The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING JANUARY 4, 1847.5

of for providing the employment unfortunately so
necessary for the support and maintenance of the
destitute labourers. But a rule prevails that the
Irish Agricultural Society are not to meddle in any
manner with the law. A mutual jealousy and dis-
trust exists amongst all dames, and they appear to
fear that if there was a possibility of any such dis-
cussion, the power would be abused and the objects
of the society would be perverted from those for
which it was originally called into existence. A
resolution for a partial suspension of the rule was
therefore received with the most determined hos-
tility, and its adoption led to so many re-
signations and withdrawals from the society
of its most influential members, that the op-
portunity afforded by the suspension was
never acted on, and the rule was speedily restored to
its original stringency. Such has not been the course
of " The Highland and Agricultural Society," and
their behaviour presents an advantageous contrast to
that of their Hibernian brethren.
During the past session an Act directly bearing on
the interests of all the agricultural classes, from the
proprietor to the labourer, was sanctioned by Parlia-
ment. It applied to all parts of the United King-
dom, to Great Britain as well as Ireland. It pro-
vided for an advance from the Consolidated Fund of
a large sum of money : two millions for Great Bri-
tain and one million for Ireland—to be issued in loans
for the purpose of drainage. This Act undoubtedly
contained several serious defects, which prevented it
from being taken advantage of as fully as would
otherwise have been the case ; but, at the
same time, it presented many useful features, which
might be made available by some slight alterations,
and several of its provisions will be acted on by the
Government, and have been used in the New Trea-
sury Minutes. In Ireland there was no general
body competent to discuss its details, or to give it
their consideration for the purpose of seeing how far
it could be carried into execution. Every difficulty
was loudly complained of, but no means were taken
by which these difficulties could be obviated. Because
it was not perfect it was cast aside as utterly value-
less, and those who saw ruin staring them in the
face from the operation of the Labour-rate Act, and
the application of the large sums of money expended
under its provisions in works of a useless and un-
productive character, did not exert themselves to take
advantage of the facilities actually offered to them.
Because some few were debarred by the Act from
obtaining loans thereunder, a cry went forth
that it was wholly impracticable. This was not the
case in Scotland. The directors of the Highland and
Agricultural Society considered it to be their duty
to give the measure their best consideration, so as to
enable them to express to the society their opinion,
in regard of the advantages it offers ; that opinion
they have now published in the report to which we
have alluded, and it will he seen, therefore, that al-
though there are many points in which it may be im-
proved, that it is still considered deserving of their
approbation, and may be brought into operation With
good effect. In the report they point out the man-
ner in which parties desirous of obtaining a loan are
to act, how, and to whom the application is to be made,
and what steps are rendered necessary before
it can be obtained, and then they discuss the
questions which will naturally arise. The first and
most important of these questions appears to be how
far the Act will prove financially advantageous, and
on this they express their decided opinion that the
terms offered are favourable to the borrower, and
they show how the necessity of the applicant expend-
ing the amount, in the first instance, before he ob-
tains the advance (looked on as a fatal obstacle in
Ireland), may be obviated, viz.—by lodging the pro-
visional certificate with a bank as a security for an
interim advance, 'which can easily be obtained thereon,
if the applicant is a man of good character. They
then meet the next question by declaring that " Not
only is the procedure indicated by the Act simple and
economical, but also that the Commissioners are dis-
posed to give effect to it in such a manner as to sub-
ject applicants to the least possible expenses." And
they cite the observations which Mr. BLAMIRE
(one of the Commissioners) has recently cir-
culated throughout the country. They then offer
a few simple suggestions, the adoption of whicl-,
without in any manner departing from the principle
of the Act, would be very beneficial to the borrowers;
and also powers which it would be desirable to have
introduced into any new Act. We venture to say
that this conduct on the part of the society will in-
duce many to avail themselves of4he provisions of the
statute with benefit to themselves and advantage to
the country ; and we are convinced, that had the Agri-
cultural Society of Ireland acted in like manner,
ruinous evils would have been avoided. Unhappily
for Ireland the habit has been to look exclusively to
the Legislature or the Executive to utter loud com-
plaints, but use no active exertions; while, on the
other hand, the Scotch meet their difficulties fully
and fairly, and carefully examine the resources within,
their power, and do not refuse to avail themselves"
thereof, f, because they might possibly be made stilt
more beneficial. We trust that the Irish will take
example by the precedent thus afforded, and use every
means within their power before they give themselves
up to despair.

posts from which the race of foolishness is most fre-
quently commenced. This distemper of the mind,
when freely indulged, gains upon its victim with in-
credible velocity. It hurries man into the most ridi-
culous excesses. Beneath its unbridled license the
temple of reason suffers every species of devastation,
till folly, oppressed by the many cares she has
brought on herself, resigns the seat she has usurped
in favour of her heir apparent, insanity. This legiti-
mate successor completes the work of ruin. Instances
of this deplorable revolution of the mind are painfully
frequent. They are confined to no class or profession.
The gay and the grave, the laical and the clerical, are,
in turns, unwarily seduced by the glittering retinue
of reason's acknowledged rival. Folly, by her
attractive conceits, intoxicates mankind. But,
of all those who drink deeply from her cup,
none commit such fearful extravagances as mem-
bers of the clergy. A clerical mountebank
is a sickening spectacle. Buffoonery in a parson is
insupportable. So intensely does the mind nauseate
at the idea of a clergyman having suffered his intel-
lect to become prostrate, by a false and craving appe-
tite after vulgar fame, that it becomes difficult, at
times, to assign the excesses of his conduct to their
just cause. Precisely such a problem, in its full
perplexity, is presented to our view in the career of
the Rev. BRYAN KING, in connexion with the proof
he has recently afforded of his utter incompetency to
discharge, in a becoming spirit, the duties appertain-
ing to the sacred office of a Christian minister.
The unenviable distinction which this unfortunate
and obdurate gentleman, as rector of St. George's-in-
the-East, has acquired, may be summarily disposed of
in a few sentences. He once presided over a large, in-
telligent, and influential congregation, who became
completely alienated in their feelings towards bi',
by reason of the extensive innovations he introduced
into the Church service. The parishioners memoria-
lized the Bishop of LONDON. The Bishop replied,
that be could not interfere, regard being had to the
strict letter of the rubric, but that he had nevertheless
written to the minister, recommending him not to
persevere in matters of form, where the sentiments of
his parishioners, as a body, were strongly opposed to
the ceremonial alterations. The advice of the Bishop
produced no effect. The parishioners then refused to
sanction the payment of the rates, which they had
usually granted for the necessary repairs of the
church. The dissensions increased—the congregation
dispersed to attend other places of worship. The Rev,
Bitvax KING remained almost "alone in his glory,"
and continued " playing fantastic tricks before
high heaven " in his desolate temple, where the bt 11
threatened to cease to peal, the clock to strike, and
the organ to sound. Such, in brief, have been the
disastrous effects of wilful obstinacy and deficiency
of comprehension. Time passed on, and the Reverend
Gentleman deservedly sunk into oblivion, which was
death to the presiding principle of his mind ; the love of
spurious fame seized upon the earliest opportunity of
gratifying his all-devouring passion.
An inquest was held upon the body of the sister-

The following are the addresses and the answers :-
4 APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN THE NAME OF THE DIPLOMATIC
BODY.
" Sire,—The diplomatic te.dy always awaits with the
same hope the return of the solemn epoch of the new
year, because it loves to offer to you, in the name of the
Sovereigns it has the honour to represent, the most
sincere wishes for the perfect prosperity of your
Majesty, of your royal family, and of France. It is
also with a profound satisfaction that it congratulates
you, Sire, on the maintenance of general peace, the
admirable result of the wisdom of your Majesty, and of
the other Sovereigns and their Cabinets. It is the finest
title to the gratitude of the people, whose glory and
happiness are promoted by this happy harmony. Proud
of the general felicity, your Majesty has seen renewed
at the same time the joys of your royal family, which
has caused, and will always cause, the sweetest consola-
tions to your paternal heart. Your Majesty will still
many times witness this auspicious day, which will find
you as glorious on the throne, as happy by the side of
your royal and virtuous companion, in the bosom of your
numerous and brilliant family. Deign, Sire, with the
wishes and congratulations of the diplomatic body, to
accept the homage of its profound respect."
His MAJESTY replied:—
" I am deeply touched by the sentiments you have just
expressed for France, for my family, and for myself,
in the name of the diplomatic body, and of the Sove-
reigns whom you represent at my Court. I feel with
you the confidence that Heaven will continue to bless
our common efforts to secure the maintenance of ge-
neral peace, that fruitful source of the prosperity of
states and of the happiness of their people. It is as
much in my own name, as in that of the Queen and of
all my family, that I thank you for the interest that you
feel in the renewal of the family joys which Providence
had reserved for us, and which are, as you express it,
one of the sweetest consolations that could be accorded
to us. You know how agreeable it is to me to receive,
through your organ, the expression of the wishes of the
diplomatic body."
" SPEECH OF DUKE PASQUIER, CHANCELLOR OF FRANCE,
PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF PEERS.
" SiFe,—Time passes on, events succeed each other,
circumstances differ ; but what is eminently wise, just,
noble, and grand remains only more solidly fixed
in the place which public esteem and admiration have
assigned to it. Such is already, Sire, the judgment of
the contemporary spectators and witnesses of your reign,
and history will ratify their judgment. Commenced
in the midst of a storm, which menaced to shake
what it did not throw down, passing through times
marked with difficulties of all kinds, and even
perils, it has saved and consolidated everything. Its
length has already, thanks to Providence, exceeded
the longest of those which it has been pleased to accord
to all the powers, all the grandeurs which have sue
ceeded each other its this space of half a century, when
after so many painful trials, your name at last appears;
it will remain there as the symbol of the indissoluble
and complete alliance of these two things—monarchy
and liberty, the ardent love and pressing want of which
no efforts, no revolutions, have been able to extinguish
in French hearts. The high and mighty reason which
was alone capable of obtaining so glorious a success
could alone found the calm, but firm and always generous
policy, which your Government has followed for sixteen
years, and from which it will never depart. Such a
policy leaves to men's minds only one anxiety—that
which springs from the desire that nothing may trouble
your glorious work, and that our posterity may inherit
after us the advantages which we enjoy. But Heaven
has deigned to accord to us largely what could
best respond to this wish. Already your dynasty
appears in the future, rich, and proud of the
numerous scions which, under your tutelary and
cherished shade, grow and advance with new
generations, whose destinies will be one day confided
to them. The year which has just concluded has beheld
a union accomplished, which was to complete the circle
of so many beautiful and grand existences, and no one
that fixes his thoughts and looks on the young Princess,
whose illustrious origin is embellished by her native
;races, and by the qualities which they promise, can say
tat this last choice that you had to make is not. the
worthy complement of all those which have so happily
preceded it. I may add that none could be more French.
Receive, Sire, the felicitations which that event inspires
us with; we address you not only as Peers of France,
but also as members of the great family from which your
paternal regards are never turned away; and of which
the interests, so perfectly comprehended, are always
present to you. Happy the country where it can be said
that to wish the King long years of life is' to wish to the
cation which he governs long years of happiness, and to
the civilised world all the happiness which peace brings
in its train."
The KING replied:—
"As you have said, the problem to be solved was the
alliance of monarchy and liberty; it was to make nations
feel that liberty has need of monarchy, and to prove to
kings and princes that monarchy has need of liberty. It
is from having misapprehended this principle—it is from
having believed, on the one hand, that liberty was in-
compatible with monarchy, and on the other that mo-
narchy was incompatible with liberty, that France had
been dragged into revolutionary storms. May God pre-
serve other nations from the like ! May our example
convince states and kings that monarchy and liberty
may live and prosper together, but that they cannot do
so except at the price of mutual confidence. If the
national will has raised me to the throne, it
•s because the tenor of all my life presaged
that all my efforts would tend to ensure the
triumph of this principle, and that there was no
secret thought to be apprehended from me. You
have so well seconded me in this task, that in this
seventeenth anniversary we can congratulate ourselves on
having happily accomplished it. I hope that with your
loyal assistance, as long as it shall please God to preserve
me in this world, we shall continue to strengthen our
institutions and the prosperity of France. I thank you
for your felicitations on the marriage of my son; I see
with pleasure how much this event, so happy for my
family and myself, has been appreciated by the Chamber
of Peers.
This reply was followed by cries of "Vive le Roil"
H. SAUZET, PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
" Sire,—The Deputies present in Paris hasten to an-
ticipate by their good wishes those of the whole Cham-
ber. In saluting the Royal Family, so nobly grouped
around your throne, our eyes are fixed upon a young
Princess who has recently come to partake of and to
increase so much happiness and brilliancy. Niece of
our Queen, she will possess her Majesty's virtues.
She is of a blood and of a country which have in
all times given illustrious Princesses to France. She
brings among us a lively and natural grace, which
reminds us at once of both her countries, as her
consort lately caused delight on the other side of the ry
renees by that affable and generous character which is
equally worthy of two great nations which, without
lowering their dignity, have frequently drawn closer the
• ties of their ancient and salutary friendship. Sire, let
us bless the double favour of Providence, which, by en-
dowing France with so many Princes qualified to serve
her in all her fortunes, has willed that the happiners of
your alliances should answer to the grandeur of the
presents it has bestowed upon you; and if among all
these happy and brilliant pairs the magnificent chain of
which your Majesty's youngest son has so very recently
and worthily closed, our pious recollections cannot forget
the void which has been made in past time, we love at
least to contemplate all that he leaves for our respectful
admiration, and our dearest hopes, under the noble and
fraternal guardianship of the first support of your
Crown. May, Sire, this pleasing idea of having s 6
nobly accomplished your fraternal task, repay the labours
of that other royal and not less paternal task which you
pursue, supported by the concurrence of the country, with
that calm and confident courage which is the feelings of
wise kings and great people, for it is the sentiment of their
strength and the guarantee of their future welfare.
Soon, Sire, at your call, the representatives of France
are about to assemble. The Chamber will carry to the
Crown the freely deliberated expression of its political
ideas ; bnt while waiting for that solemn manifestation
which belongs to it alone, we fear no contradiction in
affirming that your Majesty will find it always faithful
to the rights of nations as to the sentiments of the
country ; attentive to the numerous wants which
in difficult times have called forth. from all parts
the most touching virtues, and the highest examples, and
more particularly unanimous in its affection for the coun-
try, and for the national throne with which your devoted.
ness and our gratitude have long identified its destinies."
The KING replied :
" I am much touched with the sentiments that you ex-
press for my family and for me. You know well how
devoted all who belong to me are to France; but the
expression of these sentiments is at once, for them as
for me, a great support and a great consolation for
what we have suffered. The way in which you have
spoken of the marriage of my youngest son has gone
straight to my heart. It is delightful to me to see that
this alliance, which can but consolidate the good relations
Which have so long and so happily existed between Spain
and France, is generally appreciated in the two countries
in the way in which you have just expressed it, and
that there is seen in it at once a new guarantee for the
reciprocal independence, and for the constitutional
li-
berty which both enjoy. As I said just now to the Cham-
ber of Peers, it is one of the blessings of my epoch to
have comprehended that monarchy has as much need of
liberty as liberty has of monarchy, in order to preserve
themselves mutually from all danger. lam glad to re-
peat this to you, because I am convinced that it is the
opinion entertained of my sincerity and of my probity
in defending at the same time the rights of the people
and the rights of the throne, that I owe the national

in-law of Mr. HAGGERTY, furniture dealer, in Rose-
mary-lane, Whitechapel, which was discovered in the
London Dock basin. The jury, according to the version
given by Mr. HAGGERTY before Mr. YARDLEY, the
magistrate at Thames •street, was " found drowned ;"
according to the statement subsequently made by the
Rev. BRYAN KING, before the same authority, it was
couched in these terms :—" Threw herself into the
waters of the London Dock communication, and was
drowned therein ; but in what state of mind un-
known." Mr. HAGGERTY complained to the magis-
trate that, having paid the customary fees, and the
remains of the unhappy woman having been conveyed
to the churchyard, the minister refused to read the
burial service ; and that, though he had applied to
have the fees returned, they had been retained.
Mr. YARDLEY informed the applicant he had
no jurisdiction in the matter.

On Saturday, the rector, in a very excited state, ap-
peared before the magistrate, denied that he had been
requested to refund the fees, and added, that " IF any
person had received such fees on his behalf, it we;
without his knowledge and against his wishes, for
that, under the circumstances, he would not have
allowed any burial fees to be taken." His Reverence
avowed that, from the character of the verdict, he
had declined to bury the corpse, and wound up with
a violent philippic against Mr. YARDLEY, charging
him with having " expressly countenanced the publi-
city of an ex parte statement in the Times," and with
having "prostituted his so-called court of justice to
one of the worst and most nefarious purposes." What
a compound of bombast, ignorance, and inhumanity
is here disclosed ! Besides all this, we have a little bit of
special pleading, in the shape of an unc!erical hypothe-
sis. Quem Deus vultperdere prius dementut. Did not
his Reverence really know, before he went to the
magistrate, whether fees had been actually received ?
If he did not, he might easily have ascertained the fact
by inquiring of his clerk, or some other subordinate;
and this is what a high-minded man would have
done at once, and, if true, have ordered them to be
returned, instead of dealing in "ifs" before Mr.
YARDLEY.

With respect to his absurd notions of the duties
of a magistrate, and his insane notions of jus-
tice, the rector was in so complete and dignified a
manner laid on his back by. Mr. YARDLEY, the,
out of very pity, we would not aggravate his
plight by any remarks of our own. But, in,regard
to his avowal that his duty as a minister of the Gospel
prohibited him from reading the burial service under
the circumstances in question, the public are deeply
interested in doing all in their power to prevent the
repetition of such shameful antics. Taking the terms
of the verdict to be as represented by the rector, the
woman might have been sane or insane when she
precipitated herself into the water. The legal pre-
sumption, founded upon the verdict of twelve men,
who solemnly and judicially investigated the cause o'
death, is, that she was not in her right senses. Shall
it be said that religion is outstripped by law in
the principles of enlarged charity? Assuredly not.
The truly religious presumption is identical with the
legal, in the present instance; and it is loathsome to
find any egotistical minister attempting to establish
a distinction between them, leading to a practical
denial of the last offices of religion to an unfor.
tunate deceased, and to the needless laceration of the
feelings of the survivors. We protest against an v
hair-brained clergyman setting up his individual
judgment against that of twelve jurymen. Were the
Rev. BRYAN KING to cast himself into the Thames
to-morrow, we are quite certain that a jury would
have no difficulty in taking a merciful view of his
act, and that his relatives would be spared the same
trial to their feelings which those of the connexions
of poor SUSAN WHELAN were heartlessly condeuined
to suffer.

The Augsburg Gazette has the follov►wing from
Rome, 21st ult. :

" A secret consistory was held this morning at the
Quirinal Palace. The Pope, after a short allocution,
announced to the assembly that he had thought fit to
appoiut to the office of cardinals Mgr. Balad, the Arch-
bishop of Tuvola, and Mgr. P. Marini, Governor of
Rome. The following nominations have been also re-
cently made:—Cardinal Elmat, to be Legate of Bologna;
Cardinal Ferrette, to be Legate of Urbin and Pesaro ;
and Mgr. Grassenni, to be Governor of Rome."
In consequence of the unsettled state of affairs in
Switzerland, a cordon of Austrian troops is to be
established along the frontier of Upper Italy.

The Nuremberg Correspondent of the 29th tilt. has
the following :
" The Danish Government has received a note from
the Russian Cabinet, signifying that the indivisibility
of the Danish monarchy can only be maintained by
legal means, and the more so as the Court of Co-
penhagen seemed to be itself convinced that the
right of the Agnates to the succession of Holstein
could not be disputed. We can affirm, from a source
worthy of faith, that the King of Denmark has
himself candidly expressed this opinion to the Duke
of Augustenberg, his brother-in-law, and it is to be
inferred from the letter patent. This attitude of the
Russian Government is the more worthy of notice as it
furnishes an evident proof that the relations between the
three northern powers have not experienced any change
from the question of Schleswig-Holstein. It is certain
that the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin have addressed
strong representations to the Court of Copenhagen re-
commending it to abandon a policy which disturbs and
undermines peace and order in the states of Denmark,
and keeps up a fermentation in Germany, in which are
,nixed, in addition to the national tendencies, other
elements of discontent."

•
An example has been afforded to the members cf
;he Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland exhibiting
be great benefit they might have conferred on their
country had they not suffered themselves to be fettered
and restricted by their 14th General Rule, and thus
prevented from examining into the details of the
measures either pending before, or sanctioned by, the
Legislature, and with which the agricultural pros-
perity in all parts of that kingdom is most intimately
connected. Such societies are chiefly useful in bring-
ing prominently before the public, particularly that
part of it interested in an improved cultivation of the
soil, all means by which the greatest amount of pro-
duce can be obtained therefrom, and its capabilities
fully tested and developed. It would naturally be
supposed, that whenever any new enactments had been
sanctioned by Parliament, having for their avowed
object an increase in the productiveness and value of
land by any means whatsoever, the employment of
labour and the general health of the community,
a full investigation would forthwith be instituted by
the society into the benefits that might be thereby
obtained, how far the adoption of the provisions
thereof would be practicable, and whether these laws
were likely to effect the desired ameliorations; and, if
so, to make them public, that all who were not pos-
sessed of full information might learn what was
within their power, and that if any defects really
existed, they might be fully explained, the good sepa-
rated from the bad, the wheat winnowed from the
chaff, and suggestions offered by which the Govern-
ment may be enabled to judge how far they could
obviate the difficulties and give additional effect to the
advantages. If such would come within the sphere
of duty of such a society in ordinary times, how much
more so
and dire would it have done in a season of such deep
vails distress as that which unhappily now pre- 1
NV/ opportunity: should be seized hold

Madrid papers to the 27th ult. have arrived. The
Ministry is again on the point of breaking up. The
Esperanzasays—
" The Ministerial crisis has re-commenced. Mon and
Isturitz will remain at their posts. Bravo Murillo is to
be Minister of Justice, and Arleva, Minister of the In-
terior. Vidal will be
elected President of the Cortes."
In commenting on these appointments, the
Espanol says that the Ministerial crisis has not been
put an end to by the junction of Senors BRAVO MU-
RILLO and ARLEVA to the Cabinet, in lieu of PIDAL
and CANEJA, as Senor MoN will not consent to Senor
PIDAL'S resignation. The Clamor
Publico declares
that six of the Ministers have resigned, and that this
resignation has been accepted. The same journal
says that the state of
the finances is not at all satis-
factory to the Ministers. Considerable uneasiness
prevails on account of the designs attributed to the
Count of MONTEMOLIN.
There is a Carlist rising in Catalonia, for the
Fomenta, of Barcelona, of the 25th announces that
the Captain-General had marched against the in-
surgents.
The Progressistas, on the opening of the Cortes,
intend to demand the suppression of CHRISTINA'S
dowry.

support. (Here the King was interrupted by loud cries
of Vive le Roi l') Receive my thanks for myself, fur
my grandson, for his worthy mother, and for his unele,
who will guide him in the career which he is destined to
pursue after me. The devotedness and their fidelity in
performing their duties and their engagements will
secure the grandeur, the prosperity, and the welfare of
France."

We have received the Paris papers of Friday and
Saturday.
The KING on New Year's-day received, and re-
plied to, the usual addresses of the corps diplomatique,
the Chamber of Peers, the Chamber of Deputies and
the clergy of Paris. His MAJESTY 'did not appear to
be suffering at all from ill health. The rumours
which were circulated ou this subject on Wednesday
were, therefore, without foundation,

affected with what you say to me on the subject of the
marriage of one of my sons, anti with the wishes that
you feel for France, for my family, and for myself."
The sojourn of the Count DE MONTEMOLIN in Eng-
land appears to occasion considerable anxiety to the
French Government. The Revue des deux Mondesl
which, it will be remembered was the first periodical
that published the substance of the Notes of M
GIIIZOT and Lord PAL➢fERSTON on the Montpensier
marriage, gives the following account of the designs
of the son of Don CARLos,and of the means which he
possesses for their accomplishment :
" When Don Carlos's son arrived in that capital, he
communicated to Lord Palmerston his anxious desire to
have an interview with him. It was enough to make
Lord Palmerston eagerly pay a visit to the Pretender.
To the Count de Montemolin, who asked how the Eng-
lish Government would view his stay in England, the
Whig Minister replied that he might remain there in
perfect freedom and safety. Some days after the Count
de Montemolin returned Lord Palmerston's visit, and
this other interview lasted above two hours. We
cannot pretend to know what passed on the occa-
sion, but that long conference excited great attention,
and the strange overtures said to have been made
by the Whig Minister to the Pretender were soon
talked of in the diplomatic world. Is it true that Lord
Palmerston advised the Count de Montemolin to acknow
ledge Queen Isabella, to return to Madrid, and resume
his rank there as an Infante of Spain, and member of
the Royal Family ? According to Lord Palmerston's
design, Don Carlos's son would have thus promptly be-
come the centre and leader of a considerable party ; he
would have exercised great influence over the Cortes,
and perhaps prepared the restoration of the Salic
law. This proposal did not please the Pretender—he
declined it, telling Lord Palmerston that he had
already refused more. There was, indeed, a time
when, by submitting to a certain person, the Count
de Montemolin might have married the Queen. This is
what the Pretender alluded to in telling Lord Palmers-
ton that he could not accede to the proposal. Don
Carlos's son will not be treated as an Infante of Spain,
for he considers himself the king of that country. He
will therefore continue in England until further orders,
and there, with Lord Palmerston's approbation, he will
intrigue, raise a loan, buy arms, and prepare to kindle a
civil war in his country. The Pretender is said to have
projects on the Balearic islands. According to what is
alleged, he will attempt to take possession of Minorca,
and establish himself at Mahon, which will be his capital
until he can enter Madrid. Such a design cannot dis-
please the English, who will gladly advance money to
Don Carlos's son, when mortgaged on the Balearic
islands."

The Bey of TUNIS embarked from Toulon on
Christmas-day, on board the Labrador steamer, for
Tunis.

The Presse and the Debate , still continue their po-
lemic on the subject of the English alliance.
It was reported on Thursday that M. MARTIN (du
Nord) had had an apoplectic attack. The Presse of
Saturday contradicts this rumour, and mentions that
M. MARTIN was one of the Ministers present on Fri-
duy, at the Tuileries, at the reception of the KING.
The same journal says—
" There is much talk in the political world of the
schism which, on the occasion of the Spanish marriages,
is said to have taken place in the ranks of that part of
the Opposit►on known by the name of the Left Centre.
Faithful to the policy of the Constitutionnel, M. Thiers,
it is said, persists in wishing to attack with vehemence
the marriages, responsible in his eyes both for the rup-
ture of the English alliance, and for the annexation of
Cracow, the consequence of which two events is the
isolation of France. Messrs. Billault and Dufaure ire,
on the contrary, it is said, favourable to this act of eman-
cipation of France with respect to Great Britain ; they
thus withdraw from the opinion of the Consti'utionnel, to
come nearer that of the Siecle, which only wants—in
order to be entirely worthy of eulogiurn—to be less
timidly expressed."

According to the Gazette de Berri, 1,200 pieces of
cannon and howitzers, destined for the fortifications of
Paris, are now ready.
COURS AUTIIENTIQUE.-Paars, JAN. 2.---French Five per
Cents., 118 f. 20c. 25c. 30c.; Four per Cents., 105 f.; Three
per Cents., 80f. 30c. 25c. 20c. ; Treasury Bonds, 31,4 3 m.,;
Bank of France Shares, 3,400 f. ; Romans, 10034 • Bel-
gian Five per Cents. (1842), 102 f. Exchange on London-
one month,paper, 25f. 32tAc. ; money, 25f. 321/2c. ; three
months, paper, 25f. 22%c.; money, 25f. 221hc.
RAILWAYS.-For cash-Strasburg and Bale, 217 f. 50c. ;
Northern, 641 f. 25c. ; Bordeaux, 560 f. ; Paris and Lyons'
508 f. 75c. ; Paris and Strasburg, 4821. 50c. ; Nantes, 487 f.
50c. ; Cette, 4501.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JANUARY 2.
Demerara, 334-East Indian, %-Great Indian Peninsular,
%-Namur and Liege, 34-Northern of France Consti-
tuted, 13%-Paris and Lyons Constituted, 84-Paris and
Rouen, 36-Paris and Strasburg Constituted, 263/-Sambre
and Meuse, 4%-West Flanders, 2%.

AWFUL DESTITUTION IN TILE HIGHLANDS OF SCOT-
LAND.—The accounts from the Highlands and Islands
of Scotland are truly awful. The labouring population
of Sutherlandshire, Ross shire, Inverness-shire, Argyle-
shire, and of the Hebrides and the Zetland Islands, al e
at this moment threatened with starvation in conse-
quence of the total failure of the potato crop. Already
have many of these poor people perished from cold and
hunger, and, horrible as are the sufferings of the desti-
tute Irish, we believe they are quite equalled by those
of the poor inhabitants of the Highands and Islands cf
Scotland; but, as there are no coroner's inquests in Scot-
land, and but few local newspapers, deaths from starvation
take place, and the public are uninformed of the occurrence.
Under these circumstances, the Edinburgh Committee
for the Relief of Destitution in the Highlands have
determined to appoint a deputation to proceed to London
for the purpose of holding a public meeting and laying
the claims of the suffering population of the Highlands
before the people of England. We highly applaud this
resolution—the sufferings of the people have been great
indeed, and we are sure that the English public will not
be the less ready to come forward generously for their
relief because they have been born with an uncom-
plaining fortitude which reflects honour upon the Scotch
character.

The accounts of the Quarter's Revenue will not be
'ully made up before rfuraday next. We believe, how-
ever, that the apprehensions felt in some quarters, or the
predictions put torth in others, as to any serious falling
off in the receipts, will prove to have been entirely
groundless. The great sources of the Public Revenue
hold their ground, and exhibit a result from which
nothing is to be dreaded for the stability and buoyancy
of the national income. In spite of the dull season of the
year—at the Net v time when the reduction of some, and
the total abrogation of other duties on imports, by the
tariff of last year, might be expected to be felt in some
degree—and before the recuperative energies of the
country were in full play—still the Customs' duties will
not exhibit the falling off which had been so confidently
predicted. This is one of the most gratifying and con-
clusive evidences in favour of the extension of free trade
doctrines that has yet been produced. The Excise, too,
the next large and important item, and which, more than
any other, exhibits the condition of the people of England,
will show no evidences of being influenced by the partial
destitution which so unhappily prevails. The other
items are neither of such amount nor so much regarded
as it icative of the national prosperity or otherwise, and
exb less variation. The whole financial condition of
the country is most satisfactory.
Das PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.—The tenth anni-
versary of the above society was celebrated,at the Crown
Commercial Inn on Tuesday, the 29th ult., with great
hilarity, by a large assemblage of gentlemen, tradesmen,
and amateur performers of the town and neighbourhood,
when several instrumental pieces, judiciously selected
from the works of Haydn, Jullien, &c., were admirably
performed, which being interspersed with glees, songs
&c., chosen for the occasion, and sung with considerable
taste and precision, elicited the warmest applause, and
appeared greatly to interest all present. The ohair was
ably filled by Mr. Thomas Farrow, whose urbanity and
good humour tended materially to enliven the company,
and keep them together till a late hour. The dinner
and wines were served up in " mine host's" usual good
stile, and the whole went off with great eclat, and gave
general satisfaction. The national anthem was sung, in
grand chorus, at the conclusion, after which the gen-
tlemen retired to their respective homes, highly de-
lighted with the arrangements and entertainments of the
evening.—From our Diss Correspondent.

THE POTATO DISEASE.—At the meeting of :the
Botanical Society of London, held last Saturday even.
ing at the Society's Rooms, 20, Bedlord•street, Strand,
J. Reynolds, Esq., treasurer, in the, chair, Mr. Browne
communicated a paper "On the Potato Disease." The
author planted a piece of ground this year with exclu-
sively diseased potatoes, every one of them rotted; con-
tiguous to them the author planted sound potatoes (ap-
parently), the majority of which produced, but were ill
affected by their bad neighbourhood. The author also
planted in pots all the diseased rotted. The potatoes
being planted in tolerably good land, the crop succeeded
to the author's complete satisfaction; the potatoes were
packed in powdered quick lime, this speedily decomposed
or destroyed the vital principle in the unsound ones, while
the sound and dry ones were not affected by it, and
effectually preserved from infection from the diseased
potatoes which had been decomposed. The produce of
the potatoes so managed was about sevenfold; but, to
compensate for this deficiency in quantity, the author
had never had potatoes so thoroughly sound and in all
respects excellent.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE EASTERN COUNTIES
RAILWAY.—On Friday an accident of a serious character
occurred at the Cheshunt station, by which one of the
signal men in the service of the company met with an
instantaneous death. The unfortunate man, whose name
is George Pivett, had, it appeared, been appointed to the
Cheshunt station but a few days. On the day in ques-
tion, a few moments before the afternoon express down
train passed the station, he. was seen by the station-
master in the act of passing over the rails, and imme-
diately after his signal lamp was discovered lying be-
-tween the rails of the down line, and Pivett was found
lying some 40 yards from it. He was quite dead, his
head was dreadfully crushed, and the train seemed to
have passed over cue of his legs. From the position the
body was found it, it was evidently the buffer of the
engine which had caught and carried him the distance
described. An inquest has since been held on the body,
and a Terdict.of " Accidental death" returned.