The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-21 00:00:00

JAMAICA MARKETS.

(From De Cordova's Mercantile Intelli;e neer, July 24.)
Flour—We report the following sales since our last :-900
barrels Philadelphia at 255. 6d. cash ; 700 ditto George-
town 300 ditto Richmond; 1,000 ditto Georgetown at 275.;
500 ditto Baltimore at 28s. ; 300 ditto ditto (nearly five
months here) at 245; 1,000 ditto Philadelphia, at 255. 6d.,
on terms of credit equal to cash; 140 ditto New Orleans,
" hard " at 245. 6d. Some parcels, which were laid in
during the last month at about 28s. per barrel, are now
being re• sold at 21s. to 225. The stock is still very large.
Cornmeal—This article remains in a very depreised con-
dition. Some few days back a parcel of 2,800 barrels was
refused at 145.; subsequently about 1,000 barrels were
placed in lots of 50 barrels, at 15s. The sale, however,
of 1,000 barrels, which arrived here afterwards, at 16s , four
months, has caused a greater degree of firmness in the
market.

Bread is very abundant. We note the following sales :-
80 barrels Philadelphia Pilot, "Buddy',," at 16, ; 70
ditto, Navy, ditto, at 15s. ; 20 ditto, Crackers, ditto, at ;202. ;
100 ditto, Baltimore Pilot, at 155.; 100 ditto, Watson's, at
17s. ; 400 ditto, at 14s. 6d.; 200 ditto, Navy, at 145.; 150
ditto, Crackers, at 20s.
Rice continues to decline; we have heard of two sales
amounting to 1,200 bags best Bengal, at 15s. per 1001bs.
There have been no operations in Carolina, which is held at
205., but ineffectually.
Butter-The stock of Irish butter is unusually large for
this season; and the sales are limited to parcels for imme-
diate consumption, at prices varying from 7d. to 9d. Hali-
fax commands 714 d. to Bd.; 59 kegs Philadelphia have been
parted with at sd. per lb.
Lard-The best American cannot command 5d.; 144 kegs
Philadelphia soft have fetched only 3,1c1. per lb.
Candles-The stock of all sorts is very heavy • the last
sales of Baltimore were
_at bid. per lb.; 700 half boxes and
25 boxes " Lty:don olive oil wax candles" have been parted
with at Bd. per lb.
Codfish-The immense receipts have caused a still greater
decline in the price of this article, which has been selling at
Bs. to 9s. 6d. in casks, and 12s. to 15s. in boxes, according to
quality. There are two entire cargoes and portions of others
yet unsold.
Mackerel-Nos. 2 and 3 are dull at 345. per barrel, and
No. 1 at 365. The demand is light.
Alewives-The stock of this article, as well as of all other
articles of pickled fish, with the exception of salmon, is very
large. We report a sale of 200 barrels at 10s.
Herrings have been sold at 6s. to 145., according to quality.
The late arrivals have been very inferior. A parcel at public
sale brought only 2s. per barrel.
Salmon-There is none at market.
Soap-There have been some large sales in Olden's at
10s. 6d. to lls. for 60111. 10s. for 50th., and Bs. 6d. for 181 b.
boxes; 200 boxes Steel's, 481 b., have been taken at 10s. 6d.
per box. The stock of this brand is enormous. We have
heard of no transactions in Stockdale's.
Pork-100 barrels prime American were placed at 645.
The principal holders are now firm, at 665. to 685.; the stock
is very heavy. There is no demand for Irish.
Hams- The large quantity of other sorts interfere with
the Lancashire descriptions, which may be quoted at Bd.
Cumberland has been sold at Bid., and oacon at 9d. per lb.
American fetch 4id. to bid. •
Cheese-I) Gis worth 10d. to lOid.
Pigs' Tongues command 48s. per half barrel They are
very scarce. •
Philadelphia have changed hands at 6s. 6d.
Corn-450 bags P
per bag of two bushels.
Oil-The stock is 80 heavy that ls. 6d. to Is. N. is with
difficulty realised for cod.
Lumber-The 'market is very inactive, and no inclination
is evinced to purchase.
Salt may be quoted at 7.. 6il per sack.
EXTORTS.
Rum-15 puncheons have been taken for exportation, at
2s. 3d. per gallon and 3d. per laud

KGs AUGUST 21i 1846.

Sugar-4/ogshaads, tierces, and barrels were sold at from
225. 3d. to 28s. per 100 lb., according to quality.
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
Jamaica Bank-60 days, lA3 per cent. prem.
Colonial. Bank--60 days, IA per cent. prem.
30 days, 1 per cent. prem.
Planters Bank-90 days, par.
60 days, IA per tent. prem.
30 days, 1 per cent. prem.
Commissary's per cent. prem.

THE NAVY.
THE RETIREMENT AND PROMOTION.
We this day present to our readers the Admiralty scheme
of retirement and promotion as introduced into the House of
Commons, on Mondai, night, by the civil member of the
board, the Hon. W. F. Cowper :•—•
THE PLAN OF RETIREMENT FOR TWO HUNDRED
CAPTAINS, 1846.
First—The rank of retired rear-admiral to be given by
seniority to such applicants from the 14s. 6d. half-pay list as
may be willing to accept it, with the pay of 255. per day,
and the correspondent pension to their widows, under the
usual restrictions.
Second—An addition of 7s. Gd. a day to be given to ap-
plicants, by seniority, from the 12s. Gd. and 10s. 6d. half-
pay has, tieing captains of not less than 20 years' standing
and 55 years of age, officers from both lists to be promoted to
assume the title of rear-admiral at the period when they
would have obtained the flag by seniority had they re-
m Ind upon the active list; their widows to be entitled
to a pension of 1101. per year, and to the pension of rear-
admirals' widows when the rank of rear-admiral has been
attained.
Third—T'ie vacancies upon the IL list to be filled up by
officers now accepting the 18s. per day ; but the permanent
retired list to be reduced to 100, by making one appoint-
ment for every two vacancies, and no higher retirement
to be given hereafter than 1/. per day, with the right of
assuming the rank of rear-admiral when entitled to it by
seniority.
Fourth—The active list of captains to be reduced to 500.
A corresponding reduction to be made of the 14s. 6d. and
12s. 6d. half-pay lists. The first to consist of 75 captains,
and the latter 100.
Fifth—Good service pensions to be retained by captains
until they reach the rank of rear-admiral, or of retired rear-
admiral.

Sixth—No flag promotions to take place until the plan of
retirement is carried out. The admirals' list of 140 to be
then completed to 150, and to be maintained at that number
by continuous promotion of qualified men.
Thirty admirals, or 10 of each squadron. -
Forty-five vice-admirals, or 15 of each squadron, and
Seventy-five rear admirals, or 25 of each squadron.
Seventh—ln the event of a general promotion, such officers
as may have served the time required to qualify them for their
flag, to be placed on the active list of flag-officers, and those not
qualified for their flag to be placed on the list of retired rear-
admirals, the active and retired lists not being increased until
they shall, by deaths or other causes, be reduced to the original
numbers of 150 or 100 respectively.
Eighth—The plan of retirement to come into operation on
the Ist of October of the present year, and all letters relating
to it to be treated as strictly confidential.
On the above plan the Morning Herald remarks :
This is the plan on which Mr. Cowper made his state-
ment; but we have much gratification in announcing that,
from the objections taken to some portion of it, the injustice
and harshness of which we took occasion particularly to
point out, that part of the 6th paragraph printed in italic,
and the entire of the most obnoxious 7th article, upon recon-
sideration, have been expunged; and that too, it should be
stated, by the Admiralty themselves, before the interview
of Sir Charles Napier, yesterday, with Lord John Russell
on the subject; which circumstance gave the Noble Premier
the satisfaction of most agreeably anticipating the objec-
tions which it was the Gallant Commodore's intention for-
cibly to urge, by informing Sir Charles that they no longer
existed.

The above alterations have not, however, reconciled the
navy to the amended plan, and it is generally held that its
susceptibility of further alteration is very great, that its
only recommendations to notice are its obnoxious provi-
sions, and if they were removed it would then be merely
a clumsy, useless, and inefficient measure. For the last
two or three years the general inefficiency of our flag list
to provide admirals to command our fleets and squadrons
at sea has been insisted on; but, although the number was
reduced far beyond that on the list since the year 1800, no
promotion has taken place to recruit it, whilst the num-
ber of captains have been periodically increased. In
fact, the number of admirals at present on the list is ac-
tually thirty-four below the number on the list in 1841, before
the promotion, and the captains' list which should have been
reduced by the promotion of one to three vacancies has been
increased to the extent of thirty officers; so that the service
has suffered by the growing infirmities of the un-recruited
admirals, the captains' chances of employment have been re- '
duced by the large additional number made to their rank,
and the seniors have had the mortification of standing still
at the head of the list, witnessing the growing decay of their
superiors, and, at the same time, feeling their own infirmities
of age coming on with rapid strides, and debarred from suc-
ceeding to that rank which they had earned so many years
before, and in which only they could be usefully employed.
A reduced flag-officers' list, and a crowded and overloaded
captains' list, compelled the suggestion of a scheme which
failed only from the small proportion of money to the num-
ber required to retire, but, doubtless, would have answered if
the money voted had been given to a smaller number; points
of form, narrow-minded scruples, and a too strict adherence
to exploded precedence, have combined to prevent the adop-
tion of just and liberal views, and thus the old officers have been
kept on the tenter-hooks of expectancy month after month,
until such a measure is brought forward as the above ill-
reflected shadow of what the old officers deserve, and the
nation desire they should have.
It is naturally remarked that the naval officers at the
Admiralty, including Vice-Admiral Sir C. Adam, Rear-
Admiral Dundas, Captain Berkeley, Lord John Hay, as
members with Captain Baillie Hamilton as one of the secre-
taries, and Captain Eden as private secretary, ought to know
what is required to make an efficient flag-officers' and cap-
tains' list, and must be well aware of what is due to captains
of 1808 down to 18.0.

In some quarters it will not be believed that naval officers
have had anything to do with the formation of the measure,
or the veterans of the service would have been better consi-
dered, whilst in other places, where its failure is confidently
predicted, the flattering hope is entertained that finally it
will be left entirely to the Board of Admiralty to remodel it,
and nothing short of a most complete revision of the rule of
naval promotion will be made.
This measure is objectionable in very many respects, and
clumsy and inefficient in most of the others. To say nothing
of the absurd test of eligibility and ineligibility by which
captains, some of them having 40 years of seagoing service,
are to be measured, grossly inconsistent, inasmuch as
those who are considered not qualified were to be retired,
and not reckoned in the active list, whilst the admirals'
active or efficient list would actually contain the
very officers who were formerly retired, we will point to the
ultimate remuneration of the permanent retired list. The
officers are not to have more than 20s. a day ; awl to force
them to take this at once, 25 have been cut off from the 100
at the top of the list, on the pay of 14s. 6d. a day, and 50
from the next 150 on 12s. 6d. a day. This " save-all " re-
tirement is to be at the expense of the 2s. a day promotion
from the junior to the senior lists—a sort of stealing from
Paul to make Peter poorer. And what inducement, we
would ask, is there to the 123. 6d. list to retire, containing
as it does officers who, in the event of the adoption of the
scheme, must, in regular course, succeed in about eighteen
months or two years to 255. a day, and the rank of rear-
admiral?

It is well known that the captains of the upper portion of
the 12s. 6d. list are, for the most part, quite as aged as those
on the 14s. 6d. list. They are, in fact, the incubus
which forms the barrier between the young and active
captains and the old experienced officers who should be
on the admirals' list ; and that plan must be considered
clumsy and ineffective that should fail in its offers to
induce the officers on that list immediately to take the re-
tirement.
In order to make the proposed retirement acceptable to the
service, and at the same time to insure the completion of the
object in view—that of causing the old and ineffective officers
to retire—it would be much better that the first 100 who are
to be entitled to the rear-admiral's rank and half-pay should
not be limited to those on the 14s. 6d. list only, but it should
be extended to such of the 12s. 6d. list also as had cempleted
30 years' rank as post captains.
Further, it is considered that with the view of inducing
those old officers to retire, who, though they have served the
time to qualify them for their flags, are too old ever to ex-
pect to serve again, they should have guaranteed to them the
higher rank and pay as flag-officers, it they should live long
enough to attain them, which they would have received had
they remained on the active list, by declining to accept of
the proffered retirement.

This proposition we hold to be in every sense fairer and
more just, and therefore, in order to carry out this act of jus
tice, and at the same time to benefit the service thus essen-
tially by the removal of these gallant officers from the effec-
tive list, we hope the offer will be made to them, and our be-
lief is a great number will accept of it, inasmuch as they
will lose nothing by doing so.
We submit these remarks with deference, but with a strong
sense of what is due to the gallant and much neglected
officers on the captains' list, and to follow up the exposition
of the " eligible" and " ineligible" distinctions, we invite
from the latter a statement of their services as cornnasuiders
and lieutenants.

The Archbishop of Dublin, accompanied by his family,
Lady Mary Hope, and suite, and Captain Campbell, R.N.,
were among the distinguished passengers that arrived on
Wednesday morning by the General Steam Navigation Com-
pany's steam-ship Soho, from Ostend.

In announcing the arrival of the America, 50, Captain
the Hon. John Gordon, from the Pacific, with freight, we are happy
to have it in our power to give a contradiction to the many absurd
rumours which have been so industriously circulated to the pre-
judice of Captain Gordon. It bas been stated that that gallant officer
had left the station on the coast of Mexico at a time when his ship
and his own services were doubly required, as the then existing state
of the Oregon dispute warranted the supposition that war with the
United States was inevitable ; that he had left without the orders
and, indeed, against the will of the Commander-In-Chief on that
station, for the purpose of deriving the pecuniary advantage accruing
from the shipment of a freight. We are authorised to state that
Captaiu Gordon left the station solely at the urgent entreaty of the
merchants who had intrusted their money to his keeping, they being
convinced that their property would not be safe in an 18-gun sloop.
The idea of a freight having any influence in inducing the gallant
captain to bring home his ship is monstrous, the very amount giving
the lie to the reports which have been put in circulation.—Times.
EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH- WESTERN RAILWAY.—
Preparations for the extension of this railway to the vicinity of
Waterloo-bridge are actively progressing; a number of houses in
the Wandsworth-road and Vauxhall-gate are already demolished,
and the occupiers of premises in the Westminster-bridge-road are
now vacating them. It is intended to cross this thoroughfare by a
via•iuct extending in a diagonal direction from the Upper Marsh, near
the Old Marsh-gate, towards Waterloo-bridge.

PEDESTRIANISM:RICHARDS AND BENNETT.—James
Richards (of Sneplierd's Bush) and J. Bennett (ot Ealing), walked
their seven mile match on Wednesday, for 20 goys., at Bedfont,
over a measured mile, near the Black Dog. By the conditions,
Bennett received half a minute start ; the " Novice" made good use
of this advantage, gaining full 125 yards. Richards went off speedily,
and in the first mile and a half had lessened the distance consider-
ably, but from this time he fell of. The pace told on him, and
Bennett, so far from losing his given lead, increased it steadily. At
the turn of the sixth mile the " Novice" led by some 200 yards, and
at a quarter of a mile from home Richards gave up the contest.
Time lb. 2m. 15s. Bennett, fOr a first appearance, gave good pro-
mise of proving an excellent pedestrian.

STEAM COMPETITION.—Within the last few days the-
town and vicinity of Richmond have felt the advantages of steam
competition by some of the steam-boat companies carrying pas-
sengers for Bd. The fare is to be reduced by some of the boats to 6d.
next week.

HORSE STEALING IN THE METROPOLIS.—Wednesday
the police received information that a gentleman, named Rushton,
residing. in Laurie-terrace, Walworth-road, had been robbed of an
Iron-gray horse, worth
.100/., which he had entrusted to a man to
convey to Barnstable s livery yard, Blackman-street, Borough.
Gentlemen ought to be very carefill of leaving their horses in
strangers in the streets of London, as the practice of steal-
ingem uiider similar circumstances has become very prevalent°ll the of
of late.
THE POPULATION OF ROME.—According to official
year 1816, the city of Home is divided Into 54 parishes,
35,988 families. There are 41 bishops, 1,533 priests,
returnsinhabited
forby the
2,845 monks, and 1,472 nuns. The Jews, who are about from 8,010
to 10,000, are not comprised in this census. The whole population in
1537 woe 156,552; in_ 1540, 154,6321 in 1845, 167,160; and In 1846,
170,199,

ÜBLIC DINNER toJOHN BRIGHT,
ESQ., M.P.
DuratAat, NITEDNE'SDAY MORNING.—On Tuesday evening a
public dinner was given to John Bright, Esq., M.P., by his
constituents, the electors of this city. The dinner originated
with the mayor and corporation, and was intended as r.
mark of respect to' the Hon. Gentleman, and also to evince
their sense of his services in the cause of free trade. It took
place in the Sale and Exhibition Rooms (the largest room
for the purpose in the city) which was well filled. Mr.
Bright arrived punctually at five o'clock, the time appointed,
and was received with enthusiastic applause. The mayor
(J. Bramwell, Esq.) presided, and Alderman Hoggett, ex-
mayor, filled the vice-chair. On the right of the chair were
the honoured guest, Captain Wetherby, George Crawshay,
Esq., of the firm of Hawks and Co., of Gateshead ; John
Crawford, Esq., W. Shields, Esq., &c. On the left W.
Brockett, Esq., J.P. ; Alderman Moore, Thomas Sell, Esq.
In the room were several influential gentlemen from the
neighbouring towns. The room was decorated with ever-
greens and flowers, and the device of a crown, with the
motto " Free Trade," were formed in dahlias above the prin •
cipal table.
After dinner, the CHAIRMAN read a letter from Henry
Morton, Esq., principal asent to the executors of the Coun-
tess of Durham, expressing regret that a previous engage-
ment, which he could not postpone, precluded his attending.
He considered the entertainment a very proper acknowledg-
ment to Mr. Bright for his able and indefatigable exertions
in the cause of free trade, and it was most assuredly owing
to the unparalleled efforts of Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright
that the struggle was brought to a triumphant issue.
The MAYOR then proposed " The Queen," observing that
to her Majesty they may have been indebted for smoothing
the prejudices, overcoming the objections, and bringing into
order the highest branch of the Legislature on the question
of free trade.—(Drank with cheers.)
Other loyal toasts having been drank,
The MAYOR again rose, and in flattering terms proposed
the health of Mr. Bright, which was very rapturously
cheered.

Mr. BRIGHT immediately rose, and after the cheering
on his rising bad subsided, addressed the company in a
speech which occupied an hour and a quarter in its deli-
very. He expressed his obligations to the Mayor and Cor-
poration for having invited him to that entertainment. He
took it as some proof that the inhabitants of Durham were
willing to give their sanction to those great measures which
have passed the Legislature during the present session. It
was an accident which brought him to the city, and
although the schism which had taken place in the ranks of
their opponents had weakened them and strengthened the
free traders, yet it must be admitted there was something in
the principle which was held out to the electors which roused
them to virtuous action, and tended to bring about the suc •
cess of that great and memorable struggle.—(Applause.)
That principle was one which at that time was not univer-
sally recognised; and yet he believed the more they exa-
mined it, and the longer they lived, the more they would be
compelled to acknowledge that no principle could be more
beautiful and true, none more natural, just, and simple. It
was opposed by an organisatioa of almost every other party
—by those who were interested in the accumulation of rent,
by those who sought to maintain the supremacy of party,
and also by a large class of persons who suffered neither
pecuniary or political considerations to weigh with them,
but who were deeply prejudiced and ignorant, who had not
intelligence to examine the question, or public spirit to ar-
range themselves with the popular party, for the pur-
pose of overturning the great national evil of the corn-laws.
They were also opposed by men who say they have much
more religion than others, because they profess a deeper
attachment to the church, and who are generally not
willing to admit that those who would move in any
political question are even fit to live in a country which
they have governed, and which they would fain govern for
ever. The Whig party, too, were long before they adopted
those principles ; many adopted them at last with
the greatest possible reluctance, and many, he feared,
are not altogether plessed that a great political ne-
cessity has made those principles triumphant. Up to a
very recent period there were not in the House of Commons
more than 100 who voted for the total repeal of the corn-
laws, and in the House of Lords, according to their own
confession, not more than six, and yet that measure had
been successful. The three estates of the realm have ac-
knowledged that the corn-laws were a great evil; twe
prime ministers have declared them a grievous and intoler-
able injustice; two cabinets have decided against them;
and throughout the kingdom there is all but an universal
admission that these laws were an error from the beginning,
and have been marked by nothing but mischief to the people,
to whom they promised to be unmixed good.—(Applause.)
He reminded them, however, that this had been done not by
the Crown, nor Ministers, nor Parliament, but by the middle
and industrious classes of the country. The remembrance of
this would show them hereafter how they might be success-
ful in any just struggle in which they may be engaged, for
there are struggles a -head from which the people cannot
escape, and in which they must be either borne down by the
conflict, or by united and energetic effort again succeed.
—(Applause.) He then alluded to the pacific policy which
had characterised the Anti Corn-law League, and said that in this country and in this age no beneficial reform can
ever be eflected by force; and further, the employment of
force would bring with it greater maladies than those which
it healed. He next adverted to the important influence
which his election fur Durban), followed as it was by the
return of Mr. Pattison for London, had on the Anti 'Corn-
law movement. Since then blow had succeeded blow,
until at length the rock which seemed to be immovable had
given way, and industry set free.—(Cheers.) Some thought
the sugar monopoly would require another association to de-
stroy it; but no sooner were the corn-laws destroyed, tban
it was found that the sugar monopolists' brazen image had
feet of clay, and even now, without a shot being fired at it,
the sugar monopoly had been virtually abolished.—(Loud
cheers.) But they had not only to congratulate each other
on the passing of free-trade measures, but on some of their
effects. Only a few months ago they looked to America
with apprehension and dread, but no sooner did Sir Robert
Peel's free-trade speech reach that country, than the men
who were for all Oregon or none, and for fighting their
father-land, felt that they were stricken, and could no
longer make head against those great interests which
knew that it was a thousand times better to trade
with Englishmen than to fight with and destroy them.—
(Applause.) It was not free trade that did this, it was the
shadow of it only. He stated at the last election that
the protective system in England was the cause of
the protective system abroad, and that any relaxation of it
here, would be followed by similar steps on the part of
other countries. Already onr example is being imitated.
There was the tariff which had been introduced into, and
which had recently passed, the legislature of America. Mr.
Polk had been rezurned at the last presidential election ill
consequence of his adherence to the principle of that inea sure, which had passed the Senate by a majority of one.
that one being the vote of the President himself. It was
the opinion of the leading merchants of Liverpool and Man-
chester, that that tariff would be highly beneficial to the• ,
trade of the two countries. Wit h the duties reduced, in man`
cases one-half, in some cases two-thirds, there could be nn
doubt by the time the measure came into operation, the)
would find a great impetus given to the trade of that country.
as well as to that of this. But there was nothing that was
more consolatory to his mind, when he looked back upor
his labours in the recent struggle for commercial freedom,
than the fact, that whenever the principles of free trade
became universal, they should have nations not separate
and distinct as they were now—one man saying he was
born an Englishman, and therefore could have no so sym-
pathy with the Frenchman ; and when all nations would
feel as one people over the earth, separated perhaps by
mountains—not separated but united by seas—when they
should all consider themselves as branches of the same uni-
versal family, governed, indeed, by separate Governments,
but not characterisetrby a warlike disposition, rather as-
suming the character of municipal institutions. The pro-
gress of free trade extended the intercourse of nations, and
was the best security for peace. Then,
"Ours the triumph be
Round social earth'to circle fair exchange,
And bind the nations in a golden chain.
But the prospect was not more delightful at home,
and in a domestic view. He had come down from
London yesterday, and he had observed, what was the
case everywhere, that the country through whist]
the railway passed was only half cultivated. He
might safely assert that when these railways were
formed, the parties found the land in much the
same state as it was in two or three hundred years ago.
The operation of free trade would give an impetus to agri-
culture which would soon be conspicuous in the cultivation
of the land. The Honourable Gentleman then referred to
the alleged burdens on land, and showed by facts and argu-
ments that the single burden arising from the preserva-
tion of game was greater than all the other burdens on land—
including all the local and general taxes put together.
He instanced the case of the Duke of Rutland, who in one
year Intl paid his tenants 916/. -for damage done by game
over 398 acres of his land. And yet the Marquis of Granby,
at a recent meeting of the protectionists, complained that
it was impossible for agriculturists of this country to
compete with the foreigner owing to the peculiar burdens
on land, while the burden arising from the preserva-
tion of game was greater than all the others
put together. The Honourable Gentleman then ad
verted to the recent changes in public opinion, and con-
gratulated the meeting on the progress which the free
.trade principles had already made. The present .
us
rernment, on corning into office, showed itself anions
to obtain the sanction and approbation of that
portion of the public who had been acted upon by the
Anti-Corn-law League. They offered offices to two mem-
bers of the League who were then in Parliament ; and one
of them accepted office. He was willing in part to take
that as a pledge of what would be the career of the new Go-
vernment.—((;peers.) The Government might not be able
to carry out their intentions to the full effect, which the
members of the League wished; still he was inclined to be-
lieve that the great principle that Government was meant for
the people, and not for classes, must be followed out. The
public was becoming more enlightened; and with the pro-
gress of enlightenment the Government of the country must
always keep pace.—(Cheers.) He came now to speak of
himself in connexion with their city. He came here openly
as the advocate of some opinions which he knew were not
in consonnance with those of some among them, who had
given him their disinterested support. But his pledges to
them had simply had relation to the question of free trade ;
and those pledges he trusted he had amply redeemed.—
(Loud and repeated cheers.) He had never in Parliament
missed one single opportunity of recording his sentiments
in favour of free trade since they had sent him to Parliament;
and now he was delighted beyond measure that his meeting
with them was to celebrate the fulfilment of their joint
wishes. For himself he could only say, that he had not ne-
glected one important thing which had devolved upon him
in the representation of this city.—(Cheers.) One great source
of satisfaction to him in the prosecution of the last election
in which he had been engaged in this city, was, that neither
he, nor any of his friends, were connected with any act of
which they could be accused as unworthy of their cause.—
(Cheers.) An attempt had been made to get up a charge
of bribery; but after raking up all the sinks and sewers of
the town, with an assiduity which would have been com-
mendable in a better cause, the charge was abandoned.
Their own cause was pure ; but a cause which was in itself
good would never be stained by improper means.—( Loud
cheers.) He would expect them, then, never to stain that
character for purity which they had gained on that occa-
sion—not to again submit to that stain which was affixed to
so many boroughs throughout the kingdom.—(Hear.)
Here argument was the only weapon used by the League,
and it had been triumphant, for it not only obtained a vic-
tory here, but was soon afterwards productive of another
victory in London.—(Cheers.) The old system of election
was productive of sad remembrances, both to the
corrupter and the corrupted,' and he hoped that
they would never see its re-establishment in this
city. The Hon. Gentleman saw through the various influ-
ences he bad to encounter before he was successful at the last
election, and alluded to the disgraceful conduct of the elec-
tors of Sunderland at the list election there, which he placed
in strong contrast to that of the electors of Durham, where
no pledge had been forfeited. But he had been assured that
the electors of Sunderland were prepared to redeem their
character. He now came to the most painful part of his duty
—to tell them that he could take no future part in the elec-
tion for this city. From causes which he need not go into
now—some of which were personal to himself, and some of
which had reference 0 parties, indiyidualo, awl opinions

S
Kt•2'i
fp4,10../

which prevailed in AN
~..1611V-Deli ' , -ctlY
understood that he - present - - before
them as a candidate . • enerar- ration should
arrive. He could not .e itu er the farther c
tion or the further Nig_ Ovham; but entertained a firm coati
,aohg, had witnessed
from his connexion with this city, that they would persevere
in eschewing the one and maintaining the other. He had
no doubt but they would purely, honestly, manfully, and
determinedly perform their duty; and he had no doubt that
whoever might be his successor, the espousal of principles
which had taken place between himself and them, would
not be broken. The Hon. Member resumed his seat amidst
loud cheers.

Mr. SHIELDS pro...ed the health of the Hon. C. P. Vii-
Hers, Mr. Cobden, r. Wilson, and their fellow-labourers in
the sacred cause of the corn-law repeal.—(Applause.)
Mr. CRAWSHAY gave "The Constituency of the city of
Durham, and may it preserve its independence."
Mr. BuocKsTr, in proposing the health of "Her Majesty's
Ministers," expressed a hope that they would practice in
office what they had preached whilst in opposition.—(Ap-
plause.) Sir R. Peel had no doubt done much good, and he
for one was grateful to him for it; but it was pitiable to
find that his opponents could charge him with having vio-
lated his pledges. He trusted no supporter of the present Mi-
nistry would ever be able to charge them with doing po.
Mr. KELL, the town-clerk of Gateshead, gave the health
of " The Liberal Constituencies of the county of Durham."
The county, he said, is represented.by ten Members, eight of
whom are Liberals, and it behoved them to attend to the re-
gistration, and consider whether those who returned so large
a proportion could not return the whole.—(Cheers.)
" The Bishop of Durham" and other toasts were then drunk,
and the company separated shortly before nine o'clock.
[The Hon. Member was expected to address the inhabit-
ants in the market-place yesterday evening.]

THE SEASON AND THE CROPS.
FAILURE OF THE POTATO CROP.
The present week has opened well for the securing
of the corn crops, Sunday having been a fine drying
day, with bright sun and a gentle breeze, and yes-
terday fair, though scarcely fine. The wheat and
oats were still in the fields yesterday morning,
in this part of the country, owing to the wea-
ther having been too much broken during the last
week for housing :them, although they were nearly dry
more than once. The grain is, in general, in good con-
dition, and very little sprouted, except under the trees
and hedges. Should we now have a fine week, many
thousand acres of grain will be secured in good condi-
tion before Saturday night, in Lancashire and Cheshire.
In consequence of the alarming reports of the existence
of disease in the potato crops, we took the opportunity at
the end of last week of examining that, and at the same
time all the other crops very carefully, in a range of
country extending about fifty miles in length along
the valleys of the Mersey and the Irwell, as well as
several miles on both sides of these rivers. This
includes some of the districts in Lancashire and
Cheshire, and we regret to be compelled to say that
the result of that examination is a conviction that the
potato crop is everywhere extensively diseased, and in
many places it is threatened with total destruction. The
corn crops and all green crops, except potatoes, are
looking well.
Starting from Liverpool by the line of the railway, we
find that about Broad green and Huyton the wheat
crops are all cut, and that the number and size of the
sheaves give promise of a large produce. The second
crops of clover are in flower, grass is abundant,
and turnips promise well. In the midst of this
general luxuriance, the potato crops are all more
or less diseased. In some fields the tops are en-
tirely withered, as after severe frost, and every
where they are blackened. The smell of decaying
vegetable matter may be perceived in passing every
field. It is certain that the disease must proceed in this
neighbourhood from general causes, and not from any
defect in the soil, or in the cultivation of it, for the soil
is perfectly open and dry, and the cultivation as good es
that of any part of England.
On the stiff soils extending from Rainhill to the west
side of the Sankey Valley, the signs of disease are also
everywhere perceptible in the potato crops, but the decay
is not yet so much advanced as in the earlier and dryer
soils. As this land is so stiff and undrained, and therefore
unfit for the growth of roots, we should have thought
little of the existence of the disease if it had been confined
to this neighbourhood. The small quantity of wheat
grown on these cold soils is unripe, and still uncut.
About Newton the soil again becomes dry and open.
Here all the grain is cut, and will be housed before the
end of the week. Every crop looks well except the
potatoes, which are giving way in almost every field, and
becoming black and offensive to the smell.
About Warrington the soil is remarkably open and
rich, and here the farmers understand the cultivation
of all kinds of potatoes as well as in any part of Eng-
land, if not better, yet here the disease is nearly
universal,, and the loss must be ruinous. The early
crops have yielded very badly, and the late ones
seem likely to yield still worse. In this neighbour-
hood yellow turnips are always grown after early
potatoes, and the young plants are already looking re-
markably well. The potatoes have taken little nourish-
meat out of the ground any where, and wherever the
tops are quite decayed, it would be good policy to take
them up, and to sow yellow turnip seed, broadcast, on
the same ground. Before Christmas the bulbs would be
very large.
In Kenyon. Culcheth, and Leigh, the soil is in general
stiff, though there are some patches of good open dry
land. Here the potatoes are decaying on the good soils
,Ls well as on the bad. We know this to be the case in
one instance, in which the land has been dug two grafts
deep, to insure perfect dryness and openness in the soil.
On the peat moss farms in Barton township the
disease has hitherto only shown itself in the gardens.
and as potatoes grown on peat lands last year escaped
both in England and Ireland, the moss farmers have
some hopes of being equally fortunate this year. We
fear, however, that they will be disappointed, for the
disease is much more violent and general this year than
it was last, and the peat soils are already affected in
Ireland.
Following the line of the old road fr. m Manehester to
Liverpool, through the villages of !flaw and Carlish• ad
to Hollin's Ferry, the potato crops, ii the open field!,
are less affected than in most parts of the county. th( ugh
they are far from being free from the disease. The soil
in the whole of this district is open and peaty.
After crossing the river Mersey, at Hollin's Ferry,
into the township of Warburton, in Cheshire, the ap-
pearance of the corn, grass, and turnip crops is very fine,
but the potatoes are much worse than in Lancashire.
We only saw one small field in this township in which
the disease did not exist, and in many there was not a
single green leaf on the tops in a whole field. The farm
and garden cultivation in this district is excellent, and
the soil open, friable, and rich, so that there is no pre•
tence for charging the evil on local causes.
After passing through Dunham Massey Parfe we
come to the neighbourhood of Bowden and Altringham,
where the land is the finest in all Cheshire. Here the
failure in the potato crop is many degrees worse than it
is in any of the districts of which we have yet spoken.
In numerous fields there is not a single green leaf on
the potato plants, the stems of which stand up like rows
of blackened sticks. From the height and strength
of the stems, the growth must have been most
luxuriant previous to the blight. Indeed, we were
assured that the potatoes were never known
to be more luxuriant, or more richly covered with
blossoms than about three weeks since. We heard of
one farmer here who estimated his loss in one field, in a
single week, at 501. In Carrington, on the Cheshire
side of the Mersey, and in Flixton, which lies between
the Mersey and the Irwell, the destruction is not so
great as about Altringham, but the farmers say that
every field is diseased, and that the only reason why the
crops look better at Altringham is, that they are planted
later, and are therefore not so far advanced in their
growth.
In the midst of this deplorable, and all but universal
failure of the potato crop, it is gratifying to be able to
say that all the other crops look well in the districts of
which we have been speaking. Still, the loss of food
and property is enormous, and the potato plant is so
universally affected, that it is very doubtful whetber it
will be either prudent, or even possible to cultivate it in
this neighbourhood in future years to any great extent.
Since the above article was written the weather has
again become very wet and unfavourable for the harvest.
_...,Liver.poot Times.
Tuz PoTATo DISEASE.—For some weeks past there
has been a talk, beginning with a whisper and gradually
swelling into the loudest tone of confident asser-
tion, that the potato rot is again showing itself to a
great extent in this year's crops. At first we
were inclined and willing to believe that the rumour
was merely the echo of last year's panic work.
ing upon the proverbial timidity of the farmers.
Bat we can no longer cling to such a hope. We have,
at the present moment, letters before us from Ireland,
Scotland, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Devonshire, and
Jersey, and, although written from so many dif-
ferent quarters, they all agree in the melan-
choly anticipation that the failure in the present
potato crop will far exceed that of last year. It ist
remakable that it is showing itself in the same sorts
which 'suffered before from it. " The Scotch reds,"
and " the shaws," as they call the common white po-
tato in some places, are generally affected, while ." the
Prince Regents" almost entirely escape. What ottn be
the cause of this distinction? Is it that the last-
named species has been more recently introduced
than the other, and, therefore, the seed not worn out?
But what is the cause of the disease at all? Last year it
was ascribed, as a matter of course and without much
thought, to the heavy and continued rains. The present
season, however, has been marked by peculiarly favour..
able weather. How is this same result from exactly
opposite causes to be accounted for?—Liverpool

NATIONAL GALLERY.—The visitors to the national
Gallery, it is shown in a Parliamentary paper yesterday printed,
numbered 456,105 in 1843; 681 845 in 1844 ; ; and 696,245 in 1845.
The pictures purchased for that institution araounted to 114,8041. 165..
fa' 27 of which 57,8041. 16s. was paid.
Tiz Wwow's TALE.—At the petty sessions at
Woodstock. on Tuesday last, before Mr. T. Thornhill, Lord Dillon.
and the Rev. H. J. Passand, and S. G. Seagrove, on the complaint of
the assistant overseer of Ensham, Elisiabeth Banbridge, of that
parish, widow, was summoned for a poor's rate amounting to 2s. 5d.,,
said to be due to overseers of the said parish. She pleaded poverty.
and said she was not able to pay. The officer said she did not be-
long to the parish, and they were determined to make all those pay
who did not belong to the parish. This declaration drew forth the
following telling statement from the poor creature :—I have !bur
small children ; the parish allows me eight loaves to keep them. r
sell two of these loaves to help me to pay the rent. I sit up hours tes
keep myself. I have had no othft pay since two weeks
after Whitsuntide. I c innot earn more than about Is. 104
per week at glove sewing. I work for Air, Thompson, of Reusing-
ton. I should not have the work if 1 did not take goods far my pay.
We are expected to take goods, lily husband has be,en dead six
years, and I never had more of the parish than 2s. or six loaves a
week. I belong to Northleigh, in the same union as Ensham. neve
can I pay out of eight loaves of bread ? I cannot live in the partstt
where I belong, or I would. I have tried times and times lo got a
place, and cannot. I have not one farthing in the world. My poor
children were hanging round me when I left home this morning.
They said they should not see me again. I pay 2s. !per week rent.
I have but one loaf now to last till Saturday, Lord Dillon paid the
he had another demand Of Is.
rate, and the clerk forgave his fees
Sal. this the poor widow ap.
7pedoreLdovrderyptinhoannkfoul.i.edThh
her to ce
into the poorhouse. Mr. SeagraTe
Tetahlgeil ilia she wou_.;', nave to pay flours rates.
The efer