The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-06 00:00:00

-
7'4 suggi ilk
FEBRUARY 6 1846.
LONDON, FRIDAY
17 Litt\
y
itt;2l 7
leek, 31

6111111 M,
TRITISII INSTITUTION, PALL-MALL.
The GALLERY, for the EXHIBITION and SALE of the
WORKS of BRITISH ARTISTS, will be OPENED on MONDAY
NEXT, the 9th instant.
Admission, Is. Catalogue, Is.
WILLIAM BARNARD, Keeper.

ACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY, EXETER-
HALL.
On :FRIDAY EVENING, February 20, 1846, will be performed
HANDEL'S OIL A TORIO, SAMSON.
Principal Vocal Performers, Miss Birch, Miss M.B. Hawes, Mr.
Braham, Mr. Leffler, and Mr. H. Phillips,
The Band and Chorus will consist of above Five Hundred Performers.
Tickets 3s. each, Reserved Seats 53., may be obtained of the prin-
cipal Musicsellers ; or of Mr, Bowley, 53, Charing-cross; Mr. Ries,
102, Strand ; or Mr. Mitchell, 39, Charing-cross.
TllOll. BREWER, Hon. gee.

ROYAL rOLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION-
Lectures on CHEMIeTIIT, with Brilliant Experiments,
by Hr. Ryan, daily at Half-past Three, and en the Evenings of
'Mondays, Wedn:sdays, am. Fridays, at Nine •'Clock. A Lecture
on the ATMOSIVEEIC RAILWAY, by Professor Eachoffner, a
Working Model of which, carrying several persons, is exhibited
daily. The additions to the OPAQUE MICROSCOPE, DIS-
SOLVING 'VIEWS, and CIIEOMITROP/1 are very effective. The
PEYSIOSCOPE. inbmarine Experiments by means of the DITER
and DIYINg BELL. Among the variants additions to the Working
Models is Coleman's NEW AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE,
for ascending and dolcending Inclined Planes. A magnificent Col-
intim' of TROPICAL rßuiTs. Mr. Downs, the celebrated Flute
Player, will take part in the Altolc, conducted by Dr. Eftlillis. Open
front Eleven ti italf-past Five, aid from Seven to Nall-past Tea in
the Evening.
Admittance, One Bann. Schools, lialf-price.

OSTER'S PENCILLED COPY BOOKS.
In Chancery—Souter v. Grant and others.
Ills Honour the Vice Chancellor of England having, granted an
INJUNCTION in this Cause, restraining the Defendants E. C. Grant,
W. D. Griffith, e,nd G. Darnell, from printing, publishing, exposing
to sale, or otherwise disposing of any Copy Books with diagonal
lines, similar to, or in imitation of, those used by 13. F. FOSTER in
the Bill in this Cause mentioned : We hereby give notice, That in
case any person or persons shall print, publish, or expose to sale,
any Copy Books published by the said Defendants, or any or either
of them, or by any other person or persons, with diagonal lines
similar to, or in imitation of, those used by the said B. F. FOSTER,
in the Bill in this Cause mentioned; such proceedings will be taken
against him or thent, in respect thereof, as the Plaintiff shall be
advised. Dated this 2d day of February, 1846.
MAUGIIAM and KENNEDY, Plaintiff's Solicitors,
ICO, Chancery-lane.

EASE IN WALKING,
WILLIAM BADDELEY, of 130, STRAND,
is induced to give publicity to his much-admired PRE-
PARED LEATHER, (so noted for extreme SOFTNESS and
DURABILITY), in consequence of the patronage he has received,
and the general satisfaction given by him in manufacturing the above
into BOOTS, &c., on his peculiar fitting principle of combining
elegance with ease. An extensive assortment of best made articles
alwayz ready on sale. Established in 1767.
No. 130, Strand, corner of Waterloo-bridge, London.

RAILWAY

TALLSEND 'COALS BY
TO TIIE EDITOR OF T LIE SUN.
Stu—We beg, through the maium of your paper, to Inform the
public that the METROPOLITAN is the only Coal Company who
deliver the Best Screened Sunderland Warsend at 255. per full ton,
unmixed with inferior sorts ; Prime Neweastb, commonly sold for
best, 21s. screened ; Coke, 17s. Delivered free of extra charge
within five miles.—Your obedient se vrants,
H. BEARDSIVORTH and CO.
279, High Holborn.

13AVIES'S CANDLES, 51d. per lb.; extra
fine Wax-wick Moulds, 6,/,'3d.; best Sperm Candles, Is. Bd. ;
Wax Candles, is. 2d.; fine Wax, Is. 54. ; Transparent, Is. Sd. ;
Genuine Wax, is. ld. ; Hale's Composite, *“l.•' Tellow Seap,
' 48s. 525., and its. per 1121bs; Mottled, 60s. and G4s.; Windsor,
ls. 44. rer packet ; Old Brown Windsor, Is. 9d. ; nose, 2s. ; Al-
mond, 25. 6d. ; Sealing Wax, 4s. Cl. per lb.; Sperm Oil, 7s. 6d. per

;alloy; Solar, 3s. ed.
For Cash, at DAVIES'S Old Established Warehouse, 63, st. Mar•
opposite Slaughter's Coffee-house.

NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSUR-
ANCE SOCIETY,
26, CORNHILL, LONDON.
Capital 41500,000.
EnspOvrered by Act of Parliament.
This institution otf4rs important and sn'ostantlel advan-
tages with respect both to Life Assurances and Deferred Annuities.
The assured has, on all °cessions, the power to borrsvr, withoat ex-
pense, or forfeiture of the Policy, two-thirds of the premium paid,
(see tab!e); also the option or selecting benefits, and the conversion
of hi, interests to meet ether conveniences er necessity. Assurances
for terms of years are grantel on the lowest possible rates.
DIVISION OF PROFITiI.
The saccess and increasing isrssr erity of tte Society has enabled
the Directors, at the last anneal investigation, to declare a third
Bonus, varying from 3tl to 75 per cent. on the premiums paid ea
each Policy e2ected ca the Profit scale.
ET A mnais.

, R ,
',,?..„ ? ;'.!°;;T
. ,
s•• 11,2 1
c,l 1 Bemis Benno In or, ~., .7 - , , ?..," g'
Premium. 1 g added. Cash. E 73" R,-:§ 6
13 '' .1 4• a
- I -p:..- • 1,1 .
—l-------. —.
, 1837 XISI 13 5 £S7 13 b Zl3 17 1 .6396 II 1
0
4 I 74 4 3 4
s' -• 1832 166 13 0 74 la 10 11 3 6 346 2 3
1000
isag 133 13 6 61 14 3 9 2IC 29& 13 4
1 I .18,10, 89 0 0 41 13 4 6• 0 247 4 5

The d;:7ision of prefita is annual, and the ne:t will be reads in De-
*inkier of the prezent year.

Y• FERGUSON CAMROUX, Se*.

ANNUITIES.
TIE. AUSTRALASIAN, COLONIAL, and
GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE and ANNUITY COM-
PANY, 121, Bishopsgate-street, corner of Cornhill.
Capital, 200,0001., in 2,000 Shares.
DIRECTORS.
Edward Barnard, Esq., F.R.S. Gideon Colquhoun, Esq.
Robert Brooks, Esq. C. E. Mangles, Esq.
Henry Buckle, Esq. Richard Onslow, Esq.
John Henry Capper, Esq. William Walker, Esq.
TsusTEss--,Edward Barnard, Esq., F.R.S. ; J. H. Capper, Esq.;
Edward Thompson, Esq.
Aunrross—James Easton, Esq., and C. Richardson, Esq.
SoLterrons—Messrs. Maples, Pearce, Stevens, and Maples.
BA/isms—The Union Bank of London. . _ •

COLONIAL BANRERS--ille Bank of Australasia (incorporated by
' Royal Charter, 1835), 8, Austin-friars, London.
rIITSICIAN—Dr. Fraser, 62, Guildford-street, Russell-square.
ACTUAIIY AND SECRETARY—Edward Ityley, Esq.
To the purchasers of Annuities this Company, in addition to parti-
cipation in profits, holds out the advantage of a much higher rate of
Annuity than can be granted with safuty by companies which make
their investments entirely in this country.
The following arc specimens of the rates of annuities granted for
every 1001. sunk :

Malo I Female Male Female
Age. Lives. 1 Lives. Age. Lives. Lives.
2.5 £7 1 5 £6 13 5 65 £l2 12 0 £lO 19 0
45 7 18 1 7 4 9 76 18 9 2 16 3 5
t. 5 913 0 8 8 9 80 25 8 9 20 2 7

Prospectuses, with Tables, Forms of Proposal for the purchazo of
an Annuity or for makin: an Assurance, and every information,
may ba obtained by application at the Office of the Company.
E. RYLEY. Actuary and Secretary.

BRITANNIA LIFE ASSURANCE
CO3I PANY.
1, Princes-street, Bank, London.
Empowered by special Act of Parliament, 4th Pict., cap. 9.
ADVANTAGES OF THIS INSTITUTION.
MUTUAL ASSURANCE BRANCH.
Complete security afforded to the Assured by means of an ample
subscribed capital, and the large funds accumulated from the pre-
miums on upwards of 6,000 policies.
Half the amount only of the annual premium required during the
first five years, the remaining half premiums being paid out of the
profits, which, after five years, will be annually divided among the
Assured.

THE TONTINE LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.
(Provisionally Registered.)
Capital 2,009,0001., in 100,GO0 Shares of 201. each.
The plan of this Company offers considerable and peculiar advan-
tages to the shareholders. In addition to the profit arising from Life
Assurance transactions, it is proposed to raise a capital of 1,004,0001.
or upwards by the grant of Tontine Annuities in classes, to be regu-
lated by the ages of the subscribers or their nominees, which capital,
on the death of the survivor in each class, will be divided exclusively
among the shareholders.
The principle of the Tontine Annuities is as follows:—I1 1,000 per-
sons sulescribe 1001. each, they or. their respective nominees, being
of an ego to enter the class, from 45 to 50, at which the Annuity
would be about 61. per cent., each subscriber or nominee will, during
the con•innance of all the lives, receive an Annuity of ed. ;
but as 'the lives drop, the Annuity of the deceased parties
will be divided amongst the survivors until they are reduced
to six, each of whom will then receive 1,0001. per annum for life;
but as they respectively die off, the 1 000/. which ho or she received
will fall into the funds of the Company, for the benefit of the share-
holders.

The classes containing younger lives will receive a lower rate of
annuity ; the older a higher rate.
This mode of investment, while it will afford ample funds for the
promotion .of Life Assurance transactions, will further enable the
Company to guarantee to persons borrowing money upon approved
seeurity, and effecting a policy of assurance, to be assigeed
as a collateral security, that so long as the interest on the money
lent and the premium on the policy regularly paid, the money lent
shall not be cilled in till the precise amount accrues by the failure of
the life assured.
Applications for shares and prospectuses to be made to Mr. Charles
Edmonds, Stock and Share Broker, Sun-court, Cornhill ; and Mr.
Charles Barker, at the Temporary Offices, 46, Lincoln's Inn-fields.

CLERICAL, MEDICAL. AND GENERAL
LIFE ASSURANCE. SOCIETY.
78, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury.
The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of Proprietors will be held
at the Office of the Society, on THURSDAY, the sth day of March
next, at One o'clock precisely, at which meeting six Directors and
one Trustee will be elected.
Any Proprietor desirous of proposing a candidate for the office of
Director or Trustee, mutt send the name of such candidate to the
Secretary at least feurteen days before the.day-of meeting.
The ballot will commence at Eleven and close at Two o'clock:"
GEORGE 11. PINCKARD, Resident Secretary.
February sth, 1846.

LAMERT ON DEBILITY, NERVOUSNESS, AND ALL
DISORDERS ARISING FROM EXCESS, tkc.
"Ile, who in pleasure's downy arms
Ne'er lost his health or youthild charms,
A hero lives, and justly can
Exclaim, in me behold a man!"
Just published (in a sealed envelope), Tenth Edition, price 2s. 64., or
sent by post, free, to any address, 3s. Od.,
SELF-PRESERVATION : a Popular Essay on
those concealed disorders, originating in youthful excesses,
and terminating in Nervous Debility, Local and Constitutional
Weaknets, and all those Sinkings, Anxieties, and Tremors, which
afflict the Weak, the Sedentary, and the Delicate. With Practical
Obscryations on Marriage.
By SAMUEL LAMERT, Consulting Surgeon,
9, BEDFORD-STREET, BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON,
Matriculated Member of the University of Edinburgh, Honorary
Member of the London Hospital Medical Society, Licentiate
Apothecaries' Hall, London, &c.
" The various positions of Lover, Husband, and Parent, the in-
herent privileges of mankind, are frequently marred and prevented
through the follies and frailties of early indiscretions. To such, among
others, this Essay addresses itself; and by its perusal many questions
may be satisfactorily adjusted that admit of no appeal even to the
most ceitntiential friend."—Stafford Gazette.
" Lenz experience in the treatment of a class of diseases hitherto
neglected and most imperfectly understood by the great bulk of the
medical profession, has enabled the writer to prove that there are
concealed causes of Nervous Debility in existence, where the mere
routine praetitioner Would never dream of finding them; traceable
to certain habits, forming the most secret, yet deadly, and feta'
springs of domestic misery, sued premature mortality."—Wakelleld
Journal.
Published by the Author, and sold in London by. S. (inert I and
52, Paternoster-row; Stitt% 23; Tithbhiiie4tieltt; Qtradtani„. Regent-
ls.treeet ;alai:donna!
146att,r1tetoase,n9hliall, o...it.rftioeftlj;iilatneedtb;yiiandloie,
Booksellers.li4Cltira (let
At home every day till Three, and from Five till Eight.

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

CITT, THURSDAY EVRNING.
HERALD.—There can be no longer hesitation in assuming
that the transfer of the railway deposits is so nearly completed
that there is no further risk Of deranging the Money market
by the operation. As far as respects the Public Securities,
the orders for re-investment have exceeded. the . orders to
effect sales both yesterday and to-day, and the consequence
is a further advance in prices. Throughout the operation,
however, the transactions in the Public Securities have, after

the first offset, been so equally balanced, that they have pro-
duced nou of the anticipated convulsions in prices, and the
inconveniestee, as we have repeatedly shoWn, has fallen chiefly
on the commercial interest.

What now remains to be put to the proof is the repay-
ment of loans. made on securities by the Bank of England,
the directors of which institution are admitted on all hands
to have conducted the business with prudence and liberality.
The accommodation they have given, both by way of dis-
count and on loan, has been at short dates compared with
the ordinary course of business ; but there is no doubt but a
reasonable extension of time will be given when thcaperiods
expire as circumstances render it necessary.
Sash a strong impression had the overcharged anticipation
of difficulties with the railway deposits produced in the
country, that the banks that had no direct connexion with
railway business, as well as those that had, have for a
month past generally retained considerable surpluses of
money unemployed, in order to be prepared for the dreaded
catastrophe. The usual sources of discount by the large
houses in London were thus temporarily dried up, and it is
matter of astonishment to every person conversant with the
customary roatine of business in the metropolis that the
mischief thereby done has not been much greater than has
yet appeared.
As far asi matters have as yet been developed, itrhoweve.,
proves the justice of the distinction wo drew at an early
period of the past year between the railway speculations and
those that took place in 1824-5 and 1835.., . We showed
that the fact of .the railway mania bein 'to that
matter alone, without being extended to commercial com-
modities, so as to enhance their money value, would most
materially soften the reaction compared with the other two
periods with which the parallel was drawn, and the result
has so far established the correctness of the position.
We may now expect the discount business gradually to
return to the usual channels, and the process will be accele-
rated by the distribution of the funds of defunct railway coin
panics, that must now melt away by hundreds.
The proprietors of the London and County Bank held their
annual meeting to-day, when the directors exhibited their
accounts for the year ending the 31st December.: Our 'readers
will recollect that we had occasion, at a former period, to call
attention to the relative small amount of the paid-up capital
of this institution, compared with the number of its branches,
and the opinion we gave that it would be prudent to increase
it whilst the Money Market was easy, in order that they
might be better prepared to meet a pressure. This view has
been acted on, and the capital has now been increased to up-
wards of 200,0001., and the statement of the accounts will
show that the bank has been managed throughout the past
year with great prudence and circumspection. It will be
seen that the proprietors are now about to reap the benefit of
that good management in a dividend of 5 per cent., clear of
the income-tax, leaving 5,5561. to be carried to the reserve
fund. _ _ . _

It will be probably recollected that the London and County
Bank was involved in a most vexatious lawsuit, by the
failure of the firm of Thompson and Coils, bill-brokers. It
was at one time supposed that the bank would lose nearly
40,0301. by the securities upon which they had made ad-
vances; but some time age they compromised with the par-
ties to the action, and the said securities have now so much
advanced in value, that the ultimate loss will be a mere
trifle compared to what was expected in the first instance.
Altogether, therefore, the affairs of this bank must be con-
sidered as standing in a favourable position, and it is, at the
same time, worthy of notice, that throughout the whole
period that money was at a very low value, they continued
to pay interest on deposit and current accounts.
CHRONICLE.—The opinion we expressed yesterday, that
the pressure for money had passed its strength, has been con-
firmed to-day. Discounts are still difficult, but the Funds
have experienced a further advance of nearly N per cent.,
and Exchequer- bills are also higher. We hear that the pay-
ments to the Accountant-General by rail way companies
amount to 9,000,000/. From that to 10,000,0001. was our
estimate from the commencement. We held that to be the
fair estimate of the amount that would be actually paid to
the Accountant-General, when others, who spoke with much
assumption of official authority, would not condescend to
name the gross amount at less than 30,000,0001.! The same
parties, it is true, have lately stated the amount paid in for
railway deposits at not more than 5,000,000/. The purchases
made to •day by the broker for the Court of Chancery have
been equal, it is said, to 500,0001. They t.ave been effected
for behoof of railway-committees, who are now re. investing
the 2tock and Exchequer-hills which they had previously
sold to enable them to make good their deposits to the Ac-
countant General in money. In addition to the support
which the Stock and Exchequer-bill market received from
these large operations, the executors of a very wealthy mem-
ber of the Stock Exchange, lately deceased, made extensive
purchases.
• The movement was almost exclusively c,nfined to the
English Funds. We quote rather better prices for registered
railway shares; but the business done was extremely limited,
and until the report of the Select Committee be made known
is likely to remain so. It is said that the members of that
Committee are greatly divided as to the proper course to be
pursued. We are not surprised at this, and shall be more
surprised if they should ever arrive at anything like unani •
rnity. But be that as it may, it is most desirable that the
result of their labours should be made known without delay.
The promoters of railway companies will then know the best
and worst of their position, and will be enabled to decide
whether to proceed with their Bills this session, or to leave
them over to another and snore convenient season.
POST.—Some large purchases of Stock and Exchequer-
bills were made in the course of the day. The Chancery
broker was the principal buyer. He laid out several hun-
dred thousands in Consols and Exchequer bills, for account,
as it was understood, of the railway companies. The Bank
broker made purchases of Three per Cent. Reduced, and
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent. stock, and the consequence
of these and other considerable investments, was a further
advance in prices. Consols, which rose 3/4 percent. yesterday,
were done at an equal rate of improvement to-day, so that,
within the two days only, the unusually large advance
of :1% per cent. has been realised, and from the circum-
stance of the -markets having closed at the highest
prices of the day, the chances appeared to be rather
in favour of a further movement in the same favourable
direction. The Bank Directors had their weekly meeting,
but separated without making any alteration in their rate of
discount, which continues, therefore, at a minimum of 314
per cent. This had probably some little influence on the
markets, but the fact that the Accountant-General is con-
verting the deposit moneys of the railway companies into
stock and Exchequer-bills operated as the principal stimu-
lus, as it may, be inferred from the adoption of so bold a
course, that Government prefers risking any loss that may
perchance arise from a resale to the other alternative—that
of keeping a large sum of money locked up in the Bank of
England, to the injury of commerce and the revenue. It
would be-absurd any longer to entertain the question of de-
posits as one that can exercise a sinister influence on the
Money-market. To-morrow (Friday) will be the last day
allowed for paying up the amounts called for by the stand-
ing orders, subsequently to which the sums provided for the
purpose must, as a matter of course, gradually return into
circulation.
TIMES—The intelligence fromlndia and China, received
in anticipation of the overland mail, and published :exclu-
sfi vrt eenlriyes
interest
in the
ntihNieTi
City.me
everywheres thisolrhe pa
emrinfocarctittti
matter
oat a tasveocmt read with much
f
universal satisfaction to those connected with the commerce
of the test. The stteeese of the Trieste route now appeZra
to be considered established, much to the cmhialleglifurfir'n7ontfdi°tgahaoTßsee
parties w,ho have hitherto advocated the superiority of the
Mafseilles journey. The Triton, belonging to the General
steam Navigation Cotripatly, Wag tlit vessel that brought
the express from Ostend, and well she performed her part of
the passage. The commercial intelligence by this arrival is
not encouraging to trade. British manufactures had de-
eined itt,price, in consequence of the scarcity of money and
ice war in the runjaub ; but, fortunately, at the latest dates
more easiness existed, and the banks Showed a better feeling
to the niefeantile interest. The value of rice continued to
advance, the adeottiets from home being favourable to the
article. The Governor of the Mauritius had also offered ad-
vantageous terms for a supply of the grain, a scarcity being
attrehended in that island.

- -
EFFECTS OF SIR ROBERT PEEL'S MEASURES.
DUBLIN, FEB; 4.—The most absurd alarms prevail, in va-
rious parts of this country, as to the immediate tendency of
the measures proposed by Sir Robert Peel in producing
ruinously low prices for corn and cattle. As an example of
the extravagant delusions on this subject the. Cork Reporter
of yesterday says:4 Such has been..the effect on the markets in this city, in
consequence of the enunciation of the intended change in the
corn-laws, that they are at present flooded with provisions.
At Saturday's potato market there were 400 loads brought
in for sale, against 307 the previous week, and every
anxiety was evinced to dispose of them at reduced price-s.
The cattle market on Saturday was also crowded with
beasts of all descriptions, there Using over 2,000 pigs on
sale, and offering at a reduction of 3s. a cwt. on the pre-
vious day's prices, yet buyers did not evince any desire to
purchase even on those terms, and many of them left the
market unsold.. The number in the market yesterday twelve
months was 800, and yesterday it amounted to over 1,300.
Black cattle -and sheep ware exhibited in proportionably
large numbers. This increase has been caused entirely by
the proposed measures contemplated to be brought into ope-
ration by the Minister, the country people being under an
apprehension that there will be such an influx of foreign
corn and provision as to reduce the prices considerably of
home produce."
These alarms will ba dissipated before many days. In
Dublin, and generally throughout Ireland, the grain and
cattle markets have been scarcely affected, and an advance,
instead of a serious reduction, is likely to take place early in
the spring. Indeed, there actually has Leon an advance in
the Dublin cattle market within the last week.

THE FREE-TRADERS OF BELFAST.
The Northern Whig contains the following gratifviog
statement :—" It is with the highest gratification that -we
hare to record the extent of public . feeling in Belfast in
favour of the abolition of the corn-laws. A short- time
since a petition was prepared praying the House of Com-
.

abolition of all duties open foreign corn imported—a mea-
sure required alike by sound policy, humanity, and coin-
mon sense.' rhis petition has been signed with a prompti-
tude, and to an extent never equalled in the case of any '
other petition from this town. On Saturday
.W. Pixie, Esq.,
carried it with him for London, to place it in the hands of
our very worthy representative, Mr. Ross, who will give it
his cordial and able support; and Lord John Chichester, the
other Member for the town, has been written to, with a re-
quest that he will alse support it—a request which we hope
ho will, after such an overwhelming expression from his con-
stituents, feel it his duty to comply with. The petition was
upwards of 66 yards in length, and had 14,400 signatures, in-
cluding those of persons of all parties, religious and political.
Among the names were those of the great body of the leading
gentlemen of Belfast. The signatures in the Commercial
News-room, which the leading commercial and manufactur-
ing gentlemen of the town are in the habit of frequenting,
amounted to 800; and from this fact the extent of support
to free trade given by the merchants and manufacturers of
Belfast may be estimated. The Dublin Evening Packet,
sneered at the 90 gentlemen who invited Mr. Cobden to Bel-
fast ; we request our Contemporary to let his readers know
that 14,400 names hare been affixed to a petition from Bel-
fast in favour of 'the immediate and unconditional abolition
of all duties upon foreign corn.' The Dublin Evening Mail,
in a paroxysm of excitement, asks, foolishly, what the flax-
spinners of Belfast, among others, will think of Sir Robert
Peel's measure. We reply, that there is not one flax-spinner
in Belfast who is not a free-trader."
TILE POTATO DISEASE.
NENAGII, FEB. 4.—We continue to receive the most dis-
tressing accounts of the fearful progress of the disease from
various quarters. In the King's County the complaints are
universal. In this county the disease has gone on with
amazing celerity within the last three weeks—many persons
on examining their pits have found their potatoes, in some
instances, altogether useless—not even fit for pigs or cattle.
In several districts the poor are pining in the utmost misery ;
but with unequalled fortitude and patience, hoping even
where there is nothing but religion to assuage their
wretchedness. The heavy and constant rains of the last few
weeks—raining almost without intermission—have done
great injury ; and the softness of the weather otherwise
tends, in a great measure, to produce that fermentation of the
potato, which causes its destruction as an article of food.
CLOSING OF THE PORT-HOLES.
The ports have not been opened, bat the Government have
determined to close the port-holes in their absurd fortifica-
tions erected throughout Ireland during the state trials. The
following curious paragraph appears in the Tipperary Vin-
dicator .

" CummEr.—Whilst the public mind has been in a state
of agitation here on the subject of the corr.-laws, and whilst
politicians were busy discussing the political consistency of
Sir Robert Peel, an order arrived from head-quarters to close
thoports ; and her Majesty's Honourable Board of Ordnance
have commenced operations already, for the port-holes in the
barrack walls are all closed, and there is no more sign of
Clonmel being a fortified town at the present moment, than
if millions of stalwart repealers never had pledged them-
selves to repeal the union; even those unightly show-boxes
which overhang the barrack-gates, are about to be removed,
and not a wreck will be allowed to remain behind to prove
the vigorous efforts made in '44 by the ' strong Government,'
in the futile expectation of coercing the patriots of our loved
island-home into forgetfulness of their country."