The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-12 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR

The Queen and Prince Albert, the ladies and gentle
men of the Court, and the domestic household, attended
Divine service yesterday morning in the private chapel
in Buckingham Palace. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. Mr. Stanley ; the prayers were read by the
Hon. and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay.
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort took their usual
early walk yesterday.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the
Princess Helena, took their accustomed airings yester-
day.

His Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke of
Saxe Weimar visited his Royal Highness Prince Albert
on Saturday morning to take leave of his Royal Highness.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went on Saturday
forenoon to witness the consecration by the Bishop of
London, of the Mariners' Church, Dock-street. His
Royal Highness was attended by Viscount Clifton, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel the lion. C. B. Phipps, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Seymour.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, attended by her
Lady in Waiting, visited the Queen and Prince Albert
on Saturday, at Buckingham Palace.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, the Princes
Alice, and the Princess Heltna, accompanied by the
Dowager Lady Lyttelton, took an airing in an open
carriage and four on Saturday.
The Queen and Prince Albert honoured the perform-
ance at her Majesty's Theatre with their presence on
Saturday evening. The royal suite consisted of the
Countess of Desart, lion. Misses Macdonald, Baroness
de Speth, Earl Ducie, Colonel Buckley, and Lieutenant-
Colonel Seymour. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge, attended by Lady Augusta
Cadogan, Baron Knesebeck, and Mr. Edmond Mildmay,
also honoured the performance with their presence on
Saturday evening.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager and their Royal
Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand
Duchess of Saxe Weimar, honoured the performance of
the French Plays with their presence on Friday evening.
Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke
and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, attended by the
Countess of Assenburg, the Earl of Denbigh and Count
de Beust, left Marlborough House, the residence of the
Queen Dowager, at half past twelve o'clock on Satur-
day, to embark at Woolwich, en route to the Hague.
His Royal Highness Prince Peter of Oldenburgh
visited her Majesty the Queen Dowager on Saturday at
Marlborough House.
Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, attended by the
Countess of Sheffield and the Hon. Miss Eden, left town
in a carriage-and-four at a quarter before five o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, for her residence, Bushy House,
Bushy Park.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge attended Divine service yesterday morning
in Grosvenor Chapel.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, at-
tended by Lady Georgiana Bathurst, honoured Lord
Adolphus Fitzclarence with her company at dinner on
Jam'se E arels
and 1) acl aocuen. t e
sThe
f
Wilton, the Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, and the
ufoinrt,Stht
Duke Saturday,and Duchessat hi his residenceo f Bea
lion. Captain Macdonald, were present to meet her Royal
Highness.
The Committee on Education of her Majesty's Most
Honourable Privy Council held a meeting on Saturday,
which was attended by the Lord President, Lord John
Russell, the Earl of Minto, the Earl of Auckland, the
Viscount Morpeth, the Right lion. Sir George Grey,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Right lion.
Thomas B. Macaulay. Mr. Kay Shuttleworth was in
attendance.
A number of Members of the House of Commons,
holding office in the Administration, had a meeting with
Lord John Russell on Saturday at his official residence
in Downing-street. The Secretary at War, the Master
of the Mint, the Judge Advocate-General, the Under
Secretaries of State, the Lords of the Treasury, the
Lords of the Admiralty, the Commissioners of the
Board of Controul, the Members of tha Board of Ord-
nance, and the Secretaries of the Treasury, attended the
meeting.
The Duke of *Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of
St. Albans, the Marquis of Anglesey, and Sir F. Trench,
attended the early service yesterday in the Chapel Royal,
St. James's. The sermon was preached by the Hon. and
Rev. W. Capel. At the daily service the prayers were
read by the Rev. T. Helmore, the Lessons by the Rev.
Dr. Vivian, and the Communion Service by the Rev.
Dr. Wesley. The Anthem was "Save, Lord, and hear
us" (Hayes). Mr. Turle presided at the organ. The
Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Marquis of Granby,
Ladies Wilton, St. Germans, and Somerset, were among
the nobility present.

PRINCE WALDEMAR of PRUSSIA.
On Saturday his Royal Highness paid visits to his
Excellency Chevalier Bunsen, to Westminster Abbey,
St. Paul's, and the Bank of England.
In the evening his Royal Highness and the noblemen
of his suite, accompanied by his Excellency the Chevalier
Bunsen and his Highness 'Prince Lowenstein, were en-
tertained by the Chairman and Directors of the East
India Company at the London Tavern.
Yesterday the Prince remained at home until one
o'clock, at which hour he went to visit the Earl and
Countess of Jersey at their residence in Grosvenor-
square.
His Royal highness subsequently proceeded alone to
Westminster Abbey, and remained there until the close
of Divine service.
The Prince and his noble attendants dined with the
Queen and the Prince Consort at Buckingham Palace
last evening.
There is to be an investiture of the most Honourable
Order of the Bath this afternoon at Buckingham Palace,
when the Prince will be invested with the insignia of
that distinguished Order as Knight Grand Cross.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen and Prince
Albert honoured the performance at her Majesty's
Theatre on Saturday evening with their presence. The
royal a-uite included the Countess of Desart, Baroness do
Speth, lion. Miss Murray, Hon. Miss Macdonald, Earl
Ducie, Lieut.. Colonel Seymour, and Colonel Buckley.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge and Princess Mary, attended by Lady Augusta
Cadogan, Baron Knesebeck, 211 r. St. John Alildinay, and
Mr. and Lady Charlotte Lister, were also present.
Amongst the company were the Duke of Wellington,
l'rince Louis Napoleon, Duke and Duchess of Cleveland
and Lady Augusta Paulett, Duke of Montrose, his Ex-
cellency the Duke de Broglie and suite, Marquis and
Marchioness of Douro, Marquis of Huntley, Marquis of
Granby, Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, Mar-
quis of Conyngham, Prince Troubet.koi, Earl of Shel-
burne, Countess of Blessington and the Misses Power,
Countess of Glengall, Earl and Countess of Arlington
and Lady Jane Stanhope, Earl of Milton, Earl Bruce,
Earl of Munster, Earl of Cardigan, Baroness Mallhoff and
Madlle. Olga de Lechner, Viscount Clifden, Viscount
Ranelagh, Viscount and Viscountess Pollington,
Viscount Newport, Viscount Cantalupe, Viscount
Somerton, Lord Mountcharles, Lord Otho Fitzgerald,
Lord Gerald Fitzgerald, Lord Saltoun, Lord Sandys,
Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Misses Copley, Count
D'Orsay, &c.
ROY AL ITALIAN OPERA COVENT•GARDEN.—On
Saturday evening her Majesty's box was occupied by the
Earl and Countess of Mount Edgcumbe, the Hon. Misses

Macdonald and Major Sir William Painer Gallwey.
Among the visitors were his Excellency the Danish
Minister, his Excellency the Hanoverian Minister, Mar-

quis of Bristol, Countess of Lovelace, Earl and Countess
of Caledon, Earl and Countess Craven, Countess
Dundonald, Earl and Countess of Bradford and
the Ladies Bridgeman, Earl Grosvenor, Countess
Dowager of Essex, Viscount and Viscountess Folke-
stone, Viscountess Forbes, Viscount and Viscountess
Canning, Lord and Lady Hotham, Lady Sophia Wynd-
ham, the Prince of Centola Doria, Viscountess Newport,
Lady William Powlett, Lord and Lady Carrington,
Lord Charles Manners, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Henry
Lennox, M.P., Lord Alexander Lennox, Lord Suffield,
Lady Abinger, Lady Cecelia Des Veux and the Misses
Des Veux, Sir Richard Vyvyan, Sir Heneage Dering,
Sir John Duckworth, Sir William de Bathe and Captain
de Bathe, Sir Henry Webb, Sir George Talbot, Lady
and Miss Talbot, the Hon. Sir Edward and Lady Butler,
Sir William and Lady Moleswortb, Sir Charles Kent,
Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, Sir John and Lady Yarde
Buller, Lady Georgiana Codrington, Lady Geraldine
Somerset, Sir William Abdy, Sir Peregrine Ackland
and the Misses Ackland, Lady Macfarlane, Sir Richard
Paul Jodrell and Lady Jodrell, Baron Paraviceni, Sir R.
Price, Lady Morgan, &c. &c.
THE CROPS.—We hear from correspondents who
have taken journies, which include that valuable part of
Devonshire from Bovey Tracey to Exeter—and thence
westward including the South-coast, and the South
Hams to Plymouth, that the yeomanry speak most
highly of the prosperity of the future harvest. In most
parts the wheat and barley are strong in the ear, the
former generally in blossom in the South, and if the
weather continues fine and warm, the kerning will be
most prolific. There is a larger breadth of land now in
wheat and barley than last year, in consequence of the
failure of the potato crop. The farmers this year, to
provide against such a contingency again occurring,
have provided in many instances other vegetables for the
winter—peas, carrots, and parsnips. But it has yet to
be seen whether the small tillage of potatoes in the
ground will be a failure. At present in all parts of this
division of the county, they are looking most healthy,
and those that have already been produced at family
tables are really moat excellent. The hay harvest is
now general, being well saved, with heavy crops. The
plough, harrow, tormentor, and roller, have been most
actively employed during the last month for the turnip
crop, and there is every prospect of good abundance of
his winter food for cattle. Apples are also in abun-
dance with the greatest certainty of cider being sold at
a very low price.—Plymouth JournaL
DIABOLICAL ACT.—An old and respectable corre-
spondent, writing from the Carse of Gowrie, says—
" Whole fields of potatoes have been destroyed in various
parts of Scotland ; and three men arc now in Glasgow,
who have confessed that they were bribed by certain
parties (large speculators in grain) to sprinkle these
fields with water, containing a strong solution of sul-
phuric acid." Had we not the fullest confidence in our
correspondent we should have refurd insertion to this
statement ; but knowing his veracity we do not hold
ourselves free to suppress such a fact, however painful it
is to us as men and Christians to see the love of money
urging individuals to the commission of such a diabolical
crime.—Bell's Weekly Messenger.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER.
—lie Bishop of Winchester is seriously indisposed ;
and in consequence of this untoward event the Bishop of
Oxford was
prevented from preaching yesterday morn-
ing, according to advertisement, at Trinity Church,
Cloudesley-square, Islington, ho having been summoned
to the bedside of his Rigbt Reverend Brother Prelate.

REFORM IN TAXATION-THE
EXCISE. _ . .

We have received the following letter, addressed to
the National Association for Reform of the Excise Laws,
by Mr. Wallace, of Kelly :
Gentlemen,—Although I have withdrawn from Par-
liamentary and public life, I continue to watch with
intense interest every movement in behalf of national
reforms and improvement, and I have discovered with
unspeakable satisfaction the strong disgust which at last
is being so signally manifested against the continuance
of the degrading and pestiferous usages, rules, and
laws, under which the excise are enabled to tyrannise
and ride rough-shod over all classes in these kingdoms.
Having been one of the few public men who have ob-
served the signs of the times on this question for many
years past, and having myself, when in the House of
Commons, taken an active part in trying to expose the
carefully•concealed groundwork and superstructure of
the horrid system, I will detail briefly the circumstances
I allude to.

" Having been for some years closely engaged in ex-
posing the innumerable defects of the post-office depart-
ment, and of the no less gross abuses which from time
immemorial the inhabitants of Scotland have been sub-
jected to in the administration of the law—through
which, let it be specially remembered, a great part of the
oppressions inflicted by the excise are accomplished—.l resolved on superadding to these laborious avocations
the looking into the workings of the existing excise laws.
" With this in view, I set to in earnest to read, un-
derstand, and master the voluminous reports which had
been 1 lid before Parliament and the country, by an in-
fluential royal commission appointed to inquire into the
excise laws, and of which my distinguished friend, Sir
Henry Parnell, was chairman; and having satisfied my-
self of the usefulness of the task I had in hand, I put
myself into confidential communication with Sir Henry,
and received the utmost encouragement to prosecute my
labours, with all the advise and assistance he was at
liberty to give me while a member of the Administration.
" When I had fully prepared myself for the onslaught,
I gave notice in the usual form through the books of the
House of Commons, taking care this was done in such
general terms as would let in a full exposure of the
system, which mode of dealing with public departments
I had invariably adopted when blowing up the Post-
office authorities, and found so useful in thwarting the
attempts sure to be made by some chicken Lord of
the Treasury, to misconstrue what is said, and so divert
attention from the merits of a case. Having with
difficulty at last found an open day for bringing on my
motion, and having Sir Henry Parnell by my side,
and his invaluable reports at hand, I was proceed-
ing deliberately and methodically with the expost
I had to make, which happened to be during that
dangerous hour for those who care nothing for place-
men and Ministers of State—namely, the usual dinner
hour—when I could easily observe that means were
being employed for counting out the House, and so
getting rid of an unpalatable exposure of a favourite
source of revenue (which with Chancellors of Exche-
quer, every one is), which is adapted to squeeze out
the last farthing from the pockets of the people, through
machinery no less savage than secret, and so extrava-
gantly expensive and dilatory, as often to drive the
honest and upright trader to compromise his character
and sacrifice his money, to encourage and reward train-
ed spies and perjured informers, whose insatiable maws
aro ever on the stretch for the unwary and acciden
tal offender against alleged usages and customs, and
bye-laws, and statute-laws, purposely intermixed and
so unintelligibly blended, as to render excise courts the
very terror of any one who is dragged there, and the
constant scene of the most appalling injustice. I had
said about this much when the House was counted out,
and as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secre-
tary to the Treasury were present, either of whom have
at all times the power of keeping a House, if they
please, you may judge whether the usual trick was not
resorted to, of what in Parliamentary slang is called
Whipping the House out,' which is a favourite way of
getting over disagreeable exposures. I have entered into
this matter, in order to show the leaning the present
Administration is likely to have towards the maintenance
of the: excise laws, for it was during Lord Melbourne's
official career the above took place.
" I observe the Association is to insist for pledges
from candidates at next general election in behalf of a
reform of the excise laws; this is all well enough, yet it
is but a step of the ladder I would fain see up-
raised.
" In the first place, and as a general rule, I consider it
much more safe to expect pledges to be unblushingly
broken through than maintained, owing to the many
temptations which offer to cupidity, personal aggran-
disement, or honours, during the continued unconstitu-
tional existence of seven years' Parliaments; public
money has many attractions—few men are found to with-
stand the chink of Treasury gold—and I firmly believe,
that when men once get public money into their pockets,
it may be said they cannot live without it, and there-
fore, if you are wise, you will be very careful what sort
of pledges you exact, and what sort of men you put
them to, and trust.
" I believe, from what I have lately read from speeches
in Parliament, that it is already determined to maintain
the Excise laws in all their odious integrity.
" Remember the good old adage—' What is every-
body's business is nobody's.' n hat will pledges from
candidates do in the face of this 7

Remember, that so carefully are the excise laws
hid from view, and shrouded in mystery, that even
lawyers arc continually puzzled with them. Remember
the host of placemen they teed and shelter, and do not
f,rget that these folks keep Ministers of State, Chan-
cellors of the Exchequer, et hoe genus ontne,iti the pure%.t
state of ignorance—so much so, as to leave no doubt on
my mind of the fact, that in regar3 to the practice and
knowledge of the excise laws, her Majesty's Ministers,
as a body, would have no chance with a common excise-
man. Therefore, to master the subject, and take in
hand to alter or abolish these laws is a task Ministers
wont grapple with, if by any means they can avoid it.
" I have never seen a practical man of business who
had endeavoured to master this subject, who did not be-
lieve that the whole system of excise should be abolished
and the collection of the revenue be made over to the
custom house ; and so it will be when the people put '
their shoulders to it, as I now would fain hope they
will do, although I myself got no encouragement from
them to continue my labours.
" The reformation of the Post-office, and the substitu-
tion of penny postage for the old jog-trot,' were both
forced on the Whig Government by pressure from with-
out.
" Free-trade was forced on the Whig Government by
pressure from without.
"Scotch law reform was forced on the Whig Govern-
ment by pressure from without; and you may rest
assured of the same principle being the right one to
adopt and trust to, for having the excise laws abolished,
and excise officials removed trom the sight of freemen.
. .

Pledge every one you can; but, along with this, look
out for some honest, industrious, hard-working men, to
send to the House of Commons, pledged to take in hand
this great national cause, and incessantly to ring it in
the ears of the Ministers of the Crown, whenever it may
be possible to do so, and to give them no rest, and take
none to themselves, until they have worked out this na-
tional deliverance.

"This, gentlemen, is the advice I venture to offer you,
and I trust that my long service in behalf of my country
will plead my excuse fur the great liberty I have taken.
"Itis no easy task you have to impose. It is enough,
and more than enough, for any one man, however stout-
hearted and able. Look out for such men—care nothing
for t heir lineage or country—honesty is the best policy—
and to keep those honest whom you honour and trust—
pledge them to come back to their electors at a conve-
nient fixed day in each year, to render an account of
their stewardship, and be prepared to resign their high
trust, if demanded by those who sent them.B
" Adverse majorities are the true way to bring Mi-
nisters to their senses. There is yet ample time to de-
mand a distinct answer from Lord John Russell as to
the intention of Government with regard to the excise
laws. Lord John, as Premier and leader of the House
of Commons is all in all ; Sir Charles Wood, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, is nobody—literally so—that is,
he has no power to maintain a promise even should he
give one explicitly, and therefore I hope to see this
point settled between Lord John Russell and you, by
having the question first recorded on the book of the
House of Commons, and thereby getting a deliberate
answer one way or other.

"In conclusion, I beg to express my very strongest
approval of the objects the association have in view,
and my anxious desire for complete success attending
them.

" Permit me to tender my name to the Association,
with my wish of being allowed to have the honour of
being a member of it. Farther, I request that I may be
added to the list of subscribers to the newspaper to be
published by the Association. I have the honour to be,
gentlemen, your faithful and obedient servant,
"ROBERT WALLACE, lately M.P. for Greenock."

CONTENTS OF THE 4' OBSERVER" OF SUNDAY,
JULY 11.—A folio column of particulars of the Bath 1
election (Lord Ashley and Mr. Roebuck) up to Saturday
afternoon; a folio column (third notice) of the critique
on the National Works of Art at Westminster hall;
equal to fifteen folio columns in description and splendid
picturesque illustrations of the three days of
10 the Royal
Visit and Installation at Cambridge; about 0 -
laneous advertisements, including a folio column of
public amusements for the coming week; and nineteen
folio columns of foreign and domestic news, chiefly
original. The Observer will be kept on sale Eh
the coming week. A sixpence enclosed to Mr. Cle-
ment, jun., 170, Strand, will insure a copy by return of
post to any part of England, Scotland, or Ireland. There
Observer commences e
the Observer Continent,
eadnide, s, Scotland,
or
America, lreland,
which
is scarcely a club-house, institution, library,
th or news-
roomElst
ainndw
all Esntglln
is not taken in, and in many instances d
The extensive publication of the uplicate copies.
six, and concludes at ten on Sunday at
Observer, day edition of the Oh _ mornings. A Mon-
, best adapted for the county
and abroad, is regularly Published at four o'clock I.-
Monday afternoon. our on

-
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR GEORGE POLLOCK, G.C.B.—
Notice was issued on Saturday, in the East India House,
that a special general court will be held there on Wed-
nesday next, the 14th instant., for the purpose of laying
before the proprietors, for their approbation, a resolu-
tion passed unanimously by the Court of Directors on
the 30th of June last, granting an annuity of 1,000/. to
Major-General Sir George Pollock, G.C.8., as a reward
for his distinguished services during the late war in
India.
building a
The Municipality of Hanover has just contracted
a loan of 300,000 thalers (1,200,0000 for
in
new theatre, which, it is said,
magni-
ficence most of those that exist in GermoEssn.9.—
ENORMOUS GROWTH OF
the gardener at Brodsworth ?the
root, the other day, which had Galignani.
Pa°llTAtTook up one potato-
is to surpass
Mr. Smith,
extraordinary num-
ber of one hundred and eighteen
thatfgll the
sttm,pie
was
entirely 4.4) from diseasee-Doncs Ch
, .
attached. Wean happy to learn
ter__rnicies

RIVER PLATE.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER RECEIVED FROM MONTE VIDEO,
PER WILHELMINE, ARRIVED AT DARTMOUTH.

aMonte
ein
Vi eo, May 10,
The Rattler steamer cmyesterday ,i 1847.
The
Howden. On her arrival off this port the Commodore
went down to meet her, and ordered the Firebrand to ge
also. After remaining off the port for about two hours,
both steamers proceeded up to Buenos Ayres, the Com-
modore having hoisted his flag on board the Firebrand.
We are of opinion that the presence of Sir Thomas Her-
bert at Buenos Ayres will do a great deal towards arriv-
ing at a favourable termination of the question. We
notice your fears of French intrigue, but from what we
have seen since the arrival of Count Walewski, we think
little is to be apprehended. We have already informed
you that the Baron Deffaudis and Admiral Lain.
have nothing whatever to do in the affair, as both
leave to-morrow for Rio de Janeiro. Deffaudis ceased
in his public capacity the moment the Count
landed, and took immediate steps to leave the country.
The marines and sailors of Laine's vessel, the Africaine,
were embarked this morning. The new Ministers will
see the true state of affairs, and that the bubble got up
by the loan-jobbers respecting General Urquiza turns
out a farce ; we therefore do not see what difficulty can
exist; for to insist upon the naviiation of the Parana
would be absurd, as General Rosas commands both
sides of it, and as to sending Consuls to Paraguay, this
subject must and will be waived by Lord Howden and
the Count.

Our advices from Buenos Ayres are to the Bth inst.,
they say--" The Cassini arrived this morning. Count
Welewski's secretary and M. Bazin Desprey, nephew
and late aide de-camp to Admiral Mackau, are at pre-
sent engaged in an interview with M. Arena, and, from
what we can pick up, everything looks conciliatory ;
indeed a good authority states that it is all settled."
We hope a very few days will throw some light on
this question. It is said Mr. Ouseley has received his
recal. Business matters are suspended. Exchange and
freights nominal.

THE DUKE OF CORNWALL
STEAMER ON SHORE.
FALMOUTH, SUNDAY MOANING.—The Duke of Corn-
wall steamer from London, last Plymouth, for this pore
and Dublin, got on shore this morning, at four o'clock'
in Gerran's Bay, near the Gull Rock, and at half speed:
but it being near high water, ran up high and dry on
the beach. A thick fog prevailed at the time. Fortu-
nately she is not supposed to have sustained much in-
jury—she has but a few hogsheads of sugar on board
as cargo, and three or four passengers. The mate was
dispatched here to the agents for assistance to get her
off, and a lighter is being sent up with all dispatch.
Fortunately she wended her way between most fearful
and perpendicular rocks, against which had she struck
she must have gone down.