The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-18 00:00:00

IRELAND.
SUSPENSION OF PUBLIC WORKS.
DuumN, DEc. 15.—1 n consequence of a very heavy
fall of snow in some of the western counties, it has been
found necessary to suspend public works, and vast num-
bers of the destitute iy.asantry are left totally without
the means of rrovidiu4 themselves Vtith food. An
order is likely to be issued— indeed that it has
already baen decided upon—directing the inspecting
officers to call over the list of working people each
morning during the suspension of tLe w,rks, and to pay
them for each day equally as if the works had b,en in
progress.
PRODUCTIVE LABOUR—CULTIVATION OF

THE LAND.
The Board of Works have issued the following im-
portant and well-timed circular, with a view to the
carrying out of works undertaken in accordance with the
circular of the Chief Secretary :
" CIRCULAR, NO. 38.
" Board of Public Works, Dec. 9, 1846.
" The employment of tl,e destitute on roads and other
public works must soon terminate, and reproductive
works be substituted for them. To render such works
reallf beneficial and morally useful, the landed proprie-
tors must join hand In hand with the Board of Works.
Every proprietor or farmer will be int, rested in the
practical success of some local work, and as the number
a ill be great, the success will be in proportion to the
zealous co operation which the Board may receive.
" Works connected with thorough draining and sub
soiling with the spade must be executed systematically
and caliaiy—no external force, no hurry can be admitted.
The numuer of labourers required for each particular
work can be accurately known, and each individual
labourer should have a task allotted to him, say, suffi-
cient for a fortnight or three weeks.
" To enaLle each labourer to till his own farm, or that
of a neighbouring farmer, and at the same time earn the
support of his family through employment on drain-
age works, it is proposed that the task to be allotted to
each labourer should consist of a certain length of drain,
and the collection and breaking of stones for the drain ;
where the stones are to be gathered from the same or
neighbouring fields, the children of the labourer may be
employed by him in collecting them into heaps, and, if
sufficiently near, depositing them on the side of the drain
cut by the lather.
" Ir, with the assistance of his children, the task,
sufficient for a fortnight, be completed in six or eight
&eye, the labourer will receive his money, and be at
liberty to devote the remainder of the fortnight to farm
labour, and- still will have earned sufficient to support
his family until the time arrives for commencing a second
task, amid so on.
" To render the drainage works substantially bene-
ficial to the landed proprietors, it is necessary that the
most approved system of thorough draining should be
adopted. To effect this obje ct, the Commissioners of Public
Works mean to appoint district inspectors of drainage,
whose duty will be, in the first instance, to examine the
site of every work presented for ; to determine the ex-
tent of land to be drained, and mark its boundaries
on the Ordnance plans , to lay out the works connected
with the main or open drains ; to determine the depth
and all the detail belonging to the covered drain ; to
estimate the cost of the dra:nage per acre ; to value the
land in its present state, and give his opinions as to the
ins: eased value which will result from the drainage ; and
report on the whole to the Commissioners.
"During the time occupied by the inspector of drain-
age in the performance of his duty, the landed proprie
tor, the agent, or steward, should attend for the purpose
of receiving instructions as to the particutar works to be
executed in each case, and should recommend suitable
perairnS; who may be employed ';is loCal overseers to
carry them out
" The'stewards or farmers, as the case may be, to act
without-Mary; but the local overseers recommended by
them, when approved of by the inspector of drainage,
will be Paid ace .trding to their qualifications and ex-
ertions.
• " The sanction of the Treasury having been received
for the drainage works of any district, and the number
of labourers to be empio3ed in each determined, on
due notice being given to the Relief Inspecting
Officer of the Board of Works, he will name labourers
for each from the list of the destitute residing
within the electoral division or barony as is usual fir the
road works; and it is expected that the landed proprietors,
farmers, and stewards connected with each work will use
every exertion to scrutinise the list of the destitute, to
insure that none who have other means of support be
employed. The land Will be assessed for the expendi-
ture, and consequently the admission of persons not
requiring relief, by adding to the number, will propor-
tionably increase the assessment ; hence it becomes the
interest as well as the duty of all cess -payers to limit
the admission of labourers to these who are wholly des-
titu

"By order. JOS. C. WALKER. Secretary."
DESTITU I'ION.—DEATII FROM STARVATION.
The Thom Herald contains the following :
" We regret to state that our various communications
during the week represent the state of the people of the
country as fearful in the extreme. From some of the
remote districts of our own county we have received the
most horrifying details of the sufferings of the poorer
classes ; and, alas ! various particulars of deaths from
starvation have reached us.
On the 6th instant, an inquest was held by A.
Hosty, E,q., coroner, at Lisheenager, on view of the
body of Michael Walsh.
" Mary Walsh, having been sworn and examined,
said—The deceased was my husband. We had neither
potatoes nor corn for the last twelve weeks, nor did de-
ceased get but six days' coot k during that time. There was
no public works in the neighbourhood, but one road,
and he wa., unable to get employment ; the only sup-
port ourselves and three children had were a few tur-
nips, and occasionally a little meal we used to get from
a neighbour ; we lived upon one meal a day, and often
suffered from hunger for the last three weeks. Deceased
took ill on the Ist instant, and died on the .Thursday
following. All the relief I could procure him during
his illness was a dose of castor oil from the Headford
dispensary, and twopenny worth of bread a neighbour
gave me. During that time myself and my children
lived on a few boiled turnips, without meal or any other
mixture, and we are all suffering from hunger.
Such, reader, is a specimen of many of the details
that have reached us."
The following letter appears in the Tralee Chronicle:—
‘• Killarney, Dec. 9, 1846.
" Dear Sir,—Having travelled with the coroner Mr.
O'Riordan, from Kenmore, on Monday last, I learned
from him the particulars of an inquest which he that
day held at Shountore, three miles to the west of Ken-
mare ; and with the hope that publishing them may at-
tract attention in some quarter to that neglected part of
the country, I send them to you for insertion in your
useful journal.
" T,.e name of the deceased was Mary Sugrue. She
and three female children, aged ten, six, and four years,
lived in a wretched hut near the road side ; and it ap-
peared, from the evideme of Mary Reilly, that deceased
and her th r e
dchildren
rwsei
inet
and
her hthree
e ochildren
Sawteurre-
day week, all
gave them some small share of food, and
starving.
heSuhriengdid not see her after until Satur-
a child crying near the hut, she
and found the second child outside the
d from weakness. She took the
dtialeyylNaysetn, tawaySl
e when,
child into the hut,..dw
apparently so. She called in some
‘dv:onrt'tu°nwaabrld: tiot,
stand
she found the mother dead,
and the young 1
child was not there ;
whochi tookitthies cshopilpdorseendows•boey.
weTnht etoeldbeesrt
igl eriagnhdbfamithrtsx' , who lives
peared to have recently d
the hut—no furniture—nothing
was neither' food
nor drink of any kind in .
serable blanket. She swore
but a little straw and a Sr
her
post morteni examination ; he
" Dr. Mayberry made a P f tly empty—no trace
per ec
found the stomach and bowels
she had no doubt but decernalsed died from want of food.
of food of any descriution cou
t of sustenance.
doubt the deceased died from wan
" Theme was a verdict accordingly.
Id be found, and he had no
he body of a
Kenmor.?, about a fortnight before,. on t
roadside,
" The Coroner had another inquest at Benan.e, near
man, named Robert llanipston, who died on the
Monday haveoy n
of hunger, when a similar verdict was returned.
. e
knows how man h • n God only
jtuhset
shaemaredgaunaorttheerr dfreoamthshtausr
starvation.
.place sine
fall victims fromyave mi-
sery, the same cause. Where is all this
to end ?-'l. am S'
• ~. 2, Sir, your obedient servant, ~
fallen', and how many others will
" H. DOWNING.
oi‘niegssstrsth.
MEETING OV LANDED PROPRIETORS.
There was a meeting oeGfse.laAnd.ed proprietors yesterday
presenti were.l the
)iin,.ls)buabwli,n.tsilt,nßight Hon.
O'Connell. M.P., Lieutenant-Colonelmr,ton, M. 1., Daniel
Ed-
ward Grogan, M.P., Monsen, N • or, M P rall , . ~
Napier, J R Godley, Chas.
Wm. Hamilton, Bolton Massey, &c. J.
•
It was resolved—" That with a view
difficulties of the present alarming crisis, ato meeting the
formed to collect suggestions to be laid before
be
Members of both Houses of Parliament, as the Irish
mea-
sures which ought to be brought forward. to the
TRALEE, DEC. 12.--A company of the 77th, under the
command of Major Clarke, proceeded yesterdaymorning
to Cahireiveen, together with a large police fore, c to
pro-
tect the Government stores, threatened by some
ofthe
I hungry population of that locality.—Tralee Chronicle.
,ed

WHAT WILL MESMERISM DO ?—We extract the
following remarkable statement from a letter dated.Bos
ton (United States), the 14th ult.:—" A curious dis-
covery has recently been made here—viz., that by in-
haling sulphuric eller fur two or three minutes, the pa-
tient may be thrown into a state of entire unconscious-
ness for about the same length of time, during which
the most serious operation may be performed without
suffering. Dr. Morton, cf Boston, a dentist, has tried
it about two hundred times with almost uniform success.
It has also been applied at the hospital in great opera-
tions. Dr. Hayward last week cut off a leg above the
knee, for a white swelling. The patient was perfectly
unconscious, and the operation, owing to her entire
passiveness, was performed with unusual ease. It has
in a few cases failed, owing probably to peculiaritof
constitution or temperament, or want of skill in the ad.
ministration."—Galigiu
MR. DENIPSTER'S BALLAD SOIREE.—Mr. Demp-
ster, from the United States. gave his first musical en-
tertainment—or, as he Las happily termed it, " ballad
soiree"—at the Princess's Concert Room, on Wednesday
evening. There was a full and highly intelligent audi-
ence, among whom we noticed the American Minister,
and several distinguished literary p rsons. With two
exceptions, the pieces which Mr. Dompster sang were
his own compositions, which were given ix such a simple
and beautiful style that the audience were at once capti-
vated. Mr. Dempster's voice is a pure, sweet, and
powercul tenor, ano is managed with refined cultivation
and per 'ect taste. He is among the best ballad singers
wo ever hoard, He was warmly welc.imed, and several
, of his pieces were loudly encored. We are convinced
that Mr. Dempster's c istertainments will become highly
popular%

THE LATE COLONEL DAVIES.
(Frien the Worcester Chronicle.)
Our obituary of this week records the decease of Col.
Davies, for a lung period the est( emcd and independent
representative of this city in Parliament. The gallant
Colonel was descended of an ancient family which had
been long sewed in :Montgomeryshire. His grandfather
was rector of Fownhope, in the adjacent county of
Hereford, and he was the eldest son of the late Thomas
Davies, Esq., Advocate General to the East India Com-
pany, and a great friend of the Governor-General
Warren Ilastiegs, by Anna, daughter of Ilugh Baillie,
Esq., of Monekten, Ayrshire. He married on the 17th
January, 1824, Augusta Ann, the only child of Thomas
Creepig,ny, E.g., wler survives him. Some twelve years
ago Colonel Davies had the misfortune to be thrown out
of a carriage, wlllt,t canvassing, and was slightly para-
lysed there by. This gradually increased, so that for
some years he has been perfectly helpless. On Tuesday
he grew worse and was taken with slightsickness, which
continued at intervals. On Wednesday and Thursday
he was attacked with hiccup, and it became evident that
he was gradually sinking. On Friday morning, about
three o'clock, I,e expired without a struggle, in the pre-
sence of his attached friend and medical attendant, Mr.
Francis Duties, of Pershore. Colonel Davies was in
his 58th year, and has left no issue. Ile first appeared
before the electors of Worcester, as a candidate for Par-
liamentary honours, in 1816, on the death of Mr. W. A.
Roberts, which occasioned a vacancy in the representa-
tion of Worcester. Ile professed himself the advocate
of retrench" eat and Parliamentary reform, but Lord
Deerhurst, vv ho had been an unsuccessful candidate at
the general election in 1812, was in the field before him,
and had made his election sr cure. In consequence,
after a canvass which made it apparent that it would be
fruitless to Oppose his Lordship. Colonel Davies retired,
with a promise that he would again present himself at
the general election:
In ISIB he fulfilled this promise, anti three candidates
appeared on the hustings, Sir William Duff Gordon,
who had represented the city in the two preceding
Parliaments, Lord Deerhurst, and Colonel Davies. The
poll was kept open for seven days, and the number of
votes recorded for each candidate was as follows:-
1,422
Lord Deerhurst
Colonel Davies 1,024
Sir W. I). Gordon 874
•
At the election consequent on the death of lung
George the third, in 1820, Lord Deerhurst and Colonel
Davies were elected without opposition. At the genera
election, in 1826, Lord Deerhurst retired after a can-
vass, on the pretext that his appointment to the Vice-
Lieutenancy of the country would devolve upon him a
mass of public and private business incompatible with
the discharge of his duties as a representative. The can-
didates were Colonel Davies and Mr. G. R. Robinson, to
whom was very unexpectedly added, on the morning of
the election, a third, in the person of the late Mr.
Richard Griffiths' of Thorngrove. The poll, as in 1818,
was kept open for seven days, and the numbers at its
close stood as follows:
Mr. Robinson
Colonel Davies
Mr. Griffiths 1,036
The two first were declared duly elected.
On the sudden dissolution of Parliament, in 1831,
arising out of the question of Reform, Colonel DaVies
and Mr. Robinson were returned without oppOsitifin.
The Hon. Captain Fitzroy, a brother of Lord South-
ampton, also .appeared in the field, but his address, offer-
ing hineself"ae a"eandiaate, was immediately succeeded
by another, iriwvhieh he annonhded:his intention of with-
drawing freiriwhat he 'quielcly ascertained would be a
hopeless contest.
At the general election, immediately succeeding the
Reforenßill, Colonel Davies and Mr. Robinson were
again. elected without opposition. Mr. R. A. Dundas,
now Christopher, and one of the Members for Lincoln
shire, addressed the electors on the Tory interest, but,
as his address states, he did not receive a sufficient num-
ber of promises on his canvass to warrant his' proceeding
to the poll. In 1835 Mr. Joseph Bailey came forward
upon Tory principles, and after a severe contest, suc-
ceeded in defeating Col. Davies by a majority of 17, the
numbers being—
Mr. Robinson
Mr. Bailey.
Colonel Davies
On the opening of the session of Parliament, a peti-
tion of George Munn and others was presented against
Mr. Bailey's return, on the ground of bribery and treat-
ing, the improper reception of votes, and other causes,
and praying that the election of Mr. Bailey should be
declared void, and that Colonel Davies should be declared
duly elected in his place. The committee to which this
petition was referred was composed of a large majority
of Tories, and of course the result, from the beginning,
was foreseen. After a sitting of eleven days, the peti-
tioners withdrew from a contest which the nature of the
decisions pronounced by the committee in regard to
certain disputed votes rendered hopeless, and Mr. Bailey's
election was confirmed.
At the general election consequent on the death of
King William IV., in 1837, Colonel Davies again came
forward. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Bailey were also in
the field, but Mr. Robinson, though put in nomination
in the usual form, annonnced from the hustings his in-
tention of retiring, and Colonel Davies and Mr. Bailey
were returned.
At the election in 1841, Col. Davies declined again
offering himself as a candidate, on the score of ill-health,
and was succeeded by our late learned representative,
the present Chief Baron Wilde. Thus the gallant
Colonel represented Worcester for more than twenty
years, and in six Parliaments, or, with the exception of
the short Parliament of 1835, uninterruptedly from
1818 to 1841. TI e lion. Gentlemen entered the 52d
Regiment of Foot at the early age of 15. He was a cap-
tain at the battle of Vieneiro in 1808, and went through
the whole of the Peninsular war up to the crowning
victory of Waterloo. where he displayed the character-
istic bravery of a British soldier, without a day's illness.
During his lengthened Parliamentary career, Colonel
Davies distinguished himself as the unflinching enemy of
improvident expenditure. In the cause of retrenchment
he was a fellow- labourer with Mr. Hume, whose econo-
mical motions he so constantly seconded or supported,
that he acquired the soub' iquet of Smollett, atter the
eminent continuator of Hume's History of England.
Colonel Davies was the advocate of all well• considered
reforms, but opposed to rash and causeless innovation.
He was favourable to an extension of the suffrage, to
the vote by ballot, and to a shorter duration of Parlia-
ment, and, as might be expected, strenuously supported
the Reform Bill in all its stages. His vote was uniformly
given on behalf of every measure calculated to extend
the privileges or increase the comforts of the people,
while he watched with jealous supervision every item
of the public expenditure. The revision of the pension
list, the abolition of sinecures, and the reduction of taxa-
tion, were objects for which he also contended in Parlia-
ment. By pursuing a steady, persevering, and inde-
pendent career, he secured the warm attachment of his
political friends, and was equally respected by his oppo-
nents. In his capacity of a country gentleman he led a
quiet and secluded life, which indeed the state of his
health of late years rendered indispensable, at his beau-
tiful seat of Elmley Park, which he purchased of the
executors of the late Bourne Charlett, Esq., shortly
after forming a parliamentary connexion with the city of
Worcester. Colonel Davies retired from the army a few
years since, having been up to that time on the half-pay
list. His late constituents will receive the intelligence
of his disease with sincere regret, for he had won their
esteem by long and faithful service in Parliament, and
their good will by his courteous demeanour and the at-
tention which he paid to the humblest of the citizens.
An accomplished gentleman and a most humane and
kind hearts d man, the death of Colonel Davies pro-
duces a blank that will not readily be filled up. In every
relation of life be was exemplary. An admirable officer
and upright and clear- headed magistrate, a kind and
benevolent master, an affectionate friend, and an in-
dulgent husband, he was respected and beloved by all
who had the gratification of knowing him, more espe-
cially by his own immediate circle, which he pre-emi-
nently adorned.
The funeral of the late gallant officer will take place
on Friday. Sir J. Pakington, Sir T. Winnington, R.
Temple, Esq., C. Hanford, Esq., E. Holland, Esq., and
E. B. Marriott, Esq., will be the pall bearers on the me-
lancholy occasion. Colonel Davies leaves two brothers,
who reside in Sussex, Warburton Davies, Esq., and
Col. Francis Davies, of the Coldstream Guards.

Wright, of Mill-hill, florist, was about
as Mr. William
\bed he was suddenly seized with an
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH --Wednesday morning,
to rise from his
and
'died instantly, without uttering a
apoplectic fit,
was highly respected among a
of friends in the neighbourhood of
numerous circle
ed was fifty-six years of age, and on
Hendon. Deceas
‘uts
in the enjoyment a vigorous
1 the night previously
health. The deceased
. ART SOCIETT.—The last meeting for
word.
ri Great Marlborough. street, when the
of the society, i
Mr. Cooper. The evening was taken
chair was taken by
r'h.eld on Wednesday evening, at the rooms
lic n of the construction of theatres,
ithe Chairman on the Italian Opera
a paper being read by
the Opera House excited a
House. The details of
which Mr. E. T. Parris, Mr.
theu up in
3lAi nl :1
seasonci
lengthened discussion, and
various other members took
Crabbe, Mr. Seddon,
f very extensive observations on
part, giving the result o
the leading continental theatres.
TUE DEPARTURE OF
Acolansiderat
cuATHAm.—Wednesday
THE 31ST REGIMENT FROM .
n wished regiment, re-
Lt °hr lla RY INTELLIGENC E•
g of three companies,
cently arrived from India, consisting .
morning the 1.-ft wing of this disti
The strength of
the two divisions consisted of 7 sergeants,
Bat racks, en route for Walmer, Kent.
3 drummers,
command
h of
marched at nine o'clock, in two divisions, from Chatham
and 244 rank and file, and were under the c
march
command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Spence,
in .
Major John Garvick. The head-quarters, under te
this morning on the some route. On the medical
spection of the head-quarters, on their arrival here, it
was found necessary to send to the invalid depot about
60 men, to be discharged on pensions. The s.,ith Itegi-
ment—The reserve battalion_ of this regiment, under
orders fur embarkation for Gibraltar, consists of 2 staff
sergeants, 38 sergeants, 14 drummers, and 483 rank and
file, and is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel P. S•
Norman. The battalion is expected to embark at the
end of the present month.
VlENNA.—(Extract from a private letter.)—Prince
Metternich has suffered severely from bronchitis ; al-
though recovered, he is weak, but the worst symptoms
are those arising frcm the effects of age. Count de
Kinsky has committed suicide. This would have created
sensation were it only that he is one of several noblemen
who have perpetrated this act this year.. But Count
Kinsky, of a princely family, is related to the Lichten-
steins, the Lobkowitz, the Esterhazys, &c., the greatest
houses of the empire, as well as to Kollowrat, the Mi-
nister of State, who will have to dispute with Counts
Fiquolmont and Much Bellinghausen, the official inhe.
ritance of Metternich. The Frbnch atrabassadar'ii po-
Isition here is anything but pleasant. He was kept in
the dark to tilq'bot go Nardi i,,1151 griVirf affair.

GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL

The general court-martial, at Chatham Barracks, on
Captain Bull, of the 57th regiment, on the charge of
putting Major Shadforth, his superior officer, in arrest,
and assuming the c,,mmiteel of the head-quarters of the
regiment, while on board the ship Mary Anne, in Simon's
Bay, Cape of Good Hope, having concluded the case for
the prosecution on Tuesday, we may now give a short
account of the proceedings since the 10th instant.
Previous to being sworn, Major Shadforth said it was
with deep regret that he came forward in the unenviable
position of prosecutor in the present inquiry ; but he felt
bound to do so, both for the public good, and the good of
the service. He thought the accused had been tilled to do
as he had done by interested individuals, unacquainted
with military discipline. On being sworn, he said, I came
home in command of the head. quarters Of the 57th Regi-
ment. On July 9th, 1846, when at Simon's Bay, Cape of
Good Hope, on board the barque Mary Al no, about
midnight, the prisoner came to my cabin door, and said,
" Mr. Allen, the master or the ship, has reported to me
that you came on board the ship in a state of intoxica
tion. I think it my duty to order you in arrest." At
this titne I had been upwards of an hour in bed. When
I came on deck the followii g Pawning, at eight o'clock,
I went on the poop. Shortly afterwards the prisoner
came up to me, and said, " Are you aware, Major Shad-
forth, that I came to your esbin last night and ordered
you under arrest." I replied, "Yes, and a-pi ce
of impertinence en your part ; you want to assume
the 'Command of the regiment ;" he then went
away. The acting adjutant, Lieu. enant Grant, was on
the poop, and I called to him to send for the regi-
mental order-book, and insei t therein, " That I wished
to meet the whole of the officers at 10 A.M. that day."
He refused to obey my order. As I was leaving the
poop I said, in a loud tone of voice, addressing Captain
Bull, " It is my positive orders that no officer leave the
ship without my permission." I then sent for the ser-
gk ant-major of the regiment, and ordered him to put in
the pass-order book, That I wished to meet the whole
of the officers that morning at ten o'clock." I then went
to breakfast, after which, Captain Stanley, of the 57th
Regiment, under my command, reported to me in writing,
that he had been placed Mader arrest by Captain Bull.
I found Captain Bull had quitted the ship in disobedience
of my orders. Captain Bull had been detailed as cap-
tain of the day, for the 10th July, in his regular tour of
duty. He remained absent from the ship till the morning
of the 11th July, when he returned on board.
Major Shadforth called, as his witnesses Captain
Stanley, Assistant-Surgeon Jackson, and private James
M.`Ciister, the orderly of the day.
Captain Bull, by his witnesses, as a justification for
what he had done, produced evidence to prove that Major
Shadforth and Lieutenants Hunt and Logan returned on
board on the night of the 9th July, in a state of intoxi-
cation, and that he was called up from bis bed by the
captain of the ship in consequence thereb, that officer
representing to him that there was danger to be appre-
hended from the state in which the' officers had retired

to their cabins with lighted candles. To prove this state-
ment, A. P. Allen, the commander Of the ship, was called,
and he alleged that the major, when he came on board,
fell upon the deck, and staggered to the cuddy; and
other witnesses spoke to the state of the two lieutenants,
who were described as being extremely noisy; and Lieut.
Sweton Grant, then acting adjutant, who was ordered by
Capt. Bull to go their cabin and see to the light,' stated
that he found dhe of them lying on his bed, and the othq:
so intoxicated ilitithhe'was ,lliged to help him into his cot.
In ex planatiA of Co pt.' Bull's absence, it appeared dila
went to Cape 'Town tU Peflresent the affair to the authdrities
there, aid! returned 4ith' an order for the major's arrest;
and a court of inquiry Ibllowed, when the major was rein-
stated in his command, and Captain Bull ordered into
close arrest, for having unjustifiably ordered his com-
manding officer into,arre,t. Mr. Allen, and Mr. Prinne,
the surgeon of the ship, appear to have been the parties
who expressed their alarm for the safety of the ship, and
this led to the steps taken by Captain Bull. It was
stated by one of the witnesses that the major and the
master of the vessel had always appeared on good terms;
but it was elicited, in the cross-examination, that Major
Shadforth bad complained of the state of the ship, say-
ing he (lid not consider her seaworthy, and that he
should report her as such; and it seems it was found
necessary to caulk her waterways by men-of-war's men,
after a visit by some naval officers. Mr. Prinne, the
surgeon, having left the country, the prisoner produced
his written evidence, accompanied by an affidavit made
before one of the judges at Westminster; but this was
rejected, after submitting the same to the Judge Advo-
cate-General, through the Horse Guards. It appeared
that up to the 9th of July Major Shadforth and the pri-
soner, as well as all the other officers, had been on those
friendly terms which usually exist between officers of the
same corps.
For the defence, Captain Bull called, besides Mr.
Allen, the commander of the Mary Anne, William
Woodbury and William Hunter, cuddy servants ; Lieu-
tenant Grant, Lieutenant Chads, and Major Garvick,
of the 31st Regiment, the latter being called to character,
having served with him in the 10th Regiment in 1839.
The evidence on both sides being completed. Captain
Bull asked for time to prepare his defence. The Court
will therefore meet, on Monday next, when the same will
be read.
To Major-General Brotherton, the President, the
thanks of the members of the press are justly due for
his attention to their accommodation throughout the pro-
ceedings.

WOOLWICH.
The half-yearly examination of gentleman cadets un•
dergoing a preparatory course of study at the Cadets
Barracks, at W oolwich, to qualify them for commissions
iu the Roy al Engineers and Royal Regiment of Artil-
lery, took place yesterday in the large hall of the Royal
Military Academy, in the presence of the Lieutenant-
General Sir Thomas Downrnan, C.B. and K.C.H., Com-
mandant of the Garrison (I'resident) ; Major General
Sir J. F. Burgoyne, K.C.8., Inspector• General of For-
tifications ; Major-General Sir H. D. Ross, K.C.8.,
Deputy-Adjutant-General of Artillery ; Major-General
Sir J. Webber Smith, C. 13., Director-General of Royal
Artillery ; Major-General John Buteler Parker, C. 13.,
Lieutenant-Governor of the Academy ; Major-General
Thomas Paterson, Royal Military Repository ; Major-
General Lacy ; Colonel Dansey, C.B. ; Lieutenant-
Colonel English, commanding Royal Engineers at
Woolwich ; Lieutenant Colonel Jones, Royal Military
Academy ; Lieutenant- Colonel Dundas, C.B. Director
or the Foundry Department ; Major Burnaby, resident
Captain of the Gentlemen Cadets ; Brigade-Major Sand-
ham, Royal Engineers ; Captain Tilden, Deputy-
Assistant Quartermaster General, Royal Artillery ;
Captain Savage and Captain Harrison, Royal Artillery ;
and Captain Stotherd and Captain Williams, Royal En-
gineers.
Professor Christie commenced the examination of 23
gentleman cadets of the theoretical class, at 10 o'clock
a.m. ; and the following having passed in a satisfactory
manner, have been advanced to the practical class for
study in the Royal Arsenal, previous to obtaining con
missions :—Richard 11. Stotherd, William H. Noble,
Henry Schaw, Edward N. Heygate, George H. Gordon,
Augustus J. Clerke, Charles A. Rice, Charles J. Fowler,
Henry P. Yates, Murray F. Ferrell, Samuel D. Wright,
Henry A. Thrupp, Charles E. Mainwaring, Alexander
Gordon, William J. Williams, Charles F. Young, Sand-
ford Freeling, Oliver R. Stokes, Walter G. Grimston,
William D. Guille, Charles E. Oidershaw, Nathaniel-0.
Turner, James F. Pennycuick.
Field-Marshal the Marquis of Anglesey, K.G., G.C.8.,
and G.C.H., Master-General of the Ordnance, presided
at the examination in the afternoon, which was con-
ducted in the practical class by Major-General Paterson,
of the Repository Department ; Major-General Lacy, of
the Carriage Department ; Colonel Dansey, of the La-
boratory Department ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas,
C. 13 , of the Foundry Department ; Major. General Sir
William Gossett, C. 8., and K.C.H., Royal Engineers ;
Lieutenant-Colonel Hardinge, KM.*
and Major Cup-
page, were present, in addition to the other officers, in
the afternoon.
The following 'gentleman cadets passed for commis-
sions, and will be appointed to the Royal Engineers and
Royal Artillery :
James Liddell, John E. Michell, Charles W. Burry,
George C. Henry,
Thomas P. Warlow, Charles H.
Sedle, William P. Lambert, Richard Warren, Philip
Bedingfield, Hugh Williams, Spencer P. Childers, Wil-
liam H. Mytton, Hon. John J. Bury, Richard P. C.
Jones, Henry J. M. Campbell, Reginald 0. Farmer,
Alexander Mackenzie, Charles M. Govan, Charles H.
H. Ingilby, Robert P. Gabbett.
At the conclusion of the examination, his Lordship
the Master-General of the Ordnance made an appro.
propriate address to the whole of the gentleman
cadets, pointing out to them the propriety of their
conducting themselves in a manner which would
be creditable to the service and profession they
wished to follow, and read a report which had been
drawn up by the authorities and approved by his Lord-
ship, a copy of which would be sent to the parents and
guardians of every gentleman cadet, to assure them that
it was the determination of the head of the Academy to
abolish, by the most strong measures, the system of one
cadet making a neux of another; and that it would be
better for any parent or guardian to withdraw those
under their controul at once, if they could not guarantee
that the gentleman cadets would refrain from conducting
themselves in a manner in direct opposition to the rules
of the Academy, as any departure from the regulations
nd
upon in future.
would insure their dismissal. Field Marshal the Marquis
of Anglesey was very impressive in the delivery of his
admonition to the gentleman cadets, and was listened to
there can be no doubt
steas(ti v
iactetewnitlilobne, a
acted His LORDSHIP then delivered the prizes, and said a
kind and encouraging word to esch of the recipients as
the prizes were handed to them by Lieutenant-Colonel
with
thLo thredsghriepa'
Jones, by direction of Major-General Parker, the Lieu-
tenant-Governor.
G. C. Henry--
,A Regulation Sword.—Practical Class.
W. H. Noble—First Class Mathematics.
A. R. Clarke—Second Class Mathematics.
R. H. Stokes—First Class Fortification.
B. M. Parsons—Second Class Fortification.
W. G. Noble—French.
11. P. Yates—German.
B. Bridge—History and Geography.
E. Bainbridge—Military Plan Drawing.
A. Gordon—Landscape Drawing.
B. Stotherd—Landscape Drawing.
J. Liddell—Surveying,
Stotherd—Chemistry.

between the gamekeepers and watchers of the Marquis of
Anglesey-, and Josiah Spode, Esq., of Armitage Hall,
near Rugeley, and a determined gang
A rencontre took place
AFFRAY WITII PoActtEas--,
twelve to fifteen ion in a
preserve on the Armi-
tage Bail estate, Monday night last. After a despe-
rate conflict► in which one of the keepers was severely
wounded, and a poacher shot through the thigh, five of
the offenders were secured. They have since undergone
of poachirs, from
an examination, and then committed fur trial.-131r•
milham Gazette.

CRISIS IN THE COTTON TRADE.'
PUBLIC MEETING AT OLDHAM.
On Monday evening last, pursuant to notices to that
effect, a public meeting of the inhabitants of Oldham was
held in the large room of the Town hall, for the pur-
po:o of ~ taking into consideration the propriety of re-
commending to the mill-owners and manufacturers of
Oldham and its vicinity the urgent necessity of working
short time during the present stagnation of trade, and
the high price of cotton, in accordance with a memorial
presented to theut from the associated cotton spinners
on the 191.11 of October last, and which memorial prayed
them to adopt Shod time for a season." The placards
convening the meeting-announced that Mr. Charles
M
Hindley, '.P., would 'attend, and explain the necessity
for adopting. the short- time system. The room was
crowded to excess, chiefly by factory operatives, forming
an indisputable proof of the great interest they take in
the present state of the trade. A considerable number
of master cotton spinners and manufacturers were seated
on the platform, but they did not take any part in
the proceedings. John Mills, an operative spinner,
was unanitncusly called to the chair. He opened the
basin* S 3 in a short but p,-intt d introductory speech, in
which he expressed his conviction, that in order to avoid
the extension of the prevalent stagnation, and a recur-
rence of the scenes of 1842, it was vitally necessary that
there should be an immediate abridgment of the hours of
labour for a season. (Applause). It was said by some
that the deficiency in the crop of cotton amounted to
500,000 bales, and if no measures were taken to avert
the approaching stagnation, the result might be the
thrown'r out of work of 30,000 or 40,000 hands. He
trusted the working classes generally were beginning to
understand that the state of trade was always regulated
by the principle of supply and demand, and they should
act in accordance with such facts.—(Applause). He re-
regretted to announce that a letter had been received
from Mr. Hindley, M.P., stating that he was unable to
attend in consequence of indisposition. Benjamin Tay-
lor, an operative, moved the first resolution, which was
to the effect, "That in the opinion of the meeting it was
highly de,irable for the welfare of both the employers
and employed to adopt the short time system for a sea-
son, in consequence of the much greater advance that
has been made in the price of cotton than in the prices
of goods 'and yarn, and the necessity of avoiding the
throwing out of employment or the reduction of wages
of a great number of the operativei." Thomas Wilson,
en operative, seconded the motion. The chairman next
read the letter of Mr. Hindley, which was dated the 14th
instant. Ambrose Hurst, author of a recently published
volume of poetry, supported the motion in a spirited
speech. In his opinion, unless a speedy restriction was
placed on the powers of 'production in cotton mills, the
advancing price of cotton _would so far encroach on the
amount of capital as to Begin to affect the wages of the
working classes in an injurious proportion. Robert
Bardsley, an operative, moved the second resolution, to
the effect, " That the meeting, being' duly impressed
with the embarrassed state of trade, earnestly desire the
'master spinners and manufacturers of Oldham t 9 eo-
op'rate with the employers of other places to work short
time for a season." John 'Brewer, a delegate from the
taisosno, which wasspinnersciatedcottonunaniunanimously mousof Bpuslsteod.
n, aTechoendperdocteheedimng%
terminated by a vote of. thanks to.the chairman.—Man-
chester Courier.

REDUCTION of the DUTY on TEA
NOTTINGRAm, WEDNESDAY.—Yesterday there was a
meeting of the council of this borough, at which a motion
Vvaa made to memorialise the Government in favcur of a
'i&luttion of the duty on tea.
W. FELKIN, merchant, who has published nume-
rthissiatisticalstatuments connected with various branches
tirtrade, addressed the council at great length, and re-
ferrefl to calculations which warranted the conclusion
that any reduction of duty would be counterbalanced by
an increase of consumption. The reduction he proposed
was to lower the duty to Is. per lb., though perhaps be
ought to say, that he was hardly settled in his mind
whether a differential or uniform duty would be the' best.
He proceeded to argue that if our trade with China`viere
conducted upon fair, equitable principles, it might be
vastly increased. It was a fact that the Chinese only
laid a duty of 5 per cent. on our goods, while we impose
a duty of between 200 and 300 per cent. on articles im-
ported from China. According to the last census, China
contained a population of 367,682,907 individuals, who,
in case of an amicable intercourse upon equal terms,
might take an immense quantity of onr goods in ex-
change for their tea. He could not but feel convinced,
if' the duty were reduced to one shilling per pound, and
the consumption was raised from 44 to 60 millions of
pounds. that the result, as far as regarded the trade of
this country would be highly beneficial, and he had no
hesitation in expressing his confidence, should the mea-
sure be carried, that a very large amount of our manu-
factures will be in request to supply the demand in the
extensive empire of China. Respecting the advantage
to the tea trade from the-proposed alteration he offered
the following calculation :—Supposing 44 millions of
pounds of tea cost on board 2,200,000/., freight and all
charges on same 550,000/., the duty at 2s. 2id. per lb.
would be 4,812,500/., making a cost of 7,562,5001.
Profit to the home trade at 30 per cent, 2,268,7501.,
making a total of 9,831,2501. Now the calculation un-
der the new duty would give a consumption of 66 millions
of pounds of tea, at a cost of 3,300,000/. ; freight at 3d.
per lb., 825,000!.; duty at Is. per lb. 3,300,000!. ; profit
at 30 per cent., 2,277,5001. ; cost of 39,285 tons of sugar
at 40/. a ton, 1,571,4001. ; freight at ld. per lb., 366,666/.;
duty on ditto (foreign) 21s. 824,9861.; profit at 30 per
cent, 828,9121.—making a total of 13,244,463/, andleaving
a surplus of 3,413,2131. in amount beyond our existing
trade. Increase of profits being 787,6521., and of freights
641,6661. It would take our largest and best ships to
carry this quantity of tea and would extend benefits
through all branches of trade and commerce. With re-
gard to the important question of the revenue, which
amounted to 4,124,0001., he calculated that by the reduc-
tion in the duty, the consumption of tea would increase,
so as to leave the revenue c nly three quarters of a mil-
lion short of what it now is. How much trade and com-
merce would increase, he could not calculate, but he
thought by the reply of Lord J. Russell to a deputation
who waited on him on this subject, there could be no
doubt a great increase would take place. With these
remarks he begged to move the following memorial :

"TO THE RIGHT HON. THE FIRST LORD OF THE

TREASURY.

" The Memorial of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Bur-
gesses of the town of Nottingham,
" Humbly showeth—That your memorialists are of
opinion that the duty at present levied upon tea is ex-
cessive ; and that it is expedient, for the following among
other reasons, it should be forthwith reduced :—lt has
had the effect of greatly limiting the consumption of
tea and sugar amongst the labouring and middle classes,
to whom the use of tea has become one of the comforts
of life. It has materially crippled our trade with China,
and thereby interfered prejudicially with the employ-
ment of labour and capital in connexion with our foreign
business. It is an unjust and impolitic return for the
liberal tariff imposed by the Chinese upon British pro-
duce and manufactures. And as your memorialists have
from past experience reason to hope that the revenue
now derived from this source would, in a compara-
tively short period, be replaced by the increased con-
sumption of teas at a lower duty, combined with that
received from the consequent much augmented use of
sugar, and from other collateral sources, they would
earnestly urge upon your lordship the propriety of
a reduction in the tea duty to one shilling per
pound, either by an ad valorum duty so arranged as
not to average more than that sum per pound on the
probable consumption, or by an uniform duty upon all
qualities of tea."
The motion was seconded, and after some discussion
was carted unanimously.
SALT MONOPLY IN INDIA.—Mr. Felkin afterwards
addressed the meeting in reference to the oppressive na-
ture of the salt monopoly in India, and moved the adop-
tion of a memorial, praying that the monopoly in the
manufacture of salt in India, and also the duty on the
import of salt into that country might be abolished.
. Tl.e memorial was unanimously adopted.