The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 15, 1847.

NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF " THE RANSOM."
Just ready, in three vols., post Bvo.,
KIRK HOLME PRIORY;
Or, MODERN HEROISM.
By the Author of " The Ransom."
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street.

RAILWAY SHARES BY PUBLIC SALE.
MESSRS. LAMOND and Co., RAILWAY
SHARE AUCTIONEERS, beg to thank their Friends
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to announce that their Public Sales of Railway Shares, &c.,
take place every TUESDAY and FRIDAY, at One o'clock, at the
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Previous to their being offered; and advices of results will be
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THIRD EDITION OF
Tlf E S U N."

PARLIAMENT MEETS on TUESDAY NEXT,

THE 19TH,

AND, AS USUAL, .THE'
VERY LATEST NEWS

WILL BE FOUND IN THE

THIRD EDITION OF THE SUN,'.

WILL CONTAIN THE
DEBATES IN BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
UP TO THE HOUR OF POST,
THEREBY ANTICIPATIU OTHER PAPERS BY

TWELVE HOURS.

EXPRESS EDITIONS

a very considerable proportion of the existing Par-

liament had been converted in like manner. These
facts, however, are already so notorious, that it was
scarcely- necessary for Lord LINCOLN to insist upon
the integrity of his conduct in upholding the great
measures of Sir ROBERT PEEL. Now, however, for
our promised epitome.
Lord f,lNroi.n expresses himself as solicitous to
aid in the further relaxation of import and export
duties, wherever he can discover that that relaxation
will in no manner be opposed to the interests of the
national revenue. He would gladly see both the
malt-tax and the tea duty abolished, providing
it were proved that their abolition would not be pre-
judicial to the Exchequer. With reference to na-
tional education, Lord LINCOLN goes throughout with
the popular movement. Referring to a report fur-
nished by the chaplain of Preston gaol, he says, that
that functionary states
" He found among the prisoners 55 per cent. unable
to read. That is bad enough. But he found 37 per
cent. ignorant of the Saviour's name and unable to repeat
the Lord's Prayer. How many do you think he found
acquainted with the elementary truths of religion? Only
nine in 100. How many did he find familiar with the
Scriptures, and well instructed ? Not one. To proceed
to less important points' of education, he found one-halt
unable to name the months of the year, and more than
one-half ignorant of the name of the reigning Sovereign."

How could he remain indifferent to the diffusion of
knowledge to the thousands in this deplorable condi-
tion ? How could he oppose a deaf ear to the plead-
ings of this brutalising affliction ? Lord LINCOLN
remembers the adage, that the diamond is nought
unless the light shines upon it; and he is earnestly
desirous to assist in the passing of some
suitable and extensive educational measure. As
to the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy, the
Noble Lord exclaims to the opponents of that prin-

ciple—
" Why, throughout the whole of our colonies—in
Canada, at the Cape of Good. Hope, in Jamaica, in New
South Wales, in British Guiana, and various other- places
—not only is the Roman Catholic priesthood paid by the
State, but various other denominations derive very con-
siderable emoluments from the same source."

He is, therefore, prepared to advocate the endow-
ment of the Irish priesthood, but otherwise than by
the funds of the Irish Protestant Church. "I do say,"
he continues—

"'That it is not only a painful but an improper-position
for the ministers of religion to be placed in—those whose
duty it is to counsel the weak, to reprove the wayward,
to objurgate the licentious,—it is cruel that these men
should be placed under the temptation' of pandering to
the prejudices and the vices of their flocks, with a view
to their daily subsistence."

In addition to these acknowledgments, Lord LIN-
COLN declares that he is opposed to the measures
relating to factory labour introduced to the House of

Commons by Lord ASHLEY and Mr. FEILDEN ;
that he wishes to facilitate the production of a com-
prehensive sanatory reform; that he aspires to behold
Ireland placed upon a perfect equality with Eng-

land and Scotland in all civil rights ; that he
cannot vote in the ensuing session for the total and
immediate abolition of the corn-laws, for the Ten
Hours' Bill, for the ballot, for electoral districts, or
for the equalization of the stamp duties.
In this oration of Lord LINCOLN is comprised the
first political manifesto for 1847 yet issued by an in-
dependent representative in Parliament.

We have intelligence from the United States,
brought by the mail-steamer Cambria, which left
Boston on the Ist and Halifax on the 3d instant.
In point of immediate practical results, or of any-
thing approaching to them, the news is exceedingly
barren. On the other hand, enough is conveyed to
justify the hope, that the monstrous policy of the
peace-hating PRESIDENT will soon experience a salutary
check. It is intimated, according to the version given by
the Courier and Enquirer of the latest accounts they
had received from Mexico, that our Minister there
had withdrawn his offer of mediation made in the
name of our Government, presumably because a si-
milar offer had not been entertained at Washington.
But it appears that Mr. POLE is most desirous of ne-
gotiating directly with the Mexican authorities, and
perhaps he flatters himself he will be able tyrannically
to exact more favourable terms than an
honourable mediator would think him entitled
to demand. We regard, therefore, his refusal
to accept of our offer of friendly intervention, as
of a piece with the inordinate spirit of reckless ag-
gression which be has manifested throughout from
the very commencement of these proceedings.
From Philadelphia we learn that Mr. BARER, of
Illinois, just returned from the army, had delivered a
speech in the House of Representatives, by which the
greatest excitement had been produced. He repre-
sented " the utter incompetency of a handful of men
to conquer Mexico—that an overwhelming force
was necessary—that the Mexicans were more
united than ever, women even joining them to
repel the invasion." We congratulate all true lovers
of peace, that the feelings of patriotism are thus uni-
versally kindled in the, breasts of a cruelly oppressed
nation. The civilised world will sympathise, with
this noble manifestation ofnational ardour "pro aris et
focis," and which, if prudently developed, and
steadily sustained, will assuredly triumph over the
ruthless efforts of republican despotism. To furnish
the means of prosecuting the war, is the vexata
questio with the PRESIDENT. Happily, it is
believed, that Congress will not consent to sacrifice
free. trade principles to gratify the insatiable ambition
of Mr. PoLx ; so that the duties on tea and coffee,
proposed by the Treasury department, are not likely
to be sanctioned. To direct taxation the Americans
would, in all probability, be found to be still more
inimical. Thus, from the real financial difficulties of
his position, and the expenditure considered to be
necessary to succeed in his infamous attempt to
ride roughshod over Mexican, patriotism; and no
from any abatement of his; Inst after territoria

aggrandisement, will the PRESIDENT be most likely
compelled to retrace his steps, and to terminate a
war, in which no honour can be gained, but whereiti
indelible disgrace has already been incurred.

Accounts from Switzerland state that the in-
surgents of Morat have been defeated by the Govern-
ment troops of Friburg, and that, taking advantage
of this victory, the Government troops on the Bth
marched on Morat, the head-quarters of the insur-
rection. Several arrests have taken place iri Friburg
by order of the authorities.

Madrid papers of the 6th have arrived. Senor
OLOZAGA is not the only Deputy who has been pre-
vented by the illegal acts of the Isturitz Ministry
from taking his seat in the Chamber. Senor GomEz
DE LA SERNA, who was elected for Orense, has been
refused his passport by the Spanish Ministers, be-
cause, as Minister of Justice in 1843, he counter-
signed the protest of ESPARTERO, issued on board
the Betis.
The Madrid Bolsa was closed on the 6th. , „

‘Nre have received the Paris papers of Tuesday.

The KING'S Speech is the subject of comment in
all of them. The Debuts applauds it as exhibiting
in its wording " a tranquil but well.:systained vigour
as suitable to the words as to the acts of a venerated
KING," while the Constit4ionneLsays—

" Here we have, in 1847, the head of the State an-
nouncing to the two Chambers that the Government hos
broken with Great Britain, and that it has at the same
time been obliged to protest against a grave infraction of

memories of England by the bloodless victory of
reason over ignorance and prejudice, in the destruc-
tion of monopoly and the realisation of freedom to
commerce. By reference to these vast mer-
cantile improvements--the work of the Cabinet with
which he had been intimately connected—and by
reference, moreover, to the diminution of
.ccime which
had been simultaneous with, and almost proportioned
to, the extent of relaxations in the laws relating to
trade and agriculture, Lord LINCOLN gave ample
evidence that his character bore a more remarkable
resemblance to the character of the advancing spirit
of enlightenment in these times than to the cha-
racter of that antiquated bigotry which is ever retro-
grading and ever involved in dilemmas.
Upon the apparent suddenness of his conversion to
those doctrines of free trade which maintained the
necessity for a total abrogation of the corn-laws,
Lord LINCOLN was peculiarly solicitous to remove
any false impressions. He reminded his auditors
that if he bad sinned in acknowledging the blunder of
his judgment, he sinned with the wise and the illustrious :
that Mr. Hu§KissoN had at first supported the protec-
tive principle, and subsequently the principle of com-
mercial liberation; that the Noble Lord the present
Prime Minister of England had acted similarly; that

treaties committed by Prussia, Russia, and Arstria. In
his exchange for a grand alliance now lost, ani for good
relations destroyed with the three Powers, s'e are pre-
sented, as a glorious compensation, with a net; pledge of
alliance with the Government of Spain !"

The Presse, of course, is rejoiced at the cpportunity
afforded it by the Speech of again throwing out a
defiance to England.

On Tuesday the Chambers met for the organization
of the Standing Committees. The Chairmen and
Secretaries, who are all Conservatives, were elected
by a large majority. The Budget for 1848 was laid
on the table by the Finance Minister, and also a Bill
authorising the supplementary credit for 1846. The
documents relating to the Spanish marriages and to
the affairs of Cracow were presented by M. GuizoT,
and ordered to be printed ; and the Minister of Corn•
merce introduced a Bill to regulate the importation of
foreign corn.

The Ministers have determined that no project of
law relative to the adjudication or concession of new
railroad lines shall be presented to the Chambers
this year. The Government will confine itself to
hastening the execution of the works already com-
menced.

The Funds continue to fall, and " bread riots" are
of daily occurrence in the provinces. On Tuesday
the governors of the Bank of France met in council,
to consider the expediency of raising the rate of dis-
count.

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on
Tuesday at 79f. 30e. ; the Five per Cents., 1171. 80c.; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2351.; Rouen, 893 f. 75c. ; Havre,
6821. 50c. ; Great Northern, 6271. 50c; Avignon, 8521. 50c. ;
Vierzon, 5901. ; Bordeaux, 556 f. 25c.; Troyes and Monte-
reau, 3501.; Bask, 217 f. 50c.; Dieppe, 3521.50 c.; Paris and
Strasburg, -C6Ol. ; Tours and Nantes, 4821. 50c.; Paris and
Lyons, 505 f. ; Lyons and Avignon; 185 f. ; Bordeau \- and
Cette, •1501. • -

_
:ATA ascita.us, JAN. 7.—ltar6eilles and Avignon, 97" t• ;
Nol them, 6121. 50c.; Paris and Lyons, 508 E 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN LAILIVAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JANUAIiY 13.
Boulogne and Amiens, 154—EaSt Indian, -,,,—Louvain
la Sambre, I:l4—Luxembourg, -2%—Natnur and Liege,
314—Northern of France, 10—Paris and Lyons, B—Paris
and Rouen, 35.

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE CAMBRIA.

UNITED STATES.

" JAMES K. POLK.
" Washington, December 23, 1846."
The message did not receive much favour when read, and
some portions of it excited a smile. It is now with the
committee of the whole of the Union, and a fair subject of
debate.

Late accounts from the armies of the left and centre
had been received.
We take from the papers the following:—
General Taylor had returned from Saltillo, which was all
in the quiet possession of the troops under General Worth.
No demonstration bad been made against him, though at a
distance of only thirty miles the scouts of General Worth had
discovered about 3,000 cavalry, said to have been sent from
Potosi.
General Wool has been ordered by General Taylor to
occupy the town of Parras. The inhabitants made no oppo-
sition to General Wool, but were prepared to receive him
peaceably. His troops are enjoying excellent health, and
are in the highest state of discipline. It was understood
that General Taylor would occupy all the ports and towns
upon the line of operations to Tampico. He would himself
shortly take up the line of march upon Victoria, where
rumour says Santa Anna has 10,000 choice troops.
General Taylor was to move, in column, on the Bth, 9th,
and 10th instant., for Victoria, with about 1,500 men. Vic-
toria is cqui-distant from Monterey and Tampico, and it was
supposed that General Taylor would make that place his
head-quarters.
No further demonstration would be made towards San
Luis Potosi until further orders from our Government.
General Taylor had imprisoned the Alcalde of Monterey
and his son, and several vulientt hombres, for furnishing
money and horses to deserters from the American army.
General Wool was at Parras, 100 miles north of Chi-
huahua, with 1,000 men. General Worth was at Saltillo, and
will shortly have under his command 2,000 men. Colonel
Riley was at Monte Moreles with about 1,000 men. General
Pillow was to move to Victoria on the 13th.
Santa Anna has sent out a detachment of 2,000 men to de-
stroy the water tanks between Saltillo and San Luis Potosi.
The United States brig of war Sotncrs has been to-
tally lost off Green Isle, Vera Cruz. Thirty-seven of
her crew and officers were drowned, 30 escaped. The
event took place during a norther on the 7th of Decem-
ber, on the reefs of the coast. The British and French
officers and seamen of our navy present received the
warmest acknowledgments from the Americans for their
daring and successful exertions in thuemergency.
It is said that accounts from Mexico had been received
to the effect that the British Minister had withdrawn
his previous offer of mediation.
M. Bancroft's nomination had been sanctioned by the
Senate.

The results of the new tariff has been most favourable.

Great scarcity of shipping was felt at all the ports.

The ship England, from London to St. John's, New
Brunswick, was totally wrecked near St. John's on the
21st of December.
The ship Richard Anderson arrived at Baltimore on
the 28th of December, with crew of British brig Mary
Sheill, from Liverpool for Halifax. The Mary Sheill
left the port in September last.
The packet ship Thomas P. Cope, Miercken, from
Philadelphia, Nov. 26th, for Liverpool, was struck by
lightning on the evening of the 2.9 th ult., lat. 45 15, lon.
65, which set fire to the mainmast•head and rigging and
cargo, consisting of hemp and tallow. Captain M. im-
mediately cut away the mamma t, and attempted to ex-

tinguish the fire, but did not succeed. Iu this state they
remained till the evening of the sth instant, when the
British ship Emigrant, from Liverpool for St. John's,
New Brunswick, fell in with them, and took off part
of the passengers, when a gale sprung up. On the
morning of the 6th the remainder of the passengers, cap-
tain, and crew, were taken off. In three hours after the
smoke and flames arose suddenly to a great height, and
the ship disappeared. Ship W. Irving, Caldwell, at
Boston, fell in with the Emigrant 16th instant, lat. 42,
lon. 67 20, short of provisions and water, and took off
Captain M., crew, and passengers, and carried them to
Boston, and supplied the Emigrant with bread and flour.
The T. P. Cope was insured in Philadelphia for 18,000
dollars. It is stated that the cargo was principally in-

_
sured in England.
The Cambria's advices on receipt at New York exer-
cised great infinence on the markets, Cotton, corn,
flour, and freights, all advanced. The exports
continued to be immense from all the northern ports.
Accounts from' Yucatan state that the opposing in-
terests of 'Merida and Campeachy with regard to the
reunion of the department to Mexico was on the point of
being decided on the field, 1,500 men having assembled
on each side. Barbachano is reported to have been
deceased.

SIR FREDERICK CURRIE.—Sir Frederick Currie,
whose eminent civil services as chief secretary to the Go-
vernment of India the Crown has acknowledged by a
baronetcy, is the third son of the late Mark Currie, Esq.,
formerly of Upper Galton, Surrey, and is a first cousin
of our representative, Mr. Raikes Currie. Sir Frederick
Currie was born in 1799, educated at the Charter House
and Haileybury College, arrived at Calcutta in 1818, and
after twenty years of civil service, latterly as district com-
missioner at Gorackpore and Gazepore, joined the Earl
of Auckland at Simla, in 1838, as government secretary
for the north-western provinces, and accompanied
his lordship to Lahore. In 1842 he was appointed
by Lord Ellenborough government secretary for the
foreign department. He continued to discharge the
duties of this important office through the glorious
campaigns of 1845 46. " The Governor-General in
his despatch to the Secret Committee, dated
" Camp, Ferozepore, December 31, 1845," writes
—" I owe great obligations to the Chief Secretary to
the Government, Frederick Currie, Esq., who has,
during all the various and sometimes conflicting duties
in which I have been engaged, given me his sound ad-
vice and active aid, sometimes accompaming me in the
field, and at all times evincing the coolest judgment, and
exhibiting the resources of his experience to the great
advantage of the Company's service." Sir Frederick's
services are again acknowledged in the general order,
Feb., 1846 ; and he was afterwards deputed to conduct
the Maharajah Dhulep Singh in state to his palace in
the citadel of Lahore, and to arrange the treaty of Om-
ritzri. In November last Sir Frederick Currie was una-
nimously appointed by the Court of Directors to till the
next vacancy in the Supreme Council of India ; and the
G a zette of Friday, the 18th of December, shows that her
Majesty's Government are honourably alive to the inerits
of this long career of distinguished public service.--
Northunip ton Mercury.
A CHANCELLOR'S NOVEL-READING.—ThurIow be-
came, in his retirement, a great reader of novels; and in
one instance, was so interested in the plot, that he dis
patched his groom from Dulwich to London, after ten
o'clock at night for the concluding vo!utnes, that he
might know the fate of the heroin@ before trying to go
to sleep.

We have received from Liverpool dispatches brought
by the Royal mail steam-ship from Boston, in 12 days.
The accounts are politically interesting; commercially
they are of the highest importance.. Cotton, bread-
stuffs, and freights, had all risen.

Congress had been occupied chiefly with the discussion
of the President's Message with regard to the Mexican
war. The debates were extremely sharp. The duty
recommended upon tea and coffee would not be imposed
it was believed.

The PreLident bad addressed to Congress the follow-
Messof.le
',TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

"In compliance with the request contained in the resolu-
tion of the 15th instant, I communicate herewith reports of
the Secretary of War and Secretary of Navy, with the docu-
ments which accompany them. These documents contain
all the orders or instructions to any military, naval, or other
officer of the Government in relation to the establishment or
organisation of civil Government in any portions of the ter-
ritory of Mexico which has or which might be taken pos-
session of by the army and navy of the United States.
"These orders and instructions were given to regulate the
exercise of the rights of the belligerents engaged in actual
war over such portions of the territory of our enemy as by
military conquest might be taken possession of, and be oc-
cupied by our armed forces—rights necessarily resulting
from a state of war and clearly recognised by the laws of
nations.

" This wan all the authority which could be delegated to
our military or naval commanders, and its exercise was in-
dispensable to the secure Occupation and possession of terri-
tory of the enemy which might be conquered. The regula-
tions authorised were temporary, and dependent upon the
rights acquired by conquest.
" They were authorised as belligerent rights, and were to
be carried into effect by military or naval officers. They
were but the amelioration of martial law, which modern
civilisation require, and were due as well to the security of
eonquest as to the inhabitants of the conquered territory.
" The documents communicated also contain the reports of
ceverel highly meritorious officers of our army and navy who
have conquered and taken possession of portions of the
enemy's territory.
" Among the documents accompanying the report of the
Secretary of War will be found a form of Government,
established and organised by the military commander who
conquered and occupied New Mexico. This document was
received at the War Department in the latter part of the
last, month, ar,d, as will be perceived by the report of the
Secretary at War, was not, for the reasons stated by that
officer, brought to my notice until after my annual message
of the Bth inst. was communicated to Congress.
"It is declared on its face to be a temporary government
of said territory,' but there are portions of it which purport
to establish and organise' a permanent and territorial go-
vernment of the United States over the territory, and to im-
part to its inhabitants political rights, which, under the con-
stitution of the United States, can be enjoyed permanently
only by citizens of the United States. These have not been
approved and recognised by me.'
" Such organised relations as have been established in any
portion of the conquered territories for the security of our
conquest, for the preservation of order, for the protection of
the rights of the inhabitants, and for depriving the enemy of
the advantages of these territories, while the military pos-
session of them by the forces of the United States continues,
will be recognised and approved.
"It will be apparent, from the reports of the officers who
have been required by the success which has crowned their
arms to exercise the power of temporary government over
the conquered territories, that if any excess of power has
been exercised, the departure has been the offspring of a
patriotic desire to give to the inhabitants the privileges and
immunities so cherished by the people of our own country,
and which they believed calculated to imprOve their condi-
tion and promote their prosperity.
" Any such excess has resulted in no practical injury, but
can and will be early corrected in a manner to alienate as
little as possible the good feelings sf the inhabitants of the
conquered territorities.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The following lists of the business to be brought be-
fore the examiners appointed to examine and report with
respect to petitions on Private Bills, were put up yester-
day in the lobby of the House of Commons:—
DAILY LISTS OF -PETlTlONS.—Petitions for Private
Bills appointed to be heard by the examiners, Friday,
Jan. 15, 1847.
(Before Mr. Ssunt,Committee R00m,N0.22, at 10 o'clock.)
UNOPPOSED LIST.—The Liverpool Gas Light Com-
panies Acts Amendmente, and for raising a further sum
of money; Portsmouth Paving, Lighting, and Improve-
ment ; Glasgow Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr and
Glasgow, and Belfast and Union Railway (No. 1); Glas-
gow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway (No. 2).
OPPOSED LlST.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle
Railway, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Air
Railway (No 1) ; Glasgow,` Paisley, Kilmarnock, and
Ayr Railway, and Ayrshire and Bridge of Weir (No. 3).
(Befoie Mr. MAY, Committee-room No. 23, at 10 o'clock.)
UNOPPOSED LlST.—Birkenhead Commissioners Dock
Act ; construction of new docks and alteration of cul-
vert—Birkenhead Commissioners Dock Act Amend-
ment ; as to construction of sea wall along Wallasey
Pool—South-Eastern Railway (Mid* Kent and Direct
Tunbridge) ; proposed railway from the North Kent line
of the South Eastern Railway at Lewisham to Tun-
bridge, with branches to Dartford, Sevenoaks, "Maid-
stone, and Paddock Wood—Glasgow, Dumfries, and
Carlisle Railway—Glasgaw, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and
Ayr Railway (No. 4).
OPPOSED LlST.—Sunderland Markets, Bridge, Ferries,
and General Improvement—Glasgow, Dumfries, and
Carlisle Railway—Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and
Ayr Railway (No. 3).
The following is the business for Saturday:—
(Before Mr. SMITH, Committee-room, No. 22, at
ten o'clock.)
UNOPPOSED.—BristoI and Exeter Railway (branches
from Blandon to Wells, Glastonbury, and Street) ;
Lowestoft Railway and Harbour (alteration near Reed-
ham) ; Drainage of Crowhead and Cowbit Washes and
other lands.
OPPOSED.—Bristol and Exeter Railway (Taunton and
Castle Cary Branches) ; Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock,
and Ayr Railway (No. 5) ; Glasgow, Paisley and Kil-
marnock and Ayr Railway (No. 4.)
(Before Mr. MAY, Committee-room, N 0.23, at 10 o'clock.)
UNOPPOSED.—Lynn and Ely, Ely and Hunting..
don, and Lynn, and Dereham Railways Amalgama-
tion—Birkenhead Dock Company, and Herculaneum
Dock Company Amalgamation ; Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincolnshire Railway Company (junction
with the Midland Railway, via Barnsley and Branches
therefrom) ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire !Railway (Branches to Chapel-town and Thur-
goland Coal Branch) ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
colnshire Railway (Branches from Ashton-under-Lyne
to Oldham); Birkenhead Improvements Act Amend-
ment. (No. I.)
OPPOSED.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway,
and Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway
(No. 2.) ; Reading, Guildford, and Reigate Railway
(Deviation, repeal of restrictions in the Reading,
Guildford, and Reigate Railway Act, 1846, as to con-
struction of a portion of the Line).

THE PROTECTIONISTS AND THE

- ---
MALT TAX.
At the January meeting of the General Committee
of the Central Agricultural Society, held on Tuesday, at
No. 17, Old Bond-street, the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted :
" I. That this society entertains a strong sense of the
impolicy and injustice of the malt tax—interfering as it
does most mischievously with the profitable cultivation
of the soil—and is of opinion that it is alike injurious to
the morals and comfort of the labouring classes. This
society, therefore, pledges itself to use all constitutional
means within its power to obtain, as soon as shall ap-
pear practicable, the total repeal of the malt. tax.
"2. That a deputation be apppinted to wait upon
Lord John Russell to express the opinion of this society,
as conveyed in the foregoing resolution.
"3. That His Grace the Duke of Richmond be re-
quested to communicate with Lord John Russell for the
purpose of ascertaining an early day on which it will be
convenient that his Lordship should receive the depu-
tation."

PROCTORIAL AFFRAYS.-CIVIL

WAR.
We do lament with all our heart the nocturnal uproar
and very uncivil war to which this wretched proctorial
controversy hus at length led. It is positively deplorable.
Night after night are we disturbed with sounds of riot,
shouting, mobbing, confusion, running to and fro, and
everything that indicates the existence of an actual
street war. And worst of all, is hat is the source of this
commotion ? Ask any respectable woman whom you
meet in the street, and you will get no answer. No, no,
—these are iVandi dolores. Any belladonna of mode-
rate modesty would blush to explain the cause of these
bella horrida bella. Yet who are the parties on one side
of this conflict ? Are they bull-dogs ? are they mad
dogs ? Are they waggoners ? or pig drivers ? or are
they even policemen ? No, not at all ; we shall not
name them, because from the respect we bear to them we
are really sorry to find them in such company. Noscitur
a socus. And who are the parties associated in this
hubbub ? The professional names of the two belligerent
parties begun with the same two parties as the word
profession. Incredible ! Is this the 19th century, or do
we dream ? How is it that in our wild and disjointed
visions we form such ridiculous associations—such
strange, unnatural groupings ?
Humane capiti cervicem proctor c quinam
•
Jungere si velit, &c.
But let us not be misunderstood. We utterly and
thoroughly condemn these riotings. The proctors, in
the meantime, are doing nothing more than their duty.
They are fulfilling their office. Such game they are
bound to ferret out and to lead captive. They there-
fore ought not to be interfered with. To these gentle.
men it must be a very unpleasant duty—a duty alien
alike to their habits and to their likings—still, as proc-
tors, it is part of their duty. Why, therefore, break
the peace and interrupt the comfort of peaceable citizens
to annoy those wbe are only agents and instruments in
the matter. If the law or the custom be wrong let it be
altefed ; but let it be assailed by petition, by public and
peaceable demonstration—by sober and legitimate effort
--flat by nocturnal brawls and ineffectual uproar. We
do think the University would consult its own comfort,
credit, and respectability, by taking the initiative in
this matter, and flinging to the winds a prerogative
which is a disgrace, and a privilege which is a burden.
—Cambridge Advertiser.

UZESAR BORGIA, BY THE AUTHOR OF " WHITE-
FRIARS."—For a tale of sustained passion, for a series of
pictures wrought with a vigorous and full-coloured
pencil, we have read no novel for a long time which
equals " Caesar Borgia." The history of this terrible
family gives full scope for the genius of the author of
" Whitefriars," and he has most certainly done justice
to his theme. Of the Lucrezia, the beautiful demon, so
famous in history, he has made a most perfect and sus-
tained picture. Her fascinating grace, her subtle wit.
her passion, wickedness, and determination, alternately
charm and repel us. The description of the interior of
her palace is sketched with a poetical beauty-which is
rarely to be found issuing from a pen so powerful and
strong in its general character. There are numerous
other characters drawn with the same power, among
which those of Pope Alexander (a great sketch), the
Knight Hospitaller, Sir Reginald of England, and the
young Orsini, the three companions in arms, stand out
the most prominently.— Weekly Chronicle.

- -
'LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND THE
ORPHAN CHILDRREN OF THOMAS HOOD.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIDIES.
Sir,—The statement on this interesting subject con •
tained in your paper of the 11th inst., which was taken
from the Examixer, is incomplete without the notice of
an important offer of a sum of money to the children,
which was contained in a private note to Mr. David Sa-
, lemons, which accompanied the official reply to the me-
morial of the trustees. In that note Lord John Russell
says, if 1001. from the Royal bounty would be accept-
able, he would advise her Majesty to give that sum to
Mr. Hood's children.
The official reply having somehow found its way into
the public press, it is but justice to Lord John Russell
to show how promptly and kindly he has responded to
the appeal made to him on behalf of these orphans. For
reasons which he states, he is unable to grant any pen-
sion before next June. He expresses his regret, at this
circumstance, and says he should have been happy to
recommend the continuance of the pension, but until
June next the Crown has not the power to grant any
pension on the civil list. The whole sum grantable
within the year has been already bestowed, and any
grant he should recommend for the children would be
illegal and void. It cannot be doubted that in June the
pension will be granted to the children. Meanwhile a
grant of 1001. from the Royal bounty has been given.
For this new grant there is a precedent exactly in point
were such necessary.
Sir Robert Peel advised the Crown to acknowledge the
merits of Sir Martin Slice, the President of the RoYal
Academy, by the grant of a pension from the civil list.
It was settled on Lady Shee. Lady Shee died within a
year of the grant of the pension, and, as the benevolent
intentions of the Crown were thus defeated, her Majesty
was graciously pleased, by the advice of Sir Robert Peel,
from the 1,2001. grantable within the next year, to allot
a pension to the daughters of Sir Martin Shee equal in
amount to that granted to his wife.
On the occasion of the original grant of the pension
to Hood the course pursued by Sir Robert Peel was
similar to 'that now taken by Lord John Russell. When
the pressing case was made known to him, he could not
(probably for a similar reaon) immediately comply with
the request; but he recommended a gift of lad. from the-
royal bounty, and shortly afterwars he bestowed the
pension.
It is most gratifying to observe the ready recognition
of the claims of literary distinction, totally independent
of and apart from any political services. On this neutral
ground Ministers politically opposed are ready to meet
and to rival each other in their eager desire to break
through the restraints imposed on them by a too nig.
gardly economy of the state.•
That the limitation of the amount to which pensions
to persons of literary eminence can be legally granted is
far too great, and unworthy of this great nation, must
be painfully felt by the Prime Minister as often as claims
strong as those of Hood's family are presented to him—
claims he cannot hesitate to recognise, though unable to
relieve them.
It would be no difficult matter to procure a grant of a
larger amount, to be placed annually at the disposal of
the Crown, on advice of the first Lord of the Treasury.
The justice and necessity of such a measure would be
admitted by all parties in Parliament, and by none more
willingly than by the Prime Minister,
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ONE OF THE TRUSTEES.