The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-28 00:00:00

betITIO tti

LONJON, SATURDAY. AUGUST 28, 1847.

The dreadful accident which yesterday startled the
inhabitants of the metropolis illustrates in a very
distressing manner the necessity of bringing to
speedy conclusion the arrangements which have been
so long pending between the Government and the
corporation of the City of London, in regard to the
Conservancy of the Thames. That question proves to
be not merely one involving considerations of public
convenience, but likewise of public safety. By esta-
blishing a properly-organized association for the
superintendence of matters appertaining to the river
which flows through the capital of the country, it is
now manifest that we shall be affording greater secu-
rity to the lives of the community, as well as con-
ducing to the facilitation of traffic upon the Thames,
and the improvement of the most neglected and
dilapidated quarters of London.
Although the majority of the reports already cir-
culated of the catastrophe of yesterday are egregiously
exaggerated and absurdly contradictory, there can be
no question that the investigations of the Coroner
must corroborate many of the more mournful parti-
culars published by ourselves. Some such statement
as the following must be viewed as accurate. One of
the halfpenny steam-boats, named the Cricket, plying
between London-bridge and the Fox-under-the- Hill
pier, was partially destroyed at about half-past nice
o'clock yesterday morning, by the explosion of its
boiler. At the moment of the explosion the deck aria
cabins were crowded by the average complement of
passengers, amounting to nearly 150 individuals; and
when the smoke and steam which issued from the en-
gine-room had partially subsided, a comparatively
passengers was discovered and small number of these
rescued—some of them clinging to the fragments of
the vessel ; others remaining, stunned, but uninjured,
on the portion of the steamboat which had not been
demolished; and others floating in the water, or
scrambling into the barges. As yet, it is, of course,
impossible to estimate the precise amount of lives
sacrificed, and property destroyed. Still, it is mani-
fest that lives have been sacrificed, and property has
been destroyed, through an accident which, with
proper precaution, could never by any pos-
sibility have happened. The perfection to
which the great invention of the steam-
engine has been carried by an extraordinary
combination of ingenuity and experience precludes
the
chance of any such catastrophe. as the one which
yesterday scattered the timbers of the Cricket over
the Thames, with the most moderate
Accidents
eand the
most ordinary precautions. like this,
therefore, can arise solely fromof culpable. negligence
or from the diabolical freaks
appear, moreover, in this particularin It would
saniitnyc.ident, that
some time ago the public were warned as to the
dangerous construction of the three a
y steam-
boats--the Ant, the Bee, and the Cricket—in
little publication about locomotive engines. Instead
of having low-pressure condensing ;
engines, these
boats were moved by engines, working at an average
pressure of 361bs. on the square inch. This circum-
stance alone implied an existence of danger, unless the
engineers and stokers guarded against peril by a
more than customary vigilance. In the first place,
therefor, the company which i; the proprietor of these
halfpenny steam-boats acted most injudiciously, to
say the least of it, in selecting engines of such a
hazardous construction. Again, at the period of these
explosion it would seem that the men immediately in

charge of the engine-room were not in attendance.
The mere circutnata.nce of their escape from destruc-
tion is sufficient proof of this, and corroborates, in a
striking manner, the statement made before Mr.
JARDINE, at the Bow-street Police-court, shortly
after the time of the catastrophe. This statement
was made by a man named JAPRET EDWARDS, for-
inerly employed upon this very steatn-boat, the
Cricket, and it is at once so remarkable and horrible
that we transcribe it entire.
JANIET EDWARDS declared—

"He had been engaged on board until about three
ttionti2s back, when he was reported by his superior and
discharged, for baviug pointed out the improper wanner

nE

* N

- -
in which the vessel had been worked, and the constant
danger to which passengers were exposed.t Theomfothdee
adopted by the engineer for accelerating the speed
vessel was to overload the safety valves by attaching two
cords which he fastened under the deck, thereby pre-
venting the steam to escape, and on one occasion there
being no less than 400 persons on board. Applicant
observed to him that the stays of the boiler were
strained by such means, it being then in a very defective
state, but he was not only disregarded, but also dis-
, missed from his situation. He had known when there
were 905. of steam upon every square inch of the boiler,
and even 1201 h., when ' Tom' was lying in a state of in-
toxication with the doors fastened, and no means of getting
to the cords to let the steam escape, as he could prove on the
inquest."
Without further evidence than that of a discharged
servant, who might, from a feeling of jealousy or
exasperation enter similar charges against his former
employer, we are not prepared to accept these
assertions of EDWARDS as conclusive. They are, how-
ever, of so serious a character that they imperatively
demand investigation. If proved to be correct, we
trust that the guilty parties will meet with the pu-
nishment to which they will be eminently entitled.
As it is, the proprietors of locomotive engines are
liable to enormous penalties in the event of fatal
accidents from explosions or otherwise. Now
that the custom of inflicting a deodand upon
the instrument of destruction has fallen into
desuetude, and that the survivors of the per-
sons destroyed can recover damages for their de-
struction, the people possess a better guarantee for
the safety of their lives; and whenever accidents
occur of this appalling kind it becomes doubly neces-
sary to discover the inmocence or the culpability of all
the parties concerned.
Whatever may be the ultimate result of the in-
quiries into the explosion on board the Cricket, it is
certain that a new and most favourable argument is
afforded to the advocates for a speedy adjustment of
the Thames Conservancy question. The commerce of
the island requires that its principal inlet should
be relieved from all impediments ; the health of those
residing along the banks of the river demands the
purification of its waters and its purlieus ; the im-
provement of the metropolis renders the removal of
many unsightly structures necessary ; and the pre-
servation of the many thousands who daily pass to
and fro upon " the silent highway" can only be
ensured by a duly organized body of inspectors and
guardians.

The question of repudiation is now openly agitated
in many parts of Ireland, and society appears to be
divided into sections, consisting of those who acknow-

ledge their liability and the justice of the claim made
on them to refund the sums advanced from the na-

tional Exchequer in the dark hour of danger and dis-
tress, but who urge the impossibility of their present
compliance, and desire that time should be afforded
for the gradual liquidation of the demand by easy in-

stalments; and also of others, who desire that all ap-
plications for repayment should be met by a peremp-
tory refusal, and that every attempt to enforce the de-
mand should be followed by an organized and general
resistance, such as that which was, some thirteen or
lourteen years ago, opposed to the collection of tithe
composition, and which occasioned such fearful dis-
turbances throughout the entire country at that period.
The circumstances of the cases are, however, widely
different, and it is impossible to conceive that
a similar line of conduct should be pursued in the
present instance, or, even if attempted, that it could
possibly prove successful against the power of the
Government. Any person in at all a solvent posi-
tion, whose property is not overwhelmed with the
amount of the debts and incumbrances affecting it,
would hesitate to involve himself in a contest the
issue of which must inevitably be ruinous to his for-
tunes ; for he might be well assured that although
some of the minor fry might possibly be suffered
to escape, his property would be sold for the liquda-
tion of the debt, under the extensive powers granted
by the statute authorising the advances. The oppo-
nents of tithes had only isolated individuals to deal
with, who were unable, in many instances, to obtain
their legal rights from want of funds to carry on
the necessary proceedings, or from want of power
to enforce the judgment of the court, after they had
obtained a decree in their favour. Neither
of these impedimenS*ould, however, stand in the
way of the Executive ; every case would be vigorously
and efficiently followed up, and should there by a
possibility be a successful defence, the parties would
not reap the fruit thereof, for no costs could be reco-
vered from the Crown. Again, when a decree was
obtained, all the military and police force in the dis-
trict would be available to prevent any breach of the
peace, or intimidation, obstructing the sale under the
fieri facial, or extent, whether the stock on the lands,
or the lands themselves, were offered for the satisfac-
ikon thereof.

Valencia.

Having thus shown the hopelessness of any such
contest, we would anxiously desire that any possi-
bility of such a result should be set aside. The total
amount of the claims on every district are now well
known, and the means of repayment can be calculated
with sufficient accuracy to enable the authorities to
form a correct judgment as to what would be a rea-
sonable time to allow for the payment of the whole,
and when the first instalment should be called for.
New claims are now for the first time authorised.
The gigantic assistance afforded by the Government
has just been withdrawn in almost every part of the
country, while within a few weeks, we might almost
say days, it must cease in even the most impoverished
districts. An onerous duty is necessarily imposed
upon a class who, not being fully aware of the real
weight of the burden, and not yet having brought
into operation the means by which that burden may
be reduced, or even practically annihilated, will have

a serious struggle to provide for the mass of misery
and destitution, the myriads of houseless and starving
wretches, for whose maintenance and support they,
for the first time, are made responsible. We doubt
not their ability to do so. The favourable pros-
pects of the harvest, the cheering reports of the
cereal products in every quarter of the country,
justify the announcement that there is no longer any
danger of a deficient crop, or that scenes of distress,
similar to those which took place during the past
year, may be re-enacted. An arduous struggle may,
however, be necessary to enable the proprietors of the
soil to keep their heads above water, which will be the
more formidable, because its full extent cannot be at
present known or appreciated. It would be unwise
on the part of Government, although in strict justice
they might be warranted in so doing, to enforce their
demands to the utmost farthing, and thus to deprive
many of the power of performing all that is required
from them. It might occasion the necessity of
further assistance from the National Exchequer
to localities where the landowners would be over-
whelmed with the weight of their responsibilities,
and in the long run might prove to be bad
economy, entailing losses and expenses that would
be avoided by a more indulgent and moderate course.
It is, however, exceedingly desirable that all agita-
tion on the subject should be terminated as speedily
as possible. It should be announced on un-
doubted authority that in every instance the payment
of the full muiety of the expenditure would be
strictly and rigidly enforced, even if the sale of the
property and a change of owners was thereby ren-
dered necessary. The number of the instalments
and the time when the first payment will be de-
manded should also be announced ; these may vary
according to circumstances, the period for the liqui-
dation of the entire demand being in no case ex-
tended beyond ten years, and the terms thus an-
nounced should be strictly adhered to and enforced
by all the power of the law. By these means the
agitation may he got rid of; but if it is suffered to go
on, and a regular organization should take place,
although there can be no doubt as to the ultimate
siloa
tpi
nt
ai
ibl e v
l decided
taic
etopr
ml iao
ecu
aess ,u
Irv!
measures.
much
nd

ne of the 18t11 fte r speaking of
theAocLeeutit)eartiofrnornof lltZrrara by the
a:aitAustrians, says—
" a council of
, moo
vcredit the
"011 receipt of this intelligence
Cardinals was assembled, gnd, if we
reports in circulation, the Holy Father,
signal insult thus offered to him, declared that he by
the
protest ; and that if that new protest was disregarded,
he would decree a sentence of excommunication -lia,,rain;
the invaders, and, that if that measure did not avail,6 he
would hoist the tuouruni, and march against the Austrians
at the head of his people. You may rest certain that in
the present state of the public mind in the Pontificia,
dominions, and in all Italy, the day the Pope shall unfurl
the Standard of the cross against the Northern oppressors
25,000,000 of men will follow him. Austria is very impru-
dent in driving the Pope to that extremity. M. Metternich
cannot be ill his
i1Q116051 fur no rontitf was ever more

powerful than Pius IX., and M. Dletternich, who is well ,
aware of the fact, ought to reflect before ho causes a
general conflagration throughout Italy. Behold the peace
of the world compromised by the irritability of an old
man, exasperated by the progress of liberal ideas in
Italy. During the last year the kindness, moderation,
and patience of the Pope have been abused, and Austria
did not allow a day to pass over without wounding his
feelings; but the cup of bitterness is now exhausted,
and I do not think he will consent to swallow it to the
very dregs. Since the last events of Rome the Sacred
College is animated with better sentiments, and is de-
termined to support the Pope. This change will disap-
point Austria, as did the discovery of the horrid machina-
tion on the point of exploding, and at the very moment
she was about to reap its sanguinary fruit. But Pro-
vidence, who watched over Rome during the last year, will
again cover it with her aegis. We have been assured that
English ships will shortly appear in the Adriatic, and
that an order to that effect has been forwarded to the
British Admiral from Ancona. We trust that the
French flag will not suffer itself to be anticipated
in the defence of the Sovereign Pontiff. M. Guizot
openly proclaimed it in his last speech, and we rely on his
word. If the English join us, so much the better; a
cordial understanding in the Adriatic, at least, will suffice
to drive back the Austrians without endangering the
existence of peace. Reprisals and occupations are un-
available; they would, besides, afford the Austrians a
pretext for retaining what they now bold, and which it
is of importance to recover from them as soon as possible.
It is by a vigorous European protest that this unpleasant
matter should be settled, and that the independence and
integrity of the Pope's States, guaranteed by treaties,
should be secured to him." • -

The following is an extract from a letter, dated
" LEGHORN, Atm. 21.—We have just received the
information that the Austrians, alarmed at the energetic
protests of the Pope, and still ipore by the menacing
aspect of all the towns of Romagna, particularly Bo-
logna, where, as soon as the occupation of Ferrara by
the Austrians was known, thousands of young men took
up arms, and swore to die for the defence of their coun-
try, have withdrawn to the citadel, leaving the town
completely free. It appears, according to the rumour
generally accredited, that it is in consequence of orders
received from Vienna that this retreat has taken place.
The call to arms was beaten, the tocsin was sounded,
and the National Guard at once assembled in full num-
bers. The population en masse demanded arms, and
they were distributed to all good citizens. What is
wonderful is that thousands of peasants also presented
themselves in the town, swearing that they were ready
to die in defence of their country and of the Pope. As
to what regards Tuscany. it is almost certain that it will
soon have a new Ministry thus composed—Prince Cor-
sini, Governor of Leghorn ; Serristori, Capponi, and
Ridolfi. The speedy organization of the National Guard
is also a certain thing."
- •

A letter, dated frontiers of Italy, 21st inst., says—
"To every protest of Cardinal Ciacchi, the Legate of
Ferrara, Count Radetsky, the Commander-in-Chief of
the Austrian army in Italy, replies by new menaces.
The second protest of the Cardinal reached the head-
quarters in the evening of the 14th, and in the morning
of the 15th an order was issued for another reinforce-
ment of Imperial troops to pass the Po, and march to
Ferrara ; and, in fact, a corps of cavalry did cross the
river on the 16th. In spite of these demonstrations the
enthusiasm for the Pope extends in every part, and even
in Lombardy. The people of Milan have assembled in
the Grand Square, and sung the hymn of Pius IX., in
spite of the opposition of the police, which, however,
has not yet ventured to use rigorous means. At Parma
the inhabitants have taken up arms, fearing some ex-
cessive treatment from the troops, and the more so, as
an additional Austrian battalion, as it is said, was
coming to reinforce the garrison of Placentia. In Pied-
mont, it is to be hoped, the moderate liberal party will
endeavour to lead the King to enter openly on the path
of reform, and declare himself for the Pepe. Charles
rilbert is expected to publish some important measure
on the occasion of the meeting of the General Congress
of the Agricultural Societies of the Kingdom, which is
to be held on the 30th or 31st. It is remarked that the
Piedmontese Gazette, the official journal of Turin, has,
within these last few days, published articles from the
journals of Rome, Bologna, and Tu-cany, in favour of
reform, and against the Austrian intervention."

In a letter, dated Turin, 22d August, we find it
stated that the King of SARDINIA had formally pro-
tested against the occupation of Ferrara, and for-
warded copies of that protest to all the Courts of
Europe. CHARLES ALBERT had, moreover, written
to the PopE, offering to place at his disposal both his
army and navy, should the independence of the Pon-
tificial dominions be menaced by the Austrian troops.
It was expected that the protest would appear on the
following day in the Piedmontese Gazette, and the
inhabitants of Turin were preparing a general illu-
mination to celebrate the event.

Madrid papers of the 21st have arrived.
It was surmised on that day that PACHECO had
summoned Naavazz to Madrid to assist in the con-
struction of a new Ministry. No further commu-
nications had taken place between the KING CoxsouT
and the Ministers. The contract for the loan which
had been taken by the Union Bank had been an-
nulled. The Funds had fallen considerably in con-
sequence. _ _ _

A telegraphic dispatch of a later date than these
papers announces the arrival of NARVAEZ in Madrid,
and states that he has been commissioned by the
QUEEN to form a new Ministry.

Letters from Catalonia speak of the capture and
immediate execution of CABRERA on the coast of

MADRID BOLSA, AUG. 21.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 25k for cash; the Coupons, at 15 ; the
Debt without Interest, at 51, for paper; and the Five
per Cents., at 17k. After the close of business the Three
per Cents. sold at 26 for cash.

We have received the Paris papers of Thursday.
The additional particulars which they contain on
the subject of the horrible affair of the Duke of
PKAsmN will be found in another column.

The Spanish plot is thickening. Queen CHRIS
TINA, as appears from the following article in her own
journal, the Presse, ambitious of emulating the bad
fame of the mother of RICHA.RD SAVAGE, is actually
engaged in the praiseworthy and parental occupation
of calumniating the character of her own daughter.
CHRISTINA preaching against immorality is " the
devil turned precisian" with a vengeance. If the
Spanish people are so shocked and scandalized at the
levities of ISABELLA, how comes it that they tolerated
so long the rule of the mistress of MuNoz ? But we
do not give the slightest degree of credence to thi
calumnious insinuations of this most unnatural mother.
Levities are not necessarily immoralities, nor is vice
always hereditary. It is possible for ISABELLA to be
virtuous, although she is the daughter of CHRISTINA.
The following is the article from the Presse, which
explains the secret of the journey of NARVAEZ to
Spain :
" The Spanish question, complicated rather than re-
solved, as yet at least, by the marriage of the Queen
and of the Infanta, is progressing evidently to a solu-
tion. Everybody says se, but nobody dares to say what
will be its character. It becomes necessary, therefore,
to take into consideration the condition of a country
whose affairs create so much interest in France. In
order to acquire a perfect knowledge of Spain, we must
examine the situation of the throne and that of the Go•
vernnaent, the tendencies of parties and the state of
public opinion. In Spain, as in every monarchical
country, the throne as well as the Royal Family is per-
sonified in the monarch. Isabella lives at present in a
complete state •f isolation; Queen Christina is at Paris;
the Infante Don Francisco at Saint Sebastian; the , ing
at the Pardo. The ancient servants of the Palace have
been dismissed, and the friends and relatives of General
Serrano appointed to their place. The Queen of Spain
rides and drives alone, both by night and day through
Madrid—the alleys of Aranjuex—the gardens of La
Granja—the solitude of Paular, and in the midst of the
persons who, without title or right to that honour,
surround her, there is one distinguished man, to whose
influence is attributed the strange political changes
which Spain endures, indignant and ashamed. Queen
Isabella, a child of 17 years of age, lives exclusively
under the influence of a general whose incapacity is
s at
sere
ai setar,u
unaue nt
the
e used r o
bny the
noenrea
ihsaenrdr
Serrano
the,tu
proverbial throughout Spain. The daughter of Ferdi-
nbaanndkeris
scandalous
ambitionnation.
The
Kinga il d
refuses
uwahui
authorise
areri
se
nsao
such excesses by his presence. The President of the
Council has not been able to succeed in rendering them
less flagrant. They have become the subject of
public
discussion. The palace question has been surrounded
with invincible difficulties, and through the intrigues of
parties that is now the principal question in Spain. The
Spanish nation, which perceives public tranquillity
deeply compromised by the every day increasing com-
plicatiuns of that question, is seeking on all sides to find
an issue through the inextricable labyrinth into "chick
Spanish policy has been cast. The Spanish people,
religious and monarchical, lives more than any other in
the midst of its families, and worships more than any
their domestic hearth. According to the ancient law
of the country, the husband and wife cannot live
sepal ate. Separation in marriage is in Spain
a scandalous exception, condemned alike bylaw,
by custom, and by religion. The separation of the
King and Queen is consequently the scandal of scan-
dals. The Spanish people, whose monarchical faith
has hitherto resisted all the attacks of revolutionary
doctrines, armed at present with the liberty conferred by
a constitutional Government, excited by the turbulent
discussion of parties, must inevitably examine that
palace question. The irresponsibility of the Monarch
eu longer exists, the personality of Ministers has dis-
appeared, and the Spanish nation sees undisguised the
personal morality of the Monarch. There is but one
step from the examination to the sentence. In order
to arrive at that extremity, to induce the Spanish nation
to judge the individual acts of the Monarch, notwith-
standing its traditional respect fur monarchy, desperate
contests and imprudent recriminations were sufficient.
The defenders of the ancient regime, supported by the
clergy, whose misery is denied by none, raised their
ancient standard, exclaiming to the liberals of every
colour, 'Behold your WOOS* 'PiSc is your wouurchyp

LONDON;

your Monarch, and the fruit of your demoralising
principles.' The Revolutionists, the natural enemies of
royal authority, see with pleasure the degradation of the
throne. They collect all the scandalous tales related of
the palace, of which they express doubts skilfully
arranged. They flatter all the caprices of the Queen,
and humble themselves before the overbearing vanity
of General Serrano, hoping thus to destroy in public the
prestige of the throne, against which their most desperate
attempts and their most vigorous arguments had
hitherto failed."

Aftefstating that Getreral NAIIVAEZ has set out
for Madrid the Presse continues: "
General NARVAEZ has been called on to resolVe in
a clear, decided, and definitive manner, the Palace
question, which is par excellence the Spanish ques-
tion, and the complication of which may perhaps
break the vacillating equilibrium of the European
states. It remains to be known to what a point the
Moderado party and General NARVAEZ may resolve
this question, what,is the influence of foreign diplo-
macy, and what are the principal eventual ties that
may arise. General NARVAEZ, unless the Court of
Spain be not irremediably struck with folly, will
probably be listened to, because he unites the moral
strength of a party to the physical strength of the
army. He is going to express the painful impression
produced in the country by the scandals of the palace.

If General NARVAEZ conducts himself with firmness,
all will yield, for the moment at least, to his desires.
General SEREANO will withdraw from Madrid—the
KING will return to the Palace—the Progressists will
find themselves reduced to their old expedient of con-
spiracies—a new Moderado Cabinet will be formed—
time will be gained, but the question will not be re-
solved. Spain will be placed in a grave incertitude to
know what use will be made of the royal prerogatiies ;
that incertitude will maintain a state of agitation, which
foreign intrigues will not fail to turn to account.
We must consequently expect to behold the conspira-
cies of parties recommenced. The Government of
General NARVAEZ will therefore be forcedly a Go-
vernment of struggle in the Palace, in the Cortes, and
perhaps in the streets. It will be a Government of
force. England will not fail to profit by that situa-

on. In accord with the revolutionists it will excite
antipathies, will turn to account the rancour of the
royal house, until the Palace question again presents
itself more difficult, more dangerous, and more in-
solvable than ever. England is going on with her
endeavours to dissolve the QUEEN'S marriage, to bring
about the divorce, and the annulling of the rights of
the Duchess DE MONTPENSIER, with that persevering
and headstrong obstinacy which she brings to
every one of her undertakings. Mistress of Por-
tugal, having in her hand Count DE MONTEMOLIN,
having at her disposal the Carlist and revolu-
tionary guerillas, and above all the elements of
disunion which reign in the Royal Family, it is
not difficult to comprehend that it will be easy
for her to raise up on any given day embarrassments,
which the ascendancy of Gen. NARVAEZ may remove
for the moment. England has proposed to herself to
destroy at any price the work of France. To arrive
at that end, she wants discord in the Palace, revolu-
tion in the streets, civil war, and anarchy. There,
and not elsewhere, is to be found the secret of the
revolution of Portugal, and of that intervention in
which we have so unwisely aided. If, in order to
arrive at her end, the last extremities were required,
Europe knows that the English Cabinet would not
hesitate to support the pretensions of Count DE MON-
TEMOLIN, so that to a certain point the cause of Eng-
land is the same as that of the Absolutist powers. To
recapitulate—it is probable that the influence of Gen.
NARVAEZ will produce a moment of pause in the
question of Spain; we do not, however, deem this
influence by itself sufficient to resolve it definitively.
The Palace question, such as it is, such in particular
as England will make it before long, is a European
question, of which the consequences are immense, and
which, abandoned to the hazards of a civil war, or to
the Machiavelism of a diplomatic intrigue, may again
place Europe in the position in which it was thrown
by the succession of CHARLES II."
The Prince DE JOINVILLE, who continues very ill,
has gone to St. Cloud, for the benefit of his health.
He will be joined their by the Royal Family on
Saturday or Sunday.
We read in the Moniteur Parisien :
" Several journals, in announcing that an investiga•
tion, commenced with respect to a person employed in
the war department, had been followed by his arrest,
relate different reports as to the nature and circum-
stances of the affair. What is true is that an investiga-
tion commenced at Amiens, in consequence of reports
sent in to the Minister of War and the Minister of Jus-
tice, brought to light such probabilities of proof against
a clerk named Lasalle, that a warrant was issued to
arrest him, and that it has been executed. The affair
being in a course of investigation not only in France but
in Algiers, where it was necessary to obtain information
relative to mutations of ministerial offices which took
place several years back, it does not admit at present of
rnshall become public, it will be seen, that in this
inquiry more a ple explanations; but when the result of the
circumstance also the Government has not waited to be
applied to, to direct the attention of the law authorities
to the affair, aad to seek out the truth."
Another reform banquet took place at Pontoise on
the 22d, on the occasion of an assembly of the electors
to entertain their Deputy, M. BERVILLE. The KING'S
=hi wasnp and drunk in something ap•
to proposedslsilence.
c:
The Three per Cents, closed on the Paris Bourse on
Thursday at 76f. 50c.; the Five per Cents., iisr. 5c.; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,2301. ; Rouen, 948 f. 75c.;
Havre, 5921. 50c.; Great Northern, 5351.; Avignon,
585 f.; Vierzon, 5711. 25c.; Bordeaux, 470 f. ; Dieppe,
2681. 75c.; Basle, 1721. 50c.; Paris and Strasburg, 3901.;
Tours and Nantes, 3701.; Paris and Lyons, 3951.;
Lyons and Avignon, 4481. 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Ammar 27.
Boulogne and Amiens, 14—Namur and Liege, 5:34—
Northern of France, 11 --Paris and Lyons, 3%—Paris
and Orleans, 48—Paris and Strasbourg, 314—Sambre and
Meuse, 8 IA—Tours and Nantes, 2%.

FURNESS RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY)
The half-yearly general meeting of this Company
was this held at No. 6, Old Palace Yard, Westmin-
ster. The chair was taken by -- Currie, Esq.,
the Chairman of the Company.
The Secretary proceeded to read the report, as
follows : _

-..-.._
" Your directors have the pleasure to submit a satis-
factory account of the traffic for the last half-year,
which
ied enables blethem
the s
rate toef
4 recommendper a
cent.
p er dividendo
aanuni
onr that
ha t
the
whole amount of capital at present called up, payable
on and after the 21st of September next.
" The amount of iron ore and other merchandise car-
ried during the last six months has equalled your di-
rectors' anticipations, as have also the receipts from the
passenger traffic, under the circumstances which have
attended it ; and its recommencement on the 24th of
May. Your directors have anticipated the opening of
Piel Pier at that time, and the working of it in con-
nexion with the Rampside Branch of the Railway,
which, in all probability, have increased the receipts, in
respect of the passenger traffic.
" Your directors have to report the completion of the
second train of rails between Dalton and Rampside
Junction, mentioned in their report submitted to the
meeting on the 27th of February last, and this addition
has materially contributed to the efficient and satisfac-
tory working of the line.
Iheivre.rMy ‘rLeespaneertespaots
ritsfatehteergyer
;the
progress made byl state of the works
is
the contractors on the extension line to Broughton is
also satisfactory. The works are in a very forward
state, and it is expected that the railway will be ready
for opening before Christmas, the time fixed by the con-
tract for the completion of this line.
" Your directors have entered into a contract for the
construction of the extension line from Dalton as far as
th ewao Ulver-
Lindal, and the time for opening
stop must depend upon the completion o rail f
this t
portion of
the line which includes the tunnel and heavy cuttings
through Lindal
The total receipts of the company since its forma-
tion had been 177,221/. 03. id., the expenditure,
171,9451. Bs. 4d., leaving a balance in hand, available
for the payment of dividends, of the sum of
5,2751. 1 ls. 9d.
A resolution for the adoption of the report was
then unanimously agreed to, as was a resolution de-
claring the dividend, and another authorizing the
raising a loan of 33,6001.
A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman,
and the meeting broke up.

MR. COBDEN.
The following address from Mr. Cobden appeared
in the Stockport Mercury of yesterday. The Hon.
Member does not appear to have been aware when
he wrote it of his return for the West Riding of
Yorkshire :

" have to
"TO THE ELECTORS or STOCKPORT.
day seen in the newspapers
the result of the poll, by which it appears that you have
done me the honour to return me, as one of your repre-
sentatives, to Parliament. Reserving for myself the
agreeable duty of expressibg in person at an early
period my sense of your kindness, I cannot allow a day
to elapse without thanking you for the generous and
spontaneous manner in which you have elected me in
my absence; and I have the honour to remain, gentle-
men, your obliged and faithful servant,
RICIIARD COBDEN.
" Dautzic, August 10, 1847."