The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-18 00:00:00

STANDING ORDERS CO OIITTEE.

The followiog li/:;olutions were reported from the above
Committee:—

1. That in the case of the North British Railway (No. 2)
petition, the standing orders otpzltt to be dispensed with :
That the parties be rennived to proceed with 'heir Bid, with
1 the exception of such part as enables theta to enter into any
contracts with the Maryport and Carlisle Railway Company,
and with t!:e Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company, for a
permanent interest or right to the use of their station and the
works connected therewith, and fur the passage of their
traffic over and along tie Railways belon4ing to such Com-
panies, and to refer any dispute with such Companies to the
Commissioners of Railways.
9. That in the case of the Coventry, Banbury, and Oxford
Junction Railway Fetition, the standing orders ought to be
dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to proceed
vrith their Bill, with tire exception of those parts which
enable them to lease the proposed Railway to the Great
same
orders
theHtsee beeno n
the
re-
port
of the Bill.—Resolutions agreed to.
Western Railway Company, or any other Railway Company.
That the Committees on the two preceding Bills do exa-
mine,place, reporth olvh e
f a
r suchto
com-
plied with ;
in the
and
at
do

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (1846).
Select Contraittee appointed, "to consiler the circum•
stances under which a certain document was printed by order
of this House, purporting to be the report of the Select Com-
mittee of last session,-appointed to inquire whether, without
ling legitimate enterprise. conditions may nut be
embodiedcoura n Railway Acts better fitted than those hitherto
discouraging
inverted in them, to promote and secure the interests of the
public:"--Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Goulburn, Lord John
Russell, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Hudson, Sir George Grey, Sir
George Clerk, Mr. Wil•on Paten, Mr. Warburton, Mr.
Laboucherc, Mr. Sidney llerbert, Mr. George llamil on, Mr.
Parker, Mr. !fume, Mr. Charles Russel, Sir John Easthope,
and Mr. Baring. -

R EGruS
of BIRTHS and DEATHS
o
rilE `SEEK ENDING MAR(iil 13.
Deaths registered in the week. Births registered in the week.
Males... ••• ••• 5°3 Males ••• ••• 740 '
Females •••
523 F.„emales . 693
•••
IRLII :1(

Total ... 1,026

Total ... 1,435

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
LONDON, Mancit 17.—Wind S. by E, light steady breeze,
and tine char weather.
DEAL, MAncat 16.—Wind S.S.W. fresh, P.M., S. light.—
Arrd. Indian, Pronk, Batavia, and ski. for Rotterdam ;
hawk, D.,uglas, Singapore; Persia, Morris, Bombay ; City
ofLondon, Lungriclg«~. M
urithis; Clarence, Valparaiso; Del_
ritlit'e, and sid. fin. Hamburgh ;
De la -Conchita, Bedagaer, Havanna' ;
Alpert, aialtimore. and sit]. for Rtaterdair ; Margaret, Ynung,
New York; D 'tights. St. John's, New Bruns-
wick; Amy, M.Lean, ditto; Fowler. ditto. Sid. Sovereign,
Demerara. Arrd. from the River. Ayrshire, Baltimore. Put
back, Mary Rowe, for Chesapeake Bay.
IlasTusns, MAl:cm 16.-11 Ind S.E.—Arrd. Jabez, Antigua.
PORTSMOUTH. ALA ItCII 16.—W ind S. to S.E.—Arrd. 11. M.
steamer Salamander, Antigua. Off port. Charlotte, Bombay.
LIVERPOOL, MARCH 16.-IVind S.S.E , moderate.— Arid.
Ferres, Madras; Mountaineer, Smith, Bombay; Adriana,
Connel, Barrio; Bolton Abbey, Callao, Ann Marv, Callao;
Glas ow, Hamlin Macao ; Express. Cubbon, Maranhani,
sld.Jan. 29; Oscar y Ricardo. Havannah ; Howard, Hill,
New Orleans; Princeaa Charlotte, Gillies, Mobile; Birken-
head, Keswick, Mobile; Palestine, Mumford, New York;
Chaos, Wilson, New York; Loodiatut, Wilson, St. Andrews;
Emigrant, St. John's, New Brunswick. Sid. Shenandoah,.
Philadelphia; Walpole, New York; Eliza, Warwick, Boston;
Adelaide, Halifax. Off port, Merchant, Mauritius; Eliza
Caroline St. John's, New Brunswick; John, Walker, St.
John's. New Brunswick. The Cornelia, Young, Baltimore
to Cork, was abandoned in a sinking state 28th ult., lat
40. long. 39; crew saved, Put back, North Pole for Port
CLYDE,PhiIip.
MARCH 14.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Druid, Ritchie,
Canton; Marquis of Douglas, Henderson, 4Janilla ;
Curries, Mauritius' Briti,h Tar, Prinzal, Bernice; Saracen,
Hawkins, New York ; Conservative, Tarson, St. John's
New Brunswick.
GLOUCEsTER, MARCH 16,—Wind S., strong. Arrd.
Corsair, APGregor, St. John's. New Brunswick.
NEWPORT, MARCH 16.—Wind W.-6ld. J. 0. Barnes,
Grenada ; Violet, Grenada.
SWANSEA, MARCH 16.—Arrd. Sarepta, Cuba.
OFF EASTBOU RNE.— Planer, Cargey, Bombay.
OFF THE WlGHT.—Plumstead, Algoa Bay.
FALM)UTII, Manua IG.—A vessel, bottom up, was passed
on the 10th instant, in lat. 46 N.. lon. 12 W. by the
Imogene, arrived here, which boarded on the 12th instant
the wreck of a brig, waterlogged, having the letters
" H. N. A. S." on the starboard side of her arcliboard.
GREENOCK. MARCH 14.—The Glaucus, Banks, bound to
St. John's, Newfoundland, has put in here to-d +y, after
being within thirty miles off that port, and encountering
heavy plea, and being shut up in the ice; one man dead.
and two iron. bitten.
Coats, MARCH 14.—Wind S., strong.—Arrd. Lady
Harvey, al,Keiim., Callao; Kinston, ditto ; Ilerald, Jones,
Mauritius ; Ringdove, Walker, ,Lonte Video; Melpomene,
(i]al ar Rio Grande ; Lord Stanley, Connor, Sierra
; l'ridente, de Y Yarte, Havanna ;v Imogene, Perkins,
Philadelphia.
lln'Emt, Mancit 16.—The Arnica, London, to Stockton, has
been got off-the Rocks, making a little water, and taken•
into the River Tee
Hillis MARCH 16.—Wind S.W.—Sld. Meteor, New York;
Lord Gambier, Greenland.
SHIELDS, sl.aacit 15 —SW. Ferozepcire, Calcutta.
GUERNSEY, MAlicat 14.—Arrd. Louisa, Pernambuco.
OEr. PILL, MARCH 15.—Corsair, St. John's, Nec
Brunswick.

LIVERPOOL, MARCU 16.—A large ship was seen on shorc
on the Cringe: broad Ground by the Kentucky, acrd. at Net-
Or'Kim,.

FALMOUTH, .I.4l.sacri 16.—A ship or barque, of about 35
ton,, waterlogged and ab.:ndored, with only toreitiaB
standing, was passed Bth init., lat. 4.2 N., long. 12 ; and foi
lowing day a quantity of lumber was pawd.

RAILWAY BILLS.

REPORT of the COMMISSIONERS of RAILWAYS
on certain RAILWAY BILLS comprised in Groups
Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

By the first of the above Bills, the Ipswich and Bury St.
Edmund's Railway Company are desirous to obtain powers
to construct a railway from a point on their present line near
Ipswich to Woodbridge, and to increase their capital by
200,0001., and to borrow 66,6661. for that purpose. This Bill
is comprised in Group 10.
By the second, the same company would obtain power to
construct a Branch Railway from Stowmarket to Sudbury,
and to raise 360,000/., and to borrow 120,000/. for that pur-
pose. This Bill is comprised in Group 11.
By the third, to raise 35t,,000/., and to borrow 116,6661.
for the construction of a railway from Bury St. Edmund's to
Newmarket and Ely; and by the fourth, to raise It 0,000/,
and to borrow 120,0001. for an Extension of their railway to
Thettord. The excess of amount proposed to lie borrowed
beyond the proportion allowed by the standing orders, is
stated to have been an accidental error in preparing the
which it is the intention of the company to correct, by re-
ducing the amount to be borrowed from 120,000/. to 60,000/.
By the two Bills, therefbre, comprised in Group 12 the com-
pany would be empowered to raise a capital of 530,000/.,
and to borrow '.:36,666/., or (should the Bill be corrected as
prop,sed) 176.66 C/.
by ti,e fifth, it is proposed to raise 460,00(1., and to
lawrow 153,:333/. for the purpose of m- kiog a railaaty
limo the Net wich Extension Line to Yarmouth. This Bill
's c,,mprised in Group 13.
By the sixth, it is proposed to raise 100.000/ .and to born w
33,33:1, Ism: the continuation a railway front Aylsham to
North Walsto:m ; and by the seveAh, or !note to make a
rauwsy from No: vetch to joinaa railway from D,rehant to
Wells, with a branch Ay :sham ; and to raise .ri00,0001.,
and to norrow 160066/. for the putpoz.e. By the two Bills,
thereiOre, conprised itt G. oup 14 power is taken to raise a
capital of 600,000/., a:al to hollow 199,099/.
By these Bills time Bury St. Edo end's Railway Company
proposis to obtain power to increase their capital by
2,150,0001., and to borrow 716,116-11. (assuming the tOurh
the above-named Bills, on No. 3 in the Appmdix, to b, cor-
!acted) ; and by another Bill before Parliament, which will
be again alluded to in awn ber report, they propose to obtain
power to amalgamate with the Eastern Union Railway
Company.

limy St. Edmund's Railway Company was incorpo-
rated by an Act passed in 1845, and by that Act was enabled
to raise a capital of 400,0001., and to borrow 133,333/. By
another Act, passed in the last session, the company was
further authorised to raise 550,0001., and to borrow 183,333/.
Under these two Acts power has been obtained to raise a
capital of 950,000'., and to borrow 316,6661., or to employ,
altogether, upon their works, 1,266,666/.
Tile share capital has been created by the issue of 16,000
shares of 25/. each, under the Act of 1845, and by the issue of
22,000 of the same valiv, under the Act of last session. On
those tir,t issued, calls to the extent of 14/. per share, or for
224,110 U, have been made, and 204,305/. received. On the
shares last issued, 51. per share, or 110,000/., have been called,
and 91,707/. 10s. received; the difference in each case being
the arrears in the payments on the calls. The whole amount
called up is theietore 334,000/.
No money has been borrowed under the Act of 1846, but
this power has been employed to its Lull extent in the Act of
1845. The money has been borrowed at five p'-r cent. in-
terest on debentures, varying in value from 1,0001. to 5,0001.,
but a few being of smaller value, A part of these securities,
to the amount of 61,913/., 16: expire in January, 1850,
2,000/. in 1851, 59,090/. in 1852, and the remainder in 1855.
The shareholders have authorised the directors to create new
shales for the payment of the loans.
The company has at present power to call up 616,000/. on
the shares, and to borrow 183,3331., or to employ altogether
799,333/. on the works in progress, and this, it is stated,
will be fully required fur them
No nominal additions have been made to the capital of
this company; nor has it subscribed to any other company,
nor made any guarantee, nor bought, nor sold, nor taken
a lease of any other railway, nor amalgamated with any other
company ; but by the Act obtained in 1846, it has powers
either to sell or let the Ipswich and Bury St Edmund's Rail-
way to the Eastern Union Railway Company; and for an
aniaL amation with that company, as before stated, a Bill is
now Le!ore Parliament.

The Chairman also cf this company concluded, in
Deceuber, 1845, an agreement with the trustees of
the Stowmarket Navigation, fOr a lease of the Naviga-
tion, and this agreement was confirmed by a general
meeting of the proprietors of the railway in January, 1846.
Under that agreement it was arranged that each party should
apply to Parliament for powers to carry the agreement into
effect, and until these powers were obtained, it was
arranged, among other temporay provisions, that
the tolls of the Navigation should be regulated by
the railway company. In the last session the trustees
obtained power to let the Narigatian, and also for the
lessees to exercise the provisions of the Navigation Acts;
but the railway company did not obtain, by any Act ef
their own, the power to take the lease, although they in-
serted a clause for this purpose in their Bill of last session,
when originally introduced. It is, however, considered by
the company that no further powers are necessary, and the
lease either has been, or is about to be concluded. The
Commissioners of Railways, in reporting this transaction to
the House of Commons, feel it to be their duty to call at-
tention to the circumstances under which this interference has
taken place with the tolls of a navigation by a railway
company.
The subscription contracts for these Bills, deposited in
compliance with the stanoing orders, have no signatures
attached to them, except those of 13 directors of the com-
pany. The amount. of these subscription contracts is
1,612.5001., so that each director has on an average signed for
124,0 CL It is admitted that these directors have not signed
on their own account, but only on behalf of the company,
and with a distinct understanding among themselves that
they are never to be called upon for any portion of their sub-
scriptions, and that the proposed new works are not to pro-
ceed unless the funds can be procured from other sources. It
is also stated that the deposits required by the standing
orders were paid out of the funds of the company.
The Cotninisstoners have alrr arty, in their report on the Bills
of the South-Eastern Railway C.,mpany,reniarked upon this
mode of proceeding as a manifest evasion of the intentions of
Parliament. and they have expressed their opinion that
means ought to be taken to put an end to such practices in
future. It -will be for Parliament to determine how far the
adoption of a course which may be supposed to have receive'
the tacit permission of the House of Commons, should pre.
judice the promoters of a Bill, lit any instance in which the
circumstanees of the case aflord a fair guarantee fir the bistd
fide character of the scheme, as well as for the completion of
the proposed works. The Commissioners, however, feel it to
be their duty to tall the special attention of the House of
Common's to the extent which in the present ca-4e this prac-
tice has been carried. The company were by their former
Acts empowered. to raise a c-spital of 930,0001.. and to borrow
316,6661.; the% have at present actually raised 296,0121. 103.,
and borrowed 13 43334 The line from Ipswich to Bury was
only opened for passengers at Christmas last, and no other
part of the work being completed. they are unable to make a
declaration of surplus profits. Under these circumstances
they seek powers from Parliament in the present session to
raise an additional capital of 2,150,0001., and loans to the
amount of 716,6641., making together 2,866,664/., a sum
little short of ten times the amount of capital which the
shareholders have at present contributed towards the hitherto
incomplete undertaking authorised by their former Acts.
The only guarantee which they offer for the completion of
their new and more extensive rchemes is a subscription by
the directors themselves, for a sum which they state they
have subscribed solely on behalf of the company.
In addition to the important considerations regarding the
interests of the public which are suggested by such a pro-
posal, the interests of the present creditors of the company
appear to be very materially concerned in it. They have
lent their money under the sanction of an Act of Parliament,
on the security of a comparatively limited undertaking; but
by the present proposal they evidently would find that
security involved with undertakings of a much more exten-
sive character, which, of course, could not have been contem-
plated by them at the time when they lent their money on
the credit of the original work. Fur providing the means
of completing these larger works no adequate guarantee is
offered by the proposed subscription contract, and yet on the
successful completion of them the validity of their security
must essentially depend.
By order of the Commissioners of Railways,
FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE, Secretary.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF RAILWAYS

ON GROUP Xll.

By the first of these Acts the Newmarket and Chesterford
Railway Company would be empowered to increase their
capital by 475,0001., and to borrow 158,3331. By the second,
to increase their capital by 425,0001., and to borrow 141,66C1.
The third bill is only intended to repeal a clause in the former
Act of this company, by which the mutual right to use both
:he Newmarket and Chesterford Railway and the Eastern
Counties Railway is given to their respective companies.
This Bill is not promoted by the Newmarket and Chesterford
Company, and would not confer any powers for raising
money.

Coder the two former Bills the Newmarket and Chester-
' ford Railway Company would be enabled to raise an ad-
ditional capital of 900,0001., and to borrow 299,9991., or to
apply a further sum of 1,199,9990. to railway undertakings.
This company was incorporated by an Act passed in the
last session of Parliament, aid authorised to raise a capital
of 350,0001, and to borrow 116.6661. 13s. 4d.
The share capital has been created by the issue of 14,000
shares, of 25/. each, on which a deposit of 2/. 12s. was paid ;
and two calls, one f 2/. Bs., the other of 51., have been made;
the whole amount demanded from the shareholders being 101.
per share, or 140,0001, the sum received is 108,300/..,.the ar-
rears on the calls amounting to 31,700/. 15/. per share, or
210,0004semain to be called; and as no money has been
borrowed, 326,666/. may be considered available for the works
iu progress.
No nominal additions have been made to the capital
stock ; no guarantee given to other companies; no leases,
sales, or purchases of other lines effected; nor has the com-
pany power to make any.
Each of the Bills for which the company has applied in
the present session contains a clause empowering the Eastern
Counties Railway Company to take a lease of the line to
which the Bill applies; and by one of the Bills the same
company would be empowered to subscribe towards the un-
dertaking. But as the Eastern Counties Railway Company
have notified their desire that these clauses should be with-
drawn, and the Newmarket and Chesterford Railway Com-
pany have stated in their returns that they shall be with-
drawn, it will not be necessary for any report on the powers
which have been given by former Acts to the Eastern Coun-
ties Railway Company to be in the hands of the Committee
to which these Bills are referred.
Regular subscription contracts have been deposited for the
Bills in question, and no signatures have been affixed to
those contracts, or to those of any other Bill now before Par-
liament by the directors, or other persons, on behalf of this
company.
By order of the Commissioners of Railways,
FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

THE ELF,CTRIC TELEGRAPH TERMINI.--At a
meeting of the Commissioners of Sewers, held on Tuesday, the
secretary of the Electric Telegraph Company applied for
permission to lay down the wires of communication through
the City, from the various electric telegraphs, to unite in one
centre in Lothbury. The secretary said that the Company
intended to bring the electric telegraph into the City by the
Way of London-bridge, King William• street, and Princes-
street, into Lothbury, where the terminus of the Company
would be, and from thence they intend to proceed along
Aloorgate-street into Finsbury. The object of the Company
was to bring the electric line of the South-Western and
Dover Railways by the above line into the City; and from
the terminus at Lothbury to unite them with the Eastern
Counties, the London a'id Birmingham, and the Great
Western lines, so as to form one general communication with
the different railways throughout the kingdom. The Col/I-
I
dany proposed to lay down the pipes alongside of the kerb,
and in a line with the gas pipes, so as to prevent any nuisance
or stoppage arising to the traffic, or annoyance to the foot
passengers. The question that the Company be empowered
to lay down the wires of the electric telegraph was carried
unanimously.
.Martin (du Nord) has, it is said, left a fortune
Jf 1,801.4000 f. On his arrival at Paris, 16 years ago, he
possessed trom 300,000 to 400,000 f, and the rest wasobtained
by lucky commercial speculatious. •

PARIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

SIrITNG OF MAUCH 8

M. C. Combes redu paps ton 1.!:e means of destroying
thoroughly or pa.lially the influence of what he calls the
espace nuisible in steam-engines. The espace nuisible is the
space which nec t.sarily exists between the piston when it
arrives at the extremity of its curve, the bottom of the
cylinder, and the opening for the emission of the steam.
The space is always filled with steam at the same degree of
tension as that which- exists in the portion of the cylinder
situated on the same side with relation to the piston. The
plan proposed by M. Combes is to be examined by a com-
mittee charged to make a report upon it.
M. Flourens ninde 'another commonication relative to ex-
periments on -*Minds wit h ether, but it dues not add any tact
otAmportanee to what has alrea:iy been stated.
M. .Roux also communicated the results of some experi-
ments with the inhalation of ether on. patients. He states
that in some cases the patients lose the equilibrium of mo-
tion without the slightest disturbauce of the intellect,
and that the suffocation rtom ether differs from al; other,
and particularly from that caused by the vapours of char-
coal, in which the blood, completely neprived of its ox} gen,
is black, whereas, Nk ith all the persons. whom he had
etherised, the arterial and venous blood retained the natural
colour. The blood, however, according to MM. You'
lemier, and many other surgeons, has gr,ater, fluidity than
when in its ncrinal state.

Al. Jacques Cardan gave an account of some serious re-
sults front the administration of ether to female s io a state of
pregnancy. He co-Jsiders it
.highly improper to etherise
females when in this conditio►,.

111 11,uchut made a statenient relative to the pretended
discovery of the means of ascertaining- 'real
death by burning. It has been asserted
bAy a burn ct the s,cond degree will
whereas no blister can he raised by this mean

at if life be in the
e

to rise

M. Bouchut states that he tried the experiment upon limn-
dead bodies, and p: educed blisters precisely similar to what
would have been raised by the aaine means upon living sub-
jects. al. Bouchut thus confirms the experiments already
made, and with similar results, by several other surgeons.
lie proposes, as the best means of ascertaining whether lite
be extinct or not, a prolonged ausculation of the region of
the heart; but be does not pretend that this alone is con-
clusive.

There were several other communications read at this si
tinge but they were not of a nature to interest the public.

M. TRIERS AND THE PRINCE 0

SMOLENSK.

The Paris Presse of the 9th inst. contains R letter from
Count P. de Toistoy, the grandson of Marshal Koutousoff,
of which the following is a translation:—

" Paris, March 3, 1847.
" Sir,—lii the sixth volume of The Consulate and the
Empire, M. Thiers has portrayed with extreme inaccu-
riicy and indiscretion the character of Marshal Koutou-
soff, Prince of Smolensk. As a lineal descendant, and
the nearest relation of the deceased marshal, I owe it to
his memory, and to myself, formally to contradict the
aspersions in question.
"M. Thiers represents the marshal as indolent,' ' dis-
solute,' and avaricious.'

" Indolent!' Why, while yet a stripling, he entered
the military service of his country, and during three
curia mitive reigns took part in every Russian campaign.
By turns he was Civil Administrator, Ambassador, and
Commander-in-Chief of the land forces of the empire.
It is passing incredible that a man who led so toilsome
a life' 'and filled such posts. could be indolent.'
"'Dissolute!' Never in Russia was such an accusation
breathed against the venerable and exemplary Prince of
Smolensk, and the perusal of the page in M. Thiers'
hist.„ry in which it t.ccurs would there excite general
indignation. The respect of a great nation is, methinks,
an ample refutation of the libel of the sp)* whose state-
ments M. Thiers has hastily adopted.
" Avaricious!' rhe fortune left by the marshal at his
death was inadequate to support his children at all de-
cently in their sphere of life. Truth and gratitude
impel me to add that Imperial munificence came to their
aid. His Majesty, our present Emperor, has generously
bestowed his bounties upon the children of a veteran
general on whom had been heaped the highest honours
of the empire.
" The marshal died in 1813 at the head of the victorious
army which delivered Russia from a formidable invasion.
His obsequies were solemnized at St. Petersburg. On
that occasion the national feeling of respect and attach-
ment to the departed hero was manifested in a striking
manner. The populace insisted on dragging the funeral
car. The marshal's loss was deplored by all ranks, and
the Emperor Alexander wrote to the widow of' the
Prince of Smolensk,.' I mingle my tears with yours, and
with those of the whole nation.'

" The letter which contains these words is Lighly
prized, and carefully preserved by the family to which
I have the houour to belong. " I am, &c.
"P. DE TOLSTOY."

°. The spy alluded to is the French renegade Langeron.

IRELAND.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.

MAncit 15.—At the usual. meeting of the Repeal
Association to-day, a letter was read from Mr. John O'Con-
nell, in which he states that his father is ordered to the south
of Europe by his physicians, and he adds that they promise
him restored health and constitution by next autumn. The
repeal rent for the week was declared to be 30/.
CITY OF DUBLIN REGISTRY.

The smions closed on Saturday. The following are the
results:— Registered. Rejected.

Conservatives 493 ••• 9
Repealers lB7 ••• 20
306 majority for Conservatives.
DEsTruecrivE FittE IN ATutt.oxE.—A destructive tire broke
out in Athlone yesterday (Sunday), owing to a chimney
having taken fire in a populous part of the town, which
chiefly inhabited by poor persons.. Upwards of 30 cabins
have been burred, and were it not for the unexampled exer-
tions of the military of the garrison the result night have
been dreadful to contemplate, as a violent gale of wind pre-
vailed during the whole time.

FIRE IN 11..vrEnFortt).—On Saturday morning the herni
and flax stores of Messrs. tVinte, in \Vaterford, were de.
stroyed by fire. A detachment of the liith Regiment wert
in attendance with the barrack tire-engine, and they sue.
ceeded in saving the adjoining buildings.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WAPPING.—On Monday
morning, at a few minutes after one o't leek, a fire that at
one time threatened very serious consequences to life and
property, broke out at No. 1, King Edward-street, ‘S sip-
ping, in the occupation of Mr. James Millar, haberdasher.
The flames originated in the shop, and had obtained such a
strong hold before they were discovered that the inmates
were obliged to get out of one of the windows. The en-
gines promptly attended, and plenty of water having
been obtained, the firemen set to work, but they were un-
able to get the fire extinguished until the whole cflllr. Mil-
lar'a stock in trade was consumed, the lower part of the pre-
mises burnt out, and the upper portion severely injured by
Are and heat.
SALE OF RARE BOOKS.—An important sale of
rare books and manuscripts was commenced on Friday
last at Messrs. Sotheby's auction-rooms, Wellington-street.
The books form a portion of the library of J. Wilkes, Esq.,
of Finsbury-square, and are divided into nearly 3,000 lots.
Among the lots st Id on Saturday were the Biblia Sacra La-
tina, or first edition of the Holy Scriptures, in three volumes,
without name of printer, place, or date, but attributed
to the press of Gutenberg, at Mentz, between the years
1450-55. This edition is known by the name of the
Nlazarine Bible, from the discovery of a copy in the library
of Cardinal Maurine. It is printed in double columns. in
imitation of the large letters used by the scribes of the period
in writing the church missals and choir books, and although
in existence for nearly tour centuries, appears as clean as it
it bad been but recently issued from the press. Only eighteen
copies of this splendid work are known to exist—fourteen
upon paper, and four upon vellum : one of the latter has
recently been added to the British Museum, through the
bequest of the late Right Hon. T. Grenville. This copy
formerly belonged to George Hilbert, Esq. The first offer
for this rare book was 200 guineas; and eventually it was
knocked down for 50c1. to Messrs. Wiley and Putnaai, the
American boeksellers, its destination being the American
Museum, at Washington. " Psalterium Davidis," a meat
beautiful manuscript upon vellum, executed for the Earl
of Lincoln in 1410, was, after a spirited competition be-
tween Sir F. Madden, on behalf of the Biitish Museum,
and Mr. Rodd, knocked down to the latter for
2101. " Biblia Pauperum Germanice," a block
book of forty engraved pages in small folio,
worked off in black ink coloured, Nordlingw, 1470, fetched
1101. Apocalypse de St. Jean, a manuscript upon vellum, of
the 14th century, containing 78 large miniatures, sold for
60 guineas. Psalterium Davidis, its., an illustrated manu-
script upon vellum, of the 13th century, sold for 641. Biblia
Sacra Latina, first edition of the Bible printed at Paris in
1476, sold for 50/. Vetus et Novum Testamenturn Latinum,
&c., printed mann vellum, at Venice, in 1487, sold for 591. 10s.
Apecalypsis Sancti Johannis, 48 pages, hut wanting the 45th
page ; this. although imperfect, fetched 47/., &c., &e. Yester-
day this sale was continued at Messrs. Sotheby's. The fol-
lowing were among the lots sold :—Ciceronis Officia Para•
doxa et Versus Xll. Sapientum ; first edition, printed upon
vellum by J. Enst at Mentz in the year 1465—bought by Sir
Thomas Philips for 300/. "Christine of Pysa, the Fayttes
of Armes and of Chivalrye ;" printed by William Caxton in
1489—sold for 54/. This copy was imperfect, the two first
leaves being supplied by foc-similies ; a perfect copy sold some
time back produced the large sum of 336/. Cato (Dion),
" The booke called Caton whiche I presente to the C 3 to of
London, Wm. Caxton, Thabbay of Westmynstre, the Fyrst
yere of Kynge Rycharde the Thyrde, 1483"—sold ter 23/.
ss. in 1815 this copy sold for 51/. 95., the falling off in value
being accounted for by the loss of two leaves in sheet E.
"The forme and manner of makyng Archebishoppes, Priestes
and Deacons;" a small black-letter tract, printed by Richard
Grafton in 1549—501 d for 15/. The other lots fetched good
prices.
..vtETROPOLITAN BENEFIT SOCIETIES'
On Monday evening last, the sixth annniversary of the
Auxiliaries of this excellent Institution was celebrated by a
supper at the King's Arms Tavern, Rolls-buildings, Fetter-
lane, when about sixty gentlemen partook of an entertain-
ment, which was served up in a manner which reflected great
credit to the worthy landlord, Mr. Eardley. Mr. Dean presided
as Chairman, and Mr. Porter
~(the respected host of the John
of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell) officiated as Deputy, and were sup-
ported, among others, by the following influential members
of the Society:—Messrs. Bowles, Buckland, M'CraiUht,
Chubb, Gilbert, Hopkins, Bell, and Wild. After the cloth
had been drawn, the Chairman proposed the health of "Her
Majesty. the Duchess of Kent, and the rest of the Royal
Family," which was received with demonstrations of respect ;
after which, Mr. Buckland sang an appropriate song. The
Chairman then, in a few remarks, gave "Success to the
Metropolitan Benefit Societies' Asylum," which was greeted
with much applause. This toast was acknowledged by Mr.
Bowles, in an interesting exposition of the rise and progress
ot the Institution, which was listened to with great attention,
and warmly applauded. At its close, the healths of Lord
Robert Grosvenor and Viscount Ebrington (who is to pre-
side as Chairman of the Parent Society at the dinner in
May) were severally given, and acknowledged, on the part
of their
.Lordships, in a very neat speech, by Mr. Buckland.
The Chairman, in proposing the health of the Committee,
spoke of the great exertions they had made in furthering the
interests of the Society. Mr. Chubb, on behalf of himself
and colleagues, returned thanks. The healths of Mr. Gilbert,
Mr. Cole, the Secretary, Mr. Eardley, the Chairman, and
Deputy were afterwards given, and respectively acknowle aged,
and the party broke up at a late hour, evidently much grati-
fied by the evening's proceedings.
BALLANTRAE.—The Ballantrae barring fishing was
going on with railway speed last week, and millions of this
species of the finny tribe have been destroyed, far beyond
anything that can be remembered in former
.years._ The
price, per 120, at the fishing station, is from ls. ad.tost.aiLi.
7d.
The fish are sold in Liverpool at 11. per barrel, each colu

log 700. Caledonian Meraur
W e are happy to learn by the last accounts received
from Ireland that the Earl of Mayo is considered out of
danger, and hopes are entertained of bib Lordship's eventual
recovery.