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

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1853.

The arrival of emigrants at New York exhibits
a rather curious proportion in the number of ad-
venturers from the different races of Christendom.
It is so far remarkable, indeed, as to be deserving
on this side of the Atlantic of some little consider-
ation. From the only statistical accounts that
can be relied upon as accurate, it would appear
beyond all question, that the Irish arriving in the
United States still predominate on the average,
leaving-the next the Germans, the next the Eng-
lish, the next the Welsh, then the Scotch, then
the French, and then the Spaniards. It will be
well to keep this calculation in remembrance. For
upon the circumstance here alluded to will be
dependent, ultimately, in a great measure, the
future of the United States—we may aver, indeed,
the future, to a considerable extent, of the whole
American Continent. Common sense tells us that
much must depend, for the good or the evil, of what
has been called the New World, upon the relative
numbers of immigrants from the nations of the Old
World—nations, some of them theocratic, others
democratic ; some civilised, others semi-barbarous.;
some Catholic, others Protestant. To the future
historian, or rather to the future philosopher of
history (for the phrases, we regret to think, are
by no means synonymous) will be submitted the
problem of deciding the relative value of those
heterogeneous customs and predelections which are
being nowadays accumulated so very rapidly in
the transatlantic Republic. It will then be seen
by the SCIILEGEL of a future age how far America
will have profited by these accessions of thews and
brains taken promiscuously from the different
realms of ancient Christendom. Confident ourselves
as to the result, coinciding, to the full in the estimate
made by Mr. MACAULAY some years ago in the
course of a celebrated essay as to the astounding
advance of religion on the opposite shores of the
Atlantic, we can yet understand the solicitude
felt by many as to the progress made in those
quarters by the real champions of Christianity.
Meanwhile the modern Exodus is trailing away
across the waters in another direction. Rather
should we say, perhaps, that it is hastening, like
a new Hegira, to Australia. It would be difficult
to venture just now upon any opinion as to the
probable time when this extraordinary movement
southwards and westwards will he brought to a
conclusion. Obviously, however, it is a move-
ment calculated to prove marvellously advantage-
ous both to the ancient states and to the countries
hitherto so thinly populated. It will equalise
the distribution of the human race over the pro-
ductive surface of the earth. It will give the un-
occupied in our overcrowded communities room
and opportunity for employment. It will increase
the wealth of the great family of mankind—its
food—and, consequently, its happiness. Foresee-
ing all these things clearly enough, as the merest
dunce amongst us cannot fail to do—we may re-
cognise in the simultaneous discovery of gold in
the eastern and the western hemispheres, in Cali-
fornia and in Australia, the signs of the beneficent
provision, if not of the direct interposition, of
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

There can be no doubt that the railway interest
has recovered, or is rapidly recovering, from the
depression in whichit was involved a few years
since, and that it is participating in the general
prosperity of the coun i
try. There s no longer
the distrust and want of confidence exhibited
which induced shareholders to sacrifice their pro-
perty, in some of the best dividend-paying lines,
at little more than one-half its real value. The
Directors, too, generally speaking, are treated
with greater respect, and a more unprejudiced
hearing given to their recommendations than was
formerly the case. Something still remains, how-
ever, of the spirit engendered during the panic
years, which induces shareholders to grumble on
the most trivial and inadequate grounds against
those through whose judicious and energetic
management they have been elevated from the
slough of despond to a sound and healthy
condition, and .to reject propositions carefully

and maturely considered by persons having ample
opportunities for forming correct opinions on the
subject matter. We cannot, however, feel great
surprise at this infatuation. The severe ordeal
through which the railway body passed, gave a
degree of weight and influence to the habitual
croakers which otherwise they could never have
obtained. And those whose extravagant expecta-
tions have been disappointed are but too well
disposed to cavil at the reasonable returns, and
to take the most gloomy views of . every subject
under discussion.

One of the chief difficulties of Railway Boards
at, the present time is the question relating to
Branch Lines or Extensions. It must be admit-
ted that in and previous to the "'45," the
matter had been carried to an extravagant pitch.
When any project, however chimerical, was sure
to be " brought out" at a handsome premium,
and to have the chief qualification of a > Di-
rector was to have an inventive genius, which
would enable him to devise a new line from
" anywhere to anywhere," and Boards were cen-
sured for permitting any other " body" to ob-
tain " a footing in their territories," it cannot
be considered very surprising if fallible mortals
yielded to the temptations by which they were
assailed, and that speculations, which, if carried
out prudently and judiciously, would have proved
very profitable, should be a little overdone, and
that the anticipated gains should have been con-
verted into very serious losses, which were felt
with thrilling force, when the premiums form-
erly received on account of these very transac-
tions had been totally forgotten. The natural
result followed. Directors were affected with the
panic, and became as much too slow as they had
previously been too rapid, and the evils of over
caution were only second to those resulting from
excessive speculation. Directors, are, however, at
length beginning to discover the grave mistake
into which they have been betrayed ; and although
they will not recklessly plunge into new schemes,
they will not sacrifice the true interests Of their
constituents to the vis inertice, or reject wholesome
projects through the desire of currying favour
with the alarmists. The majority of the share-
holders have also profited by experience ; but
there are still many who adhere to the old policy,
and steadfastly resist any proposition, however
feasible, or likely to prove remunerative.
The proceedings at the last half-yearly General
Meeting of the London, Brighton, and South-
Coast Railway Company, afford a strong illus-
tration of this point. The Report presented to
the meeting by the Directors was of a very
favourable character, holding out the most aus-
picious auguries for the future welfare of the Com-
pany. A dividend of 21. 12s. for the half-year was
declared, and the stock of the Company had risen
nearly 3 per cent. between the time of the publi-
cation of the Report and the day of meeting—a
tolerably conclusive proof of the estimation in
which the suggestions put forward were held by
the community. It was known, also, that not-
withstanding the attractions presented by the
Great Exhibition, and the great incentive to in-
tercommunication occasioned thereby, the traffic
in 1852 had only fallen short of that of 1851 by
3,4001., or less than ono per cent. on the total
receipts. Within three years they had increased
the traffic by 122,2631., or more than 33 per
cent. on the entire traffic of 1848 ; and this im-
portant addition had been obtained by the adop-
tion of a bold and vigorous policy, and affording
ample accommodation for the business which
only required due development. The result
showed the propriety of the course adopted. By
an increase of 60,0001. to the annual expenditure
—B,OOO/. of which was interest on additional
outlay on capital account--they obtained an addi-
tion of 150,0001. per annum to their annual re-
ceipts—a clear profit of 90,0001. They had thus
been enabled to raise their dividends, and to
change the quotations on the Stock Exchange
from a heavy discount to a premium ; and yet
there were to be found shareholders who objected
to a continuance in the course which had been
productive of such auspicious results.
The new expenditure to which exception
was taken was required, first, for the acquisi-
tion of additional property and the improve-
ment of the Station at London-bridge, and
also for the construction of a fourth line of rails
from the Bricklayer's-arms Junction to the Croy-
don Junction—matters partly required by the
anticipated opening of the grounds of the New
Crystal Palace Company, but which will afford
greatly increased facilities in the development of
the traffic of the main line, and may, in the words
of the Report, be considered as objects "of vital
and paramount importance." But this judicious
and eligible outlay was cavilled at, although
not intended to form a permanent addition
to the capital, as it is to be provided for by a
sinking fund, to which 10,000/. was to be appro-
priated out of the profits of the past half-year.
The other matters objected to were the leases of
the lines about to be constructed to East Grin-
stead and Bognor, the former at 2,0001., and the
latter 1,200/. per annum, being at the rate of four
per cent. per annum on the estimated outlay—no
increase of which would, however, add to the sti-
pulated rent. To persons well acquainted with
the district, it is needless to expatiate on
the advantages to be obtained from this out-
lay. There are many populous places re-
quiring accommodation, any neglect of which
might be attended with very injurious con-
sequences. Bognor is rapidly becoming a
fashionable bathing-place, and the new communi-
cation will be equa'ly beneficial to the district,
and to the company by which it is supplied. We
have no doubt that the shareholders will have
satisfactory reasons to rejoice that they rejected
the over-cautious counsels of the croakers, and
sanctioned the wise and beneficial policy of the
Board of Management.

We are all peace men, if not all Peace Society
men. We can all therefore most cordially wish
success to the objects of the Manchester Peace
Conference. We think, hoivever, it is such busi-
ness speeches as the Chairman's which will have
the greatest weight with the sensible men of the
country and the sensible portion of the House of
Commons. We think homilies upon peace itself,
and its prominence among the promised blessings
of the Gospel, all perfectly good ; and we believe that
the reign of universal peace will be the blessing of
some distant age. We believe, however, that it
will not be brought about by societies for that
specific purpose, but by the triumph of the Gospel
over the ignorance, evil passions, and vice, which
are the real source, according to Scripture itself,
of " wars and fightings amongst us." We must
own that we think too many society men begin at
the wrong end. Just as the Sabbatarians ought
to throw their zeal into inspiring the people's
hearts with religious sentiments, instead of at-
tempting to bridle their desire for amusement by
shutting up a Crystal Palace, so the friends of
Peace should give themselves to the task—a
long and wearisome one it is true, and not the
work of one generation—of diffusing the light and,
knowledge, and fostering the international feelings
which disincline to war. We sympathise, there-
fore, with all there was of brotherhood and kindly
feeling in the Peace Society speakers, but we have
little faith in arbitration clauses, or any formal
arrangements of that kind, as the preventers of
war. Mr. CORDMeS printed speech, sold at the
doors, was, we take it, the most efficient speech of
the evening, especially for its effect upon foreigners.
When a peculiarly sensitive nation finds one of
the leading men of this country; one who has a
European reputation, one whose name is indelibly
stamped upon our commercial policy, denouncing
as unjust those wars of his own country which
that nation remembers with less patience than any
others—aye, and proving them to be so too—what
could more tend to allay the irritation of recol-
lected defeats? France would cease to blush for
a brave military failure at Waterloo, if we blushed
for misemploying our bravery in violating her
most sacred right to have the Monarch of her
choice.

Very easy work is it also to show the folly of
war ; to reckon up its costliness, to harrow 11P
the heart with the horrors of the night after
battle, and to prove that neither a duel nor an
engagement, neither the sword nor the bullet

have the slightest sense of justice. Easy to
ridicule an appeal to an arbitrament as foolish as
the ancient ordeal of fire or water, or the longer-
cherished one of mortal combat. Yes, yes, we
know all about that ; skill in gunnery and evolu-
tions are no doubt as absurd a Court of Justice
as you please, but it is all beside the question.
The question is, Ought we to be thoroughly pre-
pared for defensive war"? • We affirm that it
is our highest economy to be so, and
we add that thorough preparation can be
only judged of by the powers of those
who might attack us, just as the ingenuity of a
thief is our test for deciding on the qualities re-
quisite for our house-door locks and fastening:.
We respect most sincerely the Society of Friends,
but we believe in the lawfulness and duty of de-
fensive war. We believe, too, in the possibility
of our being driven to it any year whatever. We
are not alarmists ; we see no impending proba-
bility of such a disaster, but we are not political
prophets, and are as confident that causes of a
speedy rupture may lurk beneath the present
calm as that we do not discern them. Who fore-
saw the universal outbreak of 1848 but a few
days, or hours even, before it began ? And who,
after that, would venture to pronounce how
unexpectedly we might be summoned to self-
defence ? Some, we know, are ready to save
the requisite expenditure, and trust to the
chapter of accidents for the security. The nation,
however, generally is not of their mind. Nor
are they themselves of the same mind in regard
to dangers within their little ken ; they do not
dispense with bolts, and bars, and the protection
of police.

But we are forgetting the amulet, which, if
affixed to all future treaties, is to charm the evil
spirits of the nations to depart. Well, then,
arbitration,—certainly we have no objection to it,
—we would resort to it whenever it would be ac-
cepted, we would insert it in our treaties, and
we would ourselves abide by the award ; yet we
deem it folly to conceal from ourselves, that there
is no power on earth to compel another nation to
abide by an award it utterly disliked. In arbitrations
legally made in private life the law enforces obe-
dience to the decision, but where it is not legally
binding, how often have we seen such arbitrations
utterly rejected by the losing side. On the com-
mon principles of human nature, the same thing
might be expected among nations. Just, there-
fore, as every moderate man would be sure to pre-
fer arbitration, when possible, to law, so should
we much more prefer it to the horrors of war ;
but just as we adapt our legal system to the fact,
that the citizens whom we fear will abide by no
arbitration, so we must be as prepared for defen-
' sive war as if we had no arbitration clauses. We
object not, then, to preaching arbitration, or to
engrossing it in treaties : we only object to the in-
ference that we may therefore neglect to insure
ourselves and our property against attack. Ar-
bitration clauses are not the anvil on which
nations will yet beat their swords into
ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-
hooks ; and much as we believe in the peaceful
tendencies of Free Trade, we scarcely can dream
that its money-making zeal will unteach the na-
tions the art of war. Commercial cities and coun-
tries of yore have not been the least distinguished
for the lust of conquest and of war. Witness
Carthage and Athens, Venice and Holland ; and
even our own East India Company of Merchants,
though, for trade reasons, it strained every nerve
to keep its servants from fighting, found itself
dragged into the conquest of an immense empire.
Peculiarities might, no doubt, be detected in each
of these cases now ; and in the now of a hundred
years hence, peculiar circumstances may possibly
be pointed out by the historian of that time which
drove a reluctant England into a war with Europe
or America.

Many of the opening remarks of the chairman,
Mr. WILSON, however, will find a wide response.
If, after spending the almost inconceivable sum of
550,000,0001. in our current naval and military
expenses since the peace in. 1815, wo yet are not
thoroughly secure against attack, no doubt we
ought to be. An average of 16,000,0001. A,-year
for that purpose ought to have left us safe. The
blame cannot lie with the Manchester tax-payers,
but with the official tax-spenders. To fret about
past extravagance, however, will not fortify our
coasts, but it will do good service to all concerned
with the army and navy to see that the people are
sick of feather-bed defenders, and are de-
termined to have money's worth for their
money. Happily, Manchester and Downing-
street are getting pretty well agreed on that
point. Mr. WILSON, indeed, was able to cite,
as one of his best authorities, the present gallant
SECRETARY to the Admiralty. In demanding an
efficient use of the public money, Mr. WILSON will
have plenty of seconders. Indeed, the Report of
the Select Committee in 1833 was not suffered to
remain a dead letter ; the general officers were
reduced in 1852 by 155, and the charge for them
by 67,000/. The end of an article is not, how-
ever, the place for details. We would merely add,
that our Manchester friends are welcome to all the
arbitration clauses they can get,—heartily welcome
to all the real economy they can force upon our
Government,—but not welcome to leave our
shores at the mercy of any nation which might
choose to attack us.

OBITUARY OP VETERAN OFFICE
ofthe
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st.wFO
o dr.bes , formerly
89th Foot, who died on the 29th ult, inLondon,
aged 78 ; and of Lieutenant-Colonel John Doyle O'Brien
Deputy Quartermaster-General at Barbadoes, where he
died, on the 16th ult. of yellow fever, aged 45.
Forbes had for some years retired from the army.
During his career he saw rough services in the '
been
for 3f
many Foot,
y e whichrsn n
-
Penin-
sula, and almost in the leading points of the four
quar-
ters of the globe. Colenel O'Brien was formerly
years hneecteendterweidthinthleB72ol, SHurere
byad
Regiment
theHi
staff. Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and
the Countess of St. Germans left town to-day by the 9.30
a.m. express train from Euston station, en route for Mb-
lin. His Excellency and the Countess will pass the night
at Holyhead, occupying the suite of state apartments at
Hibert's New Royal Hotel. A special steamer has been
ordered to be in readiness to convey his Excellency to
I(ingstown to-morrow morning. On arriving in Dublin,
his Excellency, attended by his staff, and escorted by a
troop of Dragoons as a guard of honour, will ride to the
Castle. The Countess will proceed thither in a private
carriage. The streets will be lined with military.
,BUILDERS BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.—A meeting of
the governors and subscribers to this institution was 'held
yesterday in the board-room, New Oxfordistreet
George Bird, the treasurer, in the chair. The report stated
that the amount of subscriptions and donations for the
past year had been 8891. 18s. 6d., and the directors had
the satisfaction of announcing that they had added to
the funded stock, since the last report, 600/. three per
cent. Consols, namely,' 4001. stock to the permanent re-
lief fund, and 2001. stock to the building fund, making
the total amount of the funds standingon the funds of
in the names of
the trustees, 3,250/. Them were now
the institution ten males and five females, and it was
the intention of the directors to hold another election on
the 22d inst., when five more would be admitted from a
long list of applicants. The minutes of the last court
having been readd
and confirmed some formal business
was transacted ; an
, after the usual vote of thanks to
the chairman, the meeting separated.
COCKERMOITTH AND WORKINGTON. RAILWAY.--The
fifteenth ordinary half-yearly meeting of this company
was held on Saturday at Cockermouth, Mr. J. Harris in
the chair. The meeting excited more than usual interest,
as a proposition was to be brought forward for " amal-
gamation with the Whitehaven Junction Railway.
The report of the directors showed that by comparing
the receipts of the last half-year with the correspond-
ing period of the previous year they were less by
while the working expenses' were 34/. more. The
decrease in the rates was caused by the storms in
November and December last, which damaged the
bridges. This had ledlo a decrease in the number of pas-
sengers. It being necessary to restore the bridges, a sum
yea 280/. was deducted from the proceeds of the current
er. The line was now in a superior state of repair and
efficiency. The financial position of the company was
now upon a satisfactory footing. The nett balance avail-
able for dividend was 790/. 10s. 4d., which was equal to
4s. 3d. per share, but the directors recommend that only
3s. per share be paid, and that the balance should be ap-
plied to contingent expenses. The report was unani-
mously agreed to. It was then agreed that a dividend
of 3s. per share, payable on the 6th of February, be de-
clared. Mr. Lsaac Fletcher was appointed a director in
the room of his father. Mted to cr. Steel
refer with the direc-
then moved that a
committee should be app
tors of the Whitehaven Junction Railway Company, with
a view to procure an amalgamation of the two lines, for
the mutual interest of both. The motion was agreed to
and the committee appointed. The meeting separated
after voting thanks to the chairman.
OUR IMPERIAL : ARMS.—Scotland having complained
of the shameful treatment of her lion in the English
standard, the complaint will, it is understood, be fol-
lowed up by Wales, the English having entirely ignored
the Welsh rabbit.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocx.

The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 1,000 American
were taken for export, and 1,000 American and
500 Surat on speculation. The market closed firmly,
and, compared with Friday's rates, American and
Surat were id. per lb. higher. The sales composed
600 American, 100 Pernam and Maranham, at 6-id.
to 71d. ; 300 Egyptian, at 6d. to 10d. ; and 800
Surat at 3d. to 4d. per lb. Railway Shares had
a better appearance.
In reference to the state of the tobacco trade
during the past month, Messrs. Grant, Hodgson,
and Co. report as follows :—" The market has con-
tinued steady for all descriptions, and we have re-
sumed our previous quotations. Buyers have been
more numerous than for some time past, but pur-
chases, in most instances, have been limited. In-
quiries havd been made for export descriptions, but
which have not yet terminated in any transactions
deserving attention. Latest advices from New
Orleans state that there had been very few
sales effected for some days, but that prices
had remained steady. especially for good and
fine sorts. The last crop is represented to be very
deficient in colour, ripeness, and flavour. Consid-
erable business has been done last month for the
colonies, more especially for Australia ; and we
think that additional facilities might be obtained
for manufacturing in bond, by which means a
larger portion of this important trade would be
secured to our manfacturers."

In the rates for bills of exchange negotiated here
yesterday afternoon, there was a slight improve-
ment upon several places. Paris, 90 days, was
taken at 25 274 to 30 ; Ilambro' at 13 5/ to 61.;
Frankfort at 1191 to and Trieste at 11 6to 10.
The cause of the Foreign Exchanges not taking
a more decided upward course after the advance of
1 per cent. on discounts, is still discussed with con-
siderable interest ; but we scarcely think any vio-
lent action was desirable. The Bank may, by its
present policy, gradually bring back matters to a
healthier tone, and it is only proper that parties
who entered into engagements upon the faith of
cheap money should be permitted gradually to con-
tract them.

The English Funds have been looking better,
and prices have rallied a little. Consols have been
marked 99i- to for Transfer, and 99i g for Ac-
count. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents.
have been done at 103 to 11. Bank Stock is nomi-
nally very firm,
and India Stock 269. Exchequer
Bills are at 555., and India Bonds at 655. premium.
The change in the French Ministry does not ap-
pear to be unfavourably thought of.
More business has been done in the Foreign
Market, and prices have ' a firmer appearance.
Spanish Passive Converted have been done at
si, and the New Deferred have been about
22 Portuguese Four per Cents. are at
38, and Mexican have been done at 23. For
Grenada Deferred Bonds the rates are and 11:
Brazilian Five per Cents. have been quoted 1012,
and the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. 98i, being
for the latter a slight advance. Sardinian
Stock is quiet: Venezuela has been marked
38, being a decline upon the former prices, but
these were given about a week or ten days ago.
French 412 per Cents. have been at 103 i, with the
exchange at 25 10. Dutch 2i- per Cents. are
6524.
Railway Shares have been a shade better in some
instances, but the transactions are unimportant.
The principal dealings have been in North-Western,
Lancashire and Yorkshire,- Great Northern, and
Caledonian. The French lines are rather higher,
though very inactive.

Gold Mines continue at much about the previous
rates, but the Colonial are rather better. The
South-Western have improved. The Land Com-
panies have remained much the same, and the
Australian Banks are barely so good.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.
(Front the Official List.)
Business aone.
Bank Stock
1 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities... lOO i 100
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 31 per Cent. Annuities
India Stock
India Bonds, £lOOO —
Ditto, under £IC3O 65
Consols for Account 10th February 991 3
Exchequer Bills lid. March. June.
£lOOO.
£5OO — —
Small '
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Small
Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent 9Bl 8
Equador Bonds
51
Grenada Bonds, Deferred,
Ditto Ex Dec., 1849, Coupon 2l
Mexican 3 per Cent..
Ditto for the Account 23 21.
Portuguese 4 per Cent. 33 x d
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
panish Bonds, 3 per Cent —
Ditto Now Deferred, 3 per Cent 22a
Spanish Passive (Converted) sg
Swedish Loan .
2 d
Venezuela Bonds 3a per Cent.
French Rentes, 4A per Cent
Dutch Exchange 24 per Cent 651 i
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates.... .... .

Consols
February
. .
Ditto .O. ;1;
...

THREE O'CLOCK.
994
99i if

ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—The
secretary of the South-Eastern Railway Company has
furnished us with the following report :—An accident
occurred on the South-Eastern Railway yesterday.
The 12.30 p.m. train for Ramsgate left London at its
proper time, but when within two miles of the Pens-
hurst station the whole of the train, except the engine,
ran off the rails. Twelve passengers received cuts and
bruises, but, fortunately, none of a serious nature. By
means of the electric telegraph assistance was quickly
passengers, with the exception of one
who was conveyed to Tunbridge, were transferred to
procured, and the
other carriages, and the train proceeded to Ramsgate.
A careful examination of the rails has been made, but
no defect could be discovered ; the cause of the carriages
getting off the line, therefore, yet remains to be as-
certained.

THE WELLINGTON FUNERAL CAR.—We understand
Viscount Combermere, as Constable of the Tower, has
received her Majesty's commands to prepare, forthwith,
a suitable place for the reception of the funeral car upon
which the remains of the late lamented Duke of Welling-
ton were conveyed to their last resting-place. It is in-
tended that the car shall be exhibited to the public with-
out any unnecessary restriction.
ILL-TREATMENT OP A CREW.—Captain Charles Per
cival Dixon, master of the ship Sarah Charles, 222 tons
register, just left London on a foreign voyage to the
Cape of Good Hope, but which put into Swansea for a
cargo of patent fuel, summoned the whole of his able
seamen before the magistrates of Swansea, on Saturday,
for non-performance of duty. The men, being called on
for their reason, made a long statement to the bench, the
effect of which was, that when they left London for
Swansea they had no light allowed them to cook victuals
with. They could not eat the pork given them, which
was all alive, full of maggots, and the bread so mildewed
that they could not touch it. They signed articles for
half a pound of flour per day per man, but the steward
told them lie could not cook it for them—he could not
break the lumps in it. They also signed for peas three
times a week, but they had beans given them instead.
The sugar they could not touch, it was so bad. The
men produced some of the • articles. The dough made
from the flour was quite black, the bread quite green
and mildewed, and the liquor called soup looked more
like dirty water than anything else. The captain said
the men had the provisions as he bought them. A full
bench of magistrates decided that the captain had. evi-
dently broken his contract with his men, and refused to
compel the men to go on board. The Custom-house
authorities were ordered to make
a survey of the ship.
The proceedino-s created quite a stir in the town, and the
decision of the magistrates gave very general satisfac-
tion.

THE FREE-TRADE }TALL, MANCHESTER.—This build-
ing, which has been the scene of such wonderful gather-
ing, and the name of which identifies the structure with
one of the greatest struggles this country ever saw, is
to be pulled down at the end of next month (March),
prior to the erection upon the site of a hall of much
larger architectural pretensions,.both as to exterior and
interior. A public company, with a capital of 25,0001.,
is in course of formation for the purpose of providing
the funds. •

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The terms
of an agreement between this company and the Caledo-
nian with regard to the traffic, were finally concluded on
Saturday morning, subject to the approval of the share-
holders. The precise terms of the arrangement it would
be premature. to state at present, but we believe they will
be found reasonable on both sides, and of course mutu-
ally advantageous,—North British. Mail.
A DESERTER FROM THE BRITISH ARMY IN LOVE.—In
the Baltimore County-court, State of Maryland, Joseph
Sinott was sentenced to six years and six months im
prisonment in the penitentiary, for enticing a slave girl
of a Mr. Marash to run away. His reason for the crime
was that he was devotedly attached to her, and desired
to take her to one of the free states, and make her his
wife. He is an Englishman by birth, and a deserter
from the British army in Canadas.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY).

OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Justice Cresswell.)
Alm Ferdinand Pries, charged with forgery, was this
morning brought up to the bar, and pleaded Not Guilty.
William .Hawkens Adams, 44, a clerk in the Post-
office, was placed in the dock, charged with embezzling
the sums of 2,3, and 4 shillings, the moneys of the Post-
office.

Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clarkson appeared• for the prose-
cution ; and Mr. Payne for the defence.
It appeared from the evidence that it was part of the
prisoner's duty to receive, from the bankers' clerks, par-
cels of notes, which having fulfilled their duty in London,
were to be sent back to the banks in the country from
which they had been issued, to be re-issued—to fix, and
receive the proper amount of postage. It appeared that,
on the 4th of January, the prisoner received from the
clerk of Messrs. Glyn and Co. a parcel of this descrip-
tion, for which he charged and received Cs. 2d., but did
not account for it at the Post-office. On the 11th Jan.,
he received two parcelsfrom the clerk of the London and
Westminster Bank, and a parcel from Mr. Masterman's
clerk, on which he charged 3s. and 25., more than he ac-
counted for.

Mr. Justice Cresswell having summed up, the jury re
turned a verdict of " Guilty."

Sentence deferred;

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, FEB. 1.

The following had the honour of dining with her Ma-
jesty yesterday :—Her Royal ifighnes the Duchess of
Kent, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Nemours, her Serene Highness the Princess Adelaide of
Hoheniohe, the Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent,
the Baroness de Speth, Viscount and Viscountess Strat-
ford de Redcliffe, and Colonel the Hon. C. B. and Mrs.
Phipps.

The band of the Grenadier Guards attended in the
Castle and played during dinner.
• Her Majestyl3 private band attended afterwards in the
evening, and perfoi med the following compositions :
Overture, " Le Serment" Auber.
Selection, "Le Pre aux Clercs" Herold.
March a la Romaine Hummel.
Finale, "Martha" Flotow.
The Queen and Prince, with the Duke and Duchess
of Nemours, drove out in an open carriage yesterday
afternoon. Lord Charles Fitzroy and Lieut.-Colonel F.
H. Seymour were in attendance on horseback.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, with the Duke of
Nemours 'and Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, accom-
panied by Mr. Henry Seymour, Mr. Challoner, and Cap-
tain Tottenham, went out shooting this forenoon, at-
tended by Lieut.-Colonel F. H. Seymour.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Ne-
mours, with the Comte d'Eu, the Due d'Alencon, and
the Princess Marguerite of Orleans, left the Castle this
afternoon for Claremont ; and the Viscount and Vis-
countess Stratford de Redcliffe left for London.
The Duchess of Norfolk has succeeded the Viscountess
Canning as Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen.
Earl Somers has arrived as Lord-in-Waiting, in place
of Lord Elphinstone ; and Captain the Hon. M. West
has relieved Lieutentant-Colonel the Hon. N. Hood as
*Groom-in-Waiting to her Majesty.
Lord Alfred Paget has succeeded Lord Charles Fitz-
Roy, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon, Lieut.-
Colonel F. H. Seymour, as Equerries-in-Waiting to the
Queen and the Prince.

The Committee on Education of her Majesty's most
honourable Privy Council had a meeting yesterday at
the Privy Council-office, Whitehall. The Lords present
were the Lord President, the Earl of Aberdeen, the
Duke of Argyll, Lord John Russell, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert.
A deputation from the Steam-ship Owners' Association
of London, consisting of Mr. Moffatt, M.P., Mr. W. J.
Hall, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Morgan (sec-
retary), and accompanied by Mr. Duncan, M.P., Mr.
M'Gregor, M.P. (Glasgow), and Mr. Clay, M.P., had
an interview with the Right Hon. Edwara Cardwell and
Lord Stanley of Alderley, yesterday, at the Board of
Trade.

A deputation from the town commissioners of Brighton
had an interview with the General Board of Health yes-
terday at their office, Whitehall. The deputation con-
sisted of Dr. King and Mr. Cornford, and were attended
by Mr. Slight, clerk to the commissioners.
Lord and Lady John Russell arrived at their residence
in Chesham-place yesterday, from Richmond.
Dispatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governors of the West India Islands.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday. The lords present were :—The Chief Justice of
the Common Pleas, the Judge of the Admiralty Court,
Sir E. Ryan, and Sir J. Patteson. Heath's petition for
extension of patent was heard, and adjourned.

The quotation of gold at Paris is about at par (accord-
ing to the new tariff), which, at the EngliM Mint price
of 3/. 17s. 10id. per ounce for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 25.17 ; and the exchange at Paris on Lon-
don at short being 25.05, it follows that gold is about
0.48 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London.
By advices from Hamburgh, the price of gold is about
4254 per mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3/.
17s. 100. per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange
of 13.5 k ; and the exchange at Hamburgh on London at
short being 13.4 a, it follows that gold is about 0.35 per
cent. dearer in Ilamburgh than in London.
The course of exchange at New York on London for bills
at 60 days' sight is 1091 per cent., and the par of exchange
between England and America being 109 23-40 per cent.,
it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.08 per cent.
against England. At the present rate there is no profit
on .the transmission of gold between England and Ame-
rica.

WAGES or SHIPWRIGHTS IN HER MAJESTY'S DOCK-
YARd, DEVONPORT.--A meeting of the working ship-
wrights in her Majesty's dockyard, Devonport, was
held at the Temperance Hall, in that town, on Monday
evening. The chair was taken by Mr. Cripps, and the
hall was crowded with artizans. The object of the
meeting was to petition the Lords of the Admiralty for
an increase of wage's, and the following is a copy of the
petition agreed to :—"To the Hon. Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, the humble petition of the shipwrights
employed in her Majesty's dockyard at Devonport, most
humbly sheweth : That your petitioners are labouring
under disadvantages which, if brought under your
lordships' notice, would, they believe, lead your lord-
ships to take them into most favourable consideration.
Your petitioners would beg to show that they are now
in receipt of wages at the rate of 4s. per day, whilst
shipwrights in the merchant service are in receipt of
from 6s. to 7s. per day. Your petitioners be-
lieve that they are called on to be equally re-
sponsible for the performance of their work,
and are in all cases to be as arduous in their engage-
ments, and as respectable in life as those of their fellow
mechanics who are working in the merchant service.
Your petitioners would, therefore, humbly beg your
lordships' kind consideration of their statements, an
humbly pray that your lordships may see fit to increase
the wages of your petitioners, to place them on an equal
footing with mechanics of the same calling out of go-
vernment employ.—And your petitioners will ever pray,
&c." After the above petition had been received, a dis-
cussion arose as to the mode of transmitting it to the
Admiralty board ; a few argued that it should be pre-
sented the master shipwright, Mr. W. Edye, and the
commodore superintendent ; but the majority were in
favour of sending the petition direct to their lordships,
through the representatives of the borough, H. Tufnell,
Esq., and Sir G. Berkeley, which it was determined to
do. A committee was appointed, which the chairman
said would remain in office, until either the prayer of
the petition was granted, or their grievances' were laid
on the table of the House of Commons. Three cheers
were given for the petition, three more the Queen, and
the meeting separated.
A FAMILY SUFFOCATED.—On Friday morning great
excitement prevailed in Springburn, a village to the
north of Glasgow, by the intelligence that a family, con-
sisting of the mother and four children, were found suf-
focated in bed. The father, John Burns, a labourer, em-
ployed on the night-shift of the Springburn Colliery,
left his dwelling-house in Fyfe's-land, about half-past
five o'clock on Thursday evening, to follow his nightly
occupation, at which time his wife and children were
in their ordinary state of health. On his return fx ern
his employment, between eight and nine o'clock
on Friday morning, he endeavoured to enter his
house as usual, but was astonished to find the
door fastened, and to hear no noise of any person
within. He knocked at the door repeatedly, but, re-
ceiving no answer, he became alarmed as to something
being wrong. He then proceeded to look in at the
window, and in doing so he heard the low meanings of
his wife. He then quickly forced an entrance by the
window, and the poor man had the misery of finding his
wife and four children lying in a state of insensibility.
He communicated the painful intelligence to some of his
neighbours, who came to his assistance, and were not
long in discovering that one of the children, a boy about
eight years of age, was quite dead. Dr. Walker, of
Castle-street, was as soon after as possible in attendance
on the living, and pronounced that the boy died from
suffocation, caused by noxious air. The woman was too
ill to be able to give any account which might lead to an
idea of the manner in which the fatal effluvia had been
generated. The fire was completely extinguished in the
morning, but it is supposed that a large fire composed
of impure coal had been left burning when the
fi retired to bed, and the house not being well ventilated,
THE to the melancholy catastrophe.—North British. Mail.
THE NATIONAL CLUB.—The noblemen and ebers of Parliament belonging to the National Club intend. to
have a parliamentary dinner on the re-establishing of
Parliament. The Earl of Clancarty will preside on the
occasion, and Mr. Perceval, the late candidate for the
University of Oxford, will be of the part y . The majority
of the dinner list has already been filled up with the
names of leading members of the club.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

SlR.,—Under the heading " Fraudulent Gold
Chains," A jeweller (?) has professed to give some
cautionary and instructive advice to purchasers of
such articles ; but as I consider his remarks calcu-
lated to mislead the public, as well as to disparage
many an honest jeweller, I should be glad, through
the same medium, the public press, to rectify an
impression that may be given by this very ignorant
fellow-craftsman of ours. He advises that a " bill
be requested describing the article as solid sterling
gold," or "solid standard gold ;" and further says,
"If the shopkeeper hesitates and talks instead
of
giving such a bill, they may be sure a fraud is in-
tended." Now, Sir, I should think it very hard to
have my honesty impeached on my beginning to
" talk" in reply to such a demand, though I shou.ld.
feel compelled to do so in the following strain, it,
for instance, I had been selling a gold chain :
" Sir," or "Madam" (as the case might be), " you
must know that the best quality of chains, made
by the best and most respectable London jewellers,
is never standard,' unless made such to order,
and oftentimes not solid,' as there are certain
patterns where such would be a needless waste of
gold—would double the expense of the article with-
out making it, for all practical purposes, any the
better ; and there is legally no quality that might
not be called gold from standard down to what will
just bear the test of aqua fortis without turning
green." For such a statement of truth, it would
surely behard to be put down among rogues and
swindlers, when by quietly signing such a docu-
ment I should seal my own condemnation as
such. It has been regretted by fair-dealing
tradesmen in this business, that there could
not be one legal standard for all such
manufactured articles ; but every one must see
that this would be attended not only with diffi-
culty in articles of complicated make, but in a two-
fold way materially abridge the manufacture and
sale of all such articles,—first, by the increase of
intrinsic cost in such things, and then by the duty
Ifin
wch inevitably attends such a guarantee.
the quality of such articles were brought
up to anything like standaird, it would all
but annihilate the trade, leaving it in the hands
of a few manufacturers, and in the power of only
a few to purchase. I hesitate not to say
that nine-tenths of the manufactured jewellery
coming under the legitimate character of gold, as
I have shown, is below the quality of what is
usually made for the best—that is, of 60s. gold ;
and yet a fair-dealing trade is carried on in such qualities, the articles being sold at a propor-
tionately lower price, and so corning within
the means of the many. But according to
this knowing " jeweller," the Hall mark is no
protection. If he means that the mark itself is no protection, I must beg to dispute his assertion;
for it is not only a security that the article is
stamped as Rid, but that it is gold of the quality
marked by the stamp (18 or 22 carat), the forgery
of which stamps is attended with such serious
consequences that the instances of forgery known
have, I believe, been but few. But perhaps he
may only mean it does not secure the articles being
all gold, because the stamp is not on each part of
it ; but unless he had been more explicit, it is
impossible to meet his assertion, the obscurity of
which certainly has more tendency to mislead than
to enlighten. His suggestion as to the purchase
of watches I consider equally fallacious. The
dial and dome being of metal, would not
warrant the inference that the watch was a bad
one. If, to meet the circumstances of different
classes, there must be different prices in this arti-
cle of such immense utility and request, then the
gilt dome and dial are ,rather a security than not
for the watch being a better time-keeper than it
would otherwise be, for the very obvious reason
that the value is taken out of the case, instead of
the works ; and the purchaser might be rather de-
ceived than protected by the advice of 'our friend,
as the gold dome and dial, I fear, would no more
insure a good watch than the gilt ditto ditto would
be certainty of a bad one.