The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

THE SUN,

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN

RAILWAY.'
A special general meeting of the proprietors of this
company Was held yesterday, at the Euston Staeion, for
b! Purpose of expressing their approval of a number of
inns now pending in Parliament,.by which it is pro-
ti';'d to authorise the London and North-Western
IWay Company either to contract or to become the
:uses or proprietors of, or to cor.tribute towards the
formation of, the railways therein mentioned. The chair
was taken at one o'clock by G. C. Glyn, Esq.,
lam of the company. chair
The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the
lusting,
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, you are aware that
this
meeting is called in compliance with the standing
orders of Parliament to ask for your final sanction to the
Ilemures now before the Houses of Parliament. The
hat read sounds a long and formidable one, but, in point
of fact, I shall be able to reduce it to a very short corn
s •
.3 By looking at the list of Bills read to you by my
tieenu Mr. Creed, it appears that the different measures
...re alluded to, when put in that proper shape which I
!newels
they should be on the present occasien, are either
hinewals of the Acts brought forward by the directors
the last session of Parliament, and which were then
either
lost or withdrawn, or branches or amendments
connected with the several Acts thin obtained. In point
o
fact, the different schemes that the dirt ctors have to
Propose naturally divide themselves into three classes—
those to which I have reerred, and which constitute the
m'Rest portion, viz., amendments of the Acts of last
:Vision, and Acts which were withdrawn or lost, and
there is only one undertaking, or rather a lease, which
ihe directors are now about to intro lace to the meeting.
• am anxious to put these things before you in this way,
1:1 order that you may not charge us with any attempt
o lead you on to that length which the lengthy enumera-
tion of the Bills might lead you to suppose. The first
Bill with which we bigin is merely the renewal of an
Act passed last session for making a line from S:. Alban's
uts Luton. This Bill was lost in a Committee of the
'l'u" of Commons, the Committee preferring the rival
scheme of the London and York Railway, which
*pi ultimately lost in the Committee of the House
of Lards. The directors have brought the
Measure forward in the pre-ent session in
ten" of an agreement with the London and
York Company, in whose favour certain clauses will be
introduced regulating the traffic of the London and
pork Railway upon that line.—Jlear, hear.) The
Second Bill is one which is almost identical with the one
Which was also lost in the last session—it is a Bill to
make a railway from the London and North-Western
Railway near Bletchley to Newport Psgnel, Olney. end
Wellingborough. The present scheme will elf ird
rather more convenience than the former one,
in consequence of the line preparing to Welling-
borough. I might go on with a great many
more; but as the Bills must be all read as they come
before you, in order to be submitted to you, I think it
will be better to reserve any remarks up in them until
inch time as the several Bills are brought under your
consideration. lam anxious, considering the state of
the money market and the general position of commer-
cial affairs, to add a few words, in order
that you should not think we are undertaking any
projects with rashness, or without a full consideration
of all the bearings of the questions. It is quite true
that there is at pres.rit a monetary pressure upon the
money market, but the directors do not consider that of
itself affords any reason for not proceeding with such
measures as the directors think calculated to promote
the interests of the company, and which have already
resolved your esucti. n and approval ; and I,
in common with your other directors, believe that
the pressure upon the monetary c,,nc9rns is only
a momentary !one, and that by the time the Bills shall
have received the sanction of the Legislature, and we
shall be prepared to carry them out, it will have passed
Off, and I trust that we shall then be p!aced in a position
fuU
to perform the duty which we feel that we owe
both to ourselves and to the public without any serious
Pressure.—(Hear, hear.) I shall now proceed to read
the names of the several Bilk, and put them to the
meeting, and should any hon. proprieti r feel disposed to
Jety questions, or require any intbrmation upon the
-14 t of any f the Bills, I shall be happy
o to afford the
same.

The following Bills were then read to the meeting,
and unanimously agreed to without discussion:—
: A. Bill to empower the London and North-Western
"."*ilway Company to make a railway from the London
and North-Western Railway, near Watford, to St.
Albans, Luton, and Dunstable."
:A Bill to empower the L mdon and North-Western
it
Way Company to make a railway from the London
andNorth-Western Railway, near Bietchley, to Newport
4-agnel, obey, arid Wellingborough."
'" A Bill for making a railway from the Northampton
nd Peterborough Branch of the London and North-
Irestern Railway to the town of Banbury, to be called
The Northampton and Banbury Railway,' and for other
purposes." _ _ _

Bill to authorise the consolidation of the Oxford
1111 d Bletehley and the Buckingham *and Brickley June-
It_wlesCompanies, and to authorise an Px:ension of their
to Batibur) and Aylesbury, and an alteration at
Oxford."

. A Bill fur making a railway from Cheltenham to
Pin the London and North- Western Railway at Tring,
rith branches therefrom, to be called ' The London, Ox-
ford, and Cht ltenham Railwa).' "
A Bill to empower the London and North-Western
Railway Company to make certain branch railways and
extensions from Ii: nilworth to Bt-rkswell; and from
Leamington to Warwick; and to widen the line from
Leamington to Coventry, all in the county of Warwick,
and for ether purposes."
" A Bill for enabling the L indon and North- Western
Railway Company to make certain branch raffle ars from
the Coventry and Nuneaton line, to the Mount Pleasant
and Victoria Collieries, in the County of Warwick, with
Power to the London and North-Western Railway
Company to admit certain parties as shareholders in their
undertaking. and for other purposes."
" A Bill to enable the Coventry, Nuneaton, Birming-
ham, and Leicester Railway Company to sell and transfer
their railway, works, and interests to the London and
North-Western and Midland Railway Companies, or
either of them, and for other purposes."
" A Bill to empower the London and North- Western
Railway Company to make a branch railway from the
London and North Western R iilway, near Atherstone,
to the Midland Railway, at Whitacre, in the county of
Warwick."
" A Bill for enabling the London and North-Western
41'14ilway Company to make a branch line of railway from
Portobello to Wolverhampton, and for other purposes."
" A Bill to authorise a certain alteration in the line of
the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley
Railway, and to amend the Act relating thereto, and fur
other purposes."
" A Bill to enable the Birmingham, Wolverhampton,
and Stour Valley Railway Company to construct branch
railways to Stourbridge, Dudley, and other places, and
for other purposes.'
" A. Bill to empower the London. and North• Western
Railway Company to enlarge their stations at Liver-
Pool and Crewe, and for other purposes."
" A Bill for enabling the London and North-Western
Railway Company to make a railway from Birmingham
to Lichfield, with branches, and for amending the former
Acts relating to the said company."
" A Bill to empower the Lund in and North-Western
Railway Company to make divers branch railways in
the county of Lancaster, and for other purposes."
.„.." A Bill to authorise the Right Honourable Francis
Egerton, Earl of Ellesmere, to sell, and the Lon-
don and North-Western Railway Company to pur-
chase, the estate and interest of the said Earl in the
kanchester, South Junction, and Altrinchana Railway."
"A proposed Bill for constructing a railway from
Gloucester to Hereford, with branches therefrom, to be
called The Gloucester and Hereford Railway,' and to
transfer to such railway company The Herefordshire
and Gloucestershire Canal Navigation,' and for other
Purposes connected therewith."
"A Bill to incorporate the lluddersfiPld acid Man-
chesterl Railway and Canal Company, and the Leeds,
-Dewsbury, and Manchester Railway Company with the
London and North-Western Railway Company."
"A Bill for making branch railways from the Great
Western Railway, and from Hammersmith, to join the
West London Railway, for widening a pertion of the
West London Railway, and for extending the same so
as to join the London and South• Western Railway, in
the parish of Saint Mary, Lambeth, in the county or
Surrey."
A Bill to authorise a lease of the undertaking of
the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company to
the London and North-Western Railway Company."
The CHAIRMAN said that the Bills in the list which

he had alluded to as being of the s-cond class were the
London, Oxford, and Cheltenham Railway, and also the
project, which was merely a continuation of it, the
Gloucester and Hereford Railway. and Canal Purchase
Bill. These undertakings were brought before them
ao fully at the last general meeting, that it would not be
necessary for him then to occupy the time of the meeting
by any further explanations of them. The committee
Which had been appointed to further its interests
was proceeding satisfactorily, and though it was for
Parliament to decide between it and its rival projects,
Yet they would go into committee with confidence and
every expectation of success. It would be in the re-
collection of the proprietors, that in August last they
had had before them the project for enabling the Co.
ventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham, and Leicester Railway
Company to sell and transter their works to the London
and North-Western and Midland Railway Companies,
or either of them. He had at that time informed them
that he did not know whether the line purchased
would be carried on by the company, and
even then it could not be considered, as
settled project of • the company. With re-
gard to the Bill for enabling the Right Ilonourahle
Francis Egerton, the Earl of Ellesmere, to dispose of his
interest in the Nlanchester, South Juncion, and Altrin-
°lam Railway to the London and North-Western Com-
PtuY, that was unopposed by the parties interested, and
the only capital required would be 12.500/. The next
Project in the list to which he would refer was one
which was brought before them at some length at a
°rimer meeting—it was the one connected with
e leasing of the undertaking of the Shropshire
Union Railways and Canal Company to the Lou-
°U and North-Western Company. It was a
very large undertaking, and one which had been
Inaturel considered by the board . The consideration
cad enaby led them to arrive at the conclusion that there
would be no difficulty to frame proper terms. They had
Undertaken to lease it at th,i rate of one-half of their
dividend. From all that they had been able to ascertain
upon the question, those terms were very fair to both
Parties. Tho capital for which they would be an-
swerable under the lease was 3,300,000/. A stecific
arrangement had been made for the division of
the profits after a certain time. There was one Bill in
he list, and only one, which was an entirely new pro-
iuuts and which had never before been presented to the
lagtice of the proprietors. It was the Bill for the iticor-

poration of :he Huddersfield and Manchester Railway
and Caf.al Company, and the Lueth, Dewsbury, and
Manchester Railway Company, with the London and
North-Western Railway Company. The terms were to
be sev:ai tenths o: tire nail err by the 14:olieon
North-Western Compan, and the am,vnt of capital re-
quired was 1,2S0,00('1. lie held in his hand the traffic
returns, and, as represented in them, there would be a
considerable surplus over the probable rent. He always
thought that such :figures as were there given were to
be received with a certain degree of deduction; but
the scheme had been carefully considered by their
colleagues in the north, who had gone through the ne-
cessary calculations with accuracy , and he might say with
pertinacity; and they had arrived at the conclusion, that
the terms which were offered were in a.emselves fair,
namely, 7-10ths upon the dividend. lie had gone through
all the sub j. cts and all the business which was for their
contil, ration for that day. awl in concluding Iris state-
ment, he could only express his regret that it was found
necessary to summ,n them so frequently.
A vote of thanks having been given to the Chairman
and directors, the meet.ng separated.

LONDON BOTANICAL SOCIETY.
A meeting of the above Society took place last
night, at the offices of the Society, 20, Bedford-
street, Strand ; E. Doub►.edgy, F.L.S., in the chair.
An interesting paper was read on the Potato Disease,
by W. Taylor, F.L.S., on which a long discussion
arose, the substance of which was that in the au-
thor's opinion, the disease arose princ;vally from at-
mospheric changes, which had taken place during
the last two years, which had caused a peculiar efflu-
via to arise in the air. The " celluliferous," or the
cells of the bulbs, become impregnated with this
noxious vapour; and, consequently, the cellular
tissue became ruptured and overcharged with a mass
of inorganic matter. Several specimens of plants
were submitted for the inspection of the members.
A portrait of Mr. G. E. Dennes, the Secretary, was
presented to that gentleman by the Society, for his
zeal and efficiency in forwarding the objects of the
society.

THE BIRMINGHAM ATHENIC

INSTITU FE.

On Tuesday evening the members of the above so-
ciety, with their friends, assemb ed at their rooms, in
Great Charles-street, to celebrate their filth anniversary

of the institution. The apartment was tastefully fitted
up fur the occasion, and, when the company assembled.
presented a gay appearance. Lord John Manners, who
came to Birmingham specially to attend the festivity,
presided as Chairman, and after the repast opened the
proceedings with three hearty cheers for her Majesty,
which were warmly responded .to by the company.
Mr. Davinsox then read the report, which detailed
the progress of the society, and the advantages which it
had conferred upon the members.
Mr. NEWTON, one of the early founders of the institu-
tion, moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. BEDDOWS moved the thanks of the society to Lord
John Manners, and the other donors of hooks.
Lord JOHN MANNERS then rose and said, it became
his pleasing duty to return thanks for the kind manner in
which they had received the proposition of the two mem-
bers who had lest spoken. The present, as they all 'thew,
was the fifth anniversary of the institute, and niewith-
staeclieg the very candid report which they had heard,
containing, as it did, the difficulties which the institution
had had to contend with, he was then proud to say that
on no previous occasion did they meet under more fa
vourable or gratifying circumstances.—(Applause.)
Time, which tests all things human, and destroys so
many, had had a fair opportunitl ofdestreying them, bad
their views been wrong arid their ends visionary ; but
after many days spent in manly games, and evening
recreations, they were then met to celebrate the fifth an-
niversary of their society, and he thought he might say
boldly they could look forward to that institution for a
long course of years as one affording means for manly
enjoyment, recreation, and amusement to at least a large
portion of the youths of Birmingham. They were
assembled there that evening with feelings of pleasure,
arising from the present enjoyment and with feelings of
hope for the future, and he was convinced that in saying
this he expressed the feelings common to all. They were
grateful far what the society had achieved, but above that
common debt, owed by all, he Mt a personal debt of
gratitude to every member of the institute, for he never
could forget the kindness which he had received from
them. Suffice it to say the presents which he had re-
ceived from them, and which had been so beautifully
prepared, and expressive of their native industry. had
been deposited by him, with great pleasure and pride, in
a cabinet in the principal room which her most gracious
Majesty—(Applause)—had occupied when she honoured
Belvoir Castle with a visit. He assured them that no
man ever kept the sword of the greatest warrior with
more pride, than he would keep the product of their
labour and proofs of their unmerited kindness. With
respect to the books which had been presented to the
Institute, he was only sorry they were so few, and he
now hoped they would permit him to add a few mere to
their number.—(Cheers.) He was very anxious to ren-
der them every reasonable encouragement, because he
knew there was a founded. n for the principles on which
the institution was based. When their society was
originated the public mind was not quite so ripe for such
institutions as at the present, and he thought they must
all have had no inconsiderable gratification in witnessing
whit had been accomplished in other places, which had
not been quite so fortunate as their own. They could
now point to numerous other instances in which great
social improvements hail been successful. In autumn he
attended one of the largest assemblages that ever took
place within doors, in Manchester, upon a subject which
brought together 5,000 people. The object was to secure
for the journeymen, labourers, mechanics, and people
employed in all the various trades of Manchester. time
sufficient for study, amusement, and relaxation, which it
is well known they so much required.—(Hear.) In one
of the great rooms in London, he had the pleasure of
being present the other night, when the journeymen of
the metropolis came together, to say they wished to par-
ticipate in those enjoyments which the people now de-
clared to be their due. It was to his mind a most grati-
fying coinciderce, that upon that very day, what he
hoped might le, called the. best crowning majority in fa-
vour of the Ten Hours Bill, bad been proclaitred—
(Cheers)—and as they had now just done so, did the
meeting in London rise as one man and cheer the suc-
cess of that measure. He need not remind them of the
public baths and walks which had been thrown open for
the people. They were well aware great efforts had
been made in that direction, and still greater were in
contemplation. The last measure introduced, with the
merits of which he was net yet acquainted, was a scheme
for the sanatory improvement of the people. Thus,
those great social questions now occupied that position
in the public mind which he and his friends of that so-
ciety believed they ought to have, and it was under these
circumstances they were now met to celebrate their fifth
anniversary. When they first met they were sneered at
and he was soundly abused. He thought, however, that
they did not care much about these sneers, and he could
assure them that he did not feel any great annoyance at
the abuse.—( Applause.) They should not, however, in
future hear of much more sneers or abuse, and if they
should, they would still continue to enjoy their manly
games, pursue their philosophical studies, and that room
would continue to witness their labours and feats of
ability ; the ladies would occasionally partake in the
merry dance, although the philosophical gentlemen of
the day might turn up their noses at what they in
reality did not understane. He should depart from that
room still more impressed with the heaviness of the
English character, and convinced that the union be-
tween the two great classes of their common country
might be made most effectual in the promotion of good.
If the example they set was more generally followed, a
great change would ensue; and he shouid conclude those
brief observations by expressing his hearty hope that
the good example that they had set would be followed
in every great town in the kingdom, and that before long
their native country would again enjoy in reality the
appellation of " Merry Old England," which it once so
justly possessed.
After several other resolutions had been proposed and
carried, one of thanks to the Noble President of the In-
stitution was carried with great cheering, after which
Lord JOHN MANNERS rose and returned thanks.
The company, after enjoying themselves till an ad-
vanced hour, separated, highly delighted with the enter-
, tainments of the evening. •

PROPOSAL OF SIR JOHN Ross TO NE AC II THE
NORTH POLE.—The follcwing is an extract of a letter
from Captain Sir John Ross, R.N., to Captain W. H.
Smyth, R N., President of the Royal Astronomical So.
cietv :—‘• Sir,—l beg leave to submit the following plan
and proposal to the President and Council of the Royal
Astronomical Society for their consideration :—The
measurement of an arc of the meridian has long been a
desideratum, and the failure of every attempt that has
been made at Spitsbergen for this desirable object, as
well as the attempt made to reach the North Pole, has
been because the summer has been selected for that pur-
pose, whereas the spring should have been the sea-
son chosen, namely, the months of April and May
for both services, but which could not be put in
execution by the means hitherto adopted. I hare
now to inform the President and Council of the
Royal Astronomical Society that I have submitted a
plan to the Admiralty for carrying into execution
these double and desirable objects, by wintering at
Spitsbergen, and employing my officers and crew mid* r
the direction of the talented son of the celebrated Pro-
fessor Schumacher, whom I have engaged for this pur-
pose ; while, at the proper season, it is my intention to
attempt to reach the North Pole on sledges drawn by
Swedish horses, being a modification of the plan pro-
posed first by Dr. Scoresby, and of which that highly
talented and well.informedindividual has given his mhst
unqualified approbation. And, from the year's expe-
rience I have had iu Sweden in that mode of travelli,g,
I can safely assert that there is no other officer in the
navy that possesses these advantages so necessary to
complete success, of which neither Dr. Scoresby nor
myself have the smallest doubt. I have made this state-
ment in the hone that, when duly considered by the
President and Council of the Royal Astronomical Society,
they will be pleased to signify to me their opinion on
the importance of the objects in question, and such a
recommendation for its be,ng put into execution as they
may think fit."—Cambridge Advertiser.
NIGHTLY SHELTER FOR TIIE HOUSELESS POOR
Thursday the e,intnittee of the above association made
a report of the number of unfortunate individuals who
have sought shelter during the inclemency of the past
. winter their three asylums, situate in Playhouse-
yard, St. Luke's ; Cr!assnon,e-street, East Srnithfi,lol ;
and in Upper Oale•stre,,t, Murylebotie. Ups:ards of
120,000 men, women, and children have received
shelter, and above 300.000 rations of food were distri-
buted amongst them. The asylums will close on Monday
next.

THE RECAL OF SIR E. WILMOT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SlR,—The public were some time since informed of
the recal of Sir Eardley Wilmot, Bert., from the Go-
vernment of Van Diernen's Land, but apprized only by
the announcement in the Gazette of the appointment of
his successor. They are at length, through the instru-
mentality of Lord Stanley, favoured with the means of
judging, to a certain extent at least, of the justice or
otherwise of his Excellency's recal, by the publication
of the correspondence between the Secretary of State
and Sir E. Wilmot. This so called correspondence, so
far as it goes, can hardly be considered satisfactory,
confined, as it is, to the public dispatch and a private
letter of the same date, addressed to Sir E. Wilmot by
Mr. Secretary Gladstone, announcing the former's sud-
den recal, and stating, for the first time, in the same
document, the reasons assigned for this determination.
No decision which affects the rights and privileges of any
individual can be satisfactory which lacks the quality so
essential to the spirit of justice, embraced in the maxim,
"Audi alteram p Irtem "
The dispatch announces, as is usual in such docu-
ments, that " it has become the painful duty of tie wri-
ter to apprize his Excellency, that her Majesty is please d
to dispense with his future services, and that hfr Ma-
jesty's Government had been induced to tender the ad-
vice which induced this recal, not on account of the in-
competency, real or alleged, for the ordinary duties at-
tached to the chief executive officer:: of the depend. n-
cies of the Crown, but from a regard tee the special exi-
gencies of the particular colony over which his Excel-
lency had been appointed and had undertaken to preside,
and to the very defective manner in which, according to
thejudgment of her Majesty's Government, those exie
gencies had been met by him."
Heretofore the assignment system had been established
in this colony, under the reasonable hope and expecta-
tion that if any latent seed of morality or repentance
rested in the mind cr disposition of the convict, it would
be more likely to germinate and bear wholesome fruit
when nurtured and encouraged by contact with, and
example ot, those untainted with crime, than by herding
criminals of every grade in such close contiguity, if not
irresistible confederacy, as to render almost a miracle
the escape of one individual so placed and associated
from the darkest abyss of moral contamination and in-
famy.

The former system had its day, and it was determined
that the latter should receive a trial. The dispatch now
before us too plainly shows how prolific the new system
has been of all those frightful evils so naturally to have
been anticipated as its fruits.

This latter system came into operation shortly after
Sir E. Wilmot assumed these duties, justly denominated
by the Minister " an arduous task ;" the worst results
followed, and there is sufficient in the dispatch to show
that they were duly announced to the Home Govern-
ment—not, I presume, in a spirit of dictation, which
would ill become the character of the Queen's Viceroy,
but by " transmitting to the proper cptamer the most hor-
rible and revolting accounts of the state of morals
among a portion of the female convicts." His Excel-
lency did not impertinently intrude his convictions on
the subject of this horror-working system upon the
authorities by whom it was maintained; he did not say,
" Give up this new (angled and demoralizing experiment
which has worked so much evil, which has placed the•
convict population beyond the reach of moral example
or influence; abandon the tithe position you have taken
in the science of moral regeneration ; return to that
wholesome system of assignment, which was not only
promised to the early settler as an eneouragement to
Embark his fortunes it this distant climate, but which
has proved the happy and fruitful source of moral
amendment, as attested by the existence of a large sec-
tion of the present trading and agricultural portion of
the community over which I preside, who have been
snatched from vice and contamination by the healing
influence of that system which you have thus aban-
doned.' I have reason to believe that these were the'
sentiments of Sir E. Wilmot, though not put forward
after this ootrusive and dictorial fashion.

Sir E Wilmot is n..t accused of :"inCompetency real
or alleged." "He had been appointed," says the Mi-
nister, " to carry out a system brought into use for the
purpose of affording a solution to one of the most diffi-
cult oi social problems—a system adopted with a view
not to econnoical but moral porpo•es, and whilst sepa-
rating ti, convict from the veneral community, yet to
ne aralize by discipline, and by religious and humanizing
influences, all those dangers which arise from the close
juxtaposition and constant intercourse of criminals among
tht,m,elves."

Truly a very " arduous task I" We accuse you, says
the Minister and sole judge in this case, and therefore we
condemn you of not having applied your mind with due
diligence and with earnest concern to the government
and improvement of that portioa of the population under
your charge. We accuse you or not having demonstrated
that the absence of successful results must be ascribed to
the inherent defects of thv system, and not to the apsthy
and neglect of those to whose charge it bad been com-
mitted. Of all this we accuse you, not from official
reports, but from "rumours" and from evidence "frag-
mentary and Indistinct ;" and la,tly, we promulgate these
accusations for the first time in the selfsame document
which seals your condemnation and punishment. And,
now, to turn to the letter which accompanied this di-
spatch, and which is as follows :
"Downing-street, April 30, 1846.
" Sir,—l have now to Oischarge a duty still more pain-
ful and delicate than that of addressing you in a public
dispatch to communicate to you your recal from the wi-
ininls,ro.tion of affairs in Van Diemen's Land.

" Adverting to the fact that this veal rests upon the
allegation of a failure on your cart wi;h respect to special
and peculiar duties only, which attach to the care of a
1-wrtal colony, but not to that of colonies in general, you
may feel some surprise at the circumstances that I have
made no allusion to the possibility of your employment
during the ordinary term of six years.
" I should have felt authorised to express a willingness
to consider of any favourable opportunity which might
offer itself for such employment, had it not been for the
circumstance that certain rumours have reached me from
a variety of quartfts relative to your private life, to the
nature of which it is perhaps unnecessary that I should
at present particularly allude.
" Had these rumours been slight. and without pre-
sumptions of credibility, I might warrantably and gladly
have passed them by. Had they, on the other hand,
taken the form of charges or of information sup-
ported by the names of the parties tendering it, it
would have been my absolute duty, independently of
any other reason for interference with your tenure of
office, to refer the matter to you, and at once call upon
you for yt u, exculpation. But they occupy anlintermediate
pisition. Presuming that I have been justified in re-
fraining from bringing them under your notio3 up to the
present time, I feel that it would be impossible to recom.
mend your resumption of active duties under the Crown
in any other co.ony until they are satisfactorily- dis-
posed of. To found proceedings upon them against a
person haling office appeared to me a very questionable
matter, but I think it quite unquestionable that they
roust be taken into view when re-appointment is the
matter issue..

" I know not what your views and wishes on that sub-
ject mad• be. I should not have entered wantonly and
ne4 dlessly on such a topic as that to which I now refer.
My reason for doing so ,without waiting for any request
from you for re-employment, is, that I think that some
favourable intimation on that head would have been your
due had no obstacle intervened, and I have, therefore,
found myself bound to account for the omission from my
dispatch of this day of any such intimation.
" I have, &c ,
" W. E. GLADSTONE."

Now, throughout this dispatch and the accomp tnying
letter, it appears that an far from any inquiry or expoi-
tulation having been made in reference $ the all ged
errors and omissions contained in the former, or in
reference to the anonymous rumours alluded to in the
latter document, the accusation and condemnation were
simultaneous. The verdict is pronounced, in the first
instance, without hearing the defence, and, when all the
damning and ruinous eff cts have been felt and suffered,
the accused is humanely permitted to Veld in denial or
witiaation. _ .

Will n, .t these circumstances render it a 5t,07,, " pre-
sumplions" indeed, on the part of the writer of this letter,
that he had been justifii. d in refraining from bringing
the charges preferred against the accused under his
notice prior to the announcement of his irrevocable
decision upon them ? or, is the tenure of office in her
Vliiesty's colonies a thing so frail and unsubstantial that
it may be at once aryildated by the breath of scandal
or by anonymous rumours, fabricated and concorte.l in
a community proverbially tainted by the under-current
of that jea:ous, envious, and designing Si Aliter which
has been the downtal tif more than one hotwursb'e indi-
vidual, as well as the bane and curse of that community?
Can that deci ion be satisfactory to a British public
which is arrived at in defiance of all those rules of which
they boast as the palladium of British liberty? I need
but to revert to the principle involved in ihe decision of
her Majesty in Privy Council last year, in the case of
" Mr. Justice Willis in appeal against the Governor of
New S iuth \Vale,," who had thought proper to suspend
hint from the exercise of his judicial tt nations without
having called upon him for his defence—a principle
which treated the act of the Governor in so doing as an
outrage upon the rule by which even the criminal is
entillewl to be heard before condemnation—an act which
annihilates the cherished maxim
" AUDI A I,TF RAM PARTEM."

COURT-MARTIAL.—The sentence and finding at a
district court-martial, by which a non commissioned
officer of the 95th Foot was tried at the Wellington
Barracks some days since, on charges preferred by his
commanding officer, were on Thursday issued from the
llorse Guards. The prisoner, Joseph Coates, a lance
sergeant of the regiment already mentioned, was charged
under the Articles of War, with having absented himself
without leave from the recruiting party to which he had
been attached at Feversham, li. nt, and having proceeded
to D,eds, in Yorkshire, where he gave himself up to a
sergeant of the 30th Foot. The charge having been
proven, the priqmer was sentenced to three months'
confinern.-nt in the Military Provost, Fort Clarence, and
to be reduced to the rank and pay of a private soldier.
The finding was confirmed by the Commander-in-
Chief, &c.
ACCIDENTS AT STEPNEY FAIL —Oa Wedneday
afternoon two accidents of a serious nature occurred in
Stepney Fair. A man named Henry Padley, of Sea-
l Tight-street. Bethnal -green,entered one of those danger-
ous machines called a swing, in a state of intoxication,
and whit' the swing was ascending he was thrown out
and pitched on his head. He was rendered insensible,
and conveyed to the London Hospital in a very pre-
carious state. A young woman, named Jane Field,
residing in Virginia-tow, Bolinal green. wis -rated iu
fine of the " wrrygo-routuls;" w!,il it was inn toll play
she was thrown ~f 1 with great violence. head was
cut in a most frightfut manner, and oled profusely. :The
was also removed to the same hospital, and it is feared
• to will not recover.