The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MOR

make nothing of the contest with so miserable a prin-
cipal. On the other hand, the Marquis of LANSDOWNE
was seconded by the Bishop of Noawicu, that being
" the unkindest cut of all" to his ecclesiastical com-
peer. The Bishop of NORWICH made no disguise of
his sentiments. He emphatically told the Bishop of
EXETER, recoiling from the blows of his opponent,
that he well merited the handling he got, for that
" he ought to have acted straightforwardly, and not
have attempted to receive, for a particular purpose
money out of the public funds which ought to come
out of the private sources of himself and others ; that
he ought to have been above striki►!g a side blow,
and that his proposal, if carried, would create
disgust throughout the country, especially amongst
the Dissenters." The proposal of the discomfited
Bishop was to the following effect :—" That it is the
opinion that persons in holy orders, not exercising
holy orders, ought not as such to be ineligible to the
office of schoolmasters in schools receiving aid from
Parliamentary grants." This is an abstract resolu-
tion than which, as a general rule, there is nothing
to which either House of Parliament has a greater
objection to confirm. It invariably implies a great
ckal more than is expressed in its literal terms,
and is generally resorted to fcr hypocritical pur-
poses. The latter assertion is, for the most
part, easily corroborated by a reference to the
public character of the mover. For practical
purposes the motion was useless, the parties in
whose favour he made it being at this moment
eligible to the appointments in question. But the
fact is that Government have almost universally re- '
frained from appointing or allowing clergymen to re-
main in the capacity of masters of schools, receiving
aid out of the public moneys allotted for the promotion
of national education. By thus acting they have kept
good faith with the public in their ministration of the
important functions connected Nxith the intellectual cul-
ture of the community at large. They have scrupu-
lously adhered to the avowed object for which they
announced to Parliament that stipends were to be given,
which are, not to make clergymen, but masters of
schools. By this impartial management the Govern-
ment takes the most honourable course for allaying
the animosity with which the Dissenters, and espe-
cially the Wesleyans, viewed the new features in the
scheme of education, as broached by the Marquis of
LANSDOWNE in the early part of the session. The
question is not whether the Dissenters have any right
to demand the exclusion of clergymen of the Esta-
blished Church from the office of master in national
schools, supported by public moneys ; but whether the
various bodies of Dissenters, so deservedly influential
in this country, would not be justified in
viewing with jealousy and alarm a distribu-
tion of patronage consonant with the views of
the Bishop of EXETER, and further, whether it could
not be maintained that the gratification of the Bishop's
object would not be a palpable diversion of the public
resources from a particular purpose to another and
totally different character. Every rational and un-
biassed mind would feel itself impelled to answer
these latter queries in the affirmative. To have
passed the motion would have been viewed as a gross
attempt on the part of the stronger party to oppress
the weaker, and this at the expense of a flagrant
breach of good faith. At the grave risk of offending
the atrabilious Bishop, the Marquis of LANSDOWNE
has manfully avowed his earnest desire to conciliate
the Wesleyan community, a body to whom the Arch-
bishop of CANTERBURY has declared the greatest
esteem is due. The integrity of the Government
throughout their supervision of the national inbtitu-
tions fur the education of the humbler classes merits
the highest encomium. On the other hand, the
quantum of praise due to the Bishop of EXETER for
his rapacious, but happily unsuccessful manceuvre,
defies all calculation. Er nihilo nihil fit.

The report of the Special Committee on the sus-
pension of Bills for new railways was on Thursday
adopted with some slight and unimportant amend-
ments, while such of the resolutions as are intended
to form the substance of new standing orders were
referred to the Stinding Orders' Committee. There
can scarcely be a difference of opinion as to the pro-
priety, nay, the imperative necessity of some inter-
ference with the quantity of railway business now
pending before the House. The present disturbed
state of the money-market, the mariner in which
our national finances, and all the commercial in-
terests of the country are fettered and restricted
by the Act of 1844—an Act which could scarcely be
supposed to have any object but that of creating uni-
ver.•al distress and general embarrassment—forbade
the immediate progress of many schemes excellent in
themselves, and calculated eventually to he attended
with great advantages both to the public and the
shareholders. A certain pause was desired by many ;
a breathing time, that would permit the monetary
affairs of the country to be placed in a sounder and
healthier position ; a power of suspending, without
abandoning, their prospects; of retaining the
ground they had pre-occupied, on which they
had expended time, labour, and money, and which
would undoubtedly be immediately seized by others,
if they for a moment exhibited symptoms of yielding
it up. We long since, and indeec previous to the
adoption of Lord DALIIOUSIB'S Bill, advocated the
concession of such a power, not merely n the Bills
pending before the Legislature, but in those sanc-
tioned during former sessions. We desired that the
peliols within which the companies were bound to
complete their works should he ex•ended, so as to
afford inure ample time to the shareholders for the
payment of the calls. No such alternative, however,
was then afforded ; no choice was allowed but that of
dissolution or active progress. Many who would
gladly have bided their time, and waited for a mere
propitious season to carry their works into execution,
could not consent to sacrifice the expenditure that
hut already taken place, to ahem lon the advantages
they hoped ultimately to attain. They therefore
voted against the dissolution of their respective com-
panies, ar d the pressure on the market was increased
and aggravated by the unwise refusal of the power.
The members of the Special Coulmittee have exhi-
bited greater discretion in the present instance. They
unanimously rejected the suggestion that all Bills
should be arrested without ex option—that a com-
pulsory stoppage should be put to their further
progress. Such a course would be most unjust to
the parties interested—a most improper interference
with the rights of :he individual shareholders. There
were cases, too, where the expense of the construction
word(' be trivial in compari,on to the benefits to other
more important lines, and where any delay would
be moot injurious to parties concerned. A selec-
tion by the Committee of the Bill of those that
should be allowed to go on, and of those that should
be rejected or stayed, would also he open to grave
objections; indeed, were it even desirable, it would
be a matter of the greatest difficulty, if not
impossibility, for the Committee to enter
into the necessary investigations. They, therefore,
decided on leaving it optional with the parties to
suspend further proceedings on the second reading or
any subsequent stage of a Bill, and to proceed with
the same Bill next session it the stage where it has
now been suspended, and the deposits in the mean-
time to be returned to the parties by whom they
were made. This privilege will, no doubt, be eagerly
accepted by many of the companies: belligerents who
are contending for particular districts will gladly
consent to a temporary armistice during which
their differences may be amicably arranged,
or on the cessation of which they may
return to the contest with renewed vigour. On the
whole, although some few may have desired that the
Committee should hsve adopted a stronger course,
there are none who will not approve of the step they
have taken.

In addition to this judicious decision, the Commit-
tee came to certain other resolutions directed against
some of the abuses that have hitherto prevailed in the
railway system, and which resolutions will put a
i total and immediate stop to the objectionable
I practices. One of those is directed, and most pro-
the least Cfhlt.it;wairsectw,:as
; perly, against the recently introduced system of pay-
i ing interest on the amount of calls out of the capital of
the company. Such a course was wall termed a
mockery, a delusion, and a snare, and led many
, people to think that they were making an investment
with a futurielluinsocrryheasalein;d suchu arthc;utr.hsee
i on which they should receive a certain interest for a
wholly
o u
induceifklluv a ili
former times, and its ciriede
was, to say
speculate, or to liernaonYt,
who really could not a_ur tou
EliinngitliesdhPer"i character.

of their money for any prolonged time, to join the
undertakings. The other resolutions are of no less
important a character, and have been no less urgently
called for. They are directed against the construc-
tion of branches, extensions, or the contribi'tion
to other lines of railway by existing compa-
nies, until there shall have been a subscription contract
actually entered into, and deposits paid for the special
purpose. They prohibit them, moreover, from paying
out of their capital, raised for other objects, the def.o-
sits required by the standing orders on other projects.
There are other and most judicious restrictions placed
on the powers of purchase, sale, lease, or amalgama-
tion, until certain portions of the capital authorised
to be raised should be actually bond fide paid up, in
the policy of which we fully and cordially concur,
and which, we doubt not, will receive the approba-
tion of the public.

Letters and journals from Italy mention the or-
ganization of two Commissions, by order of the
Grand Duke of TUSCANY, one for the compilation of
a new civil code and the other fur the compilation of
a new penal code.
The Piedmont State Gazette publishes the conven-
tion between the King of SARDINIA and the cantons
of St. Gall, the Grisons, and Tessino, relative to the
construction of a railway which is to run from Genoa
Po Lake Maggiore, and thence to the lakes of Wal-
lenstadt and Constance.

By the Independance of Brussels of Wednesday
we have the following description of the result of the
elections in Belgium:—
" The electors had to return yes:erday sixty members
to the Chamber of Representatives (47 for the ordinary
renewal of the Chamber, and 13 new nominations). Out
of these 60. 36 nelong openly to the Liberal party; the
clerical party and the Ministry can claim only 24, and
even amongst the new members there are some whom
their previous career attaches more to our opinion than
to that of our adversaries. We shall not now make any
long reflections on the result obtained, but we consider
it as excellent for the Liberal opinion, and it appears to
us to respond to all the hopes that could have been in-
dulged in. We may also remark that out of the mem-
bers subjected to re-election 21 ha.d voted against the
Ministry in the memorable division of April 29, 1846,
and 21 had voted in its favour. But out of the 21 op-
ponents only one of those who again presented them.
selves was rejected by the electors; vi hilst out of the
partisans of the Ministry five were beaten."

Madrid papers of the 6th have arrived, but from
' the extraordinary interest attached to the position of
political parties in Portugal, little intelligence is con-
tained in them relative to Spanish affairs. No infor-
mation had been received in the capital confirmatory
of the capture of Des ANTAS by the squadron off
Oporto. Contradictions had appeared in most of the
newspapers of the rumoured entrance of the troops of
Queen ISABELLA into Portugal, and of their occupa-
tion of the Valenza de Minho.

According to the chit-chat of the capital upon the
day our dispatch started, it was believed dint his
Majesty the KING CONSORT had visited the Papal
Nuncio Monsignore BauNELLT, and that the latter
personage entertained hopes of arranging a recon-
ciliation between the royal couple. Little credit was
however given to the cry dit.

MADRID BOLSA, JUNE 2.—The Three per Cents. were
done at 30%; the Four per Cents. at 18 ; the Five per
Cents. at 188 ; the Debt without Interest at 5 ; and the
Coupons at 15.

The Paris journals of Thursday have been duly re-
ceived.

The discussions of the preceding day, in the
Chamber of Deputies, testified the ardour of the an-
tagonism which is growing more intense every suc-
cessive day between the Government and the Oppo-
sition. It is amusing to observe the diversity of
opinion expressed by the different journals upon the
character and bearing of the discussions, one per•
ceiving merely rhodomontade and fustian, where
another recognises logic and eloquence, and vice versa.
Among the more significant casualities of the debate,
perhaps the most remarkable was the evidence or im-
patience and indifference afforded by the Deputies
during the harangue of M. GUIZOT. Is this the
shadow of the coming event—or rather, to him,
of the coming disaster ? Is the awe of his didactic
utterance fading into derision and scorn ? Is the
prestqe of his voluble voice vanishing?
Referring to the discussions which arose upon the
justification of the total occupation of Alg,ria by
General LAMORICIERE, and the examination of the
propriety or impropriety of the Kabylia exoedition,
and the establishment of ~.he French civil possession
in Africa, the Constitailionnel remarks as follows :

" M. de Lamoriciere possesses considerable fluency,
and the demonstration which he made of the advantages
of our establishment in Algeria appeared to us irre-
futable! His plan of coloniz•dien is more questionable,
and we shall examine it when the question shall be
brought before the Chamber. After that speech, and a
few observations from M. de Tracy, sl. Guizot ascended
the tribune. At length, said he, the Chamber is about
to be perfi ctly informed as to the intentions of '
the Government with re fleet to Algeria. We were '
disappointed. • M. Guizot ascended the tribune as
ignorant of the subject to be treated, and as sterile
of ideas, as we have ever seen him. It was not
that he had not statistics and 'nips prepared by the Mi-
nester of War, nor that he was deficient in extracts from
dispatches, instructions, and proclamations. But M.
Guist comprehends not figures, nor facts, nor details,
ehenever the question is not to generalist., by some
theory of philosophy and history, but to deduce from
them a practical resolution, a fruitful idea, or an act of
Government. Facts teach him to speak, but not to act;
and never has his portfolio contained anything hut a
book or a piece of special plea:ling. Thus, he confined
himself to reading, without any oreer or method, a con-
tinuation of letters and extracts—a summary or ex-
penses contracted—and figures arranged at. random. The
Chamber was completely fatigued—private conversa-
tions began to raise their murmur, and we saw M.
Guizot, the skill ul orator, the chief of the Cabinet, dis
cussirg the most important question which now occu-
pies
France, have occasion to obtain silence through the '
intervention of officious friends or of the President.
Some Conservatives, v, ho found themselves about to fall
itsleep, thought it prudent to quit their places, tearing
to fail in respect to the great Minister, as M. Damon
did in the Chamber .of Peer, du, ing the speeech of M.
de Salvandy. But Bou Nltiza, who ntten-led the sitting
in a private tribune, telt himself vanquished by the mo-
notonous tone of the Minister's voice, and closed his eyes.
The clever Arab, Lice the entire Chamber, was tired
into sleep. Such was the triumph which M. Guizot ob-
tained on the subject, of Africa. This keg speech con-
tained nothing but a prepared eulogturu on Marshal
Bugeaud, on whom M. Guizot was happy to east the
weight of the discussion. Not that the Ministry does
not accept the responqbility of all that has been done in
Africa; but M. Guiz it invented, as is well known, a
Ministerial responsibility of a peculiar nature—a pure
constitutional fiction. The Ministers, fie. example, did
not approve the expedition against Kabylia, hut they
admit thaf. they suffered it. The moral responsibility
belongs to the Marshal-Governor—the responsibility of
the Tribune belongs to the Minister, who is a mere
man of straw. That expedition against Kabylia be-
came to-day an overpowering proof of the profound in-
capacity of the Ministry, and the occasion of the
strongest revelations. It was discovered to day that
the Minister in all his dispatches to the Marshal
previous to the 2d of March had opposed the idea of
such an expedition. Suddenly, on the 10th of March,
the Minister of War wrote to the Marshal to authorise
him to enter into Kabylia On the 12th the Minister of
War, on learning the voluntary submission of several
Kithyle tribes, changed his opinion, and regarded the ex-
pedition as unnecessary. Nevertheless, th moment for
execution arrived, and the Moniteur Algerien announced
the entrance of the troops into campaign. M. Guizot
being questioned in the Chambers, reeused to explain—
he neither approved nor disapproved, and he remained '
obstinately silent. It was only a few days since that the
Government formed an opinion. It appears from what
we have already stet( d, that after the 12th of March the
Minister had two descriptions of dispatches in his piirt-
folio—the ono forbidding the expedition, the other au
thorising it. The commission demanded that those dis-
patches should be communicated to it. The duty iif an
honourable Ministry was to refuse all communication, or
to communicate ail. But M. Guizot communicated the
dispatches blaming the exped tion, and concealed those
which authorised it; and M. Guizat, like a Parliamen-
tary conjuror, produced the latter dispatches in the
midst of the discussion." _ _

On Thursday the Chamber of Deputies continued
the adjourned debate upon the extraordinary credits re-
quired fur Algeria. Among the more important
decisions of the Chambers upon this particular was
one for the opening of a credit of 25,000,000 francs
for the support of 34,000 men and 3,300 horses be-
yond the forces already determined in 1846. After
a few observations from M.d. BEAUMONT, BUREAU
DE PCZY, and GARNIE& PAGES, the proposiam was
needed to with the diminution of 75,000 francs from
the required 25.000.000.
A very pleasant little calculation is given by the
National—a calculation likely to afflict the b.•llicose
coxcombs of the Boulevards with asphixia—namely,
that whereas in 1831 the effective troops of France
in Algeria amounted to 18,000 men of all ranks and
regiments, they have increased successively in 1834
to 30,000 men ; in 1838 to 48,000 men ; in 1841 to
70,000 men ; in 1843 to 76,000 men ; in 1845 to 83,000
men ; and in 1846 to 101,000 men !
In the zWaniteur Algerien of the sth instant is an-
nounced the arrival of the squadron of evolution at

Algiers, and the honourable reception of the Prince
DE JOINVILLE by the Governor-General.
On Thursday the remains of Marshal GROUCHY were
consigned to the grave in the cemetery of Pere la
Chaise, having been conveyed thither with much
pomp from the Invalides. Among the mourners were
the two sons of the departed warrior, Lieutenant-
General and Colonel GROUCHY, togeth,r with Gene
ral ARTHUR O'CONNOR. a veteran now in his eighty,.
fourth year, and whose wife was the niece of Mar-
shal GROUCHY and the only child of CONDORCET.
From the Gazette du Midi of the 30th ult. we talie
the subjoined :
" Maria Christina leaves to-morrow. She did not
meet the reception here which she expected, and still :e>s
such a reception as the marriage portion question must
ever procure her in France. The King was tr.velliso2
with the Queen, and had taken with him his two hro •
thers--the Counts of Aquila and Trappani—they have
not returned, and Christina departs without having seen
any of her family except her mother the Queen at wa,er,
and the Princess Csr line, her youngest sister. The
other sister of Christina. the Infanta Au.eli r, who re
mained in Naples with her hulyind, I),n s.-broti.,n,
stained from visiting the ex Regent. Exiled by her,
they could not decently appear at her reeeption•. Even
the people treated her most coldly, and, atter having for
a moment believed that she was shout to b,stow lar e
sums of money on them, when they found she h. ld the
gold so tightly which she hail so honourably acquired in
Spain, they turned their bseks on her, and nobody paid
the slightest attention to her pryper Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Thurs-
day senee."
the Five per Cents., at 117 f. 60c. ; the
OdaryTlehaaeitis'77Rfr.aeiel6rOicad Shares, 1,272 E 50c.; Rouen, 976 f 'sc.;
Havre, 6601. ; Great Northern,6olf.2sc.; Avignon, 7471. 50c.;
Vierzon, 6151. ; Bourdeaux, 5 Of. ; Boulogne, 410 f. ; Troves
and Montereau, 2801.; Basle, 190 f.; Dieppe, 317 t. 50c.; Paris
and Strasburg, 431 f. 25c. ; Tours and Nantes, 415 f.; Paris
and Lyons, 4411 25c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 450 f.; Bor-
deaux and Cette, 4501. ; Spanish Domestic D..ht, 291/2.
BUSINESS DONE IN
,FpREJGNRAILWAYS AT THE

LON DON STOCK EXCHANGE, JUNE IL
Demerara 21/2—Northern of France, 71,—Paria and
Rouen, 3S—Parts and Strasbourg,4%—Rouen and Havre., 25

HAMBURG MAIL.
FOREIGN CORN MARKETS.
DANTZIC, JUNE 4.—ln the course of the past month
3,247 lasts of wheat have been s.ild from ship hoard, and
472 from the soil. The prices given for them wen.
from 785 to 900 florins, the latter prices were only given
for 40 lasts of fine Upper Poland 134 and 135 Ihs of
wheat, In consequence of the slao•knes. of trade in Eng
land, tin re has been a fall of about 80 florins, and at the
close of th market it was sold at 738 florins for 125 lbs.,
and 750 to 766 florins for 126 to 128 lbs. Of r)e there
were only 80 lasts brought to market in the course of
the month, which were bought for consumption at from
655 to 658 florins. Barley likewise was broteihr to sale
in small parcels only, which were bought at 490 to 510
florins, oats 270 to 290 florins. pease 670 to 680 florins.
THE HAGUE, JUNE B.—The second congress of the
agricultural society of the Netherlands took place at
Arnheim on the 3d of June. The number of members
who assembled on this occasion was more numerous than
hitherto. Many highly interesting and important ques.
tions were brought forward. Mr. Van Reppard, the
president asked several members who had come from
different parts of the kingdom to give some account of
the actual state of the harvest in our country—what was
he real state of affairs—and whether we might have
hope on this important question ? The reports from
every one or our provinces were extraordinarily favour-
able. In the environs of Velp there has been blight,
but so very slight and unimportant that it is scarcely
worth mentioning and ought not to occasion the leas
uneasiness. Vegetation in general is so exceedingly
strong and vigorous that in Southern Holland and at
Schazer the hay has been already made. The wheat
fields present a magnificent aspect, excepting a few
patches in the province of Utrecht. The potatoes are
everywhere in the best possible condition, and in no
single instance has there been the slightest appearance
of blight.

FINANCIAL WONDERS Or GAS.—One astonishing
peculi..rity in the manufacture of gas is the fact, now
more and more clearly evolving and forcing itself into
notice, that, tor every separate outlay, there is not only
a separate compensation, but an additional profit; that
every step in the process of manufacture not only pays
itself, but more than pays itself; that while the coke con
sumer pays for the raw material, and the agricultural or
other chemist for the preparation orpurification of the gas
produced from that material, the Gas Company have
actually nothing in the shape of outlay or expendi-
ture with which they can justly charge the gas con-
sumer at all, except with the interest of capital
sunk, once for all, at the outset, in the construction
of thi it gas-works, and the ramification of their
pipes, and with the wages paid to their officers and work-
men for labour expended in carrying on their work!
And yet how enormous are the charges and profits still
made by gas companies on what has thus been clearly
proved to cost them, for material, literally nothing. Al-
though it is notorious that " a coach-and• six may be
driven ril.:ht through many kits of Parliament," were
es-ured and efficient means adopted to limit companies
to a certain tnoderate.per centage of profit, they would
soon he compelled to give the public the benefit of every
avAable process, both old and new, for the reduction in
th..° expense of the manufacture of gas to the minimums
In 'fact, they ought to bo limited at least to such prices
as would merely afford'thess a fair rate of interest on
sunk capital, and repay them with interest the wages on
labuor expenth(l. The Builder.

THE WEATHER, TRADa, &c.—After a month's
undisturbed sunshine the temperature has become cooler, and
several refreshing showers have fallen during the present
week. This will be most favourable for the crops, especially
on stiff lands; the wheat is now ready to burst into ear;
turnips and potatoes are looking exceedingly well, and there
is as yet no indication of disease in the last mentioned root.
Fruit trees are much infested with insects, whose ravages
have much thinned what bid fair to be an extraordinarily
heavy crop. Since the price of grain has fallen there appears
to be a better feeling among manufacturers, and the money
market has become somewhat more favourable.— Worcester.
shin atronic.e.

-- -
ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S INN-ROAD.—His
Grace the Duke of Buecleuch has expressly signified his in-
tention of becoming one of the stewards, in conjunction with
several other noblemen and gentlemen, on the f irthcoming
anniversary festival, at which Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq.,
the Member for. St. Albans, will preside. It is needless to
say that the sanction thus given to the hospital by his
Grace will most materially assist the strenuous efforts at
present being made, to restore the charity to its proper and
effective usefulness. All the available wards are not at pre-
sent full, the Committee of Management not considering
themselves justifi-d in incurring heavier responsibility untill
additional pecuniary means are provided.
FIRE IN WAPPING.—On Friday morning, shortly
after two o'clock a fire was discovered upon the premises ne-
l.,nging to George Traill and Co., ship-chandlers, 43,
Wapping High-street. The flames originated in the cellars,
which contained a large quantity of turps, tar, and other
fewequally i„fi.,,niria!de articles. The alarm having been given,
in a minutes several engines arrived, and were set. to
w..rl : but a considerable time elapsed before any impression
could be made upon the fire. The firemen, however, by
dint of extraordi,ary exertions, succeeded in confining the
flames to the premises in which they originated. Mr. Braid-
wood thus returns the damage done: -•‘Cellars and contents
seriously damaged by fire; shop severely scorched, and con•
tents of sail-loft over damaged be sm •ke," &c. Messrs.
Trail' were insured in the Phoenix Fire-office.

THE CALEDONIAN BALL—The ladies patronesses
of this ball had another meeting on Thursday at Willis's
Rooms, at which various interesting arrangements in refe-
rence to the forthcoming festival were agreed upon.
Ihe Countess of Rosebery has undertaken to form a set, to
be styled the
.. Patroness's Quadrille," consisting of sixteen
couple* of the ilite of the Scottish nobility and gentry, the
gentlemen Nearing the Highland garb and their fair partners
an appropriate costume. There will also be a true " High-
land Quadrille of eight couples in the same garb for gentle-
men, the ladies wearing the costume of 1745, " the period
when old llolyrood resounded in the presence of Bonnie
Prince Charlie" while he was in all his glory and a ladies
man, taking his place merrily in the dance among his own
people before a shadow fell on his fortunes. This qutdrille
will be formed by Lady Agnes Duff, the beautiful daughter
of !he late Earl of Erroll, and wife of Mr. James Duff, M.P.,
heir presuirptive to the Earldom of Fife, who was so suc-
cessful in an essay somewhat similar on a recent occasion.
Lady Willoughby D'Eresby also, in conjunction with Mrs.
Macleod (of Macleod), is forming a first-rate "eightsome"
reel, in costume. Another interestitg feature in this pro-
mising reunion will be the presence of the "juvenile corps
of pipers," who with a fall band of 28 performers, composed
of boys belonging to the Caledonian Asylum, will supply the
music in the lower room. The promoters of the festival have
our best wishes f,r its success, and we cannot doubt that
their charitable exertions will meet a due reward.

FORGERY OF A \\7IIIT BY AN ATTORNEY.—A legal
praciiiener, awned Turner, has been committed for trial
by the magistrates of Sheffield upon a charge of having
forged a writ. It appears that Turner had been instructed
in November last, by the trustees of a benefit club, to issue
a writ against a
person who had failed to pay the money
which he had bo,Towed of the club. Before the writ had
arrived the deiaulter made arrangements for payment;
but Turner said that he had received the writ on the
day following
_ and that on which the arrangements were
made,he was consequently paid 255. costs.
When this sum was paid he was required to deliver
the original writ ; an-i, with some reluctance, he
handed over a writ in which several erasures were
discernable. The writ was suspected to be a forgery, and
Turner was afterward.; apprehended. A clerk of the
Queen's Bench office, London, stated, at the last exami-
nation, that no precipe for such a writ had been issued
in November last; and that he believed that the precipe
for the writ produced in court had been issued in
January, 1846. The prosecutors off red to abandon the
proceedings if Turner could produce a letter from his
London agent ei,closing the writ, or otherwise show that
he had really received it; but he was unable to offer any
proof whatever.
CRICKET. GENTLEMEN OF SURREY U. GENTLE-
MEN OF KENT —The match was resumed on Friday;tnorning,
a tew mina, es after eleven o'clock. After the termination of
the play tOr the day, it was agreed to make a drawn match,
in con.equenee of other engagements rendering it impossible
for several of the gentlemen to attend on the third day.
CITY OF LONDON !,IFE ASSURANCE.—The directors
and supporters .f this institution dined together on Friday
at the Trafalgar Hotel, Greenwich, when from sixty to one
hundred gentlemen interested in the prosperity of the com-
pany sat down to an excellent dinner, provided for the occa-
sion by the proprietor of the tavern. The chair was occu-
pied by Stephen Henry Lee, Esq. Many speedes bearing
upon the advantages to be derived from life assurance were
made during the evening ; and, although the society is yet in
i 3 infancy, it has shown that it was in a highly prosperous
state, and increasing dilly in importance. The party sepa-
rated after a pleasant meeting at a late hour.
TUE LATE: ACCIDENT AT THE ROYAL ITALIAN
I-1
OPERA .—Toe,,vsE scene-shifter. George Hill, who fell
from the slips at the Royal Italian Opera on Saturday last,
and who was immediately removed to li...big's College Hos-
pital with but little hopes ot recovery, is still living, and is
progressing so favourably, that he will shortly resume his
occupativq at the theatre,