The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-20 00:00:00

TnE SUN. LONDON. TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 20, 1846.

COURT CERCULAR.

1 THE ETHIOPIAN SERENADERS'

WINDSOR, MoNDAT.—The Queen held a Court this
afternoon at the Castle.
Earl Grey had an audience of her Majesty, and deli-
vered the ensigns of the Order of the Garter worn by
his late father.
Her Majesty held a Chapter of the. Most Noble Order
or the Garter. The Knights Companions having been
robed in the armoury in their mantles and collars, passed
into St. tieorge's Hall, where they were called over by
Garter King of Arms. The Knights Companions pre-
sent were his Royal Highness Prince Albert, his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his Royal Highness
Prince George, the Duke of Rutland, Duke of Welling-
ton, Marquis of Exeter, Duke of Richmond, Duke of
Buceleuch, Marquis of Lansdowne, Duke of Beaufort,
Duke of Cleveland, Marquis of Abercorn, Earl Talbot,
and the Earl of Powis.
The officers of the order attended in their mantles,
chains, and badges. There w re present., the Prelate.
the Bishop of Winchester, the Chancellor, the Bishop of
Oxford, the Registrar, the Honourable and Very Rev.
the Dt an of Windsor ; Garter Principal King of Arms,
Sir Charles Young ; and Gentleman Usher of the Black
Rod, Sir Augustus %V. J. Clifford, Bart.
The Queen and Prince Albert were conducted from
the private apartments to the Garter Room, by tha
Lord Steward, the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the
Horse, the Vice Chamberlain, the Treasurer of the
Household, and the Comptroller of the Household.
Her Mej. sty being seated on a chair of state, the
Knights, attended by the Officers of the Order, proceeded
into the presence of the Sovereign. The Chancellor re-
maining at the door, not having been sworn.
The Knights Companions being seated, the Registrar
signified to the Sovereign that the Right Rev. Dr.
Samuel 'Wilberforce, Lord Bishop of Oxford, attended
at the door of the Chapter-room, and humbly prayed to
be admitted to take the oath of office as Chancellor of

CONOERT.
The Hanover-square R oms were well filled last even-
ing by a fashionable audience, who ass"mbled for the
purpose of hearing the unique performances of some new
candidates for public favour, who entitle themselves
"The Ethiopian Serenaders." The party consists of
fire vocal and instrumental performers, whose bend
comprises—an accordion, some banjos, a tamborine,
and the " bones," the latter, forming a striking pecu-
liarity in negro concert music. The singing of the
celebrated Jim Crow (Ric.), has made the public in
some measure familiar with " darkey" music, but his
melodies were of too burlesque a character to convey
any accurate idea of the genuine Ethiopian harmony.
It is well known to all who have travelled in the
United States of America that the negro population cul-
tivate the science of sweet sounds to no ordinary extent;
many of their melodies have been married to English
poetry, and hundreds who sing t 'ern are not aware that
for these charming airs they are indebted to the sable
sons of Africa. It is to bring before an English public
the genuine Ethiopian melodies that Mr. Dumbleton, and
his band of musicians, visit England, after having made
a triumphal trair through the United States, and been
received with the utmost end usiastn by all parties, even
by the chief magistrate himself, who requested their
servic?s at the Presidential mansion.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
THE _OXFORD AND SALISBURY
DIHECT RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—My attention has been drawn to an advertise-
ment, which appeared in your columns on the sth inst.,
containing certain resolutions, passed at " a meeting,
most respectably attended, of landowners and occupiers
of land, he►d at the Bear Inn, Wantage, the 12th of
January, for the purpose of taking into consideration
the propriety of opposing the Oxford and Salisbury
Direct Railway Company for an Act of Parliament to
form th,ir line."

At this meeting Philip Smith Coxe, Esq., presided.
The Chairman, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Robey were ap-
pointed trustees cf a fund to be raised for opposing the
Bill in Parliament, and obe deposited in the bank of
Messrs. Barnes and Medley. These three trustees, with
Messrs. Barnard, Dearlove, and Goodwin, were formed
into a committee for the general direction of the buil-
rhp n ; Mr. J. H. Ansell was appointed secretary ; and
Messrs. Bitcholf and Coxe were requested to undertake
the conduct of the proceedings.

•
The resolutions of such a meeting, whose future ope-
rations are to be carried on by a chairman, committee,
trustees, bankers, solicitors, and secretary, are calcu-
lated not only to attract public notice, but to excite some
little apprehension on the part of those to whose objects,
however well matured and honourably supported, this
formidable array is opposed. The readers of your jour-
nal, and of other papers in which probably this adver-
tisement has been published, may reasonably consider
that the opinions of " a meeting, most respectably at-
tended, of landowners and occupiers of land," whose re-
solutions were " moved, seconded, and carried unani-
mously," are entitled to respect, as embodying the sen-
timents of a large proportion at least of the residents in
the vicinity of Wanta;:,,e, on a subject of great local in-
terest ; and the public in general, who of late have most
prrpnly viewed with scrutiny, if not distrust, all
proposals for the construction of railways, may be in-
duced, by the resolutions to which I refer, to class " the
Oxford and Salisbury Direct Railway" amongst those
which are undeserving of local or general patronage.
The opinions and resolutions of the recent meeting at
Vantage, on which I ant desirous to make a few com-
ments, are the following, viz.:—
_ _

With so smAl an orchestra (for the company is
complete in itself, and derives no aid from other profes-
sors), it is really wonderful how such striking
effects as they produce are brought about. The
entirely novel character of the performances are
their least recommendation, for the inimitable drol-
lery of the darkeys, and their snatches of pathos alter-
nately excite our smiles and sensibilities. Not a little
amusing, too, are the rapid and grotesque motions of
the tambourinist and the bone•player ; the latter dis-
playing the most wonderful dexterity in handling his
singular instruments. The performances last evening
consisted of concerted pieces, glees, duets, and songs,
which were given with the utmost spirit and effect, which
kept the audience in a state of novel surprise from the
opening " Grand quick step" to the finale. Many
persons are apt to a-sociate Nigger singing with vul-
garity, but this is a popular error. In the performance
of Mr. Dumbleton's company, there was nothing what-
ever said or implied which could offend the most fastidi-
ous. The occasional conundrums (of which it is
known negroes are especially fond) were good, and told
well. In the " Coloured Fancy Ball" we were pre-
sente 1 with a speemen of the only American opera as
yet written; and the song of "Ole Bull and Ole Dan
Tucker" was given with infinite humour. So also was
Dis Nigger's Journey to New York." But we can-
not particularize, and may only add, that the " Ethio-
pians" made a decided hit, and will, doubtless, be the
rage for a time, and after having earned pictorial
honours and pecuniary profit, return to Brother Jona-
than with substantial marks of the approbation of John
Bull, who though unwilling to relinquish his Oregonian
rights, is never slow to appreciate and reward real talent,
whether of English or American origin.

the Most Noble Order; whereupon, by her Majesty's
command, the Chancellor, wearing his mantle of purple
velvet over his episcopal habit, was introduced between
Garter and Black Rod, the former carrying on a velvet
cushion the purse, gold chain, and badge. The Chan•
cellor knelt on the left hand of the Sovereign, and the
oath was administered to him by the Registrar. His
Lordship was then invested by the Queen with the gold
chain and badge, and having received from her Majesty
the purse, had the honour to kiss hands, and retired to
his place on the left hand of the Sovereign.
The Chancellor signified to the Chapter her Majeyty's
royal pleasure that the two vacant stalls in the Royal
Chapel of St. George at Windsor, should be filled, and
as by the statutes none but Knights can be elected, th
Most Honourable George Charles, Marquis Camden
was introduced by Garter King of Arms and Black Rod
The sword of state, borne by Sir William Martins, Gen-
tleman Usher, having been handed to the Queen, by the
Lord Chamberlain, her Majesty was pleased to confer
the honour of Knighthood therewith. Hie Lordship,
having kissed the Sovereign's hand, retired.
The Most Honourable Richard Marquis of Hertford
was introduced and knighted with the same ceremony.
The Knights Companions proceeded to the election,
and the suffrages having been collected by the Chancel-
lor and presented by him to the Queen, her Majesty
commanded him to declare that the Most Honourable
George Charles Marquis Camden had been duly elected
a Kn►ght Companion of the Most Noble Order of the
Garter.

" That the suggested 'lines of railway from Oxford to
Salisbury direct' is quite u walled for, inasmuch as there
is neither passengers' or goods traffic along the proposed
line requiring such accommodation, and, consequently,
that whilst a great sacrifice of private property must
take place, no adequate, if any, benefit can possibly
arise to the public by the formation of such a line," and
" That, as the line throughout presents one unbroken
agricultural district, possessing, within easy distances,
markets and fairs, amply sufficient to absorb all the
produce thereof, the scheme in question appears a more
wanton speculation of the day, possessing neither merit in
itielf, OR a reasonable prospect of a return for capital
requiredfor the undertaking."
It is difficult to conceive language more condemnatory
of " the suggested line," than the terms in which " the
meeting of landowners and occupiers of land" have thus
promulgated their " unanimous" opinion. A semblance
of truth is ingeniously shed over the premises from
which the gentlemen present at the meeting, have
drawn their authoritative conclusions ; and would, if
capable of proof, warrant, in some measure, the strong
terms of reprobation in which they have publicly ex-
pressed their determination to " use their best endea-
vours, individually and collectively, to defeat the pro-
posed measure in Parliament."
The first resolution declares " that the suggested line
of railway is quite uncalled-for." I adopt the language
of the meeting for the purpose of showing that this
declaration is literally untrue. This line of railway has
been actually called for, both orally and in writing, as I
will proceed to prove.
On the 24th of October last, a public meeting of the
inhabitants of Abingdon, convened by the Mayor, in
compliance with a requisition forwarded to him,
was held in the Council Chamber there. to consider the
expediency of the proposed Oxford and Salisbury Direct
Railway. At this meeting, numerously attended, the
Mayor presided, and the following resolution, proposed
and seconded by members of the Town Council, was
unaniously passed :
.4 That, in the opinion of this meeting, the formation
of the Oxford and Salisbury Direct Railway would be
beneficial to the town, and was therefore deserving of
their support."
And on the sth of November last, being a market
day, a public meeting of the inhabitants of Wantage and
the adjacent district, called by advertisement in the
eleven newspapers circulating in the counties of Berks,
Wilts, Oxford, and Somerset, and also in the Times
newspaper, was held, not at the Bear Inn, but in the
Town-hall, to consider the expediency of this line being
formed. At this latter meeting, also numerously at •
tended, Thomas Goodlake, Esq., of Letcomb Regis (a
parish immediately adjoining Wantage), one of the Ma-
gistrates for the county of Berks, took the chair, and a
resolution, with scarcely a dissentient voice, was car-
ried—

GREAT BERKAMPSTEAD, HERTS.
In accordance, with the public announcement a meet-
ing was held in this town on Friday last, in the Odd
Fellows Lodge-room, Chaffcut ers Inn, much to the
chagrin of the protectionists of this neighbourhood, who,
but a few days before, elated with the success of Mr.
Hulsey, the monopolist candidate, said the League or
its agents never dared to venture into the town. The
chair was taken by Mr. Cranston, of Hemel Hemp-
stead, at seven o'clock. The room was well filled at the
commencement, and before the meeting was over several
were unable to gain admittance. The Chairman opened
the business of the evening, by referring to the question
at issue at the present time, and, in conclusion, intro-
duced Mr. Falvey to the meeting.
Mr. FALVEY then rose and addressed the meeting
at a considerable length, commencing with the history
of the corn-law of 1773, which he termed the most
liberal corn-law, allowing corn to come in at a regis-
tration-duty of Bs. per quarter, when the price reached
48s. per quarter. He then showed to the meeting, that
protection to the farmer was not that sort of protection
which he was in the habit of thinking it was, inasmuch
as the farmer was a consumer as well as a producer
—the arable farmer consuming the produce of the dairy
farmer—he pays more for the same butter by 20s. per
cwt., cheese, 10s. per cwt., and the consumer of hops
paying 41. 103. more for the Lame ale, at the expense of
the other, for the maintenance of the corn-laws, taking
out of one pocket to put into another—in short, robbing
Paul to pay Peter. He then showed that there were
three conditions necessary to make the farmer prosper-
ous, namely, regularity of price, security of tenure, and
capital to employ on the land. No man doubted but
that a change was coming, but, unless it was a
complete settlement of the question, the League
was solemnly pledged not to rest while a
ray of the corn-laws remained.—(lmmense cheers.)
Their opponents had now changed their ground, and
they cried out for protection to native industry. He
would ask were not cotton, cloth, woollen goods,
silks, watches, and porcelain as much the produce of
native industry as wheat and beef ? Mr. Cobden had
ten acres of ground at Chorley, where he paid in wages
30,000/. a year for labour employed there, and taking
an average of every man, woman, and child, he paid 13s.
per week ; some as high as 305., and some skilled hands
40s. or 50s. When the produce of their labour was ac-
complished, had he not a right to send and sell the same
in the world's wide market. After alluding to the va-
rious agricultural dinners that have been hell of late,
he said the working men have been studying economy
while the Dukes have been idle, and as an instance he
referred to the Goatacre meeting, where he pointed out
the knowledge of the working men in the agricultural
districts. After alluding to the assertions of Sir
Minto Farquhar, at Hertford, where he said
land in Poland was let at ss. an acre, and
the wages are 3s. llid.—(how nice a calcula-
tion !)—(cheers)—he showed that a man might
get many acres for a week's work, and in England a
labourer was compelled to give 8/. an acre for his potato
ground. He said labour alone is what makes fand valu-
able, and if it is not, why plenty of land might be got.
even 140 acres in the Oregon, for settling there. He
then made a comparison between the Duke of Richmond,
as Prime Minister, and Punch, and of the two he pre-
ferred the latter. lie concluded by saying, if Sir Robert
Peel would bring forward a total and immediate repeal,
let him be backed in it; but they must depend on them-
selves, and their just rights cannot long be withheld from
them.

Then, by the Sovereign's comm Ind, his Lordship
wai received at the door of the Chapter-room by Earl
Talbot and the Earl of Powis, the two Junior Knights
Companions Fresent, and was conducted between them
to her Majesty, preceded by Garter (bearing the en-
signs of the order upon a crimson velvet cushion) and
by Black Rod. The Marquis Camden knelt near the
Queen, and Garter King of Arms presenting on his
knee the Garter, the Noble Marquis was invested
therewith by the Queen, assisted by the two senior
knights present, the Chancellor pronouncing the usual
admonition.

The Queen, having received the Ribbon and George
from Garter King of Arms, put the same over his
Lordship's left shoulder, the Chancellor pronouncing
the customary admonition. The Marquis again kissed
her Majesty's hand, and having received the congratu-
lations of each of the Knights Companions retired.
:'he Chapter proceeded to a second election, and the
suffrages having been collected by the Chancellor, were
presented to the Queen, w hen the Most Hon. Richard
Marquis of Hertford was declared duly elected a Knight
of the Most Noble Order of the Garter ; the Noble Mar-
quis was introduced, and was invested by her Majesty
with the Garter, and the Riband and George, with the
like ceremonies.

The Chapter being ended, the Knights Companions
were called over by Garter, and, together with the
officers of the Order, retired from the presence of her
Majesty.
The Queen wore the mantle and collar of the Order
at the Investiture. The Prelate stood on the right of
the Queen, the Chancellor on the left, the other officers
of the Order remaining at the bottom of the table. The
Duchess of Buccleuch, Mistress of the Robes, and the
Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady in Waiting, were behind her
Majesty on the left ; and the Lord Chamberlain, with
the sword of state, on the opposite side. The officers of
the Royal Household in waiting occupied their usual
stations.

" Tbat, in the opinion of this meeting, the Oxford and
Salisbury Direct Railway, passing near to the town of
Wantage, will be highly beneficial to the town and its
neighbourhood, and is therefore entitled to the support
of the inhabitants."

Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham were present
at the august ceremony. _ _ _

So much for parol evidence produced from the towns
of Abingdon and %Vantage, distant about ten miles apart,
and adjoining the line of the proposed railway. My do-
cumentary testimony to prove that " the suggested line" is
called for is the following, viz.:—
In the course of a very few days, in the month of No-
vember last, testimonials, " approving of the line, and
desiring that it may be speedily formed," were signed by
inhabitants of every city and town directly affected by it
in the following numbers, viz. :
Inhabitants of Abingdon 203
Hungerford 93
- Oxford l9O
- Wantage
Landowners, farmers, end dealers attending

Ater the Investitm:e, the Duke of Richmond had an
aud;ence of her Majesty, to present addresses.
The Court was attended by the Marquis of Anglesey,
Gold Stick in Waiting, Marquis of ()monde, Lord in
Waiting, Admiral Sir Robert Otway, Groom in Wait-
ing, Colonel Cavendish, Silver Stick in Waiting, Colontl
Buckley, Equery in Waiting, Colonel Bouverie,
Equery in Waiting to Prince Albert, the Groom of the
Robes, Mr. Stuart Wortley, and the Honourable Mr.
Forbes, Pages of Honour in Waiting, and the Field
Officer in Waiting.
The Yoeman Guard in their Coronation costume were
on duty i❑ St. George's Hall, the Armoury, and the
Guard Chamber. Sir George Lee, the Lieutenant, Mr.
Ellenthorp, the Adjutant, and Sir Samuel Hancock,
Exon in Waiting.

Wantage Market

-136
.... 73

Inhabitants of Salisbury

A guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards, com-
manded by Colonel Spottiswoode, attended during the
Court in the Grand Quadrangle with the band of the
regiment.
The Queen gave a grand dinner party in the evening,
to which all the Knights of the Order of the Garter pre-
sent at the Chapter were honoured with invitations, and
were present, with the exceptions of his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, who left the Castle in the
afternoon for Kew, and the Marquis of Anglesey, who
was prevented by indisposition from being present, and
who also took his departure from the Castle in the
afternoon.

Making a total of.

Evidence of the meetings at Abingdon and Wantage
is to be found in the London and Provincial newspapers.
The inclosed copy of the testimonials, sent for your own
satisfaction, bears out the latter assertion. And, as re-
gards the Wantage testimonials (which I select for the
especial attention of the gentlemen present at the recent
meeting), I appeal with confidence to the whole of that
neighbourhood, when I assert that the signatures repre-
sent an amount of wealth and intelligence fully en-
titled to the deep respect and serious attention of the
public at large.
The g€ ntlemen present at the recent meeting assert,
in their resolutions, that " there is neither passengers'
nor goods' traffic along the proposed line requiring rail-
way accommodation," and that the line throughout pre-
sents one unbroken agricultural distric , possessing,
within easy distances, markets and fairs, amply suffi-
cient to absorb all the produce thereof." True, it is,
" and pity 'tis, 'tis true," that at present there.is but

Mr. BOUTEM then rose, and drew a severe contrast
between the meeting of that evening and the one held
on the early part of the week at Royston, when the
protectionists passed a resolution after dinner that they
would not use the house which was kept by two orphan
girls, if they let the League have the use of the room
which they bad engaged, thus depriving them of the
benefit of letting the room when they might do so to
their advantage, and urged strongly on the meeting the
neeessity of attending to the registration.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and asked if any one had
any questions to ask, or any thing to advance for or
against what the lecturer had said, and invited discussion,
but to no purpose.
Mr. J. SEWELL moved, and Mr. A. EVANS seconded,
the following resolution :

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the
Duchess of Buccleuch, the Marchioness of Camden, the
Marquis of Granby, the Earls of Liverpool, Delawarr
and Jersey ; Lady Fanny Howard, Baroness de Speth,
the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Oxford, the
Honourable and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor, the
Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, the Right Honourable Sir
James Graham, Major-General Sir Henry Wheatley,
the Provost of Eton, the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell,
the Rev. Dr. Hawtrey, Major-General and Lady Isa-
bella Wemyss, Mr. and Mrs. W. Harcourt, Sir George
and Lady Couper, Hon. and Rev C. Leslie Courtenay,
Mr. Ralph Neville, Sir John M. Burgoyne (Grenadier
Guards), Lieut.-Colonel Williams (2d Life Guards),
and Mr. Glover, were also present at the banquet.
Dinner was served in the Waterloo Gallery, the can-
delabrum of " St. George," the Patron Saint of the
Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the most magnifiA
cent in the royal treasury, forming the principal orna-
ment in the centre of the table, which was covered with
numerous ice pails aad pine stands, and was brilliantly
illuminated with numerous candelabra (filled with wax
lights), the whole of silver gilt. The beautiful lustres in

_
little traffic along the whole line of the proposed line,
but there is a great deal of traffic on parts of it. There
is no public conveyance between Oxford and Salisbury,
as the residents in those cities, and the districts north of
the former and south of the latter, know to their incon-
venience. The most expeditious means and channel of
transit, are by the Great Western and South-Western
Railways aid London ; for a traveller between Oxford
and Salisbury, unless he be furnished with his own car-
riage, or hire a conveyance for his special use, cannot
travel by any public means between the one city and
the other in a less time than from twelve to thirteen
hours, and then instead of pursuing a direct line of 56
miles, he must take a circuitous route by Marlborough
and Swindon. It would be absurd to argue, that because
there is not at the present day a large and increasing
traffic between any two given points, across a district of
country capable of almost incalculable improvement,
hitherto neglected, and to a great extent allowed to lie
waste, and therefore a favourite locality for fox-hunting,
no improvement is to be attempted, no facilities of
trar.sit afforded, no impetus given either to agriculture
or manufactures; the inhabitants to be deprived of those
railway appliances, by means of which they know that
other parts of the country have been greatly bcnefitted,
arid that the progress of science, intelligence, and in-
dustry is to be arrested at each of the termini. The
same argument would contend that a large proportion
of the intermediate province shall remain a wild, unculti
vated, and desolate plain, and the whole bo preserved as
a memorial to posterity of the ignorance, as well as the
selfishness, of the present " landowners and occupiers of
land." On this part of the subject I cannot do better
than give the following extrrst from a speech made by
Mr. Towle, of Oxford, at the \Vantage meeting, on the
sth of November :

" That this Meeting highly approves of the efforts of
the Anti-Corn law League to increase the constituency
of this county, and pledges itselt to assist, with all their
power, in carrying into effect so important an object."
A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, and
three cheers for the League, and the meeting quietly
separated.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
Although far below the average of former years, the
business transacted yesterday afternoon showed a ten-
dency towards improvement—more decidedly so, how-
ever, on the Chester Cup than the Derby. For that
event there were three distinct " pots "—Best Bower,
Warp, and Mickey Free—their prices ranging between
50 and 33 to 1, and closing, as near as we can venture
to guess them, at 35 to 1. Several other bets were made
at the previt 'us quotations. Beyond a marked improve.
ment in Spithead, whose supporters would have gone on
at the prices quoted, the Derby transactions are devoid
of interest; and the only bets on the Oaks were 200 to
10 agst Cuckoo, and 700 to 20 agst Fantastic. The
Newmarket Handicap promises to be a bad betting race.
Two or three parties were disposed to take odds, but the
only bet laid was 1,000 to 25 agst Pugilist. Closing
prices:—
CHESTER CUP (ACCEPT OR NOT).
35 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Best Bower—taken
35 to I agst Mr. Irwin's Warp -taken
35 to 1 agst Mr. Irwin's Mickey Free—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Whinstone—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Cuthbert's Queen of Tyne—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Plummer's Alice Hawthorn—taken
1,000 to 20 agst Lord Howth's Mermaid—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Woffenden's Miss Burns—taken
50 to 1 agst Sir C. Monck's Flattery
50 to 1 agst Mr. Pattison names Little Cassino.
DERBY.
11 to 2 agst Lord E. Russell's Sting—take 6 to 1
14 to 1 apt General Shubrick's Brocardo—taken
27 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's lago—take 30 to 1
30 to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's Spithead—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr. Ramsay's Malcolm
33 to 1 agst Mr. O'Brien's The Traverser—t. and af. offd.
35 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Fancy Boy—taken
40 to lagstSiroJk.eTf wßlieLin's lolnuarrs dTruogmk—ott.—at. ndanadf.
ao f.
ffd.
1000 to 25 agst p of.
10500
ttoo
210aagogsr,t
ft Losuoirrrd.t. i Ex'srnwwoerttehr
io
gGt
oa
al
st a
scho
al tr—s t
ot
n. a_n t
ad
ka f.
onotffht
1,000 to 40 agst Lord Albemarle's Smuggler Bill and Ra..
dulphus—takea.
OAKS.
20 to 1 agst Lord G. Bentinck's Cuckoo—taken
ffToh3oso
the
Liverpool
v 1
e4artgphsot
flsr t
leLaei
rpt
ctl lheeld e' s F.
The
eaaninidtoarsstoi
Hurdle
fto ark etn.
o
the
e Races come
first,
oo
which 1001. will be added, must be named on the 28th
inst. ; and for the Hurdle Race on the 22d inst. ; 501.
will be added to the latter. The entry for Lord Sefton's
Plate of 50/. on the Flat, will be on the 12th of February.

this Gallery were also lighted on this occasion.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards was in attendance
in one cf the galleries during dinner, and performed the
f.llowing pieces :
Fantasia on favourite subjects, from Meyerbeer and
Don: zeal.

Waltz, "Die Rheinlender "—Hillman.
Polka, " Ernestinew "—Kuliner.
Cavatina con Coro (Separate, 0 figli I Iddio), from
Nebucodonosor Verdi.
" —m Ke
nudheni
seor
h.
o
o n's Overture (Die
GovieemkneetitsPfrioemi
AG al
ileogpr,
n,
Meerestille).
Potpourri, " La Polka Manie "—Kuhner.
Quick March, " Mein Herz ist ani Rhein."
After dinner her Majesty's private band attended in
the Castle and performed the folllwiag pieces :
Overture, " Promethee "—Beethoven.
March, " Zauberflote"—Mozart.
Allegro, Sinfonia, No. 12—flarin.
Minuet and Trio—Kallewoda.
Sehergo—Mendelssohn.
Adagio and Rondo—Reissiger.
Sir Robert Peel arrived at the Castle yesterday, on a
visit to the Queen.
The incessant rain during the day has prevented the
Royal Family from being taken their usual exercise.

" He was satisfied that the formation of a railway was
all that was required to raise the property of Wantage
and its neighbourhood to a level with that of any other
part of the country. At present they were under great
disadvantages. Their poor had to suffer all the priva-
tions of other neighbourhoods, with the additional ca-
lamity of scarcity of fuel. Coal, in his neighbourhood,
cost at present'2ss. per ton. He was close on the lilac of
the Great Western Railway, but received no benefit from
it except in quickness of transit. Their line had been
very expensive, and probably they could not afford to
carry for less, and they were then charging within a
fraction of 2d. per ton. He himself paid 10s. per ton
for coals in Bristol, and 245. 6d. when he got them at
his mills near Oxford. The promoters of the Great
Western, previous to its formation, promised that 80,000
tons of coal a-year should be carried to Oxford, but
they had grievously disappointed the public in that
respect.—(Cheers.) The formation of the line would
almost double the value of the land and its produce. At
present their hay, straw, and corn were sent into the
manufacturing districts where it was sold at the prices
which the same articles fetched that were grown in, the
neighbourhood, the whole expense of the transit fallinc,
on the producers. The neighbourhood was one of the
best in the world for manufactures. Witney ought to
have several tall chimneys, an to turn. their wool into
blankets. A
Abingdon ough. t to make large quantities of
coarse carpeting, instead of sending their wool at a large
expense into Yorkshire. Mr. Hudson I ad stated bi.f .re
a committee of Parliament that one engine would con-
vey 95 watgons., at the rate of 18 miles an hour, each
waggon convepn.r, five tons of coal, at an expense f
about 9d. per mile, and his opinion was that a railway
passing through a neighbourhood was equal to bringing
a coal mine into it. In his jud4ment coals ought to be
supplied at 12s. per ton." And
Mr. Goodlake, the Chairman, concurred in these
remarks, when he expressed his opinion that " the gen-
tlemen who formed the deputation deserved the thanks
of the meeting and of the town of Wantage for their
efforts towards bringing a railway into the neighbour-
hood. He must Eay that as far as fox-hunting went,
gentlemen might be injured by railways_ bu; the pros-
perity of the country 4c,(1 inhabitants, the warming
tlieip in winter, and feeding them through the whole of

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—Mr. Adams is en-
gaged to perform on the organ on Friday next. The selec-
tion includes several pieces by Bach, Handel, Haydn,
Mozart, &c.

------- -
RUSSIA UNDER THE AUTOCRAT.—The work now
exciting so much attention, bearing the title of " Russia
under the Autocrat Nicholas 1.," is written by a Rus-
sian subject., of good family, and considerable literary
celebrity, named Ivan Golovine, who, having been per-
mitted to quit the dominions of the autocrat, and enjoy
the freedom of milder forms of government, has neg-
lected the arbitrary command from St. Petersburg that
recalled him home, and to avoid the heavy penalty thus
incurred, of banishment to Siberia, he has been forced
to abandon his country, where his property has already
been confiscated. M. Golovine has been employed in
the service of the Emperor, and has had facilities for
knowing the exact state of his prodigious empire which
no foreigner could have obtained. He has chosen to
publish his knowledge, and the result is such a .
Williams Wynne, ITH..Bo,,aradmiibrapss,
dis-
closure of the secrets of the prison-house as must
Dieppe
astonish even those who have been prepared for similar
revelations by the recently published works on Russia at Copenhagen, and La.lv Wynne,
Sir H. IV
left Brighton for
Steam • epPe'
by French and English writers. on Saturday afternoon, I;), the Generalr Navigation
MARY Wynne left cul
MARY HOWITT'S NEW NOVEL, " THE CITIZEN Company 'a steam-ship Menai. M • London,
oi, Pna.oue."—We have no hesitati, n (says the John Bull) on Wednesday last, by the Princess Royal steamer, for
in pronouncing ‘‘ The Citizen of Prague " a splendid Hamburgh.
romance. All the characters, from the Empress Theresa and The Earl of Carlisle continues much in the same
her Minister Kaunitz, down to the faithful serving-man, are state. Viscount Alorpeth, the Hon. C.
the, ••
admirably pourtrayed. Magda, which, after that of her Lady Mary Howard, are the only members of family at
grandfather, Thomas Thyrnau, has evidently- received the present staying with the Noble Earl at Castle Howard.
author's most elaborate touches, is a beautiful creation. i Carlisle Journal.
Count Von Lacy, the 14rincess Morani, and the Princess The Duke of Sutherland is suffering from what
Therese, are each of them finished portraits The deep in- is professionally called ramollissement of the brain—one of
terest which the work inspires is unabated to its close. The
the
most intractable to medical skill of all the ills that flesh
description of the celebrated battle which was fought under is heir to.—Carlisle Journal.
the walls of Prague, is powerfully told, and the famine strug- It is re dthat the America, 50, Captain the
porte
glen of the inhabitants, skilfully interwoven with the last
Hon. John Gordon, as been sent with a broad pendant to
moments of the Countess Lacy and the sufferings of Magda, 'and that the Grampus, 50
RN 4elißeated with thrilling effect. ; command on the Oregon coast ;
,'.
Cart. Martin, will join her thflhwitli!
••

the year, was of far more vital importance than such
sport. When he inked at the facili ies which would be
afforded for the importation of fuel and the exportation
of produce, he thought they had reason to rejoice that a
railway was about to be formed near their town. Under
these circumstances, having determined that the line
would be beneficial, he trusted that the inhabitants of
Wan tage would give the scheme as much encouragement
as they possibly could."—(Cheers.)
I a lmit—and having quoted the sentiments of Mr.
Towle an.l Mr. Go..dlake, I am perfectly willing to do
so—that the proposed line passes materially over an agri-
cultural district, but by no means over an unbroken one.
The town of Abingdon, neglected in an unaccountable
manner by railway proprietors and promoters, cannot be
considered as a purely agricultural town. There are
two highly respectable manufacturing and trading esta-
blishments there, employing between them (as I have
been personally informed by their proprietors) not less
than one thousand five hundred hands ; and there are
moreover, between thirty and forty persons of respecta-
bility engage dus master manufacturers. In the article
tonnage alone the inhabitants of Abingdon would be
benefited to a very great amount by the proposed line,
which would bring a railw‘iy close to their town, instead
of requiring them, as at present, to send their goods to a
station between three and four miles distant. The
pitched market, established within the last twelve months,
at \Vantage, at d which is steadily improving, owes much
of its prosperity to railroads, being regularly attended by
dealers from remote parts of the country, who would
never otherwise have dreamt of dealing in corn there.
At Salisbury, in consequence of the same expectant faci-
lities, it is also contemplated to establish a pitched market,
and tha inhabitants of that ancient city look forward
anxiously to the advantages to be conferred upon them
by
i'ailways, for enablingthem to resume the exercise of
their almost unequalleewater-power, and again to flou-
rish in those manufactures of cutlery and flannels for
which they were formerly most justly- famed.
The lines of railway in progress and projection will
necessarily make Oxford to the north, and Salisbury to
the south of " the suggested line," two
points om
whence radii will diverge like the outspread fingers cf
the human hand. From the manufacturing districts of
Lancashire, the West Riding of Yorkshire, Warwick-
shire, Staffordshire, and Norfolk (to some extent)._
from the mineral, and especially the coal regions of
South `'ales, Staffordshire, and several of the midland
counties, the products of industry will, by means of
the proposed railway and its adjuncts, be brought at a
much reduced price into this " agricultural district,"
whilst the produce of a land whose capabilities of pro-
duction remain to be testt d, will be unmeasurably aug-
mented in the :taple articles both of food and clothing,
the means of transit diminished in time and expense ;
and the private' property which the members of the
late meeting weakly imagine would be sacrificed, will
be (as has always in similar cases been proved) very
largely increased.
It appears, however, in the opinion of those gentle-
men, that " the scheme in question is a mere wanton
speculation of the day, possessing neither merit in itself
nor a reasonable prospect of a return for capital required
for the undertaking." They have a perfect right, I ad-
mit, to entertain this opinion, but, as I will presently en-
deavour to show, they have no right to publish it. They
do not, I apprehend, imagine that any persons of the pre-
sent day are so deeply imbued with the principles of
universal philanthrophy as to construct a railroad at their
personal expense, for the mere satisfaction of conferring
a material advantage upon the town of Wantage and its
neighbourhood, highly respectable as the inhabitants
undoubtedly are. They cannot, I should suppose, con-
ceive that modern benevolence is so universal as to in-
clude their " unbroken," and, as some people believe,
neglected " agricultural district" in a rapidly advancing
system of general utility, without thinking that the pro-
moters of an honourable, useful, and, its has been shown,
highly approved project, may also look forward to an
honest participation in the general good. The principles,
however, upon which this railway has been brought for-
ward, were ably and truly developed by the Chairman of
the Committee of Management. at the meeting held at
%Vantage, on the sth of November:—

"He assured the meeting that it was the determina-
tion of the directory to carry out the measure if they
possibly could. It was a bona
.fide scheme, and the Di-
rectors proved it to be so by their acts ; they were not
asking persons to furnish them with money, taking the
chance of having it returned, but they had themselves
providee, the necessary funds for carrying on the sur-
veys and preparing the necessary parliamentary docu-
ments. Their engineer was bound to finish the survey
in proper time, and would be a loser to the extent of
1,000/. if he failed to do so. He was, therefore, bound
by his own interest, as well as for the sake of his pro-
fessional reputation, to finish the survey by the time ap-
pointed. Be could assure the meeting that every atten-
tion would be paid to laying out the line, it being mani-
festly the iutt rest of the promoters of the line to inter-
fere as little as possible with valuable property."
In corroboration of this statement, I have only to re-
mark that the principles thus laid down have been acted
upon to the letter; the whole of the Parliamentary
plans, sections, and books of reference have been depo-
sited in all the necessary offices, and with all the ap-
pointed authorities ; the requisite notices have been
served upon the landowners, lessees, and occupiers
(hence these tears!), and all the standing orders have
been fully complied with.
The sneer which the gentlemen of the late meeting
have thought fit to introduce by way of " sting in the
tail" of their resolutions is utterly unworthy of fair and
honourable opponents, I allude to the original inser-
tion of the names of persons in the list of the provi-
sional committee. To say the least of it, the charge is
deplorably stale, and, in the terms used, it is not true.
It was, however, fully and satisfactorily explained, both
at the meetings I have above referred to and in the pub-
lic press. I refer your readers to that faithful record of
daily occurrences, which in these days of enlightenment
and intelligence seldom errs—l believe I may say, never
materially errs without detection and exposure.
There is something justly imposing in the resolutions
of a public meeting, and a very large majority of your
readers would believe that those to which I have taken
the liberty to refer, were passed in such an assembly.
The formula which they adopt, the functionaries whom
they appoint, the style of serious business which they as-
sume, impress the mind with imaginary multitudes, im-
portance, and solemnity. A resolution, proposed, se-
conded, and unanimously passed, implies, in the estimate
of the humblest understanding, a❑ explanatory speech,
a confirmatory address, a brief appeal to surrounding
numbers from an independent president, and an un-
opposed vote carried by loud acclamation, or silent show
of hands. The excitement and exhilaration of a popular
assembly have often produced great and unexpected
effects, and in the present day, when many signal re-
sults have been worked out by means of public meet-
ings, those who desire to operate on the mind of the
many, arc apt, wisely enough, to resort to this course to
effect their object. Nor is there a better expedient for
giving publicity to opinions, whether of a political ten-
dency, of local interest, or for the purpose of promul-
gating or opposing a public project,
Having thus dealt, and I hope fairly, with the resolu-
tions of the meeting, " most respectably attended by land-
owners and occupiers of land," I will say one word about
the meeting itself. I learn, from local information, that
the meeting consisted of seven gentlemen only; from the
same source, that Mr. Coxe, the chairman, is a member
of the very respectable firm of Bischoff and Coxe, the
solicitors to whose care the proceedings in Parliament in
opposition to the " Oxford and Salisbury Railway Com-
pany" are entrusted ; and I further learn that Mr. An-
sell, the secretary appointed at the meeting, is the
manager of the Wantage Branch Bank of Messrs.
Barnes and Medley (the bankers of this self. constituted
committee), whose principal establishment is at Far-
ringdon. Let your readers glance over the names of the
chairman, committee, trustees, bankers, solicitors, and
secretary, and they will find that the whole of them
were present or represented at the meeting of seven gen-
tlemen at the Bear Inn at Wantage. Thus we find in
Mr. Coxe the united characters of chairman, solicitor,
trustee, and committeeman; in Mr. Stone and Mr.
Roby the two latter functions; and in Mr. Ansel!, per-
sonally and by representation, the somewhat incongruous
duties of banker and secretary.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Z. HUBBERSTY, Secretary.
Moorgate-chambers, Moorgate-street,
Jan. 19, 1846.

PLYMOUTH THEATRE.
(From the Devonport Independent.)
The engagementf of Mr. Macready has proved a valuable
one for the interests of this theatre, that gentleman's bril-
liant performances having attracted crowded audiences during
the week. This great artiste has not appeared before a Ply-
mouth audience for five years prior to his present engage-
ment, and, as may have been anticipated, much pleasure was
evinced by the playgoers of this neighbourhood on beholding
the finished acting of this favourite, not merely of the Ply-
mouth boards, but of the British stage generally. During
the week Mr. Macready has appeared in Hamlet, Richelieu,
Othello, and IVerner, in all of which characters he has been
well supported by the company.
On Thursday evening his 'Othello was a powerfully fine
peiformance, and the audience repeatedly manifested
at interval, of
gthe good fortune
ttihwe i r p
edrefol n
clz
flare. vehemently
aadpypl ahuaddi n
to be supported on the occasion by one of the best lago's
we ever saw. Mr. Paumier is an actor of whose_ ability,
from the first part we saw him play, we entertained not
the slightest doubt, but, talented as we believed him to
be, we did not anticipate so much excellence as he exhibited
in the arduous part of lago. It was
ever achieved by a provincial actor, naonde
the audience,
espe-
cially that part of it located in the lowerofp athrte gefrtehatst
the house,
bore ample testimony to the actor's great ability. At the fall
of the curtain there was a loud cry for Macready and Pau-
' mier, and the former gentleman at once responded to the
wishes of the audience, and bowed his acknowledgment. The
call for Paumier was now redoubled, proceeding from all parts
of the house, boxes, pit, and gallery, and at length that gen-
tleman made his appearance, and received the honours he
had so well earned. The farce on this evening was Mother
and Child are doing Well, in which Mr. Clement White, the
well known vocalist and composer, appeared in the part of
Lieutenant 0' Scupper, and sustained it throughout " to the
life." He has a fine rich brogue, and in our opinion is des-
tined at no very distant period to become a favourite in Irish
characters.

ADMISSION OF SOLICITORS.—The number of per-
sons applying for admission as solicitors, &c., in the present
term, as shown by the list exhibited at Westminster Hall, is
166. !The number applying for admission pursuant to
judges' orders is four; and the number of applications for
renewal Of certificates on the last day of term is 28.
The marriage of the lion. Miss Mary Constantia
Clifford, second daughter of Lord Clifford of Ugbrooke, to
William Vavasour, third son of Sir Edward Vkvasour, of
Hazelwood Hall, Tadcaster, took place or_ ulonday last, in
the Catholic Chapel attached to Allertt-in rark, near Green
Ilammerton, Yorkshire, the seat Lord Stourton, whose
lady is aunt to the bride's tno,+thq. The ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev, J. VOclo (S, JO, in the presence of the
contracting ,artiei, and of others of the neighbouring
The bride was given away by Lord Clifford,
i and
after the ceremony they left for Harrogate, to pass the honey'
moon. A ball and supper at the park conclade4 the
festivi-
ties of the wedding- day. ireefcn