The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-26 00:00:00

A MER I CA.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 25.
By the United States' mail steam-ship Humboldt,
Captain J. D. Lines. we have accounts from New
York to the 13th inst. The Humboldt touched off
Cowes last night, en route to Havre, bringing 78
passengers, of whom 13 were for Southampton.
Her cargo consisted of specie, value $65,000, 700
bales of cotton, 500 bales of whalebone, &c., for
Havre.

The Humboldt was detained one clay at New
York by the violence of the weather, and has
accomplished the passage from New York to Cowes
in 11 days 5 hours. On the 20th inst., in lat.
48.30, long. 39.25, the Humboldt passed the wreck
of a large ship with mainuwst- gone a few feet above
the deck, fore and mizen masts gone below the
tops ; the bulwarks were gone and the decks swept.
She appeared to be waterlogged. Her model ap-
peared to be English.

On the 13th inst., when 15 miles east of Sandy
Hook, the Humboldt spoke the British and North
American mail steamer, Africa, bound in, and then
15 days out from Liverpool.
The screw steam-ship Glasgow arrived at New
York from the Clyde, on the 12th inst.

This packet brings little news of importance, the
American papers being chiefly occupied with ac-
counts of the proceedings in the Senate at Wash-
ington, and of the immense intriguing going on at
the capital by the swarms of office-seekers who are
laying diligent siege to the new President and his
Cabinet. To people in this country, who can form
little idea of the unscrupulous manoeuvres of the
office-expectant portion of the American community
upon a change of Administration, the annexed ex-
tracts from telegraphic dispatches from Washington,
in the New York papers, will perhaps be not only
interesting but novel :

" General Pierce left this afternoon for Baltimore,
and will return to-morrow with Mrs. Pierce. He is
overwhelmed. He is fortunate if he can get more than
one meal during the day, or if he can retire to rest before
two o'clock in the morning, to be up again at six.
"He receives visitors of all sorts' in the lump. He
was engaged in the service to-day till nearly two o'clock.
To-day, when the company were dismissed, several per-
sons followed him into a side room. He then came out
into the hall, bringing them after him, and, being thus
relieved, he slipped into another room, and the door
was shut.

" The office seekers don't like these mixed assemblies.
It is the one minute in private that they desire. Some-
times in the crowd they try to draw him aside, but they
generally fail. Sidney Webster, his private secretary,
is the next resort, and the poor youth is perplexed with
the pressure of the hungry swarm, till even he is com-
pelled to close doors.
" The Cabinet to-day, in business style, are receiving
company. One or two go into the secretary at a time,
tell their story, and hand in their papers. The throng of
applicants in the hall are waiting their, turns. The pres-
sure on Secretary Marcy for foreign missions and/consul-
ships is astounding ; but they will not be acted upon
without the full deliberation yf the Cabinet. So it is of
the rest.

" The number of letters and papers sent to the Presi-
dent in favour of the different candidates is tremendous.

The clerks in the various departments are classifying
them, and making short abstracts of their contents. It is
stated that General Pierce will make all the important
appointments himself. The first business to be proceeded
with is the filling of vacancies. The esident has been
overrun with hungry hordes, and has rekseiraudience to
great numbers.
" It is expected that to-morrow sorgp collectors, con-
suls, and assistants to the Cabinet officirs will be cat out
for the Senate for Monday, including, perhaps, some
foreign appointments. All hands are impatient for
Monday.
"The friends of General Cass are ir'• trouble since his
departure. Some have left in despair. In fact, the ele-
ments of insurrection are at work, and predictions are
plentiful of an early break down of the Cabinet. Things
look squally ; but those in the confidence of General
Pierce say he expected it—that he is perfectly cool, and,
with his course marked out, is prepared to disband his
Cabinet, or dismiss a rebellious faction, at a moment's
notice. He will be President at all hazards."

In the Senate, on the 10th inst., ex-Secretary
Clayton concluded his speech in vindication of his
conduct relative to the treaty negOtiated with Sir
Henry Bulwer. He repudiated the Monroe doc-
trine, and declared that Presidents Jackson and
Polk, in connection with both Houses of Congress,
had done the same. He pronounced the Squiers
treaty to have been unconstitutional, and stated
that his own was based on the principles set forth
by previous democratic Administrations. On the
following day Judge Douglas replied to the speech
of Mr. Clayton.
The New York _Herald of the 13th contains the
following incredible telegraphic dispatch :--

"NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 9.
"The schooner Charles Pearson arrived this morning
from Honduras. She reports that great excitement pre-
vailed on the island in consequence of her British Ma-
jesty's war steamer Devastation having anchored off
Toupillo and demanded the Burr ender of the place in the
name of the Mosquito King. The inhabitants were
given two hours' time to decide beforit the commence-
ment of a bombardment. The inhabitants yielded to
superior forces, but solemnly protested against the out-
rage. The Mosquito flag was hoisted and the Honduras
flag pulled down. The British war steamer then pro-
ceeded to Limas, and cannonading was afterwards heard
in that quarter. It was presumed that a contest was
going on between the steamer and the Honduras troops.
A severe shock of an earthquake was felt at Belize on
the 10th of February."
Upon this news the Herald remarks :

" Should our dispatch prove correct—and it comes
from a most reliable authority—President Pierce may be
called upon to take cognisance of the ',egress of affairs
in that quarter much sooner than'. - anticipated.
This movement, if correctly stated, si . s how much re-
liance is to be placed in the assertio British diplo-
matists that their Government is desir, ; 'of abandoning
the Mosquito Protectorate."
There is little extra news fro* Mexico. An
arrival at New Orleans reported that Caravajal had
abandoned his plans and disbanded his followers.
A :telegraphic dispatch from Louisville, dated
March the 11th, thus gives the news of a discovery
of gold in the Cherokee nation
" Advices from Taliquah, Cherokee?nation, to the 23d
ult., state that great excitement existed in the nation,
owing to the reported discovery of gold in large quan-
tities on Horseshoe Creek, in the northern part of the
nation. The yield was said to be sid to $l2 a day per
man. Large numbers are leaving Maysville for the
locality."

The steam-ship Isabel, with dates fromHavannah
to the Bth of March, had arrived at Charleston.
The health of Vice-President King had improved.
At Matanzas the•erop of sugar was good. Private
letters dated Havannah, March 7, say that up to the
present it is not known what will be the fate of
the political prisoners, as the Government is either
undecided, or desirous to keep its intentions a pro-
found secret up to the last. Much anxiety is felt
by the Cubans, and the worst is feared.

The slave schooner Rachel Brown, captured on
the coast of Africa by the "United States' sloop of
war Germantown, arrived at Norfolk on the 9th
instant.

The American clipper ship Atalanta, 84 days
from Canton (the quickest voyage ever made),
went on shore on the 10th inst 4 on the Roamer
Shoal, and was expected to becom!sa perfect wreck.
Her cargo of silks, teas, &c., was North $200,000.
A brutal murder of two younOtmarried females
had taken place in Philadelphid,, which caused
much excitement. They were sisters. One of
them had just been confined of twins.
The following version of the bloody deed has
been published in the Philadelphia Bulletin :
" One of the most fearful tragedieilhat has ever been
enacted in Philadelphia was brought to light in South-
wark. At half-past seven o'clocklbis morning, two
sisters, named Hannah Shaw and .Ellen Lynch, at 260,
Federal-street, between Seventh and Eighth-streets,
were found brutally murdered.
‘, As soon as we heard of the circumstance, we
hastened to the spot, in company with Coroner Gold-
smith, and found a dense crowd gathered about a three-
storey brick building on the south side of Federal-street.
Upon entering the house the most horrible sight pre-
sented itself which it has ever been our lot to witness.
In the front room, on the first floor, the bodies of two
females, apparently not more than 25for 30 years of age,
lay weltering in blood. Both lay acriss the room, about
four or five feet apart.
" The one which lay in the front prt of the room was

" TELEGRAPHIC.

"Philadelphia, March 11.

the body of Ellen Lynch. She was in her night clothes,
and was lying upon her face. A copious stream of blood
had escaped from her mouth, and formed a puddle upon
the floor. One of her hands was clasped and much cut.
It was evident she had grasped the knife of the assassin,
and had the blade drawn through her fingers. Her
death was probably caused by .a blow upon the head,
inflicted with some heavy instrument.

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
( From the Times.)

" The other victim was Mrs. Hannah Shaw. She was
in her ordinary dress, and lay upon her back in the rear
part of the room. This woman had a gash in her right
cheek, and a wound in the breast, evidently inflicted
with a knife. The carpet where she lay was completely
saturated with blood.

" The room in which the fearful tragedy had been en-
acted wai comfortably furnished, and the articles in the
apartment were not disarranged ; even the carpet upon
the floor (which was an ordinary rag-carpet, and laid
down in strips) was as smooth as though the murdered
women had laid themselves gently down upon it. No-
thing about the room indicated a serious struggle, except
the ghastly remains lying upon the floor.
" So far as the circumstances connected with this
fearful affair have transpired, it seems that the house
in which the murder was committed is occupied by John
Carrol, and that his brother William boards with him.
The second storey front room is rented to Bartholomew
Lynch and his wife. Mrs. Lynch was confined about
two weeks since, and has left her twin girls without a
mother. The room in which the foul deed was com-
mitted is used for Sabbath-school purposes by John
Carrol. Mrs. Shaw has been staying with her sister
since her confinement, and they have had several
quarrels together. Carrol and his wife were also in the
habit of quarrelling.
" It seems that Carrol and his wife went to a ball, or
to a party of some kind, last evening, and were away
all night ; this morning Mrs. Carrol returned home
alone, about half-past seven o'clock, and was the first to
discover the dreadful spectacle. The milkman was at
the door when she returned, and she called him in to
witness the scene. The neighbours were also alarmed.
The infant children, so suddenly left without a mother,
were found in the second storey front room, crying.
"At the time we left the scene, the knife with which
it is supposed most of the wounds were inflicted had
not been found. A piece of leaden pipe, about eighteen
inches long, much battered, was found. Those who
were first upon the ground say there were spots of
blood, and some human hair, upon the pipe, when they
first saw it. It is probable that the fatal blow was in-
flicted upon Mrs. Lynch with this weapon.
" A candle, partly burnt, was found in the room ; the
wick appeared to have been extinguished purposely.
The brass candlestick had blood upon it.
• "Mrs. Carrel says that when she left home last night
a young man named John Ryan was there. Ryan has
since been arrested. Mr. and Mrs. Carrol are also in
custody.

"An examination of the bodies of the murdered
women has taken place. Forty-one stabs were found
upon Mrs. Lynch, five enterinc, the heart, and 17
wounds on Mrs. Shaw. An attempt was made to burn
down the house after; the murder, but the fire went out
after burning a hole in the kitchen floor.
" A number of arrests on suspicion have been made,
amongst them a Sing' Sing convict, named Arthur
Spring. No money or knife was found upon him."

Another murder succeeded the above horrible
tragedy, in which case a wife stabbed her husband,
a coloured man, in the street.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, MARCH 12.
There is a good demand for discounts of business
paper at the banks, and, as the latter continue to curtail
their lines, borrowers are necessarily driven to seek ac-
commodations in the street, where the rate paid varies
from 9 to 15 per cent. according to the signatures.
As many of the banks are discounting but about one-
fourth of their income, there is more surplus capital for
street loans, and thus the rate of temporary accommo-
dation is lower, and the market in this respect somewhat
relieved.

Considerable excitement was created in the street by
the announcement of the failure of the Woodbury Bank,
Woodbury, Connecticut ; and the Eastern Bank, West
Killingly, Connecticut. The Metropolitan Bank issued
a circular in the course of the day, which was sent
to all its customers and correspondents, announcing
that the bills of these banks would not be received upon
•
deposit.
The imports of dry goods from foreign ports are not so
large by nearly $1,000,000 as they were last week, but
are in excess of the total for the corresponding week of
last year.

Foreign exchange is quiet at 109 to 1091 for the bills
on London ; the latter rate could not be obtained for any
considerable amounts.

The stock market opened at firmer rates.
Breadstuffs—Flour seemed more active and rather
firmer. Corn meal, wheat, and barley were unchanged.
There were 6,500 bushels of rye taken at about 90c. per
bushel State and 'Western oats were more in demand
at 4 Sc. to 50c. per bushel. Corn was in better request
and steady. The day's operations included 34,000
bushels, at 60c. to 65c. for inferior to prime Southern
white and yellow per bushel.
Cotton—The sales to-day were about 700 bales, and
at prices exhibiting an easy market.
Freights.—To Liverpool, flour was at 2s. 3d., grain at
71d., cotton at id., and 20 tons of old scrap iron were
taken at 275. Gd. To London-100 tons of lard were
taken at 275. Gd. To Glasgow—Flour was last taken at
3s. A vessel was taken up for Cienfuegos at 40 per 100
lbs. There was nothing new in rates for California or
Australia:

The demand for continental fabrics is not very active,
and yet the business is steady and prices without mate-
rial change. There is less animation than expected at
this date, and undesirable goods are pressed on the mar-
ket without finding buyers.
There has been a good inquiry for broadcloths in qua-
lities below $2 50c., and goods worth $1 87ic. to $2
have even sold to arrive ; grades from $2 50c. to $4 50c.
have been dull, but above this range there has also been
a fair demand. The stock of medium qualities is large,
and rather pressing on the market. Doeskins are firm,
and low qualities are scarce.

The few goods tried through the auction room have
not yielded much encouragement to continue the offering.
Such goods as are wanted at private sale it is no object
to send, and refuse stock is more than ever out of,
favour.

In British goods the market has been dull and
mostly heavy, and for fanoy goods rather lower prices
have been accepted. Staple goods are without mate-
rial Change.

HAVANNAH, MARCH 7.
Sugar—A scarcity of vessels, high freights, and more
abundant receipts of new sugar has caused the demand
to fall off, and several purchases have been made at a
decline of one-eighth to a quarter of a penny. If the
same circumstances continue, there is little doubt the
decline will be generally established, but as yet quota-
tions are unchanged. The weather is favourable for
making sugar, with heavy rains for the first two days of
the month, but since then there has been fine dry
weather. The stock of sugar is 75,000 boxes.
Molasses—There has been a continued demand at 21
reals per keg, equal to llic. per gallon, free on board.
Several establishments have contracted at that price for
all they can deliver during the month, and lower prices
cannot be anticipated.
Coffee is in good demand, at Bc. to 8&c. for good
seconds.

Honey is firm at 2f.
Freights had an upward tendency until the last few
days, when numerous simultaneous arrivals checked the
demand. 3/. 17s. 6d. and 4/. per ton have been paid to
Cowes, and a market. Captains were still asking the
same rates, which will probably be granted, as there are
but a small number of disengaged vessels in port ; 13
reals have been paid for sugar in boxes to northern
ports ; $6l to $7 for hogsheads ; s2i to $3 per 110 gal-
lons molasses.

—.
Exchanges are dull. London has declined to 9i ; on
northern cities, 2i to 3 per cent.

SCENE IN THE OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—On
Saturday, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock,
Mr. Barnum' member of the house from Cuyahoga, was
standing in front of the clerk's desk, conversing with
another member—the deputy-clerk was reading a bill to
the house—the house was quiet and peaceable. At this
mom,ent Mr. H. Medary, the clerk of the house, brother
of Cdolonel Medary, standing in his desk, took the crutch
of ola Mr. George, and deliberately aimed a blow directly
upon the head of Mr. Barnum. The stroke came with
power, and Barnum was knocked down, essentially.
He was assisted by his friends to the room of the Ser-
geant-at-Arms the huge wound on his head was attended
to, and soon after Mr. Barnum, in company with another
member, took the cars and started for his home. After
about an hour's silent reflection and the regular pursuit
of business, Mr. Lytle moved that the Sergeant-at-Arms
take possession of Mr. Medary, that a committee of five
be appointed to investigate the transaction, and to re-
port to the house what they shall do in the premises.
This matter will attract some attention, and we shall try
to keep the public duly posted.--Co/umbus State Jour-
nal, March 7.
ENGLISH POST-OFFICES.—England, for Post-office pur-
poses, is divided into seven districts. Each district is
placed under the superintendence of a surveyor, to whom
all the Post-office employes in the district are subor-
dinate. Letters posted in each district are stamped with
a peculiar coloured composition. That all postmasters
in the western district stamp letters with a yellow
coloured composition in the midland district the colour
is blue, in the home district it is brown, in the northern,
red ; in the North Wales, green ; and in the South
Wales, purple.
AUSTRALIA.—A highly respectable youth left South-
ampton last summer for Australia, against the advice
and wishes of his friends. He stated that if he did well
his friends should hear from him, and that if he was un-
successful, it would be some years before he should write
to Southampton. This week his mother heard from
him for the first time. Her son had sent her a regis-
tered letter, containing a nugget of gold, and an account
that he was doing well at the diggings.

CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
( From the Morning Advertiser.)

Seventy years ago the two great statesmen of
England encountered each other on the arena of
Indian politics. The memorable struggle engaged
the undivided attention of the nation, and the result
determined the destinies of the country for a period
of five and forty years. Unlike the apathy of
modern times, the nation hung in breathless sus-
pense on the projects of the Whig and Tory chain-
pions, the House of Commons frequently sat till 5
o'clock in the morning, and every argument that
the most refined ingenuity and the most bitter
party spirit could suggest was exhausted in dis-
cussing the constitution of the government of a re-
mote and alien people. It may not be without
advantage to recal at this time the exact position
of the question, the leading features of the two bills,
and the arguments by which they were attacked
and defended; perhaps even yet something may be
gained towards the . elucidation of the Indian
problem from considering the form this question
assumed in the third decade of the reign of George
111. In 1783 the feel* of the nation was
roused to a violent extent against the Fast
India Company, its servants, and its policy.
A society of merchants, it was said, subject
to no responsibility, bound by no political con-
siderations, and looking only to the increase
of their dividends and the aggrandisement of
their corporation, were conquering, plundering,
and laying waste one of the fairest portions of the
universe. No comedy was complete without the
introduction of a griping and ostentatious Nabob,
and the names of Clive, Impey, Rumbold, and
Hastings were cited with almost superstitious aver-
sion. Acts were passed requiring the company's
servants to disclose the amount of their ill-gotten
wealth, and bills of pains and penalties were intro-
duced for their punishment. It was in this tem-

per of the nation that Mr. Fox, being challenged
by his great rival to bring forward a bill, not of
temporary palliation or timorous expediency, but
vigorous and effectual, suited to the magnitude,
the importance, and the alarming exigency of the
case, produced his India Bill.
This measure abolished the Courts of Proprietors
and directors, and named in the act itself seven
Commissioners, invested with full powers for ad-
ministering the territories, revenues, and commerce
of India, and possessing the whole patronage of the
India service. Vacancies in this body were to be sup-
plied by the King, and its members were to be remov-
able upon the address of either House of Parliament.
The Commissioners were to hold no other place of
profit under the Crown, but they were not to be pro-
hibited from sitting in Parliament. Against this bill a
storm of opposition was raised, not because it was con-
sideredunsuitable for the government of India, but
dangerous to the constitution of England. A body
thus chosen, it was said, would be an imperium in,
imperio —a fourth estate, endowed with the trea-
sures of India, and possessed of a mighty amount
of patronage. It was said that such an institution
would be dangerous to our liberties, and arm the
Minister who called it into existence with irresisti-
ble power. It is impossible to deny that there was
considerable weight in this reasoning. An admi-
nistrative department of State, in no way connected
with or subordinate to the Crown, was a very start-
ling anomaly. The danger of placing the patron-
age in the hands of a board devoted to the Minister
of the day was by no means imaginary, and no pro-
vision seems to have been made for a due responsi-
bility to Parliament. The principle of the measure
was, in fact, to substitute a board elected by the
House of Commons for a board elected by the pro-
prietors of East India Stock, leaving it to act with-
out check or hindrance, except from the immediate
intervention of Parliament. At the same time, it
seems astonishing that it should not have been
perceived how easily these defects might have
been remedied, and how readily all that was
objectionable in the bill might have been discarded,
while all that was valuable was preserved, Had
the patronage of the East India Company been
sold, thrown open to public competition, or vested
in some other independent body, that objection
would have been effectually removed ; and bad the
power of deciding been vested in an Indian. Minis-
ter, and the duties of the proposed Council been
restricted to advising and assisting this Minister,
the dread of a new and irresponsible power would
have been effectually removed. _ .

The bill of Mr. Fox seemed to sacrifice the in-
tegrity of our constitution to the future welfare of
India. Mr. Pitt's measure, without alarming con-
stitutional jealousies, did little for the good govern-
ment of our eastern dominions. He established a
Board of Control, he created a Secret Committee
of directors, and he materially curtailed the influ-
ence of the Court of Proprietors. Subject to these
provisions, he permitted the Company to continue
till its extinction as a commercial body in 1833.
The main fault of this measure seems to be that it
was based on temporary and accidental circum-
stances, and was very likely to survive the objects
for the sake of which it was instituted. The Com-
pany soon lost its aggressive and enterprising cha-
racter, and became, in its Indian policy, extremely
and even absurdly pacific. Control was no longer
needed, and the spur might, with great advantage,
have replaced the rein. It is notorious that most of
the wars which have desolated India have had their
origin in the Secret Committee, without the know-
ledge and against the will of the directors. The
institution has outlived its objects. In the present
day a Board of Impulse is much more needed than
a Board of Control. It is probable, however, that,
unnecessary as it is for the purpose for which it is
designed, -the Board of Control, by bringing the
Court of Directors into contact with the Govern-
ment, has preseived them to the present day. Had
they maintained their isolated position they would
probably have -been sacrifiCed ere now to some out-
break of popular displeasure ; but the law. which
connected them with the Government, and made

it responsible for their acts, imposed upon it the
necessity of upholding them, and shielding them
behind its aegis from the attacks of popular impulse.
The effect of Mr. Pitt's bill has also been to with-
draw the attention of the public from the affairs of
India, and to leave the Company and the Board of
Control to manage matters without fear of Parlia-
mentary intervention. The device of placing the
administration in the hands of one body and the
responsibility in those of another operated probably
to produce a more complete irresponsibility than i
the avowedly independent Council of Mr. Fox.
We cannot refuse to Mr. Pitt's bill the merit of
greater adaptation to the circumstances of a com-
mercial company, while to Mr. Fox must be
awarded the merit of more direct adaptation of
means to ends, and a more earnest desire for the
welfare of our Indian fellow-subjects. The main
difficulty which perplexed these two great men,
which made Mr. Fox's board arbitrary and isolated,
and forced Mr. Pitt to devise a machinery for con-

trolling instead of administering the government
of India, is now removed. The commercial com-
pany has for nineteen years ceased to exist. Let
us hope that we possess statesmen equal to the so-
lution of a problem, the conditions of which time
has so materially simplified.

A very few words will suffice to show the condi-
tion to which the working classes of this country
may expect to be reduced, should the continuous
influx of large quantities of gold render money
abundant, and consequentlycheap, making all other
things, to use a common, but not here a•correct
term, dearer, unless their wages and incomes are
raised in proportion to the depreciation of money
and the consequent enhancement of necessaries.
It will here be proper, since it is necessary to refer
to the times when the greatest alterations were
made by the introduction of American gold and
silver, to correct a mistake in the values of the
quantities produced in the mines of America prior
to the discovery of the auriferous 'fields of Califor-
nia. The word " million " having been omitted
in the press, the amounts appear ridiculously
small. The value of the fine silver produced is
estimated at 27,122 million francs, or about 1,085
millions sterling ; and the gold at 10,126 million
francs, or 401 millions sterling. This vast addi-
tioni
to the precious metals in previous usepeepr money'
price of
neces-
sarily effected an alteration in the value of
the interest of which, that is to say, th
money on loan, fell from 60 and 65
a-year, to 54/ and, in Amsterdam, per cent. per
annum, within the short space of two centuries.
The table, which we formed,
is a barometer of the
value of money, as correct
as authentic records
would enable us to construct. Money-lenders do
not part with their capital for low interest, when
they can get high, and they can only get high in-
terest when money is scarce. The effect of the
production of gold and silver upon wheat was to
enhance the price sixfold It
in two centuries.
would be puerile to
theif yisuppos
eld from Australia that we srahalshall
much longer ; for it already exceeds annually the
ust
yearly average of America before 1848.
not have
a
similar results,
In the 14th century the wages of a journeyman

ir "-s.---- r am:t. thr r, in England, wer each 2d.,
o 2d, a webk. n comparison with he present
~ he oney, it was three and a fraction re valuable ;
'T but as this sort of consideration relates to the diffe-
rence in the Mint price of silver, we must look for
Ttx 4
4 a better measure, which will be found in the 577
pounds of bread produced from one quarter of
wheat ; for bread will pretty well represent most
' of the things of necessary consumption among our
working classes. The quantity of bread which these
men at 2d. a day could purchase every week, will
; give us an idea of the adequacy of their wages to
their subsistence. Now the average price of the
quarter of wheat in this century was 6s. L In the
shape of bread it would cost something more for
Workmanship, but then the water, which enters
into bread, will counterbalance the surcharge or
additional price. These men,
having each 2d. a
day, had 12d. for the working week, and conse-
quently could purchase 971 b. of bread ; that is,
having one-sixth of the price per quarter, they
could of course buy one-sixth of it by weight or
measure.
In the 15th century the wages of these men were
exactly the same, but wheat had risen to the aver-
age of Bs. per quarter, and consequently the com-
mercial or purchasing power of their wages was
diminished. Instead o 971 b. they could have only
721 b. of bread.
The following, or 16th century, brought altera-
tions, both in the price of wheat and the daily
wages of the same trades, but the latter did not
keep pace with the prices of necessaries, which, as
usual, followed that of wheat. Their daily wages
were doubled, and they had 4d., or 2s. per week ;
but wheat was, on the average, 21s. per quarter,
and, therefore, 2s. would purchase no more than
551 b. of bread. Thus, as money became abundant,
and as farmers and other producers had the benefit
of proportionately higher prices, the condition
of the working class, even with double the amount
of their wages in the 14th century, before the mines
were discovered, was nearly two-thirds, or as 97 to
55, worse than before.
In the 17th century, magistrates appear to have
been very active in adjusting the amount of la-
bourers' wages to the price of wheat • but one is at
a loss to account for the difference which is observ-
able in their assizes. In some places where they
were more regular, they thought 4s. and 3s. 6d. a
week, according to the season, enough without
food ; in others, ss. and 6s. ; and, again, we find
6s. and 7s. But these wages were in different
years, and we pass over the irregularities. The
average in this century was ss. a week, and the
average of a quarter of wheat, from 1637 to 1700,
was 51s. a quarter. We shall see what the com-
mercial power of these wages was, and finding that
they could not purchase more than 561 b. of bread,
we shall be justified in concluding that working
men were considerably worsened in condition by
the greater abundance of money than they were
when, with 2d. a day, they could have 971 b. of
bread.
The 18th century saw the wages of working men
at an average of 18s. a week, and they were enabled
to live comfortably and save money. This improve-
ment was in the middle of the century, that is,
from 1786 to 1792, and is no doubt owing to the re-
action on the influence of money, under the im-
petus to industry given by the introduction of the
cotton manufactures. The average of wheat in
those years was 515., the lowest being 41s. 10d. per
quarter, and the ighest 575. 10d. Taking the
average as we have average wages, the workman
could now buy 2041 b. of bread every week, if he
laid out all his wages upon that one necessary.
Mr. Doubleday has found the weekly expenditure
of a working man in 1785, whence it appears that,
having bought a plentiful supply of butchers'
meat, beer, butter, sugar, tea, coals, candles, &c.,
and paid a rent of ls. 6d. a week, a man with 18s.
was ss. sd. a week in pocket.
This prosperous state of things was disturbed by
the French war. On tfie return of peace, the con-
dition of the working man was beginning to improve,
when the evil genius of England rose in the form
of aristocratic protection, and suggested the plan
of maintaining high war rents in time of profound
peace, by means of corn laws, or a tax upon bread
and other necessaries, for they were enhanced in
consequence. Wages consequently were reduced
on all sides. If we assume 10s. a week for the
average, from 1815 to the extinction of the odious
monopoly, we shall not be far wrong, partAlarly
if we take 665. for the price of a quarter of wheat,
for that was often the average of a year in the
period of the corn law plunder. A man with 10s.
a week could buy no more than 571 b. and a few
ounces of bread, and thus he was, by legislative
contrivance for the benefit of a class, brought down
to the wretched condition of the labourers in the
lfltlt century. Now, if we compare these 571 b. in
the 19th century, under peace, with the 2041 b. a
week, procurable by the workmen in the 17th, be-
fore the- war, we shall be able to judge 'of the ex-
tent of the plunder, which the most productive of
,lie population underwent by means of the corn
laWs. It amounts to 1971 b. a week ; because this
computation supposed that all is spent in bread in
each century, and it merely shows the purchasing
power of money paid in wages. If the wages be
diminished by extravagance and taxation, the rate
'of the purchasing power remains unchanged. The
real cause, the artificial enhancement of the price
of bread, has still the same effect.
On the whole, it will be seen that the labouring
classes were much better off in regard to the power
of procuring necessaries, before the discovery of the
American gold mines, than they were at any time
after it, until the genius of Arkwright and his
fellow-labourers in the industrial sciences, counter-
acted the deteriorating influence of the precious
metals by means of the cotton manufactures, which
wonderfully, and as if by magic, created, in a few
years, more real wealth than had ever resulted from
the importation of American gold and silver, pro-
digious as it may appear. In good truth, one coal
mine is, in this respect, worth infinitely more than
all the gold mines in America and Australia. Gold
does not create wealth ; it is not wealth itself ; it
only represents and serves as a measure of wealth.
Hence, we are not surprised at the sorrow expressed
at the discovery of gold in the promising colony of
New Zealand, as mentioned in a letter inserted in
yesterday's Advertiser. The working classes, we
fear, are doomed to great suffering, through the
supineness of Government in regard to the import-
ant question-What - shall we do if gold become
cheap 'and the necessaries of life dear ? We would
say, fellow the example of the wiser statesmen a
Holland, who, in good time, have demonetised
gold, and placed it again in its true position, no
longer money, but a thing of barter and sale, like
all other marketable commodities, for such it will
ever continue to be, in despite of bullionists and
their absurd laws.

THE SEAMAN'S BILL OF FARE.—Now. I have some-
thing to say about the common seaman's victuals ;
Parliament regulates the quantity, but quality depends
upon the pocket of the shipowner. In some London
ships I know, and I dare say in a few ships from other
ports, the provisions supplied are excellent ; but in moat
English vessels, and especially in those from other ports
than London, they are either second rate or bad.
My teeth are most used to such biscuit as would
never be put on board an American trader, men on
board many Scotch ships. Salt beef is known justly
in the merchant service as " salt horse" or " mahogany.'
Every cask of mahogany is opened in the presence of the
steward, who picks out the good bits for the cabin, and
leaves the worst for us forecastle men. Our tea (our great-
est luxury) is of the cheapest and coarsest kind. Masters,
(1 withfthparte k
is e rnvde di s met,as ara s r
e s oau
Bpi sg,
hvut eug
npe :rinbtlt ehsee,
E
mates, men-of-war's men, emigrants, and convicts are all
madeh in n theew
asunpypthiliendg
& lastcn.English
merchant
lbhi suah
merchant seaman's chest as turtle soup upontl f
thelrnesphinste obfeeanll improvements vehemanegnets and all tradesman's
a
pdreinpnarerattaiobnles.
kind of provisions supplied to us d 'n
century, except that we have had our grog stopped, and
got nothing in its place. Of course we may
dened by usage to this kind of treatment b get har-
stupid to make comparisons, and as some , ut we are too
a little of the Yankee vessels—,
forof us have seen
we grumble even, dissatisfied w One—we grumble ;
way in which retches, at the savage
we are obliged
want to sit before it like Christians,to eat our food. We
are impossible in our
small but can't. Tables
den and we know no
more;than the wolves do about table knives and forks.
The pork and pea soup, or beef and rice are
served up in
small tubs, which pups' hand. Each
round from hand to
pours his allowance of soup or rice into a tin pot, and
eats his bit of meat out of the lump with a clasp knife
that hangs about his neck. Breakfast and supper are
alike with us. We get a quart of black .mess mixed
with small twigs and " cabbage," and in that we soak
our brown and flinty (if not always chalky) biscuit, fish-
ing up the pieces with the points of our knives.—
Dickens's Household Words.
CURE FOR YELLOW FEVER.—The following is an ex-
tract of a private letter from her Majesty's Vice-Consul
at Cape Bolivar to her Majesty's Acting
named Mariquita Orfila, Consul-General
at Caracas :—" An old woman,
has discovered a perfect remedy for the black vomit and
yellow fever, by means of which several persons have
_
consultation of doctors had
been completely cured after a
quite hopeless, and that the
declared that the cases were
The remedy is the
patients must die in_ a few hours.th
`verbena,' given in
of the pounded leaves of e
juice three times a day, and injections of the same
small doses
every
two hours, until the bowels are emptied. The
verbena ' is a wild shrub, to be found growing almost
everywhere,
here and particularly in low, moist ground. All
our doctors have adopted its use, and now few or none
die of those late fearful diseases. There are two kinds
of it, male and female ; the latter is the one that is most
used."—Liverpool Times.
A. FISHER CAUGHT.—A gentleman, while shooting
during the late frost on the banks of the river Loughor,
found a crane stuck fast, with its feet under the ice. It
was much emaciated, and in a stooping posture. It is
supposed that it was either standing in the water look-
ing for fish, whichits position seemed to indicate, or had
slept, and had its feet covered with ice.-0 armarthen
Journal.

Applications for passage to be made at the Company's Offices, 2,
Royal Exchange-buildings ; and for freight and parcels, to Messrs.
Balfour, Laming, and Owen, 16, St. Mary-axe.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMATME T.

0-IMB- EC AND RICHMOND RAILWAY.
NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS.
The Holders of Provisional Certificates of Shares are hereby ja_
formel that Definitive Certificates are now ready for delivery at the
office of the agency. . . .

Shareholders are requested to complete their registration without
d lay, In order that they may be entitled to the exercise of the pri-
vileges attached to such shares as are du'y registered, and for which
the deed of settlement has been signed.

The Holders of Provisional Debenture Certificates who have not
2 et exchanged them for the Company's Debentures, are also re-
quested to apply fur the same between the hours of Eleven and
Three o'clock. . _

WM. CHAPMAN,
Agent of the Quebec and Richmond Railway Company.
2, Lealenhall-street, London,
24th March, 1853.

CONTRACTS FOR SEAMEN'S CLOTHING.
Department of the Comptroller for Victualling and.
Transport Services.
Somerset place, 22d March, 1137,3.
THE Commissioners for Executing the Office of
► ord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, do Hereby Give Notice, that on THURSDAY, the 14th
April next. at One o'clock, they will be ready to treat with such
pertons as may be willing to Contract for supplying and delivering
into her Majesty's Victualling Stores at Dep:ford and Gosport, the
under-mentioned articles, viz.:—

To be delivered at
Deptford. Gosport.

No. No.
shirts s. .......•• 9100 13,000
Flushing Jackets.. 6,008 7,000
Bed Cases__ .... 6,000 9,000

lbs.
Hair for Beds 30,000

Yards.

Yards.
820

Padding Cloth 5OO
Sheeting
Royal Canvas. — 1.300
Hessen 17,200 11,170

One-third of each quantity to
be delivered by the 31st
August, another third by
the 31st October, and the
remainder by the 30th No-
vember next, or earlier if
preferred by the party ten-
dering.
One-third of each quantity to
be delivered by the 31st
July, another third by the
31st August, and the re-
mainder by the 30th Sep-
tember next, or earlier, if
preferred by the party ten-
dering.

Tenders will not be received fcr less than Half of any one of the
above quantities, and separate Tenders must be made for each place,
and no attention will be paid to any offer not so made.

samples of the articles may be seen at the said office between the
boors of Ten and Two only, and also at the Victualling Yards at
G. sport arid Plymouth, but samples of the Hesse* may be produced
by the parties tendering.

- -
The conditions of the revised Contracts, to which particular atten-
'Von is called, may be sees at the said Office, and at the Victualling
Yards at Gosport and Plymouth. No Tender will be received after
One o'clock on the day of Treaty, end the party tendering, or an
agent for him duly authorised in writing, must attend to learn the
result of his Tender.

Every Tender must be addressed to the Secretary of the Arlmi-
rally, and bear in the left-hand corner the words, " Tender for
," and must also be delivered at Somerset-place,
accompanied by a letter signed by a responsible person, engaging to
become bound, with the person tendering, in the sum of 201. per
cent.on the value, for the due performance of the Contracts.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
The Directors of the Royal Italian Opera beg most respectfully to
inform the nobility, gentry, subscriber 4, and the public, that the
SEASON of 1853 will COMMENCE on Tuesday, March 29.

The ensaing Season will be the Seventh of the Royal Italian Opera;
and whatever pride and gratification the Directors may naturally
feel in making Luis announcement, they are not unmindful that it is
to the generous and encour tginz patronage of the Subscribers and
the public, and to the loyalty and esprit de corps of the artistes of
their establishment, as well as to their own individual exertions,
they are indebted for the accomplishment of the object they have so
unweari-Ally lab,ured to attain, viz , the perm,nent establishment
of a O';imatic and Lyrical Institution worthy of this great metro.
polls

The Directors feel it !s scarcely necessary for them to state that
they intend still to pursue that path which has led to these success-
iul results ; and they t, ust that their arrangements for the forthcom-
ing season, which they now have the honour to submit, will be
received as an evidence of that intention.
It will be seen that the great artistes who have so long held the
highest rank in public estimation still lend their valuable aid; that of
those who last year appeared for the first time in England, the most
promising have been retain( d, and that several others of great repu-
te-two have been added t the establishment
The Dlrectors regret that they are not able to make a positive an-
nouncement as to the performance of Mademoiselle Wagner during
the coming season ; they still, however, entertain sanguine hopes
that circumstances will permit of that lady's appearance, if it be only
fat a limited number of representations.

The Repertoire of the Royal Italian Opera a now comprises THIRTY-
NINE OPERAS, each of which is complete in scenery, costumes,
and appointments.
SEMIR AMIDE .... • •• ••••• • • • • • Rossini.
LA DONNA DEL LAGO ••• •••••••• Rossini.
L'ITALIANA Dr ALGIERI.... ••• .. Rossini.
IL NARIIIERE DI tEVIGLIA...••• •• Rossini.
LA GAZZA. LADRA•••••••••• ••••••.. Rossini.
ILTAN'JREDI • • •• • • •• •• •• ••• • • •• • • Ross ni.
LA CENERENTOLA ••••••••
- GUGLIELMO TELL— •• •• •• •• •••• Rossini.
MOSE IN EGITTO (ZORA) ••••...... Rossini.
ERNANI..... .......
I DUE FOSCARI,
ITABUCO (ANATO) .. •••••• • • • • .. Verdi.
NORMA .. ..........
LA SONNAMBZILA. ••• . •
I PURITAN I .. .. ....... Bepini.
I CA.PLTLETTI E *MONTE .... •• • Benin'.
LES HUGUENO ..........• .••• .. • • Meyerbeer.
ROBERT LE DIABLE • • Meyerbeer.
LE PRO PH ETE .•• • . .•.•• • • • • .... Me), erbeer.
LUCIA DI L kMMERMOOR • • .. Donizetti.
L'ELSIR D'AMORE .• ... ••••• • • .. Donizetti.
LUCREZIA BORGIA. .. Donizetti.
ANNA BOLENA -•• • .. •- • . •- • Donizetti.
MARIA DI RonA.N • • • ... • • Donizettl.
LA FAYORITA . • ••• • • •• •• Donizetti.
LINDA DI CIIAMOUNI •• • • Donizetti.
1 MA.RTIRI•• •• •••••• •• .• • • •• •••• •• •• Dooizetti.
lL FLAUTO MAGICO ..... Mon. t.
Dorr cIOVANN I .. • • • • • • • • • • .. Mozart.
LE NOZZE DI FIG •• •• Mozart.
MASAN' EL LO
IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO •• Cimarosa.
LA JUIVE •• •• •••• •••• •••••• •• ..•• H
DER FEELS 2IIU IZ• • • • .•••• • • • .. Weber.
SAPPHO ..••.• •• •• •• ......•• •• •• Gounod.
FIDELIO .............. •• •• •• •• •••• •• Beethoven.
FAUST...... ............ •• •• •• •• •• •• Spohr.
PIETRO IL GRANDE........ ••• • .. Jullien

During the Season, out of the following Operas, three will post
lively he produced :
Spohr's Opera of
JESSOND A.

The kind and flattering reception accorded last season to the cele-
brated Dr. Sr.ohr, on the occa-ion of the production of his opera of
Faust, has enabled the directors to induce that great comp ser once
more to this country. ills Opera of Jessonda, arranged for the
Italian 'Stage expressly for the Royal I alien Opera, will therefore be
prodtr4ed under his immediate superintendence.

Verdi's New Cpera,

RIGOLETTO,

As pet formed with the greatest success at the Teatro de la Fenice,
at Venice; and at the Imperial Opera of St. Petersburg.

Rosa:nt's Opera,
MATILDA DI SIIABRAN.

Donizettl's Grand Opera,
DON SEBASTIAN,
As performed at the Academie Royale at Paris,

A. New Opera, by Signor Bonetti, entitled
JUANA SHORE.

A grand Opera, by Hector Berlioz, entitled
BEN VENUTO CELLINL

The Engagements for the present Season are :

• SOPRANI.
Madam ORLSI,
Mademoiselle ANGELINA BOSIO,
Madame CASTELLAN,
Mademoiselle ALBINI
(Her first appearance in England).
Mademoiselle DONZELLI
(Her first appearance in England).
Madame JULLIENNE, and
Madame 3IEDORI
IFrom the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg and Vienna; her
first appearance in England).

CONTRALTO.
' Mademoiselle NANTIER DIDIEE
(From the Theatre Italien at Paris; her &et appearance In England

SECONDE DONNE,
Mademoiselle COTTT, and
Mademoiselle BEL LINT.

TENOR'.
Signor MARIO,
Signor STIGELLI,
Signor LUIGI MEI,
Signor SOLDI,
Signor LUCHESI
(From the Teatro della Scala, at Milan; his first appearance in
England); and
Signor TAMS ERLTIC.

BASSI BARITONI.
Signor RONCONI,
Signor ROMMI, and
Signor BELETTI
(ills first appearance at the Royal Italian Opera).

Ekssi Plums/Di.
Herr FORMES.
Signor TAGLIAFICO.
Signor POLONIINI.
Signor GREGORIO,
Signor RACHE, and
Monsieur ZELGER.
(His first appearance these three years.)
Ma Orchestra and Chorus will exhibit the same high state of
efficiency,

DIRECTOR OF THE MUSIC. CONYOBER
Mr. COSTA. A" CONDUCTOR,

The Military Band will be under the an
ukper._
Mr. GODFREY. n'ucienee of

Maestro al Plano ...... .. •• • ........ •••• • • • • Signor p
(From the Teatro della Scala at Milan.) AnizzA.
... • •
Signor 114.48
oioNi.

Prompter...
Poet •• —..

The department of the Ballet will, in accordance with the Wish of
many subscribers, be rendered more attractive than heretofore; and
Divertissements will be given on evenings when the duration of the
01Was will permit. The engagements are—

Mademoiselle MELINA MARMET
(From the Teatro de la Fenice, at Venice),

Mademoiselle BARV ILLE,
Mademoiselle KOLEMBERG,
Mademoiselle TERESA,
Mademoiselle LE RIEUX, and
Mademoiselle MATIIILDE BESSOINT
(From the A cademie Imperiale at Paris).
Maitre de Ballet, Monsieur Desplaces
(From the Academie Imperiale at Paris).

Leader of the Ballet. Mr. Alfred 3dellan.
Director of the 3lise-en-Scene, Mr. A Harris.
Scenic Artist, Mr. William Bever ey
(His Pint Engagement at the Royal Italian Opera.)
Costumier, Monsieur Leblond
(From the Imperial Theatre, St. Petersburg.)
Costumiere, Madame Marizo.
Decorator, Mr. Prescott.
Machinist, Mr. Allen.

Tickets, Stalls, and Boxes, for the Night or Season; to be obtained
at the r.
—04,31/100 of the Theatre (corner of Bow-street and Hart-
streets, ; and at the principal libraries and nansicsellers.
T'ae performances will commence at Eight o'Clock on each evening.
',rho Box-office is open from Eleven to Five o'Clock.
Royal Italian Opera, Covet-garden, March, 1863.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Bean.
On EASTER MONDAY, Maacn 28,

GlritEtAl;' • BdItEW STEAM SHIPPING
COMPANY. Under the Management of Mr. Buckstone.
NoTicz I 5 HEREBY GIVEN, That this Company's Auxiliary Iron.
On MONDAY NEXT,
Screw Steam-ship ARGO, 1,850 tons, George Hyde, Commander, will
leave Southampton for PORT PHILIP and SYDNEY on 71 ram's- Sheridan's Comedy of THE RIVALS. Supported by Messrs.
DAY. the 4th of May next. Chippendale, Compton, William Farren, Henry Corti, and Rogers ;
The accommodation is of a superior description, and the cabins are Mesdames Reynolds, Buckingham, Poynter, and Ellen Chaplin
fully furnished. Thy rates of passage money—After Cabin, first With Mr. BUCKSTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PARNASSUS.
class, 80/. • Fore Cabin, second class. 501. These rates are exclusive Mr. Buckstone, by Mr. Bnckstone ; Fortune, Mrs. Fitzwilliam ;
of wines, beer and spirituus liquoi s, which, however, may be had on i Spirit of Mount Parnassus, Miss Louisa Howard.board at moderate prices. The ship will carry an experienced ..THE TWO QUEENS. Supported by Messrs. Compton and Howe,
surgeon. _ and Mrs. Buckingham and Miss Louisa Howard.

Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH.
After which will be produced a new Drama, adapted from the
the French of Mons. Scribe, by Mr. Pa:grave Simpson, called
MARCO SPADA. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J.
Vining, Ryder, Graham, and Everett; Miss Heath and Mlsi C.
Leclercq.