The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-24 00:00:00

THE. NUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, WV.

The Drainage of Lands Bill passed through Com
mittee, after a short conversation,

Earl WICKLOW suggested that the adjournment for the
Easter recess should be to the Thursday, instead of to
the Tuesday.

Earl GREY would consult his colleagues on the subject.
Their Lordships then adjourned.
The Commons met at Four.
Mr. SPoorrnit said that he was requested by his col-
league, Mr. MIINTZ, to postpone his motion respecting
the brewers of the midland counties to the 13th April.
Mr. ROMILLY brought in a Bill for the better ad-
ministration of the charitable trusts of Roman Catholics,
which was read a first time.
On the motion of Viscount SANDON, a Select Com-
mittee was ordered to be appointed for the purpose of
considering the present state of our commercial relations
with China.

Mr. C. O'BRIEN moved for the appointment of a Select
Committee to inquire into the conduct of Capt. Wynn
during his employment in the county of Clare in No-
vember and December, 1846, and January, 1847.
Mr. LABOUCHERE suggested that the motion should
be withdrawn until the papers relating to Capt. Wynn
should be before the House. He did not only object to
the inquiry, but he did object to the introduction
into the motion, of any words prejudging the case and
criminatory of a public officer, who had a very arduous
duty to perform under circumstances of difficulty.
A desultory conversation followed, and, ultimately,
the original motion was withdrawn, and an amended
one, in conformity with the suggestions of Sir R. PEEL,
agreed to.

Various returns, on the motion of several Hon. Mem
hers, were then ordered.

Mr. BRIGHT protested against the national fast ap-
pointed for this day, he knew that it would not be at-
tended to by nine-tenths of the population, and would
therefore be of no effect. He thought instead of the
proclamation doing honour to the DEITY, it only showed
the utter want of wisdom in those who framed it, and
pas rather calculated to cherish past superstitions, and
courage infidelity, than to advance the cause of
Christianity.
Mr. LABOUCRERH obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
amend and continue an Act of the last session of Par-
liament for making provision, until the Ist day of
September, 1847, for the treatment of poor persons
afflicted with fever in Ireland.
The House then went into Committee on the Poor-law
(Ireland) Bill,

Clause 9, after a slight discussion, was agreed to.
Oa clause 10 being proposed,
Mr. M. J. O'CoNNELL moved the amendment of
which he had given notice, the object of which was to
place the rating of the poor not upon the electoral, or other
union divisions of parishes, but upon unions generally.
A discussion took place on this clause, eventually the
Committee divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment 25
Against it
Majority
—95

_ ..
The amendment was consequently lost. vv
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN then moved the omission
of the clause as unnecessary.
Mr. LADOUCRERE defended the clause. On a division
the numbers were—
For
the clause
Against it

Majority for the clause —6l
The other orders of the day being disposed of, the
House, at a few minutes before Twelve o'clock, ad-
journed till Thursday at noon.

Whatever may be thought of the morality or utility
of ordaining certain days of national humiliation, it is
impossible to deny that they originate in a meritorious
motive, and that they are calculated to impress the
million with the advantages of mutual dependence.
In accordance with a venerable custom, a custom
sanctioned by the Mosaic Revelation, and practised
in all the ages and principalities of Christendom, our
most Gracious Sovereign VICTORIA has proclaimed
such a period of humiliation. When the Asiatic
cholera was depopulating the empire, a similar act of
homage and intercession with OMNIPOTENCE was re-
quired from the country and the Legislature. If we
examine all history, whether profane or ecclesiastical,
we find the tribulations of a community, a city, or
even of an individual family, have been invariably
marked by some such testimonies of anguish. We
have not the presumption to discuss the advisability
of this ceremony, seeing that such a discus-
sion would compel us to drag 'into the
columns of a newspaper the holiest names
and the sublimest principles of the Great Religion.
The duties of a journalist are altogether apart from
polemical disputation and ethical commentaries.
Besides which it would be indecorous to cast derision
upon a proceeding which has been elicited by circum-
stances of an appalling character, and originated in
sentiments at once solemn and affecting. 'Was there
a necessity to impress upon the multitude the extre-
mity of the national distress, the soreness of Irish
affliction, or the vastness of our insular wretchedness ?
The Public Fast enjoined upon this day, Wednesday,
the 24th of March, 1847, will convey that knowledge
to the least reflective mind in language the most im-
pressive. Was there a necesssity to prepare those
who have escaped the visitation for the unmurmuring
disbursement of monies for the relief of the real
sufferers ? This Public Fast will convey to them
a beneficial conviction that their aid is not required
on any exaggerated pretext. Was there a necessity
to remind the Members of this magnificent and
flourishing empire of the mutual reliance and fra-
ternal sympathy which are absolutely and perpetually
requisite to preserve the vigour and insure the happi-
ness of the body corporate ?—This Public Fast will
enforce the principles comprised in that necessity.
A spectacle of woe only paralleled by the
scenes depicted by DEFOG in his " Diary of
the Plague," or by those of the Pestilence in Italy,
as conceived in the imagination of Sir BULWER
LYTTON and delineated in his "Rienzi," a spectacle
of sorrow and disease such as makes the heart sicken,
has continued before us with little intermission from

the autumnal season of 1845. Some emphatic
expression of our sympathies with the starving pea-
santry of Ireland, some expression of sympathy more
consolatory than pecuniary assistance, because asso-
ciated with their spiritual predilections, was required.
We are now giving voice to that expression ; we are
now averring our humble credence in the mutability-
of things terrestrial ; we are now showing that the
warnings of moralists, and even of hilarious poets,
such as HORACE, in their moods of pensiveness, are
not forgotten or despised.

" Pallida mors equo pulsat pede
Pauperum taberuas reguemque turres."

Although the accounts given by Commander
CAFFIN as to the destitution of the Irish peasantry are
even now being corroborated, there is little reason to
acticipate that the sorrows of Ireland are to remain
undiminished in spite of a more genial season, and a
more active benevolence. We would hope that from
the quarter, dating from this day of national humilia-
tion, the assuagement of the miseries of that peasantry
will commence. We are fain to believe that the gulph
in the forum has been for ever closed for Ireland by
the deplorable immolation of so many of her chil-

dren by famine, and that out of the very profundity
of her present calamities will emerge the guarantee
for her future redemption. It is indisputable that the
potato-murrain and its consequences have at-
tracted to the sister island more of the serious
consideration of Parliament and of the entire Le-
gislature, than all the gaudy and brilliant
demonstrations of her populace. More has been ac-
complished towards rendering her condition equal to
that of England, and more has been done thereby
towards the fulfilment of the articles of the Legislative
Union than had been effected during the preceding
half century for the improvement of her social and
especially of her agricultural system. Her proprietary
have found themselves tottering upon the brink of a
bankruptcy to which they had been driven by their
own atrocious selfishness. Let them profit by that

terrible warning, and in gratitude for the cordiality
with which the Government has advanced for their
salvation, let them follow the injunctions of the Supreme
People by acting towards their tenantry with honesty
_ _ _

and justice. Otherwise the hour of retribution wilt

have been only procrastinated, otherwise the
famine and the mortality will return with in-.
creased horrors, otherwise the whole nation may in
vam sprinkle dust upon its head like Jon, and grove/
down in sackcloth and ashes like the men of Nineveh,

However much the follies of public men intrusted
with the highest political functions may tend to pre
vent the formation of that good understanding whicl
should subsist between different states of the civi-
lised world, or, what is worse, to disturb the harmony
which way have happily prevailed amonget them for

a considerable period; yet is it gratifying to know
that there are frequently under currents at work
which legitimately serve to soften national asperities,
engendered by the selfishness, ambition, or reckless
conduct of statesmen, and ultimately to heal up the
breaches which they have untowardly provoked.
The interruption of the entente cordiale between Eng-
land and France has, we know, been occasioned not
by differences which have been largely or seriously
entertained by the great masses of the population in
either one country or the other. International
amity was wantonly sacrificed in consequence of
LOUIS-PHILIPPE'S determination to consult the private
interests of his family, and to pursue a purely dy-
nastic policy, regardless of the faith of treaties, and
the general welfare of France. Without underrating
the grave inconveniences attendant upon the mutual
distrust existing between the Cabinets of the Tui-
leries and St. James's by reason of recent events,
we firmly believe, that beyond the immediate pre-
cincts of the respective Courts, the affair of the
Spanish marriages has made no serious inroad upon
the improved feeling which a thirty years' peace has
begotten in the national minds of England and
France towards each other. Commerce has been
vigorously prosecuted by both countries according to
their respective means; and, as is invariably the case,
whenever its pursuits have been liberally followed, a
rational intercourse has been established. The en-
terprise and honourable vocation of the merchant
exercises indirectly a passive and no inconsiderable
influence over the turbulent instincts of men in
power. To the extension of the reciprocities of com-
merce are we indebted beyond any other cause for the
blessings of peace which we have almost uninterruptedly
enjoyed since 1815; and the vast facilities which the
introduction of steam power has of late years given to
inland and transmarine intercourse with distant parts
of the globe, affords us the fairest promise that every
year will render the chances of war more and more
remote. The freedom with which our countrymen
have invested large amounts of capital in various
public works, undertaken in foreign countries, and
particularly in France, is a strong proof of the
reliance which they place in the continued mainte-
nance of peace in Europe. On Saturday last the
Paris and Havre Railway was opened. This
important line of traffic owes its accomplishment, in a
great measure, to the contributions of our wealth and
mechanical skill. Mr. Locicn was the head engineer,
and Messrs. MACKENZIE and BRASSY the contractors.
The railway has been formed through a line of coun-
try in which the greatest difficul ties had to be over-
come. The distance between the capital and Havre
is now travelled in six hours and a half. Two
years since, it required six-and-thirty hours
to make the same journey. With the excep-
tion of Rouen, where a strong local jealousy
existed against the scheme, the directors were re-
ceived, during the progress of their inaugural trip,
with, the liveliest demonstrations of public approba-
tion, at every town along the railway. The civil and
military authorities greeted them with enthusiasm.
It seems that the Government engineers subjected
the extraordinary works to the severest tests, which
have established the fact that the railway is as solidly
constructed as any in existence. When men of
different races are thus found uniting their energies
for the completion of undertakings such as these,
it augurs favourably for the progress of civilisation.

In the observations which we yesterday offered on
the Indian intelligence that had just been received,
we alluded briefly to the general order, or manifesto,
which had just emanated from Sir C. NAPIER, on
the occasion of the diminution of the army of Sinde.
This singularly able document affords the clearest
and most comprehensive view of the civil and political
advantages realized by the acquisition of that pro-
vince and its incorporation with the Anglo-Indian
dominions, but Sir CHARLES goes something
further ; he establishes, in a manner intelligible
to the dullest comprehension, that these benefits
have been attained not only without the
expenditure of a single rupee, but that in fact a
considerable increase of income, has been thereby
secured to the coffers of the company over and above
every charge or item with which it could fairly be
debited. It also furnishes the most satisfactory
answer to those who, led away by the senseless and
absurd outcry raised on insufficient data, and
with a necessarily imperfect knowledge of the
premises on which the arguments were based,
were induced to take a superficial view of the subject,

;0 join the ranks of the malcontents, and to demand,

the surrender of the territory, and the withdrawal
of our troops therefrom, on the mere question of
finance, as a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence,
and to those others who, actuated by more unworthy
motives, anxious to disparage the policy, the char-
acter, and the motives of that distinguished
officer, tought to attain the same result, and
who with that object made use of the
most unworthy pretexts and palpable fallacies
—in some of which they were, to a certain extent,
apparently corroborated by the manner in which the
accoants of the revenue and charges of the province
were calculated and made up in the official returns.

It will be in the recollection of our readers that
we stood alone as advocates of the policy adopted by
Sir CHARLES NAPIER in the acquisition and reten-
tion of Sinde, and that we exposed the folly of
those who were clamourous for the results of the
enterprise, even at the moment of its inception, who
demanded the abundance of the harvest even during
the tillage of the soil, and looked for autumnal fruits
while scattering the seed in the early spring. We
rebuked the impatience of those unreasonable ex-
pectants, and refused credence to the statements os-
tentatiously paraded, and dogmatically asserted, of
the necessity of a large annual outlay, to enable
us to continue our occupation. We were honoured
with a letter from the distinguished historian
of " the Peninsular War," who pointed out the
incorrect manner in which the returns were made
up, and the impropriety of debiting Sinde with the
whole of the military expenses for the support of the
army, rendered necessary by the disturbed state of
the Punjaub, and the doubtful character and unset-
tled state of the Lahore Government.

The accuracy and substantial justice of these views
are now established beyond the possibility of cavil or
dispute. It is now manifest that we have not even
to wait to a future day for the enjoyment of
the beneficial effects of our triumphs and victories.
Twenty-five lacs of rupees, or 250,0001. sterling in
round numbers has been the net produce of the last
financial year, after every fair deduction; and
calculating the rupee at 25., the aggregate sum of
423,7431. 103., which has been collected in excess of
the expences of the civil government and police force,
from the date of the battle of Hyderabad to the pre-
sent time, has gone in diminution of the previous ex-
pences of the Sindian army. The revenue for the
past year has been 41 lac' 42,912 rupees, and the
expenditure of the civil government, both ordinary
and extraordinary, including the expense of a police
force of 2,400 horse and foot, 15 lacs 1,754 rupees,
showing a clear surplus of 26 lacs 41,158 rupees, or
264,1151. 16s.

The military charges belong to the Indian empire
generally, and not exclusively to Sinde ; there was
not the increase of a single soldier in the army of
occupation in consequence of that conquest ; and if
the Ameers still retained their supremacy, there
would not now be the possibility of any reduction,
and the Indus would still be closed to our com-
merce, notwithstanding the opening of the Punjaub.
There has also been a great increase of revenue in
Bombay, in consequence of the prevention of opium
smuggling, which had formerly been carried on to
an enormous extent.

We learn from Berlin that the treaty under which
the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg was admitted into
:he Zollverein has been extended for several years.
A letter from Bucharest of the 25th ult. says, that
the General Assembly of Wallachia had adopted, in
its sitting of the 23d, a law by which 14,000
families and 60,000 Bohemians, all serfs belonging
to the state, the clergy, and the public establish-
ments, are made free. Prince BIBESCO took the
initiative of this noble measure, and was warmly
seconded by the metropolitan bishop, notwithstand-
ing the opposition of his clergy. In an address to
the Boyards the latter engaged them to set at liberty
the 10,000 families, amounting to 48,000 persons,
who are still in a state of servitude to private indivi-
duals. By the new law the Bohemians who are
emancipated will only pay a personal tax of 33 piss-

tres (about 12 francs) which will be employed in the
purchase of Bohemian serfs belonging to private per-
sons. Prince BruEsco immediately sanctioned the
new law, and thanked the General Assembly for
having adopted a measure in accordance with the
progress of civilisation, and which will shine in the
history of Wallachia.

The Austrian Lloyds gives the following compara-
tive statement of the Austrian mercantile marine.
Her trading vessels number 556, amounting to
153,985 tons. At the end of 1845 the number
was 538, and the tonnage 145,823, being an in-
crease in 1846 of 18 vessels, and 8,157 tons.
Austria has besides 20 steamers belonging to the
Lloyds' company, measuring together 6,981 tons, and
amounting to 2,110 horse-power. There are now on
the stocks, at Trieste, five new steamers, amounting
to 3,000 tons, and 1,200 horse-power.
Air
Madrid papers of the 17th have arrived.

In consequence of the rumours circulated on the
subject of the formation of a new Ministry under
Senor PACHECO. The Sotomayer Cabinet determined
to procure a vote of confidence for the Chamber.
This motion was proposed by the French man-of-all-
work MARTINEZ DE LA Rosa, and seconded by the
notorious GONZALES BRAVO. In the course of the
debate it was admitted by many of the supporters of
the Ministry that it did not possess the confidence of
the Queen of SPAIN, but that is a matter of small
importance; it possesses the confidence of the present
ruler of Spain, Louis PHILIPPE, and, therefore,
we are not surprised to find that the modal
was carried by a majority of 144 to 60.
General Suititerio had, it was said, applied at the
palace for an interview with her MAJESTY, but had
not been admitted. He is still at large, his place of
retreat not having yet been discovered.
The exportation of grain from Spain has been
prohibited.

MADRID BOLSA, MARCH 17.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 301 for rash; the Five per Cents. at
19i; the Debt without interest at 5 ; and the
Coupons at 17.

We have received the Paris papers of Monday.
The Presse has an article of nearly three columns
in favour of an alliance with Russia. " The alliance
with England," says the Presse, " is the abnegation
of France ; the alliance with the secondary states is
war, for it is revolution ; the alliance with Russia is
progress, for it is peace." This latter sentence is, we
presume, intended as a pendant to the somewhat too
celebrated " Order reigns in Warsaw," of a former
French Minister of Foreign Affairs. How comes it
that M. GUIZOT has not yet announced to the
Chamber " Order reigns in Cracow ?" In the
meantime, it is amusing to see the dynasty of
the Barricades repudiating revolutions. Poor
LAYFATETTE has been somewhat unfortunate in
his pupils ; Pennsylvania repudiates its debts, and
La meillieure des republiques its origin. The
Russian alliance is, however, indignantly spurned
by the Liberal party. " The republican must be
insane," says the National, " who would make any
approach to the CZAR, who is the incarnation of
despotism, whilst the fundamental dogma of revolu-
tionary France is the sovereignty of the people."
We find in the same journal, which is in general
exceedingly well informed as to Spanish affairs, the
following account of the Serrano complication :
" Serrano is to be prosecuted and Madrid is in com-
motion. The political publications address their lamen-
tations to the palace itself, which does not appear to be
insensible to the appeal. Serrano represents the Con-
Aitution, and the Queen, who adores the Constitution,
will not permit it to be attacked. Hence spring
rumours of all kinds ; the Cabinet forces her
Majesty, and the Ministerial crisis recommences ;
Pacheco, the friend of Serrano, is sent for, and
is asked to form a new Ministry. As a pre-
dminary step, he requires that Sotomayor and his
colleagues shall send in their resignation ; they re-
fuse. Let the Queen insist on it I' cry the jour-
nals. The Queen had not replied at the departure
of the courier. But Serrano has escaped from his per-
secutors. He is convinced that if he had gone to Na-
varre an order to arrest him would have followed, and
he should have been thrown into an obscure prison. He
therefore resisted ; a superior force supports and en-
courages him, and it is not yet known if the man who
was persecuted yesterday, may not enter the Ministry
in triumph to-morrow. Spain, it will be seen, returns
to her ancient literature ; complicated dramas, strange
intrigues, mysteries, surprises, unexpected changes ;
such is the policy whioh at present governs this na-
tion since we have meddled with it. M. Guizot prays
to God that Isabella may have an heir • M. Thiers has
jlined his fervent devotion to that of his rival. The
Queen is not ungrateful ; she knows what she owes to
France ; she is anxious to pay her debt ; if she can be
agreeable to us she will."
MARIA CHRISTINA it appears divides her time
equally between the Church and the Stock Exchange,
praying and jobbing alternately. The &mine
says :

" Maria Christina, since her arrival in Paris, appears
to apply herself closely to devotion. She scarcely ever
quits her house, attends Divine scrvice every morning
to her apartments, and keeps religiously all the observ-
ances of Lent. She receives but little company, and has
as yet been visited by only two of the diplomatic body
—the Minister of Portugal, and the Belgian Ambassa-
dor. Nevertheless, she occupies herself much with her
private interests, and transacts business every day with
her stockbroker, her notary, and her judicial council,
composed of three persons, a magistrate of the Court of
Cessation, an advocate of the Royal Court, and a mem-
ber of the Council of State. It is even said that the
Queen has submitted to her council several questions
relative to her rights to the succession of Ferdinand VII.,
as well as the famous guardianship accounts, which have
given rise to so much discussion in the Cortes."
According to the Courrier Francais, M. GUIZOT
is going to Hombourg during the stay of Prince
METTERNICH at Johannisberg. The Courrier asks,
" Where is to be placed the camp of the cloth of
gold ? The indiscretions which are sometimes com-
mitted at the Foreign-office have not informed us
whether the interview between these two worthy
personages is not to take place at Johannisberg itself."
The journey to Johannisberg will be equal in interest
to the journey to the Ghent, and will not improbably
be attended with similar results, as far as systems are
concerned.

The Chamber of Deputies, on Monday, pro-
ceeded to elect a new Vice-President in the
room of M. HEBERT, appointed Minister of Justice.
There were three candidates—M. DUPRAT on the
side of the Conservatives, M. DE MALLEVILLE on the
side of the Opposition, and M. DE BELLEYINIE on the
part of the section of the Conservatives, which does
not support the present Cabinet at all times, but which
i 5 still more opposed to the Thiers party. At the
first ballot M. DUPRAT had 121 votes, M. DE MAL-
LEVILLE 101, and M. DE BELLEYME 33. At the
second ballot the result was nearly the same. At the
third ballot M. DE MALLEVILLE was elected by a
majority of one over N. DUPRAT, the ministerial
candidate, the numbers being, for M. DE MALLE-
VILLE 179, for M. Durrtar 178. This is a severe
check to the Ministry, as M. DE MALLEVILLE was
formerly Secretary of State in the Cabinet of M.
TIIIERS.

Corn riots still continue in the South and Western
Departments.

The Messager du Loiret of the 20th inst. states
that the following placard was posted on the gates of
the Town Hall of Saint-Ay on the 18th inst. :
" The day of vengeance is arrived—we must have
bread, pillage, or death. You have no want of rich men
—kill them if they refuse to give you their money. Burn
their houses, and murder their wives. You know the
inhabitants who have sold their wine. You must go to
their houses. Pillage the cellars of the others—fear not
the gendarmes, you shall be supported. Moreover, as a
choice of deaths, it is better to die in killing than to die
of hunger. Courage—forward—pillage, blood, and
death for ever I"

A slight diminution in the price of flour and corn has
taken place in the markets in the neighbourhood of
Paris. M. DELANGLE has been appointed Attorney-
General in the room of M. HEBERT.
The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse, on
Monday, at 78f. 80c ; the Five per Cents., 1161. 80c.
°cleans Railroad Shares, 1,270 E; Rouen, 863 f. Mc.; Havre,
670 E ; Great Northern, 623 f. 75c. ; Avignon, 800 f. ; Vierzon,
565 f. ; Bordeaux, 517 f. 50c.; Boulogne, 400 E ; Troy-es and
Montereau, 295 f. ; Basle, 205 f.; Paris and Strasburg, 443 f.
75c. ; Nantes, 433 f. 75c.; Paris and Lyons, 448 f. 75c.; Lyons
and Avignon, 4751.; Cette, 4501.
LYONS, MARen 20.—Paris and Rouen, 863 f. 75c.; Avig_
non and Marseilles, 797 f. 5Uc. ; Northern, 621 f. tic. ; Paris
and Lyons, 465 f.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Meacu 23.
Boulogne and Amiens, 16%—Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Cette
(Constituted),
Paris and Lyons, 6%—Rouen and Havre, 27
IN —Dutch Rhenish, 4}{—Namur and Liege, 43(

Miss VENABLE& CONCERT.—A correspondent in-
forms us of the progress of musical taste, and the conse-
quent appreciation of what is excellent, in Liverpool.
Miss Venables, (he says) whom Welshmen in conse-
quence delight to praise, and have praised, both in
prose and poetry, gave a concert on St. David's day.
The young lady's singing was excellent ; and Mr. Mor-
riss's performances on the harp were much applauded.
Miss Venables' style is said to possess a good deal of
that rare thing--origiasdity.

THE GENERAL FAST

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The House was summoned for a quarter past ten
o'clock, and about a quarter before eleven the Lord
Chancellor entered the House and took his seat on the
Woolsack, when the following Peers were present :
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishops of Lincoln,
Ely, Worcester, and St. Asaph ; the Duke of Wel-
lington ; the Marquises of Clanricarde, Northampton,
Bute; the Earls of Clarendon, Grey, Somers, Wicklow,
Waldegrave, Devon; and Lords Auckland and Foley.
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph read
prayers in the House.

The Peers then, in the order of seniority, preceded by
Sir Augustus Clifford, the Gentleman Usher of the
Black Rod, and attended by the servants of the House,
proceeded to Westminster Abbey. The Peers entered
the Abbey by Poet's Corner, and the public were ad-
mitted by the north door, where a very large crowd had
assembled long before the time of service, and many
more than would have twice filled the choir were
obliged to leave from the want of accommodation.

The Rev. Dr. Wordsworth read the prayers, which
were not accompanied by any aid of the choristers or the
organ, thore being no choral service in the Abbey this
morning.

The Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph
afterwards preached a most eloquent sermon from
Jeremiah, ch. x, v. 24. " 0 Lord correct me, but with
judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to
nothing."

After the service in the Abbey the Peers re-assembled
in the House, and then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The House met to-day at half-past ten o'clock. There
were present the Speaker, Lord John Russell, Sir Ro-
bert Peel, Sir George Grey, Sir James Graham, Sir
R. I-I. Inglis, Sir George Clarke, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. So-
merville, Lord Lincoln, Captain Plumridge, Mr.
Escott, Hon. W. Cowper, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Goul-
bourn, Sir F. Egerton, and about forty more Hon.
Members.

The House adjourned immediately after prayers, and
the Members attended divine service at St. Margaret's,
Westminster, when the Rev. Dr. Dealtry, Archdeacon
of Surrey, delivered an eloquent and impressive sermon.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The Fast being observed here as a holiday, there is
nothing to report.
The quotations of Railway Shares, at Messrs. Lamond and
Co.'s sale yesterday, show a slight improvement upon last
prices. The following are a few of the principal sales :
London and Manchester (Remington's) £0 5 6
Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire 0 8 0
East Indian
Manchester and Southampton 1 7 6
Great Northern
Louvain hla Sambre
Leicester & Bedford, Exchange Certificate 0 12 6
Shrewsbury and Hereford
Vale of Neath 0 13 0
Northern Counties Union 0 18 0
North British Extension
Northern and Southern Connecting
Eastern Counties .... . 19 18 0
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 4 18 6
Shropshire Union and Canal 1 2 0
Paris and Lyons 6 8 0
COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—(YESTERDAY.)
Amsterdam .... C.F. 12 53{, Gibraltar.. .... ....
Ditto, at sight ..... . 12 1 Leghorn
Rotterdam .... 2U. 12 4 Genoa • ... 28 85
Antwerp • • ............ 25 80 Milan .. • .
11,unburgh .... —N.B. 13 1034 Venice
..... Naples ........ • • • • 40%
Paris, 3 days' sight .... 25 45 Palermo, per oz..
Ditto, 3 months
Marseilles • • .•.. •
Bourdeaux 25 80 Rio Janeiro ........ • • 26
Frankfort on Maine l2l
Petersburgh, 3 Us.. Buenos Ayres ........
Berlin ..... •• • • New York, 21 days' sight
Vienna, effec. flo ••.. . • 10 3 Philadelphia ..........
Trieste, ditto.... • • . 10 3 PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ.
Madrid ••..•• . • • • •
Cadiz .• •.. :
8i1ba0................ Portugal Gold Coin
Barcelona ..... Spanish Doubloons
Seville.. • • •••• • • • . Silver in bars ...... ••0 4 0%

MARKET NEWS.-(T HIS DAY.)
Owing to the Fast, no markets were held in the metro
polis to-day.

IMPROVEMENT OF TOWNS.
TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Viscount Morpeth having introduced into the
House of Commons the subject of a Bill for consolidating
into one Act certain provisions usually contained in Acts
for paving, draining, cleansing, lighting, and improving
towns, I trust the Bill will contain a clause authorising
the rate-payers in such towns to elect the Commissioners.
The want of this power in local Acts hitherto obtained is
the cause of much just dissatisfaction, the Commissioners
being virtually self-elected.--Your obedient servant,
March 23, 1847.

FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION AT

BURRADON COLLIERY.
On Saturday morning, about nine o'clock, a fatal acci-
dent occurred at the above colliery, by the bursting of
one of the boilers used in working the engine of the pit,
by which three persons were killed, viz., a man, a woman;
and a boy. The colliery is situated about six miles
north of Newcastle, and belongs to Lord Ravensworth
and partners. The engine attached to the pit is of
90-horse power, and three boilers of large dimensions
and of an oval shape are used to work it ; but on the
morning of the accident only two were in operation. A
few minutes previous to the occurrence, the engineman,
on examining the float, found the water more than a
foot above the working mark, but as the steam was low
he gave directions to the. stoker, Robert Thompson, to
raise the fires ; soon after which the boiler sud-
denly burst with a tremendous noiae, carrying
away part of the engine-house and chimney, killieg
three persons, and injuring, more or less, several of the
workmen at the shaft. The boiler was torn into three
pieces, and parts of it were blown a considerable dis-
tance into an adjoining field. On examining the place,
the stoker was found almost buried in the ruins, dread-
fully scalded and bruised, but quite dead ; and a female,
named Margaret Proctor, wife of one of the miners,
who was at the place getting water, was lying a few
yards from him. The other sufferer was a boy, about
eleven years of age, named Thomas Gordon, employed
at the bank. The engineman escaped, though much
scalded in the face, and injured in the head. Several
of the workmen were also seriously injured by the
flying bricks, &c., but are all exp, cted to recover.
On Monday an inquest was held on the bodies, before
Stephen Reed, Esq., Coroner. The jury, at the conclu-
sion of the evidence, signified to the coroner that they
were satisfied the explosion was an accident ; their
minds were made up ; upon which they returned a ver-
dict of "Accidental death."