The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-22 00:00:00

‘T.H.E! SUN, LONDON, THURS)DA y IprENINGr, JULY 22, I 847.

and of my public principles.—(Cheers.) Gent'emen,
considering that the unbounded right which you possess
to send independently to Parliament such Members as may
efficiently attend to your interests, considering that the
representation of the people is the only safe guarantee
for your political liberties, civil rights, and re-
ligious freedom the duty that is devolved upon you is of
the greatest and most sole en kind, and, under these
circumstances, I certainly require much justification in
presenting myself as a candidate before you. Having,
however, some confi lence in the faith which the people
of the United Kingdom and those holding the adminis-
tration of affairs have placed in me, I trust if I should
be sent to Parliament as the representative of a city con-
centrating in itself so many great interests, that when
weighed in the balance I will not be found wanting.
Much has been said with respect to the office which I
now hold in the Government of the country, and if
nothing had been said relative to that office I should not
obtrude myself on your time with utterirg a word on the
subject. It is an office, however, which, if I be re-
turned your repieseutative in Parliament I should not
held, however important it may be ; still I cannot dis-
miss the matter without stating what are some of the
important duties connected with it. The joint offices
of the Secretaries of the Board of Trade are of the
greatest responsibility. To them comes, in the first
instance, every memorial connected with trade in these
kingdoms a, d the British colonies. To us comes every
law passsd by the colonial Assemblies ; and we have to
examine these laws in order to ascertain whether they
are in opposition to, or in accordance with the general
laws of the United Kingdom. All communications as
to commercial or maritime matters throughout the world
are referred to the judgment of the Board of Trade,
and all that comes, in the first instance, through my-
self as one of the Joint Secretaries. Every matter of
dispute as to the customs—every subject bearing
upon charters in matters of trade and naviga-
tion—the laws regulating the customs, and count-
less other matters, preparatory to being laid before Par-
liament, come through our hands, and are afterwards
submitted to the Board at which the President sits. I
think that these duties involve responsibilities and ques-
tions which bear upon the general interests and the
trade of this country rather above the responsibilities
delegated to a mere clerk.—(Laughter and cheers.)
Such, however, as they have been, I have had the satis-
faction of discharging to the entire approbation of three
Governments. The Government of Lord Melbourne,
that of Sir Robert Peel, with whose political principles
I was boldly and broadly unconnected, and with tho
Government of Lord John Russell, with whom, I am
happy to state, I am on terms of the utmost confidence.
—(Applause.) I doubt I have dwelt too loan Pert
question was • -
to make some allusion to it from the
manner in which the office and not myself have been
alluded to. Having said this much of myself, if you,
gentlemen, will allow me I will allude to those great
questions which must be brought forward during the
next session of Parliament, and I do so to show to you
how very laborious must be the duties of a member re-
presenting the city of Glasgow, if he discharges these
duties faithfully and in accordance with that solemn
responsibility which you will repose in him. In the first
place, the question of taxation mu .t become one of the
most prominent during next session. The property-
tax or the income-tax, as it should be called, will
expire next year. It yields at present so large a
proportion of the income of the Government that we
have little expectation of its not being renewed.
The mode of its renewal must constitute a subject
of grave inquiry, much will depend upon the wis-
dom and intelligence of those who have to grapple
with that great question. I may state that I am not
content with the present mode of levying that tax. I
think that a very wide distinction should be made be-
tween taxation on incomes derived from a permanent
source and those from temporary sources.—(Applause.)
The adjustment of that difference will require the
greatest care, and will, I am confident, occupy the seri-
ous attention of the next Parliament. With regard to
free trade, undoubtedly a great deal has been done, but
I, from experience and from the position I occupied,
think there is quite as much to be done than has yet in ,1
this matter been done.—(Cheers.) In the first place, the
whole of the tariff requires further adjustment. _ There '
are many articles in that tariff which do not pay one
half of the cost of collecting the duties upon them. I
would restrict the levying of duties upon eight or nine
articles, and am for abolishing all the duties but those
which yield a large revenue. There is also much to be
done for the Customs. The practice of the Customs are
based upon the old tariff and the Customs laws that prac-
tice had based on old Treasury orders and regulations,
and instead of being a convenience and the means of
expediting the trade and navigation of this country, ob-
struct it in a great measure. I think, therefore, that
the Customs' duties may be so simplified that the com-
merce of this country may be relieved from restrictions,
either as regards foreign countries or our own posses-
sions. With regard to the Excise, I think there is so
much of the Star Chamber practice in connexion with the
present arrangement of that department, that we might
with propriety abolish the whole of the existing Excise
establishment, and the whole of the existing Excise laws.
I think that you might except on two articles, get quit of all
the inquisitorial regulations now under the Excise regu-
lations. As to the navigation-laws, there is much dire-
rence of opinion. Many people attribute the whole of
our prosperity to the navigation-laws. I am of a diffe-
rent opinion, and think that great modifications are
necessary, especially with respect to our coastine. trade.
I am of opinion that, at sea, the intercourse between
one port and another port, ought to be as free as the
intercourse between one county and another county on
land. Another question of paramount interest is the
colonial system. Now, though we have comparative free
trade in this country, the whole colonial system is a sys-
tem of restriction. There is in fact a colonial battle of
restriction amongst them, as much as if they were foreign
countries at war. With respect to the West Indian
colonies, and especially as regards their legislature and
commercial arrangements, which I have had under con-
sideration for seven years, there is so much to be done
that if you would only allow them that freedom of trade
which they require, those in connexion with them would
find that they would resume at last their former prospe-
rity, and be in a much more secure position than they
have ever been before.— (Cheers.) During the course
of my professional experience I have had frequent in-
tercourse with the members of the West India Associa-
tion, and in regard to questions affecting their interests,
as to which I have differed from Lord Stanley and Sir R.
Peel, these gentlemen almost always agreed with the
views which I expressed. The views which I brought
forward 16 or 17 years ago are now being carried into
operation, and, in this respect, I believe that in the next
session of Parliament measures will be taken to remove
many of the hardships which are now felt in connexion
with trade, and with respect to the West India Settle-
ment. There is another great question in which the
trading community are deeply interested, and as to
which much complaint exists in the whole of our East
Indian possessions. I allude to the system of taxation
and the Custom House duties bearing upon the cost of
production in the East Indies. If there is one griev-
ance more intolerable than another it is the taxes
which prevents them from supplying our manufac-
turers with cotton wools. I had entrusted to me the
other day, by one of the East India merchants, a
most important document, which showed that if the
tax upon land were removed, they could supply us
with cotton as cheap as ever we were furnished by the
United States.—(Applause.) I come now to another
question of great difficulty, as many interests are con-
cerned in it—l mean the question of the currency.
Agreeing with Sir Robert Peel in his general principles
of free trade, I never could discover why you should
carry out the principles of free trade with every other
commodity or article, and place a most stringent limit
to the mere matter of banking. Sir Robert Peel's Bill
of 1844, I consider, was practical for England, but I
never could find why that Bill's regulations should be
extended to Scotland ; and when it was extended to
Scotland by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and when I gave him my opinion on the Bank Bill of
1144, he said I was wrong—that Scotland was content
that it should become the law of Scotland ; and he said,
further, that your Scotch Members are not opposed to
it—that there were two t r three Scotch banks in
favour of it—that he was justified in the view he had
taken. It was but too true, that he had reasons for
nothis jgosttihfieltidotn. I
ity
onamthastorhraycastihoant, Sacoodt c
ohxpl Membersaiexplain
t d
o him
the mischievous effects of that Bill with regard to Scot-
land. That was my opinion, and I do not see any light
falling e
rupone
a ft thee r.
There
are to
two
aeke
or that
three i m pterteehseqs
riuoenstoi
question
other-
hereafter. r
subjects-
of
to which I might refer. One of these is h
endowments—that is whether I- should support grants
for the endowment of churches or congregations. Now
prepared
taornd
e sdaayar t o
tehhatsatartelhe et
am
ma
or
congregations.os i shall
all t ooppd oissteti ar
disturb
y I t
ha
e furthernot
prepared
attemptai p
to e
esta-
blished Churches of England going
of Scotland, Scotland, but I make
no such statement with
res pect to the English church
in Ireland. I consider. that
ahnefdorleamvapr mrletpaareendtas soon as agmreeaatsuarboussheasliehxieshtrothuegrhet,
to aid in removing this abuse.
There is another question theogfdom greatest importance
citooeSsteiootnlaonidthaenpdootor-tthateeak.
kingdom
athsaerteglaarrgdes,
property of every
oloaumutroyf
iopinionthat
wthhtaetht
is
se
bound soil and
to
support thattha
tmiast matter,
ned
law thatr
on that soil Upon which they have
existence. I would, however, oppose any
compel a city like Glasgow, or any other district,
thwoaunl
and
support the poor of another district. I think that actlni
should be made, by some general law, to support its own
poor. In so far I heartily concur in the general poor-
law which the present Government brought forward
with regard to Ireland—and if that law be properly en-
forced, this country and England will be relieved of a
very great tax and burden upon it. With respect to
the levying of poor-rates, as far as I can bring my mind
to a conclusion, I think that property, or the profits of
property, or the rents of property should be the princi-
pal sources, if not the sole sources, on which to levy
poor rates. I believe that any other method of raising
the poor's rates will be found unequal and inquisitorial,
but on this subject I shall be prepared to receive the best
evidence from parties who know the question, to weigh
the effect with deliberate attention, and to arrive at the
best conclusions which their suggestions will enable me
to come to. I am not aware of any other subjects on
which it is necessary to address you. Foreign policy
is one, however, deserving our best attention. On that
point I am of opinion that the old diplomacy should be
done away, and that the best guarantee for prosperity
and happiness to a nation is peace.—(Cheers.) I be-
lieve that aggressive wars, or wars of opinion between
nations should for ever cease.—(Cheers.) These are
the principal heads of the great questions that will
be brought forward ire the next Parliament. If there
he any queetiene which voneul~lto put to tile
t tie ,-ce,rdft,t4 O'e
best information I possess, and according to my best
judgment.—(Cheers.) I thank you for the very kind
and warm reception you have given ma. I know that I
have trenched upon your time and patience, but trot

that any professions I have made, my past conduct will
I justify you in believing that I will be prepared frankly,
fearlesily, and honestly to carry out. Mr. Macgregor
sat down amid loud cheers.

REIGATE.—This snug little close borough, which has
been under the nomination of Earl Somers and the
owners of the Priory for nearly two centuries, is at last
about to be emancipated through the Liberal candidate,
H. J. Parratt, Esq., of Effingham House, who has been
canvassing pretty successfully against Mr. Somers Cocks,
the Protectionist nominee of Lord Somers, who has dis•
missed his own son, Lord Eastnor, the present M.P.,
because he voted for Sir Robert Peel's repeal of the
corn-laws.

THE WESTMINSTER REFORM

SOCIETY.

On Monday night a numerous meeting of the mem-
bers of the Westminster Reform Society was held at
Stannard's Uwe], Lipper Wellington-street, Strand, "to
appoint a Committee to superintend the registration of
voters for the city of Westminster, and to consider cer-
tain reports circulated by the agents of Mr. C. Cochrane
with reference to the society." Mr. Blake in the chair.
The Committee having been elected, and several new
members having been received,
Mr. HUOGETT, the secretary, stated that he had written
five letters (with the printed circular, that had been
sent to all the members) to five gentlemen who were
members of the society, and who it was reported had
given their support to Mr. C. Cochrane, in which he had
particularly directed their attention to the notice of the
circular, " that it was to consider certain reports cir-
culated by the agents of Mr. C. Cochrane with re-
ference to the society;" the circular having invited their
attendance.

The SECRETARY then, in answer to the Chairman,
said that not one of the five gentlemen were in the
room. But, in a few minutes, Mr. Hallett, who was
chairman of Mr. C. Cochrane's meeting at the Hanover-
square Rooms, entered the room. He however, left
before the business he was requested to be present at
came on, and which was delayed while Mr. Huggett
went to ask him to return. This did not take place, and
Mr. Huggett stated that in the course of a conversation
between Mr. Hallett and Mr. Rocker, a member of the
society, the former said that he had no charge to prefer
against the society.
Mr. Cox observed that in the course of his canvass,
he had heard it stated that the society had received from
4,000/. to 5,000/. from candidates and renre.sentatives,
which he "obtaine2 at a cost of 1001., proving that the
society bad received that sum of money. He
knew that
he had not received one farthing, while he had at various
times advanced money in support of the return of a
Liberal candidate, and he had never heard of any other
member of the society having had money given to him.
—(llear, hear.) For the credit of the society, a direct
contradiction to the slanderous imputations ought to go
forth, as he knew that the reports had been the means of
Mr. C. Cochrane obtaining some votes.—(Hear.)

Mr. lIUGGETT said thaTt Mr. Cox had been on the
Registration Committee and on the Committee for
general purposes ever since he had been secretary, which
was now nearly seven years.
Mr. Cox remarked that he had been a much longer
period than that.
Some members of the society stated that similar re-
ports had come to their knowledge, and it had been
asserted by Mr. Rogers, a surgeon, who was an
active supporter of Mr. C. Cochrane, that as much as
8,0001. had been received by the society.

Mr. T. P. HEALEY observed that the rumours were
calculated to affect the character of the society, and that
they ought to receive from them the most prompt denial.
—(Hear.) They ought to guard themselves against
these slanders, for it was only by having recourse to
such statements that the agents of Mr. C. Cochrane had
any possible success with the electors.—(Hear.) They
would, therefore, do him a service, while they would in-
flict a serious injury on the society. It was easy to be
shown that the members of that body had acted honestly
and disinterestedly, and with the beat intentions, to
promote the Liberal cause, and that in the selec
tion of Mr. C. Lushington they have asserted good
claims to the confidence of the constituency.—(Hear.)
It could be proved, without any difficulty, that the
society has been conducted on principles of the most
perfect independence with reference to the candidates
and to those Members of Parliament who had been
returned through its influence, whose conduct, from that
very circumstance, had been enabled to be discussed with
perfect freedom and independence.—(Hear, hear.) The
character of Mr. Prout, who founded the society, and
who had taken so warm an interest in its success, was in
itself a guarantee that nothing of a mercenary descrip-
tion would have entered into the councils of that society
—(Hear, hear.) lie thought that it was their duty to
show to the public that they had received no such benefit
as alluded to in the report, and that in the selection of
Mr. C. Lushington they were influenced by no motives to
dictate, but for the independence of Westminster. He
moved the following resolution:—
`reports having been circulated by some persons who
have given their support to Mr. Cochrane, that this
society has received funds from the representatives of
this city, and that our recommendation of Charles
Lushington, Esq., originated in some such benefactions,
this society, convened for the purpose of rebutting such
calumnies, resolve—

" Ist. That, shortly after the passing of the Reform
Bill, it was seen by most Westminster Reformers that it
could not be final, and in order to uphold the principles
long advocated in this city, it was deemed requisite to
form a society to enunciate and support further reforms.
" 2d. That this society was formed also to guard,
purify, and augment the registration of Westminster
electors.

" 3d. That all persons being electors, or by the tenancy
eligible to become so, may, upon the payment of five
shillings annually, become members of this society.
" 4th. That with the funds so arising, and with the
occasional pecuniary assistance of one member, who was
the first proposer of this society, and with the gratuitous
assistance of Mr. W. B. West, many (years secretary,
and the late William Trott, Esq., in the Revising Bar-
rister's Court, this society has, with the strictest economy,
been able to accomplish its important functions, but that
on no occasion has the society ever added one farthing to
its funds from any of the candidates or representatives of
this city."
Mr. lIOCKEN seconded the resolution.
Mr. PROUT observed, that in the year 1836, when the
seat of Sir F. Burdett was in jeopardy, on which occa-
sion the society took up Mr. Leader, the canvassing books
were nut in readiness. The funds of the society were
then very low, upon being acquainted with which Lady
Evans offered the sum of 101. in order that the society
might be able to prepare them. But at the meeting of
the society subsequent to the money being offered, it was
resolved that the money should be returned, which was
done, and he held in his hand the receipt of her Lady-
shid in acknowledgment. (The receipt was produced.)
For years they have been able to pay their secretary only
101., and now they can only afford to give him 201. per
annum, though the services of the gentleman holding that
office were worth at least 501. a year.—(llear, hear.) He
had been anxious to keep the society together, and in
that view had from time to time advanced different sums
of money. It was now in his debt 26/. 12s. 41, and he
having been owed at one time 89/. 3s. 10d. He was astonished
at the hardihood of some persons, who, with an utter
disregard of truth, had dared to promulgate such un-
founded charges against the society.—(Hear, bear.) He
was convinced that with every honest man the charges
would have no effect. The proceedings of the society
had always been carried on with a view to promote the
Liberal cause.—(Hear.) He did not allude to his own
exertions from any personal motives, but to show that
the society had always been deficient of funds, and he
was convinced the great majority of the electors would
feel assured that the society had acted with an honest
integrity, and for the support alone of the Liberal inter-
est of the city of Westminster.— (Applause.)
Mr. Coppock, Mr. Besley, Mr. Williams, &c., ad-
dressed the society, when thanks were voted to the
Chairman and the meeting separated at a late hour.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CriATnAm —Tuesdey night
about half-past twelve o'clock, a fire broke out on the
premises of Messrs. Thompson, extensive boot and shoe
makers, High-street, Chatham. The fire was observed
to issue from the top of the house, when it was found
necessary to break open the shop door, as the inmates
appeared undisturbed. On proceeding up the stairs, the
passage was found to be one body of flame, and owing
to the suffocating state of the staircase, the party found
it necessary to retreat. It was afterwards discovered
that the inmates had escaped from the roof to the ad-
joining houses. The military from the garrison, under
the direction of the Brigade-Major, Capt. J. S. Wood,
and other officers, were soon in attendance, and were
most efficient in protecting the property, as they lined
the street for some distance, and would not allow any im-
pediment to the public rendering assistance. Besides the
garrison engine, there was one from the Royal Marines,
under the command of Colonel Menzies, K.H., second in
command of the battalion; there was also the dockyard
engine, worked by the dockyard police, under directions
of Lieutenant Wise, R.N. ; as also another from the
ordinary gusrdship, Poictiers, with the ship's crew
under control of Lieutenant Tucker, R.N. The Kent
engine was also on the spot. The whole of these engines
were supplied most plentifully with water from Colonel
James Best's brewery at Chatham, which was brought
in their barrels on drays from that establishment, and,
notwithstanding the engines kept throwing a largo body
of
vitsewiz
sttemor
tot
hbnse taestablishmentand
jewellers,
u iaol dnf idnuga
el,
also
ost
rhtaeo.
Magnusfitrhee oh mo
umsaeuundoifc
samtoeusilrd:
jalastnoeasgßenutrretlol, athneextensive printer and stationer, and
The fire was not got Runodyearl uEextielhfaenegree,ellneesukratnheise-moffiereee:
ing. The damage done n
o is very considerable; the amount
aTso )o'emt
much
ca
hn nporta bi
see ecsatni ma
tt_ esd
b.
this bestowedas
on a
The N
dl e
os snr st .h Te
mh oiml
tpasroyn
aanre
insured in the Phcenix 90inei f
/andi nth e
Ih l ot Norwichersimilar
1 ,0001.
c
navy for their servicesn n
eon:
herxotutin Rochester did not
almarriveaite
untilisThe su
the fire was nearly extinguished.
The report presented by theeeutlalied
directors of the Com-
mercialo
ub t
fu l
Tuesday,debts,
m
showedthat,
I3an
after of Londonwriting
t offal!their
bad anidngdo n
and paying the charges and current expenses d
ofl the past
year, the net profits amounted to 13,87/. 2s. Out
of this sum a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum for the half-year ending the 31st Decemberetlt last
had already been paid, and it was now proposed that a
dividend for the half-year ending the 30th ult., at the
same rate, should be declared, and, as usual, free from
income-tax. After the payment of this dividhenedr,ep and
allowing for rebate of interest on current bills, a sum of
4,1731. 19s. 7a re,,-5i,1,4 to bi- eqrried to the reserve
fund, which, w;,,ti the vie during the
year,
would increase that fund to 14,325/. ss. Bd. The
and accounts were unanimously adopted.

A number of the Cabinet Ministers attended the
Ministerial white bait dinner yesterday at cireenwich.

DESTRUCTION of the SHIP PAL-
LADIUM BY FIRE.
Letters dated St. Helena, June 10, received yesterday,
communicate the loss by fire of the ship Palladium, 400
tons burden, Captain ltavilly, while on a passage to
Bourbon. The ship left Nantes on the 15th of March,
with two ladies on board as passengers, the crew, beside
the master, amounting to fourteen men. On the 4th of
May, in lat. 23 52 south, long. 25 50 west, smoke was
discovered issuing from the lower hold, which eventually
proved to come from the cargo near the bottom of the
hold. On account of the inflammable character of the
goods, chiefly pitch, oil, turpentine, oakum, timber,
&c., there was but little hopes of saving the ship
from destruction, nevertheless the men worked in-
cessantly on the pumps, but in less than an
hour they were forced to cease their efforts, the
smoke and heat becoming unbearable. The boats had
already been got over the ship's quarters, and the two
lady passengers placed in them, into which all on board
retreated, but all the provisions they could get at was a
small bag of biscuit and a keg of water, together with a
compass, a chart, and the ship's papers. Within half an
hour after they quitted the ship she burst into flames,
and continued burning until midnight. The sufferings
of the passengers and t':e crew were subsequently fear-
fully severe. They were ten days before they sighted
a ship. At length the Sutlej, belonging to Liverpool,
bound to Calcutta, picked them up, the master affording
them all the comfort and attention himself and his crew
could bestow. A few days afterwards, the Sutlej
meeting with a vessel bound for St. Helena, they were
transferred to it, and safely reached that island on the
9th of June last. Tho loss is stated to be little short
of 16,0001.

REGISTRY of BIRTHS and DEATHS
DURING THE WEEK ENDING JULY 17.
I
Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week.
Males ... ... ~. 479 males ... ... ... 600
Females ... ... 465 Females ... ... 582

__—
Total . . 944

Total ... 1,182

SUPPLEMENT TO THE “LONDON

GAZETTE" OF TUESDAY.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, LORD GREAT
CHAMBERLAIN'S-OFFICE, JuLr 21, 1847.
All Peeresses, on announcing their intention of being
present on the occasion of the prorogation of Parlia-
ment, will have places reserved for them in the House of
Lords. if the announcement be madp_itt_th.e..r.car.a...o.rayt
the 22d instant.
Peers' eldest sons, wishing to be present at the proro-
gation, will have tickets for the Peers' eldest sons' box
forwarded to them, upon a written or personal applica-
tion at the Office.
No strangers can be admitted, on the day of the pro-
rogation, except by a ticket from the Lord Great Cham-
berlain's Office.
The doors will be opened at twelve o'clock.
WILLOUGHBY DE ERESBY, G.C.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, LORD GREAT

CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, JULY 20, 1847.
Notice is hereby
given,
e
in consequence of the
approaching prorogation of Parliament, and the imme-
diate resumption of the works for
of tickets from the
for the completion of the
House of Lords, the weely that,iss
Lord Great Chamberlain's Office, for viewing the House
k
of Lord', will be for the present discontinued.
- WILLOUGHBY DE ERESBY, G.C.

_--
THE LAW OF MARRIAGE.
The following correspondence has taken place:—
cuolelist such h
.6 57, Coleman-street, Friday, July 9.
Sir,—May we beg. the favour of your informing us
whether communications made to the Commissioners on
the law of marriage will be received by them
ourmconfi xdeen:
communicationstial ly, wh ere parties
should require
sentit , and?
difficulty
ffi whatlt y addressf
eliciting
" We make this inquiry with a view of publishing
arstiesusof h
interested, extensivelyte
as
except
youripnefroi
re
information
t officialion w
havingans
from
pa
e answer
satisfied
seal of confidence, and we are sure that the Commis-•
stoners will appreciate the difficulty, when they reflect
upon the extreme delicacy of the condition in which
such parties are placed.
JulyllB
" We have the honour to be, Sir,
" Your very obedient servants,
U CROWDER and MAYNARD.
" To the Secretary of
,h,
Gervvyldajyerstys
House,
on the Law of Marriage."
7.
" Gentlemen,—l am authorised by the Commissioners
for inquiring into the state and operation of the law of
marriage, to inform you that communications made to
them shall be received by them confidentially according
to your suggestion, wherever the parties making such
communications desire it.

" I have also to request that such communications be
made in writing, and addressed to me as ' Secretary to
the Law of Marriage Commission,' under cover, to the
Secretary of State for the Home Department,' with the
words Law of Marriage Commission' written on the
corner of the cover.

" I am desired by the Commissioners to add their
suggestion that the communications so addressed to
them should be confined as far as possible to informa-
tion regarding the facts which may have a bearing on
the subject of their inquiry, especially as to the number
of marriages within the prohibited degrees of affinity in
the districts in regard to which the writers possess in-
formation, and within what particular degrees; in what
classes of society such marriages are chiefly contracted,
and whether the number of such marriages has dimi-
nished or increased since the passing of Lord Lynd-
hurst's Act in 1835. _

•' I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
" Your obedient servant,
"HERMAN MERIVALE,
" Secretary to the Commission .
" Messrs. Crowder and Maynard."

Miss BURDETT COUTTS'S NEW CHURCH.—The
ceremony of laying the first stone of St. Stephen's
Church, in Rochester-row, Westminster, by Miss Burdett
Coutts, took place yesterday, with the usual ceremonies
on such occasions, in the presence of an immense con-
course of people. Miss B. Coutts was accompanied by
Lady Antrobus, Lady Ring, Mrs. Rtunsden, &c. There
were present, besides the Bishop of London, who assisted
in the ceremony, the Bishops of Oxford, Adelaide, and
Tasmania; Lords Brownlow Sandon, and Ashley; the
Dean of Westminster, the 'Rev. Lord John Thynne,
Archdeacons Sinclair and Bentinck, and many of the
clergy of the Abbey and the adjacent districts; Sir F.
Trench, &c. The whole of the expense of the erection
of the church about to be built is to be defrayed by Miss
Burdett Coutts, together with the endowment and the
building of schools for 230 boys and 170 girls. The
site has been presented by the Dean and Canons of
Westminster. The churcli, which has been designed by
Mr. Benjamin Ferrey, of Trinity-place, and which will
be built by Messrs. Rigby, of Westminster; will be in
the decorated style of the fourteenth century. It will
contain a nave 82 feet long by 21 feet wide; aisles 82
feet long by 13 feet wide; and a chancel, 47 feet long by
21 feet wide. There will be a massive tower and spire
at the east end of the north aisle, the base of which
will be 23 feet square, and the entire height 200
feet. The materials used in the construction will
be Sneaten ragstone for the walls, and Anston stone for
the quoins and dressings ; the roof will be English oak
covered with lead. For the seats, stalls, and screens
Riga wainscot will be used. There will be a peal of
bells in the tower. The church will be capable of ac-
commodating 1,000 persons. The silver trowel used by
the munificent founder was presented to her by the in-
habitants of the district ; on it was engraved an appro-
priate inscription to that effect. The following is the
copy of the inscription enclosed within the foundation
stone of the church :
Hujusce dEdisi sacrosanette,
Deo, Creatori, Sospitatori, Sanctificatore
in honorem B. Stephani protomartyris, dictate,
lapidem auspicalem posuit
Angela Georgiana Burdett Coutts,
filia natu minima
Francisci Burdett, Bronetti,
hujus civitatis Westmouasteriensis
Suffragiis olim in Senatum per XXXI. annos
cooptati,
eadem ills, pietatis ergo in patrem,
et gratre in Deum observantim,
prop stunptu exstructura,
ornatura, dotatura,
quam nunc inch d
oavit mem,
singulare in hoc seculo tantm munificenties exemplar.
t.D.XIII Prid.
DCCCXLV II Aug.
A.M.
The Rev. W. Tennant, M.A , formerly curate of St.
John's, Westminster, has been licensed, on the nomina-
tion of Miss B. Coutts, by the Bishop of London to the
incumbency.
THREE FRIGHTFUL AND FATAL ACCIDENTS.—In
the course of Tuesday, the following frightful and fatal
accidents occurred:---The first happened to a labouring
man, named William Star, aged twenty-six, who, about
bwuailsdienng ngaigedth on a scaffold erected in front of a
large e Clapham-road, when he suddenly,
lost his footing, and fell from a height of upwards of 30
feet
ot or
bothth e
ground,
thus
iu sustainingalinjury,
tureury, besides a dread-
ful lacerated wound'with h a spinal
on the skull, by which the brains
wero injured. The poor fellow was conveyed to Guy's
Hospital, but the injuries were such as to defy all medical
skill, and deceased expired in about an hour after his
admission. Shortlyafterwards another fearful case was ad-
mitted into this institution, the sufferer being a gentleman
of fortune, who gave his name as William Gilbert. It
seems that Mr. Gilbert had been at Sydenham to pay a
visit to his two sons, who are staying at school there,
and on his return to town he was proceeding along the
road, and by some /peens slipped down, and from the
singular manner in which he fell he has sustained
a very
serious injury to both legs, the left • being fractured •in
two places, besides other bruises. A third
mishap,
and which it is to be regretted has been attended with'
fatal consequences, to)li place at Waterloo-bridge,
a lad named John rargater, aged about eight, livinEr wlt • h
his friends at No. 13, Salutation-place, Cornwall-road,
Lambeth. The unfortunate boy was playing with some
other lads at the steps at Waterloo-bridge, and by some
means fell down and rolled to the bottom from a heightsnae
of about twenty feet, and received such fearful wounds
that it was deemed necessary to remove him at once
Charing-cross Hospital, where he expired
after-
wards.
FALL IN TUE PRICE Or BREAD.—Yesterday the
bakers throughout the metropolis lowered the of
the 41b. loaf id. The best bread is 9d. to 9id. priceee ond
quality, Bd. ; and in the Blackfrisrs..,VOU,t Westminster,;
Whitedapel, tad 7d.