the Proclama-
tion of the 20th of last December. Well, the
reparation has only been commenced, we take it,
by the annexation of Pegu-..it can only be com-
pleted, in all probability, and that, ..perhaps, be-
-1
fore very long, by the seizure of the rest of the
Burmese provinces, and their incorporation with
the territories already owning obedience to the
Anglo-Indian Government.

The Commissioners for inquiring into the state
of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches are at
length beginning to enter in good earnest on the
important duties committed to their charge.
They have forwarded to the several Deans and
Chapters throughout the kingdom copies of the
Commission under which they are empowered to
conduct the investigation, together with a series
of interrogatories, to which answers are requested
by the 9th of April next. Suggestions, as to
the means by which the purposes of the Conami s-

sion may be best attained, are also invited at as
early as period as may be practicable. These
interrogatories, although not quite so stringent
and searching as might be desired, will still, if
fully and satisfactorily responded to, necessarily
elicit much valuable information, amply sufficient
to warrant the future legislation which the serious
abuses that have sprung up during successive
ages so urgently, so imperatively demand. There
has clearly been a desire to spare the blushes of
some Rev. Pluralists, who, although in receipt of
incomes affording amply sufficient remuneration
for the entire devotion of their time and labour
to the efficient discharge of their capitular duties,
are yet enabled to accept other lucrative situa-
tions ; so that one branch or other of their eccle-
siastical labours must be neglected. We should
be happy to have a distinct account of the nume-
rous avocations devolving on the leviathan plura-
list, and the manner in which he provides for the
efficient discharge of his various offices. Nor
would a return, showing the distribution of time
byhis venerable brother-in-law, Archdeacon CROFT,
be an uninteresting document. It is, indeed,
wonderful how these much-wronged men contrive
to get through business which, from the remune-
ration attached to the various preferments, must
necessarily be of a very arduous character, re-
quiring much application and trouble on
the part of those who have so chivalrously
undertaken the onerous tank. It would
also be desirable to have ascertained the
degree of relationship or connexion existing be-
tween the parties in possession, and the patrons
by whom they had been presented, so that it
might be shown that each of these preferments,
conferring not merely competence, but wealth, on
the fortunate occupants, were originally bestowcv,l
on comparative strangers as the reward of literary
ability, that they might enjoy as a fitting reward
for unquestionable merit, the otium cum, dignitate,
and that there was no appearance of nepotism or
undue favouritism in these appointments, as some
irreverent scoffers have more than hinted. It is,
however, a sound principle that no person is
bound to criminate himself and therefore it is, we
suppose, that these apparently pertinent inquiries
have been so studiously omitted. ,
The first head relating to the original, the pre-
sent, and the future contributions of the Chapter
will show, at the same time what were the inten-
tions of the founders of these institutions, and
how far these intentions have been carried into
practical operation, or how or in what respect they
have been departed from, or the Statutes infringed
upon, and also the probable effect of the 3d and
4th Vro., c. 113, when the provisions thereof be-
came operative. It will be interesting to compare
the duties of the members and officers of the
Chapter in the olden time, and the residence re-
quired from each—and the definition given in the
Statutes of the term "residence," with the duties
and residences now required, and the understand-
ing as to what constitutes " residence " at the
present day. There might, under this head, very
properly have been an application as to the past
and present emoluments of the members of the
Chapter, and the proportion which each bore
to the total capitular revenues. But this
most important topic has been totally, we
had almost said studiously omitted—an omission
the more remarkable, inasmuch, as the questions
" how are they paid ? what are their stipends and
allowances, statutable or other ?" are put in refer-
ence to the vicars, minor canons, and school-
masters ; and " what are their emoluments ?" in
reference to the lay vicar's clerks, and all other
statutable officers. It would almost seem as if it
were deemed expedient to limit the operation of
any capitular reform to the inferior officers, and
that prebendaries were a class too dignified
to be interfered with by Parliament. We fancy,
however, that Sir BENJAMIN HALL and the Mar-
quis of BLANDFORD will scarcely be contented with
defective information on the subject on which
legislation is most essential.

-In addition to the queries relating to the va-
rious officers and the schools, there are others
touching the number and manner of the different
services, the state of the fabric, together with-the
funds applicable to keeping it in repair, and the
amount actually expended within the last fourteen

years, the impropriate rectories, and the value
of the tithes and glebes thereof, and the patron-
age value, and situations, &c., of the vicarages
and perpetual curacies, and the situations, popu-
lation, and value of the other benefices in the gift
of the Chapter. Those applicable to the expendi-
ture for sacred purposes, and the grants, annual
or occasional, for the augmentation of vi-
carages or perpetual curacies, will, we trust,
exhibit in the strongest light the liberality of
those wealthy bodies, and the judicious application
of the ample funds, with the control and manage-
ment whereof they had been intrusted.
The answers relating to the powers of the
Visitor, an.d the applications that may have been
made to any other interpreter of the Statutes
since the time of the Reformation, will show the
sharp look-•out after abuses that have been kept
up for the last three centuries. There is one
head, however, which appears supererogatory.
To the inquiry, What are the relations of the
Chapter to the Bishops ? the answers might
be, with little variations, " Sons, sons-in-law,
brothers, brothers-in-law, uncles, nephews, and
cousins by birth or marriage." The list could
scarcely go much further. There would appear to be
very snug family parties in the Cathedrals of each
Diocese. We trust that Deans and Chapters may
share the fate of Ecclesiastical and Prerogative
Courts. Nothing but the complete abolition of
the system will suffice, and the transfer of the
actual duties to other hands, by which they would
be far more efficiently discharged at less than a
tithe of the present expenditure, and an immense
fund would become available for religious and
educational purposes.

We believe The Sun was the first of the press to
urge upon British Catholics their obvious interest
and duty in regard to the MADIAIS. Commenting
upon their setting up a Religious Equality Agita-
tion, we assured them of the derision which such
an attempt must call forth, unless they vindicated
British Catholicism from the stigma of complicity
with Tuscan barbarities to Protestants. We
pointed out to them that the cause of the MADIAIS
was more theirs than ours,—that it was a grief
to us but a disgrace to them. We reminded them
of their cries of persecution, when refused by Act
of Parliament, not Bishops and Cardinals, and any
Church Governors they pleased, but merely the
appropriation of titles from our territory, a pro-
hibition which they share with every British sub-
ject ; and we showed them that they would be held
guilty of the most selfish insensibility if they raised
such a clamour about empty names for themselves,
and yet, by the canons of their own Church, con-
signed humble and harmless Protestants to a dun-
geon for years, only for reading and distributing
the Bible. Our appeal was unheeded, as we
feared it would be. Soon after Sir CULLING
EARDLEY invited Mr. LUCAS by name to concur
with him in remonstrating with the Grand Duke
of Tuscany, the Catholic agent in these cruelties.
The invitation drew forth the savage reply, which
Mr. KEOGH and Serjeant SHEE were so honourably
forward to disavow. Still nothing was done. It
appears, however, that Mr. RICHARD BESTS of
Southampton, an English Catholic, did send a
truly creditable letter to the Times, which that
journal, most unaccountably to us, refused
to insert, preferring ten pounds towards the
expenses of a deputation of English Catho-
lics in behalf of the MADIAIS, and exhorting
his fellow-believers to send such a deputation.
The letter was afterwards sent to the Leeds Mer-
cury, Lord CARLISLE having addressed the Catho-
lics, on behalf of the MADIAIS in that journal.
His Lordship takes up the view to which we had
previously invited the attention of the Catholics.
He pleads with them their own constant assertion
when seeking liberty for themselves, that their
Church has made the same advance which all
others have in this country, in shaking off the
doctrine and practice of persecution for conscience
sake. He suggests to them the propriety of " a
deferential, dutiful, submissive remonstrance to
their spiritual superior, but one which should still
be earnest, importunate, and incessant, till, by its
timely intervention, they are rescued from this
glaring inconsistency, this intolerable reproach."
Lord CARLISLE, however, does not succeed much
better in his appeal to Catholic abhorrence of per-
secution than The Sun or Sir CULLING EARDLEY.
It appears to us as if " the old principles and
codes of intolerance once certainly attached to
their Church had not fallen into desuetude,"
as his Lordship kindly hopes, and Catholics here
have so often asserted. In the number of the
Leeds Mercury following that in which Lord CAR-
LISLE'S bland epistle was published, the Hon.
CHARLES LANGDALE figures as respondent ; but,
alas, it is substantially to the same effect. Like
Mr. LUCAS, he attempts to shuffle off by hinting
at the inaccuracy of the reports of the case cir-
culated in this country. Like Mr. LUCAS, how-
ever, he makes no attempt to correct them, and
how he could do so when the whole legal
proceedings, the indictment and the sen-
tence themselves, are lying before us both in
Italian and in English translation, it is difficult to
see. Very naturally he declines to debate the
question of " the accuracy of the charges," and
tries more plausible ground. The POPE, to whom
Lord CARLISLE suggested that the deputation
should be sent, has, he says, nothing to do with
the matter. The laws of Tuscany alone are in
fault. Well, then, send the deputation to the
DUKE, and let it beseech him, by all the liberty
which Catholics here enjoy, by their liberty to read
and circulate Mass-books, by their liberty to con-
vertto do every thing but touch the. pre
English clergymen and ladies, byrtohgealtrilive,l3433rtoyf
the
sc.dulßutot
protCesßto:s—asle it beseech
Et
nglbaensdicshlihbiemratlotobecasathmoleicr
uthKiEs
very important point. isthatwr the Dg I
Mr. LANGDALE must knoHwethknatohwes
is but the tool of Rome. If he does not, every
other Englishman now knows the Papal Canon
Law on the duty of Catholic Princes towards those
MING
who deem it the right and duty of all men to read
Cum has published the
the Scriptures. Dr.
MURRAY,
clauses relating to this subject of the Bull Unt-'
MURRAY, who ought to know,
genitus, which Dr.
declared to be a part of the law of the Catholic
Church. That Bull, after denouncing the Pro-
testant view of the Scriptures,
"as false, blas-
phemous, impious, heretical,"
adds : "And we
to coerce and compel
of the secular arm
charge our venerable brethren the Patriarchs,
Archbishops, and Bishops,
all who oppose or resist the aid
being called in for
consistent Catholic, and
ff
the POPE the authority at whose 6 b.ddin he would
this purpose if necessary." Th©
DUKE, therefore, is but a
immediately cease
' H l Word.the
readers and distributors of miGOD S Ho 1T
of
Mr. LANGDA.LE'S second argument is, that
to victise in dungeons
the American ladies for slavery. Look at ho
t persecuting laws
? To which we
against
Catholics in Protestant Swedenm e,
he says ; are there no
can only answer, that
to
anything approaching
if
the Tuscan cruelties against
till
sho in Sweden, we should not rest
to deliver their
Protes-
tants here had done their utmost
Protestants can b©
far was Sweden ?
says, so
grace. But why travel, he
oin Lord 3-011 N
Did not you, Lord LISLII,.
DeituAni
of the infamous
name and faith from such an unendurable dis-
RUSSELL, the writer
Letter, in enacting a
we do not
wonder at any reluctance
Now,
mil-
lions of your fellow-subjectsthe Catholics may feel
persecut?ing law against
to " be the obsequious followers of the RODENS,
from the calumnious
glowing
tint Alliance, still is all this
hall " But what
outrages of Exeter- •
stir about the
The folly of the up
stir
and other members of
to the purpose ? -
Ecclesiastical Titles was mons
with tpu
the pompous follies
may bo fairly matched
t That Austria, the
which gave occasion to
iryl.AN meant an insult to
s enough, but it
POPE, and Cardinal WisE_
That
care about such an
insult is now quit© as
foolish to
England was very To us it
England, no man in
little doubted.
seems that the real victory will doubt.
on this matter is with
let them not cla-
the Catholics. At all events, G
his senses
enera in-
Attorney-
mour till some English •
hich every Catholic dig-
structed to enforce a law w
nitary defies or laughs at.
No, Mr. LANGDALE, be honest. Look at the facts
e En (sh
of the case. Compare the Tuscan law
witch
osed th
iodi Tress nof
law. One made to resist the supp
unprovoked off-
a foreign Prince, the other the

spring of a persecuting faith ; the one leaving '
Catholics free to do everything but assume the
emblems of sovereignty over our soil, the other
prohibiting Protestants to have and to circulate
the Holy Scriptures ; the one sanctioned by com-
paratively light pecuniary penalties, the other by
imprisonment for long years in a felon's dungeon;
the one drag-chained by every legal hindrance to
its being enforced, the other diligently worked by
spies and police ; the one practically left as a dead
letter, the other remorselessly pressed against the
debilitated and the dying ; the one touching only
conspicuous men not easily oppressed, the other
pursuing a poor lodging-house keeper and his wife
into their humble apartments ; the one unsup-
ported by any kindred legislation, neutralised
rather by its opponents, composing half the
Government of the day, the other backed by the
bloody guillotine as more Catholic (we regret to
write it) than the gaol. Let Mr. LANGDALE look
on this picture and on that—let him say what
feature is exaggerated either way—and let him,
and let all Catholics blush to mention in the same
breath the bondage and the blood which Popery
demands for Protestants reading and circulating
their Bibles, and the paper penalties which Eng-
lishmen have laid by in their archives against
trenching on the secular rights of the English SOVE-
REIGN. Let Mr. LANGDALE and the Catholics be
aware that the majority of intelligent Englishmen
regret enough the foolish measure of 1851, but
that it is vain indeed to think to blind them to
the Catholic atrocities of dungeons and death for
Bible-reading, or Bible-teaching either, by throw-
ing in their eyes the dust of an Ecclesiastical
Titles Bill.

We can just discover the difference between an
unenforced fine and attacks on our liberty and life.
We can assure Mr. LANGDALE of another thing :
and that is,,that from persons from whom we
should not have expected it, we have heard the
remark, that if French and Austrian bayonets are
to claim the right of upholding the POPE and per-
secution in Italy, it may well become a question
whether England ought not to occupy Florence,
or some other place for the interests of Protestant
liberty.

SeTeral of the Metropolitan Railway Companies
have brought forward Bills for authority to con-
struct connecting links or branch lines, which must
exceedingly promote the public convenience, while
at the same time they will, we trust, prove remu-
nerative speculations. From the list of those
Bills that have already received a first reading, in-
serted in another part of this day's impression, it
will be found that the London and North-Western
and the South-Eastern Company are exhibiting
extraordinary exertion. The former company has
no leis than seven bills, viz. :

"I. To construct line from Northampton to Market
Harborough. 11. Ditto from Tring to Oxford. 111.
Ditto from Crewe to Shrewsbury. IV. To make
branches to Stourbridge. V. To obtain additional
powers as to the Oldham branch. VI. To construct
branches to St. Albans and Amersham. VII. To con-
nect the Buckinghamshire with the Oxford, Worcester,
and Wolverhampton."
These improvements, if carried into execution,
must prove exceedingly beneficial to the inhabi-
tants of the districts traversed by the new line,
allowing opportunities for considerable savings,
both of time and money.
The South-Eastern projects are no less impor-
tant. They are as follows :--
"I. To form a junction with the Great Western at
Reading. 11. To make a branch from the North Kent
to the Thames. 111. Do. from Lewisham to Bromley
and Croydon. IV. Do. from Strood to Maidstone.
V. To- vest in the South-Eastern the Canterbury and
Whitstable Railway and Continental Packet Company."
The public will owe a debt of gratitude to the
Directors of this important Company for the spirit
and enterprise displayed in these valuable addi-
tions to the railway communication of the country.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were
estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 500 American
and 500 Pernam and Maranham were taken for ex-
port. The market was tame, but closed steadily at
previous rates. The sales comprised 5,000 Ameri-
can ; 600 Pernam and Maranham, at 6/d. to 6/d. ;
300 Egyptian, at 6/d. to 8/d. ; and 500 Surat, at
3d. to 4id. per lb. Railway Shares were firm at
higher prices.
The railway meetings announced for the week
are the following :
Buckinghamshire, Feb. 18, Euston Station.
Colchester, Stour Valley, &c., Feb. 16, Colchester.
Cork and Waterford, Feb. 15, 2, Delahay-street, West-
minster.
Dublin and Belfast Junction, Feb. 16, Dublin.
Dublin and Wicklow, Feb. 16, Dublin.
East and West India Docks and Birmingham Junction,
Feb. 19, Euston Station.
East Indian, Frib. 18, 50, Old Broad-street.
Gloucester and Dean Forest, Feb. 19, Gloucester.

Liverpool, Crosby, and Southport, Feb. 15, Liverpool.
London and Blackwall, Feb. 15, London Tavern.
London and North-Western, Feb. 18, Euston Station.
London and South-Western, Feb. 16, London Tavern.
Madras, Feb. 15, Office.

Maria Antonia, Feb. 14, Florence.
Northern and Eastern, Feb. 17, Office.
Sambre and Meuse, Feb. 17, Office.

Sheffield, Rotherham, 8., w., H., and Goole, Feb. 18,

Wakefield.
Taff Vale, Feb. 16, Bristol.
Vale of Neath, Feb. 19, Cardiff.
York, Newcastle, and Berwick, Feb. 18, York.
In reference to the import trade of New York,
returns show that in four weeks the increase was
$832,717, and this, it was stated, was quite a mode-
rate augmentation. A favourable feature was the
uniformity in the receipts of foreign dry goods.
The importation of these articles is watched with
interest, as they form an important item in the
total value of imports, and show to some extent the
state of the foreign trade.

From Miramichi we learn that a fishery meeting
had been held, at which resolutions were passed to
the effect that, as the British North American
coast fishery was daily increasing in value and im-
portance, the idea of conceding them to the Ame-
ricans should not be carried out without the con-
sent of the colonists.

Accounts from Caiifornia are of an interesting
character. In the new Pacific state the inhabitants
were suffering very much from famine, floods, and
sickness. The floods were so extensive that many
towns and districts were under water ; miners were
compelled to leave the " diggins," and provisions
had become so scarce in some parts of the interior
that many of the people were actually starv-
ing, attributable to the very bad condition
of the roads. The quantity of gold shipped from
the Atlantic States from the Ist ult. was but
little more than 1,800,000 dols., which was owing

to the unfavourable weather. This, however, was
not expected long to continue, and larger ship-
ments were looked for. But to the " diggers" these
floods are generally of ultimate advantage, as they
wash away the earth, and leave the gold on the
surface. In San Francisco flour was cheaper, and
an increased stock was expected ; the wholesale
price was 31 dols. to 32 dols., and the retail 33 to
34 dols. per brl. Money was abundant at 2i to 3
per cent.
At the meeting of the British American Land
Company just held, a dividend at the rate of 30s.
per share for the year was declared, 15s. to be paid
on and after the 11th April, and 15s. on and after
the 10th October next. There is no definite infor-
mation concerning the gold discoveries, but that
gold does exist in the eastern townships is ascer-
tained.

Advices from Constantinople, of January 29,
state that the value of money had risen there.
The Australian florin was worth 4i piastres, and
roubles were at 20 piastres ; francs were at 5
piastres.
The English Stocks have been firm, but with
very little doing. Consols have been marked
994 for Transfer, and the same for Account. The
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. are at 103±
to The advices from Paris are satisfactory, and
upon the opening of the Senate it is hoped the Em-
peror will make such remarks as will strengthen
confidence. Bank Stock has been very steady at
228. Exchequer Bills are 525. to 555. premium,
being scarcely so good. East India Bonds are at
60s. premium.
Foreign Securities have been without any parti-
cular alteration. Mexican Bonds have been steady
at 231 -a. Peruvian 6 per Cents. have been sup-
ported at 104. Grenada Deferred Stock is at 114,
and dull. Brazilian Small Bonds are at loti, and
the 4-i per Cents at 97±. Buenos Ayres Bonds are
marked 64. Portuguese 4 per Cents, are 38±, and
Spanish 3 per Cents. 47i. The Swedish Loan is at
1 discount. Russian Bonds are supported.
The Gold Mine Shares have been very active,
and many buyers have taken them up. Great
Nugget Vein, Colonial, and West Mariposa have
been in most demand.

There is a report that Colonel Fremont's title to
the mineral on his estates has been declared inva-
lid, consequently squatters can occupy the ground.
The Land Company's Shares are firmer, and
South Australian Land are up 2/. to 4/. The Aus-
tralian Bank is rising.
Railway Shares are at very full prices, and in
some cases dearer. The French lines are all de-
cidedly better.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
. (From the Official List.) _

_
Business aone.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.... ......
3 per Cent: Consols Annuities
New 3} per Cent. Annuities 103;
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 6i
India Bonds, £lOOO —
Ditto, under £IC3O 6O
Consols for Account 10th March
March. 99 B g
June.
Exchequer Bills lAd.
£lOOO.. 55 2
Small 52
-- -

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian _Bonds, 5 per Cent. —
Ditto New, 1862, 43 per Cent 97R
Ditto New, 1843
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 64
Grenada Bonds, Deferred,
Mexican 3 per Cent -
Peruvian 6 per Cent.
Portuguese 4 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto, 43 per cent lO3.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent..... .......
' p,inish Bonds, 3 per Cent
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent —
Ditto for the Account 22i
Swedish Loau *
Consols
THREE O'CLOCK.
99 i
Ditto March Account

FIGHT BETWEEN THE "MANCHESTER PET" AND THE
" PLUCKY EivelasiiMAN."—A little bit of a "spurt" has
taken place between Cobden and the Englishman. The
reporter for Beli's Life was not present, but one of the
combatants has furnished the following account of the
" mill,"which is addressed to the " Pet ' in these terms
—" You are a sporting man. I wrote letters, but you
mitke a book. You post a challenge for the championship.
You choose the day, the wager, and the stakes. Ten
thousand pounds to a shilling a week. I take the odds.
Done ! You go into regular training. You eat Burke
raw ; chew, but, wisely, do not swallow Alison ; and
digest the whole Pictorial History of England. The fight
comes off, You peer in prime condition. What bone
what sinew ! 'Nil nisi nerves cuteau.' You s4ep into
the ring, like Spider Bill' himself, with high-lows, shorts,
a handkerchief, and bottle-holder. There is a rally, and a
round. You hit wild, groggy, and go down. Time's up.
Where are you? Nowhere. You and your bottle-holder
have jumped over the ropes, and the word is non in-
veniendus."

SCARCITY OT SEAMEN.--In consequence of the largo
number of vessels which have been dispatched for, and
lying in the ports of Australia, there is a very great
scarcity of seamen, which is equally felt in Bristol and all
the ports of the Bristol Channel. So much is this the
case, that out bound vessels have been dertaineatfor a
length of time, actually waiting for men to man them. At
the Welsh ports, on the other side of the Channel, seamen
are very scarce and eagerly sought for. Her Majesty's war
steam-frigate the Encounter, of 14 guns, under the com-
mand of Captain O'Callaghan, is lying in the Cumberland
Basin, Bristol, for the purpose of enrolling seamen for her
Majesty's service, and a rendezvous for this abject has been
opened in the neighbourhood.
A BLACK DECISION.—At the Marlboro'-street Police
court, William Portinie, a manof colour,lr, as charged with
refusing to support his illegitimate child. Margaret Mackey,
said she was engaged by M. Robin, the conjuror, in Titch-
borne-street, to do work, and there met with the de-
fendant, who was also employed to assist in the tricks
and conjurations at the theatre. The defendant con-
trived to become intimate with her, and the result was
the little copper-coloured fac-simile of the father. The de-
fenslant, notwithstanding the prima facie proof of paternity
vresented by the child, stoutly declared he was not the
father. The complainant had no other corroborative proof
than that, which was afforded by the unmistakeable resem-
blance between the child and its putative father. Mr.
Hardwick was hardly inclined to think that this kind of
-Sroof was the corroborative evidence contemplated by law.
:t was just possible that the defendant was not the father,
as there were other black men in London. He should
asAaftegroaond
therefore remand the case, to see if the complainant could
bring some kind of corroboration of her declaration.
naobvoeultt ya
no f
hour,the thingand while
we
victort o getyh together
stilla
b DANCING MATCH.—A dancing match took place at
eo
resultc t
ba
at
lo ar
nsofe
,t andha:)e
mt
contest.hTer e
ampton, on Saturday night, the 29th ult., for 101., be-
tween the celebrated veteran dancer, Old Tommy Gilpin,
of Mardale, late of Kentmere, and Mr. John Hall, of
of
o.t33litiastnmeergoPnvtaedroenend.
that he had forgot his " nankemeemnydsuddenl:
deal large
of betting
tbr ti alh assemblageloeyfo thestph
drawers," land offered to double the wager if his anta • gonist would
hneet him on Monday night to decide the contest. This
:was agreed to. Monday night came, and sure enough
JOld Tommy, his " nankeem," and his backers
were
there ; but his competitor did not venture to appear. Of
course, Old Tommy claimed the wager, and threw up his
cap, and declared that his next exhibition should be at
the Alexander diggings, Australia,—Carlisle Journal.

RAILWAY AND OTHER PRIVATE BILLS IN
PARLIAMENT.

We have prepared the following list of railway and
other important bills which have already been presented
to the House of Commons and read a first time. What
with these and the election petitions, our representatives
will have enough of hard work cut out for them in select
committees during the present session.
Aberdeen.—For raising further monies and extension of
time for purchase of lands, &c.
Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston, &c.—No. I. To
authorise traffic arrangements with the Great
Northern. No. 11. To authorize erection of station

at Nottingham, and abandonment of portion of the
line, &o.
Ardrossan.—For vesting the company in the Glasgow
and South Western Company.
Bangor and Caernarvon.—For sale of line to the Ches-
ter and Holyhead.
Birmingham and Oxford, &c.—For providing additional
station accommodation in connection with the Great
Western, and other railways.
Blackburn.—For extension of time, &c.
Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire.—For making
lines to Seacombe and Liskard.
British Electric Telegraph Company.—For amendment
of Act.
Cheltenham and Oxford Union.
Crystal Palace Company—For diversion of roads and
purchase of lands.
Devon and Dorset.—For making a line from Stoke
Canon to Maiden Newton.
Darlington and Barnard Castle.
East Grimstea,d.

'East and West India Docks, &c.—For dissolving the
existing company and incorporating a new one.
Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland.
'Eastern Counties.—To make line from Stratford to
Woodford and Loughton. 11. To make line to
Ham Creek and the Thames.
East Lancashire.—For extension of line to Southport
and Rainford.
Great Extra-mural Cemetery Association.—For cemetery
at Willesden.
Great Northern.—l. For amendment of Acts. 11. For
branch to Bedford.
Hull and Holderness.

•
London Docks Bill.—To augment stock and to form a
new *entrance from the river.
London, Brighton and South Coast.—To enlarge London
and Brighton Stations, and to form branch line
to Crystal Palace.
London and North-Western.—The following are the ob-
jects of the different bills promoted by this com-
pany:—l. To construct line from Northampton to
Market Harborough. 11. Do. from Tring to Ox-
ford. 111. Do. from Crewe to Shrewsbury. IV.
To make branches to Stourbridge. V. To obtain
additional powers as to the Oldham branch. VI.
To construct branches to St. Albans and Amer-
sham. VII. To connect the Buckinghamshire with
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton.
Limerick and Foynes.
Limerick, Ennis, and Irillaloe.—For power to sell, &c.
London Assurance Bill.

London and Finsbury Improvements.—For improve-
. ments in London and Finsbury, and for construc-
tion of railway and stations.
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire.—For alteration
of Barnsley branch.
Manchester and Southport.--For alteration of line, &c.
Monkland.—For branches.

Midland.—For making line from Leicester to Hitohen.
Peebles.—From Hawick to Peebles.
Portadown and Dungannon.
Redruth and Chasewater.

South-Eastern.—The following are the objects of the
bills promoted by this company To form a
junction with the Great Western at Reading. 11.
To make a branch from the North Kent to the
Thames. 111. Do. from Lewisham to Bromley and
Croydon. IV. Do. from Strood to Maidstone. V.
To vest in the South-Eastern the Canterbury and
Whitstable Railway and Continental Packet Com-
pany.
South Devon and Tavistock.—For line from Plymouth
to Tavistock.
Severn Valley.—For making a line from Hartlebury to
Shrewsbury.
St. Helen's Canal and Railway.—For extending the
line to Rainford, &c.
Warrington and Altrincham.—For extending line to
Stockport.
West Cornwall.—For branches, &c.
Wimbledon and Croydon.
Woodford.—From Hackney Wick to Woodford.
Worcester and Hereford.—This company has two bills
for making railways between Worcester and Here-
ford, and for forming junctions with other cora-
panys, &c.