The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-26 00:00:00

NING, DEC_EMB

(dowager) of Pembroke, the Countess of Dunmore
and ran-lily, the Earl a:id Countess of Clanwilliatn, &c.
have met.

The Right Hon. Sir Robert and Lady Peel are
entertaining a select party Lt Drayton Manor,
StaftOrdshire.

The Right Hon. Sir Francis and Lady Arab?lla
Baring are receiving a succession of visitors at
Stratton-park, near Winchester.

The Right Hon. Sir Charles and Lady Mary
Wood have a select party staying at Mickleton 11811,
Yorkshire.

THE WELSH CHURCH.
LETTER
TOTHF: EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Six, The provision made by devout Welshmen in
ancient times for the competent maintenance through-
out all generations of learned and pious spiritual
• pastors in the Principality, has long been chit fly
engrossed by unsytnpathising aliens, w!lile all the
toilsome and onerous duties of the pastora office have
been devolved upon the native clergy. It is a natural
consequence of such a state of things, that men of
genius and scholars, patriots and saints, who might
have shed lustre upon the sullied mitres of their
country, should, on the contrary, reject with scorn
' the vestments of her degraded priesthood. Many
such men have become illustrious leaders of Dissenting
hosts ; and, alas ! many more, depressed by poverty
and saddened by the sight of the land they loved, and
in which they could not live' have gone forth into
voluntary exile. Among the latter, without research
or preme-litation, two striking instances present
themselves to my memory.
One of them is the late Rev. William Howells, of
Long acre Chapel, who was born at Llwyn Helyg,
near Cowbridge, Glamorggnshire, in 1778, and died
in London in 1832. Pious from childhood, and
zealous by temperament, be earnestly devoted all his
powers, both of soul and body, to the fulfilment of his
duties as a Welsh curate in the parish of Llangan,
&c. He found the neighbouring parishes grossly
neglected by their respective ministers, who were
wholly ignorant of the only language in which the
people were capable of receiving instruction; but he
preached, and taught, and laboured among them for
many years, with a simplicity of purpose worthy of
the Apostolic age. At last the incumbent who em-
ployed him died, and with eager hope he applied for
the living. His long course of service in patient
penury, his piety, his extraordinary talents, his popu-
lar influence, all were disregarded, and the prefer-
ment was given to another. Deeply wounded by this
enforced separation from a congregation most dear to
his affections, Mr. Howells soon afterwards left his
native Wales altogether, and entered upon clerical
duties in 'the metropolis, where he continued inces-
santly to toil with self-denying devotion for a period of
21 years. His thorough integrity, his fine intellect, and
his Celtic warmth of heart, procured him many friends;
but having gone to London as a lonely stranger, he
continued to live there almost a hermit in the crowd ;
and some particulars are related of his last hours
which bear most touching testimony to the fond life-
long regret of a Cambrian exile. Instead of requiring
society, as the dying commonly do, he desired to be
left as much alone as possible. Commenting to him-
self upon the text, " In my Father's house are many
mansions," So., he remarked, " Yes, our Lord says,
you have been an outdoor servant long enough, I
will now make you an indoor servant, and take you
out of the wind and rain, to give you a glorified body,
and better wages, and a better mansion " (aide his
Memoir, p. 154). A great part of the last night of
his life, in mean London lodgings, was spent in
prayer in his long-disused but ever-dear native tongue.
The other instance is Goronw Owain,: A.M., one
of the greatest of modern Welsh poets. He was a
peasant's son, born at Mathafarn Eithaf, in Mona.
The late eminent Cambrian antiquary and poet, Mr.
Lewis Morris, perceiving the boy's wonderful abili-
ties, had him educated at his own expense for the
Church. So miserably, however, did that misgoverned
Church provide for Welshmen, that Goronw Owain
could not even obtain a Welsh curacy sufficient for
the maintenance of bis wife and family ; and after
keeping a school, and serving various poor curacies
upon the borders of Cambria for some years, he at
length, in despair, petitioned the Cymrodorian
Society for assistance to pay his own and his family's
passage to America. He went to Williamsburg in
Virginia; and from thence, several years afterwards,
mindful of the claims of gratitude, and full of his
country's love, he forwarded an elegy on the death
of his early benefactor, Mr. Lewis Morris. His works
remain a treasure to his countrymen, but he withered
and died, and- was buried far away beyond the
Atlantic. •

These are not isolated cases. Wales at this very
instant h3s true and lofty poets depressed by indi-
gence and toil, and eloquent native preachers driven
forth from the home of their hearts.

I am, Sir, &c., &c.,
GORBONIAN.

WELSH BISHOPS AND THEIR

LANGUAGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stn,—l dined 3 e,terday (being Christmas eve)
with a 'Welsh friend, who naturally descanted proudly
on the new Welsh educational institution at Llando-
very, the first stone of which was laid by Dr.
hirl wall, Lord Bishop of St. David's, on the 13th
inst. My friend lent me a provincial psper which
contained an account of that day's proceedings, anti
gives a detailed report of the Bishop's speech after
laying the stone. I send you an extract from it,
which is as follows :

" We might borrow the language of an ancient philo-
sopher, in which he represented the souls of men as
transmigrating from one body to another, and those who
had best fulfilled the duties of their appointed stations
being raised to a higher state of existence, for I think
we may not improperly say that what we are now wit-
nessing is a kind of scholastic metempscychosis; and by
that, to express myself in more familiar terms, I mean
that what we aro now doing is not the calling of an
institution into being, but the first step to provide a
permament and material framework fur its dwelling.
This is a distinction which I oc,nsider it is very im-
portant tor us on this occasion to keep steadily in view,
that happily the building which will be erected on this stone
is not the institution itself.. . . Such is the condition
of our earthly existence, and of everything that relates
to it, that our spiritual nature must find a suitable
bodily organization in order that it may develop and
expand itself. Such, we trust, this institution will
find in the material tenement which is now preparing
for its reception."

Now, Sir, I am not a Welshman, but a humble
Cockney, and I certainly profess to understand Eng-
lish, which is my native tongue, better than Welsh,
but I cannot, for the life of me, comprehend what
the above passage means ; will you, or any of your
Welsh readers be so good as to translate it for me
into intelligible English. A great deal has been said
lately of the propriety and necessity of appointing
Welshmen to preside over Welsh dioceses, but if the
thousands of Welsh farmers and peasants, who were
assembled at Llandovery, on the 13th, understand the
meaning of Bishop Thirlwall's speech, the difficulty
of finding a person qualified to preside over a Welsh
diocese will be rendered still greater; for we are
told in one of our Articles of Religion, that "the
word of God shall be preached in a language under-
ganded of the people." If the Welsh understand this
language of Bishop Thirlwall's, they are the wisest
of her Majesty's liege subjects ; - and as for myself,
I must remain

Your obedient servant,
IGNORAMUS.

DEATH OF THB ARCHDEACON OF NORFOLK.—The
death of the Venerable Philip Jennings, D.D., Arch-
deacon of Norfolk, has can sed deep regret amongst the
&orgy of the diocese of Norwich. The Archdeacon was
presented to his office in 1647 by the late Bishop the
Right Rev. Dr. Stanley, with whom he had long
been on terms of intimate friendship. For many years
previous to that time Dr. Jennings had been assistant
minister of St. James's Chapel, Westmoreland-street,
Marylebone, and a few weeks since, on the death of the
Rev. Thomas White, M.A., the minister, the Archdeacon
was presented to the incumbency by the Crown. The
archdesconry, which has become vacant by the death of
the Rev. Dr. Jennings, is held, with the rectory of
Coston, near Wymondham, and is worth 2401. per an-
num. It is in the gift of the Bishop of Nurwicb. The
incumbency of St. James's Chapel, which is also ren-
dered vacant, is worth 3401. per annum, and is in the
gift of her Majesty. it has been generally stated in
Norwich that the ♦acant archdeaconry of Norfolk will
be conferred by the Bishop (Dr. Hinds) on the Rev.
Robert Eden, M.A., his Lordship's chaplain, at present
incumbent minister of St. Mary's Church, Lambeth-
butts. No official communication, however, has yet
been made ou the subject. _ _ _

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Saturday last, as
Isaac Roofe, the conductor of Mr. George Chaplin's
omnibus, which runs regularly from the Cups Hotel to
the railway station to meet the trains, was adjusting
some luggage on the roof of the omnibus as it was going
to the railway, between the Globe Inn and the station,
by some means one of the luggage boxes slipped and
knocked him from the roof to the ground, by which one
of his legs was seriously fractured just below the knee.
Ile was immediately conveyed to the hospital, where
every attention W. 1,3 paid to his uufortunate case, and it
was found that the fracture was a compound one, and
that the leg had been diseased for a considerable time.
The sufferer is iu a fair way of doing well. Ile is a
man of steady and sober hab►te, and has been iu Mr.
Chaplin's service seven years; his unfortunate case is
greatly commiserated, as he has► a wife and three young
children dependent upon Lim fur support. We hear
that it is the intention of some benevolent individuals to
set a subscription on foot for the relief of him and his
family.—lpswich Express.
Yesterday Chief• Constable Henderson arrested, at
the Commercial Hotel, Mr. John M'Laughling, a young
gentleman most respectably connected in Belfast, who
had lately returned from America, on a warrant signed
by Mr. Justice Coleridge, charging him with baying
attempted to extort money from the directors of the
Hudson's Bay Company, by a threat of printing and
publishing certain statements derogatory to their
character and conduct.—Belfast Journal

It 26, 1849.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS
HERALD.—The requisition for the great metro
politan me eting to be held in Jaeuary in the metro
polls of Ireland, now bears the signature of fort`
peers; ; and every post, says our correspondent, brings
in letters from the leading gentry of the country ie
favour of protection. The Marquis of Hertford,
who has immense estates in the north of Ireland, in
which division of the island there has never been for
the last half-century the least agitation, and in which
tenant-right nearly universally prevails—in which,
moreover, rents are 1130 lerate, and manufactures r4pe—
the Marquis ( f Hertford, we say, possessing immense
tracts of land in Antrim and Donegal, has signed the
requisition. Lord Farnham, h ,se estates are alsoin the
north of Ireland, and whose tenantry at Cavan are
not, and never have been, rack-rented, has also
signed it. Lord Farnham, be it observed, though a
roan of a strong bias on questions concerning Pi °tee-
tent and re!igiovs principles, is yet an t mineeth
fair and candid p rson on all general questions,
and though he likes not either the Government or
their policy, yet, unless he believed in his heart
that their free-trade policy was ruinous, he would not
sign a declaration to that t fleet. Independently of
this high moral character, no man is better
entitled to judge for himself on a question
of this kind. Lord Farnham is a man of a cool
intellect—of a sober judgment—be has a practical
knowledge of agriculture and farming and of th.
world generally, for he was bred to the bar, and for
a short time followed that learned profession. The
estates of the Earl of Erne and of Earl O'Neill, who
have both also signed the requisition, are likewise in
the north of Ireland, and than the latter Noble Earl
who is a lieutenant-general in her Majesty's service
and who dispenses an elegant hospitality at Shane:
Castle, Antrim, there is not a more popular personage
in her Majesty's dominions. Nor are these the only sig-
natures. The south is well represented by the very po-
pular son of a bishop—Baron Riversdale, always con-
sidered an Irish peer of Whig tendencies, and who in
private life, whether as the proprietor of Lisnegar or
Clarispool, secured the esteem of all parties. But
Ludlow Tonson, Baron Riversdale—like a great
many other Whigs whose interests are bound up with
the land—like Lord Cloncurry,—like the Earl o!
Meath, a Whig of 57 years' standing—like Lord
Miltown, a Whig-Radical—like Lord Brabazen, a
constitutional Whig—like Viscount Gormans
town, a man of most ancient descent, and
a Roman Catholic Whig—like Baron Ro-
beck, a Whig like Air. James Grattan,—
and even like that once furious Daniel
O'Connellite, Mr. Henry Grattan—at length sees that
the doom of Ireland is sealed, unless an effort be
now made to save the country. The Whig-Radica!
quacks, who touch and tinker at every interest in the
State, have in Ireland effected what no man
believed they could effect. They have wrought
two miracles. Imprimis—They have united men
of all parties and all classes against them. Se-
condly, they have reduced by their measures the
prices of food so miserably low, as to ruin the
producer, while they have also, in their impartial
wickedness and reckless blundering, so beggared the
consumer that he cannot afford to purchase at even the
existing ruinously low prices. Thus, in the midst of
plenty the people are starving—in the midst of cheap-
ness there is dearth. Is not such legislation worthy
of the men who caused holes to be made that
they might be filled up again ?—who cut up roads
for the purpose of rendering them uncarriageahle ?
—and who purchased hand-barrows at 1 ls. 6d.,
13s. 6d., and 16s. each, to sell again at 9d. and ls.,
to ply for the warehouse-rent of keeping them ?
The greatest event, however, since we last wrote
on the Irish question, is not the additional signatures
to the great Protectionist requisition, though these
are highly important, but the Bandon Protectionist
meeting, a report of which we print to-day. Bandon,
we ought to state for the benefit of our English
readers, is an inland town and Parliamentary
borough in Cork county, west riding, on the river
Bandon, 177 miles from Dublin. By many it might
be supposed that the population of the town would
be exclusively, or nearly agricultural ; but whoever
came to this conclusion would egregiously err.
There are in Bandon manufactories of cotton and
woollen; of fine stuffs, and of leather ; there are flour
mills, distilleries, beer breweries, and tanneries, and
a considerable trade is carried on by means of the
river, which is navigable for barges to Innishannon,
four miles from the town. The population comprises
men of all trades and callings, and of all religions,
for there are three parochial churches, a Roman
Catholic chapel, a convent, a Scotch church, a Pres-
byterian, and two Methodist meeting-houses, within
the walls of the place. But though the inhabitants,
for the most part tenants of the Duke of Devonshire
and the Earls of Shannon and Bandon, differ in
everything else, they are agreed to a man as
to the necessity of giving a preference in the
markets of Ireland to the products of the soil, and
they are prepared to return men for the county, city,
end borough, who will give effect te these opinions
and feelings. At the meeting of which we speak were
present Lords Bernard and Carberry, who have se
lately figured at the Cork meeting—Colon:l Chat
terton, so recently returned for the second city o'
Ireland—with the Studderts, Westroppa, Shuldharns,
and the principal gentry of the neiglibmrho d
There were, however, two men present on the
occasion, who attracted more attention than the
staunchest among the Conservatives. These were
t gentleman of the name of O'Neill Daunt,
who formerly represented, if we mistake
not, Mallow, as one of the O'Connell tail, and the
Rev. D. 0. Sullivan, parish priest of Kinneigh. Both
these gentlemen were favourable to the object
of the gathering, and Mr. Daunt made a
long speech tilled with Protectionist doc-
trines. Did we not say months ago it
would come to this ? Radicals or Whig Radicals
who have even a half-acre of land to lose must see
the madness of Peel legislation, and any priest
with half a grain of sense, must well know, that
with a Peel tariff and a Peel corn-law, Easter or
any other dues are out of the question. Do the
Irish, however, require anything extraordinary or
unjust ? No ; they merely require that fair protection
from foreign competition which every other nation
affords to its native products against the stranger—
which &utile affords, which Austria affords, which
Prussia affords, which Spain affords, and which
no country insists on more than revolutionized and
republican France. How can the people of Ire-
land, saddled with 4.000 000/. of poor-rates—
with rates in Cork county varying from
9a. 2d. to lls. 7d., and from lls. 7d. to 203. ld.—
compete with virgin and untaxed soils, such as
America ?—or with serf-laboured soils, such as Russia,
Poland, Eithonis, Hungaria, and Transylvania present ?
Mr. Cole stated at the Bandon meeting, that at the
last fair in that town a good cow engaged to calve in
two months was sold for 21. 7s. 6d.! Before the Peel
tariff and the Peel corn-law such an animal would
have sold from 91. to 121. Such are the results of
what is absurdly called tree-trade—by which we have
given freedom and " leave and licence" to other
nations, and have inflicted on our own native industry
fetters and chains.
CHRONICLE.--The extraordinary accumulation
of bullion in the coffers of the Bank of England, at
the present moment, combined with the reduced rate
of interest and the great advance in the public
securities, is a feature well deserving the regard of
those who take any interest in the variations of mono
tary affairs. The Bank returns of last Saturday show
a total amount of bullion in both departments of no
less than 16,991,261—a sum exceeding the largest
accumulation that has ever taken place in the annals
of that establishment. The nearest approach to the
last week's return is that of June 21st, 1845, when
the bullion returned was 16,638,0001., the Funds
being then at par, and the rate of discount the same
as at present. The intermediate fluctuations have
been immensely great, corresponding to the eventful
changes which have passed over the commercial
and financial circumstances of the country since
the former period. Excitement, speculation, panic,
distress, then gradually reviving confidence, im-
proving trade, and replenished capital—these are I
the stages which have marked their succession on the
monetary barometer during the last four years and a
half. The tide of accumulation, after having sub-
sided to its lowest point in the calamitous autumn of
1847, has again reached and even overtopped its
highest level. Moreover, if report speaks tiuly, the
influx of the precious metals is for some time forward
likely rather to continue than to decrease. We shall
be told, indeed, that the present plethora ot, capital is a
very equivocal symptom of national prosperity, and
that the cheapness of money in 1849 by no means
denotes that state of general competency and well-
being which accompanied the same phenomena its
1845. It is not our present purpose to re-open the
vexata questie of commercial policy. The Country
Party at one time would have it that our stock of
bullion must, if the free trade measures were
persisted in, be inevitably drained out, inas-
much as our increa-ed imports could only be
paid for in specie. Experience has confuted their
assertion ; and they take refuge from the dis-
appointment of their prophecies in Fume new
theory as to the congestion of the precious metals,
which we confess ourselves unable to comprehend.
But, in comparing our existing monetary position
with that of 1845, we are not concerned to deny the
existence of a partial embarrassment and pressure, at
the present time, among certain classes of the com-
munity, who then formed no exception to the general
well-being. It may be conceded that every great
change of commercial policy produces more or less
of friction in its operation, though, in the present
instance there can be no doubt that the inconve-
niences of the transition state are more justly to be
imputed to the vicious system which has been given
up, than to the sound principles which have
superseded it. But, without pursuing this contro-
versy furtiva, as it would lead us too far from our

present object, we must be permitted at least to
appeal to the complete restoration of our monetary
stability as a signal example of that rapid pow‘r
of accumulation which can retrive, within so short
a time, the losses and disasters of a crisis derscribed
by a very competent authority as having had
"no parallel in our monetary history." When we
call to mind the utter prostration and paralysis which,
only two brief years ago, seemed to have fallen upon
our commerce—at a time when all confidence was
lost, and daily failures kept the public in an agony of
suspense and terror—when the rate of interest*on the
hest private securities rose to 8 and 10 per cent., and
Exchequer-bills sunk to 375. discount--and; when,
finally, under the pressure of this appalling conjunc-
ture, the reserve which the Bank of England held in
London dwindled down to 719,5231., and public credit
was only saved from the extremity of peril by an
interposition of Executive power beyond the law--
when, we say, we reflect on these occurrences &most
of yt sterday, and contrast them with the pr, sent re-
dundancy of capital, we may well ma, vel at the fecun-
dity and vitality of the resources of a country which
neither speculation nor famine, neither our calamities
nor our follies, can, except for a s'aort interval, repress.
So vast indeed is the power of the acccmulating
principle, and so rapid is that downward tetelency
of profits which results from its operation,
_

that were it not for those commercial revulsion&
which periodically sweep away large pertions of the
-urplus capital of the nation into the vortex of .specu-
'ation, it is the opinion of some eminent economists
that the rate of profit would, in no long time, actu-
ally attain its minimum, that all further augisenta-
'ion of capital would then cease, and that the indus-
trial enterprise of the country would find itself
becalmed in that dead sea which is denominated " the
stationary state." But, however gratifying may to
'he evidences, which the present state of the Money
Market affords, of the vigour and buoyancy of our
productive powers, it is impossible for those who heed
the lessons of past experience, to regard the climax of
monetary abundance which we have now reached
without some feelings of anxiety. Where is this pro-
ligious influx of capital to end? and what are the
onsequences to which it will lead us ? Have
we, indeed, nearly reached the end of our tether, and
are we heaping together wealth in order that it may
choke up every channel of profitable employment,
a.d destroy us at last by a plethoric immobility ?
Or will the hoarded opulence of the country dis-
charge itself, as on former occasions, by some pre-
cipitate and rapid outlet, under the impulse of a
speculative mania and the temptation of profits no
longer to be realized in the sober pursuits of &lib.-
fished commerce ? It must be acknowledged that
those who would anticipate this latter issue from our
present predicament might adduce cogent historical
data for their conclusions. As a matter of fact, an
unusually low rate of interest has invariably been
the precursor of a season of wild speculative ex
citement, and, as a matter of reasoning, the pro-
cess by which this effect takes place is perfectly
natural and intelligible. No capitalist will con-
tentedly see his money lie inert and profitless; and
in proportion as the tendency to such a state of things
becomes more decided, the m )re inclined does he feel
to lend a ready ear to projects which hold out, though
at the risk of loss, the hope of a higher rate of remu-
neration. The temptation increases as the scale of
safe profits falls, until it becomes at length irresistible,
and speculation ensues. It is true that our com-
mercial history abounds with warnings which might
be supposed sufficient to guard all sane-minded
persons against the dangers of these epidemical
delusions ; but such is the power of cupidity to dis-
tort the human vision, that precedents, however apt
and striking, are treated with perfect disregard.
Distinctions are easily drawn to show that the lessons
if the past are not strictly in point, and, besides, those
lessons have probably not affected the same individuals ;
and experience, in such cases, makes little or no im-
pression, except it be personal. And thus it hap-
pens that one mania closely follows the pattern
Jt. another—whether it be for mines, banks, lotteries,
railways, or foreign stocks, there is little difference—
and a new rase of schemers and victims follows

,Ilusely in the steps of those who only a few years
netbre walked before them in the same road to ruin.

The regularity of these disastrous epochs, and the
uniformity of the phenomena which precede and
follow them, have enabled a very sagacious observer
to reduce their alternations
_to a general law. " The
uistory of what we are in the habit of calling the
state of trade," says Mr. S. Jones Loyd, "is an in-
structive lesson. We find it subject to various con-
ditions which are periodically recurring. It revolves
apparently in an established cycle. First, we find it
in a state of quiescence, next improvement, growing
confidence, prosperity, excitement, over-trading, con-
vulsion, pressure, stagnation, distress, ending again in
quiescence." Exactly in accordance with the view
acre taken, Sir R. I'eel, in the great debate on the
commercial crisis in November, 1847, proved histo-
rically, that at every period during the I.4st sixty
years (upon whatever bAais the currency might
happen to be placed), as often as the market rate of
interest declined below a ,cera'n point, it was inva-

. .
isbly foillwed by inordinate :peculation, succeeded
,tv a ❑ecessary cot.sequence, by a commercial revul-
,ion. He illustrated his position by the instanct s of
1784 and 1793, of 1810, 1826, 1836, and 1839—the
tiistory of which periods, if re written, mutatis ma i-
tendis, might have served not inaptly for 1845 6.
Are we to conclude, then, that similar causes will
continue to produce similar effects; or shall we con-
sole ourselves with the belief, that the punishment of
the last and still recent crisis was so much more
severe than those which have preceded it, that the
public will not, within a very short period, at least,
he carried away by a similar infatuation ? We would
fain indulge, if we may, the more favourable presump-
tion, and hope that it some vent must be found for
that surplus capital which is now pent up for want of
a profitable ii,.ld, it may be directed, under sober
guidance, into sound and well explored channels, and
may be made to rt duuud to the ultimate and sub-
stantial advantage of the community, and to the
development of those lttent sources of we Atli which
we have no need to setk for beyond tl:e
of our country or its p issessions. In as im-
provement and reclamation of eur soil, in the
redemption of our agriculture, both here and in
Ireland, from the feeble and dispirited position
which it now occupies, pining after the protection
which has blighted it—in satisfying the demands and
realizing the capabilities of 'our immense colonial
dominions—in these and similar undertakings, we may
find both a secure and fertile outlet for our surplus
millions. Only against stock-jobbing projectors and
bubble companies—against South-American republics
and Pennsylvanian repudiators—against Utopian
mines and impossible railways—against charlatans
and swindlers—against Hudsons and Doustsrswivels,
may we be wise enough to close both our ears and
our pockets, if we would not see an utter collapse,
and a new commercial reign of terror in 1851, succee
the monetary prosperity and redundant accumulations
of 1849-50.

"THERE'S NO I;ti iiiHVG AS DEATH.'
(From Eliza ("oak's Journal.)
" There's no such thing as death"
To those who think aright,
'Tis but the racer csting off
What most imptcles his flight;
'Tis but one hale act,
Life's drama must contain;
One struggle keener than the rest,
And then, an end of pain.
" There's no such thing as death"—
That which is thus miscalled,
Is life escapirg fr m the chains
That have so long enthralled;
'Tis a once hidden star,
Piercing the clouds of night,
To shine in gentle radiance forth,
Amidst its kindred light.
" There's no such thing as death"—
In nature, nothing dies;
From each sad remnant of decay
Some forms of life arise.
Ihe laded leaf that falls
All sere and brown to earth,
Ere long ail wit!, the shapes
That give the flout ret bir, h.
" There's no such thing as death ;"
'Tis but the blossom-spray,
Sinking before the cowing fruit;
That seeks the sunanicr ray;
'Tis but the bud cltsplace-d,
As comes the perfect flower;
'Tis faith exchanged i:lr
And weariness for pone-r.
CNA IiLoTTE YoUNCI

CHRISTMAS DAY AT THit, MANSION-HOUSH.-111k4
Lord Mayor provided, in true barohial styV, a handsome
dinner of Oki Et:glish tire, togoth. r w.th ;urkt-y*, gt.ese,
and all the luxuries of this iestivc hir his
numerous domestics, heir wive'', fait:ilit anti friends.
Upward* of 70 parlook of taN Lo' 'ship's
one of the splendid banqu9ti,g h.ils, hero there, *vas
an unlimited supply or and e. W believo
however justly the Minsion-house may be ceielnuted tor
its lin:ding, such a oi,play of i;o,,d chter has f4/t1), if
ever, Let'n witnt s,vtl ttiit iir its a.Jcient wails, and lie
cxnuot but think I i.y L•trd: hip a thuruugh specimen of
e trite Old EngliA gt ritleuuan, who,

. .
" While he teasted all the great,
lie ne'er forgot the 6m att."
The festivities of the evening were kept up with great
spirit, anti never was the Lobb) liberdity of the Lord
Mayor wore highly apprecia.ed than by his grateful
servants on this happy o:.ession.

SERIOUS CASE .0. F ASSAULT.—On TI ir,(121,- night,
a serious scuffle took place in a house in Stei,-nson's•
close, West Port, betwteu a man named M•Pher.on and
his brother-in-14w. It appears that atter 111•Pneriou had
succeeded in throwing his brother-in-law down upon the
ground, he seized a sharp pointed knife, and was just in
the act of stabbing the individual whom he had pros-
trated, when his sister interfered, and in running for-
ward to save her husband, received a severe wound it
the arm, from the effects of which she has since beet
lying in a dangerous state in the Royal Infirmary.
' M'Pber6on, who is a labourer, has been taken into MN
tody.—Scotsman.

THE S UN, LONDON, W
••........ - -
STE A M COMMUNICATION WITH with him from Lisbon letters of introduction to your 1 PRICES OF SHARES
BRAZIL. correspondent, and fully explained his view in refer-1 IN BANKS, ASSURANCE, ANT:: OTHER COM-
ence to these projects, which were designed, in point
In December, 1848, the Lords Commissioners of
( of fact, to establish a steam communication between PANIES' STOCK.
the Admiralty issued advertisements inviting pro- From the Official List.
posals from persons willing to tender for the convey- 1 England, and Brazil via Lisbon, by means of the PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND ramar EVENING.
since of her Majesty's mails to and from Brazil, Mon- I eninsular and Oriental Company's steamers from LONDON, MONDAY, DECEMBER 24.
tevideo and Buenos Ayres. Southampton to Lisbon, and thence by the Portu- ...---
In February 23d, 1849, we announced that the guese steamers from Pernambuco. ZOINT-STOCIL BANES.
contract for the performance of this service had been Owing to the general disfavour with which London Dividend Amount
adjudicated to the directors of the Royal (West capitalists were disposed to view the investment of Name of Company. per of Paid. Prue.
India) Mail Packet Company. money in an enterprise essentially Portuguese, we - Annum. Share.
The basis of the scheme embodied in the tender of believe that M. d'Affonseca, after several months' l. d. £
s. d.
this company, as accepted by the Admiralty, was that negotiations, was unsuccessful, and could not raise gisest realesaosAl •••
American••• • ••
:11. per
er cent. 40
5g g 0 40 0 0 2434
the intercourse with the Brazilian empire, and with the necessary capital for carrying out his scheme, Ceylon .............. 71: perp cent.een• 25 0 00 5205 00 00
--
the states on the Rio de la Plata, was to be kept up although previously to his visiting England he had Commercialce of London 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 21
1551.ippeerr
eceenntt: 100
_0 0 26 0 0 _
by a direct line of independent steamers from South- obtained subscriptions for stock to a considerable Glouncleasite"rehl; ....:. _ _
ampton or Liverpool to Pernambuco, Bahia, and Rio amount both in Madeira and in Portugal. By re- lonian ••••••-•• • • • • 61. per cent. 25 0 0 25 0 0 -
de Janeiro. From the latter port the mails were to cent private advices from Lisbon we learn that the LoDnidtnteand Westminatr 61. per cent. 100 0 0 20 0 0 -
eofwf Ireland.. :1. per e r cent.
ent .
be conveyed to Montevideo and Buenos Ayres by concessions granted to M. d'Affonseca (which took London Join. t•:1;•.:: 6/. per cent. 50 0 0 14
00
00
-
75D7iioi ntfloca,ii !Nei'
-
branch steamers running in conjunction with the main place during the latter period of the Duke de
10010 00 00 25
0
00 -4314
line. Saldanhe's administration), are likely to be with- Ireland.. Si.l per cent. SO 0 22 10 0 -
The communication outward and homeward was drawn by the present Government, at the head of Nat. Provncial of En 61. per cent. 100 . 0 0 35 o 0 3634
to be monthly, and the course of post with Rio Janeiro which is the Count de Thomar, in consequence of the South e
tc•eseNsterwaria
Si.sl peer cent. 20 0 0
2102 0 0 -
10 0 -
aboutinability of M. d'Affonseca to arrange for the comple- union of Australia.... Si.' f•err cent. 25 -0
0 25 o e -
70 or 74 days from the time of departure to the
time of return to England, the proposal being to oc lion of the proposed lines of steamers under the Por-
unionD Ittoo.f L0nd0n..... . L .
•• •• 61. per cent. 50 0 0 10 0 0 1234
.. ---• • • • 61. per cent. - 210 0 -
copy about 30 days out and 30 d sys home, leaving tuguese flag. nion of Madrid - 40 0040 • 0
about a fortnight, or rather less, for preparing replies We are, however informed that the Count de
Thomar is especially desirous to promote steam corn- INSURANCE MCE COPANIES.
at the Brazilian capital, and a proportionately greater
time at the northern ports. munication between Lisbon and the Brazilian ports Dividend Amount '
Name of Company. per of Pala. Price.
The Royal Mail Steam-packet Company hail the by way of Madeira : and on a certain occasion, when Annum. Share.
option of choosing either Southampton or Liverpool the British plan for the Brazil mails was a subject of
as the port of departure and arrival of the ships to be discussion, the Count expressed himself free to grant Albion ...• •••••• • • •• 31. 101 500 ma dO. /0 ma 0 SO
any concessions and privileges necessary to facilitate Alliance Brit. and Far. 711456 d& las too o co 11 e 0 j2O
employed on this service.
31571rifitta Marine. •• •• •.•
16 cpernl. 160: : 0
65 : :
ley;
Nearly a year has now elapsed since the carrying the touching of the steamers at Lisbon or any Portu- At
out of this important scheme of steam communication guese port. British Commercial
was confided by the Government to the Royal Mail There is at present no steam communication be- Clericl,Med.& Gen. Life Ipr et& be. 108 0 I 10 0 • 19
31. 100 0 0 10 e 5 .
Company, and the public will be very prone to in- tween Portugal and its dependency, Madeira. A fast- 14s. 50 0 0 ie 0 14
quire if any really tangible steps to place the line sailing vessel, the Zarga, running regularly between Eagle
in operation have been taken by the contractors, and Lisbon and Funchal, carries 40 to 50 passengers each Enuere0raa:1008L1e.............. 461. peerr
eceenntt . 2200
5360 -100 00
21252821
5 • 3o 0 - -
to ask when there is a probability of something eeing trip. The English steamers, therefore, if calling at Glibe ..... .. •• •••• • • 61. pper cent. Stock.
Ginlarpediriaanl Fire :•• •••• •-• •••• 121. pseri• cent. 610000 0 06
done in the matter, and will further be glad to learn Lisbon, would secure a considerable number of pas-
the exact position and prospects of the enterprise, sengers between Madeira and Portugal. Imperial Life •• ••.• •• 125. 100 0010 0 0 1534
and why it has been, and is apparently held in With regard to the intercourse between Portugal Indemnity Marine •• •• 11. sh. & bs. 100 0 0 513 1 37
abeyance. and Brazil, owing to the community of language, Law
,a Fire
i_,fe -:•••• • • • • • - 100 0 9 210 0 2%
I •• •••••••.. 11.165. 100 0 0 10 0 0 42
We regret very much to be unable to give any manners, customs, and relations, and the large mer- Legal and General Life6o 0 0 2o 0 4
_
very satisfactory solution to these inquiries, as there cantile business between the two countries, we are
London Ship ...: :: ::
, Licensed
dcn rYi
riee taalle rs • • - 50 0 10 0
10s. 26 0 0 12 10 0 16%
certainly has been a lack of energy in bringing to of opinion that with moderate rates of forces a highly
103. 25 0 0 12 10 • 169 i
bear, or even commencing, the requisite measures for lucrative traffic would immediately be produced. itarine - ....• ••• • .. 121. per share 100 0015 o e 9
carrying out the contract, and we are fearful, even Our advices from Cadiz have recently put us in Mraetdi.elnnerlii,e&aeGen.Life 4)4/. per et. SO 0 0 20 0 2%
e.lladiunt Life Fund.. 61. per cent. 20 0 0 210 0
now that a considerable period of time will pass over possession of the fact that the merchants of that Cational Life.... -
51. per cent. 100 8 0 5 0 I -
ere the pioneer of the line will set sail from England city are about to establish a line of Spanish steamers
for the various ports. between Cadiz, the Canaries, and Cape Verde ; hut, in 7411,,c3aun " •"•
•• 31. "" - " _ - - -
p. sh. &bs. - 141
FtecsidLeinfet Life
00 -
We understand that a long time was occupied in the event of the Royal Mail steamers calling at Paoeeter Life•• -•• • • SI. perk cent. 20 5
010 0 -
0 10 0 5%
deciding whether steam-ships on the paddle-wheel or Lisbon, this scheme would in all probability be10 0 0 26
screw principle should be employed on this line. It abandoned, and all the Spanish traffic to those islands 5.
iloyal Exchang-e• .. ••
• • it. per cent. - 203
would be a pity to adopt upon speculative grounds flow into the English steamers at Lisbon. There are "31" are.. - - 205
i itte Life
any particular method of steam propulsion in carry- regular, rapid, and frequent communications between United KinEdoie 4...• 41 per. cant..
0 e -
nt. 20 -0
4 -0
47
ing out an enterprise of so important a character as Vigo and Cadiz with Lisbon by the Peninsular Corn- ueiversal Life lO% pr cnt. 100 0 0 9 0 Il-
this, to the commerce of Great Britain. Paddle- pany's steamers. Victoria Life . sl. per cnt. - 40 0 4%
wheel steamers have been thoroughly tested for all We therefore incline to the opinion that if the Dooms.
the purposes of Transatlantic navigation, and they Admiralty were to sanction the call, out and home,
Dividend Amount
have been found to answer in every respect, both as at the Portuguese capital, the traffic from Spain and Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
regards speed, safety, efficiency, and precision. All Portugal with Madeira, Cape Verde, the Canaries, Annum. Share.
sea-going steam ships are liable to accident, and and the Brazilian ports would exceed the extent of -- -
East and West Ind's- 61. pr cent. 4Sto'c.k.d. ------4
-l• i•
-
accordingly paddle•wheel steamers have sus- passenger traffic from England to South Amer'ca
tained at sea all kinds of damage and dislocation which would at first accrue to the steamers in the EwanstdoCnountry •• 20s. per sk. 100 0 0
pperrceeenntt.. Stock. - 21
- 119
of their machinery, but never durin4 an expe- infancy of the line. The latter traffic will no doubt Ditto 80nd5........ 4511.• _
-_
perience of ten years has a paddle-wheel steamer been greatly increase when steamers shall have been_some C. Katharine ........ 4 per cent. Stock. - $0
Ditto, Scrip • • •., - . . - - - -
completely and thoroughly disabled by an accident to time in full operation. Ditto Bonds- -- • • 4)41. pr cent. -
her engines, or prevented from continuing her voyage An additional and direct communication with the Southampton •• ...... 21. per cent., 60 00se -e
0 _-
by reason of such derangement. A vessel upon this Tagus would also be enjoyed by the British tner-
principle is not dependent upon one propeller, but can chants by the adoption of this plan, available both for BRIDGES
Dividend Amount
proceed by the help of either one paddle or two pad passengers and mails. Nami of Company. per of Paid. Price.
dies, or by one engine driving one paddle, or both Another peculiar feature in this line of steamers to Annum. Share.
engines working a single paddle, in each case respec- Brazil is, that from Porto Praya, Cape Verde, nearly
Lively at a speed of fully one half to three-fourths of half the distance froth England to the Cape of Good Charing-cross- .• .. •• - X. t. d. Z. a. d.
I • -
the ordinary maximum rate of steaming. There is, Hope, the line can at any time be extended to our Southwrk, Nw Sub. Av. - 632 12 $25 - I 2
therefore, a degree of certainty about the voyages of South African possessions. We have no doubt that esatietrtloooNse or 734 p. c. 355. per cent. 50 0 0 - 6
vv
••• •
100 0 0
60 -0 0
2521,4
a steam-ship worked with paddles which cannot he eventually this also will be accomplished by steamers Ditto Old Ann. 0•111•11 -
11. 4s. ed.
obtained by a steam-vessel trusting to a screw, which, in conjunction with the Brazilian line, so that the Ditto Nw A ditto of 71.. 11
11. s..
70 10 3 Od. - 40 0 0 25
Vauxhall t... • • • 1 - -
if broken or deranged, leaves the ship at the mercy Cape of Good Hope will be brought within 35 or 36 T
of the winds and waves in the midst of the ocean, days of England by steam, and at a moderate ex- _ WATER-IVORIES
and possibly in a dangerous position on a lee shore. pense. i Dividend Amount
The screw-propeller of a vessel deranged at sea Southampton has been definitively fixed upon as Name of Company. I per of Paid. Price.
cannot be repaired except in port, and the vessel is the port of departure for these steamers in preference ____ I Annum. Share.
forced to rely upon her sails ; and as it unfortunately to Liverpool. The present establishment of the .6 s. d. £ a. 4.
happens that accidents of this nature generally occur Royal Mail Company at this port render it more
LNaemwbiattihyr.L. • • • • • • •• ••
EGricasnt
dLojndoenti.e.; .... .. ••• i 4 SL
13.1 p. per cat. t.
15000 111 00
100 0 0 - 16134
in bid weather, when the ship is being forced convenient for the management of the enterprise than Kent.............:::
at. per cnt. 100 • 0 - 52
-
. .
.n.d.n.
.B. r. d. g. ! I
51.2pLe
rlOs. 76
through the water against a wind, there is certainly Liverpool, where a separate staff would have to be
Vauxhall- 95
a poor chance for a screw steamer being enabled to kept up. The repair of the vessels and machinery cat. 100 -0
0 - SS
- In
maintain anything like regularity in reaching her being effected in the company's own factory is also West Middlesex .. . 61.0 i. pr cat. - - 121
destination after having been exposed to accident. an additional inducement. But even if these reasons
On the other hind, to take an extreme case (such an did not exist, there are more powerful ones for the OAS...LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES.
one as we believe has never yet been experienced by choice of Southampton as a packet station-as being Dividend Ameent
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price
an ocean steamer), that of both paddle wheels being a maritime port on the south coast of England, within Annum. Share.
deranged, it is possible at sea to repair and replace the nearest distance to the metropolis, midway be- -
.s. s. .1. A... 4.
temporarily any damage of the wheels, not of a serious tween Dover on the east and Exeter on the west- British •• •• •• .••• • • 11. 40 0 0 1$ • 5 14
nature or affecting the main or paddle shafts, and and in regard to the embarkatioa of passengers, pos- Ditto Provincial- .: 11. as. 20 • 0 25 • 5 Is
thus to enable the vessel to proceed, at a reduced sensing exclusive advantages, its position with re- Brighten ...... •• •• .. SI. per cent. 20 011 - -
City of London .. •• •• 111 11 11 250
speed, to her destination. Again, all experience has ference to the interior of England being in a line tiontinentalConsolidat. 925. pr share 1750 : : 31 5 0 30
proved that in sea-going steamers the screw has never nearly direct with Newcastle, that line dividing Equitable.. ••••.. • • •• 60s. pr shatre 5150 5
5 II S
0 27
yet produced a speed equal to that of paddle steam- the kingdom into two nearly equal parts, and im
Independentperi a l ••
.. : •. •.
•.
:: : : ss ii: pplirreesennt.
45 05
00 5495 •
0
669
ships. It may be urged that perhaps the principle of thus by means of railways giving the whole inha- London.• .....• •• •• • • - SO •ose• • ' 2
propelling vessels by screws is yet in its infancy, and bitants of Great Britain, whether on the east or west,- so •ose • • ,
n.1.pa.r.1.. Preference
.....
..
.. 61. per cent. 25 9 0 110 •
--
that better things may be expected from this unfor- an equal but not an undue' means of communication etee)° 4141. per ct. 50 0 0 45 9 5 r 29
tunate class of steamers ; but who will say, on the con- with the packet port. Then, again, it is found Rsttollfr .. - . ........ Si. 100 011 90 0 0 75
trary, that paddlewheel steamers have reache I the that Southampton, either through London or by way ay Unitedetm iletneerreaut
...rt. ...re.
d. 733.164. 56: 00* so 011 l•q„
- 4534
tnaxitnurn of speed, efficiency, or excellence ?of Havre, embraces more advantages for securing a Ditto, New •• •• -.. 125. 50 0 0 10 0 9 S3i,
Is it impossible that by a perfect accord continental traffic to the foreign steamers than Liver- -
existing between the builder of the vessel pool or any western port. The Brazilian steamers CANALS.
and the engine-maker, by careful atten- sailing from Southampton will draw from Havre a ,; , I . ,
lion to the lines of the ship, by progressive improve- very large French trade, both of valuable merchan- Names of ::: Dividend, pri,.. Names of ,
r Diyidend
C mapanies. '4 ' per I Companies. I AnPser 1 Price.
silents in the engines, but more especially in the dice as well as passengers, for South America, Buenos nnu . 1 V.: ! A In I
I au
boilers, whereby steam in greater quantities shall be Ayres, and Mon'evideo, and which would be irnpos
generated with a lessened expenditure of fuel, and sible at any other port. These advantages,• with 4 I .4 1
,--
wit- Ashtn t Oldh 97 I 71. 113 Macclesfield . 100 21 101 II
consequently at a reduced coat, and with greater others, have been found sufficient to counterbalance BlrusleY- - 160, 121. ISO Neatk ...• • • 100' •161. • 340
economy of stowage, better steamers will hereafter be the advantages of dispatching Iflrenk&Abrg 150' SI
the steamers from Li- Birmingham as, 41.. M 553 OPexafln•o•r•e•st... 170:
31201/6.5 Ire
produced than those now in existence ? To scout verpool in consequence of itscontiguity - Coventry.... 190 251. 210 Regent's - - 33,i 11. 25.. 1534
such ideas as these would be to sail directly in the nufacturing districts; besides which the nature of the Eh e,
Drsbin3're&C•h-s 13315 i. 63 Rochdale.... 15 41. 50)4
teeth of the aims, intentions, and study of all practical mail service and the lengthened voyages of the
Erewash •• . 100 321. - Do.LkFdSt '6l
12 i -p. is. -
and eminent engineers, who declare that improvements steamers will prevent them from carrying any large Grand f unctn 100 51. 52% Stffrd&Werc 1 ' 40! 281. 450
of an ' important character, are yet to be accomplished. amount of heavy goods on freight, only light acid Grand Surrey 100 21.
flu Gra 30 Shrewsbury.. 1,5 IS:• -
lid Union 11. les. 24 Sto brid --- •
Stour bridge.. 1451 201. SOO
With all these considerations, therefore, and while valuable merchandise in limited quantities being in- Grantham•
•• ,150 - - Sever* and 7i ~ .
-
preserving the conviction that five minutes' discussion tended to be conveyed. Kennt & Avnl 39 7s. id. 534 Wye RaiLi 26 ''• 'l*
Lee•lsSe Livrp,loo 301. 325 Warwick&i
would be amply sufficient to decide upon the com- Such, then, is a brief outline of the advantages Leicester ..- 1140 51. 6354 Binning. j 100 41. 63
partitive merits of the two principles, we are glad to proposed to be embraced in the contract granted by Leicstr &Nth 83 41. 46 Warwick&
100 31. 43
learn that the screw principle for the Brazilian sere the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to the Lmneutt4mhebourtehthh
105
70011.. 650
wNoracpsttorn .8;
vice has been rejected, and that only really efficient Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. Mntgemrysh 100 - - Birming.
75 31. 42
paddle-wheel steam ships will be employed. We have alluded to the improvements of which it MeltnMwbri 100 - - Wilts & Brks -14 s. 9
The route proposed to be adopted is, we under- is susceptible in regard to the intercourse between LIST OP SCOTTISH! COMPANIES' PRICES
stand, as follows :- Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, and which can be ef-
Miles. forted without any detriment whatever to the useful- Name of Company. Dividend Amount
y. per of i Paid. Price.
Southampton to Funchal, Ma3eira 1,306 ness or integrity of the main line between Great Bri- Annum. Share.
Madeira to Santa Cruz, Teneriffe 260 taro aid South America. The possibility and prac- --. -
Tenerife to Porto Prays, C.pe Verde ticehility of an extension of the line to the Cape of Bank of Scotland
00 0 0 100 5 0 117
I iiand (allowing 20 miles for winding Good Hope has also been glanced at. British Linen Company 11. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 220
the “51a,i 1..)
ev
The public will, therefore, naturally feel an interest yof Glasgow City Sank
:3 Vor:k t , Penn imhueo
that this scheme, so important, whether viewed corn. •.?sank ydesdate Bank-..... 6% per cent. 20 0 II 15 0 0 1334
P ern init-Juee to Kaiak
Bahia to Rio Janeiro
train for consummation; and it is far from desirable F.dlnb.k Glasgow Itank 61. p 0 8%
--per cent. 5 0 0 5 1) 0 5/as
Total (Southampton to Rio Janeiro) 5,136 that we should leave it to the Americans to carry Exehange Bnk of Scot.. 41. per cent. 100 0060 0 0 2.1 .
Isle of Man. Company 71
6 . per cent. 10 0 0 7 0 0 -
Rio Janeiro to Monte Vale° 1,043 out before us their contemplated line of steamers National Bank )5 per cent. 60 0 0 15 0 0 14)4
Monte Video to Buenos Ayr•-s (311 :wing from New York to Rio Janeiro, intended to call at North of Scotland B kan 41. percent. 20 5 0 10 0 2%
20 miles for winditg the shoal') l3O Birbaioes and the intervening ports of Bahia and North British Bank,.. - -
Royalßank of Scotland 51. percent. 100 • 0 100 71 0 129
Pernambuco. Union Bank o! Scotland SI. per cent. 105 11 0 SO 0 0 14

6,306

Supposing the voyage to be performed by steamers
running at an average speed of eight miles an hour,
and allowing for stoppages, the time occupied to
Pernambun would be about 22 days, to Bahia 24,
and to Ri ) Janeiro 27 lays. At a speed of 10 miles
the voyage to Pernambuco would occupy 18 days,
Bahia, 20 days, and Rio Janeiro, 24 days. At a
speed of 12 miles the distance to Pernambuco would
he performed in 15 days, B thia in 17 days, and Rio
Janeiro in 19 to 20 days. We believe the medium,
or 10-knot speed, is the one that will be adopted.
The route t'-.us marked is undoubtedly the best
ens that can ba laid from Southampton to Brazil.
The stoppages are at judicious and convenient dis-
tances, an l afford a regular communication to and
from Madeira, the Canaries, and Cape Vi-!rde. The
distance from Southampton to Pernambuco direct is
3,953 miles, against 4,046 with the proposed stop-
pages, and from Southampton to Rio Janeiro direct
5,565 miles, against 5,136 as intended, so that a very
trifling increase of distance is required to be traversed
on account of the detour to the various islands and

ports.
Sierra Leone is only 710 miles from Praya (Cape
Verde), une of the ports of call, and therefore, if
needful, a branch steam-vessel, or fast sailing schooner,
could bring up the mails thence, and thus a direct
line of steam communication be established with the
coast of Africa at a small additional expense.
While admitting that this course fur the line of
Brazilian mail steamers is the best that can be adopted,
both outwards and homewards, we are of opinion
that in the organization of the scheme a very impor-
tant traffic has been altogether excluded from the route,
and that a large accession to the business of the line
might he produced by an arrangement which would
effect an independent and rapid intercourse between
Portugal and Brazil.

We allude to the propriety of these vessels making
a call both outwards and homewards at Lisbon.
The extent of the traffic between Portugal and Bra-
zil that might ho comprised and included in the ope-
rations of this line cannot be underrated, particularly
as a favourable opportunity for effecting such commu-
nication now exists, and without detriment to the
service of the British mails, and with much benefit to
the public as well as to the promoters of the enter-
prise.
On the 4th of November, 1848, we mentioned the
arrival in England of M. d'Affonseca (Deputy for the
island of Madeira in the Portuguese Cortes), who
visited London for the purpose of concluding
arrangements for the establishment of try-,
lines of steamers, for which he had received th,
concession of ample privileges from the Portuguese
Government. One of those lines of steam-vessels was
to proceed from Lisbon to the Algarves, Cadiz, Ma
deira, and the Canaries. The other line was to pro-
vide a communication from Lisbon to the Algarves,
thence to Cadiz, St. Michael's, Terceira, and Fayal,
both lines returning to Lisbon by the same routes.
With the first project was another, to connect the
Madeira line with Brazil by means of steamers run-
ning between that island and Pernambuco, calling at
Cape Verde; the latter portion of the route being,
in fact, identical with the one now proposed to be
followed by the English line. U. d'Affonseca brought

Moreover, as the proposed steam communication
cau be carried out at a less cost to the public ser-
vice than that now incurred by the Exchequer in
maintaining the communication from Falmouth to
Brazil by the monthly line of man•of-war brigs, so
comparatively slow, irregular, and uncertain in their
movements, considerations of economy should urge
the necssity of an immediate c3mmencement of the
contract.

At the expiration of nearly a year the Royal Mail
Company are found without any ships available for
commencing the service which they have contracted
to perform, and we understand that to the present
moment no vessels have been constructed for the
purpose, but that it is intended to dispatch four of the
original ships from the West India fleet. These
steamers are to be razeed and to be prepared for
carrying the Brazilian mails, by improvements
which will bring their average speed to ten knots,
and would, no doubt, make them very efficient
vessels for this particular route. It is plain,
however, that these vessels cannot be spared till
the new steam-ships to be employed under the new
West India arrangement (as mentioned in the
Times of the 10th inst.) are built and ready for
sea, and, as the preparation of such new vessels will
occupy at least a year, there is very small chance for
any commencement of the Brazilian service till the
middle of 1851.

Considering the magnitude of the interests involved
in this undertaking, the facilities that would be af-
forded by steam communication to a development of
our commerce with Brazil and the Rio Plata, and,
finally, bearing in remembrance how much sooner
the political questions concerning the relations of
England and France with Buenos Ayres may be
brought to an amicable adjustment by means of a
more regular and rapid intercourse with that part of
the world, it would certainly appear to be desirable,
if the directors of the Royal Mail Steam packet
Company cannot quickly make some arrangements for
carrying out the intentions of their contract, that
fresh tenders should be invited by the Government,
in which case there would be doubtless plenty of
applicants for the concession of so valuable, so pro-
mising, and so lucrative an enterprise.— Times.

MAN'S LAST FRIEND IS THE TAX•GATEIERER.—
His wile may leave him, his family disown him, his chil-
dren run away from him, his best friends and worst ac-
quaintances avoid him, but the tax-gatherer follows him
wherever he goes, even to the grave. It must be most
fingering to an Englishman's pride, that, poor as he
may be, hn has Plways one friend that takes care of
him. and who will call without the smallest ceremony
and share his last penny loaf. Solitude and selfish-
ness cannot exist in England, for no man can live
independent of the tax-gatherer. His existenco is a
partnership drawn up for life, between the Government
and himself, in which the former takes what it likes, and
the latter gives more than he likes. In short, every
Englishman may be said to possess two shadows—his
owl genuine, true-born shadow, and the government
presentation shadow; but there is this difference between
the two, that, whereas his own shadow merely walks
after him, the Government shadow walks into him if it
is not paid the moment it runs after him.—Prsnch's
Abnanack.

I DOCKS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
--- —•-----
£ s. d. £ Is. d.
East and West Ind'a ... 61. pr cent. Stock.
East Country • • 20s. per sh. 100 0 0 21
London . 51. pr cent. Stock. 119
Ditto Bonds ••.. • • 41. per cent. --
St. Katharine .... •• • • 4 per coat. Stock. 60
Ditto, Scrip...—. .
Ditto Bonds— •... • • 4341. pr cent.
Southampton •• —•• •• 21. per cent. 50 0 0 SI • •
BRIDGES
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
-
X. s. d. X. s. d.
Charing-cross ...• • • 25 9 9
Southwrk, Nw Sub. Av. 632 12 I 2
Ditto Kw of 7% p. c. 355. per cent. 50 0 0 6
Waterloo •• •• •• •• •• •• 100 0 0 —3%
Ditto Old Ann. oflll. 11. 4s. ed. GO 0 0 26
Ditto Nw ditto of 71. 11. Is. Od. 49 0 0 26
Vauxhall t... •• • Ay. 11. 70 10 3
%VAT ER—WORMS
; Dividend Amount
Name of Company. I per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
---- '
£ s. d. A s. 4.
Esat L0nd0n........ •• i IL 100 9 0 1111%
Grand Junction ••.• • • 41. per cnt. 50 11 0 112
Kent.........• •••• • • 1 31.105. 100 • 0 76
Lambeth ...... ••• • •• R. per cnt. 109 9 0 95
New Itivr Lndn Brdge 1 21. 10s. SS
Vauxhall ............ 61. per cat. 100 9 • .911
West Middlesex . . . 61.• i. pr cat. 121
OLLS..LIGHT AND COKE COMPANIES.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price
Annum. Share.
X. s. d. A. a. 41.
British ••••••.• • • • • •• 11. 40 9 • 111 • • 14
Ditto Provincial•• •• 11. ils. 20 • • 29 9 9 18
Brighten ...... ••• • .. 61. per cent. 20 9 •
City of London .. •• •• 101. 100 9 • 111 • • 260
ContinentalConsolldat. 925. pr share 75 • • 31 6 0 30
Equitable.. •• • • ...... bee. pr share be 0 • SO • 0 27
Imperial —....— — 31. per cent. SI • 0 i• • • 69
Independent ....... • • 61. per cent. 49 I • 41 I 0 I 62
L0nd0n.......• ••• • • • SO 0 0 SO • •
SO • 0 SO • •
Do., Parl. Preference 61. per cent. 25 9 0 110 0 ---
Phosnia . .... • ....... Oil. per et. 50 0 0 46 • • 29
RatclifY .. ••-..• • • • • • SI. 100 0 • 90 • • 75
United General ...... 7s. 64. be 0 o 50 0 • 143,
Westminster Chartered 31. 60 0 II 4534
Ditto, New ••••-• .• 12s. SO 0 • 10 0 9 sh,

Bank of Scotland
British Linen Company 81. per cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 220
Jaledonian Bank
City of Glasgow sank . 61. per cent. 10 0 I 10 0 0 12%
Iydesdale Bank 6% per cent. 20 0 I 10 0 0 13%
.lommerclal Bank ...• 71. per cent. 500 0 0 100 • 0 166
V.:astern Bank .....• •• 61. per cent. 25 0 0 10 I 0 8%
F.dinb.k Glasgow Rank 61. per cent. 8 0 0 5 0 0 51. Os.
Exchangeßnk of Scot.. 41. per cent. 100 9 0 50 0 0 21
isle of Man. Company 71. per cent. 10 0 0 7 0 0 -
National Bank 6% per cent. 60 0 0 II 0 0 14%
Norther Scotland Bank 41. percent. 20 I 0 80 0 2%
North British Bank
Royal Bank of Scetlind 51. per cent. 100 I 0 100 I 0 129
Union Bank of Scotland al. per cent. 100 0 0 80 • 0 114
Western Bank •• • 71. per cent. 50 0 0 50 0 0 75
A,)erdeen Fire and Life 7%1.pr cent. 12 10 0 2 0 0
B. Accord. Life and Fire 20 0 0 •Is 0 -
&nib Guarantee Ins. 41. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 134 Od
Caledonian Fire Incur. 101. per cent. 10050 00 00 120 0 •
0 o 2.1
Church of England Ins.
City of Glasgow Life 6l. per cent. 25 0 0 2 0 0 21, IG,
Kdinburgla Life Insur 6l. per cent. 100 • 0 12 10 0 20
East of Scotland Life lO 0 0 015 0 93,04
Eng. & Scot, Law Life 51. per cent. 50 0 0 217 6 -
Elercules Insurance Ce. 7/. per cent. 100 0 0 10 0 0 -
fn wr. Co. of Scetlnd•• 51. per cent. 100 I I 10 -
Life Assoc. of Scotland 61. per cent. 10 0 0 1 • 0 , 11. 85
Mercantile Life ...•
National Fire and Life 51. per cent. 10 0 • 1 0 I 1208.6 d
North British Incur. •• 5%1.pr cent. 200 0 0 20 0 0 24
North & West of Scot. 61. per cent. 10 0 0 1 11 0 -
Scottish Life and Guar. 20 0 0 011 0 -
Scot. Mac. and Gen. Life I • 015 • -
Scottish Union Inarace. 610. pr cent. 20 0 • 1 0 11 211‘.6d
Standard Life • . 51. per cent. 50 11 0 4 6 0 9%
United Dep. Assurance 51. per cent. 10 0 0 1 0 0 13s ad
AXXSCELLANZOUB.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Anima. Share.
X. s. d. s. i.
Auction Mart •••• • • • • 21. ss. 50 0 • - 23
Australian Agricultarl 11. 100 0 0 30 0 0 16
Anglo-Mexican Mint.. 11. 4s. 10 10 • 0 -
Ditto, Half Shares.. 2 10 0
Canada ....• .... •• .. Gl. per cent. 100 0 1'52 II • 26
Uppr Canada Bonds 51. percent. -
City Navigation 91
Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c.tcbs, 2/ 100 0 0. 100 0 0 -
Equitable Reversienry ro. pr cant. 100 0 • 1100 0 0 103
Gcn.SteamNavightion 11. Se. 15 0 • ' 14 0 I 2$
London Institution .• . 78 11 0 -
Russell Institution.... 26 f 0 -
Penlnslr& Orient.Stm. 81. per cent. SO 0 0 SO 0 0 79
Reversionary Int. Soc. 4%1. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 92%
Royal Mail Steam.... 61 18..4. p. c 100 0 0' 60 0 0 50
South Australian..... 11. per share. 25 0 0 25 0 0 -
Van Dieman's Land.. 100 0 0 23 0 0 2

Mz. arcs SOMBRE...-.lt is rumoured in the
Court of Chancery that this singular case is likely to be
again made the subject of inquiry. It is stated upon
good authority that the Lord Chancellor will propose
that Dr. Seymour, Mr. Lawrence, and Dr. Forbes
Winslow be appointed, in conjunction with one of
his own physicians, either Dr. Bright or Dr. Southey,
to consider this matter in all its details, and report
accordingly. Our readers will recollect that prior
to the former inquiry Mr. Dyce Sombre himself selected
Dr. Winslow, Mr. Lawrence, and Dr. Seymour as his
judges, and expressed himself willing to abide by their
decision; but these gentlemen declined entertaining the
question without the knowledge and consent of the Lord
Chancellor (the legal guardian of Mr. Dyce Sombre),
and having access to the important documents in pos.
session of the Court of Chancery. Mr. Dyce Sombre
then appointed four other gentlemen, who saw Mr. Dyne
Sombre and made a report in his favour. The matter
came before the Court of Chancery, and the petition was
dismissed. Mr. Dyne Sombre complains of his anoma-
lous position. Ho is found lunatic by inquisition, and is
therefore supposed to be incapable of taking care of
himself and property. Notwithstanding this he is
under no kind of surveillance, has at command nearly
12,000/. per annum, and is permitted to leave the country
and reside on the continent. If he be a lunatic, it is
said, why is this liberty allowed? Either his person
ought to be under control, or he is 6t to be at large and
have the management of his own affair. He is the only
lunatic connected with the Court of Chancery placed in
this peculiar and anomalous position. It is understood
that Mr. Dyce Sombre has strongly expressed his readi-
ness to abide by the medical opinions of Dr. Seymour,
Mr. Lawrence, !tad Dr. Winslow,

WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1849

The SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
(From the Times )
The question of an independent railway audit
should be solved for ever in the mind of any rational
man by the report of the meeting of the South-
Western shareholders which took place at the Nine
Elms station on Saturday last. It will be remem-
bered
that certain direct charges of malversation in
financial matters had been preferred, amongst others,
against Mr. Chaplin, the chairman of the board. The
gravamen of the main charge was this—that he had
allowed his calls upon shares, to a heavy amount, to
fall into arrear, and yet had received dividends upon
those very shares. It was further stated, in aggra-
vation of the charge, that the rate of interest charged
upon the shares during the time they were in arrear,
and commencing from the period when the debt to
the company was contracted, was infinitely below
the market value of money at the time—for
then " the panic" was in full operation. To make
the care clear, according to the spirit of the accusa-
tion, let us suppose A, the chairman of a railway
company, to allot to himself 1,000 shares of 501. each ;
that upon each of these shares there is an immediate
call of 101. ; and that, owing to a great commercial
disturbance at the time of the allotment, money could
not be got in the market at a lower rate than 101 per
cent. per annum. The figures are arbitrary, and given
only for the purpose of illustration. A—the chair-
' inan—does not pay up his arrears, but the shares
stand in his name, carrying interest at the rate of 5
per cent.--half the market value,—ani upon them he
receives a dividend of, say, 21 per cent., which goes
in reduction of his arrears : the times are hard, and
railway property, like all eoinmercial property, at its
lowest point of depreciation. But the conduct of A,
far from being actuated by any self-seeking motives
in the transaction, was (so he might tell us)
inspired by the purest and most disinterested
anxiety for the benefit of his shareholders. " Con-
sider," says A, " what would have taken place had
I thrown 25,0001. of scrip upon the market at the
time when the stock of the company was already
sufficiently discredited. Then, indeed, the share-
holders might have had colourable matter for an
accusation against me ; but, as it was, can any other
construction be put upon my conduct than that I
offered my own coat to the shearers, to induce them
to spare the fleecy honours of my flock ?" Suppose,
in addition to all we have stated, that the transac-
tion as we have put it was carefully kept from the
knowledge of the shareholders, until one day au-
ditors were appointed to look into the affairs of
the company. It became impossible that this fine
instance of disinterestedness and public spirit
should any longer be concealed, and then A, no
doubt, lest he should be encumbered with the
grateful acclamations of the proprietary body,
instantly makes a great effort to reduce his arrears.
It is easy to conceive the contempt with which a man
on the lofty moral eminence we have described would
, listen to the despicable insinuations of the auditors,
" that very censurable irregularities had taken place
in the administration of the company's affairs." How
can such mere men of routine be expected to appre-
ciate the heroism of a railway chairman, or the moral
peculiarities of a board of directors ? It might, in-
deed, be said, that had the speculations of the company
prospered according to the ideas of the chairman
and the board—had the dividends been kept up,
or, still better, had they increased, it would have
been no contemptible speculation to have secured
, a share in the ripening fruit upon such terms.
If all went well all the gain would have gone into A's
pocket; if things turned out badly, he saved himself
from loss just in so far as the company might be
damnified upon the general result of the transaction.
From the illustration we have given, the true nature
of the charge against Mr. Chaplin can be far better
understood than from the wordy, unbusiness like
report made to the meeting, in which, taking things
at the best, two thirds of the facts must be taken upon
credit. Substitute the name of Mr. Chaplin for that
of our friend A, and the charge against him may be
readily appreciated. Some time before the meeting
on Saturday, on the 15th of the present month, Mr.
Chaplin wrote and sent to the proprietors of his line
a letter in " explanation" of his conduct. There is
much of it that is hazy and unintelligible, but when
we had got about two-thirds through the perusal
of it, we were stopped by, the following sen-
tence :—" I have already denied in tote the charge
that I have at any times received dividends upon calls
in arrear." We were much struck with this asser-
tion, for in the previous part of Mr. Chaplin's letter
we can find no such denial as the one to which he
alludes. On the contrary, at the very commence-
ment of his explanation there occurs an actual admis
sion that be had been credited with dividends on the
shares in arrear, in reduction of the interest due upon
such shares. For the sake of common honesty and
common sense, we will not permit ourselves to think
that Mr. Chaplin is quibbling upon the word " re-
ceived," as though to be credited with money in
diminution of a balance were not tantamount to the
receipt of it. Here, however, is the passage at the
commencement of Mr. Chaplin's letter :=
" The complaint in my particular case is, that I have
been, ar.d continue to be, in arrear in respect of calls;
and that, nevertheless, matters have bean so contrived
that I have received dividend on calls in arrear at a
higher rate than the interest with which I have been
charged. The latter charge is wholly without founds
tion. I have never received or been credited with a
dividend at a higher rate than the interest with which
I have been charged. The former charge I admit, and
although I do so in the confidence that the explanation
I am about to give will excuse me with all fair and im-
partial men, I should do myself injustice if I failed to
state that to have been in any arrear whilst acting as
your chairman has occasioned me pain."
We would not willingly be guilty of the slightest
misconstruction, or do Mr. Chaplain the shadow of
wrong, but it appears to us that lie says here, "I did
receive dividends, but the dividends were not so high
as the interest I paid; the dividends, in point
of fact, went in reduction of my interest."
The task, however, of reconciling Mr. Chap-
lin with himself is not an easy one, as will be
seen by the following paragraph. We quote the
passage, however, rather as a curious specimen of
the dealings of a chairman with his company than
from the idea of reconciling anomalies. It will be
observed that Mr. Chaplin treats the proprietary body
just as an Irish gentleman, somewhat in difficulties,
might deal with an opulent friend, who in an un-
guarded moment had permitted him to have the run
of his bankers. Mr. Chaplin procured a ledger—we
presume it is the identical book to which Sergeant
Cr izelee alluded in the discussion on Saturday —and
opened a little account between himself and the com-
pany, by which it appears that Mr. Chaplin and the
chairman of the South-Western Company were on
the most confidential and friendly footing in pecuniary
matters, and that there were no lengths to which the
chairman was not willing to go to oblige his friend
Mr. Chaplin :
" I have already denied in tote the charge that I have
at any time received dividend on calls in arrear; but,
before passing to matter subsequent in point of date, I
must, in order to displace that charge more completely,
state that in 1845 I advanced the company 43,0001.,
without security, and at a low rate of interest. This
loan was either absorbed in calls which fell due from me
in the year 1846, or by cash payments by the company,
. and I only refer to it because it was the means of open-
ing a ledger account between myself and the company,
on the credit side of which will be found my loans,
and on the debtor side my calls, with the company's re-
payments in cash. When, therefore, in the latter part
of 1846, and during the year 1847, further calls and de-
posits on new stock became payable by me, they
were debited against my name in the abovementioned
ledger account, and I no longer stood in the list
of shareholders in arrear of call. It has been
asserted that this was done for the purpose of
enabling me to receive dividend (at the higher rate
which the company were then paying on the dividend-
bearing part of their stock) upon amounts I had really
never paid, whilst I was only charged interest thereon;
or that at least such a consequence resulted from it.
This neither was nor could be the case. The shares on
which I was then in arrear bore no dividend, and the
rate of interest on those bearing interest was at 4 per
cent. only, whilst I was on my arrear rightly charged
with 5 per cent."
We would wish that every shareholder in the three
kingdoms would weigh this paragraph well, and
consider what kind of control they exercise over
an- account of this sort ? Who is the judge of the
propriety of borrowing ? Mr. Chaplin. Who is the
jndge of the propriety of lending ? Mr. Chaplin.
Who has to choose the time for either operation ?
Mr. Chaplin. Who asks for time ? Mr. Chaplin.
Who gives time ? Mr. Chaplin. In whose interest
is the account opened at all ? Mr. Chaplin's. Who
is the only person who knows anything about the
matter ? Mr. Chaplin. Who suffers ? The South-
Western Railway Company. There was some talk at
the meeting on Saturday of the control exercised by
the board over the acts of their chairman. Now, if
there be one result more striking than another from
the investigations that have taken place with regard to
all the defaulting railways, it is this—that one man
is the manager of the concern invariably, and that the
names of the other directors are merely for show.
A row of wig-blocks would have been as sufficient
a protection to the shareholders as the boards of
the :Northern or Eastern Lines in which Mr.
Hudson was concerned ; nor, with regard to the
South - Western Railway, have we any reason
to see that the case is materially different.
The public should bear this in mind, and
not permit themselves to be duped by the
mere mention of a few names with ap-
purtenances. If the directors of the South-
Western line had done their duty, how could such
transactions have taken place at all ? With regard 1
to one half of the charge, Mr. Chaplin frankly admits I
it, and deplores the impropriety of his act ; upon the
remaining portion of the accusation, when we have
clearer explanations than those contained in Mr.
Chaplin's letter we shall be enabled to speak with
more certainty. At present all is mist and mystery, 1
but no doubt the Committee of Investigation will 1 ,

supply us with something mire to the purpose than
the Chairman's letter. With this new instance of
railway mismlnagmnent before us, however, is it
possible that an independent audit can be any longer
resisted? Short of this, there is no meaeure which
will restore confidence in railway stock to the public
mind.

CHRISTMAS - DAY IN THE
WORKHOUSES.

For several years it has been the custom to give an
account of the treatment of the parochial poor of this
vast metropolis on Christmas-day, supplying therewith
a variety of statistics showing the comparative increase
or decrease of pauperism, as the case may be, in the
various metropolitan.districs, a course which it is pre-
sumed is calculated to afford the public a very fair
criterion for judging as to the state of trade and the
amount of distress actually existing.
The following report will bc found to contain not
wily a detail of the Christmas fare all )wed by the
guardians of the respective parishes to the ror in-
mates of the workhouses, but it shows the number
in_ each, distinguishing the adults from the children
as well as the sexes of the inmates, and also the
number in the various establishments last year; as
also, where the returns could be obtained, the number
of outdoor poor, and the gross number summed up at
the end of each report, with other interesting
particulars
:
Sr. PANCRAS WoaauouSE•—Number of inmates

pudding, with one pint of porter, with tea morning
and evening, to each adult. Total number receiving
relief, 6.770; total decrease of pauperism as compared
with last year, 1,421.
• ST. MARY MAGDALEN, BERMONDSEY.—In the
workhouse, G3O (last year, GB4), viz. :—Men, 174 ;
women, 246 ; boys, 100; girls, 110- The inmates
were regaled with roast pork, potatoes, plumpudding,
and a pint of Barclay's porter fa- dinner. The
children fed at discretion, and to receive two oranges
each instead of beer. All the adults are allowrd to
go out on Christmas-day. About 1,600 receiving
outdoor relief; total, 2,230; decrease,

on Christmas-day, 1849, 1,360 (last Christmas day,
1,462. Number of outdoor poor, 7,054 (last, year
7,283). The inmates of the house are thus divided :
-Adult males, 450 ; females, 540 ; boys, 170 ; girls,
200. The Christmas-day fare was six ounces of
cooked beef, free from bone, Ilb. of potatoes, llb of
plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter each adult, with
an extra allowance of good tea, tobacco, snuff, &c.;
the children fed at discretion, and allowed fruit and
sweetmeats. It is worthy of remark that in the parish
of St. Pancras there has been a great change in the
management of its affairs, a new party having come
into power, who have abolished as far as possible the
workhouse test, and applied more extensively than
formerly the principle of outdoor relief, which shows
the following results :-1,462 indoor poor in 1848
cost, in the Christmas week of that year, 2041. lOs. 31;
this year, 1,287 cost 1691. 14s. 2d., being 175
less in the house, and the cost of 341. 16s. Id., in the
week less than the corresponding week last year.
7,283 outdoor poor in the Christmas week, 1848, cost
2461.- 14s. 7d. ; and in 1849 the cost of 7,054 has
been 259/. ; being an increase in relief to 229 less
the corresponding week of last year of 121. 53. 5d.,
saving on the week as compared with last year,
22/. 10s. Bd. (saving of children in the house instead
of Tooting, 201.) making a total saving on the weeks
account of 421. 10s. Bd. The diminution in the cost
of inmates is the decrease and cheapness of provisions.
The increase in amount given to outdoor poor,
although much smaller in number than last year,
is caused by a greater amount being given to the
most deserving and necessitous. The affairs of this
parish are now most flourishing, the directors of the
poor having a rest of 8,0001. in their banker's
hands, besides having paid a few days since, 1,2001.
on account of the industrial training-schools be-
longing to the workhouse. It will thus be seen that
there is a decrease on the indoor poor of 102, and
on the outdoor poor of 229.
SAINT MARYLEBONE.-The returns up to yester-
day show the number of inmates of the workhouse
and infirmary to be 1,999. Last Christmas- day the
numbers were 2,222 in the house. Number of out-
door poor about 6,500. Christmas fare ilb. of roast
beef free from bone, 11b. of potatoes and bread, one
pint of porter, and lib. of plumpudding, with 1 ounce
of tea and a alb. of sugar extra to each adult. The
children are fed at the discretion of the master, and
in the evening are allowed to partake of various
amusements at the expense of the guardians, who had
fruit and sweetmeats provided for them. Decrease
of inmates at the workhouse, 233 ; number of outdoor
poor last year, 7,280; decrease of outdoor poor, 780 ;
total number receiving relief, 8,489 ; total decrease as
compared with last year, 1,013.
ST. MARTIN'S IN THE FIELDS.-Inmates of work-
house, 650 (last year 660), viz., 189 men, 376 women,
35 boys, 50 girls. Christmas fare-to adults, 11h. of
roast beef; /lb. plumpudding; as many potatoes as
they require; a pint of porter (many of them receiving
2 pints for little services rendered.) The majority of
them have also tea and sugar, with leave of absence
after dinner and another day's liberty in the course
of the week. Number of outdoor poor about 600;
outdoor poor (last year), 575 ; decrease of inmates,
10 ; increase of outdoor poor, 25 ; total increase, 15 ;
and total receiving relief, 1,250
Cirr or LONDON Urios.-Number of inmates in
the new workhouse of the City of London Union,
Bow-road, this Christmas, 900 adults; last year
(including children at Peckham, Stepney, and
Norwood) 1,132. The children of this union are in
the Central London District School, Norwood, which
comprises the following unicns and parishes :-
City of London Union, boys, 126 ; girls, 11l ;
total, 237. East London Union, boys, 117 ; girls,
108 ; total, 225. St. Saviour's, Southwark, boys, 79 ;
girls, 48 ; total, 127. St. Martin's in-the- Fields,
boys, 83; girls, 71; total, 154 Total number of
children in the Central London District School-
boys, 405 , girls, 338 ; total, 743. Christmas fare-
roast beef, roast pork, plumpudding, and one pint of
beer each. The outdoor poor to hare Is. extra given
them. Number of outdoor poor about 3,000. The
difference between this year and the last in the
house :-Outdoor poor last year, 3,378 ; total receiving
relief, 4,131 ; total decrease, 384.
STRAND UNION.-Inmates of workhouse, Cleve-
land-street, 644 (last year, 611); males, 280; females,
364 ; 90 children at the new establishment, at Mill-
field-house, Edmonton.-Christmas fare-boiled pork,
potatoes, peaspudding, with a pint of porter to each
adult; children without porter in proportion to age.
Number of outdoor poor, 1,529 (last year, 1,768);
total receiving relief, 2,173 ; total decrease, 355.
ST. MART, ISLINGTON.-'-Number in the workhouse,
420 (last Christmas, 485). In adlition to this, there
are 120 boys and girls at the Islington Infant Poor
Establishment at Hackney. Fare-6 oz. of roast
beef, free from bone, bread and potatoes as required,
1 lb. boiled plumpudding, and 1 pint of London
porter. Decrease in the number of poor, as compared
with corresponding period of last year, 65. No
return as to outdoor poor.
Sr. LUKE'S, CHELSEA.-The number of inmates of
the workhouse are 515 (last Christmas there were
541), viz.-able-bodied men, 43; able bodied
women, 43. Men temporarily disabled, 9 ;
women temporarily disabled, 38. Old and
infirm men, 99 ; old and infirm women, 185.
Boys, from 7 to 15 years old, 28 • girls, from 7 to
15 years old, 18 ; children and infants, 52 Farmed
out in the parish, 75 children (last year farmed out
at Drouet's, Tooting, 127) ; outdoor poor, 2,723 (last
year, 2,196)-this being a decrease as compared with
last year on the indoor poor, of 26, children farmed
out 52, and on the outdoor poor of 473. Lunatics in
the various asylums 46 (last year 40). Total, receiv-
ing relief, 3,359. The inmates of the workhouse of
this parish are allowed by the guardians, for Christ-
mas-day, to adults, alb. of roast beef, free from bone,
with a liberal supply of potatoes and bread ; ;lb. of
plumpudding, and one pint of Barclay's porter.
Children dieted at the discretion of the master, and
for those farmed out 6d. per head is allowed for extra
Christmas fare. Total decrease of pauperism in this
parish 551.
STEPNEY' Urctorr.-Number of inmates in the four
workhouses of this union, 1,209 (last year 1,314)-
viz., men, 281 ; women, 492 ; children, 436. The
Christmas fare for the indoor poor is the good
old English fare of roast beef and plumpudding, with
a pint of porter for each adult, and spies and oranges
for the children. Number of outdoor poor, 3,860,
being a decrease of 105 in the numbers in the work-
house, and an increase of 219 in the outdoor poor as
compared with the corresponding period last year;
total receiving relief in this union, 5,078 ; increase
over last year, 114.
ST. LEONARD, SHOREDITCII.-Number of inmates,
787 (last year, 870)-viz., men, 231 ; women, 404 ;
children, 152. The outdoor poor are about 1,600
families, averaging to each family, amounting to
about 5,000 persons on the aggregate. About 100
children at the establishment at Enfield ; Christmas
fare to adults, 6oz. of roast beef; baked po-
tatoes, lb. plumpudding, and 1 pint of ale; to
children, soz. roast beef, Vb. baked potatoes, ilb.
plumpudding, and 1 pint of ale between three.
Holydays are allowed on Christmas day as well as
Boxing-day. Total receiving relief about 5,800.
ST. JAMES'S, CLERIEENWELL.-Total number of
inmates 450 (last year 537)-viz., aged and infirm
men above 60 years old, 92 ; women above 60, 125 ;
able-bodied men under 60 years, 75 ; able-bodied
women under 60 years, 110; boys and girls under
16 years of age, 18; boys and girls (including in-
fants) under 9 year. of age, 30; besides the children
at the schools at Kentish-town. Christmas allow-
ances :-Each adult 11b. of plumpudding, ilb. of
baked beef, 11b. of baked potatoes, 1 pint of porter,
loz. of tea, and i-lb. of sugar; children above 6 years
of age ill). of plumpudding each, and half a pint of
porter. Number of persons now in receipt of out-
door relief weekly 2,035, making a total of 2,485;
increase on outdoor poor 670, decrease on indoor
poor 87--making a total increase of 583.
ST. °LAVE'S UNION, SOUTHWAIIK.-Inmates 354 1

. . .
ST. MARY, ROTHERHITHE —lnmates of the work-
house, 255 (last year no return), viz., men 72, women
109, children 74 The adults had each ilb. roast beef,
Vb. potatoes, with 1 pint of ale, and tobacco and snuff
for the old people. The outdoor poor have nothing
extra provided by the guardians.
POPLAR. UNION.-Nurnber in t!',P workhouse, 574
(kit Christmas 651), viz., men, 171; women, 198;
boys, 109 ; girls, 96. Number of outdoor poor
averages 2 300. Christmas fare—roae. or baked
beef, with potatoes and plumpudding. Decrease in
indoor poor, 77.
WIIITECEIAPEL UNlON.—lnmates of the work-
houses, 1.013 (last Christmas, 647), viz , men, 228 ;
women, 417 ; children, 368 ; outdoor poor, 2,253
(last year, 2.613). Christmas fare, by order of the
directors, roast beef, plumpuddiog and beer. Increase
in the indoor poor, 366 ; decrease in outdoor, 360 ;
total increase, 6.

EDMONTON UNION.— Inmates 410 (bast year, 426),
viz , men, 298 ; women, 182 ; the children at an estab-
lishm.rit at Enfield. Christmas tare, 6 z of cooked
beet with potatoes; lib of plurnputhlirg, and 1 pint
of porter each. No return of the number of ,-utdoor
poor; decrease, as compared with last year, 16.
ST. MART, NEWINGTON.—Number of inmates,
364 (last Christmas, 348), and 180 children at
Drouet's establishment, Grove-house, Brixton-hill.
Christmas fare—roast bec-f, baked potatoes, plutn-
pudding. In the afternoon each adult will rt-ci ive
loz. of tea, 8.,z. of sugar, and 6uz of butter. Such
adulis as smoke will have loz. of tobacco, and those
who take snuff loz. each. Holydays are permitted to
such inmates as may desire them. The children fed
at discretion. Number ot outdoor poor 1,428 (last
year 1,576.) Total number receiving relief, 1,792
klast year, 2,052). Total decrease of pauperism. 260.
ST.GEORGETRE MARTYR.SOUTHWARK.—No return
of figures given, and all the information obtained is
that the usual Christmas fare will be provided for the
inmates of the workhouse of this parish.
HOLBORN UNlON.—lnmates ot workhouse, 708
(last year 918), viz.-206 men, 288 women, and '214
children. The number of outdoor poor is 2,112 (last
year, no return of out-door poor). The Christmas
fare is beef, plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter each
Liberty to go out is permitted to all who make appli-
cation. Decrease this year, as compared with last, 2-10.
WANDSWORTH AND CLAPHAM UNlON.—lnmates of
workhouse, 487 (last Christmas, .551), viz.-85 men,
under 60 years of age ; 124, above 60 ; boys, from
9to 16 years, 42 ; girls, from 2to 9 years, 31 ;
women, under 60 years, 70; above 60 years, 82 ;
girls, from 9 to 16 years, 23 ; from 2 to 9 years, 20 ;
infants, 10. The Christmas fare was ilb. roast beef,
11b. potatoes, 11b. plumpudding, and 1 pint of porter;
aged, 1 pint of tea, and tobacco, snuff, &c ; oranges,
nuts, &c., to the children. Decrease, 64.
KENSINGTON.—Inmates, 313 (last year, 267)—
women, 115 ; men, 87; girls, 48. Outdoor poor,
1,481 persons, or about 500 families (last year, out-
door poor 900). Fare to adult males and females, ilb.
roast beef of the best quality, lib. of baked potatoes,
fib. of plumpudding, and 1 pint of Barclay 's porter.
The whole of the children above nine years of age
same as adults, with exception of porter. Younger
children in proportion. Old women above 60, who
take it, -i-oz of snuff each, and old men ioz. of tobacco,
with leave of absence to-morrow to all those whose
conduct entitles them to it. After dinner the children
were regaled with oranges, apples, &c. Increase in
indoor poor, 46, and in outdoor, 581 ; total in-
crease, 627.

WEST LONDON UNlON.—lnmates, 395 (last year,
450)—men 163 ; women, 244; children, 88.
Christmas fare, roast beef, plumpudding, potatoes, and
porter for dinner. No return of outdoor poor. In-
crease of inmates over last year, 45.

ST. MATTHEW, BETHNAL-GREEN.—NO return of
numbers given on account of " hurry of business and
limit of time of the master:." Christmas tare to in-
m4tes, a liberal supply of roast beef, plampudding,
and ale.

ST. JAMEs'S, WESTMINSTER.—Inmates 700 (last
year 713)—men, 230; women, 390; children, 80;
with about 100 children at the parochial establbhment
at Brentford. Christmas fare —llb of roast beef,
with potatoes and plumpudding ad libitum. 1 pint of
table ale, and 1 pint of porter; the children, fruit,
cakes, &c Outdoor poor about 700 (last year 724),
decrease 37.

(last year no return)—viz., men 89 ; women 143 ;
boys 73 ; girls 49. The Christmas-day fare to the
inmates was roast beef, potatoes, plumpuddiug, and
porter without any defined allowance.
ST. MARY, LAMBETH.--Number in the workhouse,
1,028 (last year, 1,095); adult males, 424 ; women,
526; boys, 89 ; girls, 39 ; children in the parochial
establishment at Norwood (not farmed), 494. There
are 5,742 persons on the out-relief list, receiving
weekly money and bread, the latter being baked in
the house. Christmas fare, 6oz. of baked b:ef, free
from bone ; 11b. of baked potatoes, 11b. boiled plum-

Sr.GBORGI39B IN-THE-KAST.—lnmates 900 (last
year 947)--men, 220 ; woman, 467; children, 207.
Christmas fare—roast beet and plumpuilding, &c.,
ad libitum Decrease in inrn•ates 47.

IN DUST RI AI. SCHOOLS, NORWOOD (Auhyn'.)
1,000 children belonging to various metropolitan
parishes. The children—a plentiful supply of roast
beef and plumpudding, with coffee and bread and
butter in the evening. Srrmons were preached and
addresses made to the children by the chaplain to the
establishment.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, BRIXTON.—About 700 chg..
drun belonging to various parishes. Similar fare to
those at Mr. Aubyn's Asylum.
In consequence of the want of courtesy on the part
of the officials some of the parishes have been omitted,
but the foregoing proves the satisfactory circumstance
that there is a vast decrease in pauperism, with about
two exceptions, in every parish in the metropolis,
amounting in the aggregate to about 5,000/. It also
appeared that there are from 80,000 to 100,000 in the
metropolis who are dependent on parochial bounty for
their Christmas day dinner. It must be remarked
that the number of persons in the workhouses on
Christmas-day must not he taken as a criterion of the
number usually therein, the inclemency of the wea-
ther and the certainty of a Christmas dinner being a
strong incentive to persons to claim parochial relief.

CHRISTMAS C UST OMS IN
NORMANDY.

A very singular spectacle presents itself to the
stranger, who, unacquainted with the customs of the
country, finds himself alone amongst the corn-fields
and pastures of the department of the Eure-et- Loire.
On every side he can discover nothing but fire and
flames running over the fields, with every now and
then a certain shrill and modulated noise. This
phantasmagoria, which at first astonishes and even
alarms him, arises from the practice of a very ancient
custom still in use in this country. Every farmer
fixes upon some day in Advent fur the purpose of
exorcising such animals as prove injurious to his
crops, and for this purpose he furnishes his youngest
children with prepared flambeaux well dried in
the oven, and furnist,ed with combustible
materials. If he have no children his neighbours
lend him theirs, for none but young and innocent
children can command certain injurious animals to
withdraw from his lands. After twelve years of age
children are rendered unfit to perform the office of
exorcists. These young children run over the coun-
try, like so many little spirits, set fire to bundles cf
hay placed for the purpose, go under the trees and
flourish their torches among the branches, burn the
straw placed underneath, and continuall cry out—
Taupes, " chenilles, et mulots,
Sorivz, sort( z. demon clos,
Ou je you hrule la barbe et les os;
Arbres, arbrisseaux
Donnes moi des pommes a miriot."
Which may be thus translated—" Moles, caterpillars,
and mice, get out of my field, or I will burn your
beard and your hones; trees and shrubs give me
abundance of apples." The simple people of the
country put implicit faith in the remedy, which they
believe infallible.

CHRISTMAS BENEVOLENC IC—Yesterday the com-
mittee of the Society for Establishing Soup Kitchens for
the Poor in the North-West District of the Metropolis.
of which Lord Southampton is the President, distriOuted
plum pudding, bread, and soup to about 600 poor per-
sons, each of whom had a pound of bread, a pound of
plum pudding, and a pint of excellent soup. The tickets
were given to the applicants by the Rev. T. Dale, vicar
of St. Pancras; Rev. G. Elliott, ree•or of Tritiry
Church, and the other members of the committee. In
the course of the previous year the society gave 36.335
quarts of beef and pea soup, 49,147 loaves. &c., to 89,515
persons. At the Foundling Hospital the children of
both sexes, amounting to about 400, received the usual
Christmas allowance of plum pudding, &c.; and at the
various unions and parish workhouses the unfortunate
inmates were provided with an extra allowance of meat,
in addition to plum pudding, &c. At the Debtors'
Prison, Whitecross street, in which there nra 215 pri-
soners, the Sheriffs' allowance consisted to each prisoner
of 21b. of meat, 21b. of potatoes, plum pudding, a, d
pint of porter. At Kensington the destitute inhabitants
have been provided with the usual bounties given b) the
Duchess of Kent, in clothing, meat, coals, &e.; acd by
the order of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the
poor residing in Kew obtained a dinner of beef and
plum pudding. The customary gifts granted by the late
Queen Dowager to the poor in the vicinity of Bushy-
park were renewed this year. In St. Martin's-in -the•
Fields, in Lainht at, in St. Pancras, ani various other
parishes, the poor received a substantial nae.il from
sources of private benevolence.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]— A Life Guardsman, one of
the Heroes of Waterloo, cured of Rheumatism by Holloway's
Ointment and Pills.—Mr, Thomas Brunton, landlord of the
Waterloo Tavern, Coatham, Yorkshire, was afflicted for many
months with rheumatism and rheumatic gout. His legs were
dreadfully painful, and disfigured with colours of every hue,
frightful to behold. For ten weeks he was wholly unable to
walk, the treatment he received from several medical men not
only failing to do him any good, but leaving him, in fact, in a
considerably worse condition. At this juncture Holloway's
Pills and Ointment were resorted to, and by their sole means
he has been restored to health and strength.— Sold by all
Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's establishment, 244,
firsads London,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH WA
On Monday Robert Mason, shopman to Mr. Wil-
liam Jones, Enendraper, of Newington causeway,
was brought before Mr. A'Beckett, charged with
robbing his employer to a considerable amount.
Wiliam Boyce, showman in the same employ,
stated that suspicion was excited against the prisoner
in consequence of his having been observed to retain
in his o6n possession a small sum of money laid out.
by a customer, and which it was his duty to have pod
over immediately to the person authorised to receive
it. Upon this discovery a policeman was employed
to search the prisoner's house, as it was strongly sus-
pected that this was not his first act of dishonesty. DI
the course of the examination a great variety of
articles, consisting of silks, lace, velvet, ribbons, 80.9
were di,covered, which were alleged to have been the
property of the complainant, and to have been pur.
l-ind at various times by the prisoner from the stock.
A solicitor, who attetrded for the proecution, stated
that although the accused had not het long in the
complainant's employ, yet he had plundered him at
b-ast to the extent of 1001.—The prisoner was re-
tbandtd.

Mr IVilliam Collins was charged with furiously
driving a alise, and running over two elderly pe.r-
sons, a man and woman, who sustained injuries of a
serious nature.

Tne complainants stated that about half past nine
o'clock on the preceding night, they were about
crossing the Waterloo-road, near the Victoria Theatre,
and had scarcely stepped off the pavement into the
road, when the defendant, in a chlise, came along at
a furious rate, and they were' both knocked down,
and hnd a narrow escape of losing their lives. As it
was they were much b uised, and incapacitated from
followicg heir Occupations.
Mr John Sinclair, a publican in the New-euti
stated that on the night in question he was near the
spot when the accident occurred ; that he had just
stepped out of an omnibus, and had a most narrow
escape of being run over by the defendant, who w 0
driving at the rate of at least twelve-miles an hour. He
(witness) saw from the reckless manner in which the
defendant was driving that he would do some mischief
and in a moment afterwards he saw the man and
woman knocked down in the road and run over by
the vehicle. He (witness) called "police 1" and
of erwards assisted in stopping the defendant, who
was evidently under the influence of liquor. There
was another person in the chaise with him at the time.
The defendant denied that he was driving furiously,
and that the horse was going faster than six miles an
hour, the whip being in the socket, and not used at all.
He then called his friend, who confirmed his asser-
tion as to the rate at which they were going at the
time, and said that the accident to the two old people
was unavoidable, as they had. in fact, walked right
off the pavement into the road when they saw the
vehicle coming along.
Mr. A'BECKETT said that he believed the evidence
given by Mr. Sinclair—namely, that the defendant
was not only driving furiously, but that he was also
intoxicated. He (the magistrate), however, instead
of inflicting the full penealty on defendant, which
would not be appropriated to the benefit of the parties
injured, would give him an opportunity of retiring
with them and compensating them for the injurie3
they had received.
The Magistrate was subsequently apprised that the
defendant had adopted his advice and satisfied the
complainants, besides paying their doctor's bill; end
he was therefore discharged on the payment of the
mitigated penalty of 103.