The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-02 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

The following is a copy of a dispatch from Mr. Paken-
hare, her Majesty's Minister at Washington, to Viscount
Palmerston, on the subject of the customs' revenues of
the United States under the new tariff, printed by order
of the House of Commons:—
" W:;,hineon, March 29th, 1847.
"My Lord.—Her M jt s;'sGo..erninent will be glad
Ito hear that t• -.e s.ion of Congress el .s d without any
'addition having been made to the rates of import duty
established by the tariff of last year. That measure
will, therefore, now receive a fair trial; and I am happy
to say that there are already such indications of its
almost certain success, that it may be considered, as it
were, beyond the reach of danger; I speak with refer-
ence to the amount of revenue produced by it. It was
confessedly for the sake of revenue that the exorbitant
tariff of 1842 was introduced, and it was on the assump-
tion that the moderate tariff of last year would not pro-
duce a sufficient revenue that it was so strenuously
opposed by the advocates of the protection system.
Now, let us see what has been the result, so far as the
experiment has yet gone.
" The new scale of duties came into operation on the
Ist of December last—that is to say, not quite four
months ago, and from the enclosed statement, for which
I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Walker, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, it will be seen that the receipts
under the reduced scale of duties during the period em-
braced in the return exceed those of the corresponding
period of the year before, when the high rates were in
force, by nearly a million of dollars. I think it likely
that by the end of the present month the excess will
amount to quite a million.

" This is a matter of great interest to England at the
present moment, when it is of so much importance that
our export trade should flourish, in order to meet the
heavy demand upon the resources of the country, occa-
sioned by an extraordinary importation of food.
" In this point of view, if the new tariff had only
produced the same amount of revenue as the old one,
the result would still have been very gratifying, because
to create the same amount of revenue under a reduced
scale of duties it is obvious that a proportionate increase
must have taken place in the quantity of goods im-
ported, in which increase England, of course, had her
natural share • but when we see that the reduced tariff
produces at the rate of 250,000 dollars per month more
than the high one, the satisfactory result of the experi-
ment becomes more strikingly apparent.
" It may be said that the period embraced in the en-
closed return being that immediately following the re-
duction in the duties does not afford a fair criterion of
what may be the ultimate working of the measure. But
I do not think that this argument applies to the case
under consideration,—

" In the first place, because we see that the month of
December, the first month of the new system, was not,
by upwards of 100,000 dollars, as productive as the suc-
ceeding month of January, thereby showing that there
was no unnatural or extraordinary influx of foreign
commodities immediately consequent on the introduction
of a lower rate of duty, to be counterbalanced by a fall-
ing off at a later period.
" In the next place, because it should be borne in
mind, that simultaneously with the new tariff, the ware-
housing system was for the first time introduced into the
United States, which everybody knows has a tendency
to made the introduction of merchandise, or rather the
clearance of goods for consumption, steady and gradual,
and proportioned to the wants of the market.
" Upon the whole, my Lord, looking to the natural
effects of an improved commercial policy, and to the state
of general prosperity and well-being which pervades this
country at the present moment, owing, principally to a
F teady demand for all sorts of agricultural produce at
remunerating prices, I think it can scarcely be doubted
that the consumption of foreign merchandise must, for
the present year at least, exce« d the average of former
years, and thus help to redress the balance of trade,
now, owing to an unfores( en calamity, unfortunately so
much against us.—l have, &c.,

" R. PAKENHAM."

AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE FOR THE
BENEFIT of MR. LEIGH HUNT.—Before the recent
bestowal of a pension of 2001. a-year, for life, on this
graceful and eloquent writer and excellent man,
several gentlemen connected with literature and art,
had proposed (as we announced a few weeks ago)
to give a dramatic performance in Manchester, and
another in Liverpool, about the end of July, devoting
the whole of the proceeds to the benefit of Mr. Leigh
Hunt. The amateurs joining in this generous pre ject
include various amateurs already widely known to fame
—Charles Dickens, Douglas Jerrold, Forster, and other
literary men ; while from the ranks of artists, stand
forth George Cruikshank, James Leech, Frank
Stone, and others. To these gentlemen it seemed
that a dramatic performance would be the most
delicate and agreeable mode of attaining the object.
they proposed to themselves ; and, to quote the words
of Mr. Dickens,—" if the performance could be achieved
by amateurs, themselves associated with letters and art,
it would be such an appeal to the public by literature, on
behalf of literature, as Mr. Hunt might naturally regard
with no other feeling than pride." Mr. Dickens states
Mr. Hunt's services and claims in the following
words :—" Mr. Leigh Hunt, one of the most genial
and graceful writers in the language; who has ever
laboured for the welfare and happiness of mankind; who,
in poetry, and in prose, has charmed and improved huns
dreds of thousands of readers, whose added claim upon
the generation risen up, is, that he has suffered in their
time, and upon the generation coming on, that he has
taught them, better than any other man, what to
read, and where to find it, and how best,
by sympathy and ennobling thoughts, to elevate
the commonest things around them into sources of de-
light, and perfect themselves in the cheerful and patient
philosophy which no one has better proved than he, in
his whole life and character: Mr. Leigh Hunt, grown
grey in such service, is in unprosperous circumstances,
and in bad health. He needs respite from labour, and
relief from anxiety." Notwithstanding the gratifying
intelligence that a pension has been at last settled upon
Mr. Leigh Hunt, the amateurs still adhere to their
generous determination to give the communities of Man-
chester and Liverpool an opportunity of substantially
expressing their gratitude to him for his numerous pro-
ductiens in various departments of literature—especially
in the essay, in criticism, in poetical analysis, and in
lyric, descriptive, epic, and dramatic poetry. From our
advertising columns, it will be seen that, a communica-
tion having been received from Mr. Dickens, a meeting
of gentlemen of Manchester favourable to the object, is
to be held this (Wednesday) afternoon, at half-past
three o'clock, at the Clarence Hotel, over which Mr.
Charles Swain has consented to preside, for the purpose
of taking steps to aid in carrying out the generous in•
tention of the literary amateurs.—lllancliester Guardian.
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.—The eleventh an-
nual meeting of this company was held yesterday, at
the offices in New Bread-street, City. G. F. Angas,
Esq., having taken the chair, the manager read the
report of the directors, from which it appeared that the
total value if the company's property was 302,023/. Bs.
3d., in which, however, the mineral property was not
included. The expected improvement in the circum-
stances of the colony had been realised. The rental
from the town buildings was 3,391/. 4s. 7d., and from
the country lands 3,6931. 2s. 6d. The total quantity of
country land leased was 14.256 acres. The sales of
stock during the year amounted to 2,7831. 4s. 2d., and
the value of sheep and cattle killed !or rations during
the same ps riod was 899/. 6s. Bd. The net proceeds of
the wool sales amounted to 2,890/. 1 ts. 3d., bring only
about 606/ less than the tutu' receipts from wok,l last
year, while the remainder of this year's clip would
realise in all probability 2,000/. The gross number of
sheep in October last was 38.379, of horned cattle
2,592, of horses 102, and 150 goats. The revenue for
the past year was 15,819/. 45., and the expenses were
11,6971. Bs. 10d. Mr. Giles estimated a clear profit of
5,000/. next year, from the newly discovered mines of
the company. During the year, the debt to the South
Australian Banking Company had been reduced nearly
18,000/. ; besides which, the advance made by the Bank
of South Australia for the purchase of the mineral lands
had been repaid to the extent of 6,000/. During the
year, about 300 tons of ore had been received. A sample
from Lynedoch Valley sold for 171. 16s. The directors
regretted they were unable to advise the declaration of a
dividend, but hoped it would be the last time they would
be compelled to make such an announcement. The report
was adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to the
directors and managers, when the meeting adjourned.
ACCIDENT AT THE BLACHWALL RAILWAY TER-
MlNUlL—Yesterday, abcut noon, a fatal accident occurred
at the goods depot of the Blackwell Railway terminus,
Crutched Friars. It appears that a man named Peter
Summerfield, whilst engaged in lifting the cradle, a piece
of machinery used for raising heavy weights, dropped a
shilling, which fell below the spot where the cradle de-
scends. The unfortunate man went below, leaving
another party to do his work, and whilst searching for
his shilling the cradle was lowered, and before h
time to get out of the way, he was crushed
violence as to break his legs and back, and
w sent
dreadfully injure him. Three medical me witho
se otherwise
had
time
quitee extent.
for, but by the time they arrived life
was
The deceased has left a wife and three children totally
unprovided for.
The Journal
dessa des
NEWS NEWS FOR THE GEOLOG
lett_er,dat_ed othese
Dawes publishes the following
4th instant:—"Th
the Counsellorlmperial of
University State, Erdmann,oof
i 0
rpat
Pro-
fessor of Geology set
who at this moment is travelling in the south of Russia,
has discovered in
a property. situated to the north of
Odessa several skeletons of fossil animals of enormous
dimensions. Th.e. skeletons are 83 in number, viz.,
6 elephants, 1 rhinoceros, 2 OXeD, 4 stags, 1 antelope,
Gl bears, 2 hyenas, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a ruminating
animal, species unknown. Those skeletons, together
with the bones, were found under a thick layer of cal-
careous earth. The discovery made by M. Erdmann is
the more remarkable, as hitherto there never has been
any remains of the antediluvian animal reign discovered
in Russia."

THE EXHIBITION IN WESTMINSTER 1-I&LL.—This
exhibition, as announced on Saturday, was opened to the
public on Monday last. Probably owing to the greater
interest excited by the present than either of the former
exhibitions under the commission, the hail was more
crowded than on any previous occasion. On Monday,
from nine o'clock until dusk, a continuous stream of
visitors passed through the exhibition, and the numbers
have increased each succeeding day. The paintings to
which the premiums have been awarded attract the
greatest amount of ob,;ervation ; but the collection alto-
gether, if one may judge from the success which has at-
tended the exhibition, appears to be highly attractive to
the public. A very large number of the nobility and
gentry visit the hall daily.
R. COBDEN, ESQ., M.P.—We understand, from
authority on which we can rely, that the Dunlerd pro-
perty near Midbursr, where the lionournble Member
tor Stockport wus born, and indeed which may be con-
sidered as his patrimonial estate, has been virchased
either by, pr icsr OA& 601;leaPui—.5voix sicivertioer,

HORRIBLE and INHUMAN TREAT-

MENT OF A BLACK BOY.
On Wednesday a long and interesting investigation
took place before Mr. T. Wakley, M. P., coroner, and a
most respectable jury, at the Bedt6rd Arms Tavern,
High-s reet, Camden-town, concerning the death of
Daniel Hunter, a youth of colour, aged 18, alleged to
have tied tr: m being c,,mpedf:d f,,hop in a dirty,
dark, and damp undergr-tm:l e.-Ilar, by his master, Mr.
Edgard Pinder, chemist, of 123, High-street, Camden-
town.

The inquiry h :3 been instituted by the coroner in
consequence of the reciipt by that functionary of a re-
quisition signed by several. inhabitants, containing the
above charge, and much interest was excited on that
account.

The coroner and jury viewed the body, and the place
where the deceased had been in the habit of sleeping up to
the day previous to his death. It was a perfectly dark
opening under the shop, about four feet and a half high,
between the joists supporting the shop flooring, the only
ventilation being a few holes in the steps entering the
shop above. In it was a stump bedstead, and at the head
of the bed some bricks, which were so damp, that when
Tiffin, the summoning officer, placed his finger between
them, and withdrew it, he found his finger covered with
wet. The boards were rotted through, and the place
was filled with straw and all kinds of refuse.
The following is a narrative of the circumstances con-
nected with the deceased as detailed to the jury :—lt ap-
pears that about five years since the deceased, who was a
native of the West Indies, a as brought over to this country
by a lady named Hutton, who made a will in his favour.
About three years since this lady, under the authority of
a commission of lunacy, was dragged from her house at
Brompton, and conveyed to a lunatic asylum, where she
shortly after died. At the time Mrs. Hutton was being
dragged from her door to be placed in a cab, notwithstand-
ing the cries of the deceased, Mr. Weaver, of Park street,
Camden-town, was passing, and onmaking inquiries, and
hearing the boy was left friendless, he took him home,
and he lived under his protection until about ten months
since, when Mr. Pinder, wanting a lad as errand boy, he
engaged deceased, agreeing to give him half-a-crown a
week. The deceased was a lad of an exceedingly mild
and easy disposition, and never complained. The evi-
dence went to show that about three weeks ago he
caught cold through going out to Chalk Farm and
sitting in his wet clothes, and became very in—so ill as
to be unable to do his work. He was medically attended
for cold an the lungs, but notwithstanding he was labour-
ing under this complaint he was allowed to remain in
bed for eight days in the place above described, and on
Thursday last he expired. No notice was given to the
coroner, but at the desire of Mr. Pinder a post mortem
examination was made by Mr. Meld, of King-street, and
Mr. Hillier, of Francis-terrace. The body was to have
been interred on Sunday, but by order of the coroner the
funeral was suspended. The medical gentlemen named
stated the result of their examination to be that the de-
ceased had died from pneumonia and pluritis, caused by
exposure to wet and cold.

Several of the jury commented very strongly on the
conduct of Mr. Pinder, who had declared that his pre-
vious boys had slept in the same place, and that all
others should do so. They ultimately returned a verdict
—" That the deceased died from disease of the lungs
from exposure to wet and cold," and appended the fol.
lowing:—" That, having viewed the place where de-
ceased was kept while labouring under the disease from
which he died, the jury consider that place to have been
a very improper one as a sleeping place, not only for a
person affected with dis, ase cf the lungs, but even for a
person in good health, and earnestly recommend to Mr.
rinktr not to require any servants of his fur the future
to occupy that pia, e it

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.— The Queen and
hi: Royal Highin-ss Prince Aloort, acc3uipa by
‘heir Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgiins,
honoured the perkralancis at hf r Majesta's Theatre
last evening with their presence. The ro) al sthe com-
prised the Countess of Df sart, the Countess Vander •
straten, Lord Byron, Colonel Buckley, Lieutenant-
Colonel Seymour, and Major Nloeriterke. There were
al.o present, their Imperial Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Old( nhurgh and suite, the Duke
of Wellington, the Prince Louis Napoleon, the
Duchess (Dowager) of Bedford, and Lady Rachael
Russell, the Duke and Duchess of Cle,iwiland,
the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Ailesbury,
the Marquis Camden, the Baroness Brunnow and Mdlle.
Olga de Lechner, the Countess of Westmoreland, the
Earl and Countess of Sefton, the Countess Dowager of
Charleville, the Earl of Chesterfield, the Viscount Can-
terbury, the Viscount Somerton, Lord Al`.flonald, Lord
Ernest Bruce, Lord and Lady Clarence Paget, Lord
Gardner, Lady M lesworth, Mr. and Lady Augusta
Wentworth, Lady Trollope, Lady Charteris, Lord
Townsend, Mr. C. deKondriaffsky, Hon. Mr. Arbuthnot,
Hon. R. Cousen, Hon. Julian Fane, Mr. and the Hon.
Mrs. Anson, Mr. Hubert de Burgh, Major Baring,
Captain Lyon, Captain Manselle, R.N., Captain Smith,
Mr. and Mrs. Hodstson, Mr. Bernal, Sir G. Anson, Mr.
Pultney, Mr. and Mrs. Grimwood, Captain Bidulph.
The Cour Royale of Paris has delivered a judgment,
which is important as it affects the responsibility of
agents-de-change. M. Leak brought an action against
M. Vandermarcq, an agent-de-change, for the value of
twenty-nine shares in the Orleans railroad, which had
been stolen from him, and which had been negotiated on
the exchange by M. Vandermarcq, without his having
any knowledge of the vendor. The Tribunal Civil had
rejected the claim of M. LeTe, but the Cour Royale has
established it, and decreed the restitution of the twenty-
nine shares, with all the interest and dividends accrued
upon them since the day they were stolen, or else to pay
to M. Lev 6 a sum sufficient to purchase as many new
shares in the same railroad.—Ga/ignani.
A CORN-DEALING FARMER.—It is a practice in
the Bedford market, to an extent not generally suspected,
and if stated, would probably be doubted, of farmers
becoming purchasers of corn to enhance the price, and
make a profit on their purchases. An instance occurred
last Saturday in this town, of a farmer becoming a pur-
chaser of corn, at this particular crisis, which may be
worth recording. Mr. C. Higgins, son., was at the
Swan Hotel, showing a sample of wheat, when Mr. Pain,
of Folmersham, having had a few glasses of wine, his
optics magnified each kernel as large as a grain of Indian
corn, and the sample was so fine and plump that he con-
cluded a bargain of 675. 6d. per load for 130 loads. As
Mr. Pain seemed to be taken with a corn-buying pro-
pensity, he soon had plenty of offers with better samples
at 595. but he had found out his mistake; the fit was
over, and it was "no go." On the following Monday,
the price at Mark lane fell from Gs. to Bs. per quarter..
Mr. Pain's purchase is therefore not worth so much by
801. as he bargained for. Can there be any commisera-
tion for a large occupier coming into the market, and
becoming a purchaser with a sordid object, if he commit
an error of judgment? He bad better have brought
his own produce into the market, and sold it at a market
prim—Bedfordshire Mercury.

YEOMANRY CORPS IN THE UNITED KINGDO.M..—..
It appears from a return to the House of Commc,ns, that
the total charge for the Yeomanry cavalry in Great
Britain, for the year 1842, amounted to 101,704/.; the
number of officers to 845, and the number of men to
13,358. In tho year 1843, the total eharge amounted to
95 4701.; the number of offietrs 10 893, and the number
of men to 14,311. In 1844, the ehrge amounted to
87.6221.; the number of officers to 873, and the number
of men to 14,189. In 1845, the charge amounted to
82,1821.; the ',umber of t.ffieers to 896. and the number
of men to 14,353; and ih 1846, the total chart►" amounted
to 87.9481; the number of officers to 884, and the num-
ber of men to 13,818.

The Societe d'Economie Charitable has proposed
for the essay of this year the question of supply of food,
and M. de Cormenin, one of its memb,rs has offered a
prize of a gold medal worth 1,200 fr. to the writer of the
best memoir. He thus lays down the problem—" It
being ascertained that the population of France doubles
itself' in 138 years, we shad have in 34 years and a half
an increase of 10,000,000 souls, making at least the gross
amount of 46,000,000. To know positively how much
corn these additional 10,000,000 will consume, we must
take the lowest average of consumption, which is three
hectolitres 20 litres a-head for all the inhabitants, men,
women, and children, which gives for the present popu-
lation of 36,000,000 of souls, 115,000,000 of hectolitres.
When at the end of 34 years we shall have 10,000,000
souls more, we shall require an addition of &mu
hyeecatroslitthastre, thean and by
im-
portttion
31' 000 000 to 32' ' 000 000 hectolitres. Now, it is esta-
blished by ryturnsmadbeeeinn
2thl
,e 0 last
26
of corn has
other returns made in the last 14 years, that the importa-
tiono of cattle during
this period has cost us 114,000,000 fr.
Hence it ensues that France would produce annually at
upon an average the quantity of food necessary
for
re
36,000,000 souls. If then, in-
stead of 36,000,000 she will have to support 46,000,000
tmheesstubsistence of her
and she certainly will have them, and if this increase
requires. upon the lowest calculation, an increase of
31,000,000 or 32,000,000 hectolitres, we must inquire
from what sources, by what means or process, France is
to procure this excess." The memoirs are to be sent
before the Ist May next, to the Society's Secretary, No.
25, Rue de la Plauche St. Germain, where a programme
of the questions may be otained.—Galignani.
GLASGOW GRAIN MARKET.—Our grain market
since last week has been, and still is, in a very languid
state. This is easily accounted for by the very favour-
able accounts that are daily received from all parts of the
country, and a general expectation that the harvest will
not be so late as was recently anticipated. A very
limited business is doing, and that almost entirely among
consumers, and prices have a tendency downwards.—
National Advertiser.

MATRIMONY AND MEAL.—A buxe,m country girl
in Aryshire left her place last Whittun term, with the
merciful determination of putting a matrimonialperiod
to the doubts and sighs of her stalwart swain ; but
having the bump of caution large, she read of high,
markets, and sagely pondered thereon; and ultimately
the last week arrived at the dwelling of a civic func-
placed implicit reliance, and tre-
questediona) as ~
ain wmhoom sheparticularst
favour that he would pareher his advice. The question she put was, whether
markets were likely to rise or fall? ":or," added she in
i
a whisper, " Alick and me ntendit to gang thegither
at this time, but I canna mak up my mind to't wi'
the meal at 2s. 3d. a peck. Alick, I see, wad risk it
at two shillings; but faith I'll no try't aboon aughteen
pence."
NEWINGTON BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOLS.—•
The annual exan.ination of the children of this FCbOr.A,
which is located in a populous district of the boroue, of
Lambeth, took place last night. Mr. J. H. Palma,
sided. The children di,played a knowledge and
gence highly creditable to the ma,t(r, and grr
.tifying
to
the supporters of the schools. The repor of the com-
mittee having stated that the condition
had obliged them to raise the weekly
pittance paid by
the par !tits, the cktirman expres.f d the finances
ad%tr org belief that
the advancing spirit of lib nalitv
- Would, ere long, force
the Government to adopt ,neo.tl
kYFA(na of national edu-
cation as shculd be free from ,4.11 religious tests and
distinctions, and open to the pat.e,cipsttioo of all, witboU4.
respect pf Ferimcl

POOR-LAW COMMISSION.
The thirteenth annual report of the Poor-law Com-
missioners has just been printed. It opens with a state-
ment of the amount of poor-rate received and expended
in England and Wales for the parochial year ending
Lady-day, 1846, and which is compared with the expen-
diture of the preceding year.
In the expenditure for the relief of the poor there
was, in 1846, as compared with the previous year, a
diminution of 77,677/. In the law charges there was a
a decrease of 12,1121; in the county and borough rate
an increase of 21,2801.; and in the total expenditure
from the poor-rate there was a decrease of 102,5521.
The following table shows the expenditure for four

years:—
Expenditure for the Poor.
Years ending Lady-day.
1843 £5,208,027
1844
1845
1846
The total number of paupers (in-door
3a3n0d505u. . t)
dree,.
lieved in 1845 was 1,470' 0 70- in 1846, 1
crease in 1846, 140,413.
'
On the whole population o
the last census, 15,906,741; this gives
_a per tentage o
paupers in 1845 of 9•2, and in 1846 of 8.4.
The Commissioners are not able to state the corn,
plete amount of the poor-law expenditure for the year
ending at last Lady-day, but they entertain no doubt
that it has considerably exceeded the amount for the
preceding year. This increase
they attribute to the
failure of the potato cropof 1846, which, by raising
the price of other previsions, materially influenced the
condition of the poor; for whereas in April, 1846, the
price of wheat was 5-ts. lid., in April, 1847, it had
risen to 755. 6d. In the former year a quarter of the
principal sorts of grain and pulse (wheat, barley, oats,
rye, beans, and peas) could be purchased for 101. 9s. 2d.,
in the latter year their price had risen to 16L ss. 611.
Amongst the agricultural labourers of Wiltshire, So-
mersetshire, and Devonshire, where the allotment
system prevails, the effects of the potato blight have
been severely felt, and out-door relief has beon granted
to many who formerly relied on their gardens, and
whose means were also crippled by an unusually cold
winter. The report states--
" We may here mention, with reference to the failure
of the potato crop, that it became necessary for us, in
numerous unions, to sanction an alteration in the work-
house dietary by the substitution of some other article
for potatoes. The substitutes have for the most part
been bread or boiled rice; in other cases, turnips, car-
rots, parsnips, cabbage, peas, or hominy have been used.
We have likewise, at the desire of the Board of Trade,
instructed our Assistant-Commissioners to obtain infor-
mation upon certain particulars respecting the failure of
the potatoes. From the reports which have been sent
in, and which have been transmitted to the Board of
Trade, it appears that the failure of the potatoes bas ex-
tended generally over the country, but that the earlier
sorts of the potato have failed the least.
" Other causes also have contributed to increase the
expenditure for the relief of the poor since last autumn
in the manufacturing districts and the large towns.
Owing to the high price of cotton, and the diminished
demand for manufactures, the hours of work have been
shortened, or the work has been even temporarily sus-
pended in some factories in the Lancashire district.
Moreover the severity of the distress in Ireland has
produced an influx of Irish, in a state of extreme desti-
tution, into several towns on the western coast of Eng-
land. Liverpool, as being the port nearest to Dublin,
and with which the principal steam communication is
carried on, received the largest number of this class of
immigrants. The numbers having begun to increase in
December, advanced rapidly in January and February
last, and still more rapidly in March and April. From
the 13th of January to the 20th of April, during which
period an accurate account of Irish immigrants was kept,
there arrived at Liverpool 133,069 persons from Ireland.
The Select Vestry adopted prompt and efficient mea-
sures for meeting the increased number of applications ;
and it will be seen from the annexed Report of our
Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Austin, that these mea-
sures were attended with considerable success in pre-
venting imposition, and in providing for the destitute.
The precautions taken by the vestry against the spread
of fever and disease, from the crowded dwellings of the
Irish, are on a large and expensive scale ; but not, it is
to be feared, beyond the necessity of the case. 77.
"It has not been thought advisable by the local autho-
rities to make any attempt to pass the Irish immigrants
back to Ireland under the 8 and 9 Vict. c. 117. Some
have remained chargeable on the rates of Liverpool,
others have proceeded further into the interior of the
country, but several thousands have emigrated to Canada
or the United States. Many have reached Manchester
and the other manufacturing towns of Lancashire, as
well as of the West Riding and Cheshire ; and we have
received statements from several Boards of Guardians
on the subject of a provision for the increased number
of Irish vagrants. Large numbers of Irish have also
landed at Newport and Chepstow, and have thence
moved on to Cheltenham and other towns in the mid-
land counties. A considerable number of Irish poor
(estimated at about 1,000 within a week) have recently
been landed in London by steamers from Cork and DO;
lin. In addition to these, some Irish have reached the
metropolis from Bristcl and Newport.
"The Removals Act of last session (to the operation
of which we shall advert more particularly hereafter),
has likewise increassd the amount of reliet to the Irish
in the large towns, especially in the metropolis. By the
operation of this Act, Irish and Scotch, who have been
resident five years in an Engii-h parish, become irre-
movable from that parish ; and thus many Irish, who
had been resident for that period, became applicants for
relief, although previously to the passiz,g of that Act,
they had been deterred from applying by the fear of
being passed back to their own country. The expecta-
tions of benefit under this Act formed by the resident
Irish in the metropolis appear to have been excessive,
and led to their applying in large numbers to several
London parishes and unions at the beginning of the
winter. The pressure was, however, only temporary,
for the applications have been generally met by an offar
of the workhouse or out-door labour, and the offers were
in few cases accepted,
"Owing to the combined operation of the causes
above stated, (namely, the general failure of the potato
crop throughout England, the high prices of corn and
other articles of food, the length and severity of
the winter, the diminution of manufacturing pros-
perity, the large immigration of destitute Irish
into England, and, in some degree, the operation of the
Removal Act), the pressure upon the poor-rates has
been considerably increased since last autumn, and the
poor-law expenditure for the year ending Lady-day,
1847, will, when ascertained, doubtless prove to have
been greater than that for the preceding year. We
have, however, the satisfaction of being able to state
that the boards of guardians and other local authorities
have found no serious difficulty in overcoming the ob-
stacles against which they have had to contend, and that
the system of relief has been efficient and orderly. In-
deed we are not aware that, at any time since we have
held our present offices, the administration of the poor-
law has been in a more regular and satisfactory state
than during that period since last autumn, or has been
conducted with,a more willing co-operation on the part
of the local authorities."
In reference to appeals against the decisions of audi-
tors there occur the two following paragraphs*—
"An important portion of our duty, in connexion
with the audit, has been to receive application in
the nature of an appeal under section 33 of 7 and 8
Viet., c. 101. We have considered that, as the object
of the provision was remedial, the auditor might be
called upon to state his reasons even after the conclu-
sion of the audit, and we have accordingly received
applications from parties who had neglected, at the
time of the audit, to require that the reasons for
the allowance or disallowance of any item should
be stated in the book by the auditor. Several
such appeals have been made to us in a formal shape.
In many of them, the party complaining has bees
satisfied with the expression of our opinion, without
wishing us to issue a formal order. In ten cases, how-
ever, such orders have been issued, of which seven went
to establish the lawfulness of the reasons assigned by
the auditor, and three decided against those reasons.
None of these orders have yet been removed into the
Court of Queen's Bench ; a course which it is compe-
tent for any party to take who is dissatisfied with our
decision.
" We are advised that, in these appeals, we are only
competent to consider the lawfulness or unlawfulness of
the reasons assigned by the auditor, and that we cannot
go into equitable considerations, or make allowance
for the good intentions of the officers against whom
sa3, surcharge or disallowance may be recorded. We
have had, in some cases, reason to regret the hardship
which is thus necessarily brought on individuals by
the introduction of a system of greater strictness ; but
we are satisfied it a discretion had been left to the com-
missioners, the result wouln have been great uncertainty
on the part of the
auditors and the officers themselves ;
each individual ease Would
efl.'ave presented some exas
ing the money, and each portfoliou person or body ex pend-
culated on the probability
of the
body would have cal-
enough in the particular instance to equity being strong
conuntoissecure a favourable
sioners.
decision from the Poor•law
these cases of hardships will gradual'
auTdAihatewaiituildibise:
tors, each acting over a large surfaLee,air. make known the principles on which theireotititry;owtihiel
conducted ; and the chance of success on
commissioners will be a matter capable oPbPeeal
ascer-
tained with more certainty, in proportion as deci-
sionsmmogre are given with reference to similar cases." The total expenditure for medical relief, in 1845 a
174,3301. ; in 1116, 175,269/. The number of Persons
vaccinated was, in 1845, 362,087 ; in 1846, 271,219.
The ratio of persons successfully vaccinated to the
number of births was, in 1845, 100 in 140 ; in 1846,
100 in 187.
The law relating to pauper lunatics and the Sanatory
Act, are thus noticed by the Commissioners :
" The Act 9 and 10 Vic., c. 5, which contained some
amendments of the statute of the previous year relating
to county lunatic asylums, removed one of the difficul-
ties which existed in regard to the removal of pauper
lunatics, in cases where the lunatic was not such as to
require confinement in an asylum, is one likely to be
Cured by the medical treatment therein. Under
the previous statute it was considered by the Justices
that they had no discretion, but were bound to issue an
order in every case which was brought before them.
The Ist section of the new statute declares that it shall
not be incumbent upon the Justices, and the °thee
parties who are competent to act in this matter, in all
cases to issue the order; and it requires such Justices
and parties to satisfy themselves as to the propriety of
confining the lunatic in an asylum before they sign the
order, except, indeed, a medical certificate be obtained
from the medical officer of the union, in which case this
4tiseretion is removed.
'" The Sanatory Act (9 and 10 Vict., c. 96), for the
to -coeval of nuisances conferred certain powers upon
boa ,rds of guardians, to enable them to procure the
seta oval of such private nuisances as are of a nature
,
calm .fted to injure health. We thought it El-

•
visable to issue a circular letter to all boards of guar-
dians to point out the nature of its provisions, and the
powers and authorities which the statute conferred upon
them ; and we urged upon the guardians the exercise of
these powers. A difficulty was suggested as to the
proper construction of the statute, with reference to the
places in which the boards of guardians could act and
we were consulted, on several occasions, as to the extent
of its operation in rural districts. We expressed our
opinion that the Act had a general operation in all parts
of England and Wales ; and we are glad to learn, from
a communication lately made to us by your direction,
that the Law Officers of the Crown have given the same
opinion. We believe that many boards of guardians
have acted upon the statute with beneficial result.
The report concludes with the details of the proceed-
ings in Ireland under the Poor-law Commission.

AN AUSTRALIAN ROMANCE OF

REAL LIFE.

We have been favoured, says the Gateshead Observer,
with the perusal of a letter received in Gatesbead from
the other side of the globe, bearing date "Melbourne,
Oct. 25, 1846." The writer, Mr. Jas. Nelson, formerly of
Northumberland, but now a colonial farmer, reminds
his friends that a vessel named the Britannia left this
country with emigrants six years ago for Sydney, and
never arrived at her destination, nor was heard of else-
where. Sometime, however, in 1846, a discovery was
made which gave a clue to her fate. In Gipp's Land,
on the sea-coast (a tract of country inhabited by only a
few whites), a shepherd in search of a stray sheep,
found the Christian name and surname of a stray female
scratched on a tree. The first name was " Eliza," the
second Mr. Nelson had not learned. He made known
what he had seen, and an inquiry was immedi-
ately set on foot. One of the black women,
who abound in the neighbourhood of Melbourne,
averred that a white woman was among her
countrymen, and that she had seen a child (or children)
which she had by a black (or blacks). This woman, it
is understood, was a passenger on board the Britannia,
and the only survivor. The police—horse and foot,
black and white—were set in motion, and ascertained
that she was kept in durance by two superiors of a na-
tive tribe, who observed great wariness and secresy in
their movements. One of the mounted police informed
Mr. Nelson that he had one night slept within thirty or
forty yards of the woman, but did not know of it until
too late. One of the wives of the black men, the
keepers of the Scotch woman, was taken, and gave the
police some information. The authorities, who are most
anxious to recover the prisoner, got a number of hand-
kerchiefs prepared, with inscriptions in Gaelic (from
which we presume that she was known to be a High-
lander), intimating that armed white men were seeking
her rescue, and suggesting that she should walk
abroad in early dawn. These were to be dropped in
various parts of the " bush," in the hope that they
might meet her eye; for there was reason to believe
that she was ignorant of the efforts that were being
made to restore her to freedom. On the 22d of
October, the Shamrock, Sydney and Launceston
steam-vessel (which calls at Melbourne both
ways), left Melbourne for Sydney with these
handkerchiefs on board, in charge of a body
of armed men (ten blacks and six whites). On
the arrival of the steamer off Gipp's Land, the
exploring party were to leave her in two whale-boats,
and disperse the handkerchiefs. Other measures

were also to be adopted, but, if possible, no violence
was to be used. It would have been easy to resort
to compulsion, but the colonial Government were un-
willing to take any step which might place the pri-
soner in jeopardy, and bury in oblivion the fate
of the emigrant ship. The blacks state that she
was wrecked on the coast ; that some of the per-
sons on board got to land ; that the natives at-
tacked them ; and that they retreated to their boats, but
were overtaken and destroyed, with the exception of
this woman. The two men who have her in possession
are said to be warmly attached to her, and determined
not to give her up. " The natives around the towns,
and for miles back," says Mr. Nelson, " are learning to
speak English. They come to Melbourne every day—
many of them with nothing but a blanket rolled round
their bodies. They will not work, but go, about the
town and beg from those that will give them.'

GLASGOW PIG IRON TRADE.—During the past
week the pig iron market has been generally very dull.
Yesterday, however, there was a better feeling, and to-
day there is still greater firmness. The price may be
quoted for No. 3, 635. 6d.; for mixed Nos. 655. ; and for
No. 1, 665. to 665. 6d. per ton, f. o. b.—National Ad•

vertiser.
ACCIDENT ON THE RIVER.—On Monday after-
noon, as one of the Chelsea steamers was proceeding up
the river with about 300 passengers on board, she ran
foul of the new steamboat-pier at Vauxhall-bridge so
violently that every one on board was thrown dowa and
the funnel dashed on deck, injuring several persons, and
not only causing the utmost confusion but great con-
sternation for the safety of the passengers, the paddle-
box and floats having been crushed in. With great pre-
sence of mind the commander of the boat instantly

directed the engines to be reversed, and with the well-
timed assistance of the piermen succeeded in fastening
the boat to the dummy, and enabling the passengers to
escape by the pier. They were shortly after conveyed
to their respective destinations by another boat, which
arrived within a few minutes of the accident. The
damage done to the boat will, it is expected, amount to
between 50/. and 601.

THE SCOTTISH HOSPlTAL.—Wednesday, at one
o'clock, a quarterly Court of the Governors of the Scot.
tish Hospital was held at the hall of the corporation,
Crane-court, Fleet-street, Dr. Webster in the chair, to
receive a report of the distribution of the funds of the
institution for the quarter, and on other business. Major
Adair, the Secretary, read the report, from which it ap-
peared that the sum of 659/. ss. had been given to desti-
tute Scottish persons, and that after paying the necessar)
expenses there was a balance in hand of 470/. 1 ls. The
receipts, which amounted to 1,3281. 19s. 7d., included
6151. 3s. interest on stock, 3111. 4s. donations, 90/
legacies, 801. 17s, annual subscriptions, and 230/. 15s. 7d.
last year's balance. The report was received, when
thanks were voted to the secretary for the presentation
of the portrait of the Duke of Sutherland, which was hung
up in the court. The other business was gone through
and the court separated.
DREADFUL SRI?WRECL.—By the recent arrivals
from Quebec a most distressing shipwreck is announced
to have occurred in the River St. Lawrence to an English
ship, with the loss of 170 of its ill-fated passengers.
The vessel is called the Carrick, a brig between 200 and
300 tons burden, Captain Thompson master, belonging
to Sunderland. She was chartered, we understand, for
Irish emigration, early in April last, by Lord Palmer-
ston, and left Sligo for Quebec in the latter part of that
month with a living freight of nearly 200 emigrants.
Previously she was properly surveyed by the Govern-
-1 ment emigration agent, in accordance with the Pas-
sengers Act, and proved to be perfectly seaworthy for
the expedition. The voyage, up to the time of the ship's
arrival in the river St. Lawrence, appeared to have been
as desirable as could be wished at that period of the
season excepting the sad condition of the emigrants,
most of them suffering greatly from fever. On the
night of the 19th of May she encountered a heavy
gale of wind, which, at about two o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning, drove her ashore on a dangerous
shoal, situate about sixty miles eastward of Cape Ro-
saries, where, in the course of two hours, she went to
pieces. The scene is described to have been one truly
appalling. Out of the 200 poor creatures, emigrants, on
board, not more than 22 were saved. All the crew, except-
ing one boy, succeeded in saving themselves by clinging
to the spars and boats. They were on the road to Quebec
when the information was sent to England. The vessel
is stated to be fully insured. Two other emigrant ships,
chartered by Government, were lost about the same time
as the Carrick. One is the Imogine, George Foreman,
master, from Liverpool, and the other the Zenobia. The
Imogene, which was 348 lOW burden, was wrecked Ave
miles south-west of the island of Scattarie, on the 20th
of May, by running ashore during a thick fog. She had
175 emigrants on board, who, fortunately, with the crew,
effected a safe landing. The Zenobia was lost off Nana-
dian . She had 300 emigrants on board, who were also
saved. The emigrant ship Miracle, recently wrecked off
the Magdalen Island, with 60 of her passengers drowned,
is stated to have been chartered by Government. The
same communication announces the following:—The
emigrant ship Loosthanke, from Dublin to Quebec, put
into Miramichi on the 11th of June, having lost 117
passengers by fever, and in want of medical assistance
and fresh provisions. The remainder of the emigrants,
350, were more or less attacked, and the crew were dis-
abled. The fever appears to have broken out on board
before the vessel's departure from Dublin, and spread
fearfully after she sailed. Immediately on her arrival
at Miramichi she was brought up at the quarantine
station, near the Middle Island, and the rest of the pas-
sengers landed, where temporary shelter was afforded
them in sheds and tents. There had been 40 more
deaths since the ship's arrival. Many others were ex-
pected.
THE LATE GOVERNOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.-..-
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, late Governor of Western
Australia, entered the army as an Ensign in the Bth
West India Regiment in 1806, at the early age of 13.
At 15 he was appointed to a Lieutenancy in the 46th
Foot, with which regiment he shortly after served at the
taking of Guadaloupe. At 20 he commanded the troops
in Van Diemen's Land, having in the mean time
\
obtained his company. He subsequently commanded
the
th A6th Regiment in Gibraltar, England, Ireland, and
bo the Indies, ln 1843 and 1844 he administered the
Gcoolovneruraent of St. Lucia ; on retiring from which
probation co
Colonies,
Was honoured by having her Majesty's ap-
Tl'iveeyed to him by the Secretary for the
with an address in f his
inhabitants of St. Lucia also testified
their appreciation
appointed Governor island,
had rendered to the akttewledgment of the services he
government, by presenting him
painful illness, underwhichthaarge
which he continued° tWo In 1845 Colonel Clarke was
Western Australia, the duties of
through
early age of 54, worn out by sank at the comparatively
a long and
years, chiefly passed in tropical servicean
a billion ? T 1
CotiNTustG, A BILLION.—What i'mobfeaulpthv'Y'
n2,1)01; then
reply is very simple--a million times 3
quickly written, and quicker still pronounced, iinilciuendalaredlmiTslimihounaiftutsetn4eiso:;*
man is able to cunt it. You count 160 oru
but let us even suppose that you go as far7a()sa
an hour will produce 12,000 a day, 288,000;
or 365 days (for every four years you may rest from counting, during leap year), 105,120,000. Let us sup.
pose now, that Adam, at the beginning of his existence,P.
had begun to count, had continued to do so, and was
counting still, he would not even now, according to the
usually supposed age of our globe, have counted near
enough. For to count a billion he would require 9,512
years, 34 days, 5 hours, and 20 minutes, according to
else above rule. Now, supposing we were to allow the
poor counter twelve hours daily for rest, eating, and
sleeping, he would need 19,024 years, 69 days, 10 hours,
anti 40 minutes ;--simaican Litrary Gaunt,