The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-17 00:00:00

KINGDOM OF MOSQUITIA.

The following Minutes of the Council of =State of
Mosquitia, dated Sept. 10, 1846, have been banded to
us for publication :
In pursuance of letters under the royal sign Dianna],
convoking a general meeting to be held this day, the
authorities .of this town of Pearl Kay Lagoon, and
various rivers to the northward, assembled in the
Courthouse. . _ _

The grenadier and light companies of the Royal Blue-
fields Militia took their station in Bidwell-street, as a
guard of honour to receive the King in his progress to
and from the Court-house.

At twelve o'clock his Majesty issued from the British
residency, accompanied on the right and left by her
Britannic Majesty's representative and the senior ma •
gistrate of Bluefields, the second magistrate bearing the
crown, and the treasurer carrying his purse of office.
The' King being seated on the throne, and wearing his
crown, read the following speech :--
" Chiefs, Magistrates, and Officers,—lt has been
deemed necessary to call you together, to announce to
you the steps that are about to be taken for reorganizing
the internal government of my kingdom.
6. A commission was formed by my late father, in
1840, consisting of gentlemen all favourable to the in-
terests of this country.
" A testamentary deed was about the same time exe •
cuted, by which my late father nominated and appointed
the gentlemen comprising the said commission to be Re-
gents of this kingdom and guardians of his family during
the minority of his successor.
" The said testamentary deed has been found to be
informal, inasmuch as it does not contain the date of the
commission to which it refers, nor does it embrace the
names of the commissioners.

" "Under these circumstances, to provide for the diffi-
culties and responsibilities which the gentlemen of the
said commission would have to encounter if the duty
devolved upon them of taking rigorous but just steps for
the settlement of various matters rektive to property,
and to obviate the inconvenience which has been found
to arise from the absence of a supreme local government
in this country, it has been determined by me, by the
advice of my legitimate advisers, and with the approba-
tion of the principal inhabitants, to establish a council
of state for the general government of my kingdom. My
commission, appointing the council of state, will be im-
mediately read to you.
_ _

" I trust, with the blessing of Almighty God, the
continued assistance of her Britannic Majesty's Govern-
ment, and your faithful and loyal cooperation, this
country may soon acquire a respectable rank among
nations, and that peace and happiness, religion, and vir-
tue, may be established among us for all generations."
On concluding his speech, his Majesty directed the
clerk of the courts to read the royal commission consti-
tuting the council of state.
The royal commission having been read, his Majesty
directed the clerk of the courts to notify that the mem-
bers of the council of state were to meet on the follow-
ing day, at twelve o'clock at noon, in the Court-house;
which notification the clerk of the courts made as fol-
lows:
" It is his Majesty's command that the members of the
council of state named in the royal commission just
read meet in this hall to-morrow, at twelve o'clock at
noon, to take their oaths of office, and to proceed with
the business of the country.
" God save the King."

His Majesty then left the Court-house, attended as
before-mentioned. Friday, Sept 11, 1846.
Present,—His Majesty the King,—Councillors, George
Hodgson, sen., Alexander Hodgson, William Halstead
Ingram, James Porter, John Dixon, and James Green.
The following oath was administered:—
" Mosquitia. We, George Hodgson, Alexander
Hodgson, William Halstead Ingram, James Porter, John
Dixon, and James Green, members of the council of
state, do solemnly and sincerely swear upon the Holy
Evangelists of Almighty God, that we will, as far as
in our power lies, well and truly execute the duties of
Councillors of State to his Majesty King George, and
that we will impartially administer justice to all his
Majesty's subjects, and others whom it may concern;
that we will not conceal anything that we lay learn or
hear prejudicial to the King's person, crown, or dignity,
and that we will not reveal any matter or thing which
the King, with the concurrence of the majority of the
Council, may desire to keep secret, all in conformity to
the royal commission, bearing date the 10th day of
September, 1846, granted by his Majesty.
" So help us God.
G. HorocsoN.
" A. HODGSON.
" W. H. INGRAM.
" J. PORTER.
" J. DIXON.
"J. GREEN.
" Sworn before the King in Council, this
11th day of September, 1846.
" D. KILPATRICK, Clerk of the Council."
On the oaths being taken, the members took their
seats at the board accordingly.
Tho minutes of yesterday's general meeting were
read, approved of, and ordered to be signed by the act-
ing clerk of the council.
The council then entered into a discussion on the sub-
jects of land, militia, and municipal regulations, which
resulted in Councillor George Hodgson undertaking to
draw up a Bill relative to land, Councillor Alexander
Hodson a Bill relative to the militia, and Councillor
William H. Ingram a Bill relative to municipal regu-
lations. In order to give the above-named Councillors
time to prepare their Bills, the council of state ad-
journed until twelve o'clock on Friday, the 18th of the
present month. DAVID KILPATRICK,
Acting Clerk of the Cond.

OUTLINE of a PLAN for IMPROV-
ING the FISHERIES of GREAT BRITAIN and
IRELAND. By John Jagoe, Esq.

The fisheries attracting public attention, particularly
as a means of improving the condition of Ireland, the
following plan is proposed to effect such a desirable ob-
ject. Since 1830, when the functions of the Government
Board for superintending and encenraging Irish fisheries
ceased, efforts have been made by private individuals to
establish fisheries, which were unsuccessful principally
from the difficulty of procuring men capable of using
improved boats and nets. This occurred in the case of
the Derry Company, which sent to Killibegs boats pur-
chased in Scotland ; similar attempts were made on the
coast of Galway, which failed from the same cause.
Hence it is evident that boats and fishing gear in them-
selves will be round ineffectual until men are trained to
the use of those of an improved structure. It is not ne-
cessary to enter at any great length into the advantages
of industrial education ; those acquainted with Ireland

must admit that it would be far more desirable to teach

the boy to enable him in after life to earn a subsistence
than book education alone, which, in too many instances,
makes him discontented with his situation in life, parti-
cularly when he finds that the mere book•educated ex-
ceed the demand for that class to which he belongs.
Industrial education is much encouraged in Central
Europe, where instruction is supplied to fit the pupil for
the trade or profession in which he is to be employed.
At Amsterdam schools are established for fishery and
maritime instruction, which hare materially assisted in
raising the Dutch fisheries to a high state of perfection.
The Russian Government give great attention to every
foreign manufacturing invention, and encourage its in-
troduction to the utmost possible extent. Dr. Taylor
says, " I have always regarded, as very little short of a
national calamity, the almost total want of the means for
a mercantile and commercial education in this country.
It is sufficiently obviuus that any great revolution in the
business of active life, any larger or more varied demand
on the intellectual powers, must call for a wider exten-
sion of the cycle at school instruction, and a change
in the system of preparatory training proportioned
to the change in the objects in which the trained
minds will have to be exercised. In every branch
of industry the head that plans Lecomes daily of more
importance than the hand that executes. In plain
truth, the manufacturing youth of the higher and
middle classes are not trained for the order to which
they must eventually belong." The report if the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons en arts cud manufac-
tures, presented in the year 1636, states, Yet to us, a
peculiarly manufacturing nation, the connes .un betwt en
art and manufacture is in at important. and for this
merely economical reason (were there no tah, r motive),
it equally imports to encourage art in its hotter attri-
butes, since it is admitted that the rulti.ation of the
most exalted branches of design tends t.. 1 advance the
humblest pursuits of industrj, whale the connexion of
art with manufacture has often devel.,ped the genius of
the greatest masters in design." Mr. A!,,rrison, M.P.,
observes, in his evidence bef:,re the Committee, "It
is a very extraordinary cireunistanc, that, while in
small states, where there are scarcely cry manu-
facturers, one hears of scho, Is of design, yet in this
country, the head of the manufactures 4f he world,
and where it would be of the utmost importance,
we have nothing of this kind." It :s strange, indeed,
that a great maritime country like England, where it
would be of so much importance to have trained fisher-
men and seamen, that their education is totally ne-
glected. Science is unceasingly applied in the construc-
tion of vessels to improve their sea-going and sailing
qualities, yet when constructed, the difficulty of pro-
curing seamen presents itself, who are taken on board
without any known qualification, except a medical cer-
tificate of health. As the benefit of agricultural schools
is admitted, bow much more essential would be the es-
tablishment of schools where the varied modes of fishing
would be taught, the complicated implements for the
capture of fish constructed, and science brought to assist
art? To effect a permanent improvement in fisheries,
it is essential that schools should be established to prac-
tically instruct boys in every branch connected with
them, where they would receive an education to fit them
for fishermen or merchant seamen. In these schools
nets and lines should be prepared, maritime and fishery
improvements explained, the use of the chart and com-
pass taught, as well as of inventions for assisting vessels
in distress, and saving the lives of seamen.
To each of the proposed schools there should be at-
tached a deep-sea fishing vessel properly equipped for
the line and net. fishery, and two row-boats for in-shore
fishing and training. At first the best fishermen should
be engaged for the vessels and boats; their services may
in a short time be dispensed with, by taking six boys on
every fishing voyage, who would soon become suffi-
ciently trained to manage the boat. Connected with
each school there should be a curing house, to teach the
process of salting fish for the home and foreign markets.
As the establishment of such schools would be of general
importance, and though Ireland, from her peculiar cir-
cumstances, ought to be the first place for carrying out
the proposed plan, Great Britain ought not to be ex-
cludel from the advantages : hence the direction should
be in London.

Monthly reports of each school should be made, em-
bracing its condition, the quantity and description of
fish taken by the vessels, the bearings where taken, &c.
This information bring desirable, not only to show the
progress of the establishments, but to afford informa-
tion to those will° may be inclined to fit out fishing
vessels.

Large shoals of fish are met with off the Irish coast,
when there are none in shore. The fishermen, if aware
of the circumstance, cannot reach this mine of wealth,
their boats being two small and fragile for such a pur-
pose. When fish approach the shore for the purpose of
depositing their spawn during their short visits, the
greater part being unfit for food, they are generally cap-
Lured in Ireland.

COST OF THE PROPOSED FISHERY ESTABLISHMENT.
Twenty-lour dwelling-houses and industrial
schools, at 8001. each
Twenty-four vessels at 5001. each .
Forty-eight row-boats, at 151. each

31,920

To feed and clothe 960 boys, being 40 to each
school, per year ...
For masters per year 2,400
Half the fish taken would be sufficient to pay the wages
of fishermen. The proceeds of the other half should ac-
cumulate to form a fund, to be applied in purchasing
boats for six of the best instructed in each school, which
would leave an opening for the admission of the same
number of pupils. As this would occur annually, the
distribution of boats would soon increase the fishing fleet
and the number of pupils.
The advantages of the plan proposed would not alone
be confined to the instructed, as the model fishery esta-
blishment would benefit those who may desire to specu-
late in fisheries, as agricultural schools do the cultivators
of land. The shipping interest would also be materially
benefited. With the exception of Dublin, there are no
pilot-boats in Ireland ; the fishing boats connected with
the schools would be an efficient substitute ; a part of
their duty may be to render assistance, and supply infor-
mation to vessels in distress.

The next consideration is, how the necessary funds
are to be provided—whether by private subscription or
by the State. For the Irish establishments the sum may
be advanced out of the Consolidated Fund for building
schools, the first vessels, and necessary outfit, which may
be repaid in the same manner as the money lent for
building Poor-law workhouses. The annual sum for
clothing, feeding, and education might be assessed on the
counties, or, as the expense of the constabulary is paid
Lilt of the Consolidated Fund, there could be no objec-
tion to pay the amount necessary for the present object
in a similar manner. It may be said that this plan con-
templates only the education and support of future
fishermen, which must be admitted ; but it would be un-
just not to afford some means to the present race, whose
ignorance and destitution can scarcely be attributed to
themselves ; therefore 20,0001. should be voted to form
a loan fund to be lent at the different fishing stations
v
exclusively to fishermen, so as not to perpetuate. the
half n
oughtha to
l f-
sbhei nagt sea, and haot scntza
. a when cultivate
t the e
land
land requires their labour, which causes the neglect of
they ey and
bcith.

THE COUNT DE MONTEMOLIN.—The Count de
Mon tem olin received visits on Tuesday from the following
distinguished visitors :—The Marquis of Ailesbury,
Lord Wynford, Viscount Canterbury, Captain William
Lyon, Count Pietravita, Captain J. F. I3enet, R.N., the
Earl of Carnarvon, &e.
The Norfolk News states that Mr. Benjamin
Smith, in conseque ,ce of the state: of Lis healtii, will not
offer himself spite Lr the re of Nurwich.
A. NEGRO PRIEST.—N mat:ual, euniposed by the
celebrated regoire, for his " children of colour,"
and which he puuly ihed at his own expense some thirty
or forty years since in Paris, was decorated with the
portraits of some hall-dozen black saints (of probably his
own canonization). The followit g paragraph from the
Monitectr Parisien of Sunday, the 13th instant, shows
d Mow.sea. who
that colour is no objection to ordination, at least in the
tihisie this
at the church
Catholicw
as
ordained
sip:a s - -
and
d A
years n
ago,e
preachg r
a ertibsbay celebrate a
o'
Rill
solemn grand mass
of the Petits Tires. Tuis is a subject of great interest
to us, and we think it worthy of the attention of the
public to see one of those men whom the colonists treat
as beasts of the field speak from the Evangelical pulpit
even in the centre of the capital of the civilized world."
FOREIGN Hors.—The members of the hop trade
have been rather excited by the statements tet,road as to
the probable competition they will be subjected to under
the operation of the now tariff. As right views upon the
subject are of importance, we subjoin the following in-
teresting particulars contains d in a part of a letter dated
New York, Nov. 14, and addressed to Messrs. Keeling
and Hunt :—" We have exported from this city from
September Ist to November Ist. 2,585 bales of hops,
averaging say 2251133. to the bale. I should judge tbat
about 1,000 of these have been sent to llavre.about 1,000
to the different ports of Germany, and the balance of 585
to England. In addition to this the city of Boston may
have sent home 500 bales. We grow in this country a
large surplus, say full 10,000 bales, and have consequently
still a large surplus to dispose of. The quality, as far as
the eye is concerned, of our New Yolk growth of hops,
is not as good as usual ; the outer leaf oi the hop is
browned by what is termed a rust. This does not affect
the intrinsic quality of the hop, but I fear would render
it unsaleable in your country. Our eastern hops, how-
ever, are entirely free from this misfortune ; and al-
though they are not so strong a hop by full 20 per cent,
as our western New York hops, still I am inclined to the
opinion that they would sell full us well in England as
the stronger article. Prices here range from eight to
nine and ten cents. per pound for the best qualities, and I
think they will fall still lower. I yetto
hope
send you
a lot this season ; however, another year, to say
the least,
we will be enabled to send you a large quantity."--Maid-
stone Journal.

FRENCH AND BELGIAN RAIL-
WAYS.

The following are interesting extracts from the ap-
pendix to the report from the select committee on Rail-
way Acts Enactments just issued, pursuant to order of
the House of Commons ; they are quoted from the
" Abstracts of the Regulations of the French and Belgian
Railways :"
FRENCH RAILWAYS.

ABSTRACT OF REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL RAIL-
WAYS, OF WHICH THE ACTS ARE TO DATE FROJI OR
AFTER THE 15TH XULY, 1845.
No person or persons to be eligible to compete for the
grant of any railroad unless previously approved of by
the Minister of Public Works.
Unless he shall have deposited,
With the Accountant-General Us la caisse des d6pOts
et consignations) the sum specified in the terms and con-
ditions annexed to the Act (Cahier des Charges) :
With the Minister of Commerce two copies of the pro-
posed statutes of the company :
With the Minister of Public Works the counterpart
registers of the scrip issued.
The deposit receipts cot transferable.
Subscribers to be liable for one-half the full amount of
their shares.
Each subscriber entitled to demand from the company
all the shares assigned to him in the register deposited
with the -Minister of Public Works.
These conditions to be printed on the deposit receipts.
The projectors te be entitled to the refunding of the
actual preliminary expenses only ; such expenses, duty
vouched for, to be allowed at a general meeting of the
shareholders after the concession has been obtained and
confirmed by royal orlinance.
The remuneration to the directors for their services to
be fixed by a general meeting of the shareholders.
All publication of the price of the shares before the
final confirmation of the grant, to be punished by a fine
of not less than 201., not more than 1201.
Any broker who shall have been instrumental in ne-
gotiating the sale of bankers' receipts or promises of
shares bfore the final concession, to be punished by a
flee of the like amount.
Unless when specially authorised by the Government,
the company is prohibited (under certain penalties, ac-
cording to clause 419 of the penal code), from making, in
favour of any carrier or carriers, arrangements, from
the benefit of which other carriers are excluded.
The works being of public utility, the company is
clothed with the same powers and privileges as the Board
of Public Works, in regard to the materials required fur
the construction and maintenance of the line ; and the
compensation is to be determined by agreement or ar-
bitration, as in the case of public works undertaken
by the State.
The company to be subject to the controul and super-
intendence of the authorities, in all that concerns the
maintenance and repairs of the railway, and generally all
arrangements affecting the safety and convenience of the
public. Power given to the Government to provide (if
need be) for the repair and maintenance of the works ;
the expense to be defrayed by tile company, and reco-
vered by summary process.
The expenses of superintendence to be defrayed by
the company.
If works not commenced within the time specified in
the Act, the caution money to be forfeited. (In the
case of the Great Northern of France, amounting to
160,0001.)
The amount of land-tax to be determined according to
the area of land occupied by the works of the railway ;
the quota to be calculated in the same manner as for
canals, according to the previsions of the law of 25th
April, 1543. The buildings and war. houses belonging
to the railway to be rated in the same manner as similar
property in the district.
The Government duty on the passenger traffic to be
calculated on that proportion only of the total charge
which is described as the carrying charge.
All bye-laws of the company to be submitted for ap-
preval by the Government.
The locomotives to be constructed on the best models;
to consume their smoke; to be constructed in conformity
with the Government regulations.
The passenger carriages to be of the best construction:
to be hung on springs; to be provided with seats.
Three classes of carriages at least. First class to be
covered, stuffed, and glazed ; second class to be covered,
glazed, and to have the seats stuffed ; third class to be
covered, and to close with side curtains.
The goods and cattle waggons to be of approved con-
struction.
Maximum duration of the concession fixed by the
Acts. (The railway from Paris to the Belgian frontier
limited to 41 years.)
Government to fix the maximum and the minimum
speed of the passenger and goods trains.
Unless special exemption be given by the Government
(which exemption may at any time be revoked), every
passenger train is to comprise a sufficient number of car-
riages of each class for the accommodation of persons
coming to the station,
Should the company deem it proper at any time to
charge either for the entire distance, or for portions of
the line, fares and tolls less than those authorised by the
Act, those fares and tolls cannot be raised before an in-
terval of three months at the least for passengers, and of
One year at the least for goods.
One month's previous notice shall be given by adver-
tisement of the proposed alteration in the charges; such
charges to be confirmed by the authority of Government.
Wln n a reduction is made on the fares, it is to be
apportioned pro rata, on the tolls and the carrying
charges.
Weight of luggage allowed to each passenger without
extra charge : 6Glbs. Avoirdupois (30 Kilogrammes.)
The company bound to forward goods within two days
from the date of delivery at the station. If consent be
given by the consigner for longer delay, the charge to be
less than that authorised by the Act, and according to a
scale approved by the Government.
Soldiers and sailors travelling singly on the public
service, or on furlough, to pay half fares ; military or
naval men travelling in bodies to pay quarter fares.
If the Government have occasion to send to any point
on the line troops, military and naval stores and mate-
riel, the company to place at its disposal all its carrying
stock and plant at half charges.
The Government engineers, and other Government
officers on duty on the railway to travel free.
The same privilege to belong to the collectors of rates,
and the customs and excise agents, engaged on duty on
the railway.
All the service of the Post-office to be performed free
of charge by the ordinary trains. The company to pro-
vide in every train a partition specially devoted to the
use of the Post-office ; the size and form of the partition
to be fixed by Government. Special trains may, more-
over, be demanded by the Government at such times as
it may direct. The carriages required by the Post-office
authorities, for special trains, to be constructed and kept
in repair at the expense of the Government.
The charges for these special trains not to exceed
I per mile for one carriage ; for every additional
carriage 31d. per mile extra.
These charges subject to be revised every five years,
and settled by arbitration ; but in no case to exceed the
above rates.

The company bound to convey, when required, by
every ordinary train, the waggons and carriages required
for the conveyance of prisoners. These waggons and
carriages to be constructed at the public expense, but
their conveyance to be free. The Government officers,
police, and prisoners travelling in such carriages and
waggons to pay half third-class fare.
Power to Government to construct an electric telegraph.
At any time after the lapse of fifteen years from the
date of the opening of the line, Government may pur-
chase the railway on the following conditions, viz.:—
To determine the nett revenue from the railway for the
seven years next preceding the date of the purchase, and
to take the average nett revenue of the five most pro-
ductive years out of the seven.
This average to constitute tho amount of an annuity
payable to the company for the remainder of the term of
the grant.
In no case this annuity to be less than the nett revenue
of the last year preceding the purchase.
At the end of the term of the concession the com-
pany to surrender the railway in good repair, under cer-
tain conditions more minutely specified ; the Govern-
ment then to succeed to all rights and privileges of the
company in respect of the line, and the works attached
thereto.

Any subsequent grant authorising the construction of
roads, canals, or railways, in the same or neighbouring
districts of country, not to entitle company to a plea for
compensation.
To allow of an easy comparison of the rates authorised
by the Act previously analysed, with the English rates,
it is necessary to add to the rates already given ten per
cent. allowed to be charged, in addition, for the Govern-
ment duty, this ten per cent being calculated (clause 38)
not upon the total charge authorised to be raised, but
upon the carrying charge only.
Police Regulations applicable to all Public Railways, and
having reference to the safety of Passengers and
others on Railways.

Punishments in various degrees, up to pain of death,
for wilful damage or destruction of the railway, or
im-
peding of the transit.
Further regulations relating to wilful impediments, or
threats of impediments.
Whosoever shall, either by imprudence, inattention,
awkwardness, negligence, or non-observance of the laws
and regulations, have (not wilfully) caused an accident
followed by wounds, or bruises, shall be punished by im-
prisonment, not less than eight days, nor more than six
months, and fine not less than 5f., nor more than I,ooof.
Engine drivers or conductors regulating the breaks
who shall have left their posts during the progress of a
train shall be punished by imprisonment, not less than
six months, nor more than two years.
Historical review of the two systems of constituting rail-
way companies in France; viz., by direct grant, or by
grant by tender.

Although the introduction of the railway system in
France is comparatively recent, enough has been done to
admit of a comparison of the practical working of the
two systems, that of directs grants, and that of grants
by tender.

CONSIDERATIONS BEARING ON THE COMPARATIVE COST
OF WORKING RAILWAYS IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
The French railways are subject to several special
charges heavier than they are in England.
For example, the Government inspection on the Paris
and Rouen line, defrayed by the company, amounted to
(207,526 francs) 8,300/.
The coke is more expensive in France.
The system of charge for the passengers' luggage, and
generally this branch of the traffic requires a greater
number of hands in France, for its greater complexity.
goods' traffic, a large proportion of the
cost of delivery, loading and unloading, which in France
is wholly. performed at the expense Of the company, is
borne in England by the carriers who pertorm the work.,
These observations are made with a view to explain
the greater ratio which the working expenses bear to the
mett receipts in France than in England.
An important element that must materially influence