The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-05 00:00:00

MARCH 6, 1846.

place, -when the deputation submitted their unilizzauni
for the consideration of the Directors. I am informed
that the greatest good feeling on both sides was
manifested at this interview, but the particulars will not
be known till the discussion, which will take place after
my parcel leaves Bristol by the express train.

SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY.
The half-yearly meeting was held, by adjournment,
on Tuesday, at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth. There was a
very full attendance of subscribers, and considerable interest
was manifested in the proceedinge.
The otject of the meeting was to elect directors in place of
those who retire by rotation, to appoint auditors, and to
transact other general business of the Company.
Mr. THOMAS GILL, M.P., was in the chair ; and among
the directors present were Messrs. Gibbs, Millar, Fry, Coll,
Hanker, St. Aubyn, Woolecombe, John Randle, Barlow,
Jones, Shapland, Col. Harris, &c.
Mr. Brunel, the engineer to the Company, was likewise
present, as was else Mr. Samuda, the patentee of the atmot
pheric system cf traction.
The SECRETARY having read the notice of meeting, and
the resolution of adjournment passed at the pro forma Meet-
ing, held on Saturday,
The CHAIRMAN said, in commencing the few observations
that he should offer upon the objects of their meeting that
that had obliged him top ostpone the meet
.day,
important
day. They were aware that individually hehadvery
occasion
t
impor te n t
at hrayt
in time to have been present, and knowi .
nwt silsatlriiagthn
that there were several important matters to be brought for-
duhteiesshtoo
ward about that period, the directors, who had been similarly
not, consistently with those duties, have left Londnono.
ualdttennclottioc,e atn.lindeg he could
situated with himself, thought that the best course would be
to postpone the meeting until the present time. He hoped
that it had not caused inconvenience to any party; if it had
it would give him pain to have been the occasion of it. He
would new allude to the present financial position of the
Company. The directors had made calls, as they were aware,
up to the present period to the extent of 351. upon each share,
amounted to IROOOOi. When he last had the
and which am
..,...., , Lieu' epaulet" to avow making
the Irst call upon the shareholders, and they bad accordingly
taken measures with that view by advertising fur loans of
money on debentures at 4 per cent. He had reason to be-
lieve at that time, and in which opinion he believed most
present on that occasion agreed with hint, that they would
have been able to obtain a sum of money quite adequate to
their wants, thus rendering it quite unnecessary to make an-
other call upon the proprietors for that purpose. Unfortunately
from the state of the n oney market they had been disap-
pointed in their expectations. They need not be reminded,
that for some time previous—in fact, during the whole of last
summer, railway speculation had acquired a point at which
it had never before attained ; in short, it had correctly been
stated that railway speculation had gone mad. Money was
therefore conceived to be more valuably apprcpriated than
it could be in the way he had referred to ; and failing, as
the measure they had adopted had, it would fully explain
the reason why they had made the call in November. He
had the satisfaction of saying, notwithstanding the abort
notice of the call, it had been responded to in a manner
which had served in a great measure to relieve their anxiety
lest it should have proved inconvenient. It would, he be-
lieved, be greatly to their satisfaction to hear the rea-
sons-, which bad made it necessary to make calls
for money so repeatedly. The state of the works
had exhibited very considerable improvement, and
the expenditure had of course been proportionably large;
but he had the satisfaction of saying, although the sum of
700,0001. had been drawn, a portion had been found neces-
sary in order to make the necessary deposits with the Ac-
countant-General for those schemes in which the Company
had embarked under the sanction of a public meeting of the
shareholders, and that had taken a sum equal to 90,000/.
They had done that, with a balance in hand at the close of
the year, of between 20,0001. and 30,000/., which showed that
they had spent up to this period a sum not exceeding
590,000/. He believed he might say with confidence, and in
that statement all his colleagues would join, that notwith-
standing the largeness of the calls, and notwithstanding they
had not yet been enabled to give any public evidence of the
progress of the works by any demonstration of the working
of the line, yet there was every reason to believe that the
undertaking would be completed within the amount
of the subscribed capital as described in the Act.
The Chairman then entered into avariety of other statements',
embracing the principal features noticed in the report. He
described the nature of the reports which had been circulated
to the prejudice of this line, and the animus of which was
quite apparent. He hoped that the line by the ordinary
locomotive mode of traction would be opened to Teignmouth
in May, and as shortly afterwards as practicable to Newton.
A variety of questions were then asked the Chairman,
and satisfactorily answered ; they were principally in refer-
ence to the atmospheric system of traction.
Mr. C. STRPHENs, of London, made some observations,
with a view of ascertaining the probable loss to the Com-
pany should the system which they proposed trying prove a
failure, and should the undertakings to which they had lent
their support not answer the expectations of the promoters
He had every confidence in the directors but he asked these
questions as a commercial man, to test ate value of his pro-ie
rty and the nature of the contingencies to which it was
bject.
The Citantstast repliA that the greater part of the iron for
cl4O
t wliole line was purchased and paid for, and they had
•tarted to the other undertakings from the certainty of
their paying.
Mr. SAMUDA then entered into' a variety of details prov-
ing the excellence of the atmospheric system of traction.
The retiring directors were then re-elected, as were the
auditors, and a vote of thanks having been given to the
Chairman, the meeting separated.

The following is the
ENGINEER'S ItEPORT

" Gentlemen,—lt is with great regret that I have again
to report to you upon the general state of the works, without
at the same time congratulating you upon the completion
and opening of any portion of the liue, although I feel that
no exertion has beau wanting on my part to attain that ob-
ject, and that the delay has arisen from a variety of causes
to which such works are always liable, and which are be-
yond the control, and to a great extent beyond the foresight
of any engineer.
" Upon that part of the line nearest to Exeter, which we
had hoped to have opened last summer, the works are not
what can at all be termed, in an engineering point of view,
either heavy or difficult of construction, nevertheless at
almost every point we have been dependent upon circum-
stances over which we have had no control.
" Under the provisions of the Act almost every step has
been subject to the jurisdiction of Government departments
and private interests to adopt our works, which has
involved frequent and harassing delays, and the successive
stages of the work have, moreover, been always dependent
upon the weather and the season, against the effect of
.which
in postponing certain portions at one time and interrupting
the supplies of materials at others it has been impossible to
proceed. In the hopes which I at one time entertained of
an early completion of this portion of the line I calculated
upon the ordinary effects of these causes. In these hopes 1
have been disappointed, and having made the utmost exer-
tions in my power, I could only share in your disappointment
in the results.
" These disappointments are, however, I trust, now draw-
ing to a close, and we now may safely calculate upon opening
the line to Teigumouth, and probably soon after to Newton.
" These delays in the completion of the works have given
rise to numerous and somewhat industriously circulated reports
of difficulties and serious impediments, which have no doubt
added to the anxiety and disappointment of those interested
in the success of our undertaking, but I am happy to soy
that the connexions of these reports has been almost in re-
verse ratio of their number.
" No difficulties except those productive of delay have
occurred in the slightest degree affecting the stability of the
works or the ultimate successful working of the line.
" It would be impossible to refer to the numerous sources
of alarm which have been suggested, and therefore it is ht-
possible to meet them in detail, but I believe you will be
satisfied with my assurance, corroborated as it must be by
your own frequent personal inspection of the line—that all
those works between Exeter and Newton, to which the
attention of the public has so frequently been drawn as ex-
posed to injury from the sea, have been constructed sub-
stantially, have resisted successfully that to which they arc
exposed, and are well calculated to afford a perfectly safe,
convenient, and I May add agreeable road for the public.
"No part of these works have ever, during their construc-
tion, suffered wore than ordinarily occurs to all works ex-
posed to the action of water, and rails arc laid for nearly the
whole length of that part so reported, and promises to 'be as
good and as substantial a railway as any that have yet been !
constructed.
"In the employment of a new system—l refer to the at- '
mosphoric—delays will unavoidably occur, and in my desire
to profit by the experience of the Croydon Railway, ✓I
have
intentionally, and I think wisely, postponed some matters of
detail, which has caused a considerable delay in the comple-
tion of this part of the machinery necessary for an opening.
The success of this system upon the Croydon Itailw,,y
has fully confirmed me in the view I entertained of its applica-
bility to this railway, and I deliberately repeat my opinion
that I entertain no doubt whatever that you will be perfectly
satisfied with the result.

" The delay which I have referred to in the fixing of the ma-
chinery, has induced you to consider the propriety of running
passenger trains for a period with locomotives. 'This can be
done with perfect facility, and will not interfere with the
completion of the atmospheric apparatus.
"Arrangements will be immediately made for effecting
this object.
"Upon the rest of the works of the line to Plymouth the
works are in a much more forward state than appears to be
generally supposed—a considerable portion will be ready to
receive the permanent way in the summer, and the whole,
except at Plymouth itself; is proceeding very satisfactorily.
"At Plymouth, as you are aware, we are waiting the deci-
sion of Parliament upon some proposed improvements on the
line.—l have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obe-
dient servant, "1. K. BRUNEL."

state they were not successful in obtaining to an amount at
all commOnsurate with their wants, and no alternative was
then left hut to follow the course which they reluctantly
adopted. It is gratifying to state that this call was in ge-
neral responded to by the shareholders with the greatest
punctuality.
" In regard to the several projects for lines in which the
Company is interested, and for which Bills are now before
Parliament, your directors have no further information to
convey than that which was communicated in their report of
the 30th August, and is the proceedings of the special meet-
ing of the 11th November. With the exception of the Ash-
burton and South Devon Junction, and the Exeter, Topsham,
and Exmouth Railways, all of them are still before the
Committee of Standing Orders.
" It would now be the duty of your directors to allude to
the state and progress of the works upon the line, but as a
detailed report has been prepared by your engineer, they be-
lieve that they will beit consult your wishes by referring you
to that document for the desired information.

" Whilst they cannot but partake of the general feeling of
disappointment which they regret to find is so preValent at
the delay which has occurred in opening the -line between
Exeter and Newton, that feeling would have been greatly
increased did they not feel conscious that no want of atten-
tion or of exertion on their part has been instnnnental in
causing that delay, and that it is to be attributed to circum-
stances which they could neither have contemplated nor pre-
vented. They have the satisfaction of believing also, that
however disappointing the delay may have been, it will vet,
in the greater perfection and security of the works, ulti-
mately prove advantageous to the interests of the Company.
"Your directors cannot be surprised that the attacks with
which both the South Devon Railway and -the atmospheric
system of traction have been so perseveringly assailed, should
have indueed many persons to suppose the one to be very
defective and insecure, and the other to have proved a total
failure. But they believe that it would not be difficult
to trace the exaggerated statements and perversions
of fact which have constantly appeared in certain
publication?, to insidious attempts of parties inte-
rested in decrying the one and suppressing the other.
Your directors would not however have deemed it necessary
to bestow any notice on such mis-statellterjAialtfacttl2 op-
ooluerajnetc7artittruinislied: confidence in the atmospheric
*Slain of traction, and of assuring them that the prejudice
which has been raised against that part of the line which
passes over the sea beach, is entirely destitute of truth: of
this the public will themselves shortly be enabled to judge.
"Confident as your directors continue to be of the succes-
ful working of the atmospheric system, the unforseen delays
which may occur, where many of the minor but necessary de-
tails are still experimental, have suggested the expediency of
taking the advantage of the early summer traffic by running
passenger trains with a locomotive engine on the line as far
as Teignmouth.

" Tour directors consider that this may be done, not only
inexpeniv, ly and with little or no interruption to the pro-
gress of the atmospheric arrangements, but with considerable
advantage to the Company.
_

•" In conclusion your directors have to report that the Great
Western Railway Company have appointed Mr. George
Jones to be a director in the place of Mr. W. S. Jacques,
deceased.

" In conformity with the 88th clause of the Act of Incor-
poation, the following directors retire by rotation, but are
duly qualified for re-election :—Mr. Gill, Mr. Cole, Lord
Courtenay, and Mr. Fox ; and it will be the duty of this
meeting, under the 108th clause of the Act of Incorporation,
to proceed to the election a two auditors for the ensuing year.
" THOMAS GILL, Chairman."
THE RUSSIA COMPANY.

The anniversary dinner of this important commercia
corporation was held on Monday, at the London Tavern
and was attended by a large number of influential gen-
tlemen connected not only with the interests of the
company itself, but with the most extensive commercial,
financial, and political establishments in the city of
London.

Mr. William Astell, the governor of the company,
was in the chair ; and on his right sat his Excellency
Baron Brunnow, the Russian Ambassador ; on his left
were the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank
of England, and the Chairman of the East India
Company. The following distinguished persons at-
tached to the Russian embassy, and the other
gentlemen, whose names are well known as instru-
mental in maintaining the good understanding so essen-
tial to the welfare of both nations, were also present:—
M. de Berg, M. de Kalergi, M. de Koudriaffsky, Baron
Nicolay, Colonel Romauoff, Captain Schwabe, Lieute-
nants li,lbaen, Sokoloff, Evodomikotf, Abroscoff, Pan-
kratieff, Alexandroff, Barbouresko, Colonel Jackson,
the Russian Consul, Mr. George Lennox Conynghatn,
Mr. J. G. S. Lafaire, Mr. J. Bidwell, Captain Thornt,o, -
R.N., Governor and Deputy-Governor- of the Baulk,
Governor and Deputy-Governor of the East India Co it-
pany, Mr. J. Masterman, M.P., Mr. E. Harman, Mr.
B. Hawes, M.P., Mr. A. Paris, Mr. E. Gower, Mr. A.
L. Gower, Mr. J. 11. Astell, Lieute-ColonelAstell, Mr.
Braysher, Collector of +hat-Majesty's Customs, Mr.
T. Tooke, Mr. W. Tooke, Mr. W. Little, Mr. J. Little,
Colonel Colquhoun, Mr. R. Fall, Mr. W. Gladstone, Mr.
T. Cope, &c.
The toasts of " The Queen," and of " The Queen
Dowager," " Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and
the rest of the Royal Family," were drunk with all the
tokens of the mast ardent sincerity and enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN said, that on all occasions of the
meeting of that Company, it was felt essential to pay
a tribute to another sovereign of great eminence, whose
favour was of inestimable value to that ancient corpo-
ration—established as it had been in 1556—he meant
the Emperor of all the Russias. It was with peculiar
pleasure that he called upon the company to join him
in drinking " Health to that illustrious sovereign."
The toast was responded to with much cordiality. '
The CIIIIEM kN next proposed " The health of Baron
Brunnow," and declared that, not only the Russia Com-
pany, but the country at large, were indebted to his Ex-
cellency for the able manner in which he seconded his
imperial master's desire to preserve relations of amity
with Great Britain, and to secure the peace of Europe.
Baron BRUNNOW returned thanks for the honour
that had been conferred upon him, and expressed
his grest gratification at the cordiality with which
the toast had been received by the company. He
assured them that it was with the greatest pleasure he
availed himself of all opportunities of meeting with
the merchants of London, for whom he entertained
so high a respect and esteem. His Excellency then
congratulated the company upon the cordial and friendly
relations subsisting between his Sovereign and the
Queen of Great Britain, and upon the growing pros-
perity of those commercial interests so essential to the
welfare of both empires, and concluded by proposing.
" The health of the Governor of the Russia Company."
Mr. ASTELL returned thanks, and said, that frequently
as it had been his lot to return thanks for a similar com-
pliment, at no time had it been more grateful than now,
when the interests of both countries were so essentially
promoted by the zealous efforts of the illustrious noble-
man on his right to cement and perpetuate the union.
He begged to repeat his thinks for the honour they had
done him. _ _

The CHAIRMAN at his next rising said that heretofore
tha Russia Company had had reason to rejoice in the
presence of her Majesty's Ministers, but at present they
were engaged in the important duty of recording the
thanks of Parliament to those whose exertions had
caused the victories of the east to be wafted to the west.
lie would not speak of the Members of the Govern-
ment as absent friends, but as gentlemen of great talent,
great honour, and to whom the country was mach in-
debted. They were now called upon to discharge their
duty under very difficult circumstances. The eyes
only of Englaml, but of Europe, were upon Sir Robert
notbert
Peel and his colleagues, and he heartily wished them
health and happiness under their arduous undertak-
ing.—(Cheers.)
sThee Gon proposed " The health of Mr.
rina
it with the expression of the
nr
prefacingtcon nex t
sentiment that the representatives and the constituency
of the city of London were equally to be envied in their
relation to each other.

Mr. MASTERNAN, in returning thanks, assured the I
company that he would never be found wanting. in
humble efforts to discharge the duties which his high
trust imposed upon him.
G oTvhe ern no
re xt
of tt
he Bt
awnaks ,"0
fETnhgel aGn
do;$: rannodr
for and w ti)r'
J. B. Heath returned thanks.
The " health of the Chairman of the East India Com-
pany" having been drunk,
Sir H. WiLLoca returned thanks, and took occasion
to say that the intelligence of the recent events in India
had been received with mingled feelings of pain and
sa because all the
endeavours ofthteheEacr India Company, of the home
Government, and of the local authorities in India,
which had been directed to the preservation of peace,
with a view to develope the resources of the country,
had been thwarted by the invasion of the Seikhs—
but gratification at the brilliant result of the contest,
and the renewed credit it reflected upon the British
arms. Sir Henry then paid a tribute to the Russian
Autocrat for his successful efforts, in conjunction with
those of the Queen of Great Britain, to preserve the
peace of Europe, and concluded by characterising the
capital of St. Petersburgh as the seat of hospitality.
" The healths of Mr. Edward Harman and Mr. henry
Cayle)," Here drunk, and acknowledged in appropriate
terms. _ _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of a distin-
guished nobleman, who combined in his own person the
service of half the sovereigns of Europe—the Duke of
Wellington.—(Cheers.) That illustrious man was a
field marshal in the army of Russia ; and it was appro-
priate, in the presence of the representative of the ruler
of that great empire, to drink the health of him -whom
posterity would recognise as the hero of the 19th century
The toast was drunk with three times three, followed
(upon the invitation of Baron Brunnow, as officially an-
nounced) by one cheer more.
The Chairman then resolved into a toast, which was
drunk with the utmost enthusiasm—" The motto of the

Russian Company—peace, amity, and concord between
Great Britain and Russia," and the company then
broke up.

MARGATE, MARCH 3.—A sale cf lan took place at
the York Hotel, Margate, yesterday by public aucd
tion, the land by
no means of a first-rate character ; the land all arable, seine on
the cliff, anti of course subject to the blight of the emit vtind ; anti
although no farm buildings are attached to the land, and no
fear part b
neiew
ng
available for building ;so much do the agriculturist the
tariff, that the land eagerly fetched 781. per acre.
GRAYESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY.—The fol-
lowing are the traffic returns for the week ending Feb. 28 : —Fasten-
cers, 5,506 ; amount received, 1361. 175 6d.
ALassca's.—We have reason to believe that the
Lathers ratronesses do not prpose to give a series el' these popular
rfurtion, previous to Easter,u as was aIIIIOI.IIIC4XL

ASHFORD MECHANICS'
INSTITUTION.
A lecture on the "Art and Science of Political Economy"
was delivered on Thursday evening last at the Mechanics'
Institution in this town, to a c: owded meeting of its mem-
bers, by the Rev. John Ductoesßeestra-Wareliorne. The
`Rev. Leeturer übzerrretr tEht the science to which Ise was
about to call their attention was usually spoken of as
one of the most modern. This was only in part true,
as its novelty consisted in the arrangement of well-
known facts. The advance in chemistry, matheinatics,
and natural philosphy in modern times was held sufficient-
to constitute them new sciences, and yet the greatest inno-
vations were regarded as improvements. lie considered
the name of Political Economy a disadvantage, and unfor-
tunately chosen and calculated to lead to incorrect notions.
Adam Smith has designated his work a treatise on the
"Wealth of Nations." Others have described Political
Economy.as the "Science of Exchanges;" and again it has
been proposed by others to designate' it the "Philosophy of
Commerce." It is plain, however, said the .Rev. Gentleman,
that this most important branch of science has for its
o'sject to ascertrin the philosophical principles of juris-
prudence, and, in the circumstances of man's externel con-
dition, to point out that the most effectual plan for the
advancement of human improvement and happiness is to
conform to the principles and that order of things recom-
mended by nature. Of the truth of these remarks en-
lightened men seem now to be generally convinced; for
the most celebrated works which have 'been produced in
different countries of Europe, by Adam Smith, liiiskisson,
Ricardo, Turget. Quesnai, liecearia, and others, have aimed
at the improvement of•society by this means. After speak-
ing with much force on the importance and utility of the
science, and pointing out -4 wsalrh" AS having no more
necessary connexion with avarice or sordid selfishness than
the inquiries of the physiologist and the chemist respecting
the organs of digestion and absorption of nutriment with
gluttonous excess, the lecturer remarked that nations the
most ignorant and poor, and tribes the most savage, are as
prone to avarice as any others. After noticing and refuting
the opinions of those who contend that a poor country is
more favourably situated for virtue than a rich one, be
et e
and to
itsb e
an evil, ittosss- ah still thatneecveestelaiify wtoeasitthudwyeirtes andanjui rt
production, the causes which promote or impede its in-
crease, and the laws which regulate its distnbution, jt.it as
bodily diseases are made the subject of laborious and minute
inquiry by physicians, with a view to their cure. The
Rev. Gentleman then made some striking and valuable re. •
marks on the prevailing fallacies connected with common
sense and experience, in order to prove that men in general
give their testimony in favour of the former in those cases
only where they themselves have nothing else to trust to—
resorting to systematic study—to rules of art and science
in those of which they-respectively possess the knowledge.
The 'sailor, for instance, would laugh at the' idea of navi-
gating a ship by commoni sense; so woola eass-architect in
in the treament of diseases.
.I.47sii;Ograrr'd-s-experlegeiritch:lllecturer adduced some beautiful
and interesting illustrations to prove that time alone does
not necessarily confer experience, nor carrying on business
one way necessarily confer experience in another, and that
the idea of enlightening incorrect reasoners by giving them
more knowledge is like the tale of the school-boy making
a flat roof and laying on more straw to prevent the rain
soaking through. His more intelligent companion saw a
new arrangement was wanting. Straw is also wanting,
but no quantity will supply the want of knowing how to
build. After dwelling on anatomy, and physiology, as fur-
nishing a most important part of natural theology, he ad-
verted to the practical success which is invariably found in
proportion to the scientific knowledge men possess, arid
added, the more these sciences were studied, the more light is
thrown on the wisdom of contrivance which the structure of
organized bodies displays—inferences which he thought were
obvious, although, perhaps, not really more clear and valid
than in any other. In the beautiful words of the poet,
"All nature is but art unknown to thee,
All chance direction which thou can't sot see."
If, then, order and regularity prevail in the material world
(lie continued), equally do they predominate throughout
moral and intellectual existences. An attentive inquirer
would perceive a no less admirable apparatus for the pro-
gress of society. The Rev. Gentleman proceeded to notice the
division of labour, and the co-operation which is required
before a single pin can be made and brought to market,
and the many thousands of workmen necessary to provide
the coarse, rough coat of the day-labourer in a civilized
community. Who then could venture to estimate the
number of people who combine their labour before a large
city is supplied with provisions and the useful objects they
enjoy? After quoting one of the most profound thinkers
and powerful reasoners of the present age, to show with
what ease this wonderful and important end is accomplished
by private interest, operating on the numerous class of
wholesale, and more especially retail traders—a mechanism
which no wisdom of man can direct so well, he said " no
wisdom of man," for in this instance, as in most others.
there are the same works of contrivance and design, with
a view to a beneficial end, which we admire in other
branches of Natural Theology; nay, it tended more to ex-
cite our admiration to contemplate rational agents co-ope-
rating, not by gravitation and impulse like inert matter,
but by motives addressed to the will—presenting to the
reflective mind a branch of Natural Theology more striking
than any other. " The heavens do indeed declare the glory
of God," and the human body is " fearfully and wonder-
fully made ;" but if the phenomena connected with man
as a rational agent and a member of society were as well
understood as Anatomy and Physiology, it would exhibit
even mere striking marks of Divine wisdom than we hays
any knowledge of. After a few striking remarks en what
is called pure and uncultivated; nature, in remote and
•sequestered • districts:-son those who speak of the manly
a'irtu' and practical wisdom of our rude and simple fore-
fathers, and regard vice as something imported from.
thseged cities, smoky workshops, and bustling manufac-
tories, the lecturer went on to prove, at some length, that
as tendencies to deceit, sensualitS; end all othgevices exist
in all mankind in every state of society—a fact which men
may learn from observation, conscientiousness, and Holy
Writ—so the counteracting and restraining checks of pru-
dence, morality, and religion have the less or more sway,
speaking generally, according as a community is more or less
advanced from a state of rude and barbarian ignorance. He
concluded that, as a general rule, advancement in
"national wealth," which men are adapted fur and im-
pelled to promote by the Most High, must be favourable
to moral improvement, and that they have by this means
been designed to advance in virtue, and true wisdom, and
happines. " But," continued the Rev. Gentleman, " lam very
tar from thinking we have realised the advantages which
increasing national wealth holds out as regards moral, in-
tellectual, and religious advancement. It is certainly true
our condition in this Wand is much improved, as compared
with what it was when our Anglo• Saxon ancestors were
first settled in it; yet I hor 'and trust those who follow us
two or three centuries hence will look upon us as semi-
barbarians—that commerce between different countries,
rendering them mutually dependent, will lessen their disposi-
tion to go to war—and that slavery and war (which, if
Christianit v were heartily and generally embraced, would be
entirely unknown) will, by the spread of civilization and just
views of political economy, be banished from the earth."
During the delivery of his lecture, of which the abh.veeitseda
neagre outline, the 'Rev. Gentleman was frequently greeted
with warm applause, and he resumed his seat amid much
sheering.—Kentish Gazette.

DUTCH SPIRITS,—On a memotial, some time since,
to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, by
certain parties, importerts of geneva from Holland, praying
relief in regard to the construction put by the officers of the
reverlue, under the superintendence of the Customs' Depart-
ment, upon the recent act of the last session of Parliament,
cap. 86, as applicable to spirits imported in glass bottles fur
the purpose of re-exportation to the British colonies, the
authorities received a communication from Mr. Cardwell,
one of the secretaries to the Lords of the Treasury, stating
that he has been coirmanded by their Lordships to convey
to them their permission for directions to be issued allowing
geneva to be imported in glass bottles, containing not more
than three pints or 12 gills each. This privilege, it appears,
had been permitted for a length of time previously to the Act
mentioned coming into operation, which Act, in the opinion
of the officers (prohibiting as it does, as a general rule, the
importation of foreign spirits, unless in casks or other vessels.,
capable of containing liquids, each of such casks or other
vessels being of the eize, or content of 20 gallons at the least,
or in glass bottles or stone bottles not exceeding the size of
quart bottles, and being really part of the cargo of the ship
in which the game are imported, and included in the mani-
festin
or other papers enumerating or descriptive of the
cargo thereof), caused an objection to the continuance of
sanctioning the privilege,
Treasury in the matter, and as an
the practice, and thereforeuntthile
ex
proper authority front the they
the irdec reception one e lbyj
had sprung •
important
trade tip in conse-
quence of length of time the privilege had been
threatenedper.,
with serious detriment, if not
totalltte mined,
extinction, w.ehtiandehlwasif the privilege were at once and suddenly
withdrawn, the memorial in question to the Lords of the
Treasury was rendered necessary, and which produced the
sanction of their Lordships for the same to be continued
to be permitted. The memorial of the parties alluded to
referring only to the importation of the article in battles of
the size mentioned for the purpose of exportation, a ques-
tion has recently been made by the revenue officers as to
whether the Treasury order on the matter was to be deemed
applicable to such and similar importations for home use
equally as for exportation, and en application from the party
concerned to the heads of the department requesting the
delivery of a case of the spirit imported front Holland in
glass bottles containing 8:1 gills each, detained by the revenue,
officers as being each half a gill under the proper alae,,
as restricted by the 63d section of the Act 8 and 9 Victoria,
cap. 86, above quoted, it has been decided that the order of
the Treasury, made in consequence of the former memorial on
the subject to them, as before stated, is to be understood to
include all importations of geneva front Holland, whether for
home consumption or otherwise, and not to be restricted to
importations of the article for the purpose of exportation
only. This is of considerable importance ; and it is not im-
pro.bable that, as geneva is included amongst the list of article&
on which it is intended that a reduction of duty to a con-
siderable extent shall shortly take place, the importation of
the spirit for consumption in this country will be much in-
creased.

COLONEL WOOD, M.l'.—At a free-trade meeting,
held on Tuesday in the Commercial Rooms, Chelsea, for the purpose
of supporting feel's free-trade Ineaures, Colonel Wood, M.P.,
for Middlesex, attended, anti openly declared for a total and imme-
diate repeal of the corn-laws.

SUICIDE OF A MERCHINT.—On Monday afternoon an
inquest was held at the Hampton-court Palace, Hampton-street.
Newington, before Mr. Carter, on the body of Mr. John Shaw, as
American merchant, who committed suicide by cutting his throat.
under the following melancholy circumstances:—Elizabeth Finch.
housemaid in the service of the deceased, who resided at No. 5.
Walworth-terrace, deposed that her late master was a rnerct+
and had only been married eight weeks before the commission ti's_
rash act. For some weeks the deceased had been in a low.el_e....p_o_h.(.l:
Mg state of mind, which witness believed was owing toti
property
nate gentleman believing that he should lose considerablea Pro
in the event of
In Hudson's Bay and other parts of North Anletricthe expected war with that country breakingooru._
boon after
morn-
ing she took up to the deceased hot water.
her
hermistress
t rrsislead•c went the
u p tto l deceased,
ist edbut
r Ene:ir"ooudt nnthoewatani esse"le-oaecsrke'. etillwViatiitsslemselt,
there. The door of an adjeinlng r
(aon,i.leorenat
knees, with Ids throat cut theln
i rd(.l
dreadfulejca•eastesred,,nw,
was
sns
nadleilis,:ceo,:biTudrte discovered
hoopth.eidy
"7'l;l:l:date. Witness went for Mr. BotlelV.
insensible,suirg eoN),:istai)i.oienP:pg'r?foill; ornezr:;b4l.l73 articulate.
arrived.
day.a Several witnesses, friends of the deceased,
spoke to the state of his mind as having been much depressed and
agitated for some time past, after which the jury returned a verdict
oof'c'tlroencHk7trlaerlYT:EnnieLitCyENDlAßY FIRES NEAR BUCKINGHAM.
—The sum of 2501. is offered for the conviction of the parties who
set lire to the premises at Preston Bissell. 'rite County Fire-office
offer 11)0/. for the conviction of the person who set lire to Mr. Janes
Gough's premises, and 501. is offered by the inhabitants of Preston
Bissett, and 1001. by her Majesty's Principal Secretary Of hitate, to be
i;haahilitloeaatniytopteir,sesidiiwscloiyoesryhaallngdiac'oeusNuicelti
ioitiinoirfntihattioinucintaidiaeryviodrenLeeiale.
diaries who fired either of the separate properties in the occupation
of Mr. Row, Mr. J. Gough, Mr. A. Irons, And Mr. John Markham,
situate at Preston Bissell. A promise Is also held ant that the
Secretary of State will recommend her Majesty's pardon to any ac-
complice, net being* the person who actually set fire to the pro-
perties, who will give the desired evidence. One ht the properties
fired belonged to the Rev. John Risley, and two of them belonged to
the Duke of Buckingham. A member of the metropolitan police
three has been staying at Preston sire* the fires, with a view of
tracing out the guilty parties • but at present no clue has been ob-
tained. Of late a number of game-law cases have originated at
Preston Bissell, at the Instance of the Duke of Buckingham's game-
keepers, Mid it is believed that they have leil to the above tires.