The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1853.

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL
INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWO O'CrOOK.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 6,000 bales—of which 1,000 American
were taken for export and on speculation. The
market closed steadily without animation. Rail-
way Shares were very dull.
The changes in the balance sheet of the Bank of
England during the week to the 30th April, were
mostly indicative of an increased demand for
money, not withstanding the sum of the discounts
was smaller. The deposits seem to have been made
available to meet the requirements of parties want-
ing cash, and bullion was taken in preference to
notes. Compared with the previous week, the
changes are as follows
Active circulation £23 124 555

Decrease

Bullion

Decrease

Rest

Increase .
Public Deposits

Increase
Other deposits
Decrease
Seven-day and other Bills
Increase
Government Securities
Other Securities

Decrease
Notes unemployed
Increase

283,775
18,355,094
199,087
3,120,987
6,648
3,934,322

221,233
12,922,620
284,303
1,427,737
15,258
No alteration.
13,506,745

125,752
8,684,410
100,265

Business, in bills of exch9,nge, upon the principal
Continental cities was done yesterday afternoon at
fuller rates on Hamburgh, but lower on Trieste,
and_ Paris was scarcely so high, being 25.221 to 25.
Amsterdam, 11.171 to 18, and Hamburgh 13-5 i to
; all for three mos.ths' paper.
Accounting for the recent decline in Mining
Shares, Mr. J. S. Tripp remarks :

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

PLYMOUTH.
DOCKYARD APPOINTMENTS-MORE
DISCLOSURES.

The committee appointed to inquire into the allega-
tions contained in the petitions'against the return of Mr.
Charles John Mare and Mr. Robert Porrett Collier for
the borough of Plymouth, met this day.
The members of the committee were Mr. Aglionby
(chairman), Mr. Glyn, the Marquis of Chandos, Mr.
Dunlop, and Mr. Smith Child. It was announced that
it was not intended to proceed with the petition against
the return of Mr. Collier.

The counsel were—For the petitioners, Mr. E. James
and Mr. Welsby ; for Mr. Mare, Mr Serjeant King-
lake, Mr. Slade, Mr. Montague Smith, and Mr.
Alexander.

Mr. E. James opened the case on the part of the
petitioners. The petition sought to render void the re-
turne
rrb, affecting Mr. Mare himself as well asersi
oblevrey
tasnedff corrupt
aprgraecat iacfe s.
the Tmh ears:
of Mr. Mare, at the last election for Plymouth, on
would be no evidence offered in regard to treating, and
theserioust h e c ground
a case
character,
har wouldaoctf
the persons who acted as his agents. The nomination
for Plymouth took place on the Bth of July last, and the
bar, andot t, a a
Liberal Liberal ; ; MA;
polling on. the following day ; and at the election there
were five candidates, namely, Mr. Robert Porrett
Collier,
and s~ Lai b r member
al ; r. of
Williamthe Escott, George. Thomas Braine, a merchant in London,
Ror.ndell Palmer, a Peelite ; and Mr. Charles John
Mare, a supporter of the Derby Administration. The
constituency numbered somewhere about 2,000. In
1847 Mr. Roundel' Palmer and Lord Ebrington were
returned for Plymouth, and they continued to sit for
the borough until the last election. Previous to 1853
Mr. Mare was a stranger to Plymouth ; he was very
largely engaged in shipbuilding at Blackwall, and by
his industry and energy bad acquired considerable
wealth. On t'ie 3d of April he arrived in the
borough, and commenced his canvass. There was no
requisition of any kind requesting him to stand as a
candidate, and it would turn out that he was introduced
to the electors by certain individuals whose names would
figure prominently in the present investigation. He
announced himself as a strong suppm ter of the Estab-
lished Church, and as opposed to the re-imposition of
the duty on corn, but he said he thought there should be
compensation on the part of the public for the repeal of
the.corn laws and the navigation laws. On the sth of
April Mr. Mare first addressed the electors at the Ply-
mouth Mechanics' Institution. He appeared there
with a gentleman named Joseph John Churchward,
who figured prominently in the election. He was the
sub-editor of the Morning Herald, and had formerly
been connected with the Naval and Military Gazette.
He was known at Plymouth, having some friends and
relatives there ; and he introduced Mr. Mare to the
electors, accompanied him on his canvass, and acted
as his secretary or mentor. Among the persons inti-
mately connected with Mr. Mare were Dr. Butler,
chairman of his committee, Mr. Mennie, deputy-chair-
man, Lieutenant Sumpter, Mr. Hawkie, a lodging-
housekeeper, Mr. Jenkin Thomas, a stationer, Mr. John
Harper, a retired printer, Mr. Marshall, a builder, Mr.
J. Bennett, the clerk of the committee, Mr. Isaac
Watts, a publican, and Mr. Samuel Escott, the store
keeper of the victualling yard, and who, in defiance of
the positive orders of the Admiralty, not to engage in
local politics, canvassed the men under his control on
behalf of Mr. Mare, and attended at the hustings. These
were the d..amatis pe,..once who would occupy a con-
spicuous position in the transactions which would be
laid before the committee. Mr. Mare's head-quarters
were at the Royal Hotel, and though it was not
intended to bring forward the question of treating,
it might be mentioned that his bill for the
expenses incurred in this establishment amounted
to no less a sum than 6601. When Mr. Mare
visited the borough he did not hesitate to state to the
electors that he had the patronage of the Government,
and he held out the most lavish and profuse promises
of situations, in order to induce them to give him their
interest at the coming election. A direct bargain was
in fact made for their votes, the return being a promise
of some appointment, and Mr. Churchward carried with
him a book, in which the promises were regularly
entered. Mr. Mare held out, whether rightly or wrongly
he (Mr. James) would not pretend to say, that he had
the entire disposition, on the part of Lord Derby, of
places in the dockyard, and it became notorious in the
borough that such places or situations in Mr. Mare's
own yard at Blackwall were given in exchange for votes.
As he had already stated, the canvase commenced on
the sth of April ; on the 22d, Mr. Stafford, the Secre-
tary of the Admiralty, arrived at Plymouth, accom-
panied by Mr. Grant, his private secretary, and Colonel
Green, the manager of some works connected with the
dockyard. It might be said that Mr. Stafford went
there in the discharge of his duties as Secretary
of the Admiralty, but it was somewhat singular
that he personally called on Mr. Mare at his committee
rooms at the Royal Hotel. It was hardly necessary to state
that in a borough like Plymouth such a circumstance was
calculated to create a great sensation among those who
wished to participate in the patronage of the Admiralty.
At the meeting at the Mechanics Institution, Dr. Butler
told the electors that their main object ought to be to
serve their own interests, and that they should set aside
all questions of politics, and elect Mr. Mare, who
could benefit the town. Mr; Mare was a director
of the General Screw Steam Packet Company,
and he gained great favour by contradicting a statement
in the Times that the mails would no longer be landed
at Plymouth. On the 12th of June the screw steamer
the Queen of the South, in which he was interested, was
brought to Plymouth, and the electors were admitted
on board to see her by tickets issued from his
committee-rooms, and it would be shown that Mr.
Mare, Mr. Churchward, the postmaster of the town,
and a number of other of his political friends, went in a
carriage, drawn by six greys, with the mails from the
Post-office to the vessel, accompanied by a large pro-
cession. This, again, was done to influence the
minds of the electors. On the 22d of June,
Mr. Stafford again arrived in the Black Eagle, war
steamer, and he proceeded to Devonport, the propin-
quity of which to Plymouth was well known to the com-
mittee. He there gave a dinner, which was attended by
Mr. Churchward, Mr. Mare, and some of the other
individuals whose names he had mentioned. It
would be seen that the elections for Plymouth and
Devonport were closely allied so far as the proceedings
complained of by the petitioners were concerned. It
would be proved that Churchward hired persons to hoot
the Liberal candidates both at Devonport and Plymouth.
At the nomination Sir John Maxwell used these
words, speaking of Mr. Collier's claim to be elected
—" Talent in the House of Commons is all bode-
ration. I know nothing about politics ; but I
can tell you that the Queen of the South is a
very fine vessel." The result of the election was that
Mr. Mare and Mr. Collier were returned. Mr. Mare got a
most enthusiastic cheering—such a one as was never
seen before at Plymouth, but on the Sunday following the
election, he disappeared, had never been seen since in the
borough, and probably never would, until he was obliged
to go there owing to his non-compliance with the de-
mands of many electors to whom he made various promises.
The learned counsel then gave a list of about 26 persons,
who either having. voted themselves, or got their rela-
tives to vote for Mr. Mare, had received appointment 3
in the Devonport Dockyard, without any recom-
mendation from local authorities, and without any re-
gard to qualification or merit. These appointments were
all made under the signature of Mr. Stafford. There
were also a great number of promises of other situations
to electors, some of which were fulfilled, and others not.
The situations bargained for, before votes were promised,
were as follows :-26 in April, 35 in June, and 17 in
July. The learned counsel then alluded to several cases
of bribery by promise of situations, and said he had no
doubt the committee, when they had heard all the evi-
dence, would come to the conclusion that the allegations
in the petition were trae, and that the election of Mr.
Mare was brought about by the most corrupt practices,
on the part of Mr. Mare and his agents.
The following evidence was then adduced :
T. Birt was a partisan of Mr. Escott at the last elec-
tion. Mr. Mare came down to Plymouth at the latter
end of April. Saw Lieut. Sumpter cavassiug for Mr.
Mare. Mr. Churchward asked witness to vote for Mare.
Mr. Mare at the same time denied that there was any
coalition between himself and Mr. Palmer. Mr. Mare
stated that he had to Lord Derby avowed himself a free
trader, but said that on all other matters he felt disposed
to support Lord Derby's Government, and that Lord
Derby had, therefore, promised him his interest. Wit-
ness canvassed a man named Hill to vote for Escott.
Hill promised to vote for Escott.
examination
In cross-exam ,4 the witness stated that he had
voted for Escott and Collier ; should have plumped for
Escott if he had considered that gentleman's seat un-
safe.
George Knapman, a butcher and eating-house keeper,
and an elector at Plymouth, deposed to an interview
which he had . with Mr• Mare
ness asked him to use his interest to get him a situation
in the Excise, and he replied "Oh, yes, Icon do it for you."
Mr. Mare knew that he was an elector. Mr. Mare then
sent for Mr. Churchward. Oa that gentleman coming
into the room he took down witness's name and address
in a book. He had a fortnight or three weeks previously
promised to give Mr. Mare his vote. Mr. Mare can-
vassed him, ar.d he told him that he should split his
vote, and give him one. Witness went to the committee-
room on the polling day, and Mr. Churchward told him
to go and give Mr. Mare a plumper immediately, and he
d'd so. Afterwards he had an interview with Mr.
Hare, and reminded him not to forget his promise.
Mare put his finger to his:mouth and said, " You
understand." He supposed that meant he was to re-
remain quiet. About three weeks aler the election he
wrote two or three letters to Mr. Mare in regard to the
promised
situation, but he had received no reply.
"[The examination was proceeding when our report
left.]

" The English Mining Market has remained firm
until within this last two or three days, when the con-
tinuous decline in the standard for copper produced a
complete panic, and prices suddenly dropped very con-
siderably. Those who are supposed to be the best informed
have not however shown any desire to force sales, and we
believe no extent of purchases could be effected excepting
at improved rates. Everybody has felt that after
so great a rise in the price of copper a reaction must
occur, and though it may occasion a tempora►y depres-
sion in the share market, yet it has generally been cal-
culated that the mining interest would be promoted
more healthily by moderate than excessive prices. The
average standards of last year compared with those of
the present, show that the price of copper can suffer
further reduction, and yet leave fair profits for the
miner."

The cause of the decline in the Metcalfe (Jamaica)
Mining Shares is the news received by the company
from the captain on the spot, of the abandonment
of the working of one of the Pembroke lodes, and
the .anxiety, seeming the high premium at which
the shares stand, lest the other lodes should disap-
point the high expectations.formed. The purchase
of the freehold had become known in Jamaica.
The sum given is 20,0001., and a few months since
the property could have been bought for 5001. The
agent of the Metcalfe Company,
.in writing over,
warns against the many new mines that will be
brought out, comprising as they will, several
" bubbles."

The exports of bullion direct from London
during the week to Thursday last were 23,302
ounces of gold, and 79,470 ounces of silver.
Consols are steady, being 1001 to for Transfer,
and 1001 -I- for Account. Exchequer Bills are par
to 4s. premium. Bank Stock is firm at 228.
Very little is doing in Foreign Stocks. Spanish
New Deferred Bonds are at 24i, and the Certificate
is at 61. Mexican Bonds are worth 27g. Dutch
Four per Cents. are at 96i.
Railway Shares are neglected, and at rather
lower rates.
The Gold Mines are heavy.

Joint-Stock Bank Shares are much the same.

British American Land have fallen 2/. to 3/.

BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY
( From the Official List.)
Buslness done.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 9n 103}
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New al per Cent. Annuities lO3l
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859
India Bonds, £lOOO 32
Ditto, under £lOOO 27 32
South Sea Old Annuities
Consols for Account
Exchequer Bills Id. June. March.
£lOOO.. par 4 par 4 1
£5OO par 4 par 4 1
Small par 4 par 4 1
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Small

Mclean 3 per Cent.
Spanish Bonds 3 per Cent 4B
Diao for the Account 4B
Spanish 3 per Cent., New Deferred 244
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 6a
Swedish Loan l4
Dividends on the above payable In London.
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent. 12 Guil.
Ditto 4 per Cent. ..... 96i
TWO O'CLOCK.
100 I
1001 ;

P.
dis

Consols
Ditto May Account

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, FRIDAY.
The Queen drove and walked in the Park at Osborne
yesterday.
The Prince and the Royal children also walked and
rode in the grounds.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accom-
panied by her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of
Hohenlohe, went to Frogmore yesterday morning. The
Royal Duchess and the Princess returned to Clarence-
house, St. James's, in the afternoon.
A joint deputation, on the subject of refining sugar in
bend, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yes-
terday, at his official rezidence in Downing-street :
The deputation consisted of Mr. Martin, Provost of
Greenock ; Mr. Wrede, of Greenock ; Mr. Richardson,
of Glasgow ; Mr. M'Ewan, of Glaffsow ; Messrs. Crum,
Russell, C. Marryat, S. Cave, aneMacgregor, and was
accompanied by Mr. John Macgregor, M.P., Sir James
Anderson, M.P., Mr. A!exander Hastie, M.P., Sir
James Matheson, Bart., M.P., Colonel Blair, M.P.,
Mr. Cowan, M.P.,Mr. James Baird, M.P., Mr. Mof-
fatt, M.P., and r. Forbes, M.P.
Dispatches were sent last evening from the Colonial-
office to the Governor of Canada.

UNFORTUNATE SPECULATIONS.—A case of suicide under
very distressinc, circumstances occurred at Birmingham
on Thursday. Mr. John Pugh, a gentleman well known
to the South Staffordshire iron trade, shot himself at the
Hen and Chickens Hotel about midday. The deceased
was manager of the Park Field Ironworks, near Wolver-
hampton, and was little more than 35 years of age.
Depression of spirits, the result of unfortunate specula-
tions unconnected with his trade, is said to have brought
about the melanchaly occurrence.
SUICIDE BY POISON. —lnformation was forwarded
yesterday to Mr. Bedford, the coroner for Westminster,
to the effect that a servant named Thomas Hawkes had
expired in St. George's Hospital from the effects of
swallowing a quantity of oil of vitriol. It appears that
the misguided man had been for some time in a very
desponding state, though from what cause cannot be
ascertained, and left his wife to go on one side in Sloane-
square, when he drank the poison in question. There
are five other patients at present in St. George's Hos-
pital who have attempted their lives by the same means.

ALARMING FIRES.—Last evening, between the hours
of six and seven o'clock, a fire that caused considerable
alarm in the heart of the city, broke out in the premises
belonging to Mr. Wm. Dawkins and Mr. Clarke, ware-
housemen, situate in Bread-street, Cheapside. The
flames commenced, from some unknown causo, in the
basement, and owing to the inflammable character of
the contents the fire spread with great rapidity, so that
at one time there seemed little chance of saving any of
the contiguous premises. The engines of the London
Brigade and West of England Office were soon in at-
tendance, and a plentiful supply of water having been
procured, the Brigade from Watling-street went to
work, and succeeded in confining the fire to the lower
part of the premises ; but it was not extinguished until
a great deal of damage was done. The sufferers, we
understand, were insured. Whilst the engines were en-
gaged at the above fire information was received tbat
another had occurred in the extensive premises known
as Butler's-wharf, situate at Shad Thames, Horselydown.
The fire commenced amongst a quantity of the stock in
one of the warehouses, but owing to the timely arrival
of assistance was soon subdued. The damage done,
considering the magnitude of the premises, may be de-
scribed as inconsiderable. Two other fires also occurred
yesterday (one at High-street, Poplar, and the other at
Bloomsbury), but the damage done at each was so
trifling as not to require a lengthened report.

MELANCHOLY DEATH AT THE GREAT NORTHERN RAIL-
WAY TERMINUS, KING'S-CROsS.—On Thursday morning
a cart, containing a man, apparently in the last stage of
consumption, drove up to the Great Northern Railway
terminus. The poor fellow, who was lying on some
straw in the bottom of the cart, was in such a weak and
exhausted state, that he had to be carried from the
vehicle, and seated on a bench outside the booking-
office, but he bad hardly been placed there, when he fell
to the ground a lifeless corpse. It appeared, from the
statement of the man who drove deceased to the station,
that they had travelled from Kent the preceding night,
in order that deceased might reach the station in time
for the morning train, which was to convey him to his
friends, residing in Bedfordshire. The body was con-
veyed to the St. Pancras workhouse to await a coroner's
inquest. In his pockets were found 8/. in gold, and a
Bible, with "Charles Wilsher " written on the blank
Page.

MIGRATION OF SEAMEN.—The John o'Groat Journal
says, "That in the last two trips of the Duke of Rich-
mond steamer, the number of 'passengers from Shetland
was beyond all precedent, and that a corresponding
number have left these islands by sailing ships. Among
them are several emigrants, but the majority are sea-
faring men, induced by the present high rate of wages
to seek employment at the southern shipping ports.
There is every prospect of an extensive exodus from all
the northern counties during the ensuing season.

AYTOUN ON POETRY.

LECTURE THE FIRST.
Yesterday afternoon we had the peculiar gratification
of attending the first of a series of six lectures, now in
course of delivery at Willis's Rooms—the lecturer being
no other than William Edmonstone Aytoun, the author
of the " Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers," and the lec-
tures relating to the congenial themes of Poetry and
Dramatic Literature. Although it would be somewhat
premature at this moment to pronounce any decided opi-
nion upon the arguments advanced by the Professor, in
the course of these artistic dissertations—it may be
allowed, at any rate, to commend both the taste which
regulated and the enthusiasm which coloured their
introduction. We believe this to be the impression of
the majority of those who yesterday enjoyed the privi-
lege of listening to its delivery. It was implied at least
not oniyby the eager attention of the audience throughout,
but also, and in a wholly unmistakeable manner, by
their occasional bursts of approbation. Professor Aytoun
gives promise already of extending his popularity through
the medium of his novel and admirable occupation. We
assert this with all cordiality and confidence. He will
thereby, we feel assured; considerably extend his popu-
larity : but we doubt very much at the same time
whether he will, by so doing, contrive either to elevate or
consolidate his reputation. We say this, of course, under
correction. In the development of his views in regard
to poetry as an art—perhaps we should say as the
art—he may explain away what at present appears
to us a mass of confused and bewildering contra-
dictions. He may reconcile, for example, in a later
stage of his undertaking, the incongruity of many
of the more remarkable ideas to which he gave
utterance yesterday. He may render comprehensi-
ble, for instance, how it is he conceives poetry to be.
apart altogether from any code of laws, however con-
spicuous for 'its elasticity or adaptability—how he con-
siders it, in fact, to be little else than a God-born inspi-
ration entirely independent of rule or culture—and yet at
the same moment avows with so much truth, and grace, and
beauty of expression, that the Seed of Genius may always
be developed to a magnificent Flower. Poetry—there
cannot possibly be any doubt of that—must necessarily
in its origin, be, in a manner, so to speak, spontaneous.
Glorious poems are not generally manufactured as
Edgar Poe would fain induce us to believe was the case
with his " Raven." The old proverb, poeta nascitur
non fit, like most old proverbs, has a wonderful deal of
truth in it. But—allowing all this— we cannot there-
upon accede to the justice of Professor Aytoun's start-
ling assertion that, neither poet nor poetry are to be
trammelled by any rules or laws whatsoever. Not even,
that is to say, by the laws of taste or the rules of gram-
mar ! Poetry, in fact, according to that, is to spring
perfect and complete from the brain of the poet—like
Minerva from the brain of Zeus. Accepting even that
symbol as applicable— we would venture to remind the
learned and, gifted lecturer that, before Wisdom
was thus called into being, the creative blow
had been struck by the weapon fashioned with so
much toil and wielded with so much strength—
by the God of Labour ! Nevertheless, with Professor
Aytoun, rhyme and metre seem to " come by nature,"
just as reading and writing appeared to do with our old
friend Dogberry. And so impressed is the lecturer with
the reasonableness of this conviction that he scorns as
utterly contemptible one of the everlasting glories of our
national literature. He sneers at Alexaner Pope, and
has nothing more respectful than scoffs and gibes to
scatter over his reputation ! Generally speaking we
could not but admire throughout the principal portion
of the lecture yesterday, the delicacy with which Pro-
fessor Aytoun refrained from thrusting his views
upon his auditors pragmatically or' authoritatively—
rather, while communicating them clearly enough,
submitting them to the simple recognition of
those assembled. Generally speaking it was thus—but
it was precisely the reverse when he arrived at the men-
tion of Pope and of the school of which Pope has been
absurdly designated the founder. Then, instead of ex-
plaining his opinions as he had done hitherto, he set
openly at defiance the sympathies of all those who, with
Lord Byron or the Earl of Carlisle, love the wit and
revere the genius of the incomparable writer of the
" Imitations of Horace.." and the "Essay on Man," the
author of the " Dunciad " and the "Rape of the Lock."
Then—instead of lecturing as he had lectured—he dog-
matised. It is from our remembrance of this, and from
our painful sense of the absence (as yet) of all symmetry
in his argument, that while we believe these lec-
tures will tend to widen the popularity of Pro-
fessor Aytoun, we question whether they will either
elevate or consolidate his reputation. The following
was the programme of the lecture delivered yesterday,
according to the printed syllabus :
" Definitions of poetry—the common resemblance of
the fine arts—the affinity of poetry and eloquence—the
bardic order, and the Minstrel 'College of Greece--the
Druids, Senachies, Scalds, and Trouveres—effect of oral
delivery, and the importance of an audience to the poet
—the most effective poetry that which is intended for
recitation, and the reason explained—the old bards of
Greece ; Illustration : Demodocus in the hall of Alcinous
—his subject; and tha manner of their treatment ; Spe-
cimen : the song of the Trojan horse—artificial rules not
favourable to the product of high poetry--Pope and the
towardsF chren ptoheeticoalol
scoa,noof ingla—ststatentoofryt,hwe
ith artificialschol
specimens—
powerful poetry of rude times ; Illustration : the death
song of Regner Lodbrog."

Although the delivery of the lecture was considerably
marred by the rattling of the carriages outside that
abominable room which has been selected for the recep-
tion of those by whom the series will be attended—we
listened with singular delight to the majority of the sen-
timents which fell from the lips of Professor Aytoun, and
patLicularly to his impassioned declamation of the va-
rious interpolated illustrations. Nothing could scarcely
be nobler or more inspiriting than his panegyric on
Homer, as scarcely anything could be droller in its way
than his twofold castigation of Addison and Blacklock.
We anticipate no ordinary pleasure from the five lectures
yet to be delivered. Among those present yesterday we
observed the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, the Duchess of
Sutherland, the Duchess of Cleveland, the Marchioness of
Londonderry, the Earl and Countess of Eglinton, the
Countess of Jersey, the Dowager Lady Blantyre, Lord
and Lady Blantyre, the Countess of Lichfield, Lady
Naas, Lady Colchester, Lord and Lady John Manners,
the Countess of Wilton, Lady Borough, Lady Harriet
Fermor, Lady Augusta Poulet, Lady Agnes Duff, Lord
Mahon, Lady Antrobus, Lady Eastlake, Hon. Mrs.
Liddell, Sir Hugh Campbell, Mrs. Orme, Mrs. Fraser
Tyler, Mr. Matson, Miss Macfarlane, Miss Johnstone,
Miss Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. Thackeray,
Mr. Albert Smith, and nearly all the literary celebrities
of the metropolis.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of
this society was held last evening in Exeter-hall, the
Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., in the chair. After sing-
ing and prayer the chairman expressed his sympathy
with the objects of the society, and mentioned certain
statistics connected with the operations at home and
abroad. One of the main features of the association was
that of taking advantage of great public events, and
turning them to a religious account. Among the tracts
distributed during the past year were—one on the case
of the Madiai, of which 160,000 copies had been circu-
lated ; and one on the death of the Duke of Wellington,
which had had a circulation of 350,000-145,000 having
been given away on the day of the funeral; 68,000 tracts
had also been given to emigrants. The income of the
society, from sales, donations, and subscriptions, was
77,6901. lls. 2d., being an increase over the previous
year of 9,563/. 19s. 2d.
THE LAW OF BANKRUPTCY.—Yesterday a Government
hill, in the Commons, was printed, to amend the law
relating to bankruptcy in Scotland. The object of the
bill is to abolish the office of interim factor, and the
sheriffs' clerk is to take immediate posr,ession of a bank-
rupt's estate. In cases where the assets are found to be
under 10C;. sequestration is to be recalled.
COM 1101; LODGING-HOUSES.—Yesterday was printed,
by order of Parliament, a supplemental report on Com-
mon lodging-houses, by Captain Hay, Commissioner of
Police, made to the Secretary of State. The former re-
port has already been noticed, and there is a bill in the
House of Lords to amend the present law on the sub-
ject. From the present report it appears that last
month the number of children in common lodging-houses
was 1,782, and of children residing in each division out
of common lodging-houses 1,316, making a total, as it is
expressed, of "mendicants and thieves 3,098."
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A CONVICT.—Thomas Kokel,
while being conveyed from Manchester to Liverpool en
route for Dublin, on Aonday, leaped from the train at
its entering the tunnel, to escape the policema* who
had apprehended him on a charge of robbery. He was
much injured, but sought concealment in a ditch, to
which he had crawled. He was taken to the Royal
Infirmary.

THE EARTHMAN.—Two young specimens, male and
female, of the last link in the human chain, termed the
Earthman (the penultimate being the Bosjesman), have
been in this country since 1851, and are now exhibited
at a private lodging in Regent-street. The taller of
the two is not three feet and a half in height, but they
have lost no time in acquiring the rudiments of
European civilisation. and they play on the
piano and sing in a pretty childish style. The
absence of a prominent cartilage to the nose mars the
beauty of the face, but the expression of countenance is
very pleasing, and the figures und movements of the
children are remarkably graceu'. One of the most
agreeable features of the exhibition consists in the per-
fect freedom afforded to the little creater:s. They are
not set up on a platform to be stared at, and made to
perform distasteful feats, but they are in a drawing-
room, quite at their ease, so that the visitor literally
gives them a call, and becomes one of their society.
STRIKES OF WELSH WORKMEN.--The flannel weavers
of Carmarthen have struck for an advance of wages, and
the masters being determined not to give the rise de-
manded, and the men not yielding, the consequence is
that the men are still out of employ.

THE METROPOLITAN BRIDGES.-Mr. Oliveira has given
notice for the 10th inst., to move for a select committee
to inquire into the state and condition of the bridges on
the Thames, to report whether they are adequate to the
increasing traffic of the metropolis ; whether it be desir-
able to construct one or more bridges over the river ; if
so, at what point or points ; whether it would be desir-
able to throw open to the public the present toll-paying
bridges; and if so, upon what terms such bridges could
be thrown open ; and generally to report upon any mea-
sures for improving and facilitating the intercourse be-
tween the two sides of the river Thames in the metro-
polis.

FATAL RAILWA.I ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday week a
boy, named Feargus Taylor, was requested to put a
scotch before some trucks upon the railway at Codnor
Park, but not perfectly understanding what he was told
to do, he went to a truck which was in motion, and on
taking hold of the break he let it down, fell over it upon
the line of the rails, and the wheels passing over his body
caused instant death,

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